View Full Version : May "Finishing" Thread
I just posted over on BarbieGirl's thread about finishing her embroidery project. I too have many unfinished projects and they are a weight. I have so many of them at this point that I spend all my time in indecision and mostly ultimately end up online wasting time so then I don't have to decide where to start. Dumb, but it is what it is. I was tracking them in my journal thread and that helped but I didn't keep it up.
Anyone want to join me in focusing on finishing things up? It doesn't matter if it is one thing you happen to get done or if you are really purposely focusing on finishing a project (pleasant or unpleasant) - it would be fun to support each other in this.
Pics would be fun, too.
Here's an initial list, not in priority order, of things I need to finish up:
- The pegboard organizer for the sewing room
- Rehoming the old printer
- Wash my wedding dress
- Organize sewing room
- Many curtain sewing projects
- Fabricating screens for the windows that have none
This is not an exhaustive list, these are the high-priority items and also I have all the supplies for them, except perhaps enough fabric for all the curtains. I may also need some storage containers to hang on the pegboard organizer once it is up. Some are seasonal - the screens need to be made so we can open windows up here pretty soon (please God, let us be able to open up windows at some point in 2013 . . . ).
How about you?
I need to organize my linen closet! Sheets, towels, curtains, my vintage quilts and vintage linens,etc.
Organize my hutch--supposed to be for china but its become a big junk drawer!
Organize my children's clothing...summer clothes out, winter clothes packed. Clothes mended, outgrown clothes donated. This is a huge undertaking as I have three growing boys, all in different sizes. Downsize their wardrobe....I pass so many hand me downs down their drawers are full of unneeded clothes. Laundry is grueling
i have more, but will work on these and post my results!
Barb
fidgiegirl
5-4-13, 11:32pm
I powered through the remainder of a crocheted hat tonight. It was slow because it was all single crochet, but it is done and I will choose a faster pattern so I enjoy it a bit more.
I'm going to keep a list of things I finish:
1. Double colored beanie
When I cleaned out my craft supplies a few weeks ago, I made a list of the unfinished projects I had there, so that when I have time to work on something like that I can just grab one already in progress. Not anticipating much time in the coming weeks though, since I need to get the veg garden and yard work underway. I think my oldest unfinished project is from 1993... an embroidery project I began as stress relief while working on my master's thesis. I guess it served its real purpose at the time.
shadowmoss
5-5-13, 11:16am
I have you beat on older UFOs. I have a sweater I started knitting back in high school. My 40th reunion will be this year. It just needs to have the side seams sewn up. I hate sewing knit things, and now I knit such that I minimize seams that need to be sewn. That project is currently someplace between Honduras and a storage unit in Kansas City. I'm in Phoenix. This is a recent excuse, though.
I have a sweater I started while in Honduras that I managed to keep with me during all my recent travels. I will commit to working on it and hopefully finishing it. I'm a bit stuck on the binding off of the shoulders as I'm attempting to bind the front and back off together at the shoulders to avoid have to sew seams. I'll get it out today and at least finish that part. Then I just need to pick up the sleeve stitches and knit them.
Got the shoulders finished, and they look great. This sweater is more of a 'sampler' in that I'm teaching myself to knit continental style and trying techniques that I haven't had the courage to do before, like button holes. The first one was a disaster after 3 tries, the second better in 2 tries, the last one looks great. This sweater will be an around the house one because of all the mistakes as I learn my way. Now, on to the sleeves.
Great attitude, shadowmoss, and congrats on the shoulders.
I am closer to finishing both the wedding dress and the pegboard, but not done with either yet. Made some good steps on both today and hope to finish this week after work.
I love the idea of this thread! I have about a zillion little things sitting around that need to get done:
Okay, here is my list for the week:
1. Process online return
2. Return belt
3. Sell books on Amazon
4. Mend work shirt for DH
5. Sew button back on DH's winter coat
6. Make hooded towel for DD
7. Make hooded towel for DS
This morning I processed the online return and sold my books on amazon.com. Then, when I was out running errands, I returned the belt and picked up the bobbin and needle I needed to get started on some of the sewing. While DD napped, I mended DH's work shirt and made a hooded towel for DD (which turned out super cute, BTW). Still need to sew the button on DH's coat (which I am dreading--I am horrible at hand sewing) and make a hooded towel for DS. Hopefully DS's towel will go faster since I am familiar with the process now.
Feels great to cross some things off my list. Thanks for the motivation/inspiration, everyone! :-)
You made a huge dent in that list, Kat! Awesome!
This thread is reminding me that I have to take the next step on my projects. Tonight I will put the wedding dress in the washer and dryer! Eeks!
This is not craft or home project-related, but I did have to be really organized to do it, so I think it still fits in this thread. :)
I will be finishing up a big project this month: getting my final 12 units of CLEP (http://clep.collegeboard.org/)exams that St. Mary's College will accept for transfer. I took my first test March 16, and followed that one with two on the same day at the end of March, then two more on the same day in April. I have scheduled my final two for the 18th and the 25th of this month, and that will bring me to a grand total of 30 transferable units earned in 3 months (some tests were worth 3 units and some 6 each). I had to be really strict with myself with the study schedule, so I used MS Project.
It will feel so good to get them all done, but I don't get to rest on my laurels long, since then I start summer school. Those 30 units earned from the CLEP tests only get me to a total of 50, and St. Mary's requires a minimum of 64 to get into the program I want (B.A. in Leadership & Organizational Studies (http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/ba-in-leadership-organizational-studies)). So, those final 14 will have to come from traditional classes: 1 in summer school; 2 in the fall; 2 in the spring. And then, finally, I will be ready to start at St. Mary's in their 2-year program. Graduation date: Summer 2016.
There's a lot standing between me and graduation, so I am trying to celebrate the baby steps. :D
Kara
I'm gonna chime in on this:
1. Frame "finally-finished" embroidery project. First find frame to fit it.
2. Organize recipe print-outs.
3. Organize art print-outs (tangles)
4. Organize scout files
5. Finish tracing embroidery patterns for baby quilt
6. Go through stack of photos, boldly tossing those I don't really need to keep. Photos are a long-term project for me. I have some old albums which have not held up well I need to replace.
Also, Kat---this is kind of off-topic, but how do you do on the selling of your books on amazon? Lucrative at all? or just a way of recycling?
Welcome, Kara and Kay.
Kara, I always thought it was a shame I didn't know about CLEP when I was a college student. A friend of mine did a lot of credits that way and she was a traditional age student. What an awesome way to save some $$. I remember that you were really nervous about school so I'm glad to see you're going for it.
Kay, you reminded me of another thing I need to finish - passing along some albums to another family member who wants them. Works for me! They are not even from my family, but DH's! We were going to scan them, but I'll gladly pass that job along. :D
I washed my wedding dress! It took three days of preparation: preparing the area so that it was big enough to spread out and work in and vacuuming it, etc. Day 2 was stain treating the visible dirt and stains. Day 3 was washing and drying in the machine. There is a bit of faint dirt on the hem, but I think I plan to keep it, so that's ok with me. At least it's not caked like it was. So!
The list is still short, but #2 was a biggie!
1. Double colored beanie
2. Wash wedding dress
BarbieGirl
5-6-13, 11:18pm
I got some of my linen organized from my list. I do so much laundry and ironing weekly! I could do several loads a day and still not be laundry free. It makes me anxious...that huge pile taunting me! Not to mention the mountain of clothes to iron. I feel like Cinderella, only without the fairy godmother!
Lol, but this isn't a pity party thread...but a get 'er done thread!
Which reminds me....need to start putting away winter clothes as I wash them. Mend things that need mending before packing them away for next fall.
Barbie
KayLRZ--you just go to amazon.com's trade-in site (http://www.amazon.com/Trade-In/b?ie=UTF8&node=2242532011--is a link allowed here?) and then search for things you would like to trade. They will offer you an amount depending on the condition of the item, and if you accept, then you get that amount put on an amazon gift card. I wouldn't say it is highly lucrative, though I did make $7 from one book I just had sitting around. Most things are in the $1-$2 range, it seems, but it is an easy way to get stuff out of the house without having a garage sale. Also, shipping is free!
