Embrace the imperfect

Yesterday's plans got thrown out the window. Completely. (see yesterday's post for more details) What DID end up happening was:

• Made coffee
• Blurfed
• Took youngest to school
• Blurfed a bit
• Posted about change in scheduled events for the day
• Made this wonderful little book - Inspired by the Big Picture Class "Embrace Imperfection" by Karen Grunberg. Her little book is adorable.

You would be correct if you guessed that this is the PERFECT project for me right now.

I tend to get caught up in getting things just right. So much so that sometimes things get started and not completed.

I am pretty sure this is why I have SO many unfinished works in my Studio.

It is my hope that this little book will inspire me to just get things done. Not to worry about how PERFECT the project turns out.

I pulled the first things I found in my Studio to make this. Great start toward Embracing the Imperfect I think.

Some of the pages are not as complete as I would normally like. BUT I am declaring this book DONE. I am leaving it as is.

I gave myself a limited time to get the whole book done. I had an appointment that I couldn't miss. I think it really helped to put a time limit on myself.

I think this quote by Rosalynn Carter is one of my favorites. I would add that you need to also realize that no one else is perfect either.

This little book was a HUGE bit of therapy for me. It now makes me happy that there are little signs of homemade love in there.

I had to rush to get this done in time for my self imposed deadline. So the back page is simple. In hind sight, I think it's perfect. I clicked the rings shut and proceeded with my irregularly scheduled day...

• Showered
• Took oldest to follow up appointment for Bells Palsy (She is completely healed now!)
• Spent Barnes and Noble gift cards (and a little more)
• Heated Dinner (leftovers)
• Cleaned up
• Started reading Clash of Thrones
• Went to bed WAY too late/early

But I went to bed smiling. It was a PERFECT day.

the best laid plans of mice and men...

I work an alternate schedule. In a two week period, I will work 8 nine hour days and 1 eight hour day. This leaves me with a day off. I picked to have off on Fridays (everyother one).

Today is my day off. I had planned out the day to what I thought I would do:

Shower
Drop youngest off at school
Decrapulate my Studio for 15 minutes
Sew some quilt blocks for do. Good
Sew a quilt block for someone who got screwed over in a swap
Sew the back for Melissa's quilt

So far I have not done anything but drop my youngest off at school. I am typing this in my jammies and bed head. Yup. I look adorable.

I AM a go-with-the-flow type of gal, so no biggie there. EXCEPT, that I got this email. An email that I signed up to get. It's from Nathalie at Nathalie's Studio. It's about the CREATIVE JUMPSTART SUMMIT 2012. Everyday in January I have gotten/will receive an email with a link and a password to learn how a different creative person gets her creativity going. I have gotten the emails, but today was the first day I watched one. You can sign up for the emails too. Just go here.

It's a video from Karen Grunberg. She talks about JUST STARTING. It was inspirational and I enjoyed it. BUT I jumped to her blog, and saw a link to a free class (I love me some freebies) that she offers over at Big Picture Classes. So I went over there and clicked on it.

The class is EMBRACE IMPERFECTION. SO, now instead of going with my first plan for the day, I am making a little book. I'll show you later.

I think I need a little reminder/reinforcement in this area right now. Great timing.

I know I am not a man, so I must be a mouse.

Art Notebook

Do you have an art notebook? Somewhere to jot down ideas, inspiration and notes about what you like, want to do, or information about "things"? Surely, I can't be the only one who does. Mine is small enough to fit into my purse (I carry a medium sized purse), but large enough to accomodate my thoughts and plans.

There is no method or plan to the book itself. I just jot down ideas that I have. I may or may not ever use them, but they are there. The ideas are not necessarily original. If I see someone else's work that interests me, I'll jot down something about it.

I'll also tape pictures that make me smile. Or give me ideas. Or things I want to do. Sometimes the picture is easier than trying to explain. I can't draw, so the pictures work better for that too.

Despite all the rumors running around the internet, I am not terribly creative, so I jot down notes that others might consider standard knowledge. But it's my notebook, so I jot them. I write down websites that I want to go back to. And tape in bits of paper with information that I want to keep from notes I took when I didn't have my lovely notebook around. GASP. I know. But sometimes it happens. You just never know when a thought will strike. (Business meetings are great thinking sessions, and I would get stern looks from the boss if I showed up with my Art Notebook.)

