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Oh my goodness guys, I couldn't be more giddy about today!

I have always felt like there was a little somethin' somethin' missing around here.  And for me, that was good sewing projects and ideas, that can be used for organizing.  That is mostly because my sewing machine and I haven't taken our relationship to the next level yet....  but why should y'all have to suffer because I like to take things nice and slow?

That is why I have added a new gal pal to my IHeart Contributing team!  Please give a warm welcome to Palak, who is the author of Make it Handmade.

I am excited to have her here today, sharing her first sewing project with us.  It is something that looks simple enough that even I could do, and it is something that we personally could benefit within our own home.  Here she is now to share more!


Hi, IHeart Organizing Readers! I can't tell you how absolutely thrilled I am to be here and sharing a sewing tutorial with you all. I'm Palak and I sew {and blog about it} over at Make It Handmade. I also run a frugal sewing site called Sewistry.com .

We are big football fans, which means that we watch more tv over the weekends than I care to admit. We are constantly losing our remotes on the counter, in the toy bin, and the worst-- in the couch cushions.

I came up with this remote control pillow to keep those remote controls right on the couch-- but out of sight.


Even if you've never sewn a stitch before, you can make this fun little pillow-- I promise. Pillows are a great beginner project. This tutorial will walk you through step by step, and if you get stuck; you can always email me and I'll do my best to help you out.

I've also created a compilation of free sewing tutorials especially for I Heart Organizing Readers. If you've never used a sewing machine before, this series of tutorials will walk you through the basics of sewing. You'll have this pillow made in no time!


Materials

• 3 Fat Quarters
• 1 14" Pillow Form 
• Sewing Machine & Supplies

Let's Sew!

Step 1:  Decide which fabric you'd like to use for the pocket side of the pillow, and which you'd like to use for the pretty side.


Cut each fat quarter into a 15x15 square.

Step 2:  Fold the pocket piece in half, wrong sides together and topstitch 1/8 inch away from the fold.


Step 3:  Place the pocket piece on the right side of the pillow back. Using your remotes as a guide; mark out where the pocket needs to be divided, and topstitch in place.


Step 4:  Place the remaining square {pillow front} right sides together with the pillow back. Sew around 3 sides of the pillow as shown.


Turn the pillow right side out through the little opening. Iron the pillow case out very well and then insert the pillow form into the pillow. The best way to finish the pillow is to hand sew the opening shut. For a super easy invisible stitch, check out my Magic Stitch Tutorial. If you are more adventurous, you can add an invisible zipper instead.

Now you have your very own, one of kind, customized throw pillow with attached remote control caddy.

To use, simply place the remote controls in the pockets to store. {Don't forget to tell your family where they are!}


Turn the pillow pretty side out when your mother in law comes over.


Thank you for having me Jen! I hope some of you give this a try. To check out some of my other DIY tutorials {sewing and otherwise} head on on over to Make It Handmade!





"I'm Palak-- a slightly sleep deprived mom who has loved sewing, knitting and crochet for her whole life.  When I’m not chasing after my two rambunctious kids, or sitting behind my sewing machine, I write about my DIY exploits at my blog, Make It Handmade. I also own Sewistry, a site dedicated to stretching our sewing dollars with money saving projects, product review and buying guides.  Although organizing doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ve been inspired by Jen and her blog to find the joy in making my home beautiful and functional. I’m transforming my home one room at a time and using my sewing machine every chance I get! I’m simply elated to be able share sewing projects for your home as part of the IHeart team! "

Sewing is a work in progress for this gal, which is why I love having a sewing fanatic on my team.  Palak, from Make It Handmade, is here today to share some fun ways to utilize darling sewing projects within the bathroom.  I love how she always knows just how to inspire me to go back to my machine for simple sewing projects around the home.


Hello there, iHeart Readers!  Since both Jen and I are updating our baths this week, I decided that it would be fun to round up 5 easy sewing projects that can help dress up a bathroom.  Bathroom linens can be expensive, and sewing your own can help you customize your bath while saving a few pennies.


