Look what I MADE!!!

Another UFO done!

I wanted to get one of my very own photographs professionally framed and hung in my house. And here it is.

This photo of the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis is one of my favorites I've every taken. I was a little disappointed, because I got the enlargement from an online source and they had specific dimensions available -- so it got cropped a little from the original.

However, I think it looks sharp. I think I might enter it in the fair this year!

Recap!

So... let us recall what my goals for January were:

>Hemming the curtains in my bedroom
Done! I still have to get sheers (the ones I'm using now are borrowed from the living room) but I will take it!

>Filling my photo collage frame with awesome pictures
Done and done!

>Getting one of my oversized photo prints framed and hung in my house
Okay, so this one got partially done -- I got an oversized print, I just need to get it framed. And hung. So close!

>Sewing the curtains for my dining room (I bought the fabric Memorial Day weekend)
This was a fail... but I still have hope! I need a lot of room to lay out and cut/pin these, and the space I was planning on using was otherwise occupied on the days I wanted to use it. Soon it will happen.

>Finishing painting the trim in my bedroom - I think I'll save the doors for nicer weather
Yeah... painting in winter is not happening. A little too fumey. (Is that a word?)

>Plus a number of miscellaneous sewing projects that are half-done
I'm not sure that any other sewing stuff got finished... I did some aprons, but they weren't half-done to start with.

Off the list... I got my Disney World scrap book done from 2007, I caught my house scrapbook up to current times from Christmas of 2005, and I started my scrap book for my trip to Germany (2009!)

I also manged to get all the props done for the current play... but those weren't UFOs as much as they didn't exist to begin with.

All-In-All... Epic Win! This was a great 30-Day Challenge, and I will be planning on doing it again before year's end.

More finishing is happening!

....and to the relief of many, the things that are getting finished are for the show! Hooray! Still hitting a couple snags, but that is to be expected.

In other news, I got to go for another outside run today! The sun was out for a little bit, and aside from having very many unkind feelings for those responsible for the snow removal around North Dale, it was a nice little jaunt. The next three days look like they will be fabulous, and Friday will be ABOVE FREEZING I hear.

Many things to be excited about!

Who knew that 28 degrees is warm?

...I felt like I would be "wasting" nice weather if I didn't run outside yesterday. (That, compounded by the fact I'd been sitting in a chair at the court house all day... and also that I've been a workout slacker lately.)

It actually was pretty pleasant. I didn't cross paths with any other runners, but the walkers of dogs were out in force! (Again, very thankful that I have cats that don't demand I take them outside. Ever.) I surprised myself by electing to go the long route and run the full 5k... Usually I have a hard time committing to starting the run around the lake, because then I have to finish it. My neighborhood route can always be cut short at any time.

I'm not sure if I will be as compelled today, since it will be a bit cooler... But since I don't see myself doing any calisthenics in the Jury Selection Room today, I predict I'll feel like I have to do something.

Disney 2007

Is now forever immortalized in a scrap book. It's done. I had a few days there where I thought allllllll of my Disney photos had been lost/destroyed making the jump to my external hard drive. Thankfully, I found them last night. (While looking for pictures of my house. Did you know I made a mini scrap book about my house the first year I lived in it? Neither did I! I just found it in my basement this weekend.). I also had an AWEsome day at Archivers with Tina, my BFITWWW, where I was able to get 5 spreads from my Berlin scrap book done.

(Ask me how all the work I was going to do on the show props went this weekend? Meh? Not so good?)

The only downside to Jury Duty is that in spite of not being at work, and having a lot of free time -- they frown on you turning the Jury Assembly room into a Craft Room. Also, City Hall does not allow scissors. No stitching this week! Just me, and the internets.

UFO! UFO! UFO!

I hemmed the curtains in my bedroom! They've only been up since June. I also put down the rug I bought 'round that time. It was supposed to be a reward for finishing the painting in my room -- but we all know that's a UFO that will remain UF. (Also, you may have noticed that the curtains are a little bunched on top of the rug -- please direct your attention to the section that hangs beautifully NEXT to the rug over the hardwood floor.

(Another step in the right direction: I pulled the blue painter's tape off the wall yesterday. I mean, the painting on *that* wall is finished, but I have all the rest of the trim to do yet. And the doors. This spring/summer for sure.)

OMG!

...I forgot about the most important UFO of all!!

ME!

Yesterday I went back to the gym. I ran. It felt great! I felt great!

Let's all remember that we are all a work in progress, and anything you do for yourself is a good thing! I am re-committed to me!

...not really a UFO...

...because it's still not finished.

...but I did finally pull down the blue painter's tape in my bedroom.

From June.

I look forward to finishing the actual painting this spring.

Or summer.

Would the UFOs be in EPCOT?

It's not DONE done, but my Disney World scrapbook finally has all its photos nicely arranged and attached. All I have left is the infamous "journaling." ...It's been over 3 years, so it won't be easy. Usually I keep a "Trip Journal" for these things -- because I know I won't get to working on them right away. Case in point. However, this one is not as thorough as I have come to expect from... myself. I guess Kristin and I will have to have a sit-down and relive our trip!

Darn.

The only thing to worry about now is: do I hand-write it and potentially fall prey to horrific handwriting? ...OR do I type and print it, not knowing if the ink and paper will survive the years? (Yes, I expect my great-great-great grandchildren to reference this scrapbook... you know, for "history" papers and what-not.) :)

Moving Right Along...

