What habits do you want to learn?

Oh --- running short on time this morning; I'll deal with the comments tomorrow. I love comments, so thanks for sending them along. 

We all know that you must be careful when searching the internet as sometimes you don't necessarily get what you want. At least my secondary search was CLEAN but unexpected. 

I was searching for the power tower, so I could figure out where to buy it. This is what I wanted. I love the bilingualism in the photo. The measurements on the left are in inches, and those on the right are in millimeters. A true Canadian measurement!

A power tower

But I also got this! I laughed about it, but they also call these power towers! 

A power tower

FINALLY, after four days of back and forth, I'm happy to report that we finally have all fifteen codes for future Virtual Challenge walks in ONE e-mail. I have no idea why that was so difficult, but they kept forgetting one or two. They wouldn't swap one, even when someone else had said YES, they would do it, but because of a price difference, I had to pay an extra $5, which I did. But at last, they are all together. Now I need to get my legs in gear and start walking! I never stopped, but now they can be used towards a challenge. I'll be signing up for a specific challenge, something I haven't been doing since July of last year! I've been doing the yearly distance, but not a specific one. 

Connection!

I found those calendar sayings when I was madly trying to find the piece of paper with some of the codes. I KNOW exactly where I kept that darn paper until the day I wanted it. In the meantime, I had to search through a mass of paper where it might have been and found those sayings. I ended up finding the e-mail on my computer, but I know I had made a note or two on the paper. 

How can I make notes on a piece of paper and keep the page electronically? Maybe I'll take the data and move it to a word document. I'll keep the original e-mail, but then I can mark the start dates on the paper. I don't know if I even need to do that. I'll think about it. The start dates will show on the computer -- probably don't need it. 

But I also did this. I'm a paid member of The Conquer group, which allows me to map my 2023 (and the previous yearly challenges) onto a map. I walked coast to coast in Canada for the first two years (2020 and 2021 - over 8,000 KM). Last year, I started in Cairo and started walking down the center of Africa. I've extended the walk for two more years and hope to make it to Cape Town by December 2024 (over 16,000 KM - but some of that was done on the bike!). What I love about this is that there are some images along the way with Google Maps, so it makes it interesting to check out the terrain or the view as you walk. 

My personal mapped route for 2023 and 2024

I got LOADS done yesterday, but I can't share yet! I made many phone calls that needed to be done. I called the city about the leaning tree, and for the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of the wooded area. I could remember my street, but not that forest. Thankfully, the lady helped me on the phone. Good grief -- am I starting to lose it? No, I was distracted trying to do two things at the same time, and I got caught! I took tons of pictures and wrote, but that challenge e-mail got me, and at one point, I was so frustrated I became not so productive. Hopefully, today will be an even more productive day.

I'm not a fan of most fancy teas, but when I found Davids Tea at Rexall, I decided to try it again. I got the Forever Nuts which is actually quite nice. So it's a good alternative when I want something other than black tea. 

Forever Nuts by David's Tea

It's not enough to have signs everywhere on the side of the road, but now we have TRAILERS with signs everywhere! Good grief!

A sign trailer

That sewing machine is packed up and ready to go in a couple of weeks. 

The sewing machine is ready to go!

As I madly went through that stack of paper, I found a few things that needed to go downstairs. So I put them in this large tub  - the one without the lid. I have a plan for that tub, and I'll share that tomorrow. 

The large tub is now downstairs

And I removed more of the stabilizer. I'm ALMOST done. I have about two more hours of work on it!

The stabilizer is almost completely removed!

The nice thing is that with the stabilizer removed, it's become soft like fabric again. That stabilizer can make things very stiff! 

I came across this video yesterday. The message in the video is what I KEEP telling my students. You have to PRACTISE -- you have to DO; you can't just think about it or plan it. Thanks to Sara for making the video. It's 12 minutes long but well worth watching. 

