Will that work for you?

Decluttering! A lifelong skill that no one teaches, but they should! Clutter creeps up because we don't have homes for the things we own. And we are notorious for buying MORE. For fun, look at this short video. Need I say more? 

Here's something that I've noticed about myself. Years ago, I would quickly get bored at home. I know -- how could that happen? It wasn't boredom so much as the need to talk to someone. So, who did I talk to? Diane and Susannah at Ruti's Needlebed. I'd go over and chat for a bit - it got me out of the house, I had a human conversation fix, and I usually bought something, whether I needed it or not! 

Now, I look at what needs to be done and ask myself if I have time to go to the grocery store to get something. Should I just go for a walk to get back to work sooner? Staying in touch with people via Zoom has helped a thousandfold with the human conversation fix. I can chat with many people, but I don't have to commit all day to visit. 

And now, back to decluttering. As you walk around your house today, examine various areas CLOSELY. What can go, and what do you want to keep? 

Perhaps someone else could use those things you really don't need. 

Like fabric, for instance! If you have many bright, colorful fabrics, including seasonal ones, you could donate them to Comfy Cases, and someone (or it could be you) can make beautiful pillowcases for children. I also hear that some nursing homes are also looking for pillowcases. You know you can't take the fabric with you, so figuring out how to reduce that fabric stash is good. Pillowcases for seniors and children are a great way to eliminate big yardage pieces. 

Check out Comfy Cases to see their requirements. Although their program has expanded, their main focus remains hospitals in southern Ontario. You should check that out, as I'm just guessing, and Grammarly does NOT like it when I say, "I think, or I believe." It wants solid options! 

I had a fabulous day! No - the samples are not done, although I completed a couple more, and it should not take long to get the remainder done. I swear, we think things can be accomplished in half the time they actually take! Why is that? Anyway, I did a lot of machine embroidery, but I can't share it with you this morning because we have a machine embroidery club this morning, and there are OODLES of show and tell, as well as loads of tips and learning. I'm so excited - I'm practically giddy! 

Again, I had great hopes that I'd be done by mid-afternoon. Nope - I didn't finish until dinnertime, and even then, dinner was late! I accomplished my goal in that area, so all is good. I finished my three priority tasks, and now three more are on the list for today. 

Let's go back to looking at some storage solutions. When I was much younger, I believed anything written down was true. I have since learned that is not true - not even close. I won't go into how telling untruths seems fashionable, and people want to win the contest for the biggest untruth! 

The same goes for anything. Just because someone says it's a good idea, you need to evaluate it before committing to it, whether buying something new or adopting a new habit. Just because I like things done a certain way does not mean they work for you! We all have our quirks and need to consider them when we do anything. 

Finding suitable storage ideas is one of those areas. Here's something I spotted last week. 

Practical or pretty?

This is a brilliant idea for storage. It's not so clever for practical use. What if you want the basketball on the bottom? WAIT - what if your teenager wants that ball? It's not likely that they'll grab the top four balls and hold them in their hands while fishing the bottom one out. The top four will get tossed, and they'll roll. It's a brilliant storage idea, but it's not practical at all. 

So, just because it looks good in the store or online -- THINK twice before you buy. How practical is this? That's important for gadgets in the sewing world or any other hobby. It looks cute, but will you make use of it? The pretty organizer that works for no one! The little scratch pads that you just can't use because they are too cute? All CLUTTER!!!!

I've become ruthless! 

I realized yesterday that the current magazine I'm browsing is about Getting Organized, not storage, so this one has more useful ideas. 

Secrets of Getting Organized 2008

The date is 2008, and I chuckled when I read this. 

We no longer need storage for either VHS or DVD. We can stream anything, and no need for storage of any kind. OK - I know some people like to keep that stuff. How many people have "many" Disney VHS tapes? We have NONE! A Spotify account (family is cheaper) gives you access to any music you want! Or almost. We had a year-end comparison of who listened to Spotify the most last year. I was in third place with 7,001 minutes. DH was at 17,351, and M was over 20,000 minutes. 

But here are a couple of ideas that I liked. This is often an unused space and look at all that storage. But don't just create storage to hide the mess. Clean up the mess first, then decide if you need more storage. Yes - kids will use this as a slide. 

Great storage idea for a staircase

I love the idea of the dishes having their spots in a drawer, not above them. No heavy lifting. But we are definitely NOT that coordinated at our house. How easily can those dividers be moved?  

