12 things - sew a dress from the staple dress pattern

I just happened to look up above my desk at my metal board and started reading through all my sticky notes and realized that I completed yet another thing on my list of 12 things. Yay for progress.

I made a dress from my staple dress pattern. It was a lot easier to make than I thought it would be. I wore it on Saturday to hang out with a friend. My favorite parts are the pockets and the neck and arm facings that I did with a contrasting fabric just for fun. I've already ordered some more fabric to make my next staple dress. I can't wait. I want to make another 4 or 5 of them.

Garment sewing isn't too hard. I spent probably 6 hours on the computer over a couple of days looking at more patterns to try. A few more dresses and a couple of tops. The only things I'm missing are fabric and thread.

• read 75 books - 21 down 54 to go, more if you count short stories
• make at least 20 quilts - 2 quilts complete, a couple more in process and a bunch of tops waiting for batting.
• simplify my apartment (purge, sell trash) - started listing stuff to sell online in various places. it's not an easy feat.

I can't believe we're already half way through May.

1. create a vision board for 2014
2. read 75 books
3. make at least 20 quilts
4. have my business prepared for the holidays
5. friend friday
6. stock my online shops and promote my business more
7. sew a dress from the staple dress pattern
8. travel to somewhere I haven't traveled before
9. get back under 200 lbs
10. simplify my apartment (purge, sell, trash)
11. apply to Yelp! Bazaar and the Indieana Handicraft Exchange (holiday edition)
12. make at least 3 deposits into my Roth IRA
13. complete my capsule wardrobe

reading - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - create a vision board for 2014

Here it is the middle of April and I'm just now completing/working on my vision board for this year. Procrastinator much? The truth is I'd started it on the metal boards I have above my desk, but it was difficult to complete because I don't buy magazines and printing out pictures on a black and white printer just wasn't going to cut it. I needed another way to get my vision board started.

I ended up turning to Pinterest. I mean, it's basically one big vision board already isn't it? When I come along something that fits with the things I want this year I pin it to my Vision Board 2014. Little or small I pin it. It could be something small I want like a new pair of shoes or an inspirational quote that I want to strive for. It's my conversation with the Universe for my plans this year.

• read 75 books - 20 down 55 to go, more if you count short stories
• make at least 20 quilts - I've completed 8 quilt TOPS, but no completed quilts yet
• simplify my apartment (purge, sell trash) - I've gotten a lot of stuff thrown away, now I need to work on selling some stuff. I've also simplified my bedroom by taking about everything but the bed and end table. it's getting there

There's still a lot of work to be done. Less than 7 months to go. The reading should come along nicely, it's some of the other goals I need to put some more work into. The vision board while marked off as complete really is a work in progress and always will be, but I'm still calling it a win as complete. Ha!

1. create a vision board for 2014
2. read 75 books
3. make at least 20 quilts
4. have my business prepared for the holidays
5. friend friday
6. stock my online shops and promote my business more
7. sew a dress from the staple dress pattern
8. travel to somewhere I haven't traveled before
9. get back under 200 lbs
10. simplify my apartment (purge, sell, trash)
11. apply to Yelp! Bazaar and the Indieana Handicraft Exchange (holiday edition)
12. make at least 3 deposits into my Roth IRA
13. complete my capsule wardrobe

reading - Electrified Sheep by Alex Boese This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - 2014

Last year Rima from Bolu by Rima started 12 things, goals she wanted to accomplish for the year. I joined in the fun, but well...I didn't accomplish very many of those goals. I completed 4 (I edited one goal) out of my 12 goals. I don't know if she planned on doing it again this year, but I thought I'd give it another shot. I've got some new goals and a couple of oldies made it back this year. Here they are:

create a vision board for 2014 read 50 books (I'm thinking about changing this to 75)
make at least 20 quilts
have my business prepared for the holidays friend friday stock my online shops and promote my business more
sew a dress from the staple dress pattern
travel to somewhere I haven't traveled before
get back under 200 lbs
simplify my apartment (purge, sell, trash)
apply to Yelp! Bazaar and the Indieana Handicraft Exchange (holiday edition) make at least 3 deposits into my Roth IRA complete my capsule wardrobe (a 13th goal just for fun)
friend friday is my goal to spend time with a friend once a week, it might not always be on Friday. Just some time during the week. That way I don't go long periods without seeing people that I care about and I get the chance to grow my friendships. I'm guessing most of these "dates" will revolve around food. I mean heck...what's better than friends and food?

