Make It So

2019 is just about here.  

Time for reflection, recharging, and resolutions.

Toss what's not important.

Embrace your favorite things.  

This is the beginning of anything you want.

Refreshing Change: Sewing Room Update

Spring is here and I made good on my threat of moving furniture in the sewing room. I did it all by myself in an afternoon. I will admit to having felt slider feet on two tables and wheels on another. 

 

I put the sewing table back-to-back with the cutting table in the center of the room. I can walk all the way around with easy access to my wall mounted ironing board, design wall, and storage cabinets. This new island is directly under the ceiling fan/light for nearly perfect illumination. An Ott-Lite bulb in the swing arm fixture plus a small Ott-Lite lamp gives me more brightness at the sewing machine. 

  

My scrap basket organizer and two drawer units are tucked under the island, along with the serger, since I don't use it as often. A simple backless bar stool gives me a place to perch at the higher level cutting table. My desk and wicker chair now face a window beside the closet.

I really like this layout, plus moving things around provided an opportunity to clean and declutter. Things that don't belong somehow have a way of migrating into this room (I blame the cat), but I put them back where they belong. I have two large bags and a box of purged stuff in the car for donation, and I tossed some old magazines after cutting out a few dozen pages for my idea notebooks.

There's more organizing left, and I thought of several other storage ideas, but the room is more functional and less messy. It feels like a little retreat again, a refreshing place to escape, and it only took a day. I highly recommend moving furniture around and creating a new look for spring.

You never know what treasures you have, 

until you clean your room.

Cleaning is just putting stuff in less obvious places.

I can't clean my sewing room 

because I get distracted by the cool stuff I find.

Road Trip - Beach Time

Last week, I took my own advice and went on a road trip with someone fun. The destination was Orange Beach, Alabama and my sidekick was my sweet husband. We loved every minute, even though it was mostly cloudy and cool.

We spent one of the rainy days exploring the National Naval Aviation Museum at the home of the Blue Angels in Pensacola, Florida. They have added another building since we visited ten years ago, and now have over 55,000 sq. ft. of exhibits covering early flight to modern aircraft and space exploration. I took over a hundred photos of historic planes and informative exhibits. If you've never been, I highly recommend making time to go.  It's free, except for the IMAX films and Simulators.

I'm all relaxed now after beach walks, shopping, and amazing seafood at our favorite spots. Mikee's Seafood and DeSoto's in Gulf Shores served us grilled amberjack, fried red snapper, pan seared mahi-mahi, and fried shrimp, which were mouth-watering with very reasonable prices.

I adore going to the beach, especially in the off season when there are no crowds. The sound of the sea always calms me, the expanse of sky and water inspires me and brings me joy.

Smell the sea, and feel the sky,

let your soul and spirit fly.

--Van Morrison

Disconnecting For Today

It's beautiful outside, so I'm disconnecting from technology for a while.  I plan to spend this gorgeous fall day in the fresh air, before winter temperatures blow in later this week. 

It's good to get away from technology every now and then. 

Recharge your brain's battery.  
Go.  Outside.  NOW.  


"I'm not LAZY.   I'm just in ENERGY SAVING mode."  --Anonymous