Time for Me

Hi all, I've had a lovely day today, the kids went back to school and Toby has child care on Fridays, so after a short appointment this morning, I had the whole day to myself!!! Yay!!!


After I left my appointment, I felt like a cappuccino so I went over to Zagames and got one, and a delicious cheesecake for morning tea/lunch. OMG it was just to die for!

I sat and journaled for a while and just enjoyed relaxing. Then I decided that while I had some quiet time, it would be an ideal time to get some more stuff listed on ebay. So I headed off home.

I'm wanting to move house this year, so I want to get rid of as much 'stuff' as I can so I don't have to pack and move it, unless it's something I absolutely want to keep and we really need.

A few weeks ago I sold a few things on ebay: my Horn sewing cabinet went as I don't plan to sew patchwork quilts or anything similar in the future. I've kept my sewing machine and if I want to sew I can always sew at a table or my desk.

I sold my drum carder, as I never really got into making batts. I found it a pain to use and very slow, which is not the carders fault, it's my lack of patience as well as little people's fingers and hands wanting to take a turn as well.

I also sold three or four spinning wheels, originally I had 13 wheels and I've been slowly selling them plus I gave one away to someone who wanted to learn to spin but didn't have a wheel.

Today I listed three more spinning wheels, and I have to admit they will be difficult to part with in a sense, because I really love them. BUT, when I don't have to pack them and move them, I know I will be glad. And I'll be glad when I no longer have to find a space to store them too!

I then went through my spinning books and have listed 10 books. Now I'm a bit of a book addict, so I had quite a collection of books, BUT I'm looking at getting a kindle, and one day I will have most of the books I want to read and keep on that one little piece of equipment, and overloaded piled high bookshelves will be a thing of the past for me.

When I sorted through my pattern books, knitting and crochet books, I just took them to the Op Shop. Those books are a dime a dozen and I couldn't be bothered listing a ton of those and then having them sit around the house waiting to be sold. OUT they went.

It took me all afternoon to list the 14 items, but I'm glad I got it done. Every item sold, given away, Op Shop-ed and Freecycled is one LESS thing to pack, load, transport, unload, unpack and put away.

It really amazes me that each time I start decluttering, more and more stuff goes out the door, and I don't know how I missed it the first time!

There is so much already done here, and so much more to do, but it feels so good that I am well on the way! I was talking to my friend tonight and he said, “You'll have nothing left soon!!” Yeah right!!

A few weeks ago I took down the floor to ceiling shelving in my bedroom that held my spinning/knitting/crochet stash, and I rearranged my bedroom.

It's just amazing the difference it can make when you change a room around. I've put my bed on a different wall and the whole room is much more open and airy, I love it.

And to finish up, here's a sketch I drew the other week from the art course I'm doing. I'm so thrilled since I could barely draw a stick figure before the course! 

 

Goodnight xoxo

A New Beginning

Hi all, well I'm back and it's time for some new posts and a new title.

I'm still living the frugal life and it's very important to me, BUT I have gone back into doing some art and 'Let's Play Frugal' just doesn't sound right when I want to share my art or other off topic things. So I decided that the new title for the blog sounds better and more on track for my current interests.

Since just before Christmas I was decluttering like crazy and I'm sure the kids thought at some stage that they might be placed in boxes and donated too!!

I got rid of a huge trailer full piled high with junk at the tip along with two single bed mattresses. And I've been to the Op Shop three times with my stationwagon stuffed full. I also gave away four baby guinea pigs and a hutch.

I sold three spinning wheels, some fleece, my Horn sewing cabinet, and my drum carder on ebay. They are all things that I just don't use and were taking up space.

I can actually see a difference in the house now, although there is still much to do.

I am contemplating whether to sell another couple of spinning wheels, as how many wheels does a girl need?? I haven't decided as yet so I am just sitting on that one. I have not given up spinning, I am just taking a break and have gone back to doing some art, which I am really enjoying.

I have signed up for an art course on Le Petite Dolls and have just started doing the first sketchings of the dolls. It is SO MUCH FUN!!!! For the first time in my life I have something on paper that looks somewhat like it's supposed to and I am so thrilled!!

This is the course I am doing: http://suziblu.typepad.com/a_lovely_dream/2010/11/petite-dolls-for-beginners-beginners-have-no-fearpetite-dolls-are-hereself-guided-workshopall-you-need-to-make-pretty-fo.html

I have been a fan of Suzi Blu (the artist running the course) for a number of years. I even signed up for this course last year and then chickened out after paying for the course!! Dumb hah?? She does some amazing art and I love her style of teaching and just 'being' as a woman. She is fun and inspiring and encouraging and I put one call out on her site for help with what pencils to get and I was pleasantly surprised to be bombarded with a friendly group of ladies all willing to help and advise.

I just know this is going to be a fun course and in time I will share here what I have drawn.

The other news here is that a couple of weeks before Christmas we got a purebred Border Collie puppy whom we named 'Oscar.' This little fella is such a pleasure and we all love him to bits. There is huge differences in personality compared to the other puppies we had and except for toilet training not progressing too well, all is going great.

He is coming along nicely on his lead. He loves going for walks and is a pleasure in the car. He sits mostly when told to and has beautiful manners at mealtimes sitting straight away before I give him his food. He's eating everything he's offered as well and takes it nicely without snatching.

Here he is:

This is when we brought him home.

These are his parents, Mum is on the left and dad on the right. They were gorgeous dogs, when we arrived they both came bounding over, one threw a ball at our feet and they begged us to play.

Isn't he just gorgeous!!

I bought a puppy pen which is set up in the dining room. His bed is set up in there and he knows that's where he sleeps at night. Having lino on the floor it's easy to clean up any mess and disinfect it.

So that's the new member of our family!

Seeya xxx