This Creative Idea

fiber. fabric. inspiration.

A Look Back at 2017

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2017 Was the Year Without Fiber or Fabric

Taking a look back at my crafty endeavors in 2017 will be quick and easy.
Because there really weren’t any.
I didn’t work on fabric projects.
I frogged more projects than I created.

But honestly, I don’t feel bad about it.

I Needed A Break

A few years ago I left my retail job.
It was a job where I worked with fabric and fiber daily.

It was wonderful, inspiring and an experience I will never forget.
But some days it was overwhelming.
Even when I wasn’t at work, I was thinking about work.
Thinking about what I had to do the next day.
And the day after that.

My job that I absolutely loved – started to consume so much of my life.

After all of that – I needed a break.

I needed to stop seeing it as “work”.
I needed the chance to step away from all the fibery goodness.
And have the chance to miss it.
And then fall in love with it all over again.
And get inspired to create.

I Didn’t Do it on Purpose

I didn’t have a “plan” to stop creating.
It wasn’t thought out in advance.

I told myself – I’ll pick up the needles when I want to.
I won’t feel pressure to knit or crochet.

But when I was ready, I would know.

Then Life Happened

Hospital visits.
Doctors appointments.
Last-minute travels.
Change in work.

You know, the regular life things that happen.
But still, I didn’t pick up any projects.
I didn’t feel that urge to create.

I Did Other Things Instead

I started reading again.
Reading non-fiction and fiction.

I made plans to cook more or find new recipes.
Made a couple good meals and then a bad meal.
And I realized that was enough time in the kitchen for me.

I started to journal.
This lead to writing.
And drawing.

So creativity wasn’t at a complete zero.
It just wasn’t focused on fiber and fabric.

Hello, December

Something happened in December.
It started with a random day when I typed “rav” into my search bar…
and it autocorrected to Ravelry.com

And that was all it took.

As I looked at the pages of beautiful patterns on the Ravelry website, I was inspired.

I started to plan for future knitting projects.

Then I clicked on my stash page.
And I had moments of “oohing and aahing” over the beautiful yarns that are in my stash.

Yarn that I have available to me right now!

That’s when I knew it was back.
My desire to create with fiber and fabric.

Last Minute Knitting Projects

I did get a few projects completed in 2017.

I knit a hat.
The hat was knit up in an afternoon!

Quick Knit hat with cables
Quick Knit hat with cables

I knit a pair of socks.
In a week.

Hand Knit Canach Socks
Knit Canach Socks

The Year is Ending with Creative Inspiration!

I feel like I’m on a roll with my creativity and crafting.
I am setting some goals for 2018.

I’m reaching out to others to inspire me.
And I’m figuring out what I really want to create and craft.

What About Your Creativity in 2017?

What was your creativity like in 2017?
How do you feel about it?

I hope that we are all excited to start 2018.
Excited to create – or take a break.
Whatever it is we need – I hope we embrace it in 2018!

Get inspired!
Rebecca

p.s. Tomorrow I’m coming back with my 2018 creative goals. I hope you’ll share your goals, too!

A review of my creative journey in 2017
Taking a look back at my creativity in 2017.

Best Tool to Keep Your Family Organized

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We are a family of four. My husband works an alternating shift-work schedule. Our kids have always attended different schools and both been involved with a variety of activities such as sports, band, drama, clubs. etc. So we have always had busy schedules. My best tool to keep your family organized is to have one family wall calendar.

#1 Tip to keep a busy family organized

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosures for more information.

One Large Family Calendar

A calendar at least 12″ x 12″ is a good size. Something that can easily be read from a few steps away. I like the daily boxes to be large enough to hold all our activities even on busy days.
I used this At A Glance calendar for years. I would assign one line to one purpose throughout the calendar.
For example:

  1. Dad’s schedule
  2. Mom’s schedule
  3. Kids School Days off or half days
  4. Son before-school activity
  5. Son after-school activity
  6. Daughter before-school activity
  7. Daughter after-school activity
  8. Evening Activity

Keep it in the same place

Find one spot in the home that is easily visible to everybody in the home. Our calendar is right next to our door that goes from the kitchen to the garage. We leave through this door every day.

Keep a pen nearby

I tie a pen to a piece of string and hang it from the coil. So there is always a pen available when you need it.

Make it a Habit for Everyone

When your kids tell you they have something to do on a specific day, tell them to write it on the calendar.

If your family asks, “Do we have plans for next Sunday?” tell them to go check the calendar.

Your reminders will help ensure that writing on the calendar and referring back to it becomes a habit for everybody in the family.

Our family knows, “If it isn’t on the calendar, it isn’t happening.”

This Blue Sky Calendar is also nice because it is more decorated than the At-A-Glance calendar. This doesn’t have lines but the daily boxes are large enough you can easily keep things organized for your family.

