I’m a worrier, a be prepared type of ex-Girl Scout, always thinking ahead. I’m very seldom a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girl. When I moved away from my home state of Michigan to attend grad school in Philadelphia, I drove out there ahead of time and found an apartment. I made lists of what I was going to take with me. I organized the move. My classmates simply came to Philadelphia and started classes while looking for a place to live. That was unthinkable to me.
When I am on a bus or a train or away from home for an extended length of time, I have to make sure I have enough reading material with me. The thought of running out of reading material leaves me more than a little panicky. So I always end up packing more than I’ll need. I’m already thinking about what to take with me to Hartford.
Likewise projects. When I went to San Diego for 6 months in 2009, I packed boxes of fabric and a rotary cutter and mat, and scissors and everything I would need for a project or two. I also sent a box of yarn.
So as you can imagine, I’m planning projects for Hartford. You already know that Mabel is going with me. I’m taking my smallish quilt that I made in San Diego – there’s still some hand quilting and finishing that needs to be done. I’m not sure if I’ll take any yarn. I’ve done so much crocheting this year that I need a break.
Maybe a little yarn.
But what I’m really excited about is a class I’m taking online via Craftsy. Have you ever explored that site? Lots of wonderful classes in quilting, sewing, jewelry making, knitting and more. I signed up for Craftsy long ago but just recently decided to bite the bullet and take a class. I’ve long been a fan of Camille Roskelley of the blog Simplify. That girl is amazing. She designs a fabric line along with her mother, quilts like a dream and is raising 3 young boys.
But what I especially love are her fabric designs. She uses bright, cheerful, wonderful color combinations and patterns. They make me smile. More and more as I get older, I want and need color. When I was younger, I craved darker, more dramatic tones. Perhaps because I was darker and more dramatic – and I was. Now: cheery color, whether it is pastel or bright. That’s what I want.
I seem to craft in waves. It’s been crochet and all-crochet for a long time. Now, perhaps because I’ve been hand quilting the big bed quilt, I’m now finding myself drawn to piecing and quilting again. And maybe because of Mabel, who’s portable and likes to travel. (I know she does. She told me.)
I love fabric but I don’t have the budget to buy whatever I like and build a stash. Truth be told, I have lots of fabric from the years when I could do that. So I love the idea of using jelly rolls or layer cakes of fabric, already pre-cut and from a particular line of fabric. It’s cost effective for me.
Camille is teaching a class on Craftsy called Pre-Cut Piecing Made Simple. (I bought the class at a discount because it is my first class with Craftsy, though I don’t know whether that was a special offer or not.) She’s sharing her techniques and showing how to piece a few of her quilt designs, using jelly rolls and layer cakes and fat quarters.
I’m so excited! I took a class when I first started quilting, but have not taken one since then. My skills could definitely use some improvement. And the wonderful thing about online classes is that they are portable. The class will go with me to Hartford. Isn’t that fun?
Being away from home involves long hours of work on the play, yes, but there are also big chunks of time that I have to fill. No husband, no dog. Just me. That is sort of liberating but at the same time it can be lonely. I’d much rather fill my non-rehearsal time with something creative than sit there like a bump on a log, watching television or spending too much time on my laptop.
Hey, if you go to Camille’s blog, check out her gorgeous studio. I’d be grinning from ear-to-ear if I was working in that space.
Haven’t heard from Don yet, but I don’t expect to until he gets to his hotel and can send me a quick email. I miss him. Scoutie misses him.
Blogkeeping: I’ve been meaning to mention this for a while. I used to have a widget on my sidebar for Linky Followers. I took it off for a couple of reasons. One: It often slowed up the loading of the blog. Two: Following a blog through Linky Followers is a fine idea and I appreciate every one of you who followed me that way, however, new posts are not updated automatically. I would have to visit Linky Followers every time I wrote a new post and manually update it there. Not happening. In fact, it’s never happened. I post every day and that’s a step I just don’t have time for. So I’ve come to the conclusion that inviting readers to follow that way is misleading and not fair. That’s why it’s gone.
