From My Studio
December 5th, 2020 by Morna
Before I knew it, December arrived!
I hope you are having an amazing creative week!
My goal with this weekly post is to share some highlights of my week, any finds I’ve discovered, and random thoughts about business and life.
As I’m writing this, it’s a very windy day on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and I’m watching the whitecaps rapidly move along the Chesapeake Bay. It’s warmer inside, perfect for reading or quilting
Have you started planning for next year?
This week on the blog I shared a post on taking a look back at 2020 before you jump into planning 2021. I know it’s easy to just wish this year away! You likely had lots of lessons this year. You also had things to celebrate.
I find it very valuable to really spend time reviewing what my challenges were, what I learned from them, what lessons I can take forward into the New Year. It is about putting the current year to rest, and it’s even more.
Let me know what your biggest lessons were after reading the post.
What’s on my nightstand?
It’s been a while since I shared what I was reading. I’ve usually got several books going at the same time.
On the non-fiction side, I just finished Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. The premise of the book is simple mindshift. Instead of asking How to what you want to do, ask Who can do this for you. At some point, you would like get to the Who question. Ask it first instead. The authors discuss how asking “who” gets you freedom of time, money, relationship, and purpose. Try it this week if you have any how questions. You’ll get to the answer quicker.
Also non-fiction, I just started reading Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee. She talks about the 10 aesthetics of joy and how they relate to the world around us. I was reading the book at the hairdresser this week, and my stylist asked about the book. I’d read enough to say that circle shapes give us joy and pointed out her round mirrors and the large round bulbs she had decorated the salon with for the holidays. The book came out a couple of years ago and just hadn’t found time to start it. Since I’m thinking about joy for my word of the year, I thought it would be a good read.
As for fiction, I am listening to Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick. The main character, Hope, has not yet started quilting. We all know that will come. I’m engaged in the book and look forward to a drive on Monday to keep “reading.”
I’m visiting Quilt Festival
One of my treats for this weekend is going to Virtual Quilt Festival. Thursday, I went to lectures with Paula Nadelstern and Jenny Lyon. I also took a composition class with Katie Pasquini Masopust. Today I have a masterclass with Charlotte Angotti. I signed up for several more lectures — they are a bargain at $10 — and will set aside time to watch them tomorrow.
You can still sign up today, so check out the program offerings. You have through next Saturday to watch all your classes/lectures.
Who doesn’t love a mystery?
Starting Monday, Kari Schell of On Point Quilter is offering a free mystery. It’s Christmas themed, though the skills you learn will work beyond that. It’s foundation friendly. If you’re an EQ8 user, head on over to Kari’s site to sign up for the mystery and its free video series.
Make it a creative weekend!
