Answering a question about my planner...

 Lori in Missouri left a comment recently on my post about planning ahead (you can read that post HERE), and asked if I would do a show and tell about the planner which was open on my table, so Lori, this is for you and anyone else who might like some inspiration for creating their own planner. 

First of all, let me say this isn't an actual planner in the ordinary sense of the word. It's more of an inspirational compilation of ideas in various categories, sourced from old and very old magazines or articles. Having this folder on hand helps me plan what I intend doing on the blog next year, things Id like to learn, plus ideas for homemaking improvements, gardening, tutorials and health. 

The folder is a large A4 arch lever, and I made the cover many years ago. 

Inside I have plain brown cardboard dividers and have embellished the first one to suit my style, because opening a folder or planner which looks appealing really makes my day. 

Here's the first divider, which is more accurately known as my main page. 

I'm no paper crafter, though I'd love to have those skills, but simply adding lace, pieces from old doilies, some inspiration tags, buttons and a pretty photo, made this divider very pretty to my eye. 

There's nothing wrong with working to your abilities and being pleased with the result. I think when we stop comparing our work to that of others we have more satisfaction in our accomplishments. 

I have received hundreds of emails and comments over the years from lovely ladies lamenting that they cannot stitch like me...and some put hand embroidery aside because of it. How very sad. I have always counselled that hand embroidery is my occupation, my "bread and butter", and I practice my skill every day because how I stitch and the finished effect matters greatly to how the designs photograph and how well they present as a pattern to purchase.

But a paper crafter I am not, so rather than compare my very basic attempts to those of someone who is quite accomplished (like my friend Rosie for example), I simply enjoy the little that I do and gain delight from my task. 

Inside I have plastic sleeves filled with many and varied things which have caught my eye over the years, and mostly they came from a very large number of old magazines which used to take up almost two shelves in my largest bookcase, but which I chose to go through during the covid lockdown of 2020 and remove every page I wanted to keep and then disposed of the rest. From two shelves full, down to one folder. Lovely. 

Along the way I also collected quotes and saved them in a plastic sleeve inside the cover.

So, lets go through my folder. Behind the cover page of my folder I keep patterns and craft items I'd like to make; there's about thirty so far and I have indeed made a few...

That painted metal colander tutorial (above) was a wonderful craft one Sunday afternoon and I have two of them holding my petunias in the garden now. 

Then I have a 'business and branding' section, which has become more about office organisation than anything else. As you can see I make the divider pages easy to open by sewing lace or printed ribbon across to create a tag.

Then we move on to ideas for patterns or tutorials which focus on the home. I'll take an idea that I like, then draft a pattern and play around with it for a while until I'm happy with it. I'm playing around with similar fabric plant holders for gift giving and displaying around the house at the moment. Once I'm happy with the final item I will do a tutorial on my blog (I plan to do quite a few tutorials in 2023)...

The following section is for information about herbs, flowers, natural remedies and herbal recipes...

I also have a section for 'teaching me', where I store simple tutorials and steps for things I'd like to learn in the future...

Moving on, the next section is health and self care...

...followed by cleaning, home-making and planning (pantry/menu related).

The last section is for projects I'd like for my home and office, most especially my office and sewing room. I've pulled out this idea for a pocketed corkboard and can't wait to get started on it later in the month....

There's still two dividers in my folder which are at present unused, but it's good to have extra because you never know when a new subject will become an interest and if so, there's already somewhere to store information and inspiration. 

This is only one binder of the many I use for various purposes, but the others are predominantly work related...

I also have a day to day planner, and for years have used Day Designer. This year I went with the smaller 'week to a double page' instead of the usual 'day to a page' and found that in order to balance home and blog/designing/business I needed to go back to the day to a page format again, so I invested in the original style I preferred and ordered my new 2023 Day Designer planner when it became available a few months back. It's only just arrived so I'm thrilled to have it ready to open at New Year. 

I love looking back through my old planners and reading what I did each day or through a season, do you?

I wouldn't recommend this unless you need plenty of room for the planning of home and business each day as it's quite pricey, but for me it has proved invaluable over the years and I genuinely missed not having this larger version of Day Designer during 2022. 

I know for some of you this is all over the top, and that's fine! I have been a planner and list maker all my life. I used to make library cards for all my books as a child and 'lend' them out to myself, and even had a list inside the wardrobe door of everything I would wear each day that week. It's who I am and its helped me function through life...but it may not be your thing at all. I do marvel at how incredibly unique each of us are, and how truly evident that is of God's creative hand. 

If you do things similar to this let me know, or if you have ideas to share, please do as I'd love to hear them, and so would a lot of readers. 

