Over the past two weeks, we’ve had to completely empty out our upstairs (other than one closet, which I was able to pack totally full) in preparation for some home renovations.  We’re hoping that the work won’t take much longer than a month (ha, ha) and so until then, my sewing room (along with a bunch of other stuff) is set up in our living room.  Does that count as a finish?

I did manage to sew one baby blanket last weekend as a gift in the midst of the mess, plus I remembered that I had sewn one other baby blanket in January that I forgot to report as a finish.  So there’s two finishes anyway!

Still to do:

Items that are currently in progress (and/or should have been done by Christmas time):

1. Finish the baby bibs that were given to me to complete so that we could sell them at the 2015 Advent Bazaar. (Oops, I forgot, we’ll sell them in 2016!)
2. Make corn sacks for J, J, and A – three special people in my kids’ lives.
3. Fix two of our office Roman shades (annoyingly, the little plastic rings just keep on breaking)
4. Sew 1 baby blanket in blue and 2 in pink (yes, I just added more to this list)
5. Sew 4 baby birds (like this one)
6. Design and finish two final Handmade Christmas 2015 projects (because no, I’m still not done)

Items to sew next once the first list is finished:

1. Sew a large neutral tablecloth for our dining room table (have had the fabric since spring 2013)
2. Actually get the dining room shades installed – clearly I should not have allowed myself to cross that one off the list.
3. Make an apron for Mark – currently the poor guy has to wear one that’s way too big for him.
4. Sew hot pads for us (and a tutorial for you)
5. Design and sew a new bathroom curtain. (This one I just put on the list this week but we really need it)

**********

As for books, I finished A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (the real one), decided I didn’t need to finish the graphic novel, and also returned Soul of Discipline because I was out of renewals. One way or another, I’m whittling down this list!

Books from the library

1. Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham (I’ve already read and love this one but need to skim it in review for a book club on 1/30)

Books borrowed from friends and family:

1. Unclean by Richard Beck – I’m about half way through this one and have really been thinking a lot about the implications of his arguments.
2. The Wisdom of Stability by Wilson Hargrove
3. That Distant Land by Wendell Berry
4. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
5. First Impressions by Sarah Price
6. Road Song by Natalie Kusz
7. Creed or Chaos by Dorothy Sayers

Books we own:

1. The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris (I’ve been almost done with this for probably two years and it’s SO good but somehow, I haven’t read that last quarter or so of it.)
2. Gender and Grace by Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen (I read this in college but I’d like to read it again.)
3. Intimate Allies by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman

I’m linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Finish It Up Friday.