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Home Improvement Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Sep 3rd, 2010 by jamie

Get ready to feel sympathy…Yesterday, I sustained a caulking injury—actually, two.

The hurt finger. I will spare you the thigh picture.

My index finger has an abrasion from caulk smoothing. (OK. A more skilled caulker probably wouldn’t have to use a finger.) And I have a sore thigh. Yes, just one sore thigh. Go figure. When you see the vertical nature of the project you will get that I did a lot of slow squatting, then back up again. I truly cannot explain why only my right thigh is sore. (OK. A younger caulker probably wouldn’t have a sore thigh, either.)

The scene of the crime. Yes, that's a lot of caulking. All around every one of those rectangles...So, you feel my pain?

These little reminders that we are do-it-yourselfers are not so bad. But there have been some slightly more serious injuries over the years: a shock from an outlet as I used a razor to cut around the opening as water dripped down the new wallpaper I was hanging (yikes); a perfectly round burn on the underside of my forearm from the old Hollywood style light bulb that apparently got really, really hot (this was the same wallpaper project as the little shock treatment; the burn hurt quite a bit, and there is still a perfectly round scar today—almost 20 years later); some smashed fingers; some non-stitch-needing cuts; and one trip to the emergency room for stitches to the eyebrow (an unfortunate shelf-building, drill-butt-to-the-head incident. My husband had the good sense to get the bleeding stopped before calling me. I still had to assume the fainting position just thinking about it. I am a total wimp.)

Once (I am getting woozy as I write this), a neighbor came over wondering if we could watch their kids while his wife drove him to the hospital. His hand had been on the receiving end of a pneumatic nailer. He had somehow removed the nail. (Ugh. Excuse me while I lie down for a moment.)

My point in mentioning these graphic incidences is not to cause swooning or intrigue. (Well, intrigue would mean interest, so I guess that’s ok.) My tales are cautionary. Yes, accidents do happen. But we can do some things to minimize the chances of injury.

  1. Think through each step of your project before you begin. Some problems can be completely avoided this way. How are you going to climb the ladder with the 25 pound mirror, hammer, stud finder, and hanger?Maybe two trips?
  2. Take time to prepare your area. Gather all needed tools and supplies. Be sure the area is cleared of hazards. And for goodness sake, either turn off the electricity or cover the outlets with duct tape. Electricity doesn’t mix with much of anything—especially water.
  3. Wear protective eye wear. It isn’t pretty. It’s actually pretty dorky looking, but you sometimes don’t get second chances with your eyes. Now, you probably don’t need protective eye wear for some things. Duh. But if there is sawing, drilling, sanding, metal cutting, etc. involved, put on the lovely goggles. You can thank me later.
  4. Take your time. I’m not talking about dragging out the paint-the-kitchen project for a week. I am talking about not trying to get three more boards cut before you have to leave to pick up the carpool when you know you are already late. I haven’t done research on others, but in my own experience, most of my injury-causing mistakes were made when I was doing something in haste.
  5. Use common sense. No explanations here. If you don’t have common sense, consider hiring a professional.


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Posted in Just Thinking..., Oops! | No Comments »

Home Improvement, One Step at a Time

Aug 2nd, 2010 by jamie

Open House by Nicholas_T on flickr...Hope this doesn't remind you of your house. (It is not mine, by the way...Really.)

We spent a little money recently. Actually, for us, it was quite a bit.

We added to our driveway and re-sided the house. These projects also led to some new landscaping (to finish off the driveway extension) and a new front door (still to come…You can’t have a new spruced-up house, all crisp and fresh, and still have the old, sad, gray door. I’m just saying.)

These projects came about after my husband and I saw the problem my parents are having selling their southern Indiana home.

I have learned many wonderful things from them–too numerous to list. But unfortunately, I am seeing first hand, that if you let home projects build up, they become too big, too overwhelming, too expensive to fix. For property to hold its value or, better yet, increase its value, improvements must be made.