Update: Just heard from Don. He’s at his hotel. We skyped. He’s tired but he has to stay up until bedtime Prague time. Prague is 6 hours ahead of me, so it’s 4:30 Prague time as I type this. Hang in there, Don!
Happy Monday.
When I’m down to 2 books I start panicking and make a trip to the local used book store. I’m never, ever without a book to read. But I DO order from Amazon quite a lot, but usually 6-10 books at a time,
I’m so mad at Google for getting rid of Google Reader I could just spit!! I loved that for keeping track of my favorite blogs. Unfortunately, I gave no thought to those who follow ME until you just mentioned it. I don’t have a clue what those people will do as, unfortunately, some aren’t as computer savvy as a lot of bloggers AND some may not even know that GR is disappearing. I think the easiest, but not the best way, would be to check each of your favorites every day. I don’t think it’s an efficient way and most people who have hundreds certainly won’t want to do that. So what is the best way for our followers? That makes reason stare! Any suggestions????
xoxo,
Connie
I would refer them to links about Feedly, Bloglovin, – both of which make it very, very easy to transfer your feed from Google Reader.
I am like you- plan, plan, plan. When we head out for a ski trip, I take knitting, books, computer, nook, etc. I have to keep my hands busy. One ski trip neither of us remembered to bring anything- last minute decision to go skiing. We ended up being snowed in the first day and had nothing to do.
Your on-line class sounds fun. I will have to look into them.
Having nothing to read would make me crazy!
Just listened to Don’s Adios NYC and loved it! He’s a great singer, honey. Really great. Love his deep voice and his twangin’ on th’ guitar….
xoxo,
Connie
He is a talented guy!
I must have missed why you are going to Hartford, and why Don is in Prague. I need to go read some back posts and see. I love Camille and her Mom’s fabric lines. They are both so talented. I have not heard of that site you mention. I am a quilter, and have been wanting to start a new quilt lately.
Enjoy your trip…and your projects.
xo Kris
Going to Hartford to work on a play, just like I did last year and in January. Don’s filming an American Experience for PBS.
Glad Don made it to Prague! I think quilting is a great handwork and it’s great you are being drawn back to that. Happy April!
hugs,
Linda
Same to you, Linda!
Are you taking Scout to Hartford with you?
I am so glad Don made it to Prague, and I hope he gets unjetlagged soon!
I always, always take books with me when I travel. I had the nightmare of running out of reading material on a three day ferry trip and ended up having to read Debbie Macomber from the ferry book exchange (sorry to any Debbie Macomber fans out there!).
I usually don’t take craft projects with me when I travel, unless I have to work on icon prayer shrines to build up my supply for the gallery.
No, Don will be back before I have to leave. He’ll be here with Scout.
I am a lid maker and planner, too. I can’t imagine another way.
There are so many things I want to read. I usually have at least a dozen reads waiting on the wings.
Glad you heard from Don. I know it was a relief.
We’ve skyped a couple of times and he is in awe of how beautiful the city is.
Glad to hear Don is safe and sound. I’m soon to embark on a round of baby quilts. My friend is having twins but doesn’t know the sex yet so I’m waiting til she delivers and I spring into action. J
Baby quilts are fun, Julie!
The line about being panicky if you don’t have enough reading material, is me! I lug extra books with me, just so I’ll have enough to read!! So glad Don made it safely….the hardest part is staying awake, now that he’s landed. Enjoy your day! ;)
Just talked to him. It’s about 9pm there. He’s trying to hang in there for one more hour!
Glad Don’s flight went well…and had a good trip.
Love the idea of taking your sewing with you. (and you online class!) Hope you get lots done in any spare time you can catch!
Maybe it well help keep your mind of missing your family too much!
I think you bring a good point about Linky Followers. I never update that thing. I forget about it!
Hmmmm…maybe I need to incorporate that as part of routine blogging. OR…like you just delete it.
I’ll give that some more thought.
…have a great day. Pat
You too, Pat!
Glad Don is safely there, thanks for the info on Craftsy, I’ve been wanting to learn crochet and now I’ve signed up. Going out in a bit to get my few supplies and excited to start!
