Tech Tools I Use: Evernote

I want to start a series that I'll write on occasionally about technology I use to not only write to this blog but also as a tool to help with my crafting. I was raised a complete geek and have been using computers from a very early age. My mother was a self taught graphic designer starting in the early 1990s and let me play around with many programs. I'm also a bit Obsessive about finding the best programs to keep myself organized.

This time I wanted to mention Evernote. This is a great program that can be used to piece together information from multiple sources easily. I use it mostly for grouping ideas.

First here is the front of Evernote that you'll see when you first come to it. The greatest thing with it now that I have a smartphone is that I can access my entries at home where I have Evernote downloaded, from my phone where I have the app or at work where I go through the web. Evernote is free to a point. There if you have the paid subscription service then you can upload as much as you want per month, if not there is a monthly maximum. I have yet to reach that monthly amount though so at the moment I'm still on the free service.

Your notes are sorted both by notebooks and by tags. On the left you can see my notebooks and in the center some of my notes I have within one. This is my hodpodge notebook, as you can see it contains recipes, decorating ideas, and clips from webpages.

Here I am creating/editing the entry on making this post. It contains all of the normal formatting options though really I wish they were a bit more user friendly. I often have to fight with it if I want something pretty. Really though I've learned to just live with it being a bit messy and think of it as part of the creative process. You can also attach files to a note which is great for .pdf patterns or photos from the computer.

Once I've collected everything I need then it's time to implement the project in whatever way is appropriate. If it's a blog post well then I turn to writing it. And voila, from idea to published.

It'd be great to here how everyone else composes there ideas be it on a scratch pad by the fridge, or in a word document. So tell me what you do in the comments section.

Out of the Stone Age

Sorry not much to write today, I've been very distracted for the past 24 hours. Hubby and I are finally out of the cell phone stone age and got smart phones. I'm a bit OCD about finding the perfect apps and organization for my homescreens so this may take a bit. When I first started in the world of online/cloud type working using a mix of portable apps and google apps I tested and tried 4 money softwares, 5 task managers and dozens of other little programs. In the end what do I use? Google Docs for managing our finances and Google Tasks for to do lists. The only nifty program I added on was EverNote. But that is all just an example that I will be tweaking this phone for awhile until it's comfy and worn it like a well loved pair of shoes.

Also I've added a chat window to my blog over on the right. You can easily catch me via yahoo anywhere as long as I'm paying attention to my phone. So go ahead and try it. :)

Cloth Diaper Madness

We decided to switch to cloth diapers for Wee Rose to save some money and I decided like a nutter to make them myself to save even more. I estimated I could probably make enough to last until she is potty trained (or needs training pants) for less than $150. Sounds great right? Well I don't think I thought the effort through.

What I've done so far:

1. Made a pattern from an existing cloth diaper. An All-in-One BumGenius. I love those diapers but they are pricey.
2. Ordered hook & loop tape along with PUL fabric from Kids in the Garden. From everything I read you don't want to use Velcro you can buy at Joann's or Michael's because it doesn't hold up well to washing. I've noticed this myself when I've used it before. I ordered Touch Tape. The PUL fabric will become the waterproof outer cover for each diaper.
3. I visited 3 thrift stores looking for cheap sheets in either flannel or cotton knit. I found a fair amount. Originally I tried to see if a store would sell me their selvage t-shirts by either the pound or the bag but I had no luck. Quick change of plans led to hunting for sheets. I found what I hope is enough and a quilted mattress topper I think will be great for making the absorbent inserts.
4. I started cutting everything out and Oh boy is it a lot of cutting. As of right now I have cut from the sheets enough for 18 diapers.

I'm hoping to be done with all the cutting by Friday so that I can start assembly this weekend. I do have a deadline. I have about 2 weeks before we run out of disposable diapers to have at least half of my goal done. I'm aiming for 40 diapers.