Great storage for dishes

I hate this idea. I get it - if you live in a small place and don't have a lot of storage, hanging pots is excellent, but right over the window? I'm not a fan of this concept. 

Not a fan

I'm still disciplined, so I set aside an hour to work on the puzzle while slowly eating my snack. Wait—it only took about 30 minutes to finish. That sky was a bit challenging. 

The 500-piece puzzle is done!

This is called Williamsburg. I haven't put it away yet because there was no plastic bag in the box, but I now have one, and I'll put it away later today. It's a 500-piece puzzle. I have the next one (also a 500-piece puzzle) out, and I'll work on that this afternoon. 

I had company while I worked. That dog is CLINGY!!!

MOM - I'm just making sure you're safe!

Now that Mujrphy knows her pictures can be uploaded to Bear's AURA frame, she's extra cute. I swear she just does things, so I must take photos of her! What a goofball!!

MOM - I LOVE playing ball

And look at her face? Is that the face of a goofball or an intelligent dog? 

MOM - I'm brilliant, you know! 

But both dog beds were tossed to the opposite end of the room more than once during the day! I don't know what she gets out of that exercise. Lexi just sleeps on the couch and ignores the whole thing. 

DH must think I'm a little kid, and I am because Murphy and I get caught up playing ball, and all heck breaks loose in our house! We were told to tone it down. He's a grumpy old man! 

The gym workout was great. Thanks to the personal trainer, I received a little assistance in stretching at the end. Then, I spent 15 minutes with the compression legs and 10 minutes in the steam room. I had a good long shower and then went back home! It was a great way to start the day. 

I asked Brooke about the Stand Up/Sit Down exercise. Was I doing it right? I felt I was leaning too far forward. Nope - I'm doing it right. You want to stand up as if you are being pulled by the top of your head, so your head is UP, not leaning forward. If you can, try the exercise in front of a mirror. And then she asked me if I was trying different heights. WAIT -- NO -- different chairs, which are mostly the same height. I have a stool, but I'm not sure I'm ready to try that yet. 

I see I have a lot to prepare for next weekend. We're starting the Chatsworth quilt, so if you haven't signed up yet, please do so. On Tuesday, I'll get the distribution list and send out the information to everyone. 

Chatsworth

The signup is on the Hobby Horse website. If you don't have a copy of the book,  you should sign up online tomorrow so they can get it to you! The book has other options for the blocks, so maybe a table runner is good for you!

WAIT - before I go, I've been reading some disturbing books lately. These are books by women authors who write about EVIL women. I mean - really evil. Last night, I finished Verity by Colleen Hoover. I've never read her books before, but EVIL and very creepy, is all I can say. The other one is Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon. Another EVIL woman. Lots of plot twists in both. 

I swear women authors are trying to outdo themselves in creating evil characters! I'm not sure either scenario is plausible - too much happened at the spur of the moment. Are the villains great planners, or did they get lucky? 

Speaking of authors, I'm sure many of you are familiar with Louise Penny. Do you get her monthly newsletter? If not, here is a look at some of her best moments in 2024. Her books are great, and the publishing world also thinks so. No real evil characters, no blood and gore, but lots of suspense, great characters, and well-written!! 

And now I'm out of here. I have two presentations this morning, and both are ready to go!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!

Meanfingful gifts

You'll be happy to know (and I'm thrilled) that I made excellent progress on the samples, and I'm almost done. Yes, a bit more stitching is needed, and they will be finished. Thank goodness. I didn't think the process out too much in advance; I may have overdone it. But I'm learning lots while making them, and that's all that counts!

I know that many of you are in the process of decluttering right along with me. There are all kinds of 30-day plans, and on each day, you tackle a different area. I got a chuckle the other day when someone posted that the task was to match up the lids of the plastic ware and then the junk drawer. I can happily say that both were done several years ago and the best news? They are still in good shape! 

If I wanted to take a look, if anything was amiss, it would take less than five minutes to tidy it up! Technically, we no longer have a junk drawer, as we deal with it or it goes into the office. I don't let that happen anymore. We don't have much plastic ware, so that's also a non-issue. Hmm - I should take pictures for tomorrow. 

But getting to that point takes time. 

Why are we doing all this? Yesterday, I started a new Storage magazine (2008), with eight well-known organizers contributing. Hey, this stuff doesn't get dated. The junk was the same then, but only now, because we ignored the magazines—we have more! I don't have more—thank goodness—but if I had completely ignored it, I'd have more!

