Goals and Projects

I messed up on blogger, and it ate the entire page of my projects. (Now blogger isn't letting me republish this as a page, so its going up as a post. I think I'm switching to wordpress soon. They treat you more like you've got a brain, and you don't have a glitchy server overriding you)

I had a little meltdown, but I think God is trying to tell me something about my priorities.

 

God.

I need to study His Word and spend time with Him. I have been too focused on short term stuff, and lose Him. And then I lose joy. And I turn into a jerk. Which is not good for the kiddos. Or me either. Its so hard to give up little pleasures for Him, but this is also indicative of the state of me....that I am close to my little pleasures and hobbies, but far from Him, so its giving up what is near and cherished for a Stranger. But I need to flip that. God has to be closer to me than my little pleasures, so that they pale in comparison to Him.

1. Daily Bible Reading & Study. Keep it simple 5 readings a week, taped to the wall and I highlight it when I do it. That way if I "fail" for a couple days, perfectionist me doesn't decide I "ruined the whole thing" and give up.
2. Daily Time with God. At least15 minutes a day of bringing Him my worries, just listening and journaling (because I get less distracted when I'm writing Him letters). Also praying through a list of people every day. It sounds really lame, but I'm going to make a little chart for this too....because I need accountability for myself.
3. Bible Study with Josh. Every evening, at 10:30 at night, we will spend at least 15 minutes on a Bible Passage, studying it together. We met in a Bible Study, and I like how different than mine his brain works.

Family.

I always mean to "spend more time" really spending time with the kids and not just keeping them alive/fed/clothed etc. But I tend to zone out and do things with them while thinking about something else. I need a schedule. And a highlighted chart, because I need accountability and structure like that.

1. Start Homeschool.  [Right after 2nd Breakfast] Start Isaiah with the Reading Program, and have the kids work on letters and numbers and simple math problems. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic. Even 10 minutes a day, every day at the same time, say after 2nd breakfast, is something to start with. Then do arts & craft with the kids. It can be stressful, as they wield paintbrushes, etc, but make an effort. Every day, either paint, crayon, marker, do a project, etc. with them. Even if its just 10 minutes after their 3 R's.
2. Hang out with them, intentionally. [Right after Baby's Naptime]. Focus on them. Just spend an hour hanging out, not trying to get laundry done, or sitting in the corner planning projects while they play, but just focusing on them for at least an hour, engaging them in conversations and playing along with them. Need to find a good time.
3. Read them at least 7 books a day. FIX A TIME. (2 of which should be about Jesus).
4. Go on a walk with them every day. [early morning, right after/before Breakfast] When the weather is no longer like the surface of Mercury, I will walk with them every day, preferably at 7 or 9 am.
5. Rocking Chair Time. [Right after Bedtime/Prayertime] My mom did this with us, and it was one of my most cherished memories. Should would have each of us take a turn, in which she would rock you in the rocking chair and sing you a song of your choice (usually "Morning Sun"), every night.

Stories & Paintings

I think God did give me a tendency & desire to write stories, and I think He wants me to do this. Often a picture will come into my head, an idea, and refuse to go away, just waiting. I know I've had this desire in me to write stories that show how big the sky is....how much meaning and love and poetry God has written even into this fractured universe. But for the most part in the last few years, I've pretty much focussed much more of limited spare time into other things (like making clothes and crafting with wire, or finding deals at thrift stores) which are good things, but I would be dissapointed if at the end of my life I had spent my free time on those things and never finished those unwritten stories that keep coming back to me. I also really want to be a part of helping out with my sibling’s stories, which I think have the potential to make this world a better place…because stories can open our eyes to beauty and truth.

I also want to learn how to illustrate Children’s books, and write the children’s books that I want my children to have. There don’t seem to be nearly enough of the kind I want to read to them, and I know how pivotal children’s books (with beautiful illustrations) were to shaping my sense of wonder about the world, especially the ones I had read to be before I was 6. Isaiah is 4 already, so I’m on a clock here….

