Time, Time, Where does the time go?!

I've said this before (have I written it before?) but as a mommy I wish I had a super hero ring that would freeze time. What a dream! Think what you could do. Catch up on cleaning or crafting or whatever procrastinating project you have lying around. I also envision it as a quiet peaceful time since everyone but me is frozen.

A week ago I decided to make a jewelry holder. My partner in crime wanted to make something like it to store her cords---phone chargers, battery chargers, external hard drives. We saw a sample and decided we could make our own without a pattern. I even dug fabric out of the Goodwill bag. Easy peasy. Insert a snort, a roll of the eyes and a big heavy sigh here. I bought the plastic and it laid around for a month. I finally got tired of tripping over it so I decided to just do it. I hate how you start out to do an EASY project and it sucks up the ENTIRE day.

At least it is done! I have a store bought one that holds my bracelets and necklaces. Now I have this one to hold earrings and more bracelets. This one thing cleaned off the top of my vanity and two drawers.  

I love the clean top of the vanity. Wonder if it will stay that way? The project really stressed me out though by the end of the day that it took ALLLLLLL day. Sometimes I look at something and think it will be a quick thing and when it isn't I sometimes get so frustrated I set it aside. Hmmmm, is that how I end up with all these unfinished projects? At the very last minute I made myself finish this pin cushion so that I could feel like I did two whole things on this "quickie craft project day" (again with the snort, sigh and eye roll.) I love the look of it. Can you guess what the stand is?

It's a mattress spring. I'd like to find some more. You should hear my husband going on about finding an old (I translate into gross, dirty, stains of unknown origin) mattress and setting it on fire in a controled area, of course. Then being left with just the springs. Seriously, we are looking. That could be a whole new craft concept. Pyromania inspired crafting.

It's good to have friends!

It’s so good to have friends. Here’s my latest UFO.

Isn’t it great! I love it. It only took me ____years to finish it. I even made two; one to keep, one to sell. All that wool sorting (wool gathering?) did prove to be productive. I couldn’t have finished it (safely) without the help of my friend Elda.

I had everything perched precariously. I had to glue (with toxic stinky stuff) the tabs to the metal holder. This glue is wonderful in holding fabric to anything but I find it takes some time to set. I went through the pantry trying to find heavy things to clamp down on it so I didn’t have to hold it for the next hour (or even second because I have no patience for that kind of thing.) The ginger sauce and apricot preserves were the only heavy things with a small enough base to press just where I needed it. Then I had to use cans to hold those glass jars up. Glass, perched, precarious. Are you catching on? This was the day of the 3 day crop and I was worried someone would knock it over and I’d have a disaster. In my little mind I thought, Oh well it will mess up the floor but miss my project.

Then along comes Elda. She’s so smart! Look at her wonderful solution. Don’t think Duh! You were still focused on those cans and you know it. I’m wondering if it was her years teaching preschool, thus dealing with little brains…I guess that is how I compare.

I need to go get some more clothespins. I find them handy to hang things on my blinds (though I’ve faded a small quilt terribly once by doing that so only short term or paper things).  It gives you a quicky design wall. We use them for chip clips. You know those single socks? They aren’t alone. They have built a house out of those silly clothespins somewhere in the alternate dimension because I know we aren’t eating them but they just disappear…

Schedule, schedule, schedule

Some people might stay scheduling wrecks spontaneity but I've found it helps me get things done. Have I said this before? I really think it is my mommy mantra. I can be spontaneous but if I want to make progress with all these other people's schedules then I have to plan!

I went through my craft room last night and instead of letting myself get sucked in the busy work I started packing my craft bag. I decided if it was mindless and just needed to be cut I would take it to sewing tonight. Sewing is my once a week, meet with the girls, and work on whatever you want time. We work at the church where we have plenty of room and lots of light. And to be perfectly honest it is so much easier to cut there than to climb over my messes to get to my cutting table which is covered in piles of stuff that need to be shifted so I can cut which means more piles to climb over to get back to where ever I was. Did you get tired reading that sentence? That's how tired I get climbing over those piles. They are productive piles...

Each of these piles is a project. What am I doing starting new projects you ask? It is my therapy (that I probably need therapy for.) I had a great time a week or so ago with my friend wool shopping. We headed over to the quilt store with our sale coupon and there wasn't much there and what was there was overpriced. Off to Goodwill we went where we stumbled upon the 99 cents a pound room. It was a treasure hunt. I LOVE a good treasure hunt! We found all kinds of wool things. Now for less than we would have paid at the quilt store we got lots more variety, even if we did have to cut things up to get it. So of course, I needed to sort all my wool, which led to pulling pieces for certain projects, which led to this semi-organized pile of messes. Still therapeutic! I tell myself these are hand projects so it's different from the other unfinished things lying around. Now I can be productive at a PTO meeting. Right?

It did spur me on to finish these key chains. Flowers on one side, buttons on the other. I only started them last Christmas for the girls at sewing. They are a smidge crooked but I think that adds to the primitive quality. (How's that for crafter rationale?) Whatever, they are finished!! Finished! That is such a glorious word. Think how much room that frees up in my craft room...uh, none.

Last week I also scheduled scrapbook time. 3 straight days of it. I find that works best. You set up, leave it and come and go as the inspiration hits. I have others come too which keeps me on track. I finished (meaning I journaled!) the boys' school albums. Then I did 1995 and 1996. That is two more years. Doesn't that sound impressive. Now I need to do 2006 and that fills my last hole in our family life. That may make you roll your eyes but it sure thrills me. I'm getting organized and caught up and just when I think I will have reached crafter completion nirvana...I will have to get a job because I have a child approaching college. Sigh. Makes me want to go start another project!

School has started

I can't believe that school has started. I know I've disappeared from the blog world, again. I'd like to say I was busy working on all my summer resolutions but I'm not going to think about that. Not denial, just reality. No regrets. I know I got some things accomplished. I'm proud that I've moved forward. Moving forward is my happy reality.

I got a Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas. I love the silly thing in my dreams. In my dreams because I wasn't using it in my reality. I've been ordering new things. And more things. And still more things. I'll be looking through magazines or blogs and find more dies that I want/need. I've ordered from Sizzix and from Joanns.com. I've used my coupons at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I've ordered again (and again) from Joanns. I love getting packages! It brings me joy. I haven't surpassed my budget, yet. Ah, the joy.

I dropped the kiddos in North Carolina this summer and discovered a contest at the local shop. All I had to do was use my Tim Holtz dress form die to make something, anything. I didn't have a clue what I was going to do but I was entering! I thought I might even win, not because my work is so stellar, but just that I've found that people worry so much about competition that they don't enter.

I cleaned out my craft area but I still ended up at the kitchen table. I kept having to run upstairs, then into my room and then into the utility room. I've decided that my oldest needs to leave for college early I need his room for my new craft room. 

I loved playing with the dresses. I just need the figure for a dress like this.

Who knows what I'm going to do with them. One of them is for my mother's red and white sewing room. I had forgotten how fun it is to just play.

Here I am on display in the store. Fun! It's a start.

I even stamped a mailing label for the package. I was quite proud of it. Sad/funny thing was I ended up having to put the whole thing in a priority box. At least you are seeing it. It's a start! Now I need to get off the computer and go sort my vision for my fabric closet. I'll take pictures. Fingers crossed that it works!!

How's your summer progressing?

How's your summer progressing? I've heard some inspiring lists. I love how we can all inspire each other and keep the inspiration going. I did an artistic field trip this weekend.

I read that an artistic field trip can feed your creativity. I sure think it helps to open your mind.I'm not sure though which place inspired me more. I loved this great stamp store in Jacksonville. It reminded me how much I used to love to stamp.

I'm going to make some ATCs (artistic trading cards) for her next swap. Anyone else interested? What a fun way to gather art from all over. The shop lady let me take pictures too. More ideas! I'm still wishing for that ring that freezes time so I can get done all that I want to get done.

Can shopping be considered an artistic field trip? Haha! I can't wait to play with my new book. I'm going to try and make some of these ladies in fabric as well as one in paper. Maybe I'll teach a class on them..sometimes that thought propels me forward.

Keep working!!

Summer Bucket List

Today is the first day of summer vacation for my family. It started later than I expected since there was a loud, loud teenager party at my house the night before. Tonight we are having a family meeting. We are planning the summer timeline, trips we want to take, excursions, craft projects, home projects and whatever else.

The past few years I've used this great book as a guide to get us out of the house. If we don't do some planning we end up letting the day fly by and no one has left the house. So I'm excited about making plans tonight. I'm hoping we can all inspire each other. I'm probably living in a naive place but I can hope.

We have a vacation planned, a romantic grown up weekend discussed and almost committed to, a few week long camps set up. Now I want to get my cross country runner training (and maybe I can ride my bike along and work on my exercise goal.) I want to get my creative child actually doing some creating rather than just talking about it (like mother like child). I want to conquer some house projects that we've neglected because we've used the excuse of homework and too many other commitments.

I believe things don't just happen. We don't just get miraculous a-ha moments all the time. They do come unscripted and unexpectedly but sometimes you have to plan for the silliness or the adventure. You can't just wait around for it to happen. Otherwise, it's happening out in the real world while you are cemented to the couch!

What do you want to do this summer? Here's a rough start to my list:

Make homemade popsicles, basic ones, designer ones (with fruits and mixed up juices.)

Go through ALL the silly old magazines in the house (preferably while floating in the pool.)

Figure out how to mesh mine, my mother's and my grandmother's charm bracelets into something that means something and something that I will wear.

Purge at least one room a week (including all cabinets and closets.)

Take an artistic field trip once a week (even if one week that means looking at magazines in Barnes and Noble.)

Teach several card classes--make a stockpile, use up some supplies

Clear off the craft room tables and start being productive, a little something every day.

Learn how to transfer my videos to DVD.

Catch up the boys' school scrapbooks.

Catch up on our vacation albums.

Organize my itunes music into better playlists.

Use a picture to create a quilt or paper creation.

There's a start...I could go on but you probably don't want to read it all. Make your own. Type it up. Print it and cross things off. But don't stress about it. Have a friend help you accomplishs some of it. Share the fun. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Summer!

Spring is flying by!

Sorry I’ve fallen off the planet. I was trying to be good and motivated and motivating. I started out last month super inspired. So super inspired that I even spent some time with Jillian Michaels (on the exercise on demand channel). My Michael would ask me if I was going to channel Satan when I was putting off working out with her. I guess he sensed that she is not for the faint of heart. That phase has passed but I really want to get back with it. The practical me and the healthy me and the perfect me want to get back. But the real me (the one that exists) is putting it off. I understand that the world is supposed to end tomorrow, so I need to at least wait until after that to start over.

I have been finishing lots of UFOs! I decided that in the process of cleaning what better way to clean but to just pull what was on the top of the pile and deal. I’m really looking forward to uncovering something that I love. A few of these things were a chore. Like the last of these silly pails. I’m sick, sick, sick of pails! The little quilt I got at my quilt retreat sale for $3 for the pieces and the batting. I added backing and binding, sewed it and finished it. Pretty good for three bucks!

Then I added a closure and stacked some buttons for this.

I got it at the last quilt show for $1 or $2. It’s extra poufy but holds my mini light that I attach to my sewing machine, very handy. Cute colors. Not my usual, but very cheery.

I love the stacked buttons with the bead.

Next I unearthed these notebooks. I had one finished; now I have lots. I’m sick of them too but they are cute---more stacked buttons and some bright colors. I went to sew one and discovered that I had interfacing cut for five more. Sigh. I always start out overzealous. Discovered I had interfacing cut out for 2 matching bags. More sighs, more projects.

I finished these pouches in January but I wanted to show them off. The pattern was drawn on interfacing that I just had to iron on to fabric and then sew on the lines. Easy as it gets!

I had a few more cut and traced so I did these. I couldn’t decide if I thought they looked retro or cheap. Hmmmm, I think someone will like them. I had fun stacking more buttons. I love, love, love buttons! I want to make some vintage looking jewelry out of buttons but that's a whole 'nother post.

This one is the keeper. I love it!! I obsessed for a bit on the gears and watch and wings and then just committed. Finished! Time to go work on something else…