My Daughter the Muse

Arianna and Me

August 12th brought my daughter Arianna home for a ten day visit.  Arianna, like me, is a crafting dabbler.  She does some of everything.  She is also a Nanny so her crafting has to be small, fairly portable, space conscious and kid friendly.  Not a sprawling mess like mine is.  But she is always up to learn something new.  The visit was way too short.

So one of the first things we did was go over my fabric stash additions.  She tried to steal my precious fabric.  She hadn't even taken her sewing machine when she left 2 1/2 years ago and she wanted my fabric.

Then she tried to steal all the jewelry that Tatianna and I made.  Okay not all of it but several pieces.  I did let have 3 or 4 of them, maybe more.  Arianna was especially intrigued with the viking knit and kumihimo cords. 

I never got around to showing her how to do the viking knit.  But I did get her hooked on the kumihimo.  She made several ribbon cords and decided she needed a disk so she could work with one of  kids on it.  Arianna played with several different patterns and styles.  She even took the square one and figured out how to do it.  She had handed it to me to do, of course I hadn't been watching her and well I messed it up.  It was funny to see her reaction as she carefully undid the mistake.  I felt a little bit of pay back for all the times I had to undo and redo something she had messed up. 

Anyway, Arianna started going through the bead stash to use with her kumi cords.  She tried to steal several focal points.  I did give in and let her have a few of them.  But one piece in particular she wanted was a metal fairy pendant.  I bought it on Etsy last year some time.  I bought it because I wanted to make a necklace for my best friend/sister, Bear.  Bear loves Fairies.  I just had no idea what I was going to do with it. 

Now because it was for Bear and because she loves her Aunt Bear, Arianna didn't argue or even beg for the fairy   But bless her heart she gave me the start of an idea.  Arianna said you have to make vines and leaves and stuff because it is a fairy and all of a sudden I had the picture in my mind.  Problem was I didn't have the beads nor the ribbon.

The next day we went shopping in pursuit of Kumihimo disks.  We went to Lizette's shop in Havana, FL.  It's called "Lizette's Great Beadginnings".  It is a small bead shop in the back of Cindy's Chapeuax. (also a great little shop)  I like Lizette's because for the most part the prices are very reasonable, they have classes and you can just go in there on a Saturday afternoon and chat.  A fun place to be.  I knew that Lizette had the Kumi disks but I also knew they would be about $8.00.  They are made for jewelry makers.  Arianna needed something a little less pricey to work with kids on.  While at Lizette's I found the beads that I wanted for the necklace.  I had already picked up the ribbon that morning.

The search for affordable Kumi disks continued at Hobby Lobby in Tallahassee.  No disks there.  We did see and microwave kiln for fusing glass and a glass bead starter kit.  Both of which are now on my wish list.  (Like I need another distraction)

On to a little bead shop I had heard about.  It opened last October and was close already.  In this economy little craft shops are dying.  It is not the only one I know of that has closed recently.

That left one more place to look, Michael's.  I had not been to the Michael's in Tallahassee.  I am afraid it is not one of my favorite stores.  I find them to be a little high priced and more Home Dec than craft.  (I think my favorite craft store of all time was Switz's in North Syracuse, NY but since they died it has to be Craft Warehouse, a chain in the Pacific Northwest)  But I digress.

We looked all over Michael's,  we were about to give up when Arianna and Tatianna wandered into the Kid's section.  There they were labeled weaving wheels.  And at a reasonable price, $3.99 each.  There were 2 left and Arianna snatched them up.  A few more items and we were checking out.  Heavenly Father really loves Arianna because at the checkout the price was $1.50. She was one happy girl.


the slide


Once we got home I started on the Kumihimo cord for the necklace.  Sage Green and Heather Purple.  It didn't take very long to get the length I needed. I finished finished off the cord except for the end caps.  I then found a dowel the same size of the cord, wrapped a heavy wire around it and formed the base of the slide I wanted to hold the fairy.  I then wired flowers and leaves to the base wire creating tendrils with the ends.  I made beaded drop to attache the fairy with and slid it onto the cord.  I finished it all off with bead caps and a clasp.  I was so happy with it, it turned out just as I had pictured it.  All it took was Arianna to observe it needed leaves and vines.

I know that Bear reads my blog and I can't wait to hear what she thinks of her necklace.  I sent it home with Arianna and gave her the task of getting it to Bear.  You see I am terrible about mailing stuff.  My mother-in-law's Christmas present from last year is still sitting on a shelf ready to be mailed.

Bear - I hope you get down to the Maryland Faire this year.  Arianna really wants to see you.  But if you don't just nag Arianna until she mails it to you.  I love you.  - Amy

Soap Making: Remembering the Little Tricks

A couple of months go I rescued some palm oil from the trash bin.  Several pounds of palm oil actually.  It has been sitting in my kitchen waiting on me to make it into soap.  I haven't made soap in about 6 years and so I am a little rusty. Okay a lot rusty. But I got out my handy dandy book and read up just so I would not screw up.  I was prepared, right?  Wrong.  Little things that I had forgotten led to some mess and now some rework to save all of the effort.

To start with, my soap supplies have been stored under the house for the last 4 years.  My wooden molds are a little warped.  My gloves and plastic mold liners are trash. The labels on the bottles of essential oil and fragrances are smeared.  But undaunted Tatianna and I pressed forward. 

I figured out the fat/oil to lye ratio for a 1# batch and then quadrupled it.  That was the first mistake.  You see while a 1/4 of an ounce less Lye doesn't make a big difference in a 1# batch, a whole ounce does in a 4 # batch.  We got grainy soap.  So in an in order to save the ingredients and effort we will have to re batch the soap.  But we will need to wait until it has set up some more.  Still that lesson was learned and now we won't make that mistake again.  I think I was more careful with my calculations the first time I made soap.  I was a little to cavalier this time.

Mistake # 2; we lined the molds with butcher paper, we've used it before with great success.  Except that the butcher paper we currently have while excellent for wrapping meat, is not good for soap making.  This paper has a sizing on it instead of a plastic coating.  Some of the soap oils and soda ash seeped through and glued the soap & paper to the mold.  Since the soap was grainy it was not too hard to chop it out of the mold. Now I need to go to the Dollar Store and get some of those cheap plastic party table cloths to make my liners with.  They work really well and are reusable.

My next mistake could have been tragic.  I have two pitchers designated for mixing up the lye and water. I had forgotten how much the Lye foams up once it is added to the water.  I tried to mix up all the lye for one batch in one pitcher.   We had Lye all over the counter and floor.  I cleaned it up with some old towels.  And since I didn't have an vinegar to neutralize the lye I grabbed some lemon juice and poured it over the area.   Fortunately none of us got burned. 

One trick I did remember was that the soap came to trace faster using the stick blender.  Now I need a new stick blender for the kitchen.  One small batch started to form lumps before coming to trace, we just used the blender to smooth them out.  That batch by the way turned out beautifully.

