Trying To Be Productive

It's amazing how little time you have when your kids get to be preschool age.  When they were babies, I had the luxury of naps.  Now, naps are few and far between and I never have all 3 kids occupied where I can spend time and create.  Of course, as usual, there are also good points to the kids getting older.  Now that they no longer nap, life is a little easier to plan or not plan and just go and do.  We can do so much more with them now.  We may have less free time on our hands, but I wouldn't change a thing.

That being said, I still try to find time to be creative and maybe even blog about my creative projects.  It may not be as often as I want or as complex as I want.  My blog posts may not be as intellectually stimulating as I would like.  But, I am finding time to create and some how, some way, journal about it; and that is what is really important to me.

Since my last post, I have done a decent amount of projects.  I have also treated myself to a new sewing machine.  I decided that my cheap $100 Joann Fabrics Singer, was just too frustrating for me to actually use.  I loved having a more portable machine than my Baby Lock Ellageo embroidery machine, but the Singer was just not a good quality machine.  At first I didn't understand the negative comments, but then After just a couple of uses, I realized how right all those reviews were.  I love my Ellageo, it's just not really portable.  I was looking at a Janome QDC3160 and a Baby Lock Grace.  I ended up at "Nashua Sewing and Vac" on Black Friday and ended up getting a Baby Lock Sofia2 for what I was quoted the Grace to be at another store.  I had heard really good things about Nashua Sewing and Vac and felt really good about trying out sewing machine and buying there.  There is nothing wrong with the Janome.  I know a few people who love the Janome and they all have different Janome machines.  One of them is not a Baby Lock fan.  I decided that it must be ike buying a Nikon vs a Canon.  I have always used a Canon, but I know that Nikon is just as good, just personal preference.  I wish I had more time to devote to my sewing!

What I've been up to:

English Paper Piecing Diamonds

Ballet Slipper Ornaments

Thanksgiving Skirt

Matching Thanksgiving Tie

My New Sofia2!

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Sewing On My Sofia2 With A Stitch Sampler

Cookie Plate for Santa

Cinnamon Ornaments

Now if I could just make sure that I continue to be creative both by myself and with the kids, I would be a very happyMommy!  I can't wait to sew more often.  We are in the process of decorating for Christmas and then cleaning up after that!  Right now, Creativity is going to be limited.  I am trying to make sure that I ambling creative with the kids so that they get to be creative as well as me.  Some days are better than others, but often as things are with kids, they don't go as planned, but we are still making memories and that is what is most important!

Happy Holidays to All!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday: How do you wish to spend your time? (a day late)

It's Wednesday again and that means it's time for Wishcasting Wednesday.  This week we are asked:        

"How do you wish to spend your time?"

A simple answer to this question is: "I wish to spend my time following through with the goals that I set of myself at the beginning of the year". 

1.  I wish to make time to get myself healthy.  By this, I mean exercise and eating right.  I have started walking/running every other day and am starting to feel pretty good.  I still have a long way to go, but I no longer ache after I finish my exercise.  I would love to add yoga and/or meditation to my routine.  As far as eating healthy, I still have a way to go.  I am doing well with drinking my green smoothies in the morning, but I am still having trouble throughout the day.  This is something I will continue to work on.  I am also trying to remember to drink my water kefir instead of soda.
2. I want to make time to get my life organized.  Again this is something that I am am working on.  I have started going through my craft supplies and am starting to purge somethings.  After purging, I have started to get an organization system.  I also want to get more organized so that I can have a cleaner house.
3. I want to make time to be creative.  I have been crocheting and trying to get my unfinished projects completed.  I am trying to use up the supplies I have instead of buying new and adding to the lack of room that I already have.
4. I wish to spend time learning about new things.  I want to learn more about essential oils, gardening, and herbs as well as getting better with the creative things that I like to do.  I want to learn more about growing herbs and using them.  I want to learn more about using essential oils for me and my family.  I want to learn more about how to have a good healthy garden so that I can use that to feed my family instead of relying on the store.  I'm sure that there is more that I want to learn, but that is what I can think of now.
5. I wish to spend more quality time with my kids.  I am looking to spend some time homeschooling my twins for their first preschool year.  It is so expensive to send 2 kids to preschool for 2 years.  I think it will be good for them to go for 1 year, but I don't know that 2 is necessary.  I also want to spend more time encouraging them to be creative and not really worrying about the mess that they make.  I also want to make sure that I spend quality time with my husband!

