This weekend was a wash craft-wise. I had big plans – sewing some quilt squares and working on my next swap project. Neither of those happened. I did, however, make some progress on the state of our house. I taught my girls how to clean bathrooms and watched them do just that. Nice, huh? I also went through my plethora of knitting bags and chucked all the unfinished projects that I no longer wanted to make. Socks, anyone? In the process I found about 6 cable needles, dozens of stitch markers and the illusive size 7 dps. That was good. I spent 15 minutes trashing out the sewing room and it barely made a dent. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.
Last night, I found myself with the laundry folded and the house picked up so I cut into a felted orange sweater to make this pumpkin. It was serendipity that I actually had an orange sweater and the ribbing from a brown one to pull this together. I made the whole thing up and in about 30 minutes, the basic form was finished. I spent another 15 minutes adding the stitching lines today. It's not totally what I envisioned, but I kind of like it anyhow. We'll see what the girls think – they are my toughest critics.
I'm off to buy a better paper shredder. Fun stuff, huh?
I think it’s way cute. And I’m so glad I’m not the only one with a trashed craft room!
Sigh. . .I need to declutter too. Your pumpkin turned out absolutely adorable.
very cute!
It is a very FREEING feeling to move along projects that no longer call to you. I did this recently (hesitantly), and now am still doing so, with great gusto! Thrift stores love this kind of thing, and it’s likely another crafter can make it what it’s meant to be!
We need a paper shredder too. I’m thinking of keeping an eye on craigslist. I think the pumpkin is cute.
that was definitely a little stroke of genius. I love it! I know for me, lack of clutter means more room in my brain for creativity…
and um…i’ll take some of those cable needles. 🙂
xo.
LOVE the pumpkin. Super cute!
That pumpkin is super cute. Now I wish I had a felted orange sweater.
Cute! And way to go on the bathroom cleaning training. 🙂 That is on my list of things to do…one of those things I keep putting off because while it will save me time in the long run, right now I’m too lazy. 😉
I showed my daughter (2.5 years) and the first thing she said was, “Pumpkin!”
So, not to fear, it definitely looks like a pumpkin! And mighty cute one at that:)
Fabulous pumpkin! Of course, now that I’ve seen this, I want to make one, too. Not that I have the felted orange sweater (or brown one, for that matter) on hand.
Very cute pumpkin.
I wish you luck in your new routines and getting your house in order. I’m with mommycoddle, you’ll feel more creative with an organized home. Love your pumpkin too.
😉 liz
HA! I’ve been putting off buying a better paper shredder. I wish I could clean my house while sleeping. Kind of one of those things that happens while your not paying attention and you’r edoing something far more enjoyable.
Sounds like you are working the FlyLady thing with the 15 minutes and the baby steps. She really has a great system if you can stick to it.
Love your pumpkin! And I know how you feel with the cleaning cutting into your crafting time. Oh to be a lady of leisure!
I feel like cleaning (laundry, dishes, the yard) has taken over my world like kudzu. I love the pumpkin and that it took you 30 minutes — a snack of time — to accomplish something so very cute.
socks? I’m all about socks. Did you actually chuck the half-finished socks?
yeah, about that bathroom cleaning thing, and the girls? why didn’t anyone clue me in before now that they could be put to good use.
i feel like i’m running a merry-maids around here lately.
and i like it.
nice pumpkin!
Oh my, wait until you price the better shredder! Luckily for me one of the local real estate office has started hosting the big shredding trucks 2x a year. All they ask is a donation to a local charity and they pick a different one each time. Goodness I though I was bad but some folks come with 10-12 paper cartons full of stuff to shred.
I hear ya!
That pumpkin is cute though. Its hard to find wool sweaters here! Guess that should be expected in Florida.
Oh man, though – I think that pumpkin’s adorable. 😀
Oh, please, please, tell me you did not chuck half-knit socks! Send them to me. Seriously! I love knitting socks.
Pumpkin = totally cute!
That pumpkin is the cutest thing I’ve seen all day! Are there directions for that somewhere?
It probably wouldn’t solve the cleaning of the sewing room problem, but for the general day to day stuff, I instigated the Ten Minute Tidy sort of, partially, mainly(?) because I needed more craft in my life. We are never looking back! Our kids understand that they are doing this FOREVER (or at least ’til they move out of home).
http://www.myrtleandeunice.com/2009/08/ten-minute-tidy.html
PS. Great pumpkin. Sort of wishing it was autumn again in this neck of the woods.
it’s nice to know i am not the only one who can’t do it all!
sweet pumpkin!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
That is very cute! Just think how productive you will be when all the cleaning is done. 🙂
Super cute…and a lovely photo with the green background ;o)
How is your knitting going? Do you still struggle with pain when knitting? I have been struggling for months. I always read your blog waiting to hear you say you’re recovered or found a solution. I am very sympathetic to your knitting struggles and am hopeful (for both of us) that the knitting fever has got you back. Are you just not lovin the knitting after being away from it so long? I am starting to learn to weave hoping to still play with yarn and patterns. As long as you are enjoying your crafts, that’s all the matters.
Here’s hoping the sweater will bear another pumpkin or two or three to make a whole family of them.
I love that you discarded projects that no longer inspired you! Isn’t that freeing? Getting rid of the “stuff” always makes me feel better! Great work Erin.
I’ve also been trying so hard to keep a neater house. I feel like it clears my mind.
I also enjoy making things more when I don’t have to search for this or that. But it’s a great struggle to find time for both cleaning and crafting. *sigh*
I like that plump little pumpkin. And I’ve been clearing out in my craft room/office, too. Fun times…but it’s necessary, and freeing.
I have yet to find that balance…between crafting time and household duties. Last week I found myself folding laundry and doing dishes at 1am in the morning. I spent all my day trying to get a knitting project done and the house looked like it had been dumped out everywhere. Yes indeed, fun stuff. I love the little pumpkin!
the pumpkin is so sweet! i really love how the ribbing works as the stem.
i am so overwhelmed/frustrated by cleaning these days, ugh.
well, I love it…very cute!
Cleaning always gets in the way of something. My teenage son spent the summer on the janitorial staff at our high school. He cleaned 32 toilets every day — but not once in hiw whole life has he scrubbed a toilet at home. Crafting is so much more fun — not for him, for me and you!
Are you kidding? That is flipping adorable!
And, ugh, I hear you on the house sorting. At some point it has to get done but how annoying.
Geez, we’ve got pumpkins and quilts to make! Where are our priorities!?
Love the pumpkin. I am in nesting mode, big time, and have organized/ weeded closets, cabinets, and pantries. Nothing is safe when I reach 39 weeks! I really suggest you check out the blog post on the homeschool tab of THE PIONEER WOMAN. The writer makes an excellent case for teaching our kids how to do household tasks…then expecting them to do those tasks. The real question is whether or not I trust my 11 year old son to run my new and coveted front loading washer….
I’ve made a similar pumpkin in seventh grade home-economics. Easy as pie. I especially love the way the stem turned out!
So sweet! And hey, the cleaning times starts to pay off pretty quickly – hang in there.
LOVE this. the stitching detail is perfect.