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Monday 3 February 2014

Overwhelmed

Don't worry, no tears are about to erupt, I'm not going to lose the plot mid-post. I'm talking about overwhelmed in the inundated and feeling engulfed with too many things kind of way. In a good kind of way too - I think?

I've felt overwhelmed by a too tired kind of tiredness for a few weeks (anaemia probably).
 
I also feel overwhelmed by wanting to do everything at once. On my days off work I get so excited about this huge lump of me time stretching ahead. I plan all the stuff I want to do and then I get overwhelmed by tons of other stuff. I find it really hard to choose which of the many lovely things I want to do when I know the clocks ticking and my day is running ahead of me. Sometimes I manage to make the most of that time - like today - and that feels good.


You see, I made these cushions today. Well, this morning to be truthful. In just over two hours the fabric was chosen, trims selected, squares cut and off I went with my very dusty machine.


 I planned to sew over the Christmas holidays, but it didn't happen for good reasons. Ever since then I've just felt dead tired on my days off work. After all the everyday stuff is done for another day I usually collapse on the sofa with yarn and a film.

All the same new cushions (and lots of other stuff that could overwhelm me if I let them) have been jostling about in my head.


Then I bought some new tea towels from Miss CK the other day and they spurred me on to blowing the dust off my sewing machine.

These tea towels are such a bright jolly print and they're handy sized for cushion and bag making.

I took a while having a think about what would go where.


 In the end I chose a soft French floral cotton mixed with some stripy skirt fabric. Usually the girls good clothes go straight on ebay once Miss Rosey and then Little Bun have had their turns with them. This Noa Noa skirt is made of fabric that I just couldn't resist cutting into and I'm so glad I did as I love the two together.


The tea towels got further dandied up with some white and blue trim.


Then I added my favourite red bobbly trim.


Cushion No.3 was a much needed thing. The chair cushion was all ripped and torn from too making bums on sitting on it's soft barkcloth. I chose a piece of fabric sent to me by Jenny. Everything finally finds what it will become and I'm gl\d I always remember where each piece has come from so their stories aren't lost.


I'm so ridiculously happy with my three new makes. Sewing was a joy and if I could have done, then I think I'd have stayed on my machine stitching a few more cushions.


This is where I'm really happy, where I feel most me.


Now I have an even cosier sofa to rest my poor old achey hip on. A war wound from the Man and I getting too daft and into the dancing at a Ceilidh at the weekend. In fact it's been a weekend of being overwhelmed by great friends, laughter and the joy of life.


 And while I'm still on the subject - I also get really really overwhelmed by all the stuff out there. There are so many fabulous books, magazines, newspapers, blog posts, films, plays, exhibitions that I want to see and take the time to enjoy. Not just rush through before the next lot comes rushing at me. 

My head feels like it's fairly spinning you know just thinking of it all.


 Time for a lie down most definately.

I'll be back very soon to let you know which book I'm reading for February and how I got on with my January book for The Year in Books. I finished reading Instructions on a Heatwave on the last day of January, I had a goal and I kept to it.



35 comments:

  1. Wow what bright breezy cushions, they are just great. I bet your pleased that you got round to making these.

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  2. It looks like Spring has sprung in your house - those ginghams, stripes and florals look amazing.
    I can identify with you, feeling overwhelmed! Life is passing by too fast, there are not enough hours in my day to do all that I want to do. I have so many weeds waiting to be pulled, and a garden to be revamped, so many fabrics waiting to be used, so much yarn to be knitted/crocheted, so many books on the shelves waiting to be read - I should join you in The Year in Books group - however, one book title that makes me shudder right now is Instructions on a Heatwave (yesterday our temp reached 42C).
    I waited so long for retirement when I thought all these "to do" things would have been well in hand after a few years at home, but my list just seems to grow longer. I guess in all this I have to say I am grateful I have no pressure in my day, no deadlines to meet, and I have good health, and I hope my long list will eventually look not so overwhelming, and I hope yours will be the same, Bobo Bun. x

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  3. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you might fix in case you werent too busy searching for attention.
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    1. Dearest Helen why read this post then if you mistake my irony for whining. . Thanks for the laugh about me searching for attention. I'm far too old too bothered.
      It's my blog and I'll keep on writing what I want.