Somethings I know.  I still like the whole soap making process.  It makes you feel a little like a witch or sorcerer stirring up that pot of ingredients adding a little of this and a little of that.  Ingenuity is still a major component of crafting.  Necessity may be the mother of invention but common sense and wisdom rule the world.  Skills that our great grandmothers practiced out of necessity should not be lost because of the conveniences of our time.  It may be more expensive for me to make my soap but the process is worth the expense. 

Also I feel connected to my ancestors when I do it.  I love the story of how my ancestor Hannah Foote was making soap when and Indian raiding party attacked.  Her husband was out hunting and she was alone with the children.  She was getting the lye ready (I do buy my lye but I may have to learn to make it one day) when the Indians attacked.  She threw the hot lye on them grabbed her kids and ran into the woods to hide.  What an intelligent lady.  I come from a long line of strong intelligent women.  They are probably up in Heaven shaking their heads saying why on earth is she doing that when she can just go to the store and buy it. But I know it is more than the effort that makes my soap special.

Lessons Learned:
1. Do calculations for the size batch you are making.
2. Mix up lye in small amounts and then combine.
3. Always have Vinegar on hand.
4. Take the time to get the supplies you need or are use to.
5. Make lemonade, mistakes are not always the end of the world.
6. Don't wait for years to do things you like to do.  Skills get rusty.
7. Make notes in your reference books on things that worked for you. (in case you wait six years to do it again)

Interesting Experience

In my last Post I mentioned that I was going to chaperon a Youth Conference.  We went to the conference and brought a quilt that we made out of sheets to be tied.  The Kids were all asked to donate items such as used children's clothes, spare change, toilet paper and hygiene items.  The different wards donated quilts to be tied.  Service projects consisted of writing the missionaries and service men/women, writing testimonies in Books of Mormon,and tying quilts.  800 youth and leaders from all over Georgia, Alabama and Florida came together on the Troy University campus to learn, grow, and render service.  It was a wonderful experience that my children and I both were glad we had.

The Service project that I was asked to help with was tying quilts.  We did not have any frames and the youth were to hold the quilt taut while they tied it.  This was a team building exercise. Basically we used a human frame to hold the quilt.  So 8-10 kids held the quilt tight and two kids tied and cut as the others held.  The plan was to rotate the kids around each getting a chance to hold and to tie.  It turned out that tying it was not as easy as we thought it was going to be and many teams opted to have the same people do the tying so they would be able to finish it.

The room we did this project in did not have any air conditioning.  The temperatures were in the 100's and there were over 400 people in this room.  It was very hot and very sticky and every one was very uncomfortable.  Yet the youth did not complain nor try to get out of the assignments.

There were some complications with this project.  First the youth that were suppose to oversee this project didn't really know what to do.  So as the Adult leaders had to step in and take over.  But we mostly just directed.  The youth did actually run the project once they knew what they were doing. The second problem was that the room was hard to find so many of the youth went to the other location and had to be redirected to the room we were in. 

Then the needle for tying the quilts were the wrong type.  They had tapestry needles instead of yarn darners.  The needles were blunt and we couldn't push them through the fabric. So we had to figure out how to make them work. It was suggested we make a hole and then drawn the yarn thought the holes with the needles.  I shot that idea down.  I felt that we would weaken the fabric and open up the possibility for tearing the quilts.  The this leader came to our rescue.  He pulled out a file and started sharpening the needles.  Someone else had a file on his leather man and we had 2 people sharpening needles.  I knew Killian had a file on his leather man and I sent him to the other location to sharpen the needles there. 

  

After a couple of hours of the heat and miserable conditions we decided to give the kids a break.  We told them that they could go. But several of the groups wanted to stay and finish.  This group had a late start but stayed until they finished.  It was interesting to see how many of the boys really got into this.  I was afraid that they would have thought it too silly or girly.  I think the boys were more into it than the girls. 


I was a wonderful experience for all of those involved.  Watching those kids worked together to get the assignments done was inspiring.   The team building exercise of tying quilts was successful.  Teams were truly built, the kids recognized their strengths and those of the others and utilized each others strengths to get the job done.  No egos were involved just the desire to do a good job and get it done.  That in and of itself was wonderful to witness.

I loved the experience I had at Youth Conference and look forward to having it again.  It was really rewarding to see the youth care about something other than themselves and work as a team.

One More UFP Done

Well I finally finished the wall quilt.  It is quilted and bound. It will go well on the wall of my daughter's room, which is bright green. This was a class I that I took from a now defunct quilt shop in January of 2009.  

I really didn't care for the fabric that came in this kit. They made up the kits from batiks.  I love batiks! Especially in quilts but in this one there were too many colors. The fabrics were all from the same seires but the end results read muddy to me.  There is something to be said for mixing things up.  The sad truth is my favorite fabric in the kit is only used in the border. You don't get to see the really neat dragon fly pattern in it.  I do love dragon flies. 

I wasn't able to fussy cut the hearts from the pink areas and I really don't care for the color choices. This was the first time I did the square in the square pattern as well as the first time I actually appliqued. 

The teacher for the class asked if anyone knew how to do the blanket stitch on the machine.  None of us did, so everyone else did it by hand.  I figured out how to do it on the machine.  I would use a heavier thread next time. It wasn't that hard but I would definitely put the adhesive on the fabric before cutting out the hearts. That way I wouldn't have threads sticking out.

I tried out the stipple stitch on my machine for the white border.  I had planned on doing it in the white background squares as well but the machine only went in straight lines easily.  So I figure I will have to do that free hand for other quilts. 

There are several errors in the quilt but I am not a perfectionist.  Heck it is only the second quilt I've machine quilted.  I am definitely going to do more of them. 

One of my fondest dreams is to have a hand guided long arm quilting machine.  Of course I want on with all the bells and whistles.  They are very pricey and we are definitely on a very limited budget.  I just think I would do better driving the machine instead of the fabric.  But one must make do with what one has.  So I will use my little Brother Sewing/Quilting machine that I got at Walmart.

We are going to get Tatianna's Quilt on the frame today (hopefully) and work on it.  It will be nice for her to get it done.  I am also going to work on the Bronchitis Quilt.  (A quilt I pieced while suffering from Bronchitis) I need to do a border and backing and prep the binding.  I may get as far as pinning it for quilting.  I am going to try free motion quilting on this one.   I am thinking a dragon fly design that I have a template for. 

Oh, and then there is the twin size quilt for the service project.  Our church youth (14-18) are having a Youth Conference July 12-14th.  They asked for quilts to tie and donate to a shelter.  I am cheating, I bought 2 twin sized flat sheets and batting.  I will stitch the the sheets and batting together in an envelope binding and turn it.  Then at the conference they will tie it and finish it.  I am chaperoning for our youth so I will be there to help.  I'll try to get pictures.

