34 Weeks of Clean 2019! Week 14- Arts, Craft, and Hobbies

I want you to know that I am not an arts, crafts, and hobbies kind of gal, so this week is just for you all.  You are welcome!  I used to like doing a few simple things like cross stitch, making cards, and sewing clothes.  The cross stitch stopped after my eye sight went south, the card making has Hallmark people in hysterics, and the clothes-making stopped when I wore a dress I made and someone asked how far along I was.  I wasn't!  Now I stick mostly to quilting when I can find a free moment (where DOES one find that?) and otherwise save the crafts for people with more patience and talent and better eyes!

But I do have a few things lingering, plus I have a daughter who makes make quilts for people, so we do have a craft/sewing room.  Well, it is mostly her sewing area, but she humors me occasionally by letting me hang out there.



With a growing tee shirt business she needs space and so we have taken a bedroom and turned it into sewing central.  (with our workout stuff squeezed in as well) It has been a huge blessing and allowed her more space for quilt layout and occasional fittings for the alterations that she does.
                   
                          
The point here, Michele, you might ask?  Think outside the box! 

Be creative with your spaces!  If you need more space, look around and see what changes you can make!  Do you have an extra closet you aren't using? A guest room that barely gets used? Often if we stop and reconsider our spaces and how we use them, we an see all kinds of new possibilities.

This is your assignment this week-


Clean!- If you have a room dedicated to Arts and Crafts, now is the time to clean it.  you know the drill-

• Take everything out, yes do it!
• Clean ceiling fans and blinds or curtains.
• Wipe down walls, light switches, and baseboards
• Clean and vacuum the carpet or scrub floors
• Wax furniture

If you just have stuff in random spots- start here-

De-clutter and organize!
Find all of your arts, craft and hobby "things" and go through them with a fresh set of eyes.  Do you use them?  Do you need them?  Do they bring a smile to your face?  If not, move it out.  Free yourself to simplify and maybe even bless someone else with what you do not need.  Throw out old stuff and resolve not to buy any more for a while.  It can be a freeing thing my friends!  I am currently using some old fabric stashes to make some baby blankets.

Recycle from about your house!  You don't always have to go get more stuff to be more organized.  f you have bins around your house that are empty, use them.  Arts supplies and such can be kept in labeled shoe boxes you can buy at the Dollar Store.



Get rid of what you do not use!  Remember, we are on a mission to take back our houses.  Let's commit to stop holding on to things we do not use and do not need.  I know it is difficult to let go sometimes, but let's not allow "stuff" to take up our heads, heads, or homes!  Give it to a friend who will use it more, donate it to a retirement home or hospital, or take it to your local Goodwill.  Regardless, move it out.  Stop thinking you might use it later and live for today!  If years from now I decide to take a cross stitching again (it could happen) I know where to get a new piece of fabric and some thread. 


Now, I know some of us are still tackling our pictures and scrapbooks (PLEASE someone tell me I am not alone!) but let's keep going this week and hit those arts, crafts, and hobbies area.

Meanwhile - show us your hard work on our Family, Faith and Fridays facebook page so we can cheer you on!

The next three weeks are some hard cleaning and organizing, but also some of my favorite assignments.  Get ready, friends!


Blessings,

Intro Week
Week 1- Holiday Decorations
Week 2-The Pantry
Week 3-Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers   
Week 4- Fridge, Freezer and Floors
Week 5- Recipes 
Week 6- The Stove and Loose Ends 
Week 7- The Dining Room 
Week 8- The Living Room 
Week 9- Books 
Week 10- Bathrooms  
Week 11- The Foyer
Week 12- The Family Room and DVDs 
Week 13- Pictures and Scrapbooks

34 Weeks of Clean Rinse and Repeat Week 14 Arts, Crafts, and Hobbies

I want you to know that I am not an arts, crafts, and hobbies kind of gal, so this week is just for you all.  You are welcome!  I used to like doing a few simple things like cross stitch, making cards, and sewing clothes.   The cross stitch stopped after my eye sight went south, the card making has Hallmark people in hysterics, and the clothes-making stopped when I wore a dress I made and someone asked how far along I was.  I wasn't!  Now I stick mostly to quilting when I can find a free moment and otherwise save the crafts for people with more patience and talent and better eyes!

But I do have a few things lingering, plus I have a daughter who makes a living as a seamstress so we do have a craft/sewing room.  Well, it is mostly her sewing studio, but she humors me occasionally by letting me hang out there. 

With a growing business she took over our school room and turned it into sewing central.  It has been a huge blessing and allowed her more space for quilt layout and fittings for the alterations that she does.

                    

                           

The point here, Michele, you might ask?  Think outside the box!  

