Peony Lane Designs

2022 100 Projects 100 Days

December 31, 2021

Yes, it’s time for the 2022 100 Projects 100 Days challenge! This challenge is something I started in 2021 to get a job start on my overly large pile of projects that had been piling up for, oh forever!

I will be honest my project pile then and now has more than 100 projects that need to be done. That’s why we’re doing it again! The 2022 100 Projects 100 Days is starting on January 2nd.

Join the 2022 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge

If you want to join this amazing, supportive group of people who are all trying to get a jump on their 2022 all you have to do it click over to the Facebook Group, answer the entry questions and you’ll be approved!

Join the 2022 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge

That’s all there is to it. Well except for getting through the 100 projects.

This Year I’m Worried

Last year I was stressed out when we began because I wasn’t sure if I could keep up. But we employed kindness and grace with ourselves. We were able to work ahead on days we had more time and forgive ourselves for the days we didn’t get anything done. It worked out really well.

We also chunked large projects into several smaller projects. It works. And it keeps the momentum going.

This year I’ve made business decisions that I feel will make this year more stressful. Both the St. Cloud Vintage Market I signed up for and Spring Junk Bonanza fall in this 100 days.

Just writing that spiked my anxiety. But I’m going to do what I tell everyone in the group, add preparing for those events to my project list. And forgive myself for not removing things from my project list.

I Hope You Join Us!

If I can get through it anyone can get through the 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge! I hope you join us for this incredible group. If you want to explore what I learn during the 2021 challenge read this post. It might help you make up your mind.

Grab a friend or 2 and join us! It’s tough but fun and everyone who joined last year came back again this year. That says a lot about how beneficial we all found this challenge.

I can’t wait to start and I hope you decide to be a part of this with us!

The 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge is Over

April 12, 2021

As of Sunday the 100 projects in 100 Days challenge has ended and I’m a little sad. At the same time I’m really proud and excited about all I was able to accomplish.

When I started the 100 projects challenge so many people did that thing with their face. You know the thing where their eyebrows disappear into their hairline and their nose wrinkles like they’ve smelled poo. This is what they told me, “That’s a really long time. Why so long?”

That’s when I knew I wanted to do it. Just because no one thought I could or even should do it. Even part of me said they might be right.

Ah doubt! My old friend. I thought I told you that we shouldn’t hang out anymore.

100 Projects Later

Looking back at the 100 projects that are no longer looming over me in my workshop I’m surprised at how well this experiment went. This experiment spurred excitement in my business again.

Part of the reason is because all my little projects are selling! The last two months my shop has been filled with pieces from the challenge.

I suspect the reason the new pieces have spurred sales is that they are one of a kind. Since my shop is part of a larger shop where there are other vintage sellers, if I have a vintage tea cup so do 30 other vendors. However if I make a letter sorter it’s one of a kind.

Makes sense, right? So now I’m excited to customize so much more.

The other part that I loved about this challenge is all the new products I was able to finally get around to trying. Some of the products I had purchased so long ago I’d almost forgotten about them.

All of these unfinished projects and unused products were costing my business money. For every day they sat unfinished, I lost money by not selling the item.

It’s hard to convey the weight that is lifted from my shoulders to see the project pile diminished. It’s not completely gone but it’s got a few holes in it now. Even though the project has officially ended, I’m going to continue to pick away at projects at a much better pace than I was before. It’s become a habit for me now. One I’m glad I cultivated.

Here’s the Final Project of the 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge!

Here she is! This was my old Piano bench that we no longer use. I kept thinking I would give her a makeover and sell it. That was about two years ago.

I’m glad she’s finally done. The bench looks so much better now and it will be in my shop for the May sale!

If you haven’t seen my post on Trying Jacquard Fabric paints click here to read it!

The Challenge Continues

February 9, 2021

By the time this post goes up it will be day 39 of the 100 projects in 100 days challenge

Today getting things done is feeling like a challenge.

Maybe my excitement is waning or maybe it’s just that my most recent projects are turning on me. Whatever the reason today I wasn’t feeling up to any of it. Add to that everything I tried to accomplish gummed up or a stray cat hair suddenly appeared to mar the perfect finish.

Today was frustrating.

But I can’t wait to be motivated to finish a project. This is my job. These projects are my livelihood. Several of the projects I’ve completed during this challenge have already found new homes. This past weekend was Picket Fence Gals and it was fun to see #100Projects100Days items come through the register. It makes all those painting days worthwhile.

Today, I did complete a project. A goose figurine that has been on my shelves for 6 years or so. Since our next Picket Fence Gals sale in March is the only sale before Easter I thought I should give him an Easter makeover.

No, I didn’t feel like doing it. I didn’t feel like writing a blog poster either.

On most days being my own boss is pure heaven. I don’t have to answer to anyone but myself, which is awesome.

On days like today, it’s the worst because it’s so easy to just give in to that lazy feeling. That’s why this challenge is so important.

There have been so many days in the past year when I felt like saying, “Why? What’s the point.” There was a pandemic. The shop was closed. I had inventory languishing on the shelves. Why should I power through getting projects finished.

Now that the shop has reopened, I’m regretting not having a stock of finished items to rotate through my booth.

The challenge has been motivating enough to stay on track even when I’m not feeling it.

If you don’t know what the challenge is about you can read the original post here.

If you want to see my favorite project of the challenge (so far) check out my post of using Angelus Leather paint!

Many Blessings to You!

100 Projects 100 Days Challenge What I’m Learning (so far)

January 13, 2021

We are on Day 12 of the 100 Projects 100 Days challenge. I have to say the people who have joined the Facebook group are tackling some big challenges. My daily output is completely constipated in comparison to what some of these folks are tearing through.

