More Freezer Trouble, Too Little Cash and Time

So the freezer, the one that was freezing the rain water into solid blocks of ice while outside, was moved inside and now doesn't work.  Yesterday we went and spent $500 for a new one.  It was a scratch and dent model that the lock fell out of when we got it home. Fortunately, it closes just fine and is running.  But with one child in college (commuting from home as well) and 2 in high school and one in middle school we are not in a position to drop $500 on anything.  I guess that just means more homemade gifts for Christmas this year.

I started on the face cloths I am knitting for my girls.  I decided to knit white face cloths and colorful head bands and maybe some slippers for them to do spa nights.  I'll put in some homemade soap and facial stuff.

For the daughter in laws - bracelets.

For the 16 yr old boy, well I just don't know yet.  I am thinking of sewing a little pouch  to go on his belt to hold shells for hunting.  Probably make that for all my boys.  Hubby included.

For the Grand kids, 3 boys and 4 girls ages 5 yrs to 6 mos, I am thinking backpacks with coloring books or doodle pads and crayons in them.    I am not sure what to do for the baby.  I guess just a little blanket.

Since I have to mail a lot of these I am going to need to be busy this next couple of weeks.  I am just hoping I am not biting off too much.  I am also hoping that all of my techs are at work for the next several weeks.  I get exhausted when I have to cover for a tech.  Mostly because I have to do their job and mine.  Plus they work longer shifts than I do normally but if I am covering for them I end up working longer than they do just to get everything done.  It takes me a couple of days to recover.

The first step is going to be clean and organize the house.  That way I can find stuff.  Then onto Project Christmas mode.  That is after we finish cutting up these 2 deer that my hubby got this weekend.  I am thankful for the meat.  I just wish time would stop racing by.

To all my crafting friends, good luck finishing up your projects.

First Weekend of November

It's the first weekend of November and I spent it canning soup.  Our huge chest freezer which has been sitting out on our back deck was full with one huge block of ice.  The lid is warped and there are a few low spot in the rim.  The crux of it was when ever it rained the freezer added a few inches of water.  I couldn't get to any of the meat we had in it.  My husband started thawing it a week ago.  We finally got everything out of it.  We lost about 6# of fish and 15# of chicken.  We also had several pounds of chicken legs that needed cooked right away.  We made soup!  Then after setting up the pressure cookers we bottled it.    So we have added to our food storage or at least salvaged some of our food storage. 

Once again I haven't done much craft wise.  I had an employee walk off the job last Monday night.  So I had to work second shift on Tuesday.  We got a temp trained (mostly) then back to day shift on wednesday.  Had a Seminary inservice meeting on Thursday night so I didn't get to bed until late thursday night.  Friday night I mostly read and slept.  Then canning all week end.  I am tired.  Plus I feel like I am coming down with something.  With all the strange hours and the kids all taking turns having some sort of viral infection that wiped them out, I am due.

I hope to start on some knitted face cloths for my girls.  I am hoping to get a batch of soap made in the next couple of weeks as well.  The girls all want me to make some complexsion soap for them.  With Christmas just a 49 days away and the soap needing to cure for at least 42 days, I will need to hurry and get focused. 

I am just lacking motivation.  I can't seem to get focused on anything.  All I want to do is sleep and read.  I may be a little depressed.  I guess a year is not long enough to get over Mom's death.  I know it's silly but so much of the holiday traditions are tied to my Mom.  I will just have to put more  effort into developing the Holiday spirit.

Here's to next week"s blog being one about projects progressing forward.

4 Weeks Later

It is the end of October already.  I don't know where the month went.  I have done absolutely nothing on any projects.  I still have several Kumihimo's to finish off, quilts to bind, and a prayer shawl only 1/8th  of the way knitted.  Christmas is coming and I can't think of anything to make for my kids.  Heck, I can't think of anything to buy them either.

It was very hard for me to get in the spirit last year after my mother's death the summer before.  I am hoping this year will be easier for me.  I used to really getting into making gifts for my family but now working long hours and long commutes take the Oomph out of me. 

Well, I am making a dent in the long neglected house work.  I got the mountain of laundry washed and dried and am not working on the mounds of paperwork that have piled up.  The only problem is that I have a small shredder and have to let it cool down from time to time.

