Time Management

I usually get up around 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. and go to bed about 9:30 to 10:00 p.m. I have never been a really good time manager apparently, because I struggle getting things done in any given day. My husband teases that I have A.D.D as well as O.C.D. I am a pro at multitasking and can have any number of things in my hand on a mission through the house, depositing, transferring,and accomplishing. I NOTICE what needs done and it will not happen unless I make it happen. I've donated so many things over the years to the "pass it on" shops in the attempt to "de-clutter" my surroundings. I am NOT at all a nick knack person, so it's not like I have a lot of extra objects to just look at but for some reason I can never have enough space... Oh, I forgot to tell you that I am a bit claustrophobic. I really like seeing my floors! ANYWAY, I am getting a new-to-me embroidery machine that belonged to my late sister. I am super excited and yet a bit nervous at the same time. I am giving a pretty penny for this machine and want to make money back to put back into our savings and I am giving myself two years to do it. So this is where as of late, I am even more determined to have a better time management plan so that I can still take the best care of my family and have a small business goal. This a.m after waking, I felt stiff so I forced myself to get in about a twenty or so minute workout, ate breakfast, fixed hubby's lunch, hung and folded the laundry that I didn't get into the dryer until late last night, stripped our bed to wash the linens today, (still needing dried as I write), vacuumed the upstairs two rooms, added the ingredients for the sour dough bread that I set out last night for it to go through the first rising, washed the dishes and thought about my routine and how I'm so tired at night that my blog writing is getting neglected and that I really need to make time in the mornings to check e-mails, blog and work on setting up the online shop. Here it is already 10:30 and I haven't gotten into my sewing room yet. I'm sure it will all work out and after my learning curve on this new machine, I will start with Christmas and then move on to planning for next years agenda. I just wish that I could make more time to connect with others who are making their home businesses work. I will squeeze in some time to seek. Happy Tuesday, Oh and Graceful Acceptance couldn't be more appropriate to my life because I am in constant reminding that everything happens in God's time and I have chosen to accept those things with as much grace as I can.

Creating

I've spent a great amount of time in my little studio this past week. I have a family reunion this weekend including a memorial to my all too recently late sister. I had started a fabric collage book for our Mother before I visited my sister a couple weeks ago. She never got to see it and I am bound and determined to get it finished for this memorial/reunion. I know she would have loved it. As soon as I am able I will post pictures. It is good and therapeutic to have a creative release with my sister watching over me. She has always been a great inspiration to me. I am feeling blessed.

In Memory of My Mom... for me: My Sister

This was put together by my nieces and I wanted to include it. My sister was the most creative, remarkable, kind, soft spoken, gentle person that I've ever known. At the end of this video are some of her beautiful paintings as well as some quilts that she made. I have many wall quilts and table mats and things that she has given me through the years. They make me so happy to have them. She has taught me so very many neat things about painting and quilting and today, I worked all day in my sewing room just thinking about how patient she was and what an inspiration to me she will always be. God truly Blessed my life having her in it. Enjoy!

Hole in My Heart

It has been a few days and I'm probably still not ready to be posting yet. I had very recently sent a link to my blog to my sister. This was the very first person who I sent a link to. I am usually a very "private" person and wanted a very inspirational and highly respected "close" person to share it with and my sister would have understood where I wanted to take my blog eventually. She passed away Tuesday night. I don't know if she got a chance to view it or what she thought of it. So many things are missed and so many memories to hold tight to. I feel like I've been in a sort of whirl wind. It was only three months ago that she was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer that spread also quickly to her liver. This was someone who barely suffered from a head cold so it was so sudden for our family. There is no one as kind, patient, creative and inspirational as she was to me and all who knew her. I give so much credit to her for any creativity that I possess. What an inspiration she will forever be to me.

Loving Life

I have been working on a fabric collage book for my Mother and although have seen lots of photos of these, have never attempted one before this. I am using a lot of antique and newer lace, fabrics and some photos and it is quite lovely and unique. I guess that's how they come about; adding and arranging along the whole creative way until it becomes what it will.

I was so excited to take a huge initiative in getting the guest room turned into "MY" little design studio and creative space. It is a few weeks later and I still get excited when I go in there. Hence it has become a bit more difficult for me to post as often as I had planned. The hammered dulcimer that my hubby gave me for my birthday, didn't help with any extra time either. Although, I fear my worse dilemma may be the lack of photo capturing to add of projects and things to share. I will slip this one in quickly!

While I love blogging and wish for correspondence with like-minds, I know perhaps it will take time to get discovered and have enough valid worthwhile posts for repeat readers. For this, I am anxious! I am amazed at just how much time getting a blog up and running has taken for me and yet, I'm okay with that for I am a patient person. Others I have read, say that it didn't happen overnight for them either, so perseverance onward.

Dulcimer

I thought that I would go through and organize some photos that I wanted to post as well as getting started individual boxes for each of our grown kids. For me, getting my new creative space to work in was quite the accomplishment so a pat on the back for getting as far as I have with all the other things going on. I love my new space and have worked a little on some projects here and there with intentions of going into it full force soon.

Well, today is my Birthday and my absolutely amazing husband went out and found a Hammered Dulcimer for me! Wow!

No, I don't know how to play it yet, but have always wanted one and am a determined person, so it will sound beautiful some day!

The dilemma is... that I have to now make time to practice without getting so involved that I don't get my work done.

Still finding my way around

I'm so thankful for some of the blogs that are so helpful when it comes to design and layouts. I am still struggling to find time to work on filling in some of my blanks. By the time I get to really get into any computer work is usually at the end of the day when I'm already tired so am thankful just to get a few lines written.

On the plus side, I have been getting my new work space set up and am becoming quite pleased with the multiple work stations that I've been arranging for all of the creative upcoming jobs. It will make it much nicer to work with the room that I have now.