No completed projects to show off today, but I did a little work on my Disney World scrapbook last night and organized my future scrapbooking ventures. Today I finally printed almost 200 photos from my trip to Berlin (in fall of 2008) and picked out the binder I want to use. This afternoon I have show-related goals that I have to meet (sew some pillows, make an apron, etc.) -- but then I'm going to let myself start laying out my Berlin Book.

I'm getting so excited about finishing projects that I'm having a hard time keeping myself on-task to finish OTHER things I'm supposed to be doing. Like laundry. :)

Okay. It was bad enough when cameras had actual print film. I would shoot the roll, take it in to be developed (maybe within a month if I was lucky) and then said photos would spend a blissful existence in their photo envelope. In a shoe box. Occasionally seeing daylight when I decided to "organize" or "reminisce"...

Now I've cut out the developing middle man... but all my photos now dwell in electronic form. Sure, you're saving money on developing (especially on photos you didn't even know were bad until you had them printed) but there's just something missing from the experience when you're showing your trip/birthday/fashion photos on a computer screen.

This is why I enjoy scrapbooking... and trust me, I could probably do a whole YEAR of UFO months getting all those books finished. Eep.

But anyway, I have wonderful friends and family, and wonderful photos of them as well! I decided to invest in a photo collage frame, to get as many photos out there as possible. Of course, that involves choosing the photos you want AND photos that prescribe to the strange shapes that the frame has decided you can use. Then you can't just pop over to Target or Walgreens and get these pictures printed to the size you need... oh, no. You've gotta edit them, and re-size them, and then buy new ink cartridges for your printer because your old ones dried out from disuse.

This was a bit more expensive of a UFO than I expected.

But it looks good! AND... the frosting on the cake... I actually got it HUNG UP, too! W00t!

PS - on an unrelated note... today I learned that when you're running outside in the winter, you may want to consider tucking your shirt in.

Scrapbook Win!

I've dubbed the upcoming summer as "The Summer of Run." I've signed up for a 5k, 7k, a Duathalon (5k run, 18 mile bike, 5k run) and two Half Marathons (13.1 miles each!) However, my first real year of running has just come to a close. Because I never throw anything away, I have my race bibs from all the 5k races I participated in. So, I decided to combine them with another something I have too much of -- scrap book binders.

Now I have a record of all my races -- a bib, my finish time, and a little blurb about what happened, who I ran with, how I was feeling, etc.

Neither a borrower nor a tailor be...

So one of my UFOs was a minor tailoring project. Years ago I purchased a skirt at the Guthrie Costume Sale (one of the rare objects that would fit a woman of my stature.) I wore it a few times, but it is now much too big. SO... I decided I would remove the elastic waistband and put in a zipper.

So, I took the waistband off.

And then I put it in a bag along with a zipper I found to sit in a corner of my craft room for a couple years.

SO... I finished it! First I got the zipper sewn in (in my own way, blatantly ignoring the instructions. Not too wise.) Then I realized I would need to make the waist smaller, and thankfully remembered a LITTLE bit of sewing terminology -- darts! Of course, I had no idea how to properly place or create darts. I do have a great little book, Sew What! Skirts, which gave me some direction. So I put some darts in there, and a waistband and... VOILA!

Once I put it on I realized that the darts probably should be about 2" longer, and I should have used 1/2" bias tape for the waistband.

I also realized that I am doubtful that my future lies in the tailoring arts. Another experience that makes me truly appreciate the skills of costumers everywhere!

Moving right along...

So now my craft room has a bunch of projects kind of scattered around. I discovered that I think I know better than the directions how to install a hidden zipper. (I can't confirm that... So far it's just pinned but it looks like it might be fine. Maybe.) I also tried to print pictures on my wicked-fast printer that I haven't really used in a year or so and was surprised to find that the ink might be a bit dry. (Duh.) So I'm having some setbacks. However, I have acquired a photo of my siblings and a frame to mail to my grandmother in AZ. Now, how long it will take to get it in the mail is another thing... But it's totally ready to go.

It occurs to me I have a show opening at the end of the month, so perhaps choosing an activity that is craft-focused was an unfortunate choice for a month that will inevitably be craftastuc already...

UFOs!

That's "UnFinished Objects."

Also known as those things you get started and then just fall to the wayside!

I'm tackling a few for my 30 Days in January.

Some projects I know I want to complete:

Hemming the curtains in my bedroom
Filling my photo collage frame with awesome pictures
Getting one of my oversized photo prints framed and hung in my house
Sewing the curtains for my dining room (I bought the fabric Memorial Day weekend)
Finishing painting the trim in my bedroom - I think I'll save the doors for nicer weather
Plus a number of miscellaneous sewing projects that are half-done

As for my 30 days of fitness... I think it was my least successful month as far as meeting goals. I didn't lose the weight I wanted to, but I think it went far to make sure I didn't gain any. I can totally do the girly pushups. I'm not doing the sit-up test 'cause my chiropractor told me not to. As for the 5 mile run -- I think I can do it (I did do 4.75 that last time) and I will try again for that this month now that my leg is better. I was also going to track changes in my measurements... But can't for the life of me remember where I wrote them down Dec 1st!

So... fail. But hey, it's a new year! So much ahead.