why fight it?

It's a waste of time. Trying to fight my obsessiveness, that is. What am I talking about this time?

Well, first of all, there's the fact that I've started another blog. Come on now...how many blogs can one person possibly need, right?!! According to my warped brain, the answer is many. So I keep compartmentalizing more and more and more. This time around, we've got That's All She Made. Yep, my crafty/creative stuff blog.

And as if this isn't bad enough, I'm having trouble saying "no" to yet another challenge. Not Carl's Once Upon a Time II challenge...I never even dreamed of saying "no" to that one. The one that is currently tormenting me is Katrina's Spring Reading Thing.


I honestly believe I could say "no" to this one if it weren't for the fact that last year's Spring Reading Thing was the very first reading challenge I ever joined. And look what happened from there! So I feel kind of loyal, if you know what I mean. Besides, it would give me the chance to choose a couple of books I'm dying to read that I don't have on any other challenges. And darn it, that button is just too cute! Crap, will someone just smack me upside the head?!!

good intentions

Well, last week was the first week of "Quarter 3" of Annie's school year...though a much abbreviated week, as we took Monday and Friday off along with the boys. And I had honestly planned to get back to my "homeschool happenings and highlights" posting. But the weekend went by and I didn't get to it.

I love doing my "good stuff" posts, and figured that since Melissa is now hosting Good News Sunday, Sunday would be the perfect time to post a new one. Again, it didn't happen.

Rich got home a little early from work on Friday, and I decided to just blow off all responsibilities and head to the basement and scrapbook for a bit. (Surprised I remembered how as it's been so long.) Meant to post my layout. Obviously, that didn't happen either.

Yep, sometimes life just gets in the way of blogging, huh? And don't worry, I do realize that is a good thing.

Anyway, here are the condensed versions:

"Homeschool Happenings and Highlights"
--Annie's favorites from the week:
*starting The Giver
*swimming lessons
*watching Nature: Alligators and Crocodiles (reptiles unit)
*watching Save Our History: Star-Spangled Banner (War of 1812 unit)

"Good Stuff"
*having Rich home...of course!
*conversation hearts "in season"
*having two extra days off from school
*starting The Fellowship of the Ring and finding that I was an idiot for ever having felt intimidated by it
*making time to scrapbook
*cuddling up with a warm beagle
*cuddling up with a warm husband to watch 2 episodes of Jericho
*paperbackswap.com, from which I got Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
*gift cards, which allowed me to pick up Blaze by Stephen King, The 6th Target by James Patterson, and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (I know, I know, I was trying to save the rest of my gift cards, but with the discount from Educators Week, I just couldn't resist. But now the cards are spent, and I'd better start reading!)

"Creating Update"
*one scrapbook layout

*working on another project that I can't really talk about yet

Okay, and now I best get back to my previously scheduled life. (And catching up with everyone else's lives.)

playing...

Well, according my self-imposed blogging schedule, this is the day to post about creative endeavors. I'm afraid that this is generally going to mean I just don't post on Tuesdays, as there just seems to be so little time for creating anything lately. It feels like as there is time for is school prep. Endless school prep.

Anyway, this is a layout I did a few weeks back. I just love working with pictures from the munchkins' baby and toddler days...so fun reliving that time, if just for a few minutes in my mind.



And here's a glimpse at my "wishful thinking" creativity. I really wish an ounce of photographic talent in me...but what the heck, I have fun doing it and that's what truly matters, right?

not my usual

Well, according to the not-so-rigid schedule I'd made for myself way back when, Tuesday was to be my day to post about any of my creative endeavors. But for the most part, those have been severely lacking as of late. I did finish a layout a couple weeks ago, but am lacking the motivation to photograph it so I can post it today (got a doozie of a summer cold, that is just sucking my mental energies). Did manage to scan this card I made for my wonderful parents, who have been helping us out in numerous ways as of late. (They truly are the greatest!)



But I do have news on a different creative front. I had planned to post about this weeks ago, right before the computer debacle. Anyway, as much as I love to write, it's just not a talent I am endowed with. So when Carl announced his Tiny Story Contest I really had no intention of joining. (I thought it would be the perfect little exercise for Annie to try, but she never got around to doing it.) Anyway, Carl worded the announcement like such a challenge, stating that we couldn't use "but I'm not that creative" as an excuse. So I decided to give it a shot, just to see if I could do it. Now, this was not just any writing contest--it had very specific rules...it had to be exactly 100 words long and you could not use any word more than once. Aaargh. I have no idea if everyone else had as difficult a time as I did or not. The 100 words part wasn't so bad, but the not using any word more than once...now that was tough. Anyway, the unbelievable happened...I tied for third place! Which had me feeling giddy all day, let me tell you! Unfortunately though, I really feel unworthy. Seriously, you should really read what some of those talented people came up with (and you can, right here). I was honestly blown away by the stories the others wrote! My tiny story honestly didn't measure up, but hey...I'll take any boost to the ego I can get.

just another layout

Does that urge to create ever just get the better of you? That's what happened last night...I just wanted to scrapbook! So, I did. Despite the fact that I should have been working on homeschool stuff. Despite the fact that my old scrapbook room was in total disarray and my new one just wasn't ready yet. Despite the fact that I was in the midst of baking cookies for Annie's soccer party tonight. Despite all that, I just grabbed some pictures and set to work, running up and down the stairs between batches of cookies. And let me tell you...it felt good!



I admit the resulting layout is nothing spectacular, but that's okay. It was fun working with these pictures...they're from such a long time ago! Though I'm still not the best photographer around, it is nice to see that I've definitely improved since then. These pictures are from a trip Rich and I took in Sept. 1989, before we were married. Back in those days when we took our favorite kind of trip...the kind where we have a vague destination in mind, but we just sort of wander around on our way there and back. For this trip, we knew we wanted to end up in the Outer Banks, but we definitely took the long way there. Leaving from the Philadelphia area of PA, we went and camped in western MD, drove down Skyline Drive, and headed to Appomattox Courthouse before ever reaching our destination. And then Hurricane Hugo ended up chasing us out of the Outer Banks, so we headed up to the Baltimore Aquarium and then to visit some friends in NJ before heading home. Ahhhh...those carefree days.

Anyway, now that I got that out of my system, maybe I can get back to some of the things I "should" be doing.

creating update (weeks 10-11)

WARNING: MOM, in the unlikely event that you are reading this, STOP. Unless you you want to ruin the surprise of part of your Mother's Day gifts.

Okay, now on with the update...

Yep, totally forgot to do this last week. Though in truth, I don't think I would have had anything to post then. But this week, I do actually have a few odds 'n ends...

Thanks to the 30 Day Organizational Challenge I whipped up some quick little valances for the windows in my little craft room. Nothing fancy, but they seem to work pretty well in those horrid basement windows...they cover up a bit of the natural ugliness yet still let in the precious little natural light that the room so desperately needs.



Also for in the room, I covered a couple of Velveeta (well, the generic version of Velveeta) boxes with some fabric scraps from the valances. Again, nothing fancy, but they look better than before they were covered.



On the knitting front, I finally finished Annie's scarf. Now that spring seems to have actually arrived. Well, it's still down in the 30s most nights...maybe she can wear it then.



And now that I feel I have the basics (and I really do mean just the basics) of knitting down, I decided to go back to crocheting for a project. I'm working on a baby afghan to donate to Newborns in Need. Of course, it doesn't look much like an afghan yet.



As well as my own projects, I helped the boys (mostly in the form of wielding the hot iron) finish up their Mother's Day gifts for their Grammy. (Grandmother's still need to be made.) Anyway, Max made this cute little suncatcher (which I really wish I could keep for myself)...



And Gray's present to Grammy is a t-shirt. His part of the project actually occurred early last fall. But as soon as I saw this drawing of his, I knew it was going to become Mother's Day gifts. And this past week, I finally got around to turning his artwork into a tee for Grammy. (Grandmother will also be getting one of these treasures. And I really think I must make one for myself, too!) Annie was gracious enough to model it for me, as I thought it would photograph better that way.



And I do believe that completes this creating update.

**If you would like to read how creative the boys can be in other endeavors, please feel free to read the post below. LOL

creating update (week 9)

Just popping in super quick here to post my creative update (didn't want to be late 3 weeks in a row). Then I must be off to get back to work...I'm nowhere near done with all I had planned for the weekend. Will have to wait until tomorrow to catch up with everyone's blogs.

Anyway, not much to report. Cut mats for the photos on my current layout, but that's it. Worked a bit on Annie's scarf, but the progress isn't worth photographing. About all I have to show is my little set of drawers. Isn't really all that creative, I suppose, but it's my update, so I can post whatever I want, right?

