Gertie's Week in Review {5.21.11}

Hey, it's the Judgment Day edition! Have you all been following all this stuff? It came to my attention about a week ago, when suddenly 6th Avenue was swarming with folks with their "Doomsday" signs. I have to tell you, it freaked me out. There's something very creepy about their whole "the end is near" vibe. Since then, I started reading up on it, which made me feel A LOT better. The numbers put into Harold Camping's calculations are so arbitrary. It's actually quite fascinating. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend this New York Times article on the strain this sort of prophecy can bring to families with mixed beliefs. It brings a human side to the story, which is much needed as a counterpoint to the extremes of fervor and mocking.

Anyway! I suppose I should tell you the news I hinted at last Saturday. I quit my job! Enough other opportunities have been coming my way that I decided it was time to take the leap and focus my energies on all this sewing stuff. I'll be living the freelance life. Going forward, my days will be a mix of a multi-prong plan, which I will helpfully outline for you in handy bullet points:

• Writing. First things first, I need to finish my book. My deadline to have everything done (text, patterns, and sample garments) is July 1. For the next several weeks, I'll have a lot more time to focus on that. Additionally, I've gotten a couple writing assignments for sewing magazines, which I'll be telling you more about as my articles become available.
• Blogging. More time to focus here, yay! I'm working with a designer who will help me turn this site into my multi-platform internet dream home. Don't worry, I'll ask for your feedback as we get further into it. In the meantime, I want to do more tutorials, more open threads (yesterday's was a rousing success), refine the direction for The Daily Dress, and re-introduce Gertie, Girl Reporter on Fridays. I also want to do some daily outfit posts, just for the fun of it.
• Teaching. I've upped my course load at The Sewing Studio. If you want to take an Intro class with me, there's still room in my Thursday afternoon class, starting on the 26th! (Register here.) Update: Sorry, it looks like they've cancelled that class due to low registration. Hey, I also do private lessons! And if that weren't enough, I'll be filming an online course on dressmaking that you can sign up for starting sometime in July. More to come on that front.
• Freelance editing. Starting in late June, I'll be freelance editing for the best publisher of craft books around. (Hint.) 

So yeah. I think that should keep me pretty busy. It's a big leap to leave a full-time job, but I've put a lot of thought into it, and it's time.  Working as a children's book editor for the past 7 years has been a fun adventure, but I'm ready to let it go. Here's to following our dreams!