Instead of updating my goals monthly I thought I'd post when I completed a goal and then randomly when I was making progress on other goals. We'll see how that goes.

What are your goals for 2014?

reading - Handmade to Sell by Kelly Rand This post brought to you in part by:  

12 things - read 50 books

On Thursday I finished reading my 50th book. One thing I can cross off the list. I plan to finish one or two more books before the end of the year. I plan to read another 50 books next year. So many books to read. My GoodReads to read list is loooong!

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job  start a large quilting project
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Below is a list of the books I've read this year. I think there are only 49 books listed, but GoodReads assures me that I've read 50 books this year for my reading challenge. (goodreads challenge)

• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - 12/05/13
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - 11/30/13
• Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers - 10/28/13
• Not in Kansas Anymore by Christine Wicker - 10/12/13
• Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry - 10/10/13
• The Program by Suzanne Young - 09/29/13
• 45 pounds (more or less) by KA Barson - 09/28/13
• Bubble World by Carol Snow - 09/25/13
• Anomaly by Krista McGee - 09/23/13
• Crossed by Ally Condie - 09/15/13
• Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham - 09/09/13
• Matched by Ally Condie - 08/27/13
• The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead - 08/24/13
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth - 08/22/13
• The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead - 08/17/13
• Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead - 08/13/13
• Bali Raw by Malcom Scott - 07/31/13
• Adrian's Lost Chapter by Richelle Mead - 07/27/13
• Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - 07/26/13
• Free Four by Veronica Roth - 07/22/13
• The Lover's Dictionsary by David Levithan - 07/12/13
• Divergent by Veronica Roth - 07/09/13
• Blaze by Laurie Boyle Crompton - 07/06/13
• Six Earlier Days by David Levithan - 07/03/13
• Every Day by David Levithan - 07/02/13
• Hippo Eats Dwarf by Alex Boese - 06/24/13
• Elephants on Acid by Alex Boese - 06/15/13
• Geek Girls Unite by Leslie Simon - 06/10/13
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - 05/27/13
• LA Candy by Lauren Conrad - 05/25/13
• The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way - 05/10/13
• Glass House by Rachel Caine - 04/26/13
• Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - 04/23/13
• Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead - 04/21/13
• Blood Promise by Richelle Mead - 04/20/13
• Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - 04/19/13
• Peeps by Scott Westerfeld - 04/17/13
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - 04/15/13
• Frostbite by Richelle Mead - 04/14/13
• Precocia: Where the Smartypants Kids Go by Dale E. Basye - 03/31/13
• Immortal by P.C. Cast - 03/17/13
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - 0315/13
• Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky - 03/13/13
• Jack Canfield's Guide to Living the Law of Attraction by Jack Canfield and D.D. Watkins - 03/07/13
• Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - 02/28/13
• Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone - 02/06/13
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - 01/28/13
• Try the Morgue by Eva Maria Staal - 01/16/13
• A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin - 01/14/13

Have you read any of the above books? Any books you think I should add to my read list for next year?

reading - Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry This post brought to you in part by:  

12 Things - August update

I skipped over last month's update. I don't know why I didn't update. Oops!. Linking up with Rima from Bolu by Rima for 12 things. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below.

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job  start a large quilting project
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• I changed 10 to suit my current 100 Quilts, 100 Kids project. At this point in the game issa.ino won't be my only job unless I end up with a huge contract to work on my own from home or win the lottery or something.
• 37 books down and 13 to go. According to good reads I'm ahead of my goal by a couple of books. I've started reading a couple of books that are slow going. I decided to start a sub goal of reading at least 5 hours a week.
• I've been adding notes to my vision board. Most recently I've added the qualities I'd like to possess. My dream self. I want to be kind and driven and inspiring and strong (physically & mentally). I know that I am already a lot of these things, but I want to work on them and be the best me I can be.
• Still working out. I think I might be down a total of 3 lbs. 31 more to go. I don't know if it's it's possible to do that in 4 months, but I can try.
• I thought about hopping on Craigslist to look for a bicycle even though I'd only have a couple of months left to ride this year. But that's better than nothing right?
• I've started making hats for consignment and hope to get a box sent out by the end of the week. Then I'll start hoarding yarn to make more hats and cowls. I'm going to apply for the Handmade Promenade Holiday Pop Up Shop again this year.

My vision board will never be complete. I will always be adding to it and changing things around. I feel like I can really just cross that item off my list. Maybe at the end of the year I will.



reading - Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham This post brought to you in part by:

12 Things - june update

The year is half over and well, I've not gotten much done. Linking up with Rima from Bolu by Rima for 12 things. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below.

