December 3, 2008

Wow -- I have been the world's worst "blogger." The new store I am managing is doing very well. I have put in some long hours, long days and weeks. I finally have enough staff trained so I am comfortable leaving the store! It has been very fun. Of course, with the move and chaos of trying to unpack, I haven't found much time for sewing or crafting. I finally have "most" of the sewing room unpacked and put together. It is much bigger than in the last house and I have 2 big windows which will provide lots of light! I am excited to get working on some of the projects left hanging. Now if I could just find the box with the red, white and blue quilt I am working on for my oldest son . . . then he might get it by his birthday in April! Christmas is looming just around the corner and I wish I had gotten some of the projects (for gifts) made that I was "dreaming" of earlier in the year. Finally, tonight I am finished with the SSCS swap gift. It will be delivered to the post office tomorrow -- it has a long ways to go and I hope it makes it to its destination before Christmas. I was very "tardy." I apologize.

September 1, 2008

We have some minor improvements on the home front. We found a washer/dryer at a yard sale that are nearly new and were cheap cheap cheap! No more trips to the laundromat (I am doing cartwheels over that!) We worked over the weekend stripping wallpaper from two of the bedrooms and the kitchen. We will need to do some touch up painting and then the house should be ready to receive our furniture! (Waiting with deep anticipation!)

I have made some great finds at yard sales for fabric over the last couple of weeks. I have been washing and ironing it and getting it ready to add to the stash. I have started working on the blocks for the swap I joined awhile back. I have gotten behind with the move. Now, I have the July, August and September blocks to complete and get in the mail.

Quote for the day: Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. - Thomas H. Huxley

August 20, 2008

We've been in our house for about 10 days. I am so frustrated that HE hasn't yet arranged for our furniture and stuff to arrive here yet. Of course, I can't do it. HE has to do it. Furthermore, the blog postings are getting more and more boring -- the doo-hickey for the camera is packed so I can't add photos. I love our new house. I am anxious to get stuff unpacked, the house decorated and start some sewing! Meanwhile, I have been keeping busy running to the laundromat, cleaning windows and blinds and job-hunting. I have some projects I could be working on, but I would have to set the machine on the floor to sew. I am trying to be patient. Hopefully, I'll get unpacked before Thanksgiving!!

August 13, 2008

I guess I am a frustrated quilter. I have always been interested in quilting. I have collected tons of books and patterns and spent thousands of hours surfing quilt sites, reading quilt blogs, collecting patterns and ideas from web sites. I have sewed almost my entire life. I made my first quilt when I was 11 and did a lot of garment sewing in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Mostly I sewed clothes for me and my kids when they were little as a cost-saving measure. Nowadays, it doesn't seem to pay off as much. My last few attempts at "quilting" have turned out with unfavorable results. It seems I have a lot of unfinished projects or ideas of what to do with all my scrappage -- but spend very little time sewing. I suppose it would help to turn off the computer! Plus the move, move again, and move yet again hampers any progress or flow of creativity! But the joy of it is that over the weekend we rented a very nice house. I imagine it will take at least 2 weeks for us to "arrange" to get our furniture and stuff here from Idaho. So I sit in the large (4+ bedroom) house with a couple of folding tables and a couple of chairs. I have been job hunting, but so far nothing has turned up. Tomorrow I plan to spend my time getting the windows cleaned and getting ready for the arrival of our stuff. It is a lovely house that sits up on the hill looking out over the valley where the city is below. There is a small creek that runs just behind our house and at the bottom of the hill. There is a deer mama (white-tail) with twin fawns that lives in the brush below the hill. In the early monings and often in the evening we see them. The fawn run in the yard and jump and play. They are fun to watch. Soon I will be able to get things unpacked and attempt to get some sewing done. I have a few projects in mind for Christmas gifts for family and friends. As slow as I am I need to start soon!! Hopefully I can get some pictures posted soon to make this all more interesting!!!

August 8, 2008

It's all 8's today -- the date anyway! The 8 brings to mind the old cliche -- what goes around, comes around -- cuz that's how you draw the number 8 -- you go around and then come back around to connect at the top! So goes life --
Go around spreading smiles and letting your little light shine, then it will come back around as love from friends and family to help you feel connected and whole.

I am a thrift quilter. I buy very little fabric at stores. My fav thing to do is yard sale shopping and thrift store finds. A lot of times I find some great yardage for a buck or two. In the last couple of weeks I have grown the stash with a lot of different finds. I was excited about the brown bag for a $1.00 sale --- so I got 2 full bags of nearly new denim! I am planning to make a couple more denim quilts and some denim rag rugs. One particular great find is about 3 yards of lightweight upholstery fabric for $1.75. I may be able to use it to recover the bench pads in the window seats in our new house. It is currently decorated in mid-80's country blue and mauve. We will need to strip some wallpaper and do a little painting, but it should be great. We still have our accommodations at the Super 8 Country Club! Hopefully we can get into the rental house over the weekend so we can get to work.

Have a terrifically 8 day!