...busy busy busy!

I've been getting heaps done over the weekend!  Unfortunately I dropped my phone and it broke so I can't take any pics to post, but I have got a lot done in the sewing room.

I've been alternating with an hour or so of sewing ( its the only way to reduce the amount of fabric stash!) and a half hour of decluttering. I've sewn a heap of 9 patches for childrens quilts, some baby leggings, 6 dresses, 4 jelly rolls joined ready to be cut into patches for quilt tops and half a dozen bunny rugs. I've really enjoyed myself and posted off another bag of goodies to a charity this morning.

Today I've started on the paperwork and the cooking, with a bit of sewing now again because I can't resist. Its cooled down here a lot overnight which is good - I have more energy when its not too hot.

Well, I better get back into it, its nice to have the time and energy to just get things done and not be interrupted by having to go to work!

Mortgage payments & weekend plans

Yesterday was payday. I actually really look forward to it as I can't wait to transfer the extra payments of the mortgage once the bills are paid. Over the last week DH has been on jury duty. Each day the court transfers his payment to our account and so I've been putting that off the mortgage as well.

Our mortgage balance is now down to  $127,574!   Next week I should get my pay from my second job for last month which will take us down another $1000.

I have a few days off now and I need to get back into the decluttering at home. So this is my 'to do' list for the next week:

• take a load to the op shop
• clean up the bedroom  
• more decluttering in the sewing room 
• clean the bathroom including the bathroom cupboards 
• paperwork!!  - 
• write report for second job & invoice 
• finalise shut down of SMSF
• set up folders for each IP
• set up bill paying system documents 
• start BOM - 
• sewing for charity projects
• cooking for freezer - muffins, meals & soups -

Being creative..

I've started working through TheArtists Way book - a 12 week reflective process on creativity.

Its made me think about my grandma a lot - a very down to earth country girl who had a huge influence on my life.

I've always loved sewing and crotchet. I also knit but not as much. My grandma started teaching me these when I was four.

She would let me play around on the old treadle sewing machine making simple things for my dolls. After lunch she always crocheted, knitted and mended while watching Days of Our Lives & General Hospital. So I had a little blue chair next to hers and she patiently taught me the stitches. The first thing I ever made was a blue knitted square, a blanket for my doll.

I loved it!  I used a treadle sewing machine until I was 16 when I saved up and bought a little Elna with money from my part time job. I made a lot of my own clothes, knitted jumpers for myself & vests for DH when I worked night duty and sewed for my kids when they were babies & toddlers.

But then life got incredibly busy and somehow I just stopped doing anything creative for quite a few years. I think if happens to a lot of women, we just find our days are filled with work, caring for kids, caring for parents and we put ourselves and our interests further down the list.

About 5 years ago I decided to get back to it. I bought myself a new sewing machine and got busy sewing and crocheting for charity. I don't have any grandchildren to sew for and I realised that there are lots of kids out there that don't have grandmothers to sew for them, so its very satisfying to be able to create and then give it away. And I also make things for myself as well.

I used to have a blog for it but I've decided I'll post here now as its a big part of who I am and how I want to spend my time once I retire. At the moment I'm working on making some dresses, some blankets and also just starting on my BOM quilt.  I thought I'd write about it today instead of work which is just not good at the minute. And also I'm working on cleaning out my sewing room which is fun.

So being creative is one of the ways I cope with stress and 'chill out'.  What do you do just because you love it and it relaxes you? Is there something creative you'd like to try or are you working on something right now? Let me know in the comments.

...taking a deep breath!

Its been quite a long and stressful week. February & March is always the most hectic time for me at work - long hours, lots of upset & distressed clients and an inbox that fills as fast as I can empty it. So Monday morning I arrived to find the building I work in completely flooded - and this is not the first time its happened but its the first time its happened at the start of the year.

So its been a very chaotic week, no access to files, no suitable workplace and lots of frustration - not to mention that my office stinks and is going mouldy as we speak.  Our organisation has had huge funding cuts and staff cuts in the thousands over recent years so its difficult to get anything done fast.

This week has been lots of counting to 10... lots of 'slow down and take a deep breath' moments ...

I'm so glad I booked some leave in a few weeks!

I was going to post some photos of my sewing & crotchet this morning but I have lost my phone - hopefully it turns up soon.

And on a more positive note I've decided I'm going to work through 'The Artists Way' book - a 12 week, reflective process to help creativity.  It will be my little escape from the day to day stuff as I feel I'm just getting sucked into work drama at the moment. So if anyone want to join me I'm going to start this weekend - will post more about it then.

Bring on the weekend!

a progress report, sort of!

The last few weeks I've taken a bit of a break from being online as much as usual. I've just been in a bit of a funk about work- another good colleague I have worked with for many years is leaving & someone else quit on the spot 2 weeks ago. I'm skipping my usual first of the month update format this month for a general chit chat.

 I've been cheering myself up by working on my fabric & yarn stash, doing a lot of sewing & crotchet for my charity groups. My sewing room had gotten in quite a mess in the last 2 years. I had boxes all over the floor and stacked up on the desk.

After three weeks working on it, I now have the floor almost fully cleared and the desk stacks are about half as big as they were. I have sent several parcels off to my charities with tote bags, baby rugs, kids blankets, stuffed toys and childrens clothes. I'm aiming at sending a parcel every two weeks until I've restored order. I really love sewing and its my stress relief so its been good for me to get back to it. I have also started a Sarah Fielke BOM as well so I can get better at hand applique. Honestly, when I retire I'll be sewing everyday!

On the finance side we've made some good progress!  Our mortgage is now at $128,992.  Our retirement funds have hit $404,808.

One decision I have made about work is to take leave a bit more often. I had been saving my leave for when I resign but I think I need more frequent breaks to stay there for longer, so I have taken a week off next month and I'm going to use that time to finish the decluttering and maybe even get the painting started.

I've also been walking three days a week which just is a great way to start the day.

So thats my update for mid Feb.  1448 days to go!