Tutorial: DIY Gathered Curtains

I found my inspiration from one of my favorite blogs: Jones Design Company. She gathered her living room curtains and posted an awesome tutorial on it {I just went back to her blog to give you a direct link, but I can't find it! She has made some new changes to her site, you should go check it out! Click here!}

I decided to gather my curtains to give them a more finished touch. I made the curtains out of flannel sheets, so this touch was needed.

Here's how I did it:

However many inches I wanted sticking up past the gather was how many inches I hemmed it. In my case, it was 5 inches.

Then, because I wanted to do as little sewing as possible, I Liquid Stitch-ed it down. Took me all of 2 minutes. I also made sure I ironed a good, crisp seam where I had folded it down. {For all you seamstresses out there, please pardon my lack of knowledge on the proper terms!}

I did borrow a sewing machine for this project though. First, sew along the top edge. Nothing fancy. Then, sew along the bottom edge. Simple as that!

Then, ya scrunch {pull the strings} to the scrunchy-ness you desire. Tie a knot in the strings once it's where you want it, and cut off the excess. How easy is that? 

The next picture is a horrible shot, but I'm going to show it to you anyways so you can see how I attached the curtains to the rings.

So, that wraps it up! 

Happy Tuesday!  

Psst! I am linking up here:

Organization: Priorities Matter

I feel like I bit more off more than I could chew with this organization topic! I have spent lots of time muling this over lately and it's so hard to know where to start. It's not like there is a beginning when it comes to organization! Everyone has their own beginning. Only you know where you are. 

You want to get organized {or more organized} in 2012, right? Most people do - including myself. However, past inklings to get life in order might have begun and ended in subscribing to Martha Stewart Living, and Good Housekeeping magazines, or signing up for some of those {annoying} daily emails that clog the ol' inbox. 

Somewhere in there, something breaks down. 

What happens between the desire to get organized and that step of action of making some progress? Let's not get into too much psychology here, but I think it's important to start at the root of the problem. Bear with me. 

Common mental roadblocks we face with organization:

Things are happening so fast that there is no time to slow down and organize! We have the idea that there is a perfect solution or step-by-step technique that will work every time. We are still looking for it.  We organize a space {i.e. hall closet} and within days it is back to it's former "glory." We have no idea where to start!

The above list is just a sampling of roadblocks. We each have to figure out what our unique holdups are before we can ever overcome them and attain the level of order in our lives that we desire.  

Maybe you have a laid back personality and organization isn't something you feel is a big deal. 

Maybe you have seen organization and housework taken to an extreme level in your home growing up and it's a turnoff to you now. 

Both extremes can - and do! - present problems.

I think before we can move on to addressing our organization issues, we need to ask ourselves this question: what are my priorities? Then we need to write them down.  If you don't know what is important to you and your family, then your actions will be hit and miss.  

Here are some of my priorities to help get you started on your own:

I want to....

1) have a home that is pleasant to live in and that company feels relaxed and comfortable in.

2) be able to find things quickly!

3) be on the same page as my husband, so we both know what's going on that day/week.

4) have a system for following up with people promptly {Facebook, texts, emails, phone calls, etc}!

I hope this list helps get you started!

Organization Mantra: It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. - Eleanor Roosevelt But all things should be done decently and in order. - I Corinthians 14:40 {ESV}

Resources I have found helpful:

Better Homes and Gardens: Organization

Get Set Organize: How to get motivated in 9 easy steps

Let's Get Organized!

A topic on which I would love to spend some time in the coming weeks here at PDR is organization. 

Source: bhg.com via Emily on Pinterest

I'm not talking about anything too insane like color coding your books...

Source: bookshelfporn.com via Carmina on Pinterest

...or making your house look like you bought out The Container Store.

Source: containerstore.com via Emily on Pinterest

I'm talking about simple, everyday things you can implement to make things run a little more smoothly around the house.

*Let  me pause here briefly and make a disclosure: I have absolutely zero credentials in the area of organization. I just enjoy it and I've heard I'm ok at it. My house is not 100% organized, nor do I want to portray that I have all the answers. I just enjoy finding solutions.*

I am hoping this mini series will not only help motivate and inspire you, but will also help me get my rear in gear in 2012 :0) 

There are a lot of resources out there that can help you get organized...whether you're looking to maximize your daily routine and get more done...

Source: sorakeem.tumblr.com via Patrick on Pinterest

 ...or if you desperately need to give your closet a makeover.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Erika on Pinterest

Your version of a "makeover" might not look like the above picture, but that's ok. 

The problem that I face - and I'm sure many others face - is that organizing can be overwhelming. 

Source: practicingperfect.com via Gretchen on Pinterest

When I get overwhelmed, I tend to give up. Anybody with me on that one? 

Anyway, I hope to identify some common problems when it comes to organization and help give some ABC's and 123's to getting past those mental roadblocks and direct you towards helpful resources. 

Not everyone has the time to research and find solutions {especially on topics that aren't fun}, but as I am reminded of often, I have time to do whatever I wish {?} since we don't have kids. Anyway, time or not, kids or not, I'm going to see what I can do to dig up some solutions! 

Check out my Pinterest board on Organization to get inspired! 

You can follow me on Pinterest by clicking here.

If you don't have an account, email me {emily.netz@gmail.com} and I'll send ya an invite!

Stay tuned!

My New Year's Resolution

Source: the-change.tumblr.com via egle on Pinterest

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what this next year will hold for me and this blog of mine. Isn't that what we all tend to do this time of year - think? Retrospect? And resolve to do better and be better in the coming 365 days?

*rabbit trail...I am reminded of an excellent book called The Twelve Week Year by Brian Moran. If you really want to get things done in 2012, ya better read that book! It's a super easy read {maybe 100 pages?}, and you can even sign up to receive free success tips via email {click here}.

Anyway...

Back to thinking and resolving...

Change isn't always a bad thing. I am convinced it is mostly a good thing! 

My resolution this year is to be able to look back in December of 2012 and see a noticeable difference in myself. 

I want to see change...growth...

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

...in myself as an individual, a wife, a friend, a writer, and a follower of Christ. 

I guess that's kind of a massive resolution! I am going to be doing some more thinking about how I can take steps in accomplishing my goals. As far as how that will affect my blog - and therefor you -I think you will be seeing more posts than you did this last year :0). I am working on drawing up some details to share with you on a certain topic that I enjoy and am hoping that you will find helpful {these future posts would be in addition to my typically random posts on whatever is going on at my house that day}. More about that later....

Are you making a resolution this year? If so, please share!

Engagement Anniversary

Three years ago today, my wonderful husband asked me to marry him!

The last three years have been the best years of my life.

I am so thankful for the time we have had together, and I am looking forward to the years ahead of us.