Goodbye 2019 . . .

It was a year of change for me.  I've held a full-time job since I was 18 and other part-time jobs prior to that.  I worked full-time as I got my undergraduate degree and as I completed my graduate degree.  My job was tiring and stressful . . . really stressful.  But this year I said goodbye to the steady paycheck and welcomed my new normal.  So far I am liking it just fine.

My creative endeavors have always kept me grounded and this year I managed to eek out 415 sewing projects.  Most of these projects were sewn after I early retired (314, of which 285 were napkins).  The rest of the projects were mostly garments for both adults and children.

This is approximately 120 napkins; the rest of the 285 have been gifted.  Anyone need any cloth napkins?  Let me know.

My list of 2020 projects is long and varied.  There are sewing, crafting, painting, drawing, writing, exercising, organizing, etc. goals.  I do not think that I will be bored in the coming year.

And so, I hope that 2019 has been good to all of you and that 2020 brings you health and happiness with a good dose of creativity thrown in.  Happy New Year!!  Let the FUN continue!!

Updates . . . 

So, it's been a couple of weeks and I have sewn up over 200 napkins.  I went to Kansas for Thanksgiving and ended up giving away almost 100 of the napkins.  Whoop!  Whoop!  Anyone need cloth napkins??!!

Yesterday I branched out from cloth napkins and made a matching apron.  Next up . . . potholders perhaps?!

I haven't just been making napkins . . . before that I made a slew of hoodies.  Oh my word, did those turn out cute!  I made most of them in kids' sizes and gave them to the Kansas kiddos.  So cute!  There was also a pink stretch velvet with rose design that was made for one of my adult nieces.  The hoodies were a hit and I came back with a list of others who'd like one.  I've managed to sew up three more kiddo sized hoodies that need to be mailed off.  I still have a couple more kid sized hoodies to make and at least 5 adult sized hoodies.  They will be pretty easy to sew up once I decide on what fabric to use.

Now that I'm feeling better, I've been able to do more exercising.  There's been a variety of gym workouts, road biking, exercise bike biking and treadmill running.  So far, so good.  Yay!

Currently working on drawing and painting my Christmas cards.  Each year I hand draw my cards and paint them.  It's a lot of work, but I totally enjoy it.  I always wonder if these little hand drawn cards end up in the trash . . .

And that, my friends, is how I'm keeping busy without a job.  It was my choice to "retire" early, and it definitely was the right decision, but retirement is HARD!!  Most days are fine, but some days I wake up and question what's the purpose and meaning now.  It was super easy when there was a defined schedule and I worked my butt off for 10 hour days for days on end.  I would dream of the day that I got to enjoy just not working; no schedule; no stress.  Well, that day is here and for the most part it is good, but I wonder how long I can keep sewing and drawing and reading and writing and loving this new life.  Hopefully for a very long time!