I thought of a few more things to add to my list:
1. Process online return--DONE!
2. Return belt--DONE!
3. Sell books on Amazon--DONE!
4. Mend work shirt for DH--DONE!
5. Sew button back on DH's winter coat
6. Make hooded towel for DD--DONE!
7. Make hooded towel for DS
8. Finish packing bag for hospital
9. Finish meal plan for after baby comes
10. Finish clipping/organizing coupons for the week
11. Finish catching up on DD's baby book (her old one got wet, so I have to transfer all the info into a new one)
12. Finish DD's baby photo album (I am making this digitally online and am about half done)
Kara--Way to go on the CLEP! I used to work in assessment, and administering CLEP tests was one of my many duties. It is such a great program, and I am so glad you are taking advantage of it! Why shouldn't you earn college credit for what you already know? Such an awesome way to save time and money. Good for you!
fidgie--Way to go on the wedding dress! Bet it feels good to get that done. :-)
Awesome job, everyone!
Barb, laundry - ugh! We are only two people and The Laundry Monster (aka Gus, the 15 lb. shih-tzu) and Corky makes a few dirties once in a while too. And I feel overwhelmed! I can't imagine keeping up with little people. I think reducing the number of clothes they have will help. I posted a thread a while back about how long do people wear their clothes without washing them and I have to admit, I am wearing them longer between washes now . . . unless some visible stain or I can really smell BO on them or they are super wrinkly, they get put away. Not so easy, again, with little people.
Kat, you are making great progress!
I am giving myself no more than one hour to do work e-mails, then am going outside to paint the remainder of the pieces for the pegboard organizer. Woohoo!
I'm moving rocks 2-3 hours/day when weather permits. It is going to take a long time... probably at least a month of working a little each day. Any more time spent than that and my hands, arms, and back will likely complain too much.
Welcome, Kara and Kay.
Kara, I always thought it was a shame I didn't know about CLEP when I was a college student. A friend of mine did a lot of credits that way and she was a traditional age student. What an awesome way to save some $$. I remember that you were really nervous about school so I'm glad to see you're going for it.
Thanks for the welcome and kind words. And yes, now that I know about CLEP (I only found out this February, when I went to the orientation breakfast at St. Mary's), I feel darn right evangelical about it. I want everyone to know. :) I swear, it's our university system's best-kept secret. It can save students so much time and money, and most schools accept at least some credits this way, but no school wants to advertise that (since then they lose money).
Kara
I am at inbox zero for work and also cleaned up the registration list for an event. I didn't really mean to include work stuff on here, but it got to taking too long and interfered with my painting, so goshdarnit, I want to make a post about finishing stuff.
Oh fidgiegirl you come up with the best ideas. I have LISTS and LISTS of things that need starting, not just finishing. But, I keep plugging away and this might help. Several years ago I gave all my unfinished and unstarted needlework projects to Goodwill and have not regretted it since! So, now to make a short list to tackle.
Welcome aboard, nswef!
I never did get to the painting, but the patio is set up and I figured out my Google Reader end-of-life strategy - it can just keep living in Flipboard! That's it! Yippee!
1. Beanie
2. Dress
3. Google Reader transition
I switched to feedly from Google Reader a few weeks ago. The transition went seamlessly and it's working well.
I am clueless about what Fidgie and Rosemary are talking about....Should I know??
Hacked away at this list a bit more yesterday. Packed as much of my hospital bag as I could and finished meal/planning and couponing. I also worked on DD's photo book for a bit but am still nowhere near done. DH cleaned out the bookshelf, so I started going through the process of selling some of his discarded books online. Ugh! So another project to add to the list! I really do need to just sew that pesky button on DH's coat...it will only take a few minutes; I just hate hand sewing so much!
