News From LinoleumLand

Teaching...

Beginning in June, I will be teaching crochet classes on Saturdays at Abuelita's Knitting & Needlepoint in South Pasadena. So, if you're in the Los Angeles area and you'd like to partake in a little crochet-o-rama with me come mid-June, I'd love to have you.

I'm actually looking forward to my return to teaching. I never thought that I'd utter those words again. Oh, not because I disliked teaching. Quite to the contrary. I loved each and every minute of it to the depths of my art-encrusted soul. I just didn't like the politics involved, nor the pay rate for said soul-crushing employment. However, Abuelita's is not a California State University and I currently have supplemental income with which to support my family. So, this teaching experience shall be altogether different. And as I said before, I am looking forward to the journey.

Designing...

I have several projects on the horizon. First and foremost I am joining forces with a very talented handbag handle designer. I will be designing patterns for use with her stunningly beautiful handles. I just received a package from her filled to the brim with her wares and people let me tell you, her designs are truly wonderful. More to come on that front later...

Second, I have three design projects on my schedule for the months of June/July. Two of those are for Crochet Today mag and the third is for Knitscene mag. I have begun to work consistently for these two publishers now and I really like them. The editors and their staff are a delight to work for. I consider myself lucky that they'll have me.

Book Proposaling...

Yeah, can we all just acknowledge that I am a HUGE procrastinator when it comes to this particular aspect of my...ahem...career?

Oh, don't get me wrong, I do have TWO proposals started. By this I mean, the outlines are done. The intros are begun. I just have NOTHING else completed on them and I cannot seem to break my roadblock, wordblock, timeblock, whatever the block happens to be that seems to keep this particular project from progressing.

And can I state for the record that my lack of progress is completely freaking me out? Oh yeah, welcome to NEUROTICA!

A feature of living in the land of Neurotica is a weekly trip to my local bookseller whereas I nonchalantly saunter over to the craft book section of the store and take note of all of the new crochet and knit tomes that have found their places on the shelves. Immediately thereafter, I remind myself of the fact that I could, in fact, have a book of my own designs gracing those very shelves were it not for my shameful lack of progress on my freaking book proposal! Heart begins to beat quicker, sweat develops on my furrowed brow as I continue to castigate my seriously deficient book proposaling self. Then I go back to the cube farm and inhale my lunch. Methinks this process is not really helping me to complete my proposals, yet I've opted to stay locked into this cycle of madness. Go figure...

Anyway, I realize that I suffer from total middle class white girl issues. I'm under no illusions. I'm just whining because, well, this is my blog and I can!

So all, there you have it! Lots of stuff going on and NOT going on too!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend everyone!