Mine has room for more ideas, thoughts and inspiration. I am looking forward to filling it up. These blank pages are very exciting to me.

So, do YOU have an Art Notebook? What's in it? Care to share?

Finish Along - 1st Quarter Goals

One of my goals for 2012 is to finish 12 works-in-progress. I am a wonderful Starter. Not such a great finisher. I think I have developed CADD. (Craft Attention Deficit Disorder)

When I initially wrote this down I was thinking of ALL my projects in ALL of my Studio. But, I quickly realized that I could easily make this same goal for each different area of my Studio. Yikes. So, I will attack it in an orderly fashion. Grab the first things in reach.

To accomplish this goal for 2012 I am going to leave it as a general 12 works-in-progress goal and consider anything more than 12 as "gravy".

The lovely Rhonda over at Quilter in The Gap is hosting a FINISH ALONG. You post which projects you think you'll be able to finish at the beginning of the quarter, and then follow up with the finished projects at the end of the quarter. Sounds reasonable. And doable.

I'm in. I have several WIP's that need to get finished. Here's what I hope to get done this quarter:

Melissa's Quilt - I need to make the backing, layer, pin, quilt and bind. OR send out to be quilted. I am really leaning towards sending it out. The actual quilting is really not my favorite part. I LOVE piecing tops together.

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Christmas Placemats - I need to cut the backings, layer, pin, quilt and bind. (These started out with the intention of being a quilt, but my oldest convinced me that they would make really cool placemats, so they will become placemats.) They are 15 inches across (flat to flat). I have 12 of them.

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Embroidered Christmas Ornaments - These little cuties are going on the tree next year! Well, they will be little cuties when I get done with them. That poor little bird needs some legs. And some holly in his mouth.

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Coffee Cup Sleeves - I started these to be stocking stuffers. My girls have taken to hot chocolate in the mornings. Maybe they can be Valentines gifts. Need to embroider. And layer. And sew. And get a move on.

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Crochet Afghan - Yes, I realize that it isn't sewing. BUT, I have to finish the wonderfully LARGE crochet blanket that I made last year. All of the blocks have been stitched together. It's already been put into service. It's a warm, heavy blanket that makes you want to stay in bed. Sigh. I need to thread in the loose ends and add a border.

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I am pretty confindent that I can get these things done. I just have to remember that I have them to do. GAK.

I am going to cheat. AND use this as my WIP Wednesday post too. It is, afterall, a WIP post.

Challenges in 2012

As if I didn't have anything else planned for 2012, I am going to do my best to participate in these year-long challenges. I won't promise a perfect attendance, but I will promise to have fun with them.

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OPUS GLUEI - This one is a fun and laid back one. A theme is thown out every two weeks, and then it's a free-for-all. Pretty much anything goes. Not many rules here. How can I NOT participate in this one. (Plus I am on the design team.)

52 Photos in 52 Weeks - I just got a new mac daddy camera. DUH. I have to at least try. Project 365 seems really overwhelming to me. But I figure I can take one photo a week.

Jingle Bells - Get ahead on the Christmas Rush. Cards, that is. AND these are FUN ladies too. This one is also going to be a 2 week challenge this year.

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - This is another Christmas card challenge. I am thinking that maybe I should make some extra's for the American Hero's on the front lines overseas.

Art Journal - This one is to do it everyday. I won't be doing that. But I will try for a couple times a week. Along these same lines, I have signed up for the Strathmore Art Workshops. They are free. Can't hurt to check them out. Nothing to lose, lots to gain.

Postcard Challenge - Write a story using postcards between two people. How cool is this idea. I am going to write 2 postcards a month. One from each person. The official challenge is to write one postcard a week. I think I have picked my characters. And locations.

Finish Along - This one is going to help me with my Goal to finish 12 works in progress. I'll list the projects (quilty ones) that I intend on finishing per quarter. Sounds reasonable AND fits in with my planning plans too.

There are a couple of other things I plan on doing in 2012 too. I just haven't found a group to join for inspiration and continued motivation.

12 Photos on the 12th - Just like it sounds. I want to take 12 photos of 12 things that are relevant to the month. AND scrapbook them. GASP. I know, it's almost too much to take in. I AM GOING TO SCRAPBOOK again. Or at least try.

