2018 Let's Do This!

Sewing and Camping

That annual moment where we look forward to all that we want to do. I'm realizing that, professionally, I can be like the January gym rat. Full of ideas and ambition, then life and laziness and chocolate take over. 

Last year I had similar thoughts, but it took me a while to put my finger on it exactly. I never set annual goals for 2017. Instead, I sat down on the first of each month and did an aspirational task list. Finish this particular quilt, query a manuscript so many times, catch up on Financials, that sort of thing. To do lists are awesome! Doing this allowed me to keep our family life in greater perspective.

I'll be honest, I don't put much credence into the term work/life balance. I don't like the implication that it is a seesaw. That balance somehow means stasis or that one is higher than the other when not in balance. So setting this monthly aspirational task lists allows me to look at what we have going on as a family (swim meets, dance performances, visiting family) in relation to teaching gigs and deadlines. Then I can see what I can realistically fit in above and beyond them. 

Tiny flowers

This whole thing has been great for gaining perspective and managing expectations. I did not end the year upset that I didn't launch a new video course, for example, because I knew that there was no way I could have made the time to make it happen. No matter how much I wanted to. Oh, how I want to. I could have had my son skip ballet to do it. Or not get involved in the family business as needed to make it happen. But those other things were bigger priorities. Seeing my monthly lists in my planner, along with the family schedule keeps it all in perspective.

Another confession. I am feeling a lot of disdain for the quilt industry of late. Not for quilters or fabric or quilts or the sheer fun of making. But for the behind the scenes industry numbers game and operations, of the constant hustle. Those who play this game know what I am talking about. The regular consumer may even understand it too if you pay attention to launches of books, fabric, and patterns. If you don't need to know, then I recommend keeping it that way. But playing the game is exhausting, Sisyphean on a good day. 

Busy Bee (On Flowers) Sheep River

When you combine my busy real life with this disdain, it only adds to the need for perspective. I won't lie, just a few years ago this probably would have made me angry, real angry. Ambition is strong here. The clarity of the last year is so liberating though. I am okay with things, really. Last year was probably my quietest year professionally. I loved every second of teaching, I pitched articles and met all my deadlines, and that was about it. No major projects, no secrets ready to come out. And no early, early mornings to get it all in. No stress related tantrums. No TV as babysitter so I can get it done. (No gym much either, but we can't win at everything.)

All of this to say, that these monthly ambitious task lists are da bomb! Put 6-10 things on the list. Include things you know you have to do - planned classes, deadlines, entries needed. And include things you want to do. Refer to it often. Very often. 

For example, here is my January 2018 List:

  • Film and post a Shark Quilt Video
  • Finish a baby quilt that has been basted for over a year
  • Re-jig two quilt tops from the Quilts Under Construction pile
  • Finish 2017 Accounting
  • Write notes/outline for a new story I thought of over Christmas
  • Finish Chapter 3 of my novel
  • Send out 5 new Picture Book Queries

Ambitious yes, but totally doable with the time I have in between dance rehearsals, the gym, a synchro competition, a hockey tournament, time spent at 3 pools for the kids, making dinner and snacks, making love, and watching the new season of Workin' Moms. Early mornings, some late nights, stolen moments, and focused action. Let's do this!

Quilts At the Creek

Pinwheel Quilt Giveaway!!!

Quilt Giveaway Slow Down and Sew

It's 12 days until Christmas and I am feeling generous, so I'm giving away a quilt!

Specifically, the Pinwheel quilt from my book A Month of Sundays. A bold yet soft design. Quilted by Angela Walters, no less.

Here are the details:

... Quilt is 76'' x 76''. Made with 100% cotton fabric and 100% cotton batting. Designed, pieced, and bound (hand finished) by me, quilted by Angela Walters.

... All you have to do to be eligible to win is sign up for my newsletter. Scroll down to the bottom of the page here and the sign up is there. Don't worry, I don't share or sell my newsletter list. And now you get a biweekly newsletter full of tips, the exciting and interesting things I find online, and personal musings that I don't share anywhere else. Current newsletter subscribers already entered.

... Bonus entry if you repost the photo on Instagram with the hashtag #slowdownandsewgiveaway. It has to have the hashtag to be eligible.

... All international entries are welcome.

... I will make the draw on Christmas Day and ship the quilt by the end of the year. 

That's it! Nothing fancy. I just want to share my love of quilts, via a quilt, with you all. You think you are getting a present, but my husband thinks he is winning in the big picture - one less quilt in the house. 

Thank you so much for being here, for supporting my ramblings, for buying what I'm selling, and generally being awesome people. 

This giveaway is not sponsored, promoted, or administered by Instagram or Squarespace in any way. Each entrant releases both Instagram and Squarespace from any responsibility of a missed prize.

The Mug Club Mug Rug

The Mug Club Kid Giddy

Confession: I've never made a mug rug before.

If you know me at all you know I have a hard time working small. And a mug rug is very small. I absolutely could not resist, however, when Kerry Goulder at Kid Giddy asked me to participate in The Mug Club Sew Along. I'm rather an obsessive tea and hot chocolate drinker so capturing the best vessel seemed like fun.

There are 12 different patterns in the Mug Club. You can buy one or both series, each with six paper piecing patterns. Kerry sells Series 1 and Sue sells Series 2. They come in 6'' or 10'' finished sizes. Cozy tea time quilt anyone?

Did you know Kerry is a paper piecing master? It seems she can take nearly any shape or image and turn it into an easy to make paper piecing pattern. I'm in awe. Roller skates, Land of Magic, pugs, mugs, and more

The Mug Club Luchadores on a quilt

I'm also in love with my little mug rug. I picked the Vardagen mug from Series 1. It reminded me of one of my favourite mugs, the kind you can wrap your hands around to warm yet not so big that the tea gets cold before you finish it. I picked the silliest of fabrics because that's just how my sense of humour works. Luchadores on a tea mug?!

Check out all the other mugs made during this sew-along by following the #TheMugClub or #TheMugClubSAL on Instagram.  Both Kerry and her sister, Sue, are leading a beautiful parade of mugs!

A Blue Quilt for The Blue Gala

Blue Quilt Hattori Wiliamson Charity Quilt

From one demo block in a quilt class to this finished top. Oops, I did it again.

It truly did start as a demo block in a string piecing class. Then my friends from H/W Ballet asked me if I would donate a quilt to a silent auction for a gala ballet event. Well, of course I would. The event is called the Blue Gala. And wouldn't you know it my sample block was from some blue scraps? Not to mention the event raises fund for Pancreatic Cancer research and guess what stole my father-in-law?

Truly, it was all meant to be.

Blue scrap quilt

The quilt came together in the morning hours. I could sew together strips and square up about 4-6 blocks in about 20 minutes of Morning Make. Every day I made a few more blocks and threw them up on the design wall. A few weeks ago I added a short yoga practice to my mornings so I would then stare at the blocks and make rearrangements when I was supposed to be in downward dog.

Now to get this quilted for the early February Gala. Should be plenty of time. Then it will be up for silent auction. Don't hesitate to shoot me a line if you are interested in bidding...

Hattori Williamson Blue Gala Charity Quilt