So, we started making a list of big projects that needed to be done. The siding and the driveway got top priority. Partly because I was afraid our neighbors would either take up a collection for us or get a petition up to oust us (due to peeling trim) and partly because we suddenly have a fleet of vehicles and don’t want to park on the street. (I know. That’s a little whiny.) Next, is the front door. And somewhere down the list is new windows (ours are pretty bad) and a screened-in porch. And that’s just the exterior list!

Confession:  Our trim work has been peeling for two years. It is easy to put off this kind of project because of cost or because life gets busy. Food and clean laundry take precedence. Now, obviously, peeling trim did not mean total replacement, but it was something we had kicked around for a few years–changing the color and getting rid of all of the dents. The peeling was simply the impetus we needed to bite the bullet.

And though the job wasn’t cheap, we hired a fair and wonderful company in the Cincinnati area (C.K. Siding and Construction). We are very happy we made the decision. The house looks like we care about it! A major face lift. It kind of makes me want to do the windows…But not yet. I’m not totally crazy.

Even if you don’t have the cash right now, make a list. I have several going, but only one for the big, exterior stuff. Prioritize your list, biggest need/desire on top–thinking through each decision. For example, if you need a new roof (a high-priority item), try to think about whether you intend to paint your house, maybe next year. If so, then pick a shingle that will look good with the new, future color. (And pray that it doesn’t look horrible with the current color!)

With a long-term plan in place, decisions become slightly easier. Then, save, save, save. Paying for things as you do them is so much more fun than doing repairs or improvements on credit…Yes, I speak from experience.

Above all, get started on something. Letting maintenance or improvements build until they become emergencies is a bad, bad idea. Life is a bit unpredictable. Suppose a sudden job change requires a move. Houses that have been maintained are much more attractive to buyers than those with the dreaded deferred maintenance. Plus, a cared-for home is a lot more comfortable and enjoyable to you, the current (hopefully, long-term) owner.

Tip: Simple window cleaning will give a cheap, quick lift to your home (while you are saving for that bigger project), so grab the vinegar, warm water, and newspaper and start cleaning. (Or enlist the able-bodied, summer-drained youth in your house to get busy!)

Here are some pictures of our projects in progress. I still need to take some “after shots”–because we really did finish this phase!

New path leading to the new driveway (addition)

New plants for the new area around the new driveway (addition). I got an amazing deal at Lowe's on a very hot 4th of July weekend! :)

Figuring out where to plant the new stuff...Did I mention what a great deal I got on the plants? Thank you, Lowe's!

Have I mentioned how much I love having two strong teenagers with young backs? This one got everything in the ground, after helping with the fill and the path. Thanks, Max!

My sweet yardman. Never complains about my lists...Well, hardly ever.

Now, the siding. Which, as you know, means we need/want a new front door. Also, the garage door (new last year) needs to be painted a nice Tuscan Clay.

New siding is complete! Antique Wicker with Tuscan Clay trim. We love it!

View from the back yard

The windows are still the old, pretty bad windows, but the new trim made the most of them! Thanks, again, to C.K. Siding and Construction. Chris Koenig did a great job.

Thanks for letting me show and tell! Now, what’s on your list?

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Posted in Big Stuff, Just Thinking... | 2 Comments »

Dry Spells

Jul 1st, 2010 by jamie

Usually, July hits Ohio hard with a hot, dry spell. Grass becomes crispy, flowers look beseechingly at the sky, mid-afternoon is deafening in its quiet as laughing children and dogs hide out in air-conditioned houses. On days like this, all you want to do is find a swimming pool. A little mid-western oasis.

I said “Usually.”

Today it is July 1, and it is a glorious 75 degrees. Birds are singing, children playing, and the foliage is still lush and green. The dry spell will come, but not today!

