Look what came today!

Isn’t this fun!

I got business cards today. Silly. Free. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling like I have arrived.  Haven’t a clue where I’m going to pass them out but I’ve put some in my purse just in case.

Making the most out of a crisis

We had quite the uproar here last week. It was a dreary day and the roads were slick. A car collided with a tanker on the overpass. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck in traffic under that bridge. It seems like a miracle that no one was hurt or killed but the drivers.  I’ve since heard that the young lady driving the car was notorious for texting while she was driving. So sad.

The fire was intense. Traffic was at a standstill. You couldn’t travel east or west and that was how you would get north or south. My hubby planted himself at Barnes and Noble to wait it out.  Schools were holding on to children. It was a crazy time. The kids arrived home an hour later; could have been much longer.

So now we are trapped on our little island, sort of. I’ve always thought it was quirky living on an island. I never minded when the drawbridge would go up and get stuck and not go down. It never happened that often.  It’s been decided that the overpass has to come down.

My five minute run to the grocery store is now a long trip to another town or a trek around town. Thirty days. I’ve decided that I want to make the most of the crisis. Complaining won’t help. I keep thinking--My children were on a school bus. They could have been traveling under that bridge.  A friend felt the heat on the back of her van as she was the last one through when it exploded. It could have been so much worse.

It amazes me that the bridge is already gone--totally taken down. I’m enjoying the fact that it's inconvenient to run into town; we are being more responsible and planning our trips. It’s almost an adventure. I packed a hand project into the car and actually got some work done stuck in the traffic back up. (Don’t worry I was paying attention.)

I need to run to the post office. I have some banking to do. I’m making the most of the crisis. I’m not worrying about the silly errands. They can wait. I can make lists (I love lists) and route out my drive. I feel like I’m accomplishing a mission, not wasting time where I could be crafting on little errands. There are no little errands. I’ve arranged a carpool for my budding track star. I’m going to stay home.

Poor pitiful me whatever will I do. Just me and my fabric or me and my scrapbook papers or me and my glue sticks and paint and decoupage paper and stitcheries and whatever else I can think of. I’m going to make the most of the crisis. I'm going to stay home.

 

No apologies necessary

Sometimes the best way to get things done is to schedule it. I believe in this. I’ve heard people say that that wrecks their spontaneity. I say that’s hooey. Whatever works; who gives a flying fig what others say!

I schedule a play day on Thursdays. I don’t answer the phone. I don’t make appointments for that day. I don’t make apologies for it. I try not to clean that day either. My dream is to play---craft, create—it’s my choice. I have a regular night to sew with the girls, a regular night once a month to scrapbook, an occasional day once every two years to stamp cards (oops, that one’s been too long.) So today I had a jewelry class scheduled. Couldn’t wait to see what I would get accomplished. It was worth the fee just to get away and feel the creative air. I learned new things, worked with “manly” tools and enjoyed the company of some fun women. Now I’m ready for a hardware store so I can get some new tools of my very own.

Hmmm…I have the ladies scheduled for non-stop scrapbooking the next three days. So now I’m scheduling Friday for a trip to Harbor Freight. There are even a few junk shops on the way. Can’t wait!

Here’s the bracelet I made:

Cold Connections---rivets, wires, carpet tacks. I used some old gears, a part of a watch, a few beads and some scraps of cooper. I cut down all my copper pieces because I have scrawny wrists (ahh, to have scrawny thighs) and it was still too big for my tastes.  Looking at it made me think I could use it as embellishments in a quilt piece...or maybe I can sell it and make something different for quilt embellishments...the ideas!!

Now I'm off to see if the extra piece of copper I brought home will go through the embossing plate in my sizzix machine. Reminds me I need to schedule some time to play with my new sizzix machine.

Until next time!

Still moving forward

I’m still doing good arguing with those voices that tell me it is ok to rest and snack. I’m still moving forward. Just getting things done is motivating me.  I’ve taken a stack of fabric that I had set aside forever (yes, again, it has been over a year) and cut it up. Now I need is to add the batting. Is it motivational if I poison myself with spray basting?

Tune in and see what I do with them.

Moving Forward

I’m so tickled to have followers. Thanks guys! You are the best! It fills me with glee. (You know like the show, happy and worthy of singing over.) J My Alex tells me that he thinks (according to Criminal Minds) I can’t be a cult leader until I have at least 30. Teeheehee!

I was moving slow today but I’m moving forward! I’ve heard from a couple of people that they feel the same. Here’s hoping you are moving forward too!

Embrace the imperfection

I had an ah-ha moment the other day in having home therapy with my hubby. Do you have that? I say that with a laugh but I’ve started thinking of some of our talks as that. Home therapy. Instead of the same old scripts we are working on changing things so that we aren’t continually having the same old conversation. It’s that work in progress thing…

Anyway, he was happier a few months ago and trying to get there again. When I think about how he was searching to get back there I realized he was moving sideways, almost back to get there. He needed to move  forward, leave the past in the past. It’s better to be moving forward then stuck. This ramble all relates to my resolution thinking too because I want to embrace the imperfection. I’ve tried so long to fix it. I need to stop with the whining, stop with excuses, move forward. I’m always going to start too many projects. I’m always going to put things off. I’m always going to make a mess that I should have cleaned up before going on to the next thing. I need to just roll my eyes at myself and move forward.  If I can stop letting those voices tell me to fix myself maybe I might actually get somewhere. So next  time they start talking to me I’m going to pretend they are saying, Get off your butt and move forward!

I’ve even started. I made some plans to have ladies come scrapbook for 3 days next week. Make a mess leave and it and get things done! I’ve sewn 2 whole quilts that have been sitting around for a year. I’ve even cut the next one. I’ve ditched a few things and rearranged a few things. I’m going with production now! I’m still “cleaning and clearing” which I know for me is an excuse to not start playing with “art” but I’m going to let this soothe my soul for a smidge longer.

Possibilities

I just told my hubby to write it down. It being whatever it is that might help him focus. I’ve been toying with a blog for a while to help me focus but I keep putting it off, like all kinds of things in my life. So I’m starting. I’m starting today. I’m writing it down. I’m not going to obsess on setting up the perfect blog decorations (right away, anyway). I’m sure I’ll get to that. I live to obsess on things. Don’t like that about myself but I own it. J

I’ve added my picture. I’ve updated my profile. I’m writing. I can’t find the blog if I go look for it yet. It’s still updating but I’m posting anyway.

I love the possibilities of a new year. Resolutions. They have power in my mind.  I don’t care if people let them go after a while. To me they aren’t steel-clad laws but subtle reminders of what I’d like to be striving for. Albums to finish. Crafts to finish. New techniques to learn. Healthier ways to live. Possiblities. There is great hope in possibilities.