For now this is where I wish to spend my time.  How do you wish to spend your time?

Amy

Diet, Diet, Diet!!!!

Ok, so I really should have said diet, exercise and stress reduction!  Right now, that is my plan for how to deal with my BRCA 2 test results.  At this point, I am not willing to remove body parts.  To be honest, I am scared of many things, both having surgery and not having surgery.  I honestly can't imagine removing my breasts without actually needing to, but I also am totally scared that I will get cancer and die early.

I am trying to make some pretty radical changes to my diet.  My goal is to eventually eat a vegan raw diet, but for now, it is very slow going.  I have started eating green smoothies in the morning, the problem is that I am still eating foods that are not really what I should be eating.  I am hoping that I can  increase the good foods and in return, I will decrease the amount of bad foods.  I am hoping to increase my exercise and lose weight.

As for stress management, I have 3 small kids and life is a little crazy.  I need to make sure that I make time to be creative.  That is the biggest piece of my stress reduction plan.  I also need to make time for yoga and meditation.

All this being said, I don't know what the future will bring.  As time passes, I may change my mind and decide to have surgery.  At this point, I don't want surgery, bit this is not a decision I plan to make lightly.  I will be doing a ton of research and try to find out what the next steps should be.

Amy

Where Am I Going With My Life?

I joined in with creativeeveryday.com to try to help force myself to make time to be creative every day. Overall, I did much better than I thought I would. I was able to work on more things than I actually posted, which I suppose makes sense. I would much rather be creative and not post than try to make time to post and not have as much time to be creative. I keep thinking that I am going to try to seel things I mark, but I haven't gone that way yet. I still have so much fear about failing, that I don't really try to peruse it. I really need to think about letting go of my fear of failure and go for it.

My latest sewing project for my 20th reunion.  I hand sewed it quick to have something to bring, but now I need to machine sew it so it lasts better.

I also really need to think about what I am going to do when I go back to work. I still have plenty of time, but if I don't start thinking about it, I'll be needing to find a full time job and I won't necessarily be Doing something I really want to do. Will I ever be able to make a living doing something I love vs something I like? Will I be able to be creative in my work instead of just following regulations? There has to be a way to use my social work degree, my love of creating, and my love of handmade and natural things in my career choice!

I really need to focus on what I want my personal life to be and maybe then my professional life will follow. I need to start eating right. I need to start making time to be creative and maybe making time to sell thinks I make. I need to continue to live a handmade and natural life and increase or even start practicing certain things like yoga, meditation, vegan/vegetarian eating, etc.

I will keep the focus on figuring out where I want to go with my life and figure out how to make sure that I can maintain a great family, a house and maybe start a new professional career in time for when I go back to work in the next 3 or so years!

Amy

Art Every Day 11/13/2011

We are on day 13 of AEDM and I really have not been meeting my goal. this weekend I did try a new recipe and I started learning how to make CP (cold process) soap and decided that my first attempt at soap making will be hot process (HP) soap making. I have a few goals for this week. I need to start an advent calendar and I need to start it soon. I plan on using this blog post as my inspiration, httt://www.acaseofthemundays.com/2010/12/felt-friday-felt-advent-calendars.html. I need to research HP soap making and supplies. I need to start the projects that I plan to make for the kids' Christmas gifts.

It is really difficult to make time for being creative when you have a 3 1/2 year old and 2 3/4 year old twins, but I think that it is really important for me to make time to be creative. I cant't wait for Tuesday morning. I will have about 2 1/2 hours all to myself. If I can get my act together, I will work on ,y daughter's Christmas gift which will be a felt "paper" dolls set. I am really excited to make this. It will be hand sewn so I can bring it any where. I am also planning on making some felt food as well as some wooden carved food for the kids. I am really excited to make the kids a lot of their gifts.

And now for a confession. I mentioned that I am going to start focusing on jewelry making as my creative medium, but I have decided that it is just not in me to limit the mediums or the type of craft that I use to be creative. I would love to be one of those people who can just excell at one thing, but I am the type of person who likes to try all kids of crafts and crafting mediums! I love learning new things and ways to use different materials. Maybe I really do have ADHD especially creative ADHD! I just need to plan better! I have all sorts of ideas in my head to get more organized and have more time, but right now they are just not coming to fruition! All in due time, I guess!

