30by30: 2.) Bento box & 12.) Driving a stick update

2.) Though not terribly exciting, I purchased my first bento box from Uwajimaya. I got one that had chopsticks that screwed together. It is, of course, baby blue in color and it fits in my vintage 1980s My Little Pony lunchbox next to the thermos. I keep it in an adorable blue and black stripped zipper bag. Here is a cute bento box design that I would like to make:

12.) Learn to drive a stick - This still hasn't happened yet, but I drove home from a burlesque show and then Kevin and I practiced driving up the "hill" that I was worried about on the way to school. I did it really well and only stalled out a few times :)

30by30: 8.) Works of art, Hand-made furoshiki

When I was in Japan this year, I purchased some really nice Japanese fabric to use in making furoshiki for Christmas presents this year. History of the furoshiki began from the Edo Period, in the early 1600s. Furoshiki literally means "bath spread," as it was originally used to hold clothing, shoes and personal belongings while attending at the Japanese public bath. Users would wrap and fold it in various manners. As use of the furoshiki expanded beyond the bathhouses, merchants began using the cloth to carry their goods to the market and as a form of wrapping paper and gift carrier. It's reusable wrapping paper at it's finest. To me, it also reminds me of the "hobo bag" in the stick that people used to use in America. I made approximately 12 furoshiki as gifts this year and I believe my friends and family will really appreciate them. I made them large enough that if they would prefer to use them as a head wrap, like a bandana, then they are large enough.

30by30: 26.) Repair, furnish and decorate the backroom

The last room in our house that is not usable (as it currently stands) is the backroom leading out to the yard. We've been considering different ways of dealing with it but have left it as a winter project. We have ripped out the fireplace mortar that was left by the previous owner and the wall-mounted heater that took up one whole wall. We had the sliding doors (there were two of them) replaced with a vinyl door. We have some ceiling damage from a leak and we need to replace the floor and get a more functional heater. We are replacing a leaking window with a round window. We will need to decorate and furnish the room too.

Today I had help from my mother-in-law with spackling, sanding and painting the room. My hubby and I selected Behr paint in Gold Buff. My MIL and I sprayed on orange peel texture and spackled and sanded like crazy. The place that had the fireplace is completely hidden now.

BEFORE TODAY

AFTER TODAY