Category: Crochet and crafting

any items related to crocheting or crafting

Submit or Else

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

This week I’ve submitted ten different articles / stories for publication.  Two have been rejected, one has been tentatively accepted, and the other seven I probably will never hear about again.  I wrote a rough draft for a new article I want to submit but I’ll have to see if I have time to get it in before the deadline.

I have at least two more publications I want to submit to before I start looking at other projects.  However, I got an email from a publication which I would like to submit to for crocheting but I believe I would have to make the piece and send it in for this magazine so that may take a bit longer.

It feels good to get my work out there but I’m also prepping myself for the rejections that go with the submission process.  I’ve done a submission for some greeting cards and a regional poetry contest.  I’ve also submitted work to two other publications.

There’s always the hope that any of these submissions will not only get published but that I might also get paid for it.  Income from publishing is rare and hard to come by but it is a rush of pleasure when I do get paid for my work.

I’d like to figure out the best way to track leads.  I get a bunch of them but I either forget about them until after the deadline or I don’t get the piece done in time for the deadline.  It would be nice if I could figure out a way to track a lead, when stuff is due, what I submit, if it gets published and so on.  I’ve got a works list where I type in all the submissions I do but it doesn’t really fit the bill.  I need to find the right tool which will help me be more efficient with getting my stuff out there for publication. I might have to create a One Note notebook to help me with this.  I’ll have to think about it.

In the past I’ve had a paper copy of the articles with a post it on it to track when I submitted it.  This hasn’t ever worked well.  I’ll have to consider my options.

Midnight has hit.  I should probably head to bed as I have to go back to my day job tomorrow.  The writing bug has got me thinking about what I need to be a more efficient author though.  I guess I could sleep on it and see what my subconscious comes up with.

Birthday Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Thursday I ran away from home and escaped for the weekend.  Really Ken loaded up my car and drove to Indiana to spend time with my middle daughter.  Friday her and I ran her errands and went to Joann’s.  While she shopped in other stores, I sat in the car crocheting.  I finished off a fleece throw for her.

For the weekend, I finished a fleece throw and poncho, two hats, two scarves, two sets of wristers, and a clutch purse.  I also finished off a beret I’d experimented with and needed to make sure would fit her.  It was laid back and relaxed when it came to crafting.  I created a new pattern and finished another one for publishing.  I may think about creating a pattern for one of the sets I made – I haven’t decided yet.

We watched the Good Witch movies, The Expendables, season six of Downton Abbey, and the two How to Train Your Dragon movies.  There were a couple of Penguin / zoo movies too.  We also checked out the Good Witch series.

It was calm, fun, relaxing.  We played Word Chaos on our phones together.  This meant she would start a game and when she got stuck she would pass it to me – or vice versa.  We are both now addicted to the game.

We stayed up late, slept late, and tortured the cats.  Saturday we went to Michael’s and a couple of other stores.  Sunday she baked cookies, I helped by putting them on the cookie sheet.  By evening my car was packed up (mostly) and all we had to do in the morning was put the last couple things in.
Monday she went off to work and I came back to Wisconsin.  The drive was fine, traffic was good and road conditions were excellent.  By the time I got home, all I wanted was a nap so I took one.  I expected to not sleep last night but I did.

While I spent my birthday driving, the weekend before was fun, relaxing, and enjoyable.  I stayed long enough to annoy her without staying too long.  I got about a third of a container emptied so progress was made on the LARGE pile of yarn I’ve got for her.

It was a nice little retreat for me.  I hope it was for her as well.  We laughed, talked, spent time together crafting, and just being together.  It was a nice weekend and a nice break for me.

Craft Projects Looming

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I love finishing projects.  I finished off a new pattern and started a second one.  Now I have to take pictures, measurements, and work on publishing it.  I’m going to go through my basket of in progress projects and figure out what I need to finish.  I’m fairly certain I have too many going right now.

I know for sure I have two blankets, a coin purse, and a skirt all going.  I have a basket of terry cloth all prepped for making into dish towels.  Then there’s the fleece I have in a piled up in bags and baskets.