For now, I am just gng to try to focus on being creative and not worry about anything other than making time to enjoy being creative!

Amy

AEDM (art every day month) 11/7/2011

So I am not doing all that great with my goal of being creative every day and definitely not doing great with writing about it.  I am pushing forward with attempting to be creative every day.  I have been cooking, and yesterday I made honey mustard chicken which were awesome, my favorite easy recipe!

Today, I decided to get the kids involved.  My 3 1/2 year old and one of my 2 1/2 year old twins used some fabric crayons and colored and I ironed their creations onto some plain unbleached muslin.  I need more colorings to make more fabric for the lining of a bag that I am planning on making for my mom for Christmas.  I need something from my other twin and more from the other 2 kids so that I have enough material for the lining.  I think this will make the bag even more special!  I decided to cut out the pattern this afternoon and maybe I'll even pull out the sewing machine tonight or maybe I'll come home tomorrow while everyone is at school and sew or maybe during nap time.  Maybe I can finish it this week and have a gift or at least a partial gift finished!

Happy Creating!

Amy

Making Time!

I'm still trying to figure out what window opened after I lost my job.  Granted it was only a part time job, but it brought in enough money to make life a little easier.  Now, we don't have that extra income, but I am home for dinner and hopefully to make life a little easier from a functional stand point.  I am trying to ask the universe to wither give me another opportunity that is the same time wise, or to give me a knew opportunity to take advantage of this break in work.

I am trying to make time to be creative.  I am hoping that I can make some Christmas gifts, and that in the process, I can hone my skills so that I can maybe sell things.  I keep thinking about what my dreams and passions are, and how I can make them a reality.  Do I really want to create and sell?  Do I want to just hold classes and teach crafts?  If that is the case, I really have to hone my skills and learn how to teach.  I would also have to learn how to market myself.  I think in reality, I would love to teach classes, or have something more like open studio time or simple craft parties where people get together and create while spending some quality time with each other and/or learning how to use creativity for stress relief.

In either case, I really need to make time to create.  I need to create for my own sanity and stress relief.  I need to create to hone my skills and really be sure that what I do is worth giving as a gift and worth selling.  I need to create to actually make things to sell.  I really need to spend some time getting creative!

The other thing that I really need to make time for is my health.  I have been really bad with my diet.  Have I spent time eating the way I should?  No!  Have I really taken the time to eat healthy?  Some what but not really where I should be.  Have I spent time planning out our meals so that I know what we are eating, so I know we are eating healthy, so I am spending money wisely?  I have been better, but not as good as I should be!  I really need to plan my meals and really work on making food that is enjoyable to eat, healthy, and cost effective!  I really want to learn more about herbs and essential oils and how to make beauty products that will help me and not cause problems due to different additives.

All of this means that I really need to prioritize my time so that I can hopefully take advantage of any window that opens (as well as taking care of my responsibilities), now that the door has shut!

Amy

Organizing

I've been talking a lot about getting myself organized.  Well, I finally attempted it today!  I feel a little guilty since I spent time cleaning and organizing most of the day letting the kids watch a hefty dose of Caillou.  The guilt that I feel about letting the kids watch tv definitely competes with the satisfaction of putting together and organizing my crafts.  I still have a ton to do, and a ton to clean out and donate (which I so don't want to do because I love each and every supply that I have bought for the different crafts that I love) since I no longer have any room for everything I now own.

The first thing I started with is organizing my material and my yarn.  Holy craft supplies, do I have a ton of yarn and a decent supply of fabric.  Right now I have my yarn sorted by fiber content.  I have a couple of small boxes of cotton yarn separated between color and neutrals.  I have a large and medium size bin of yarns that are mostly synthetic, and a large bin of yarn that is mostly 100% wool with some blends thrown in.  All bins have more than one project in the works in them, plus I have a decorative bin in the living room with projects in it  Now I can go into each bin and know what I have for yarn in what type of fiber content instead of trying to find it all mixed in together.

My material has been organized by either fabric content, color, fat quarter, or pattern ie holiday, child, etc.  I have a decent amount of fabric that has mostly been bought for different potential quilts.  I have a couple bins that have material set aside for different possible projects that have been planned, but not started.  I have a bin of patterns, plus a bunch of patterns that are in my closet, and a couple by my bed.  I have my box of thread and notions all together, but I'm sure that there is more sewing stuff that needs to get organized.  I do have a decent bag of material and yarn that I am going to donate.  Now that I think about it, I should probably keep a large piece of blue striped fleece and give away the ugly green fleece that I bought for some unknown reason.