I’ve been in my own dry spell of sorts. Little writing, even less home tending. But now, I’m setting some goals and getting the watering can ready. Recently, my husband and I decided to do a little home improvement (or at least, hire it out.) This decision came to us as we learned a lesson from watching my sweet parents. (More on that at another time.) The lesson is the importance of maintaining and making reasonable improvements to your home.

I am ending my dry spell and doing some watering. Eventually, things will grow. These photos show a bit of what we have bitten off…More to follow!

Bigger, better driveway

Lily performing driveway inspection (See another project looming in the background. Landscaping.)

Out with the old siding, in with the new...Can't wait to show you the finished project! Of course, we now MUST have a new front door...

And now, just because she’s cute and has been a big girl through all of the commotion…

Lillums

What projects are you doing this summer? Everything counts!


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Posted in Big Stuff, Just Thinking... | 2 Comments »

Are You an Over-Achieving Mom?

May 28th, 2010 by jamie

I am guilty of being an over-achieving mom. Translation:  I have done too much for my children. Qualifier:  Sometimes.

I remember when they were little (four and five), and I would sometimes make a little happy face out of lunch–you know, carrot stick eyebrows, PB&J sandwich triangles for eyes and nose, banana for a smiley, and pretzels for hair. It was pretty darned cute! And very appropriate for a mom to do when her children are four and five.

But trust me when I say, eventually and gradually, this treatment has to stop. Otherwise, the seventeen-year-old will starve to death because he has never had to make his own PB&J. He doesn’t even know where you keep the bread!

I have enjoyed being the nurturing, attentive mom. It has always made me feel good to feed and water my own little people, and to keep them in clean clothes.

But now, they are not so little.

Big Boy Shoes

Lots of Big Girl Shoes

Somehow, they both learned to be very responsible at life away from home. Since they were about in 4th grade, I haven’t had to hover over them to complete homework, to finish projects, and to turn in assignments. They learned to write stuff on my calendar and to give me permission slips to sign. And one of them will actually make herself some dinner, if absolutely necessary.

These are great things, and honestly, I am one proud mom. But I still have work to do. On me. I still have some control that I need to hand over. To them.

If children are to become independent adults, we have to relinquish our duties and be sure they are capable of taking care of themselves. I’m not talking cold turkey here, and I’m not talking about nine-year-olds making dinner and cleaning the kitchen…But they should be loading the dishwasher occasionally. Think age-appropriate chores.

This process of teaching independence is gradual and can really make the mother inside of us feel conflicted. Moms (and Dads) take care of their children. So, how can I not make my twelve-year-old breakfast and lunch every day? Why shouldn’t I clean his room for him? He’s just a kid. Right?

Yes. And no.

Kid, for now. But constantly changing and constantly growing up.

We start by teaching–which includes helping when they need it. Over the course of a few years, they eventually learn to make an egg sandwich and to cut grass. And I certainly pray they will learn to clean the toilet! This process will sometimes be painful–both for them and us. And we will backslide sometimes…I admit that I will make my teenagers lunch occasionally this summer, maybe out of a little mama guilt or maybe just because I want to.

But this summer I do have a plan, and it’s big. I am turning loose of laundry. There. I said it in black and white. First, I will show them. Then, I will write directions and tape them to the laundry room cabinet door. Then, I will put down the basket and walk away.

Piles of Sorted, Stinky Laundry

Will I feel guilty? Most likely–on some days. But it is time to be sure they are getting ready for life. On their own own, without a hovering, over-achieving, well-intentioned, spoiling mama. Because I want what is best for them. I want them to have the confidence they need to know they can handle life, and I want them to feel the pride that comes from that confidence. If I continue over-achieving, I will be taking away that opportunity.

Part of me might feel a little bad about getting them ready for life, but part of me will smile. Especially when I watch them scrub their own toilet.

The Bottomless Laundry Pit--The Birthplace of Independence

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Posted in Just Thinking..., Parenting and Family | 3 Comments »

Attitude Adjustment

May 11th, 2010 by jamie

<div xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/flattop341/839063511/"><a rel="cc:attributionURL" href=

(Not sure why my caption isn’t showing, but photo credit goes to flattop341 at Flickr.com.)

