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Pantry Clean-Out

You remember my messy pantry, yes? It took a few hours to pull everything out, wipe down the shelves and floor, and look at everything before I put it back to make sure it hadn't expired, but I got it done. The nice thing about having an organized pantry is now I don't have to dig through it to find anything; it's arranged the way I use the contents. I also weeded out a couple of cans of expired food and learned I really need to make ziti more often to use up a stockpile of that pasta. Some thoughts on the process if you're thinking about doing the same: Don't rush the process. I do one shelf at a time, and I take breaks after two shelves are done. That way it's a little easier to manage the task without wearing myself out. Take time to organize everything. Yes, I do alphabetize my soups, and categorize my canned goods, but that's how I like to keep my pantry. Store things according to your needs. I use egg noodles a lot because my guy lov...
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Daily Ambitions

My editor just approved the project I'll be working on this year for my day job, which is a great thing. Every day this week I'll be working on outlining the five phases of the project, which also need to be approved, and once I get the green light on them I'll be ready to start on the first. Meanwhile, I have other things at home that I'll also be working on, like cleaning out and tidying up my very messy pantry. It got like this due to a combination of the holidays and deadline week last month, and I can't stand it, so that's the first housework project of the year. My first crochet project for 2026 is coming along nicely; one more skein and I'll be half done with it. The first tote of my calendar project is working up a little slowly, but considering my limitations I think I've made decent progress. Once I finish sewing down the patchwork I'll begin embellishing it with embroidery and beading, and (hopefully) some hand-quilting. Jan...

Melrose

We had a lovely time visiting the historic town of Melrose, Florida last week. To see some pics and learn more, check out my photo album here .

Tote Progress

Along with the crochet project I'm also working on my calendar tote project a little at a time when my hands allow. After deconstructing the black canvas bag serving as the foundation, I handsewed a layer of batting to the outside. Now I'm piecing the patchwork out of silver, black and garnet colored fabrics and scraps on top of the batting, also sew by hand (although I will use the sewing machine if my fingers stop cooperating.) Back in the 80's (yep, I have been quilting that long) I worked in darker, jewel-toned colors, but as I've aged I've gravitated more toward lighter and neutral/natural shades. Red usually makes me nervous, but not this time. This palette does invoke my grandmother for me, and I loved her very much. Working on this has brought back lots of happy memories from when I started quilting, and has helped keep my spirits up during this month, too.

Upcycle

The Winter 2026 issue of GreenCraft just hit the stands, and this is the only magazine that is a must-buy for me. 2026 was supposed to be a no-spend year, too, but so far my health insurance premiums have gone up only $200.00 per month, so until that changes I'm allowing myself to buy some materials and things like this to inspire me now and then. As always I was wowed by the dozens of upcycling project and repurposing ideas in the issue. Just looking through it is a joy. I've always wanted to make some bracelets out of buttons, and "From Button Box to Bracelet" by Deborah Helms offers a simple project to do just that. Visible mending gets the spotlight in "Worn, Torn and Mended" by Elliot Harper, who uses old jeans and sashiko-inspired stitching to make a tote. The issue also offers 14 ways to repurpose unwanted discards and junk in your garden, and the photos in this section are simply stunning. I love GreenCraft because it does ins...

Throw #1 Progress

My first crochet project of 2026 is going quite well, which adds to my general happiness this month (and what a relief to have a nice, uneventful January for a change!) I love working with Mandala Ombre yarn. It's very light for a #4 worsted, and it's incredibly soft. It whispers through my fingers as I crochet. One skein of this yarn makes about 5" wide X 70" long throw or wrap in this tilted shell (or drunken granny) stitch. Starting off the year with a fun project using thrifted yarn in cheerful colors really adds to my calm and peace, too. Great choice.

Fun Find

During our visit to Goodwill in Oxford I found a bundle of five skeins of yarn for $4.18. While I didn't need any yarn, I grabbed it right away because I recognized some discontinued yarn that is very hard to find now. For less than five bucks I scored three skeins of sashay yarn (four if you want to count the Sundance as the same), which retails for very big bucks these days as Red Heart has stopped production on it. These yarns are actually wide ribbons of mesh that you can crochet on one side to make a ruffled project. I looked up current prices for all the skeins; the Just Yarn tweed is $1.25, of course, and the Sundance Frill for the Cure pink skein runs about $9.50 per skein. But the Sashay yarns are $12.99, $14.60, and $16.70 to buy from eBay and Amazon. Total retail on the whole bundle would be $55.04. Needless to say it was a super nice thrift. :) I'm planning to experiment with this yarn and see if I can bypass the usual ruffled scarf project it was ...