My First Diaper Bag!

So I've been telling people for quite some time now that I was going to make a diaper bag and I FINALLY got around to actually doing it. 

I don't know why but for some reason the whole idea of coming up with the design kinda stressed me out.  I think the pockets were the most stressful part of it - who would have thunk it!  I just kept looking at my idea, and messing with it until I almost cried.  I just didn't know exactly how to do the pockets so after hours of agonizing I got in my car and headed to Target to look at what they had and how they did it.  Well, that didn't really help b/c they don't have anything cute in their store at all!  So I called my friend Nicole who is a mom (and very stylish so I knew I could trust her) and got her feedback and just decided to go with my gut feeling and it turned out great! (Well I think so at least!)

It's not too big - 15x10x6 w/ 23' straps, 6 large pockets inside, and a magnetic snap closure.  It's functional as a diaper bag, but as cute as a purse so you can look stylish carrying diapers and bottles around.

I think I'm going to try and make one just a tad big bigger as well, but I might try and master this one first before I tackle another one.  I'm not a mom so any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!  But I think if I were a mom I'd want to carry around something like this...

I'm so glad to have this finally done and out of my way - it's been stressing me out for quite some time!

Here are a few pictures:

Beauty Tip

Hello ladies - this is for all of you!

Recently I was reading a magazine and learned this great tip and I just have to share it with you!

So how many of you have one of those scary eyelash curlers?  I've always had one and swear by it, but I can't afford to pay for a nicer one so have just had to settle for the so-so job that it's done.  Well, let me tell you, this tip will work WONDERS and you'll never have to pay the big bucks to get that big curl.

OK - let me get to the point now. 

When you're ready to curl your lashes, take out your curler.  Then take out your blowdryer and turn it on high heat, aim at the curler for about 7 seconds (not too much longer or you might burn your lashes off), then apply to your lashes.  It will honestly give you the gorgeous big curl that you've always wanted!

I mean, it makes sense - it's like a curling iron working its magic because it's hot, but it never occurred to me to do this until I read about it in my magazine and I just can't keep it to myself any longer.

Hope it all works for you!

Fireplace Makeover

So my grandma has this brick in her family room and it's pretty ugly.  I feel mean saying it, but it's true.  Sorry Grandma! =)  The brick and grout are the same color and are cold and just blah - you just can't look at it and think it's pretty.

So my aunt Sandy gave me some inspiration and we decided to paint the bricks and see if we could warm up the room.  My cousin Julia helped me out a couple days and we made fun while doing it.  But it was a lot of work - about 3 full days of painting, but it was all worth it because the end result is just fabulous! 

We painted the grout one color, and then used 3 other brown shades for the bricks.  No pattern - just completely random, but I like it that way.

I forgot to take pictures before we started, but the right side is close to what it looked like before - we had already painted the grout in this picture, but you can get an idea of how blah it was.

This is ALMOST what it looked like finished - we still had to finish the edges on a bunch of the bricks, but you get the idea - isn't it SOOOO much better! 

I just love it and it warms the room up so much - what a cheap makeover! And it makes me even happier b/c it Grandma loves it and it makes her happy.

Now, what project should I start next...

The Ugly Number 30

So I'm 30 today - I'm officially old.

I have to say, I've been dreading this day for quite some time.  I mean, seriously, 30 seems like such an OLD number! (Sorry to those of you that have already experienced this number, but come on, you know it's true).  I've always pictured people this age as old, mature, put together, and progressing in their life - but I don't feel like that at all!  I'm probably more unstable right now than I have ever been at any time in my 20's - I'm single, no job, and living in my grandma's basement.  Real impressive, huh?

But today, I just couldn't feel sorry for myself when I looked back at all the wonderful things I have in my life - a wonderful family that loves me, gobs of wonderful, supportive friends, a possible job opportunity doing something that I love,I've traveled the world, and many more blessings that I can't even list.

I realize that I'm nowhere near to where I thought I would be in life, but I'm OK with that b/c I know that I'm where God wants me to be.  And where better to be than in the hands of God.  He's got plans far greater than I can ever imagine and I can't wait to see what He has in store.