1. Process online return--DONE!
2. Return belt--DONE!
3. Sell books on Amazon--DONE!
4. Mend work shirt for DH--DONE!
5. Sew button back on DH's winter coat
6. Make hooded towel for DD--DONE!
7. Make hooded towel for DS
8. Finish packing bag for hospital--DONE!
9. Finish meal plan for after baby comes--DONE!
10. Finish clipping/organizing coupons for the week--DONE!
11. Finish catching up on DD's baby book (her old one got wet, so I have to transfer all the info into a new one)
12. Finish DD's baby photo album (I am making this digitally online and am about half done)--worked on it for a little while and got through month 8 done (I am not great with computers, so this is a long process for me!)
13. Finish listing DH's books online
I am clueless about what Fidgie and Rosemary are talking about....Should I know??
Sorry, nswef, didn't mean to leave anyone out . . . Google Reader has been a great service to read blogs all in one place, but Google is discontinuing it. Rather than lose all my blog feeds I've collected, because Lordy, I'd never go to every single one and visit it often enough to keep up, I wanted to find a new service, and that is done. Yippee!
Using this thread is helping motivate me to continue to get things done in the evening. Thanks all!
Kat, I vote you tackle the button first thing. If I have a particularly onerous task, I like to do it first. Then it's out of the way and DONE like the rest of that nice list you have going.
I'm a new Feedly user, too...love it!
Sewed 4 patches onto DD's Girl Scout sash today.
Right now I'm converting her CD audiobooks to MP3s, so I feel like that is sanctioning more internet time than I would usually take.
Kat, your list is disappearing! You'll have to come up with some more items for it! Great work!
Congrats to all of you for all you're getting done! I can't join this month but maybe another month!
1. Work on my Mom's Shawl. Would love to have it done by the end of the month.
2. Write notes updating my Mom's progress for her friends who are not on the internet.
3. Mail out one gift and one return. They are ready to go, but I didn't want to make a separate trip to the Post Office. I have to be out and about tomorrow, so I must remember them then.
4. Go through my craft supplies and get rid of the ones I don't/won't use.
early morning
5-9-13, 10:47pm
You all are doing wonderfully well. I feel swamped by unfinished projects, major messes, and ongoing things that pull on my time - so maybe this will be a good motivational tool! For the rest of this month, I'd like to:
1. scatter the ashes of previous pets - several have been in the silverware drawer far too long. Yes, really. Pets - even those who have passed over- don't belong in kitchen drawers, lol.
2. get the new microwave mounted on the wall (need DH and DD to help on that one!)
3. purge my closet and/or dresser.
I think that's about all I can handle for May, on top of things that HAVE to be done.
fidgiegirl
5-9-13, 10:56pm
Welcome aboard, Lily and early!! Nice manageable size lists from my view, though it's always easy to say that when I'm not the one doing the lists. :) Keep us updated . . .
I got a new (to me) sewing table yesterday. Found it at an upscale secondhand store here, and it had been on the floor since January, marked down twice to the point the consignor was just asking for an offer. We offered $75 and she accepted. I've never had one before; it has storage for fabric, supplies and thread and my machine fits into the top which folds down and closes so it's out of sight. It's not beautiful-- probably 60's vintage-- but in really good shape and I think it will help me stay more organized and inspired to stay with my projects that I usually have to set aside in an unorganized way. You know, out of sight, out of mind.
This weekend (sometime as it's Mother's Day and tomorrow I'm doing a 5K) I will fill and organize it with all my stuff that is sitting around in piles.
early morning
5-13-13, 8:42pm
One project done - with DD's help I purged my closet and dresser and have a large trash bag full of stuff to donate tomorrow!
fidgiegirl
5-13-13, 9:26pm
Yeah, everyone!
Finished soil testing for three areas. Interesting! Very low in nitrogen and phosphorus in all three places.
1. Beanie
2. Dress
3. Google Reader transition
4. Soil testing
I started a few paintings that sat unfinished for years. I felt trapped by indecision and one day I signed up for a show and that motivated me to finish. Some pieces simple expired from my interest and I tossed them. I realized that life is too short to be trapped by unfinished projects. Perhaps that was the lesson I needed to learn to go on. I noticed that I would do that because that's what I always did. I try to do one at a time. Multitasking isn't always worth it esp. if you get overwhelmed.
