Heading towards the holidays

Table centre piece

I'm not sure what happened to winter.  These candles are the whitest things around.  Can't really say I'm liking slush and mud and slippery!

The grand kiddies and I were off to their library for an artist date.  The books distract.  The interactive environment distracts.  heck, the other kids distract but...

 I think I will make a note to perhaps work more one on one with Josh and Eliana.   pst!  He drew the elephant!

A new change in my day job means a larger and more diverse group.  Who has their wrapping all done?

 Here are some ideas for personalizing craft paper and gift tags that should help!   These two stared holes in the paper and then...  :)  Exactly what I had in mind!

The chair is painted.  I'm glad I did that early in the week 'cause I haven't got it waxed nor the seat covered.
 

I have some good ideas for the pillows and I am a thinking that next week I'm just gonna start a new project and improvise the fall lap quilt for the bedroom!  :)  It IS the holiday season, don't cha know.  lol  I am eyeing up the small desk on the Rooster's side for painting and then the walls and woodwork.

I did get an exercise ball to use as a computer desk chair.  My balance is not good.  I'm tired of falling going UP steps!  :{  We'll see if this helps.  If I don't post in a day or so it'll be because  I rolled into some corner and I'm trapped or worse- I'm still bouncing on the stairs!  lol

Eight outstanding oh's for October's end.

I'm glad to have captured this photo early in the week because things have gotten distinctly grey, cold and rainy.  The step is ready but the inside of the veranda is 'decorated' with produce, boots, garden tools, etc.  Much too chilly to attempt cosy!  lol 

one- don't reinvent the wheel

  

 

slow start Monday- I had a book!  After the requisite cleaning  I did find a web site that provided lesson plans for the book I'm using with the grand kiddies.  I was happy to pay the fee and get all the printables I'll need.  I like planning but it does take time and this will be better than figuring out how to do the same thing someone else has already figured out better!   Finding the monthly themed scrapbook pad was also a great bonus. :0

 two- just do it

 Tuesday I just made myself start messing with stuff right away and I got so into it I hated to stop!  Journal days are so much fun if you just go with the flow and live in the moment.  I must do that more mindfully.  And definitely with a few happening at the same time as multiples seem to work for me!  But I need to lose this greyness and get back to happy colours! 

three-  see what is there

When I put up the purple and gold shower curtain it reminded me that purple and gold were my fall theme colours.  I started gathering up my purples and there didn't seem to be lots.  I did break a lovely vase last year.  vbsigh  I was so busy thinking I hardly had noticed the two pictures that have been on the stair landing wall.  I'd walked past them for some time now and was not really seeing them.  I have been working on my seasonal theme for a few years and when I'm reminded and actually see, I can shop the house successfully!  (these pictures will preview in the kitchen reveal)  And this wall is gonna be my art wall.  I have an IDEA!!!

four-  visitors are good

Being empty nesters means I can spread my stuff out on the spare beds.  This is not such a good idea for a 'piler' like me.  I am always schlepping piles from one place to another when company shows up.  And when two or three piles avalanche together it is a pretty mess.  I am now at the place where this is no longer fun.  Reducing the stuff, colour coding and keeping stuff contained in its area is an ongoing project.   Gee I wish I had a great picture!  lol

five- idle hands are the devil's workshop
 

And I am starting to think he lives in the 'puter!  I'm not down on the computer but it can be a real time suck if I am 'idle'.  So, I need to get that handwork handy so the Rooster and I can sit together in the evenings.  :)  If he goes on the 'puter for his genealogy stuff I am within eye/earshot.  If he is down stairs I can grab my kit and join him.  Now to fine tune the readiness!  ;^)

six- a place for everything

I spent some money on hanging tabs for the stencils.  These will hang in the open craft closet and I can put them in some kind of order.  I've the smaller stencils and all the masks to deal with but things are in reduction mode! 

seven- stay at it

I also have found that if I have something, an audio teaching, I'll stay sewing until the session is finished.  :)

eight- routine is good but if there is no spontaneity in the day...  :(

The older I get the more I appreciate routines.  But it can be boring so I really welcome the unexpected.  Spontaneity is the spice in my life.  okay, Maybe I should look at it like routine keeps the craziness out of my distractability!  :)  This week has a bit too much in the way of changed plans but a visual reminder from Monday's post reminds me of what I am 'supposed' to be up too.  October has been kinda outstanding!!!  :)

After the thanks

Thanksgiving was a rainy day but it started off in the wee hours with VERY strong winds so the shed rehab took a step backwards.  A little more dampness to add to the day but all is not lost. Just flattened.  Hindsight says it shoulda been secured together better but we had a few other projects to wrap up.  Prairie winds- sometimes I don't appreciate them!

The vitamins are still fueling the ambition.  Tuesday morning I spent time editing a goodly portion of the basement.  I had all kinds of boxes and bags in the veranda to take away.

 Part of the editing is in my accessory shelves and I realized that I've got some purple articles intended for the fall decor so I am changing up the hall.
I have felt a major AHA in my understanding of decorating this year.  I need a 'boring' backdrop so I can let my accessories spread the seasonal bliss.  I think a sisal runner would work.  And homemade pillows!  :)

I gessoed my red flowers and I'm not sure these are finished but I'm pretty excited about them.  I have always wanted our home to reflect us!   BTW, all those drawers are for the Rooster's clutter/stuff!  ;^)

 I need the Rooster to mount the glass fronted cabinet above the small table.  And yes, definitely spiffier pillows!

