Friday, September 30, 2011
6 Ways I Get Back to my Happy Self
Warning: This almost essay length post might bore you, but if you want to get to know me a little better and have some time to spare please keep on reading.
In my last post I told you that I have been recovering from an angiogram. While I had lots of time to spare laying down I was feeling lots of things, and this is one of the ways for me to sort things out in my head and organize... well which is to talk to you all. :)
First I have noticed that so many people that I contact either in person or on blogging refer to me as "very nice", "sweet", "lovely", "cheerful" and in some cases they "look up to me" and so on. Some of these descriptions of me makes me blush and humbles me at the same time. Thank you so much for thinking of me that way and I deeply appreciate that.
BUT, I just wanted to clarify that I am not this perfect angelic being or saint, even though I strive to be one someday. Maybe that will happen when I am in my 80s' or so.
I am generally a happy person 90% of the times, pretty optimistic, trying to do good and be helpful and kind to others. Although, I don't think you want run into me when I am in my other 10% of the mood (Mr. TRH might attest to that). I get mad sometimes, especially when things are not fair, I get irritated, I feel envious and can be sad.
I have been in this 10% of me in the last few days and quietly having a self-pity party.
Seems to me that it is a pattern going on that when things are starting to pick up and going well for me, I start having health issues. It has been like that ever since I was little. I remember all the field trips that I had to miss, things that I had to give up because of my medical condition.
When I was in my late teens and early twenties, it was the same thing. Just before I started a new job, I got ill and I was hospitalized for a couple months. I was still able to work for this company later on, desperately hoping to save up money for Art/Design school. Guess what? Seven months later, I had problems with my leg and the doctor STRONGLY advised that I should quit working. (I am not going in to the details about my disorder and such in this post, but I wrote about some in this post and this other post).
Since I had to learn how to cope with my disorder and disappointments growing up, I think I became resilient adaptable person and I can go with the flow of life. Though sometimes... I am just tired of this same old same old routine, and want to say "enough already!"
Times like that I just have a good cry and allow myself to be sad...
But you know what? One of the gifts that Heavenly Father blessed me with is that I am quick to redirect my thoughts and get back to the other 90% of myself (the one I like much better).
There are few things that I do to get in touch with my happy self. I am not saying that you need them or anything. You might be someone that never gets sad or you already have some method that works for you. If you are someone like me, these might be some useful tips. ;)
1. I count my blessings. When I am in the self-pity mode, it is hard to do this at first. But hey, seriously, I am blessed with a husband that who loves me and goes the extra, not just mile, some many miles for me. I am blessed with my amazing kids who are healthy and happy. As a mother I am so glad that I am the one with the disorder, not them. We all live under the same roof (so many Tsunami victims/survivors are living separately from their family after 6 months!). We have food to eat each meal, other necessities and more are taken care of too. There are so many others. Sometimes I even write them down to see them, since I am a visual person.
2. I watch, read and listen to anything that lifts up my spirit. It is good to immerse myself in "good things" and soak them up. This sounds simple, but it is very effective.
3. I try not to compare myself or my situation to others. There are always people that are doing better than me; it doesn't matter if it is financial, health, career, looks, and housing. Celebrating the differences and uniqueness instead of being envious is a short cut to inner peace. Also I try to remember there is a season for everything.
4. Reach out. This has two different meanings for me.
I reach out to who would love me and listen to me no matter what. Most of the time, it is Mr. TRH that listens to me. Just letting off some steam (nicely though, you don't want the people around you to get "BURNED") makes me feel so much better.
I reach out to help other people. If my problem is not physical and I am capable, I try to do something good. Feelings of being useful, and making a difference in someone’s life energizes me even though it is something very small.
5. Well, you know me. I sew. That is one of the things that have been a constant in my life. Concentrating my energy in designing and sewing lets me forget the pain and sadness. It is very therapeutic. Also looking at the finished product gives me a feeling of accomplishment.
