De-Clutter Project 2014 - Week 9

Taming the 'paper tiger' and teaching an old dog new tricks; those are the two topics that I will discuss with you this week.

With tax time upon us, it is time to get all the receipts and bills sorted, organized and filed. At the beginning of each year, I resolve to keep it all orderly on a weekly or monthly basis, but each year I fall short of my goal. Then, I end up having to do a marathon sort and file in time to submit my taxes.

I got started on the job over the weekend. I'm making progress but there is still much to do. I'm trying to devote a set amount of time to the task every day. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Will I be able to stay on track with my plan to keep on top of it this year? I don't know.

I've noticed in the last few days that I'm catching myself more and more. I'm about to shove something in a drawer to hide it or add it to a pile, when I stop myself and take the extra step or two to put it where it belongs. It seems you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. There may be hope for me yet.

What area do you intend to tackle this week? What do you think you will find? More importantly, what will you do with it?

An InLinkz Link-up

Focus on Life: Week 8

Week 8: Capture Colour

Bring on the colour!

Capture colour in all its vivid brilliance!

When everyone else at work is wearing black and grey during these long winter months, I'm sporting bright colourful sweaters and accessories. I love colour!

I've been playing around a bit with different colour combinations lately. My new favourite hobby, tablet weaving, allows me to experiment a little to see what works together and what doesn't.

I'm off to the store again this weekend to pick up a few new colours; royal blue, red, maybe even purple. I'll see what appeals to me when I'm there. Then, I can decide what two colours to use for my next weaving project. Such fun!

And yes, now that I can make a collage with Picasa, I decided that a Collage of Colour was perfect for this week's prompt. *smile*

To see the colour in the lives of the other participants, check out the links below.

An InLinkz Link-up

De-Clutter Project 2014 - Week 8

Well, I've made some progress so far this year, not a lot, but I've definitely made a bit of headway. There is still so much to do though. I really do not know what to focus on next. But, I promised myself to accomplish 'something' each week, no excuses, no procrastinating allowed.

I get some of my best ideas while washing dishes, don't ask me why, but I do. Today was no exception. What about the tea towel drawer? I haven't gone through that spot in awhile, as it turns out, apparently quite some time.

Upon inspection, I noticed there was a lot of items in there that should not be. Safety pins, old keys (for who knows what?), sewing machine bobbins, spools of thread, crochet hooks (I don't even crochet), pens, markers, paper clips, a single hole punch, scotch tape, hair elastics, empty key chains, pennies, a stitch ripper and a thimble, among other miscellaneous paraphernalia.

No wonder it was getting difficult to close the drawer! There was so many things in there that should have been elsewhere that there wasn't enough room for what was supposed to be in there...clean tea towels and dish cloths. After putting all the bits and pieces into their rightful places, there was more room for the kitchen linens. Hurray!

But once again, here is the evidence (staring me right in the face) that I put stuff in the first convenient drawer rather than taking the extra couple of seconds or minutes to put it in the 'right' place. How do I break that cycle? It's clearly a very bad habit that I've cultivated over the years. Is it too late to teach this old dog, new tricks? I hope not.

Please Note: My camera battery died as I was trying to take the 'before' photo and since it takes a couple of hours to recharge, there will be no pictures of the task this week.

What area do you intend to tackle this week? What do you think you will find? More importantly, what will you do with it?

An InLinkz Link-up

Tablet Weaving on an Inkle Loom

My Inkle Loom

Tablet Weaving (often referred to as card weaving) is a weaving technique where tablets or cards are used to create the shed through which the weft is passed. The technique is limited to narrow work such as belts, straps, or garment trim.

I was introduced to this craft through the SCA, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts, skills, and traditions of pre-17th century Europe. Tablet-woven bands are commonly found in Iron Age graves and are presumed to be standard trim for garments among various peoples, including the Vikings.

Finished Project in Progress

When the opportunity came about three years ago to take a class and learn how to use the inkle loom I'd purchased a year earlier, I jumped at the chance. The books were not helping me. I simply could not make sense of it all.

I'm a very visual and hands-on learner and this class was exactly what I needed. Two hours later, with the basics now understood, I've been able to continue to expand and learn with each new project I've undertaken.

Obviously, I have not figured it all out yet though. I warped up the loom this morning, positioned the cards in the desired pattern and started weaving. *big sigh* I appear to have set the cards up backwards again so the wrong side is showing as I weave. Since it would be more trouble than it's worth trying to 'fix' it, I've decided to leave well enough alone and keep on weaving. *smile*

Half the time I set the cards up correctly, half the time I don't. *shrug* Other than that, this piece seems to be shaping up nicely. It doesn't actually look like it did in my head before I started but it will work. And I've learned a few more lessons in the process. What more could I ask for?

And The Winner Is...

First, I would like to thank everyone who visited my blog during the Grow Your Blog event. Please stop in again sometime to see what's new. To those who chose to follow my blog I send a double thank you and a virtual hug. I hope that you will continue to read and enjoy my posts.

Over forty people took the time to comment on my Grow Your Blog post for a chance to win the gift package that includes one of my hand-made Tree of Life pendants, along with a few other specially selected items. I appreciate all your kind comments. Unfortunately, only one person can win the prize but, in my book, you are all winners!

I won't keep you in suspense any longer. The winner of my Grow Your Blog giveaway is....

Cathy of 'Crafty Cat'

I will be in touch with the winner over the weekend to congratulate her personally and get her mailing address. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to enter.