My laundry room is an on-going issue in my home.  It is regularly gross and messy, so no wants to go in there and do laundry, so the laundry pile grows and on and on like that.  Clean laundry pile on one side and dirty laundry pile on the other side, with lots of miscellaneous mess in between.  What I find really frustrating is I clean it and then it’s a disaster all over again.  I realized that I wasn’t really being realistic about all of the different uses that I use my laundry room for and because of that it was becoming messy again and again.  I needed more order from the top down, so decided that I should take some time to plan out the different zones in my laundry room.  I measured the laundry room and graphed it out on paper, then I spent some time thinking about how to group all of the zones and make enough room for all the different areas.  Here are the uses that I considered for my laundry room.

Laundry room uses:

1. washing and drying area
2. housing dirty laundry
3. laundry folding area
4. clean laundry area
5. Knot Ugly booth display and merchandise
6. small tool area
7. gift wrapping area
8. canned food area/overflow food area
9. paper crafts
10. fabric area
11. overflow craft area

I added each of the areas to the graphing paper along with other details.  Then I got to work with a friend, who is a great organizer.  I worked out a trade with my friend and she was able to help me tackle the laundry room in about 4 hours.  I think having a friend help you with project that you have been avoiding is a great way to get the job done pretty painlessly and quickly.

You can see what a mess it was.  The laundry room had gotten to that point where it’s hard to put things away or use the space properly because things were exploding out of everywhere.

Here is another perspective of the mess, before we really got a handle on it.  Because I had a plan it was really easy for my friend to come over and help me and everything had a place where it belonged.

Day 22: Top Down View Laundry Room Redux

Here’s the reorganized laundry room.  This area is probably the most important area.  In the upper tubs I have linens.  In the lower tubs I put clean, but unfolded laundry.  This keeps the laundry folding table free from clutter and ready for use.   When the clean, but unfolded bins are full as they are now, it’s a sign to us that we need to fold laundry before the laundry gets out of control again.  Each of us has a tub, my son, my husband and myself.  We also have one for linens and other items that are communal.  I spoke with my husband and son about the new system and explained that everyone is responsible for folding his or her laundry.  I love it when I can find ways to make my life easier!

This is the overflow craft area, which you will have to take my word for, was a disaster.  The gift wrapping area is in there as well.

On the shelving is where the paper area and the canned foods/overflow food area is.  The lower area is where I keep some of the larger knot ugly booth display pieces.

Here is where the Knot Ugly merchandise and other small booth display pieces go.  To the left you can see where the dirty laundry lands from our laundry shoot.

Here you can see the washing and drying area, laundry folding table and the tool area at the right.  To the left just out of view is where the fabric ended up being moved to.  I am hoping to paint this room at some point in the future, but just having a laundry room that is managed is pretty gratifying!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Here are some pictures that I thought would make good desktop wallpaper.  If you click on the thumbnail the larger 1024 x 768 image will appear.  Enjoy!

If you need help in trying to figure out how to change your wallpaper on your desktop, you can go here.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like! by:jen

If you’ve been reading my blog during my 31 day challenge you might remember that last week I did a “Pay it Forward in 2011″ project, where I gave away 5 handmade projects that I posted on my blog.  Yesterday I received in the mail a handmade gift from one of the people who I sent something to.  Her name is Paula.  In the package I received from her was an icon shrine devoted to women with breast cancer and it stopped me in my tracks.

Since 2009 I’ve had a few friends my age pass away from breast cancer.  I have also dealt with a few of my own mysterious lumps, which were benign, but were still scary to experience.

My feeling when I received this was, “This is important and would be a great project to share on the blog.” I will give the details on how you can create your own.

Day 19: Pocket Icon Shrine – to Breast Cancer

This shrine is made from an Altoid tin.  It is covered in paper that appears to be Mod Podged to the tin.  On the inside of the tin is a picture of Saint Agatha, the patron saint of women with breast cancer (St. Aldegundis is also the patron saint of breast cancer . St. Peregrine is the patron saint of all cancers).  On the inside of the lid is a prayer to St. Agatha and there is also a votive candle inside.  Paula, the woman  who made and sent me this icon shrine,  uses icons that her husband paints.  You can find out more about them here.

Note: I am not religious person, but I don’t think you have to be to remember someone and honor them.  It can be quite therapeutic.

Cedar and Penny, I miss you deeply and think of you often.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Today I am going to go teach a craft Birthday party at collage, which is something DIY Lounge has been doing for years.   At this party we will be making treasure boxes. I needed to make up a sample for the party and I thought it would be wise if I made a gift for my friend Astrid, who has a Birthday coming up.

I buy cigar boxes from time to time so that I can host this type of party.  It’s great because you can get cigar boxes from various tobacco shops for next to nothing and some of them, as with this one are completely beautiful!  I think I paid either $.50 or a $1.00 for this one.  I can’t remember, I’ve had them a while.

The first thing I did was remove the stickers.  Usually I leave them on or collage over them with Mod Podge and interesting paper ephemera, but I wanted this one to be really clean with buttons as the detailing. You can see here that I made an “A” out of the buttons on the top and the front.  I adhered the buttons to a piece of felt cut in an oval shape to hide the lettering on the box.   I used hot glue on the high temperature to attach the buttons to the felt and then to attach the felt to the box.

Day 16: Treasure Box

Here you can see that I removed the lid so that you can see the detailing of the buttons better.

My thought was that I would find out when I will be seeing my friend next and then fill the box with cookies or biscotti or something.  What is nice about this size box is that if Astrid wants to she could use this as a recipe box , a jewelry box or a box for randomness.

Happy Birthday, Astrid!  I wonder if you will find this post before I give this box to you?  Let’s find out.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Some times you make something and think, yup, that’s it.  That’s exactly what I wanted.  That’s exactly how it looked in my mind and it’s so profoundly satisfying.

I have been making reconstructed sweaters for years now and selling them through my label, Knot Ugly.  I haven’t added them to my etsy store, but I have sold them in stores in Portland Oregon and at art/craft sales.

For years, when I would make a sweater I would think, nope, that’s not quite it.  I’ll have to try again.  Always looking to improve.  Always wanting it to be better.  Well, better has been found in this sweater!

Don’t get me wrong, there are a few things I would like to do differently in future designs of this sweater, but generally it’s just how I imagined it.  I LOVE it when this happens.

This sweater is made from an over-sized men’s cashmere sweater and fashioned down to a flattering woman’s sweater.  I really like the back of the sweater at the neck where it makes sort of a “V” shape.

Little details like that make me happy
and get me excited.

I use a serger to do all of my reconstructed pieces.  Occasionally I will use a sewing machine to finish a piece, but most of my work is done exclusively with my serger.

This sweater is for me to keep and enjoy.  Making something that you’ve been working on and not quite happy with for years and then finally getting the results you wanted is a beautiful thing.  It reminds me how important it is to keep at something.

Don’t give up or give in.
Keep on keeping on.

Now if you’ll excuse me I  am going to go bask in this sweater’s glory.

Day 15: The
reconstructed Sweater
of Sweaters

It’s day 15!  16 more posts to do to complete the project, so this is the half way marker more or less.  I started this project for purely personal purposes, but am getting even more out of it than I expected.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I made this scarf using chunky burgundy yarn with a carrier yarn that was thin and fluffy, then I stripped it with a chunky variegated  brown yarn.  The stitches I used were knit one purl one on opposite rows which is referred to as the moss stitch.  This scarf is so thick that it stands up at attention in a way that none of the other scarves have.  I have to admit.  I’m really attached to this one.  I am planning to make one for myself very soon and maybe some to sell some because I LOVE this.

Here I am modeling the scarf, morning hair and all.  I wanted to show how it sits on an actual person, because it can be hard to see this on the mannequin.  I got a picture of myself in it, but then I felt you couldn’t see the stitches.  Below are better pictures of the actual scarf.

Here you can see the sexy that is the this scarf.  I don’t care if I sound crazy talking about my love for this scarf, because it’s real. It fits so well and it so cozy.

This project is the last of the projects that I will be giving away.  Now it’s back to the wide world of projects for me {Rubbing hands together in a schemey kind of way}.

Day 14: Thick Circular Scarf -

This final scarf goes to Oona.  I know Oona and she is such a good person with great Karma so she gets the scarf I like the best.  Congratulations Oona on your winnings and for paying to forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I didn’t know what I was making when I started this one.  I let my hands do the work.  My brain was on auto-pilot.  I realized as I got into making this scarf choker that knitting and crochet does something to me.  It takes me deep inside of myself to a place of calm and egolessness.  Is that a word?  Eh, who cares.  I was talking with a friend about this and I decided that it’s something like a religious or a spiritual experience.  I can get into such a deep state of flow that hours can go by and I have no awareness of it.  I think knitting is my religion.  I’ll have to update my facebook status to say this (ha).  In all seriousness though, I think I need to keep a certain amount of knitting and crocheting in my life from now on because I think I live a lower quality of life without it.  I’m less calm without it.  Some people take medication or go on silent yoga retreats or other time and money intensive routes.  For me, a skein of yarn and a couple of needles or a hook can totally zen me out.

My Friend Jocelyn gave me these buttons.  I’m sorta in love with them.  They are kinda too much and I love that about them.  I think the contrast between the organic yarn and the uber bling buttons are in a cool juxtaposed balance with each other.

Day 13: Bling Scarf Choker -

For this scarf I used chunky yarn with size 15 needles.  I cast on 16 stitches, with the pattern was knit 2 purl 2.  When it as was long enough to fit around my neck I stopped and crocheted some button loops and then sewed buttons on the opposite side.  I added 3 buttons because 3 is the magic number and a great design number too.

Congratulations Andrea for winning this scarf and for paying it forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

When I realized I was planning on giving away a series of projects, part of my paying it forward in 2011 that I posted from the Facebook fan page, I decided that I needed to do projects that would fit anyone as I don’t know the sizes of each of the people who are winning something that I’ve created.  Also, people seemed so excited about scarves that I thought it would be good to stick with scarves for the give-aways.  What I decided to to was to start pulling yarn out a basket of yarn that I have.  With each project I was trying to create something unique and distinctive.  All of the projects I’m giving away are knitted on size 15 needles (that’s what was in the basket) except for one which was crocheted.

This piece, the skinny circular neck scarf is made from chunky wool yarn and I also used a carrier yarn, but the name escapes me right now. It is an uber soft, fluffy yarn to make this scarf unbelievably soft.  I knitted a row and purled a row throughout this scarf to make it smooth on the outside and warm on the inside.  When I was done I stitched it together and added a row of crochet to the top and bottom using the extra soft yarn.  This adds some stability to the piece and helps it stand up properly.

Day 12: Skinny Neck Scarf -

When I finished this scarf I realized that it could have doubled as a hand muffler/warmer too.  You know those old school hand muff things.  All it needs to complete this look is a long enough piece of yarn that is chain stitched and attached to the piece on both sides.

This skinny Scarf is for Stephanie.  Thank you for paying it forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I got out some yarn and felt compelled to crochet a series chain stitch loops.  I knew I wanted to do something that could be worn on the head, so I started making the chains and then I tried it on.  I made it just big enough to fight fairly tightly on my head.  Once I had it on I realized I needed LOTS more loops of the chain stitches.  I ended up creating 15 loops.

When I tried it on again I noticed how good it looked as a little neck warmer/scarf.  I have something like this that I wear all the time except it’s made out of t-shirts.  I love a wearable item that is a two for one, wearable.

This is a very, very simple hair/neck scarf.  It really doesn’t get any easier than this.  If you can do a chain stitch and a half double stitch (the stitch I used to secure each of the chain stitched loops with), then you can make this scarf.

Day 11: Mobius hair scarf + neck scarf

I posted this on facebook yesterday from the DIY Lounge fan page:

PAY IT FORWARD 2011! I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.

I said that I would give away the next 5 projects that I posted on my blog, starting with the scarf I posted yesterday.  This scarf today is for Erin.  Congrats and thanks for paying it forward with me!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I haven’t knitted in a while, which is ironic since I have a knit and crochet business.  I used to do lots of knitting and crocheting, but over the years I’ve done less and less.  I have a woman who helps me with the crochet work for my business.  I call her Crochet Kim.  Her skill level and speed are pretty unbelievable.  Years ago I developed over use syndrome, from too much knitting and crocheting.  Ever since then I try to be careful.  I do still love to knit and crochet though.  I remember when I was 7 years old my mom had a friend who was trying to teach her to knit.  It was sort of frustrating to me because it seemed really obvious to me what she needed to do, but my mom just couldn’t get it.  I didn’t have knitting needles of my own or yarn, but I thought I could probably knit anyway, so I went into my bedroom and found some pencils and thread.  I came out of my room about 30 minutes later with the dirtiest, most pitiful looking garter stitched blob you ever saw.  Some how from watching my mom try to learn for about 5 minutes or so I was able to understand the process of basic knitting.  I also remember as the piece was forming feeling really excited because I could see exactly how to correct my mistakes.  The structure of the piece was so clear.   My mom saw what I had done and handed me the needles and the yarn and said, “It’s clear who the knitter in the house is.”  She never tried knitting again and I never stopped.   

Sometimes I still think about how strange it is that I more or less taught myself to knit at such a young age and just how intuitive it was for me.  I was a horrible student in school so it wasn’t like I was some over achiever or something, it was more like I had always spoken the language of knots.  I still get really excited about untangling knots.  I guess I like to do it because it’s sort of like a puzzle.  It forces my brain into this mode that is both challenging and stimulating.  Some people do cross word puzzles or sudoku for me it’s all about the knots.

Day 10: Snuggly Circular Scarf

I was at a party and a woman was wearing a circular scarf that looked amazing on her.  I thought it would be a good project for this challenge so I stitched this baby up.

This scarf, the snuggly circular scarf was a very relaxing and meditative project.  It took me about 3 hours to make and I made it while watching a movie with my husband.  I used size 15 knitting needles and Woolspun yarn, which I had bought years ago, but had no plan for.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen