I have been plugging away on my Prairie Lace Shawl. I am up to 193 stitches and although I will run out of yarn before the prerequisite 275 stitches, I will be happy with the size.
I spent this week preparing for four courses I will teach starting in a week. Of course, sometimes to procrastinate about the prepping I would get into:
1) moving furniture around in my study
2) using the Kondo method on sentimental things
3) fixing my cedar chest, sorting my cedar chest, and then taking everything out of the cedar chest and using it for only my woolen baby keepsakes, my sweaters and my shawls.
Number 3 was an aha moment I had while worrying about moths and realizing I have a whole cedar chest full of things that don't need to be protected from moths. They now live in my bottom dresser drawer (waiting to be Kondo'd).
I am pretty chuffed with the progress.
I did some major mending this week. My aunt's handmade quilt was needing serious repair as many of the squares were coming loose I suspect because the thread was some 60+ years old. It took me an evening but I am so happy to have it back on my bed. (Especially since the temperatures have dipped into the -5 to -7 range at night.
Then I realized my son's quilt that I made 34 years ago needed all the edges re-sewn and I decided to spend another evening doing that my hand.
Still one more thing to mend - a hooked wool pillow my father had made when he was in hospice 46 years ago - One side had come undone - so I sewed it back up.
So that was my week - a lot of sewing, some progress on my shawl - and oh, yes, despite procrastinating I have all my notes and resources ready to go for teaching.
It is snowing at the moment, and I am still in my jammies. Dishes call, as do the two shawls that need blocking from last summer/fall.
I also have taken on a new contract with my school to do some evaluations so I need to organize my week and make sure I don't overbook, or overextend. Life is always a balance.
To follow other yoppers check out their posts here.
Golly Gee......you have really done a nice job on making sure your heirlooms are well taken care of. Good luck with the Kondo method. I like the idea of "if you have not used it in 3 years, it is no longer yours". If I use that method, I could move into a house half the size I am in now. LOL
ReplyDeleteI already have a little house and after living here for 36 years, well, let's just say there are a few things I haven't used in over 3 years....
DeleteHow lovely to have that quilt of your aunt’s still and what a beautiful thing to snuggle under. Sometimes you see these days how things aren’t made to last and so what treasures and heirlooms will be left without talented crafters like you and obviously your aunt.
ReplyDeleteYes, I want to use things like this quilt, but want to keep them functional too. It is a challenge with heirlooms for sure.
Delete*meant to say ‘how commercial made things aren’t made to last’
ReplyDeleteI love how you've rescued these old items. They are wonderful, too. That hooked pillow looks very detailed! And the quilts are so special. When my oldest son was born, my MIL rescued an old quilt that was my husbands (that DH's grandmother had made) by adding new sashing. The original blocks (which were made from pictures taken from a child's coloring book) have deteriorated, but it's still such a labor of love and I keep it for... posterity? I should get it out to see if I can do anything with it to preserve it.
ReplyDeleteYes the embroidery on my son's quilt has deteriorated - some of the flowers are hanging in with only a petal or two and I love the now one eyed cat in the middle!
DeleteI imagine that after the big pre-Croatia clean out, the Kondo-ing is an easier task than it otherwise would have been.
ReplyDeleteYour mending has reminded me that my Mary-Anne socks are in need of darning. Worn through the heels as I’m very heavy-footed. Will put them at front of mind. Xx
Yes the pre Croatia purge has made Kondo-ing easier - I have darned some socks (I am heavy footed too) but sometimes I just have to say goodbye to them.
DeleteWow what a good week. You got a lot done despite the procrastination! Good luck with all the teaching. I hope it's not too tiring.
ReplyDeleteIt will be ok. I am taking one course, and teaching two - 3 hours of teaching a day for 5 days and then I am done.
DeleteRemind me again what type of teaching you do? It always sounds interesting. I need to Marie Kondo my dresser and nightstand drawers.
ReplyDeleteI teach Waldorf teacher trainees. I love putting away things in my drawers now - everything looks so neat and organized.
DeleteYes, I have a lot of rearranging to do in the Homestead....slowly bringing my stuff over...
ReplyDeleteBusy times!
ReplyDelete