One observant reader wrote to me the other day reminding me that I never followed up on my first article about my DIY supply closet.  Now that it’s December, it seems time to talk about my favorite tools that I’ve used over the past few years.  I’m also including my wish list for 2010, especially since I know my secret Santa is reading.  (Hi shmoopie.)

I’m not one of those gals who wants jewelry for Christmas.  Nope, not me.  My Christmas list includes some serious gadgets for advanced levels of home improvement and furniture fixin’.  I’m just one of those chicks who really digs tools, so you’ll have a tough time labeling me as any sort of damsel in distress. 

When I see pictures like this from the war era, and I am reminded that my affection for power tools is not something strange to my gender or new to my generation.  Au contraire.  In fact, I know that most of you who read my musings or write your own DIY blogs have a deep affection for power tools as well.  

Source: Getty Images

Here’s a look at some of the tools I consider important for my own DIY projects. 

Note, this list is not exhaustive, nor is this list anything near what a professional might possess.  These are just my personal favorites and the tools I frequently use.  Perhaps these will give you a few ideas for gifts for yourself or a fellow DIYer.

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When I first got married ten years ago, I started collecting Christmas decorations.  Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I’d always dreamed of having my own home filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of the season.  Every year, I like to add something new to my growing collection.

This year I was inspired to create some decorative pillows with felt. The nice thing about felt is that it is inexpensive, it doesn’t fray, and it adds just the right amount of coziness for those upcoming winter months.  I wanted to create something bold, something stylish, but nothing too busy.  Poinsettias were my inspiration.

Here’s what I came up with:

Red version, up close:

If you want to create your own version of these simple sew poinsettia pillows, here’s the step-by-step.

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One of my most favorite things about blogging is the friendships made online with other fantastically creative people.  One of my many blogger friends is Kim over at Newly Woodwards.  Kim doesn’t really have fingers.  No, in fact she has ten green thumbs.  Don’t believe me?  Check this out.  And this.  And she’s kind of famous in her hometown.  I truly envy her gardening skills.   But Kim doesn’t just garden, she cooks, she decorates, and she does it with style.  She’s my kind of gal.  So when Kim wrote up this post about her desire to sew a retro apron, I leapt at the chance to join her in her endeavor.  And today we’re both featuring our apron projects. 

Off to visit my friends at the Material Girl fabric store I went, to select my fabric.  Which designer should I choose?  Heather Bailey ?  Amy Butler?  How about both ?!  Today, I came up with my own version of a reversible apron – just for futzing around the kitchen.   No pattern at all – just a series of simple steps and straight stitches on my sewing machine.   

Here’s a peek at the final apron, and my step by step.

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Thanks to all participants in the Material Girl Fabric.com giveaway!  Your pie suggestions had me drooling for days. 

Congrats to these randomly chosen three winners:

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