I still need to hem 3 pair of suit pants for Killian before Thursday as well.  Hmmmm.  Seem to have a lot on my plate for the next few days.

Unfinished Projects

I have actually finished one of those UFP's I am always talking about.  That full size quilt that has needed binding for the past year.  It is done.  I am so pleased with myself for getting it done.  There is a huge satisfaction in finishing a project that has been hanging over your head. 

It was such a good feeling that I am actually finishing another 3 year project.  It is a wall hanging that needed quilting and binding.  I had actually stopped working on it to make the other quilt.  I am down to binding it now.  Then I will finish the last 3 strips of the chevron quilt and get that top pieced.  I also need to finish the bronchitis quilt. 

It seems that since I have started working out and losing weight I have a lot more energy in the evening and I actually work on things.  Also my studio is not quite as messy as it has been.  I am working on getting things put away and finished off.  That makes it easier to sit down and work.

I did go back to that fabric store this week.  Twice actually.  I thought it was going to close on Friday and went and got some beautiful stuff for my stash.  I then found out that it would be open on Saturday.  I took my friend Michelle and we both got a lot of stuff to add to our stashes.  I really need to get my stashes organized. 

Tatianna is planning out quilts to make and she has already decided on the next one.  7 different colors of 4 inch squares.  She is talking 7 fabrics but I think it will look better if she uses at least twice that many.  It would be a very nice scrappy quilt. 

TaKayren is still on the idea of  10 inch squares all different fabrics for her quilt. She is only doing it to finish off a YW value project. 

I already have 3 or 4 projects in the making and 5 or 6 more planned.  I really need to finish these off.  I especially need to start using my stash and get some of this stuff out of the kids' rooms.  Plus get some of the stuff out of the way in the studio. 

Oh the plans, I have planned.  We will see how fast I can make them happen.

Blogging Errors and New Choices

The past couple of weeks I haven't been able to get on to blog.  I was so disappointed because I have made some progress.  First of all I have been working on getting healthier.  I am trying to make some positive changes.  I am changing my eating habit and started working out.  I have started another blog on this titled My Attempt to Walk the Path to Wellness.  If you are interested please take a look.

But this is my blog about crafting.  So on to the crafting talk.

Well, I finally did it. I cleaned the Studio.  It still has some space issues and things that need a place to be but it is a lot more suitable to work in.  Hubby likes it as well.  I have a new light set up on my desk and it is working out very nicely.  Kim's table is to my right and we can both work in there together without bumping into each other.

I took apart a kumihimo necklace that I had done early on.  I had made so many mistakes in it I was tempted to just throw it out.  Frugality won me over and I left it sitting with my beads.  Last week I cut it apart and restrung the beads.  I have started weaving it again.  I am happy with the way it is turning out.

I found the perfect backing for a quilt project.  I was trying to find a backing for Tatianna's quilt.  I tried to text her a picture of it. The text pictures were not working out and I decided to buy it anyway.  I figured that I would use it someday.  On the way home, I realized it is the perfect fabric to back the flower quilt I have been planning.  So Tatianna doesn't get to have it after all.  I did get a different one for her.

I found out quite by accident that one of the 2 fabric stores in Bainbridge, GA is going out of business.  All fabric is 60% off.  I bought the 6 yds for my flower quilt. I went back the next day and bought more, about 21 yds.  I got some really pretty stuff.  Then I got to thinking my friend Michelle is looking for fabric for a boy baby quilt.  I went back the following day and picked up 2-3 yards of seven different fabrics suitable for a boy baby quilt.  I figured I would let her use what she wants and I will make use of the rest.

The girls ran the fabric over to Michelle and she was just delighted.  She plans to use some of all of it.  I knew she wouldn't get a chance to get to the store before it closes in a week or two.  I just wish I had more money to spend.  There is lots more that I would like to have.  But that is always the case, not enough money to buy everything I want.  Plus I really do not need to have 15 totes full of fabric.  Okay, I may need it but I don't have room for it.  I am such a fabric Junkie.

My poor kids don't have their own rooms.  They are filled with my craft supplies.  I really do need a bigger place. Oh the dreams that I dream.

Work - 10, Family - 10, Crafting - NADA

On Monday at work, We had our annual SQF training day.  SQF stands for Safe Quality Food.  Much to my surprise the corporate VP of Operations shows up.  He was there all week. He was doing an internal Audit to get us ready for our big SQF Audit just over a week away. Every time he comes to our plant he and I end up talking quite a bit. 

He is not my boss or even my boss' boss.  I answer to the VP of Quality.  So why should he be so interested in my happiness with the company?  Well he is married to the VP of Quality.  Interesting, isn't it. 

He did express concern over the fact that the plant operations manager had been out of line with me a couple of times in the past 3 months.  Out of line as in telling me to mind my own Business, accusing me of panicking (he was the one panicked) and telling me, I shouldn't have placed returned product on hold (policy is to place returned product on hold pending investigation).  I get the impression they don't want me to leave and are worried I might.

I also got positive reinforcement in my job.  The VP suggested that they could use me up at the Elgin Plant and My Boss said I couldn't go he needed me here.  I am lucky to have a job that I love and a Boss who is understanding, supportive and appreciative.

Anyway the extra work and my starting to work out everyday has had me getting home rather late.  Plus we have had somewhere to go or company every night this week.  It sure makes it hard to get anything done.

The kids have been keeping the house clean and doing some gardening. Not enough to reward them but somethings have been done and the house is a much more pleasant place.  Now they need to start the Deep cleaning.  You know emptying the cupboards and scrubbing them out, cleaning closets, washing walls and windows.  It may feel like Summer but it is technically still Spring.

So while I didn't get the Studio cleaned (did get some work done), and I didn't work on any un finished projects (didn't start any new ones either), I am still feeling a lot less stressed.  It is amazing how much a little positive improvement goes to making you happier.

Family & Work (and how that gets in the way)

What a hectic couple of weeks.  Of course I knew they would be but still...   I put in some really long days at work (and that will probably carry over for the next couple of weeks)  The kids all had assemblies, or end of year concerts or parties.  But school is out for the summer as of today.  But my Hubby is just as busy at work as I am.  Add to that the Garden is a weed jungle.  The weekends are way too short.

So as I stated in my last post, I would not try to schedule my crafting or set goals to get things done.  This removed the guilt factor of having projects laying around and not working on them.  Does any one else hear their unfinished projects begging to be completed?  Basically I crafted when I could.   I have also made a little progress on cleaning the Studio.   Not a lot, but I did get some book shelves and went through some boxes.  Any progress is better than no progress.  I also knitted several rows on the prayer shawl.  Tatianna will have her memory back before I get this one done but who cares.  Knitting it is for me not her anyway.  Not a whole lot accomplished but I still made progress.  And I didn't start any new projects.

