How NOT to be that woman they find buried under a pile of old newspapers......

You've all read about her, the old dear that lives alone, saving all her old newspapers, stacking them neatly in piles in the hall, then the lounge, and the kitchen. Not wanting to throw them away, saving each, precious one because she might need it again, that article on page 16, until one day when she's shuffling between the 7ft towers of teetering  newspapers that fill every room, they collapse on top of her...

photo credit: nathansnider via photopin cc

But wait, that won't happen to you will it? You only read blogs, not papers, and they're all delivered electronically to you via google reader. Hang on didn't you read that google reader will not be available after July 1, 2013???? And you have a zillion blogs in your feed *aargghhh*

You've all heard the quote I'm sure but I'm disagreeing here! If you can organise all of  that junk on your 'virtual desk' you can  work soooo much easier. Or fill your desk with back up with pretty pictures! Your choice!

So what can you do about it?

1. Find another reader

When I first heard google reader was closing I went and checked out the alternatives. And I plumped for Feedly. It's working great for me so far. I can use it from my computer, chromebook or smartphone. It shows your posts in text style like the old reader OR a fab magazine style picture based dashboard. You can eaily add new content, organise it into custom folders, read 'todays posts', choose a particular folder to catch up on or browse the items you 'saved for later' better still though link your google reader account and it automatically pulls all your blogs from your reader list woo-hoo!!!

2. Save smart

Yes I know you can't click 'read' on that fab new post , the 'save for later' button will just make you feel a little bit more secure....buuuuuuut you already have 2000+ items in there (justincase) that's kinda equivalent to the old lady having filled the lounge and starting a pile by the oven in the kitchen you know!

So how can you save smarter?

There are some great online notebooks, I use this one....

*Evernote

If you clip every post you want to save and give it handy tags, you'll be able to find all you need on 'online marketing posts' or  'recipes to try' with one click. Fab! 

And don't think I haven't noticed your bulging email inbox, I'll get onto organising your  inboxes in a blog post soon!

*don't forget to add http://lilvintagemakes.blogspot.co.uk/ to feedly so you'll get all the  latest posts from me!*

Of course there are lots of other replacements so I've set it up so you can Follow my blog with Bloglovin If you've a favourite replacement for google reader, pop it in the comments below...

How not to spend the weekend sawing your hubby out of a greenhouse!

It all started when hubby decided to tidy the back garden ready for us to have a new lawn laid in the summer. All was fine, dirty, but fine until he decided to resite the greenhouse. All he needed to do was chop down a branch of the tree to fit the greenhouse inbetween it and the summerhouse. So branch cut he climbed inside the greenhouse and decided to lift and carry it (somewhat turtle style) from inside.
Did I want to help inside or out? I decided to help carry from outside as i could lift it easier.

1 ...2...3....LIFT!! 
This way a bit, that way a bit .....Whoops it won't fit under that other bit,
Saw, saw, saw
Lift again ...... shuffle shuffle shuffle....
SUCCESS Greenhouse in place!!!
Come on out now hubby.......
BAANNNGG!!!

Oh what's that? The door won't open more than 5 inches, Eek!!??  I dissolved into a puddle of giggles outside the greenhouse! Hubby stood inside , not amused.

Luckily  5 inches is perfect width for passing through a cuppa!

Did we carry the greenhouse back to where we started or take decisive action and chop off another branch?

Not wanting to waste more time & energy we decided on the branch!

So I spend the next 20 minutes sawing another branch off the tree and hubby is finally free from the greenhouse - yay!!

So what does this teach us?

1. Lack of preparation can cost you time and energy!
2. A problem should be examined from ALL angles first (we checked the height but forgot to check the door opening)
3. Always have a backup plan
4. Failure to prepare and have  backup plan  will have you right back where you started but a whole more tired!!

So when you are doing some thing new today, however simple it may seem, make sure you prepare for it properly!

- Make a list of steps,
- Identify Problems
- Double check from ALL viewpoints
- Have a back up plan


Good luck!!

How to scrap your To Do list and Actually get stuff done!

Are you like me? Do you have a to do list with a gazillion things to do on it? Do you go to bed at night still with a gazillion things on it?

Stop writing those To Do Lists RIGHT NOW and I'll show you a new way to get things done!

Today I'm giving away a free pdf  of my Goal Planner eBook (just email me to request yours)

10 Pages of  ways to  get  things done that actually count towards your own personal Goal

( .....being super mum....starting a business....clearing the spare room.... world domination!!!)

We all only have 24 hours in a day see how you can make them count!!

Email me now for your free Goal Planner and find more hours in your day!

How to increase your Inspriation & Motivation {Part 2}

Oh Yazz, where are you now? :)

Welcome to the second part of my tips on how to kick start your Inspiration & Motivation. Missed the first part? You can find it here.

How did you all get on? Did you find your inspiration? Here's a couple more ideas to try if you are still struggling.

