Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Forgotten UFO's


We all need them every now then ... a lovely, lazy weekend. This was one such. It's Sunday afternoon, and I just woke from a most delicious nap. {yawn}. One dog has assumed the position: belly up, feet against the wall, tail flat along the hallway, completely relaxed and sound asleep. The other is curled up at the foot of my bed, occasionally snoring. {bliss}

It seems a bit weird to intrude on the day's quietness by grabbing my iPad and plinking out a few lines. But you know what they say ... striking, hot irons, and all that.

I can hear spring enjoying the afternoon, too. The little house finches, sparrows, chickadees ... They are raising a ruckus in the rhododendron outside my window. The wind is taking advantage of the break in the rain and teasing the trees a bit and shadows dance across the far wall. I suppose I'll have to get up eventually, and go fill the bird feeder. Did you know, chickadees can be awfully pushy about dinner?

As low-key as it's been, it's also been an incredibly productive weekend. Saturday decided to pout. Or pour. Whatever. It bucketed. Which meant no outside chores (woo hoo!) and the opportunity to putter in my room. I cleaned, purged, organized, and found stuff I forgot I had!

There is the yarn I have finally acknowledged I will never turn into a project bagged and ready to be donated away. The photos FINALLY corralled into an album. A bulging bookshelf put back into order. The dusting put off too long. And, most importantly, the UFO's--UnFinished Objects--quilting projects rediscovered. Who knew I had stashed a few in THAT storage cupboard after I moved ... six years ago? Or tucked a few away in THAT drawer while I figured out how I wanted to organize my sewing room?

Doesn't matter, not really. They are found, fondly remembered, and now back on the To-Do list. I've neglected my sewing machine for far too long. Quilting is my form of therapy--the creative process, the soothing hum of the machine, the stunning finished products. I love shopping for fabric (especially if it's to be a gift), listening to what the fabric says it wants to be. I love the whole process. 

Left: a challenge quilt circa 2004, I think.
Middle: a crazy quilt started in 2001 (it's been tucked away a while)
Right: Round Robin circa 2005. 

Four of the twelve I found that are ready for backing, pinning, and quilting. I've challenged myself to finish at least 5 for the Scio Lamb and Wool Fair in May.  

I utterly adore batiks. I spent at least a year collecting fat quarters from different shops all over the state. I think my biggest stash might've come from the shop in Newport. I'm pretty sure I started this project in 2004. And I'm pretty sure it's been tucked away at least 3 years, maybe 4. I am really going to enjoy finishing this one. 


After dinner, I'm off to tame a UFO! 


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring cleaning infection

It happens annually. About this time. The overwhelming urge to purge, arrange, organize, clean. 

via Pinterest

This year, the spring cleaning virus has infected my diet as well. It's time to get serious about my health, my weight, my attitude and relationship with food. Out with the bad'uns. Time to make more room for the good stuff. 

For further inspiration, I reviewed my 2012 Counting list (see under "healthy habits" and "accomplishment--permission to abandon old stuff"). Yup. Time for a little more focused, and tangible discipline. 

Who's with me?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Generating more LIFE content

Soooo... I've been *thinking* about starting a blog for more than a little while. Here's some insight into my thought process on why it's taken so long to actually *do*: If I started one, what would I write about? If I did write, would people care enough to read it? If they do read it, do I have enough _____ (fill in the blank with the right word) to respond to feedback? Do I have time to write? Why do I feel compelled? Once the thought-train starts picking up speed, it's hard to slow it down sometimes. And never mind the different tangents it can run away on...
One of my alter-egos, the planner, is a little put out that tonight I stopped *thinking* about it and actually created a blog. Another alter-ego, the doer, is doing a little happy dance (complete with pom-poms) excited to be in action. 
The tipping point was a 2:18pm AH-HA moment. I was dutifully hunkered down and hammering out progress on a major project with a 5pm deadline. (I've been diligent lately with my personal productivity). It dawned on me that I've been spending way too much time lately generating work content and not enough generating life content. And so I am resolved to reverse this worrying trend. 
Which loops back to where I started: deciding to actually create this blog. This afternoon, I decided I have content. Life, in all it's loveliness. And I'm not sure I care whether anyone reads it. I'm also not sure I "have" time, but I am determined to *make* it. I've kept a paper journal for years, so there's my motivation. 
Pollyanna on Purpose ... to see all the wonderful possibility in any situation, like Pollyanna. Purposefully. This is my accountability experiment.
What's yours?