Family photo once a month - the trickiest part will be remembering to do this. I am pretty sure I can bully talk my family into cooperating. Tara Whitney did it. And Lisa from Life is Sweet did it. Just check out the mosaic of all of her family photos. I LOVE the end result.

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You can keep up with these on the TAB up there. See it? Yup. I have them all listed there too. If I add or drop something, it's going to be shown there.

2012 Goals

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Despite my near failing grade on last years goals, I am setting goals for 2012. I will approach the accomplishment of these goals very differently. I am going to hold monthly meeting with my list.  I am making sub-lists and breaking each goal into components and putting realistic deadlines in place. I am going to check in on myself (monthly meetings) and be less critical of my set backs. I'll pick myself up and move forward if I miss a deadline. I won't stop dead in my tracks and just, well, stop. I'll pickup where I left off and work toward attaining these goals.

 I am starting out with a grading system. This one will be a little more complex. I have a spreadsheet made out. (Yup. Geeky.) I won't bore you with the details. (You're welcome.)

And now for my

GOAL'S OF 2012

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Finish 12 UFO's - trying for 1 a month

Monthly Date with Danny - gonna try it again

Sunrise/Sunset on the Beach - Gotta do it.

VA Aquarium - I live right here!

Read 26 Books - this is a good, realistic number

Camping Trip - maybe June or September

Family Portrait - any time this year

do. Good Stitches - 12 months of a good deed

Neptune Festival - missed it last year

Disney Vacation - Watch out Mickey...

Homemade Meals weekly - only eat out once a week

Nutcracker Ballet - Melissa wants this one

Beach weekly - Summer

Read an autobiography - it'll be part of the 26

Purge the Studio - BIG task

Send Birthday Cards - why is this one so very hard?

Send Christmas Cards - again, why not?

Mississippi Vacation - road trip

Quilt a month - I'll piece the tops and send out for quilting

Homemade Christmas - I want to make the gifts I give

Swap a month - try to limit myself to one a month

Ride a bus somewhere - maybe a day trip to somewhere

Strawberry picking - mmmmmaybe make jam

Eat Less, Move More - and twist and twist and twist

Museum - Morgan wants to go to Richmond for an Impressionist display

Art Journal monthly - I NEED my creative outlet

Monthly Date with Girls - I may have to rotate girls every month

Monthly Goal Meeting - I will fail without this. I may fail anyway, but it won't be for lack of meetings. LOL

Develop Plan for Goals - This is the first step to success.

Write Goals Down - Okay, THIS is the first step to success. I have a TAB for my GOALS. I will update/add and keep track of them there. I'll also post to let you know how it's going. You are welcome to join me if you want. Just let me know and I'll be a cheerleader for you. What goals are you working on for 2012?

And what are your plans for getting there?
My inquiring mind wants to know.

Happy New Year

What better way to bring in the New Year than with a challenge!!!

Opus Gluei is having their #121 challenge: Out with the old and in with the new.

My project of choice is a January 2012 calendar page made with old materials.

I made the backgrounds on the papers. I used two sheets out of my Canson Mixed Media 9x12 art journal. On the background itself, I applied some pink and blue acrylic paint. Then used a sponge to dot with some lighter pink paint mixed with a shimmery agent. I then used some glimmer mists in pink and grey. And a bit of another brand (whose name escapes me at the moment) of blue misty paint and just spritzed a little on top of that.

The paper I used for the days is some of the same grey, blue and pink just spritzed on the plain white sheet. I used another sheet that I ripped out for a bit of a stencil.

I waited for it all to dry. And waited. And waited. I am not the most patient of people. I know, I know, I could have pulled out my heat gun, but I didn't.

"JANUARY" are some stickers that I have had for I don't know how long. They are MY LITTLE SHOE BOX in Ocean color. I used a matte gel medium to adhere the 1.25 inch square-ish blocks to the background. Then used paint pens to highlight the boxes and draw the snowflakes. I decided to hand number the days and the year.

I will probably not cut the top off. I kinda like it.

This was inspired by the wonderful Calendars you can see HERE. Mine is not nearly as decorated as some of them. I LOVE the ones that have all the pictures. BUT, I had to face the fact that this is what I have time for right now. I have WAY too many other projects that I want to spend time on. SO, this is my JANUARY. There may or may not be a FEBRUARY. We'll just have to wait and see....