Lucky Me & The Little Things

I tell you, this to-do list project I have begun is really paying off! Not only am I super productive in both things I enjoy doing, and not doing, I am also getting around to things I’ve put off for months, and things I haven’t had time to do for months. Every day I basically update it with the things I want to get done that day, and update the goals I want to achieve for the current week and month. It feels wonderfully productive to knock stuff off the list as I go, and it feels wonderful to plop down on the couch at the end of the day knowing that all is done, that I am not forgetting anything, and that the other things that need to get done will get done in due time. These are the things that help me breathe and relax. Now this is not the first time I’ve done to-do lists. I’ve lived off those for as long as I’ve had responsibilities, but there’s just something about posting them online that makes them that much more effective.
The older I am getting, the more perfectionistic I am getting, and this is a wonderful way to keep from getting anxious. I just hope, pray, wish I can keep it up!

One of the things I finally got to do this weekend is try this little tray project I came across earlier in ‘07 in an issue of home companion. When I spotted it I got excited because it looked like something that I could finally use the vinyl for I bought years ago for other projects that never came to be. I have the vinyl in 5 different colors, and have not been able to bring myself to get rid of it yet, just knowing I would find something else with it to do. So today I paired it with some of the sheets of vintage wallpaper that has been accumulating because their patterns are either too big or too boring for use in the jewelry, dusted off my long ignored sewing machine and got to work. I quickly found out that vinyl and sewing machine are not friends, so please ignore the horrible sewing on my first try. I dumped a bunch of crap into the tray for the picture to distract from it you see. After some research I now see that I can stick some gift wrap tape to the bottom of my sewing foot to make it a much smoother experience. I will try that asap.
Long story short, lookit! I have found time to work on my non-work-related crafts without stressing about what money-making work I should be doing and how that kitchen is starting to stink from all the dirty dishes.

This is why January is one of my very favorite times of the year. Though I could go without all the cold that comes along with it, it always provides a clean slate, a time for me to look at the things I messed up the previous year, and try again with no hard feelings at all.