I’ve been pinging back and forth for the last few weeks, unable to settle.

What I’ve been doing:

Above…it’s not glamourous. It’s not very pretty. (Okay, it’s kind of pretty, if you’re into utilitarian things.) It’s a bag bag. It’s a bag to hold bags. If you want to make one of these yourself, here’s the pattern: Plastic Bag holder.

Below…something pretty and pretty FUN. The Hotel of Bees Scarf I’ve been dying to make ever since I saw it on the Cherry Heart podcast. I’m using Mandala yarn, so I’m not following the color scheme in the pattern–this time. I’m pretty sure I’m going to make it again, but with the actual color scheme suggested. Such a fun pattern! (Find it here.)

I’ve also started YET ANOTHER crochet project. This one is part of a CAL, the very first I’ve ever done. 🙂 It’s the Spicier Life blanket from Cherry Heart. It’s just started, so if you’re interested in participating, you can find details linked at the end of this paragraph. Below is my color chart (interesting? Probably not.) and I have a swatch done for gauge, but no photo of it. This morning the first part of the pattern was released, so, by the end of the week I should have progress photos. If you’re interested in the CAL: Spicier Life Blanket CAL.

In addition to the crafting, I’ve been playing with gouache and watercolor. Below is one painting I worked on one lazy day.

And, this happened two weeks ago, but I had to share:

That’s the pumpkin roll I made for my book club last month! We read You by Caroline Kepnes, and our reactions to the book were mixed, as usual. I loved it, but I like dark humor. And it was DARK. Our next book we’re discussing in The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I already flew through it (it’s a quick little book) and enjoyed it. Wasn’t scary, though. I’m convinced people were easier to scare pre-1970s.

In addition to my book club, I’ve also joined a writing group. I didn’t post about it, but at the beginning of this year I took a 6-week novel writing workshop with Joshilyn Jackson–one of my favorite writers. She’s written Almost Sisters, Gods in Alabama, Backseat Saints, and many more. (These are not affiliate links. I just love her work and think you should buy her books.) It was a memorable experience, not just because I was learning from a writer I admire (I’m a total fangirl, and in an attempt to play it cool, I continuously, throughout the six weeks, made a complete fool of myself), I also made friends with several of the women who took the workshop along side me.  I continue to meet with them on a monthly basis, and I’m proud to say, I have written 33k words (actually, 32,977 words) towards a novel I am determined to finish. (In case anyone was wondering, Joshilyn is as cool in person as she is in print. She’s hilarious and SMART and she knows the craft forwards and backwards. Oh, and she likes whiskey drinks.)

So, yeah. I’ve been busy doing all the stuff. All of it. Ping ping ping.