I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired lately.

Projects, cleaning, everything I need to do just hasn’t seemed all that…well…interesting. What gives? I’ve been thinking about what some of the reasons for this bad attitude might be. I’m hoping that writing about it will make it go away.

This is the longest we have ever lived in a house, and it is no fun to re-do the old.

In twelve years of marriage, we moved five times. From condo to new house to really old house to new house to beautiful new-ish house to this house. There was always something new to plan for and to paint. Now, after living in one house for 10 years, everything just seems a little boring. (Not talking people, here. Only the house!) We need to re-paint, re-carpet, add hardwood, re-do, and just generally make something new out of something that is really lived-in. It’s a little overwhelming. It’s also difficult to imagine possibilities after having some things the same way for this long.

Life is busy.

This is not exactly news to anyone. Whether you are married or single or have children or not, life gets filled with carpooling, school, work, church, volunteering, cooking, reading, sewing, learning new things–you get the idea. It’s difficult to think about painting that ceiling after a long day doing other stuff. And the thought of undertaking a big project is way too enormous to try to fit into this busy schedule!

Money is tight.

Have you ever thought about how nice it would be to do a house project without giving a single whoop-ti-do about money? I have. In my heart, I know that money does not buy one ounce of happiness. I see too many people around me who seem to have the dough but are really pretty miserable. Still, I can’t help but think how fun it would be to redecorate a bathroom or living room without even considering cost. Wouldn’t it be amazing to pick the flooring you want without having to price shop and try to figure out if you and your spouse could suffer through sore knees, but just buy it and schedule the installation? Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

I don’t know where to start.

Recently, my parents moved from what was once a beautiful home to a beautiful, much-smaller-but-safer-and-easier condo. My siblings and I have cleaned out the old house and got it ready for sale. We knew there were some problems. The reality of the problems became evident as the prospective buyers came through the house. There were too many projects that the house needed. Deferred maintenance really came back to bite my truly wonderful parents. Instead of doing a little bit along the way, they just kind of let it all build up. They got tired and busy and found other things (children and grand children) to spend their money on. Then, when they had time and money (a little bit, anyway), it was overwhelming for them to start. So, they didn’t!

One thing always leads to another.

You know how this works, right? You fix the small hole in the ceiling with spackle, but the spackle is a slightly different color. You do not have any paint left from painting the ceiling five years ago, so you have to go buy two gallons and paint the whole darn thing. The new paint makes the walls seem dingy, but before you can paint the room, what about opening up that doorway a little to add some much needed height and openness? Oh. Then, the carpet either needs to be replaced or you can go ahead and lay the hardwood that would really give you the sense of openness you want…Ugh. It is a never-ending journey.

Sometimes you can’t change your situation. All you can do is change the way you think about it.

Here, we call that an Attitude Adjustment. We also call it a kick in the pants. Our thinking needs to move from victim to victor. From wimpy, whiny poor me to strong, glass-half-full I can. Caution:  Don’t ask your family to help you adjust your attitude. They will be too eager to comply, and you might not like the literal way they interpret things. Don’t even tell them you are changing your thinking. Just do it. (Thank you, Nike.) And do not let any negative talk (from them or you) get into your head. You have the power to do this, and if you are determined, no one can diminish that resolve.

Try spinning the negative reasons above, and see where your attitude ends up!

We have lived here a long time, but I am happy about that. We are building wonderful memories! Plus, now I know to plan on buying a new sump pump in three years because I know when the current one was installed. Knowledge is a good thing.

Life is busy, but it will not always be this way. Find the joy in every stage of life. It is there for the taking. The interesting thing about finding joy is that the more you take (or find), the more you can actually give. It is truly a contagious attitude!