I am trying to get myself on a schedule.  I think that if I could establish a routine I could fit in a lot more of what I want to get done.  There has to be a way to work, take care of a house and still have time to craft.  There has to be a way to keep my craft area organized and neat (especially since it is in the main room of the house).

I think a lot of this depends on getting my family on board with everything.  Kids just picking up after themselves would be a big start.  Then get them to do their chores right away would also be great.  I just know I am tired of coming home after work to no dinner, mounds of laundry, filthy kitchen, and a cluttered work area.

So as of last Thursday I am putting in at least 1 hour of house work before settling down to do anything else.  Let how well I do with this.

Inspiration Leads to Creativity (or Making It Your Own)

This week seemed longer than it really was.  I am convinced that the older I get the shorter the nights become.  I would really like it if Tired was not a way of life for me.  Oh well, At least I found some time to be creative. 

inspiration

My friend Angela was wearing a stunning necklace the other day.  Very simple and yet very elegant.  Large silver filigree beads, smaller faceted clear beads and faceted black beads, held together with eye pins and connected to a chain.  It became an inspiration piece for me.

the beads

 I had some interesting beads (6 to be exact) that were largish and ornate.  I didn't know what to do with them.  After seeing Angela's necklace I came home and started going through the beads to see what else I had.  I had clear crackle beads, blue crackle beads, silver chain, but only small silver space type beads.



After a quick trip to "Great Beadginings", (for silver beads the same size as the crackle beads), I had what I needed to make my version of the necklace.  I tried to use the clear crackle beads but they lacked the pop of the blue.  Mine, in blue and silver, is a bit more colorful and maybe not as versatile as the original.  But my daughters love it and so do I.  I have the same large bead in black and I am thinking I will mix it up with pearls



Of course I only used 5 of the large beads.  Now I had an orphan bead what will I do with that one lonely bead.  I started going through my supplies.  I found some silver chain.  So take 1 large ornate bead, 1 small blue crackle bead, a small silver bead cap, silver chain and a bit of wire and you end up with a lovely stylish necklace that my girls are willing to fight over.


Those were my new project this week.  Last week I told you I had finished 3 of the 14 Kumihimo cords.  Well I was wrong.  I had finished 3 of 15 cords.  This week I finished off 5 more of the bracelets.  Leaving me with 2 necklaces, and five bracelets to finish off this coming week.  I also got about 6 inches knitted on my second prayer shawl.

Two Very Long Weeks

After a long couple of weeks I am back.  Work has hit the busy season.  Peanuts are being harvested and none too soon.  We are desperate to get enough to fill orders.  But that means long days and hours for everyone.Despite the long hours I did manage to get a few things done. 

I finished my first prayer shawl.  I will probably keep it in my church bag for Sister Abby.  Sister Abby is 91yrs old and so very frail.  When we met her 3 years ago, we thought she wouldn't be here much longer.  She has broken a foot and her pelvis, had pneumonia and as soon as she is able she comes back to church.  Her spirit just keeps shining as an example to all of us.  Anyway she tends to get a little cold on Sundays and the shawl will help keep her warm.

I also did finish 3 Kumihimo bracelets that I had woven.  Just 11 more to finish off.  I have switched from using nail polish to sealing up the ends and am now trimming the cords with a wood burner.  It melts the ends together so I don't have to worry about it unraveling. 

I also made a cute pair of earrings, which all my girls like.  They are simple yet dramatic.  A bright pink bead with silver bead caps dangling on a silver chain.  Totally awesome. I'd post a pic but one of my kids deleted it. 

I am still planning on doing some of the little festivals around here just not this year.  We will probably spend this year assembling an inventory and gathering things to use for displays.  I am convinced we can make some money if we do it right.

So my current plan of attack is finish off a bracelet or two every couple of days.  Knit in the evenings when my hubby wants me to watch TV with him.  Quilt on the Weekends with Tatianna. 

Fact or Myth: Balancing Work, Home, & Self

I am not a Wonder Woman. I have not figured out how to do it all. Some of it is my own short comings. I procrastinate, waste precious time doing silly things and fail to make a schedule let alone follow one.  I have not learned how to achieve that delicate balance between Family, Work, House, Church, and Crafts.  I am not sure it exists.  I do know that my Mother came really close.  I still don't know how my mom did it.