For those who don't think you should declutter, here are some quotes from the magazine that say it all. We all remember Peter Walsh. 

And how about this one. 

And this

And this one I thought hit home. What we own NO LONGER fits our lifestyle! 

This one is an absolute YES for me. Also, the cluttered home is no longer my lifestyle. I like a minimalistic look. I just wish I could get there faster. Yes - I could hire someone to help, but I don't want to do that yet. I know what to do and how to do it. I'll get there. Next week, I hope to get some of these boxes and bags out of the house, making me feel better about the decluttering. Then, once I've cleaned up Studio U, I can take more stuff up there to sort. 

I'm slow and methodical, and just whipping through the house and throwing stuff in the recycling bin or garbage would stress me out. What I need to improve when I get started on a new area, especially with paper and magazines, is not to read everything! That's my downfall! But I had a thought as I finished one of the Storage magazines. Each one says the SAME thing, so do I need to read them all? I do not! As I said, if I had thrown them out, I wouldn't have realized that. Wish me luck! 

But I also wouldn't have found those quotes or some of the pictures that make me laugh. I'm good with slow, methodical, and CONSTANT! 

The biggest thing is that I've made the move to make this a priority. I fiddled with it for ten years, but now it's my priority. I want guilt-free time and space. 

The weather is bizarre these days. When I left the house for my walk, the sun was out, and it was a beautiful day. Then, before I knew it, it was snowing, and the cloud coverage looked like we were in for a significant snowstorm. By the time I returned to the house (less than one hour), the clouds were gone, and the sun was shining. What was that all about? 

But I was good - I had my afternoon snack and worked on the jigsaw puzzle, but only for one hour! I set myself a limit because I had work to do. 

However, when someone called me, I took the opportunity to work on the puzzle while I chatted. That requires more concentration than I realized, so I may have focused too much on it. Here's what it looks like. 

The jigsaw puzzle

I should be able to finish it later today. I talked about the sorting trays the other day. I'm not a good candidate for the sorting trays. All those pieces are now crowded down the sides of the puzzle, which was easy because they are on a smooth table top. As I did that yesterday, I realized I've always done that. I like the pieces close together and as close to me as possible. 

If they were in sorting trays or on a felt board, I'd have to pick them up to move them. I don't think so. Based on that, I should get rid of the puzzle mat in the basement, as I don't use it. Does anyone want a puzzle mat? I'll check the size. 

After this one is complete, I may make another 500-piece puzzle. The 500-piece ones are easy, so I can do them fast. However, I need some definite downtime to make a 1000-piece puzzle. 

I mentioned that we don't give gifts except for M and Dillon. As I mentioned, I want the gift to be meaningful (for both us and them) and something they will enjoy. 

I scored three for three this year! We gave them a gift certificate for storage, which they needed to organize the last room in their apartment. They were very excited about that. How could I say no to storage? 

But they finally opened the box with the remaining two presents, and I keep getting WOW texts from them. We bought them the AURA frame, and once they set it up last night, they loved it! The pictures are super easy to add and share, and I got an invitation last night to share photos with them. They love taking or getting their photos taken, so this is a perfect gift. Again, thanks to Susan for that suggestion—it was a good one. 

The last thing I gave them took a LONG time to make, but it's cute, and they LOVE it. I got this idea from Maryke. Take a 365-day calendar and write notes in it. I started a wedding (2026) countdown! Then, I added little messages on days with some meaning. As I said, writing all those notes took a long time. WAIT - writing the notes wasn't hard; it was thinking of things to write, finding those special days, or counting out the days for the countdown. 

The wedding countdown calendar

My writing sucks, but I ignored that and at least made it legible! That's all I wanted, and the gift was a success. The OMG Facts are also interesting! I did NOT write every day! I guess I could have counted down every day. Anyway - I hope they continue with it for the year - it's a quick flip of the calendar page. I know these things get abandoned, but let's hope!

Speaking of pictures, here's someone who tries very hard to have her picture taken EVERY DAY. She's not happy to just lie on the blankets, but she has to play with them first, and then she'll lie right in the middle of the mess. That's our Murphy! 

MOM - at least I'm active! I'm not a lazy dog!

There is so much to do today, and I have my list of three priorities. I have two presentations to prepare, and while I have pictures of my own to add, there are a few more things that I want to finish so they can be added. Don't worry—I'm double-dipping, as one of them is a sample that needs to be done today! All is good!!

Here's an update on the leg: While this issue is still present, and I have my moments, I'm at a dull ache stage, NOT an acute pain. There is a massive difference, and I can live with the ache until we figure this out. I wanted to get over the holidays before I pursue it, so on Monday, I'll be on the phone with the doctor to see where we go next. 

And on that note, I'm off to the gym to see Brooke. I wonder what surprises she has for me today. Stand up/Sit Down. I'm stunned at how simple yet effective this exercise is, and it gets your blood circulating! Who knew that, along with my cluttered house, I wasn't focusing on my physical well-being as much as I should have. I thought walking was good enough, but it wasn't. That only worked part of my leg muscles, and while spin class was supposed to take care of it, it wasn't enough! 

If you want a specific decluttering assignment today, have you finished all the drawers in your house? It's amazing how many of them there are! If you need something else, why not take a bathroom cabinet? Get under the sink and see what's there! It all has to go! Or most of it anyway!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Sampler Quilts

I know that I shouldn't be reading all these old magazines. I'm above that - toss them and be done with it. Buy no more than you can read. However, I have to say that I LOVE reading them. They are almost more entertaining than reading the current ones, which tend to be filled with patterns I'll never make. 

Here's what I learned from a quilting magazine that is over 25 years old! The magazine is called Sampler Quilts by Quilt and has a copyright date 1999. 

Sampler Quilt magazine

Didn't everyone make a sampler quilt when they learned to quilt? There were blocks with piecing, Y-seams, applique, paper piecing, and as many techniques as they could squeeze into 12 or perhaps 20 blocks. Remember? 

I don't know if anyone would even consider making one today. Can you imagine those "huge" 12" blocks in a mishmash of shapes and styles? That's horrible. 

However, I got a kick out of this article. GASP!!! Make a sampler quilt with 6" blocks? Make four times as many as needed if you had made 12" blocks? That's just crazy! This was a novelty (not original) in 1999. 

A sampler quilt with 6" blocks

But wait—let's stop and think about it: Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, Farmer's Wife, Tula Pink 100 Modern Blocks (or any 100-block project), Dear Jane, and so on! Yep—they are all sampler quilts, except we no longer call them that! 

It's hilarious that we have made more work for ourselves, but I love creating and looking at a sampler quilt with 6" or smaller blocks than 12". 

So a couple of bad things happened at my house yesterday. It's not super bad, but you know how easily I get distracted. 

I was in Studio U, and this puzzle was calling my name, so I laid out all the pieces while I had my afternoon snack. I left a space to work and lay all the pieces around. YES - I know I could get puzzle sorter trays and might do that one day. 

The next puzzle is laid out

Then, I pulled all the border pieces. One MUST always start with the border. Not a border person? You are brave! 

The border pieces

The border is all together except one piece. That was easy! I'm still eating my snack. 

Done except for one piece

Oops. Then I got involved in my audiobook, working a bit longer than planned. I tore myself away, and thankfully, it's upstairs where I won't be tempted to stop and put in a "few" pieces as I walk by. It's a 500-piece puzzle. Oh, can anyone guess what the name of the puzzle is? It's a building in the US. 

The state of the puzzle

While in Studio U, I also finished cutting the blocks on the agenda for the SAMPLER quilt. The fabric bins got put away, and I need to walk these bags of pieces downstairs so they can be sewn. 

My sampler blocks are ready to sew

That was a good thing that happened. 

The other naughty thing I did was purchase an Aura digital frame before Christmas. I didn't post about it because I bought one for M and Dillion. Neither of them reads my blog, but I wanted to be sure it would be a surprise for them. Purchasing the frame wasn't the naughty thing—it was what I put on it. You'll see it in a minute. 

Well, it took me a while to get things prepped so I could send another package to them, and I needed this one to arrive before New Year's Day. The package arrived on time. It was picked up Friday night in Mississauga and delivered to West Vancouver around noon on Monday. Except they were away, which I didn't know they would be! And so was their landlord. So a neighbor took charge of the package, and they only opened it last night! They LOVE it, which I knew they would. 

It's Bluetooth, and I started with a few pictures of the girls. But then I've added all kinds of pictures, which is the bad part. 

My Aura Frame

I've loaded pictures of my Camino walk, and as I relive the memories, I need to go again. It was such a fantastic trip, and it was such a great feeling to be there. I think it's the peace and quiet, the solitude, the need for very little stuff, and just pure heaven! I'll go back - just not this year. That's the naughty part! 

If you invite friends, they can share photos on your frame and vice versa. I know I'm going to love my Aura Frame. Check it out—it's a fantastic gift. I will remove all the other picture frames in my house and just use this one. Thanks to Susan for letting me know about it. 

How did I make out on the sample making? I made good progress but did NOT finish, and it was not even close. However, I got over the things I was procrastinating about, which was good. 

I had to dig out my serger for part of it this morning. You have to LOVE an air-threading serger. 

Air-threading serger 

I had to switch to cover stitch (it took a minute) to make that happen. The hardest part is changing the needles. The rest is a breeze. And then loading the thread into the openings and touching the SWOOSH button, and in milliseconds, the serger is threaded? It doesn't get any better than that!! 

I love it when the thread comes shooting out!

That one is the Husqvarna Viking Amber Air S600, and I wouldn't be without it. However, when I opened it up to thread it, I was SHOCKED at how dirty it was inside. I think I need to get the vacuum out! The poor thing. 

A bizarre thing happened yesterday morning. Murphy is so much better on the SAME route every day. She gets less excited, and we pass a gas station on that route. The price of gas was 155.9 at 7:45 AM. Lexi and I can take any route we want, and yesterday, we just happened to pass by the same gas station about 40 minutes later. The price was now 151.9. It had dropped FOUR cents in less than an hour. Then, when I walked to the grocery store at about 2:00 PM, this was the price. 

The fluctuating gas price

The price had dropped another 3 cents. I laugh because in Saskatchewan, or at least in the North Battleford area, the price doesn't change for weeks, probably months! 

The moral of this story is that if you live in a large city (I assume this applies to all large cities), fill up your tank in the afternoon or evening—never in the morning when the prices are premium!

The weather was very bizarre yesterday. There was a little snow when I took the girls out, but as we got home, it started snowing like a blizzard. The flakes were big and fluffy, and visibility wasn't great.  

MOM -- this is my weather!

The girls were in their glory and having a blast chasing each other. It's hard to get pictures of them doing that because if they see me, they stop! So I enjoy watching them and sneak a few photos when I can. 

Hey LEXI -- I can see you! 

Then the snow stopped, the sun came out, and the sidewalks and driveways were bare. What was that all about? 

Thanks to someone who has identified two states I might have missed in my US trek; I'll check that later today. I zoomed into Google Maps, and I'm starting at the MGM Grand in Detroit. 

The start point of my US virtual trek

Traveling virtually around the States over the next three years will be super fun, and wouldn't that be a fantastic real road trip. If I were doing it in person, I'd want to stop in different cities. I just picked cities to ensure I had a stop in each state and to keep the distance down as much as possible. 

In case you haven't figured it out, I'm very goal-oriented. I also like numbers, so when I checked out my stats on Goodreads (yes, I know who owns them), here's what I found. 

I read 73 books (actually 74, but I never logged the last one yet). That book with the 944 pages? That was because I read that on my phone, and the book is huge in any format! 

I have to laugh at this stat. I read Harry Potter - Goblet of Fire, and so did 5,737,402 other people. Seriously? This book is over 20 years old or close to it, and are there still that many people reading it? Incredible!!!!

The other book was about the Camino, written by someone from Sudbury. Only 57 people read it, but those 57 people are important! That book was published in 2018. 

I set the goal of reading 52 books in 2025. If I read more, that's great; if I don't, I'm not worried. 

I started reading one of the books loaned to me, and I'm intrigued. It's a good book - I'll tell you when I'm done. 

I also managed to do a lot of writing and editing. I should get one more assignment out the door today and try to finish those samples completely. I am my worst enemy because I can't stop making the darn things. I need to have a cutoff for the number. I swear I did, but then I ignored it!

I have two clubs on Sunday, so I'd better organize myself. I've been working on stuff, but I need to finish it! 

I try to set a goal of three things each day, but most days, more than three must be done! So, I prioritize three things, and anything else that gets done is a bonus!

On that note - I'm out of here. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!

The plan for 2025

It warms my heart to know that I am not alone! Boxes and bags of stuff are being donated to various organizations nationwide. We will conquer this mess we've created, but we must be mindful not to let it happen again. Slow and steady is all I can say. 

Let's not forget to keep celebrating those little steps. Maybe it's one magazine that got tossed, or perhaps it's a book that you donated. It all counts. What's most important is that as you start to let go, the more you want to let go. 

