A new day

I'm doing much better today. We all have up and down days. I think it's important to take note of both.

It's been a long week. I'm heading to work this afternoon, then having dinner with my new friend, Meredith. She and I bonded right away, during the first week of opening the store. She and I were wearing matching gray TOMS and were discussing Passover plans. I immediately knew she was someone I'd like to get to know as she hilariously explained that she always miscalculated the first night and ended up having her Seder on the 3rd night. I'm really looking forward to time with her outside the store.

The weather is finally warming up here again and hopefully will stay that way. Possibly into the 80s tomorrow! Ahh, so ready for summer!

I've been BUSY crafting this week, as you probably read. I'm determined to make more items for my Etsy shop. I've completed 3 1/2 baby quilt tops. I think I may have to buy some batting but should be able to get a couple of them quilted by next week. Keep a look out here, in my shop, and on Flickr...

Tomorrow I'm heading to the 2nd meeting of the New York City Metro Modern Quilters Guild! Since we're a new chapter, our meeting will mostly be brainstorming about what we'd like to do. Psyched to meet V and Amy, since I've been a reader of both of their blogs for a while now.

What are you weekend plans? Hope they're fun!

(Sorry for the lack of pictures recently. I promise some soon.)

Whoa

I've lost it. No, not really, but today I realized that I need to stop and breathe. My to-do list is absurdly long in addition to the constant set of reminders in my head. With work cutting back this week (hrmph) I've felt like I needed to get a million and half things done. At once.

This is not good.

We all have days like this so I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I feel like since I've moved here my life is somewhat unsettled. There are many wonderful stable things in my life (my sweetie, Louie, finally having our own apartment, etc.) but for the most part so many things are left unfinished. I guess this mostly goes back to the never-ending battle of finding a job (one that uses my degree and makes me excited to get out of bed - not the retail I'm doing right now...). I am constantly struggling with trying not to let this seemingly never-ending search take over my life. But sometimes I let it stew that I just start to lose control. Nothing major happens, I just begin to feel off balance. Even Louie notices (he growls for no apparent reason at other dogs he knows already). Money is tight so I scramble for ways to make some, mostly through creativity. But then I start to lose track of the beauty of creating. So that gets off. My sweetie has been at work late most of the week which also adds to the strangeness.

As you can probably tell, I have a hard time stepping back. I need to remind myself that I'm OK.

I think I'm going to take a break from the list and read for a while. With some tea, curled up on the couch with Louie. Time for some deep breathing and mindfulness practicing too.

(Thank you for "listening." I'm sorry for the rambling, for the complaining - which definitely happens way more often than I'd like. Deep breath.)

Celebrations

Today was a BIG day: my sweetie was officially admitted to the New York State Bar - WOOHOO! Hard to believe I remember the days when he was doing practice LSAT questions on his morning commute. Sigh. They grow up so fast. :) Congrats, baby!

We plan on celebrating at our favorite Italian restaurant tonight (though we had quick celebratory milkshakes after the ceremony). Laid back, always good food, and a waiter that looks like John Heder (seriously, it's creepy). It's definitely a neighborhood type of place - a rarity in this big, impersonal city - though there has been many a celebrity sighting there! (Friends of ours saw Kevin Bacon/Kyra Sedgwick and Amy Sedaris, and Frank Langhella sat at the table next to ours once!)

In other news, we hit up Purl this weekend. We didn't stay for long since there were a gazillion people there, but long enough to ogle the goodies and enter the raffle. And guess what? My sweetie WON! Oh and you will not believe it: the winning item is a cashmere wool scarf kit! And being that I'm actually the knitter AND the wool is lilac colored, looks like I'm truly the winner here. :)

(It's so rainy and gross and dark here so I'll take a picture of the kit in all its glory later in the week when the sun is supposed to come back.)

Anyhoo, after I witnessed my sweetie officially becoming a lawyer, I ventured back down to Purl to pick up the kit and get some Little Folks for my stash. I'm planning on SLOWLY getting the whole line. They have most of it there (yipee!) so little by little, I'll keep adding.

