Finding Balance

Yesterday I took a break from purging my junk.  Needed to fuel my talent for being creative – and I used up some junk in the process.   I don’t want to get burnt out with the whole de-clutter process.

I decided to finish a challenge after all, but I did something totally different than what I was planning on doing before my ‘Aha-Hoarder’ moment last week.  I decided to make an organizer to old the various odds and ends of a Nintendo DS we have.  I keep one so that when I have to drag Hope with me to an appointment I can plug her in.  Otherwise, she’d be bouncing all over the furniture and talking to everyone.  We don’t play it much, but it makes appointments fun for her.  I’ve been carrying it around in Ziploc bags in my purse forever.  But, this got rid of some of my garbage clutter and helped me organize the games a bit better.

It almost matches my purse.  Lucky me.  And when not going to appointments, I can store it on the shelf next to books.   

I posted a tutorial on how I made it HERE.  Now, I’m thinking I could do several of these types of cases for various things my boys have.  Would make great Christmas stocking stuffers on the cheap.  I only have to be sure to be realistic about what I have time to do and it’s time frame.  Otherwise this idea falls into my addicting clutter frame of mind.    That’s the only thing that stinks about being creative.

I met with ‘Young and Gorgeous’ today!  Of course she thinks I’m doing Fab and going in the right direction.  The one concern that’s overwhelmed me with the whole gutting process is the thought of running around like crazy and monitoring the family to make sure they are complying with our simple dream lifestyle. 

She Said, ‘Fawn, you have a husband right?

‘Yep.’

‘Well can’t he monitor too?’

‘Yes, I guess he could.’

‘And your kids have all agreed that they want this too – right?’

‘Dang, you are so right.’

She pointed out that I am not doing this alone.  We are all doing it together and I shouldn’t put such a overwhelming heavy burden on my shoulders.  We can all Jillian Michaels kindly monitor each other.  Then, I’m not the only Bad Guy.  Plus, having little Hope sweetly ask Prince Daddy to pick up his socks would sound way cuter from her than it would from mommy.

By the time I’m finished with this process, I will practically fly everywhere, my self-imposed burdens seem to lift a little every week. Love my counselor! 

Now, I’ve just got to control this crazy creative brain of mine.  It’s been dreaming of following the ‘Project Runway’ challenges when they are given each week.  You know watch through the show until the challenge is given – turn off the TV, run to the thrift store to buy fabric and see if I can’t create something similar if not better than the contestants?)  How crazy is that idea.  Of course I’d try and rationalize the process by saying I was trying to create a wearable look for a member of my family that fit in the definition guidelines.  But which of my girls is looking for a High Fashion /Couture Look to wear to Pre-school?  Okay, I know Hope would love to wear a princess gown to the dump if she could.  Anyway, that’s the inner ramblings I have to deal with from myself – on a daily basis.  Good thing I’m not the only one that crazy creative.  Commented about it to ‘Grosgrain’ and she loved the idea as well.  Love Grosgrain’s creativity, wish I had as much time to sew.

Now I’ve got to go find something to chuck!  Blah!!!

When the weather gets hot…

I’m on fire right now.  Summer weather has actually only been around for 3 or 4 days.  The heat I mean.  This has been the coolest summer I can remember (WHICH I’M LOVING).  Cloudy, cool mornings (PERFECT for yard work), and the high’s around the mid 70’s.  Seriously, weather created just for me. 

Today was a warmer day – Over 80 degree’s F.  I know, I know you folks in AZ are cursing me right now.   I think we’ve had around a weeks worth of days over 80 all summer long.    Regardless, I’m loving the weather.  In fact it’s been so hot I’ve done something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.

Strip…

the paint off some old furniture.  What kind of person do you think I am?  I’ve been working on 3 different pieces -

A Clock box, and can I say the stripping varnish and stain is a pain.  It’s future will hopefully be an enchanted dream box.

A heirloom rocker that’s been through generations of my family and all my kids and even spent a winter outside.

I pray I can save it, but it’s in pretty bad shape.  I know certain pieces will have to be replaced, but the wood, for the most part  is still okay.

And what of this?  Let’s just say one of my favorite artist has inspired the future of this chair.  Can you just imagine a whimsical Storybook Chair?  I’m beyond excited.

 

I have such amazing dreams for each of these pieces.  And the weather is perfect for working outside on such dreams as these.

Guess what?  My sweet fairy door is a finalist… okay, to be honest all the entries are finalists.  Let’s just say, there are some pretty creative ladies out there.  Hop on by (by clicking on the button) and vote for your favorite.

