Homemade Earring Holder

A few days ago, I was frustrated that I did not have enough room for all of my earrings in my jewelry box, so I decided to improvise and make my own. I think it turned out really well, so I thought I'd share with you readers how to make one of your own.

Step 1: Gather Supplies

For this project you'll need:

• Plastic Canvas: any size or shape you want, but I used a rectangular sheet since it seemed the easiest to do (you can get this fairly cheap at any craft store)
• Fabric: again you can go for any type and color you want, but make sure that you can completely cover the plastic canvas
• Scissors: so you can cut the fabric and thread
• Thread: it looks nicer if it matches your fabric, but really it's up to you
• Pins: to hold the fabric together
• Sewing Machine: so you can make a pocket for your plastic canvas (you could also use some sort of no-sew stuff--like glue or fusible fabric tape, but I sewed mine)
• "Coat Hanger": basically something to hang your earring holder off of (I used a coat hanger but you can use virtually anything)
• Fasteners: so you're able to attach the earring holder to the "coat hanger" (I used safety pins, but once again, it's up to you)

 Step 2: Prep the Fabric

Next you'll need to measure the amount of fabric you'll need for the project by wrapping the fabric (wrong side facing out) around the plastic canvas so essentially, the fabric creates a pocket around the plastic canvas with a 1/4in seam allowance. Leave one end long (about 3-4 inches) so you can create a tube in which to insert your hanging tool. After you measure and then cut off the excess fabric, pin around the canvas so you know where to sew, leaving the long side open so you can take the plastic canvas out.

Step 3: It's Sewing Time

After you have your fabric ready, take the plastic canvas out and sew the fabric pocket for that canvas. Be careful not to sew too close to where you marked with the pins, otherwise you won't be able to put the plastic canvas back in.

Step 4: Sewing Part 2

After you finish the first part of the sewing, take fabric pocket and turn it right side out. Then slip the plastic canvas back in the pocket. Pin where the plastic canvas ends on the long side and sew the plastic canvas into the fabric pocket. The last sewing you'll have to do with the machine is to hem the long end so there are no loose threads.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

When you're done with all the sewing, take your earring holder and wrap the long end around the tool you plan on using to hang the holder. I used a coat hanger and brought the long end to where the plastic canvas ended at the top of the fabric pocket, essentially creating a tube. Then you'll need to close the tube with some sort of fastener. I chose to take the easy way out and use safety pins so I can change how I hang it up.

Once you're done with all of that, enjoy hanging all of your earrings up. :)

Here's what your earring holder should look like in the end:

My Birthday

July 17th was my 20th birthday and to celebrate, my boyfriend manned up and took me to the San Antonio Museum of Art. I was so happy that he was willing to take me, since no one else in my family or friends in San Antonio were willing to do so. We spent 4 hours in the museum and I enjoyed every minute of it (and I think he did too). While we were there I was able to take tons of photos in the permanent exhibits (they would not allow any photography in the special exhibits, but I was okay with that since all the stuff I really enjoyed was in the permanent collections).

Here's a small selection of what I took that I thought my readers would enjoy:

Outside of the Museum-The San Antonio Museum of Art is housed in the former Lone Star Brewery.

Horus Falcon (Ptolemaic Period)-The fascinating thing about this bird is that while it was originally carved to represent the Egyptian god Horus, the Romans later took it (and others like it) and turned it into the Roman eagle.

Vessel in the Shape of a Parrot (Mochica Culture)-This was one of my boyfriend's favorite works of art (he had a strange liking to all the bird and animal sculpture and paintings that day)

The Lansdowne of Marcus Aurelius (Roman)-This was one of my favorite pieces of sculpture in the entire museum.

Noah Sacrificing After the Deluge by Benjamin West (Close-up on Doves and Rainbow)-This is part of a larger unfinished painting by Benjamin West. I took this picture because my mom loves the story of Noah and ark, particularly God's promise that He will never flood the earth like that again and how He sent the rainbow as a sign of that promise.

Charity the Teacher by Lorenzo Bartolini-This was another one of my favorite pieces of sculpture.

Oklahoma 4 by Luis Cruz Azaceta-The fascinating thing about this work of art is that it is built out of rubble from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing

This is a picture of me standing outside of the San Antonio Museum of Art in front a work of art that was installed on the side of the building that was next to the SAMA parking lot.

All Alone in the Wild Blue Yonder

This week has been one of my most lonely and eye opening weeks of this summer. I have spent a lot of time at home and with my thoughts and while I've been home (alone on most days) I've been thinking about my friends and the relationships I have with them. There are some people in my life who I know I will be friends with for life while a majority I probably won't see or really speak to (save for facebook) for quite some time. While it frustrates me and makes me sad that these friends are not as close as we once were or as I hoped they would be, I am so grateful for those friends who are there for me and who will (God willing) be there for me during the roller-coaster of life.

My best friend Roxanne is like a sister to me and even though we don't get to see each other very often, I can go to her with any problems or questions and she helps me, guides me, and comforts me--and I do the same for her.

My friend Nick is the funny man in my life and I can always go to him for a laugh and a good time, but what many people do not realize it the wisdom and kindness that emanates from him and how good a friend he is. My boyfriend and I have spent several summer evenings just talking with him in his driveway for hours on end.

The last friend of mine who has always been there for me would be my boyfriend. When my aunt died last week, he rushed over with flowers and instead of volunteering at the hospital, he spent the whole day with me; when her funeral came around, he was there holding my hand or holding me in his arms as I said goodbye to another member of my family.

While I do realize that some friends left my life because of me and my actions and because they weren't really good friends to start off with, I do wish I had more contact with those friends that I don't see or talk to as often. My personal goal for next week is to try and re-establish a connection with one of my friends and I suggest all of my readers to do the same.