If you have wood floors or tile bathroom floors, try this:

It’s the Swiffer Vac. Yep. It will pick up Cheerios. And dog hair. And people hair. And dust.

Now, I’m no clean freak. (Just ask my husband.) But I do like a clean house, and this little device actually makes the job easier.

It costs between $35-$40. Check out the Swiffer website for coupons and technical information. It is worth the money. Trust me.

Embroidered Shirt from the 70s

Maybe you are not old enough to remember the stitched denim shirt. This shirt was completed by me as a teenager in the 70s. I made it for my younger sister, and she uncovered it as we have been sorting through our parents’ home. (They recently downsized and relocated–and counted on their five children to pare down a lifetime of collections and stuff!)

Close-Up of Embroidery. Sorry for the blur.

I had forgotten all about this shirt, but I vaguely remember making it for her after I had made one for myself. (Wish I had it now!) The design is not original. I believe there was a transfer kit:  You ironed on a design and went to work with whatever embroidery stitch you could do. It obviously lasted a long time! (And I’m pretty sure she wore and washed this shirt more than a few times.)

Front Stitching. Quite southwestern!

Dog on Cuff

My 15-year-old daughter is a crafter (and artist.) She learned to knit a few years ago and has made many scarves and hats over time. She has always loved doing things with her hands and finds it relaxing–just as I did (and do.) Makes me think hand crafts are somewhat genetic. Or maybe we just see what those around us enjoy doing and want to try it ourselves. My mom was a knitter (never a sew-er!),  I remember seeing her knit and make beautiful projects. My favorite was a knitted green coat.

We get such a good feeling when we complete something. I think this is because in real life, many projects/tasks are cyclical–like laundry. It is never completed! But a hand craft can be. Whether you quilt, knit, embroider, make cards, scrapbook, or whittle, it can give you great feeling of satisfaction to finish something. Also, a craft is a wonderful creative outlet that can bring some much-needed relaxation.

There are some amazingly talented people out there in the blogosphere. They are  sharing some of their gifts with the rest of us. They introduce, teach, and inspire us to make something. To be creative. You could spend all day surfing and discovering new things, but here is a good place to start:  One Pretty Thing. And, of course, explore Etsy. Many sellers at Etsy will also link to their blogs. Again, allow plenty of time!

Feeling inspired? I am. I think I might pull out one of my many incomplete projects and get going with it! Or maybe I’ll try to learn something new…

I have had my eyes opened to an amazing world of intelligent, talented, inspiring women. Total strangers who somehow know what I like and what I desire for my home. How do they do that, and (while I’m at it) how do they do all that they do?

I keep a blog roll that I update from time to time, but I would like to occasionally spotlight one or two blogs or websites. (Not much difference in blog and website…I gather that a blog has continuous new material…Plus, it seems a little friendlier than “website”. )

First, check out A Charmed Wife. This blog belongs to a twenty-something, self-professed housewife. She makes me proud of my domestic side! Did I mention I won a leather travel clutch from a drawing she hosted? Yeah, sounds shady, I know, but I got addicted to her blog even before winning. I promise. Great ideas. Great writing. Lots of quality information.

Second, go explore Miss Mustard Seed’s Creative Blog. She is a decorative painter (according to her blog) who generously shares the how tos as well as lots of inspiring photos and ideas about home decorating. Again, an amazing amount of quality information.

Have fun surfing these two blogs! Hope you find some decorating inspiration today.