Friday, February 08, 2008

Sometimes Nothing Seems to Happen

I've been looking at these colored vases all winter long - they've added a bit of color to my life since there has been snow and ice outside since December. Since I've been enjoying looking at them so much, they seemed like they should be added here too.


Did you ever have one of those weeks where nothing was accomplished? I feel like I just lived through it and I'm trying to salvage the last few minutes before the weekend starts. Between my family visiting for a couple days, half day of school for Julia, an appointment in eastern Mass. and a snow school delay, my working hours evaporated. Now it's Friday and I'm frantic.

I did a bit of organization yesterday and posted lots of swatches on this bulletin board - ideas I have been working on for my upcoming book. They’ve been shoved away in a plastic bag, staying neat. But honestly, neat and me don’t work. If it isn’t out where I can see it, develop an idea, visually remember it, then forget it – it might as well not exist. That’s the way I work – I’ve got stuff all around. Most people would think it is clutter. It is so not-Martha == nor sleek post-modern 50’s style. Forget that stuff – it doesn’t work for me. At least I know this and know how to deal with myself – my particular quirks and needs.


Next week is the big week at the Knit Out in Minnesota. (They have finally posted a schedule for anyone who is interested. I’ve got to get stuff ready to fly out on Thursday for the whole weekend. Yikes – presentation at The Textile Center (I hope someone comes). Booksigning at The Yarnery in St. Paul on Friday afternoon (see my sidebar). Other visits to yarn stores in the local area. The Knit Out at the Mall of America on Saturday and Sunday. It should be a fun week.

Then it is back here for Julia’s week of Winter Vacation. Another week evaporates.

I’m feeling rather stressed out about how I can get everything done. I've got a book deadline looming, yarn company and magazine editorials to do and so many projects to design I can't even think about it. Somehow it will all work out. But right now, I can barely imagine how. I’m sure you too feel this way sometime. But at least everyone is healthy and for that I am thankful. The other pieces will fall into place – somehow, some way. My best plan is to make a list and check the stuff off. At least I feel like I accomplished something, checking off the list, that is.


Here’s a photo I took yesterday of some little lambs on top of a bale of hay. They sure love to climb. I can’t believe how fast they are growing. Some of them are positively huge. More are being born each week – although it’s one or two every other day or so. This photo seems to help me put everything in perspective. It will all get done - somehow - some way.

Enjoy your weekend.

19 comments:

Maymomvt said...

It will all happen. I am in a similar situation with an entire website on interpreting community history to write, a syllabus to design, etc., with a sick kid, 4 snow days over the past 2 weeks and vacation looming....I wish I had something beautiful like all your color for inspiration--my inspiration is a bunch of town meeting minutes....

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristen,
I have enjoyed your blog for several weeks now and just want to encourage you. Untidy is OK! That is the way I am: if it is not out in front of me, I forget about it. And as I am always working on a new project, I have lots of stuff sitting out in front of me. I tell myself that is the sign of a creative person! When I can't find what I am looking for, then I know it is time to straighten things up. Carry on!

Carla said...

Take a deep breath. The stuff that needs to get done will get done. I always think how funny it is that life, particularly with kids, is all feast or famine.

I love your wall of swatches.

Anonymous said...

If you have clutter and things about you, then you are now officially a New Englander.

I know you and Martha are both from NJ, but I think we can end the comparison right there!

old lady said...

That picture says it all! Love the dirty knees! Do what you enjoy (and get dirty in the process) and everything else will fall into place.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristin,

I have been enjoying your blog for several months now and have never commented but I felt compelled to do so today. You amaze me. How you manage to do what you do in the hours that we all have in a day it just outstanding. I don't have children and I work away from my home but I still don't seem to get half of what you get done in a day - of course spending my spare time reading blogs doesn;t help. Anyway, don't be so hard on yourself!! It will get done and you have a bonus of living on a sheep farm. By the way, i work for the Mass Department of Agriculture in the APR department - maybe I could finagle a visit to your lovely farm. Take care and have a great weekend! Chris

Anonymous said...

Oooooh! Can you sell us cards with that swatch-wall photo on them? It's glorious. I would pin that picture on MY bulletin board-- better yet, frame it and set it by my knitting chair.

Dianne MacDonald said...

I can so identify with needing to have things within sight to actually remember that I have them. For me, inspiration usually comes by looking at something and thinking about it alot. Whenever I have dyed and spun up a skein of yarn I really like, I carry it with me, even in the car, until it tells me what it wants to be!

Kathleen C. said...

Lists are excellent. They enable you to organize and prioritize. And they show how you're doing. Sometimes when I finish a project or errand, if it's not on my list... I write it in just so I can cross it off.
Plus... I just got my Kristin Knits book from you... and I see such beauty, attention to detail and caring in the whole kit and caboodle (book, the packaging and all) that I feel... no, I *know* that you will get it all done. You have the creative power. (It may not be easy... but it gets done.)

Anonymous said...

{hugs} wish i either lived in MN or MA so I could do that in person. I agree with you that if it is out of sight it's out of my mind. I make fun useful connections by things left out next to each other. [now if my husband weren't one of those minimalists..]

Deep breath and I'm sending you virtual support...

ellen said...

I hate feeling overwhelmed! It is definitely not my comfort zone.
You take care of so much and create such beauty. I hope you know how much we out here appreciate the gifts you send out to all of us.
Deep breath, one foot in front of the other and a cup of tea!
Best to you.

Bonnie said...

Those lambs make me smile. I spent
this afternoon with wool in teaching
9 and 10 years olds to HOOK a rug!
I love knitting and this is a new
venture, which I'm sure you've done?
Anyways, more than checking off a list is praying to the Lord for His mercy each day for that list. Will do for you! What beauty there is in His creation.It's all on your blog!

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Your swatch board reminds me of boards I've set up as a magazine designer, Kirstin. My boards have page layouts and color swatches and pencil roughs and even pieces of fabric if the palette works. If I have a particularly thorny piece to work on I post the board on the wall opposite the kitchen table. Something nice about having morning coffee and just staring at the jumble. It makes me almost as happy as looking at your lambs.

ColorJoy LynnH said...

Love the swatches. I, too, am feeling stressed by too many deadlines, and then I got very sick. There goes a week. No knitting, even, for 4 days.

In the end whatever happens will happen, but it is better to not push so hard. Balance is hard.

LynnH

Anonymous said...

I agree with Bonnie...'It's all on your blog!'

I love the swatch photo. I see it in poster size. I love the feeling of being swallowed in colour. If I were closer I would be at the event.

Your lambs are the sturdiest I've seen and are most beautiful. And, so very funny. I really enjoy reading about your life on the farm.

Take care.

ps. Although I am sure you have mentioned this before, which breed are your sheep?

Anonymous said...

Love the swatches! I'd just have to stitch them together into something...a stole, or bag, or vest.....

Anonymous said...

I can commiserate Kirsten! Take a breath, make some tea, eat a piece of fine chocolate and then get back to work.

The new swatches are lovely, but that is to be expected from you. Your work always is such colorful joy.

Barca Viola said...

I can alleviate one concern anyway. I plan to be at the Textile Center and if think there will be others ready for a dose of color, at the least!

Looking forward to it-Gerrie in ST Paul

Lena said...

Thank you Kristin, for sharing your beautiful blog. It's just what I needed today.

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