 A good friend once told me that she never recalled my mother sitting down.  The truth was, if there were chores needing done, she didn't sit down.  Even if she had a rough day at work, she made dinner and more often than not did the dishes that I was suppose to do.  I do not posses my mother's dedication or skill in homemaking.  I delegate most of the cooking and housework to my teenage children who do a decent job when they do it.  When I get home from work all I want to do is sit and veg.  I want dinner on the table when I walk in the door.  I want the house clean without cleaning it myself.  I want my evenings free to do what I want to do.  I am very selfish that way.  (another short coming)

 My house is a disaster area.  I need to get it organized. I have piles of papers, laundry, etc.  We are doing better with laundry and just learning to throw things out right away is a biggie.  I was doing really well with the junk mail as long as I brought it in.  I would simply go through the mail while standing at the trash can.  But then there are the boxes and bins full of tools, supplies and resources. We are in too small a space for our family and their interests.  We need to get rid of things and organize what we keep.  We also need more storage.

I have numerous skills that I course use to make my home a comfortable welcoming efficient, and frugal space. That is if I had time, space and the right resources. For example, I could easily make new curtains for the entire house, if I could find the fabric I wanted to use and then had the money to buy it.  And, Of course I would have to clear a space to lay out the fabric on.  I really do want a craft studio.  Of course to accommodate all my crafts I need to convert a barn.  Anyone got an old building they want to give away?  Just Kidding!  How would I move it?

Lately the sum total of my crafting has been working on a prayer shawl.  I don't know who I'll give it to but I am working on it just the same.  I have made quite a bit of progress since last week.  Knitting is something I enjoy doing even if I don't do it well.  The shawl is easy and doesn't require much concentration so I can do it while watching TV.  Something I am doing more of these days. 

My husband comes home, does what he needs to and then sits in front of the TV.  (He gets home about an hour before I get off and then I have an hour commute) When I get home that is where he wants me to be.  Add to that the fact that it has been too hot to do much of anything here in Southern Georgia, so I sit in the air conditioning and watch TV and knit.  It has cooled down a bit thanks to Hurricane Irene. Now I need to be working on other things, (Like the Kitchen)  if I am going to be ready for the up coming holidays. 

Work is starting to heat up.  Peanuts are hard to come by because last year's crop is about gone (bad crop year anyway) and this year's crop is just starting to come in.  The Shelling Manager already told me he will start shelling as soon as he has enough peanuts to run a full day.  This year's crop is looking like it will be as bad as last years.  Not a good thing when your plant only makes peanut products.  This means I will be spending more time working and less time at home.  Working weekends is a very real possibility for me as well.

So the real question is how do we balance it all?  What do we let go of? And are we even willing to let go of anything?  I wonder, as my children grow up and leave, will I be able to resume the responsibilities of the house?  Will I find I have plenty of space?  Will I let go of things or will I fill up the emptiness with more clutter?  Will I ever find that Balance or is it just a Myth?

Jewelry Burnout

I have gotten tired of making Jewelry.  For a year now we've tried to raise some money by selling jewelry on etsy.  We've had a few minor sales and actually ended up losing money.  We are going to let it die out.  I have several Kumihimo bracelets woven but not completed. I still haven't finished the 2 quilts. I have a bracelet and a necklace on the Kumihimo disks.  I have about an inch of Viking knit woven.  I have several unfinished quilts.  I have not motivation to finished any of these. I am burnt out.

I have decided I need a break from Jewelry and quilting.  I have found Interweave's 3 Simple Prayer Shawls e-book. I started it yesterday and it is very simple.   It is actually going up rather fast.  I do not possess any knitting skills so anything I knit has to be very simple.  I do enjoy knitting though it is sort of relaxing.

And I need to relax!  I worked from August 22 to September 2.  During that time I had a Trip to corporate headquarters to do some training.  I also had to take two tests on that training to get certified.  I am now certified as an SQF Practitioner.  I am relieved that I passed.  My boss had me a little nervous about the test.  This is certification was one of my annual goals for work this year.  I am glad I've taken care of it.

