43 things again

Well I gave myself a small list here, not quite the 43 things. It felt good initially but then I started to feel as though I had a list of New Year Resolutions - those near impossible dreams of good intentions. I have cut the list down to three items, two are hard goals and one is a softer goal. There are always going to be things that I want to do but priorities change and they all tend to come and go.

At the moment I want to try making Artist Trading Cards and have been finding out what I can about them and have joined an internet group (well trying to join). I think they would be a great way to try out ideas on a small scale - a great creative outlet without it becoming a large project. Obviously I want to do them with fabric and fibre using my own dyed fabrics and decorating them with threads, beads, stamps, applique. So let's see how that goes.

Achieving my goals

I have just been an reviewed my list of 43 things (well there are only ten). I haven't really done much about any of them. Is it because I don't have the list close to me and more visible. Do I need to cut the list down to just 3-4 things and work on them and only add to the list as I either achieve things or start to do more. I will have to at least write the list down in hardcopy somewhere and review it and put in an action plan of how I am going to achieve them.

It could be confused with a list of New Year Resolutions and you know what happens to them - they are not achieved! I think that is why an action plan needs to be made because I am sure that I have kept the list simple, achievable and realistic.

Creativity

There are so many projects and ideas that I want to follow up but end up doing nothing about them. Is it because there are so many that I don't know where to start or that I worry about the result. I shouldn't worry about what others think about my creations as I only make them for my own satisfaction. I really need to have one of my famous lists with all the things that I want to make/do on it and slowly work through it one item at a time.

A creativity/inspiraton book would be good. Something not too small (or too large) with plain pages in acid free paper. I can draw, make lists and have all those little sayings that I love in it. Actually a nice bag to hold it all in would be good - I could also then have a lot of those postcards and pictures in a small folder in the bag as well. It would be a chance to make one of the lovely looking bags from my recent book purchase of Bags With Style. Not as big as my library book bags, perhaps something that will comfortably take A4 size.

I want to have a go at making Artists Trading Cards and follow on with a fabric postcard that I can post to Christine and following on again an altered book would be fun as well. So then I must look up my Qulting Arts books for information on all these.

First things first - look for a book for all my creativity/inspirations
Second - decide on my bag
I can look through my magazines and draw some ideas etc.
Well then, off I go

Containers

After cutting out lots of small pieces of fabric for an upcoming class I was looking around for a small container to put them in. Now although I couldn't find just the right container I realised that this is another thing that I like to have lots of - containers. I love having something to put something else in. All sorts of little containers right up to larger ones. Lots of variety and some more practical than others. I gave myself a surprise to realise this but it is something that I can add to my collection of and they can all be useful and have a function.

This speaks for itself

Life is not a journey to the grave
with a pretty well preserved body
but rather to arrive totally worn out,
thoroughly used up and proclaiming loudly
“wow, what a ride!”

Lists

Some lists are working lists and will continually change.
Others are also very short term, for a specific occasion or time.
Some are nothing more than action plans, hope to do lists rather than achievement lists.
There are longer term lists that can also change but not so often.
Another set of lists are those that are used as guidelines and set the standard for whatever purpose they are written.
Some lists will be double edged in that one part of the list is what I have and the other part is what I need or want to acquire.

I need to develop a Book of Lists – a ring binder with plastic inserts would be the best
And then I will need a list of all the lists that I want to have

I love my lists

I can't help it, I like writing out lists. They give me stability and order in a disorganised world. They help me to maintain control. I don't always use my lists but just the action of writing a list sometimes is enough to help me relax and remain focused.

43 Things

I know that I am going to change this from time to time but this is a start

Keep in touch with my friends more – telephone, write, visit, invite them over
Read more fiction
Watch less TV – turn off, leave the room, do something else (like read)
Go to an Eric Clapton concert
Get out on my bike more regularly – buy a new seat with suspension
Save on a regular basis
Have more pot plants on the deck
Grow more trilliums
Doodle
Explore new places

starting over

In an effort to keep my blog private I thought I would try to change my login and ended up deleting my blog notes but nothing else – darn it. So I need to start over with all my thoughts and ideas.

I thought the 43 Things list was interesting. When I went to the web site that supports these lists it was amazing what people had on their lists. And of course with my love of lists I couldn’t resist of coming up with my own but I didn’t register it with the site. On reflection I wondered if people were using it in part as a resolution list – all those things we want to do, but never get around to doing them. Some of it seemed very much wish list – the things we would like to do if it were possible but know there is no way that it could happen. But anyhow I will try my list of 43. I have made a start but most of them are more resolution type things – all achievable if I put the effort into them. There are other things (like going to an Eric Clapton concern) that are not quite so achievable (or possible). I thought that some of the items on the list warranted a fuller explanation of how I was going to achieve them. Should I have ongoing items on the list or cross things off the list once I have started to be able to achieve them on a regular basis. Those sorts could be relegated to a “sub list”.

Thinking early

It isn't mid day yet but here goes:
Great to be sleeping in the waterbed again, very comfy and a lovely floaty feeling
The cats are enjoying having the waterbed back again
Keeping things tidyish

Simple things

It seems hard to come up with my three good thoughts today but here goes:
Lunch was yummy - bagels with cheese and tomato - must see if I can buy some more
The black bull wasn't difficult to get back into one of our paddocks from the neighbours (usually it can be quite a merry chase)
Now that the bedroom has been repainted Christine's painting looks really good hung on it.

power of positive thinking

I know I read somewhere a long time ago that instead of being overpowered by the negative that we should think more positively about things - find the good in everything or some way of putting a positive spin on even the most dire situations.

So then I will try to regularly put in three (or more) positive thoughts about things that are happening in my day to day ramblings.

So to start for today:

It is a lovely sunny warm day, not too much wind
Went for a nice bike ride which felt good
Found a blogspot that I know a friend at work will want to know about
Found some bagels at the supermarket and had two for lunch with cheese and tomato - yum