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• Nothing new to cross off the list. (didn't even change this from last month)
• 25 books down and 25 to go. I've started reading more again. I'm back on reading teen fiction. I don't know why I like teen fiction so much.
• I've been enjoying the gym and have lost about 2 lbs so far. Not bad, though I wish it were a lot more than that.
• This past Saturday I ran an urban obstacle course. It wasn't quite a 5K. I want to do another color run. I need to find someone who wants to run with me. It's much more fun when you have someone to run with you.
• Still not sure how I want to change the last few items I should probably figure that out.

Slowing going progress. Maybe I'll finish my vision board this month.*shrugs*


In other news: I'm tired of my neighbors setting on fireworks. I'm sure this will continue for another month. I want to punch them all in the throat.

reading - Blaze by Laurie Boyle Crompton This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - may update

It's already the end of May and we're almost half way through the year. Oy! Linking up with Rima from Bolu by Rima for 12 things. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below.

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• Nothing new to cross off the list.
• 20 books down and 30 to go. Not as much reading as I was doing last month. I just picked up 6 books from the library though, so I've got plenty to read.
• I've started running again and joined a gym. I think that I should be able to run the 5k in no time and I hope to start seeing some poundage lost as well.
• I'm thinking about changing the last few items on my list. I'm not sure where I want my business to go right now. I've not been putting as much of myself into it as I had been previously. I don't know if I'm just in a rut or what.

I hope by next month I can mark another item off my list and figure out where I want my business to go so I can get working in that direction.


In other news: I made butter today with just heavy cream and my blender. I threw some vanilla extract in with it to give it some flavor. Also, this weather is kinda making me miserable.

reading - Elephants on Acid by Alex Boese This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - april update

It's that time again. Linking up with Rima from Bolu by Rima for 12 things. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below.

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• Look at that I marked another item off my list.California was AWESOME! And I can't wait to go back. It really was a good trip that I really needed.
• 16 books down and 34 to go. I finished 7 books in like 8 days. Do you ever read a series of books and then a few years later wonder what the characters are up to as if they existed in real life and the books were just like reality tv for them.
• I've started working on my vision board. I've been writing goals and things I want on sticky notes and sticking them up on my board to look at every day. I'd say that's a decent start.

One thing crossed off my list this month. I'd like to mark off another next month. We'll see how that goes. Now let's head over to Rima's blog and link up.


reading - We Thought You Would Be Prettier by Laurie Notaro This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - march update

Rima from Bolu by Rima says it's that time again. Actually she said it a few days ago and I'm just now getting to it. Either way...it's time to update our 12 things list. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below. 

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• I ALMOST bought a bike this month. My coworker offered his bike to me for $40 and I really wanted to buy it, but ScruffyNerdy told me not to. He said it wasn't a good bike. Plus I need that extra $40 to spend in California while I'm on vacation. (another item I'll be able to mark off my list)
• 9 books down and 41 to go. I've been reading a lot of teen vampire fiction lately. Quick, mindless reads. Reading is an escape for the most part for me. I'm not looking for the great American novel when I read, just something that will keep me interested and give me something to get away.
• I'll be starting training this month for my next 5k. I hope we get some good weather soon so I can get back outside.
• I'm in a bit of a craft rut. I'm not sure where I want to take my shop. Not sure what to do.

So nothing to cross off this list for March. Come April though I'll be able to mark off at least one item for sure. Now let's head over to Rima's blog and link up.


reading - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs This post brought to you in part by:

12 things - february update

Rima from Bolu by Rima says it's that time again. Actually she said it a few days ago and I'm just now getting to it. Either way...it's time to update our 12 things list. You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below. 

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• one item to mark off my list - I ate no meat all February and the first day of March. Woo! I could've probably gone longer, but I really wanted some chicken.
  
• waiting for a few deposits in to my account so that I can go ahead and book my vacation to California. I'm so ready to be there. Is it April yet? And just for fun I started looking for jobs and apartments out there.
• 5 books read and 45 more to go. I'm in the middle of reading 3 different books. Which one I'll finish first...who knows. You can always see what I'm reading at the bottom of each post.
• I plan to run the Strip n' Run in April. I just need to sign up and start training. I think it'll be a lot of fun. I'm trying to get a friend of mine to run with me. I WAS gonna do the Bunny Rock, but changed my mind because the Strip n' Run sounds like a lot more fun. Don't you think.
• I need to weigh myself. I don't know if I've lost any weight as of yet.