If you are new to sewing, this Drop Cloth shower curtain from MADE requires only hemming.  The rest is paint and pounding in grommets.

 

These DIY bathmats from I Am Momma... are probably my favorite bath sewing project.  I'm going to make an extra long one to go in front of our soaking tub to catch all those kid splashes.



This ruffled shower curtain from Just Called Me Blessed might take a while to sew up, but it's so gorgeous when you are done!



Speaking of ruffles... I think these ruffled towels from the Craft Snob would be so cute paired with the shower curtain.



And finally-- we can't forget the very smallest of the bath users.  These embellished monster hooded towels from Crazy Little Projects are surprisingly easy to make.  I find that even older kids love having the hooded towel, and if you make your own, you aren't limited to the smallest baby size towels!



And I know that was 5-- but I just had to sneak in this quick tip from Sugar Bee Crafts.  Sew a loop of trim onto each of your kids towels to make them easier to hang on a hook.  Genius!



I hope these projects inspire you to update your bath with a few custom linens!


"I'm Palak-- a slightly sleep deprived mom who has loved sewing, knitting and crochet for her whole life. When I’m not chasing after my two rambunctious kids, or sitting behind my sewing machine, I write about my DIY exploits at my blog, Make It Handmade. I also own Sewistry, a site dedicated to stretching our sewing dollars with money saving projects, product review and buying guides. Although organizing doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ve been inspired by Jen and her blog to find the joy in making my home beautiful and functional. I’m transforming my home one room at a time and using my sewing machine every chance I get! I’m simply elated to be able share sewing projects for your home as part of the IHeart team! "

My very sweet sewing friend just created a very sweet sewing station.  Palak, from Make It Handmade, is here today to share how you don't need a large space for it to be fab and functional.  I am over the moon for her smart storage solutions, and how her new happy corner turned out.



Hello, IHeart Readers! Since I've been sewing more often, my husband and I thought it would be nice for me to have one corner of our media room for my sewing machine. I thought I would share how it was organized {on a budget!}. I also have a simple sewing project for you guys near the end of the post.

The biggest change we made was changing out my sewing table for a smaller wooden one {from IKEA!}, and converting it into a DIY sewing table. The table has a hole in it for my machine, which makes sewing so much easier and more comfortable. This was our first, big woodworking project and I'm absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. If you are interested in making your own, I wrote up a post with the details at Make It Handmade.


Then it was just a matter of making the smaller table work with with all my sewing notions and tools.I have a few purposed containers on the table top-- like this old pesto jar for safety pins.


And a candy jar for those tiny spools of thread that just have a bit of thread left.


Since I can't access the little storage box on my machine now, I've been using this tackle and bait box to store my sewing machine feet, bobbins and needles. I papered the back of it with matching paper and double stick tape to pretty it up a bit.


The rest of my storage moved to the wall above my desk. I purchased the inexpensive Bygel rail system from IKEA, and used it to keep my thread, rulers and cutting mats up and out of the way. I love how everything is in easy reach, and I still have enough room to sew, cut and create on my table.


However-- it was still looking a little too industrial for my taste. I came up with this fun little sewn caddy to hold some of my favorite patterns. The caddy is made of a few rectangles of fabric, and is trimmed out in bias tape. It's also a perfect first bias tape project since it's small and the back of your work won't be seen.


Here's a close up of the trim. In addition to the Anything Caddy tutorial, I've also put together the Ultimate Guide To Sewing Bias Tape for those of you wanting to branch out from the basics!


I loved the way the print looked so much, that I also added a little matching embroidered pincushion and made a sewing tutorial for that too!


Thank you so much for letting me share a bit of my sewing space with you all!



"I'm Palak-- a slightly sleep deprived mom who has loved sewing, knitting and crochet for her whole life.  When I’m not chasing after my two rambunctious kids, or sitting behind my sewing machine, I write about my DIY exploits at my blog, Make It Handmade. I also own Sewistry, a site dedicated to stretching our sewing dollars with money saving projects, product review and buying guides.  Although organizing doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ve been inspired by Jen and her blog to find the joy in making my home beautiful and functional. I’m transforming my home one room at a time and using my sewing machine every chance I get! I’m simply elated to be able share sewing projects for your home as part of the IHeart team! "

 

If you had a total of 8 square feet of entryway space, what would you do with it? 

One thing I love about contributing writer, Palak of Make it Handmade, is that she loves to sew and create storage on a budget.  Her entryway is no exception as she tackled the super small space with a super big heart.  She and her husband took on their first building project to build in a bench and upper storage from scratch, and from there she also created some DIY felt storage bins.  She is stopping by today to share a bit more about how she truly "made" every last bit of her budget friendly entryway.



Hello I Heart Readers! I'm back today with a "tour" of our newly built Mini Mudroom.


It's not much to look at, but right now it's my very favorite 8 square feet in our home.

When we bought our home, there was a small recess right behind the garage door that was perfect for a small bench.  I searched and searched for a bench to fit the area exactly, but couldn't find one that fit with my taste or our budget.

But now that both kids go to school, we really needed a place for them store their bags, folders, show and tells, sneakers etc. So, even though we've only used our jigsaw once, my husband and I set out to make a mud bench.


We roughly followed this plan from Ana White.  I modified the bench plans to fit our IKEA expedit containers and to be deep enough to be comfortable for us to sit on.

We were able to cut costs by using plywood instead of solid wood and omitting the back of the bench, so the whole bench only cost about 40 dollars in wood.

The cubbies on the bottom of the shelf are the DRONA boxes from IKEA. They hold our spare shoes, items that need to be returned to the store or grandmas, and all those hats I knit.


The shelf we cobbled together from scraps from the bench and our garage.


Our big splurge were these hooks from Lowes.  There are wonderful DIY options for hooks and knobs, but at the end of the project these felt like the icing on the cake.


Because the shelf was from scraps I didn't have any baskets shallow enough to fit the upper cubbies.  I really loved these soft baskets from Ikea, but again, they weren't the right size and they were very expensive.  So I had to sew up my own.



These baskets fit perfectly in the space I have, and have an "unique expression" just like the ones in the IKEA catalog.  If you want to make your own in any size, check out my Felt Basket Tutorial.


These are perfect for those items that I want to keep out of sight and out of reach of little hands.  One basket holds our wallets and umbrellas... and there might be a little chocolate tucked in there as well.


In a non cuffed bin I'm keeping all those unsightly grocery bags.  We used to keep these in the pantry and I'm so glad to get them closer to the car so I'll actually remember to take them to the store!

With the leftover felt I made a little homework organizer for the kids.  This way we'll always know where that folder is at the beginning of the week!


For our first big furniture diy project I'm ecstatic with how it turned out!  I still would like to add a few things to make it special -- I'm loving this chalkboard wall in Christie's Magical Mudroom.  I think a small version would be perfect for the space!  How do you dress up your mud room?

Thank you for having me over to share my space, Jen!



"I'm Palak-- a slightly sleep deprived mom who has loved sewing, knitting and crochet for her whole life. When I’m not chasing after my two rambunctious kids, or sitting behind my sewing machine, I write about my DIY exploits at my blog, Make It Handmade. I also own Sewistry, a site dedicated to stretching our sewing dollars with money saving projects, product review and buying guides. Although organizing doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ve been inspired by Jen and her blog to find the joy in making my home beautiful and functional. I’m transforming my home one room at a time and using my sewing machine every chance I get! I’m simply elated to be able share sewing projects for your home as part of the IHeart team! "

Welcome to the final round of Ask the IHeart Team!  I polled you all on Facebook to find out your top organizing questions and then the team and I compiled our answers for one, gigantic amazing post!  Are you ready for this?  Start the Pump Up The Jam music and let's get started!



How can I encourage my spouse to keep things tidy after I spend the time organizing them?