The only way to learn is by doing and making mistakes. The more you do, the fewer mistakes you make, and things become so easy that you do them without thinking. Yes -- you still make mistakes, and sometimes even seasoned people (like myself) make some pretty dumb and basic mistakes. But it happens. Do I care? I'm so over that!

I also found this other video made by Sara (from Sewing Mastery.com), the owner of an actual store in South Dakota. In the second video, she talks about having good habits. I couldn't agree more. Good habits are sometimes hard to make happen, but she talks about the habit of sewing. Yep --- sewing for me is a habit. I MAKE time for the things I love and want to do. Hence, I walk and sew every day because those are the things I love and want to do! I'll chat more about Sara tomorrow. 

I have that little blue book she talks about, but do you think I can find it? I started writing in it but lost track of the book. I LOVE the colored pen idea. I'll have to treat myself. But my writing could be better. I'll take a picture and show you something I found yesterday. 

Habits (good ones) are so important to keeping your studios and sewing spaces neat and tidy. If that doesn't become a habit, you are doomed. You can clean up as often as you want, but you will always have to do it again. Find homes for things and make it a habit to put them away, and you'll never have to tidy again! 

I got a before and after picture yesterday and will share that tomorrow when I have more time. I'm off to spin class this morning. So you get ONE more day of reprieve from decluttering but think about your habits. Perhaps you can list the habits you would like to have. This is NOT a resolution, and it might be easier to start with ONE habit. Now we have to figure out how to make that habit stick. Do you need to write a note to yourself and stick it on the fridge? The bathroom mirror? The computer screen? Often, we get excited about doing something, but before it becomes a habit, it gets set aside. Like writing a sentence daily in that little blue book. How are we going to make that a good habit? And that's totally different than making a resolution! 

So get those thinking caps on and PICK one new habit you'd like to form this year. I want to find my little blue book and write in it. First, I need to find it. I thought I knew where it was last night --- OH --- I think I just remembered. I know the area it is in, but not the container, but I think I just remembered. 

On that note, I'm out of here and off to see Joseph. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Pandora has escaped!

OH  --- be careful what you wish for! There was a reason that basket of half-square triangles was languishing on my ironing board! 

I see that some people do not have an issue with leaving things on the ironing board as they put the ironing surface away at the end of the day. It's not that they are crazy --- it's a case of sewing in a living area and not wanting the ironing board in the way. I know I will likely have that arrangement at some point, but for the moment, there's no need to take mine down. I love how creative quilters are -- we WILL find a way to make it work! 

As I showed you yesterday, my ironing board is pretty clear. There were a few errant things on it and a few more on the iron stand. My ironing board used to be heaped with things that needed to be put away. It was a flat surface, and I was darn good at filling any flat surface I could find!

Let's start with what is on the iron stand after I removed the mess of half-square triangles that needed to be pressed and trimmed. 

Hmm -- there's my water container -- that will stay. 

A bottle of ironing solution, which I NEVER use. So why is that there? 

An ironing aid

I've put it in my retreat box, and I can give it to someone there or leave it for someone from the next retreat to take. I will NEVER use it, as I use steam in my iron. The lint roller -- hmmm --- this really isn't the best place for it, and I rarely use it, but where can I store it? I could put it in the cupboard with all the other ironing supplies. The question is -- will I remember it's there? I might try that spot. 

And the last item is a little cover for the iron. 

Things on the iron stand

It's plastic, and the darn thing won't stay in place. I can put it back in place, but it will probably dislodge itself the next time I open it up to put water in the iron. OK --- the next time it comes off, I'm tossing it! It's almost always off, so why am I keeping it? 

Where the iron cover is supposed to

So as easy as that, the ironing board and the stand are CLEAR!! I still need to give that cover a wash, and I've no idea what will happen to it, but I have a brand new one, so if this one gets wrecked, it's OK. But from a durability perspective, it's amazing. There are no weak spots or holes in it -- just stains from my leaky iron that I no longer use! 

The ironing cover is filthy

And then we come back to that container of half-square triangles. Keeping it on the ironing board is logical, but I cannot keep piling those little units up, hoping the pressing fairy will pass by and press them. 