Before I go, a sneak peek at a new free pattern I'll be sharing with you at the end of the week....

Bless you heaps, lovely ones.

hugs

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It's been a while but here's another Home Journal to download...

 I can't remember when I last shared a vintage copy of the Australian Home Journal to download, but today I have the September 1952 issue for you. 

My mum was eleven when this was published, and probably read the AHJ with her own mother, as would her two older sisters. 

Initially the Australian Home Journal was published as a fashion magazine, also including a few recipes, an advice column, three free paper patterns (instructions included in the magazine) and other patterns which could be purchased, movie news and a short fictional story. 

By 1965 the emphasis changed more to homemaking in general, so now I'm going to track us down one of those issues. 

In the meantime however, enjoy this 1952 issue I've got for you today.

There's a section on afternoon tea suggestions with cake and biscuit recipes which you may like to try, knitting and crochet patterns, as well as some fashion advice of the time, new movies and Hollywood news, womanly advice etc. 

The recipe for Ginger Snaps (below) sounds really good, and as Blossom and I have a genuine love for all things ginger this will definitely be made next week. 

Have you ever wondered who was giving the agony aunt advice in these kinds of magazines?  I'd love to know!

This is actually a very pretty top. Of course, I'd need the slim waist to wear it. ;-)

I also love the ad in the bottom right for "waist nippers", and the mention of step-ins...ha ha! Nana wore step-ins all the time. I'd completely forgotten that!

Use the link below to download the September 1952 issue (a few pages were missing) and I hope you enjoy it!

DOWNLOAD Australian Home Journal September 1952

It's been a big week here on our quarter acre, with a few unexpected challenges to manage.

Life for most of us is one long journey of hills, plains and valleys - the hills being times of great joy or boosted energy to accomplish things; the valleys too often a season of struggle, illness, loss or darkness; and the plains, a welcome time of much needed rest, and sameness, the time when everyday rhythms bring predictable order back to our days. 

Honestly, I have never really looked at sameness this way before, but you know, I delight in weeks or months when life potters along without highs or lows, living each day as a simple gift just like the day before. No surprises, just calming rhythms following a familiar pattern. But of course, challenging times will come again, so that makes it even more important to relish the repetitive and predictable weeks as a gifted respite. 

I was pondering how much calmer I am today when facing unforeseen ups and downs, than even three years ago (pre-Covid on reflection) and wonder if it's due to choices like intentional slowing, the letting go of the need to have my hand in many pies, accepting whatever comes my way each day and giving thanks regardless...though mostly I would say its an undoubting faith that no matter my path, God is right there with me, speaking to me through His Word and directing my thoughts and intentions in ways that I could not have done myself. 

Learning that life can be slowly enjoyed, even in the midst of challenges, is what I have gained most as a woman this year. Being structured in my day to day rhythms, but not glued to them when things happen and my time and energy is required elsewhere, has also brought me peace, because when the crisis passes I automatically slip back into those well worn rhythms once again. 

That's the example Nana showed me through how she lived her own life. She would have thought it an inconsequential life, something of no report, yet looking back from this far along in my own 63 years, her life was profoundly important and of great consequence to me. 

There were times when her everyday routine was passed over if she needed to attend to more important or urgent things, but once everything was back to normal she slipped into her daily tasks again without skipping a beat. And it was because she worked around her little home so diligently each day, keeping on top of her chores and maintaining a home which was always in order should an unexpected visitor arrive at the door, that she could miss a day, a week, and still have an ordered home. For the longest time I imagined my own need to have everything ordered and neat a bit obsessive, but no - I had learned from a true homemaker, and had subconsciously stored everything away in my young mind until such a time as I could keep house that way too. What a blessing her life example gave me!

When I was chatting to my husband's aunt yesterday about childhood years, I found many memories coming to mind that I'd not thought of in decades. Vivid recollections of Nana's diligence to the task at hand, her constancy of purpose and deep pride in creating a home that made everyone feel welcome and loved, her ability to make something lovely out of very little, the way she seemed to effortlessly keep house (though it required much work without modern appliances) simply through living by her rhythms and routines....and the very basic meals which even today I would choose to enjoy over any restaurant fare. 

So where am I going with this train of thought??

Two things really.

Firstly, living each day slowly embracing what it holds and doing the best we're able with the time we are given.

Secondly, using the example of those who have left a legacy upon our hearts, to become that same example for the little ones who are watching us today as we live out our own lives. 

God bless you lovely ones! I have a sick cat to tend, an energetic puppy to play with, and a hearty lunch to make...how blessed I am to be given the opportunity to care for those under our roof today. 

Loving hugs

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