Spring Project-Along?

[arabella]

I'm thinking to kick off a serious project (or multiple projects, or project with multiple components...) for Spring (or Fall if you're on the other side of the world). anyone want to do it with me?!

I'm trying to target energy-drains - things that just deflate me every time I think about them (garage), or things that would totally rejuvenate me if they were done the way I want (photos)

potential projects I'm considering:
- organizing garage and all boxes still packed from the move
- knitting a sweater (this might be too easy)
- Organizing photos, including digitizing film, deleting / tossing crap photos, adding tags and making books for some past trips / years
- overall organizing, with multiple components of garage, photos, videos, boxes still stored from move, etc)

So what do you think? want to tackle one of your energy drains or rejuvenate yourself by accomplishing something awesome? I'd love some company in this!

I was also thinking we'd have rules to help keep us accountable. maybe something like:
- post project(s) in the Spring Project 2012 thread (to be created)
- post the plan for getting it done (e.g. 2 hours per week, 8 hours every weekend, 10 mins a day, etc or more specific like week 1: buy yarn and select pattern; week 2: cast on and knit 40 rows)
- post progress at least once per week (maybe even have a weekly progress thread so we can see who's drifting off!)
- can post before pics if desired/applicable
- maybe have "buddies" to check in on you if you miss a post?

let me know if you're in and start thinking about your project!!

[PurpleDoor]

Well, I am going to be moving sometime this summer, so my ongoing project is to try to get ready for that (even though I still have NO idea where I'm moving to, argh). The main thing I have been doing currently is spending about 30 minutes each Saturday going through some part of my apartment and deciding which of the items in there are coming, which need to be trashed, and which are still in good enough condition to donate/sell on CL.

One thing I need to do is start stockpiling copy paper boxes more aggressively :) They make packing so much easier!

[Pearliepie]

Ooh, I want to take part, but I don't know how much I'll be able to get done with the baby. Maybe I'll set really small goals, because my project is giant!

Here's what I'm thinking for myself-
Project= unpack/organise new art studio (The baby is going to have my old studio for his nursery, so everything is moved, but it's just a terrifying pile of boxes and art supplies)

Plan= Hmm. An hour a week? 15 min a day? I don't know yet.

Before and after pics are a must for me!
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[Barbeegrrll]

I have some Spring Cleaning projects I want to do. I'll think about it and make a plan of what/how.

[PrickleyPete]

My projects on the table for spring:

-100 envelope project. I am cutting out 100 small petal envelopes that fold into a circle. Inside each one will be a card that says "I love you more than ____ loves ____." So far I have over 100 phrases so I have to narrow it down. Example, I love you more than a sailboat loves the wind, I love you more than kids love a snow day. The list goes on.

-Make a dressmaker's dummy. I am sewing up a storm because there are so many free patterns and because I figured out how to make my own out of clothing that fits me. I just need a dummy to custom fit this new stuff and the thrifted stuff I get that is too big.

-Liquor infusion project. Someone with a DIY blog is going to do a 4-part series on my liquor infusion process so I will need to take pictures and write something better than "Add a bunch of fruit and spice to your booze and shake it every night for a month."

-Scherenschnitte shadow picture. I am taking one of the pictures in my boyfriend's photography portfolio and doing a silhouette cutout.

-Made-up knit sweater pattern. I am taking a vintage knit sweater pattern and altering it a bit so the only pattern I need is to know the inches (so it can be done on any yarn) then knitting it up on big needles.
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[smokingmonkey]

I'm in on this. Good practice for goal setting. Most of mine are some form of cleaning.

- Clean up the basement and set up glass working area. This is the main one and the one I'll probably really focus on. Our basement is horrendous, and I really want to set aside an area as a work space. I'll have to start this sooner rather than later because I have a commission for a piece already that I'd like to get started on, and there's only one week of class left.

- Clean up my office. Besides just all the piles of work and household paperwork and mail, the endless bins and boxes and piles of craft supplies. I need to go through and organize and purge.

- Archive and sort my laptops. Pull my personal work and photos off my old laptop and work laptop and get it all onto my new personal laptop. Also need to organize the contents of projects on my work laptop and maybe think about putting a portfolio together of my best work from the past 3 years.

[Barbeegrrll]

I decided to make my main project my art room. It was a disaster from a project I was working on. The project is over and I was dreading going in there every day. On Saturday I started cleaning it up and am working my way around the perimeter of the room. I did one half of the room and have the other side and the huge closet to work on. It already feels better and most of my work surfaces are cleaned off and ready for new work!
My second project is to order seeds for my plot in the community garden and get them started/planted.

[bookselves]

I have a sweater planned - my first one ever. I'd be happy to participate in something like this.

I also wanna tackle a bigger "office" renovation project, too.
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[arabella]

awesome! Y'all have some impressive projects!

I'm thinking I will do both a Digital Organization project, including:
- comprehensive photo & video organization, including digitizing, tagging, deleting, and photobook / video creation
- music organization - fix anything named "Track #"!!!
- moving all personal files to personal computer (currently on work computer)
- updating backup system

In addition I will also start preparing for our summer move by going through all the boxes packed in the garage (what's in those, anyway?!) and purging stuff that is no longer used.

My plan is to start first day of Spring and finish last day of Spring! Tho I've already sorta started both, I will get more deliberate about working on it and tracking progress.

Whew! This is going to be a lot! But it's going to feel awesome when it's done!

[snoopy]

I just started sewing again and am tackling perhaps an overly ambitious project for an upcoming wedding we're going to in Hawaii at the end of May. I'm terrified I'm going to screw it up, which I can't afford to do because I just spent a scary amount of money at Britex on a small amount of fabric (as in, it's more money than I've ever spent on a fancy dress, let alone just the fabric!). I need encouragement.
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[CaliMel]

I totally need this thread.

I have house projects, like organizing my nightmare of a closet, and paring down belongings, that I need to take care of.

But I would also like to have fun projects too. I started knitting a washcloth, but only finished half of it, and it's been sitting there for months. So sad. I always feel like such a knitting loser because I can't even finish a washcloth!
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[arabella]

ok I made a new thread to confirm your projects (listed in first post) and post your action plans! have at it!

[Shade]

I totally missed this thread somehow, but I'm glad it got bumped! This sounds like exactly what I need (and always seem to need, really). I have a million things that I've been meaning to do for ages, but the one that jumps to mind immediately is finally building a decent set-up for craft shows. I keep saying, "Well, once I have that attractive, polished display I'll feel more professional/serious and make more sales," and yet I never can motivate myself to buckle down and make it happen.

I will post on the new thread once I actually have an action plan and can contribute, but I figured I'd post here as well just so I have something to hold myself accountable to :)
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[arabella]

awesome, Shade! I'm adding your name and project to the list on the other thread! if you can't make a full action plan, at least try and post what you will start on this week. maybe as simple as "sketch out 1 potential design"

[weezil]

I'm going to make something for the reader challenge in the most recent issue of Quilting Arts. Photos have to be emailed by June 25. It's a small thing, but I think I'd like to spend a good deal of time on it anyway.

I'm also thinking of entering a particular art/craft show in Philly, but it's kind of juried? so my plan would depend on getting in.
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