The No Fretting Rule

Being sick for most of last week has set me behind a bit in my quest to fill both shops up for the looming holidays! 

Earlier, I got so embarrassed by my inability to keep my Etsy shop stocked that I shut it down for a while. 

Now, I am happy to say, that while it  might not be filled to the brim with goodies, I have it semi stocked and reopened, at least.

And I am making a dent in the giant pile of vintage jewelry that I have been meaning to photograph for the Boutique too.

There is no use beating myself up about not getting it all done immediately.  Old stuff just gets older, it doesn't rot or start to stink.

The piles will all still be there waiting for me when I get time to get the pictures.

I tell myself, there is only so much time in a day. There is no stretching it out, that is all there is.  I can make the best of it, or I can just fret.

Between the kitchen remodelling project and my travel across country to play fairy tales with my friends and visit my sisses, then all the cuddly grand kid time and Halloween fun, I simply had no time left to get sick and be off my game for a week.

But I did, its over, time to move on. If I start out the beginning of November fretting and fussing and feeling behind, just how much fun will I be having this season?  Its barely begun and I am already stressed!

So, I'm putting implementing a NO Fretting Rule, and just telling myself that there is only so much one little old lady can do, right?  I should relax, bake cookies with the girls, be social, and enjoy spreading Christmas decorations all over my new kitchen! 

So, I made a plan.  I'll take a few pictures and list a few things every single day, and what I get done, gets done.

Plus, you'd rather have new things to look at on a regular basis than a jam packed shop all at once, wouldn't you?

Christmas is already in the air here.  Last night, Sugarwings and I started our annual tree dying tradition.  A few are already listed on Etsy, the rest still need to dry, then be glittered.

On another note, do you remember those "10 things about me" lists that were going around on blogs years ago?  I think they are back. I used to love them and was so addicted to reading them, I would go from link to link to link and just get lost in all the lists and not even remember who I was reading about.

I was just picked to do one again, but, I'm afraid I lost the link and name of who asked me. If it was you, would you please let me know? Sorry.

Anyway, I thought that I would take the time away from doing something else that really needed to be done (kits for a class, a story for Somerset, a project example- or two- or three, gifts to make, listing, listing, listing, and not to mention cleaning house, just to mention a few) and with my new found, No Fretting Rule, I would goof off and write out my list of:

Ten Things About Me

1- I'm always behind, so it wouldn't matter how much I get done, there is always more I want to do, my mind is a swirling, twirling, blur of ideas and colors. Which I why I am always doing different things, and not trying to capture the market on one type of art.  I think I could do well if I stuck with something, but I keep moving on and trying something else. 

2- On the other hand, I love Holiday tradition projects, like dying the bottle brush trees with Sugarwings (she is my little helper elf and loves being put to work). She has helped me since she was tiny. I hope that the trees stay in fashion and I can still sell some.  Or we will end up waist deep in pastel trees, because we are dying another couple hundred or so.

3- I watch way too much TV. If I'd be willing to give it up, or at least do away with a fraction of the time i spend in front of it, I probably would not be so far behind with everything else in my life.  But I can't quit you, DVR.  And I don't want to.

4-  In the studio, I listen to NPR all day, and only allow myself to watch TV out here if I work late at night or on weekends. But I rarely listen to music and don't care much for silence. I do sing a lot, but not to the radio.  I sing all day long, and am most likely the worst singer ever.  Maybe its because I am singing to NPR?

5- I talk to the dogs all day while I work and sometimes forget they might not be in the studio after all, and carry on a whole conversation with no one.

6- This NO Fretting Rule will not be easy for me.  I do tend to fixate on what I need to do. My husband doesn't care much for that trait. 

7- I'm usually pretty quick in everything I do.  I'm not a deep thinker or planner, and work off the cuff.  I rarely sketch or plan ahead.  When I worked as a muralist, I would walk up to a 60' wall and just start painting with no drawing to go from.  I don't like to do the exact same thing twice, so if I had a sketch, chances are that the wall would come out different than it anyway.

8- Once I fell off a horse and broke my back, and thought I was going to have chronic pain forever.  But I don't because I try to stay limber. Exercise and I don't get along well, but I have to make the effort, or I start to drag my left leg.

9- I travel a lot even though I hate to be away from home (and my TV, my dogs, my studio, my Sugarwings, my family, my garden, did I mention my TV?).

10- I will fall for any excuse to waste time, even when time is short.  As you can see by this list.  And by how often I post. And by how often I am on Facebook. Its a good thing I can't quite get the swing of Pinterest. I can feel a huge pit of time seeping away there if I did. And I do appreciate all the pins people have made from my blog, thanks!

 

Comments

[Lisa Bivona]

I agree, do what you can and don't fret! Enjoy life and all it offers! Thanks for this post, I think it reminds us all to just do what we can at our pace!

Lisa

[Marilou]

A gal can do only what a gal can do, no worries, bee happy I say! Hugs Karla and enjoy the holidays including the pre-season. Marilou xoxo

[Marilyn McIldoon]

You still run circles around me Karla! I have a question regarding the bottle brush trees. I bleached a batch of them (some got over processed and melted), and had trouble trying to get them perfectly white. I haven't dyed them as yet, do you just use Rit dye powder? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks Marilyn

[Gypsy Rose]

Luv the light switch cover and the pink jewelry. Like the no fret rule. I think we all need that. I'm a gal that loves lists, but rarely follow them as I'm easily distracted.

'She was going to save the world today, but something shiny caught her eye.' This pretty much sums me up.
Keep posting often as I luv the distraction.

[Lori]

Karla ~ Girl you are making me smile because I am soooo very much like your list of things about you :)

[Jill]

I'm just where you are. I've got plenty to add to my shop, but haven't had the time...and in some cases, motivation, to do all the necessary work to get them listed. It's alot of time taking pics, organizing, uploading, downloading, front loading!!!

[Heidi Meyer]

You have encouraged me to try to implement the "no fretting" rule here too. I adore the holidays and I am always chasing my tail anyway, lol. So much of your post I can relate to! Have a beautiful week filled with the good stuff like Sugarwings and dvr love. xxoo Heidi

[Stacey]

I share your love of TV/DVR and also spend way too much time with ours. I noticed you missed it when you travel. I have a device called a Sling box that you attach to your DVR and you can watch your DVR anywhere on a computer over the internet. Imagine a little piece of home no matter where you are and less time catching up when you get back. I can't live without mine.

[Jenny Sellars]

Love the no fretting idea. I do kind of have that philosophy in my life, but I especially like it now during the holidays!!

[Red Rose Alley]

Hello,
I visited your blog today - I saw you on 'Cottage and Broome.' Your blog is so lovely, and the picture of the pink diamond is so unique. While I was scrolling down, I noticed the diamond bracelet. My mother had one that was very similar to that, and when she passed away, it was handed down to me. Me and my daughters started a new blog, and we would love it if you could visit us and follow. I would enjoy coming back to visit with you. Your blog is filled with beauty, and I am leaving here today with a smile. I hope to hear from you, and have a lovely week.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Kathy]

Oh Karla, I can SO relate to this post! I wear myself to an absolute frazzle thinking I have to get every single thing done, PLUS get some extra done so I can be ahead of the game when the next big wave of things comes.
I do it at home and at work and did it to the point where it started affecting my physical health to the point I needed medication.
About a month ago I made a decision that I have to just be in the moment and think about this one thing I am doing and not allow my mind to race ahead to the next (dozen) things. It is HARD when you are hard-wired this way but I can feel it making a difference. I am sending you well wishes. NO FRETTING!!!!

[Susan Reaney]

So sorry you have been sick Karla. I see you are making up for it...;-)
hugs,
Suz

[Karen Valentine]

Hey Karla! I think we can all relate to that!! Sorry you've been ill though. I HATE being sick! I popped over to your shop and was thrilled to find you had rhinestones by the foot! I promptly made a purchase for 3 feet! Yeah!!! I've been needing some and haven't gotten around to shopping for it! Thanks!!!

[fairyrocks]

Karla, thanks so much for the clever insightful 10 things.
I too sing like I am alone...or maybe I am alone because I sing...has to be some reason everyone was happy I moved to the basement LOL
You really are such an inspiration to so many.
...I can tell by the tone of your post you are relaxing!!!
Okay, sarcasm aside, your posts are some of my favorite.
Take care of you keep smiling and creating

[Laurie]

No fretting is a great rule! I am thrilled beyond belief to be the new owner of the cherub light switch plate! I loved it when I saw it at your house!

[Folk Heart]

I love your blog...your wonderful style with your beautiful house...your attitude about all that is looming overhead...and most importantly, your sense of humor: "Old stuff just gets older, it doesn't rot or start to stink." Ha!

[jeanie]

I like these lists! And go, NPR!

I hope by now you are feeling much better, not fretting and life is good once again!

[Soarenth]

Good for you choosing to enjoy the holidays instead of fretting them away.

Have fun decorating and redecorating during the rest of the year. ;->