This is actually a funny one because of how we handle laundry. I do the laundry for the family and often get irritated when the clothes don't quite make it to the laundry room. We have an upstairs laundry room and it's super easy for everyone to toss their clothes in a hamper. My husband tends to use his closet floor as his "laundry basket." I got tired of nagging and didn't want to cause friction. I made a cute little sign that says, "Your laundry service has been terminated." It's just become a big joke. So if things are really crazy in the closet, I will set that sign on his pile and nothing needs to be said. I'll hear an, "Uh-oh" from the closet and within a day it's totally clean again. The man doesn't want to do his own laundry so he happily complies!
- Courtney, A Thoughtful Place






I think I lucked out in that my husband's probably more of a clean freak than me, and that's no understatement. We do however work together a lot to problem solve trouble spots in our home and that makes a huge difference. We both have ownership of it. When we're both on board it's a lot easier, but being patient helps in times of conflict. I love this organizing project we worked on together and I learned a lot.
- Anneke, This, That & Life



It has taken me years to finally come to peace with the fact that my hubby just doesn't have the same organizing and cleaning ambitions that I do.  It is such a give and take, as are many things in marriage.  By sitting down and agreeing on which one of us owns specific tasks around the house, we have solved a lot of frustrations and problems.  And when it comes to organizing, I try to put in solutions that work around his daily habits.  I just look at each problematic area as a fun mystery to solve.  And if I try to implement a solution that doesn't seem to be working for him, there is no harm in trying again.  Of course, it is always a good idea to get their ideas and solutions and input as well.  Lastly, it is all about picking your battles.  Some things just are not worth mentioning, I am pretty sure he keeps his lips sealed about a few things I do that drive him crazy, so I try to offer the same respect.  You can catch more of our answer in the video found in our cleaning plan post here. 
- Jen, IHeart Organizing




When it comes to organizing, where do you pinch pennies and where do you splurge?

Gosh. I don't think I really splurge. I tend to use what I have. Although the Ikea Expedit is my all time favorite furniture piece. I use them in various rooms in our house. Here it is in my daughter's room. Keeping all of her toys and fun items in the bins makes cleaning up so much easier.




If it's an item I know will get a lot of use or last a long time, I'll spend a little more money.  For small things or things that aren't always visible, like file folders or drawer organizers, I'll save my money and go the inexpensive route.
- Chelsea, Two Twenty One



I like really good, sturdy baskets and have splurged on them in the past.  I think it makes it worth splurging on something when the organizational element becomes part of the decor and you know you'll use it for many years.  For instance, I have for coordinating baskets in our mudroom.  I like the dark color, the large weave, and the baskets were the perfect size and shape.  I bought them at Target.

I like to save money on inexpensive magazine storage because you can paint or cover them anyway.  In my home office, I covered teal magazine holders with floral gift wrap.
- Megan, Honey We're Home

 






We always try to pinch pennies, but if it's a specialty product that would easily solve a lot of the issues I'm trying to fix, or if it's really beautiful, way more durable than anything I could rig, or more time/cost-effective to buy it, then I'll spend the money. It usually just depends on how many other projects we have going on at the time! I love that we saved so much money fixing up our porch ourselves, but I also really love some of the store-bought solutions we have, like our Ikea storage benches & the pull-out drawers in our kitchen cabinets. I think we usually spend money on the "quick fix" little things & pinch pennies to DIY the bigger projects, where we're saving hundreds of dollars in return for the time we're investing.
- Casey, Pretty Organized 



I think it's safe to say I pinch pennies on furniture when I can. I occasionally buy new items as seen here in our side table and ottoman, but I definitely find used or refinished items when possible. The chairs in this photo were found on Craigslist, but again, they were literally brand new for half the cost. Score! Dressers, hutches, console tables, night stands....that's my thing. With that said, I don't mind splurging on things like clear totes and containers, baskets, buying a nice label machine, etc.  
- Anneke, This, That & Life  



I penny pinch when it comes to containers and baskets. The dollar store is my best friend! I also try and DIY where I can-- like the remote control pillow and sewing caddy. But when it comes to furniture like bookshelves and dressers, I like to spend a little more, knowing that they will last a long time. 
- Palak, Make it Handmade 

 


Although we try and save whenever possible when it comes to storage, there are times when I am recovering boxes and times when I am investing in something that I use on a daily basis.  I ask myself a few simple questions when determining a budget for storage:

