Polly Plays Paper Challenges

Okay, so this week after a well earned rest from exercising my fingers I have managed to squeeze in a few minutes to enter another PaperPlay Challenge 09- Week 14. To be honest, I'd love to do this every week and I do have good intentions, it's just that life has this peculiar habit of getting in the way...

PaperPlay Challenges was set up by Sandie, who also runs the Midlands Craft Club (MCC for short). I prefer to use the full title, as some of my erstwhile friends would be happy to point out that the MCC is also short for Motor Cycle Club. This may have been more appropriate during my younger days, but sadly 'the beast' is resting up, in the same position it's been in for a little over fourteen or so years!

(for more info click on the pic)

Anyway, this week's challenge is set by Elisa ... "The challenge is complementary colours, that is, to use colours that are opposite to each other in the colour wheel , such as red/green, yellow/purple, orange/blue, etc. Elisa"

Purely by chance, or maybe not, I put together a special card for my good friend George. During the deluge drumming on the roof of my studio (aka garden shed) I consoled myself with pretty butterflies, flowers and ribbons for a special lady in his life - his Mam! It just so happens that when I looked up the colour wheel, which I really should consult more often, that the yellows and blues used on this card are on opposite sides, directly "opposite each other"

My PaperPlay Challenges 09 - Wk 14 Card

Hurray! At last, I remembered to scan the card in and it meets the criteria for another challenge. Isn't it a shame I forgot all about it last week when I might have won a prize for my efforts, still, the more the merrier, eh? Regardless, there are some lovely entries for this weeks challenge and hopefully mine will fit right in...

Maybe one of these days I'll be able to call on George for his excellent services as a business coach, let's face it folks, I need some help with my time management - don't I...? Either that or a lotto win, so that I can afford to employ a house-keeper and spend all my time crafting...

Polly Pierce

Sunday, Bloody Sunday!

In this post I am referring back to a comment posted by Jean regarding A Series of Unfortunate Events - Chapter 4:

"... I suspect though that it always goes much faster in the computer room than in the kitchen..."

You know, it is just like that. Time on the PC flies by, in the kitchen you wait patiently for the timer to ring and out in the craft studio it is very motivational!

I get my stamps cleaned up well in advance of the second hourly bell; and can leave the house to catch the school bell without any of the usual panic. That said, I've only tried it a couple of times but it does work. Maybe the kitchen timer IS the way to go; after all it is highly recommended by Fly Lady.

I have gone so far as to order one of Fly Lady's super duper timers, not only does this lady have a super effective marketing system; she also receives hundreds of testimonials regarding how good the Sidetracked Home Executives (SHE) system, is. After years of stumbling around in the dark; I do believe that finally there is light at the end of the tunnel for me and mine.

At times it is hard to believe that any one of us could possibly survive the myriad challenges of life. In our house I subscribed to the theory that:

1. I had to work full-time
2. I would never be able to afford to work part-time and this was my greatest fantasy
3. I was hard done by because I didn't see much of the children, let alone rear them
4. I didn't have time to do my housework properly
5. I was too tired to do my house and garden maintenance; except when on holidays
6. If I acquired a dishwasher all my troubles; great and small would be over

With the benefit of hindsight I am now able to realise each one of these myths for what they were; which of course is utter codswallop. In reverse order, let me expound each of these ludicrous beliefs:

1. I am now on my second dishwasher and the house was actually cleaner and tidier during the short time that I was bereft of said item
2. I am too tired to attend to my house and garden maintenance: except for the fact the occasional good day, and we now go away for holidays
3. I have a lot more time on my hands and I still don't have the time to do my housework properly
4. I sometimes see too much of my children these days, but I do get to play a large part in rearing them
5. I have little or no income, and I still can't afford to work part time but this is no longer a fantasy
6. I do not work full time, in fact I don't work much at all

I suppose it could be said that I am quite undomesticated; does this mean I'm feral? After years of living in hospital accommodation and digs I have to admit that managing a room containing up to eight or nine living areas has never been my strong point.

What with all this time on my hands, a brand spanking new vacuum cleaner and dishwasher, Tumble Drier Vent Cleaning Kit, Fly Lady digital kitchen timer et al; I am well on my way to changing the habits of a lifetime and therefore resuming another former fantasy. Being a Domestic Goddess doesn't entail time and energy consuming maniacal blitzes these days.

Fly Lady is gradually teaching me how to change this, become organized and even happier than I am now. Ultimately this is time management; something which I have always struggled with. Maybe, one day soon I will find myself sitting on top of a mountain of greeting cards, sorting through my orders and dispatching them post haste; all the while listening to the dulcet tones of cash registers expounding the seven domestic myths I once subscribed to.

Meanwhile, back in the real world the new dishwasher is plumbed in - by me, DG; my hero, has disassembled the washing machine, attached new hoses and re-installed it, the children are arguing about who is to empty the cat litter tray. A row ensues about who has left the trail of mud on my bedroom carpet.

Thank Goodness the annual Scouter's training course finished early. After twenty-four hours of practical and theoretical work, followed by a slap up meal, a few Guinness and a sing song with my mates; I just couldn't wait to come home to it all! Can you blame me...?

Cheers!

Polly Px

ReduceReuseRecycle

I am a great believer of recycling. I don't mean just paper, bottles, etc. I suppose I mean re-use rather than re-cycling. As a member of two local Freecycle groups I am so far the lucky recipient of two mirrored sliding wardrobe doors and the pine mid-sleeper cabin bed, which was collected yesterday, and I am currently in the process of donating my twenty-something purple raleigh racer to a very nice man in Mullingar. He needs one; the child seat on the back makes it even better and I can't afford to renovate it anyway! By far the one of the best success story's is being able to link two people together for the common good - what about the lady whose brother needed a new oil tank in Westmeath? Well, I was able to link her up to the man getting rid of one in Kildare. Much better than going to the local landfill, wouldn't you say?
If I can work myself up to the task; I need to measure the distance between the 'studio' and the path, then the path and the turf shed. In both cases I am fed up of getting my feet soaked on those inclement days we have all got so used to this summer; due to a generous donation of paving slabs this is due change. Now everyone's feet will be happy and warm this winter! What I would like to say is a heartfelt Thank You to everyone at Westmeath Freecycle & Kildare Freecycle, here's the link; if anyone's interested: (freecyclegroups@yahoogroups.co.uk).

The Freecycle Group is easily accessible by Googling the name and as it is international there will probably be one near you, if not why not consider starting up your own....?

Polly Px