Of course my friend, Lenell, told me about a resin class she took for Mother's Day.  She has been wanting to do this class for a long time.  Her kids surprised her with it.  So, I have been accumulating the stuff I need to do just what she learned.  Now I find out I need a special glue to hold the stuff in the bezels.  I did order that today.  So new projects are not that far off.

My husband and son still haven't put together my bookshelves.  The studio is getting very cluttered and unorganized. My kids will put things (that are mine) on my work surface.  Lately when I go to work on something I have to clear my work area.  Not conducive to stress busting crafting. As often, as not, I end up not crafting at all. I am hoping to get things put together this weekend. If I can get the rest of the family on board and things go as I expect, I can craft to relax during the next couple of weeks.

Here's to wishful thinking.

Letting the Week Unfold

So I've tried setting goals and making plans and still I am getting nothing done. UFPS (Unfinished Projects) are still winning. I start out with the best of intentions and find myself heading down the road to UFP Hell.  Where am I going wrong?  I have not cleaned up the Studio, I have not finished any projects, and my house is a far cry from being clean.  I am not as depressed this weekend but I am not happy either.  I am just a few sad thought away from tears.

Monday,  I went to work and things went okay, nothing out of the ordinary occurred.  Got home and worked in the garden for a little bit before it got too hot.  This Yankee girl doesn't handle the Hot and Humid South as well as the Cooler Humid North.  But I did sew a little bit.

Tuesday I worked late. I did get some verifications done that way.  Got home after 8:00pm, took a bath, ate some dinner, and went to bed.  Actually knitted about 6 rows before settling down to sleep.

Wednesday, My hubby (Kim) said he was going to the Boughtons so I went grocery shopping after work.  Just as I finished shopping, Hubby calls and says Killian wants to go to scouts. Do I want to ride along?  I hurried home and off we go to Thomasville.  While we are eating at Hong Yips, (great little Chinese buffet that is really reasonable) Kim tells me he has a stress test in the morning.  Now My boss is out of town so I have to be at work and a stress test isn't that big of a deal right? Wrong.

Thursday I go to work late because the kids have to be at school early.  At 10:30am I text Kim to find out how the stress test went and he tells me he hasn't had it yet.  They want to do a more thorough test and that puts him behind a few others.  But they did have the IV in.  He made it through the test but they want to do some follow up tests on Tuesday.  I was a wreck for the rest of the day.  I left early since we were feeding the missionaries and I needed to pick up some stuff.  The cadets ( Killian and TaKayren) needed picked up  as well.   I did sew a little on the quilt strips before dinner.

Friday, I go to work and am bored.  Only one line is running and there isn't much for me to do except come up with a schedule for the next week.  One line is only going to run for 2 days, another line is only having 2 shifts on 1 day.  That leaves me with 3 techs needing hours.  I get a fair schedule worked out and approved.  But as I am getting ready to leave when one of my 2nd shift tech calls and tells me she has jury duty this coming week.  Time to revamp the schedule.   I got it all worked out but I will have to work second shift on Monday.  I got home early, I actually beat my husband home on Friday.  I then worked in the garden for an hour until I was too hot tired and achy.  (My Carpal Tunnel has been acting up) I basically watched TV the rest of the night.  Knitted a couple of rows while watching TV.

Saturday, got up in time to watch the last 2/3 of love of quilting.  They were piecing the drunkard's path with a serger.  So now I need a serger. (anyone else have that compulsion?)  I think I may take a swing at the Drunkard's Path block in the future even without one.  I laid around the rest of the morning.  About noon we had a family council and decided what we were going to work on.  The house is definitely cleaner and I got a start on the boxes of stuff I brought home from my Mom's.  I needed a book shelf for all the genealogy and church books so I went and got that.  And that is where I stalled out.  I didn't get much done the rest of the day. 

So the week is over, I managed to knit about 10-12 rows, straighten up and sweep 1/8 of the studio, sew 1/2 a chevron strip, and stir up desire for more craft equipment and projects.   None of my goals reached. 

This coming week, I know, will be kind of crazy. So I am going to just it unfold, I will craft when and where I can.  Maybe that will help with the depression.  I think sometimes depression comes when we feel like we are spinning our wheels and life is just passing us by.  Maybe getting something done however small should be reward enough.  Forward progress not matter how small is still progress. 

This week's goal - craft when possible and try not to worry about getting anything finished just get. 

Motto - Forward Progress is still Progress. 

Depression and Crafting

I say to my friend Kristie, I am not sleeping well and am so tired that I haven't done any thing in the way of crafts.  Add to that I am getting a little depressed.  Kristie says well no wonder you're depressed you haven't done any crafting. 

It's pretty obvious what the problem is but what is the solution.  When I get depressed I don't want to do anything.  I just lay around and sleep and eat bad things like chocolate chip cookies and potato chips and candy.  Which is especially bad since I weigh over 300 pounds.  I don't feel inspired or creative and current projects just bring me down.   How do you make yourself do something when you don't have the energy to do the things you love?

I am working on my kids to get the house in shape.  I am hoping that this afternoon I when I get home I can get the Studio straightened up.  Part of the problem is the clutter.  I am a lousy house keeper and when I get home I don't want to clean.  With the kids all being teenagers it shouldn't get as messy as it does.  We all need to establish new habits and start putting things away and stop procrastinating.

Things should be backing off at work this week.  I should be able to get more sleep.  I am trying to eat better.  More non starchy veggies and salad, less starches, and less desserts.  Plus I am going to try and work on something every night. 

On Saturday, when my depression, was the worse I did about 1/2 of a chevron strip.  Sunday, I did 1 and 1/2 strips plus knitted 4 rows on a shawl.  I definitely feel better.  I have 13 strips done on my chevron quilt and am about 1/3 of the way through the 14th.  I have decided that 15 or 16 strips will be it.  I will find something else to do with the left over 2x4 pieces of fabric.  I am running out of some of the different prints and the lack of variety is making the strips less appealing.  I can come up with something creative for the remaining strips I am sure.

I have two or three projects to finish.  I am going to try free motion quilting on my bronchitis quilt and I still need to bind the full size quilt.  Plus there are others I just need to work on.  I have too many projects left undone to waste time being depressed.  I guess I will just have to force myself to get busy.  I know I will feel better once I do.

Spring Malaise? Or Just Plain Tired?

I am beginning to think there is an energy monster out there who is draining the energy from my family.  Lately all we want to do is sleep.  Now I understand that pollen counts have been high but lately they are only in the moderate range. Of course school is winding down and finals are coming up but there is 2 more weeks before finals start.  I am still putting in long hours but have been able to cut back a bit.  So Why, Why is my whole family so tired?  Maybe it is just a spring malaise. 

When we lived in Utah, spring was invigorating.  We had been cold and gloomy for so long that sunshine and warmer temperatures were a welcome change.  But here in the south it never gets very gloomy nor very cold.  Spring is the harbinger of a hot muggy summer.  It just may be the thought of the hot humid weather that has us exhausted.  Who knows?  What I do know is that none of us is sleeping very well and we all are constantly tired.

Once again my time has not been my own.  I did work in the garden a little this past week.  As well as take care of other things. We had the missionaries over to the house for dinner on Thursday, which is always nice.  I have not done much in the way of crafting though.  And that is not good.  I have developed a sort of apathy towards everything. 

My husband and daughter did pick up some Magic Glos for me on Friday.  I actually have all I need to start playing with making resin pendants.  Maybe we (Tatianna and I) will try it later this week.

I am about finished with another chevron strip on my quilt project, which is kind of sad.  I was doing 4-5 a week when I first started it. But now I am down to maybe 1 a week.  I bought a couple of quilt pounce pads so I can mark the bronchitis quilt once I get the borders on it.  I am thinking I will try free motion quilting it on my new machine.  I have gotten the fabric, for binding the full sized tied quilt, washed and am going to get it ironed this afternoon.  I may even cut it.

Of course I took a nap after church so I am somewhat awake, but I still want to sleep.  I don't dare though because I definitely won't sleep tonight if I do.  So I better get myself busy doing something. 

The Working Mom, Time Constraints, Money and UFPS (unfinshed projects)

I have been a mom for 29 years and I have almost always been a working Mom. In fact out 29 years I've only been a stay at home mom 7 of them.  When I had my first child, I was in college and we all know that school is a full time job.  When I got married 5 years later,(to a man with 2 children) I was able to stay at home for a year and had another child.  I had more Time to craft but no Money.  Isn't that the way it always goes, Time but no Money or Money but no Time.  Anyway, I ended up going back to work while my husband was in college (and had 3 more children), so a little Money but no Time. Then I was a stay at home Mom for six years (had out last child).  Plenty of Time but definitely no Money.  Back to work for a company that was supposedly part time, Time and Money?  Alas No, It became full time.  But my schedule was somewhat flexible and I was able to work with the 4H program and did teach some craft classes for them. Then we moved again. This last move placed me in Southern Georgia, with a full time job that isn't flexible and has a 1 hr commute each way.

I am short handed at work and so I putting in long hours.  10 - 14 hours a day plus the 2 hour round trip commute.  I may loose my craft fiend status but I have to admit that by the time I got home these past 2 weeks the last thing I could have been was creative.  I haven't really worked on much of anything.  I did get another strip of my chevron quilt done but that was about it.  Now don't get me wrong I really did want to be creative just didn't have any energy to be creative.

I did get some inspiration on Saturday though.  I slept in until almost 8:30am (4 hours later than I had been getting up) but got up in time to watch Fons and Porter Love of Quilting.  I love the show. Sometimes I learn a lot but other times it is a way to waste time. This episode was Binding Boot Camp.  I am not a great quilter (or even good), but I do love to quilt though and so I have more than one UFP.  One in particular is driving my daughter nuts.  It is a full size quilt that only needs to be bound.  It has been waiting for almost a year to be finished. Since I struggle with binding, I put it off. 
In this episode of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting:

1. I learned that binding does not have to be cut on the bias 
2. I learned that 2 1/2 inch strips are wide enough for thick batting.
3. I learned how to figure out how many strips to cut.
4. I learned that to get really nice mitered corners you need to take the quilt out and move it.  (this is one area I really struggled with)
5. I learned to trim the edges after sewing the binding to the top.
6. I learned that experts (Liz Porter and Maryanne Fons) didn't stitch in the ditch to finish the other side but actually did it by hand because it gives you a nicer finish.  (I thought I was inept because I couldn't get it to look right)
7. And last but Not least I learned how to end the binding properly. 

I am hoping to get to work on the binding for the quilt this week.  I feel much more encouraged after watching that single episode.  I would have started it yesterday but spent the day at my husband's company picnic and then we started planting the garden (larger than most people's yards but hey I married a farm boy) Today we had church and then a hospital tower dedication.   Then it is back to working on the garden.  I am hoping to do some work on the quilt tomorrow.  If I can find the time. 

Crafting , the Cure All for Stress. Maybe not

I am a crafter through and through.  If it is a craft I dabble in it , want to dabble in it or just don't know about it yet.  I LOVE being creative.  So it stands to reason that for me Crafting is fun, and since it is fun, it is a great stress reliever.   My mother was not much of a crafter.  Oh she could do most things but she didn't enjoy it.  She never thought of herself as creative.  For her crafting was stressful.  She did it but she never enjoyed it.  That is sad to me because I love it so.  Mom and I shared crafting experiences and it was a tie we had.  But it was not a cure for stress for Mom. 

Since my last post we have had a traumatic situation in our home.  Tatianna's (my 19yr old daughter) conversion disorder reared it's ugly head and she passed out from an overload of stress.  While this is traumatic at the time it usually goes away right away.  This time, however, when she came to she did not know who she was or who anyone else was.  The stress level in our home has been through the roof.  I have been working on a quilt and my husband has been working on stones ( his stress reliever).  Tatianna remembers everything from the time she woke up in the Hospital, has accepted that we are her family and is trying to recover her memories.  She has had a few flashes of memory come back to her.  We need to find a way for her to destress. 

I am reintroducing her to sewing and jewelry making but while working full time I am limited in what I can get accomplished.  Tatianna in the mean time is stuck at home trying to figure out who she is.  This week I am going to help her get back going on her quilt.  She has about 1/3rd of the top to sew,  then maybe next weekend we can buy some backing and batting and put it on a frame to tie it.

Tatianna and I went to the Down the Street Bead Show in Havana, FL.  It was smaller than ever and some of the regulars weren't even there.  The one vendor I really wanted to buy from wasn't there.  Oh well it will be back in 6 months.  I did buy some pretty beads and wire.  Tatianna bought some stuff as well.  She is going to lay it all out and decide how to put it together this week. 

I hope Tatianna takes after me and finds that crafting is fun and maybe just maybe it will relieve some of her stress. I want her to remember it and love it as much as I do.  I hope that it will also help her to regain some more memories.  A lot of her memories of me would revolve around crafts.   So we are trying (not so patiently) to see if crafting is a stress reliever for her.  Everyone Cross your fingers.

Rearranging Things

My Hubby was home sick a couple of days this week.  Thursday I came home to a rearranged studio.  (Also known as our living room)

We had moved from a very large house (in Utah) into a double wide trailer when we moved to Georgia in 2008.  We also got rid of a lot of furniture. (mostly hand me downs that were past their use) Our living room, for the longest time, only had a couch, a desk and a table in it.  Since I had no place else to sew and craft I was doing it in the living room.  I basically made  1/2 the living room a craft studio.  Everything was on one wall and we could still entertain in there.  I was being very careful to keep the area neat.

In 2010 when I came back from my Mother's funeral (her death was very hard on my husband) my Hubby had rearranged things.  He had just started faceting stones at this time.  He took the table and set it perpendicular to the wall on a 90 degree angle to my desk.  The couch was no longer accessible.  The living room had become our studio.  I added a couple more small book shelves to house my stuff and gave up on the idea of trying to keep it neat.  Entertaining was out all together.

