decluttering your stash..."Get close...to see what sparks joy"

 

 

Do certain of your crafty items spark more joy than others?  Or do you feel that *everything* you have in your stash sparks joy? 

 

 

Below is an instagram post from Marie Kondo.  She is one of several people organizing/decluttering gurus that help me stay inspired and motivated to slim down my STUFF**.

 





 

 

"SPARK JOY" 

 

...is one of Marie Kondo's foundational phrases for her methods to de clutter and organize. 

 

Isn't she darling?  =D  You can learn lots more about her and her organizing philosophies** by following her Instagram account here or check out her website for her books, etc here She has great ideas with actual organization as well as great ideas to help with thought processes to motivate getting rid of things we don't "need", or that doesn't spark joy in us.     

 

Seeing her IG post (the pictured above), automatically made me think about how I feel when I go into my "hallway" of fabric stash.  This stash has been getting out of hand.  Maybe not in the amount of fabric so much, but in the organization of it.  I don't know about you, but, for me... taking a fabric or two out for audition in a quilt can be hazardous to the other fabric left on the shelf still neatly stacked.  Either the stack falls or slightly leans over when one or two pieces are pulled out or...when I try to put fabrics back to their original spot.  As time passes, shelves become more and more in disarray.  More time passes and fabrics are left on the floor because they can't fit back onto their original spot - even with efforts to try.

 

I realized that "getting close to belongings", (as Marie states) is a good exercise for me to do with my fabric stash.  It's a great reason to take messy, falling-every-which-way groups of fabric off their shelves to refold them so that they fit better within their designated area.  I admit, I have a hard time starting this exercise...it usually seems sooo overwhelming (and to be honest...kind of BOR...RING).  The problem usually gets worse before it gets better.  Before I know it I'm tripping all over fabric on the floor to find the stool that's buried so I can climb up and pull out more fabric as *that* stack tumbles to the ground to join its fabric-mates holding down the carpet. 

 

Finding my mojo to clean up the fabric stash...could take many more moons.  Suffice it to say that on quite a few occasions, I have great friends who come over and rev up my decluttering mojo motor.  =D  =D  =D

 

When taking fabrics in my hands to refold, I often get thoughts like..."why in the sam-heck did I purchase this!...it's got way too much yellow!"  (Those who  know me, are shaking their heads, I'm sure!  LOL).  There are other fabrics with pretty colors and/or fun prints.  These fabrics bring thoughts of... "Oh, I forgot about this one!  It's sooo pretty! I NEED to put this on the list of quilts to make SOON!"  

 

If you were to pull out older fabrics to hold/refold, would you get similar thoughts?  Do you certain fabrics bring a big smile to your face?  Do some tell you they are NOT happy in your stash because they want to go somewhere, some place that they could make someone else happy??

 

It seems to me that just walking by fabrics or glancing at them in search of something particular for what I might currently be working on...isn't good enough to "get CLOSE".  Scanning over the stash isn't good enough to feel whether or not they SPARK JOY for future quilts or projects.  Taking a piece of fabric out and refolding it...even if it's a partial refold, is what I need to feel the Vibes of Joy =D

 

I know that it can be almost impossible to take down every piece of fabric from it's shelf or out of it's container and refold it all in one sitting or in one day...of course this depends on the amount of stash you keep. I'm totally not qualified to judge on Stash Size!!  LOL! And...one note I'd like to mention here, (imho) the amount of stash a person has isn't as important as how much of it is stagnant, or how much of it is creating a burden, holding you back from positive, forward creative motion.

 

Maybe if the stash feels overwhelming to dig into and start folding, it could be divided into smaller sections that might only take 30 minutes to "get close to".  Maybe one shelf or container could be emptied, sorting with "JOY?  or "NO JOY".  Then, you'd only put back the "JOY" ones to the original storage spot.  Having  a friend to visit with you while you sort through your stash can be super awesome because the fabrics you're moving out of your stash could be ones the feel JOY for! And, giving some of your stash to a friend is really cool! 

 

Sometime, though giving parts of our stash away is difficult even if it doesn't spark joy.  We handcuff ourselves with guilt that we spent "good money" on it and we should force ourselves to use it, if not now...then, in the future.  Or, we fear that we might "need" it at a later time.  In many cases,  if it's weighing us down and just adding to clutter or overstuffed stuffed containers now, odds are, it will be in the future too.  One solution might be to put the "NON-JOY" fabrics in a box for possible giveaway.  If you don't miss it and/or there is still no joy in owning it, after a month, you probably won't miss it if you give it away for good. 

 

** I seriously doubt that I could ever become a minimalist.  I am pretty sure that I will never become a great organizer. AND, I still have a LOT of STUFF!  But, I am learning, and trying to improve.  If an item doesn't spark a feeling of joy, if it feels burdensome, just taking up space for no good reason, it needs to be given away.  As I clear out crafty items that might feel burdensome to me, I gain a motivational and creative energy.  Decluttering for me, isn't necessarily downsizing or living with less.  It's more about getting rid of the old so that I can feel more joy for what's left, even free up space for new more joyous items.   I do give myself permission to bring new things into my life.  Think of an old light bulb just sitting in a lamp socket.  If  the dead/non-light just stays in the socket, there is no spot left to put in a bulb that gives light.  (edit: I'd also like to add here that I don't follow all of the Marikondo methods.  Many are too restrictive for me, personally.  But, the "Spark Joy" idea is one that has helped me tremendously in just choosing what and how to let some things move out of my life)

 

It's an ongoing process for me, striving to be aware and "get close enough to" my stuff.  It can even be a down right struggle.   I need to set aside specific time regularly to re-evaluate my possessions, crafty and otherwise..  Do my things bring me joy, shine light into my life?  Do they motivate me to look forward, be better, be more creative?  Or are they keeping me in the past, bringing me useless frustration, keeping me from enjoying people and/or enjoying fun activities. I know when I do take the time, even if it's a small area or just a few items, I feel so rejuvenated.

 

What are your ideas for keeping your crafty items organized?  How do you decide whether to give something away or keep it?   Do you have regular intervals of sifting through your stash?  What gets your MOJO reved up to organize/declutter? Maybe you are one of the great and disciplined ones that actually use your stash up with finished projects - regularly?  =D 

 

I'd love to hear your comments, ideas, and opinions! 

 



Who doesn't like hugs?

Hugs must be good if animals like them, right?


This may not come as a surprise...I've met quite a few people that don't care for another person to put arms around them and squeeze.  My husband is one of them.  Don't get me wrong he is a great guy (well, most of the time! lol).  We've been married almost 41 years.  And, to this day, he's not all that crazy about hugging. 





Now, me, on the other hand...I love hugs.  I won't hug new acquaintances unless I ask first.  But, friends...well, they know I gotzta have a hug when we part.

There is a saying by Virginia Satir, a respected family therapist,

“We need four hugs a day for survival.

We need eight hugs a day for maintenance.

We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

 

Below are just a few great reasons to share hugs:

 

1. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.

2. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.

3. Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body's production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.

4. Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we're born our family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.

5. Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.

6. Hugs balance out the nervous system. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system - parasympathetic.

 

 

Okay...maybe, 12 hugs in one day is a lot.  It's "a lot", but, I won't admit that it's too many.  I will agree that one hug is better than none.  Sometimes it takes practice.  For those that don't like hugs, it can take time to build up to several hugs in a day.   My husband grew up not receiving hugs...not from family or even parents.  He looks back on his childhood and he's never doubted his parents love for him because he knew they sacrificed much to make life comfortable for him and his siblings.  This is an example that we don't have to give daily hugs to "prove" we love someone.  There are many actions that show we love someone.  Still...I do love hugs! And, they are definitely a great way to show others we care.  =D

 

