Since we have to share the library space with another club, I decided to limit fall semester club projects to weekly make & takes. Near the end of the session, we’ll pull out the sewing machines for a very basic project that can be completed in a single session.  Our spring rotation will be strictly sewing with the goal to have each student create a 16-1/2″ block for the East Cobb Quilt Guild Show.

My mission is two-fold:  (1) to divest myself of my rather oversized craft supply inventory at school and (2) make things easier for my club co-sponsor and me.  I plan to move on to other things next year, so several machines will also be “re-homed” at the end of May.

What kinds of projects to we make in clubs?

Pom-poms, Perler beads, Slime 3 ways, papercrafts (bookmarks/origami), photography (digital & instant), Felt stuffies and mail art postcards (machine project).

My total investment for this round of clubs was less than $50, including snacks.

These types of projects lend themselves very well into a library makerspace or crafternoon type of activity for elementary and middle school students.  Normally, I have all girls in my club. This time, it’s about half girls and half boys.  The girls want to make kitty ear headbands. The boys didn’t look too pleased with that idea. Hopefully, the duct tape wallet kit I found will be an acceptable substitute.

Class samples to make…

Quilts to complete….

Personal sewing projects still not finished…

Guilt for being so far behind, but not one bit of inspiration to step into the studio.

Does this sound familiar?

It’s called stress. Mine is directly attributable to the day job. Today, I got to be 3 people – librarian, teacher and parapro because they pulled my parapro to act as the receptionist. (Never mind there are four ladies in the front office.)  As an introvert, I need 10-15 minutes of quiet time after the morning class block to chill and put my game face back on for the next round of classes.  I literally did not get that until I walked out the door at 3:45 p.m.

I’m all for pitching in and helping out in an emergency. But it is getting to the point of ridiculous. The fantasy flex library schedule has collided way too many times with fixed library schedule reality since school began. The admin team is also under the assumption that we still have 3 people working in the Media Center. News Flash! There are only two of us because we lost the allotment for our part-time person. Remember?

You make a big deal to tell me I matter, then treat me like I don’t. 

So, before I say or do something I might regret (like writing a check for $1,000 to get out of my employment contract), I have elected to utilize one of my sick days tomorrow for some extreme self-care.

Oh, and one more thing. That little girl who came in with shadows under her eyes and was sent to the library because she was late for testing? She was starving. The cafeteria couldn’t get her breakfast because they were busy getting lunches for 200+ kids going on a field trip. I took the time to fix her peanut butter toast in the midst of all the craziness because I could hear her tummy rumbling.  I know I matter to my students, but do I really matter to administration?

Tomorrow is a SEW day.

I chose to keep my weekly sewing club over starting up the new video production club. 

In the day job, there was a “realignment of responsibilities” based on my decision; however, I have zero regrets about choosing to keep the sewing club.

It also marks the start of a conscious shift to focus more on the things I want to do and less on the things others think I should be doing.  I am learning to stay in my lane at school and I try not to worry about things which are out of my control.  Yes, this is easier said than done, but I’m trying!!

Priorities:

1. Health (lose weight, improve sleep, exercise, meditation)
2. Relationships (outside of work and family)
3. Improving skill set in both the day job and the side hustle

As I sat at Panera Bread tonight, I drew out a life bubble map that encompassed different areas of my life and where I want to be 12-18 months from now.  (Don’t feel like sharing all the details here, but suffice it to say that I am making progress toward those goals.)

The catalyst for all this:  I started doing WW Freestyle in late June.

Today, I am 15 pounds lighter and about 1/3 of the way down to where I want to be on the scale.  I have more energy and self-confidence, which set the wheels in motion for improvements in other areas of my life.  I also added some “mindful living” podcasts to my podcast feed. They have been helpful in my learning to let go of things at work. I don’t let stupid stuff get to me as much anymore. Friends and coworkers are starting to notice.

The surprising thing my bubble map exercise revealed was how closely intertwined my goals are and how change in one area impacts the others.

I’m excited to see what Fall 2019 has in store!