The ...And Then We Set It On Fire blog  is featuring Kelly Hendrickson and I thing her approach is wonderful and certainly confirms what I've been feeling is a great way for me to mix things up in my journal.  But what if I made a fall wall hanging?   I am trying to find a piece of fibre bark I made but as it is I likely have too much stuff.   I wanna start that next week.

 I need a new lap quilt for the sitting room.  I have a kit of shot fabrics and a tree pattern.  I am hesitant to start a new project with all those UFO projects hanging over my head.  And then there is the series. :O  I can't start till next week so I will think this through as I work on sewing my square in a square series. 

I've been very much motivated as I settle into the Wednesday and Thursday focus for Art 101.  I am back working on my own smash books, sketching and journaling.  woo hoo!

The third Thursday of the month is sketching with the grand kiddies.  With the inclement weather we'll be doing it at their wonderful library.  :)  Thursday is a big day for the kids.  Art, then skating and then choir.  Tires me out, I don't know about them!  :O

Finally I got to try Zoomba!   I luv the music but the moves are gonna be a challenge.  If its okay to fake it till you make it,  I'm gonna poomba till I can zoomba !   Every second week I'm going to zoom around the gym with my energetic workmates!  :)   I may not get out of bed tomorrow though!  ;^)

It was a bit of a short but rushed week.  I'm thankful I got as much accomplished as I did.  :)

week review

We were sitting having supper the other night  and I excused myself to capture the westerly sunset that was causing the birch to glow!  After I sat back down I thought, oh, that's even better but the Rooster had been wondering if the chickens were back in the flower beds so his supper was getting cold, too!  :)

ah!  I've figured out where these 'odd' pictures are coming from.  There is a painting setting on my camera!  kinda cool  And it helps disguise my morning pages. ;^)

The vitamins are definitely upping my motivation factor.  One big one is a multi multi.  One is a vitamin C because the Rooster is coughing and sneezing and I have NO time for down time.  The other big one is a free form amino acid and I think that is doing good things.  I also have some liquid B and a B6 'cause my right hand is kinda twitchy and I have no time for carpal tunnel issues!
Hopefully I can eliminate some of these as time goes on.  I must have been depleted somehow.

But I definitely felt great this week!

I managed to get the 'chores' done without entering into full house overhaul which is my way of procrastinating. I kept an eye on the clock for where I was at on the list.  Kinda deadlines to keep me moving forward and not stuck procrastinating on unimportant stuff.

 I did get a bit more fall decorating done.  It is recommended to light the candles and turn on lamps for decor pictures but I'm not seeing the yellow ball as cozy so...  :P

I got a journal spread done and a box of inspiration for the next pages.  In fact I have a second spread started in another book.

I am mulling over rail fence influences for the next treasure but that is still in the thinking stage.

We wrapped up last year's colour art book and signed the 'I am an artist' page.  :)

Then I handed out the new books for this year.  I'd taken portraits for the first page and then they got their first spread organized and glued down.  Josh needed to list his favourite subjects and he wanted to know how to spell the boy next door's name.  lol  Thursdays are busy days.  We do art before lunch.  Then a quick bite and we are off to hockey, free skate, and choir with the local home schoolers. I think that makes me a hockey gram'elle which makes me a regular grandma but 'cooler'!   :^)  I don't do anything but collapse Thursday evenings! :/

I got a busy and sewed.  I figured out the sewing block- as in stalled.  An audio teaching/lesson/sermon keeps me at the machine till the end and I often press next!  I got all my fabric cut.  I'm sewing one quarter of the top (25 blocks) at a time so I get good fabric mixes, at least I hope so.  This is a fabric kit and I'm about four fabric pairs short so I'm hoping my additions add a spark to the mix.  We'll see but there is no time yet to evaluate.  Head down, pedal to the metal and sew!   woo hoo!!! 

Now to continue the forward motivating!

Finishing the week

Friday was a great day but not a pretty day.  The Rooster was home and got us moving in spite of weather forecasts and chilly winds.  We got a lot of things put away and the flowerbeds are looking more ready for the approaching snow.  We came in for supper just before the drizzle began.

I had planned on working on my book/card and a scrapbook page.  My arms and hands were a bit sore and I was looking for a book to read and a bed to stretch out in but I spent a few minutes on the scrapbook page. I don't know what these little albums are called.  Even though the size, 6X8, is a bit challenging, they will work for my kids. I did a general plan and fixed them in place first thing this morning.  I need to work on lettering. ;)

For Creativity 101 I discovered how valuable cereal boxes that are gessoed can be!

I had a number of interruptions during the week but I am still pleased with all that I did get to work on. Now to finish that chicken coop and get the replacement hens all moved over and ready for winter!  They will luv the access to the great outdoors and the nest boxes.  Then I can finish off the week!

Friday Finish

                         

Get that checkered flag!  I'm crossing the finish line. 

A goal for this year is to have my garments reflect more of who I am.  I'm starting small and shy.  Here are the new buttons for my thrift shop coat!

Sew glad to have the patterned stitching finished for my Threads- the basics and beyond!

The Altered Book 'book along' (?) is up to date and ready for lesson four.  My theme is leaves and trees.

I am already lining things up for the starting gun on Monday morning.  
But first pass that cup full of the bubbly!!!