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Ten Things Month

I'm writing this on the night of August 15th, to post on September 14th, so I'm still almost a month ahead on the blog. I'm also still struggling a bit while coping with the new hand issues and other things. You know, life.

To get my backside in gear I'm going to post a to-do list of ten things I would like to accomplish instead of angsting over my troubles before summer ends, and see if I can do them all before this post publishes. I'm also going to challenge myself to do things other than quilting so I can dust off and use some of my other creative skills. It's been forever since I painted anything, and I stopped handwriting a couple months back. I may be clumsy with the hand problems, but if I don't use it I know I'll lose it.

A month will give me about three days for each project, so I think it's reasonable. It's fun to have a deadline because it will keep me motivated and I'm always competitive with myself. When I do them I'll add the date I finished each one, and a photo or link if applicable.

Thus here are:

Ten Things I'd Like to Do in the Next Thirty Days

Create some note cards using any technique and mail them with notes to friends. 8/18 - 8/19; made a mug rug-wrapped note*, one with watercolors and some clipped art, and the third with watercolors, a vintage trading card and some crystals.

Make a mask chain (like a lanyard, only it holds your mask around your neck.) Done 8/16 -- cobbled it together out of an old bracelet and necklace chain, and added some beads and crystals.

Make a small slow-stitch project -- maybe another needle book, as mine is packed. Done 8/20 -- hand sewn silk, velvet and cotton needle book for my embroidery and beading needles.

Paint something with watercolors. Painted the little pencil flower sketches I drew on 8/31.

Sew a soft toy for Oliver. Drew my own pattern for a little rabbit stuffie, and made it out of some leftover wool felt on 9/1.

Sketch something in pencil or pastels. Sketched some flowers in pencil on 8/31.

Start a new journal that isn't angry or filled with angst. Since September is National Sewing Month, I started a new quilting journal on 8/25.

Take some inspiring nature photos and frame the best of them for my office. Took Kat down to the lake on 8/20 to have lunch and snapped some shots of the very friendly birds (I wish people would stop hand-feeding them.) Best of the lot:

Framed and ready for hanging in the office:

Write a poem that isn't depressing. Done 8/18 -- I wrote a birthday poem for Oliver.

Write a new short story for this blog. Done 8/24 -- wrote Refuge (click here to go to the story.)

That seems like an interesting list -- wish me luck!

Bonus challenge: Make a cover for my NaNoWriMo project -- done 9/10

*Quilted, which is cheating a little, but this was a special note.

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Comments

Maria Zannini said…
I like your idea of doing 10 things before summer's end, especially since they were all fun, creative things. I don't do that enough. It seems there's always one more chore to get done. :(
September 14, 2020 at 6:29 AM
nightsmusic said…
I like this idea! Summer is almost over here and I'll have time to myself rather than pulling weeds and trying to keep up with things in the yard and the house. Doesn't seem fair to do it in the winter though since I'm in the house all day long, but it would definitely keep me busy. Love that little mug rug! ;)
September 14, 2020 at 11:45 AM
nightsmusic said…
Oh! I meant to mention, that magnifying stand with the word change? I have one of those. Wonderful little things. :)
September 14, 2020 at 11:45 AM
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