getting my second wind

2009 – the year I figured out how to sew.

Let’s see – I finished 2 quilts, 10 bags, 1 skirt, 1 shirt, and 1 much-beloved jacket.  And I’m starting the year with 2 quilts to finish (late Christmas gifts) and lots of plans.

I don’t normally “do” resolutions – but this year, I”m setting up goals.  First, I”ve added a new page called WIP (Works in Progress) which is where I intend to put my projects as I start them – and hopefully as I complete them. I want to document this learning process and also to become a little more accountable.  I also need to figure out a better work/personal balance.  I’m a happier person and more productive when I do things outside of work that’s not more work. With all of that being said – here are my 2010 goals:

1. stop wasting so much time on my beloved Bejeweled Blitz, Mafia Wars and Facebook.  Oh,how I’ll miss thee – but really, time is too precious.
2. work at home less than 3 nights a week and limit those work hours to less than 4 hours a night.
3. increase my organization in my office so that i can snatch snippets of time to work on projects.
4. find a tried and true (TNT) skirt pattern – I have high hopes that this one will be it.  But if not, perhaps this one.
5. Make a dress to wear to work and out of work.  I’m thinking perhaps this one (the one with the stand up collar) or this one.
6. make this jacket
7. make this shirt
8. make 4 new quilts – including one for dominic.
9. use my walking foot and quilt at least one of the quilts myself
10. make myself a new messenger bag

so, let’s get going on 2010!

Since it’s getting close to the holidays and I can’t really post anything without giving away what I’m working on, i thought i’d post some other great projects from Flickr.

1. Working on a Fundraiser, 2. christmas bird ornaments, 3. Eco Market Tote, 4. Hard to resist, 5. Casal 20! , 6. Bird Ornament, 7. Καρφίτσα : Η πολυταξιδεμένη Γατούλα_softerror, 8. Pillow Talk Swap (ready to send), 9. Molly’s Sketchbook: Sunny Tied Quilt, 10. YIP 365.153 :: Twinkle mini pillow, 11. Untitled, 12. a gorgeous gnome and girl pillow!

and now back to working on my own projects!

I can’t believe that it’s been more than 2 months since I last posted.  good golly!

Let’s see what have I been doing? I’m sorry – life has just taken over here.  For nonprofits and especially for their development directors, this year is a rough one.  On the positive side, thanks to President Obama, we have some opportunities that are amazing and that we have a good chance of getting.  But my organization has typically had strong support from banks, who as everyone knows are not doing so well. And individual donors, well, my family isn’t the only one that’s hurting.  So, right now, as the development director, I don’t feel that I can let one opportunity pass us by. And that means long hours and little balance between life and work.

On Thursday, we just had our annual event and came in shy of our goal by about $3K.  So, good – really, only a 3% drop over where I thought we’d be.  But the work that it took to get to that point was incredible.  But so is the need.  Every day, I am seeing more and more people come to us for help with their rent, utilities, prescriptions, food, etc.  People who never thought that they would need to turn to a charity for help and are having to do so now.

So, we’re still out there hitting the pavement, applying for both foundation and government grants, and working to make sure we hit all angles and every possibility.  It is exhausting – to be honest.  But I can’t stop – there is such a huge need and there is nothing worse than turning someone away because we don’t have the money and know that their children are going to lose their home. So, we keep plugging… and praying that this economy turns around.

okay – so back to last Thursday’s event – I actually found time to work on a chinese coin quilt and, thanks to one of my mother’s friends (Denise – the lifesaver) actually got it quilted and finished (thanks to Mom, the binding queen) in time to turn it in.  Although, I have to admit it was a difficult decision to turn it in – I loved it.

I was a little bit worried because our auction people aren’t so into the handmade movement as I am.  But I think the fact that there was a lot of white space (7 inches around each side) helped.

And I think the funkier fabrics than what many are used to seeing (love me some Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry) and the colors worked out really well.  I will admit that it was a bear to make.  I am pretty much a mostly solid quilt sort of gal and it was difficult for me to have some many patterns – actually I started with only 7, but at about 3/4 of the way through, I decided that I really needed more patterns – which that alone is weird for me to say.  So, I”m pretty surprised by how much I loved it.

So, now I’m one down – 1 still to finish and 3 to start.

And you know what?  I can’t wait!

But lots of pictures were taken … so without further ado, my weekend in pictures…

The big news – in case you couldn’t see – is that L caught her first fish. I’ve been dying to get her and S to the park to go fishing. She’s quite the fisher – this impatient child can actually concentrate on fishing longer than I can! For the past few months, all I’ve heard is “I just want to catch something.” I figured that if she was ever going to catch anything, S. could help her. We had originally planned on going the next day, but S unfortunately had to work, so we went after C’s party since L was going to spend the night anyway. That hubby of mine is a fishing genius – he picked the perfect spot for her; as soon as we put her line in the water, she started to get nibbles. and then her bobber went down – and it was on! We managed to keep the (baby) fish on the line and reel it in – no small feat. It’s a smidge bit complicated to pull up while reeling, but she did it. She couldn’t stop yelling – “I caught something, I caught something!” Luckily the fisherman around us, just laughed. Several came over to congratulate her. That was the only fish for the night, but she did also manage to snag a turtle – which I didn’t get a picture of. I think the turtle-catching was actually a bigger deal than the fish was.

So, now, we have a new word – turtle-ishing (fishing for turtles!)

In other news, I sewed this weekend – I know, gasp! I wanted to make a tote bag for C to go with the “Creative Family” book I got her. Mom loaned me an old machine – that I love precisely because it’s so old. I figure that I can’t mess it up too much – it’s obviously lived a lot! Anyway, a huge thanks to my Mom, who rescued the day by showing up early Sunday morning to help me figure out the whole threading thing. It turned out great – I even lined it, which really for me, is a huge step. It turned out really nice. S. even said that he thought his daughter would be “all over it” and I should make her one for her birthday. HUGE compliment, I tell ya. Normally, he just puts up with my crafting, but this one … well, it was really cool.

Then to top it off – I made another bag on Sunday – this time for me. It’s beautiful. Heck, I’m loving it so much that I may make everyone bags.

Nothing else too interesting going on – a birthday party for L on Thursday and then her birthday with her friends and a wedding to go to on Saturday. Thank goodness for Sundays!

Before I leave – here’s 2 of my favorite pictures from the weekend, ’cause who can resist these 2?

although she doesn’t look it, she was actually quite happy – i didn’t even have to bribe her to take her picture (really). love, love, love this face

how’s this for some cuteness? why is it that i only get this smile when he’s beating on me? LOL