Pre New Year New Year's Resolution

Well the Christmas rush is over. The large dinner consumed, leftovers safely stowed in the fridge to be slowly devoured over the long weekend. Happy to report that very little is leftover of the leftovers.

I decided to clean up the sewing space last night. Several weeks of frantic embroidery work and miscellaneous sewing for gifts had taken its toll on my space. Bits of thread and broken needles everywhere, the trash can runneth over. In the midst of cleaning up, I discovered just how many projects I have in various stages of completion. An epiphany smacked me in the head, "do you have any idea how far ahead you will be for all gift giving occasions if you just finished some of these things???!!!". Well, a quick calculation led me to the conclusion that I could have a blast during the course of the year and a lot less stress in the month before Christmas if I committed to completing a project every two weeks in 2009.

Some works will only take a day or two, like the cross stitch sampler already 3/4 complete or the knit scarf already 1/2 complete. There are various cross stitch and needlepoint kits in my collection which have been purchased over the years off the clearance rack at JoAnn Fabrics and other places. Fabric purchased for special pin cushions or tote bags or clothes. I even found some deer call and key chain kits I purchased to make on my lathe several years ago. I have an accordian file folder full of projects and ideas clipped from magazines, and let's NOT talk about the collection of patterns or the bead, fabric and yarn stash!

Is this the least bit ambitious? Probably. Will I meet the deadline every two weeks? Probably not. Am I going to become obessessed and have all night sessions to finish a project and stay on schedule? Are you kidding me!!! Sleep is top priority!

I am going to have some fun, utilize the on hand stash, and be ahead of the game next year. So this week, I am organizing and developing my attack plan. For Thursday, we commence with Operation: GIFT (Gettin It Finishing in Two weeks)!! Wish me luck!

Testing the Waters

Greetings and Salutations from the Star City of the South, Roanoke VA!

As I have recently spent time perusing the blogs of other folks, I noticed that I was spending more time actually doing the things I like to do. I pulled out my Deco 600 and started to embroider those lovely little fleece baby blankets I purchased roughly three years ago. A loose needdle bar sent the Deco to the hospital for a couple of days, but she came home freshly lubed, oiled, tightened and aligned.

The serger was re-threaded just yesterday (I thread using the cheating method and will happily admit that to all) Some hideous fabric the MIL thought would be mah-velous in her dining room was quickly edged, folded and placed back in the bag from whence it came. It now sits in the car waiting for my next trip across town so it can be reunited with the person who fell in love with it at the thrift store. (Someone GAVE away over 4 yards of this stuff - and there was a reason)

I even took my trusty free-arm Singer machine for a spin over the weekend.

And you know something, it felt good! There are projects laid out awaiting my evening return from the salt mines. That makes me very happy, kinda giddy. A crafter who has been through the blah stage, no motivation to actually do anything with that ever growing mountain of craft ideas, fabrics and yarns and has found their inner Martha, know exactly what I mean.

On a side note, we had a new baby arrive at the farm this weekend. I'll post photos later, but a new male alpaca cria was born Saturday 9/6 at 11AM. One more cria due any day - keep fingers crossed for a girl please!