Money is tight. Well, duh. Even if you have a healthy income, you probably still try to find good deals and be a good steward with what you have. Try to see it as a challenge. Homes can be beautiful on a shoestring budget. I once knew a woman who bought practically everything at the flea market or at yard sales.  Her home could have been featured in a magazine! The key is to budget for decorating and save up for the “stuff” you want.

Where to start? There is no easy answer here. Try making a list of what you want to do to your home. Then, prioritize the list. Then, just do something. Anything. It will give you that warm, fuzzy, glowy feeling to get started on something. Don’t forget to put some small items on your list for quick accomplishments! These are Baby Steps in home decorating. Achieving success on a small thing make bigger tasks seem more possible.

One thing leads to another. Again, duh. Suck it up, put on your big-girl panties, and move on. This is life. Your home is real, is biodegradable, and needs a little TLC. Every little thing counts, and you will pick up momentum as you roll along. You have the power to accomplish, to do, to cozy things up. Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there and do it. Oh, and who cares if you have to do things in stages? It will be worth the wait. Trust me.

Consider your pants kicked. Consider your attitude adjusted. Just take the first step. You will be surprised at how far it takes you.

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Posted in Just Thinking..., Tangents | 1 Comment »

Money Well-Spent

Apr 16th, 2010 by jamie

I have had my fair share of buyer’s remorse.

At 20, there was the beige and white striped outfit that I had to have (coincidentally-not identical to one a friend owned.) It looked great on the friend, but on me? Not so much. Plus, I never could wear it around her or anyone who might bump into her. Copy cat style is not a good idea.

Then, there was the ugly old car that I felt pressured to buy but hated from the start. It was big and ugly and didn’t have air conditioning [gasp]. My parents knew it was a bad idea, but I ended up with it anyway. (That was the year I apparently had no backbone and wasn’t smart enough to listen to my parents…Uhg. My early twenties were not my finest 1/2 decade.)

Of course, there were lots of uncomfortable shoes that I desperately needed, projects that would relax me or make me extra money that were never completed, the high-style-low-quality couch that is very uncomfortable and always rumpled-looking, and a whole host of other stuff that prove I have wasted some money in my day. Sheesh. I would hate to see the total on that!

Now, I am trying to be a little smarter with money. Note:  I said trying, so I still make mistakes. (Don’t get me started on the dryer that I wish would just die, already.)

Wanting to focus on the positive side of buying, I came up with a little list of things that are well-worth the money. Some might seem trivial; none are necessities. But these are some things I think was money well spent:  (It occurs to me that our dog is expensive.)

  • Sealants on kids’ teeth. Not sure of the up front cost, but both kids have healthy, beautiful teeth!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  • Dog grooming. Around $50 every 3 months. This might seem frivolous, but the hair was driving me crazy! I lasted for 8 years…I am thinking of learning to do this on my own. Just thinking. Now, if I could just shave the people who live with me, my hair problems would be solved!

    Lily after grooming...Ok. The bows might be a bit much...

  • Anal gland expression by the vet. $24 every 6-8 weeks. The vet offered to teach me how to do this. I declined. This is perhaps the best $24 ever spent.

    You'd look like this, too, if you needed your anal glands expressed.

  • Generic clip-on sunglasses. $13. I just bought these today upon the suggestion of a friend. I can’t believe the difference–or that I hadn’t thought of buying these before! Thanks to my friend Cathy, I no longer keep vampire hours.
  • Hubby’s Jeep. My hubby works hard and has always had practical, “family” cars. This purchase was pretty big ticket (though he got an awesome deal.) The reason it was money well-spent is the feeling it gives him when he is in in with the top down! Total relaxation and decompression. Definitely worth the cash.
  • Quicken. Yeah, I’m talking software. This check-keeping, account-balancing, downloading program has made my life so much easier. I always know how much money we have (well, almost) and can download transactions with the push of a button. Balanced finances make me smile.

    Quicken

I am sure to think of other personal best buys, but these were some that came to me instantly. Any money well-spent in your life?

Happy Friday! Enjoy your coffee.


