Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny again this week to share my current knitting and current read...

Yes, it's another sweater. It's from the same book as my Textured Tunic, but this time it's the Short-Sleeved Cardigan with Ribbing. This red bulky yarn sat on my desk for about 5 seconds before I was ready to knit it up, but I kept to my deal of finishing a UFO before starting anything else. So the Textured Tunic was completed last Wednesday night (weaving in ends AND seaming included!) and I started this beautiful red cardi on Thursday. The Textured Tunic still needs buttons though- I'm making a button finding trip this weekend and then I'll be sure to share the finished sweater. I find myself desperately wishing that we weren't in the middle of this crazy heat wave- I want to wear my new sweater!


As for books, I finished Naamah's Blessing 2 nights ago and last night started Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I've heard a LOT of good things about this book, particular in comparison to The Giver which was one of my favorites as a student. I've been reading Just So Stories with my boys before bed and that has been such a pleasant way to end our days.


I'm also still working on my Omelet Shawl one little row at a time. I haven't had much quality lace knitting time lately though- I keep having "stockinette" knitting time, you know what I mean? Lace takes a little more concentration for me and I just can't work with lace while I'm also reading to little boys, or they're building forts all around me. Just one more week of work in the evenings to finish the fall studio schedule and I'm back to quiet evenings of lace knitting.


Do you have certain projects that you can only work on in quiet? I'm better about lace now- it used to be that I could have absolutely no distractions, but now I'm okay with having the t.v. on in the background. I just can't have the boys running around or stopping me mid-pattern.

Inspiration

:: Getting ideas for our school room from this gorgeous playroom/studio.


:: A printable packing list for kids- perfect for my kids ages and a little older!


:: A brilliant post on exactly *how* to go about planning an education full of living books.


:: A mosaic using colored egg shells that we plan to try out soon.


:: A rhubarb syrup recipe I think we might try making tomorrow afternoon to use up the rest of our rhubarb.

Project Triage

We've been busy the past few weeks.

Well, I've been busy. The boys have been playing and making their own fun and I've been painting walls, canning, knitting, making LOTS of lists, getting ready for the school year, working on an updated business plan, re-organizing closets, slimming down the boys' toy options, scheduling the next year in the studio, and generally having if-I-don't-get-this-done-right-this-second-it-will-never-get-done-itis.


It started as a panicky feeling about two weeks ago and after all this work (and not feeling like a lot of progress) I called a halt to it Saturday night and spent a few hours doing project triage.


I think this is the part where I admit that this feeling comes over me about twice a year- it's a "finishing mode" that shows up when my project list hits critical mass (about 50 projects past where my husband would prefer it be). It rather conveniently hits me mid-July right as I go into major planning/scheduling mode for the studio and just before the month I take off from the studio to spend with my family before stepping back to the full time schedule in September.


It looks a little different each time I do project triage, but this summer it's all about index cards, baby:

The Breakdown:

:: SEVEN (!!!) unfinished knits that are over 80% complete and just need that last little push.


:: FIVE (!!!) unfinished sewing projects that are at least half complete.


:: A stack of "house" cards- one room per card with a list of the stuff that has to happen in there, closet re-organizing, painting, re-arranging, decorating, needs curtains... some of these things (like painting) must happen in the summer months while I'm not having clients in and out of the studio five days a week, but some tasks can go into the school year if need  be. I'm mostly concerned with accomplishing what must be done in that month when I don't work.


:: Business stuff. The summer session ends mid-August and we don't start the fall session for a full month. My goal is to be completely set for the fall and spring sessions by August 1 so that all of August can focus on family, house and crafty things.


:: Other projects that are time sensitive- canning is the most timely thingon that list, so that must be done when the food is available. We hit the farmer's market on Saturday mornings so I'm making plans for the next several weeks to get there a little earlier and then focus Saturdays on food.


We're setting up a temporary daily rhythm of school first thing in the morning, (we started very lightly last week and will increase over the next few weeks to the regular amount for the school year) followed by whatever house project is slated for that day. then some time in mid-afternoon to do whatever we'd like together (the pool is the most popular option right now!) and family time starting around dinner time when daddy gets home. I still work some over the next three weeks, but generally only 3-4 hours a day, three days a week.


Saturday is dedicated as "kitchen day" for preserving and Sunday stays (as always) our day for church and family.


And around that is the crafting. After spending some time in the evenings with Brian I've been working towards *finishing* projects, not starting. Some of those knits are ridiculously close to done. And even more staggering? I have yarn for another nine projects all ready to go, planned out, purchased, even wound into cakes. the sewing will kick into high gear once we get into that month long break. I have two little boys in desperate need of some pajamas and other clothing for fall!