Oh my, guys. Hi! How are you? I'm sorry I've been gone for so long! I've been so busy and life is changing! Our baby is growing up, and as she gets more independent, I am starting to change, too. I have been very focused on pivoting my career to work on making books more than making crafts. I'm not exactly sure how this has come about, but I think, so far, it's a very good change for me. It has, however, been all-consuming for the past few months. When I am not actually designing books, I am watching videos about how to design books, or reading about how to design books, or reading Reddit boards of freelancers who are designing books for other people. I am still working on my cookbook (and thank you so much to every single one of you who volunteered to test recipes for me—more on this below) but at some point around August, I realized: Um, holy shit, I really need to make some actual money. So I reworked my Upwork profile to reflect my new book-designing abilities (I'd started doing freelance copyediting and proofreading there a little bit in 2023, so I already had an Upwork profile), and I was lucky enough to get new work right away, and have been working pretty much full-time since. I've been doing some editing, some proofreading, a lot of book design, a little bit of fixing other peoples' book designs (wow—there are a lot of wild books that get published on Amazon KDP, with even wilder [read: crazily formatted] book designs), a little bit of cover layout for other peoples' books, a whooooole lot of InDesign-learning (wow, what an amazing program—I seriously love it), and a little bit of working on my own book. Zero crafting. Zero soapmaking, zero earring-wire twisting, zero sewing, still shipping Posie orders a few times a week, zero embroidery, zero quiltmaking, zero home-decorating, almost-zero knitting, even almost-zero cooking. Just—books. Headers and footers, heading styles, drop caps, aligned-to-grid text, font styles, paragraph styles, export settings, margins and bleeds. With a lot of Chicago Manual of Style thrown in (new 18th edition released on September 19th! Editors represent, what!).
I know. You're bored. I cannot help it. I am changing. I don't know what I will be. But bookmaking seems to fit me so perfectly right now. I'm excited and I'm learning so much, and I'm making some nice books, and helping some really nice people, and that makes me feel really good. So I'm giving myself a chance to grow (and pay my bills!).
Now. In June! June! A hundred thousand years ago! We went to Seattle.
It's impossible for me not to think about my life as it was when I first went to Seattle to visit my friend from college, Pam, who lived on Dexter Ave. and had a second-floor back porch where we would sit and drink beer and look out over Lake Union, and then again a few years later, after I'd moved to Portland, when I was working for Alaska Northwest Books and our main office was in Seattle and I used to travel from Portland to Seattle by train for work. I still remember what it felt like, how I felt, then. This was before my accident, when I was newly married and had just moved to Portland from Montana. My boss was the senior editor and she took me under her wing. She lived in a gorgeous A-frame on the water on the Kitsap Peninsula. When I would go to Seattle to work with her in the Seattle office sometimes I would stay at her house. In the morning, we would drive a little car she had from her house to the Kitsap ferry. Then we would take the ferry in the early morning with all of the other commuters to Seattle. At the ferry dock in Seattle, she had another little, old, beater car. Then we'd get in that and take it to the office. It was just so much fun. I loved Seattle so much and felt like such a big, grown-up girl, going to work on the ferry. The ferry! Across the Sound!
We took the train up with Amelia for the first time a few weeks after school got out. We only went for a few days but it was such a fun trip. We stayed at the Inn at the Market, which is such a nice, nice hotel with incredible views, literally across the alley from Pike Place Market. This is the hotel that Andy and I have always stayed at when we've visited Seattle together over the past twenty-five years. It's a splurge for us; we don't usually stay in such fancy places right on the water. But it was so worth it, even just to have access to their beautiful rooftop patio. We spent a lot of time out there, watching the sun rise and set, and watching the boats go back and forth (and the planes approach Sea-Tac—that was really cool).
The first day we got to Seattle at around noon and went straight to the Inn and checked in early. Then we went down to the market and had lunch at Lowell's. I had fish and chips and I can't remember what Andy and Amelia had. Then we walked around the market for a long time, and it was insanely crowded—much more crowded than I was expecting. But it was fun, and Amelia loves to go to shops so it was fun to see her enjoying everything there. Eventually we went back up to the hotel and spent the late afternoon-evening on the rooftop deck (and we wound up getting Thai food delivered for dinner). My foot doesn't really do that well on vacation, when I'm out of my routine, so we try to keep it pretty low-key. The next morning, Amelia really wanted to go up in the Space Needle but I didn't want to (I have done it before, but I really don't like heights). So Andy took her up there while I waited down below in the park. Later that day we went to the Seattle Aquarium (we are big fans of the show The Aquariam so it was really fun to be at an actual aquarium [though not the same one] in real life). Our Lyft driver was flabbergasted that we wouldn't just wait until the new aquarium is open to go, but as it wasn't opening that day, we didn't really have the choice and will have to save it for a future visit. It might be open by now. I'm not sure. The next day we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island to go to the yarn store. Again, the ferry was the best. Cities on the water are so cool.
