I just finished designing my new marketing materials - and they are off to the printer! SOOOO exciting!!! These are my new rack cards for my yoga classes. Basically like a business card/postcard/flyer all in one! :) Most bang for the buck, I say! Isn't that right in line with my simplify ideal? Very pleased with myself! haha!

So they are two sided - above is the front side (obviously) and on the back side: 

I list out all the classes. I figured it's so much easier this way than directing them here, there and everywhere to get the info. Literally ALL the info that is available is on this card! It makes me happy! 

This is a BIG jump for me. I've really just started out and its been word of mouth/friends for my clientele. So this is my first marketing attempt out in the great big world. Deep breath in.... hope it goes well! ;) 

What do you think? If you saw this card at the counter of your beauty shop, day spa, etc would you be intrigued enough to pick it up and see what it's about? If you have never practiced yoga before... would you try it out for $8? And what WOULD make you want to try it? Going with a friend? A free class? I'd love to hear your ideas!!! 

As knitters... do you practice yoga? Would it be something you would be interested in trying? How about a Yarn & Yoga workshop... or retreat? These are ideas that I am intrigued by. I'd love to get your thoughts on it. In the future... I'd really like to put together a Yarn & Yoga retreat. What could be better than playing with yarn all day knitting away and then stretching and relaxing it all away with yoga? And don't forget to finish off the day with a gourmet meal and maybe, just maybe, a glass of wine? I don't know about you... but that is MY PERFECT DAY! 

Give me your thoughts and I'll enter you in for a Free Pattern giveaway! Winner will be announced Friday, August 7th. 

I'm almost there... I can see the end in sight! The Petal Top is nearly finished!! I can't wait to get it off the needles and see how this girl blocks out. I know she'll grow a bit... which is a good thing. She needs to RELAX. :) Of course it's very, very fitted on me at the moment and my husband would prefer that I didn't block it. haha. I swear he's disappointed every time I block something. Before blocking: "Ahhhh, I like that one!" After blocking: "what happened to it? Why is it all big now?" Boys. They never grow up! :)

So of course you can tell I have a double meaning with my post title. The home stretch of my project... seeing the end. And also the 'stretch' of the blocking! heehee. I know... I'm easily entertained! 

Question for all you knitters (and crocheters) -- Do you ever have issues with blocking a garment? Like a sweater. Shawls and scarfs, etc are easy. No real fit required. But for a sweater, do you have that moment of panic before submerging your carefully and painstakingly knitted finished garment into the water? With a thought of "is it going to work? or am I ruining it as we speak?" 

I have had SEVERAL mishaps with garments. I have a cardigan that would (very literally) fit TWO of me inside it. It's CRAZY too big. And while I was knitting it, I was concerned about how SMALL it looked. I didn't think it would fit me! Little did I know that when I wetted that particular yarn down it would react like the Grinch's heart... and grow THREE sizes! It also permanently fused together the yarn (those seams are NEVER coming out)... so no re-do on that one. I still wear it and it is my go-to around the house snuggler. It's seriously like wearing a blanket! My hubs says I look like a homeless person in it. Which is ironic since the yarn in the sweater totaled up to approx. $150. YEAHHHHHH... I'm wearing that bad boy! :) 

What did I learn from that experience?? ALWAYS block your swatch. Don't 'eyeball' how big you think the sweater should be - believe your math! And the bigger you size up on your needles the more that puppy will grow when wet! Keeping your stitches smaller and tighter greatly reduces growth during blocking.  

All good knitting life lessons. 

I STILL have trouble believing my math. I have to fight the urge to 'eyeball' sizing as I go. I am ALWAYS thinking that the finished garment will be too small. And then I put in scrap yarn, take it off the needles, and test fit it.... and it's REALLY BIG! What is it with me and thinking everything looks small??? Weird. But now I know that about myself, so I just go with it and hope for the best. And you know when it turns out pretty darn perfect?? When I  - TRUST - THE - MATH! Crazy notion, huh? 

So to return to the Petal Sweater... right now it fits... but snug. So I am thinking after washing and blocking it should be perfect? I'm taking a deep breath and taking the plunge... or rather IT is taking the plunge! :) Happy Blocking To All! 

Yoga is a BIG deal in my life. Not as big as I would like it to be... but balance is everything! I am just starting on my journey as a yoga instructor. And LOVE it. But with that comes more time devoted to yoga. And not just at class like before! Now I have to research, and plan, and practice, and memorize! As a student you just show up and do as you are told - ahhhh the good ol' days! :) Seriously though, I love this new adventure and I LOVE working closely with others. Especially in such a lovely and life inspiring way. I can't imagine not doing this now that I have started doing it. Does that even make sense? 

Where I teach, we have other fitness classes as well. So I am currently also teaching Senior Fit classes. Which is an aerobic/weight based class that stays on the feet the whole time. No floor work and no jumping. I pretty much love it. And I am impressed and inspired daily by the lovely ladies and gentlemen in my classes. I strive to be just like them in another twenty years! 

Planning my classes is just another way for me to come back to center with my ideal of simplifying my life. Of course there are hundreds of ways to plan a class, moves to perform, crazy things to do. BUT I like to come at both of my class types the same way. FLOW from form to form in the easiest and simplest way possible. Do what seems to come instinctually instead of fighting to remember the next transition. Enjoy the process and slow down into it. You WILL work out just as hard if you slow - it - down. Usually harder. ;) 

So next time you are doing something - anything - slow down into the process. Really think about what you are doing. Enjoy the moment. I know sometimes that seems silly. But even rinsing dishes can be a meditative thing if you slow your mind and focus on the moment. Talk about stress melting away when you do manage to make it happen! 

And I will need to remember that in the fall.... because I will be adding substitute teaching into my schedule. PLUS I have promised to help a friend with her AMAZING little shop. It's my ideal shop to own - yarn, knitted goods, locally made foods and beauty products, and sweet little vintage finds. WHAT?!? BEST - SHOP - EVER! And she needed someone to work very, very part time. As in just a few hours on only a few days a month. And I was happy to hop on that one! Luckily for me, she knows that I design for a living and is happy for me to bring my work with me to fill quiet time at the shop! YEA! That is a real win-win and I'm pretty excited for the opportunity. 

Add those two things in with 3 yoga classes and 2 senior fit classes a week... and I'll be a busy little lady. But how amazing?? I love my life. I get to see both of my children off to school, do all of these little, fun, amazing jobs during the day and be home again to get them off the bus. I cannot believe how lucky I am. And I do know this. I never take it for granted! 

Life gets busy, crazy, rushed, hectic. It does for all of us. Bring yourself back to center by slowing down. Take 15 min a day to sit quietly (even if it's before everyone wakes up or after everyone is asleep!). Close your eyes, breathe deeply and literally count your blessings! NO negative thoughts here. Think about all the cute things your children did that day, that compliment your hubby paid you, or a fun coffee break with your bestie. Even if it was three great things to a hundred crazy things.... think about, remember and cherish those three great things. After awhile of doing this daily, you will see your perspective change. And those around you will notice too! 

Good Luck! And keep it SLOW! 

So here we are, halfway through summer already. Time is FLYING by. I cannot believe that it has been so long since my last post. Feels like it was a week ago! 

But here's the good news... I have been working, working, working and am also HALFWAY done with a new design! So here is a little preview for you:

I'm working with another wonderful Madelinetosh yarn - Tosh Sock. In color Georgia O'Keefe. Which unfortunately is no longer on their color list per the Madelinetosh website... but you can still find skeins at other online (and I'm sure local) yarn shops. 

I love the colorway - it's a great balance of light and dark with lovely green/blue hues. I have been a little obsessed with blues lately and have several more blue toned yarns waiting to be designed. Sorry! I'll try to branch out more on my color choices! :)

So for the gorgeous sock yarn, I decided to make a soft and feminine sweater. Tailored through the bodice and waist to softly flow out through the hips for a little swing. I added in a 'petal' type detailing that is both feminine and modern. Soft petal shapes but in a rather straightforward and modern form. 

Worked from the bottom hem up, you're looking at the hemline here and my needles are approximately at armhole level. So these are not dainty little petals, but large and very graphically based designs. 

My plan is to fashion the top as a yoke with the hemline repeated at the bottom of the yoke and the petals pointing up to the neckline. Simple, modern, and fun. That's my goal! I am also planning this as a two-for-one design. I started designing this as a short sleeved sweater (ending at the bottom of the yoke for little cap style sleeves). However, if I have enough yarn!, I'd like to also design and give instructions for optional sleeves. Yippee! I love designs that give me options!

I will continue to plow away at this one in all my free (hahahaha) time this summer! You might want to send me some good thoughts through the internet! Wish me speedy needles and quiet afternoons! ;)