Autumn Start: Trying a New Routine

The beginning of autumn is like New Year´s Day with all the possibilities to get a fresh start. I think lots of people make same kind of resolutions for the season as they make for the coming year. I have always felt that autumn is a kind season. When spring pressures to be more active and make longer days autumn evenings offer time for rest.  Nature´s pace slows down and it is wonderful to take long walks in the brisk air observing how greens turn into reds and yellows. This peaceful season has inspired me to simplify my life: to accomplish more by making less and focusing better.

Everyday routine is a universe far away from me. I am usually doing this and that at the same time and planning for the third turn. Then I stress all the things I haven´t done. I do plan and I like making lists about to dos´. I also get things done long before deadline. But the main problem is that I am making too much and as a creative person ideas keep coming all the time before I get former projects done. Then I hurry my projects to get doing the next ones. Sort of hyper activity that is.. In this rush decent eating and resting times are difficult to keep.

A few weeks ago I took the wires off from my TV and this simple act has slowed my speed a little bit. Now I am watching TV every now and then but smaller amounts. I used to have TV on as a background noise always when I was at home . Now after a TV pause I find it difficult to focus on making if the TV is on so in this case I have learned to make one thing at the time: to watch telly or craft/ write/ cook.

With this principle in mind I listed things I want to do daily or weekly to feel that I have accomplished something during the week. For example I would like to post three times per week a good quality post with beautiful pictures. As I have been making tons of projects at the same time it has been difficult to get finished material when everything is in progress. Sure, what comes to bigger projects like quilt blankets, it is nice to show project pictures. But I would also like to have smaller one night/ weekend projects, well written thoughts, recipes and beautiful pictures to inspire you. If keeping a blog would only be writing and editing pictures it wouldn´t be such a challenge. But as I am blogging and producing all the things in this blog by myself it is also a lot of planning, designing projects, making the actual products (meaning that I have to craft the crafts and cook the food), organizing and styling and taking photos. It is all a lot of fun but needs to be  organized properly to function well.

That is why I am trying a routine, a good plan what to make and when. If it is going to work I will have certain times for certain activities and unplanned time to use as I like. Now I have made a posting schedule that includes all the time needed from preparing to publishing. When I got my three hours for crafting I will do that and nothing else. If the craft is unfinished after that, I will continue the work next time scheduled for that activity.  I try to avoid 24/7 crafting marathons and plan times for taking a walk in the nearby forests or a simple 30 minute morning walk. Walking, biking and jogging are quite essential for me as being physically active and observing the nature are a great boost of creativity. Also muscles can get very tensed (try 8 hours of sewing by hand) when crafting and for example walking is an excellent way to get rid of the tensions.

In this plan of mine I have decided three main themes for this blog. Now that I have written about an year it has become clearer what are the themes in the Creative Night Shift.  It is gonna be crafts and DIY, recipes and lifestyle. So nothing is changed by this far, I am just trying to make things clear to myself. 

Mondays are going to be lifestyle themed days. Posts can handle outdoorsy life, currents issues /trends, literature, or what ever interests at the time. I used to have enjoy 2016 challenge, but I felt it was time to remodel this. Lots of things go under the category enjoy your life with less material and more activities that make you happy. That is why lifestyle theme will cover issues that do not go under Food and Recipes or Crafts and DIY.

Wednesdays are about food and recipes. As a pesco-vegetarian my recipes are usually lacto-vegetarian, but may sometimes include fish or seafood. I avoid making posts about desserts as I know how difficult it is to maintain healthy diet in this modern world with so many temptations. So if I will publish sweet recipes it will be mainly on festive seasons or days. There are lots of wonderful blogs about desserts and sweet baking that offer inspiration for us everyday :P.

DIY/ Crafting Fridays are the foundation of this blog as DIYing was the main reason I started blogging. I will write about my own crafts and DIYs, how to apply the latest decoration trends to your home by making yourself and how to use second hand material in crafting. 

As I know myself, this is trying a new routine. If it won´t work as it is I will make an another one. But it is a good start for the season!

What do you think of routines? What kind of routines do you have and how have they helped you in your everyday life? 

With the best Autumn greetings,

Sannu

Decorate with Trendy Baskets

You might have noticed that baskets are everywhere. Trendy decorative baskets that are matched with cacti and worn off flower pots. But how to apply the trend for one´s home with a stylish manner without spending lots of money to latest trend pieces? Because you know, when something gets the IT factor the product will gain extra zero to its price.

Good way is to look after your own stuff in the storage and then move to flea markets. Baskets do not have to be in a perfect shape as you are going to hang them to a wall for a decorative purpose only. Also look for the potential, you can do some DIYing to make the piece work according to the current trend. I know that materials for crafting are pricey in the shops so be creative when you circle through the flea markets and second hand shops because you might find lots of material with a low price. And when you buy craft supplies from a shop or as second hand, store left overs properly so you can use them in the future projects.

Bag full of woolen embroidering yarn 3€, from Kontti second hand shop.

How to:

Step 1: Choose 3-5 baskets to hang on your wall. If some of the baskets already have decoration let them be. For the plain ones use some creativity. 

