The Sister-Mother and an Easy Hand-Stitched Card

As I introduced yesterday, this week I'm paying homage to the amazing moms of all kinds who have shaped my "mama schema" (read the post to understand what in the world that means :) and sharing simple handmade cards to deliver to these women who have been so influential in my life. Don't miss today's simple card tutorial at the end of the post: a hand-stitched baker's twine card. 

The Sister-Mother

Sister-mothers are the amazing women who are able to act both as mothers -- walking the path before me and teaching me the ropes of womanhood and motherhood -- and as sisters, empathizing and laughing with me when those very same ropes tangled me up and saw me landing flat on my face.

I have the wonderful privilege of having a wonderful community of sister-mothers, both those who are actually genetic sisters and those who have adopted me into their sisterhood.

These women have taught me what true friendship is, 

what true bravery and faith looks like (and that it has a great sense of humor as well!)

what patience and pressing forward mean, 

and what it truly means to enjoy life, regardless of circumstances. 

I hope you each are blessed with wonderful sister-mothers in your life, although mine will always be the best -- not just everyone can be The Sisterhood of the Traveling Sweaty Pants, you know!

And now, the card for today:

Easy Hand-Stitched Baker's Twine Card

A very simple and easy hand-stitched baker's twine card -- start to finish in 15 minutes!


Gather your supplies:

• plain note card (mine is just a half sheet of white cardstock, folded in half to form a card)
• paper and pencil
• baker's twine
• needle with an eye large enough to fit the baker's twine

Start by deciding what simple shape you want to stitch. I chose a heart. You can draw it right on the front of the card or, if you are a nervous drawer like I am, use the good old graphite-transfer... Draw the shape on a separate piece of paper, and then flip the paper over and fill in the whole area with pencil. Flip the paper back over (so your drawing is now facing you) and place it on top of the card and then, trace firmly over the shape to transfer a very thin outline to the front of the card. 

Then you'll use a sharp needle to poke "pilot holes" for your stitching. Be sure that your card is OPEN and placed on a firm surface that the needle can poke into -- I used my rug, but I usually use a magazine. Poke an EVEN number of holes around the outline of the shape, spaced equally. 

Then thread your needle with an arm's length of baker's twine -- you may need more if you are dong a larger shape with more stitches. The only needle I could find that would accommodate my baker's twine was a darning needle, so I used the smaller, sharper needle on the right to poke the holes and then the darning needle for the stitching. 

Carefully and gently push the needle through the first hole at the top of the heart, leaving a 4-5 inch tail so that you can tie the bow when you are finished.

Place your hand on the back side of where you are stitching to help add strength to the card so that your stitching won't bend or wrinkle the card. 

Gently push the needle back up through the next hole, and then down through the next, making a dashed-style stitched line, until you have completed the circle. If you counted correctly (or just guessed well :), your last stitch will come up close to your first stitch. 

Tie a bow and trim the tails to your desired length. 

My favorite thing about this card (aside from just how easy it is!) is that it looks just as cute on the inside as the outside:

Thanks for reading,
Lorene

A Mama Schema, or An Homage to Moms of All Kinds

Mrs. Rosenlof (yes, we called her Raisin Loaf...), my 7th grade English teacher, spent the first few weeks of the semester teaching us about schema. She would get this wild, excited look in her eyes and tell us to explore our individual schema: the unique experiences, people, and objects that make us who we are, the collective framework that shapes our thoughts and actions.

At the time, I was just irritated because the discussion kept going on and on, and I just couldn't get why this older woman was so excited about a crazy, abstract thing like schema.

But now I get it. Schema is important because it is the key to our individual identity. Schema means that no two people will handle a situation in an identical manner, no matter how many shared experiences and qualities the two have.

Since Mother's Day is fast approaching, I've been taking some time to think about my mothering style and the history of its development: my mama schema, so to speak. (I just couldn't resist the alliteration. Forgive me :)

When I am at a mom crossroads (most often mean mom vs. calm mom...) and contemplating my next step, I have a hundred voices, with a hundred faces, in my head, contributing to my decision.

Talk about parenting paralysis :)

Thankfully, most of those voices and faces are of kind, confident, and supportive women (and men, but they'll get their spotlight later). But, while so many of these women have been so influential in my life, how many of them actually know how much I appreciate their contribution to my schema, to my life?

Almost none of them.

And if there's anything I've learned in my nearly-four short years as a mother, it is that every mother -- every woman! -- needs to know that she has an impact on someone, somewhere, at sometime. Because motherhood is rewarding, but the dividends don't always pay out regularly.

So, for Mother's Day this year, I've decided to give the most heartfelt gifts I can, to each of the women who has been influential: a hand-written note telling them specifically thanks for their impact on my life. And, because I like being crafty (and because I dislike paying $5+ for a generic card at the store), I'm going the extra mile and hand-crafting the note cards, too.

For the next week, I'll be sharing a simple-to-make card and paying homage to the different types of mothers in my life -- because it takes all kinds of mothers to make the world go round, and giving birth is not a prerequisite to mothering.

I'd love for you to join me, and I'm sure there are a few mothers in your life who would love a quick note telling them how much you value their contribution to your life. And, you know, it's a good exercise to think about that schema thing. :)

Have a happy day,

Lorene

DIY Washi Tape Switchplates {tutorial}

If you've been around the crafty blog world much, you've seen washi tape.

More accurately, you've seen ROLLS of washi tape. Full-on collections of beautiful colors and patterns, carefully curated by an adoring crafter.

Because, even more so than with potato chips, you can't have just one roll of washi tape. It's unnatural.

Debra bought me my first few rolls and I've been obsessing and collecting ever since (with a big thanks to Pick Your Plum for making it even more affordable -- and you can also find it at Michael's and Target. It's also called "decorative paper tape" in some stores.)

UPDATE: It's a great day for washi, apparently -- Pick Your Plum has washi tape again this morning! $1.50 a roll and $2.95 shipping in the US (or just a bit more if you're outside the US). This deal always goes quickly, so if you want some, go fast!

Thankfully, washi tape is a totally publicly acceptable, and even budget-friendly, obsession.

I even gave out rolls of washi tape at a favorites party I hosted for my sisters back in February (of which I will post details eventually). As I gushed about how amazing it was, I got one question back from every recipient:

But what do you DO with it?

And my nonchalant answer was: 

You stick it on stuff. 

Anything. 

Just stick it on whatever and it will be cute. 

And that is totally true, but... 

[big confession] 

I had never actually used washi tape on anything! 

{hang head in shame}

So, a few weeks later, when we painted our stairway and upstairs hallway, I took the opportunity to put my washi tape on display by letting it work its magic on the switchplates and plug covers before I put them back on, like these I had seen on Crab & Fish. It started out simple:

and then developed into a bit, er, more...

And now the only bare switchplate in my house is the outlet cover behind my couch. (Okay, the ones in the basement are bare, too, but just until I get down there without forgetting my screwdriver.)

I loved the way the pretty switchplates looked on my neutral tan walls upstairs, but I wasn't sure I would like the patterned covers on my pretty blue walls in my kitchen (Belize by Sherwin-Williams). But I love them even more! Love love LOVE them. I squeeed as I installed each and every one --  my husband can confirm. (And even he admits that he likes them -- and everyone who comes to my house comments on my cute light switches!)

It's super easy. A craft for non-crafters, with a minimal time and money investment. If you want them all to match, one roll of washi tape ($2-4) will do a bunch. I did the first 5 in around an hour, and the next set of 12 took me about 3 episodes of Burn Notice (or just over 2 hours).

The Color Run: Happiest 5K on the Planet (and save $5 on registration)

Disclosure: The Color Run provided me with a promo code for my readers and a free race entry in exchange for sharing this information with you. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a fair-weather runner, so my running season is just getting started for this year. I love running races -- there is just something about the energy at a race, big or small, that is exciting and just so FUN! But, as the penny-pincher I am, I am always looking for a deal: either an inexpensive race or one with what I call "added value" -- great swag (the free stuff you get to take home - shirt, etc), amazing party at the finish line, and/or a super fun experience.

So I am triple thrilled that The Color Run is coming to Salt Lake City on August 24: it has all of the "added value" I look for in a race, plus a completely reasonable entry fee (only $25 if you register as a team using the promo code below before May 1 -- more registration info below).

The Color Run isn't your ordinary 5K. Instead of finishing the race just sweatier than you started, you finish more colorful than you've ever been! Participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer, so you start with a white shirt and end up with a one-of-a-kind colored shirt -- and face! (Check out the videos from past events here.)

If you are new to running or concerned about your pace -- don't worry! The Color Run is untimed, and less about your average mile time and more about having a good time! The color fun continues with a big colorful party at the finish line.

All participants are welcome -- young, old, fast, slow, runner, walker, and everything in between. The Color Run only has two simple rules:

• Wear white at the starting line. 
• Finish completely plastered in color. 

So, get registered!

Registration is limited, so sign up now because you won't want to miss it! Use the code COLORJUSTLU to save $5 on your registration until August 21. You can save another $5 by registering as part of a team (4+ people), so grab some friends and sign up for only $25 each (until April 30). If you miss the early registration or would rather be solo, the pricing is only a little bit different:

The Color Run™ Salt Lake City Pricing & Deadlines
SOLO Runner/Walker
35.00 Early Registration
40.00 starting May 1st, 2013
45.00 starting July 1st, 2013

4+ PERSON COLOR TEAM Runners & Walkers
30.00 per person Early Registration
35.00 per person starting May 1st, 2013
40.00 per person starting July 1st, 2013

Hope to see you there!

-Lorene