Last night I spent my night doing nothing.  This is a rarity for me as I’m usually working on something but I just couldn’t manage last night.  I was too tired.

Tonight I plan to work a fleece blanket.  I have to do the whole process.  Ken washed it for me over the weekend, along with two other projects.  Tonight I’ll take my skip cutter to the blanket to cut the little holes so I can crochet around the edge.  Once I get that done, I’m planning to do three rows.  This sounds simple but it’s a yard and half of 60″ wide fabric.  This means two sides are 60″ and the other two are around 45 – 50″ I think.  That’s a lot of stitches.

If I manage to finish that project, I want to work on an idea I had for fleece fabric.  I’m hoping to have time tonight to work on that project too but I’ll see how long the blanket takes.  The other project is a complete experiment so Vicki is likely to end up with it.

I’m hoping by this weekend I can clear out some of these projects in order to reclaim some of my living room.  Of course my family is now laughing hysterically because if I clear out the current projects, there are always more projects right behind them.  

Day Off

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I should be productive right?  Well my day off has been not overly productive.  I saw Stephanie off this morning and dozed until Vicki called me.  After talking to her while she drove to work, I dozed until 9.  Finally dragging my bum out of bed / sleep mode, I hit the computer to do some bookwork like updating my expense report for my writing, working on the budget and so on.

I had a plan – when don’t I – but it has fallen through the cracks and I’m just winging it now.  As soon as I’m done on the computer I’m going to go pick out some of my “stash” yarn.  Then I’m going to work on a pattern I’m seeing in my head to see if I can actually make it.  If it turns out decently, I’ll work on publishing the pattern.

I was going to put in Downton Abbey and watch the last season while I crocheted.  I don’t think that is happening at this point.  Ken will be home soonish and he won’t want to watch it.

Stephanie and I went to Hobby Lobby and Joann’s last night.  I walked out having used a 50% off coupon on one item and the other items I bought were already marked down.  I spent a little over $20 and saved a little over $30.  I love it when that happens.

Next is for Ken to wash these for me so I can get the projects done.  Two of them are experiments to test out an idea I have.  I have so many crochet projects bouncing around in my head right now.  I can’t get them done fast enough.  At the same time I have a lot of projects on the go so I really need to finish some of them.
I need to remember – one thing at a time.  It’s all I can do – one thing at a time.  I just need to pick a project and work on it.  The one bouncing around in my head wins!  I’m off to pick out some pretty yarn for a small project and hopefully I will finish it quickly in order to move on to the next crazy thing in my head.

Checked off the list

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Yesterday, I worked on taxes for my daughter and for us.  I had a business meeting.  My late afternoon appointment didn’t show up.  In the meanwhile I got three of my crochet patterns posted on Ravelry, started a new pattern, which I’m pleased with the result, and spent time with Ken.  I posted a contest on my Facebook page for my readers and friends to enter a drawing to win one of my books.  If you want to know more go to my site:  http://eileentroemel.weebly.com/ 

This morning I woke up at 5 am with a migraine.  I went back to sleep in the hopes of it going away but it didn’t.  So now on top of the migraine, I feel like I’m behind schedule.  I have crochet patterns to deal with.  I have to do a bit of research to figure out whether I should post the Half Dozen Headbands and Warm Winter Set as a set on Ravelry or if I should do each pattern individually.  It means research.

In addition to what I’ve gotten done, I need to go through the stacks of coupons I have so I’m prepped and ready for the shopping trip next weekend.  I’ve already gone through the apps to look for deals.

I was hoping to get more done today but my head is killing me so I will take it easy today I think.  It is Ken’s birthday today.  He gets to pick what we do.  We’ve finally caught up on Scorpion but we are behind now on a number of other shows.  It’s up to him.

I’ve checked off some of the things on my weekend to do list.  I think the rest of the weekend will have to be about Ken and getting rid of a migraine.

Cram It All In

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

The weekend is here and it is supposed to be about rest and relaxation, right?  Not this weekend.  I’m up early and helped one daughter with her taxes.  Next I have a business call in a little over an hour.  In between, I’m hoping to upload some of my patterns I just published to Ravelry and get a few other things done.

