October 11th

(I originally wrote this post last October 11th, 2011. I posted it, and then shortly had stage fright and pulled it.  It's back.)

October 11th:

Yesterday was just another Monday, just another day on the calendar.

But for me, it will always be a day marked in my mind in a special way. There was a particular

October 11th that was supposed to be amazing in a baby kind of way, adding a sibling, a daughter to our family. December 23 is that kind of day too, where two more babies were to be here. But after ultrasounds, seeing and counting heartbeats, tests and disappointments, none of these children were to be with us here on earth.

I don't always think of our losses on these particular days; we don't mark the days as anything special, and enough time has gone by that the knife-dged sharp pains are gone. I'm not over it, but I have embraced life as it is now, and I am thankful every day for the child I am blessed with, and never take a day of him for granted.

But I do think of them often. I have the ultrasound photos tucked away as proof that they did exist, and they did. The do. They always will. But not in a painful way.

So why do I post this? For every one doing after me. For those who are experiencing that sharp pain now. For those who will. For those of you that haven't, but will know someone who has or will. For preparation, for education, for warmth and hugs and understanding.

You may know someone who....
-- isn't excited about coming to your baby shower right now;
-- who doesn't seem so excited about your kids;
-- who doesn't think your kids are quite as amazing as you do;
-- who doesn't want to ooh and aah over your baby photos;
-- who just doesn't seem, in some way you can't figure out, quite right.

Stop and think: are they childless? Even if they seem completely happy and over the top with their life, travel at the drop of a hat, are completely enthralled with their DINK* life?   Do they an "only"** child, or children that are spaced very far apart? I could go on, but I hope you get the idea. You just don't know. Someone you know, love, and feel like you know everything about may be dealing with the stress and grief of pregnancy loss or infertility.

We did an amazing job of living our lives and being happy during the fifteen years we didn't have children; we shocked some people (even close people, family) when we did have a child. We hid it, by choice, because it was easier in a lot of ways. So even if you are completely sure you know your best friend, sister-in-law, person you pass in the hallway at work or church, you may not.
So I write this for a few reasons: to raise awareness, educate, answer questions to which there are no easy answers. Just be aware.

So what should you do? Depends. Not sure. There aren't any easy answers or ways to help. Each person is different. I know, that isn't a lot of help, but that will take another post on another day.

Today I just want to meditate on the issue of "maybes". Maybe you have been here. Maybe a friend has or is right now. Maybe? Think. Be gentle. Be aware. Be kind. You never know what the person next to you is really going through.

And for those of you visiting wanted more of a "nails" than "Mom" type of post
today, hang on. Tomorrow is coming. The hammer and paint brush are coming out.

*(double-income-no-kids)

I'm linking up today with "Inspiration Friday" atAt the Picket Fence.

** only children, a term I hate, and am in a search to find a replacement.  Ideas? Please share!

Blog-iversary #One!

It's here....my first blogiversary as A Mom with Nails!  How exciting....for me!  I started blogging years ago when my son was born as a way to keep family up to date on his first years.  I was hooked on the process, and really enjoyed it. 

I had the blog name "A Mom with Nails" in my head for months before I took the plunge to start this second blog.  I am "a mom" at home doing the best I can for my family; "with nails" added because of my love for all things involving power tools and DIY, which has always been a part of my life.  I thought the two together was funny, since the only nails in this house that look good usually are near the hammer, and not on my fingers or toes.

So here I am one year later.  I remember wondering what I would possibly write about for the next few weeks, let alone one year.  It really hasn't been an issue.  There are always projects to be done, and I've just shared them as I've gone along. 

So here are my reflections of year one:

What I wanted to share: I was raised in a family of diy'ers. If it needed to be done, it was done by the people in the household.  Clothes were sewn, meals made from scratch (and usually from something in the garden or caught in the river), repairs made, bathrooms improved...well, you get the pictures.  There were no repairmen in our home, and not much shopping done.  We did it ourselves.  I'm grateful for that upbringing.  Not only did I learn to cook and sew from an early age, I also learned to use power tools without fear (and without issue of being a girl). 

A lot of that upbringing instilled in me a sense of just jumping in and trying, whether it be to recover cushions or build a shelf.  Give it a shot.  Try...really, you can do more than you think you can.  And in the day of internet access and videos online, there is so much help out there at your fingertips!  Take advantage!

What I have learned:  I need this blog to keep motivated.  Before blogging, I had projects on my to-do list that just never got done.  With the blog in my mind, I'm always thinking of what comes next, and what I need to do to get a post or two up this week.  It's been a great motivator, and has pushed me to try some new things and see how they work out.  