Not sure which one I'll be crossing off in March. Hmmm...now how about you head over to Rima's blog and link up.


reading - Jack Canfield's Guide to Living the Law of Attraction by Jack Canfield and D.D. WatkinsThis post brought to you in part by:

12 things - january update

Rima from Bolu by Rima tells me it's time to update our 12 things list and when she tells me it's time to do something, I do it. Okay, maybe not all the time, but this time yes.

You can go back to this post here to see my 12 things list. Or you can just read down below. I'll leave that up to you. 

1. take a vacation to California
2. read 50 books
3. create a vision board
4. buy a bicycle
5. run a 5k and 10k
6. lose at least 34 lbs
7. get a check up
8. eat vegetarian for a month
9. register issa.ino as a business
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays
12. apply to a large craft show

Here's my progress:

• saving up for California, the plan is to head out the first week of April. Wanna help me get there? Check out my etsy shop. Use the code FUZZY for 25% off all things made of yarn.
• 2 books down and 48 to go. I'm almost done with book number 3.
• creating a vision board is one of my goals for January so that will be started by the end of this month/week. (BTW, Friday will be the January recap and February goals list, come link up)
• I've chosen the 5k I want to run. It's called the Bunny Hop or something like that. I'll have more information next time.
• next month I plan to eat vegetarian for the whole month. I've already started to gather fake meat to eat and am currently trying to eat the little meat that I have left in my freezer.

I think I've got a good start to my goals. I can't wait until I start to actually cross items off my list. By next month I expect to cross off at least two. Maybe more. We shall see. Now how about you head over to Rima's blog and link up.


And just for shits and giggles here's a picture of a hair style I was messing around with this weekend. I love it the curliness of it. This will be my new special occasion hair. I think it'd be more amazing if it were fire engine red. Ha!


reading - the perks of being a wallflower by stephen chboskyThis post brought to you in part by:

12 Things - goals and things like that

I'm not big on resolutions. I don't know what it is...maybe it's the word. I prefer goals and affirmations. Now I already do goals n' shit every month, but Rima from Bolu by Rima is doing something similar, but there things that can be done some time during the whole year. Goals that may take a little more time than just a month. Here are the things I hope to accomplish this year.

I decided to break my list down into to miscellaneous goals, health goals and business goals. 

1. take a vacation to California - I'm looking forward to a break and I want to meet up with my awesome blogger turned real friends and the beach is calling me. I can't wait to mark this goal off my list.
2. read 50 books - I love reading and had picked it up again. I have a lot of books I want to read, so why not add it to my list. This should be easy to do over the course of the year.
3. create a vision board - This has been something I've wanted to do for a long time and keep putting it off. I've heard that people who create them are a lot more successful with the things that want and what they want to accomplish.
4. buy a bicycle - I used to ride my bike all the time as a kid and I loved it. It's also a good form of exercise. I'd like to get back into it. Even if it means I have to lug a bike up and down 3 flights of stairs. I think I want an orange bike.
5. run a 5k and 10k - I ran/walked my first 5k in September. Now it's time to run one. I can do it!
6. lose 34 lbs - An odd number I know. I'll be 34 lbs. My goal is to get back under 200. 34 lbs will get me there with some extra. I'm looking forward to a slimmer and healthier body.
7. get a check up - I've neglected my health for a long time and I even have health assistance, so I have no excuse. This NEEDS to get done.
8. eat vegetarian for a month - I've eaten vegetarian for a week and two weeks. Now it's time to do it for an entire month. I think this will challenge the way I eat. I know it's possible and I have vegetarian friends that I can turn to when I can't think of things to eat. I plan do this in February...the shortest month of course. Ha!
9. register issa.ino as a business - It's time to make it official. I have a lot of plans for issa.ino this year. issa.ino will be my parent company, with issa.ino:handmade, sophunk photography and plank & stella the smaller businesses that run underneath it.
10. make issa.ino my ONLY job - Working for myself is my passion. There is no reason for me to not do this and I think it's time to transition into it being my only job.
11. get issa.ino organized for the holidays - This year taught me that I need to get organized. I think this year could've been a lot less stressful had I been organized and had a ton of stock ready to go when people asked for it. It would've give me more time to focus on other things. Less learned.
12. apply to a large craft show - I enjoyed the small pop up shop and would love to do a larger show. I think I have what it takes.

And there you have it. I think everything on this list is doable and I look forward to marking off every single thing on this list.

Linking up with Rima of Bolu by Rima   reading - A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin This post brought to you in part by: