12 by 2012 Update

In the past two months I've been pretty unfocused, so I have found it hard to get stuck into projects unless external factors force me to. So, in all honesty, I don't think that I am going to get everything on my list finished. I can live with that. I've worked on other projects and I've worked on me. The main thing I've achieved is finding an organisational system that works for me, meaning I am actually getting things done now. 

1  on my list was organise the pantry. I've got 3 of the 5 shelves done. I still need to do the baking shelf and the bottom of the pantry. But the shelves I have done are the ones I use most often and they've stayed tidy. 

2 was completing my second blue sock. I'm taking that with me when I go down to visit my parents for Christmas, there is still a chance that I will get that one finished.

3 is the wedding shawl - Complete!

4 is making a wooden chest. I'll do that when I get back.

5 was a container for the laundry powder. I found one and I tidied the top of the drier where those items go, it has stayed tidy since - Complete!

6 was Erin's bag - Complete!

7 is Ellen's cape, I still need to get a lining fabric and make it.

8 was Guinevere's playmats - Complete!

9 is digitise Nan's cookbook. I've photographed it and have started typing up the recipes. Still need to finish the recipes and scan it. That I'll do when I get back.

10 was start a blog - Complete!

11 was work out what I want for my computer work station, an ongoing document currently, but I've been working with what I've got, and all I need to do is shuffle a few things off the shelves behind me and it'll be done. 

12 was organise the nappy changing bits beneath her bassinet - Complete!

So currently 6 of the 12 are complete. One is nearly completed (11). Two are half done (1 & 9). Two aren't started (7&4). One is half done and might get finished by the end of the year(2).

Surprisingly, I'm actually happy with this. I have had a couple of other projects come up as priorities and the shawl took so much longer than I anticipated. 

Now, to go work on a project that needs finished tonight, make dinner and pack for myself and Guinevere for our early morning flight tomorrow. 

#3 of my 12

#3 was the wedding shawl, and it's finally finished. I give it to my friend tomorrow, I can't wait to see her face. I actually finished it two days ago, but I've been busy since then. I fly to my parents for Christmas tomorrow, so I've been trying to get everything around the house sorted before I go. Writing this post is me relaxing.

Here is a photo of the finished shawl:

And a photo of the ruffle. I'm actually quite proud of the ruffle. I unpicked the first 7 rows of it and redid it as I wasn't happy with how it was turning out. It's somewhat painful to unpick rows which are nearly 1000 stitches long, and definitely added a few hours to the project.

Yay for one more project finished and out of the house :)

Guinevere....

Every time I look at you I am amazed at this little life that has been placed in my hands.
Every time I look at you it surprises me how much you have grown.
I look at how much you are learning and how quickly you are learning it and know you learn quicker in the next few years than at any other point in your life.
I look at you and see so much potential. You can do anything you set your mind to.
I hope I am able to support you as you learn who you are.
It scares me sometimes how much I love you, I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much.

#6 of my 12

Yay, one more project down, one more item out of my house and one less thing cluttering up my mind.

I saw a gorgeous piece of fabric over a year ago, and it screamed to be made into something for a friend of mine, the fabric was just so her. So I bought some. She then mentioned in passing she needed a new bag, so I decided I'd make her a bag with it, especially as her birthday was coming up. I cut out the fabric. Fast forward about12 months, I'm going to her next birthday dinner and the bag is still in it's component pieces.

This week I sat down and sewed it. It took me less than two hours. That was all. Two hours. I spend more than that on my computer some evenings. Guinevere even cooperated and babbled to herself and to me on the floor while I did it around her, explaining it to her as I went.

I gave it to my friend tonight, and she loves it, says she needed a new knitting bag, and it will work well for it.
Here is my finished project:

This means I have now done 4 of my 12 by 2012. 8 more to go. The pantry is half done (I've been doing a shelf at a time). My sock is on hold, I'm taking it with me when I go down to my parents for Christmas. I'm working on the wedding shawl every day, have nearly finished part A, and have asked a friend to help me with part B, I don't quite understand the charted pattern. Everything else is just waiting for me to do it. I'm running out of time. Hopefully now that Guinevere is a bit more settled during the day and going to sleep around 10pm rather than closer to midnight I can get more work done.

Any tips for managing to get things done while looking after a small child?