How the Inspired Room.net Inspired Me...

I recently stumbled upon The Inspired Room.net I think it awakened my organizational spirit again! I love organizing, thinking of creative ways to store things, staring at the finished product and having such a calming feeling. Lately, I had a sense of being overwhelmed, nothing was getting done and I felt like I was getting nowhere. After reading Melissa's morning routine, I was excited to get up in the morning! I wanted to start a routine!! Melissa is relate-able, she started talking about not having a day to day schedule but have a routine. Duh. Why haven't I been doing this all along. Why DO I have to clean a toilet on Tuesday??? I would start to hate Tuesdays! I was hooked immediately.

Thanks to TheInspiredRoom.net I woke up and wiped the sink out after I brushed my teeth. That was easy and so gratifying, usually I would stare at it in anger and think of all the things that I should clean. I was excited to have my morning coffee without diving into Etsy emails and orders. I read a post from her blog and filled out my New Year's resolution sheet that she had provided. This "quiet time" is going to be my "get inspired time". I wrote a reasonable list of things to do for the day without worrying about the time of day and what I should have accomplished by now if I woke up early like most people.

Being with a Chef, our household hours are a bit strange. Our day usually ends at 1am. I wait up every night to see Mike. I think it's healthy to spend quality time with your partner daily. He is the most talented chef I know and along with being a talented chef, comes the LONG hours. When I say long hours, I mean going to work at 9 am and coming home around midnight with not having a complete meal. Being a newly "retired" bartender, I speak first hand, restaurant life is tough. Only fellow industry peeps get it.We stay up and talk while he usually fills his hunger with pizza. (a chefs choice for late night eating) In the past I made myself feel guilty for working from home and not getting up at the crack of dawn and watch the sunrise. I have started a routine that works for me and it doesn't rely on the typical rise and shine at 6 am. I am sure this will all change when we have kids but for now it works. I am awake and full of energy when he comes home late so we can somehow have a normal relationship when we see each other, even though it is in the middle of the night.

Click to Download The Inspired Room's Home Goals Sheet

Back to my day!....Ironically after reading about cleaning your toilet because it needs to be done today, not because it's a Tuesday, I cleaned the bathroom today. (Tuesday)

I wrote down my routine during my quiet time eating a light breakfast of granola and yogurt. I was going to do this! AND stick to it.

I started a load of laundry and decided when it was time to turn it over I would work out. Seems like a perfect amount of time to let the heater warm back up. Working out...new for me!!! After my work out I felt so great, why not mop the floors before the shower so it would feel clean all day!

The next piece of advice that I kept from The Inspired Room was getting fully dressed! It is amazing how different you feel when you blow dry your hair and put on "real clothes". After feeling so fresh and so clean I made a turkey wrap and decided to eat it at the counter instead of in front of the tv. You aren't getting me sucked in today HGTV! Instead, I took the dog for a walk to drop my orders off at the post office. When I returned, Caden was happy and I was refreshed and motivated to start on new orders. Yes, it is mid-day and most people are almost done with their work day. The point is, don't be hard on yourself because you don't wake up at 6am for that morning run before work at 8. Not everyone has a 9-5 schedule, my work day starts around noon after my morning routine and work out. Sounds crazy to some but I finally realized that it doesn't matter what time of day it is on the clock. Do what works for you and find your own routine. What makes you excited to get up and get your day started. Here is to a morning routine this New Year!

Mommy...did you make the bed just for me??

P.S. I even made the bed this morning. I highly recommend it. It something that I have rarely done in the past but every time I do, it feels so much better and you want to keep your room clean. Resolution: Make Bed, unless you and your partner plan on spending the day in it :)

Here's to a New Year!

After a year of finding myself along with falling in love with a wonderful man, turns out he was doing the same. 2015 is a start to a new me...minutes into the New Year, the man of my dreams kneels down and says the words I had been wanting to here...

During my surprise trip to Savannah, all of the music and the bustling of strangers ringing in the New Year, it was silent and all I could see was Mike kneeling in front of me. My life was changed forever. As the shock wore off and the phone calls started, it sank in, I was getting married.

I don't know if it's just me, but I love washing my hands, typing on the computer and doing dishes all a little more because I see this shiny ring of my ring finger that has been naked for 33 years. It takes me back to the moment and I get the same excitement all over again.

Join in my journey this year as I plan a wedding, launch my first ever handbag line, run 4 Etsy sites, my online shop saltytreasures.com and purging all of my clutter to start my new family with Mike and our Boston Terrier Caden. 

DIY Storage Box

The weather is perfect this time of year in Florida. It is finally not to hot to be outside! This is when my messy craft projects take over....

I spotted this great Gift Wrap at World Market a while back and knew I could do something fun with it. I bought the ivory and blue. It is recycled cotton so it is heavy weight and has a nice texture.

Since I have a bit of a shoe obsession, shoe boxes are easy to come by. I store different tools and such and label with permanent marker. Not the prettiest to look at.

To cover a shoe box it is much like gift wrapping. All you need is craft bond.

The paper is thick enough so it won't bleed through.

Take your shoe box and lay it out on the wrong side of the paper. It kept curling so I used my remote controls to weigh it down. Trace the bottom of the box to start with the base of your measurements. Next, lay the box on it's side and trace each side of the box.

Add 1/2" allowance on the longer sides of the box like shown below.

The smaller sides only need the allowance on the top.

Cut out your pattern and be sure when cutting on the smaller top and bottom cut to the edge of the box. On the larger sides cut on allowance line.

Get out your craft bond and head outside! You are going to spray on the bottom of the box first and line up all of the corners. Work carefully and fast! This stuff sticks... See where the extra paper is on the longer sides... you are going to fold it into the smaller ends so you get a clean finish.

Start with the long sides...

Fold edges in...

Shorter ends, then the raw top edges fold into the inside of the box.

Looking good! Now we want to measure the top of the box the same as the bottom and glue in the same order.

Last thing! Attach a label, I bought the Martha Stewart labels from Staples.

Voila!

Keep it Salty...

Wall Art

Look how great this turned out. My lovely customer from Etsy was so nice and sent me a photo of her entryway with my print!! I thought it turned out fantastic :)

 

Hope your inspired!

 

Purchase your own "Docked" print.....

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/123395326/custom-home-address-print-nautical-theme?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=custom

 

 

DIY Tote Tutorial

 





 

Watch my step by step instructions on this awesome summer tote!

 

First things first. You need to get all your supplies at hand. I am working on my dining room table so having everything in place before you start, keeps you from running back and forth from the hall closet to the dining room!

• Scissors
• Cutting Mat
• Rotary Cutters (You don't have to have them, makes life a little easier!)
• Ruler
• Marking Pen
• Thread
• Pins
• Fabric
• Felt
• Fusible Heavyweight Interfacing
• Fusible Webbing
• Iron
• Purse Snap
• Hard interfacing or handle webbing

 

 

Lay the fabric on the fold and measure 3 inches in, all the way down the length. This will be for your handles. Once you cut the length then cut the fabric again in 1/2 to make 2 handles 3 x 24 inches.

 

 

 

Keep the fabric on the fold and measure out the tote pattern. It is basically a square pattern measuring 16x15. I like to cut out my patterns on poster board so I can easily reuse them. You are going to cut 2 of each: fabric, lining and interfacing.

 

 

 

After you have all three cut out, keep the lining fabric to cut your pockets. You can make them whatever size you want but since it's a large tote I like to have 4 pockets. The easiest way and most efficient way is to cut as shown below.

 

 





 

After you have the lining and pockets cut, un-fold the pockets and re-fold in the opposite direction. Then cut on the fold to give you two pockets.

 

 





I know, there are a lot of steps! It's totally worth it though :)

 

Now it is time to get your iron ready. If you have a heat press it works great for adhering interfacing to your fabric. If not, no worries, your handy iron will do just fine. I turn the iron all the way up. It is durable fabric and you want that interfacing to stick!

 

**If you want to add the anchor applique which is my favorite part, apply the wonder under to the felt. After you peel the paper off trace the anchor and cut the applique out.

 

Get your striped fabric pieces back out and match it wrong sides together with the interfacing. You want the rough sticky side to match with the back of the fabric. Now press together moving slowly around with the iron 15 seconds for each press.

 

Place the anchor on the outer fabric and press with the iron in the same manner.

 

 

 

You are almost ready to sew!!!!!!

Take your pockets and fold each side 1/4" and press all 4 sides. On the top of the pocket fold again to hide the raw edges and press.

 

 

Now it's time to press the handles. You will need the strips of fabric that you cut, along with the handle webbing. I use super heavy interfacing and cut long 1" strips for handles. It saves money in the long run if you plan on making a bunch.

 

Fold in 1/4" and press all the way down the length of the strip, do this on both sides. Then fold in half and press. Your webbing will tuck right in there :)

 

** I am using the interfacing which can withhold the heat of the iron, you can iron with the strip in there and it makes it a little easier. The handle webbing tends to melt unless you are using cotton webbing.

 

 

 

TIME FOR YOUR MACHINE!!! This is the fun part where you get to see it all come together.

 

First set your stitch length to 4. Stitch the anchor around the edges. It is not necessary if you are a bit timid doing the decorative stitch. It is already adhered with the wonder under.

 

 

Take the two pieces of fused fabric and match wrong sides together. I like to try and match the stripe on the bottom for a clean professional look. Pin all 3 sides not the top.

 



 



Stitch all 3 sides with 1/2" seam allowance. Don't stitch around the little squares at the bottom, that is the next step! Trim each side as close to the stitch line as possible.

 

 

After you trim the seam allowance it is time to make the base of the bag. Take the square that is cut and fold at the base. Then stitch with 1/2" seam allowance, trim.

 

 

Sew your handles together as close to the edge as possible on each side.

 

 

 

Take your pocket pieces and stitch the double fold on the top for the opening of the pockets.

 

 

Pin the pockets on the lining and follow the stitch path below. I always have a double line for the pockets since they are used so much and you want them to be sturdy. Be sure to always re-enforce with a back stitch.

 

 

 

Sew the lining the same way as the outer fabric. The only difference, don't stitch the bottom straight across. Leave a gap in the middle and re-enforce each side.

 

 

Turn the bag right side out, measure in 2" from the sides and pin the handles down. Take the lining and tuck the outer bag into the lining, wrong sides together and pin all the way around the top. Sew the tops together.

 

 

 

Trim seam allowance and turn right side out through the lining opening. Pin together and double top stitch the top of the bag.

 

 

 

Now it's time to install the snap. Many pattern directions tell you to install the snap before constructing the bag, I like to wait until the end to insure the snaps being perfectly aligned together.

 

 Measure the center of the bag and mark with a pen the lines on the snap. Cut the small lines using a seam ripper and attach the snaps. 

***I always use scrap interfacing and put behind the snaps for extra support.

 

 

Now finish the bag!!!!!!! Sew the lining shut and voila, your fancy new tote!!

 

 

 

 

 

Now get to the beach and show it off!

Post some pics of your totes!!!

 

Want this one??? Visit my shop :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77165953/nautical-tote-bag-with-anchor-applique?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

Keep it salty...