And this weekend.  I’ve a special surprise.  I’ll be showing you the treasures I’ll be giving away for my Second Star to the Right Adventure.  Almost put the finishing touches on them.  Now to find where I put my pixie dust?

As you can tell my dreams are in full force, I’m sure my Prince wishes de-cluttering were closer to the top of my dream list.  It will come… eventually.  Until then I’m enjoying every step along the way.

Up for Air

I’m up for air after swimming in Valentine and Fairy Crafting with my kids. I’ll probably dive right back in as soon as I’m done posting.

Every February we unplug from all Electronic forms of Entertainment. I consider blogging therapy and not Entertainment so that’s why you are blessed with me. Lucky you!

Anyway, we’ve been busy. I probably over-do it on classroom handouts. Okay, I know I over-do it. But it’s just so blasted fun to craft with the kids. This year we made clay heart necklaces for their girlfriends. You can see how we made them here.

I’m still racking my brain trying to come up with something Cool for the guys. Any suggestions?

I’ve also been mad at work crocheting little tiny fairy purses for an upcoming swap.

It’s much cuter in person. The purse is latched with a flower button that you just can't see in the picture.

The girls begged me to teach them how to crochet. Princess had a hard time and might try again in a couple of years. Lea however, after a few ghastly rows, took to it like a fish to water.

I couldn’t get the girl to put the darn hook down. She ended up making an afghan for her doll. The other kids have been busy in their various interests. T-Rev is having a hard time being unplugged so he draws his favorite video game characters during his down time.

Hummm, I think this is Castle Crashers on a Rock Band tour.

And Princess is entertaining us with her wildly imaginative fantasy stories. We have to give her a captive audience or she will follow us around until we sit and listen to and look at every page.

Abner is back at work testing video games for money. Whew, no more lazy lay-about. So he has to be plugged in. Just not at home though.

And we finally have the results from Hope’s Sleep Study. Yes, mom wasn’t imagining her lack of breathing while sleeping. She does have sleep apnea. It’s borderline between Mild and Moderate. So now she’s off to visit with the nose and throat specialist (please don’t ask me what they’re called) for a possible tonsillectomy. More fun.

We also finally bid adieu to the old Portable Swimming Pool. After nearly 200,000 miles and maintenance costs up the ying-yang, we traded the old gas sucker in for a nice portable little sauna.

Somehow we couldn’t let go of owning another truck. Too many future scout and camping trips require that we keep one in the family. Prince Erik has already claimed the little truck as his commute transportation so yeah, I can drive his little car around instead of the other Gas-Guzzler Family Bus.

Okay, that’s enough of my yammering. I’m way behind on sleep. But before I head off to bed I thought I’d make my Bro. jealous, once again, because we happen to have the best view of sunsets around. Nothing hugely colorful this evening, but still Beautiful.

Maybe if I can lure my family up to my neck of the woods with magical sunsets, I can convince them to move closer. Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream.

Dreaming

Today was the perfect day to Dream.   Mists of enchantment surrounded my dreams.

 

And a precious rainbow graced my view for a full ten minutes this afternoon.

Every weekend I visit Dreamland now. I escape to it in an effort not to be overwhelmed with the Unbloggable.  And I’m doing a better job at dreaming.  I’ve no doubt that the unbloggable will be with me for the rest of my life, sometimes more present than at other times, sometimes more painful, sometimes full of hope for a peaceful future.  Last weekend it was dreadful but I didn’t let it pull me down.   I kept dreaming.

I was thinking, it might not be a bad idea to give you a glimpse into some of my little dreams that are ongoing as we speak.

I’m still busily creating a dress fit for a fairy queen.  Every weekend it gets a bit more sparkle and whimsy added to it.

 

Last weekend I also picked up an old friend.  Someone I haven’t spent time with for over 11 years.

My crochet hooks.

I was inspired after seeing Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist work her magic on an afghan of delightful colors.  And then I happened on a crochet pattern simple enough for me to read.  Thank you Future Girl – My girls and I love your crochet/bead bracelets.

I think the only way I was able to read her wonderful pattern is because she also included pictures.  Thank you Future Girl.

Nearly every day my girls suggest a new color they would love to have in bracelet form.

We may be busy for a while.  But I’m grateful because it’s nice to know that after so long a time without my hook, I still know how to wield it.  I wish I was better at knowing my crochet terms, but now is as good as time as any to relearn them.  Who knows maybe someday I can try something to the magnitude of what my mother creates.

Can you believe that she doesn’t know how to read a written pattern?  She counts the stitches and figures it out on her own. 

