All Wrapped Up done!

I have finally finished my Christmas quilt! My first finish of 2017 and am already tied for the number of quilts I fully finished last year. I'll be honest I can't wait to put it to use next Christmas. Pictures were taken right after I pulled it out of the dryer. This is my favorite part of making a quilt. I love the feel and smell of a freshly washed quilt. I get such a surge of happiness and sense of accomplishment seeing it all done! I really need to step up my game so I get to have this feeling more than once or twice a year...

With that done it's time to look at what to work on next. Sigh I know the girls quilts have been neglected way to long and they ask about them everytime they see me in my sewing room.

My list of changes for the 'Year of me'  has continued to be hit or miss. I do really well with one or two things and rest go ignored. The past few weeks my focus has been on my health, this is really helping me have a more positive outlook overall. I still would like to be more consistent with that 15 minutes of sewing play and extra organization each day and blog more. I'm a continual wip and I'm ok with that.

Here's a last look this time of the back. You can't tell from the picture but the quilting after the wash made it puffy and the chenille is so soft!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Changes

Quilting is half finished on 'All Wrapped Up' and I'm hoping to finish that today. I started with an all over stipple and didn't love it so ripped it out and tried something else. While I was doing it I kept thinking octopus shape without tentacles, then it started looking like ribbons. So either way I'm really happy with it. I'd like to have binding finished by next week, then a quick wash and it's ready for next Christmas.

What to work on next? I really should finish Martin's quilt but I need to figure out a better method of sandwiching and basting. My back aches after being on the floor and I need to pick up more safety pins - I have no clue where they all went.

Madison's petal patch quilt keeps begging for attention. I need to push through and get it off my UFO list. With that one comes Reeghan's kansas troubles donuts... maybe if I put 15 minutes a day on one of these then swap to another project it will go better. Hmmm tricks we play on ourselves to get the job done...

After my last post I worried that it was TMI or came off as 'poor me'. It wasn't meant that way, that post has been written in some form or other 4 or 5 times since my birthday but deleted before publishing. I decided if this was what each blog post morphed into, it was time to get it out and actually do something about it

All of the goals have been hit and miss but I have found that they are at the forefront of my mind at all times and have already noticed a difference. Bought an elliptical which will be delivered this week so the 15 minutes of exercise should start improving. I do need to schedule my day better. Honestly, I need to get up earlier and do my exercise first thing in the morning..

Happy 2017!!

This year will be a better year. In order for that to happen I need to make some changes. Some of these changes are the same as previous years - get organized, lose 10 (or more) pounds, exercise daily, eat healthier ...  others are more related to the past few years. Somewhere along the way I lost my happy. I used to be the first to laugh at myself. During stressfull times at work, I used to tell my boss the glass is half-full and there is a full bottle on the table and we'd get through. I'm not saying I didn't have moments, but they just made me dig in harder to solve the issue always with a positive attitude. Thats how I lived in all aspects of my life. So it's time to start re-evaluating and find that happy positive me again. Some I can put down as actual tasks, others are mindset.

I've decided to start small so its not overwhelming and build from there.
For the next 365 days I will make time daily to have:
15 minutes of sewing related activity epp hexies/cutting/sewing
15 minutes of exercise (preferably outside of the house)
15 minutes of cleaning/organizing something (junk drawer, closets, etc)
Track my food - making smarter choices (this includes cutting back my coffee consumption)

Once per week (minimum)
Write a blog post
Bake or cook something that's not our usual 'easy night' meal
Take a picture of something that makes me happy

The biggest thing for this year is to stop allowing others negativity/issues affect me at work and at home. If others don't want to do their job that's on them, I'll do what I can to help and if it gets passed on to me thats what I'm paid for. If someone wants to bitch/moan I don't need to take their baggage on myself. I don't have to compromise myself or my thoughts/feelings in order to try to placate others.

I've discovered that negativity is a very tangible thing. When others start adding to my stress or whining or huffing or stomping or bitching, I can feel my chest start to tighten, my face and ears start to burn, my mood immediately changes, I start eating junk and a headache is soon to follow. No more!

This seems like a bit of a bummer post but actually it's a post of hope. 2017 WILL be a better year because I'll make changes within myself that bring positivity back in my life.