Craftbug

Organizing My Home

Do have problems keeping things organized?  There are some areas in my home that are always organized and then there are other areas that seem totally chaotic.  I can find things when I need them but no one else can.  Even if I try to tell them where to find something, it's a lost cause.

I have started a plan of action, however.  When I come across something, by accident or on purpose, if I feel like I don't need it or want it anymore, I put it in a "yard sale" box or the garbage.  If it's not worth trying to sell, in the garbage it goes.  I am making progress doing this.  Now I just need somewhere to store the "yard sale" box!!

I have a basement full of stuff that I could probably get rid of.  I could sell some of it on ebay if I would just get down there and pull it out of the boxes and photograph it and set it up on ebay.  That is the plan, it's just not to fruition yet.  This task seems overwhelming to me.  I guess if I approach it like the rest of the house, it won't be so daunting.

Unless you need to do something like this in a day or two, you can do a little at the time or work at it an hour or two at the time.  Whatever you feel is manageable for you is the best way to approach something like this.  I'm not a professional organizer but I have learned what to do and what not to do by what works for me and what doesn't.

Quilt Guild

Since I'm learning to guilt, I went to the local quilter's guild meeting last night.  I figured I might as well go and see what it's about and maybe join.  Well, I had a good time and met a lot of nice, crazy ladies, so I joined.

They are a fun bunch of women.  Not all of them are veteran quilters.  That made feel more at ease since I'm just beginning.  One thing that the guild does is make "comfort quilts" for the policemen to keep in their cars to give to children when they are involved in an accident or fire or whatever may have happened.  At least I can help give back a little to our community.

I'll also learn more about quilting.  They meet twice a month and at one of the meetings everyone takes their machines and works on whatever they are making at the time.  They call them UFO's (unfinished objects). Cute, huh?  I will be able to get lots of help if I run into a problem.  The lady that is teaching me quilting lessons is the one that started the guild and she's still involved.  So between her and the other ladies, I should be able to learn quite a bit.

I'm really excited about this.  I know that quilting is not for everyone.  We all have our things we like to do.  Sewing and crafting and now quilting are the things I enjoy doing when I'm not with my family or having to do housework.  Most of the time housework takes a back burner anyway.

Photography

I'm not a photographer but I have always liked to take pictures.  I took the picture of the flowers above.  When I was very young, I had an old camera that you had to hold down at your waist and look into the top of it to take the pictures.  That was my first camera.  I wish I still had it.

I always wanted to take photography classes when I was in high school and college.  At the local community college they are not even offered anymore.  I wanted to learn how to develop the film in a darkroom.  That seemed very interesting and appealing to me.  I never did.  I will always regret it.  The college doesn't even offer anything with the digital cameras.

I do have a small digital camera and love it.  It's amazing to me what has happened with the photography field.  I still want to take some classes to learn more about the basics because they are the same.  You know, the lighting and shutter speed and such as that.  I found a place online that I can take classes at my own pace.  That would suit me, even if I never become a real life photographer.

No More Job Worries

Recently, I have been worried about not being able to find a job in my small hometown.  I have decided that worrying does no good.  It never has.  I went with my mother to a doctors appointment so she wouldn't have to go alone.  It's not that she's unable to do this by herself.  I just thought she might like the company.  She was very encouraging to me about not working right now.  She reminded me that I am in what she called the "sandwich" generation.  The one where you have older parents and very young grandchildren and might have to take care of any one of them at any time.

She's right, as usual.  I would not have been able to go with her if I had been working.  I also take my mother-in-law to doctors appointments occasionally.  My neighbor has also mentioned going with her sometime if I was available.  I told her to give me a call and I would be glad to go if nothing else was going on.  Maybe this is something that I should be doing, at least for right now.  I'm available for my parents and for my children if they need me for any reason.

I'm not saying I'm waiting around for them to call me to help them out.  I do have other things I like to do and need to do.  It's also nice to be home when my husband is home from work and do things with him.  He works in Nigeria for 28 days and then he's home for 28 days.  That gives us lots of time together.

So, I guess that I'm content with my situation right now.  It does give me the opportunity to sew and do other crafts that I like to do and pursue a career in selling my home made goods.  It gives me great joy to see someone like what I have done.  If they use it themselves, or give it as a gift, it's a great pleasure to create something useful and appreciated.

With the support of my husband and family, I'm not worrying about finding a job right now.  If one comes along that is right for me, so be it.  If not, so be it.

Quilting Classes

I went to a beginners quilting class last night.  I have always wanted to learn to quilt.  Both of my grandmothers quilted but my mother and mother-in-law do not.  It's a lost art in my family.  I probably have great aunts and distant cousins that quilt.  I don't want it to end in our family. 

I had a really good time and learned how to use a rotary cutter, the mat, and the ruler.  It's not complicated when someone is there to explain it to you.  I really did learn something in the first session.  I made three quilt blocks.  They are small, 6 X 6, but we are only making a sampler.  I hope to one day be able to make quilts in a timely manner and give them to my children and grandchildren.  I also hope that someone else in the family will take an interest in it and learn how so they can pass it on to another generation.

I have always loved to sew and love fabrics.  I'm one of those people that have stashes of fabrics because I see something I like and buy it and plan on using it one day.  The right project for it has to come along though.  I can't use it for just anything.  I've always loved quilts.  I have several that my grandmothers have given me.  I use some of them and just have some for home decor.  They are priceless to me.

It will be real treat for me if some day a quilt that I have made is a priceless treasure to my children or grandchildren.  I hope they will learn to love and appreciate them as I have.