My Filofax keeping me organised

Ok this is my first filofax post. Hopefully there will be many more to follow. I first had a filofax about 8 years ago when I used to work in a stationery department of a big department store. I fell in love with Filofaxes and I think I brought about 5 while I worked there.
I had forgotten about these until about a year ago when I was trying to decide how to become better organised, the Dominoe attracted my attention in Tesco's on offer which I purchased and attempted. This wasn't much of a sucess to me until I found my love of Philofaxy and Imysworld both of which have given me lots of inspiration and made me realise the importance of being able to customise this over some of the other organisational diaries out there.

I really wanted a much more grown up filofax and found this dusty one in my local WHSmith, I've never seen it advertised anywhere else or heard many people mention it, I had a money off voucher and ended up buying it for a crazy amount (about £35 when it should have been £90).

This filofax comes everywhere with me, it even has a space under my duvet at bedtime. (Heaven's knows what I will do when I find myself a man)

The filofax dividers themselves were pretty uninteresting so after rummaging around in my scrapbook papers I found some of this nice thick study ones and made my own, all of the dividers you will see are ones I have made myself, some with tabs and some with pockets on the back (not that I have actually used any of them) they all either have shiny gold on them or glitter! I love them all Inside the front of my filofax I have all of my store cards and my driving license (I'm currently living card free and only spend cash so this saves me carrying around an extra purse full of cards)

You can see I have typed up my new years resolutions, I Also have a table (on the left above) that is for all my sewing ideas, It allows me to write the dates, the idea and if completed. This stops me running away and making the newest idea in my head, and allows me to remember them for when I'm ready.

52 things in 52 weeks is also typed up. So I am always able to remind myself what the next weeks task is going to be to be able to purchase anything needed.

My next section starts off with my work timetable, being a teacher this is important to me, and allows me to work out when I have free periods during the week to do some office based work or when I can do my lesson planning during work time.

This timetable actually changes every term so theres no need to have this laminated although I did consider it. This is one of my favourite sections next, these are my to-do lists. I do have the filofax ones that come with all the filo's but I am not a fan of them at all, I always end up leaving the most important jobs to the end and get worried and stressed about not getting them done.

Therefore I have set up this table (that I have seen several other people using) that allows me to divide my jobs up into 4 different categories and helps me work my way through this.

Weekly food rota is a new section to me this year that my colleague at work (who is very new to filofaxes) designed and offered me a copy. Notice I have printed these upside down on the back. This has actually been done on purpose as I decided I would like to have the current week at the begining of this section. This means at the start of the week I can flip the paper over and have the current one looking up at me.

Brainstorms are an important part of my planning, for this I wanted something a little bit more exciting than plain pages. So I found clip art of a "brainstorm" (I know this term is politically incorrect but as its normally only me that sees them) I also have a list of 101 things in 1001 days, I've been considering doing this for a very long time, I'm not sure if its going to work for me though, I cant even fill 40 things I want to do in that time, so for now I think I will stick to the 52 things in 52 weeks

Finance section is helping me become incharge of my own money, hopefully aiming to become out of debt by the end of 2012.

Right at the back I have my loyalty cards that are infrequently used, and the zip wallet that contains spare post-its (very cute speech bubbles from Wilco's) stamps and index tabs.

For those of you wondering at the start of this blog - my supermarket trolley tag, a free one I picked up on a conference once, its a Womble. Saves me always digging to find £1 for the trolley if I go food shopping.

Here is a sneak peek of my next post, organising my paperwork, (None of this is new stationery everything I already had to hand)

Upclose of the boxes incase you can't read them.

Please let me know of anything that you would like to see, or anything in more detail. My next few posts are going to be the paper organisation and my brand new noticeboard I got for Christmas.

I also want to show you my work Filofax. Being a teacher we set things up a little differently, and I know I'm always searching the internet for ideas on how to set this up. So for all you teachers out there stay tuned!!!

New Years Desires

OK, 1.20am seems like a perfect time to complete my first post of the year.

I decided I wouldn't have resolutions but desires. Things I would like to be able to do during this year.

So here goes...

• Get better Organised



• Appear on the blogosphere more often



• Make myself at least 2 personal quilts



• Build on my me-made wardrobe



• Complete 52 things in 52 weeks



• Learn to manage my money better (save at least £100 a month)



• Enter in at least 3 more swaps



• Spend 15 minutes a night putting things away that I got out during the day

On that note I thought you would like to see my 52 things in 52 weeks list so far... This is a work in progress and is always set for a small amount of change throughout the year. Theres also quite a few gaps until I get closer to those weeks that are still blank. Some of the earlier weeks I might want to repeat, but I will keep you updated on that as we go along.

1. Completely set up Home binder and filofax for 2012



2. Sort out books - set any aside for donation/rehoming



3. Tidy clothes



4. Make one item of clothing



5. Organise kitchen



6. Organise fabrics



7. Organise workroom



8. Make one item of clothing



9. Sort out filing



10. Make mothers day gift



11. Purge around home for donations



12. Organise handbag and work bag



13. Organise and design new filofax pages



14. Make Three items of clothing



15. Concentrate on personal quilt



16. read a book



17. Only watch 1 hour of tv a day all week



18. Make one item of clothing



19. Spend no money all week






21. Concentrate on personal quilt



22. List 5 things to sell on eBay



23. Make two items of clothing



24. Reorganise/rearrange workroom



25. Make a quillow



26. Purge through magazines



27. Make one item of clothing



28. Only watch 2 hour of tv a day all week






30. Learn how to knit a pair of socks



31. Make one christmas present



32. Make alcohol for Christmas



33. Make one christmas present






35. Research into gifts for colleagues



36. Set up new work planner















41. Make Christmas cards/gift tags

There you go, my list so far. I will update this and in keeping with one of my resolutions I also aim to blog about my 52 things in 52 weeks list.

Happy New Year to all of you.

Tomorrow I have a post about my Resolution of organisation and an introduction to some things I will be using to help me this year.

Surprise play it forward....

SURPRISE PAY IT FORWARD


I have just spotted this great idea on Cherise's blog Sewing Along for a surprise pay it forward. This is how it works.

I will send a surprise gift to the first three people to comment on this post. This gift will be made by me and I will send it sometime within the next year. Exactly when you will receive it will be a surprise (it will probably be a surprise to me too :-D).
Of course there are some rules in this game. Here it goes:

Rules:1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people that comment on this post. It will be a surprise and may arrive at any time in the next 365 days (yes, a year).

2. To sign up to receive a gift from me you must play along too. Share the giving love on your blog by promising to send a handmade goodie to the first three people that comment on your blog post.

3. You must have a blog.

4. After commenting on my post, you have to post this (or similar) on your blog to spread the love. If you haven't posted in 48 hours then the next commentor will be chosen.

I don't know if three people will even get around to commenting on this, but I will say that if you find this post 6 months from now and only 2 people have left a comment, you can still be commenter #3 and get a random goodie from me! When you comment, I'll email you and get your address and then you will get something from me sometime before next December 2012.

Lots of love. Louise.xxxx

Advent Quilt Along 2012

Well my baby is pretty new but I've spent a few hours today working logistics etc out.

There's a Flickr group for us now (created in the past hour so please be nice) and make sure you join it and update on it cause I plan on using both here and there for a few sneaky give always from time to time.

Please don't feel you need to commit to this every weekend if your not able to, you can work this as quick or as slow as you want to. I personally know I need to be quilting this in the summer holidays to get it finished in time for Christmas 2012.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Idea for quilt along

Hey guys. Iv had this idea for a few weeks now and was considering posting this on here.

Would anyone be interested in this as a quilt along??

It's an idea of a quilt along. 25 blocks at 15" each. Dashing between. Perfect size for snuggling under or hanging on the wall.

I'd be interested if you wanted to do some adaptions to yours as well.

I would like to post every Saturday, 3 times a month and last Saturday as day off.

Each number will be totally different on each square and it would be up to you for order. I'd love to think I might have kids and maybe grand kids who would like to look for numbers in years to come.

I know it's a really basic sketch at the minute but I'd love to know if you might be interested. (please note Iv never done this before)

Customised Bag

Well I'm living a thrifted life at the minute. And in need of a new work bag.

While visiting my parents I cleared out a large cupboard full of my stuff and found this bag my friend gave me for a job interview (the lesson was about bag uses)

I decided to remove the Huggies label and decorate it. Now my appliqué is not brilliant but it makes the bag much more cheerful and I'm happy I've found a use for some of my scraps!!

I feel this is a great use of something I already had and being a baby changing bag there's so many useful pockets in it and it's a decent size for work!!!

Thought for the day

Recent made dress

It's a quick post tonight because I'm shattered.

I made this dress after much deliberation for a special occasion at work.

I made 3 toiles for the bodice before I settled on a good fit! I wanted to get this one perfect as I was using expensive 100% wool suiting fabric that I had in my stash.

I'm soo pleased with this dress just need to loose a little tum to be 100% happy with it!!

Btw I'm the one with long hair.