I’ve got this business meeting call and then I have a bunch of other things I want to get done.  I want to finish off typing up the patterns (four of them) which I want to publish.  I have to put all of them on Ravelry.  I should get the edits for Wayfarer 10 entered on the computer and work on the cover.  Some of my test readers liked and some didn’t.  I should work on prepping stuff for doing my own taxes.

I have so much bouncing around in my head right now it is crazy.  I need to take a breath, make a list, and prioritize.  Because in addition to all these things, I also need down time.  This last week was stressful for work and next week will be as well.  I just need to take a breath and do what I’m able.  The rest will get done in time.

I’m back to several crochet projects I want to try in my head on top of all the other things going on.  I need to figure out what I can get done and just let the rest go.  In my head right now, I’m laughing at myself because this is definitely not something I’m good at.  In my head, I’m hearing – publish 4 more crochet patterns, work on poncho and fleece / crochet mitten pattern, marketing, organize tax stuff, edits and cover for 10, write 11, write Defenders 3 – get moving and get stuff done!!

The other part of me is saying one at a time.  I can only do one of these at a time and I need to make sure I get enough rest and calm so I am ready for work next week.  I need to have that balance or I throw my health into a bad place.  So I’ll cram in what I can but try to remember to breathe and keep moving forward one thing at a time – hopefully.

Teeter Totter

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Seeking a balance in my tasks, I’ve been trying to find the right combination among writing, crocheting, and family tasks.  I’ve been working on editing a manuscript which is now down to a final read through as I’ve finished the searches I normally do.  At the same time, I’ve been working on projects for my daughters.  I just finished two cat beds which I didn’t have patterns for the two different styles.

Striking a balance (of sorts) is good in that I don’t feel I’m so focused on one task that I get burned out on it.  I’m also able to embrace the different sides of my creative nature – making beautiful things and telling good stories.

I have a long list of crochet patterns I want to publish and at the same time I need to work on marketing.  Monday I will be home alone so I am going to attempt to get the end of year reports done for my writing and editing business and then work on preparation for publishing for the patterns I have complete.

I’m back and forth on what I’m working on but I feel like I’m at least making progress on all my interests.

Next week classes start up again.  This means my work will go from slow and quiet to insane.  Almost all of the faculty will be back in the building regularly and the students will be back.  Next week will be exhausting and fast paced which means when I get home I’ll be looking for mellow things to do.  Things I won’t have to think about too much.  This means either crocheting or maybe editing / marketing.  I have a number of books to go through to pull out quotes for posting on twitter.  Either task will be low key for the most part.

My goal this year – hopefully – is to not buy any new yarn unless I have a specific project in mind and to work on whittling down my stash and my current load of projects.  This means I want to clear out some of the bins of yarn I have for Vicki and other people.  It also means I have to find that balance so I have time for crocheting and writing.

I have to go with the flow when I’m writing – when the story is flowing I have to write.  However, I’m going to attempt to make time for both of my main interests.  I’ll see how this plays out.

A Good Schedule

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

In Wisconsin we’ve turned cold.  Temps have dipped from the thirties to the teens.  Stepping outside I catch my breath and feel a hitch from the icy temps.  This means I’m starting the hibernating part of the year.

I’ve finished the dish towels for the girls in Georgia.  Now I’m moving on to other projects.  Since it’s so cold outside, it’s a good time to work on the bigger projects.  I’ve a number of projects I want to work through while I’m finishing up a show of which I have about five more episodes.  If I’m responsible, I can watch three or four a night.

I believe I will be working on a new pattern tonight.  I’ll have to see how it goes but Vicki has asked for cat beds from some of the left over fleece she’s left for another blanket.  I’m going to pair it with the jute rope I have and see how the project turns out.

Winter is on us with the colder temps but it’s supposed to warm up a bit today and tomorrow.  It will be interesting to see if it is warm enough to melt the snow again.  I think we may go back to green / brown grass but then colder temps.

