Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for joining me here. Today we begin our series, A New Year, A Creative New You.
This series is about enjoying the moment and enjoying the process of being creative. For many of us this enjoying and appreciating our creative time has been lost and pushed out of our lives where we are rushing to finish projects and not really taking the time to smell the roses along the way. It is about slowing and being thankful.
As with most things in life, before we can move forward we need to take the time to look back and on what we have learned, good or bad. We need a starting point.
So today is a day of reflection. You will want your notebook today and open it up to a fresh page. Take time to really think about these questions. Ponder them throughout your day and write your answers in your notebook adding to those answers as new thoughts come to you.
So the first question is, In looking back throughout the years, when did you feel most creative in which you enjoyed and got lost in the process of making something? Write about it. Write about where you were and what was happening in your life at the time. Write about what it was that you were making.
Now think back to just this past year. How did things go this past year? Write about it now. Write about those things you did that worked for you this past year. Because if it ain’t broke it don’t need fixin’ and you will want to keep on with those good actions. We all have things in our lives that are working and it is important to acknowledge the good.
What in this past year didn’t work or would you like to change. Write those thoughts down so they are not repeated.
Once we have evaluated these things, it gives us our starting point to direct us to move forward which is just the direction we will be heading in the next few days. Continue adding to these lists as ideas come into your head about what did and did not work well this past year.
This finishes our task for day one. We will continue using our notebook tomorrow.
See you then!
Nancy
Be creative daily and live life beautifully
Happy New Year and thank for the beautiful designs you make.
Love them.
This is so cute – time to prepare for Valentines Day
I bought a house and I’m still unpacking and sorting my sewing/crafting things. I would rather be sewing but I can’t rest easy until I’m organized. I’m removing fabric from plastic tote boxes and rolling it up and taping a strip of paper around it. I am buying metal rolling shelves as I can afford and the fabric falls off if I don’t roll it up and secure it. It’s a great feeling to finally get unpacked and organized but I didn’t realize how much work it would be. Organizing is going to be a big accomplishment for this year. Finishing up projects is next.I spent over a year getting settled and remodeling. I’m ready to dig in and create!
Hi Wendy,
Having moved many times I know what a HUGE amount of work it is to unpack and get settled in. For me, I would tell myself that my one goal for this day was to just get this certain area put away and organized. If I did more than that then all the better, but working on it every day gets it done.
Hang in there.
Hugs!
Nancy
I only have weekends to work on it and limited finances. That makes for slow progress. It’s hard to be patient when I would rather be creating art. Sometimes I just make time for sewing which further delays the progress. Overall I have come a VERY long way. At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that is encouraging.
Hi Wendy,
You know though, even if you only have weekends, just a little bit each weekend does add up as you well know.
Hugs,
Nancy
Wendy, I moved four times in ten years for my now ex-husband and his career. I would go to a new store or take a class and inevitably someone would ask me if I had a hobby. After the 2nd move, I started answering with; packing and unpacking. You do get unusual looks but most people don’t have any idea what is involved with moving. The packing and unpacking are tedious but also can be the easiest because all you have to do is decide where to put things. For me it was transferring drivers licenses, school transcripts, meeting teachers for your children, medical records, finding new doctors, finding a new church, learning your way around town, buying or making all of the window coverings, and learning to use new kitchen and laundry appliances. Purchasing new clothing if you have changed climates or new clothing for your teens because no one here wears what they wore at their last school. And of course, finding a job for yourself to pay for everything.
I’ve discovered a few things that might help. In your sewing room live out of boxes for a month, you will know what tools and items you use most and need close. Read about ways to organize your kitchen, things have changed since the last time you stocked a kitchen. Unpack your bedroom last – most men need a reminder of how much work this is for you..(I made every move look so easy..I’ll never do that again). Tell your family it isn’t going to get done unless they help out. If your husband can’t help or won’t help, hire a handyman to help with anything you can’t reach easily. If you’ve moved twice and haven’t opened a box, seriously consider where you really need what is in it.
Lastly, slow down and remember you only need to be unpacked by the day you make your last mortgage payment. Or the day he comes homes and says, Hon, I’ve got great news.
PS, I didn’t leave him, he left me five years after our last move and after 26 years of marriage..
I bet that was rough after 26 years. I hope you have healed. Let the experience make you strong.
Thanks Jane for sharing some great moving suggestions.
Moving is tough for sure.
Hugs,
Nancy
No husband for me! Just me and my two cats. I’ve had things packed away in storage for a long time. Seems like my life has been on hold. Now that I have my own house( well actually I have two but that’s another story)I can unpack the kitchen things and fabric/sewing/crafting things I bought on sale when I was able to afford them. I am finally getting settled permanently and working on organizing my house/life. I could use more room but I’m going to deal with what I have. Just unpacking and putting things away isn’t so easy with limited space. I had to have a pantry built in my kitchen for all my ‘stuff’. I was never much of a cook but now I’m experimenting and I’m known as a good cook by coworkers. Don’t get me wrong I don’t like cooking but I like good food so I make it myself.
As for my sewing/crafting stuff I have two medium sized bedrooms. One has a 4×8 piece of plywood covered with plastic for machine and work area. I had 12 feet of bookshelves put in across one wall. The other wall has two cheap bookcases and stacks of plastic boxes with frequently used stuff. The other room has four rolling metal shelving racks,so far, and a rolling TV hutch loaded with fabric.I’m buying four more racks tomorrow. Probably will need more. 12×12 room FULL of fabric/craft supplies overflowing into the garage. As for hiring help I usually do it myself to cut expenses. I’m a great organizer! It takes time and money to get it done though.
My sewing room organization is my last big project, except for my garage and painting my bathroom. 2016 is the final year of settling in.I want all painting/remodeling and organizing projects complete. I’m looking forward to getting over the hump so I can focus on my sewing. By the end of the year I intend to have UFO’s well under way.I’m already planning 2017 as the year to totally finish my UFO’s. Then I’ll be ready to semi-retire and sew to my hearts content!Life is good.