So -- I spent the entire Monday sewing, pressing, and trimming. This is what the container looks like now. 

The container of half-square triangles

AH --- we can see the container, but even after four hours, it almost appears I didn't make a dent. But I did  --- this is what I started out with. That little container is in the bottom right, with many half-square triangles beside it. So I've made tremendous progress. 

What it looked like

However, I have been puttering around trying to clean up a few more odds and ends -- remember, my goal is to have all the visual clutter gone and all the worksurfaces clear and ready to be used. And look what I found. 

A bag of half-square triangles to be trimmed

Another bag of half-square triangles needs to be trimmed. At least these ones are pressed. Oh, help me now!!! 

But wait -- it gets even worse. This is the pile I trimmed yesterday, and it doesn't look like much, but it's a huge stack. 

The half-square triangles that I trimmed

So when I went to put them away with the other trimmed half-square triangles, I found this. 

More bags of half-square triangles to be trimmed

Yep -- MORE bags of half-square triangles that need to be trimmed. That is going to take days to get everything trimmed. OK -- I'm going to have to leave those on the ironing board with the promise that I'll spend some time trimming every day. I do not want to leave these untrimmed. I have yet to start sewing anything with all those half-square triangles, but I should! 

However, I know I'll work on those types of projects when my stash is gone (and I'm working on that), and I need to downsize! Oh yes --- I'll be working with scraps forever. 

Why? Because these are containers of little bits waiting to be sewn into half-square triangles. You are NOT allowed to judge! 

Bits that are waiting to be used as enders and leaders

More bits waiting to be used as enders and leaders

They are neat and tidy and have a home. Therefore they are not clutter, and I'm allowed to keep them. No -- I do not want more! I know that is why I ended up with so many, as I put out a plea for people to save them for me. Silly me! 

I didn't take a picture, but I have containers of half-square triangles that are trimmed and pressed, so I am working on these. 

The next batch is pressed and ready for trimming when I fire up the embroidery machine later today. 

Half-square triangles waiting to be trimmed

And I found a bag of these teeny half-square triangles. Why? 

A 3/4" half-square triangle (unfinished)

I also removed this bag of stuff from the cutting table. Yep -- more bits that need to be sewn into half-square triangles. I had them by the sewing machine to use as enders and leaders, which is good, but how many does one need at any given time? So this pile got moved with the others, and I have a small bag of them in that box by the sewing machine. When I get through that pile, I'll get more. 

More bits to be sewn

That way, everything stays neat and tidy, and I know where the like-things are. I'm good with that. I'll be ordering my power tower today, and I need to find some electrical plugs in that bookcase in the back. The problem with having the worktables in the middle of the space is the cords that run along the floor to the wall outlets. I have three cords, and I plan to take that down to two once the new power tower is here. And it would be good to get them out of the main walkway. 

It was time to get one more work surface clear. This is my digital cutter table, yet it has a sewing machine on it. This machine is leaving home forever in a couple of weeks, and it's there, so I can verify that all the bits were with it. 

A sewing machine to be packed up

Now that I've found all the bits, it's packed up and ready to go. And that table is prepared to play with the digital cutter, including the box of supplies behind it. It's so important to try and have room for everything -- I know -- only sometimes possible. But since I have the space, I'm making good use of it!!!

So how many machines do you own? I own one embroidery machine and two sewing-only machines. That's it! I've gotten rid of several sewing machines this past year -- how many can one sew on at any given time? I also have a loaner embroidery machine and a loaner serger, and I'm good with that. It's all about moderation!

I'm going to have to get this quilt top together soon. I see someone was sleeping against the wall, and I do not want dirty dog on my white blocks. I must get the sashing cut and start sewing later today. 

Someone has been sleeping on my quilt!

I picked up three more quilts from Diane, which are neatly stored in the storage closet. 

Three more quilt tops

I also got some more stabilizer removed from that big piece of embroidery. Another couple of evenings, and I should be done! It's things like these that create mess and clutter around the space. 

