Adversity

Another Week Down

by CZeitler

Just a super quick update. I managed to get the inside of the dumpling bag soon and I’m working on pinning the outside of the handles so that I can sew those shut tidily. Since I am still coughing though it’s much better. I have not made any progress on my Aunt quilt.

This weekend, I’m going to concentrate on trying to get better and relaxing and reading some. Somehow, I’ve been scheduled for three weekends in a row off, which is just about unheard of, so I am planning on thoroughly enjoying them and hopefully getting some work done around the house.

Until next time, please remember that self-care is self love and extremely necessary. Remember to live life a little more abstract.

Organization Update

by CZeitler

No Real Crafting Content in this Post. I will admit I started this post 2 weeks ago. I purchased some amazing shelves from Ikea, the Lavia bookcases. I love that they are about 5″ taller than the other option I was considering. I do plan on painting them at some point and likely putting a backboard on them. There are L brackets on the top and bottom inside to keep these shelves from Racking back and forth, I recommend doing this with any bookcases unless they are custom built from hardwood. I put them on the bottom side of the topmost shelf so that they do not get in the way of any books.

These two shelves are filled up and I do have a 3rd that I need to assemble. Unfortunately that is the last of the progress I was able to get done on these shelves. I finished getting my finances straightened out, then a pipe in my basement froze only to burst when the plumber was here. That resulted in an unexpected plumbing bill. A couple of days after that I woke up with a sore throat and I have been coughing ever since. The cough has lasted a week now, hopefully it lets up in another 3 days or I will have to make a visit to urgent care, another expense I did not plan for. Yay.

All of this to say that I have not been doing much crafting at all. At the end of getting my first two shelves filled I did find some pieces that I had cut out for lined dumpling bags, so I was able to get the first 3 steps of assembling those done in bulk. Right now they are pinned up waiting for me to sew the inside pocket hem that holds the two pieces together prettily, then I need to stitch the outside of the handles. I plan on doing that by hand simply because I feel that I can more easily control the end appearence and the smaller handle is very difficult to manuver on my home machine. I do have a special project that was sent to me by an Aunt, I did manage to get it pressed before I fell sick. I’m trying to avoid all of my crafts until this cough goes away, which means I’m watching too much YouTube and playing too much Stardew Valley.

The theme for next week is, rest, get better, don’t make too much of a mess that you will just have to clean up later!

I hope you have an amazing week and remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!

Welcome 2025

by CZeitler
Cartoonish red, yellow, green, and blue numbers 2 0 2 5 with stars surrounding them and holiday noisemakers.

This post was started 2 weeks ago, however I am going to continue adding on instead of starting anew. I have decided to start 2025 strong and do my best to keep up my momentum throughout this year. Prioritizing connections, with friends and family, as well as keeping myself safe physically, mentally, and financially. Crafty Content will begin after the ****** line.

Yes, I know, lofty goals. The last thing that I did in 2024 was to visit my cousin about 6 hours away, it was so much fun and low key. For this first weekend in 2025 I am visiting my sister about 3 hours away. *Edit, the visit took place the following week, it was lovely.* Admittedly, that is more because she is planning on moving 1 day and 14 hours of drive time away from me, so visiting will be more difficult. I hope/plan to continue this trend by visiting my friend in Texas sometime before September. The most exciting for me is that I am going to be able to rejoin my weaving and quilting guilds. This will start in March, I already have the time taken off. My cousin invited me up for their Easter Egg hunt so I hope to make that as well (I already took the time off).

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I am trying to minimize my craft spending this year. That does not mean that I will pass by an amazing deal (see the 7 zippers I purchased for less than $3), however I will pass on fabric, etc, that I will not actually use, or that I will store for ‘someday’.

The major obstacle that I have for this is not knowing what I have for each craft. To get things organized I purchased one of the photo keepers from Michaels, on sale for $13 from $40+, and have used this to get my sewing supplies organized. Needles in one, hand stitching thread in another 2, pins in another…well 2, safety pins in 1, etc. I do still have one of the units empty within the larger case, but that will get filled up soon enough. I used an amazing label maker to add a label on the edge of each mini case so when I open the unit I can see what I have in each one rather than pulling them all out to find what I am looking for. This has been so handy I am thinking of getting another, but not until I know what I would put in it…though Jewelry supplies looks like a good idea at this moment.

I mentioned earlier that I visited my Sister in Pittsburgh, this is also the location of the closest IKEA to me. We visited IKEA, this was great for me as it gave me an opportunity to see the various shelf options and organizers in person. I did purchase a couple of bookcases that I am using to practice some personalization options on, then they will be great for storing my craft supplies where I need them in a visual way. I’m not going to show you that process until I have it more refined.

Until next time remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!

Best Laid Plans of (wo)Men and Mice

by CZeitler

This last quarter has been healing, however part of healing is recognizing the wound, lancing it, and draining out the…well you get it without me getting too gross here. The wound was recognized and lanced, however that just left the gross parts, taking care of the home that I had neglected in my lethargic/depressive state. This was eye opening, I had not realized my kitchen had gotten that bad. This means that work, financial issues (that should be completely resolved in January 2025), and getting my house back in order have taken all of my time and energy. Crafting has fallen by the wayside while I get myself and my home into a state where crafting is a possibility.

To that end I do not have any fun updates to give you as the year comes to a close. I am very lucky in so many ways that I cannot count them all. Family, Friends, and whatever higher power you believe in have been very kind to me and I hope that I have reciprocated that kindness.

I hope that 2024 comes to a kind close for everyone and that 2025 only brings good things to your lives. Remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!

Still Chipping Away

by CZeitler

Every Day bring a slightly new challenge to the forefront. I’m still chipping away at my 100 day challenge, I did have one slip when I found some Fat Quarters for $.50 at Walmart. I plan on making a simple children’s quilt from them for the Holiday Season.

I have managed to work on several projects over the past week and a half. Much of my ‘good’ yarn has been put in plastic bags for easier storage. I have started spinning again and gotten a few ‘puffs’ of wool spun. My singles yarns that I purchased or were gifted years ago are now being made into a large granny square that might be sold or gifted as a decorative throw. I made a sale in my Etsy Shop (total of 2 now, lol). This makes me want to finish the skull earrings I have embroidered, they need their jump rings and earring hooks. My Tie-On Pockets have also made some progress.

I am doing my best to look on the bright side and get through this last hurdle. There is a Quarter left in the year, this Sunday is the Autumnal Equinox so I will use these next three months to close out this chapter of my life and welcome the New!

I hope that you have a great day and remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!

Digging Out

by CZeitler

Sometimes you dig a huge hole by trying to do what you think is right. At present I am reaping the consequences of my hubris. Despite this I am going to use this as an opportunity for a new start.

To make the most of this ‘new start’ I am planning 2 personal 100 Day Challenges that will go hand in hand.

The first is a moratorium on purchasing new craft supplies. I have a lot already and should be using them up before I think about purchasing more. To that end I am also going to run a 100 day crafting challenge. I plan on making progress on some projects a little each day, hopefully some of these projects can be used as Christmas Crafts, however if not I am not going to worry about it.

I am hoping to use these challenges as a way to remind myself to be grateful for the abundance that I have, as well as using this as an opportunity to get myself more organized. All of these problems have been weighing heavily on me, though I have learned a lot of lessons that will stand me in good stead in the near future. This will make me into a more balanced, responsible, and well rounded person. I look forward to enforcing these changes in my everyday life.

I will start my challenges September 10 and go through until December 19th. I hope that everyone has a great day and remembers to Live a Little More Abstract.

Depression is No Joke

by CZeitler

*This post is not at all Crafty, I hope to get back in the swing of things, but I am putting out this Personal Update in the mean time. Stay tuned for more crafty Content!*

I have never thought of myself as depressed; No self harm, thoughts of suicide, the world would be better off without me, etc. Since my last post I’ve been having trouble getting out of bed, wanting to just sleep the entire day away. I get this way once in a while where I just need 1 day of sleep to recharge everything, in the past month it has been flipped around where I have maybe 1 day where I’m ready to leave my bed. This means that I have been waking up about 30 minutes before it is time for me to leave, rushing breakfast (or skipping), and rushing getting ready. When speaking to my psychologist we agreed to up my anti-anxiety medication to see if that helps. After only a couple of days it has helped some.

Because of my sleeping a ton everything else has fallen by the wayside. The store that I am selling my products at on consignment was going to close this past week, however, the owner of the building gave the shop owner a free month to see if business picks up. That means I have another month to pick up extra income from teaching classes and possibly selling some of my items. Yay.

My next two vacations are already plotted out, though the second one might not happen. The car repair, not covered by my warranty, really threw a wrench in all of my plans to get ahead. Fortunately for me I have some equipment that I purchased thinking I would use it, don’t like it, can sell it for money to help me get back on track. The world, and universe, is strange an wonderful. I never forget that there is a higher power looking out for me, call it what you will, I call it God. So thank you for all that you have done for me and continue to do for me. All of the joy you have put on Earth, like shiny rocks, and people that enjoy getting a good deal on Craft Supplies and Equipment.

Remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!

Sorry About Sporadic Posting

by CZeitler

I’m sorry I have not posted in a while. I have been trying to get some things related to my business accomplished, however, I have also recognized where all of my emotional and physical energy has been going.

To begin with, I am the type of person that if I surround myself (on purpose or accident) with negativity it completely drains me of energy, increases my anxiety, depresses me, and causes my IBS to get out of control. I recognize this about myself. According to my therapist I also have a hard time letting people in and when I do then I do whatever I can for them. Recently I have realized that someone that is undergoing their own mental health problems has been utilizing my compassion and friendship as a dumping ground for their negativity. At one point I had asserted that I could not take a ton of negative energy that day, their response was if I cannot talk about anything negative then I have nothing to talk about. Subconsciously, this triggered me to realize that if I want them to feel free to talk to me at all I HAD to absorb their negativity. This means that anytime that person asks me, “Are you okay to hear about this?” I felt that I had to respond yes, I was okay or they would shut down. Again, my attachment causes me to be blind toward these things until I am run down and messing my health up.

I had come to this realization before my trip. I was dreading the trip, my therapist did say that I could only provide the framework for a good experience and everything else is up to the guest. I am sorry about the car ride, they say that they forgave me, but they are also being very passive-aggressive.

If you come away from spending time with someone drained, and you dread seeing someone, then they are not the right person for you to be spending time with.

My energy for the next three months is going to be focused elsewhere. This is the last of my focused attention that person gets.

In terms of the crafts I have been working on:

One of my Aunts asked me to do some embroidering (on my embroidery machine) for her. This caused me to look at other websites that have embroidery files available, and it is amazing some of the artwork out there! There is some chatter about restrictions being placed on patterns, what I have seen is most of the retailers are trying to restrict large businesses from taking their artwork and doing major production with it. I’m not going to do that, though I do question whether they are able to restrict access that way. I’m not planning on doing any major production, however I am hoping to create some book covers for notebooks having to do with Pride right now. After that is done, and I have sent my Aunt all of the pieces she requested (and more of course), I am going to play a lot more with my Embroidery Machine and some of the amazing patterns available out there.

My garden is coming along pretty well, though I did thoroughly drown my carrots. I am going to take some time this week, since I took time off of work for another friends wedding that is not happening now (long story not mine to tell but the couple is still happily together), to work on my garden and figure out how I can mow around all of my planters. I might also just work on making paths/planting into the ground, so that I don’t have any grass growing in my front yard. I already put down landscaping fabric so that a lot of the grass is killed in the medium between the sidewalk and the road. After the grass dies down I plan on planting tons of bulbs to create beauty.

Okay, I have to get back to my full-time job now. Remember that no one is worth your health and happiness, Live Life A Little More Abstract!

All Work and No Play

by CZeitler

I’ll be the first to admit, I have been having a hard time drawing a line between time to work and time to play. Even during my time to play, I discovered I like playing alone. There is a Mine that has Quartz about 5 hours from my home. I decided to take a day trip there with a friend. I wish I could say it was a great time, unfortunately, I did not have a lot of fun. I spent more time worrying about whether my friend was having fun, and trying to entertain them, than I did enjoying myself. The whole trip got cut short due to grit in an eye then we took a detour to go shopping for something they wanted, and then they don’t like my driving (I drive defensively and had to stop short a few times). This proved to me, if I want to take a trip I’m just going on my own or with family that I know enjoy this type of adventure (or at least are willing to fake it for my sake).

In that vein I took a trip out to a local lake and enjoyed myself immensely. Dangling my feet in the water, having a personal picnic, taking time to watch how the refraction of light on the water made the stones look like they were rippling instead of the water, as well as getting some stitching done. I had so much fun, that I decided to make a promise to myself this summer. I am going to take the time to work on myself. No guilds, as little time with negative people as possible, visiting with friends and family, as well as enjoying my vacations.

I hope that you remember to have fun, and don’t let work/negative people consume you. Live Life A Little More Abstract!

Sometimes the Answer is No

by CZeitler

I know that it has been a month since I last posted. This past month has been a period of time where I end up having problems with library patrons, apparently some kind of rodent decided to chew a wire in my car, and the bannister leading upstairs decided to shear off at the metal. However, I still managed to go to Herkimer NY to check out the Herkimer ‘Diamond’ Mine with a friend of mine.

I have still tried to be productive, I did have a single person come to my fiber prep class. They were signed up for my spinning class, however, they got the flu and had to back out. I have several batts ready to be spun for sale, as well as some yarn I spun. There is always something to do. I’m trying to sew up some microwavable potato sacks. There is no one signed up for my Saturday Class, I’m looking at that as a way for me to take my time and relax for a day.

I did find out that hexagons are not working very well as an easy English Paper Piecing bowl, so I am going to have to try Pentagons next. I’ll use the hexagons to make some awesome pincushions instead.

I hope that the next week or so find you having an amazing time, and remembering that there is no happiness without some sorrow. Remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract!