Organized Chaos...

Studio Chaos

 

Every year, I say I'm going to get this job done early. Every year, I find myself immersed in paperwork in mid-March. It's time for me to get our paperwork together to forward to our CPA, so yesterday and today, you'll find me pulling the documents.

My sewing tables are covered in papers and files, and it's going to be a day or so before I'm switched back to "create" mode. Believe me. I'm working as methodically fast as I'm able. It's a dirty necessary job, but somebody's I've got to do it. 

I realized that I haven't announced the winner - and her prize - for naming my sweet pig painting a while back. I haven't forgotten, so tomorrow, I'll give you all the results. We have a winner!

Piggy Poll and Projects Update...

Time To Choose A Name

I'm adding a poll to my sidebar today. I got so many great name ideas, that I'm glad I don't have to choose one myself. I'll leave the poll up until Saturday, so everyone who wants to vote will have a chance.

NOTE: If you read my posts on your phone, you'll need to get on the web version to see the poll. 

I've kept track of everyone who left a name comment, so the person(s) whose name is chosen will get a gift from me. I'll let you know your prize via email, and will post if for everyone to see after Christmas.

Destiny On Break

For the first year, I've done absolutely nothing in the studio two weeks from Christmas. I've been so excited about Handsome coming home for the holidays, and I've had so much fun decorating and making treats, that I haven't been sewing. I just want to be honest with you. I'm not always an overachiever, and I don't always meet my goals. Not always.

The good thing is I'm not going to stress over this. I'm going to change up my plans. Of course, there will be Grammie's Jammies, but I'm going shopping with Handsome for the rest. I'll revisit my holiday sewing plans after the first of January, and plan to have everything done well before Christmas next year so that I just have to make Jammies at the end (our grandchildren grow by leaps and bounds from one month to the next!).

I know it's more important to spend time with family and friends than it is to stress making every gift. I'm not simply justifying my lack of sewing mojo either. This year, there will be gift baskets, filled with tasty treats from our garden and kitchen. So, I did make things, right? Right! 

Handsome arrives early this evening. Tag and I are heading to the airport to pick him up, and our Christmas begins as soon as I see his smile. Officially.

Waiting 'til January...

Thank you to everyone who answered my poll this past week about deciding when to start the Farmer's Wife Quilt-along. I really appreciate that you took the time to let me know your thoughts. You've helped me a lot, and the majority of those who responded mirrored my thinking.

I'll wait until January, 2012 to begin the quilt-along. That will give me plenty of time to determine how best to guide the group, and we won't be distracted from our holiday preparations and celebrations as we create the beautiful blocks for our quilts.

In the meantime, if you don't have your own copy of The Farmer's Wife book yet, I've found the best price here (at Connecting Threads) for only $16.79 ($27.99 retail). If you need the templates in a ready-to-print format (as opposed to individual downloads from the cd that comes with the book), just let me know and I can help you with that.

You'll also be able to select your fabrics and find some great sales between now and our start date. I'm going to launch the quilt-along in mid-January. Be sure to mark your calendars for January, 20112. (You want to have all your holiday decorations put away by then so we can concentrate, right?)

 

I've chosen all the major fabrics I'll be using in my quilt. There may be others that are added as I need a darker (or lighter) color value, but the ones I've photographed here will be the "anchor" fabrics. We'll be celebrating the start of the quilt-along with a "Participants Only" giveaway. I'll tell you more about it when we're ready to get started!

Thanks again for your input on my poll. You made my decision so much easier. (I really have the best blog friends!)

You Get To Vote...

GARDEN WHIMSY

I've been trying to decide which fabric assortment I should use for the second giveaway quilt I'll be making. Then it occurred to me...But, of course!...Why don't I let my friends chose which they'd prefer to win? Takes all the pressure off me!

PATCHWORK SWEETNESS

So, if you look up on the top of my right sidebar. (Go look...I'll wait.) There. See it? I've used one of Blogger's cool gadgets to run a little Brynwood Needleworks poll.

All you have to do is just check out each of the photos on this post and decide which you'd like to win as a quilt if your name were chosen for the current 500th Post/500th Follower Giveaway.

LUCKY CHARMS

The name I've given each collection is right below its respective photo. Pick your fave and then vote. I'm giving you five days to decide and then I'll get to sewing on the second lap quilt. I should be finished with the first one by then.

Have fun deciding. I'll be back with some wonderful new things to show you tomorrow!