Maybe I owe some of these fine dreams to Rkimedes.  She lovingly created me a little dream catcher.  I’m hanging it at my weekend dream retreat.

 

I love that she included a heart, in the web, inspired by one of my favorite dream songs.  ‘A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes.’

 

Yep, dreams are my sanity right now.  I’m so glad I finally have them back in my life.  I’m including so many of these dreams in my dream journal. 

  

‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’        ~Eleanor Roosevelt

There is no greater feeling in the world than when those dreams come true.  And I, for one, am looking forward to many more dreams coming true.

Finding the Floor

So my success with the patio wall motivated me to finally undertake the Room of Horror’s. You know the room I’ve been throwing everything into that doesn’t have a place. The room my husband promised could be my little craft studio. Well I’m in a manic creative phase and I really want that room. I just had no idea how long it would take me to find the floor.

Remember what it looked like last spring? There wasn’t even a path to the side door.

You had to embrace your inner mountain climbing skills to navigate all the junk piles.

At one time we were convinced that an animal of unusual size had climbed into one of the craft caves and died because there was an unearthly, rancid smell emanating from somewhere within the piles. Brave Prince Erik fought the clutter monster to discover a bag of groceries with (previously sealed frozen) warm, rotted, chicken that had somehow been mistakenly thrown into the room with other bags of homeless crap. Someone must have stepped on it while navigating the piles and broken the bags seal. The room was a Nightmare.

However – I WANT MY STUDIO!

I’ve been working on this room for over a week. Spending every spare second I can back there. And guess what?

I’ve Found the Floor.

I’d show you some after pictures, but I’m not done. Maybe I’ll show you some teasers.

Before I started the room I couldn’t find a pencil or pen to save my life. Now I have drawers full of them.

And all my sewing material has been sorted and stacked as is patiently waiting some thrift friendly bookcases I’m building.

I’m even dedicating a corner of the room for the kids. So they won’t be tempted to get into Mom’s goodies.

I can’t wait to show you. But I really want this room to be done, done, done before I do. So I’m setting myself a deadline. To have it done by this date.

I’m just too excited! Believe me – You’ll be amazed at the change. I love reclaiming things.

A Spot of Spring.

Spring can’t come soon enough for me.   We just had another blast of winter reminding us that it’s still in charge.

Although spring is trying to fight  back.

And I’m doing my best to nourish the hope of good things to come.  My tomatoes are up and going.

The peppers are trying but I think they have an aversion to NW weather.

The kids are busy as always and itching for something to do.  So I send them out to play with power tools.

O.K. Abner’s been busy working on his Eagle project.  Clearing a nature trail and replacing plant identification signs.

 

And when not sending my kids around to play with power tools.  I just pray for snow, Yeah, Right (heavy sarcasm added here.)   For when it snows, no matter how sick of it I am, the kids disappear.   

 

And sometimes they can’t be bothered with shoes.

At least when Hope takes off when there is snow on the ground, she returns quickly.  Humm, maybe I should hide her shoes more often.

My best hope of spring this week arrived in the form of a package from my swap partner Beth of Road to Joy.  We were teamed up in the Luck of the Fae – Fairy Swap.  Hosted by Missy of  Fairychild Heirlooms Weblog.

 

When opening my package I was immediately enveloped in a delicious scent I’ve never really sniffed before.  She sent sprigs of orange blossoms in the package and I had to keep going back for delightful whiff’s of sweetness throughout the afternoon.

Inside was a sweet new little fairy whom I immediately named Violet.

I love her dearly and I barely know her.  Immediately I started planning a fairy garden for her and her little abode which was also in my package.

Complete with a darling shelf and crockery.

I’m going to have to spirit her away because my little princesses just couldn’t get enough of her…

 

and her sweet hidey-home.

.

Fairy Queen Beth also sent me this delightful, delicate Fairy Wand.

 

Complete with magic charms galore.

  Princess also received her swap package from her Pixie Wand swap partner who was Beth’s daughter.  Can you tell how excited she is?  She was practically levitating with joy at getting a package in the mail.  It might be her first ever package just for her.

   

Princess couldn’t wait to dig into her pixie pouch.

Which was charming because it’s reversible.

 

Pixie dust, fairy charms and a beautiful bracelet along with a flower wand were the goodies she received.

   

Thanks Beth and daughter!  Now I’ve got to get off my computer and clean up my messy house, dream of spring and find where I put those orange blossoms.    I put these stickers on my laptop to remind me to stop living vicariously through everyone else and start making my own dreams come true.