So sick yesterday, spent the day on the sofa.  Better today - took the dogs for our normal walk.  Today, my goal is to clear off the sewing table..........

Well, that was yesterday, and I think I'm having a relapse - did too much too soon.  I moved a box and a bit of fabric off the table, but the rest of the mess is still there. 

I picked up a sewing job this morning for an OMSI Volunteer to add something to his vest.  Small job, but I like the guy.  I think I'll try to do some vacuuming today to clean up the mess from "Twigs" (Joe's new nickname.  (Isn't that a Sarah Palin kid's name??)

Cough is back and now comes in spasms, so might have to take some medicine to keep the spasming down.

Oh well.  January, what do you expect.....

Monday, Monday.....

So, today, I decided that I'd monitor my time and see how much I can get done in a set period.  It was strange to me that it only took me 15 minutes to eat breakfast, and 15 to empty and refill the dishwasher!  I allocated myself only 1 hour on the computer this morning to start the download of all my embroidery files from the Payloadz website, so I can upload them to my own site to eliminate their fees.  In 1 hour, I was able to download 4 pages of zipped files - about 100 files.  I'm limited to 185 downloads from their website so I might just work on the rest and get them done today. 

I also offered a 90% discount on my embroidery files via StitchedImpressions.com today.  We'll see how many people take advantage before the deadline on Friday, 1/9/2015.  All this in one hour!!  Boy, I can see why I'm more productive when I have a goal.

Next, my goal is to set up my Etsy account, which I let lapse, and is now no-more.  I couldn't find the page, so I'm figuring it's a good time to reinvent myself......  So, since I do so many things - quilt, sew, embroider, jewelry, craft, design - what should I be?  I'm not crazy about "Kathi's Kreations" - too kitchy.  I'd like something odd, yet memorable.  I saw one site for a person who made purses and her site was called "red truck" and her logo was...... a red truck.  Cute, but I don't have a red truck.  I have a black dog, a poodle (actually 2), lots of birds, a white van, a silver jag (hey "Silver Jaguar" would kinda be cool), so, hey, need some help.  Ideas?

2015 - Where did 2014 go!?

Out with the old, In with the New!

 This year, in September, I became a Gramma again - to IDENTICAL TWIN boys!  James and Andrew (aren't they great names?) were born to our son and his wife and we couldn't be happier.  So, along with these additions, come new things to make - and believe me, I'm not good with baby stuff.  Now, give me some alternative, goth or urban things and I'm fine.  So, I created some onesies and things that were a little off the beaten path, so to speak.

This year, I have assigned myself a few jobs.  I'm to downsize to a one room sewing studio.  Right now, I have my 11x22 sewing room crammed and another guest room pretty much full with the overflow (65 semi-filled bolts of home dec or upholstery fabric that I got for a STEAL last year). 

My other "job" is to create a cleaning schedule for working Moms and Dads who have just bits and pieces of time at the end of each work day to do chores.  I challenged myself this because I think "I" can use it too since my "job" is to sew and sell my wares, so I need to do it all in pieces.  So you might see some of my ideas here on the blog.

And lastly (or probably not) is to get healthy.  I started the "21 day sugar detox" this morning and it's 12:03pm and so far, so good .  It will be the test tonight when I want another glass of wine and I've done my limit for the day.  So, I'm sure my chamomile tea will become my new routine - which isn't a bad routine, and will do me some good.  Wish me luck.......

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Organizations/Cleaning for the Working Person

If you have an extra 2 minutes, you can do one of the following:

In the Bathroom:

1. Take a damp paper towel and wipe down around your bathroom sink to pick up dust and loose hair.
2. Take a toilet bowl brush and swish around the toilet and under the rim.  Keeps the algae at bay.
3.  After drying your hands on the handtowel, use it to wipe down the faucet fixtures and make them shine.  Then toss in the laundry and put up a clean towel.  Do this once a week.
4. In your socks, scuff your feet around the bathroom floor to pick up dust and hair.  Then remove your socks, making sure they're still right side out, and toss in the laundry.

In the Kitchen:

1. Use the papert owel you just dried your hands on and wipe the front of the dishwasher or oven.

A new chapter in my life

So much has happened since I last posted - seems that there are many people in my area that would love to learn to sew, especially home decorative and personal accessory items - SOOOOO, I'm going to offer sewing classes.  I'm still working out the details, but classes will be offered in my home, but if you can't make it here, I will send you the PDF file of the instructions and pattern for a reduced price.  Each class here will be 2 hours - class itself will be $30 and supplies will be extra, so if you want to, you can purchase from your local shop, or from me (Northwest Needlework Supplies - nwnws.com).  Once you email or call me that you want to attend, I'll send a class supply list and fee invoice, and we'll begin.  If you have a machine, bring it, or make sure it's ready to go before class (how long has it been since it was last serviced?)  The first class will be getting to know your machine, and once you're re-introduced (LOL!) we'll start sewing.

I'm looking forward to meeting new sewists and fellow creatives.  Stay tuned.

I just finished this cute crib-sized top sheet and pillow to match. Wouldn't this be just darling in that new baby's room? Soft "minkee" fabric for the back of the pillow, satin ribbon, and all cotton for the sheet. The sheet is a top sheet, so it's lightweight and easy for baby to kick off if necessary. Let me know if you want a set and what your color choices are!

Do you need to make your office more "feminine"? Cubical jobs can be so industrial so why not save your CDs in a feminine pocket and put them inside your notebooks (notebook covers to match coming soon!!) With a quilted back side, and a big open window on the front to see the CD, you've got all your bases covered in style! Either purchase 6 already made in the colors of your choice, or order the embroidery pattern to make them yourself. E-mail me for more info!

New Year, new plan

Wow, long time, huh? My life has been filled with so much "stuff" that I totally forgot that I needed to write it all down. Since my last notes, I got a new puppy! His name is "Joe" and he's pure black lab. He and Starr (my standard poodle) play together really well, and that's a good thing since hopefully this Spring, they will mate and have a litter of Labradoodles. I didn't realize how much I loved labs, especially since our last two labs were the kids' and I just fed them, but Joe's the apple of my eye. His coat is soft, shiny and all black (which makes it hard to see him against our navy blue carpet!) Starr is black with bits of tan, but I think the pups will be all black. I'll keep you posted.

Then my gracious, and oh so wonderful hubby, got me a Bernina 830 - top of the line sewing/embroidery machine for Christmas, Birthday and all the other gift-giving holidays that fall throughout the year, for the next 10 years!! THEN, on top of the dog, and the machine, he's making me a sewing table! I am in the process of rearranging my sewing room to accommodate this behemoth (it's 4x6'!) and find that I'm tossing away things I always thought I'd need, use or could possibly make something out of it. Actually, I'm enjoying the decluttering and think it's "a good thing" to do at least every 5 years. Mine's way overdue.

The family all got together for Christmas, the proceeded to get sick the day after, with colds and congestion, so our New Year's Day festivities have been postponed until this coming Saturday. Actually, I'm glad, since our NYEve party was awesome and we didn't go to bed until 2am!!

Well, enough for now. Posted many, many designs on the ODD website, some are 1/2 off since I'm not doing baby things anymore. Gonna clean it up and make it more, ahem, mature ;-) I promise I won't wait so long to post again.