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Posted in Just Thinking..., Shopping, Tangents | 9 Comments »

Going Green (It’s Not What You Think)

Apr 9th, 2010 by jamie

I try to be a good person. I really do. And I know how unflattering envy is. Even a small amount.

But I think you will understand–and even jump on my green bandwagon–when you see the unbelievable craft room at Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn. I do believe she can make anything in there. And she already has the supplies!

Unbelievable Craft Room by Stephanie Lynn

I’ve been working on my Laundry/Craft room and have “borrowed” many ideas from folks like Stephanie Lynn. I’ll give you a couple of peeks, but until I turn a little less green, I’m not ready to share the whole thing.

Sewing Center in Craft Room

Why do projects take so much longer than I think they will? (This is a question my husband just smiles about…After almost 22 years, he knows that when I say, “It will only take us a couple of hours,” he is in for a two-day adventure that involves at least four trips to Lowe’s or Home Depot.)

I used pegboard in my room, and I love how versatile it is! Functional, yes, but you can also use it for artful display. (Artful display is where you hang up something you like and think is pretty to look at.:))

I’ve been working on other fun stuff in my Craft/Laundry Room, too. Check out my retro telephone project for something a little quirky. Hopefully, there will be more to come. With a final look–when I figure it all out.

Here are some other envy-inspiring rooms. It isn’t easy being green!

Making This Home

Stamping for Sanity

Lucky Lola’s sewing room

House on Hill Road sewing room

My Seewing Room–The big windows with the view are inspiring!

Hope your weekend is full of creativity!

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Posted in Crafty Stuff, Organization | 1 Comment »

How To Install a Retro Phone

Mar 31st, 2010 by jamie

When my children were young, they discovered their grandmother’s telephone. They, of course, had seen a telephone before (we had a few in our own home), but this one was different because it had a rotary dial  and hung on the wall. They loved dialing the numbers! (They were pretty cute.)

Remember these?

My son’s amazement must have impressed my mother-in-law because when she updated and put in a push-button telephone, she wrapped up the dial-up and gave it to Max as a kind of gift. Well, he loved it but didn’t know what to do with it, so it sat in a box in his closet for a few years.

Last spring, I did what any good mother would do. I confiscated it. (With permission, of course.) I had the perfect spot–my basement laundry/sewing room. It had a phone jack a few inches from the floor–good, but not right for the big wall-mounted phone. My idea was to relocate the jack to a higher, appropriate level and put Max’s gift to use.

Where the old jack was...

I immediately went to Google. (Have I mentioned how much I love Google?) I found lots of help, but one site stood out:   Danny Lipford. This site offers an amazing amount of information on all

Where I wanted the jack to be...Use your imagination.

kinds of home improvement topics.  Check out his information if you are interested in doing this project.

It really was an easy project that cost less than $5. All I had to buy was the jack with a face plate made for wall phones. I purchased extra wire but did not need it.

The only thing I really had to purchase.

Before beginning, I took another telephone off the hook. I had read that, though there is not much current in a phone line, there is some current, and that if a call came in while I was touching a wire, I could get shocked. True or not, why risk it?

First, I removed the screws that held the current jack in place. When I pulled it out, I could see that the wire came from above. Yes! I loosened the 4 screws that held the four colored (green, black, red, yellow) wires from the phone line in place.

This is what I found behind the old jack cover plate. I could not get the box out because it was (and is) nailed sideways into the stud. There will have to be some creative drywall patching here later.

Next, I cut out a small square of drywall where I wanted to hang the wall phone. The hole was only about 2 x 2 inches. I just needed enough room to reach in and pull up on the wire. With a little gentle coaxing, and only one bad word (!), the line came right up.

Found the wire! It was about four feet directly above the old jack.

New location with successfully-fished wire coming out of my not-so-neatly cut hole. (This will be behind the telephone!)

Yea! Ready for the fun stuff.

