This is what's wrong with me.
I needed to organize my life, be better about meal planning, and start clipping coupons (and actually use them instead of letting them turn into compost among the cookie crumbs in the bottom of my purse).
I needed a day planner.
The logical next step most people would take would be to go to Office Depot and buy one for $19.99.
Nope. Not me. I had to make one from scratch because I told myself the only way it would become a permanent part of my life is if it were extension of my personality. Did I mention my family thinks I'm nuts (not just my immediate family. The whole extended family)?
So here it is, Megan's very own day planner, sure to improve her life in immeasurable ways:
It's basically a slipcover for a 3-ring binder. I traced some of Bo's drawings of our family and embroidered them on front. How do you like the belly buttons on me and J?
The zipper pouch holds coupons which are alligator clipped together based on category (eating out, baby items, food, etc.). It's made from Amy Butler "gothic rose" fabric leftover from the Emmeline apron I made my friend Nis. The outside of the slipcover is plain old muslin. The inside is a birdie print from Ikea. And there's a layer of flannel (one of the girl's old baby blankets) in between to give it just a tiny bit of padding.
The best part of the whole thing? The filler pages, which the amazingly talented and generous Amanda Hawkins offers for free on her blog.
My photos of her work don't do it justice. Do check out her offerings.
Here's the back side:
Maybe not something you'd want to carry to a job interview, but since my main job these days is CEO of those little stick figures you see embroidered there, I'm not worried about it.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that the idea for the mini birthday bunting came from something I saw on Flickr. I just tried looking for it again but my searches are yielding 11,000 results with no luck.
UPDATE 2: I found it! Here's the original inspiration for the mini bunting:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22620364@N05/2675295586/
So, what else is up? Like I mentioned the other day, I sewed another book sling, this time in exchange for an hour-long massage with the amazing Mariah of Elysium Touch. The massage was last Saturday, and I'm still walking around like cooked spaghetti. Honestly, we all need to treat ourselves to massages more often. Promise me you will. An hour to completely relax and open your mind. I walked away from there wanting to be a better person.
Mariah choose the fabrics. Fantastic, huh? I can't remember the names, but I'll track them down if anyone is interested.
And I just have to share some photos I took this morning at a beautiful home decor store here in Spokane called 1900. Simply lovely.
I don't think I'd mind that my dishwasher is broken if I owned this dish rack:
i love everything about your planner!!!!!!
i do a lot of meal planning makes a big difference in my life. we should trade a weeks worth of meal ideas.
Posted by: suna | May 02, 2009 at 08:08 AM
I love it! And I love that it's so "you" to do it up in your style... personally I think that any time you invest some time into a project that you are more likely to stick with/use/enjoy the end result. So there. :)
xoxo
ps We are having a "day" here. MK has decided that only one side of the paper is worthy of being used. When informed that she could have no more 'til both sides were full (it's not big art, just writing practice) she decided instead to rip up said piece of paper rendering it entirely useless. Winner of an all-expenses paid trip to her room! Do you ever have days where you wonder how your child(ren) got in your home, who left them there, and when the hell they will return to pick them up? I do. Today.
Posted by: Nis | May 02, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Oh my gosh! I too have been working on organizing my life and have been trying to settle on a way to create a Household Notebook that will inspire me to keep up with it...and you just gave me the answer! Thank you for being crazy, Meghan.
Posted by: mkpoggie | May 03, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Love those fabrics she choose for the book sling...I need to make one of those~
Oh, and your notebook is inspiring...perhaps I'll sew a version for myself!
I'm off to check out the calendar pages - thanks!
Susannah
Posted by: Susannah @ Art Nest | May 03, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Thanks so much, guys.
Suna--your blog looks really great. I'm anxious to see how your garden turns out. I'd read about doing that, but we ended up overturning 625 square feet of sod last spring instead--ugh! Hard work.
A recipe exchange is a great idea, by the way. Maybe I'll work something up here.
Nis--Yes, I have those days. All the time. ;)
Thanks, M & S. Here's another neat idea for a day planner I just came across:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allofoto/2166532700/
Posted by: Megan | May 04, 2009 at 12:24 AM
Great Job on the planner. I would have taken the easy route & bought one from the store :) Yours has so much more personality. I love it. AND good for you on getting the massage. I agree 110% we ALL need to treat ourselves every so often. I treat myself a lot more than other's. Used to be once a month...and lately it has been every other week...but the pregnant girl deserves it. :) Now lets just hope I keep my words of advice to others about getting massages & I hope I can keep it up after baby comes! lol
Posted by: Apryl | May 05, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Your planner is fabulous! I think it's so creative. Great job.
Posted by: Becca | May 06, 2009 at 09:34 PM
This is so great, thanks for the shoutout! Do you mind if I post the photos on my site? I love those little flags on the notebook, I've been wanting to make full size ones to go around my bedroom! xo
-Amanda
Posted by: Amanda | May 07, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Oh my goodness, Amanda. Please do! Thank you so much for your generous gift to the world. I smile every time I open my planner.
And thanks for your kind words, Becca and Apryl.
Posted by: Megan | May 07, 2009 at 05:07 PM
I have all of my materials to make my Notebook/Planner (wahoo!) but got a little nervous about the construction of the slipcover--I'm afraid it'll be more "slip" than "cover". Is there a trustworthy tutorial/guide that you used? Or are you just brilliant enough to have come up with a perfectly snug one organically? If it's the latter, may I suggest that you do a blog post of your Brain?
Posted by: mkpoggie | May 23, 2009 at 09:23 PM
How great, MK!! I can't wait to see yours. I didn't follow a tutorial, but I'll write up some basic instructions and post them here asap (hopefully tomorrow).
P.S. You're hilarious. My brain is mush, especially right now.
Posted by: Megan | May 24, 2009 at 02:45 AM