My next project is toss all unfinshed projects(paintings) and old paints. Finish my one unfinished painting and hang it up on my wall to enjoy.I have a few important pictures to frame and enjoy. The key is to stay motivated and as long as you have fun doing it -carry on!
Looking for something today led to the cleaning of one shelf in one closet! It was in better shape than I thought, although there are some unfinished projects on it...
Oof, this reminds me, I need to use the black RIT dye I bought a couple of months ago to boost the faded black color on a pair of jeans and a couple of tops!
Gardenarian
5-14-13, 2:56pm
Okay - I'm going to try and finish painting the fence. That's all.
shadowmoss
5-14-13, 10:09pm
I have now learned Magic Loop knitting in the round, and have about 3" of the first sleeve on the sweater done. I'm knitting this such that I won't have any seams when I'm done, so I'm working with the entire body of the sweater hanging from the sleeve I'm working on. Kinda neat to see it emerging out from my needles. Plan is to finish this sleeve by the end of the weekend.
Things have gotten a little crazy around here with DH working all day and then working on the nursery all night. So I have gotten next to nothing accomplished except for my daily stuff (dishes, laundry, etc.). I am enjoying reading about everyone else's successes, though! :-)
fidgiegirl
5-16-13, 10:15pm
Cool, everyone! Kat, I call keeping up a success in and of itself! :)
I have not finished anything else either, but I did two baby tasks on the community garden plot tonight: raked around the leaves and coffee grounds to better integrate them, and rolled up the chicken wire that was left on our plot. I was inspired by this thread. Baby steps forward . . . . . . . . . .
Only two but they feel dauntingly huge: 1. Finish working out budget for the coming year along with emergency fund for this year (DH's last year of work (part-time), 2. Redo our wills (beneficiary died), including all the research involved to be very specific and try to get new executors in it.
shadowmoss
5-17-13, 11:19pm
Gearing up to finish the first sleeve by tomorrow night. I plan to have the sweater done by the end of the month, one sleeve and the collar to go after this sleeve, which is about half done now. I was inspired by all this to find a yarn shop locally that has a social table for folks to drop in and sit and work on their needlework projects with experienced folk to help if necessary. It was a fun way to spend a couple of hours Wednesday evening. I'll probably go back. I also found wonderful yarn for my next project, but I won't let myself buy it until the sweater if finished. More motivation. :)
fidgiegirl
5-18-13, 10:54pm
Larknm, stick with it, they both sound important.
Shadowmoss, I am smiling over the idea of a yarn store in Honduras :). Not sure why!
I am so close on the pegboard organizer. It has taken a lot longer than I thought it would! I bought the items in Feb but couldn't paint until April, really. All that's left is to glue it together and put it up! Woohoo!
Garden front was productive as well. Nothing like the threat of rain! We fenced the community garden plot and seeded it. We also spread some coffee grounds we had laying in piles and bags at our house and seeded a box with lettuce. Small steps, but I feel a LOT better with the community garden plot in. Not counting it as finished though because we have all the heat-lovers to put in yet.
shadowmoss
5-20-13, 10:49pm
Oh, oops. I guess I haven't updated here. I'm no longer in Honduras. I'm in Phoenix. Long story, but I've been back since the middle of February. Perhaps I should change my profile here... Yes, woolens are not really high on the list of priorities in Honduras.
shadowmoss
5-25-13, 8:39pm
I didn't finish the sleeve last Saturday. In fact I drove myself so insane with my heavy handed schedule to do so that I haven't been able to even look at the sweater since I realized I wasn't going to meet my deadline. So, I hope to finish the sweater by the end of the month, but if I don't I'll finish it soon after.
fidgiegirl
5-25-13, 10:01pm
No! Shadowmoss! No driving oneself crazy. :D If it doesn't get done in May, it'll get done in June.