Small catch up

Ok Iv not managed to get my laptop totally working yet so I can only post the odd bits from my iPod.

This was the first full item I made in the new flat. I fell in love the single girl quilt and decided to try one block first to see if I was able to do it.

It was perfect for this, Iv had the wooden bar for 2 years and Iv never worked out what to do with it. Very fitting and works perfectly with this single girl in the entrance of my new flat.

To follow soon, recent clothes Iv made (and in the process of making) recent quilts n sewing projects Iv mastered. And photos of the flat.

Hope you are all well and glad to see me again.

Technical Glitch: Service will be resumed shortly

Hey guys,

Sorry for the silence for so long. Anyone would think I had been sent to Coventry!

Anyway, I am pretty much all settled in my flat now (last piece of furniture arrives tomorrow) I will then of course be taking lots of photographs of my new place

You are going to be some very lucky people to also see some photographs of things I have made recently - particularly to fill the gaps in my new home.

Hold on to the seat of your pants cause this ride could become a little bumpy!

See you again very soon,

x

In hiding

Just so you don't think I've disappeared off the face of the earth, I promise you I am still around however I'm in the process of moving house.

I'm going to have an attic space that will become my sewing room!!!!!!! I'm currently sooo excited. The move is soo close now and I don't feel ready. Will post pictures when I get settled in.

xx

MMM Item 1

Right I have decided to partake in Made by me March '11. Having joined very late, and not sure that I actually have that many clothes to wear. I thought it was best I got in both feet first as it was and make something for work.

I'm always annoyed in the morning that I cant find a pair of trousers or something when I dont have legs for skirts. Or that I have nothing brown to wear. So I found this pattern (while actually looking for a blouse pattern)

Its a womans weekly (magazine) pattern, there is no date on it at all but as far as I can tell from the fashions its probably mid 80's. The item I made was the trousers from view D. I had to make quite a few alterations (if I left all the pleats in after cutting the fabric out I think it would have been tooo detailed. So I took the one in the middle of the waist band out. They aren't actually sewn on the pattern but I figure that would make me look even more pregnant than I already do (even though I'm not)

The waistband wasn't working at all so allow me to wear these as high waisted trousers I removed the waist band and hemmed the top.

I also had to cut quite a bit away from the bottom of the trousers to get them to suit my length. Does anyone else find a height problem with Me made clothes?

Next project will be the top that comes with this pattern, and maybe the dress (shorter one) but with straps.

Make up Roll

Well this project has been on my mind for exactly 7 weeks. Since I realised that I get frustrated in the mornings searching in my brush make up bag (a free-bee from the make up shop, and yes I have two make up bags, one for brushes one for make up) for the correct brush.

I realised although I had picked fabrics out 7 weeks ago to make this that the stumbling block was with the fabric I had chosen although I loved the fabric I originally chose I was afraid of cutting into it.

I won the fabric that I used for the outside months ago on a giveaway. I fell in love with this print ages ago but have been keeping it for using large scale. Most things I make I like to piece pretty small, when I found this fabric again this evening I realised this was the fabric I NEEDED to make the roll from.

So pleased with how it turned out. Also learnt a few things along the way including more basting required for things like the folded fabric. I would probably have put the binding on all the way around, but quite like the cutness of it not being there on the pink rose (seen above)

I have also put on binding by machine, which I have never done before, and would probably only do for little projects like this as I struggled slightly but was really exciting to try.

And finally a thanks to my housemate who lent me his white box to take the photographs in!

Teaching a friend to sew

OK a friend approached me the other day telling me she is going ski-ing soon but doesn't have a case for her goggles. Having a love for making things I said it would be a breeze for me to make this for her.
All credit to her she asked if she could have a go at it herself with guidance. Well this was a little challenge for both of us as I didn't have a clue what to do, decided to go about making something similar to a pencil case with a top opening.

She choose the fabrics and I LOVE it!! Especially the square on the end of the ribbon pull.

Here she is looking very smiley, a very hard working student. (we are both teachers). Massive congratulations!!!!!!

Happy New Year and BOM

Well I guess i Had better jump on the band wagon and wish you all a Happy new Year.

I'm sure many of you have noticed the BOM in my sidebar recently. This is by little Miss Shabby called Birdie Stitches.

I got really excited by this bring both embroidery and quilting into one project so I whipped straight on the internet and ordered a jelly roll and plain fabric.

I've been eyeing up Bliss by Moda for ages and guessed at Kona Solids Aqua. When it arrived it was perfect, and this morning Little Miss Shabby released the first BOM.

I LOVE IT!!!