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!

]]> http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/160/feed 0 http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/156 http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/156#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:52:07 +0000 laurel http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/?p=156 It’s hard to believe that 2009 is over – and yet truthfully, I’m glad to see it go.

The year ended roughly for S & I.  S’s dad was in an accident in Colorado and, after being brought back to KC, went into cardiac arrest on Christmas morning and passed away on the 27th. We had the memorial service on the 31st and I think I’m not the only one that feels like this has all been surreal. I think we’re all numb.

There’s a lot to be said about his dad and what he meant to us all. But what I will take with me was his incredible ability to like and to be liked by everyone he met.  He could make anyone feel welcome and part of the family immediately upon meeting them.  I know that he did that for me and that I will miss him dreadfully.

So, until then, I leave you with these funnies…

“Dude, what the heck are you wearing?”

“Really, is this embarrassment necessary?”

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!

“we lay there and looked up at the night sky and she told me about stars called blue squares and red swirls and i told her that i’d never heard of them. of course not, she said, the really important stuff they never tell you.

you have to imagine it on your own.”

from someone brilliant.

{edited to add: I got this off of a website a long time ago and I fell in love with the quote. i realized that this sounded like something someone may have actually said to me.  i wish.}

Randomness

1. eaten the same meal for dinner since Sunday. mind you not leftovers, just the same meal because i’m too lazy to think of something new to make and I have those ingredients on hand.

2. written 2 grants – total pages submitted 1,268 (yep – that’s not a typo)

3. started thinking about this quilt

which really is just code for I-looked-at-the-fabric-for-a-long-time-marveling-at-how-much-I-like-it-but-did-nothing-productive-with-it. And then thought about buying some new fabric – just ’cause

4. realized that July 10 is coming sooner then i think, so started this quilt late Monday night

forgot how many squares i needed- so i just kept cutting thinking that it’s big – it can handle it..

(Yes, I remembered how many and will be back to work on it tonight… i hope.)

5. finished the shirt I’ve been working on for … oh … ever - realized it’s too scratchy and needs some neck adjustments – so put in my WIP pile.

6. went to a training on why development people fail and realized that their idea of failure in no way met mine.

7. ate lots of raspberries lately – wished they were from the bushes I planted, but realized the birds probably liked them more than me… next year it will be a different story.

8. keep thinking that it’s the end of the month – even wrote that on a grant report today – it’s sad to have vacation-brain 3 weeks before you actually take a vacation.

So, i think that’s it… tonight, I’m celebrating that I finished all of my to-do’s today (mind you the grants were the biggest part of the to-dos) and while I have a huge list waiting for me tomorrow, I’m going to enjoy watching trash TV (So You Think You Can Dance? anyone?) and working on the quilt.  And maybe, just maybe finishing the scratchy shirt.

Next sewing skill to learn – sewing with knits – nice, soft knits.

]]> http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/83/feed 3 http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/70 http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/archives/70#comments Sat, 02 May 2009 21:49:37 +0000 laurel http://www.secondwinddesign.com/laurel/?p=70 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!

from xkcd

Kinda funny that after <many years>, the lesson about Schrodinger’s Cat is the one that sticks with me.  Loved it then … love it now.