My Next Chapter: Wifedom

For those of you that haven't heard, I'M MARRIED!!!

We eloped to Austin, Texas and tied the knot on May, 15th, 2011. More details about that in future posts. It's a total DIY wedding and the reception is coming up in July! I'll be posting some fun tutorials and inspiring ideas for all of you future DIY brides!

Also, for those of you that haven't heard, I'm a full-time wife now. I left my position as wedding cake coordinator at a prominent Fox Valley bakery for reasons unrelated to my new title of "wife".

In other news, Jay and I went thrift shopping together as husband and wife for the first time. We stumbled upon a couple of framed vintage prints circa 1911 by Lou Mayer, artist for Puck Magazine. We especially love this one! It's so fitting for us right now! (Click on the photo for a larger view!)

Though things go topsy turvy
And meals they miss a few,
These Newly Wedded Couples
Have other things to do!

I best be off to tackle my massive to-do list for this incredible wedding reception we're planning! There is just owlways something more to do! Ta-ta!

Funky Fabric Project Portfolio & Blog Journal

(Click on Photo to Enlarge Image)

Dissatisfied with some of the craft and office supplies available on the market, I seized the opportunity to design my very own, functional Project Portfolio & Blog Journal. I needed an organized space to store ideas, jot down brainstorms, and keep my blog running on schedule (or try to at least). And ever the design diva, this scheme needed to be a stylish one as well!

Here's a short summary of how the "Funky Fabric Project Portfolio & Blog Journal" was created. Check out the corresponding photos too!

1. 1" x 12" strips of coordinating fabrics are sewn together in a random, alternating pattern to fit the length of the anticipated binder.
2. Cut thick corrugated cardboard or corrugated plastic as firm center for the binder. Using a bright hued duct tape, adhere two 8 1/2" x 11" corrugated sheets with a 1" x 11" corrugated strip running down the center.
3. Sew two 6 1/2" x 11" solid colored panels to the ends of the sewn strips. Add velcro closures if desired.
4. Add coordinating pockets in contrasting fabrics to the left side panel.
5. Pound two grommets near the top of the binder. Lace with ribbon or embroidery floss and secure a small calender or "To Do List".
6. Finish off by adding a composition notebook and commence with project planning and blog scheduling!
   

A Happy Hiatus!

Any number of my faithful followers are probably wondering why the sudden scarcity of craft-y, clever blog posts from What A Joy Designs. Well, wonder no more! I've been busy securing myself some much needed employment. Finally, after filling out dozens of applications, penning dozens of cover letters, re-writing my resume over and over again, I landed an interview. I impressed them so much that they immediately offered me a position. Yippee! (It's about time some company realized what a valuable asset I really am!) Those of you who have devotedly followed my blog and also enjoy guessing games, the graphic to the right is a hint at what international industry hired me!

Needless to say, I'm adjusting to a new schedule and juggling new responsibilities, that I just haven't found spare time for crafting - much less spare time to blog about said crafting. Once I get into the swing of things, I'll have more time to sit back, relax, and craft away to my heart's content!

In hopes of making posts to the What A Joy Designs Blog a more regular occurrence, I'm making a goal for myself to post every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and once on the weekend. With a fresh month starting today, I thought a fresh start at this new goal is a perfect June activity for me! I'll also be incorporating at least one recurrent day of the week devoted to a particular theme. Weekly, I'll be bringing you Friday's Feisty Feast with yummy recipes for you to try at home. Anything and everything edible will be featured, with user-friendly instructions, helpful graphics, and simplicity at every recipe's core! As always, I look forward to any feedback from my readers. Let me know what new ideas you want to see here!

Check back here every week to see how well I keep to my goal!