48 Days 'til Spring!

Seed catalogs galore...I've thumbed through them even though I have no intention of really starting anything from seed.  The only item that as tugged on my heartstrings is a beautiful little pastel poppy mix from Heirloom Seeds.

Mother of Pearl Poppy, sun or partial shade

This is the year I'll finally plant all of those Sweet Pea seeds I've accumulated.  I'm ready for all of that cheery color!  I really love the look of the Mother of Pearl poppy...they look so fragile, almost like tissue paper.  Want them!

Rain and gloom, but no snow

I've been "on vacation" for the past couple of days.  Not really a vacation, but I had intended to work on a few interesting projects.  Instead, I've been enjoying cocktails of Thera-Flu, occasionally switching that up with Alka Seltzer Cold & Flu.  Lovely.  On the plus side, I'm not missing any work, and the sunny skies and not so cold temperatures have lightened my spirits.  Today-Sunday...rain and gloom.  No complaints though...it's still in the mid-40's so there's no threat of ice and snow.

While restocking the cold remedy cabinet, I decided to pick up a few groceries.  Much to my surprise and delight, I found primroses...at Aldi!  At 99 cents each! A little blast of color on a gloomy, rainy Sunday.

Back half of January---where does the time go?

It's hard to believe that January is almost over.  We've had four or five days of 50+ degree temperatures and lots of sunshine here.  Such a nice respite from the usual, typical cold and gloom.  I'm ready for a few colorful primroses...I hope the local grocery floral department has them in.  Nothing like a little blast of color to make me 'think Spring"! {{60 days!!}}

Photo from Martha Stewart Living, February 2015 issue

In the meantime,  I'm on the hunt for a few small Japanese painted ferns.  They won't be at Lowe's or Home Depot for several weeks, but I absolutely love, love, love the pairing of the ferns with orchids as seen on the current Martha Stewart Living.  Gorgeous!  I'll just have to make do with my little orchid from Fresh Market!

No life-changing magic here {{yet}}

As much as I would love, love, love to have a nice tidy everything-in-its'-place abode, I'm still doing what I always do...flitting around from one thing to the next and not doing what is probably more important for my well-being.  Truly...I'm like a crow with shiny objects tempting me!

I've been working fairly regularly on a stitching project...a "my way" take on the Alabama Chanin DIY Magdalena Fitted Cardigan.  Instead of spending $298.00 on the ready to stitch cardigan, I'm doing it the hard-but-way-less-expensive way.  This is usually when I get into trouble...generally speaking, it would be more efficient to buy the ready to sew kit.  By the time I collect what I need, cut the stencils, stencil the fabric, I'm kind of "over" the whole project.  Not this time though!

Photo from Alabama Chanin Studio Style DIY

 I love the clothing on the Alabama Chanin website...I love everything about AC-style.  Hope I can pull this off!

Some of my stitching stuff...fabric paint, button & craft thread, embroidery floss.  Ready for the shirt as soon as I get that big stencil finished!

So, instead of organizing for the new year, I'm still jumping from project to project.  I don't even know why I think things will change!

Awaiting the weekend

I came across a recipe for That's Amore Soup   {click link for recipe} yesterday, and on my way home from work I stopped to pick up some Italian sausage so that I could make it.  This soup is SO good!  Perfect for this way less-than-perfect weather.

Cold, cold, cold!  I feel lucky that we don't have the snow and ice everyone else across the country has...it's nice and sunny here.  That's the thing about winter...sunshine and clear skies makes for a cold morning...with wind-chills making it feel like way below zero.  It was a few degrees warmer this morning, and for that, I'm grateful!

I'm off this entire weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it.  Puttering around, a little painting, reading, cooking and baking. That should make for a relaxing weekend.  I'll need to come up with a new soup to make on Sunday...it's back to soup and bread-making for the coming week on Sunday mornings.  Winter settles into a nice little rhythm as we begin the countdown to Spring (70 days, if you're interested!!).

Jumping in with both feet...

Into the new year, that is.  While everyone else is trying to pare down and simplify their lives, I've jumped in to many new "to-dos".  Most have to do with art journaling or just plain ole' journaling...

The Documented Life 2015.  I stuck with this through the first part of 2014, but I'm back with renewed enthusiasm for the project.  In order to make sure I stick with it, I've started a monthly Mixed Media Club at my library so that we can support and encourage each other...and probably get into more "art" trouble!

Magic Book 2015.  I love the work that Lisa Sonora does.  The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real  is one of my favorite books...great ideas for furthering your business goals, personally or professionally.

Another book and idea on my mind lately...

Talk about down-sizing and simplifying!!  So many things about this book make so much sense.  One of my friends just finished tidying up her clothing...exactly the same way as described in the book and she is overjoyed!  I'm almost ready to take the plunge.

Ready for 2015?