Busy Days!

So I realized that without getting ready the night before, it really is impossible to get all ready in the morning and get a blog post up while making sure that my homework is up to date. Hehe. School and homework take time? What is that? Phttt. :P

Anywho, I HAVE been taking pictures of my latest crafts and adventures so here they are!

First off is a terrible picture of a very romantic event. :D We had been out shopping late when we got home and it was just lightly sprinkling. So of course we sat on the curb and watched lightning play across the mountains. Then Ryler held out his hand and we danced under the street light in the rain! It was so fun and fulfilled a childhood fantasy of mine! The dance class we took together paid off! ;)

Next up is a display I made! Total of 10 pokeballs all made and designed by me in one week!! :D It is so fun seeing something I dreamed up actually happen and work! For those who don't know (don't worry, I barely do too) the red ones are regular pokeballs. The blue ones are called great balls and the purple ones are master balls. :D I like to call them "Pokemari" since they are pokeballs made from Temari techniques. 

Ryler and I had decided to take a jaunt to the local Farmer's Market. I was trying a new hairstyle (which I love) called "panda ears". It was fun to do and wear. Then, we both decided to get a small bag of cherries to share! They were so good! I think Ryler is eating one in this picture. Isn't that just the cutest face? Yeah, I think so too. ;)

Since we are on the topic of food, here's something we made the other night. You ar looking at homemade donuts complete with sweet glaze! Yumm! We are definitely doing this again! You can find the recipe we used by following my Pinterest board Food:Tried and True. Here's the linky. https://www.pinterest.com/underlingqueen/food-tried-and-true-recipes-seriously-though/ 

 Next time we are going to try using lemon zest or crushed raspberries in the glaze. :)

The last couple of photos were taken over the course of a few days. There's a garden outside my work with some fun flowers in bloom right now! So I decided to take a picture of my necklaces! Now, I want you to take a close look and see something. I use the same chain everyday, but made it interchangeable by using a lobster clasp to attach the Temari or origami pendant! Now I only need a few chains, but can still have lots of different looks! =D 

Thanks for not giving up on me with such a long absence! I've actually planned a daily itinerary so that should help me stay effective and on top of everything going on. If not daily, I should at least manage to do every couple of days at least. :) My priority for now is to graduate in April 2016, so that's where I'll be focusing most of my energies. 

What tricks do you have for staying organized for more than a few days? Post any suggestions in the comments below! =D

Belated daily bag

Do you ever go to post something or send a message, then just never do? :D

Anyway! Here's today's bag contents!

Since Ididn't  have class today, my load was much lighter! Can you find the mascara? Yeah... I kinda slept in and didn't have time to do makeup before work. Hehehe. But that's okay because, yeah! :D

You guys are lucky ducks! I decided that I'd also throw in a picture of the bag that I use daily. :) 

In addition to my bag, here's a picture of the Temari I finished for the bag. 

 

I had fun working on this interlocked woven design! 

Then, because I was feeling creative, I tried my hand at making a yubinuki, or Japanese thimble. :D Don't look too closely though! It is my first attempt. 

I learned a lot on this project and look forward to making more! 

Nagano Reunion!

Yesterday was so much fun!!!!! =D

Remember how I said that I was meeting some of my favorite people from Japan? Well, the Takei Family were so surprised to see me, they were still talking about it as we parted 5 hours later! Here's a picture. 

When I first arrived in the town they live in, their daughter had just gotten home from her mission! Kana is her name and is in the above picture. It was a lot of fun being with this family and getting to serve them! :) after I left, their younger daughter served in the Fukuoka Mission where Rylers parents lived. Of course the moms got in touch and became friends! 2 years later the Takei family came here and told my mother in law that they wanted to go through the Salt Lake Temple together. 

This is where it gets fun! My mother in law let Sister Takei know that her son and daughter in law (me) would also be there. Sister Takei never connected that I was the daughter in law!!!!! Hahahahaha! That's why she was so surprised! She kept confirming that I was the daughter in law! Oh I wish I had a way to capture the emotion and joy of the moment! =D

I wasn't the only one who surprised them either. 

(Quick note about the pictures. By the time we got out of the temple and regrouped, it was dark out. I'm just glad we did get photos!)

