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Have a Happy Time Layering Vinyl

I don’t know about you, but I needed a Winter Sanity Survival Plan this year more than ever.

One thing I wanted to try this year was a light – they go by different names, but generically they are referred to as Light Therapy Lamps. The theory is by using this special lamp in the morning that emits a particular color and strength of light you can “trick” your brain into not realizing it is the dark depths of winter.

There is some science to back it up, and it wasn’t expensive, and as long as you don’t look right into it there shouldn’t be any negative side effects (important note – I am not a doctor. I am not dispensing medical advice!), so I figure if I get a placebo or real cure for my winter time blahs it’s worth a try.

The only problem with the plan was the light I purchased for some reason had a power button that was super visible in the dark. It glowed a greenish white, and even if I turned the light to face the wall at night, it caused the wall to glow. So ironically, I was attempting to improve my alertness during the day while killing my sleep at night.

December 13, 2020 by suzer I made this In the Craft Room Using my Silhouette Cameo

The real meaning of a seam ripper

a seam ripper has taught me more about life

So I’ve been absent for a bit from here.

With the state of the world, especially the United States, I haven’t really felt like crafting much.

When things get tough, I often sink to a low spot, where I become sure I’m not good enough. I’ve grown enough over the years to realize that isn’t true, and I’ve become aware that I do it, and those are two good starting spots for digging out.

Today, while sewing another face mask so as to have plenty for work, I had a bit of an epiphany. It was suddenly quite obvious to me that no one has perfect sewing skills. Everyone struggles from time to time getting the pieces matched up, or the inside out lined up with the right side in.

I’m 100% positive this is true, and I’ll tell you why – because if it wasn’t, then why was the seam ripper invented?

July 3, 2020 by suzer I made this In the Craft Room In the Sewing Room Now

Things I Learned In April

Usually for the start of the month I write a quick look back and plan ahead post. This year I had the idea of working on three areas each month – learning a new skill, reading more (instead of scrolling more) and diving deep on a Skillshare topic. That worked well for the first beginning months of the year, but for late March and all of April, that wasn’t a good fit.

I’m lucky – I was able to work from home, not lose my paycheck and Mr. SuzerSpace and I were able to really follow the guidance of staying at home to minimize our exposure to the Coronavirus.

It wasn’t a month of normal crafting and learning. Instead, it was a time of really new challenges.

In April I:

Sewed facemasks .

And more facemasks .

And even more facemasks . Actually, this one doesn’t involve any sewing!

Had groceries delivered. As a picky eater this was harder than it should be. But I am forever appreciative of essential workers like those at the grocery and liquor stores and the delivery gig workers who kept us safe.

Cut my own hair. I have really short hair and while it grows fast and is pretty forgiving I found it hard to find a good video since most seem to show long hair which would be much easier to reach and see what you were doing. I found this one helpful, even though I don’t own a clipper or thinning shears.

Took a class on reading medical studies.

Learned how to jump start a hybrid car. Turns out if you don’t drive it for 6 weeks the 12 volt battery discharges and it won’t start. It’s slightly trickier than jumping a standard car.

Worried a lot. And then began to worry about my worrying. I found this helpful and reassuring.

So what does May hold? We will have to see. I bet it’s interesting😉.

May 10, 2020 by suzer Now

What’s on my work table: April 2020

So March didn’t go exactly as planned. I didn’t have a lot scheduled, and then suddenly, all my time was spent scrolling. And worrying. Coronavirus and COVID-19 came into the US and I haven’t had any space in my head for much else.

I’m one of the very lucky ones, though. The company I work for is an essential business, but I’ve been able to work from home since the Kansas City Metro area declared a Stay at Home order on March 24. Mr. SuzerSpace has been working from home for years, so he’s shown me the ropes on scheduling, taking breaks and the best spot in the house for WiFi.

So on my work table right now? Sewing face masks – I’ve made two different styles, a basic pleated pattern and a more form fitting one. At this time, there still seems to be a debate about their use, but I’ve made my decision.

And a little something for the Bear door hanger to hold as well.

Stay Home. Stay Healthy. OK?

April 3, 2020 by suzer Now

March 2020 Work in Progress

We celebrated the beginning of March by going on our first outdoor bike ride of the year. It was warm, but windy, but Mr. SuzerSpace and I were both getting stir crazy from riding the indoor bike all winter so we suited up and headed out.

The colors of the coming Spring sky reminded me I haven’t been watercolor painting in quite some time, so that’s headed to the top of the list for March.

I’m working my way through my economics reading, but a chapter a week has turned out to be too ambitious a goal, so I’ve dropped any pretense of a schedule on that. The radio program Marketplace that first suggested the project is providing a weekly episode that ties in with the reading. I’m usually commuting in to work when it plays, so I’m listening ahead, if you will. There are also email newsletters that I’m saving so when I get each chapter finished I can review it with that material as well.

I didn’t follow my Skillshare plan for last month – instead of deep diving in doodling I took several productivity classes and a neat class on smoothing out your script lettering which was short but packed with good self critique tips. My plan for March in this area is to find more courses by that teacher, and perhaps pick back up the doodle class I bailed on. That’s one of the things I really like about this subscription platform – it is totally fine to skip around and abandon classes if they aren’t a good fit.

Interested in a set of digital stickers like the artwork at the top of this post? I have a set in my Etsy shop, perfect for adding to digital planners like GoodNotes or Etsy.

March 1, 2020 by suzer Now

Have a Happy Time Layering Vinyl

The real meaning of a seam ripper

Things I Learned In April

What’s on my work table: April 2020

March 2020 Work in Progress

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