So now between jewelry making, quilting, and knitting, I have even more unfinished projects.  Plus we are heading into the busy season at work. As the saying goes, No rest for the wicked.  Maybe some day I learn to be good and can have a day off here and there.

Life Getting in the Way

Have you ever felt that nothing you do works out as you had planned it? Does it seem like every time you turn around something or someone is taking up your precious time? How does one balance work, family, church and self?  I am struggling a bit with depression, and yet I know if I spent more time crafting I'd be happier.  How do I carve that time out without depriving my family or my employer?

Missed posting last week.  I've been so busy at work.  When you have one person out, and you end up doing 2 jobs at once. You are constantly behind.  We brought in a temp this week and I have started catching up.   Now if I can be a little less busy at home then maybe I'll get something done.

Killian's biopsy went well and I wove 3 1/2 bracelets while there.  I finished the 4th last week.  We were very relieved to find out it was an infection and nothing more serious.  Killian is now on large doses of antibiotics. 

I am currently working on a Kumihimo set, bracelet is woven and necklace is about 1/2 way done.  It is turning out really pretty.  The beads are a mix called maple syrup and butter from my favorite Etsy shop Spirit Bear Beads.  She has a new mix that I am going to have to get.  It's called red rum raisin, so pretty.  It would make up some beautiful holiday pieces.  I would encourage you all to visit either her etsy shop or her artfire shop.  Beautiful seed bead mixes.

This week I will be going to Elgin. IL for some training.  I am looking forward to it.  I will have to string up several bracelets to do on the way.  I have discovered that I can actually weave a bracelet in about an hour if it is already strung.  I will have to come home and make the matching necklaces though.  I am going to take some wire and do viking knit in my room if I have time.  Not sure yet just how much time I will have in the evenings.

I am looking forward to getting things back on track once everyone is back in school and we are all on a schedule.  The younger kids are in school but Tatianna's classes haven't started yet.  We are having trouble getting our schedules worked out and synchronized.  Once that happens, then maybe I can settle into a routine that has me actually finishing things.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

So not much got done this week.  No quilts bound.  No Kumihimo finished off.  No resin experimentation.  I did do a couple of chain maille bracelets with beads locked in the center.  They turned out really cute.  I sold one to one of my techs for twice the cost of materials.

 I also got the school clothes purchased Thursday afternoon. School started on Friday. Why did they start on a Friday? I have no clue, must be the whole number of days in school thing.  I worked Friday as well.

So now I need to hem some pants. I will probably do that after church today. Buy school supplies.  I may get Killian's hair cut today as well.  Kim wants his trimmed too.  Probably no projects though.  I will try to string up a kumihimo tonight.

Killian needs to have a biopsy done on Tuesday and pre-admission on Monday morning,so I will probably take things with me to work on but that means a new project other than the ones I planned.  You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.  Well that is true for crafters as well.

Found out I will be going to Elgin, IL later in the month for some training.  I am looking forward to that trip.  More projects for the plane ride so I may actually get a lot of Kumihimo done and just need to do the finishing at home.  Probably just work on bracelets since I won't take my murdai along. Also planning on taking the viking knit tools to work on that as well.  But that will have to be for the Hotel room.  I don't think they will allow my wire cutters and stilletto on the plane. 

So much for finishing before starting something new.  At least the plan is to have parts of jewelry made and that I can finish off later.  Still haven't decided if I am going to do a booth at one of the festivals this fall.  I think I can make a profit but I don't have the equipment to set it up.  If I can find someone to borrow tables and a canopy from I can probably make the displays myself. Need to make a decision soon.

 The other idea is to go to the flea markets and sell there.  Don't know that I will be able to pull that together either.  I need to find away to make these hobbies pay for them selves.  These gas prices and college expenses are killing our budget.  Plus have you seen what they want high school kids to have these days. 

Pinching pennies is getting harder and harder to do.

Super Powers, New Projects and Reality

Recently I was asked what Super Power would I most like to have.  Super speed, came to mind but I rush too much anyways.  Mind Reading, No I really don't want to know what other people think.  Flying, No, I am afraid of heights.  Then it hit me, I want unlimited energy.  I am so tired when I get home from work that all I want to do is sit and  there is all this work waiting for me to do it, and all these projects that need finished, and all these projects that need started.  I really do feel quite lazy some times.  For example last Friday, I didn't have to work. I had a headache all day and just stayed in bed.  So much for binding that baby quilt. 

Another super power would be Organization. All of my life I have heard the old saying; "a place for everything and everything in it's place"  I am personally convinced that this "place for everything" is a myth.  And anyone who has creative children knows, things are rarely in "their place"  I start a project and end up hunting all the tools to do it.  I have tried to organize things but they rarely stay that way.  Usually it's because one of the kids has used it since I have.  If I can't find a tool, a project gets put on hold and once again I feel frustrated and unmotivated.

Time to stop making excuses and get excited again.  New Projects and soon to be finished projects

I found a really cute pattern on Fire Mountain Gems website.  It is a butterfly bracelet made of swarovski bicones.  It is really cute and I am going to make it.  In fact I bought some beads so I can make it.  So another new project to start or new project #1.

While in Hobby Lobby getting my beads, I found some Ice Resin and some Martha Stewart Glitter.  So Now I am going to try filling some of the bezels I got a few months ago.  New project #2. 

I have just about figured out how I am going to put together one of the fabric bundles I bought at the beginning of the month,  New project #3

For those who are following this, You are probably shaking your heads and mentally reminding me of my new rule.  A few posts ago I said I had to finish an old project before starting a new one and I had to finish the new one before working on an old one.  So I have a Kumihimo set to finish up, new project to finish.  I did get 2 baby quilts bound so 2 old ones done.  So I finish the Kumihimo set and I can start one new project.  (probably the bracelet)  I bind the last baby quilt and I can proceed with the resin project.  I bind the large quilt and I can start the new quilt. I am still on track, well kind of.

And now time for Reality to set in.

It is the last week of summer vacation for my kids.  They go back to school on Friday.  I don't know why Friday but they do. That means sometime this week I really do have to take them shopping for some new clothes.  I also need to cut Killian's hair so his uniform hat doesn't slide around. And I need to hem his service pants.  So my evenings are pretty much shot this week.

 I may be taking part of Friday off, maybe I can work on projects then.  I really do want to do these things and I love when I get something completed.   Especially something that has been hanging around for a while.  Here's to hoping I get some project time.  Have a great week everyone.

Passing of Time

I am ashamed to admit I didn't get much done this week.  I find I am very tired at the end of the work day.  I don't know if it's allergies, the heat or I am coming down with a cold.  This week my son Killian turned 16yrs old.  We will celebrate it tomorrow.  I can't believe how fast my kids are growing up and haven't taught them all the things I wanted too.

We have spent several evenings and most of Saturday working at The Boughtons (our adopted grandparents) new house.  We are putting more of our own things on hold to try and get things in shape for them to move in. 

I am hoping that this next week I get back on track.  I did manage to get Killian's JROTC dress uniform pants hemmed even if I got distracted and cut them too short.  Poor kid had to wear high waters for his first dress inspection.  I will do better on his service pants and We will buy another pair of dress pants.

I am just wondering where the time is going.

Encouragement/Support & the Loss Thereof

My Mom, Nina May Borden Thomson

My mother was always supportive of her children's creative endeavors.  Whether it was painting, ceramics, baking, sewing, drawing, music, it didn't matter.  She supported us in it all.  She also was a bit of a muse for me.  She'd save patterns from magazines for me to try.  Lessons were paid for and given as gifts. Starter kits were given regularly.  She also would praise finished work.  When I got married 22 1/2 years ago, I moved across the country and that praise was limited to annual visits. But not the encouragement that was in every phone call and letter.  In short Mom was my biggest fan. 

Mom wasn't a big crafter, she never felt that she was good at that kind of stuff.  She did, however, teach me a lot of basics.  She taught me basic embroidery stitches.  How to do the chain stitch in crochet.  How to knit the garter stitch.  I learned to sew from her.  She never liked sewing but again feeling that you aren't good at something probably makes it less enjoyable.  She did dabble in various crafts.  She made our Halloween costumes and we had some awesome ones.  She taught us papermache and she made a dinosaur head for one costume.  When star wars was just out, she made a storm trooper costume and the helmet was a football helmet covered in papermache.  A lot of these were collabortative efforts but Mom started the ball rolling.  So even though she claimed to not have any talent.  Those of us who knew and loved her know the truth.