Time to go work on some real stuff. Ugh, how is it almost 4 pm already?! Who votes for more hours in the day?

Weekend Fun

Yay for Saturday! I'm up early with a bizarre amount of energy (and no coffee yet!). Maybe it's because this is on the agenda for today:
Yep, I'm heading to Purl's new location for their big Customer Appreciation Day! I've allotted myself a few bucks to get some goodies. :) Weeee!

Also on the weekend agenda: park time (the flowers are GOREGOUS) with my sweetie and pooch, more work on my hexagon quilt, maybe dinner out at our fave Italian place (belated birthday celebration for my sweetie), movie, etc.

What are you up to this weekend? Enjoy!

Another baby quilt

...for sale in my Etsy shop! I loooove this one. Features fabric with pictures from "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Too cute!

Friday fun

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have exciting weekend plans. Mine include park time with my sweetie and the dog, Purl's big Customer Appreciation Day, and hopefully some other fun things.

Speaking of fun, John is having the most amazing giveaway on his blog, celebrating his 2 year bloggy anniversary! Many of us from the crafting community have joined in the celebration and offered up some goodies to win. I've donated this big bundle of scraps (including some AMH, Joel Dewberry and yep, a little scrap of Flea Market Fancy!)
Good luck!

Out of frustration

So I didn't get that job. Sigh.

I'm trying to stay positive. I've channeled the energy from frustration into other things...

Like hexagons (44 so far)...

And banana chocolate chip muffins (from this)...

and choosing fabrics for my month of Fresh Comfort 2 (based on this quilt)...


Life goes on.

Woohoo!

Yesterday I sold a quilt! This lovely one is off to it's new home in England.

:) :) :)

Sooooo excited! Especially since it was the one I had reservations about, design-wise.

In other news...

My sweetie has been working like a dog this week on a big case. We're talking super-late nights. Poor buddy. I don't think the dog remembers him (just kidding, honey!).

My little sis has secured an apartment for this summer here! She'll be working downtown and living in Alphabet City with a high school friend of hers. Far from me but much closer than here.

This weekend is Purl's big Customer Appreciation Day. I'm really psyched to see their new shop - the pictures look gorgeous! I'm getting paid tomorrow (YAY) and in combo with selling a quilt, I'm allowing myself a (very tiny) budget to buy a few things. AND, Leanne will be here and we're tying to meet face to face.

Have a good day everyone - the week is half over!

Sunshine

Spring is back after a few days of hiding (cooler temps and cloudy skies) so I'm off to take my buddy to the park for some play time. But I wanted to first show you some goodies:These blocks were done for Shelly for her month of Fresh Comfort 2. They sewed up easily and I love her fabric choices!
Also, one of my favorite quilty bloggers, John, is celebrating his 2 year anniversary of his blog! He'll be hosting a giveaway soon and invited other members of the virtual quilting community to offer up goodies. I'm donating this awesome pile of scraps. See anything good? Yeah, I thought so. Be sure to check back at John's blog soon for details.

Progress

Quick post today as I've got a bunch of stuff to do before I head into work this afternoon.

I've been making serious progress on my New Wave Quilt (Laura Gunn version). Progress, as in the quilt top is finished! My mom ordered a bunch of Kona Cottons, including some I need for the backing so until that arrives AND I can get some batting (read = afford to get the really nice, high loft cotton), this top will have to wait. (Please excuse Louie, for the windowsill is HIS space and I was clearly invading.)


I've also joined the Hexagon-Quilt-Along led by Julie. I'm using Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow (jelly roll purchased here) and am loving the bright, fun fabrics.

Happy Monday!

My neck of the woods

The quilting/sewing/knitting world is buzzing about the grand (re)opening of Purl's new shop tomorrow. I myself have been a Purl fan for years, even before I lived here. I plan on going this weekend, though I don't actually have any cash to burn (I know, so masochistic, right?) but would allow myself to buy a charm pack or something small. Then, hopefully, I can reserve just a little bit more and go back NEXT weekend for the customer appreciation day! Woohoo!