6. I pray. I am not going to lie, sometimes I just don't feel like it but I do pray anyways. I know in times like that it is more crucial for me to pray. My faith in God helps me to see why I am here and why I need to endure (well, preferably with a good attitude) to the end instead of being in my cave of misery.
I hope I don't sound preachy, but really, all these things help me to be who I am in hard times. I am also aware that there are people with mental illnesses or depression and these things won't help them like they do me.
I am just hoping that you will remember these tips and your little blogger friend on your blue days. :)
The Do’s & Do’s of Gallery Walls
Nope, you didn’t read that wrong. I did mean to say “do’s and do’s”. After I posted my blog post on Monday about gallery walls I got so many emails with questions about them. Most were asking if there are any rules to creating a gallery wall. I’m here to gladly say that there really are no rules to gallery walls. The only “don’t” that I can think of is “don’t” be afraid to experiment and think outside the box.
Gallery walls tend to be very scary to the general public because there are no true guidelines to them. I’m hoping that for those of you who are intimidated by them, this post will help you out a little.
Do #1: Mix and Match Frame Styles
Don’t feel confined to using one style of frame. You can pretty much use any style and size you want. This is the perfect time to mix traditional with modern, square with round and framed with unframed.
[image via Decorator Dozen]
Do #2: Feel Free to Use the Same Frame Color
To give your gallery wall a more crisp look you can use the same color frames. When using the same color you can do two different arrangements…1.) All the same shape in a more structured pattern, or 2.) Different shapes in a more loose and scattered pattern.
[image via Elements of Style]
[image – yhl]
Do #3: The More the Merrier
When doing a gallery wall make sure you go all out. Don’t just stop at 3 pieces. Go big! Feel free to fill up an entire wall. It will make for a truly interesting conversation piece in your home. Don’t feel like you have to achieve this overnight though. You can start small, and then add on as you collect new pieces.
[image via Elements of Style]
[image via I Suwannee]
[image via Kentucky Mama]
Do #4: Mix and Match Art Styles
Combine abstract art and still lifes, portraits and line drawings, watercolors and Crayola masterpieces(…from the kiddos). They will all become one big happy family once they are hung together.
[image]
[image – kate spade]
[image via Rusty Hinges]
Do #5: Have Fun!
Gallery walls are the perfect way to tell a story about your life as well as let your personal style shine through. So, have fun with it. If the spacing between each piece isn’t exactly the same don’t sweat it. Add some quirky pieces in just for the fun of it.
[image – kate spade]
Designer Tips…
Here’s a great tip for creating your gallery wall. Arrange all of your artwork out on the floor prior to hanging. By arranging your artwork on the floor you can see how it all works together, and you can move pieces around to create that perfect arrangement. It’s much easier than hanging the art on the wall and having to patch a lot of holes when you need to change the arrangement.
Another tip that I got from John and Sherry is hanging newspaper on the wall in the shape of the artwork first to make sure you hang the arrangement in the correct location. I used this technique when I hung the gallery wall in my son’s room and it worked wonderfully.
Happy Hanging!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Blog Sponsor Giveaway: Shabby Fabrics
Here are a few words from Shabby Fabrics:
Blessings to you all,
Jennifer
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
4 Months
It’s hard to believe that today my favorite little man is 4 months old. My how time flies and my heart grows. Every day I fall deeper in love…
**Photos by Angela Wilson Photography.
Guest Posting at Tatertots and Jello and My Recovery
This turned out to be one of my favorite projects. It was so fun to work on and I am excited to wear this for the upcoming season.
Head over to see the complete tutorial and I would love to hear what you think! :)
By the way, I want to thank all who left kind comments and well wishes. It was so nice to hear from Mr. TRH about them and I felt so lucky to have you all as my blogging friends. :)
Note: If you want to know what's been going on with my life since last Thursday please keep reading, but if you have a weak stomach maybe you shouldn't...
