Since the last time I posted, I’ve been busy (apparently, since I haven’t posted in weeks)!

MM and I went to Orlando to support a large trade show held over a week.  Yes, we were there when all of the horrible events occurred in that city.  No, we were in no danger while we were there.  That being said, everything that happened down there was horrific and was on everyone’s minds while we were there.

I can’t imagine the amount of hate that could drive someone to target people in a place that only held joy and fun.

I can’t imagine the obsession that someone has to have for an artist who was trying to share her gift with the world.

I can’t imagine the sorrow that the parents of a child lost in such a tragic way.

I can’t imagine it, and I can’t make sense of it.

Once we returned, the weekend of Father’s Day, I started taking stock of the projects that I have on my list.  There are recipes I want to try, of course, and my work colleague asked if I would make her a Weekender bag.  That’s not including the three Riviera bags I committed to making for three other coworkers.  Or the Weekender bag that I said I’d make for mom.  Or the gift I wanted to make for MM and my anniversary.  I’m thinking about making a couple teddy bears as a just in case gift, and one of my chorus friends really liked the Riviera bags that I made for my quartet.

I have no deadlines for most of those things, but our anniversary is in about a week.  There’s no way that I’m going to get the gift done, because I don’t have all the components needed, and am having trouble finding them.  MM knows, and is pretty much okay with that.

CC’s Weekender bag is the next on the list.  She gave me about three deadlines, and told me that they’re all flexible, as she’d rather me relax when I want to (I believe her words were, “If you’re in your craft room working on this bag when you’d rather be on the deck drinking wine, please, go drink the wine!”).  I’ve started her bag, and have added one of the modifications (elastic for the large inside pocket).  The outside large panels, handles and snaps are also complete.  I’m also keeping track of how long it takes me to get this one done, as well as how much it costs.

Mom’s Weekender bag never really had a deadline, but I’m using CC’s project as motivation to at least get the fabric and interfacing cut.

The three Riviera bags are about a third of the way complete – there’s no indication that the traveling coworker is heading over there any time soon, but I rarely have a huge amount of warning when he does things.

So, with the long weekend (Happy 4th, everyone!), I plan on getting as far as I can with CC’s bag, of course taking breaks as often as I want.  I’d love to get it done before MM and I go to Chicago the following weekend (for our anniversary, and to see Book of Mormon!).

Those are my upcoming goals.  What are yours?

More later!