Step 2: I decorated two baskets. One with blue and terracotta paint following the weaving of the basket ( I painted just the looms going to vertical direction). The other one I decorated with white paint and woolen yarn. The cross stitch design is a modification from a traditional Finnish folk pattern used in national costumes. You can find lots of books about cross stitching in a library, just variate with the color to get a design that fits your home decoration style.

Step 3: Choose space for the baskets so that you can style them with other elements. Place baskets to your wall in an organic shape starting with one and collecting others around the first one. Alternatively you can place baskets to a narrow space by arranging them to a line.

Step 4: Other elements. I would style baskets with interesting flower vases (mine are 1-3€ W. Germany vases from flea markets) arranged in a group with bright colored flowers in one or two. Also other bohemian elements like salt stone lamp, old wooden artifacts, plants, simple modern tealight plates and book piles would support the 2016 style.

Step 5: Do not feel pressure to style your home according to current trends. Learning about whats new in home decoration right now should be fun and inspiring.  Remember that you are the one  living in your home. Most important thing is what you think looks nice. You do not have to care about the right way of styling. There are as many right ways as there are stylists. 

Enjoy the weekend!

Sannu

Whisked Berry Porridge - Vegetarian option for Yogurt

Finnish style whisked porridge is tasty, healthy, low with sugar and easy to make vegetarian option for yogurt. This kind of porridge is a traditional dessert but there is no reason why not to make this for everyday breakfast or snack. This is a delicacy for all so if you got both vegetarians/ vegans and omnivorous in your table you can serve this to all.  Porridge can be made using semolina, rye flour or oatmeal and different kinds of berries, fruits and dried fruits (like blueberries, lingonberries, blackcurrants, apples, dried plums or dried apricots just for example). 

How to: Basic technique is to cook berries/ fruits in water, add semolina/ rye flour/ oatmeal to the boiling water and stir properly and cook with medium heat. When the consistence is "porridge like" and well cooked move the kettle to a sink that has some cold water and start whisking. Whisk until the porridge is foamy. Sweeten the porridge according to taste. In Finland whisked porridge is usually served with milk but this is optional. I sometimes use oatmilk (Oatly i Kaffe) that tastes creamy. Porridge keeps fresh in the fridge for couple of days. 

Now keeping these basic instructions in mind I will show three combinations for how to make whisked berry porridge. To get more alternative you can experiment with berries /fruits and grains.

Whisked lingonberry semolina porridge

3 dl lingonberries

6 dl water

1 dl semolina

sugar according to taste

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla

Boil lingonberries in water and add semolina stirring constantly. Let boil in medium heat until the semolina is soft. Put the kettle in cold water and whisk until the porridge is foamy. Add sugar, vanilla and salt.

Whisked blueberry rye flour porridge

4 dl blueberries

5 dl water

1 dl rye flour

1 tsp vanilla

sugar according to taste

Prepare the porridge as in previous instruction but using blueberries and rye flour. In the picture above porridge is served with oatmilk. 

Whisked apple oatmeal porridge

2 apples

6 dl water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1-2 tbsp lemon juice

pinch of salt

Prepare as in previous instruction but using apples and oatmeal. Spice with salt, cinnamon and lemon juice after whisking.

Now are the best days to be outdoors as the air is fresh after the rain and the temperature is warm yet brisker than some weeks ago when it was too hot. Forests are full of different berries so what could be better way to spend an hour or two. 

What kind of outdoor activities do you have now when we are heading towards the autumn?

Sannu

Step by step guide on How to Quilt a Block

Today I will show one way to make a quilt block. There are countless patterns and designs for quilting. Most of them are variations from a traditional basic patterns. When you handle a few simple quilting techniques you are able to study the more advanced quilt works and develop your skills. Quite many quilt works have to be sewn by hand as for example hexagons are quite impossible to sew by machine. This easy to sew quilt block is done by machine. Even though you would not have any quilting experience this is simple to learn. Just remember to be precise and iron the seams properly. And enjoy the making because quilting takes time! 

After you have chosen the colors for your work count how many squares do you need from each fabric. Cut 10 * 10 cm squares using scissors and a square pattern or a quilter´s rule and a mat. 

Step 1. Place two squares right sides against each other.

Step 2. Draw a straight line from corner to corner using basic ruler. 

Step 3. Sew a straight line to both sides of the mid line drawn. Usually seams are 0.75 cm because a press foot is used as a measure. So sew following the mid line with the one side of the press foot.

Step 4. Cut two triangles apart following the mid line.

Step 5. Open the triangle and iron the seams.

Step 6. Cut off the extras from the corners. Now you got one two colored square.  

Step 7. With two colored squares you can form many different designs, this is just a one. Place the squares as you have designed and join together row by row.

Step 8. Remember to iron the seams. Quilt work is 50% sewing and 50% ironing. Taking a short cut by forgetting the ironing part you are most likely to ruin your hard work. 

Step 9. Now join the rows together. Before sewing match the squares precisely otherwise the design will broke.

Step 10. Iron the seams. 

Congratulations you are ready! Now you can make some more blocks to sew a decorative pillow, handbag, blanket...

I am making a blanket. I got all my blocks ready yesterday. Today I will join the blocks together piece by piece and row by row. I went to library to get some inspiration for how to stitch the layers together. More of that later. Maybe I could also give some book recommendations on the field of quilting if you are interested.

Have you been quilting lately? Or do you have a dream to learn this craft technique and create projects by yourself?

Sannu