Here's my new Christmas wall hanging in place and ready for the holidays. It could have been a little larger for the space, but I'm very happy with it.
I did mostly hand quilting on it . . .
. . . except for the machine meandering stitching on the light colored inner border.
I also worked on my knitted afghan. I'm a smidge bit over halfway done with the second of the four strips. Funny how when you put in blocks of time on a project, you can really see some progress. (Ahem.)
Yesterday I got around to getting out my blue sweater and working on it. Finished the first sleeve and have the second one pretty close to done.
Not only have I been sleeping better but I've found that giving myself "permission" to do things that feed my soul are making me feel better (well, duh, good sleep alone does wonders!) and I also have a strong suspicion that I'm not such an old grouchy she-bear to be around.
Such a win-win situation this is that by heck or by golly, I'm going (to try really, really hard) to stop listening to that nasty little voice in my head that keeps telling me I should be doing tasks and chores the MUST BE DONE. (Insert loud, crashing thunder and lightning.) To that voice I now say, "Piffle!"
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
On a totally different subject, I do believe winter has arrived in northern Minnesota. Our overnight low was 10 above zero with a wind blowing. It's going to be even colder tonight because it's just now 4:45 and the temp is already down to 12 degrees. We have about 6" of snow cover on the ground and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere soon.
This is the first year in a long time that we've had much of any snow before Christmas, but it feels kinda good. As Papa Pea said yesterday, "Well, I guess there are a few outside projects I can cross off my list until spring."
That's what I love about the very definite change of seasons in our part of the country. Now if we could just learn to go with the flow, learn to live more with the seasons, I think we'd be a lot better off. If we would really take the few months of winter to relax, rest and rejuvenate (maybe even a little hibernation?), I think we'd be in much better shape and have lots more energy for the spring/summer/fall seasons.
Your room looks so bright and sunny-very inviting. The wall hanging is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling to get this pair of mittens done. I've lost my enthusiasm. Need to just git r done.
Be blessed,
Rhonda
Rhonda - Thanks! I think the secret to finishing a project that you've lost enthusiasm for is to (somehow) find a block of time, sit down and work on it enough that you can really see progress. Then you'll feel you're not that far from the end. Come one, squeak in the time . . . you deserve it!
DeleteLove the wall hanging. J
ReplyDeleteust wish we had seasons here in the South East. Have hot, more hot, warm, warm, warm (I guess I shouldn't complain), then more hot, then a couple of cool days then 10 - 20 cold days, then back to warm, warmer, warmest, then back to hot.
DFW - I know I so envy your more forgiving climate when it comes to trying to grow most of your food, but I do think I'd get really bored without the definite changes of season. Looking out at my gardens today looks like a totally different world than it does in July. And I like that.
DeleteYou SO deserve and NEED to take more of these quilting days. Who needs sleeping pills when you've got an entire quilting room calling out for attention :)
ReplyDeleteCR - Oh, I LOVE your support! Keep it up in case that devil of a voice in my head tries to take over, will ya?
DeleteNom nom nom, FEED that soul! I gave a little cheer to hear you got so much craftiness time in over the last few days. And the sleep! Yea again. Love the color of the sweater.
ReplyDeleteLindaCO - Being good to myself is something I've always had a hard time doing. I always think I'll do it when I'm done doing everything else I should be doing. (How's that workin'?) But, Thick Head that I am, I think I'm finally coming to the realization that I'll really be a better person if I "fix" myself first before trying to "fix" everything around me. Make any sense?
DeleteHmmm...maybe I'll follow your lead and start giving myself permission.
ReplyDeleteRuth - Well, it ain't easy! BUT . . . you, m'dear, have done much harder things, right?
DeleteYa makin me jealous Lady! It's great you feel revived and rested. Sounds like you need to "schedule" this into a regular occurance. I love the sweater as well as the wall hanging.
ReplyDeleteLisa - Thank you! And, yesyesyesyes, I DO need to schedule in more time for things that brings me so much self-satisfaction.
DeleteI am in envy of your crafty down time!
ReplyDeleteSimply Scaife Family - I can totally understand that. Because of our living circumstances and the phase of our lives, I once went seven years without finding time to do ANY handwork. Can you believe that? It wasn't good for me. I should have somehow, someway MADE the time. Hope you do, too.
DeleteOh my....up close love the hanging even more...and I'm not particularly a quilt fan! Anyway, you may find that allowing yourself time to do what feeds your soul and getting sleep makes it easier to get the chores done, so go for it!
ReplyDeleteAshling - Oh, you are so right there! When I trudge along day after day from one chore to another, I lose all enthusiasm and energy. The thing is (darn!) some days (like today), it seems almost impossible to take the time away from the chores. But maybe tonight after dinner . . .
DeleteThe wall hanging is lovely and the wall color with your wood accents is so warm and inviting. Looking at your bookshelves over the windows - what are the bookends? They look very interesting!
ReplyDelete2 Tramps - Thank you, thank you! I just put up a short blog post about the bookends you noticed. What sharp eyes you have!!
DeleteWell done! I suspect, like me with crocheting, that quilting and knitting are therapeutic for you.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - You got it, Girl! That's exactly it. It's a quiet, almost meditative time for me when I get a lot of thinking done . . . NOT necessarily pertaining to knitting or quilting!
DeleteLove your wall hanging!!!! I have been my own version of a she bear lately too, I crave doing something crafty with my time!!!!! I need to hunker down and get this pig sty clean so I can do some soul feeding!!!! Brrr, I hope old man winter stays away from here a little bit longer, although the hibernating sounds nice ☺
ReplyDeleteKelly - I think I had such a good weekend was because I cleaned the house to within an inch of its life on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So for Friday, Saturday and Sunday it looked pretty good . . . which makes it much easier for me to take some time "off." Now it's looking like it needs some attention again. Sigh. Why can't it stay looking clean and picked up for more than a day or so?
DeleteLove your bookends and the wall hanging. I think bears have the right idea, hibernate. I am trying not to think about whining about the weather when I read about temps in the 10's and below, still in the 60's here during the day, high 30's - low 40's at night. Trying to get by with out turning on the heater at the cost of propane and right now we are in mostly no burn days due to the heavy fog and poor air quality. Supposed to rain tomorrow, hope so, can barely see the grass that sprouted, need rain before it dries up.
ReplyDeleteTombstone Livestock - You'd be surprised at the number of people even in our locale who keep their houses on the chilly side to save on heating fuel. It's one way to try to save a couple of bucks and these days, we have to find any way we can to do so. Still hoping you get more rain . . . and that the air quality clears up for you.
DeleteLovely projects! I am envious of your good night's sleep - I woke up at 3:30 am with a "WHATTHEHECKISTHAT"?! today, went outside and it was some strange jet traffic over at the base. Believe it or not I can sleep through screaming F-18's but this was a wierd noise, maybe one of the new unmanned aerials... have to ask hubby when he gets back, but I DON'T LIKE IT!
ReplyDeleteI didn't put those spaces in my comment, how strange!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin.
ReplyDeleteYou can just never tell how an e-mail or comment (sometimes even blog posts!) are going to appear on another computer. Have you ever gotten an e-mailnn with nninserted allnn throughout nnthe message? That one drives me crazy!
I bet there is some soothing chemical that is released by the brain when we are able to be peaceful and creative. So now you know what to do when you are in a no-sleep slump. I love that Christmas wall hanging - it is so cheerful and lovely. And my GOSH have you gotten far on that sweater? Are you trying to make me feel like chopped liver???
ReplyDeleteSusan - No doubt there is a soothing chemical released! And we all need more of it! I do go into my quilt room some nights when I can't sleep. Feels great then but the next day . . . ugh! That sweater is straight stockinette stitch on #9 needles so it was really speedy-quick to knit. I've seen your knitting, and you are NOT chopped liver!
DeleteMaking fun of an ethnic accent? Not acceptable, hasn't been for years and decades.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - Are you referring to the "velly intellesting" wording? Gosh, surely didn't mean to offend anyone. That phrase was made well-known by Arte Johnson on the show "Laugh In" when he played his German soldier character. You may be too young to remember the show but it was certainly meant simply as a quirky figure of speech then and that's how I used it now.
ReplyDelete