In this photo, other than the Takei family, we have 4 of us who served missions in Nagano, one person who lived there, and Ryler. ;) It was so much fun getting caught up on Nagano and the members who live there! Someday I will go back. 

All in all, it was a beautiful, wonderful,  magnificent, magical evening! I really can't think of any place I'd rather meet the people I love than the temple. 

So Excited!!!!

First off, here's my bag contents!

I thought it would be fun instead of listing everything in the picture, just picking a few items and letting you play I-Spy!  So here they are! Headphones, eraser, Chapstick. 

On too my super exciting news! 

Over two and a half years ago, I served a mission for the LDS church is Nagoya Japan. I got to travel all over the place and met lots of amazing people. Today, I am meeting some of my favorite people who are visiting America and they don't even know it!!!!!!!!!! =D It's gonna be a surprise! I decided to make little Temari gifts for them while I was at it. Here are the three I just finished!

What's fun is that I actually used the exact same pattern on all three! The only difference is size, and the way the threads interact! Thread manipulation is my new favorite thing!

I can't wait to post pictures tomorrow of my friends!!! See you all then!

Exciting News!!!

No mom, I'm not pregnant! That's not what I mean by exciting news though that would be. ;)

I've decided that for as long as I can maintain it, I'm going to be uploading a blog post daily! If I find that I can't maintain that, I'm going to have at the very least one post a week on Saturdays. :D Isn't that just so exciting?!!!! :D

Well, I'm pretty excited about it. So far as I've planned it here's what is going to go down. :)

Daily post: of "What's in my bag?" I'm going to empty my bag every night then in the morning arrange everything and make sure I have what I need. I'll take a picture to share it with all of you wonderful people!

Every other day or so: Temari Time! When I've completed a temari or new temari related project, pictures will be taken and I'll share the story behind it or some techniques!

Once a week: Other! This is going to be either a craft I've been working on or just fun life stories about what is happening in my world. 

As you can tell from the above plan, a single day may have a combined theme going, or may even be lucky enough to get multiple posts. :D Like today!  This is going to be my second post for today! I'm just so excited I couldn't wait! 

So here's a picture off today's bag contents!

Listed as follows: iPad and handmade case, hand fan, mini scissors, Travel Temari Kit, two pens, one eraser, temari collection, perfume(because it's hot and I ride a bike, class notebook, wallet, sketchbook, keys, Chapstick, headphones, and my Temari handbook. :) Today is going to be a great day!

I'm off to class for now. Wish me luck! :D

Weekend Adventures

This weekend marks two in a row where I got to have fun away from home! Last week was a trip with my mom to Panguitch for their annual Quilt Walk Festival! This week, we are getting a triple whammy adventure! It's my Mother in Law's birthday celebration, Father's Day with my father in law, then Father's Day with my Daddio!

So last week, Momma Stott (me mum) and I packed into her car filled with sewing machines, fabric, patterns, etcetera and headed south! Best part is that we started the morning off with a grand view of 8 hot air balloons in the morning sky! Here's a picture of the sky! :) Sorry, no balloons in this pic.

Just beautiful isn't it? 

Well, after folding and getting mom's patterns for her classes all prepared, we reached our destination! Just in time for lunch. 

We had a lot of fun! I tried to help her teach her classes on Binding, and what she calls "Snippets". While I don't know how much help I was, it was great spending time together!

Now, I don't know about all of you, but I didn't know anything about Panguitch until this trip!

Here's what I discovered. 

When the settlement was first created they had a very short growing season because the snows came very early. They didn't have enough food to last the winter and would starve. So 7 men set out with a horse and wagon to get food from another settlement on the other side of the mountains. The snow was too deep for the wagon however, so they continued on foot. Eventually, they couldn't even do that. With a prayer they were inspired to use the quilts they had brought to keep warm as a type of pavement. They lady the wilts on the snow and were able to walk across the top with greater ease. Eventually they made it across and were able to bring back food for their families. :) 

Here's a picture of the monument in town. 

The residents here never forgot this story and honor it by holding a yearly "Quilt Walk Festival". It's a small town, so nearly everywhere you look there are quilts displayed for everyone to see! Here's a few pictures I was able to shoot as we drove by. ;)

It was a wonderful experience! I was able to help my mom with the classes she taught, and I also learned that people have a lot of interest in learning how to make Temari! It was a great trip. 