Online Sources I am using:

Zany Zebra Designs - Free Diaper Patterns

How to Sew A Fitted Cloth Diaper

Sew a Diaper Stash for $30 or Less

How to Make Cloth Diapers

Kids in the Garden (Supplier)

Wazoodle (Supplier)

Stripes Oh My

Plushie number 2 has been completed. I would like to introduce my first zebra. One thing I need to work on is the scale. I've just been creating these guys on what fits on a single piece of paper and I would like them a tad bigger than that. I'm trying to fix that with my next critter. He's a tad bigger but not by too much though.

I actually took a series of photos as I worked on him. More than the ferret.

Here shows the zebra cut out using the freezer paper patterns. The pattern has no seam allowance so I just cut a bit larger than it. Doing that lets me see the smaller details that would be lost if I added a buffer around the guy.

First I stitched together the ear and attached it through the slit on his head and sewed on the muzzle to each of the 2 body pieces.

This shows how the ear is attached to the head through the slit. Make sure all the fabric is pulled in so that no loose strings will show around the ear.

The under gusset shown stitched together with one of the feet added.

A close up of the mane sandwiched between the two body pieces which are right sides together. This was very tricky. I had to think a bit about the placement so that when he was turned right side out the mane would be in the correct place.

The head all pinned up ready to sew. When the plushie is turned right side out the mane will stick straight up.

The plushie after turning.

With the safety eyes added. I found these at Joann's though I know there are loads of online sellers too.

And finally stuffed. I purposely didn't sew the under gusset at the tops of the legs. I didn't want him to stand. He's intended for a small child and I though the laying down was cuter. I wanted him slightly floppy too.

Featured Influence: While She Naps

While She Naps is a blog I've mentioned previously but I can't say how much of a great influence this blog has been on me. It finally gave me the nuggets of information I needed to move forward in my desire to start designing and making plushies. This is something I've been thinking about for awhile now and finally I'm moving forward with it.

When she completes her series on the basics of plushie making I hope she combines into successful into a book. I know I'd buy it. Her manner of writing is clear and concise. Her photographs show what she is doing clearly. I rarely have questions regarding what she is showing. The biggest thing though is I find her incredibly inspiring. Since I first found this blog but 3 weeks ago I have created 2 plushies. Yes I finished a second one last night and he will be featured tomorrow. I may also provide the pattern I created for him if I can get it cleaned up and written out better.

Today's blog on While She Naps is about head gussets and I look forward to trying my hand at adding them into my toolbox of plushie making.

Happy creating!

Blog Goals

Why is it I write this? I've wavered back and forth as to what I want to achieve with this blog. Mostly I've wanted to use it as an outlet for my creations I believe. Also though it's been the occasional place to vent frustrations. I know my readership is tiny. I think there are maybe 2 of you out there but maybe just maybe that will increase one day.

My perpetual problem with writing regularly is the dreaded work-life balance. You know I think someone coined phrase years ago just as a mockery. Sometimes I don't think it's even possible to accomplish it for any average person in America today. You always end up making sacrifices of things you always said you never would. I think I'm even more crazy trying to make a balance of work-work-life. Maybe it's idealistic but I've always thought I'd have a bit more time once the kids get older or maybe I need to make my life more portable, save up for a tablet so I can blog and cook at the same time. I think that's a valid excuse to by one.

Well no matter what I'm proud I've done an entry every day this week. I have a few projects I did in the past that I've never written about so maybe I'll feature one tomorrow. Actually better yet maybe I should make a regular Friday thing of featuring some other blog/project I have found online I find worth sharing. Actually I think that's a great idea. We'll go with that one. :) So for tomorrow something that has inspired me.

Hot Water Woes

Besides getting a few projects done this weekend I wanted to mention one of Hubby's accomplishments. At the end of last week we discovered that the hot water heater was no longer heating water. I was quick to look up the plumber we used to repair the burst pipe but Hubby stopped me. He wanted a go at researching what it could be and how to repair it.

Well he did it! He found a very helpful youtube video and with its guidance replaced the heating coil for $11.50 + the cost to buy a multimeter ($27) to verify the problem. 

Go Hubby for saving us the extraordinary cost of a service call to a plumber. I'm so proud of him for 1.) stopping me from just calling someone 2.) volunteering to do it and most importantly 3.) Succeeding!

:)