Hello dollies…thanks for joining me for this month’s Where Bloggers Live 03.2021: Did It Myself. Today, the ladies and I are talking about DIYs (or as I like to call them DIMs – did it myself), craft projects or WDIYWYCJCs (why would you do it yourself when you can just call someone). Before diving into this post, I wanted to be sure I had a clear understanding of what exactly constitutes a DIY project.
According to Google THE authority on everything, DIY is:
the activity of decorating, building, and making repairs at home by oneself rather than employing a professional.
So thankful that I am no longer the person responsible for doing repairs around the house. When I was a single mom, it was I who climbed on the roof to work on the evaporative cooler. I caulked and re-caulked the master bath tub. And learned to handle all things related to our pool at ‘little house.’ But PC is more an authority on repairs so I have happily retired my shingle and moved over to let him take on those projects.
The only DIYs this girl is doing now days are craft projects. Insert ear-to-ear grinning emoji.
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE 03.2021
In case we’ve just met, an explanation about this series. Where Bloggers Live is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Each month I am always happy to see that my Where Bloggers Live posts are among my most popular. Probably because we are all a little curious about other people’s homes and lives. For last month’s post, we provided a look at our entry way, the area where visitors get a first impression of our home. The theme of January’s installment was sharing where we get our inspiration for different aspects of our life. In the post before that, we opened up our guest bedrooms. Glad you have stopped by today.
Past DIYs
Many of my past craft and DIY experiences can be found under the Craft and Create section of my blog. They include:
- painting alone and with PC – signed up for painting classes at Hobby Lobby for a short time a few years ago. They were a little out of my price range for long term so I just took them for a few months. Several times for pre-Covid date nights, my Prince and I have enjoyed painting through I Painted That. Check out those projects here,
- collage – in desperation for something to do during lockdown from the global pandemic, I discovered several online collage workshops. So much fun. Check them out here and here.
- scrapbooking – my sister Valerie and I Facetime and scrap at least once a month.
- craft projects for around the house – I always enjoy creating seasonal crafts I discover on Pinterest. Shared 2 quick spring projects last year, here and another Pinspired craft, here. More Pinterventures here, here and here.
- photography – this counts, right? Photography has become one of my favorite creative endeavors lately. Doing 3 photo challenges this year.
- creative writing – have shared a few pieces of creative writing with you all over the years. And have several unfinished stories floating around in my head and on paper.
Present DIYs
I have several craft projects in the works right now. All are a part of my #100DayProject. Which means I am probably not following the guidelines of the #100DayProject to the letter because I am working on multiple activities. My overreaching project is to finish several crafts that are in various stages of completion by the 05.10.2021 deadline.
- mosaic – you are probably tired of hearing about this!! I think I’ve mentioned it in every post this month and last. Just know that after allowing my mosaic table top to sit idle for about 6 years, I am finally finishing it. Began work on the piece in January, right after I retired in 12.2013. Then set it aside for years. Have found renewed enthusiasm for it after visiting with a mosaic artist on how best to finish the project. Here’s the latest photo of the mosaic.
- Valentine wreath – bought all of the supplies to make this wreath early in February. Just ran out of time before Valentine’s Day to get ‘er finished. So now I am working at my leisure, if you will. But with the pledge that I will have the wreath completed by the #100DayProject deadline in May.
- notes – one of the projects I have enjoyed this year has been making little note cards to send to family and friends. Nothing fancy, but made with lots of love.
Your Turn
This post is going to be unusually short-n-sweet by my usual standards as I am having a world of trouble with my Internet connectivity. It has been unreliable for about a week at our house. Along with our land line phone service and cable TV. Thought I could wind this post up while on holiday this week but the Internet is even less reliable in our rental condominium.
Hope you will run by to visit the blogs of my comadres to check out their wily, crafty DIYs.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Thanks for popping in. Please be sure to say hi in a comment below and let me know what kinds of DIYs you are working on this spring.
Hugs and kisses,
Joanne
Best of luck getting your projects completed within the 100 days!
Deb
I am happy to say that I’ve been lucky enough to receive one of those lovely cards and it really made my day!