This fall we had to move a freezer into the dining room.  Then we added a computer into the dining room now every room is over crowded.  Kim and I were starting to get into each other's way.  Not a good thing.  Then Killian (16 yr old son) finally started cleaning his room.  His bed was shot so Killian took the futon from the family room for a bed.  The couch moved to the family room.  Kim took his deer heads to the taxidermist and we emptied the freezer.  We had bought a new one so that freezer which is not dependable is going bye bye. 

Now Kim (hubby) sees that he can move some stuff around and there will be room for a quilting frame.  So when I get home he has moves his table over and it is blocking one of my shelves. The only problem with his arrangement is some stuff is not accessible.  I have not worked on any projects because I am still working on the room arrangement.  I have moved on shelf and have plans for moving the other. My desk is covered and I need to get things placed on it so I can work on it.  I also cleaned up the craft storage area in my bedroom. I will get my desk cleared up and work on my chevron strips later this afternoon though.

We are moving things around in other rooms as well.  I am looking forward to having a more functional space that won't have hubby and me bumping into each other. I love to be able to come home and craft for a few minutes (hours) each evening.  This should work out well for all of us.

All Fabric is NOT Created Equal

Don't get me wrong I am not a fabric snob.  I am not one of those people who feel that quilts can only be made from 100% quilt cotton.  Nor do I think it is a waste of time to sew a dress out of cotton poly blends.  I am one of the first to buy cheap fabric for beginners to sew on because I don't expect it to turn out perfect and won't be sad about wasted investments.  I am just saying there are fabrics and then there are fabrics.

While recovering from Bronchitis this week I grabbed some fabric scraps to play with.  These are fabric strips that I was given by a friend.  she bought them online thinking she would use them for a quilt.  Then she ended up moving out of state.  I had just thrown the bags of strips in a drawer and not given them much thought.  I thought I would do some chevron strips for a change of pace. 

Well it turns out that the 2"x 4" cotton strips were not actually cotton.  There was a mix of several types of fabrics.  It was not what I thought I was going to work with.  The problem is my friend paid good money for these strips so I am going to make them work.  I've got 5 - 60" Chevron strips pieced and will keep piecing until I use them up.  I just won't be putting a lot of money into the rest of the fabric for the quilt.

So Back to the Topic All Fabric is NOT Created Equal.  When purchasing fabric make sure it is suitable for your project.  I would not make a quilt of sheer fabric anymore that make a fancy dress out of Burlap.  If you are going to use scraps for a quilt use like weights and types of fabric.  My Dad has a quilt on his bed that My Mother in Law made from double knit squares.  That quilt is 23 yrs old.  So a quilt not made out of cotton can last.

Also Let the Buyer Beware,  When I mentioned the fabric strips to my friend, she told me that they had been listed as 100% cotton.  She bought them on EBay, and if they had been 100% quilt cotton and been cut accurately they might have been worth the money she paid for them.  She probably could have gotten her money back if she had even bothered to look at them when she received them.  

I have ordered pre-cut squares on eBay and gotten some good deals.  I've also paid too much for some as well.  But I was fortunate enough to only get good quilt cotton.  My Daughter was not as lucky but still had plenty of usable squares.  When buying online be sure to read descriptions and refund policies.  If using eBay or other auction sites check out the feed back.  It is easy to get taken if you don't do your homework.

Pay attention to what you are buying.  A yard of quilt cotton sells in a store for $7-$10.  Figuring you can get 90 4" square out of a Yard it is foolish to pay $10 for 40 squares.  I realize that the person cutting the fabric should get something for their time but twice the cost is not a deal.  You would be better off buy the fabric and cutting it yourself.  And that way you would know the cuts are accurate.

Remember your finished project will only be as good as your materials and prep work.

Bronchitis and Crafting

Despite my best efforts to prevent it, I got sick.  On Monday February 20th @ 7:22pm I felt my chest tighten up and my throat dry out.  All at once.  I vigorously fought it off with NyQuil and sleep when not at work.  DayQuil and Caffeine while at work.   Friday Morning it felt like there was carbonation in my lungs. I had to give up and go to the doctor.  The Diagnoses, Bronchitis. After picking up prescriptions for and inhaler and 5 daily doses of prednisone I went home to sleep.  Problem was I couldn't lay down without coughing.  I napped briefly in the recliner.  Learned how to use the inhaler and basically vegged in front of the TV.  I just couldn't do anything else.

Saturday, I figured if I had to sit up to be comfortable I might as well be playing with my new machine.  So I unpacked my new sewing machine.  I read the manual and set it up.  Now what to do with it?  I really didn't feel like cutting anything out.  Since I wasn't feeling well I didn't want to work on anything I cared about.  I also didn't want to take on anything to complicated.  BUT I DID WANT TO SEW ON MY NEW MACHINE!!!!!

Then it hit me, I had a bunch of 4 inch squares.  Much to my 19 yr old daughter's dismay, I started another quilt project.  I grabbed stack of black and white squares and a stack of colored print squares and started matching them up.  I then turned them into four patch squares.  At this point I was too tired to continue so I napped in the recliner again.  That evening I took to trimming and squaring up the blocks.  I ended cutting them down to 7 inch blocks.  Two factors that I hadn't taken into account.  One because I was ill, my seams were not quite as straight as I would have liked.  And Two I hadn't cut these squares.  Some were not very square.  Still between Saturday night and Sunday morning I had them all trimmed. 

Now to lay them out,  I wanted this quilt to be a very random scrappy type of quilt.  So time to get out the design board.  Otherwise know as a flannel backed table cloth.  I laid it out on my bed since I don't have any walls that I can easily tape it too.  (Too many bookshelves, something I hope to remedy some day)  I laid out the blocks as they came to the top of the pile.  Then I tried to move them so that two of the same fabric weren't touching and the colors were spread out evenly.  After several attempts I called in the 19 yr old daughter and had her do a little rearranging.  With a layout set, I started sewing together the quadrants.  Except I got some of the blocks turned around.  Oh well it is suppose to be random and scrappy right?  I ended up with a nice looking little quilt top.  I didn't have any fabric to put a border on or back it with nor any batting or I would have finished it on Monday.  But when I get the borders on and finish it off it will be 45" X 60" a nice size little throw that I basically made in a weekend despite being sick or may be because I was sick.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1) Not everyone understands the need for accuracy in cutting fabric.  If the project is important to you, do the cutting yourself. I am sure that in doing fabric exchanges with other quilters you would be fine as well.  Quilters understand the need to be precise.  I was glad that I hadn't bought these squares with a project in mind.  I would have been devastated not to have had it turn out the way I wanted it too. 