The erratic weather makes me want to hunker down and work on inside projects.  It’s time to clear out my work basket and finish off a couple of those projects and then turn to another of Vicki’s baskets so I can keep progressing through her piles of yarn.

At the same time, I would like to go back to writing more.  I may have to schedule a long weekend and devote my time to writing, editing, and working on my marketing plan.  I have a number of crochet patterns to publish.  This is the time people are looking for new ideas and new patterns to try so it would be good to complete the patterns and publish them.

My schedule for the next several weeks is busy enough where getting work like that done is difficult.  I’ll have to see what I can manage for creating a schedule for myself.  It really does come down to good organization and scheduling.

Offline

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I’ve been deliberately offline for nearly two weeks.  In this time I’ve only looked at email for urgent stuff and to dump the junk mail.  I focused on time with my family and crocheting.

I lost track of the number of items (see the pictures) I finished while Vicki was home.  I did finish off one complete bag of yarn for her, as well as a few projects which weren’t in any bags.  I know I finished at least nine things on her list but I also added in a few more things as she bought more yarn for me to work with.

It was quiet and calming to not be online or at work.  For the most part, she and I hung out at home though there were a few days we ran errands.  I loved making the items.  It’s wonderful to pick up yarn and with a few strokes create something useful and beautiful.  I’m pleased with most of what came out.

Since she returned home, I’ve been working on projects for my girls in Georgia.  I should finish them tonight – I hope.  Once those are done, I’m going to clear out my project basket and work on the other projects I set aside to work on stuff for all my girls.  I think there are three or four projects in there I would like to finish.

However, at the same time, I’d like to get back to writing.  I have a novel to edit and two to finish writing.  I’ll be switching off between the two I guess.  I’m currently watching a tv show while I crochet so I may have to finish the last ten episodes before I go back to writing.  This will mean crocheting while I watch.

Yesterday I watched two craftsy classes while I did prep for dishtowels.  It was nice to switch things up and listen to other things than television shows.  When I get back to editing, I’ll probably put music on again.  I’ve not listened to much for music lately as I’ve been busy crocheting.  I’ve either been watching tv shows or movies.  I’m back to working out a balance of tasks – writing, crocheting, and family time.

The Holidays

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

The insanity of the holidays always makes me grumpy.  This year I’m missing my girls but I’m trying to make the best of it.  Vicki is home but the other two are in Georgia.  I’m missing them and I’m missing the all day game playing, movie watching, and being together.

Ken and Vicki went off to his family gathering.  They likely won’t be back till late afternoon or early evening.  I’m working on the computer for now but then I’ll be going back to crocheting.  I currently have two projects in the works for Vicki – an apron which will be a mix of terry cloth and crochet cotton and a shawl which I’m crocheting.  If I could figure out how to work on both, I would.

Yesterday Vicki and I went to Festival and got groceries.  We shopped their sale items and had a ton of coupons.  We spent $250 and saved about $120 between sales and coupons.  Today I was going through the receipt to split up her items and mine.  I noticed several of our coupons didn’t take off.  I called them expecting them to say there was nothing they could do since it was yesterday.  Instead they refunded the money and gave us two coupons for a dollar off.

Tomorrow we are going to do as much as possible with the girls in Georgia.  I’m sure there will be video chatting (or at the very least phone conversations) but we are also attempting to go to a movie at roughly the same time.  Saturday when Beth is over, we’ll open gifts and have more family time.  I’m also hoping to go see a movie on that day.

Aside from the holiday stuff, I’m hoping to get a number of projects done.  I’ve pulled out one of Vicki’s bags and have been working on the projects in it.  I finished two skeins of yarn to make her hat, wristers, scarf out of one and hat and wristers out of the other.  I’ll see how far I get by the end of the weekend.  I may have to shift things to determine what I’m going to work on.  As is normal – I have a LONG LONG list of things to do for her.

I’ve got classical music on.  I’m babysitting the two grand fur babies – Sasha and Ava.  I’ll be going back to crocheting shortly.  All in all, a good day so far.  Just one more day to get through with the holiday silliness and I can put another year behind me.