Saturday, May 21, 2011

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!

93 comments:

  1. Yay!! Congratulations on taking the leap. I'm sure you'll be very successful! I look forward to see all that you'll do. All my warmest wishes :)

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  2. Congratulations! You will be fantastic!

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  3. Congratulations! Now can I have your old job? Children's book editing is my dream alternative career...

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  4. Amazing! So exciting to see the site grow like this.

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  5. I recently put in my notice at my job as well to buy a small business with my husband! :) Congrats!

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  6. Good for you! That's fantastic, and I'm glad you are taking this huge and amazing step!

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  7. Excellent decision! :) And all the more reason for us to keep visiting you here, right?

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  8. Congratulations! I gave up a career in high tech seven years ago, and I never looked back. We'll lift a glass to new directions next time I'm in NY!

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  9. Congratulations! Follow your dream. :)

    Tilia of Linden blossoms in my teas

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  10. Congratulations! This is spectacular news and I look forward to seeing the new additions and editions you plan to make here! What fun! And can I just say? Thank you for the New York Times article too, because I have the same problem. I'm not particularly religious now (though I am spiritual) and this stuff really freaks me out too! I hate that! Hate. It!

    Again, congrats!

    xoxo,
    Sunni

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  11. OH, I am so thrilled for you! :-) YAY YOU!!!

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  12. Congratulations! How exciting! And selfishly, I'm excited for the return of Gertie, Girl Reporter!

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  13. What a wonderful week!
    I'm so excited for you, and can't wait to see all the new ventures as they play out.

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  14. Wow, that's big news! Congratulations on taking the leap! It sounds like you will def be kept busy, and I love the plans for the webpage. I'm tithering on the brink of a similar leap, to leave my job for one year of Sewing studies. However, as much as I love sewing, I'm not sure I want to pursue it as a career, so I'll be thinking about it for another year (it's too late to apply for this coming school-year anyway).

    It's great that you´re taking the chance to follow your dream! Go Gertie!

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  15. Way to go Gertie! Looking forward to all the good stuff you will be coming out with!

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  16. Congrats! So exciting!

    I lost my job yesterday so in the short term I will be doing lots more blogging as well.

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  17. Congratulations! I'm so excited for you and your new adventures!

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  18. Congratulations, Gertie! I'm a little jealous, actually, but hope to be able to leave my job by the end of the year to focus on my internet business! BEST of luck - I can't wait to see how you evolve!

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  19. Congrats! I can't wait to see the direction in which you take your blog! So exciting that you're following your dreams and not being afraid to just go for it. :]

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  20. That's great news! Congratulations! I'm excited to hear that you're able to follow your dreams! All the best!

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  21. Congratulations and Good Luck!

    Outi

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  22. Congratulations on your new path. Have fun "sewing" your dreams true!

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  23. Congratulations! The blog has grown so much in the past year, I'm excited to watch the next chapter unfold!
    But definitely let us know when your editing job is posted, I don't think I'm the only one who wants to know :-)

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  24. Congrats! I love your blog and can't wait to see it grow!

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  25. Congratulations on following your dream! It's a big step but you'll do great!

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  26. I am so happy for you. Congratulations!!! You deserve all the good things coming for you are such an inspiration to many of us out here.
    Revival

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  27. Congratulations! Huzzah to following your dreams!

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  28. Online dressmaking course??? Sign me up!! Yay!!!

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  29. Yea, congratulations! Life is so short that if you have the opportunity to follow your dreams you have to. That may sound cheesy but sometimes cheesy is good because it's also true!!!

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  30. Congratulations! It may sound naive in these times of unemployment and uncertainty, but I believe that taking the leap is the best thing anyone can do. I quit my corporate job 5 years ago in order to recognize and strengthen my calling as a writer, and I still am so happy that I did so.
    You are one of the most dedicated and inspiring bloggers I've run across, and I know that you are going to make a big success of all of your ventures.
    I look forward to seeing more!