Speaking of...I know a lot of you are planning the same thing. Please let me know if you're going to be there too - I would love to actually meet many of you in person, now that we seem to be acquainted in the blogosphere.

Off to take care of some real life stuff, then hopefully back to show you what I've been working on (hint: it includes pink and even my sweetie approves!)...

Keeping the Peace

My professional aspirations consist of working in the field of international affairs*, specifically related to conflict and conflict resolution. I could go on all day about what drives me but this space isn't really for that. However, what I do want to ask is, how do you keep the peace within yourself? One of the most important parts of being a practitioner who works in high stress situations is taking care of oneself. And we're not just talking about hygiene.

I'm not going to get all preachy (my "religious beliefs" pretty much consist of simply tolerance, respect, and honesty) or touchy-feely (well maybe just a little touchy-feely) but this is a serious issue. What do you do to take care of yourself? While life would be all well and good if we could simply "leave" our jobs at the office, that's certainly not the case. Coming from a long line of people who help others handle difficult situations for a living, I'm more aware of this issue than probably the average person.

So, let's bring it back. Friends rock. Vacation is a must (who wishes we were more like the Europeans with 8 weeks a year?!). Hobbies and other activities that you love to do can help bring that peace. This is why I've been quilting/sewing/knitting so much. I'll be honest with you, this is a pretty tumultuous time in my life right now and being crafty helps me feel productive. Each day is uncertain and I've been in transition, so to speak, for what seems like forever. Making something, even if it's just for me, helps me feel like I'm moving forward. I also read, play with Louie (SO much research about the benefits of pets to stress and anxiety), and spend time goofing off with my sweetie. I need to get back into running and yoga. I'm learning about mindfulness and meditation (and so psyched to hear the Dalai Lama speak next month!). These things help me keep the peace. Without them, I might just stay hidden under the covers.

I know that this isn't some groundbreaking revelation or anything. It's pretty simple: do the things in life that make you happy. This is something that I will try to internalize so when I'm finally doing what I really want to be doing professionally, I'll already be able to manage the stress. Well, hopefully. For now, it's keeping me sane.



*For more about my background and experience in conflict resolution, check this out.

Drum roll please

Yay! The baby quilts are now in my Etsy shop. I took advantage of the free time and sunshine and FINALLY put them there.

Now start buyin' people. :) Heehee.

Always asking

I love to talk. A lot. Probably to a fault. Amy had a great post on her blog about questions that plague her (she is HILARIOUS - if you don't already read her blog, go add it to your reader right now).

Just a few that seem to always be stuck in my head - some silly, some serious...

Where does the one sock go that I always seem to lose in the dryer?

Will I be a good mother some day?

Am I reading enough about what's going on in the world?

How often do you really have to mop?

What can I do to truly help others?

Will there ever truly be bipartisanship?

How do you know when an avocado is really ripe?

Did I put on deodorant this morning?


More craft-related stuff later. Happy Saturday!

100

I can't believe it but this is my 100th blog post! Phew, that was fast! Since it snuck up on me, I didn't plan any sort of giveaway or special feature post. That will have to be planned for my 1 year blog-a-versary (also coming sooner than I realized!). For now, let me just say that I've enjoyed blogging and hope that you enjoy reading. I have no idea who or how many there are of you out there...

Today was glorious. This morning it started out cloudy but then the sun came out and it was actually HOT outside. I wore flip flops (which I swore I would do less and less in this dirty city). I sported my insanely huge sunglasses. I made sure to put some sunscreen on my pasty skin (it's truly embarrassingly pale). Now I'm sitting here with the windows open and thinking that ice cream would be a good appetizer for dinner.

Today was my day off from work and the main event was a job interview. FINALLY. It hasn't actually been that long since my last one but these waiting periods seem endless. We're talking agony (I'm sure many of you know what I mean). This job would be.......perfect. Seriously. I wouldn't joke about this. In fact, it's so perfect and amazing that I have to stop talking/writing/thinking about it because I'll go nuts. I should hear next week if I made it to the second round. And that will have to be all about that for now. (Gulp.)

On the crafting front, the baby quilts (4 out of 5 - the last one is half-bound) are in the wash as we speak. Expect to see them go up in my shop this weekend. I promise I'll get my butt in gear and FINALLY reopen it.

