The hijacking of my To-Do List

Do you hate it when people hijack your project list??

I love my dear husband but he has inserted himself into my to do list.  Has that ever happened to you?

This year I had determined to finish a medallion for our trailers spare tire.   I know, but really this is the project that I said I wanted to do while learning how to do Overlay Crochet.  I was quite excited about having a beautiful piece of art on the back of our trailer.  I ran out of supplies in mid-January because I only purchased enough to do the original pillow pattern and my medallion is much bigger.  They came weeks ago and still I have not gone back to the cover.  The reason?  I just have to have something to do with my hands in the evening so while I was waiting I pulled out a baby blanket I had started years ago to pass the time.  I was showing my hubby how it was going to look when it was all put together and then I heard it.  That low whine, "when are you going to make me something?" I've heard this before but for some reason this time he hooked me.   I can't believe I caved, after all, I knew I had a to do list for my crocheting - adding something at the beginning of the list was not in the plan.  I will really need to work on saying no - kindly and politely - "I'm sorry, but I have a ton of things I want to do.  If I run out I will add you in" should have sufficed but thats not what I said.

Instead by the end of the conversation he has me making him a queen sized blanket with squares made up of local baseball, basketball, and football teams.  Each pattern is quite time consuming and has several different colors going on in any given row.  Did I say it was time consuming???  I'm almost done with the first square and I'm already tired of it - cause I didn't want to do it in the first place.  Every time I pick up something else instead of his blanket he says something.  Nothing bad, just a reminder that he is still wanting it done.

I really, really, wanted to start learning how to do Irish Crochet.  My kids got me several books for Christmas that I have only looked through.  Tatting and stitching on my blackwork project has gone to the wayside too.  I need to have my to-do list of projects full of what I want to do.  I do things for other people every waking moment of everyday but when I sit down with my needle and yarn - its just for me (even when I'm making something for someone else).  So whats different here?  I'm making something for someone else.  He really wants it, unlike some of the others that I have made things for.  So why do I feel this way?

This is all a great mystery to me - perhaps I'll figure it out - perhaps I'll just finish the blanket and be happy that he really loves it and me.  Perhaps.

Two Years.....

Time for something new....

I'm creating but its the needle arts that have me focused right now.  I've learned to tat some which is really cool, the coming year will bring more practice on that for me.  I've been making purses mostly, crocheting and trying new stitches.  This has kept me busy and I'm enjoying that.  

I want to learn how to do Irish Lace Crochet.  There are some amazing Russian fashion books that have absolutely amazing designs that I have to try.  And I want to learn to Overlay Crochet too which also has a design that I can wait to start.  Then there is a skirt I want to make and a couple of really cute sweaters.  All the while I keep finding new patterns to do and then there is the embroidery that I want to work on too for next Christmas.  I need more time!!  Why do we have to work anyway?  It just robs me of the precious time I have to create.  Not complaining because I'm very glad I have a job but at the same time I'm checking the clock to see if its time to retire.  Then my brain says why do you want to be old enough to retire - that means the end of this life is just getting closer - leave well enough alone.  Ha!  Oh well, I love sitting the doing the things I love best.  

So the something new?  Christmas will keep me busy this month.  Not looking much past that right now.  But I'm going to try to blog a little more.  If I learn my two new types of crochet, get better at tatting, and work on my blackwork then I should have something to post.  

A wise woman over on Needle N Thread said "15 minutes"  if you can give yourself 15 minutes in a day to so something on your projects  then you are at least make progress and soon you'll be able to look back and see how far you have come.  So I think I will assign a day to a type of needle art and go on from there.  After Christmas of course cause I need to get busy and finish up my gifts.

Merry Christmas to those that celebrate!  

Sometimes it just works out that way....

We are home - again! Our trip to see the space shuttle Discovery off on her last mission did not turn out the way we envisioned. We actually thought we would get to see her lift off but it was not to be. We tried several times - once in the pouring rain - to make our way to the pick up spot but once there the launch was cancelled. Florida Dolphin Tours was great in keeping it all organized and I hope we can reschedule for the next launch. We did have a fun trip though so I won't complain about that. DisneyWorld has nothing on Disneyland and I will never again feel like I'm missing something when I go there. The Harry Potter world at Universal Florida was awesome. And Kennedy Space Center is not to be missed even if there isn't a shuttle launch planned. I appreciate all the prayers out there for the weather and such but there must have been something in the big picture that we did not see because our prayers were not answered. While it was very disappointing, especially for my daughter, Kelie, its all good - God knows what's best for us and the astronauts too.

Up, up, and away!!

Discovery Launch here we come!!! We got our tickets today to be on the NASA Causeway for the launch. It was our third and final try and we were finally successful. Feel sorry for all those that were not as I know there were many. If we hadn't been able to get these we would have gone to Space View Park which is twice as far away but has a good view. This is a trip of a lifetime for sure and my daughter is very excited as this is both her birthday and Christmas present.

Any of you prayer people out there if you think of it please say one for great weather and nothing to delay the launch. Its a small thing but God cares about my small things as well as my big ones - so praise to Him! He is good!

CCC #13 - A Tisket, A Tasket...Grunge Paper Flowers

So many projects so little time! I've actually finished two today so I'm feeling pretty good. Love my baskets - just wish they were a little more organized instead just a bunch of stuff that you have to dig thru. They kind of remind me of the bag style purses that are on the market today - oh, idea....perhaps I should purchase some of those bag organizers to organize my baskets...hmmmm might have to look into that. Wow, that started to be a rabbit hole!

My offering today is a basket - you saw this coming right? I have baskets hanging on several doors around here including one that had completed cards, little things I didn't want to lose and things I just didn't know what to do with. So I decided to decorate one of them. I used gesso on the grunge paper, stamped with with various backgrounds with embossing ink, and added distress powder, some of which peeled off when I was shaping the flowers. Buttons and leaves finished it up. Overall I like the look - reminds me of Alice in Wonderland for some reason even though the flowers didn't look like that in the cartoon or movie. Oh well, thats where my mind goes anyway and I'm staying!

Enjoy the weekend!

Make a Splash - House Mouse

This is my first House Mouse challenge! I have several of the stamps that I won from an ebay auction years ago but have only used them one time before this. I love the cute little guys and this particular image is the reason I bought the set in the first place. Since I'd never used the stamp and it feels like a "new" stamp to me I also decided to try a "new" technique (for me) - I used colored pencils and gamsol mineral spirits to color the image. I really like the resulting pastel colors. With practice I might actually get good at this - but for now I think this was a good first try.

CCC - 12 Something Fall

I love fall!!! Its most favorite time of year and in celebration of our cruise I created some fall leaves. Used some metal leaves that Linda had given me (she's like a drug dealer passing out the candy for free just to hook you on it!!) and I did a mix of Concord Grape, Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, and Spiced Marmalade to create the layered color.

I really liked the result but I didn't quite know what to do with them. After much thought and messing around I finally decided that I would make a charm. So I got out my Tim link chains and played with that for awhile. I ended up making something that I just love. Its very simple but then the best tools are and when those tools are pretty to boot - well you've got the best of both worlds. So my final project came out to be a bookmark for my Bible. Its long enough that I can use it it mark two pages at once so that when I'm studying I can easily reference back and forth, or I can just use it so mark my favorite passage in Psalm 46:10 that say "Be still and know that I am God." Can't tell you how many times in my life I have leaned on that scripture to calm myself in the midst of upheaval or every sort.

Anyway, thanks for looking & have a blessed week!