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Monday, April 30, 2012

Where did April go?

You know what? I know exactly where April went because I blogged every single day.  On 1st of April here, I decided I would blog daily for the month of April in order to find out where my time went. Since it's the last day of April, then today is the last day of my daily blogging.

Oh, don't be sad. I'll still be around. I think posting 4 to 5 times a week is what I'll do from May. That's still plenty. Sure I could post daily if I wanted to. It doesn't take that much effort. But I don't want to run out of stuff to write about. I don't lead a very interesting life and I don't make that many interesting items to show you. So that's pretty much why. Also, I think for at least 2 days a week, I should keep some thoughts private. You know, just for me. :)

What I want to know is - Did you guys enjoy my 30 days of blogging? I know at least 4 of you did! And really, thanks so much to those of you who commented, facebooked, shared, tweeted or emailed me. I know you wanted to encourage me. It's great to have such wonderful readers. Those of you who were quietly reading away, I know you were quietly cheering me on. Am I right?

So what did I achieve in April?

My diet
I have to say cutting cheese and milk out of my diet was my greatest achievement. I only cheated on 2 occasions - one subway melt and an ice-cream (a few people put the word ice-cream in my head!). I had 2 little headaches after eating these and that put me back on track. The rest of the month, I totally had no cheese and milk. And the result - I was headache and migraine free.

Since early this year, I had been getting very severe headaches and migraines. I was starting to live on panadol daily. It really scared me.

After this experiment, I know I have to be very strict with my diet if I want to be pain-free. I know there are a few other triggers for headaches and migraines but I feel the big hurdle is over.

My fitness
I'm also really proud of myself for getting off my butt and exercising 5 times a week. For 3 days, I jog 6 rounds round the park. For 2 days, I use the exercise machines to rotate my joints and tone my muscles. On weekends, I absolutely refuse to exercise!

I went from zero to 5 times a week!

My ePattern
I published 1 ePattern and started work on 2 others. This is one area I need to have more discipline on. I think I need to set aside specific time of the day to work on ePatterns only. That way I won't be distracted. Right now I only work on it when I'm tired of sewing. That's not a very good plan.

Producing ePatterns is very tedious and honestly quite boring work. It all boils down to being diligent.

Sewing for craft market
Another area I have totally zero discipline in. I really just sew when I feel like it. It's crazy. This is not a good way to work. Of course sewing items to sell is sometimes not all fun and games. When something sells and you have to pay the rent, obviously you need to make more of the same. But it gets boring. Oh you know, I want to have fun and I want to be creative. Seriously, sometimes you have to just do it regardless of what feelings you have.

And I have to keep telling myself that!

Time wasters
I think I'm managing my time better in this area. Since I've become anti-Pinterest, it's been a big help. I have cut out 2 shows from my must-see list - Fringe (the different timeline thing just sickened me), and House (too tedious). Hopefully I'll cut out more shows and that'll give me more time for work.

♥ ♥ ♥

I have a craft market this weekend and of course I'm starting to sew like mad again. I wanted to have at least 4 lunchtime pouches ready and I managed to make 3 more so that makes 5.


I don't know how many of these I've made in total but it's getting harder and harder to get myself interested. Right now I'm just motivating myself with using remnants and getting the colours matched.

Today my sewing machine threw a hissy fit and I had no choice but to unscrew it and give it a cleaning. Do you guys clean your sewing machine? I really hate unscrewing my sewing machine because I'm so scared I'll never put it back nicely again.

These are the 3 lunchtime pouches I made today.


This is what I call a hit and miss fabric. Sometimes it sells very well. Sometimes you couldn't give it away. Today the sky was very dark. I had to use a very high ISO in order take my photos. I'm still not understanding the concept of ISO. But I do know I need to keep increasing the number!


Same fabric combo as another drawstring pouch I made. I'm running out of drawstrings.



I unearthed a small amount of this grey polka dotted fabric. Oh it was buried by my stash. This is a you either love it or nothing fabric.


This was the last unsold drawstring pouch from my last craft market. I wonder why. It's cute! (The bottom is red)

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For the benefit of those who are technologically challenged, I'm displaying my 10 most recent posts on my blog homepage (projectsbyjane.blogspot.com) so you don't have to hunt for them.

See you in a while.

11 comments:

  1. I have enjoyed your daily posts Jane, not sure what I'll do now as it has become part of my daily routine :)

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  2. I've enjoyed it too and I'll miss it! But I know, time is running fast and sometimes other things are more important. Keep on sewing! Love all your bags and your choices of fabrics as well. You'll never make everyone happy, but that's the way it is. Cross my fingers for you for VC..good sales and a lot of fun

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  3. I've enjoyed reading all your daily entries in April! I send my machines for servicing every 6 mths or so becos I'm so afraid I get the tension etc screwed up if I open them up myself :-) and I'm always so happy to hv them run smoothly after each service. I trust only this particular place I send them to. I love all pictures you put up on yr blog as well!

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  4. I've enjoyed reading all your daily entries in April! I send my machines for servicing every 6 mths or so becos I'm so afraid I get the tension etc screwed up if I open them up myself :-) and I'm always so happy to hv them run smoothly after each service. I trust only this particular place I send them to. I love all pictures you put up on yr blog as well!

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  5. I read your blog every morning with my coffee lol Good job on the fitness and diet parts!
    I love HOUSE and have missed this season's. the station it aired on was changed and I didn't know it til season was half over. I usually DVR everything and watch it later. so it didn't get DVR'd...blah
    wish you luck at the craft market!! I LOVE the lunch bags!

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  6. I have enjoyed the daily posts. I do hope that the market is good to you this weekend look forward to your post market post. I am interested to hear that your migraines have eased my husband gets them after chocolate and my daughter after citrus fruit/acid, it's amazing how many things that appears in.

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  7. I have really enjoyed your daily posts, thanks!

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  8. As you know, I have been enjoying your daily posts. I must admit that april has gone by faster than it felt. You sure did achieve quite a lot in the month.
    The confirmation of the headaches and migraines cause must be huge for you.
    I know a couple of friends of Asian descent and they have each told me that they can't eat dairy and that their body just can't process it and it makes them sick. We had Japanese exchange students several times and found that they to didn't eat much if any dairy. One girl had just a tiny amount of ice cream when we served it and even then didn't eat it all. I later realised she was trying to eat it to be polite and not because she wanted it. i felt so bad 'cause at that stage I didn't know that it wasn't a treat for her.

    You are doing well with your fitness efforts too.

    I should take inspiration from you and sum up my previous month at the beginning of the new one... It is hard to keep abridge of just what has been done in a month. It often feels like not much and then when I review, I discover just what has happened.
    I love seeing all your bags and sewing. I keep thinking I must do more sewing, I have been so slack with it for so long now.

    All the best for your craft market.

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  9. I've enjoyed your daily posts too. Sometimes I get behind with reading the blogs I follow though, so my comments may be a tad tardy!

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  10. What a great month you've had!! You're pretty inspiring with the exercise regimen, that's something I have to get cracking on myself. Do you think blogging daily has given you the urge to do so much & be efficient? This year since I've cut down on my blog I haven't been productive at all...

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  11. I always enjoy reading your blog posts! Your blog is one of only a few I actually read. A lot of blogs are just skimmed through because there are so many. My own blog is one that would be just skimmed through too because I just don't have much interesting to say. But I don't mind that.

    PS I even read your hubbies blog (sometimes) because he is quite funny too.

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