What happened was I had an angiogram last Thursday afternoon. It was a procedure that my new doctor (my previous doctor moved to a different state :( ) wanted to have done before my usual procedure for my leg to know better what is going on.
It was supposed to be about an hour procedure, a couple hours to recover from sedation and go home happy (if you must know... I have several projects that I wanted to start on Friday. I thought I would be up and about as usual the next day). Well, I woke up and I didn't feel good. On the way home I started throwing up badly, and half way home I noticed that I was bleeding from the puncture area where the angiogram was performed... Hello, isn't that major artery?! We had to drop the kids back off at my in-laws again, and returned to the emergency room. When we came home, it was about 4:30am...
Since then the bleeding has slowed down and it is more of an oozing wound but it has been 6 days! I have been really taking it easy.
The first couple of days I slept all day long.
The third and fourth day I read all day. A Couple books from my stash by my bed. Since I hardly ever get a large chunk of time for reading which was really nice.
Then by the fifth and sixth days I AM REALLY REALLY starting to get board! Usually when I am going to get a procedure, I always prepare projects that I can work on in my bed, even laying down. I just love keeping myself busy. For example, small appliqué blocks, hexagon pieces to stitch together, making bunch of yo-yo's and flowers etc... I guess I was under prepared this time.
There are things need to be done, and I want to work on, but I guess they have to wait.
I am grateful for my supportive husband who helped me with my blog while I am down. I am blessed with my sweet friends who brought nice dinners and such too... thank you guys!!
Also, I am so glad that the couple tutorials I promised to other blogs were done before the procedure. I am actually not well enough to sew, take pictures and write tutorials yet.
I am going to take a break from the link party this week as well, but hopefully I will be well enough next week. :)
Thank you for reading my "happenings" as of late. I will talk to you soon. :)
Sachiko
The Cottage Mama Sewing Patterns
Shortcake Reversible Romper:
For pattern wholesale inquiries, please email Lindsay at thecottagemama[at]gmail[dot]com for ordering minimums and additional information.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Mexican Taco Pasta Bake
Life with three kids is going pretty well. Have I touched my sewing machine since Caspian was born? Well, no, not even once. I'll get back to the machine eventually - it's always there waiting for me, ready to welcome me back with open arms. But this little guy.......he's already growing up right before my eyes, so I am trying to soak up all the little baby time possible.
One of my biggest challenges has been preparing dinner because I'm never quite sure when my little guy is going to nurse. He tends to want to eat right when I should be cooking dinner - go figure, right? However, he seems to be doing a pretty good mid-afternoon nap, so I'm trying out some new recipes that I can prepare during the day and then just pop in the oven before dinner.
Today I'm sharing my latest recipe that I tried out last night. I'm calling it "Mexican Taco Pasta Bake". It's really all the flavors in a taco, but mixed is mixed in with pasta and cheese. What could be bad about that, right?
The next time you want to prepare a meal ahead of time, give this one a try. My husband even went back for thirds! Would also be great to feed a crowd and your kids will love it too!!
Tutorial: She Carries Flowers
I talked to you about my love of basket style handbags before, well, here’s where it all started. I was at Joann's one day and saw some woolen tweed fabric. There is something about the fabric, as I was touching it, I started thinking of what I could make with this... When I held one corner of the fabric sideways, the herringbone pattern on the fabric reminded me of a basket. Then an idea popped in my head to make a "flower basket" inspired bag for the upcoming seasons.
Yap, it might sound funny to you but that's how my brain works. :) I will share the tutorial with you today.
{You will need}
Wool, or wool like tweed fabric 1/2"yd
100 cotton fabric for lining 1yd
Fusible fleece enough to put them on the back of the lining
Fusible interfacing (thick) 2 pieces of 2 1/2" x 19 1/2"
Matching thread
Magnet closure
For flowers on the bag...you will need various fabrics, wools and buttons
{How to}
{Assembling for the bag}
1. Before cutting the fabrics, fuse the fusible fleece on the fabric for lining. That way you don't have to measure and cut twice. It saves time and is so much easier.