I've started asking my husband (each day) if he will give me a "healthy hug".  He seems more than willing to give a hug to keep *me* healthy.  LOL.  What he doesn't realize is the possibility that it could be healthy for him too.  =).  Some days we even get in 3 hugs.  Wow! Are we on our way to getting healthier...OR WHAT?!  =P

Now that the Holiday season is upon us, those of us who are regular huggers...might take some time out from the busy hustle and bustle to be aware of those who just might be needing a hug or two right now.  =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Time flies like an arrow..." (and a giveaway)

 

 *please read right below this picture for info on the giveaway

 

Yeah, "ol" Groucho Marx (1890-1977).  Do any of you readers remember his show called "You Bet Your Life"?  There was a secret word and when guests said that word...the got $100 (which wasn't peanuts in those days... lol).  Do you remember how the secret word was revealed?  If you can guess, your name will be put into a drawing to win FIVE fat quarters!  ("contest" closed Sunday September 28th.  Winner revealed on Monday September 29th).

 

                                       ======= ============ ================ =======

 

Okay...so yeah, I'm avoiding some issues - namely, that I haven't been around for awhile, like quite a few months.  Uh, Oh...that's bad.  Maybe not as bad as running a red light or not turning a final term paper.  But, still I feel kinda bad that I go in and out again...like MA-Finnigan.

 

So no promises...no projects that I say I will finish by a certain date...no sticking my neck (or my tongue) out on the chopping block, due to lack of discipline, procrastination, or overbooking myself with many (diverse) projects.  I will confess that I do have a disease...although not an excuse, it could be a reason.  I might've mentioned this before,  I have a solid case of C.A.D.  This would be described as Craft Attention Deficit.   I have a super hard time keeping myself from starting new projects...and in lots of different areas of the Craft World...all at the same time. 

 

 

With that great advice, I will try not to distract from the now.  =P

 

How do you keep focused on current projects?  How do you feel about having several (or a million?? lol) projects going with no real completion date in mind?  Or do you only start ONE project at a time and finish before you start another one?  Do you have quite a few DIFFERENT crafts that your hands dabble in? Or do you kinda stick with one or two?

 

 

Take care! 

 

cyber hugZ,

annie

 

 

 

one quilty thing leads to another, or is it just CAD?

I found this really cute book while browsing blogs:
 

 I'm sure many of you have already seen it because when I went to Lori Holt's blog,
"Bee In My Bonnet"...I found out that there was already a wonderful Quilty Fun
sew along that's been going on for quite a few weeks.  But, you can still visit and
see all that has been going on.  I would, if I were you!  It's quite quilt-inspirational!

Then, I decided to stroll (um...er...shop?) on over to the Fat Quarter shop to see if
there were any of those cute fabrics of Lori's. LOW and BEhold! yep there shore
were...this is one of my FAVs...aren't the retro clocks cute?  And they have them in
more colorways too...oh...and, with more cute coordinates!

 

Then...I went to Jolly Jabber YouTube of Lori Holt...
It's when they visited her here in Utah.  Oh! more darling things, ideas and instructions. 

Next?...well, I'm off to the actual YouTube place looking for more Lori Holt
instructional and ideaVideos. Wow...lots more Lori Holt videos there! One of them
got me shifting tracks (yes, again!) from YouTube...to...

...searching for a sewing machine template called the Angler2.  Click here
to watch Lori's great video on how to get an exact quarter inch.  Over the years
(40 some odd), I've not had to terribly-hard of a time, sewing the quilter's quarter.
But, this looked like a fun and easy way to be even more accurate. 

Digging through drawers in my sewing room for about 30 minutes
like a dog looking for last weeks year's bone,  I found that sweet leeetle template:



After reviewing the video a couple of times, I figured a way to use glue-stick,
(I didn't have any of those special tacky thingies mentioned in the video) the
template tightly/accurately to my machine's slide on table.  Picking out a few
scraps from my bin, I lined the sides together and began to sew the quarter inch
seam using the Angler2 guide.  It lined up perfectly with the template, my
presser foot, and needle.  ~~except   =(

~~except... and, this is no fault of the template or Lori's instructions -
But, my sewing machine has a throat plate with a 9mm opening for decorative
stitches.  If I line up my fabric so that the perfect quarter inch is created with
this template, only one feed dog is working with the presser foot to feed the
fabric thru.  I find that I need to move the needle position to the right so that I
can move the edge of my fabric over to the side of the presser foot.  This makes
it so that both feed dogs are evenly helping the presser foot.  My machine just
likes it better this way. 

For me, this template doesn't work as well for the 1/4"...on my machine.  It's
very possible that it would work really good, on yours.  It was SUPER nice to
have that line to follow before it went to the needle. It would definitely be worth
your while to check out her video about the Angler2.  And, while you are there.
you might find quite a few other fun ones of Lori's!

 Now...I'm bummed.  =( 

Oh, wait.  A sad thought was leading to creative thought.

I could create my own line on the machine's table so that I could have my
own guide line when the needle position was moved to my machine's sweet
(1/4") spot.   This thinking leads to more household searching...I'm again a
dog on a hunt for a "bone".  I need a tape that is reposition-able and quite
flexible.  I didn't want painter's tape because it was the "wrong" color...
(blue...nope-nope-nope...my machine is white with a red face/black lettering).
Duck tape won't work...to harsh of a sticky-ness. 

Yep, more searching...upstairs, downstairs, leads to a search in the garage. 
That leads to searching in the Laundry room cupboard.  I found it...in the
cupboard! The black electrical tape.  Being very flexible and black (this was
a good color), it was also reposition able without leaving any residue.

Here is what I came up with:

 

I used a silver inked Sharpie to write on the electrical tape.  I made it so I can still

slide my table on and off, as well as, take off the throat plate.  I layered the electrical

tape in front of the needle 4 times.  That way I had a ridge to run the fabric along. 

 

Maybe you've already seen something like this?  I think I have...sometime,

somewhere. I just didn't remember the details on what they used to create the line. 

But, this works great for me!  We'll see if my fickle sewing heart will still be

doing the "happy dance" about this idea...a few weeks down the road.  =P

 

It's your turn  - 

It would be awesome to hear your ideas/methods for getting that "perfect" 1/4"

quilter's seam allowance. You, most likely, have even MOE BUDDER ideas

than the one I shared! 

 

WELL, that certainly was a trip down the "CAD" lane...meandering through blogs,

and YouTube videos, etc.  You might be asking just what IS "CAD"???

---it's Crafter's Attention Deficit.  =P  I don't think any of YOU would ever get

that sort of disease, right?

 

This really is such a fun book! I went right to Lori's etsy site and

purchased one!  I can visualize many ideas for all these cute quilt blocks

that she's designed. 

 

It's such a great book...what about a...

 

...GIVEAWAY?  an autographed copy??

 

Yes?  okay...here is what you would need to do to enter:

 

1) please click on this link to visit where it all started and

see all of the PDFs for the different week's blocks

 

2) and/or visit Lori's blog for week 13 click HERE

I know it's a bit into the activities.  But, there are still

quite a few fun things in store.  You can read older

posts on the the blog for previous week's quilt along

info

 

3) come back here and leave a comment about some of

the fun things you saw!

 

**Only leave one comment, thanks =)

 

Entries will close -

February 21st...Friday mid-night, mountain time.

 

 

 

Fab-link Friday...decluttering

I found a FAB-LINK by surfing blogland the other day. 

Who says that surfing blogland is NOT

 not educational, informative and a great use of time?

One of the blogs that I follow Sharon's Favorites had a link on

her blog along with a few words about DE-CLUTTER.

