Begin as we mean to go on

I'm not a big one for New Year's resolutions, but I do like a fresh start, and I believe in beginning as I mean to go on. So I started early, spending the end of 2012 filing our (huge!) pile of paid bills and papers and documents. I moved old files to boxes in the basement so that the filing cabinet wouldn't be too full to access, and I cleaned up the file folders too. Boy that felt good! It'll make tax time a little easier too, because we'll be able to find the documents we need. It always amazes me how a good clearing out can lift my spirits!

The new year also started with signing up for an exercise class. I have been to this class a lot over the years, but I had lapsed, and hadn't gone in close to a year. I guess I got busy, but mostly I got lazy. The class gives me really good core-strengthening exercises, and good stretches that I never really get around to doing on my own at home.

On the house front, here's how far we've come on the construction of the three-season room. (I say "we" but really our contractor and his crew are doing all the work!)

The side of the house: the double doors are part of an extension of the garage

From the back corner of the yard

Inside three-season room (boxes are kitchen cabinets)

The other project I've started on is moving my sewing room. As the big construction project is moving along, the crew will be moving into the house soon to tear down walls, build a new laundry room and expand and remodel the kitchen. The room with my office and sewing table will be changed, and I don't want my sewing machine anywhere near all that construction dust. So, as my oldest son gets older and spends less and less time here at the house, we are ready to convert his bedroom to a guest room/sewing room. He's not really broken hearted, as he is already making plans for post-graduation (spring 2014) and those plans don't include moving back home. He IS enjoying telling all his friends at school how his parents started converting his bedroom a mere 2 days after he went back to school though. Ha!

Since I've been cleaning up the sewing area and starting to move things, I've also been inspired to take care of some of the mending that's been patiently waiting for me, along with some small projects.

 Here are 2 open-wide pouches that I made using the last few remnants of a favorite fabric. I found a tutorial for them online here on a blog called Noodlehead - quick and easy and great results. I used only fabrics and linings and zippers that I had on hand. A good way to work down the stash and get something useful out of it.

In addition to the sewing, I used up some more fabric covering boxes to use for yarn storage. I keep some of my knitting projects in the living room and the pretty covered boxes look so much nicer than old cardboard. I first tried using good old Elmer's white glue, but soon I made a trip to the hardware store and bought some spray adhesive. That moved things along much faster, though it's much messier. Notice the newspaper covering my work table in the "outside fabric" photo below.

starter box

add lining

add outside fabric

  

add grommets and handle

on the shelves

 Well, the shelves still look kind of messy, but it's a much tidier mess than it used to be.

Wishing you all the best of luck with your own fresh start.

Shelley in CT