Monday, March 21, 2011

Blog Improvements

A few weeks back I updated the design of my blog and last week I finished the about me page. Currently I'm working on a reference page that will include links to the sites I used in creating my all-in-one pocket cloth diaper, creating my plushie designs, recipes, sewing, etc.

I'd love to have some more links to put up though so leave me some in the comments and I'll add them to the page. Also any suggestions on how to best set it up. Does a description of the link sufficient or should I also add thumbnails?

Cloth Diapering

So the route of making cloth diapers is coming along. I posted a bit back all the resources I was using to design my own. Well with so input from Hobby who really changes most of the diapers I think I've come up with my final design. It includes gussets on the legs to help contain blow outs.

There are a few things I've learned.

1. Don't use too much fabric in the actual pocket diaper or the elastic won't bring it in much, they can't be top stitched nicely, and they take forever to dry.

2. People use cloth wipes not for the reason to be green but because it's easy to just plop them after use in the dirty diaper and throw it all in the laundry bag. With normal wipes trying to figure out where to put the dirty one now in the middle of changing is ridiculous.

3. The baby will need bigger pants because wow does it give the baby a booty.

I am planning to do a full tutorial on my diaper once I've finalized and test drove it for a bit. Keep checking back and if you cloth diaper what things have you learned?





Apologies for the eh pictures. They are from my phone and it did something weird to them. I think it makes the point though of showing the leg gusset.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Bows

My first try at a bow for Wee Rose. I think it came out pretty cute.


Organizing My World Via Google: Part 1 Setting up a Google Account and a brief description of the programs available.

I'm always hearing other moms swap how they manage organizing all the little details of their life such as appointments, meal planning etc. I've come up with a method that works great for my family and this is organizing via Google.

The first thing to explain is your Google account is based off of a Gmail address. If you already have a Gmail account then you're one step ahead here if not just sign up for one for free. Now that you've made an account you have access to all of Goggles tools and everything will be saved for you. Anything you do can be accessed from any location. Also if you've fully drunk the Google Kool-aid like me you have Android phone (which is Google's mobile OS system) so everything syncs nicely. Once you have a Gmail address not only can you use it for e-mail but you can then use it as your login for anything Google. The chief programs I use are: Calendar, Reader, Docs, Blogger, Bookmarks, and Voice. Youtube and Picasa are also owned by Google and can be linked to your same Gmail account but we won't be going into those.

The biggest power of using Google items is the ability to work on something on one computer and access it without the use of an external storage device anywhere I want. I function primarily in two different locations in my life, home and work, but I need access to organizational tools in both these places. I did this for a few years and recently added in a third, my Android cell phone.

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Google Calendar is exactly what it sounds like, it's a calendar but it has some extra functionality such as being able to make different calendars, share calendars, add items from e-mails, have a Task list, and import calendars from other sources.

Google Reader is an RSS Feed reader. It's where I read all my regular blogs and find some of the ideas for the stuff I create or learn new skills.

Google Docs is a simplified online Microsoft Office that allows sharing of spreadsheets, documents, forms, presentations across computers. It can also be used to view Microsoft or Openoffice Documents if you have neither program. It can even just be a storage place for other file types. You may not be able to view them but you can upload them for storage.

Blogger is the blog program I run this blog on so I don't think is needs much more explanation.

Google Bookmarks is my bookmarking program. I save everything based on tags and can access them from anywhere. No more worry about loosing bookmarks because they aren't local.

Google Voice is phone service where you can get a free phone number and make calls directly from your computer or even a cell phone if it has a data plan. I use mine for the free text messaging so I don't need a text plan on my cell phone and as a 2nd phone number. Currently that has little use but as I get closer to launching my store front it will have a purpose.

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That about covers the basics, await part 2 for more details on how to use each to organize for a typical family.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Yeah I suck

I know I'm sucking at blogging right now. I have that long post in the works but normal life stuff just seems to keep getting in the way. I came across a blog earlier that has given me a load of new ideas for things to make.

http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-love-to-create-diy-silk-screening.html

The link talks about how to do screen printing at home. I have everything here but the fabric paint. Ideas I'm thinking of include images on fabric blocks or maybe details on a plushie. I need to just check into the safety of fabric paint if ingested by some little mouth.

Also I've begun to look into making hair bows and maybe use the bows in other applications.

Should we create our own Flickr group to share our personal creations?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Going Mobile

I'm finding that I am entirely in love with living a mobile computing life. I knew I would though and I resisted updating entirely because of the cost of the phones and the monthly fees. I'm working on a longer post about how I'm integrating google into my organizing everything between my 3 primary computing devices, my office computer, my home desktop and my cell phone. I've been working using a portable system for quite awhile now but it relied on using my portable harddrive and the use of portable apps. I'm still doing this because not everything is easier mobile. Such as to really do a good blog post I prefer to do it on a computer and not my phone. The phone is great for the quick picture post but not for anything really longer.

I am learning that some of my previous systems are now useless. One such case is I spent a lot of time downloading and organizing all my recipes onto my harddrive and then hyperlinked them to a spreadsheet. I was going to use the spreadsheet to rate the recipes and make notes but in the end it just turned into a list. Now with my mobile phone I've gone back to using bookmarks so that I can access the recipe from my phone easily. I did try putting all the files on my phone but it is easier to read webpages then it is to read pdfs.

I'm soon going to be at the point where if I were to lose my phone I'd lose my entire life. Thank you google for backing it all up.

Work is kicking my butt this week but I promise to work on that fully flushed out, including screenshots of my phone to have it out by early next week.

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