I've also learned a few things from reading a lot of other blogs I really enjoy.  I am who I am.  I am a mom who can do a lot of things that are worth sharing.  I'm also a blogger how has no talent for certain things.  So the things you will not see here?  Cute vignettes on my mantel or tabletops, a perfectly decorated house or finished room that will grace the pages of any magazine, style or fashion tips....well, you get the idea.  But I will continue to blog about the things I do and do well!  This is more of a projects blog and how-to and motivational blog rather than a "here's how to style a gorgeous perfect room!" type of blog.  That's who I am!

I've also learned that I can do more than I think I can (and you can too!).  I can build a treehouse treehouse. I can install a cork floor. I can build a bench bench from an actual pattern.  If I was younger, I'd maybe insert a "holla" around here but I'm not. 

Goals:  To keep blogging for year two; to keep projects flowing; to share changes that are coming in the next few months to my hand stamped jewelry business; to connect you with other awesome blogs that I enjoy; to share more issues that are near and dear to my heart, which may mean more "mom" posts than "nails" posts.  Who knows, but I'm going to write about what I care about, which is more than what is contained in the walls of this house (besides the live things, of course!).

So happy one year to me!  I'm glad you (all the tens of you!) are here.  I do this mainly for myself, but if anyone else is enjoying it, then that's just the icing on the cake. 

Best news of the day? My sewing machine is home....and fixed! And working better than before!  That's a great start to a new bloggy-year!

For bloggy history:

• I have written 313 posts
• I had 89 comments
• I had 10,354 views
• My readers include those from the US, Canada, Ukraine, China, Belgium, France and Germany! 

So thank you for stopping by, and leave a comment if you get a second.  Tell me where you are! I'd love to hear from you.

And tomorrow: A post I wrote, and then pulled.  It's back.

Crossing off the list: Porch Cushions

I linked up with  today for this post!

Unusual for my posts, but today I have to start with the after, because it's just so striking, and I'm so excited I can't wait.  Here it is: 

 

For comparison, here was the same sofa as we bought it, with generic beige cushions.  Only the kitties liked it. 

 

 

And again, a beautiful after:  

I just can't stop looking at it because it's so pretty!  I've had this fabric since February when I stalked it for weeks at Joann's.  They were moving down the street, and everything was being discounted.  I fell in love with this pattern of outdoor fabric, but the cost was very high (it's a very good quality).  So I waited and stalked, and finally the sale hit the price I needed it to be, and I grabbed all they had, and hoped it would be enough....and it was!

So why did it take me 7 months to do this?  Well, it was a little overwhelming to think about.  I had to process and plan in my head how I would do it, and the more I thought, the more overwhelmed I became.  So overwhelmed that I just put it off and did other projects.  Finally last week I pulled it all out and decided to just jump in, and that's when my machine broke.  Thanks to a handy friend I got a loaner machine and got to work.

What works for recovering cushions is to use the covering you have as a pattern.  Take it apart, and use each piece to cut your new pieces. 

Here's where we get to the question: What's the worst that can happen here?  Well, the worst is that you take apart your old cushions and can't figure out how to make the new ones, and you are left with no covers.  In this case, I was willing to take that chance since the old ones were only trash-worthy.  Something had to change, so off they came.

Here you can see the largest piece of one of the top cushions, taken apart, and being used to cut the new piece.  I studied each cushion as I took it apart to know how to put it back together. 

 

Ahhh.....first one done, and already it looks so much better, huh?

The toughest part of this job was definitely putting in the the zippers: not my favorite part of any sewing job, but definitely doable.  I'll try to post a "how to" post soon!

And just for fun, here's one more peak at the new cushions....it makes the whole chair and the whole porch look new!

So cross one project off the "to-do" list; down to 11!

1. Finish painted the basement steps
2. Finish painting the family room cubby
3. Sew curtains for family room
4. Finish cushions for porch   YES!
5. Sew fabric bought for dining room
6. Finish tile project mid-phase in garage
7. Finish garage storage project
8. Finish office shelf project
9. Finish quarter round in basement (yes, how sad is that?)
10. Build shelves in garage (wood already bought)
11. Finish back of hutch
12. house numbers

Onward to the next project!

Catching up: Projects I need to finish

This is going to be painful. For me, not you. 

I'm going to list it all out: the projects that are mid-phase, started but not finished, fabric bought but not sewn kind of list.  Because it's always fun to start a new project, but not so fun to finish the ones you have.  But this is going to be a bloom-where-you-planted or love-the-project-you're-with kind of week(s). 

And this list is embarrassing when I think about it.  And it is worse to write it down, but here goes:

1. Finish painting the basement steps
2. Finish painting the family room cubby
3. Sew curtains for family room
4. Finish cushions for porch
5. Sew fabric bought for dining room
6. Finish tile project mid-phase in garage
7. Finish garage storage project
8. Finish office shelf project
9. Finish quarter round in basement (yes, how sad is that?)
10. Build shelves in garage (wood already bought)
11. Finish back of hutch
12. house numbers

OK, so that's just 12 projects....how bad is that?  Bad.  Because there is already another project pulling my attention (but I'm ignoring it so far). 

This is my list.  Ten projects either in process, unfinished or supplies-bought-already projects.  And they need to get done before any others are started or dreamed up (ok, that's probably going too far!). 

So that's my week...or two?  What are your plans?

Now, to get up from a sleeping, curled up warm puppy and get to work!

Saving money on fabric

Fabric can really add up. If you're like me, and can't make up your mind, it can be even worse. Sometimes you need to get creative. Enter my score:

30% off coupon at Kohls, and I picked up a tablecloth and a shower curtain.  No, I don't need either of those, but really liked the fabric.  And for a grand total of (about) $15, I have my choice of new.....

.....curtains? Or Pillows? Or a little of both?

 

The gorgeous sunburst pattern at the bottom was a remnant find, but sadly, it wasn't enough to make the three valences I wanted, and was too heavy for pillows.  But the colors were right.  I was going to take it out one day and see if I could match up the colors, but these sale finds did pretty good on a whim, huh?

Add in a few napkins (yes, the above are napkins!)....and I think I'll have some luck!

So fabric is fabric, whether it was meant to be hanging from a shower rod,  curtain rod, or laying on the table. 

 

Hopefully I'll have a newly repaired machine soon to catch up on all of these projects.

 

But in the meantime, I'm going to be keeping an eye out for fabric....of all kinds!

 

 

A moment for Poland Please....

I was blessed this morning to hear a bit about the plight of woman and families in Poland.  In post-communism state, there is a 97% unemployment rate among the men due to alcoholism.  The women needed a way to support their families and their new church.  The mission worker started teaching them to sew, and fast forward, they are selling these beautiful Nativity sets.  I was able to see hem this morning, and I tell you, these are top notch and beautiful! 

Here is the link to the mission: and the nativity sets.   You can also meet the families that are participating in this project, and see the changes that have impacted their lives. 

The women are supporting their families, bringing in to their homes things like plumbing and a stove.  More importantly, they feel like they have worth and a reason to be proud.    They have started using their meager savings to support a mission in Africa!

Please check out these beautiful sets, and let me know if you have any questions.  The woman that is in the US selling these for the mission was in Poland while in the area for military duty with her family.  She would just love to get the word out more and sell these sets!

A moment for Poland please:

How to Hang a Wall Shelf

We enjoyed a free (and rare) weekday shopping excursion yesterday, just wandering a few stores with coupons to see what we could see.  One problem area I've been working on is in our downstairs bathroom.  It came with a pedestal sink....which I would never have picked.  Pedestal sinks look nice in a small bathroom, but leave a small bathroom with no storage.  This is where the boy brushes his teeth in the morning before school, and it always looks like this:

Enter this: I've been working on figuring out how to make my own, but for the sale price of $20 for three shelves, I decided to "shelve" that lesson for a while!

These pre-built shelves are very easy to install.  You will need a screwdriver, wall anchors (in you're installing into drywall), a level, tape, paper and a rubber mallet.  I realize now I didn't really use the rubber mallet, but it's one of those tools I always take with me....it really comes in handy very often.

Here is the back of the shelf, with two hanging plates ready for the screws.  You need a template of some kind to figure out how to get your screws into the wall so they are exactly the width of the holes in the shelf.

 

To do this, I lay a piece of sturdy paper over the back of the shelf; poke two holes where the screws go (I used a sharp pencil)

I taped the template to the back of the shelf, and added two pieces of tape that could be taped to the wall; then I placed the shelf on the wall where I wanted it.  Juggling the shelf with a level on top of it is not easy, but doable.  Once it's in place and level, I taped the paper to the wall, and then removed the tape from the shelf.  What's left is the paper on the wall, with the two holes in it. 

This shelf came with it's own drywall anchors and screws; predrill a very small hole, and screw in the anchors.  Then put the screws into the anchors leaving a gap of about 1/4".   Then you are ready to  hang your shelf!

 

 

This works so much better, and for $20, I still have the large shelf left over!  Score!

 

No, the new turquoise vase is not going to stay there; I was just trying it out for fun.  I'm not sure what is, but it will be much smaller than that.  I also still need to find things for the bottom shelf to hold his toothpaste and brush.  But this is a major improvement from a minor job. 

 

Now, if I could only hang things straight the first time, it wouldn't have taken so long!

 

Tomorrow: Check back to see what other items I scored on clearance...they were even better deals than this.  And with a loaner sewing machine coming my way tonight, I may even be able to make them happen!

 

The worst happened....

OK, not the worst thing ever, but the worst as in "what's the worst that could happen?" type of worst, get it? No?

Ok: again, before I consider a project, I just think of what could go wrong, decide if I'm up for that, is it worth it, could I spare the expense, can it still be repaired if I goof kind of thing.

Go up on the roof? Nope...not gonna happen.

Fix an electrical outlet? Well, this creeps me out, but yes, I have repaired and replaced outlets and fixtures.  Just when the breaker for the entire house has been turned off.  No chances.

Sew? Huh? Well, there's not much risk in sewing, so I finally jumped into my project today!  I bought fabric to recover the outside seat cushions and have been putting it off for months.  Today, I hauled down the sewing machines, took off the cushions, cut the new fabric, and voila...I'm thinking man, I'll have this first one or two out by lunchtime!!  What's the worst that can happen, right?

Right!??  W.r.o.n.g.

Why? Because the machine is broken.  When you want to sew, and your fabric is spread out everywhere, and you're excited, and you're ready to roll....the worst thing is to have your machine not working.  And the only repair place in town for Singer machines is out of business. 

I did take it apart, googled repairs, Ehow.com and other sites for information.  And they all agree: this problem is not one for the diy-er.  Good to know. 

So until I figure out if I can find a repair shop close by, or if it's worth just replacing (it's not a fancy-dancy model, I just need to sew) ...enjoy this photo of my beautiful fabric just ready to be tackled.

 I know. It's beautiful.  I spotted it last year when our fabric store was moving and clearing out....I stalked it for weeks to get it at the best price.

The old cover over the new fabric as a pattern....

 Ready to cut!!!

 

 And ready to sew!!!

 

 And the kitties get to sleep on the old cushions for a while longer.  Because when the new beautiful fabric is covering the cushions, we're gonna halfta talk....

9985 and 11 equals:

No, this is not a math quiz, so the answer is not 9996! 

9985: The number of page views right now....headed towards 10,000!  Next goal: 100,000!

11: The number of days to my one year anniversary of blogging as A Mom with Nails. 

Thoughts:

1. Yes, I have enjoyed it;
2. It has kept me motivated;
3. Hmmm: That's about all I can think of!

Yes, those were my goals for the first year: Keep at it, enjoy it, and use it as motivation to keep projects moving along. 

So far, so good!

6 quick projects you can do now!

This has been a week of getting over sickness, being an accountant, making jewelry to fill some orders, meetings and normal life kind of things; not so much house creative stuff. But right before dinner, I remembered this cool vase I spotted at the Dollar Store this week...yes, a dollar! Then as I did last year with some fall colors, I pulled this one out in under three minutes.  And it cost....one dollar.  

Of course I didn't take a picture of the vase before, but you can get the idea.  I liked the texture, and it reminded me of a vase I saw for around $20 last week. 

I don't know yet where it will live, but I love the bright turqoise color....recognize that?  If not...check out this post!  This will be my third project with this little $3 sample of Lowe's paint...project #2 is drying in the basement.  



amomwithails.com



Project #1


So in the spirit of "craft/decor projects you can do in a minute", here are some other ideas you can do this weekend!

bhg.com
 

#2: Hot glue some funky cool trim on a lampshade;



Thrift Decor Chick
#3: Drop some candy corn (or beans, or dried peas) on a vase and stick a candle in it. Then recycle it at Christmas with some cranberries!  (again, dollar stores are great sources for glasswear!)

 #4: Cut open a pumkin and pop some cool drinks in there: Cannot wait to do this for Halloween!

#4

 

#5: Have your child (or you) paint a leaf, print it and frame it.

 

 

my bathroom

#6: Frame a fall feeling piece of scrapbook paper....or two....or three....

Have a great weekend!

The Joy of: Beef Stew

I don't like beef stew usually; it has a funny beef bouillon taste that I don't care for at all.  Imagine my chagrin when I had dinner at a friend's house years ago.  I always looked forward to it, as she has the best, home cooking, feel good recipes to share.
 
But this night: Beef stew. I was so disappointed when I sat down to eat. 

Since that night (well over 15 years ago), I've made her beef stew recipe countless times. I love it.  It is, by far, the best beef stew I've ever eaten.  It's also the only beef stew I've ever liked.  And since I've stuck for new recipes and have a new crock-pot just waiting for some new ideas, I thought I'd share this one and maybe someone would share one back.  Here goes:

1 pound stew beef
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can full of red wine (real stuff or cooking wine works the same)
1 cut up green pepper
1 cut up onion
2-3 carrots
2-3 ribs of celery
Potato cubed, if you like (I prefer mine over egg noodles)

Dump into the pot, cook and voila: Best Beef Stew. Ever.  The broth is so good I can just drink that alone over rice or noodles.   When you first put everything in the crockpot, it will look like you don't have enough juice; you do.  Let it cook on low for 6 hours or so and voila: Best.beef.stew.ever.

I also have the most awesome not-at-all-dry cornbread recipe I'll share another day when I have more time.   I'm off for now to fill some Hoos and Hokies jewelry orders. 

See you tomorrow!