My Mother passed away a year ago.  July 16th marked the 1st anniversary of her death.  In the past year I've had to find the praise (of my work) that I crave from other sources.  My daughters aren't too bad.  My teenage son is working on it. But my Husband, well he sucks at it.  With every finished project I would miss my mom more.  Still I am learning to listen in the quiet hours (few and far between) and I hear her encouragement and her prodding (to get things done).  Maybe it's my imagination but I don't think she likes unfinished projects.  I also hear mom reminding me that things don't have to be perfect after all they are made with love.  I miss her greatly.  It has been a hard year.  Still I am finding that with each finished project I feel her love and encouragement.  Maybe that is why it has been easier for me to go back to these projects and get them done.  If so I hope Mom keeps pushing me to finish them,  I still have several.

This week I finished binding 2 baby quilts.  They are in my daughters' hope chests (well closet until we get them hope chests)  One more baby quilt and one full size quilt to bind.  Keep prodding me Mom.

RAG QUILT: A Finished Project



FINALLY FINISHED

Well another week has passed But this week I actually got something done.  The rag quilt I originally was making for my 2nd grandchild (who is turning 4) is finished.  Okay it took me 4 years and it is only a crib size quilt but I did move across country in that time and I kinda had it packed away.  I had managed to get the squares all cut and layered together but then it got packed away until last fall.  I dug it out and Tatianna drew the diagonals for me as I started sewing.  I was getting very discouraged sewing it.  Even with a walking foot the fabric was shifting.  Then while sewing the strips together I kept breaking needles.  I finally broke one too many needles and just stopped.  I was going to get back to it but didn't and Tatianna kept nagging me about it.  Well this week I sat down and finished the sewing.  Then while watching TV I finished the clipping.  Tatianna washed it the next day while I was at work.  It looked a lot better after washing.  I guess the Quilt Fairy worked on it. 



After the Quilt Fairy worked on it

Shifting focuses and New finds

On June 25th, I drove my husband and teenage son to the airport in Atlanta.  On the way up I saw a billboard for The Scarlett Thread Quilt Shop.  Of course that was enough to intrigue me but it also proclaimed it to be the biggest quilt shop in the state of Georgia.  As you can imagine I was caught, hook line and sinker.  There is also a little quilt and fabric shop on State highway 300 that I had to go by every time we went north.  I made up my mind that the following Saturday when I went back up to the airport I would leave early enough to visit both the shops.

The week did not progress normally,  weird hours at work, only the 2 youngest at home and they had their activities to get to.  Finally Friday arrived. The last day to plan the shopping trip.  That morning I got up to check out the website and directions to the two fabric shops before going to work.  Only to find that the last item I sold on Etsy was destroyed in transit.  Despite the careful wrapping in bubble wrap and layering it in 1 inch foam the glass turtle which I really loved was cracked and scuffed and the cord was completely gone.  I ended up refunding the money to the buyer. I have grown very discourage with the jewelery business.  No planning that morning and we had dinner plans that night at our adopted grandparents.

At dinner that night, the Boughtons, our "adopted" grandparents (the ones my 19yr old daughter was staying with and helping while they healed) informed me that they were sending Tatianna along with me on Saturday.  Don't get me wrong but I don't particularly like shopping for fabric with Arianna and Tatianna.  They aren't fabric addicts like I am  and they keep reminding me of the size of my stash.  Not helpful when your imagination is swirling around all the different patterns, textures and colors.

So my day to myself shopping and dwelling in fabric stores was not going to be as I had planned.  But I determined that I was still going to enjoy myself.  Add to that Tatianna's new found desire to have 10 quilts in her hope chest, and the day still held plenty of promise.