2) Being Miserable Crafting beats being Miserable Bored.  I had to sit up to breathe and I couldn't do much of anything, Sewing was logical.  It took my mind off the discomfort and even energised me a little.  Plus it was a wonderful feeling to get something accomplished.

2nd Craftsy Meet Up

We had our second meet up yesterday.  We had four all together.  I showed the other three how to make earrings.  But I forgot to bring the ear wires.  Fortunately I was able to make some.  So Glad that Rhonda Stevens of "Twists N Turns"  had taught me how.  We even planned next month's meeting.  We will meet in Havana, FL to go to the Down the Street Bead Show and then out to lunch at one of the local cafes.  I am loking forward to this next meet up as well.  I have already invited my friend Janice to join us.

In the past two weeks I've gotten a couple of things done.  I leanred how to do the square stitch using seed beads.  I've even invested in some supplies to play with it some more.  I made 2 bracelets the first week.  I plan to get directions for the peyote stitch and the brick stitch as well.  I think I can figure some of these out if I can find the directions online.

I did get the taxes done finally.  We even got the state refund back already.  I was disappointed that the federal isn't going to be back for 10 more days.  Anyway I did get my sewing machine on Friday.  It is sitting on my desk, still in it's box.  It is creating all sorts of excitement for my girls.  I am holding off opening it until I can sit and sew on it.  I just haven't figured out what project I want to do first.

Meanwhile I am reading all of th sides on the box.  I may open it to get the manual out tomorrow so I can read that.  I am a firm believer in reading the manual before using a sewing machine.  Something I can't seem to get through to 4-H leaders.  So glad that my girls have read the manuals to all of our machines.

I would like to get my sewing stuff organized before I take the new machine out,  That will be a major undertaking.  It seems most of my tools and supplies are scattered through out the house.  By virtue of this house being so small, placing it in several rooms helps keep the house tidy.  Except the house is never tidy and I can't put my hands on my suypplies.  Time to rethink and stratgize.  This may take the whole family to figure out.

Next several Months are going to be busy at work.  I am hoping that I can come home and sew to relieve stress.  That means I need to make sewing as stress free as possible,  Organization here we come.

I am hoping Debbie, our craftsy leader, will teach a quilt type class in April.  We could all bring her fabric and she use her GO BABY to cut the patterns and demo a quilt block.  We take out pieces home and bring back the finished pillow or block the next month.  I am wanting to quilt.

Well lots to do to make progress on the house.  So I better get to it.

Sad Day

I was quite busy with work this week.  It is amazing how I have more to do even though the lines are not really running.  I did very little crafting.  Mostly piddled around with new project ideas.  Yes I know.  I have so many UFPs (unfinished projects) that it is silly to find some more.  Especially since I didn't even do my inventory of fabric & sewing supplies yet.  A week without crafting leaves me a little depressed.

I went to a diabetes seminar on Thursday night and learned quite a bit.  Before the seminar I stopped in a store to pick up a notepad.  I ended up picking up 2 quilt magazines as well.  They are the projects I mentioned earlier. That and the Craftsy Block of the Month.  I had a little bit of inspiration but was still kind of down.


I did the responsible thing on Saturday.  I had told my husband that I wanted to spend Saturday sewing. Instead of sewing or crafting, I actually went through all of the stacks of papers that have been piling up (for a year) and then I filed it all.  Plus I started the taxes.  I was being a good girl but had planned to start sewing in the evening.

While I was working on this miserable task, resenting it the whole time, my son texted me.  His ex-girlfriend and he were expecting a baby in September.  She miscarried.  My son is pretty torn up over it.  The sweet young woman is also suffering.  This would have been her 4th child.  She unfortunately is not close to much of her family and I am afraid that she does not have much of a support circle.  I found myself being very sad over the whole thing.  I worry about the mother.  I can't imagine the pain of losing a child even early in the pregnancy.

I do not approve of pre & extra marital sex.  I believe that sex is asacred and intimate act.  I feel that it has been polluted by the casual attitudes of our society.  I was less than happy my son was living with the girl even though I really like her.  Their break up was bad and took place before the pregnancy came to light. 

My son said He understands why "God" ended the pregnancy.  He said that he and Kim couldn't be nice to each other and there was no way they could raise that child in a healthy environment together.  Still I know he is hurting and I am sure so is she.  I take comfort in my sons words.  For the little heathen that he tries to be, he has a good understanding of God's love for all of his children but especially the innocent babes.

I am just trying to get things together and not dwell on it.  I am sad for the loss of a child but am glad that the child did not come to earth into an unhappy / unhealthy home.  I will pray for my son and the mother.  I hope they will heal quickly over this but doubt they will.

Craftsy Meetup Bust. - NOT GIVING UP!

I had so looked forward to the World Wide Craftsty Meetup.  Debbie Moore and I planned a simple gathering with a little jewelry class, a door prize and a meal.  Mostly we wanted to get some women together who craft.  We were hoping to develop some new friendships.  The Meetup was suppose to be last Thursday @ 5:30pm.  Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to throw a huge thunderstorm at us that night.  Debbie and I were the only ones who made it.  We had a nice chat and a nice meal and planned next month's meeting.  WE ARE NOT GIVING UP.

We had a new neighbor move in.  She is a quilter/crafter.  I am going to invite her to join the group.

I didn't do much this week.  Made my name tag for the meet up and prepared my class.  I got a few Kumi cord done and prepped a cab for wrapping.   I think I need to do some sewing.  I am not very inspired to do jewelry right now.  I love it when it is done but having trouble getting inspired and motivated.  Same with knitting.

I think I will try to bind the 2 quilts this week and work on another one.  Also need to do January's Block of the Month on the Craftsy site.  February's will be ready Wednesday.  maybe I'll do those blocks and then bind the quilts.  I do have lots of projects to get finished.  There is that BOM I started 2 years ago and never finished.  Maybe if I finish a few of those off I will feel less crowded in my craft area. 

Still haven't taken inventory of what I have. Nor have I organized it.  The jewelry stuff is the most organized stuff which is probably why I've been doing it the most.  I Like to be able to put my hands on things when I am working.  So I need to get going on the organization.  I need to set things up like I have for the jewelry.  I just turn and grab.  I am just not sure how to make that happen.

I have heard all crafty people are disorganized but I don't believe it.  I think most of us have clutter but that we prefer it to be organized.  I find that when things are neat and easily accessible I feel more like doing things.  I am also more inspired.  But I hate putting stuff away.  I probably wouldn't mind it so much if I had some storage but we are overly crowded into this little house.  I am not sure what I have where any more.

I am trying to rope my daughters into helping with the organization.  Tatianna has a knack for it.  But she is studying very hard in Nursing school.  TaKayren is Busy with NJROTC and Perigrine is....well just a little flighty.  So I need to get myself focused. 

Wish me luck.

Excitement and Disappointment (everything in between)

Crazy week.  I have been coming down with a cold for about a month now and it hit hard Wednesday night.  So I can't deny it anymore I am sick.  My boss sent me home Friday and I slept the afternoon away. 