It is just an absolute joy to watch Amelia discover Seattle. We didn't do anything off the beaten path by any means, but that was okay with us. Amelia still talks about Seattle every couple of days and says she's going to live there someday. I am all for that. Andy and I almost chose Seattle over Portland, way back in 1997 when we were deciding where we wanted to move when we left Montana. We both love it and love going there. I'd like to take Amelia back to see The Nutcracker at Christmastime, but she has so many of her own Nutcracker performances (she is a Dancing Doll this year, which is the part that she wanted and that she got, so she is thrilled) and rehearsals in December, it gets hard to figure that out! I'm sure all of you Nutcracker families can relate. But wouldn't it be fun? I need to think about how to do that.
Andy has a few weeks off starting today and I am so happy. He tends to take some time off around Amelia's birthday, coming up soon, so he is busy crocheting her a space shuttle and making stickers for her birthday-party gift bags and watching Only Murders in the Building with me. Amelia is taking the clarinet this year, and it is seriously loud and it is hard to listen to. He's more musical than I am so he's kind of taking the lead on getting her to practice. It's kind of hard to encourage her to practice when she prefers to practice while standing right next to us. :)
I hope you are all well! I miss you and hope everyone is safe and sound. My heart is so heavy seeing the news reports from North Carolina—the photos are just staggering, and I am just heartbroken hearing the stories. I wish you all warmth and safety and peace in your world right now, from all of us here, and I send you our love. Thank you for checking in here, and let me know what you are up to!
P.S.: THANK YOU very much to those of you who volunteered to be recipe testers! I WILL take you up on that as soon as I get myself organized. Thank you very much, and I will be in touch!!! XO, a
Have you been to the Nordic Museum in Seattle? I went when it was badly in need of updating at its old location, and I'm curious to see it now!
Hello! I'm excited to see what you do with books; I work for a place devoted to the history of bookmaking, so I know how fascinating the work is. But does this mean you won't be dying another batch of cotton floss? In any event, this sounds like an exciting time for you. Good luck!
Oh my gosh I miss your posts!!!! Your new adventures sounds incredible and incredibly busy. I keep your site bookmarked and check back every week or so just incase something is posted and I shouted with joy today!
But don't mind me, you have A LOT on your plate, and wow a whole new lot on your plate. What a wonderful shift, it is inspiring and gutsy and I love it. But how fun for this Seattleite who now lives on the Kitsap side in Poulsbo and commutes by ferry to work (luckily only 2 x week these days) to see this post about your Seattle adventures as well as a little Kitsap in the mix.
And a great reminder to get to the aquarium. Happy fall and happy adventures and all the new things! And I dream of the cookbook release as everything you make is gorgeous.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Good for you!
Good for you!
Good for you!
Change is good. Great even! This is what keeps us growing and enjoying life. Don’t worry about ‘boring’ your readers if your posts aren’t crafty! This post was SO interesting and lovely, it was so good it made up for all the time of no posts!
I lived in Seattle for 10 years and your pisc were so nostalgic for me.
Loved the ferries, the water, the beautiful summers. Did not know there is a new aquarium!! The Seattle Aquarium is our fave. We went every month from Sept to April for years, such a good place to wander with an elementary schooler.
Loved hearing about your early days there. I always thought it would be so neat to take a ferry to work.
I went to Kitsap for a wedding at a park in the water in July and it was magical. We stayed for a week and made a list of all of our fave things to do and we did them all. (Including the aquarium. The new one wasn’t open yet so we got to enjoy the old one). It was the best, I may visit for a week every summer. I would stay a month (I work remotely), but we have a cat and I can’t imagine leaving him for a month.
I live in Nc now, a few hours from the mountains that were devastated by the storm. We are fine here, but the absolute devastation of towns that never get storms like that is humbling. All the businesses, schools and sports teams here are organizing supplies to take there. So sad but the people here are rallying to help.
I just wanted to say that I think any of your posts are so engaging and entertaining and lovely, regardless of the craft content. I found your site through a crafter, and I’m a sporadic crafter myself. BUT I stayed because you were sharing about your life and trying to adopt, and I was struggling with infertility at the time. I now have a 12 year old boy, and seeing the posts of Amelia, so similar in age, has been so fun.
I also miss the PNW so much so I love to see the pics.
Anyway, keep posting if you have the time! Even just pics and short comments about your days are so interesting and I enjoy them so much! Evolving blogs with your life is totally expected, IMHO. And changes are exciting! Get it girl!