The new phone jack/mounting plate had two parts. The part that fastened to the wall and held the wires that made the connection and the face plate that basically held the wall phone to the wall. I followed the directions on the mounting plate, first separating the two parts; then, I fed the four colored wires through holes and prepared to attach them to their corresponding screws. Everything was color-coded. Easy as could be.

New mounting plate--before wire from the wall is connected.

The wire from the wall has been fed through some holes in the plate. (The wire from the wall is really four wires, bound together.) Match the colors, and you will be fine!

Wire from the wall. See the four colored wires inside the wrapping?

One tip from Danny Lipford (home improvement guru) was to (after gently bending a small hook into the bare wire) hook the wire so that the wire hooks around the screw in a clockwise direction. That way, when you turn the screw (righty tighty) to secure the wire, it doesn’t fight to come off of the screw.

I used wall anchors to secure the back plate of the jack to the drywall. This telephone will not get a lot of use, but it is pretty heavy, and I did not want it to pull the screws out of the wall. Next, I reattached the face plate (according to the package directions.)

Finally, I plugged the phone into the jack, being sure the screw on the face plate fit securely to the grooves on the back of the phone.

Project complete! (Except for that little drywall patch that still needs to be completed to cover the old jack and exploratory hole.)

And yes. I then used my cell phone to call my home. The phone worked! It might not be the prettiest color (red would have been perfect), but it is definitely the coolest phone in the house–as long as you do not need to call someone quickly. :)

I miss my caller ID. Not that I would ever screen my calls, mind you...

Next, I need to pretty up the wall around the phone. That’s some fun for another day!

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Posted in Easy Fixes, Toolbox | 2 Comments »

Nip It!

Mar 26th, 2010 by jamie

Happy Friday Morning! Hope you are enjoying a hot cup of coffee.

This post is not about the movie or about the actor…It’s all about the scissors.

It truly is all about the scissors.

I pride myself on not taking mundane problems too seriously. Life is too short for that sort of thing. Right?

There is (at least) one exception to this. There is something–not a big thing if you are not a sew-er–that can turn me into a head-spinning, pea soup-spitting, screaming, out-of-control wife/mom. Truth is, I’m not exactly ashamed of it. In fact, I can’t believe more people don’t take this on as a cause:  Protect your sewing scissors!

Don’t allow anyone intent on cutting construction paper, hair, rubber tubing, or wire anywhere near your sewing scissors. It was just such a scenario as this that caused my initial transformation. Needless to say, my husband was shocked, and to this day, he keeps a wide berth from my sewing room. (Guess it worked!)

I have sewed home decor products my entire adult life as a hobby. For about four years, I sewed as a part-time profession. During that time I bought my first real sewing shears. They were a slick, beautiful, heavy-duty pair of Gingher Shears. Ah…The feel of them is indescribable. The beauty is almost too much to behold. Get ready…

World's Best Shears by Gingher (That is my name for them...I think Gingher refers to them as "9 Inch Knife-Edge Tailor's Shears." A wee bit on the under-stated side if you ask me.)

This was my first venture into truly good equipment. I think I paid close to $30 for these. (It doesn’t seem like much unless you have only purchased the pack of three for $12 from your local business store.) I later added the pinking shears. Equally beautiful. And I can honestly tell you that equipment can make a huge difference in the ease and precision of a sewing project. (I’m sure there are clinical studies to prove this, but I won’t cite them here.) :)

If you can purchase good shears, it is important to take care of them. Try these tips to keep your shears in good working order:

  • Use sewing scissors only on fabric. Keep them hidden if you have to. (See above transformation story for details.)
  • Do not allow children to use them–even on fabric. I have no doubt that they could sever a finger tip. We’re talkin’ sharp, folks, and efficient.
  • Store them in a sheath, if possible, in a cool, dry area.
  • Never drop them. This could cause the blades to become misaligned or even to chip.
  • Take care to keep straight pins out of the way of the shears when cutting fabrics. Pins can cause nicks.
  • Wipe the blades clean after use to prevent lint build-up.
  • A drop of oil periodically placed at the fulcrum screw will keep them moving as swiftly as when they were new. (Edward Scissorhands will have nothing on you.)
  • Have shears professionally sharpened at the first sign of dulling. Most sewing machine shops offer this service for a fee. Look for coupons!
  • Keep a decoy pair of paper scissors in your junk drawer. Tell your spouse to take special care of these scissors. They are special. [wink] Tell him they are only for the manliest of men.