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  4. What a fun day stitching, better to be full of ideas than have nothing planned is what I say, X

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    1. PS people who are not interested in the things us bloggers write about shouldn't be reading, Helen.

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  5. I always love reading your posts! I also feel overwhelmed. Often, if I have a day with no work, I get nothing done because there is too much to do! It is like a stagnation from not knowing where to start.

    And isn't it great that you know what makes you feel truly like you? Sew more!!

    By the way, I didn't hear any whining in this post. You have a good way of expressing what a lot of us are feeling. I have a few blogs that are my absolute favourites (Bunny Mummy, Attic24) and yours is definitely one of them!

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  6. Oh I'm overwhelmed by those cushions!!! Wow they are gorgeous!!! I'm feeling something a bit similar myself....... I feel like I have stalled and not quite sure how to get the engine started again! Like you I wish I could just stitch more........ Sending you bloggy hugs E x

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  7. I know what you mean about the overwhelming bit Lisa, easy to feel that way with all the beautiful and artistic and cultural things out there. It's a sign that you love life and want to embrace all that is good and definitely no whining! What a rude thing to say!
    Love that your sewing makes you feel like you and that you can express your artistic talent through choices and combinations of fabric. I have always wanted to add Pom pom trimming , might just have to make me a spring cushion now :o)
    I hope you can treat the anaemia, can make you feel so tired and listless, I too have been exhausted in January and have kept my making very simple in the form of granny squares, feel I should be doing more but can't at the moment. I do spy your bubblegum blanket there, it's really popping with that pretty pink x take care lovely xxx

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    1. Go with the bobbles Penny. I used a zipper foot and it was easier than I thought it might be. I agree about the rudeness, makes me mad when you get those kind of numbnuts on here. Got to feel sorry that she's that dense really.
      X

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  8. wow wow wow lovely! i know that feeling, normally when i want to do too much in a day i end up retreating to a book and do nothing! I think sewing cushions is an awesome day! GO YOU!!!! x

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  9. Fantastic cushions, know exactly where you are with the not getting all the stuff done, only ever seem to get one or two things ticked off the list! Love the tea towel idea will give it a go, Catx

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  10. I think everyone on here can relate to that feeling of not enough hours in the day to do the lovely things you want to do.....
    Well done you for taking the time to 'be in the moment' and enjoy some creativity. I firmly believe it so good for the soul.
    Loving your rosy grey stripe cushion....a real beauty :)

    ****Helen......not sure why you would write such a review if you are not enjoying the post?
    Blogging is so much more than just a little snippet written every now and then. We all have our own ways of dealing with life and our bloggy friends give us a huge smile just when we may need one......a little kindness always goes a very long way :)

    Tilly x

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    1. Thank you for that Tilly. Made me really smile. X

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  11. Oh I know what you mean! I have so many ideas but none will come to fruition I am working full time and in a panic about it all - I cannot fit it all in. However I am very grateful to have a job in these times.

    Anyway, you have nice cushions - and that cheers up a very dull day!

    Hope you feel less tired soon - dried apricots are very high in iron and (I think) taste nice too!

    Sunshine just around that corner

    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. Just how I feel Jenny, grateful I've got a job when I get the sulks that I'd rather be sewing. Apricots a great tip - will try. X

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  12. Hi Lisa! I really love your new cushions. They all look great on your sofa.
    I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed. I feel the same a lot of the time too--so many things to do, projects to start, books to read, etc. I end up feeling frustrated and grumpy and that's no good especially when I'm around the girls. So I just try to take things slowly and eventhough it's very hard I'm doing my best to be patient.
    Take care! Hope you'll feel better soon!

    Marion x

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  13. These are delicious! Love all those springy colours. I'm a bit frustrated with my sewing machine, she came back from the repair man without any tension issues but now she suddenly goes into zig zag stitch and I've not asked her too! She's either possessed or has gear issues....will I ever stitch again!!! :) x

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  14. Hi Mrs Bobo Bun! I love your cushions, they are so fresh and lovely I know exactly what you mean about being overwhelmed by all the lovely plans and schemes there are to squeeze into one's own precious free time . It is NOT whining, but instead it is a true sign of a creative brain.
    Shauna. x

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  15. Beautiful cushions, what fabulous colours - infinitely cheery :-)

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  16. I see from my blog roll that we both wrote at the same time about being overwhelmed lately by the 'to much' of it all. My post is quite different, and maybe not quite so positive, but it's a comfort to know how universal all this is :)

    Here's hoping we can both find more time just to be x

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  17. I have my machine set up on the table trying to get myself started also! your cushions are lovely and congrats on your productivity....

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  18. I'm overwhelmed.... to find that somebody has the same overwhelment (there's a new word!) issues, for the same reasons as I do! It does sometimes paralyze me and all that free time and multitude of items I could make use of me go unused whilst I stare at life. mesmerized!
    Isn't it wonderful that we have or can buy amazing stashes of fabric, notions, vintage items to be mesmerized by, though?!

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  19. I hope that you don't feel too overwhelmed for too long and that things become a little clearer as the days become lighter! Your cushions are beautiful and I hope that they were a fun distraction whilst you were making them. xx

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  20. Ditto...sometimes the best treatment is to step away from the online world...Your cushions are really jolly, I have a couple of jobs that I went to get on top of this year instead of constantly pushing them to one side of the room. I think this is the year to use our fabrics!!

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  21. I think you've summed up how all over the place a lot of us are feeling at the moment, maybe it's the weather, you've still managed to make some lovely cushions though.

    And as for that upsetting comment from the supposedly 'Helen Wong' I think you will find that she's not a real person, that is not an actual photo of her, it's actually one of those Chinese automatic spam messages that 's tailored to pick up certain words and comment, they just want you to visit their site. Grammatically it's all over the place! if you click on 'her' name you will read lots of other comments that are nonsense as well. The photo used is of some girl whose photo has been 'appropriated' from the internet.
    I used to get lots, but as I have 'comment approval set up on blogger I never used to let them get through and they eventually stopped. x

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    1. You star Woolly Dog thanks for letting me know. Mystery solved. X

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    2. Me too Lisa, just a load of nonsense. I used to get it but mainly on older posts and now, like Woolly Dog, I get none. What a slap in the face that must have felt like though! Hope you are enjoying the GOOD side of Overwhelmment!

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  22. Thank you for the inspiring and very pretty cushions. I've always believed in the power of the cushion! I just might have to make some :) enjoy all your aspirations, do what is calling you the most, Heather X

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  23. Dear Bobo,

    It is always a joy to read your posts and this one, in many ways, could have been written by me - except I haven't been making lovely cushions. It does get overwhelming living with all those ideas and mini dreams and cohabiting with the things one HAS to do, constantly. I get like this too. Sometimes it's exciting, sometimes I feel myself getting flustered.

    And anemia is something I can completely relate to. I suffer from it on a regular basis and am currently taking iron tablets - again. The tiredness resulting from low iron levels is rotten but the pleasure of feeling great again after taking those magic tablets is fabulous.

    Warmest wishes,

    Stephanie

    ps I cannot wait to see your pullover... even if we have to wait a few years :-)

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  24. Those are very cheery cushions for one so overwhelmed. Keep an eye on yourself and maybe write a tiny list not a big massive one. Jo x

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  25. Hello! just happened across your lovely blog. the cushions are great. I love the bobbly bits too. Jane x

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  26. Gorgeous fabric combinations. Also love the pink background crochet blanket.

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  27. Your cushions are lovely. Do you have an etsy shop? The link at the top didn't work--it leads to an etsy page that says it doesn't exist.

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  28. Hi Lisa. I just popped over as I'm missing you on Instagram. I'm not blogging anymore but will catch up with you on here. I am totally with you on getting overwhelmed by being overwhelmed! There's too much to do in life and experience and so little hours in the day. I hope you're ok. Lynda x p.s. Helen, please learn some manners and treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself!

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Thanks for stopping by and leaving me a comment. I read all of them and really appreciate you taking the time to say hello.
I always try to get back and reply, but sometimes this may take a bit longer as pets and children always seem to need attention around here.

Bobo X

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