Best Tool to Keep a Busy Family Organized

What’s your #1 Tip to keep your family organized?

What has been the best way for you to keep your family organized? These calendars have been a sanity saver for us. We all know to look at the family calendar and that’s the first thing I grab when we get any new schedules or appointments.

Day Designer Planner by Whitney English Pros and Cons to Consider Before Buying

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Working from home, I have so much that I need to get done throughout the day. Since my work is all done online, it is easy for me to get distracted. I need a way to stay accountable and keep track of how I am spending my time. So I was happy to find the Day Designer Planner by Whitney English. I’m still in the phase of considering whether to purchase it. Here is my thinking process on that.
Day Designer Pros and Cons to Consider Before Buying | This Creative Idea

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosures for more information.

Main Reasons The Day Designer Planner Appeals To Me

  • Size
    The Day Designer Flagship Edition size is 9″ x 9.75″ with page size of 7.3″ x 9.5″. I like the size for writing all of my tasks without feeling too cramped.
  • Daily
    Many of the planners I’ve found are weekly. I specifically want a daily planner.
  • Coil Binding
    I want a daily planner with coil binding so I can open the planner and it will stay open. Bound books have a tendency to close and you can’t fold them back on themselves without creasing the cover. So coil binding is the solution to take up less desk space.
  • Sturdy Cover
    The Day Designer Flagship Planner has a heavyweight cover.

Day Designer Planner

Other Pros of the Day Designer Planner

  • Professional Look
    The cover and pages have a professional look to them. I’ve used planners in the past that were brightly colored and that just isn’t my style for my daily planner.
  • Monday Start Date
    This is how my brain works. The school week starts on Monday and this is also when my work week starts. Plus, we often have activities that span both days of the weekend and it is always odd to separate them on a calendar.
  • Goal Setting
    I love setting goals and always appreciate pages dedicated to figuring out my goals.
  • Top Three Things on Daily Pages
    This section will help me focus on the specific top things I need to accomplish for the day.

Possible Cons

  • Paper Quality
    This is listed as 90gsm. According to a paper website, that converts to 24# paper. I have read reviews where the paper seems thin compared to “other planners.” However, I have some 24# printer paper at home and I think this will work for me.
  • Weight
    At 2 pounds, this planner probably isn’t something I want to carry around with me everywhere. However, I am purchasing it with the plan to keep it at my desk when I’m working. So I don’t consider this a big con for the purpose.
  • No bookmark
    A bookmark would be convenient. However, since I am planning to have it open on my desk, I don’t think it is that big of an issue.
  • Combined weekend pages
    I’m not sure how I’ll feel about this. I work on weekends. However, since the family is home I don’t do as much work. Therefore, I don’t think I need as much space, right?
  • Price
    Honestly, this is the only thing holding me back right now. The planner costs $59.00 + $14.50 (shipping) to my location. The shipping is at least $3.00 more than what the actual shipping cost is. I’m assuming part of the cost covers the shipping supplies. I’ve seen in reviews that they are shipped really well in nice boxes.What gets me with the price is whether or not I’m committed to paying that amount for another planner. Will I commit to this planner? Currently, I have different planners sitting and I’m torn with whether or not I will get the full use of this.On the other hand, if I spend the money will I feel more committed to the planner than if I just spent $10 on a regular notebook?

Day Designer Planner

Testing Out the Day Designer Planner

I have decided to give myself a testing period. Day Designer has free downloads of various pages. Some of the pages are only available for a limited time. But you can access them by clicking on Printables from the top menu bar. I’m going to try out these pages and if I find them useful then I will definitely purchase the Day Designer Flagship planner for 2017.

Read all about the Day Designer Planner Pages I try and how they work for me in my next article!

Phenomenal Woman

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Imagine back to when you were 16.
Remember feeling unsure.
Remember feeling insecure.
Feeling you aren’t enough.

What if you had felt sure.
What if you had felt secure.
What if you knew you were enough.

To your 16-year-old self, I say this.
You are a Phenomenal Woman!

Phenomenal Woman Poem

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.

10 Bullet Journal Instagram Accounts You Might Not be Following

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We all love Instagram, right?
Well, here are 10 Bullet Journal accounts you might not be following.
These are accounts with less than 1,000 followers as of this posting (December 2, 2016).

Instagram Bullet Journal Accounts to Follow

In no particular order…
1. Lifeinabujo includes drawings and lots of journaling on her pages.