More stabilizer removed

I am guilty as charged that I used to leave these boring jobs and clutter and move to something new. I'm trying very hard to stop that habit. It's terrible, and it results in so many partially finished projects. Even worse, it results in almost finished projects, but not quite! I've made HUGE improvements in this area, but I'm still trying to contain the mess. 

Sometimes I feel like the little Dutch boy holding his fingers in the dyke! But at least the flow has stopped, and I'm getting things done, not adding to it. OK -- that's a lie, as I am starting new projects, but I'm keeping up to date well. 

Oh my gosh --- you had better research when you order something. There is always a special at the end of the year for the Virtual Challenges. I ordered a couple more (even though I already have quite a few stacked up and ready to walk). I didn't think it through properly, so I had to order a couple more. It's a long story, and let's say the support team and I have been back and forth MANY times in the last three days. Hopefully, I sent the final e-mail this morning. But I do NOT need to order any challenges for a long time. 

I have started with the longest walks and working my way to the shorter ones. But some of those longer walks take at least one year to complete. So I'm good for a while, but before we sign off, I need a complete list of all the codes to keep myself straight! 

I'll be sitting at the computer and the embroidery machine today! Lots to do, and it's time to get back to work with a vengeance. The vacation is over! 

So before I leave, I noticed that I got three comments from people who have ZERO issues with their ironing board. So, where does that leave most of you? With stuff on the ironing board? Don't be shy to share photos if you have them, or even better, share before and after photos. Don't move that stuff -- DEAL with it and find a home for it!! I'm waiting to hear a couple of success stories about cleaning up. And the biggest deal is going to keep it that way. Do not use the ironing surface as a permanent dumping ground. Find a home for that stuff!! That is the key to keeping a neat and tidy space. 

I'm going to give you one more day and then we're moving on to a new space! 

On that note, I'm out of here. Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

Decluttering the iron board!

Well, I'm a big liar! When I wrote that my space is in good shape, if I had been Pinocchio, I couldn't have sat in front of the computer as my nose would have been too long! 

OK -- so it's not that bad, but there are definitely things that need to be dealt with, and so I  will be right there with you as we clean up our spaces. This time next year --- I'll have EVERYTHING under control! I can hardly wait! 

I am being truthful when I say that NO MAJOR issues need to be dealt with. It's mostly stuff that has languished in one spot for too long. You'll see it in a minute. 

I didn't even have to wait until this morning to get my Finisher badge for the Virtual Challenge. I was sitting at the computer yesterday morning, and POOF -- it arrived. So my total distance for 2022 was 6,610 KM or thereabouts. It included spin classes and some outdoor cycling, and about 2/3 of it was walking. And I ordered my medal! When it comes, I'll share it with you. 

My Conquer 2022 finisher badge

So as not to be left out, I signed up for the Conquer 2023 challenge. I don't need the challenge to keep me motivated any longer, but I love that it tracks your mileage, so it's worth it, and I get a fancy medal at the end of the year. 

Signed up for the 2023 Conquer challenge

What is my goal? I settled on 4,400 KM for a walking-only challenge. This is a little over 12 KM a day; I was well over that yesterday. HEY -- when the weather is nice, and your knees feel great, you take advantage of that! 

The goal for 2023

 

But I also got a lot done in the house. Let's check that out. I started out with that pesky puzzle, as I needed to get this off my plate so I could focus on some embroidery and sewing. 

Down to the last bit of the puzzle

 Within one hour, it was complete. I did resort to trying every piece for some of the spots, but for the most part, shape recognition did the trick! It was hard to go by color, but that helped a wee bit. No pieces were missing!

The puzzle is complete!

Then it was tidy-up time. The puzzle got put away and is sitting in the staging area of the living waiting to be passed along. 

And that leaves the puzzle table CLEAR. 

The puzzle table is clear!

So there are 10 work surfaces in Studio B used for various things. One of ten is clear! 