De-clutter?....ummm, I could certainly use a bit of advice on

this matter.  How about YOU? No? well, you might not

be interest in this link below...called,

My Simpler Life

Okay, I know that if I would just stop dipping

my fingers into so many hobbies/crafts.  And, if I would

stop buying all of the tools and thing-eeez needed to

play in the Fabric, Fiber and Craft worlds.  AND...maybe, if

I wouldn't be so "in-LUV" with my laptop and the internet...

Well my life COULD be a leeetle bit simpler.

Beth Dargis, the lady that runs the website and blog,

 has a great idea!

 Put de-clutter "appointments" on a calendar. 

Her philosophy...if, you just do the one leeeetle thing

written on the calendar each day, you would headed to

a life with a LOT LESS clutter.  I think, one leeetle

de-clutter per day, wouldn't be too big of a task? 

So, I downloaded the calendar

 I'm going to give it a whirl!

 Let's see if I can keep my de-clutter appointment for

 5 days of a week...starting today.

 I think I can...I think I CAN...I THINK I CAN.

Yep, that's ME in the CLOWN suit!

====

If you do go to the link with the de-clutter calendar,

let me know what YOU think about it?

Do you have regular times of the year that you

de-clutter? 

======

AND one more thing....it IS

FRIDAY the 13th.  Just remember if/when you run into

that BLACK CAT...

IT just might be MORE scared than you!

a "getaway"

I'm gonna kind a WHINE here...so, if that kind of

stuff "burns" your eyes...better pass... on reading this post.

We  (DH and I) are...well, we are both going but, it's me

that has been getting ready most of today...

to take a weee "trip" to St George.  It is about

4 hours south of our home in Utah County -  and about

10-15 degrees hotter...(this weekend 104-106)

a good thing in the winter....NOT so good in the summer

Making arrangements for taking care of my Macaw,

...and getting things ready to take the Bullmastiff and Ragdoll Cat with us.

Ice Chest, and things to go in it need to

be bought, prepared, packaged. 

At my age...taking a vacation/getaway isn't what it

used to be.  I've kinda gotten my

nest all lined, just the way I like it...here at home.

My old body (BIG whine!)...just likes what its use to...the familiarity

of things in certain places.

Ok...so, I just need to think of it as an adventure...

I surely have some projects that I could work on...right?

But, then, there is the mind tormenting decisions of

WHAT projects to take! 

The things that I want to do now?....will they be the things

that I want to do when I get there? 

I have a sewing machine there...but, it doesn't have all the

bells and whistles that the ones do here at home.

WHINE

Should I take a crochet project, a sewing project, a spinning

project, washing sheep wool project, a book - or 2 or 3...

(I'm trying to decide which book(s) to take too!)?

And, then, there are some quilt books and quilt magazines

that I just might have to mull over again.

I could  just take all of the above.  Which I generally do and

THEN...

 I have several BIG bags of STUFF...

stuff that I am only guessing that I might want to do.

 So, carry into the car, out of the car into the lodgings in St George,

then, back into the car when leaving to come home ...

and then, BACK into the house here...

and, then WHINE...have to put it all away!

There isn't any Internet or TV where we are going to stay.

We end up watching old TV series on DVD (DH likes

doing this...my thinking, kinda booooring)

or movies from Redbox. 

By now, you are asking...

"WHY in the Sam-heck...is she even going?!!"

Well, to  "getaway"...right?  That's what people do...

GETAWAY.

But, I don't really have anything to get away from.  Not

at this point in my life...not with my nest so well lined (see above pic)

 When, we first purchased the home, it was to

be a "getaway".  But, now that we are empty-nesters

...well, a "getaway" doesn't have the same "ring" to it

that it once did.

I'm going to REALLY miss Blogland!...whine, whine.

I'm just going to keep a stiff upper lip and

think about all those wonderful fabric/quilt stores in St George.

They surely will be having some great deals for

this 4th of July weekend...I'm thinkin' so

So...if, I think along the lines of Mary Poppins,

FABRIC is like the spoonful of SUGAR

that helps the medicine go down...

