Post holidays

I made it though the holidays.  It was a good one for all.  I was even able to be creative making a bunch of the gifts.  I was glad about that.  Mom got a digital photo frame, with copies of negatives that I had scanned in.  I even have been learning Photo shop while I scan them.  some are not in the beast of condition.  The are old, going back into the 1920's and some were just poorly stored.  It has been cool looking at all the funny clothes and looking at things I remember but never in that setting. 

The boys loved their jester hats in school colors.  The family liked them so much their mother wants one now.  Oh, more scraps to use up.  I win!!!!

I've been busy sewing with a friend.  She has not been sewing as long as I have. She needs to learn to take more time.  She needs to learn that is does not always come out well the first time you make something and she needs to learn that her seam ripper can be a very good friend.

Now if only I could fine another few free hours to get some of the other stuff done.

Christmas and all it entails

Chirstmas week is here.  Like many of us I am not ready.  I am done with stores.  I have not really spent any time in them the past few months, at least I have not spent time in them for Christmas presents.  I have spent some time in them for supplies, to make presents. 

My family has always be a bit frugal.  It come from growing up in a fmaily with four children.  We have never had a lot of money.  We have had what we've needed.  I have had years when I got just what I've wanted.  Some years I got more than others.  A few years ago my whole family were out on their own and all of use were going though a tight spot. We had the "un-Christmas".  We just did not give gifts.  We got together and celebrated and we had a fine time. 

Of late we have chosen to do Christmas simple.  We each give a few gifts.  We try to make them meaningful.  Smaller is better.  It make for a very nice time.  You don't have to "find a place for it" when you bring your presents home.  I like it a lot better and I hope this time of crisis for the country leads to more people finding the true meaning of the holidays.

Have you ever had to?

I really wanted to work on an unfinished project.  I was all set to do so, If I could only find all the pieces and parts.  Yup, they were last in the "project room."  It took me working for an hour on cleaning that room until the parts bit me.  I was unable to actual start the real work until the next day.  I'm still not done with all of them but I now have some earrings to put into the gallery sale for the holidays.  It's a win.  I was even able to clear out some junk. 

I now have to gather like materials together.  I need to get the jewelry supplies into one place.  The book binding  stuff into another container.  The sewing is all up there, in the project room, but it really needs to better organized.  I have projects within sewing that I just need to get them done.  I have a mental list but writing it down helps so... I need to sew the del I already have the fabric for, I need to sew those zippered bags (yup, I have all the materials), I would like to sew a magazine holder for the powder room, and scroll cases for my historical re-enactment group.  That would be a great start at finishing some stuff up.  We'll see how I do.  I'll keep you all posted.

I love it

I really love when people give true thanks.  I really try to. I recently went away and got to travel to visit friends.  Keep in mind I have food issues.  My friend Jan went out of her way to make sure I could eat safely.  She even made sure we took good food with us camping so I could eat and snack to my hearts content.  Yup, I give thanks every time I see her.  One of the ways I do so is to tell her.  Yup, I say thank you.  I’d write a note, but she does not like to read mail.  We all have issues. That is another post.

I recently sent a book to Graphics Fairy . She does the greatest thing… she gives away free graphics that she scans and cleans up.  I sent it to her since it was really old, hopefully out of it’s copyright, so she could use it.  The binding was horrible, so I would not feel bad if she cut it apart.  She can craft with it of what ever.  I sent it to her as a small token of my thanks.  Ha, ha, now she is thanking me, for sending it.  Oh, it all does go around.  Karma can be a very good thing.

Feeling the day

It was one of those days.  While trying to pack some stuff up, I got lost.  It was a "lost" in all the stuff.  I don't like not being able to find what I know I already have.  I knew I wanted my good, warm wool cloak. It just did not want to be found.  I finally did find it in front of my face.  If it had a home and I placed it there I would  not have had to look for it. 

That is going to be the goal.  It is a long term goal.  I know it is going to take time, and effort.  It is all about my crap stuff.  I have too much of it.  That is not to say I want to get rid off all of it.  I want to lessen my stuff load.  I want to pare down to what I need, not what I want.  It is about minimalism.  I like nice things, I like giving nice things. 


I have a goal, it's the five year plan.  I would like to be in the dream house. But that is for another post.