A Very Merry Christmas to You

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

Love, the Duran Clan

"Organize That Sewing Space" eBook Giveaway Winner!

Thanks for all the help and feedback on my sewing room situation! I got a bunch of emails and posts with some terrific insights and ideas!

Now, for the the winner of the Organize That Sewing Space ebook:

Congratulations Carol! Thanks for the input and support! Please contact me with your email address so I can send you your copy of  Organize That Sewing Space!

A Conversation About My Studio & Giveaway!

I need some help. Some input. Lets have a conversation about my studio.

This is our living room. It currently serves as a catch all for random extra furniture and that's about it. 

When we were house hunting, I insisted we find a home with a room large enough to be my studio. I didn't want to use a living room if it meant walking straight into that room from the front door. Like this:

Call me crazy, I just have this "thing" about my studio being the first room you see when you enter my home, and I don't want guests to have to walk through it to access the rest of the place.

 I have yet to see a home in Utah that doesn't have that front room, and we passed up several good homes because this room was the the only option for my studio. In short, I was throwing tantrums. Massive tantrums.

Then we found this house, and I thought it could work.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons we got this home, but I had my eye on the basement - it was the largest we had found in a Tri-level home yet.

Now that everything is somewhat settled downstairs and have done some sewing I've decided.

I hate it.

really.

I don't even want to go down there.

I can't even really explain why.

...maybe it's because I'm cut off down there, or it's so tight, or the lack of view...

So, I've been thinking about this for about a week or so.

What if I moved the studio... upstairs...into the living room?

Ya know, the room you walk directly into when you enter my home, the one guests have to walk through to access the rest of the place. The one I insisted I could never, ever, use as a studio.

So I had slick take measurements for me and draw-up a floor plan to see if it was even feasible.

And now I'm thinking I can totally do this... 

Next step, getting approval from the hubs:

Me: would you hate me if I said I wanted to move my studio into the living room?

Sarge: no.

Me: would it look weird in that room?

Sarge: yes.

Me: would that bother you?

Sarge: not as long as you kept it picked up

Me: okay. so I can do this?

Sarge: is this going to cost me?

Me: well, I want these things from Ikea...

Sarge: wait a couple months before you buy more stuff.

Me: okay, so can I do this?

Sarge: just don't ask me to help. I'm sick of moving.

Me: what if me and Anthony do it.

Sarge: just don't take forever, I don't want stuff everywhere. 

Some random thoughts:

• The rooms are similar in dimensions (one is directly above the other) But I'll have to do some major downsizing to make it look presentable. 
• I am capable of keeping it presentable, I've written an eBook Organize That Sewing Space!
• The round chair would stay, and I'm cool with that because it's my chair and I love it.
• I'd have to suffer with the bookcases I currently have until I get what I really want
• the pattern cabinet would be prominent, and it's ugly. I'd like to paint it, but couldn't until weather improves next spring...
• My teenage son is thrilled with the prospect of the couch & TV cabinet moving downstairs - he has visions of his own "man cave"
• The furniture is heavy, and there are 2 (short) sets of stairs to haul it up and down
• This room has the best lighting in the house
• I want it to feel more office than sewing room at first glance.

Here are some of my Pinspirations:

and this one does not use the Ikea Expedit, but I love the "built in" look

So what do you think?

Would it look totally weird?

Is it weird that I care?

Should I move upstairs, or suck it up and stay in the basement?

I don't know what to do, I'm torn.

I am giving away a copy of my ebook Organize That Sewing Space

which retails for  $9.95 at Youcanmakethis.com

If you would like to win this just help a girl out and leave me a comment with your opinion about my studio situation!

Entries accepted through Saturday, 12/10

winner announced Sunday 12/11

Studio Progress Update

I thought it was time for a studio update since the last time I posted about my studio you saw this mess:

Remember that? oh yeah, that was fun.

There have been a few improvements since then!

And, see how lazy  honest I am? I didn't even pick up before taking these pictures.

As you can see, I've managed to cram almost everything into this much smaller space.

 Bet you didn't think I could do it, huh?

Everything is pretty much in it's place now. I just need to do some fine tuning.

Like finally unwrapping all that ribbon....

and getting things hung up around my embroidery machine desk.....

Okay, getting everything hung up....

and clearing up all that crap under my cutting table...

You can probably tell I am a creature of habit. My studio has been set up in this basic format in almost every house we've been in. 

I seriously can't imagine sewing with out these tool boxes within arms reach. It's where I keep everything!

All I have left to do, really, is hang up some stuff, do some general organizing/tweaking and refold my fabric.

I should be happy, right? Relieved, thrilled?

I'll be honest.

I've done some sewing down here.

I'm just not feelin' it.

But I have a plan....

It Could Have Been Worse...

We woke up to an intense wind storm yesterday morning, with winds sustained at 50 mph and gusts as high as 100 mph. 

My son, who had left for school early - before we had even gotten up - left this note for me on the kitchen counter:

Little did he know, that was just the beginning...

By the end of the day, we lost most of our fence and our pool deck, but sustained little damage to the house. Once the wind died down we ventured out to assess the damages...

Even our lights couldn't withstand the wrath, lol!