I've been working on the New Wave Quilt, the Laura Gunn version. Is it absurd that I'm doing 2 versions of the same quilt? I just love it. One goes with this quilt (I like matching things - I'm a nerd). The other one is mostly pink and girly (don't think my sweetie will be sitting under it very much). They look very different so I'm going to say it's OK.

P.S. Erin has started a website for the beloved Flickr group Quilting Bee Blocks. Check it out here!

Happy spring!

I hope that you're all having a wonderful weekend, especially if you're spending time with family and friends. Happy Easter, Happy Passover and Happy Spring! Buds are definitely blooming here in the Big Apple and I'm itching to get out my dresses and sandals. I think that's next weekend's big project.

This past week was very busy for me. I spent a lot of time working and the store is really coming along. In fact, it's coming along so well that they didn't need me to come in today. I'm taking advantage of the free time to run errands, clean, and do some crafty stuff. My sweetie had to work for a few hours so I'm playing domestic while he's at the office. Looking forward to a nice relaxing evening of dinner together and......BASEBALL!!!!!

For those of you who don't know me probably don't know but I LOOOOVE the Yankees. I'm totally nonathletic (well, that's not really true but I wasn't one for team sports very much) but once April comes, I'm always so psyched. It's in my blood, what can I say (my mom was born in the Bronx). My grandpa used to sit glued to the games, screaming at the umps and cheering on Bronx Bombers. I'm sad that a few of my faves aren't there (Matsui!) but I'm still excited for the season. Tonight they play the Red Sox (BOOOOOOO) so it should be a great start.

As you can probably tell, I'm generally an optimist and look for any opportunity to embrace new beginnings. Hence, here are few things that are on my Spring to-do list:
1. My sweetie and I are going to start composting and plant an herb garden out on our patio. Woohoo!
2. Continuing with the green theme, I'm going to make cloth napkins (and probably placemats to match) as well as reusable sandwich/snack bags.
3. The usual sorting/giving away/selling of clothes that I try to do after each season...
4...purchasing only what I need and will last in terms of wardrobe staples.
5. Going back to running and yoga on a regular basis.
6. Learning more about mindfulness and meditation (and getting REALLY excited to see the Dalai Lama in May!)
What are your fresh start items?

One last note - I finished Sarah's blocks for Quilting newBEES. Such cute log cabins that she's going to turn into a picnic blanket. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Materialistic moment

Busy-ness

Woohoo, things sure are busy around here! After a wonderful (but too short) weekend with my folks, I came back and am now on a full-time schedule at work. As many of you know, I'm currently working retail while I continue to search/apply/interview for full-time jobs where I can use my master's degree. This retail job is surprisingly pleasant. Right now, I'm part of the staff that's opening a new store so because there's so much work to be done, I'm able to pick up more hours. This is great (financially) but I'm completely exhausted! In addition to the fact that I'm not used to working full-time in general, we've been doing almost all physical labor. I'm in pretty good shape but 8 hours of moving stuff, unpacking boxes, etc. leaves me totally BEAT at the end of the day. Needless to say, I haven't had the energy to do anything crafty - or much else for that matter. :)

However, I'm always thinking of projects, gathering supplies, etc. While I was at my parents' house, I pilfered a whole bunch of fabric from my mom (thanks, Mom!) and she was kind enough to pay for a few more goodies. Aren't moms the best?

I've also been getting a steady stream of library books. Mostly quilting/sewing but the occasional non-fiction book and even cookbooks (saw the one in this pic on someone else's blog and I'm such a sucker for desserts...).


Speaking of cooking, we went to a Passover seder on Monday night at my sweetie's friend's parents' house and the food was excellent! Smitten Kitchen has the yummiest looking recipe for brisket (made in a slow cooker - who knew?!) that I may have to try, even when it's not Passover (obviously, because who doesn't love brisket!)

So creativity is still happening, my friends! Not to mention, I mailed out my fabric today to all the ladies of Bee-Stitched! Can't wait to see the blocks they make.