Fall 2026 Update

 I think I've finally gotten over the full retirement sadness/blahs.  I'm shocked I even had it, as I've always been so into projects  and things to keep me busy, but I did.  I missed the work terribly, and even introverts like me really NEED some outside peopling.  I decided to take my thoughts captive as the good word says to do.  I have so much to be thankful for and nothing to be sad about.  I voiced positive thoughts daily for a few days until I was no longer thinking of what I missed and only about the excitement for what each day brings.  

I've been listening to Dr. Lee Warren, who is a podcaster/instagrammer.  He is a Christian, brain surgeon, served in Iraq, experienced his own tremendous grief, yet has learned so much about how our thoughts create new pathways in our brains and this can help us and hurt us.  Like the bible says we should take ALL our thoughts captive and think of what is good, pure, noble, etc. (Philippians 4:8).  God has always been telling us how to heal our minds!  It really works!

So, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish and started working on it, and finding other fun and interesting things to do along the way.  Here are some, but first, I did the big chop on my hair. Been growing it out for almost 5 years, and have loved it, but it was time.  It has taken me about a month to get used to it but now I'm happy and it is so easy to care for. It does its own thing, though. So curly, I have no control, but that's ok too.  Thankful for my curls.  From long to short....(oops pic is backwards!)

Picked a ton of muscadines this season.  Picked two times at my friends backyard vines, then went to Tsali Notch Vineyard to pick.  I think I made five rounds of jam, and you can see some lighter than the last batch which were so dark and ripe.  Also made a little juice.  Yum!

This was a bit of a big project.  I made this great rolling cutting/art table.  I used two shelving boards for the top ($70), and two Better Homes and Gardens cube shelving units ($70/ea), put back to back on their sides, mounted to a piece of plywood ($39), with casters on the bottom ($25).  It works great to store all kinds of things.  Tall for cutting and painting.

Had this idea to use an orphan quilt block and some thrifted jeans belt loops to upcycle an old sweatshirt

Also, I took some of our Music Minister's mother's fabric and made him and his wife a fall table runner.  They were happy with it, as I was.  Turned out great.

Next up are some upcycled jeans projects.

Had some fun playing with bleach, lace, and denim! I found some old lace doilies that my mother had made years ago.

Then me and Emma, my granddaughter, collaborated on a pair for her.  I love that I thrifted the American Eagle jeans for $3.  We used some other denim to widen the legs, and bleached and stenciled on the panels.  She thought they turned out great.

Found a great little digital pattern online for Sully's Upcycled Oversized Hoodie.  It was pretty easy to sew with great instructions and a video.  I made two in one day.  The first one was made from a thrifted bedspread/quilt. It isn't a real quilt but was a printed, but quilted, spread originally sold by Kohls. Granddaughter claimed this one. Notice the from kangaroo pocket.  It took me two tries but I finally got it to match the pattern.

I found a Lucky Brand throw to make the green and white one.  It is so cozy, and hot!  I'm not sure I'll be able to wear it until it gets really cold outside.  But it is as cute as can be.  Emma didn't like it, but I do.  I love that we can wear about the same size now. She loves to shop my closet. :)

And lastly I'll show a neat wood project I made for Haddon, my grandson.  It is a rolling lego tray.  He loved it.  I made it from leftover plywood from my sewing table project.  It uses 1" rolling castor wheels on the bottom and the side are made from simple lattice slats.  He already wants another one to use at his house.  So that's what is up next.....