Good morning bujo-friends! Anxiety is here again. I'm really tired about it, sometimes I think I can't live this way anymore but I try always to stay strong. My overwhelm is so much that I lost a "h". Hope your day is better than mine ❤?? I prefer to draw something for the children cancer awareness week instead of just publish a picture and if you want to do that, you just have to tell me and I assign you one of the children's books or stories characters ❤ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ #bulletjournal #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalitalia #bulletjournalcollection #bujolover #bujojunkies #sketch #leuchtturm #leuchtturm1917 #fabercastellpitt #fabercastell #passion #drawing #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #childcancerawarenessweek

A photo posted by My life in a bujo (@lifeinabujo) on

2. Hiphopplanner enjoys stickers in her traveler’s journal and Kate Spade.

3. Judy is so artistic and I love her use of color on her pages.

4. I love Li’s weekly layout (and the sticker with a cat in glasses!)

5.I really like Jessica’s weekly layout.

6. Knitting pattern in her bullet journal…amazing job by Natasha

7. I like Sally’s monthly calendar

8. Quinn gets a lot of info on her weekly spreads

9. I love all of Amanda’s borders and zentangles

10. My own account…I’m just starting with this Instagram account but I’ll keep it updated with my bullet journal pages.

Want to read more about bullet journals?

Win a Leuchtturm1917

10 Bullet Journal Lists for Crafters

Best Selling Bullet Journal Supplies

Best Selling Bullet Journal Supplies

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This weekend, I took a look at what people are buying on Amazon. I wanted to know what people were using for their bullet journals. I have compiled a list based on searching for “Bullet Journal” on Amazon and finding items marked as “Best Selling” in different categories. Some of these items I didn’t even think of. But I might consider putting them on my Amazon Wish List!

10 Bestselling Bullet Journal Supplies

 

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosures for more information.

Calendars, Planners & Organizers – Panda Planner Pro
The Panda Planner Pro is an 8.5 x 11″ softcover planner. It has undated monthly, weekly and daily pages. It has a 4.7 rating and comes with lots of extras. Apparently, some people have had issues with the print quality of the paper. As a Moleskine Grid girl, I don’t think it would work for me. But I it looks like a good option!

Subject Notebooks / Hardcover Executive Notebooks – Moleskine Classic, Large, Ruled, Black (5″ x 8.5″)
Love Moleskine. I know the paper isn’t great for fountain pens. But it’s been my go-to journal for years and when I tried to switch it doesn’t feel the same. I’m a sucker for my classics.

Paper Stencils – The Original Lettermate
Apparently, this is meant for addressing envelopes and making sure the lines are straight and evenly spaced. I just wing it or if I’m really serious I might use a ruler (nah, I’m never that serious!) I could see the benefit of this for spacing out your bullet journal lines. While you’re there, take a look at airbrush stencils that are “Sponsored Products Related.” Impressive!

Scrapbooking Pens & Markers – Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Bright, 10-Pack
I understand this. If you are combining some hand lettering and color coding then the different tips would be useful. I used Tombow’s when I scrapbooked. They were a reliable brand with a nice range of colors. This set has 9 colors and a blender pen. With color names like process yellow and reflex blue – I have to add it to my wish list!

Drawing Pens – Sakura Pigma Micron Black , 6-Pack
Personally, I prefer Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens.  Again, back in my scrapbooking days, I used the Sakura Pigma pens and they were great. (Wow, the Faber-Castell were all the way down at #11…feeling bad about that!)

Self-Stick Note Pads – Redi-Tag Divider Sticky Notes, 4″x6″, 60 Notes, Assorted Neon Colors
It seems wrong that the best seller in Post-It notes isn’t a Post-It note. With the tab on these Redi-Tag Notes, your whole note doesn’t have to be sticking out the side. It gives a cleaner look than using just the square sized notes.

Rulers & Tape Measures – Westcott Stainless Steel Office Ruler, 6-inch
This is the perfect size to keep with your bullet journal. I have an 18-inch ruler and it is obnoxiously long. Also, I love the steel with the cork base. The wooden or plastic rulers often get pits along the edge to make them not-so-straight.

Fountain Pens – Pilot Metropolitan Black, Medium Nib
I love Pilot Metropolitans. I own 3 of them (2 fountain pens and 1 rollerball) But I only have the fine nibs. Maybe I’ll have to give the Medium a try!

Desk Calendar Indexes – Calendar Reminder Stickers
We’re talking about 1,050 stickers. 25 of those are dentist stickers. Those will last me 3 years (4 people x 2 appointments a year). But my favorite is the “call” sticker with the corded phone handset. I guess those are still around. All kidding aside, I think it’s a great price for useful stickers, if you are a sticker kind of bullet journal person.

Masking Tape – MT Washi Masking Tapes, Set of 20, Bright & Cool
Technically, these are the #6 seller in masking tape. But they are the highest ranked washi tape, which I felt needed to be listed for Bullet Journaling.

What Do You Think of These Bullet Journal Supplies?

Have you used any of these? Do you have favorites? Any other supplies I didn’t list? Let’s talk about it!

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