the one where she talks about all the -ings....

The -ings are all about what's going on and insight into where my head is these days....

Watching - podcasts, lots of them....and waiting for the fall shows to start up.

Craving - ranch dressing, weird right???

Doing - market prep

Obsessing - about coupons....I've been enjoying learning from the roomie how she saves tons of money on EVERYTHING! Seriously, she's a genius!

Loving - the Rumba (again), I've been traveling a lot and it's nice that the vacuuming still gets done.

Reading - more like proof-reading, haven't done any real reading, been way to busy writing patterns and working on market stuff to do any real reading, since I am pretty sure I can't count reading knitting patterns as reading.

Wanting - a long weekend at home. with Miss Penny and nothing to do.

Pinning - knitting, lots of knitting, and a few recipes of things I will probably never make, but they look really good.

Dreaming - about some new opportunities that I have been working on. More on those later this month.

Writing - patterns, it's that time of year....

Crafting - pillows, I made some new pillow covers last week. Hopefully I can get them finished up this week.

Sewing - market samples

Knitting - my razzle. still. yes, I haven't done much knitting. Is it weird that I am looking forward to the OhLoops Harry Potter KAL detention to get it done....(if you are curious, check out OhLoops on etsy, or Ravelry) and play along. The yarn is AMAZING and I am super excited about it. Like much more excited that I should be....

Listening - to NPR, since apparently the country channel in LA has moved, and I couldn't find it...

Wearing - maxi skirts. It's been super hot lately and skirts are so much cooler than shorts in hot weather. 

Needing - to be gentle with myself. I'm still sick, since mid-July I've had this "cold" that I can't get rid of. It's been tested, and basically, I have walking pneumonia, and need sleep, and rest and more rest. And a vacation....since several of those aren't feasible at the moment, I'm trying to be gentle with myself, getting to bed earlier and not being so demanding about housework and other activities.....

Planning -  to make some changes in my diet, specifically starting Whole30 next Sunday. The new recipe book will be out on Tuesday, and I am excited to try some new recipes. I love the idea of Whole30, but I got really bored when I started it last summer, and only lasted about 15 days due to sheer boredom. But I am going to give it another try!!! I'm excited about it and looking forward to feeling better (though not to giving up my diet coke)!!!!

Trying - to be grateful and joyous. When it gets crazy busy I tend to forget all the great things, and instead focus on the things that aren't quite right. So I am making a conscious effort to be grateful and joyous when things get busy this year. 

Pattern Parade : Prismatic Star

One of the things I love most about quilting is that a simple fabric change can drastically change a design...

This weekend I'm teaching in Thousand Oaks at Cotton and Chocolate, and several of my students have finished their Prismatic Stars, with amazing results.

This pattern is really easy and really forgiving. It uses a Judy a Bali Pop by Hoffman (48 strips), and takes on a watercolor look in it's original plan, but can be made dramatically different with a simple change or two....

This one is Judy's, and was hanging at the training center when we were there for retreat.

This one is mine, can you see where I rotated the center diamonds (orange, pink, orange, pink, as opposed to orange, orange, pink, pink). Sorry about the pic, apparently I don't have any straight on shots of mine.

Lauren used a regular Bali pop (40 strips) and 1/2 yard each of the absolute lightest (fabric 1), and darkest (fabric 8). She also did the rotated center that I did.  It added consistency and the sparkle. Lauren also used a printed background (rather than a semi-solid), it created so much movement. 

Ilsa stayed with the original layout (grouped center) and used the celery background....

And today, Judy worked on a 4 color version...and I can't wait to see how it turns out...but we'll have to save that for now....stay tuned for more info next month!!!

Catherine

Task List Tuesday

Well, several of last week's plans were foiled by crazy hot weather and catching up on all of the things that happened when I was away.....

So, the garage is still a mess, I just couldn't work on it when it was 110 degrees in the garage. I just couldn't do it. So instead, I puttered around the living room and did some sewing and some relaxing. It was lovely. Lovely.

But that means that I am behind on a few things....and adding a few new things that need to get done this week.

1. Finish up the last 4 blocks for Judy. Almost done, should be sending these out later today.
2. Bind Split Up.
3. Classes this week : at Monica's on Wednesday, and at Cotton and Chocolate this weekend for Labor Day.
4. Cut and Prep for Sailors Sandcastle trip.
5. Final Prep for the San Diego Quilt Show (weekend of the 12th).
6. Finish New pattern #2 for Market.
7. Start New pattern #3 for Market.

That is plenty for the week, I'm tired just thinking about it......so I better get going and get started.

See you next week and we'll see how well I did in getting things done....


Cat