I’ve been working on a quilt pattern for the new issue of the Craft Leftovers Zine (out in the next weekish) and was combing other tutorials to see how they write them. Because you know, while this is the second quilt I’ve designed, it will be my first official quilting pattern. And there’s a fun twist on using it as a picnic blanket. But you’ll have to get the zine at the end of next week to find out.

Personally I feel like quilts are the ultimate scrap-use-er-up-er as far as fabrics go. So many little pieces to use up! On the the quilted goodness:
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My friend Michelle has been helping me in the garden this year in exchange for a share of the bounty. It has been a boon!

We dug the garden, corralled chickens, planted all the plants and seeds (on time, even early) — which I’ve never managed to do before. She keeps me on top of things and inspires me to keep up with weeding, watering, and harvesting.

It’s lovely to have a partner.

I know all my plants, she knows all her plants, but I can’t seem to remember which is a mung bean and which ones are chickpeas. And she can’t remember which peas are for shelling and which ones are for stir-fry.

I don’t think either of us remembers what tomato plant is what because we have 12 of them out there now!

We wrote it all down as we planted, but when we are out weeding and poking around, it would be so nice to just look down and know.
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Last week I talked about where I was, so this week I want to focus more on where I want to be and, the big one, why.

At some point I realized that I had to Want a change. Really want it.

No more shoulds, only desire. Because desire is the root of habit building, not obligation. 

It had to make sense to me so I couldn’t defeat myself with circular logic — why bother when it will just be a mess again.

Really, establishing 4 new huge habits – each one being multi-faceted, is a large change. A lifestyle change. It’s not like I can just wake up and all of a sudden *poof* love cleaning.

There’s all these ideas of duty and honor. It’s good for you. It shows your family how you love them. It’s good for your health. Quality of Life.

All True.

But that’s not good enough.

The fact was I didn’t really want to change for the longest time. Which I hate to admit. 

It’s not that I didn’t want good food and a clean home and my debt from college paid off.

It’s more that I wanted to paint murals, knit all night, play cello, go on walks with Bob (our dog), and spend time with Jason.

There’s so many good things in life and while cleaning is important, I just hadn’t considered it one of those “good things.”

And while I still don’t enjoy cleaning all that much, there’s been a shift in my attitude that the end results of my efforts are those good things.

• Because I like the house clean MORE than messy.
• And I like Home-cooked meals MORE than eating out (though that’s a nice change of pace).
• And I like being debt free MORE than throwing money in the toilet on interest each month.
• And I like being fit MORE than not.

I want to create an inviting space where family and friends feel welcome and cozy. I want to host airBNB guests without having to dash around cleaning like a crazed person.

Finally I have the desire. I’ve grabbed hold of it. And it’s carrying me forward. 

But it’s hard not to get overwhelmed. It’s taken me years of collecting and putting off to get to where I am, it’s not going to take a week to fix it. Or even a month. I’d say it will take me a year to really get on track.

Today I read this really inspiring post on the Simple Dollar on What You Give Up For Change.

And that leads me to my final point for today. When I started crafting, it took soaking up resources and other people’s work for a long time before I actually got into it. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite resources that have helped moved me from a state of feeling Obligated to a state of Desire.

For Financial Responsibility and Frugal Living

• The Simple Dollar
• Money Saving Mom 

For Cleaning House

• The Fly Lady - just trust me, follow her advice for a week, try it, and you’ll be better for it – mind and home.
• Design Sponge – nothing like looking at beautiful interiors to crave it for yourself.
• Zen Habits

For Eating Well

• Nourished Kitchen
• All Recipes 
• 31 Day to a Better Budget

Best of wishes!
Kristin M Roach

ps – Next week I wanted to start talking about specifics. Would you like me to start with cooking, cleaning, finances, or health first?

I like it best when round ups are arranged around a theme, so I’ve decided that’s what I’m going to do from now on.

And today, Plant Markers Tutorials is it!

I’ve been in need of plant markers for not just the herb garden, but all my veggies too. I’m always forgetting what went where. Is that parsley or cilantro? Is that tarragon sprouting or a weed? Hmm. Age old questions. So after combing the internet, here are my favorites. I love the Gnome sticks and the use of polymer clay is inspiring.

I also have this hair brained idea about using tin cans and nails… but I couldn’t find anything I liked in that genre so some experimenting is in order! I’ll show you my results on Thursday.
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My chickens have started flying the coop, literally. They’ve figured out how to hop over the fence, well, hop fly. And unknown to me, the decrease in egg production was actually them just preferring a more natural nesting environment.
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I went through stages of delight and disappointment with Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Sock Book. When it comes down to it, would I recommend it? Maybe. Here, let me explain.

I’ve had this book in my library for a couple years and I loved it. Yesterday when I sat down with it, I thought I’d be writing how much I crush on this book and why. But when I took an actual read through it cover to cover, it was lacking in the basics.

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*imagine devo playing in the background*

We all have projects laying around the house that could easily be finished in a week or so if we would just dedicate ourselves to them. I know I have a whole box!

I’m challenging myself and YOU to go grab your unfinished thing-a-ma-jig, be it sewn, stitched, crocheted, knit, or whatever. You know the project. And finish it! You want to see it done but are having motivational issues. Go grab and get to work. We have two weeks. Here’s what I’m setting my sights on. Scroll to the bottom of the post for details on the Prize!

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In the beginning, Thrift Kitchen started out as its own separate blog. I realized pretty quickly that a lot of the people who were reading Thrift Kitchen we also reading Craft Leftovers. And I also realized that posting about home-y stuff once a week was really all I wanted to do. So I made Thrift Kitchen a post series here on Craft Leftovers and called it good. First it was on Thursday, then this year I moved it to Tuesday.

While I’ve continued to post a recipe from time to time and talk about growing food and meal plans, it’s been a long time since I’ve fully embraced the Thrift Kitchen model – providing food for my family that’s healthy and cheap.
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Every Monday I start out the week with a round – it’s a great way to get all our creative juices flowing!

Make

1. 30 Meals Plan on Nanny Goat – this is a really smart way to use your favorite meals, but not repeat them so often you get sick of them.
2. Frooty Applique Skirt – Such a freaking cute skirt for the little kiddo in your life. - via craftgossip
3. Little Yellow Messenger Bag – Screw the kids! I want one for myself! via craftgossip
4. Dish Rack Remix – organize your patterns and use your old dishrack. via craftgossip
5. How to Make a Chrysanthemum Mirror out of Plastic Spoons

Eat

6. Layered Fruit Gazpacho – I can only hope this tastes as delicious as it looks!
7. Socca-Style Pizza “Bread” – JL Goes Vegan
8. Spicy Bean Salsa
9. Potted Cheesecake via craftgossip
10. Make Homemade Maraschino Cherries – I just spotted bing cherries on sale for 3.99/lb – this might just be the perfect thing to make with them via craftgossip

Think

11. Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media?
12. Business Matters Media Kit How To’s
13. Adjust Your Home’s Temperature Seasonally
14. How to Publish Daily When You Have a 9-5 Job
15. How to get out of a Creative Rut

Happy Crafting!
Kristin

I was so excited when the package containing Hand Printing from Nature showed up unexpectedly from Storey. The note simply read, “Kristin, I think you’ll love this book, enjoy!” I suppose that’s one of the many reasons I love working with Storey Publishing, they really get to know their authors. Anyway,  I realize now I’ve waited WAY too long to crack it open.

I’m so looking forward to getting my studio cleaned up later today so I can try out some of these beautifully crafted ideas.

Giveaway details at the end of the post! Read more →