Get 'er done!

I don't know how you feel, but I have been needing some serious organization around here.

My kids have been "free range" children for too long.  

Of course, we have chores.  But, each day I feel so bad for asking them to do one more thing.  Yet, their rooms have been HORRIBLE.  Towels on the floor, beds a mess, clothes littering their rooms, and stuff....the stuff.

Enter...the CHORE CHART.  It's highly exciting, and it is actually working (so far).

What is on the chore chart?  Well, morning chores are pretty demanding: get dressed, eat, brush your hair, push your drawers in, etc...  You can see what a slave driver I am.

Afternoon chores (these are pretty difficult too): hang up your backpack, put your shoes away, etc... but there is the clean the sink, toilet, empty garbages, clean up backyard, and tidy room in there too.

The house is looking better.  And, maybe now I will have time to work on a little of this....

Quilter's Home Magazine-Bookmarked

A few months ago I got a call from Quilters Home Magazine, asking if they could do a small little ditty on me for their magazine.   Clearly, you can see my answer.  I was so excited.  I mean, I am virtually a "nobody," so I was happy to get out there in the quilting world.

I went on a treasure hunt to find the mag when it came out, found it at Barnes and Noble, and I have been pleasantly surprised since.  This magazine is perfect for those of us who are slightly cheeky.  It is fun, light hearted, and informative.  You should definitely check it out.

Oh, and if you are looking for me, you can find me on page 69.  I know, you can hardly wait!

On to the really exciting stuff.  Yesterday was Valentines Day, and I had a full one.  Lucky for me, my sweet toddler threw my phone into a yard garbage can full of water on Saturday while I was working on science projects and hot pads for a class I am teaching tonight.  That made me have a couple chores on Monday.   

On the list:  get a new phone, get valentines presents for the kids (oh yeah, probably should have done this earlier to have them all ready valentines morning), do all the laundry, get a Rx for a new sinus infection (yeah for me), and go out to celebrate.  I almost got everything done, but the laundry is still not put away.  

My fever totally knocked me out by the end of the day....laundry can wait.

Here is my Lizard while we were waiting at the Pharmacy for my Rx to get filled.  I love her green teeth from eating her Valentines party.  And the photo...taken with my new phone a mytouch.  I am loving it!

  

Even Slower

Things are pretty crazy over here.  After recovering from a pretty awesome stomach flu last week, we are now dealing with strep throat and head colds/flu.  

I have been feeling sorry for myself because I am the opposite of productive.

Then, I got a super fun box in the mail.  It was from my MOM.  She always makes me feel special, remembered, and loved. 

I read a blog earlier this week about love.  Not the romantic kind, but the charity kind of love.  I have been thinking about it a lot.  How many times do we think about how wonderful someone is, and keep it inside?  I know for me, it is often.

I am surrounded by amazing people.  They are everywhere.  They are in church, at my kids school, in my neighborhood, at the store, and far far away.  So many people are appreciated silently.  What if we all took a moment to recognize 1 or 2 of these people?  

Go ahead, send an email, a real handwritten letter, or give someone a call.  I can guarantee it will lift their heart as well as yours.

Moving Slow.....

Yes, I have started working on more sewing projects.  I am moving at an incredibly SLOW pace.  Way too slow.  What is inhibiting me?  Well, those lovely guys shown above take up a fair amount of my time.  This motherhood thing can take all your free time if you let it (insert small chuckle).  Honestly,  I am loving motherhood, and I am happy to put off my projects to enjoy moments like the one above.  Oh, the joy of watching my kids enjoy each other.  It is precious and perfect.  One of my big dreams for my family is for my kids to love each other, to want to be around each other, and to be on the same team.  We certainly aren't there all the time (as I am writing this I am breaking up squabbles), but I love the shining moments of joy.  Ahhhh, deep breath.

Also taking my time was a little rearranging in our home.  Shopping has taken up quite a bit of my time.  I am serious.  And no, I don't love shopping.  I wish I did!

Yeah, in true Sarah fashion, I had to re-do something in my house at the start of the new year. Luckily, this year, it isn't anything major.  Just rearranging.   What did we do?

Well, in order to create a more orderly life, I think having one of our computers downstairs will help us.  Help with calendaring, emails, etc.  It's a challenge to be with the kids downstairs, and be working on "work" upstairs.  To move the computer downstairs we needed a spot.  

Well, we have a little cove in the kitchen (previously occupied by the hutch in the picture below) where a computer would work.  But, then we had to move the hutch.....where?  Into the living room, which we turned into a dining room/piano room.  We got rid of our couches, had to get a new kitchen table ($300, thanks to the Sharp's from Craig's List), and got a new desk from Costco.  So, the pictures below are from the new dining room/piano room.  I would LOVE to show you the new computer area...but alas, the desk we got from Costco was broken out of the box.  NO more desks were left.  More shopping.  I found a desk from JCPenney and it is on its way.

Maybe after we get the desk in there I can work a little faster to show you something FUN!

Back to work....

photo from JessicaSprague.com

Finally, I have started thinking about quilting again.  Right now, I am printing out templates for my next series of quilts.  Yes, I said series.  I am hoping to pull myself together and make a "seasons" quilt collection.

My inspiration?  You guessed it....pictured above is a shape.  I love the shape of that tag, and I am working  a similar shape into these 4 quilts.  I am excited to start again, and I am pretty happy because these quilts will be so easy for people to make.  Easy to make, display, and finish.

As, I am pondering on how to make them, I have to think about my instructions.  What will be the easiest instructions, the best way to make this understandable....and what really comes to my mind is freedom.  I love that quilters have freedom in making the quilt their own.  I am thinking of making mine a wool/cotton hybrid.  But, I think it would also be fabulous with only cottons.  And, what about the method of applique?  Raw edge, needle turn, machine applique....all of them work.  

I learned from writing my first book, that publishers want  precise directions (down to the color to choose in a quilt), and I prefer to use vague directions (so people feel free to make their own choices).  So, when you read instructions on quilt making, I hope you open your mind.  Adjust things, change a method, do your own thing.  It's okay to be different, it's GREAT to be different.

Now go make something!  I know I will.

Weekend

So, what did you do this weekend?

You can tell we had some fun.  I made a quilt for a dear friend, but of course, in true Sarah fashion, I forgot to take a picture of it before I sent it off to its new home.

But, I did get a picture of my daughter's science project.

(*** News Flash: Good and Plenty's explode in Diet Coke, just not as well as Mentos do).

And we spent a good amount of time blowing glass at Sonoran Glass Art Academy.

Did you have fun?  Were you busy?  

What did you do?

Connecting Threads....

Oh my goodness.


Just as I was clearing out my emails, I got this one in my mailbox.  Hello...there couldn't be a better surprise!  A whole email about my book.  Go check it out!

Thank you Connecting Threads, you made my day!