From the tweed fabric cut....2 - 14" x 20", 2 - 3"x 20", from fused lining, cut 2- 14"x 20", 1 - 6" x 8 1/2".
2. Make pocket. First treat the edge with zigzag stitch and fold the corner. Second, fold the sides and the bottom to make a mitered corner. Then, fold the top twice and sew.
3. Mark the middle on one of the linings and 2 1/2 " from the top. Pin the pocket onto the fabric and sew.
4. Mark onto the fabric from the right; 2 1/2", 4", 1 1/4" to divide the pocket. I like it this way so have separate pockets for pens, phone, and such.
5. Mark " from the top in the middle, and use the parts of the magnetic closure to mark. Cut the marked line open, and install the magnet parts according to the instruction on the package.
6. Put lining right sides together. Sew the sides and the bottom using 1/2" seam.
7. To make a boxed bottom, pinch the corner, and line up the sides and the bottom seam. Pin it and draw a line at 3" mark from the tip. Sew on the line, clip the excess.
8. Take the tweed fabric, and repeat the step no.6 and 7.
9. To make the handles, I fused hard interfacing onto the 3" x 20" strips. Fold the both sides toward the middle and folded in half. Sew around the edge with 1/8" seam.
10. Measure 5" from the edges from both sides of the bag. Insert the bag handle to between the tweed fabric and the lining, line the handle to the " mark. Pin all around the bags opening.
11. Sew around the top. Make sure to leave a 5" to 6" opening for turning the fabric inside out.
12. Turn the fabric out. Fold the opening nicely and pin it. Top stitch the opening and stitch the bottom of the handles to secure them.
13. To make the insert for the bottom, cut 2 - 6" x 14 1/2" from the lining fabric, sew around it with a 1/4" seam. Insert 5" x 13 1/2" plastic mesh and slip stich to close the opening. Put it in the bottom of the bag.
{How to make flowers and Yo-yo's}
*Folded fabric flower
1. I cut two different sizes for two different flowers. 8- 3", and 9- 4".
2. Fold the fabrics according to the picture.
3. Using two strands of threads, put through each petal to the thread, don't forget to cut off the excess.
4. Tie the ends to form a circle, to make a flower. I like to sew each petal to each other to secure them.
*leaves
Cut 1" x 2" rectangle first, and trim them so they look like leaves. They don't have to be perfectly unified.
*Flat flowers
Cut 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" square and trim it so that it will have four petals. Cut small circles for the middle.
*Felt flower (purple)
1. Cut 7 - 1" x 2". Trim them so that they have pointy top.
2. Fold the bottom in half, and fold the edges outward. Pull them through the thread to make a flower. I stitched them together several times to secure them better.
*Felt flower (muted pink)
1. Cut 6 - 1" x 1 1/4" rectangles, trim them so that they will have a rounded top.
2. Using the same method from step 2 on felt flower (purple), make the flower.
3. Cut a circle for the middle and sew.
4. Sew yo-yo on top of the small felt circle
*Yo-yo
I used 3" and 2" circles to make yo-yo's. Smaller ones on the felt flowers are made with 1 1/4" circles. If you need to see how to make yo-yo, you can go to my tutorial.
{Assemble}
In my opinion, this is the most fun part. Just lay down the bag and lay down the flowers and yo-yo's to see what you can come up with! It is better to deiced where you want the bigger pieces to go first then decide on the smaller ones.
Pin them to see if you like the lay out. If you do, it is time to stitch them onto the bag.
I used some DMC floss to do fun stitches on the flowers and leaves. I did lots of slip stitches around the yo-yo's.
After you are all done with the above, you can add buttons and such.
Time to enjoy the bag...
I love how it turned out! I feel like I can always carry a bit of spring and summer even under the gloomy sky of fall and winter.