Then I had a peek at the Zoom table where all my technology sits, and it's in pretty good shape as well. I need to unpack the NEW document camera I purchased, which will be excellent for my Zoom sessions, and I should buy a new power bar. I really like the power towers, and that's what I'm going to get. 

The Zoom table is in order

I have yet to research them, but the tower makes it so much easier to plug things in, especially those with bulky blocks, and this tower also has USB ports, so that will be a good thing. My goal for the year is that if I need something -- don't delay -- just get it and move on!

Purchasing anything and having it delivered is safe in our neighborhood. This package has been sitting on this porch for a couple of weeks and is still there. No one currently lives there, and the box has the correct address. The folks that used to live there didn't tell everyone that they had moved. 

No porch pirates in our neighborhood

So table one is clear, table two needs something to be ordered, and one thing unpacked and tested. Let's look at work surface number three -- the ironing board. Remember that was your assignment yesterday! What is on your ironing surface, and does it need to be there? 

I had some books and fabric that needed to be put away. That took all of 10 seconds. 

Books and fabric on the ironing board

 

The other end of the ironing boards was more challenging to deal with. There was the box with the advent calendar items I received. Oh -- I'd better start putting that stuff away, and it's mostly put away. I threw some things on the cutting table (GASP -- you did WHAT?), and I'll deal with them later. 

But look at this mess on the holder for the iron. I can't use the holder because it's filled with half-square triangles that need to be pressed and trimmed. This has been sitting there for eons, and it's time to clean it up. How can I tell you how to tidy up when this mess exists? 

A mess of half-square triangles

So I got to work, and while the embroidery machine (more on that in a minute) was working, I pressed and trimmed. 

Trimming half-square triangles

Soon -- I had a bag of these half-square triangles from my butterfly quilt. 

A bag of half-square triangles

But that little container (yes, they are in a container, which you can't see) was overflowing and lots sitting on the stand itself. Let's keep going. 

I would press about 10 and then trim them. Press another ten and trim those. All while babysitting the embroidery machine and listening to my audiobook. 

More trimmed half-square triangles

Here's another stack of trimmed half-square triangles. Most of them were trimmed to 1½", although a few were 2½". 

More trimmed half-square triangles

And this morning, the little container, while still full, looks much better. But now they all fit IN the container and are not spilled out everywhere. OK -- so you can't see the container yet! That means I'll be pressing and trimming half-square triangles while I'm embroidering over the next couple of days. Did I think a trimming fairy would come one night and do this for me? As usual, I tend to leave things until they are way out of control, and then it takes forever to clear up the mess. Granted, this is NOT huge, but it would be nice to move it off the ironing board. Before I move on to the next table, clearing the ironing board is a MUST! 

A container of half-square triangles to press and trim

I even got out a cloth and cleaned all the lint off the stand at the end, and it's spic and span. Well, I'll talk about what's on that stand tomorrow. And I should wash that cover to see if it will clean it up. So my focus for the next few days is to clear that ironing board! 

How did you make out with your ironing board? We can only move to a new surface once this one is clear! Do you have a shelf under your ironing board? What's on it? Do you need a new cover or wash the one you have? A clean ironing board is essential, so what are you waiting for? And if your iron is crappy, perhaps now is the time to replace it! 

I want to hear good stories about how perfectly organized your ironing board is! You can send before and after pictures if you wish. elainetheriault@gmail.com, And if it takes a week to clean that surface, then it takes a week. If you try and tackle something new each day, you will fail! Simply because you have yet to finish one job before you move on to the next one. Nope -- we are going to do this right! 

I have another table that is all organized as well. This isn't a work table but holds supplies. The orange bucket is filled with sewing machine accessories -- embroidery hoops, foot pedals, power cords, etc. And the black container is leftover bits of stabilizer that I used when embroidering and need multiple layers of stabilizers, and these bits get slipped beneath the hoop. It's all clean and tidy, but the drawer unit beneath it is filled with interfacing and other interlinings and could use a good sort. But it's all neat and tidy and together in one place, so I'm not going to worry about it right now. It's the visible workspaces that are my priority!

