2015: A New Year recap

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Juliet Tiu

Mugshot Monday: tea in the morning and settling in

Monday Mugshot: settling in | January 5, 2015

My family and I traveled to Seattle for Christmas and New Year’s! Such a great time with family: losing track of the days, playing late, sleeping in, eating our way through some favorite spots and checking out new places. Coming back was rough only because of the jetlag. I love coming home from a trip, and sleeping in my own bed. And now… the re-entry into our regularly scheduled life. Tough.

I wrote last November about my non-writing. I think that has a lot to do with changes in my focus, and especially with my kids involvement in school and activities. Actually, I just told someone yesterday that I think I took on two volunteer activities too many over the last year. They actually entail big projects, too, so I’m poising myself to step away from them. It’ll be good to release the ideas and work to someone else who can breathe new ideas into the work.

My focus this year will be to continue to share here when I can… showing the progress of projects, workshops and ideas. Still thinking about blog details, but that can come later.

Working on: leading an annual poster contest for our local city hall, social media and PR for my church parish women’s organization, getting my kids to write thank you notes…

Developing: a Valentine’s workshop with a friend, storefront window ideas for said friend’s store

Contributing at: geekmom.com and Monday Mugshots

Planning: a cool drawing theme for March (maybe), my daughter’s birthday

I’m happy for the new, clean slate, and hopeful for what 2015 holds. More dreaming and doing, less complaining and procrastination! Onward…

Monday Mugshot: time for a Moscow Mule | January 12, 2015

Find me!
www.facebook.com/SoThisisJulie
www.pinterest.com/julietiu
www.instagram.com/sothisisjulie
Twitter: @SoThisisJulie

12 Days of Gift Wrapping: Earrings and Brooches

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Juliet Tiu

Raid your jewelry box for a little bling on your presents! I have a few orphaned earrings that would make fun embellishments for the fashionistas in my life.

Dig through a stash of jewelry for single earrings or old brooches.

An old brooches can dress up a gift.

You don’t have to throw away single earrings or old holiday pins. Put it on a gift!

12 Days of Gift Wrapping: Paper Medallions, Paper Bows and Pinwheels

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Juliet Tiu

Once in a while, I run out of gift bows (and I don’t feel like running out to the store for the bag o’ bows). I’m probably not the only one… and what’s a gift without a bow or something fun? If you need a gift topper, check out some really cool tutorials and make your own!

Gift wrapping paper scraps, papercrafting scraps, and magazines are great resources for making your own gift toppers!

A paper bow tutorial can be found at the end of this linked post.

Rosettes, or paper medallions, are so fun too! I make mine like this paper medallion tutorial on Craftaholics Anonymous.

Pinwheels are timeless… check out the pinwheel tutorial on instructables.com. I make my pinwheels with 3″ to 5″ squares, and then use a pom pom, stickers, buttons, or rhinestones in the center. Use a variety of sizes as gift toppers.

12 Days of Gift Wrapping: Scrap Fabric

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Juliet Tiu

Here’s how you could use some scrap fabric in gift wrapping!

Selvedges make a cool ribbon substitute.

Instead of ribbon, maybe you have some left over selvedges (the edges of a bolt, or cut, of fabric). Or you can take scraps and sew them directly onto paper tags in the shape of a tree, star, stack of presents… anything seasonal.

12 Days of Gift Wrapping: Quick and Easy Gift Tags from Envelopes

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Juliet Tiu

Sometimes, I just cut my own. It’s really handy if you only need a few, and it’s fun! We all still receive junk mail and bills, but before you throw the envelopes away, check the security envelopes. You might be surprised!

Security envelopes turn into scrap paper

Find really cool patterned paper by just looking inside security envelopes!

Lots of pretty patterns!

Take plain cardstock (or index cards) and cut them into 1″ x 3″ (approximately 25 mm x 75 mm) strips.

Generously apply glue to the cardstock strips with a glue stick, then adhere the patterned paper.

Using an X-Acto knife or crafting blade, trim the excess paper. The just punch a hole and tie some yarn, ribbon, or baker’s twine.

November Update: Where am I?

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Juliet Tiu

It’s no surprise that I’ve been absent from blogging. I may be stepping out of the blogging world for a bit. Life has been pulling and pushing me to different degrees, and I have to admit that much of my hesitation to blog came after returning from the Philippines. I started to ask the questions (again): why I wanted to blog, what does it mean to me, how much time do I want to devote, is it fulfilling, and is it bringing me closer to any dreams? Do I even HAVE dreams and goals for this?

October Pic-a-day Challenge: Dreams

This year I set out to DO more, and stop drooling over other people’s activities. I just wanted to engage more.

My loved ones

Summer with my brother and cousins

Taking pictures, then writing and documenting – it just took more time than I wanted to devote. And, it’s definitely been a great year – much of it I need to thank to One Little Word and new friends (best penpal ever!).

Came home to an amazing letter and package… My #olwsmpp14 pen pal is the best! @twinsmama2011 can’t say thanks enough. #happymailday #kindredspirit #craftymom

A photo posted by Julie Tiu (@sothisisjulie) on Jun 6, 2014 at 7:16pm PDT

I still love this outlet, but I’ve found that Facebook and Instagram has been more conducive for my on-the-go life right now. And, unlike a lot of bloggers out there – I never had a real plan for this website. (I’m a planning sort of person, too!! Oh the irony.) I have WAY too many ideas floating around in my head, and I think it’s time to regroup so I can make these ideas actually come to life! Perhaps a rebranding… now doesn’t that sound official?

My wish is to continue creating and making something every day – even if it sucks – and that I can inspire a few folks down the road. I’ll still post here and there. In fact, I will be teaching a holiday crafterhours workshop at our local tea shop in a few weeks – so I’ll have some things to share from that, too.

I just felt like I had to get this off my mind… thanks. See you on FB and IG!

On Facebook: Pic-a-day challenge last month

So This is Julie

Make | Create | Cook