One project a week

So I have been doing my projects one a week for a little while now, and I thought I would share my list with you.  If  you thought I decided these a few days or weeks in advance, you were wrong.  I have a list of projects (with a few gaps) until Christmas.  Yes that's right, for the next 6 months.  I do change and rearrange these from time to time, but I find it such a useful way to keep on top of all the crafty things I want to do, without getting stressed out that I don't have time to do any specific thing.  It also means that if I don't finish something within the week, I just file it away for next time, no need to get anxious about completing something.  I can't stress how beneficial this has been for my mental wellbeing, and how much more I can now achieve, than I did without this plan.

So, my list for the next 6 months or so:
Week of 4/07: Pay it forward
Week of 11/07: Advent Calendar
Week of 18/07: Steiner toys
Week of 25/07: J's birthday presents
Week of 1/08: Christmas presents
Week of 8/08 and 15/08: No projects due to imminent neice/nephew arrival
Week of 22/08: Selfish sewing
Week of 29/08: Holiday
Week of 5/09: No project decided yet
Week of 12/09: Montessori activities
Week of 19/09: Christmas presents
Week of 26/09: Summer sewing/sorting
Week of 3/10: Feminine Hygiene
Week of 10/10: Birthday preparation
Week of 17/10 and 24/10: No project decided yet
Week of 31/10: Art
Week of 7/11: Photos
Week of 14/11: No project decided yet
Week of 21/11: Birthday preparation
Week of 28/11: Possibly birthday prep
Week of 5/12: Christmas Tree
Week of 12/12: Christmas Decorations

If you'd like to join in, either by posting your own list, or by following mine, please just leave a comment.  I'd love to know if this kind of system would help you or be some kind of nightmare ;)

Birthday presents

My project this week is to make some birthday presents for J.  And it couldn't have come at a better time.  The girls are staying with my parents for the next four days, and while I feel like my arm has been cut off, its a great opportunity to make some things for her.  She'll be two in November, and I am definitely feeling the 'cluck'.

Winter Solstice celebration

We celebrated winter solstice this week, and it was a lovely experience.  P and J woke to find two sun finger puppets waiting for them at the breakfast table.

We lit some candles and the fire and spent the day without electric lighting.

And boy was it a Winter's day.

When the sun came out in the afternoon, we went for a winter solstice walk.

And splashed in some puddles.

It was really fun to develop a celebration that is unique to our family, and that will hopefully continue for many more years.  There were a couple of things that I wanted to do as part of the celebration that we didn't get the chance.  I wanted to plant some garlic in the garden (which is traditionally planted at Winter solstice and harvested at Summer solstice).  But it was so wet, we didn't manage it.  The other thing I thought would be a great Winter Solstice activity was to make a bird feeder, but again the weather was against us.

I think next year we will have a candlelit feast as well.

UFOs no more

My UFOs are now (mostly) FOs.  When I pulled out those few things that I hadn't finished, I was a bit surprised to see that many of them were just mending or alteration jobs that I hadn't gotten around to sewing.  They were really straightforward and quick little jobs, which made this week much more enjoyable.

I re elasticated a whole heap of J's nappies (I'd been putting this off since she is toilet training and I figured I'd wait until then to sort them all out, but DH 'suggested' that I do it now).  I made a little dress for P out of a top that my sister gave me that was too small, and I mended a pair of pyjama pants.

However, they weren't the only UFOs hiding in my cupboard.  There were two bags with cut out baby shoes in them.  I have documented my dislike of sewing these shoes on a couple of occasions, and true to form they remained steadfastly in their bags until yesterday when P demanded that I make some baby shoes, and how could I resist - or explain that actually Mummy was a bit afraid of the shoes.  They are still not entirely finished, but I am fast overcoming my fear of them.

Winter Solstice

Mount Taranaki, isn't he majestic?

My project this week is to create some traditions around Winter Solstice.  This Wednesday is the shortest day of the year, and I've decided it might be nice to celebrate this festival with the girls.  There are some really nice ideas and thoughts in the Rhythm of the Home Winter editions.  I don't think I will go so far as fasting and staying up all night, but I will be trying to create a few winter celebration traditions with our family.

UFOs

My project this week are UFOs.  Unfortunately not the cool little green men, and silver alien spaceships.  In this case, UFO stands for unfinished object.  Not nearly as exciting is it? My project is to finish off those little things that are almost, but not quite done, or that need mending but I haven't gotten around to doing.  What I need is one of these.

Awa Tunic

I have finished my test knit of the Awa Tunic and there is good news and bad news.  The good news is that the pattern instructions seem to work properly, and it looks really nice on J.

The bad news is that it doesn't look how I wanted it to (sorry no photos of J wearing it, you'll just have to imagine).  I had wanted it to be quite loose around the body with some gathering at the top garter stitch row.  Instead it is quite form fitting.  So I will have to go back to the drawing board in terms of stitches etc.

I did also promise P I would knit it for her, so at least I have a reason for a second test knit.  Although if I can't get it right maybe I will just flag it entirely, since I had this idea for another top!

New knitting pattern

My project this week is knitting.  More specifically, my latest knitting pattern.  Its called an Awa Tunic.  I did a test knit a little while ago, but the sizing isn't quite right, so back to the needles it went.  Its my first attempt at a pattern in the round, and so far I'm fairly happy with how I have done.  Now to finish the size 2 and then test knit the size 3 and 4.  I think I will have to ask for test knitters, because even knitting flat out, I don't think I'll be finished any time soon (and there are also plans for embellishments for the pattern to consider).

Check out more Creative Spaces over at Natural Suburbia

The winter garden

We had about three days of fine weather, and I managed to get out and make a dent in the gardening.  Not all completed yet, but I feel a bit more virtuous.

My neglected garden

My project this week is to tidy up the garden.  Right now it looks lovely and lush, until you realise that it is covered in weeds.  We have a row of winter carrots in, but they have been completely swallowed by the rampant weeds.  (I've lost my camera, so you'll just have to imagine the weed infestation).  I also need to prune my roses and my raspberry canes, so that should keep me very busy for this week.