Here's a picture of mom and I in our matching pjs. Her shirt was really more green than this picture implies. 

Here was our room key! So cool!

Also,I purchased this awesome bag while there! Mom and I have since tied the fringe so it's a little more under control. :)

I love getting to spend time with my mom and learning about the history of our nation. 

Do you have a favorite pioneer story or story of your ancestors? Leave a comment below and share! :D

Spring Cleaning: Closet Cleanse!

This day has been a long time coming! I've been ammassing clothes for quite some time now. At a glance I've found clothes in my closet that I've had for about 8 years!

My life has gone through a lot of phases in that time. I'm married now, and all the clothes that used to fit in my closet are now fighting to find space in our shared closet. 

My awesome carpenter dad built these shelves for us. Believe me when I say it is a HUGE improvement over the typical college apartment single bar closet scene. :) 

I think you can see that I take up over half of the closet! Even with all of these clothes to choose from, I spend way too much time trying to find something I actually like! So, the closet cleanse is coming in to play.

Inspiration for this project actually came from my husband. He found an article on Facebook that talked about capsule closets and shared it with me. He's seen me struggle over the last year and a half with trying to find something I actually want to wear. This was his kind way of helping out. Thanks Honey!

But what is a capsule closet? It means having a limited amount of clothes that you love to wear and that can be easily mixed and matched. The first step is decluttering, so that's what I'm doing this week. =D

For kicks and giggles I'm going to keep a count of the clothes I start off with then compare that to what I actually keep!

Before

25 dresses.That's almost enough to wear a different one for every day of a month!!!!

23 skirts. Again, almost a whole months worth!!!

By putting only the skirts and dresses that I would wear this instant and absolutely love, the numbers came down to...

8 dresses. The two on the left are my more formal occasion dresses while tho others are more casual. I think you can tell that I love patterns! Specifically, I super love black and white/cream patterns. ^,^

7 skirts. Two short circle, one short pencil, two maxi, one lace, one long flowy. So much blue! My blue maxi totally blends with our bedspread! Hahaha.

I love this multi hanger for skirts! It super saves a lot of space in the closet, but still leaves all the skirts visible and accessible. =D

Into the closet with you!!!!! 

Many clean! Much wow!

I like dresses and skirts a lot! Not only do I wear them weekly for attending church, but I love mixing things up during the week too.

As I get everything sorted, I might end up pulling more out or adding a few things back in. For now, this feels like a good number!

Moving on.

 It is time. Time for the shirts! Since I'm getting my wardrobe ready for spring/summer, most of my shirts are going to be short sleeve. So here's the count!

Before

20 short sleeve shirts. So much pink! As a triplet, it was easiest for our parents to color code our clothes. :) I was pinks and reds! I've since branched out...a little bit... ;)

38 long/quarter sleeve shirts......  ...  ........ Yeah...... I have a problem. I love sweater weather! But well, it just kinda turns into this mess!

Some of these will go into storage, and I'll keep out a couple for those brisk nights, but these have got to go!

After

9 short sleeve shirts made the cut. When I look at these! I just want to wear all of them right now! Looks like I'm not straying very far from my traditional pinks.... I might replace one or two of these if I find anything that begs me to buy it, but I think I'll keep the number to 9. 

2 long sleeve shirts, 1 quarter sleeve. 

These are going to be mostly for camping or evening outdoor activities. 

Now we are on to the pants!

Before

3 pajama pants.

8 long pants.

3 capris

4 shorts. 

I'm going to have a much easier time paring these down! 

Now we are down to...

1 pajama pant.

2 long pants. 

1 capri (gauchos).

2 shorts. 

I do know that I'm on the prowl for a new pair of capris. So far though, I haven't found anything that I like, but my hopes are high. :)

So here we go! The mostly finished closet cleanse!

I decided to hang my pants on one of my leftover skirt hangers. :D I'm hoping this will help cut down on wrinkles! 

Huzzah for closet space! The one empty hanger belongs to the shirt I am wearing! 

Speaking of hangers....

We now have excess. :) Anyone need an extra hanger or two? ;) 

So to sum it up:

8 dresses

7 skirts

12 shirts

5 pants 

I haven't started on jackets or cardigans yet, but we are going to keep the number low. I'll update later with the final closet! I might even talk my husband into paring down his wardrobe too!!! =D