So...what do YOU think about

vacations, getaways?  Is it always worth all the efforts

that one needs to put into the preparations?

OR...is there...

 "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS...sorry, that the winner for the

FYPChallenge

wasn't announced today as promised.

I've contacted the winner and so, far "no reply".

I will have to wait until next week sometime to

see if this person responds...if not, I will

do another "random.org" .  Thanks for your patience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will probably be "out of commission"  (whine, sniff, sniff)

with regards to blogging and emails...for a few days.

Mystery Monday and Wonderful Wednesdays will not

be posted next week.  sorry =(

BUT...

...when, I come back to Blogland, (next week) there will

be a BIG surprise to announce...well, it might just be

a "BABY" surprise

...and NO, NO,NO...it won't be

my baby...YIKES...eeeeeek-GADZ...just how scarey would

that be - me being 58 years "young" n' all? OH!!.. I'd be sayin'...

 "Beam me ouddda here, Scotty!"



need a nap...

I really feel like my energy has been sucked into a

vacuum!

While vegging in front of my laptop a few minutes ago,

 I came across this article from

 Pychology Today...

According to study done at UC Berkley by Professor M. Walker,

parts of your brain need to be cleaned out during sleep.

"It's as though the e-mail inbox in your hippocampus

 is full and, until you sleep and clear out those fact

  e-mails, you're not going to receive any more mail.

It's just going to bounce until you sleep and move it

into another folder."

Okeedokeee...thaz enough convincing for me!

I'm off to take a weee leeetle nap!

Maybe I'll feel more like getting something

accomplished after my..hippo...something or other

has been "cleaned" out.......or not.. =P

What about YOU?  Do you take naps?

shhh...don't tell....

When sharing your handwork...
that you've so painstakingly created...
Don't disclose or show (what you might think are) errors.
Those looking at your "works of art" probably won't notice what you do.
...unless you are drawing attention to the mishaps.

AND...if they are going to
get out their magnifying glasses to inspect your
"works of art"....then,

shame on them! 
They should be whipped thoroughly with at least
several yards of rolled up batting!

Besides...your "mistakes" aren't life threatening so you don't need
to warn others of dangers ahead...
YIKES!
Take a look at THIS mistake in design...

It might be best if you say ...

to yourself...under your breath...or, in a quiet whisper.

So here's just a weee leeeetle suggestion...
Next time you feel the urge... to speak out about
a  discrepancy (or 2 or 3) in your
ARTWORK...try the little saying below.

...many a great idea or great design has come about from
mess-ups in the original idea!

Have YOU ever started with a design...made a mistake
and change your whole plan of attack?
We could all learn...if you are willing to share =)

changing for change sake...

I guess you can tell..by now,

I like to change things up a bit..

And... YOU are saying, "just a BIT?"

Okay, I have to admit I like to change things

a LOT...isn't this group of color/flowers

pretty?  Nature changes colors all the time...right?

"re-inventing the wheel"...yeah, that's meee

moto...and usually with that motto,

I've spent a LOT of wasted time...'cause, usually I

think I can find a "better" way.

NOPE...doesn't usually happen ...

that I find a better way!

There have been times...FEW and FAR between,

that I have come across a better way..

NOT often.

I hope it isn't a source of frustration that you

visit mee humble blog and it keeps changing.

I really like to add new things to the header...

new colors, designs to the background, etc.

Hope you enjoy the changes...at least sometimes.

Please, always feel free to make comments

about changes to the blog page.  I really

enjoy reading your thoughts....

critiques as well as compliments..

LUV ya all!  And, thanks for visiting!



starchy stuff tidbit..

a foot note to my previous post

-- imho --

Mary Ellen's Best Press

is

MAGIC

I always iron with a dry iron, a spray water bottle

AND

"Best Press"

Many might feel it an extravagant purchase. ( I have to agree. It IS expensive)

It was LOVE........at first try 

I made several attempts to return to plain water pressing
....to NO avail.  NOT the same as with Best Press.

a frugal thought popped into mind and I began to experiment.  
 it became apparent that a person

 could "stretch" the MAGIC by adding water

using these bottles to refill,

pour "Best Press" to the top of the label

and fill the rest of bottle with water

 (approx ratio - 70 starch/ 30 water)

*hopefully I won't have the manufacturer

chasing me with a lawsuit  =(

Freeways and Byways

Some "out-of-the-box" thoughts came to me yesterday as I was traveling to meet someone at a quilt store about 30 minutes from my house.  There might be some people who read this post and think, "Most of Annie's thoughts are "out-of-the-box".  I must admit my thoughts can take some strange turns at times. :P

While en route on the I-15 freeway, I received a call on my cell phone that about 5 or so exits ahead of me the traffic was almost at a dead stop.  A VERY bad vehicle accident had occurred. There's a way to get to the fabric shop by taking side roads.  UGH! But, it would take more time with all the signals and turns to make.  Would I rather be moving at a slower pace or sit on the freeway at a dead-stop for who knows how long? Rocket science not needed for the correct answer.

Looking at the bright side, I was early leaving my house.  More bright-side thoughts.....there are a couple other fabric stores in the path of the my destination fabric store!  So, I take the byways.

Some other thoughts came to mind:

1)  Good thing I didn't leave the house much earlier.  I might have been sitting in traffic with no choice to take a byway.  Or, even worse, be part of the accident.
2)  Taking the byway was slower than if I could've driven the freeway under normal speeds; but, I woulda missed learning of all the interesting retail stores that line the streets of Redwood Road from 123rd south thru to 7800 south.  Many of the stores I noticed were ones I wished Iwoulda had time to actually stop and shop in them.  There were many I hadn't known were even on this particular path.
3)  Sometimes, I'm just speeding thru life. I miss a lot of fun things on the side just to get to a particular destination or space in time.  It sounds cheezy and cliche.  But, it can be very good to slow down just a bit. Maybe I should take time (at least sometimes) to stop and smell the roses on my path.  Taking time to appreciate our journey to a destination can add quality to life in the present - and to life in the future.

Paijama(s).......Pyjamas....Pajamas...

Nope, didn't add an "i" where it shouldn't be - according to wikipedia -

The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes. Then from the Britain to America these wonderful, comfortable lounging clothes have made their way into our lives in a dominate way.  Today there are as many types of PJ's as there are kinds people.  And a "kind" of PJ can bring lend a certain personality to the wearer.

Myself - being in the "grandma" time of my life, well, I prefer the comfortable, warm, just-hangin'-out sort of PJ.  I do like to pick something that has a pretty print or color, but doesn't take away any of the comfyness of the PJ's.  Sometimes if the day is right and I just want to stay home and piddle around the house, sewing or reading or whatever.........then, I like to stay in my PJ's all day.  I still kinda fix my hair and brush my teeth so that i don't feel like a total SLUG.  It's kind of a treat to have a Pajama Day.  =+)

This blog post was brought to thought by a favorite quilting/sewing blog that I like to visit regularly called "Quilting in My Pyjamas"

Maybe you have already treated yourself to pajama days - maybe lots of them.  If not, ya otta try it someday.......

Halloween - BOO!

Yeah, for most of my life I've said booooo! to Halloween.  Boo.....like as in "humbug" with scroog-ish complaints.  It always seemed to be so much work to get all the kids costumes pulled together and then, the "unhealthy" candy that would seem to oooze out of every nook and cranny of the house for weeks/months after.  It's only been in the last few years that Halloween has been kinda fun.  Sad, now that my kids aren't at home anymore.  But, maybe that's the reason it has become more fun.  I'm not stressing about the oozing of candy and pulling costumes together. 

It's like many things, as I look back, I should've stressed less. Many of life's events could've been more fun. Maybe I should be saying "BOO!!!!" to stress!  Is it possible to scare stress away?

skipped stitches

That's what i was afraid of.  =+( .  I was afraid that the machine wouldn't work right.  So, i just avoided turning the machine on even though the quilt sandwich was pinned, rolled up and all ready to go. I kept finding other "more" important things to do.