I think that's why I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday. I see what needs to go and want to do it all NOW. Time doesn't allow it at the moment, and I really need to get rid of the stuff I've already designated to go. It's like the floodgates have opened, and I now see myself taking the tub of the financial papers on my desk and sorting them upstairs in Studio U. Most will be purged, I'm sure, but the fact that I can visualize that is amazing! 

Before that, I need to finish the writing and clean up Studio U so I can make another mess! It really is a good place to sort and organize. 

I really want to regain all the time I spend decluttering. I hear some of you saying, "Just leave it." But who will clean it up later? By having less, I'm gaining more time—less time searching for things and less time managing. Plus, the sense of well-being from having a decluttered home? That's worth the time to make it happen. So, the lesser of two evils is to deal with it. It WILL happen!

I set three tasks for yesterday and worked on all three. Did I completely finish them? Not quite, but that's OK—progress was made. I cut some quilt blocks until the light got so bad that it was hard to see values in the fabric. The overhead light in Studio U is NOT conducive to quilting. I'll finish the rest of my cutting later today. 

The sample-making went well. Sometimes, the hardest part is coming up with ideas. I even thought about what samples to make as I walked the dogs over the last few weeks. Hmm—I had the first couple in mind and couldn't get beyond those. Then, I got a piece of paper to write down the ideas. I never wrote a thing down. 

But when I started making the samples and doing it methodically, it was easy to come up with the rest. I can't over plan—I need to get my hands dirty, and then it'll happen. This is why one must do, not just sit and think! 

I'm also going to try to have a more relaxed 2025. Not that 2024 was stressful. Yes, it had its moments, but that will always happen. It doesn't matter how much you plan; when things go wrong, it can become stressful. I've got to try to keep that schedule open—that's my biggest issue. And so far, I'm good. 

I have loads of downtime in a day - you don't always hear about it. But I like reading and read 75 books last year, including fiction and nonfiction. I walked 4,500 KM with no headphones, no music, just my brain to entertain me. I get a solid 6 - 8 hours of sleep every night. I went on five quilt retreats and took the summer off. So don't tell me that I don't take time for myself. I do - it's just that sometimes, the work gets concentrated, mostly because I don't manage my time well enough and procrastinate, creating urgent deadlines! 

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Here's a reminder about the NEW classes/lectures for the first six months of this year. All of them are on Zoom. If you are in a continuing class from last year, I did NOT mention it here. 

The Hobby Horse: 

Crossing the Finish Line  -  A six-part series on different ways of finishing a quilt. Check the link for all the details.

Chatsworth is a four-part class on making a quilt. You also need the book, and the paper-pieced foundations will be helpful; otherwise, you'll have some wonky edges to sew. 

Thimbles and Things: 

Saturday Sampler:

A four-part lecture series on various quilt-related topics, including batting, pressing, and color, and a "clinic" on fixing things when they go wrong. 

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My five clubs (only five of them) are full. Here's one thing I've noticed. If you don't charge for a club, getting people off the distribution list is hard if you haven't heard from them. But if you make them pay, then no money, no emails! I must keep that in mind going forward! I still have one list to contact, and I'd better do that soon! I could delete people from the list, but some are lurkers. They are happy to be in the background, but how will you learn without feedback? Without asking questions - how will you learn? Without doing anything, how will you learn? 

I think I will set an objective for these people - if I don't hear or see one thing from the lurkers, they will be off the list. It's not about my and my anal idea about keeping a clean distribution list, but it's for them and the guilt they must feel! The two groups are machine embroidery and digital cutter. I'm going to give them a goal for 2025. If they don't touch their machine by June, I want them to SELL it and get rid of the guilt! 

So there's not much new starting this year, but that's OK. We all have loads that we need to finish, and I'm trying to teach more techniques than projects to allow us all to learn rather than add to our pile of UFOs. 

I signed up for the Conquer Challenge 2025 and set a goal that is still a stretch for me but less than 2024. I won't tell you the amount of KM I committed to yet. 

I also created a new virtual challenge to replace the one in Africa. It's a very cool challenge. I may have to tweak it a bit, as I don't think I put myself everywhere I want to be. Have a look. 

My new personal challenge

I'm starting in Detroit and walking through all 48 continental states. I wanted to capture a city in each state, but I think I have missed some along the eastern coast. I must review it a bit closer and make sure that I touch Ohio right after Michigan. 

How many kilometers is that? A lot—it's 15,870 KM. I set myself the maximum time (three years), and I'll have to supplement with cycling a bit as I will NOT be walking that much in three years. But it's fun to map, and since it's all in the US, I bet Google Maps has mapped the entire thing. 

Speaking of walking, look at this. 

MOM -- great smells along the walk

It was so nice when I went for my afternoon walk, but they made me feel very guilty, so I went for a walk and then returned to get them. 

It took Murphy a bit to settle down. She's a bully and has to be in front. But once she settled down, the rest of the walk was pleasant. I may take them both for a short walk more often! 

My walking buddies

And there's Murphy with her current teddy bear. I went to arrange the bear's ears for the photo, only to discover that it only has one ear! Where is the other one? No one knows! 

MOM - he still has one ear!

Well, I'm off to make more samples this morning. I give myself until the end of the day to complete them, including the stitching. I must move on. With the samples I'm making, you could never be done. But enough is enough. Don't worry—you'll be very aware of those samples in a bit. 

We're chugging along on the EXIT Game—the Advent Calendar. DH wants to do more than one a day, but I say no. I love slow and steady, and if we zip through them, what will we do at dinner? Except for that one day, all of these puzzles are very doable! I'm not sure I would get them all by myself, but the logic is there! 

And that's a wrap for today! Stand up/Sit Down! As I become more aware of my daily movements, I often use my arms to get out of the new office chair, which has arms. I also sometimes use my arms on the table to get up from it. Now that I'm aware, I'm trying very hard not to do that. Use my quads and core, but don't rely on the arms! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Happy New Year 2025!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

Thanks to everyone for the comments about prewashing fabrics. I do not add any products (soap, detergent, or fabric softeners) when prewashing. I followed instructions on a package that said to prewash and wondered what others do! What does the manufacturer mean when they say prewash—detergent or not? But the instructions also specified not to use fabric softener! 

It's interesting, but I was told years ago that dryer sheets have massive amounts of chemicals in them, including petroleum, which can end up staining (permanently) your clothing! We haven't used dryer sheets in years. Nor do we use wool balls or any other thing in the dryer. Most of our clothes are not cotton, and there is little static. 

However, I would use something if I were out west, where the air is dryer. When I was out there for those few days, my hair was all over the place with static! It's a DRY cold, as they say!

It's New Year's Day 2025. Wow, it seems like yesterday when we were all worrying about the computers and whether they could handle the switch to 2000—twenty-five years ago! 

I must say that I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed this morning, but not necessarily in a bad way. The issue is this. 

I have so much in my house that I don't want, and I can't get rid of it fast enough! 

These boxes and bags at the front door need to be dropped at the thrift store. 

The processed donation pile

In this pile are several bags for the Pony Express. And several boxes (dead appliances, metal) need to go to the recycling depot.  

The Pony Express area

This is stuff to be donated to the local school. Some of it is at the front door. 

Donation to the local school

And some of the boxes are still upstairs. 

Donation to the local school

I sorted one of the boxes of books yesterday, but there are still NINE more to sort. The boxes are too heavy to carry, so I sort them in place. One box, with teen-related novels and non-fiction, went downstairs to the thrift store pile. The remainder of the books in that box are back in Studio U. They are books on fashion, and I'm going to contact the local high school with a fashion program to see if they want first dibs on them. 

Nine more boxes of books to sort

These small items were in Studio U and need to be sorted, but I've moved them to the office, which is the holding area for anything without a home. 

A small stack of stuff to sort

There are still four bags of "garbage," which are massively heavy! I will confess that I went through one yesterday. I know—I should not have, but I did. It was mostly stuff that could go in the recycling bin, so I put those items in the bin, and now I'll go through the other four. Do not yell at me for that. It's my nature; for me, that's part of the process. 

Four bags of "garbage" to deal with

There's also a tub in the office that needs to be donated to another school, but I'm having trouble finding contact information. I guess I'm finding it overwhelming that there is so much to get rid of, and there just doesn't seem to be an end to it. I would love the day when this is all done. 

However, I'm dealing with the massive influx of stuff from M, which is the overwhelming part at the moment. There are people to contact, boxes to load in the car, etc. Once that is all out of the house, I will feel a lot better. 

I would like to deal with everything slated to be given away or put away (even in Studio B) so that I can start fresh with the sewing and decluttering, but that just doesn't seem to be happening. 

WAIT -- I'm not going to let it bother me now. I need to look at the bright side that so much will be gone in a few days, and then, and only then, will it be time to look at other things. Like the office. Do NOT pull anything else out until the current stuff is dealt with. 

The office is the last room in the house that needs attention and is in decent shape. 

The left side of the office

The right side of the office

I saw DH was busy in his office, and I now have another blue box for file folders, which will be donated. At most, I only need one when I remove the filing cabinet. 

I wanted to post these pictures on the blog so that when I look back at this day one year from now, I can compare and see how much progress I've made in the office. I wish I had done that every year, as while it never seems to get better, it is much better than it was. The issue is that if anything doesn't have a home, this is where it ends up! I'm getting better at not letting that happen. 

Now, let's get onto the happy news! I worked in Studio U all day. I took some music with me, and the view from the windows entertained me. It was a glorious day. There was not much sun, but that's OK. 

Here was my sorting pile, and when I think back, I realize I went through a lot of stuff yesterday. I went through the two bags of clothes and found a sweater of mine! A sweater that I LIKE but didn't even realize it's been missing. I found three garments that I can use for embroidery samples. The rest went back in the bags and are by the front door. 

Soring through crap

Souvenirs from swimming when Madeline was on the Mississauga swim team. They went in the garbage. How many trophies end up in the trash? And it seems like they are making them larger and larger. Good grief! 

Memories from the swim team

Some homework from school. It's gone! 

A homework assignment - GONE

It's a slow process; the biggest issue is the HUGE amount of stuff there was to process all at once. That's why doing the decluttering a bit at a time so you can process the crap is best. But now that I have permission to deal with it - I can do it!!! 

And working in Studio U really is a fun place. I love the light, and it's a good exercise to take what I want to work on up there. Is that efficient? Absolutely not! But you know what? Being efficient in our steps is not a good thing! I've been doing my Stand up/Sit Down (now up to 15 reps several times daily). Do you know what I've found? My ability to navigate the stairs has improved enormously. I sometimes hold the handrail, but I don't feel the need as much. Would I consider running? Absolutely NOT! 

Getting up first thing and going to the washroom? It's not a problem—it used to be! So, will I continue? You bet! In a very short time, my legs have become stronger, and I can feel the results. 

Please do yourself a favor: If you struggle with your knees (lots of time, it's weak quads, not the knees), balance, or mobility, do something. Don't become a burden. This is what happened to my mom. She lost her confidence in walking, and now she can't. Remember, losing the strength in your legs also means you can't stand, so you can't cook or at least manage the stove or go to the microwave if it's above the stove. This is NOT a joke! 

I also practiced my balancing while brushing my teeth. 60 seconds on one side, then 60 seconds on the other. Easy peasy! 

I laughed when I read the storage magazine yesterday. It's my current lunchtime reading material. Look at the closet—do you see anything out of place? 

What's wrong with this picture?

They highlight this pull-out rod for hanging clothing while you pack or get dressed in the morning. But look at the mass of hangers in the back. They don't even match, and they are a total mess. 

Instead of making samples yesterday, I did a bad thing. I opened up a puzzle! It was only 300 pieces, so I knew it wouldn't take too long. Soon, all the pieces were spread out on my sewing table in Studio U. 

Starting a puzzle

I quickly assembled the border. 

Border is done

And before I knew it, the puzzle was done! 

Puzzle is done!

Here is the box. I'm guessing there is some kind of amusement park in Pigeon Forge. I love the Dowdle puzzles and pulled another out for later today. I swear I have another 300-piece one. I do not usually purchase them, as they are easy to do. But do you think I can find the other 300-piece one? Not at all. So, I have a 500-piece one, which will slow me down slightly. 

The puzzle cover

The trick to getting through all the remaining mess in the house is to make daily plans. Each day, I will focus on one or more things with a maximum of three. One day, it might be to drop the boxes at the thrift store or sort through a box. But I cannot look at the entire picture, which I did this morning, which threw me into a tailspin! 

Slow and steady. 

As we start a brand new year, many of us are looking to the future—what will we do this year, make resolutions, or set goals? But we must also reflect on the previous year and ensure we celebrate ALL our accomplishments! Celebrating those successes is what motivates us to continue! So, as you celebrate today, don't just look to the future; pat yourself on the back for a job well done!!

By the way, I worked on sample-making this morning and made good progress. I'll continue working on that today. I'm taking a break from decluttering—at least for today. 

And it's time to start a new Virtual Challenge, so I must get that set up. 

On that HAPPY note, I'm out of here, but not before I do my Stand-up/Sit-down exercise another 15 times. You probably do not need this exercise if you get up and down from your chair regularly, but you do need to if you are just standing. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!