My Project List for 2015 - so far

One of the blogs I came across last year that I really enjoy (particularly her stash-less series - so good!) is The Craft Sessions.

Recently she listed her projects for the year and I thought I have one of those lists! Her's is categorised into months but as most of my sewing and projects are purely selfish (sad but true) I can attack them in any order I please.

Anyway, because I do love a good list and the crossing off of a good list I thought I'd share mine here.

Do you have a list?

This list comes pretty much entirely from my stash audit at the start of the year and will mean I basically need to buy no supplies (maybe your should hold me to that!) until all the sewing projects are done. Exceptions are marked with an **. Furniture makes/make overs will need supplies.

In no particular order:
Standing Lamp makeover
Where the Wild things are Dress - NL6805
Strawberry Dress
Rose's Dress (an incomplete project I received from a friend that I will complete - the most wonderful fabric ever!)

Palazzo Pants
Coffee Table makeover
Kimono style T-shirt: Paisley and Grey
Dining Chair paint - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Kimono style T-shirt: teal

Broderais Anglaise Dress - remake, a second hand dress I was given that needs work before it's worn
Floral Satin Stretch Dress V8787
Doll for my niece **
Pink Sheet Skirt
Decoupage Dining Chair

Simplicity top 9626: Grey
Maxi Skirt DONE
Paper Planes Belladone dress
Bed cover from vintage handkerchiefs (I need some more to complete the size)
Denim and Plaid Blazer ** need denim and possibly a pattern

Stretch Top Simplicity 1849 ** need 1.3m fabric
Birds Skirt
Kimono style T-shirt: Monet-esque fabric
Simplicity 9626: Grey and Seagull DONE
Green Sheet Skirt

Wool Amebas Skirt
Red and Blue Vintage Floral Dress NL6000
Bandeau DONE
Faces Coat ** extra fabric needed for this
Doll for my other niece **
Blind to hang outside the kitchen window to block out the sun (yawn!)

So far that comes to about 35 projects if I count each of the dining chairs separately. I'm sure there are other things I will do but at the moment I want to work hard to focus on the sewing of these items which will basically reduce my stash to nothing but pieces for crafty projects, and that would be supremely impressive I think.

Do you have a lot of stuff in your stash?
Are there pieces you feel stuck on? If so I highly recommend having a friend cast their eye over it - it may take you in new directions!

love you more than a list to tick off xxx

My Process - Blog Hop

Earlier in the year I met Juanita - another international import to Adelaide and she tagged me in this blog hop. I hope you find my answers (vaguely?) interesting!

1. What am I working on?
hmmm... in terms of blogging I am generally working on a lap top that is well past its expiry date and I hope it shall continue to defy the odds!

Personally I am working on a few things - 

• a children's picture book which I am writing and creating illustrations for and sincerely hope will be picked up. 
• Writing and delivering workshops for teachers in how to teach performing arts from the new Arts Curriculum released here.
• trying to do all the paperwork (yuck, how it bores me) and jump through hoops, so that I can get registered here and do some relieving work
• volunteering a day a week at church to help with writing the children's programme and doing creative stuff to help creative people
• spending some time doing voluntary work in the boys' classes to (hopefully) support the teacher
• crafting, always some crafting, also the 100 days project
• I'm also working on working out what pathways I want to pursue more seriously as 'work options', preparing myself to take risks, balance what has been a beautiful season of 'staying home with my babies'.... this is a tough one and very much a work in progress
• helping with dance teaching on a Friday afternoon
• preparing for taking a couple of laneways learning classes
• ways to avoid housework (life long project)

2.  How does my work differ from others in the genre? 
I find defining what genre my blog is rather difficult. I'd say it's an entirely average blog about a multitude of topics that include - parenting, crafting, exploring, living intentionally, reading books, reviewing stuff....

It differs from the good ones doing the same because it is less well edited, the photos are more average, and the content less curated.

It (hopefully) differs from the really bad ones by being legible, nicely laid out (thanks Simone) and generally upbeat and positive.

Of course it is made wonderful by your presence and interaction and your grace in not pointing out its obvious faults!

3. Why do I write what I do?

Because all of it interests me, or matters to me. Yes I could have a much more "beautiful" blog if I dropped off the family content but then I would loose out on recording our journey for us and also my family would stop reading it *hi Grandad, I'm waving at you*.

So I write for myself and my own agenda first, but outside of that I write because I want to encourage people to enjoy parenting, and feel empowered to be more creative, to celebrate the way they want to dress, read good books, choose good things, see things that interest me, take some creative risks and not worry about perfection all the time, to laugh, to love others generously, to consider their place in the wonders of the universe and maybe consider engaging with an all pursuing Love. That stuff is why I write and I hope it's what you get some of when you visit here.

4. How does my writing process work?

Sit down, type stuff, upload average photos, sometimes re-read, schedule and hit publish.

Where to - I'd love to ask Meghan to answer these questions because I know she has been considering them, also Deb because I love the power and grace she brings to the blogosphere and also Stella because I think beginning work, and making other creative transitions are changing the landscape of how she blogs too and I'm interested in knowing her thoughts on it.

Of course they may be too busy but I'd love to get inside their heads. If you ladies would like to do say yes and keep the hopping going.

There are so many great blogs I read and I find these 'personal posts' really interesting so if any of you want to answer them and tag people do go ahead and let me know so I can some and visit.

love you more than a perfectly balanced blogging style xxx