"Ok, (i'm saying to myself) it's time to try some mental shinanigans(*see my definition at the end of the blog). "Yes, (i answer myself) it's ridiculous that everything is ready to go and you are afraid of skipped stitches!" 

The mental shinanigans seemed to work.  When i awoke this morning, i was actually motivated to turn on the longarm quilting machine.  About 4:30pm, i thread "her" up and turned "her" on.  I began to stitch on the practice area of the border.  UGH! baggy/saggy stitches!  I did some adjusting.  Still those bad stitches reared their ugly heads!  Talking to myself - "did this happen to just prove my fears?"  Answering myself,  "no, i don't think so. you just need to stay positive and don't let the threads win!"

45 minutes later and several failed attempts, i realized that it was threaded wrong.  After putting the thread thru its proper dips, circles and loops - the machine hummed along with great enthusiasm.

I dunno if i was really afraid of skipped stitches.  I think i was more afraid that if something went wrong, that i wouldn't be able to fix it.

*Mental shinanigans - I try to use positive mental images when i have something i procrastinate doing.  With regards to my longarm machine fear, this is what i did:  The night before, lights out, and my eyes are closed getting ready to sleep - i picture myself turning on the machine and sewing with no problems.  After a couple rows of sewing, i rewind the scene and start over turning on the machine and sewing with no problems.  I do this until i actually fall asleep.  http://www.law-of-abundance-living.com/power-of-visualization.html

not wanting to try new things

Sometimes (ok, a lot of times) i decide in advance that i don't want to try something new.  Reasons  - too much trouble, not necessary, takes too much time to learn.... etc.  And, sometimes, after trying a new something, i find it was fun and/or i like it! 

I've sewn since i was about 8 years old.  I've enjoyed many aspects of sewing with a major emphasis on making quilts (started making quilts in 1976).  I shunned the practice of machine embroidery until early spring of this year.  Now, i am sad that i didn't try it sooner.  It's SO MUCH FUN!  I am lucky that someone persuaded me to take a class that i really didn't want to take.  I still have so much to learn with regards to embroidery on the machine and creating/adjusting designs. But, now I can see value in working thru what is for me a large learning curve.

out smart or dead pot?

conclusions for smart potting:
1) plants must be in a plastic pot and then put into the decor pot (w/rocks and water, see previous post "out smarting the potted plant"). The plants shown below are planted in a cardboard type pot. It dries out to fast needing to use the reservoir of water in the decor plant to often. These pots didn't last 2 days before they needed water.







2) These pots did well for a full 5 days with only the water in the decor pot's reservoir. The brown pot on the right is actually a "self-watering" pot. It is made with reservoir and so a person can plant directly into it. No need for the double pot idea that I used on the other pots. If you google online you will find places that sell pre-made self-watering pots.

out smarting a flower pot? ......part 2

After 4 days this is what I have learned:

1)
Rocks must be deep enough to hold a fair amount of water. Meaning that, depending on your area of the world (dry or humid; really hot or not so hot) and where the pot sits (if it gets lots of sun all day or only morning sun), you might need more or less of a water reservoir. A little individual experimenting would have to take place.

2)
Some preplanted pots come in a cardboard type containers.....not sure the reasoning for this. But, these kind don't work as well to put in the larger decor-pot. They either seem to soak up too much water or they dry out too fast. I think that I will replant these as soon as I can into a plastic pot and then put back into the decor-pot.

3)
With the larger, more irregular the rocks, there seems to be more space in between for water. If the rocks fit more tightly together, then, not as much water can be in the reservoir.

4)
Soil differs in different pots that were purchased at different stores. Some of the prepotted soils didn't hold as much water and some held more. So, for the long term of summer, i might want to re-pot the ones that drain too easily.