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  31. Many congrats Gertie! All your new plans sound fab - good luck with them :)

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  32. Many congratulations on the change of direction. Your plans sound really interesting.

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  33. Congrats on your new adventure! I wish you lots of joy in this new path you chose.

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  35. How great! Best of luck, and congratulations!

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  36. Fantastic! How wonderful to see all the great new opportunities this blog has brought you. Congratulations!

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  37. If not now, when??
    Good for you!
    Best Wishes............

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  38. FANTASTIC news Gertie! I'm so excited for this new direction! And for following your dream! Here's to an amazing year!

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  39. You go girl!! Congrats for taking charge of the path of your ship!!

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  40. That's awesome, Gertie!! Congratulations you'll go far in this. I'm very happy for you.

    ~Sewjourner

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  41. Congratulations! Can't wait to see what the future holds for you and for us faithful readers...more tutorials, you say? Yes, please!

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  42. You've managed to snag the dream -- congratulations! It sounds like it will be a blast.

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  43. Congrats! I love your blog, and it's rekindled my interest in sewing. So looking forward to more!

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  44. Congrats Gertie!! So happy for you!

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  45. Wow, big step! Congratulations. Very interested in the online course you mentioned and look forward to hearing more about it.

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  46. Congrats on your new life! May it bring you all of the sewing success that you are working so hard for! I for one will be looking forward to new things on your blog. I love reading it!

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  47. Hooray for Gertie! You must be terribly excited. I'm so happy for you (and not a little bit jealous, if I must admit it)!

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  48. Welcome to the freelance life! I'm sure Henry will make an excellent editorial assistant.

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  49. Congratulations on having the courage to follow your dream! I have so enjoyed your blog and your tutorials are terrific. I can't wait until your book comes out.

    Lisa

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  50. I'm glad we are all still here to hear your news - congratulations and good luck with all your ventures!

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  51. Amazing, to follow your dreams, that is as good as it gets!

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  52. Hooray for you! Congratulations! You are an absolute inspiration!

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  53. Congratulations, Gertie! You deserve it all!! It's been so amazing watching your transformation. Several times I have wondered why you still had a "day job" when sewing is obviously your life's calling. Wishing you all the best.

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  54. CHEEEEEEERS!!!! That all sounds absolutely exciting!!

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  55. Wow Gertie Congratulations! I'm so happy that you are following your dream! I'm sure you will do well in this new stage of your life/career

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  56. Congratulations, that's wonderful! I'm sure you will love freelancing.

    This is off-topic, but I just saw Bridesmaids and noticed a sewing machine in Kristen Wiig's room towards the end of the movie -- it totally distracted me, my eyes were drawn to it so!

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  57. I'm super happy for you! I have been a little worried about your massive workload with a full time job!

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  58. Congratulations! It sounds like you have a lot of plans. Here's an idea if you "run out" (HA!) of ideas: how about a learn-to-sew book for kids? I don't know what's out there now, but when I was trying to teach my niece some years back there was hardly anything. Anyway, good luck on your new adventures!

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  59. Bravo Gertie. Congratulations on living your dream. Seriously spectacular.

    And hey, next time you're on the west coast (lala-land specifically), let us know. I'd love to take a class/workshop/whatever from you.

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  60. How exciting. You'll never regret following your dreams. I'm really looking forward to your book and to all of your future plans for your blog.

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  61. Congratulations Gertie! That is great news, it is fantastic to follow your dream. I would really like to sign up for your online courses - will you be able to include prospective students from the Southern Hemisphere? All my very warmest wishes:)

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  62. Oh! That online dressmaking course sound exiting! Great for me who lives in Europe! (And also have a free summer to sew all the time, your course would be a great reason not to slack off.)


    I would gladly contribute some money towards this new road you're taking. :) (And I also hope your book comes to Sweden as well).

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  63. I'm new here and I already love your direction congrats to you, looking forward to seeing your progress.

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  64. Forward, brave girl! You go, honey! Your many fans will cheer you on as you change your life...do what you love, baby!

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  65. Wow, that's huge news, congratulations! You will be a great success and I really look forward to seeing your book (will we be able to get it in the UK?) and upgraded blog. Good luck xxx

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  66. Congratulations Gertie!! All the opportunities coming your way are quite well deserved!

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  67. Congratulations and best wishes!

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  68. Congratulations, Gertie. I'll be looking forward to your new adventures!

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  69. Do what you love and the money will follow! I am looking forward to your tutorials again! You are a very good teacher.

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  70. Congratulations! I'm so happy to hear u'r able to follow your dream and that so many opportunities are springing up. Certainly the USA are a great triving market full of opportunities for great people like you. I would love to hear about your online course.

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  71. Gertie, I'm so happy for you! Congratulations on taking the leap and I look forward to everything you do on this fresh journey :)

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  72. I've been sewing for 40 years and I would LOVE to take a Dressmaking class online!!!! I'm trying to learn from books, but something organized and taught would be simply awesome! I vote for it :)

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  73. i am so happy for you, sometimes you have to take that leap of faith so you can get where you are suppose to be. by the vibe u put out in the universe there is not doubt in my mind that you will be successful in everything that you do.

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  74. Gertie, I am so happy for you. Congratulations on being able to make this step.

    How funny that you started the blog as something to give you focus while you were in between jobs, and now it's given you so much more that you don't need a job.

    elizabethe

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  75. Wow! I'm excited for you and for us readers!

    Just BTW, I saw this shoe site and thought of you - http://www.tn29.com/index.php

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  76. I saw this coming lol. You'll never look back.

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  77. Well done! I have to admit I never knew you were a children's book editor! I think I got distracted by the great dresses and cat pictures. Anyway, looking forward to more great work from you!

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  78. Good luck to you - I hope you'll enjoy your new endeavours!

    My sister got married on Doomsday. They had a beautiful, beautiful Christian wedding. And they said (well, joked) that if the Doomsday really comes, it's definitely a good day for it - they'll be together till the end of the world. :-)

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  79. Just want to say a big congratulations on taking the leap to follow your dreams!!! This is so exciting to read about--and I can't wait to read more about those magazine articles you're working on! :) It's so encouraging to me to hear about your success in writing and such; it's been my dream for years to be able to write instructional articles (I've had a few gigs/nibbles... things have been a bit slow in these parts lately though!), so it's neat to see this come to fruition for you. Congrats again, Gertie!!!

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  80. Congratulations! Gertie

    I wish you all the best in your new venture.

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  81. Congratulations, Gertie! It can be scary leaving behind the security of a 'proper' job, but you'll have a wonderful time following your dreams, and I'm sure you'll be very successful at it too!

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  82. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. And yay for Gertie, the Girl Reporter feature coming back!

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  83. Congratulations! How exciting! I'll be finishing university in a few weeks and after getting turned down from a few underpaid, mind-numbing jobs I realised I could actually just about support myself by living a similar 'freelance life' (but with knitting instead of sewing - as much as I love sewing, I'm not a natural!). I'm very nervous (but excited) about doing the freelance thing so I'll be checking your blog for lots of inspiration!

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  84. Congratulations and best of luck!

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  85. Congratulations! I'm glad you took the leap, this means more Gertie, right?

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  86. What a huge step! Congratulations!

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  87. How amazingly wonderful for you! Not many get to follow their dreams. Good luck!!!

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  88. Oh congratulations! That's very exciting. Sounds like you are super busy working on lots of wonderful projects. I look forward to following your progress.

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  89. Okay, I'm WAY behind the times, just reading this post today, Sept 9. So didn't know you're "making the leap" news. I'm excited for you as you embark on this new phase of life. Or rather, as you settle into this new phase, since it's been a few months since you embarked. You go, girl!

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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