All the remains of our fence is the gate - isn't that crazy?

and this section in the corner, which was shielded by a shed and pool

The wind was still blowing in the above picture - I can't believe our pool cover lasted! Several grommets were ripped off, but it still held out!

Before yesterdays storm:

After:

It could have been a lot worse, most of our neighbors lost roofing, sheds and trees.

We watched from our bedroom as the wind peeled the siding of the house behind us.

Wow. I have been through hurricanes when we were stationed in Charleston, SC - but we never had damage like this. My neighborhood looks like a war zone. 

On the upside, this gave us all an excuse to get out and finally meet each other. :o)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you from us!

ASG Meeting & Elections - You're Invited Too!

Tonight I am attending a General Meeting & Election for my local ASG Chapter here in Salt Lake City, UT.

I'm pretty excited, it's been a while since I've seen some of these girls, and these meetings are always fun.

Plus tonight everyone will reveal their Ugly Fabric Challenge entry - I can't wait to see what everyone came up with, but of course I'd like to win! Wish me luck!

Want to come?

If you are not a member but have ever been curious about ASG and live in the area now is a perfect time to check us out! 

Want to learn more about your serger? 

Tamra will be presenting "Creative Serging" to take you beyond seam finishing!

There will be refreshments, door prizes and our Ugly Fabric challenge will be judged-

and it's all free!

Hope to see you there!

Want to know more? Check out our new blog here: ASG in the SLC

 (Pardon the dust, I'm still working on it)

From Haunted to Stranded to Home Again

We took a little trip to Estes Park Colorado

to see the grandparents and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins too. 

We stayed in the historic Stanley Hotel

Over 100 years old, the hotel and grounds are beautifully maintained. 

Stanley, Estes Park Co

The Stanley is considered the "Most Haunted Hotel in America"

We took the History & Ghost tour, I was there for the history - the kids for the ghosts, of course!

To their disappointment, we never ran into any ghosts, but we left some candy for the "children" who haunt the 4th floor.

We also got to peek at the infamous room 217, where Stephen King stayed and was inspired to write "The Shining".

room 217

And yes. 

we did watch the Shining in anticipation of this vacation.

Mom of the year.

'redrum" on the bell tower door

The elevator was one of my favorite spots. All brass and shiny, it felt very opulent.

...and our reflections in the door made for a kinda cool and spooky picture.

We Also did some hiking at Bear Lake.

Bear Lake, Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park

It was pretty icy, but  I managed to not fall down. 

All the way. On my butt.

be Nice or Leave, Oscar Blues

One night we went to an awesome little spot called Oscar Blues for dinner.

A group of retired Marines were there celebrating Veterans day.

Dru's mom, who has never met a stranger, some how got got the Sarge into the middle of this rowdy celebration.

They kept calling him "Marine" and he kept replying "Air Force". 

Maybe they were too drunk to care, or maybe anyone with a high & tight is a Marine on Veterans Day.

Either way, I was happy, because they had chocolate cake.

One our way home we stopped in Wyoming.

Quite literally. 

On I-80 

because it was closed due to weather conditions.

After 3 hours of not moving we pulled a U-turn on the median and headed back to civilization.

because I had to pee.

really bad.

And in case you have never been there, Wyoming is prairie.

And there is no where for a grown women to pee on the prairie.

Especially when stranded on the highway, surrounded by Semi's.

The kids endured the extension on our vacation by spending all their time in the pool.

It's a hard knock life.

Now I guess we all have to get back to reality. The kids have a ton of make-up work and I have a General Meeting for ASG on Friday I need to prepare for! I have my ugly fabric challenge ready to go (more on that soon!), but I need to get to work on the favors/door prizes.

Going on Vacation

We're going to be away for a few days...
Taking a little family vacation and staying in hauntingly beautiful, and historic spot I've always wanted to check out!

image credit

Be back in about a week!

And The Winner is...

Connie!

who said "I would have to say Day 31 Throw a Party because the moving and unpacking is all over. I have moved maybe 5 times and once its all unpacked you are ready to make it your HOME"

Check your email Connie, you have a gift certificate for YoucanMakethis.com waiting for you!

 Thanks for playing along everyone and hanging out with me over these 31 day posts!

I {Heart} National Digital Scrapbooking Day

I love to play with real papers, but I don't actually make any paper layouts. 

All my Scrapbooking is done digitally, and today is National Digital Scrapbooking Day (DSD).

I love Digital scrapbooking, 

but I don't limit myself to just making Layouts with my digital scrapbooking supplies!

I use digital elements to make postcards I can email

And to create my own printables, like cards

or recipe cards

we've made printable signs for Boo-ing

I made this printable "chore reminder" for my teenage son

I almost always use digital elements to make invitations

Sometimes I make "Hybrid" projects:

...like cupcake wrappers

 Or this flyer and matching "edible image" for the cake

Or notebooks & planners

 Now that I have a silhouette I'm going to have to try the "print and cut" feature - I've seen some awesome digital element/silhouette projects out there!

Two places where I shop for my digital supplies are having sales to honor National Digital Scrapbooking Day,

Mymemories & Scrapgirls, check them out today for some great savings! And if your just getting started, or are digitally curious both websites have a bunch of freebies to get you started.

What do you make with all your digi supplies?? Leave a link so I can check you out!