An old train case holds some of Ashton's sewing supplies

Be creative with your spaces!  If you need more space, look around and see what changes you can make!  Do you have an extra closet you aren't using? A guest room that barely gets used?  In our storage room in this new house we have a little desk set up where we keep my hubby's "office" space.  He does very little there, but it does provide a place for him to keep files and pay bills.  Someday I dream of him having a big, beautiful office space all his own, but until then, we do what we can.

Other ideas-

Recycle from about your house!  You don't always have to go get more stuff to be more organized.  This organizer was in my girl's bathroom.  When they decided not to use it, I knew I had the perfect idea for its use!  My still dwindling stamping supplies and my quilting supplies, with room for my machine on top.  Now, no, I do not make cards and such as much as I used to and I certainly do not quilt as often as I would like, but hey, a girl can dream, right?  And to let you know that I, too, feel the pain of letting things go- the last time we "34 weeked" things (yes, it is now a verb in our house!), I kept a lot more stamping supplies than I needed.  After a year of not using the stuff but three or four times, I am now letting go of the rest, save one stamp set and four stamp pads. 

Get rid of what you do not use!  Remember, we are on a mission to take back our houses.  Let's commit to stop holding on to things we do not use and do not need.  I know it is difficult to let go sometimes, but let's not allow "stuff" to take up our heads, heads, or homes!  Give it to a friend who will use it more, donate it to a retirement home or hospital, or take it to your local Goodwill.  Regardless, move it out.  Stop thinking you might use it later and live for today!  If years from now I decide to take a cross stitching again (it could happen) I know where to get a new piece of fabric and some thread.  

De-clutter and organize!  This is your assignment this week!

Find all of your arts, craft and hobby "things" and go through them with a fresh set of eyes.  Do you use them?  Do you need them?  Do they bring you joy?  If not, move it out.  Free yourself to simplify and maybe even bless someone else with what you do not need.  Throw out old stuff and resolve not to buy any more for a while.  It can be a freeing thing my friends!

Arts and crafts supplies

The trash pile!

Now, I know some of us are still tackling our pictures and scrapbooks (PLEASE someone tell me I am not alone!) but let's keep going this week and hit those arts, crafts, and hobbies area. 

 Meanwhile - show us your hard work on our Family, Faith and Fridays facebook page so we can cheer you on!

Blessings,

Archery, Anyone?

More than several years ago my older kids had the opportunity to take an archery class with my husband.   They had a blast at the time, but have not had much opportunity to shoot since then.  In the past few months however, our homeschool co op has begun an archery class that the boys have been able to fit into their schedule.

Salem has enjoyed it so much we have invested in a good bow for him and we are looking at archery clubs in Omaha for him to hook up with once we move.  Who knew that archery was such a popular sport AND good exercise as well?

Even more fun is that it something that both boys can practice together!  With the 5 1/2 year difference in age, finding something they can enjoy together is often a challenge.  I love being able to see Colby learn from his big brother!

It is our hope that the girls will find time to join us soon, and we can pursue this fun sport as a family.

What about your family?  Do you have a hobby that you share together?

Blessings,

So Sew

Believe it or not, I do actually do more around here than clean and homeschool.  Well, not very often, but sometimes.  And since I am single parenting for the moment, I am trying very hard to find a few minutes a day to myself- or at least to my own projects.  Aside from 34 Weeks of Clean.  You know, to maintain my sanity and all.

So I have rediscovered the sewing room.  It is usually covered with Ashton's projects (she is a paid seamstress after all) but she is also a pretty good sharer.  She carved out a space for me in her "new" area so I was determined to get back to one of the things that brings me joy.  My goal has been an hour of sewing a day.  I admit I have not been able to meet that daily, but goals are good to have right?

To spur myself on, I bought a 365 day Quilt blocks calendar.  I love it!  Each block varies in degree of difficulty and there are several sizes represented.  To give myself some breathing room I decided to only do the days with 8 inch or 10 inch blocks.  I completed 12 this month!  For someone who hasn't sewn in a while, I am pleased.

Here is a sampling-

In other sewing news- of course, Ashton!  She is busy doing her daily seamstress work, was blessed to be able to bustle a wedding dress for a friend, and is working on a quilt or two of her own plus refashioning wedding dresses to sell.

Yes, refashion.  Like this one, where she has taken the skirt off one and is layering lace on it.  It was a project I admit I was skeptical of, but boy is it exceeding my expectations.

She also has two dresses at the dry cleaners that will be ready to go soon.

And about three in the works.  She loves restyling vintage dresses and hopes to soon be able to start blessing brides-to-be with new and amazing dresses.  Keep her mind if you know someone that might be interested.

And she surprised me with a few new pin cushions just for fun!

That's about it from here- just wanted you to know that this homeschooling, clean-crazy mom does have at least one other interest.  :)  Crazy, I know, but true!

Do you sew or have another hobby you love?  How do you find time in your busy day to get it done? Really, I would love to know!

Blessings,