That mosaic is looking more beautiful every time you show it, I’m pretty confident you’re going to have it finished in time for summer, especially now you have a helper on board 😉
Bettye L Rainwater
First, Janey is transfixed by the little falling beach umbrellas 🙂
Your mosaic looks lovely. It reminds me of a 1940s bedspread I used to have. Can’t wait to see it when it’s all finished!
Yeah, painting classes are SO EXPENSIVE! I’ve wanted to take watercolor classes for YEARS but they’re always way out of my price range.
Ooh, internet hell, I know it well. Hope yours gets resolved soon.
xoxo
Bettye
https://fashionschlub.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!!
Lisa Elliott
your projects are such fun! When I retire (4 1/2 years away), I think I will start scrapbooking again. I did it for years and miss it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. Come scrapbook with me!! We could do a blog post about it. My friends Lauren at Shooting Stars Mag and RebeccaJo at Knit by God’s Hands do a keeping it all together post each month. Maybe we could join them with our scrapbooking efforts.
jodie filogomo
Ahhh…when you said scrapbooking, that reminds me I used to create books for my loved ones. These activities really give us joy, don’t you think? Especially when they turn out so good like yours Leslie!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Kellyann Rohr
I totally hear you about the DIY only being craft projects – those are most fun! Your V-day wreath is super cute and stylish!
xo,
Kellyann
Iris
Goodness, you have lots of projects. Love the heart wreath, and the spring things you showed recently. Looks like the mosaic is coming along. Looking forward to seeing the finished project.
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Donna Connolly
Hi, Leslie – I especially love this series. It is incredibly generous and refreshingly open and inviting. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Em
I am SO intrigued by your mosaic. I’ve always found that kind of art to be fascinating, and yours is well on it’s way to being an heirloom. And why not finish it on your own time…and enjoy the process.
I appreciate your smaller projects as well, what I used to refer to as “quickie crafts,” which for me means something I sit down and see through in a reasonable time period. I need to do more of those as they are MUCH more enjoyable than the things I’ve been working on in the past few years. Thanks for the inspiration!
Joanne Tracey
I can’t remember the last time I did anything crafty. I used to do scrapbooking (once upon a time) but haven’t for years. These days my creative outlets are my photography and my writing. Your mosaic is coming along beautifully.
Bri
I am loving this series, Leslie, and love seeing what you have been creating! You are so talented!!!! That mosaic is going to be beautiful! And that Valentine’s wrest is so pretty!
Bethany @ Happily Loco
I love your projects! That heart wreath is adorable!
I have to confess that I am not into crafts, (well, not into making my own at least, lol!), so I love to live vicariously through everyone else and admire their projects!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much for finding my blog and leaving me this sweet comment. I enjoy all of my crafting but sometimes wonder what to do with all the finished projects.
Danielle
I love hearing about the mosaic! It is so much fun to see how it is coming together! And I am so glad Matt is handy with all the repairs around the house. I help when I can, but it’s nice to not have to worry about fixing things up.
Natasha
I’m sorry you’re having internet issues. That’s not fun 🙁 I can’t wait to see your finished mosaic. I should pull out my quilt which I haven’t worked on in years but needs to be finished one of these days…
Daenel
Your wreath is so cute. I’m not a crafter or diyer but HGTV had me think8ng I could rewire my house. LOL
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I don’t think my Hobby Lobby has art classes, but I should look and see. That mosaic is so pretty! I recently did a craft project and I just haven’t had time to edit the photos and write it up for the blog yet!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Danielle
I recognize that note card 😉
I love all the DIM craft projects you have on the go.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yup!! Love it!!
Laurie
You are so crafty! I had to smile at your description of WDIYWYCJCs! lol!!! Your mosaic tabletop is gorgeous! I can’t wait to see a picture of the finished project.
laurabambrick
I’m so happy to see your blog back up and functional! Yay!! Hope you had a great Easter! That valentine wreath is looking great! And so is the table!
Jennifer
Oh to be crafty! It all looks like such fun…but once I plunge in, I find it so frustrating and tense. No idea why, really. I just love the end product but not the process..at all. I’m the one who appreciates (and keeps in business) all the crafty ladies out there:) Really like your blog makeover!! Looks great –
Hope you are having a good week. And that the internet will behave itself soon!!
Anne
One of my favorite hobbies is crafting. I love all that you shared-keep it up!
Lysha
I love your valentine wreath. I can’t wait to see the Mosaic finished project!