If you take care of your scissors, they will last a lifetime. (I’m at least 12 years into it, and so far, so good!)

Happy cutting!

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Posted in Crafty Stuff, Soft Touch | 11 Comments »

More from the (Bulletin) Board Room

Mar 20th, 2010 by jamie

This is another bulletin board/memo board/pegboard (I think I love pegboard!) organizational idea. Pottery Barn was actually the inspiration, here. (Stephenie-The Cookie Mom asked me about this. Stephenie, hope this effort helps you in some way!) Pottery Barn Teen has a beautiful piece that anyone would love. Alas, it was not in our budget (on sale, it sells for $299), and after my daughter had flipped over it, I decided we could just make our own version. It was a fun process, and though we fizzled at the end (no frame to finish it off), we both thought it turned out great. Not perfect all over :) –just perfect for her!

Here’s the inspiration from Pottery Barn:

from Pottery Barn Teen

Oh…I had forgotten how cool it was!

Here is our version–now much-used (and it looks like it needs a clean-up, sweet daughter!):

PBT--Reinvented...Don't ask me why there is a wire coat hanger or old candy canes on here. She marches to her own drummer, and I love that about her!

First, we built a structure to mount the individual squares onto. We built it out of 1 x 2s that were left over from something. (1 x 2s are cheap, even if you do have to buy them.)  Nothing fancy (It doesn’t show.) Simply a square with three verticals.

Detailed :) blueprint for memo board skeleton

View from the side of the framework

The vertical boards are 12 inches apart.

Next, my sweet husband (OK. He might have sighed at this request, but he did it anyway, thereby making him sweet.) cut pegboard into 12 inch squares. We used the pegboard as a base for the cork tiles–even the ones with fabric on top. The pegboard was what I had on hand, but I have to tell you that it made the piece quite heavy. Heavy enough that it is hung on studs. If I were doing this again, I might use foam core as the base for the fabric and cork squares.

My daughter picked fabrics and decided the layout of the 3 x 3 grid, though because we used Velcro (keep reading), they layout can be changed. She opted to leave two squares as pegboard, which we spray painted silver. The rest we hot glued cork on top of and wrapped five of those with the various fabrics. She wanted a white board but I couldn’t find the materials. Also, a piece of metal would have been great (for magnets), but none was readily available that didn’t have to be cut. Did I mention that I am deathly (I tend to exaggerate) afraid of cut metal? I hear it hurts.

You could even paint a square of plywood or luan with chalkboard paint. The point is that the possibilities are endless!

To adhere the squares to the framing, we stapled strips of velcro onto the verticals and the edges of the squares. Believe it or not, placing the squares on the velcro perfectly is harder than it looks! In fact, we decided not to worry about perfection. It ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Not perfect, but good enough!

Slight improvement though still not perfect!

We prepared it for hanging with eye screws and wire. Wire seems to be a bit more forgiving when it comes to leveling. Just watch out for the cut ends. Lethal! (Again, exaggeration. But cut wire really can cut you.)

Other views:

Looking at these pictures makes me want to go back and make a frame to finish it off. (I think it could use one.) But for now, my daughter loves how it all came together! It was a good project for us to do together. :) And just think, if she didn’t have a place for all of these treasures, they would be in a stack or box somewhere. Oh, who am I kidding? They’d be on the floor.

Organization is good. Making it happen with your teen aged daughter is even better.

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Posted in Crafty Stuff, Organization, Parenting and Family | 2 Comments »

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