In December, as I began thinking about my word for this year… one of the things that I also spent some time contemplating was this blog. I thought long and hard about its future and I determined that I still had things to share, contributions to make, and, especially, the connections I have made here over the years! But, this blog does not write itself and that means that I have to make an actual effort to… well… create content to post here!
I have sort of mapped out a plan of post topics to help me “jump start” my creativity and so this First Friday it begins!
I will be doing quarterly “Currently” posts as a check in with myself… what am I doing. (or most importantly…what am I not doing and what should I be doing!)
Unpacking: My word! January is always such a fun month to spend looking at all the possibilities a word has and in the unpacking of the word, I always always find things I did not previously consider about the word. And I just love writing down definitions, writing down the “stream of words” that come to my mind as I unpack the word. Good things for January! It is the one month that I really like being at my desk!
Planning: Some January sewing! I think this is the *second* winter that has passed since I determined that I’d like a pair of corduroy pants… (THIS is exactly what these posts are going to help me do… be more accountable on the things I “talk” about wanting to get done! HA) Anyways… I simply love Sew House Seven’s Free Range Slacks and I plan on getting the pattern cut out this weekend so I am ready to start sewing on Monday! I also really need a couple of “nicer” sweat shirt-style shirts. I have had the Cosmos Sweatshirt pattern for a while now and I have these two lovely pieces of French Terry from Blackbird Fabrics. FOMU (that’s Fear Of Messing Up) has stymied me however. But I did not buy the fabric to just look at it! So I am breaking out from the fear and at least getting them washed and dried today! Then I will plan my next steps… I have not sewn knits is so long. (but thankfully Sewing YouTube has dozens of helpful videos!)
Shaking up: Friday Happy Hours! Boy, have they felt stale as the year ended. So I have been spent a little bit of time finding some new recipes and ideas to “spruce them up” a bit! Phase One starts tonight with a something freshly baked… stay tuned! (And I will be posting an update on IG! What??? LOL)
Speaking of Baking: In November I began making a “bucket” of dough and have been using Zoë François/Jeff Hertzberg 5-minute bread recipe. It keeps is the fridge for 2 weeks and makes it so simple to just pull out a bit of dough to make a loaf of very good bread! I expect this to continue as the dough can be used for pizza as well! It is nice having home made pizza every other week! (A favorite of ours is one with a chicken breast that I have previously cooked and shredded, some artichoke hearts, a drizzle of olive oil and some parmesan cheese!)
Watching: Call the Midwife and loving every second of it! (I also watched the first episode of Around the World in 80-days with DAVID TENNANT… so far, so good…and DAVID TENNANT!) These have been my “companions” while I have been spinning… and they are such very good company!
Spinning… with a plan in mind: I started a “sweater spin” last year and it sort of lost its sparkle. I love the fiber but the sweater part of the spinning has been the issue I think. So I changed the sweater plan… drastically! I knit Romi’s Morinne sweater (Rav link) some years ago and I love the design and fit so much… but the yarn I knit it with… not so much. It pills horribly and now after some years of wear it really looks like hell. This change in sweater has spurred on my spinning… as has the excitement of opening a little bit of fiber each day from Hipstrings Base12 Advent spin… which I thought was just spinning with no plan until yesterday… I think that this will make a lovely Hitchhiker (and I am sure that I will have more than enough yarn to knit a generous one!)
Bandwagon Knitting: I know that I said I was NOT doing any bandwagon knitting this year… but I should know better than to every say never… because on Wednesday night I jumped on the Musselburgh Wagon and began that fiddly little cast on. I am not through all the increases yet so I have not quite gotten to the “mindless knitting” portion of the hat… but soon!
And there you have the things that are currently filling the minutes of my days! What about you? Tell me one thing that you are really excited about!
Have a great weekend everyone and I will see you all back here on Monday!
I like your Currently post idea, and you’ve got lots of great things in this one! I look forward to seeing your sewing plans progress, and the same with spinning. A handspun Hitchhiker sounds lovely. I will be looking into that bucket o’ dough, and there’s nothing wrong with bandwagon knitting if it ultimately keeps your head warm!
you can never ever go wrong with a pbs show!! Love Midwife and anything with Tennant is wonderful – I loved him in Dr Who when you could watch that show.