So even though I've been dreading this day - now that it's come, I'm going to do my best to embrace it and make it a memorable decade.  Besides, I hear that the 30's are the new 20's... ;)

Watch out 30's - here I come!

A beautiful Minnesota morning

I woke up this morning to the most BEAUTIFUL view!  Everything was frosted over and looking as fresh and sparkly as ever.  It was Saturday, sunny, warm (ish) and nothing was going to ruin the day.  I just love days like this!

Here are a few pictures of what I saw when I looked out my window today - I just had to take some pictures - everything was breathtaking, but these pictures really don't even do it justice.

Do you see the size of these icicles?!?

Hard at work

I've really been slacking on this blogging thing - haven't quite gotten in the habit of it yet.  But I haven't been slacking in the sewing department - just finished 3 this week, and will finish a 4th one yet today (hopefully!).

Here are a few pics of what I've been working on.

Let me know what you think!  Happy Friday everybody!

First Sale!

Woohoo!  I made my first sale on Etsy!

I've only made one, but it's a start and enough to get me moving forward and excited to see what is ahead.  I have a couple ideas for new designs, but I think I'm going to make a few more with the same patterns that I already have.  Now that I have those patterns down pretty well, I'm ready to start and attack some of the yummy fabrics that I have been waiting to cut apart.

Now I have some real work ahead of me... =)

New Etsy Store!

I opened my new shop today - yeah!

My shop is called Dancing Dahlias and is listed through an incredible site called Etsy.  In case you haven't been fortunate to hear about it before, this site is for all crafters that want to sell them creations.  I discovered it a little over a year ago and am totally addicted.  I've made several purchases there, and just recently bought some rings - great quality, super cute, and way cheaper than I could find in a store so that is always a plus!

I've been saying for a couple months now that I wanted to open my shop but it has taken me until today to actually go through with it.  There was so much research that I had to do - way harder to go into business for myself than I thought it would be!  First I had to get a business license, then a Tax ID#, then figure out tax rates and laws, etc.  Then of course I had to make the purses - had some trial and error, but I'm finally getting better at it.  After that I took tons of pictures, edited them, wrote descriptions, and got around to uploading them - yeah!  I only put up two today, but will be uploading new ones throughout the day tomorrow.  I'm trying to space them apart so that they will continue to pop up throughout the day and will then hopefully put up some of my "creations" every day.

Here are a couple pictures of some of the purses that I've made:

I'm a little nervous - not sure how my items will be received, but at the same time II'm also very excited to start this new adventure and see where it leads.

Please feel free to tell your family and friends about my shop - I won't mind! =)

Even if you don't want to buy anything, please take a look and let me know what you think - I'd appreciate any critiques that you might have!

Good night and sweet dreams!

Here we go!

I never thought I would be plunging into the world of blogging, but I have finally broken down and I am ready to jump in and do my best to keep my head above the water.

A little about myself and why I am doing this blog.  My name is Kristen and I live in MN on a hobby farm with my grandma.  I moved in with her about 2 years ago after my grandpa died.  It's a huge blessing living with her - she's one of the best roommates that I have ever had and we have lots of good times together (well I do at least) =) I had been throwing around the idea of buying a house of my own when I decided to move in with her so that was put on hold for awhile and I am so thankful that it was!  Not long after I moved in with her I got laid off from my job (the whole company actually folded) so I was out of a job.  I didn't think that I would have any trouble finding anything, but now, just a little over a year later, I am still out of work, have run out of unemployment, and have no possible job leads.

Side note: About a year ago my grandma gave me her sewing machine. I didn't like sewing or being creative - thought it was too much work and was overwhelmed with the idea. I decided to give it another go since I had some free time and guess what - I LOVED IT!!!! I'll admit, it was a little stressful at first and confusing to figure out how things worked, but now that I'm getting it down I just love coming up with new things and trying to create them.

OK - back on track: So, since I can't seem to find a job, I've decided to make a job for myself.  With these tough times we have to be a little more creative so that is what I am going to attempt to do!  I will be opening an Etsy shop by the end of the week (Lord willing) and hope to get my creations out in some of the local boutiques in the area as well.

I'm hoping to use this blog to share some of my creations with you, as well as recipes, coupons, freebies, and whatever else I find that I think is interesting.

Enjoy!