Act as a tourist in your home town. Do you really know all there is about your local area? Visit local atractions, take a sketchpad to a gallery, watch something at a local theatre, eat in small backstreet bistros, buy some food from a farmers market or visit an artisant fair full of local talented creators...All these are dripping with potential inspiration

Seek Help! No not from a psychiastrist! Something that always pulls me out of a lack of inspiration is a custom order. A simple request from a customer can often spark off several more ideas for new products / designs. So if you're stuck ask someone for an idea and see what ideas they spark.



Lots of inspiration but can't seem to get started on anything? Lets try these....

So  Many Ideas,  you don't know where to start! Good, I'm glad the inspiration is there. First get a notepad, carry it everywhere, sleep with it by your bed. (I'm a 21st century girl so an app on your phone or saving to evernote also work!) Whatever  idea you have write it down , sketch it out. This will be a great resource for when you are lacking inspiration at other times. Now look at your list, which is the idea that excites you the most. This is the one to do first. Don't have the materials? Order them. Don't have the time, make some. The passion and excitement you feel about this well show in your work, you should prioritise it!

Don't Be Scared Is your lack if motivation simply a fear of trying something new? Sometimes when we fear something might fail we don't even try it. Just think of all those missed opportunities, please don't be afraid to try. So what if it doesn't work out, no one need know, and you've crossed of something that doesn't work and are a step nearer finding the right way!

Live Life! Another big fear that can cripple creativity is the fear of ruining what you have, a new page of that lovely handbound journal you bought for your creative writing course, the piece of vintage fabric you refuse to cut into, or the ingredient you are saving for 'that special recipe' that never turns up.  What a waste! These things are beautiful yes, but they also have a purpose, to be used and enjoyed. Take a deep breath and use that special item you have been saving, treat yourself you deserve it.

Sort your To Do list. And I'm not going to get you to tick them all off in one day. How many things do you have on there anyway? 10? 20? 30? Wait you have 45 things on yor To Do list?? No wonder you're struggling to get motivated! Get your pen right now and pick 3 things off that list, at the moment I don't care if they are the big ones or the teeny tiny fillers you pop on thee every morning, choose 3 and write them on a new bit of paper. They are your to do's for today. Do them!

Take Care ~ I touched on looking after yourself last week but I cannot emphasise this next bit enough, if you find your motivation gone for a prolonged period, you have severe tiredness or the winter blues aren't clearing up. Please go and see your doctor. A food intolerance, lack of iron and depression can all cause these symptoms and are treatable.

And for those of you (like my daughter) who didn't get the title to this, or for those who just want to reminisce, here's Yazz doing her thing....

How to sew multiple items without going crazy!!!

Heart Brooches  (one of my best sellers, so made often!)

Last post , I  mentioned how how sewing the same things over and over can become just a tad repetitive and then went on to say about all the fun stuff I do to balance out the stock items!
Well sometimes you can't just put it aside and you need to make  a lot of similar items, probably quickly too, and you've just got to buckle down get them done!

My own stocking decorations....

Prompted by a follower on my facebook page (yes Jo that's you!) , who had a bunch of stocking decorations to make and asked  for my advice, I compiled my 'tricks and tips for sewing multiples without going crazy'.... so here it is!

The 'How to sew multiple items without going crazy!!!' Guide

The first thing to know is you are not going to make each from start to finish... oh no.. that will drive you mad! You'll give up of boredom before you've started, trust me!
Instead of say, setting side a day to do it, take 1 hour each day for a week.

The easiest, quickest and sanest way to approach sewing multiple items is to break them down into stages. Get you instructions and break them down into managable steps, then sew each stage for all the items!
Lets say we need to make 10 stockings....

1. Trace out pattern onto fabric x10, trace out pattern onto lining x10. (you can even break this down into 2 steps if needed.
2. Cut out all pieces
3. Sew linings x10
4. Embellish Front Outer of stockings x10
5. sew lining and outers together x 10
6. Top stitch stockings x10

This method also has great advantages to sewing each one individually, such as....
~ sewing continuously can save thread.
~ Pattern placing all at once can help you get the best use out of your fabric.
~ There is no warm up time. Hey, you're already 'in the zone' when you move onto the next piece you only did it 30 seconds ago - no.....'uhhh which way does this go?' moments!!

Using this method you might have a whole stage you can do in normal 'wasted time'! I take all my brooches with me on the school run to cut out whilst i'm sat in the car.....

Holly hairclips, mid production

My last tip is , listen to yourself, somedays you can sit and do the same thing over and over and others you just have to create something new and different! Don't try and fight it!
The Final tip is to find some great music you love to listen to and play itwhilst you're sewing - it'll  help the time pass quickly!

So there it is, I hope I've helped! Don't forget if you hae anymore tips to add then please leave me a comment below xx
Oh and if you missed that last post, catch it here.