holidays....blah!

So,  this morning I was thinking of what I normally do this time of year. Back in the NM days there was floral design. I would be gearing up for Christmas  orders for parties, decorate a ton of wreaths, and corporate office decorating to complete. These days it  usually is finishing  sweaters for the magazine and photo shoot deadlines. i usually spend the Thanksgiving weekend, christmas  time off, and New Year break  knitting like an idiot to finish Knitter's projects

This year is different, I have no sweater designs scheduled for the next issue...thank heaven. I still have ideas I need to get started for my book, but otherwise I am at a loss of what to do, knitwise. So I have the quilting to play with....

My goodness I get tomorrow off as well.

I cannot wait for this looooonnnng weekend. I plan to get the house in order, then stitch my heart out. Planning to get packers ready for the Sewn Together bee, and maybe finish a few halfway done projects.

If I forget to say it later, " Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!" hope your riches outweigh your worries, and that you can keep it all in perspective throughout the holiday season and that your dearest wishes come true.

another friday!

Wow! this week flew by fast!
i got a lot done at work. i worked all week on the jacket book, playing with numbers for all the different sizes, now all we need is to plug them into the templates.

At home, I have finished all my bee blocks for November, just completed my swap piece which goes out the beginning of December. When i went shopping for the final little needs for the swap i came across a great table top trinket that seems to have been created especially for my swap partner. i bought it along with a few other things that i think she might like for decoration...seasonal or 24/7.

 Weekend plans are to develop and execute the details for my December blocks since my month in Sewn Together.  i was going to give  I may be giving my month to someone else,  but she never and she just responded   and i think she may have just gone missing after falling behind in the process. i do not fault her as she had one of those "life happens" incidents and has just  may have not yet recouped.it seems she has had a difficult 2 months, and hjopefully things will improves for her and her family.

i also plan to work on an idea for the Joann's Quilt Your Colors contest. i had a blast picking fabrics for it. many pieces are already cut out, and  now i have to create blocks and setting  for the piece. i love a challenge.

it's FRIday!

and i am so fried.....i am hoping to take the rest of the day off. i just need some Me time to preserve my mental health. have a good weekend everyone!

busy hands....empty mind

here are 4 garments i designed and knit for the Fall issue of Knitter's 

i always find it a joy to create even though sometimes it means way too many extra  hours working on stuff. 

What are you going to do?

Had a restless night. Today, I have to finish merchandising the winter issue which means calls to yarn companies and  designers, a bunch of orders that must be sent fed ex overnight,  and contracts. That is easy compared to what my 3 friends and their families are going through,

I am frustrated for them..When I lost Luke 10 years ago, I wanted to wallow in pity for a few days, but  life doesn't let it happen...there was too much to do. My family did not know how to treat me...my mother was worried about me, so all I could do was be strong and ease her fears. i bucked up, got back in the saddle and moved on.  Everything went back to normal.

At least everyone thinks it did.

I just spoke with someone on Friday evening who lost her father last year. She asked if the pain of loss ever goes away, and I told her I would let her know as soon as it happens...

i could spit fire

I finally got the block for  Antique Roses done.... Baby Norbert is complete. ( Ihe bat  block was done a few days ago.) And pretty cute if i say so myself...

It is for a Harry Potter Quilt for  the Scrap Happy bee. Not being a  Harry Potter fan, I made sure that the block I had to make would be challenging and something i would like to own myself.  It had to fit into my sewing sensibilities as well. Yeah, with all the  pieces, cuts, seams, and tails there was no sensibility to any of it... other than I was not lazy and I made a block I would love to keep ...I HOPE Kristen loves it.

While the Dragon choice was obvious, considering  my last name, I had ulterior motives. I thought success through this block would breed a series of dragons for family members...ummm...5-hour blocks...ummm... Baby Norbert will be an only child at Casa Rico, but he flies off to his new mommy today. Adios HOT STUFF.

This Block wasn't difficult, just tedious. YET, it was  perfect for keeping me from breaking down and crying from all the crap happening round me. I know I am lucky to have friends that I care about....even if i feel helpless in being able to comfort or help them. This is just one of life's lessons... I am only a bystander, who can pitch in when asked or needed.

Anyway, do not take this as wallowing, there is no room for ":poor me" in life. I  recall MY favorite M*A*S*H episode...( the details are a little vague but)  BJ is wallowing about his kid meeting Radar upon his discharge and way back home to Iowa. In meeting BJ's family at the San Fran Airport, the kid calls Radar "Daddy", BJ is crushed, pissed, helpless, and lets rage get the best of him. Eventually Hot Lips smacks him back to reality reminding him that he has so much to lose because he has so much.

I got the message....