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

Monday Musings

It's late Monday, and I meant to get this up earlier in the day but it just didn't happen.....I'm just plotting and planning the week, and these are the things I am ......

Watching - podcasts, lots of podcasts....this week I am super excited about the OhLoops Podcast that they released last night....

Craving - strawberry shortcake, I think it's the end of summer thing....

Doing - nothing....I made a mistake on a pattern so the project is in time out. And I can't get motivated to do something different at the moment.

Obsessing - about the Harry Potter KnitALong (KAL) that starts tomorrow. I will be at platform 9 3/4 as precisely 10am to get aboard the Hogwarts Express for the KAL. Can't wait!!!!

Loving - getting organized -- finally. Really organized. not that I am anywhere close to finished, but it's nice to be seeing progress.

Reading - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.....her approach to things is brilliant but a bit overwhelming. 

Wanting - more time. Market is quickly approaching, and I am feeling a bit behind.

Pinning - knitted blankets....there are several I want to work on.

Dreaming - about knitting

Writing - patterns. Lots of patterns.

Crafting - new pillows for the couch

Sewing - samples for market

Knitting - on my Razzle.

Listening - to Luke Bryan's new album. So far, I love it. It's very different, more serious, but loving it. 

Wearing - long skirts and tshirts, it's so much cooler than shorts in this crazy summer heat....

Needing - to clean out the car. Seriously, it's disgusting. It needs a bath.

Planning - out the booth for the San Diego Quilt Show in 10 days....

Trying - Stitch Fix - I got my first box last week. The process was awesome, and I loved the quality of the items, and the styles, but we need some adjustment in fit....I heard from my stylist and from a few friends that it sometimes takes a couple of fixes to get it perfect, but not to worry. So hopefully, it will all work out!!!

and that is all the verbs in my life this week....

what are you doing lately???

Task List Tuesday

Well, it's Tuesday and there a bazillion things to catch up on after 15 days away. A puppy to be loved on, laundry to do, and housework to catch up on, but of course all that I can think about is all of the things I want to get done for upcoming shows and Market....which is only 2 months away (how did that happen???). I was going to be so ready this time!!!

Thankfully, most of the major designing is done, and it's just samples to finish making before market, but it is still a lot considering how little time is left between now and then....and of course, throw in a couple of Judy UFOs that are a.) bothering me or b.) needed for a class soon after Market, and life is suddenly very very busy on the sewing front....so, I've made my lists for the next few weeks, and reviewed the schedules, and here is what I am left with for this week....


Week of August 24-30
1. Make a backing for Shooting Stars
2. Make sample #1 for Market, including writing the pattern
3. Teach - Wednesday (Monica's in Palm Desert), Friday (Orange Quilt Bee in Orange) and Sunday (The SewnSew in Glendora).
4. Bind Split Up
5. Finish unpacking the garage - that will likely require all day Saturday

Do you write lists to help you manage things???

Happy Quilting
Catherine

Monday Musings -- and a List

Because I love a good list....

It's Monday, and I am back from a lovely trip to Montana. I hosted a retreat group with some lovely ladies, whom I would now consider friends. We were a small group, just 5 total, and the size of the group was ideal for retreat. We ate great, simple food, we enjoyed each others company and we really got to know each other. It was a great respite in what has been a tough summer. I'm not complaining, life is good, but this summer has been a tough one with a multitude of changes, and it's share of stress. I am glad to be moving on from summer and gearing up for a very busy and productive Autumn, and some lovely upcoming projects and experiences.

I thought we would start this monday with a list (because you know just how much I love a good list).....so lets get started...

Feeling : a bit sad that I missed a friend's wedding this weekend (congrats Brooke and Luke, love you guys), and excited for a week at home to recover from 13 days on the road.

Watching : knitting podcasts, I have become a bit obsessed (and a bit stalkerish)....

Craving : French Onion Dip -- we had some at retreat, I had forgotten how good it is, fattening, but yummy.

Lunching : brown bagging it -- this week PB&J

Doing : lots of catching up on things

Obsessing : over the new Malam Batiks that arrived at work.....Jinny Beyer you are a genius!!!

Loving : my Viking. I forget how much I love her until I use something else.

Reading : Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Wanting : yarn -- specifically a skein of Sun and Sea on the Assockilate Base from The Cyborgs CraftRoom - one of my favorite online yarn shops

Pinning - Organization and Back to School Hacks

Dreaming - of painting my bedroom the palest teal in the yarn above....

Writing -- patterns for market

Sewing - backing for Shooting Stars -- I need to get it to the quilter this week

Knitting - My Razzle, still have quite a ways to go, the short rows are no longer short. I really wanted to be done with this one, so it better behave or it might get frogged.

Listening - the new Gloriana CD -- I can't remember the title at the moment, but it is on repeat in the car

Wearing - Harry Potter tshirts - It's back to school time!!!

Needing - to clean and organize, see Pinning above

Planning - October trips, and 2016 Q1 speaking engagements

Trying - to get back on routine

SO, that's about all the -ing for me this week...what about you??? are you -ing anything exciting???

Do tell.....


Catherine

Montana a Retreat Day 3&4

Somehow I lost a day.....not sure how that happened, but it's Thursday....which is Day 4...so somewhere a day has disappeared.

This is one of the days that you love as a teacher, when you start to really see things come together....

Bali Wedding Stars begin to appear....

Cactus Rose made it to the wall in a sudden proliferation of flowers....I'm loving the dark background she used on this one...

Tomorrow is our final real day at retreat, and it will be fun to see how it all turns out....

What have you been working on this week....

Catherine