January OPAM

 

 I  have not done much sewing this month as I have a dislocated clavicle.  So I have only managed two small bags.  I made the first as a gift but was not happy with the finished bag.  I felt the fabric was to thin and needed to be interface with a backing especially around the magnetic clasp.

The second bag after the alterations was much better.  I wanted it to be strong enough to be able to take rough handling when opening and closing the clasp.  What I mean to say is that I did not want the fabric to ripe around the clasp.  After all it was a birthday gift for a family member.  I fill it with her favourite sweets. 

P.S. Plym 2014 Challenge Pot 

2 x 20p = 40p for two small finished projects. 

Global Sealed Pot Challenge

This is my second year as a member of the Global Sealed Pot Challenge.  Mr D and I once again have our own tins.  We are saving for Christmas 2014.  It was wonderful last year to pay for all our Christmas gifts and food in cash.  We set a budget for each gift and planned our Christmas and New Year meals.  It was great not to have lots of food left over after the holidays.

I am going to use the same rules that I used last year for the challenge.  
1.  Emptying my purse of loose change each week into my pot.
2.  Saving all my £2 coins into my pot.
3.  Save and no spend days. Fed the pot by not having coffee or lunch out.
4.  Making all my own gifts for family and friends birthdays etc, including cards. Fed the pot.
5.  Fed the pot with the money saved when using coupons at the supermarket.
6.  Save money and fed the pot by using my very large fabric stash rather than buying more fabric for new projects.
7.  Fed the pot by not buying a chocolate bar. Oh this may be hard to achieve.
8.  Walk to local shops in village. Use car only when really necessary.

The yellow tin we decided not to open last year as it was only half full.  So we are going to carry on using that tin for this year's challenge.  If we fill it up before the end of the challenge we have decided to wait until December to open it with our main tins.

The red tin has been sitting in our kitchen for several years now.  We have decided to continue using it when our yellow tin becomes full.  

So we have four tins that all need feeding with coins.  So here we go.......  

P.S If you would like to join the challenge, pop over and see Saving for Travel.  

One Project A Month 2014

Kris and Peg are hosting another year of OPAM.  The sign up closes on the 1st February 2014.  It is a great challenge.  I managed to finish many projects last year both large and small items.

Kris at Tag along Teddies

Peg at Happy in Quilting
Kris and Peg have great blogs. I try and read their blogs every day. They list all the OPAM participants on their blogs. It is wonderful to blog hop to other see what other OPAMers are sewing and cheer each other on with our finishes. Kris and Peg are the most wonderful hostess.

My Word for 2014

My word for 2014 is Organisation.

I am in need of organising my life, family, work and clutter house/sewing studio. The important thing is to discipline myself to set aside the time each week to each activity that helps me declutter my life.  I love to make lists and cross things off that list as I achieve or complete an activity. 
Any baggage that is weighing me down needs to place in the bin as it is stopping my soul from creating new work.
Make do and use what I have! No unnecessary spending and selling what I do not use or need anymore. It is no use trying to keep things I do not want or use, it is just plain waste.
I have taken bits and pieces from each 'Word for the Year' blog posts to remind myself that this is an on going progess/activity.   

My word for 2010 was 'Clutter' or rather de-clutter.
My word for 2011 was 'Frugal'.
No word for 2012.
My word for 2013 was Peace.

A Special Gift

My dear friend Anne makes the most amazing Christmas ornaments.  

Mr D and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary in November.   Anne knows that I like to add a new Christmas ornament to our Christmas tree every year.

Thank you Anne. Your gift is so lovely that I will hang it with all my other hearts on my special heart tree in my studio. 

Plym's 2014 Jar

 At the Plym Piecemaker's Christmas party in December each member was given a present.

 

This is our new year project.



Start 2014 with an empty jar, every time..

Something good happens..

Learn something new..

Finish a project..

Something that to make you smile..

Write it on a piece of paper, and put in jar.

On December 31st 2014, open jar and read all the little remarks and feel proud of what you've achieved throughout the year.

I am changing the rules as I always do!!

Finish a project..

Tiny size 1p - 2p

Small size5p - 20p

Meduim size 50p

Large size £1

Extra large £2

These are the coins I will be putting into my jar every time a finish a project. Then at the end of the year I will be able to treat myself to a special quilting gift!!!!



New Year

Happy New Year!



I pray that this year brings you peace and good health.

Thank you to all my family, readers, fellow quilters and friends that have enrich my life over the last few years.  Your support has brought me laughter, tears and comfort during some very difficult years.

Cheers! Here is to a fantastic 2014, so let the fun begin.....