Tatianna laying out her quilt

So bright and early Saturday morning we departed for Atlanta.  A quick stop in Ochlocknee to get Tina T's doughnuts (YUM!!!) and some water and we were on our way.  We stopped and filled up with gas just south of Albany.  Then onto that first little fabric and quilt shop in Cordele.  I have passed this shop several time in the past 3 years and never been able to stop.  At about 10 am we pulled into the parking lot only to discover it was only open Monday through Friday.  Tatianna even commiserated my disappointment. But all was not lost for somewhere north close to Atlanta, there was The Scarlett Thread. 
We got ourselves back on the road turned onto I-75 and chatted about the quilt Tatianna was laying out.  A scrappy patch work of 4 inch squares that we had accumulated.  

Tatianna's quilt laid out on flannel backed table cloths

At the first rest stop we put the address for the quilt shop into the GPS.  The GPS kept trying to turn us around so disappointed we abandoned the quest for the Scarlett Thread and headed north to Atlanta.  We figured we could stop at an outlet mall and kill some time.  At the Second rest stop (we were staying well hydrated) we noticed that the town where the Scarlett Tread was located was still up ahead.  We plugged the address in again and were back on our way. 

We finally found The Scarlett Thread.  It was all it purported to be.  Long arm quilting, Baby lock Dealer, Handi Quilter dealer, all sorts of quilting notions and of course, fabric.  Plus a first for me, a Quilt shop that actually had clothing supplies as well.  Tatianna fell in love with a few different quilt patterns that she will have to adjust to make them fit a full size bed.  I fell in love with a Sashiko Machine (another wish list item) and several different fabrics.  Tatianna did keep reminding me that I still had 7 bins of fabric at home but several of the other quilters did come my defense saying that my stash was actually kind of small of course I don't think they knew the bins were the 50 gal size.  Anyway I bought two Ast. bundles (on clearance) 5- 1yd pieces that go together and come with a free quilt pattern.  Tatianna got one that she wanted.  I bought a jellyroll of reproduction fabric that I think will become log cabin squares.  I also bought a quilter's magic wand - 1/2 inch wide strip of lucite with a line etched down the middle.  A great tool to mark quarter inch line on either side of the diagonal of a square. I also bought a chalk marking pencil set and some needle pullers.  All in all a very satisfying shopping trip. 

Today I got online to find out more about Handi Quilters and I found that there is a shop closer to home in Moutlrie, Ga and they have 1930's reproduction fabric.  I will be making a trip there to find the fabric I need to finish my mother's quilt.  So another shopping trip will be happening soon.  And this time I look forward to taking Tatianna with me.

Another Week

Another week has passed and I have yet to finish any projects.  Partly because I my routine is messed up partly because I am tired.  Add to that my wonderful $1.00 Deseret Industries task lamp for my work area gave up the ghost last weekend.  I need a new lamp.  I've had that one for 6 years and it was awesome.  It was the type that they used to use on drafting tables.  It clamped onto the edge of my desk and was adjustable.  I could put it up high or bring it down low.  I didn't even see new ones in the stores.  I'll have to try an office supply store.  I haven't seen any at Good Will lately. 

So Tatianna, my 19yr old, has decided to take the 4" squares I got off line and make a quilt.  She will be laying it out some time this next week and then start sewing it on next weekend.  She is still taking care of our friends/adopted grandparents so she isn't at home.  I took her sewing machine to her.

TaKayren my 14yr old has decided that she is going to deep clean the house this week.  Perigrine (12 yr old) is being drafted to help.  I am working weird shifts so I doubt I'll get much accomplished.  I am totally lacking in inspiration right now.  What can I do to spark my artistic side and get me moving?  All I want to do is sleep.  of course the 100+ degree weather and humidity is probably having something to do with that.

Millenial Projects / Perpetual Projects

A few years back, okay probably 10 years back, my friend Kerri Lynn expressed an interest in a project that was being taught in our Relief Society that month.  I offered to pay for her kit so she could learn and she turned me down.  It wasn't money keeping her from doing it.  It was the fact that she didn't need another "millennial" project.  A Millennial Project is one that you start and may finish in a "millennium"  or 1000 years.  I now call them Perpetual Projects, Because I do eventually finish them but by the time I do I have 10 more waiting.   I seem to start things very easily but finishing them up is another matter.  The Past two years I vowed to finish up some of these unfinished projects.  Well that has worked a little bit.  I still have created more though.  So I am trying a new tack.  I will not start a new project until I finish an old project.  Plus I can't start on another old project until I finish the new project.  One old project before a new one and both finished before moving on. That way I am not digging in any deeper.  So First up is finishing the baby rag quilt, then binding the 3 baby quilts and one full size quilt.  That will empty a bin and get some space for the new projects.  I have my 19 yr old daughter on board pushing me to do this as well so hopefully I can stay on track.  It is going to be hard since I am working full time and trying to get this jewelry business off the ground.  But I am sure it will be well worth it.  So everyone start pulling for me.  Today we start Finishing things.

Craft Booth Dilema

I am in a quandary.  There are all sorts of little festivals around this area.  I am debating setting up a craft booth at some of them.  The concern is will I make back my booth fee.  They range from $50 to $100 a show.  I am thinking that I could make some nice earrings with the right priced beads for about a $1.00 a pair.  If I am able to sell 100 pairs @ $2.00 a pair, I would make back the booth fee.  Any other sales would be profit (after materials of course) These festivals are right before Christmas as well so that also could play in my favor.  So the question is to do a booth or not do a booth.  Price points are tricky.  I want to make a profit and still be able to sell.  Also I totally understand the tight budgets.    I thinking that maybe we make little gift boxes to put them in when we sell them.  Just little folded card stock boxes in red and green.

Ideas just keep coming.  I think I am beginning to talk myself into it.

Sewing with Teens/Tweens

This last weekend I had the privilege to help 3 young women sew pajama pants.  Okay 2 were my daughters and they've done it before.  Still I really enjoyed it.  The girls were really proud of what they had accomplished and I had a part in that. 

I had forgotten how much fun it is to work with tweens and teens.  3-4 years ago I worked with the 4-H program in Delta Utah.  It worked out well for me in that I planned monthly classes, made up kits and went down to the 4-H office and taught the class.  Whether it was sewing, making jewelry, making paper, tole painting or rubber stamping it was an opportunity to teach 8-18 yr old something I enjoyed.  I wish I had a similar set up here in Georgia.  Unfortunately I work full time here and have to commute and hour each way.  Plus I don't have room at home to teach so a weekend club is out of the question.

Another aspect of 4-H that I miss is leader mete and master sewing training.  It was awesome to get together with other volunteers and learn and craft.  There is a sort of commonality among crafters.  We love to hear tips and ideas and share them as well.  We ponder over each other's failures and try to figure out what went wrong.  We celebrate each others success as if it was our own.  Crafters are an interesting people.

Back to the girls.  We started @ 10:00 am on Saturday morning and @ 1:30pm we had 3 pairs of pajama pants.  The girls sewed these to wear at their girls camp the week after next.  One of the adult leaders has taken home a pattern and is going to sew a pair for her little girl.  I will post a picture of the girls

Kunihimo / beads / vision

I am addicted to beads. I love the colors the textures and finishes. They draw me in. I especially love when I pick up a hank of seed beads and envision what it will look like in Kumihimo. I just finished weaving the kumihimo part of a necklace/bracelet set. The beads are what I dubbed a Mardi Gras mix. Metallic green, blues, & purples + gold, silver, copper. The resulting rope/cord is awesome. It came out beautifully and is very elegant and rich looking. I will finish it off with gold findings and make earrings before I put it on Etsy.

Kumihimo

I've been playing around with Kumihimo for the past 7-8 months. I really do love it. Fiber makes such wonderful cords for focal points. Beads make the most awesome necklaces and breacelets. So much fun to do and yet the results are elegant. I encourage anyone who loves to work with beads to try this fun technique. I'll post pictures of some of my favorites.

Etsy store

As usual I am too little & too late. Needing money to pay for my daughter's college, I decided to try to use my talents to earn it. I opened an etsy store. Selling hand made jewelry. In 7 months I've had 2 customers and one of them was my sister in law. My husband said if I had done it 5 years ago I probably would have done quite well. I have learned some new techniques though. I really love viking knit and it doesn't require special tools and goes up really fast. Kumihimo is also very fun. It does require a disk though. I've made kumihimo cord with ribbon that make wonderful holders for pendants. I've also made them from seed beads and thread wich takes a little longer but turns out really beautiful. So now I have all these supplies and no sales. I am looking to build a healty inventory and try my luck selling it at a flea market.