I am excited that my daughter who now lives 3+ hours away is taking a new job and moving and will live only 30 minutes from me! This is fabulous news!
Kat, your energy here is contagious! First–I’m so, so glad you aren’t going away from this space, because I would miss you. And I feel like I’m just starting to get to know you. Next–love this plan! I love how you came up with a quarterly post that keeps you ‘tracking,’ in a way that works for you. (I am with you here…quarterly, or what I think of as seasonal, is so much more doable than monthly.)
Now for one thing I’m really excited about–Hm. I think it’s tonight. My best friend is coming over for a crafty evening. She, Elsa, and I are going to have snacks and drinks (well, N/A for Elsa) and each work on a respective project. I’m starting something very different for me (I might share it on my blog in the near future…) Happy weekend to you!
I’ve been working on trying to plan my blog posts, too. It’s helpful to know in advance and to track what I want to write about. Of course, I changed up one of the posts from this week already, hahaha! Welcome to the Musselburgh bandwagon!
I’m glad you’ve committed to continuing to blog because I enjoy your posts so much! I do like your idea of a quarterly “currently” check-in and might just copy your idea.
So, what am I excited about right now? Hmmm. Well, I just got back from my first snow walk of the season, which was cold but a good excuse to wear all the handknits and hear that satisfying crunch of snow underfoot. We are also planning pizza for dinner tonight (not homemade, takeout from Mineo’s) and I plan to have an adult beverage to go with it. And we have a pretty calm weekend coming up, and I have plenty of reading and crafting to fill it with!
Hey Kat! I’m another who is happy to learn you will not be vacating this space. I so enjoy reading your posts and getting to know you a bit better. And…I love that we all encourage and/or enable each other with making projects and reading suggestions. That is the best! Love your Musselburgh start (I may just jump on that bandwagon too). Those pants look so comfy and I bet they would be wonderfully flowy (I think that’s a word) in rayon for the Spring (which WILL come). Also love the idea of your sweatshirts. Do show!! the 5 minute bread recipe has me thinking. I may have to try that (though Colin brought over a loaf of home-made bread from Mailing last night). What am I excited about? It is the weekend. I’ve already poured a glass of wine (4 p.m., it’s ok) and home-made pizza is on the menu for tonight. Wishing you a great weekend and I will look for your “new” happy hour things!!
I’m so glad you’re going to keep blogging – yours is one of my favorites to read!!
FOMU gets me ANYTIME I want to try garment sewing. I’m always in awe of your bravery though.
Weekends are hard for me, but I am looking forward to the return of All Creatures Great and Small and the season finale of Dexter. Sunday night will be an exciting one for me!
Glad to hear that you are going to continue blogging. I keep taking breaks but have come back to it recently, hoping I can keep it up.
I hear you on FOMU I have a quilt in the cupboard which is half finished and has been for a very very long time. I hope you are braver than me and your sewing is all easy and wonderful.
I too am happy to know you will continue to blog. A quarterly check-in sounds like a great idea. I enjoy this community for it’s kindness, inspiration, and encouragement. What am I excited about today? The temps moderated enough for me to get out and walk and I am really looking forward to the Louise Erdrich read along this year. I wasn’t going to buy the books (and I do have several) but . . . It’s a little like you not knitting a bandwagon knit. The best laid plans do go astray.
I went through that should-I-keep-blogging thing last fall. . . I’m really glad you’re going to keep on keeping on because I think you have MUCH to say (and I think you’re on the verge of saying it in whole new ways!!!). As far as the Musselburgh goes? It’s hardly a bandwagon — just a Really Great Hat that’s a lovely knitting diversion. (And oh . . . the fabric FOMU. That’s a biggie! So much more so that with “nice yarn” . . . because you just can’t rip it out. But. It’s Just Fabric and sometimes? We mess it up. Fact of Sewing Life.) XO