I salvaged this little chest out of the trash over 10 years ago when we lived in Memphis. Always meant to paint the thing. Finally got around to it.

Before:



After:



Not all that spectacular, but I think it will look cute in my finished craft room. If my craft room ever gets finished, that is. I hated the original handles. Had some little knobs that would have looked really cute, but after scrounging around in Rich's screw bins for nearly half an hour, I couldn't find any screws that were the right size. So I tried something a little different...


I kind of like how it came out. It's a heck of lot better than it started out anyway.



And that concludes another lackluster creating update.

busy weekend ahead...

Busy, but not particularly fun. It is my goal to get my little craft room painted (for the 30 Day Organizational Challenge). We're nearing the end of the challenge, but I fear I am no where close to nearing the end of my work! I still have an awful lot of emptying out before I can begin the painting process. But that is one of my goals for the weekend.

I also have quite a bit of prep work for the school week ahead. And I hope that Annie and I can find time this weekend to make Boston Brown Bread and to "churn" some butter. (Not really churning, just shaking the living crap out of some whipping cream in a jar.) It's really funny...Annie never used to like to cook. The boys love it, but never Annie. Until we started homeschooling, that is. For some reason, when it's somehow related to "school", she absolutely loves it!

I'd also really like to finish Inkheart. I have yet to finish a book for the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge. I'd also like to finish Annie's scarf, though that's not likely. And I'd like to finish a page for our 2006 vacation album (which shouldn't be all that hard...I'm just following my plan throughout the album...it's just a matter of finding time to execute the plan).

On a totally unrelated note, does anyone out there belong to Paperback Swap? Probably should have asked this question before I went and joined yesterday, but I just couldn't resist signing up. I think it's just a fabulous concept! Being able to "trade" your books with thousands and thousands of other people. Just signed up yesterday, and already had 2 of the books I posted requested. Nice to know the books will be going to someone who really wants them! And we now have credits to get 5 books (3 for signing up and 2 for mailing out the requested books). Such fun...another little addiction for me!

Well, I suppose to have any hope whatsoever of accomplishing my to-dos, I'd better get off this computer. Now.

creating update (week 8)

Here I am, a day late...again. With little to report...again.

Scrapbooked for about 5 whole minutes. And I bought fabric and trim to make curtains for my craft room. Got the fabric washed, but haven't begun actual construction. About the only thing I really made any progress on is the new scarf I'm making for Annie.



And that about sums it up.

creating update (week 7)

A day late. And little to report. Managed to finish the matching hat for Annie. She absolutely loves it (which, frankly, kind of surprises me).

But that's it. No scrapbooking. No writing. No other crafting.

creating update (week 6)

On the knitting front this week, I continued working on the matching hat. Not looking much like a hat yet though, is it?

I also began I new knitting project. Another scarf for Annie. Would like to finish it in time for her birthday, but don't really see that happening.

And on the scrapbooking front, I made myself start this layout. And as I'd hoped, once I got started I didn't want to stop until I'd finished. Rich really loves this layout, as does Annie...and that's always the best reward. I already used this photo in our 2006 vacation album, and I rarely scrap the same photo twice, but I loved this one so much that I wanted Annie to have a copy of it in her personal albums.



And that concludes this creating update.

creating update (week 5)

Never got around to posting this yesterday. Not sure it's even worth the effort. Simply didn't make a lot of time this week...think I'm trying to do too many things at once. Common problem, I'm sure.

A couple times this past week, I tried to scrapbook. Enlarged the photo I want to use, have a basic design in mind, know what I want to say with the layout...but just couldn't get energized to execute.


The one bright note is that I did finish my first "real" knitting project. Wasn't sure I could teach myself, but I think I'm making progress. Annie loves her scarf at any rate. Not sure she'd love this picture though!

I've now started (just barely) on the matching hat. Not sure I quite understand the directions...so we'll see how it turns out.

creating update (week 4)

Geez, and I thought last week was bad. Didn't get any scrapbooking in at all. Did a little knitting, but not as much as I'd hoped. And worst of all, I totally forgot to do my writing at 100 Words for 2 whole days...which means I blew it for March. (Not sure if I'll make another go at it for April or not.)

Anyway, here is what little I did accomplish...


Made the scarf for Annie's Webkinz. Such a dumb little thing, but they love them.













Worked steadily away on my first "real" project...a scarf for Annie. I'm now about halfway to completion.



And may the coming week be more creative.

creating update (week 3)

Running a day behind here. Oh well. It's not like there's much to report. Was a terribly hectic week.


Did make Gray's Webkin his scarf. Photo came out incredibly funky...the scarf in reality, is simply red. Silly little project, but they've made for good practice. And they've thrilled the daylights out of the kids...love it when something so simple can bring them such joy! If all goes well, I guess next week I'll be posting Annie's.
I also began a slightly more substantial knitting project. (Slightly being the key word there.) Finally feeling like I might actually get the hang of this whole knitting thing...well, at least the basics. Forgot to take a photo though. Figure I'll post it next week, when I've made a little more progress.

I've also managed to keep up with my writing for 100 Words. But it hasn't been easy. The hardest part isn't getting the word count to exactly 100 words, it's simply coming up with something to write about each day. I'm happy with some of my entries, and some of them, frankly, just suck. But I'm happy with myself that I've kept up with the challenge thus far.

And finally, just one scrapbook layout. The third and final spread for Day 2 of our Road Trip 2006 album.



And that sums up a less-than-stellar week of creating. May the coming week be more fruitful!

creating update (week 2)

A pretty slow week compared to last. But that was to be expected...after all, it was back to school.



Completed 2 spreads for our Road Trip 2006 album. Not much creativity involved though...just following the plan I came up with for the album. So it was just a matter of execution. Almost finished the third and final spread for Day 2 as well...I needed to enlarge a photo, but discovered we were out of photo paper. Oh well.




Continued practicing the knitting. Was getting a little bored with knitting and ripping out and knitting and ripping out, but I didn't feel ready to start any real project. Then Max asked me to make his Webkin kitty a scarf. Perfect. As simple as it gets, yet sort of productive as well. Now Gray and Annie want scarves for their Webkins, too. Which is fine with me...more practice. Maybe by then, I'll be ready for something a bit more challenging (or at least a bit larger).
Did want to say a big "Thank you!" to Dawn for hooking me up this a great knitting website. Haven't had a great deal of time to fully explore it, but it seems absolutely fantastic. Did learn a new way to cast on there, which I like much better than the way I learned from the booklet I'd been using.

And on a new front, I started working on a batch at 100 Words. It's a neat little writing site. To participate, you must write 100 words each and every day for a particular month. I am definitely not a writer, but it's a fun challenge to help me spread my wings a bit.

And aside from a birthday card I threw together so last minute that I didn't have time to scan it, that about sums up my creating endeavors for the week.

creating update (week 1)

I posted a week or so ago about how Keri Smith's Living Out Loud reinvigorated me. It reminded me of how much I love to create. It's always been a big part of my life. Until the demands of motherhood grew so overwhelming that playing and creating just for me simply had to take a back-seat. I don't think allowing that to happen was wise. So I have decided to make a concerted effort to put a little more "me-time" back into my life. And I've decided that I'm going to update my blog once a week with my efforts...I'm hoping that will motivate me to squeeze in as many of those precious moments as possible.

On the scrapbooking front:

Completed 3 layouts this week (been a loooong time since I've done that many layouts in such a short time--of course, it did help that it was winter break, and that I had 2 whole days without the kids).





































































On the sewing front:

Made this little purse for a friend's daughter's birthday. Had a lot of fun with this. The green fabric is from an old shirt of Annie's. Just kind of made the whole thing up as I went. Was the first time I ever tried making French seams...wanted to use them so I could hide the strap inside them down the sides for a little added stability. I simply love how it turned out! Hopefully Bryn will like it, too.







Miscellaneous:

I decided to try my hand at knitting. I love the look of knitting, but I've never learned to do it. Thought it was time to try. So far, I'm not making anything per se. I'm just practicing the stitches. Picked up the "knit" fairly quickly, had a lot more trouble with the "purl". I actually think knowing how to crochet may be hindering the process a bit...I'm having a hard time adjusting how I hold the yarn. But I'll get it eventually...just have to keep plugging away.

I also worked a bit on my needlepoint picture, but I didn't take a photo of that.


All in all, a pretty good week. Wish I'd done some writing as well, but I can't do everything at once, I suppose.