Loose Ends...

It's been a weekend of tying up a few loose ends. I mailed out the artist trading cards for this month, spent some time tidying up the studio, and putting up our Christmas decorations. Outside, we hung our garland on the porch rail, and added a sweet wooden snowman that was a gift from Shelly. The snowman is holding a ball of lights that show up at night, but it was too foggy last night to get a good photograph. I'll try again when it's clear.

This week, I'll be prewashing fabric for jammies; preparing a few other things to mail out; baking cinnamon rolls on Wednesday for our classmate dinner that evening (I have orders this time); and of course, sewing.

I'm going to hit the ground running this morning. I'm packaging up my mailings first to get them in the mailbox before our carrier arrives. I'm back to making lists, so I'll be able to see my progress as I get my work done. I'm also going to commit to daily lists going into and through 2025. I missed a lunch date with a dear friend last week because I hadn't written it down. That won't happen again. So you're seeing one of my 2025 resolutions here first.

I'll close for now, but I'll share jammie fabrics tomorrow. I'll be heading to the washer to get the fabrics going. Remember, I always prewash them in hot water/warm dryer. If anything is going to shrink, it will happen before I turn them into garments. The sooner they wash and dry, the sooner I'll be sewing. 

See you mañana!

Setting New Goals...

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I'm not one to make resolutions. I'm really not. I prefer to call 

them goals...things that I want to accomplish during the year.

I call them "To Do" lists. I write things down, then I check them

off as I finish them. I usually do them day-by-day, but I've

decided to write down three long-term lists for this year...

1) Personal goals

2) Creative goals

and

3) Home project goals

Now, I'm not going to bore you with all the things I've written

down, but I'll share one or two things from each list of ten items.

Personal Goals

I don't know if you've even noticed, but I've had a running total on my 

right sidebar of a healthy lifestyle program I started last September. 

(It's under the "Working Toward A Goal" caption below my profile.)

Since I started, I've kept track of how far I've ridden my bicycle, walked (or

 other activity), and how much weight I've lost. I managed to shed twenty

pounds before my birthday, and I got through the Christmas and New Year

 holidays without gaining any of it back! I'm going to continue my program

 through 2014.  I'll keep track over in my sidebar in case you're interested. I

change it weekly, but won't start again 'til I've healed from my recent surgery.

If you write a comment to me asking for details, I promise I'll write

back with an answer. If you're a "no comment" blogger, make sure

you add your email address so there's a way for me to reply.

Image from hikerinheels.blogspot.com

I've chosen my word for 2014. 

I chose "GRACE".

You already know that's Mom's name. I've been learning from her

for over forty years, and believe me, she's the living embodiment

of her name. Before I chose it, I looked up the definitions.

As a noun, it means poise, agility, finesse, courtesy, decency, 

politeness, respect, generosity, kindness, blessing, and goodwill.

As a verb, it means dignify, honor, distinguish, enhance, glorify,

elevate, adorn, embellish, decorate, enhance, beautify and enrich.

It seems to me that there are many different ways that I'll be able

to embrace this word in 2014...both in my personal and creative life.

Creative Goals

I'll share a lot of these in the coming months, but my most short-term

goal is to make an assortment of Kindle and iPad cases for our quilt

show Boutique (in February). I have all the supplies, and I'll start soon.

I'm also going to set aside time each month in 2014 to make a gift 

for my Christmas list. No more procrastinating until the end of the year.

By November, all I'll have to do is make jammies to fit our grandkids.

Home Project Goals

I'm going to make a set of slipcovers for the Flying Cloud seating areas.

and

I'm going to work on decluttering - beginning with my closet.

I've learned from living in the Flying Cloud that we can live with less.

(Well, except for in the studio!) So, I'm going to start in my closet 

and proceed to the next area or room from there. I'll embrace the 

concept of "enough" instead of "a lot" - making for definitely less stuff.

Image from a greeting card I received last year.

You'll be seeing my 2014 word in future posts as I strive to live a 

life of "grace" this year. I'm blessed to have Mom as my inspiration,

and I'll be sharing more of my lists in upcoming months, too.

I love the hope and anticipation that comes with the beginning of a

new year. I don't want to waste a single second on regret over days past.

(Nostalgia, yes, but no regret.) Look forward with me as we embark on
another 365 journey. It's going to be an adventure...I just know it!