Your new work sounds so exciting! Isn't it wonderful how life evolves as our children grow? All the best for your new creative endeavor---book making is very creative! I'm here for whatever, whenever you post. :)
Ooh, Alicia, I'm so excited about your new book design direction! I can totally see the appeal after my deep-dive into book design last year - in another life I'd be trying to do something similar as a sideline, but I didn't know how to begin looking for freelance projects, and my knowledge is already fading after a year with no practice. It sounds like Upwork is the perfect way to keep your skills sharp while continuing to learn and find satisfying work in the process - I'm so happy for you!
Finally! Welcome back, I've really missed your photos and the peak into your life, I've always found your creativity so inspiring. And now you have a new path, best of luck and enjoy your journey :)
It's so nice to see an update from you! I thought about you the other day and periodically check your blog for new posts. I was delighted to see a new one today. I can't believe Amelia has a birthday just around the corner. So exciting!
Wow, it’s so great to hear from you. I use to publish newsletters back in the day, and even though for expediencies sake I stuck to a formula, I still enjoyed getting paid to be creative. Funny enough, we were in Seattle for a wedding in May and got to see the northern lights while there (in Snoquamish). All the pictures are fantastic!
Welcome back! Your were missed-greatly. Thank you for the lovely photos, for catching us up and for sharing your new direction. Best of everything as you move into a new stage of life. Amelia- growing up, so lovely.
I found your blog as a crafter, knitter specifically, but love your writing so much. You’ve been kind to share your life through your beautiful words. I too said a loud YES when I saw this new post! Thank you, Alicia
So nice to see you're back!!! Seems a lot of us missed you, but are so in your corner supporting change and growth. I'm another knitter who tacked onto you ages ago - love your writing style, sensibilities and warmth. I don't have children but stay around anyway; love all the 'life' reflections from across the country... I'm a New Yorker! And food talk, of course ;)
Enjoy all your new endedavors!
So pleased to get an update and hear all is well. (I've been checking occasionally all summer). I also started a new job this summer--somewhat less successfully/enthusiastically, I'm afraid--so I know how busy life can get. Good luck & thanks for checking in.
Those photos of the clouds! Ahh- just gorgeous. So good to hear from you again, and good on you for learning (and enjoying!) new things.
Hello!!!!!!!! It's so nice to see your post. I always enjoy your photos and updates. Welcome to book design! My first job was a book designer for a publishing company and I still do it as a freelancer. I'm so excited for you! It's a wonderful way to make money while staying home with kids. Wishing you the best!
So, so good to hear from you! You have been greatly missed. I have checked every week since June and was thrilled to log on this morning and see that you had posted.
What a wonderful, new direction your life is going and I'm so happy for you and your sweet family. Darling Amelia is growing up! Thank you for sharing your life with us. I have been reading your blog for years and years and am so inspired by your zest for life.
Book things, how exciting! I am skirting around the self-publishing industry, learnings things and hoping to publish something some day. So I totally get the excitement. And it's always good to find something new to learn and be really enthusiastic about. I hope you keep enjoying it. CJ xx
Interesting that you and Ina Garten both decided making books is her ultimate favorite creative task. I read and enjoyed her memoir and found it fascinating to see her journey to that.
So lovely to see a post from you, have been checking in — so glad all is well! You sound so happy, thriving is good! I have been reading along for many years now, since before Amelia!, and yes, doesn't life shift as they approach/enter the teens!? We still change and grow too … (my youngest is 22, and yes blogging necessarily alters as well, once they are no longer wee ducklings) … I took clarinet at age 12-13! Ha! Squeak toot squeak cringe … 🤗…
So happy to see your post and read that all is well !
So many new and lovely things !
I wish you & your dear family every good thing & look forward to following your sweet adventures!
I love that you're allowing yourself to try an utterly new outlet for your creativity. It's all too easy to tell ourselves "Nope, that's not who I am." Or in your case, where you have a following and a business, "I wish I could try xyz, but this is what I'm known for and this is how I make money."
Amelia looks so grown up in the picture in the yarn shop with the baseball cap. The pic of her holding out her crochet seagull to meet the live seagull is awesome. The gull's expression is priceless.
I've missed you SO much. Good to hear you've been having a good summer.
I am so glad that you are back and things are going so well for you. I would check in every day and I was so worried that you were not well. We all go through changes and I'm glad that you have found your new passion. Lots of luck and am looking forward to hearing about your family again.
I could not be more delighted to find this post from you! I was worried when I saw comments had been turned off and I am happy that all is well in your little corner of the world! I'll just be here watching you GROW and cheering you on the whole way! xo, Jen
Oh, my gosh, so glad to hear from you.. don't ever want to think the worse, just hoped u were busy.. which, see... u were! And having a good time with life :)