1. How often will the item be used?  If it is a low wear item, then I can most likely try my hand at DIYing it and not worrying about it falling apart a few days later.
2. Is the piece versatile?  I am a lot more likely to invest in an item that can work in more than one way or in multiple spaces around the home.  Our storage and organizing needs are constantly changing, so it is important to invest in versatile storage that can evolve with us.  
3. How long will we need/use the storage?  If the storage is something I foresee us needing for 15 years, then I am willing to throw a little money at it.  It is less expensive in the long run if you don't have to replace something every few years.  If it is to solve a problem that is just a "phase" in our life, again, I look for something that will be versatile, or we just get out the hammer and drill.  

There are endless ways to save money on storage, try and pretend to be Sabrina Soto from the High, Low Project for a day.  The Elfa System from The Container Store is great, but there are also pieces at IKEA that function in a very similar way for a fraction of the price.  Custom Closets are fabulous, but you can go to a big box store and purchase stackable Closetmaid pieces to create a custom closet on your own.  Craigslist is becoming a bit of an obsession for me, as is eBay.  Second hand doesn't bother me, I love a good deal and items with a little bit of character.   A little creative thinking will get you a long way!
- Jen, IHeart Organizing




What is your favorite tip for staying organized during the holidays?

The day after Christmas, I'm ready to have my house holiday-free, and am always tempted to just chuck things in boxes. But instead, I take the extra time and effort to organize the decor in sturdy, plastic bins. I wrap lights and garlands around paper towel tubes, group like ornaments, etc...then label each of the bins. This makes storing them during the off-season easier, and is so nice to discover when the next holiday season rolls around!
- Cassie, Hi Sugarplum! 

 


When I'm decorating and putting holiday items out, I'll put the everyday decor items in the box the holiday items are stored in.  That way I don't have extra clutter hanging around.  When it's time to store the holiday decor, I get the totes out and put the everyday decor back where it belongs.
- Chelsea, Two Twenty One



I have learned to put away my Christmas decor in a very organized way so that it's not a mess for the next year.  It makes pulling it out that much more fun.  I use giant green tubs with red lids and label them.
- Megan, Honey We're Home 






I Christmas shop almost all year round. That way I am not forced into the mall in December. Nothing drains you of holiday spirit faster than a mall parking lot in December.  
- Ashli, Mini Manor Blog




We have really simplified gift-giving lately. With friends, we've kind of made a rule that we do experiences, not gifts (go out to dinner, etc). With my hubby's huge family, we just draw one person's name from a hat & spoil the bejeezus out of them. It makes shopping a lot easier when you don't have to stress about finding the perfect, thoughtful gift for all 5,000 people in your life! I have a very easy set-up for my gift wrap station, and everything either gets wrapped in white kraft paper or popped in a bag, then I store each group of gifts in a separate storage tub (one for my family, one for Leif's family), so it's easy to grab & go when we are making our rounds. 




I wish I was of more help here, but we keep things pretty minimal and laid back. I limit our Christmas decor to 2-3 Christmas totes. You know the red ones with the green lids? But really you can use any large storage totes. I wrap our lights around cardboard rectangles with notches on each end and saved a ton of money. 
- Anneke, This, That & Life  



As someone who sews and knits, my best advice for staying on top of things during the holidays is to not take on too much. Starting last year, I took the Happy Holidays pledge-- and pledged to not knit or sew gifts for the holidays. This leaves me with much, much less holiday stress, and much more time for hanging out with family. (I still sew gifts through out the rest of the year, though!) 
- Palak, Make it Handmade 




My new Holiday Planning Binder is rockin' it for us this year!  I am loving having everything in one spot, and love even more that I have caught my kiddos and hubby using it and looking through it as well.  Pinterest is a great way to keep gift ideas and home decor ideas organized.  To find all of my favorite holiday storage solutions, check out this post here.
- Jen, IHeart Organizing




What is your favorite tablet or organizing app?




  




If you could share one time saving/organizing tip with the world, what would it be?



