hello...

Hello Dearests...

Just thought I'd pop in and give a howdy do. I hope your new year is off to a great start!

I've been keeping busy getting going with my plan to get myself (and house and life in general) organized. January I am focusing on the kitchen. The first thing I'm doing is trying to start some new habits in the matter of keeping it clean with all dishes put away daily! That's a tough one. What it really comes down to is breaking myself of the habit of eating dinner and then running away to join the craftsy circus in my studio!

In addition to all the exciting organizing I'm going to be doing (smile!), this year I am making a GINORMOUS effort to slow down with attending art retreats, taking classes and joining in swaps. I had an AMAZING year in 2009! I know I am a very lucky girl! (Thank you, Glen!!!) Traveling around to some spectacular events and hanging out with the coolest artists in the world but...oh my...since about August, my craft supplies have not been unpacked (confession - I still have not unpacked from Silver Bella!) It really has been too much. I am out of balance. I'm not exercising. I'm not cooking. The house is a mess. This year I also consistently overcommitted myself with swaps and projects. I let myself get stressed...which isn't very conducive to the creative process. And you know the worst part? I have been gifted some very fabulous treasures by crazy-talented friends these last few years and despite all my good intentions, I could never find the time to reciprocate. Oh that just breaks my heart! That, for me, is the big sign in the sky that it's time to slow down and scale things back.

So in 2010, I am making a few changes. I am giving myself back to myself. This year is going to be all about play time and doing things for myself, for my family and making things right. Oh man that's such a wonderful feeling!

Having said all that, I did go ahead and sign up for Mary Ann Moss' Remains of the Day online course. There's no deadline for this course so it's totally all on my own timeline. (Yay!) I hesitated buying this course because I have taken quite a few bookmaking classes but you know, there is just something very appealing about this project. All the pictures I've been seeing around blogland are just so amazing! So shabby, so tattered, so distressed, so expressive, so inspirational, and so playful! Can't wait to jump in with this project!

So with that, I will leave you with a couple of fun pix from last week. We had ONE DAY of snow! It started snowing in the middle of the work day and boy oh boy, did it wreck havoc on the evening commute! I made it home in an hour which is only about 20 minutes longer but Glen's one hour commute took five and a half hours! Insanity!

 

 

It sure was gorgeous though. I wonder if we'll get any more this year? Maybe THAT's what I should have asked for from Santa!

Comments

[Gwen]

I can't wait to see your "Remains of the Day" book! I know it will be over-the-top fabulous! I am going to sign up for this sometime this year, but not for a few months.

My studio needs some serious organizing, too!

Happy New Year!

[Jen@thecottagenest]

Michelle,
Your plan sounds wonderful. Simplifying and slowing down are good things. I'm in a similar place. I'm more carefully considering where I spend my time and money. It seems like such a relief.

[Maija Lepore]

Like you my friend, I have to slow down on the art retreats. It got exhausting, and I'm still catching up and finishing projects from 2008!! I am loving Mary Ann's class- I hope you have as much fun as I've been having!

[Suz Reaney]

Then I bet you understand why I haven't gotten the little gift I brought to Silver Bella for you! It is now on my chair in a box to mail but that's where it has been for a week! I am trying to stay hope and "shop my own home" for awhile but it is hard.

I AM planning on buying an inexpensive sewing machine so I can sew on paper. That will be my extravagance!

[Suz Reaney]

Hey, Michelle, now I think I know you will understand why the little Silver Bella gift I got for you hasn't reached you yet! It is now on a chair in a box to mail where it has been for two weeks.

My bead room and the "craft room" in the basement are total chaos and we are gradually organizing again.

I am planning on buying an inexpensive sewing machine so I can sew on paper. That will be my extravagence!

[kana]

I need to join you on the slow down a bit and get organized and create more train!! I still have not totally unpacked from Silver Bella either. I will probably not be going to anything soon, as my daughter will be graduating high school in May. That will keep me busy enough. Good luck with your organizing and with the daily dishes. I struggle with that one as well. Love the snow pics, especially that first tree!

[age care fabrics]

Hi there! Nice blog I like the posted images so cool I mean literally cool!

[Search Engine Optimization]

Gorgeous! So this what winter looks like? I love it.