Good luck, Mary!
Glad Don arrived safely – he’s doing the right thing staying up and getting into the right time zone, he’ll feel much better tomorrow!
I’m just like you Claudia – have to have all my ducks in a row way ahead of time – especially for travel. Sometimes I would like to be one of those laid back, easy going, flying by the seat of my pants gals, but it’s never going to happen now! I have trips coming up – a short one to PA to see family – that’s going to be easy to plan…………….the next one is HUGE and I’m nervous about getting organized because it involves the Russians who make everything so complicated! Wish me luck…………………..please!
Hugs – Mary
I wish you luck, Mary!
I am a planner too, we have to drive this Saturday back to Alberta 1400km one way to clean out our home that has now sold. I already have a list of items to sell, items to Freecycle and items to pack in the car to bring back. I can’t relax unless I plan things out – even when we are on vacation. Glad Don made it safely to Prague. Cheers!
Me too! I’m the same way.
Great post Claudia. As a previous girl scout, a quilter and a librarian, I can commiserate with everything you said. I makes lots of list, and I always take a hand project and lots of book and magazines. I looked at Simplify and love her blog. The fabric is delicious. Of course, Moda never disappoints.
Again, thanks for your wonderful posts.
Clara
Isn’t that fabric wonderful??
I am definitely a planner when getting ready to travel anywhere. I pack in advance and always have lots of books. Happy to hear that Don had a safe trip.
Laura
I’m not being notified of follow-up comments via email so just saw this. And, yes, I do have it checked to allow for replies. Hmmmm….
Anyway, thanks for the advice about alerting people about the change. I had already done that on a scheduled blog for this Wednesday. I certainly hope people take advantage of it. I know I’d hate to lose my favorite blogs. BTW, when I tried to transfer them over from GR to another site it didn’t work. It came up as just gibberish. I had my granddaughter try and help me when she was here as she’s a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, although, her job is doing the Office Suite for MS, but even she had trouble with it on her computer, which isn’t Macs like us. It didn’t work for her either. So, my friend, how did you do it?
xoxo,
Connie
There are things that change as I age. Hoarding fabric is one that is not as intense as before. I still hoard yarn, but that may change this year. No more room and I hate not having a spot for everything.
I also need lots of planning and list making, but not to excess. Meaning that I lose lists too! But I really lose sleep if tomorrow does not have its plan.
:)
I have traveled a great deal in my lifetime – and loved it. I travel less now, but would be glad to make a few exceptions, Prague being one of them.
Oh SPEAKING of quilts come over to my blog this week. I just had christmas/ birthday / easter/spoil myself day…picked up a treasure of a quilt on late Monday afternoon, snapped all sorts of pictures and posted them before leaving for the office today ! I was one excited lady : )
I’m organized, too, Claudia, but my structure is expressed in my being a “list” person. I make lists for nearly everything: holiday card lists, gift lists, To-Do lists, market lists, preparation lists for travelling. (Someone teased me once and said I probably write “Keep Breathing” at the top of my daily to-do list!?) In the case of To-Do lists, though, I think it’s the sense of accomplishment I feel when I cross things off; while my “preparation” lists are the result of a morbid fear of forgetting something crucial… like turning off the iron if I’m going away or leaving my plane or bus tickets at home! (A friend once asked me to drive him to the airport for his flight to Germany, and he realized half-way there that he’d forgotten his passport!? Now if he’d had a check list…..) As for crafts or reading, I’m a crazy light packer, so I don’t usually bring my knitting with me since I find I don’t work on it anyway, despite best intentions, and am only carrying it back and forth for nothing. And the most I’ll bring to read is maybe a magazine for a plane or train ride, which I can then toss into the trash. I might buy a book at a 2nd hand shop as a souvenir once I arrive somewhere or I might borrow a book to read if I’m staying with a friend. But you’re travelling to Hartford for your job, with lots of downtime, and on a journey like yours I would most defiintely bring my knitting and whatever book I was reading! Best of luck with your class! It’s so great that you can do it online and “take it with you”!