Another one marked off the list

While the goal is three projects a week, that has just not been happening.  I did get Ruby's sweater done in  time for her birthday.... I am so much faster at crochet than knitting.  And i have more than half of the dragon sweater done at the same time. 
I'm really pleased with the way they are coming out.  Ruby is going to be so cute tomorrow!

Tom wants to do the Unicorn crewel work, and so while that was on my March list, I am glad to hand it over.  I have the owl almost done and I'm very pleased with him.  Plus with my new glasses, I can actually see what I am doing.

Chrissy's quilt got put on hold this week while I battle pnemonia one more time, and argued with the dress that I want to make for Ruby.  My grandmother's fabric, and pattern, passed to my mother, passed to me....Ruby is the last child that the dress will fit and alas, I lost the directions. 
Rachel and I had a good talk about some ideas on the collars, and I dreamed about it, and finally think that I have an idea.
But tomorrow is the party and I don't think it will get done then.  I do have her sweater and a sweet little purse, so I'm fine with doing the dress on Monday

Re writting my sewing routines has not set in yet, but I can see light at the end of the confusion.  Monday is priorety one projects.  Monday is a good day to work on Ruby's dress and think about some bags for Etsy, or other quick items, just to get my work up and not all vintage this and that.

Patterns were on sale the other day online, so I was able to make some business choice with the money I have left over for my living expenses.  I've been very careful, but I am coming to the end  of it and it has gotten eaten away all too quickly. 

I hope to do more of the attic tomorrow, finding some backgrounds to audition for Summer Garden and get started on it.  Sunday is art day.  You'd think I could find some time for some art at least.  Sleeves for my pink sweater are also on the March list, and I might try to start that tomorrow.  I'll be so exciting to get anyother project done

I've been decluttering the drawer in the sitting room, hoping to eliminate one set of plastic drawers soon.  I think part of that will depend on how much of the sewing room I can sell or get rid of, and how much I can move to a better  place. 

SUNDAY IS ART DAY.  DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.  PUT THE FUN BACK IN YOUR LIFE!

The Never Ending List

I have spent so much time being sick again this winter, that my January list has not even been started, I'm still working on this list from last year.

All the same, I am getting some organization done, and I am feeling really excited about the things I have got done.  Chrissy's quilt was a big hit on Sunday, the colors are so perfect for Miss Chriss.... now to get it finished!

I've started the dragon sweater, so named because the name of one of the yarns is "Dragon".  It is being knit on the diagonal in short row technique, and while I was not sure of the design, when it finally hit me how it was going to work, I was very excited to get moving on it.  I think I have almost half of the back done.... it is going to be wild and wonderful.  From the back, I'll have a better idea of how to draft the fronts, to avoid the shapeless look of the original pattern.  On huge needles, the  knitting is going fast.  I know I'll have to put it away for next year, but it will be one thing off list.

Tomorrow is my hand work day, and I plan on trying to finish the owl that was started long ago, and try to find a home for him.  I need to think about whether or not I want to start the Unicorn, knowing that the wool yarn has been damaged and may not be able to be worked with, I am guessing I could explore translating everything to floss, but it seem that would not at all be the look I am hoping for.

Wednesday will be back to finishing Ruby's dress and I hope, finishing some new bags for Etsy.  It'll be good to have some of my work up there, that is what the site was to be used for....

Thursday I hope to layer Chrissy's quilt and have it quilted out by Ruby's party on Sunday... and then maybe on Friday I'll explore a new skirt to go with my new jacket.  Or maybe new pants.  We'll see.  The week is shaping up to be a very busy one.  I wonder already how much of it I will be able to do around my rest and therepy schedule, but there is no sense is doing nothing.  Move forward.  You can never go home again.

DO SOMETHING CREATIVE WITH YOUR MONDAY.  WHEN YOU DO, THE REST OF THE WEEK IS SO MUCH EASIER TO FACE


With mercury retrograde, my friend reminded me that this is the time to "reclaim", "Re-do" and "Remind"... and so I am re -doing how I approach my work week, reclaiming much lost space and reminding myself that "this too shall pass". 

Just for me

I promised someone that I would take some time to sew just for me, and while I've only gotten one item done, it did turn out great and I do love the feeling of wearing things that I have made.  I got to wear my new jacket to Selena's 12th birthday, finished it just in time!

The jacket is fun to wear, and used up a nice peice of wool that I had been hanging on to, as well as three great fabrics in the lining.  The pattern, from the Simplicity "SewSimple" line (number 2024), features just one easy to sew pattern for a low price.  It called for fleece, which is part of why I decided to do a full lining instead.  The wool is just a bit uncomfortable against my skin, but the drape of this particular peice is great. 
I finished the look with metallic gold edge stitching all the way around, and down the long  "tie"... just the perfect touch for me. 

Today was not the best day for getting things done.  I was all set to add the triangles to the 9 patch blocks that will create the next row on the birthday quilt when I realized that I'd cut the blocks too small.
Several words came out of my mouth, none of them very nice.  After realizing that I need to waste no time, I started looking for new fabric to use for the triangles and....

Found the started quilt that I had been looking for, which is in much better colors and ... started.  I've got so little time to get this one going, but now I have 4 of 12 blocks done and I've started auditioning fabric for the other 8 blocks. 

I'm hoping to find a way to add some brightness to the quilt, because right now it seems a little "old" for the birthday girl in mind, but I am still hoping it turns out great and ... in time!

I don't feel like I am getting very much done, my to-do list just grows and my ta-da list does not, but the last few weeks have been great.

First Brett K calls, with a costume idea that needs to be flushed out.  A cloak and drawstring pants, I'm really nervous, but excited.  I can do these in my sleep.  Finding the fabric I like was the hardest part, but I got everything done and for me, in record time.  Brett was happy, and after wearing the peices a few times, we'll finish the alterations on them.  Great job and a tip!  Nice

Then Joyce's daughter in law called me with a rush job on bride's maid dresses.  Nice to get them done right away and get paid, with a $10 tip on top of the money I charged.

I picked up a customer from Craiglist, that needed a suit altered.  Another rush job, that taxed my knowledge just a little bit, but I got things right on the first try, altering the coat to fit more snuggly and the pants repaired, hemmed and taken in just slightly.  Again a small tip on my wages, makes things so nice when I try to pay bills.

Etsy has had some activity, I really want to stop having to list vintage and supplies and be able to list the things that I've made, so this month I am trying to a new theory to getting things done.  It'll be a good one to try.... Monday and Tuesday are work on work days.  Wednesday starts a quilt, Thursday is all hand work and Friday is sewing for myself.  I need to add some work on the week ends until I can manage to get some work caught up.  I'd like to make Tuesday my hand work so I can sit online and chat while I work.   Seems to be good for my self esteem to have that outlet.

This week I've worked on the first sleeve for Antonio;s sweater, started Chrissy's quilt, almost finished a pair of pants and just out a wool jacket. 
Tomorrow I'll wash some fabric for the lining of the jacket and try to decide if I'm using a pants or skirt to go with it.  Maybe I should look at what linings I have first, and see if I have something to make a muslin from for the skirt. 

Lists are re made and on the new laptop in some type of order.  The goal is still three projects a week.  This week at least I worked on three projects, altho none of them got totally done.  One more day and we start a new week.  I need to let this motivation take me places that I've never been.