I had planned to spend Saturday in bed but my teenage girls had a Young Woman's activity.  If we hadn't had to take another girl, my older daughter Tatianna would have taken them.  But we needed to pick up another girl or she wouldn't get to go.  It isn't that we thought there could be problems it is just that in the world today, you really do need 2 deep leadership to protect everyone.  It was a nice program for the girls dealing with glamour and inner beauty.  But a 3 hr program/dinner and 3 hrs of driving made it a long day. Now I am paying for the adventure today.

While at the activity, I got a conference call from my daughter and my son's ex girlfriend.  Long story short, Girlfriend expecting my 5th grandchild, daughter being supportive, Son being a prick.  I was so hoping that my son was shaping up/growing up. 

He is my problem child.  He got into drugs and we started throwing him out when he was 16.  One of the hardest things I ever had to do.  He stole to support his habit and has been in trouble with the law since he was 12.  Spent time in prison for drugs.  He has multiple piercings and tattoos but can't figure out why people won't hire him. 

Now I am worried about the welfare of my unborn grandchild and it's mother.  Poor Kimberly has 3 kids already and is struggling to raise them.  Being a single Mom of 3, working grave yard shift and being pregnant is not really a good mix.

My hubby has been working on stones this week,  It is good to see him working on stuff he likes.  He is also working a new cabochon for me.   The down side is that I can't sew.  I have to do quiet work because Kim has to be able to hear the stones grinding.  I did work on a couple of Kumi braids and am starting to wrap a glass cabochon.  That is when I am not sleeping or working. 

TaKayren needs a sort formal for the NJROTC ball on the 11th.  She found one online for $100.  I couldn't make it for less than $80 even if I could find a decent/modest pattern.  So I need to figure out how to squeeze $100 out of an already strained budget.  Not going to be easy.

Tatianna was tasked coming up with make it and take it crafts for a YSA conference in February.  We are thinking cards, origami, and earrings for the girls and tie tacks for the boys.  Also the idea of taking the girls immodest clothing and creating a quilt from it has been put out there.  I may be having to go help with this conference the second weekend in Feb.

I am so looking forward to our first craftsy group meet up.  I will be teaching a simple earring class.  We will be having a potluck dinner and getting to know each other.  I WILL be feeling better for this. I need to figure out how to decorate my name tag, prep for the class, and what I will take for the pot luck. 

Too much too, do not enough time, and too little energy.  Yep that is my standard operating procedure.

Friday the 13th, Marriage & UFPs

Wow, time is still flying by.  Kim and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary on Friday. It was kind of a super anniversary.  We were married on Friday the 13th and have had 23 wonderful years.  8 Kids and 4 grand kids later, we are still trying to figure each other out.  It has been a long struggle at times but well worth it. 

I am blessed to have a husband that supports my crafting addiction.  He never says anything about all the fabric, beads, rubber stamps, yarn or any other supplies.  He just needs to work on praising my work and he'd be about perfect.  Of course I don't hassle him about hunting, fishing or his hobbies either.  We try to support each other in everything.

This week I got some UFP's (unfinished projects) done.  I finally finished off all the Kumihimo Braids that I wove last August.  5 projects done!!!!  I am celebrating.  I also wrapped a crystal that my daughter has had floating around on my desk for months.  I then made a neck wire to hang it on. She hates the neck wire.  She says it feels like a metal shackle around her neck.  I guess I will have to give in and take the crystal off it and make a ribbon for it. i finally wrapped the cabochon for my MIL.  I love it.  I made a Kumihimo cord to hang it on.  I also wrapped another cabochon that my husband had made.  The more I look at it the more I like it.  I made a twisted neck wire for it but it is on the small side.  I may have to redo it.  So 5 UFPs done and 3 projects in waiting started and finished.  Plus I took pictures of all of them. Once I get them saved into folders I'll post some of them.

Well, It is bedtime and I need to get some sleep. Back to work tomorrow.  There is not enough time in the day.

The Holidays Came and Went

It's January and the Holidays are over.  I did not get everything done for the holidays.  Thanksgiving was nice.  Christmas was not our usual Celebration.  Many traditions were just left undone.  I am kind of sad about that.  I am looking for a balance to working, home and sanity(crafting).  I have not found it yet. 

Since I haven't posted since November.  So much has happened.  The old freezer started working and the new freezer stopped working.  We frantically switched all the now thawed meat to the old freezer.  A service call later and both freezers are working.  Which is a good thing since they are about full with venison.  Good thing we like Venison. 

Work has been a bear.  We did finally get a new Tech and She is almost trained.  but with vacations and illness I've put in some long hours.  Oh and now my Boss has been sick as well. 


I did get the face cloths and head bands done and the girls loved them.  I made little possible bags for Kim and Killian which I put a few cheap basic tools in for them to have on hand.  I didn't get any of the packages mailed nor gifts for the grand kids made.  I will have to get the candy etc sent off this month.  Time just got away from me.  Money also.  I haven't felt this broke for a long time.

At least I have plenty of stashes to use while we cut back on everything.  I noticed a free Block of the Month on the Craftsy.com.  I think I will do it.  Just that I will do it from scraps not buy the 36 fat quarter set.    I need to start using up fabric.  I realized the other day just how much I have in the various bins.  I know I have some white fabric just not sure if it's enough for the the whole series.

Lack of motivation has been my biggest problem. I just don't want to do anything. And when I do feel like doing something it takes to much effort just to pull things together. My stashes are spread out though the whole house so getting my hands on supplies tends to be a whole afternoon and then I am out of time to work on it. I do need to fell less strung out. I really want my own craft studio. I would love to get one of those really big wooden storage sheds and set it on a concrete slab. Then put in electricity, heat, air and a little powder room. Finish off the walls really nice and have skylights and or really big windows for natural light. I could have all my supplies in one place and some privacy or maybe I mean solitude to work on my projects.

Plus No one would be allowed in there with out me. I sat down to wire wrap a cabochon my husband made and couldn't find it. We wanted to send it to his mother for Christmas. My daughters had been making their friends Christmas presents and my jewelry stuff was all over the place. So frustrating!!!! I would love to get back to work on some of the Block of the Month quilts I started but can't find the directions. I guess the first thing I need to do is a big reorganization of supplies and projects. Anyone want to come and do it for me?

Craftsy.com is having a world wide meet up on January 26th.  There is a group meeting in Tallahassee.  Debbie Moore is hosting it.  I am excited to be going.  It will be a pot luck and we will have an ice breaker and a earring class (i am teaching the class) and a basic get to know each other.  I am hoping that we get a nice little monthly group together.  And that we will switch to a Saturday to meet.   If we have a Saturday afternoon to meet we can do a lot more.

Well bills to pay and house work to be done.  I'll start on some new project or maybe finish a few old ones and get some pictures to post.