BTW, if you are ever up for it, would love to hear the story of the transition back to the US. And if not, that's ok too - no worries.
fidgiegirl
5-25-13, 10:15pm
Oh guys, could I really have finished only four things and only one of them from my original list? I am going to count putting in the gardens at my parents'. That was a big one. Our community garden plot is almost done . . . only a few more seeds to plant.
1. Beanie
2. Dress
3. Google Reader transition
4. Soil testing
5. Garden in at my parents'.
Interesting about my Google Reader transition - I went with Flipboard, but have changed my mind and signed up for Feedly today. Flipboard is only on mobile devices and I just don't read my blogs there, I read them on my laptop, and Feedly does both. So I'm happy and feel like it's TRULY finished. :)
There are a few days left yet of May. I WILL finish the pegboard organizer for the craft room. I have the glue and all the pieces are painted. Just need to make two cuts and glue the pieces together since we have yet to buy a nail gun. What a PITA this project has been! Hopefully I will like it! :S
shadowmoss
5-26-13, 11:10am
BTW, if you are ever up for it, would love to hear the story of the transition back to the US. And if not, that's ok too - no worries.
Short answer: http://shadowmoss.blogspot.com/ starting with January. I may start a thread here as I am struggling with a lot of the issues this board represents for me.
fidgiegirl
5-28-13, 10:21pm
I still haven't finished anything else for this thread but I did scrub some TV trays tonight that I'm going to make into a mini ironing board for the craft room, so that will help toward the goal of organizing the craft room. At least this thread has helped me take baby steps every night after work -I'll probably finish a whole bunch of things all at once.
Hey I got a new iPad and I dictated this post. Works pretty well!
fidgiegirl
5-28-13, 10:22pm
Shadowmoss, I hope you do start the thread. I would like to hear about your experiences in the context of simple living.
fidgiegirl
5-29-13, 9:39pm
soooooooo close on that blasted pegboard organizer!! Even finally bought an air nailer to put it together . . . but we are missing ONE adapter. Argh!! And we were just at Menards to buy the right nails for it!!!! The neverending project!!!!!!!!
Whoa, it's "Finish It Thursday" again, and guess what? I got some papers notarized here that maybe, possibly, hopefully, will mean that the (short) sale of my house in Nevada can finally CLOSE! Whoo hoo...standing here with baited breath!
Oh, and I colored my hair last week, but I still haven't gotten it cut!
fidgiegirl
5-30-13, 10:39pm
Excellent, Selah!!
I bought the male adapter for the nailing project, but then turned on the tank for the first time, discovered it leaks air and has to go back to the store. *Sigh* The neverending project continues . . .
But I am being a bit hard on myself. I have completed a lot of car errands this month as well. DH's air got looked at twice (lots of $$ to fix, but now we know) and I am getting his brakes done tomorrow and have made an appointment to get his windshield fixed. My own windshield was fixed from a rock as well.
So I pitch my list out the window because it is pretty dang short as far as actual finishing, but I am still plugging along over here and always make progress . . .
fidgiegirl
5-31-13, 9:32pm
Changed the antenna on my DH's car! A good "finish" to the month! ;)
Anyone want to join me in June? I still gots things to do, and believe it or not, this helped . . .
early morning
5-31-13, 11:15pm
Well, I only had 3 things on my list and managed to finish just one, so - yes, I'd be happy to join in again! And of course I have a "long" list - only posted the short one that I really wanted to get finished *sigh*.
fidgiegirl
5-31-13, 11:21pm
Hey, one is more than zero! ;) Good then, see you in the June thread! We'll keep powering through together. Sometimes it's just nice to look back over the month. I've learned something about myself throughout this thread and the times I kept track in my blog thread: I'm really good at planning and buying the items, but not so good at putting it all together. It's something to keep in mind for any businesses I might want to start. I like the setting it up, figuring it out, planning all the details, but then the execution? Meh. And to do it over and over? Double meh.
shadowmoss
6-1-13, 10:56am
I'll be there. I have this pesky sweater to finish...
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