Accessories are neatly stored

Oh, here's the fourth surface in Studio B. This is the garage! This area holds the embroidery units if not on the embroidery machines, extension tables when not in use, and all the large embroidery hoops. It would be nice to NOT have this sit on a table, but with TWO large machines, and each has two extensions tables and accessories boxes, there is no other place. And it's OK because I don't need this space. They could be stored in the stash room if there was some shelf space (hint, hint!). That will come, but not right away. 

Larger machine accessories are stored on a table

Speaking of the stash room, I got two more quilts from Diane. The storage room where all the quilt tops are stored is also neat and tidy. Gosh --- I love this organized space. 

Two more quilt tops for Project Linus

As mentioned, I have a LOT of machine embroidery to do, and I had some fun playing with yarn yesterday. Then I got down to some serious programming on the embroidery machine and went to bed with visions of a beautiful design in my head. It was mostly done before I went to bed, but I need to tweak it a bit more. Thank goodness for being able to save designs right on the machine - or in the mySewnet Cloud!

Embroidering with yarn

And while I watched one more episode of The Great Canadian Baking Show, I removed more stabilizer from that embroidery. It's a fiddly job, but I'm over half done with the main section, so that is good news. 

Removing stabilizer

The holidays are over, and it's back to work. I know why I'm not a big fan of Christmas. I see people go to tons of work, and then POOF, in one day, it's all over. It's like the lights get shut off. I find it very depressing as people get so hyped up, and then suddenly, it's over. I like to meter out my work and gatherings over the year, not crammed into one day or week. And I'm not steeped in tradition!

So today is a regular day -- it's Monday sewing, and I'll be off to spin class shortly. But I'm pumped! I want that ironing board to be CLEAN -- totally clean, none of this fake clean! And I expect nothing less from all of you! Together we will get our studios in top shape, so we can spend ALL of our time sewing and doing things we like and not spend so much time managing our crap! 

Compared to last year and prior years, I'm miles ahead! And I'm thrilled!!!!

On that note, have fun cleaning your ironing station, and have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

It's a NEW YEAR

 I woke up super excited! It's a New Year, and we have another 365 days to do stuff! This time last year, I was deep in the throes of decluttering, and I don't have to declutter today! WHAT?? No, I have some stuff to put away, as I wanted to start the year with all three main surfaces clear. That's NOT quite the case, and I need to do some machine embroidery. 

Since I won't have any decluttering tips today -- here's a link to last year's blog where you can get some tips and motivation. 

Since I've got my act together and kept my ironing surface, workspaces, and cutting table clear, it's been a joy to go down and sew every day. It took me a long time, but clutter is a visual distraction and a physical nuisance! Yes -- some of my stuff got put into closets or boxes, but it's out of sight. I know where it is (for the most part) and can find most things within a few minutes. But I don't have to struggle to get the space to work. 

I will spend today tidying up the little dregs of stuff that have sat around and get that all organized so tomorrow, when I'm officially back to work, it'll be so easy. It feels weird not to have something to sort in Studio B. I know a few more spots could be gone through, but I'll be dealing with the fabric as Diane asks for more. And that will free up a lot more space on those shelves. 

Yesterday, when Diane asked for more fabric, I almost panicked. What am I going to give her? OK -- so why was that? I already had five projects waiting for her, and enough are sitting in that storage room for the following five requests from her. But after that, I have no choice but to hit my personal stash. Well, most of my personal flannel is gone! Yep --- it's all going to Diane to make quilts. Most of it was super quality and NICE stuff, but I'll never use it, so it's gone. When I made that decision, I did have a minor twinge, but not now. Flannel? What flannel?

Then I'm hitting the fabric baskets, and my goal is to reduce the personal stash by 50%!! There's enough to keep her sewing for 2023 and hopefully into 2024! By then, I may not want any of my fabrics, and the entire room will disappear! Is that a possibility? You bet it is!!

