~ List Making ~

 Hello Monday 

~ Hello Friends ~

the weekend found me multi tasking again;

list making, picture taking, sketchbook journaling...

deep-woods walking, cleaning & clearing out. 

I liken all of the above to being

 'productive'

 I also chase my own tail some days though,

where I'll be imagining I'm being productive and I'm really not.

do any of you do that?

 I find that if I don't make lists, I'll tend to wander off somewhere and get sidetracked. lost even.

lists help keep me on target. I have lots of lists.

grocery lists, thread color lists ~ lists of favorite words & colors...

but of course, a list is only good if you can find it.

{hello again menopause}

 the blue jay feather that I showed in yesterday's posting 

~ became part of my sketchbook/journal...adding small dimensions

 to my pages of doodles and droplets of paint-infused water.

when I'm not working with needle/thread or hook/linen

I am usually dabbling in my brushes and watercolor cakes ~

doing so keeps my mind clear and helps my folk art stay fresh.

Painting is also very relaxing and when done in the company of an open window 

where one can hear the birds {or chickens} is a bonus for my soul.

since the past week has been unusually warm in these parts, I'm taking full advantage of being either outside to enjoy the sun & fresh air, or simply working beside an open window.

do any of you paint? if so, which medium do you prefer?

I go prefer watercolors...they are so very

forgiving.

with today being Monday again ~ another small cycle is upon me.

I like to have a routine and Monday is definitely my Wash Day as in the old rhyme:

Wash on Monday

Iron on Tuesday 

Bake on Wednesday

Brew on Thursday

Churn on Friday

Mend on Saturday

Sunday go to Meeting...

although I have replaced a few of the activities, like brewing and churning to shopping and cleaning.

When all of my chores are complete for the day

and after blogging, of course and checking orders and emails...

that's when I settle in for my creative time.

having something in the 'works' is one way of staying productive, but in a very satisfying way.

there is nothing wuite like the feeling of clean floors, fresh laundry and something baking

while you work on a project ~ very comforting and cozy.

I've finished needle-punching 'Mrs Peabody' and I love her....

her design was inspired by an early angel from a fraktur.

I need to now 'finish-finish' it, by making it a sawdust & lavender stuffed pillow trimmed with some-sort of ribbon or yarn or wool.

Mrs Peabody will be available as a pattern {pdf & paper} soon....and I thinnk I'll turn her into a rug hooking pattern as well.

I'm working on a bunch of new designs for my upcoming shows, so you'll be seeing a slew of new things!

 {see my schedule to your right on my sidebar}

next to my sewing machine is a basket ~

in that basket are tiny sewn-things awaiting to be embroidered and stuffed...

some will be necklaces,

others will be scissor fobs and pin keeps. 

each will be different and available as finished goods at the shows too ~

I better get busy!

found the cutest notebooks at Micheal's over the weekend too ~

one for ideas....one for to do's.

both are perfect for me.

  

and I have to share this with you all....

a card that Hannah gave me

that hangs here in my sewing room and is the first thing I see upon walking in the room:

 Hannah, YOU are my greatest accomplishment, 

and are at the top of my list!

Have a beauty-full day my friends ~ find time for yourself....

~ take delight in the mundane and common.

 Notice the small things....they matter the most.

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori