Progress can be slow,,,

Here is the progress on The Top Thirty List.
Some have been crossed off, because they are done. And others have been added.

1. Finish the office space. All book boxes are now in the room.
2. Studio needs to be cleaned out and set up in a workable design. I am able to work in it at this time so I will save the major cleaning and organizing until after I get moving forward on other projects.
3. THANKSGIVING at Miss Leona's.
4. Fractured fabric challenge
5. Dress from rayon batik. I have signed up for a Craftsy class to help with fit.
6. Color wheel from my hand dyed fabrics
7. Clean the screen porch and get it ready for entertaining
8. Painting inside and out-wait until January
9. Kitchen organized. Slow goes it here, clearing out cupboards by using up product.
10. All photos organized and ready for bookmaking. I keep getting more pics, YIKES!
11. Grey and hand dyed fabric twiddle piece
12. Tote to replace the one I gave away-use the green pear fabric that I quilted at NWTC
13. Coordinating quilts for the twin beds. I want scrappy and Kona snow.
14. Craftsy class work up to date. Will need to get info printed and set timetables.
15. One year later quilt
16. More water please quilt
17. Pillowcases for each Grandchild as B-Days roll around. Put this info on Calendar.
18. Twenty pounds lighter, not creative in itself, but putting together a plan will be-this is shaping up at this time. Well I am down from 176.8 to 172 on new scale.
19. Bordering on a round robin group info-Mary has asked when it will start, I think Jan. 2014
20. Creative friends get together for meeting at quilt shop
21. Putting the binding on quilt that Hannah made for her parents, and shipping it to her. Hannah's quilt binding is finished, label and info put on back & has been rec'd.
22. Start a Sewing With Kids group with the homeschooling family a block over-they moved, wait for contact information from Anita George
23. Sew-In for new friends here in Summerville. Make a list of who I could invite and a simple project we could do as a make & take fun afternoon, put on calendar ASAP
24. Put together the plans for collaboration book with MaryEllen
25. Get the recipe/scrapbook started
26. A creative schedule THAT INCLUDES: dye days, technique days, free motion quilting days, water color painting days, online class project time, etc etc
27. Find the makeup and hairdo that will help me accept GOING GREY GRACEFULLY
28. Put together garden plans-we have come a long way with this already, just keep making progress at this time
29. Check out yoga, Pilates, and weight lifting
30. Get my website back up & running-I do a lot of blogging and pinterest pinning of my own things also, I think the actually website may not be what I even want at this time. Special note: SBI is running the two for one price sale at this time!!!
Things added to the above: as of 12/15/13
31. Binding on a fall fabric quilt. THIS WAS FINISHED THIS WEEK.
32. Joined Altered Fabric Swap so I will need to check in by fifth of each month for who I send pieces to.
33. Joined ATC Birthday Swap. This will be determined by when other participants BDays are. Two for January, so far.
34. Get Pinterest boards in alpha order, with projects finished and in progress up front.
35. Joined Post Card Swap on StitchinFingers. Already getting info gather for this.
36. Joined Fabric Book Swap, also on Stitchin Fingers. Started to get this info too.
37. Purchased the Building Blocks Pattern from Leah Day to use for improving my piecing and free motion quilting skills. I have downloaded the PDF file and printed it out. I actually made this into a booklet with my new comb binder. So I have also learned how to use it.

So, as you can see, I am busy getting things underway. I have also started to use the LIFT app on my IPad to help me change some of my habits.

How do you keep yourself moving forward? Do you make lists and then cross them off? What is it that gets you moving into your creative space? I know we all get lots of things done, just sometimes it's not the ones we wanted to be done first.

Thanks for checking out the blog again. Hope to hear from you soon.

Let's Create Today,

Merry Christmas,
Luann

Update on the Top 30 List

Things are moving along. I finished Hannah's quilt binding.  I put pictures of it up on my Finished Projects board on Pinterest.   Also put up a couple of pics of the fall fabric quilt that I finished binding this week.  I've made a board on Pinterest for my IN PROGRESS pieces. I will try to get both of these boards moved to the front and the rest of my boards into alpha order this week. 

So, this is where the list stands at present: There are some extra notes added since I first wrote this up.

1. Finish the office space.
2. Studio needs to be cleaned out and set up in a workable design.
3. THANKSGIVING at Miss Leona's.
4. Fractured fabric challenge
5. Dress from rayon batik
6. Color wheel from my hand dyed fabrics
7. Clean the screen porch and get it ready for entertaining
8. Painting inside and out-wait until January
9. Kitchen organized
10. All photos organized and ready for bookmaking
11. Grey and hand dyed fabric twiddle piece
12. Tote to replace the one I gave away-use the green pear fabric that I quilted at NWTC
13. Coordinating quilts for the twin beds
14. Craftsy class work up to date
15. One year later quilt
16. More water please quilt
17. Pillowcases for each Grandchild as B-Days roll around
18. Twenty pounds lighter, not creative in itself, but putting together a plan will be-this is shaping up at this time
19. Bordering on a round robin group info-Mary has asked when it will start, I think Jan. 2014
20. Creative friends get together for meeting at quilt shop
21. Putting the binding on quilt that Hannah made for her parents, and shipping it to her
22. Start a Sewing With Kids group with the homeschooling family a block over-they moved, wait for contact information from Anita George
23. Sew-In for new friends here in Summerville-make a list of who I could invite and a simple project we could do as a make & take fun afternoon
24. Put together the plans for collaboration book with MaryEllen
25. Get the recipe/scrapbook started
26. A creative schedule THAT INCLUDES: dye days, technique days, free motion quilting days, water color painting days, online class project time, etc etc
27. Find the makeup and hairdo that will help me accept GOING GREY GRACEFULLY
28. Put together garden plans-we have come a long way with this already, just keep making progress at this time
29. Check out yoga, Pilates, and weight lifting
30. Get my website back up & running-I do a lot of blogging and pinterest pinning of my own things also, I think the actually website may not be what I even want at this time. Special note: SBI is running the two for one price sale at this time!!!
Things added to the above: as of 12/15/13

31. Binding on a fall fabric quilt. THIS WAS FINISHED THIS WEEK.

32. Joined Altered Fabric Swap so I will need to check in by fifth of each month for who I send pieces to. 

33. Joined ATC Birthday Swap. This will be determined by when other participants BDays are. Two for January, so far. 

34. Get Pinterest boards in alpha order, with projects finished and in progress up front. 

I'm off to the living room to relax and sort thru some papers that have accumulated.
So,,, I'm heading over to create a bit of uncluttered space,
Luann

Saturday was weigh in

Yesterday we went to my mother in laws house, about an hour away. You can read about this on my other blog, Getting Fit in the Low Country.  I'll find out how to do a link one of these days, but for now just click on my profile and a link should appear.  The good news is I am down by 2.4 pounds! That's a good thing. 

So, progress on #18.

#26 Creative schedule for getting things done. I have a situation with habits! I have some I don't want, and I don't have some I do want!  Well, I found an app for my iPad. LIFT is free, has challenges for habit change that you can join, is very user friendly, and the part I like best of all, I can have reminders come to my inbox daily, eod, or once a week, however often I need them. 

If I don't change some of the habits, I can't expect to get better use of my time. Anyway, I think this may just become another blog as I could go on and on about this one. We'll see,,,,

Creating a life that I enjoy, while living one day at a time,

Luann

Busy Week

This week has been very busy, once again. It started off with a trip to the furniture store and out for lunch on Monday. We got home and turned right around and went back to town to establish a patient-doctor relationship, with an appointment for Thursday morning. Tuesday was the planned day for yard project. It finished this afternoon about 3 when we returned home to see that everything was done. AND it looks beautiful! We went for lunch after the doctor appointment today and then toured the grounds at The Magnolia Plantation. George and I took a lot of pictures and now he'll get them all onto the computers for me. Tomorrow, we have an interior designer coming over from the furniture store to encourage us as we make some transitional moves from a "we'll use what we have and be happy" to a cohesive PLAN! We have also had one painter come by to measure for an estimate and another one is scheduled. The living room painting, as well as the stairwell area, is just too much for me to be tackling any more. Sometimes accepting what your body should not be doing anymore is a tough bite to swallow.

 Now, for how I've done on my Top 30 List: 

1. Office, more items moved into the space. Still a long way to go before it is comfortable for working in. 

2. Studio, progress has been made. While we waited for yard work to get underway on Tuesday, George put up my shelves in the cubbyhole closet. This is where I will be able to have my fabric visible, without sunlight damage. This took considerably longer than anticipated, but is sooo worth it. I have been able to move all of the fabric from my armoire, baker's rack, and countless piles onto these shelves. Also have been able to get the various stabilizers, fusibles, and battings placed conveniently. PS: All of my fabric is sorted by color family, designer, or target audience. It works for me, so that's why I do it like this. 

8. I've decided to hire some of the painting to be done. The rest will wait until January, as that's when the heat will be on more and the humidity should be lower. 

12. My tote has been on my mind a lot lately. I really do need a larger capacity tote, and I am giving some serious thought to using a piece that I quilted up last year when I was in Green Bay. It's 18" by WOF and has green pears on it. There's a significant amount of gold tones in it, as the pears are appearing to be ripening. I think it's from The Farmer's Market group. Anyway, I outlined the pears as I quilted the piece and I enjoy just looking at it. So if I make a tote from it I know I'd use it a bunch! 

 14. Craftsy classes, I signed up for ANOTHER one. I want to make some clothing, #5, and I don't want to end up with a garment that doesn't fit or look attractive. So, I'm taking a class with Joi Morton about Fast Pattern Fitting. Finished the first lesson, and next I need to get my measurements written down. 

 18. Weight loss, tried 1cup Greek yogurt, 2T. Cocoa, stevia to sweeten. Not bad. Frozen may make it better. I just hate adding enough stevia to make it sweet enough to WANT to eat it. One to try yet, 1 banana & 2 eggs mashed and beat together, flour less pancakes! 

 28. Garden plans, a big move forward here this week. 

 So, YES, YES, YES, I have moved forward with many of my list projects. Nothing is crossed off this week, so far. I've still got a couple of days to go. Creating memories every day, Luann

Inspired by List Making

Making the list prompted some forward movement.  I think putting things down in writing helps me to focus and commit to getting things done. Here's  some of what has happened since yesterday.

Menu plan is done and food is purchased for Thanksging Day dinner at Miss Leona's.

Bookcases, desk, paper files, chair, and armoire have been moved from various places on the first floor to the office.  It is over the garage.  So, first we take everything up two sets of steps with a landing on the turn area. Then we have to go down a hall and another landing, turn and down three steps before we are actually on the office floor.  This is when I wish I was in better physical condition and a few years younger wouldn't hurt either!

The office has to function for both of our creative needs.  This isn't easy.  My hubby likes things VERY neat and orderly. He's a structural engineer. I can work amidst a bit of clutter while engaged in a project. Sometimes I need to take a step away from my art and come back a day or so later.  As long as we both show respect for each other and that person's style, we'll be just fine.  

That's where I'm at right now. The supplies need to be gathered together and proper houses found for them.  It'll be easier once we see just how much we need to get organized.  There may even be a trip to recycle some of what we've accumulated. Only time will tell.

So, yes, I feel as though I've gotten some creative time put into the office. Tomorrow more will happen and the momentum will increase.

Till then, 

Let's go create,

Luann

My Top Thirty List

Making this list really took some time and thought.  There's 18 weeks between now and April 1.  If I average getting two items done each week I'd still have a little time to spare!!

So here's the list as it stands today:

1.   Finish the office space.

2.   Studio needs to be cleaned out and set up in a workable design.  
3.  THANKSGIVING at Miss Leona's. 
4.   Fractured fabric challenge

5.   Dress from rayon batik

6.   Color wheel from my hand dyed fabrics

7.   Clean the screen porch and get it ready for entertaining

8.   Painting inside and out

9.   Kitchen organized

10.  All pictures organized and ready for bookmaking 

11.  Grey and hand dyed fabric twiddle piece

12.  Tote to replace the one I gave away

13.  Coordinating quilts for the twin beds

14.  Craftsy class work up to date

15.  One year later quilt

16.  More water please quilt

17.  Pillowcases for each Grandchild as BDays roll around

18.  Twenty pounds lighter, not creative in itself, but putting together a plan will be

19.  Bordering on a round robin group info

20.  Creative friends get together for meeting at quilt shop

21.  Putting the binding on quilt that Hannah made for her parents, and shipping it to her

22.  Start a Sewing With Kids group with the homeschooling family a block over

23.  Sew-In for new friends here in Summerville

24.  Put together the plans for collaboration book with MaryEllen

25.  Get the recipe/scrapbook started

26.  A creative schedule that includes:  dye days, technique days, free motion quilting days, water 

       color painting days, online class project time, etc etc 

27.  Find the makeup and hairdo that will help me accept GOING GREY GRACEFULLY

28.  Put together garden plans 

29.  Check out yoga, Pilates, and weight lifting

30.  Get my website back up & running

Top Thirty Challenge

We've all been in this spot.  The one that has you trying to figure out which project you will work on next.  I have so many partially half done (phds), works in progress (wips), and unfinished objects (UFOs),  that if I took the time to list them, I'd probably miss Thanksgiving and Christmas!    

Last year a friend and I challenged each other to see how many of these we could knock out within a few months. It worked quite well. First we sent each other an email with our top thirty items we wanted to finish.  These lists were added to when something urgent came along, and items were deleted when no longer of a priority for us.  We were doing this to encourage each other and have someone to connect with when a project was 'out the door'.  We both got many items done, and enjoyed getting to know each other better.

So, this time around, I'm hoping to connect with more people and we'll see how well we can do!  

I'll try to post often to let you know how things are going here. Feel free to join the challenge and invite your friends as well.  

This week's assignment will be to make up your TOP THIRTY LIST to be done by April 1,2014.  Your list is YOUR list, put those things on it that YOU want to get done. These can be related to sewing, recipes, cleaning, decorating, etc.

Remember, creating a clean space, happy memory, or a masterpiece for the wall all count!

My list will be up shortly.

Luann