1. Work on Sojourners with Micah
2. Work on Overworld/Underworld & Singstory with Bekah
3. The Morning People
4. Prodigal, Ambertstone, Where the Lilies truly grow, and other stories.
5. Write & Illustrate St. George and the Dragon
6. Write & Illustrate The Woodcutter and the Wolf-King
7. Finish planning and make the 7 icon set I’ve been planning for 2 years

Study

My Hebrew keeps slipping, alas, I need to go and refind it. I feel like I’m just burying something that I should be growing. So I want to set aside just 15-20 minutes, 4 times a week, to work on Hebrew and Greek. My goal is to be able to read through the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) every year, at breakfast, with the kids (Which is less than 3 chapters a day). And to be able to read through the New Testament with the kids 2x a yr (just a chapter a day) in Greek. When I get consistent with this, I want to start actually studying Church Fathers and Interpretation and all that. (Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures to start with, because they are so poetic. Augustine, etc.)

1. Hebrew
2. Greek
3. Help with Daddy’s book.
4. [Church Fathers]

Projects
These are concrete things, I create with my hands. I don't know why, it gives me so much more satisfaction than doing other necessary (yet cyclic) things, like laundry, or cooking/baking (because it all disappears...), etc. But I do have lists and lists of things I want to do, and have spent so much time/energy thinking about it. I need to be more realistic & responsible with how much time I set aside to do this, but also (ironically enough) be more disciplined about actually doing them.

To Do List Sept '15-Jan '16

1. Gondor Ranger Tote Bags
2. R&D blaster packs from canvas
3. Hobbit Outfit for Little Hobbit
4. Jenny B-day skirts
5. Epic Echoes Dresses (Green, Tan, Brown Sheet)
6. Grecian Dresses(w/ nursing fronts, and cowl) Jersey: Brown, Tan, Cream/white flowers. Sheets: Cream, pale Sea Green to dye, tan sheet [drapey w/ sheen]
7. Hobbit Clothes (Everyday LOTR-Armhole Princess Seamed, Kirtle bodice top?) Swirly Green, Olive Vine, Brown Poly vine, Red repurposed. 4 chemise shirts. Half Circle Skirts. Aprons
8. Eowyn Dresses (Everyday LOTR-Shoulder Princess Seamed)(Green Sundress, WW Sundress[sheet], Shieldmaiden Sundress[ja], Tippeted half sleeves—Green Gown[need HL fabric], Shieldmaiden [sheet],WW Gown
9. Arwen Dresses (Everyday LOTR) Half sleeve Bloodred Gown [sheets], Bridge dress half sleeves [sheets & chiffon], Green dress [need HL fabric] with chiffon BIG sleeves.
10. Peplum Tops (Simplicity, no collar, French cap sleeves) white & cream sheets.
11. Simple Shirtwaist Dress (Simplicity, no collar, French cap sleeves—might modify to reg cap sleeves) Blue Vines from HL, WWII tribute (gray green sheet, pockets), WWII Tribute 2 (need tan sheet, pockets, add collar???)
12. Collard Shirtwaist Dress?
13. Refashion Jean Shirtwaist dresses
14. Print/finish Gondor Tunics for myself, Gondor Tunics for the kiddos, Print kid’s T shirts, etc.

Christmas Sewing

1. Leather Steampunk Blaster Pack for Keziah
2. Leather Black Mara-Jade-ish Blaster Pack for Mali
3. Icon Set for Bekah (Painted on Hardwood Plywood?)
4. Blue & Gold semi-circle Icon Set for Sfs (Painted on Hardwood Plywood?)
5. Scripture Hangings for Mommy (Mount on HL stiff posterboard when there)
6. Petticoats for Leah
7. Fleece Elven Cloaks for the kids

Really Cool Ambitious Stuff 

1. Josh’s Ranger Outfit
2. Isaiah’s Ranger Outfit
3. Mali’s Mara Jade Outfit
4. Josh’s Imperial Uniform
5. My Wool Cotehardie Medieval Dresses

Stuff for others

1. Leah’s Hoopskirt
2. Leah’s Petticoats (try poly rope corded, and softer mirror organza one?)
3. Leah’s Summer Dresses (Red, Blue, Bright Green, Purple vines
4. Leah’s Winter dresses (need linings) (Poly Felicity, Purple flowers,
5. Bex Wine, Red, and Green Medievaloid dresses (Print necks?)
6. Bex Kurtis (her blue, her orange red, l.o. purple vines)
7. Bex muslin topped dresses (finish!)
8. Bex Red Arwen Dress from her sheet.
9. Micah Hobbit Waistcoat
10. Tirzah Gloves
11. Tirzah medieval printed blue and gold skirt
12.  Mali 50’s dress with square collar and petticoat 
13. Elven Lanterns 2.0 (with plastic sheeting?) for Bex and Leah

Little Girl (to Women) Sewing (list of what I found to be the most helpful tutorials/free patterns)

1. Pinafores (teach Apron Sewing, Petticoat sewing) [Also make little Pinafores with patch pockets with Applique matching the gingham stuff?]
2. Pantaloons & Fancy Pants (lots of free patterns, put links here)
3. A Line Hand Stamped & Appliqued Dresses (Teach Bias Binding [insert most helpful tutorials HERE]. Stamping or Applique [insert most helpful tutorials here]) (A line tutorial with facings from Climbing the Willow HERE. Nice simple closure solution)
4. A Line Dresses, with variations—Tiered Ruffle Dresses (Ruffles, Puffed and Butterfly sleeves, appliqued patch pockets. Sailor Collar, Peter Pan Collar.)
5. Basic Girls Dresses (Do lined bodices, and bias bound bodices) Skirt Variations (Gathered, vs half circle) Sleeve Variations (Sleeveless, Short Butterfly or Puffed, Long sleeved) [H—do the whole Gingham stack, flutter sleeves, half circle skirts, stamped white waistbands [Show Cathy how can modify this slightly for 18TH cent costume, princess, anything] (Basic Bodice Free Pattern from Climbing the Willow HERE, note 3/8" seam allowances, and no closure allowances, will have to add) (put most helpful placket tutorials HERE)
6. Hats. (Bag Lining) [H—white hats, and gingham reversible w/ bias binding matching?) Good free pattern and tutorial Oliver and S, HERE also find a good ruffle hat free pattern)
7. Basic Girl’s Dress for Neighbor (red, red flowers, bright pink) 
8. To make it for Women---> Just add darts! (or princess seams) (basic sloper, most intuitive BEST TUTORIAL HERE, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and here goes)
9. Women: Rub Off Simple elastic-waisted red dress.
10. Women: A line skirt (my favorite drafting instructions, very simple, HERE, simply draw out the sides to make it A line)
11. Women: Half Circle Skirt.
12. Women: Sundress w/ Half Circle Skirt

Baby Shower Sewing

1. Little Girl A line Dresses w/ matching fancy pants & Hats
2. R2D2 Dress & Hat
3. Winter Fleece hats--- Elf Hats, Kiss Hat? Little Knight Helmet hats,
4. Jersey sewing---Animal Hats, Stenciled LOTR drool Bibs
5. Sleep Sacks. Nursing Covers. 

Random Projects

1. Birka Style Medieval Pouches
2. Eowyn Belts (Filigree, Filigree w/ trim, From Recycling Metal, From Recycling Mixed Media)
3. Medieval Studded/Decorated Hanging Belt (Fabric & Paint, Velveteen & Sewology. Leather & Tandy Rivets)
4. Underbracers from faux suede, dwarven, ranger, elven variations
5. Brown Leather Bracers (possibly with veg tan embellishment, or leather cut out glued) for myself…
6. Gondor Black Leather Bracers (with 2nd layer cutout surrounding center piece, glued. Then possibly veg tanned cutout for tree and sea bird stuff in center…)
7. Screenprinting experiments
8. Couching & seed beads, experiments 

Headcoverings

1. Medieval Hood Headcoverings
2. Lace Headcovering (like Snood for All Seasons & Jewish Orthodox one I saw)
3. Simple Triangle shape head kerchief (Vintage or Dwarven)
4. Straw Hat refashions (1940s)
5. Felt Hat refashions (1940s) 

Future Dresses

• Epic Echoes (Claret Red HL w/ gold stencil OR w/ gold border w/ red stencil, Navy & gold, Also Navy and gold w/ cranberry French cap sleeves)
• Medievaloid Maternity (Claret Red HL w/ gold, Hunter Green HL w/ gold, Tan w/ olive stripe, Green w/ Brown Stripe)
• Arwen (Cranberry Claret Cotton HL—half length tippeted sleeves)
• Eowyn
• Square Neck Empire Puffed Sleeves, Dk blue w/ cream or white lace at neck.