• Blog

    T Tuesday: losing time edition

    September 24, 2019 - By 

    The days and weeks are flying by faster each day it seems. My creative energy burst from a few weeks ago has waned. The half-done projects remain just that – half done. Not enough progress to share.

    Finding balance

    I’m once again struggling with balance in life, work, home, and creativity. It happens every year. I should expect it, but here we are struggling. Questioning if I should take a blog break. Then questioning if I do – will I be more motivated later or less. Questioning if have enough interesting things to share so I’m not boring my audience week after week to the point of losing them.

    I have discovered something about myself recently. I am not a multitasker. I have always considered myself good at this…but I am not.

    This realization is a good thing. I just now need to figure out how to work with this new mindset. I’m thinking that I need to set certain days aside for certain things. Maybe not particular days such as Tuesday is sewing day and Wednesday is laundry day but penciling in time for the things I love as well as the things I must do.

    T stands for Tuesday is one of those things that I do love to do and is time-sensitive. I’ve never been one to pre-schedule posts…honestly, it’s only happened a handful of times over the last decade. I am not saying that there is one single thing wrong with scheduled posts…the most successful bloggers do precisely that. It just has never been my style…mainly because I always had the time. This photo (without preplanning it) demonstrates me being divided between home and work life.

    Moving forward

    No, I am not quitting blogging. Nor am I quitting creating…or my job. I could really do with the housework but that’s not happening anytime soon. On the bright side, I am getting more help with those pesky household chores.

    I am going to prioritize items on my need to/want to list. Figure out how to give time to each. Learn to let some things go. That even means some supplies. I have decided that I’m not making soap anymore.  I’ve reached out to a friend who has a friend that makes soap. I’m hoping we can reach a barter of sorts. Finished soap for supplies. Today I glanced and saw all the yarn I have pressed against the wall of the plastic tote in which it resides. I think that just may be my next supply purge.

    It’s all about the shoes

    You know I have a long-standing self-imposed rule about not sharing photos featuring faces of family on my blog. And no I am not breaking that rule…I have strategically blocked out Mini-me’s face because I have to show you her amazing outfit for the Homecoming dance at school.

    She was convinced by friends to go two days before the dance. She borrowed the dress which happened to fit her perfectly.

    Check out those shoes!!! We went shopping the morning of the dance to a local outlet store that carries high-end clothing and shoes at fabulous prices if you can find your size. Lucky for Mini-me…she has tiny feet. The selection is vast and varied. She first found a pair of rose gold sparkly heels that would have looked lovely…in fact we bought them, Then she found these beauties. Since the two pair together would only cost $42 we went for it. As we were talking accessories I told her that she could totally pull those bold shoes off with the right accessories. She was skeptical at first but then I made her think about the color wheel and that the teal and red-orange are complentary colors. She looked amazing. Have I overused the word amazing?!? Nope. Never.

    This week has me keepin’ on, keepin’ on. Working toward that elusive balance.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today? Or this week?
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: art class edition

    September 16, 2019 - By 

    What a quick week! I have no idea where it went or how it flew by so incredibly fast other than school, school and more school.

    Today’s post actually does tie into school. I’m supporting a handful of students in a required Intro to Art class this semester. I’m finding the class very informative. Putting words to the techniques I’ve self-taught over the last decade or so.  Such as the elements and principles of art….the actually words and definitions behind drawing technique. The students in the class are creating a Zentangle in which they need to show the 13 elements and principles of art. It made me go back and look at the one larger scale Zentangle I created years ago to see if I could pick out these key components.

    I’m not sure I hit all 13 in this Zentangle. It’s funny because I created this in 2006…this page is officially older than the children in that class. 🙂

    Today I was able to play around with watercolor pencils.

    Again…so much fun. I was able to work alongside one of my students as they wanted to practice their technique.

    I’m having some ice water while I write this post. The temperature and humidity have ramped back up around here as you can see by the condensation on my glass.

    It was much nicer over the weekend when Mini-me and a few choir friends sang the national anthem at the boy’s varsity soccer game on Saturday evening. 

    They sang from the booth…not on the field. So proud of those girls!

    ME…I’m still sewing when I can…I’m trying to get caught up on some household chores that have been piling up…emhem…laundry.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?
  • Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    T Tuesday: all things crafty edition

    September 9, 2019 - By 

    Since heading back to school I think perhaps I’ve done more crafting than I did all of August. It always works that way. What’s that saying?… “Busy people get things done.”  There is whole lot of truth in that statement.  Grab a cup of coffee or whatever and stay awhile…I’ve got lots to share.

    I think I’ll start with the travel journal I made with ephemera from our trip. It’s still a work in progress but here’s a sneak peek at the journal with some of the goodies tucked inside.

    I’m still sewing like there’s no tomorrow.

    In fact this photo was taken 10 mins before I had to leave for my first day back to work.

    No games will be played at the game table anytime soon. I’ve kind of temporarily taken over. I’m nearly done with the paper foundation stitching on all the blocks…at least I think so. Once I start doing the layout I’ll know for sure.

    I also did a bit more cleaning and organizing in my art zone. I wish I could call it a studio but that would be like putting lipstick on a pig. It’s functional…just not pretty. 

    Check out my new washi tape organization….

    Mini-me has yet to do her color organization on the washi…I know she will though and it will be much prettier.

    While I was organizing I decided it would be a good idea to make some more card bases or backgrounds..which ever you prefer.

    I picked up the paper pad above at Tuesday Morning (no affiliation) and was itching to use it. So many pretty patterns.

    I have a nice stack of cards started now just waiting for the right sentiment or occasion.

    I’m heading back to the sewing machine to finish up my blocks. Can’t. Stop. Sewing.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?