I still ahve the rest of my craft supplies to go through.  I have a ton of rubber stamps and paper crafting supplies.  I loave to make cards and scrapbook, but I just don't have the time.  It is going to be really difficult to get rid of some of the things that I will be purging.  I may call a friend and see if there is anything that she wants when I decide to get rid of things, if I can bring myself to do it!  I also have my jewelry making supplies that I should go through and see if there are any beads that I can't see myself ever using.  I doubt it as I am usually pretty picky on what beads I buy.  Maybe if I can get my supplies in order, I can start making things again.  Maybe if I can get a spot cleared out, I can start a project and leave it up, instead of having to always clean everything up and then having to take the time to take it out again and clean up again!

My goal is to set aside and area of the basement for a small table or desk.  I am hoping my brother in law leaves soon since he is staying in our basement and making it more difficult to actually be able to get down there and craft.  Even my husband doesn't feel like he can get into his woodshop and do things.  I am hoping to move a drop leaf table that we have to another area for folding clothes,  I am hoping that it will open up an area to have a desk or table or even a make your own desk out of a countertop and file cabinets to set up my sewing machine, and have space to do my paper crafting and jewelry.  maybe then I can also think about selling some of the things that I make if I have a space to set up and do some nice work.

I still have many supplies that I don't have room for, but will not be getting rid of.  I have a small kiln, that had bought for glass fusing and other light projects.  I have all my wood working supplies including my carving tools and my lathe.  I can't believe that I haven't touched any of that since probably before I was in grad school.  I am looking forward to have some time to create and if I can get organized, maybe then I will be a little more able to create more often!

I do still have the rest of the house to organize, but this was a huge start and really needed to be done so that I can get to the other areas of the house.  I think the next area is going through the kids toys.  I have a few that I am getting rid of, but I'm sure that there are more that I can either get rid of or put away and pull out later after I swap out other toys!  I also did semi organize the kitchen, but again, I need to do more.  I am also going to get better at planning my menu for the week and sticking too it.  I have been menu planning , but the problem is I don't always follow it.  I am giving myself a pat on the back for starting to get organized, but there is still so much to do and then maintain!

Amy

Time

As you may or may not know, I have a bunch of blogs that I write on.  At a play date the other day, a friend asked how I keep up with them.  It got me thinking and I decided that I really don't have time to update multiple blogs, especially when this blog seems to encompass what I write about on my other blogs.  I have decided, at least for now, to forgo the other blogs and write everything on this blog, that is everything except for things about my kids.  I have decided that the blog about my kids and my family is going to stay separate since I want that focus to remain on them.

Time wise, I am trying to be better organized.  Some days are good and some days not so good.  I just need to maintain the same level of organization, and hopefully that will help me better organize and prioritize my time!  I am trying to not just veg out on front of the TV.  I want to make sure that I use my time wisely so that I can get things done and also relax.  I have decided that Monday night craft night will be spent scrapbooking my wedding, so that something gets accomplished and so that I know what I will be doing that night so I can plan my supplies.  I want to spend time knitting while I enjoy TV.  I want to make sure that I have time to cook and clean.  I need to plan my menus so that I can go shopping and budget my money better as well as my time.  I need to budget my time with the kids so that they get enough mommy time yet things in the house get doen too.

As I write, I am working on a KAL (knit a long ) placemat.  It's a group that I joined and I find fun.  I know that I have other things to work on one being my apron for flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com as well as another apron swap.  I love crafting and I love swaps.  I am really enjoying being creative.  Oh, and I did finish the doll for my daughter, I just need to make some final adjustments.  It came out pretty good for my first time, but it's also a little scary looking.  I'm hoping that some final adjustments will help.

I'm off to menu plan and work on my KAL.  Any suggestions for menu planning are very much welcome! 
Amy

Less Mindless TV/Computer Time=More Time For Projects!

