Favorites

 Happy Wednesday…for just a little longer…today was supposed to be my Simply Small post; however, this is the last week of my semester, and I have final papers, re-write papers, and final exams to grade. Then there are grades to figure and get turned in. So since I had my favorites post ready to go…here it is…and I’ll post the Simply Small parade this weekend!


Of course Moda Bella Solids are my favorite…and since I just got a new color card recently, it had to be the first thing on my list. I love Bella solids…love the colors, but most of all I love the way they feel and the way they sew. I should also mention I love their quality!

 Today I also have a few books on my list…because somehow I got a little reading done this fall (other than English 101 papers). First up is this journal that I heard about from Camille a few years ago. One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book is a simple journal that even a busy person can keep up with. There are just a few spaces for each day, and it isn’t dated, so the journal lasts for years. It’s fun to see what I wrote a year or two earlier on the same day. I bought a couple of these for gifts this year.

 Because I have some new things I want to work on in 2015, I’ve felt the need to get organized before the end of the year. And this book is wonderful. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is translated from Japanese, and some of the ideas are a little different than what I’m used to in terms of American culture; however, I have absolutely been delighted to read this. I’ve become aware of how some of my ideas on organizing need to be thought about differently; the author’s ideas are refreshing, and her methods have made it easier for me to do some major de-cluttering and organizing.

I saw this book on a couple of blogs this fall…Carrie’s I think…and Elizabeth’s…anyway, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
is a quick refreshing read on creativity which I want to re-read. There are lots of great quotes and ideas inside, and I loved the fact that it can be read in one sitting.  Sometimes you just need a book like that.

  
I saw this on Instagram…another book suggestion from Camille. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less  was more than life-changing for me. I read it right before quilt market and want to read it again over the Christmas break. It really makes you think about what you want to spend time doing and gives you realistic and workable techniques to make the changes you want to make. I’ve read time management and organizing books for many years, and I can honestly say this is the one that has helped me the most.

 This one just arrived…and I can tell it’s a good one. The Little Spark – 30 Ways to Ignite Your Creativity is another fun book on creativity with lots of fun ideas to get your own creative spark “ignited.” I’m going to dig into this over the break, too.

If you have any inspirational/organizing/or creative reads to recommend…I’d love to hear about them in the comments section!

Finally…because…well there has to be fabric in a favorites post…right?! This is an upcoming collection by Basic Grey for Moda called Fresh Cut. I fell in love with it at quilt market and will be sewing up a new pattern with it as soon as those grades are turned in.

Thanks so much for stopping by!