On a larger scale, I think systems save us from falling down the crazy train road. Whether it's a system for going through homework or filing artwork, we really try to have systems in place so that everyone knows how things are done. The systems save us time and keep us from drowning in piles. Silly things such as coming home from school. The children know they have to wash their hands, unpack their backpacks, and hang everything up in the mudroom. While they are doing that, I prepare a snack and they grab a place mat and go straight to the table. Things like that take a couple of weeks to set in place but then everything runs so much more smoothly.
- Courtney, A Thoughtful Place



I love the kitchen timer method. If you’re having trouble designating time to de-cluttering or organizing a space, try setting a timer for 20 minutes and commit to working on it the entire time until the buzzer goes off. Then set it again for five or ten minutes and reward yourself with a little Pinterest action or a change of scenery by taking the dog out for a quick walk. When the timer goes off again, set it for another 20 minutes and get back to work. You’d be surprised what you can get done in 20 minutes!
- Ashley, 7th House on the Left 



There is really no one tip, because what works best for me, might not work for you. So my tip is to find the systems that work for your home and family, a system you will actually use and stick to...and keep doing it! It may take some trial and error, but keep tweaking until it's perfect for you. Our Family Command Center went through a few growing pains before it finally molded into an efficient and helpful space for us!
- Cassie, Hi Sugarplum! 



 

Use a planner, whether it's on your phone or an actual pen and paper planner.  I'd be lost without mine.
- Chelsea, Two Twenty One
 



Hands down, my Master List saves my life on a weekly basis and I calendar everything!  The idea behind the master list is to do a "brain dump" onto paper and then sort it into categories.  The brain dump allows me to stop worrying about one item or whether I'm forgetting something.  I draft mine on the computer, then print it out, updating it weekly.  I'm old fashioned in that I like this paper list and I feel so good crossing things off my list.  
- Megan, Honey We're Home 




Robotic Vacuum Cleaners are a great investment. Truly. I'll admit I used to think that they were some sort of Back-to-the-Future type kitschy invention (thank God they don't run on Plutonium or lightening), but can now say I'm a happy convert. You simply switch them on (or schedule them!) and let them work their magic. My little robot saves me hours per week in cleaning, and keeps my floors looking like new on a daily basis (and with a Border Collie constantly running around, that's no easy feat). I'll admit they are an investment, but I see it as investing in all the time you get back to do other, more enjoyable, things. 
- Serena, Pretty Fluffy 


 


My number one organizing tip would have to be:  organize it where it drops. Putting hooks for backpacks in the mudroom but your kids come through the front door and drop their backpacks makes no sense and you will just end up frustrated.  The best chance is to organize things where they land. A console table with a bowl in the exact spot your husband drops his keys everyday. A hook by the front door to hang your purse. Things like that. 
- Ashli, Mini Manor Blog




As humans, I believe we can feasibly only take on so much. There is a balance of knowing how much you can manage without it managing you. If you're life is being overtaken by the "things" or "tasks" of your life, you need to either reduce those things and/or let something/someone else help you.  Be willing to let go of things or control. I know there's more to the nitty gritty of it all, but for example: 



Stay inspired! Perusing blogs like IHeart Organizing help me keep motivated and keep me from feeling alone in my battle against clutter. I pick up so many great ideas and time saving tips that it brings the joy back into organizing! 
- Palak, Make it Handmade 



Spend 15 minutes at the end of the day to pick up the house.  So simple yet often forgotten and overlooked.  15 minutes is not a lot of time to do a full house sweep, picking up pillows in the living room, wiping down the bathroom with a cleaning wipe, wiping down the kitchen and taking care of any piles.  I like to start my day with a clean slate, it clears my mind and sets me up for success!
- Jen, IHeart Organizing



A giant THANK YOU goes out to each of the contributors who provided so much inspiration to us all in 2013, and for taking time to answer these questions today!  I always say, twelve heads are better than one, and these gals think of everything!  So blessed to have them on my team and part of my life.

Thank YOU to all that participated and took time to ask questions.  I have kept note of all of the commonly asked questions, so if they weren't answered today, that doesn't mean I won't address them in the future.