I really need to spend less time on the computer and more time doing the things that I love.  I have so many projects in the works, yet I can't seem to find the time to work on them!  This is partially because I don't have the time and partially because I don't manage my time well.  With 3 kids who are all almost 2 (at least for a month and a half until my oldest son turns 3), time for crafting is very limited, but yet I love it so I need to make time for it.  I have enough knitting projects or at least yarn and patterns that I can work on while I sit and watch TV (which I do way too much of).  I can pull out my sewing machine and complete many of the projects that I have planned while I watch TV.  Pretty much all of the crafts that I like to work on, I can do while i watch TV.  Instead of sitting there like an idiot, staring into TV land, I can at least be productive!  As I sit here and type, I am thinking "I have a scarf in my bag that I can pull out and work on".  As soon as I finish this post, I will be on to working on that scarf so that I can feel like i accomplished something.  I love the computer and I love blogging, but I love creating even more.  It's time that I sit myself down and make time for something I really love.  One of my post last month was about crafting for a cause, and I really want to make a goo attempt at creating something to donate to a group every month.  It's getting late for me to donate for the month of January, but I am going to try really hard to get something completed for the end of the month.  I will find a way to enjoy my TV shows, but yet enjoy my creative outlets too!

I also have my apron swap to start working on!  I was planning on getting my fabric for the swap today, but we got a lovely snow storm again here in Boston, so I didn't get out of the house til I had to go to work.  Maybe I can run out quickly tomorrow!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

Jamie Ridler at jamieridlerstudios.ca asks "What do you wish for less of?"

Before I decided on my answer, I started reading other people's post and the subject of clutter came up.  I would say that this is what I want less of.  CLUTTER!

I tend to be a compulsive buyer of craft supplies to the point where I don't have time to use them, but I always want to have the supplies on hand just in case.  When I got married 3 years ago and sold the house that my grandmother and I had lived in (she died the year before), I moved not only my stuff but some of her stuff that I couldn't bear to get rid of, to my new home with my husband and his mother.  His mother was going to live with us because she was unable to live alone.  Now we had, my stuff, my grandmother's stuff, my husband's stuff, and his mother's stuff.  Unfortunately his mom passed away 1 month and 1 day after we got married.  I had just found out I was pregnant with my first son.  We tried to get rid of things, but we just didn't get rid of enough.  Three months after the birth of my son, I got pregnant with the twins who were born 5 weeks early and got sick and ended up back in the hospital for 3 weeks.  When they came home I had 6 week old twins and a 1 year old.  So, needless to say all the stuff that I had, just piled up and I really haven't had time to use it or get rid of a lot of it.  I keep trying, but I have a hard time parting with it.  Now that my kids are 2 1/2 and 19 months old, I am hoping that they can start doing craft projects with me and I can start using some of my things.

I wish to be able to let go of things that I will never use and to stop compulsively buying items that will only end up as more clutter.  I have made some progress in buying, but that is only because I don't let myself go into stores unless there is something that I need.

Amy

The Joy Diet: Creativity

Last week's post was about desires.  One of my desires related to this week's topic: Creativity.  The only problem is that given that I am a SAHM to 3 kids under 2, I have very little time to fulfill my creative desires.  Since we are down to only one income, lack of free funds also limits my creativity since I am unable to try out al the new creative ideas that are out there.

When I think about my life, I think that I have always been a creative person.  My favorite Christmas gift as a child was the large box of craft supplies that my grandparents would get us each year.  I loved learning to sew, knit, and crochet from my grandmother.  I loved going through her scrap yarn and material.  I loved playing in my dad's woodshop.  I loved doing ceramics with my mom.  Then I became a teenager and dropped all the craft things that I loved for friend and school.  The one creative thing that I did keep was music.  I remained active in the school's music dept and was able to enjoy it, but when I look back, I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed my other creative endeavors.  Once I graduated from college and started working, I started to pick up being creative again and loved trying out new creative ventures.

I recently have had a very busy 3 years.  I now don't have the time and even the energy to be as creative as I would like.  Thankfully, I am able to be creative because I want to create things for my 3 kids.  I was able to make them simple Christening outfits and need to start on their Halloween costumes.  As much as I am grateful that I am being creative, I wish that I was able to create for the fun, but not just for the end product.

My wish/goal is to find time everyday to be creative.  It doesn't have to be a grand activity, actually it can be something small as long as it fulfills that creative part of me.  I believe the act of being creative vs the end product of creativity is what is important.  As a social worker, I believe that creativity is an important way to feed the body, mind, and soul and someday I'll find a way to combine the 2.

Amy