I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not about comparison or competing with others. This challenge was created by me to challenge myself to work through my ENORMOUS back log of projects.

The group is wildly inspiring though. Normal people with everyday lives, jobs, families, and they are kicking butt on their backlog of projects. Seriously, inspiring.

What I’m Learning in the 100 Projects 100 Days Challenge.

My experience in this challenge are wholly my own and I do not pretend to speak for anyone else in the group. However, even 12 days in I’m discovering a few things.

Lesson 1 Small Steps Make A Large Difference

I won’t lie. I suspected lesson number 1 even before I started the 100 projects 100 days challenge.

So, I have a massive pile of projects waiting to be completed. Some very large and some very small. Some are projects that are missing 1 little piece that will probably take all of 10 minutes to complete. You would think that the greatest satisfaction would come from completing the large projects.

You would be wrong. Slogging through all those little projects. The ones that only take a few minutes. Is the best feeling ever. Because they’ve been bothering me the most.

Furniture can take days to complete especially the complete travesties that I am attracted to. They usually require repairs, priming, painting, re-painting, clear coat, etc., etc., etc. They don’t bother me because they require effort.

The 800 picture frames that need a coat of white and some distressing, really irritate me.

Seeing them move from the project pile to a bin with a price tag ready for the shop makes me giddy. It’s the only word I can think of to describe the emotion.

Lesson 2 Accountability is the Only Thing Keeping Me on Track

Again, I’m not going to lie here. I probably would have given up by now if I didn’t create this whole challenge.

Why?

Because, if I was just participating, my thought would be no one will notice if I don’t post something today. More than likely on a day like yesterday when I wasn’t feeling well I would have let it slide. Then once the momentum was broken, I would more than likely not return.

It’s a pattern with me.

But it’s my challenge. My group. I’m responsible.

No pressure.

I mean, so much pressure! But in a good way. I need the pressure because without it my project list went out of control!

Most Important

I feel like I’m on an adventure. Things are getting done and I’m having fun. Most important of all, I’ve already sold one of the projects I completed. Which means I’m no longer wasting all the money I’ve invested in that project. I’m praying before the end of this year all the rest of them (except the ones that are for me like Day 10) get sold as well.

If you want to join me on this adventure, I would love that! I’ve created a Facebook group so we can all support and encourage each other. Just click this link HERE to go directly to the page. It’s not too late to join us. You might not get through 100 by the time we finish but you could get through 80, 70, 60 . . . you get the picture!

If you’re reading this wondering what the heck I’m talking about, you can read the original post that talk about how this started here.

Good luck to everyone, and Many Blessing to You All!

Don’t forget to Pin This!

I’m always grateful for those who pin my blog posts and share my content with their followers. Below is a Pinterest friendly image for you to share.

If you found this post, I’m sad to say the challenge has ended but you can read how successful it was here!

100 Projects 100 Days Has Begun

January 2, 2021

100 Projects in 100 Days. It’s a challenge that’s for sure. I’m excited to start and at the same time I’m a little nervous.

I am absolutely drowning in projects. It’s not a joke anymore. After organizing my inventory I realized that half of a two car garage was full of unfinished projects. Something had to be done.

By nature I’m a worrier. I worry about everything. Doubt is my constant frenemy. So yes, there is an undercurrent of stress involved with starting a challenge like this. Can I do this? Am I setting myself up for failure? What if I can do it?

Relax

Then I remind myself that my words for this year are:

Kindness & Grace

and I relax a little. I remind myself that this challenge is about forward momentum. Forward progress in small manageable chunks.

This is a tactic I’ve employed throughout my life. I get overwhelmed easily when I look at the big picture of things, but if I tell myself, “I only need to do this piece today.” And I keep my focus as narrow as possible while I work toward completely my big overwhelming project I can get it done without anxiety.

Download A Kindness & Grace Printable

So that’s what I am setting out to do with this challenge. I’m narrowing my focus. I’m not looking at the HUGE stack or projects that need to be done. I’m only picking up one today. I only have to do this one small piece.

The Goal of 100 Projects 100 Days

At the end of the 100 projects 100 Days challenge I hope to see most of the projects from the unfinished side of my garage be transferred to my inventory side of the garage. My goal is to build forward momentum and to stop feeling bad about what I didn’t get done yet.

No Guilt. No Shame

Yes, I actually feel ashamed when I think of all the money I’ve spent collecting these pieces that needed to be worked on before I could sell them. That is potential income for my business that is sitting idle in my garage.

Sometimes the guilt is so overwhelming I can even face going into my garage or my She Shop.

That ends today. Today is the day that I set all that aside and say, “Nope. Guilt and shame you need to take a back seat to the progress I’m trying to achieve. You’re not helpful at all.”

If you want to join me on this adventure, I would love that! I’ve created a Facebook group so we can all support and encourage each other. Just click this link HERE to go directly to the page.

If you’re reading this wondering what the heck I’m talking about, you can read the original post that talk about how this started here.

Good luck to everyone, and Many Blessing to You All!

Don’t forget to Pin This!

I’m always grateful for those who pin my blog posts and share my content with their followers. Below is a Pinterest friendly image for you to share.

100 Projects 100 Days Challenge // New Years Challenge // life challenges // challenges to do // better yourself challenge // fun challenges // makerspace challenges // monthly challenge ideas

Get the Challenge Calendar

Click the link below to get a copy of the challenge calendar with the start and end dates. Use this calendar to keep track of your completed projects so you can see how far you’ve come!

Download Printable Calendar