Faux Spring and Snow and Things

Hello Everyone.

I am sorry for the lateness of this post. I got wrapped up in a number of things and every day I would remind myself to get to it, but alas, I didn't. Next week my older son goes on break and because of the calendar his school uses he gets 2 weeks. We have plans so making sure all those reservations and such are in order took up a good amount of time. Plus it's been unusually hot here, so we've been outside ALOT.

It was all a ruse, though. Mother Nature dumped on us last night, and the school called at 5:30 this morning to let us know there was no school, so today I have an extra body here at home keeping me company. The weather is gallantly trying to redeem itself, it's already up to 55 degrees F, and most of the snow has melted. At least I won't have to water the lawn this weekend.

For those that follow me on Instagram, I have been posting my fade shawl progress, the mischief quilt progress, and recently some new patterns and blocks for the FRMQG charity quilt. I'll talk more about each of those projects in my YoTQ posts. For now, here's some planner porn from my IG feed.

Proof of Progress

This last week I posted that I wasn't sure if anyone actually reads these blurbs and then I got a comment or two saying that indeed there are consumers out there. So to you all, thank you! I really appreciate it.

I managed to be slightly more productive this week though only on a few things. I have been dividing my time between the hexies I am making for a swap, my fade shawl, and a new EPP quilt I got in the mail for a quilt called Mischief. It's been just those three projects.

It feels good to see progress. I struggle with WiPs, I think we all do, and right now I feel it's important for me to actually finish things and see those finishes before I begin anything else. I'm not going to plan to tackle other WiPs, that will lead to anxiety from having such a full plate, and I don't handle that the best. When my attention is divided I get less done, which is probably true for most of us, so better to be on task. 

This week I also got in my new planner. The Erin Condren I bought started at the beginning of this year, but I don't plan to begin using it until July. That's when my Get to Work Book ends. I have really enjoyed the GtWB these last 8 months, especially the project pages, but as I get more into using stickers and designing stickers, the EC is a better fit. 

I do have hope for next week to be very productive so see you all back next Friday!

Cheers,

Meg

Always behind, never on time...

When I was in school, even as recently as design school, I was on time. I didn't have this issue where things slip through the cracks and I am making do at the last minute. It just didn't happen.

Fast forward to now, with two children and two planners and a micro business and middle age fast approaching, and I cannot seem to get my sh*t together. What's going on? Why can I not think 'you need to upload that blog post', read BLOG POST in my planners, and then go do it? How is it possible that so many other thoughts and priorities pop into the way that I cannot just go push a darn button? Does anyone even read this or care?

I think the answer to that last question might be what throws me off my game so much. Who is out there consuming my drivel?

Well, if you're reading this and I'm not just talking to a vast void of cyber-nothing, then I want to let you know I am bringing this blog up to date this week, I think? I have posted the Year of the Quilter week for Valentine's week, hello, I am way behind, and written and post text for this past week, since it is fresh in my mind. I will go back into my planners, which I am managing to keep up in somehow, and pull the good stuff. I have been on Instagram consistently, so if you're wondering what's up, that's the best place to look.

Clean up and Create

This last week I focused on cleaning out and space planning my work room. I took stock of everything I have, organized my WiPs, and made room for my planner supplies. The bulk of my inspiration in creating this space came from Instagram. I still need to go through a library of books and patterns to weed out what I want to keep.

I have posted two blog updates today in my Year of the Quilter series. Tomorrow I have news about some secret sewing I have been doing. It has been a better couple of weeks, despite my lack of posting, but I have never been really good at blogging consistently. That I am still keeping track of it every week in my planner is a great start to this still relatively new year.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day.

GET UP, GET TO WORK!

I am so sorry for the absence of late. I am seriously having a time of it getting over this depression, but I get up every morning, and hug my sons, and kiss my husband, and get on getting on. It sounds depressing, and maybe it is, but I am actually doing better then I was when I first "caught" my descent. Dishes and laundry are getting cleaned and put away regularly, the house is clean and orderly, jackets are put away when they are taken off, shoes are in the closet or on the shoe mat, life is looking better then it did 2 weeks ago and my home reflects that too.

I also found these paper craft items at a Paper Source shop in Littleton. The wreath is all paper cut and curled to look like succulents. It is still sitting on my kitchen table but I plan to do that this weekend. The washi tapes, the two on the right in this photo, are from a Japanese brand called mt. My gosh, they are so neat! I want to go visit one of their stores someday and just go bonkers buying washi and all types of fantastic Japanese stationary.

I will find some time later today to post week 05 of my Year of the Quilter journey. I have some updates and exciting new since the first month of the Sarah Fielke 2017 BOM Down the Rabbit Hole released on the 31st! I haven't had a chance to take a look yet but if the images I'm seeing on IG are any indication it's fantastic!

Cheers, and Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all my fellow NFL fans out there. GO FALCONS [anyone but Brady, Please!!]

The New Year Blues

It's been a rough start to 2017 for me. My husband has been super busy at work and away on trips for 13 of the 19 days of this month so far. I'm not exaggerating and after having him home since Thanksgiving, it was a shock to the system. Last night I caught myself silently bemoaning the time I had just spent putting my older son to bed. I was thinking how lazy he is to want me to read a chapter to him when he is capable of doing it himself, and I froze in the hall and slapped myself. How horrible is that? I thought, and then I realized it was my chronic depression. My mind shutting down into itself.

It's why I am only just getting to this post on THURSDAY!

Why I have done nearly nothing this week.

And why I am behaving so selfishly.

Today dawned bright and perfect for the middle of January, so I hauled myself out of bed when the alarm went off. Took my baby to breakfast after dropping my older son off at school [a big deal since he usually rides the bus], and then we went to check out the new location of Colorado Fabrics. I've managed to catch myself on the edge of a depressive cycle, and while realizing what's happening is a good thing, I need to work every moment to keep out of a slump.

It's a beautiful day and all my shades are open, I even have a window open. Taylor Swift is playing on the stereo, I am typing up what I haven't done this week and planning for next week.

Time to Get To Work!

New Week, New Layout

This past week I did some research online into layouts. Basically, I visited blogs and websites I love and took note of their design, what works and what is confusing, and compiled a list of things I wanted to try out here. I am updating pages to be cleaner with better appearance on the mobile platform.

I added week two of my Year of the Quilter. I want to be more productive this week but know that my time is limited to what my kids permit. I read somewhere that setting productivity goals can be a creative impediment to some people and it made me wonder if I am one of those types. With an open maker schedule I can feel free to create at my leisure. Whether it's a dozen blocks of a quilt or a few rows of knitting, allowing myself the chance to enjoy the process again is a new element of making I want to add to my creative personality.

Finally, this week I have begun working on a small project that makes my heart beat a little faster. I am combining stickers and sudoku and quilting. Sound interesting to anyone? Give me a little time here and there and I'll have a completed concept to show you all soon.

Cheers!

Megan