I was excited to get up and see 100% completion on my 2022 Virtual CHallenge, only to find that my FitBit didn't sync last night! Sigh!!!!! I could manually enter the data this morning, but then it'll sync tonight and be double-counted. So I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Grr!!! But I managed to get my 6,600 cardio KM in for 2022. That included some spin classes and outdoor cycling. But I would bet that 2/3 of it was walking! 

I bought a new 2023 challenge and have yet to set the goal, but I'll only make it a walking goal. 

So this is how I spent my day. This was the puzzle first thing in the morning. 

Puzzle at the start of the day

And throughout the day, I worked on it. And this is where I am this morning. The darn thing is addictive, so this is the LAST puzzle for a while. I have work to do!! 

The puzzle this morning

I haven't resorted to sorting the pieces by shape --- no -- I refuse to do that. But I'm going to focus on one side and then the other. Although those pieces are NOT the same color, they are very close, and it's a challenge to find the piece. Minuscule differences in shape are IMPORTANT. Then this puzzle I purchased at a thrift store will be packed away and passed along. I do NOT need or want to keep any of these. 

I still had that placemat to bind, and it's also done. That means no projects in my house need to be bound. Four quilts need sleeves sewn on, and I'll make that my focus - perhaps during Monday sewing since it's the perfect thing to do during Zoom. 

Placemat is done

Here are three more quilts that I picked up from Diane. I believe there are several more to be picked up, and I"ll get those on my walks this week. 

Three more quilts

Two pieces of clothesline have been sitting on the sewing tables, and I started to sew one yesterday. I needed to stop for a reason, which I'll finish today, and then try to get both off the table. It doesn't take long, but you have to sew slowly! 

Making a clothesline bowl

And I'm still working on removing the stabilizer from that machine embroidery. I have piddly little things that need to be cleaned up! Those are causing the minimal clutter in Studio B, and I was supposed to work on that over the holidays, but I did not. So that will be my focus for the next few days, and then I can start CLEAN for the year!

Removing stabilizer from machine embroidery

I finished The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley yesterday. Oh, shoot--- two weeks ago, the next book was sitting on the audiobook shelf. Now there's a 22-week wait list for it. How does that happen? I'll have to wait and hope it comes in sooner. I still have to add two more libraries to my Libby app. This is always a challenge to get everything back in order when switching phones. I'm happy to report that I've had ZERO issues with phone calls cutting out, so that is good news and makes the hassle worthwhile. And at last, I got my headphones paired. 

I'm reading a classic at the moment. And then there were none by Agatha Christie! Some books have been done with a similar storyline, but I believe hers was the first! I had to wait a LONG time for this audiobook to come in. And this book has several titles! 

Speaking of the library, I found this attached to the physical book I picked up the other day! Thanks to the librarian (gosh -- whose name I don't think I ever knew) who leaves me little orange things on my books! Thanks so much -- it brightened my day!!!! You know, small things like this are essential. It's nice to know that someone is thinking of you from time to time. So the next time you think of someone randomly during the day --- send them a text --- "just saying hi! I was thinking of you!" 

A leaf to brighten my day

So I want you all to be in the same clean slate I'm in, so get to work organizing your studio space. I find it hard to believe that I have nothing major to declutter today. OK - I could work in the office. 

But think about how you work, and why you dislike your space. Yes --- you may say that it's too small, so you must be more diligent about what you keep and where. Be sure to go back and read those tips from January 1, 2022. And it's going to be a long process -- so don't get discouraged. 

For today, I'd start by removing everything from your ironing surface. And don't just MOVE it somewhere else. Deal with it!!! Make sure everything has a home -- that has been the key to getting my space in shape!! Find a home for things so they are no longer clutter!

In case you're wondering if I made resolutions, I did not. I have a few goals -- the number of books to read, the number of KMs to walk, and that's about it. I have decent habits already, and my goal is to keep doing what I do! No relapses are allowed! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!