This morning I measured all the walls and doors and windows in the family room. I also measured some of the furniture and office equipment. I set up a room diagram of the family room as it exists now. Tomorrow DH will be asked to help me with the remaining measurements. Friday I had the 36 hours flu and today he had it. So much for my plans for this weekend. But I still had successes.
This evening I catalogued all my magazines that I currently have scattered about the house and put them into the magazine holders that I bought at IKEA. I have filled eleven of them so far and still have more to go. I also catalogued my printed quilt patterns from various websites that have free patterns. I guess I am showing my age as well as my mistrust of computers when I have to have paper instead of saving to a hard drive. I have had my share of computer problems and don't really trust them. And this is from a computer professional of almost 40 years. I still know that a machine can freeze up and then where are you left?
I also have shredded several documents that are no longer needed for tax or government purposes. Since none of the companies that I have started are in business and the statute of limitations with the IRS is past as well as with the Department of Transportation I can destroy all my records. I will have five or six four drawer file cabinets available for all my sewing and quilting records. AND I won't have to dust them either!
Have a great day, Karen
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday Evening
Surprise: I have more magazines about quilting than I thought I had. I was clearing off a chair in the dinning room that I set various "stuff" on at the end of each day and I discovered almost 20 issues of various quilting magazines. I am in seventh heaven!
EQ6 has a free software program to use as a database and I am cataloging my quilting books in one database and my quilting magazines in another database. Looks like I will have some data entry to do this weekend.
This is the beginning of a three day weekend. I have informed DH that I have planned out the entire weekend. It may be selfish, but sometimes caregivers need to do exactly that even if they are not on a respite. (For those who do not know what a respite is, it is time away from caregiving with no responsibilities but to take care of yourself. It is a time for reflection, healing and rest.)
I will digress only this far. Yesterday I had an appointment with my primary care physician. He treats me and DH. I told him about my quilt neighborhood group and how they had told me I am no longer welcome in their group. My doctor said, "Tell them to go to H---. They have no idea what you are going through. Until they have to deal with what you are handling they have no right to make any statement or to treat you with disrespect."
Have a great day, Karen
EQ6 has a free software program to use as a database and I am cataloging my quilting books in one database and my quilting magazines in another database. Looks like I will have some data entry to do this weekend.
This is the beginning of a three day weekend. I have informed DH that I have planned out the entire weekend. It may be selfish, but sometimes caregivers need to do exactly that even if they are not on a respite. (For those who do not know what a respite is, it is time away from caregiving with no responsibilities but to take care of yourself. It is a time for reflection, healing and rest.)
I will digress only this far. Yesterday I had an appointment with my primary care physician. He treats me and DH. I told him about my quilt neighborhood group and how they had told me I am no longer welcome in their group. My doctor said, "Tell them to go to H---. They have no idea what you are going through. Until they have to deal with what you are handling they have no right to make any statement or to treat you with disrespect."
Have a great day, Karen
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday and sorting
Yesterday during lunch I reviewed two more of my back issue quilting magazines. It is amazing how many ideas we can come up with when using the inspiration of other quilters. Sometimes it is an unusual color combination and sometimes it is a technique that we had never experienced. I am blessed by the quilter's before me and I know it.
Last night I availed myself of several quilt patterns that are free on the Internet. I am in the process of deciding what project to take to a retreat that I will be attending in October. Since my time between now and the retreat will be taken up in quilting and binding several baby quilts I feel that several small projects that will give me completions would be the best choice.
Oh, and I will take one large project that I can wonder over at the same time. If I finish the small projects then I will have something very new to start. How exciting. I cannot wait to see my friends that I made at the retreat last year. I am looking forward to catching up with their lives.
Today at work I am setting up all the necessary database tables to track claims from Tropical Storm Fay. After that I will be documenting everything I have done so that the auditors can review the project. What used to take 30 minutes to do now takes about four hours to document. Such is the insurance industry and the government.
Have a great day, Karen
Last night I availed myself of several quilt patterns that are free on the Internet. I am in the process of deciding what project to take to a retreat that I will be attending in October. Since my time between now and the retreat will be taken up in quilting and binding several baby quilts I feel that several small projects that will give me completions would be the best choice.
Oh, and I will take one large project that I can wonder over at the same time. If I finish the small projects then I will have something very new to start. How exciting. I cannot wait to see my friends that I made at the retreat last year. I am looking forward to catching up with their lives.
Today at work I am setting up all the necessary database tables to track claims from Tropical Storm Fay. After that I will be documenting everything I have done so that the auditors can review the project. What used to take 30 minutes to do now takes about four hours to document. Such is the insurance industry and the government.
Have a great day, Karen
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday and Quilting Magazines
Tuesday I spent most of my lunch hour and evening reading quilt magazines. I have started to purchase back issues of various magazines on e-bay and have found some really delightful patterns and ideas to branch out into my own designs. What a delight to have the time to spend pursuing my love of quilting.
Just have time for a brief note. Tropical storm Fay has finally been declared a catastrophic loss and I have to do my thing for our insurance company so that we can report our claims and set aside our reserves. The insured must come first.
Have a great day, Karen
Just have time for a brief note. Tropical storm Fay has finally been declared a catastrophic loss and I have to do my thing for our insurance company so that we can report our claims and set aside our reserves. The insured must come first.
Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday and Quilting
I had so much fun last night. I spent the entire evening going through quilting books that I had checked out from inter-library loan. Four dealt with longarm quilting. Two on purchasing a longarm machine and frame and two on how to set up your own quilting business. Having had three businesses of my own in the past I was checking up on the differences between them and quilting. Did you know that if you earn more than $400 per year in quilting services you have to include it in your income tax? I never knew that before. Also, if you want to charge off your expenses you have to set up a business and keep books and file a separate income tax for the business as well as your personal income tax. All information for me to file away for the future. I do know that I will not do any quilting for money until after I have retired from the insurance business. One job at a time is all I want in my life right now.
Along with the longarm quilting books I also looked at two that deal with fat quarters as the basis for quilts. They were very interesting and I may purchase these two books in the future. In the meantime I am getting most of my quilt patterns from my quilt magazine subscriptions, back issues of quilt magazines that I am purchasing from E-Bay and the Internet. There are so many free quilt designs on the Internet that I may never purchase another quilt book. Not!
I am super busy at work today, so will have to cut this short.
Have a nice day, Karen
Along with the longarm quilting books I also looked at two that deal with fat quarters as the basis for quilts. They were very interesting and I may purchase these two books in the future. In the meantime I am getting most of my quilt patterns from my quilt magazine subscriptions, back issues of quilt magazines that I am purchasing from E-Bay and the Internet. There are so many free quilt designs on the Internet that I may never purchase another quilt book. Not!
I am super busy at work today, so will have to cut this short.
Have a nice day, Karen
Monday, August 25, 2008
Childhood
I was just thinking about my childhood. Raised as an only child with parents that were unable to show emotions, but were always ready to fight I think I turned into my parents at an early age. I can sink myself so deeply into a book or a craft like quilting that I am unaware of my surroundings.
To escape reality in this way is both good and bad. Good because I can go to a zone where I am content and relaxed and the worries of the day are forgotten. Bad because I do not face reality and do not interact with those I love the most. I think I need a doorbell on my zone.
I certainly was handed a wake up call by some of my guild members. I cannot call them friends any longer, but I will admit that I have gotten to know them much better than I would have liked to. They have pointed out my faults to the Nth degree and have made the choice to isolate from me until I change my attitude. Being that I am 60 years old and rather set in my ways, change is difficult to say the least. Right now I am thinking over my opportunities and deciding what I am going to do. I probably will not post my decisions, but, then that is my option.
The old rhyme below sort of sums up what I have been thinking:
Monday's child is fair of face.
Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving.
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
I am a Friday's child. I was born on Good Friday at 1:20 A.M. To think that I was born on the day that Christians honor the memory of Christ being nailed to a cross to there suffer and die is awesome. I am so fortunate to have a Saviour that knows me through and through and is willing to forgive me for my sins and offer me a way to salvation. My spiritual life is becoming more and more a part of my daily and hourly thoughts. Forgiveness was so hard when I was young. I wanted to get even with anyone who hurt me. Now after 60 years I know that forgiveness is the easiest thing to do. Giving God the choice of how He will handle wrongs against me and how he will lead me down the path of righteousness is a blessing. I do not have to do anything but follow his lead. He will make sure that the path is laid in front of me and gives me the choice to follow. May I always follow the path to His glory.
Have a great day, Karen
To escape reality in this way is both good and bad. Good because I can go to a zone where I am content and relaxed and the worries of the day are forgotten. Bad because I do not face reality and do not interact with those I love the most. I think I need a doorbell on my zone.
I certainly was handed a wake up call by some of my guild members. I cannot call them friends any longer, but I will admit that I have gotten to know them much better than I would have liked to. They have pointed out my faults to the Nth degree and have made the choice to isolate from me until I change my attitude. Being that I am 60 years old and rather set in my ways, change is difficult to say the least. Right now I am thinking over my opportunities and deciding what I am going to do. I probably will not post my decisions, but, then that is my option.
The old rhyme below sort of sums up what I have been thinking:
Monday's child is fair of face.
Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving.
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
I am a Friday's child. I was born on Good Friday at 1:20 A.M. To think that I was born on the day that Christians honor the memory of Christ being nailed to a cross to there suffer and die is awesome. I am so fortunate to have a Saviour that knows me through and through and is willing to forgive me for my sins and offer me a way to salvation. My spiritual life is becoming more and more a part of my daily and hourly thoughts. Forgiveness was so hard when I was young. I wanted to get even with anyone who hurt me. Now after 60 years I know that forgiveness is the easiest thing to do. Giving God the choice of how He will handle wrongs against me and how he will lead me down the path of righteousness is a blessing. I do not have to do anything but follow his lead. He will make sure that the path is laid in front of me and gives me the choice to follow. May I always follow the path to His glory.
Have a great day, Karen
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Update
Friday evening I finished the top from the 2nd baby "Trip Around the World". I matched it up with the backing fabric I will be using. I then matched up the 1st baby "Trip Around the World" with it's backing fabric as well. I also matched up two other finished tops for baby quilts with their backing. That is four baby quilts that will have to be quilted. I think piecing of tops will have to wait for quilting and binding.
Saturday was spent with my MIL and our extended family. I had a chance to get better acquainted with my step grand daughter Brandy Jo and her half brother Austin as well. They are two very well brought up children. Shortly my step son will be the proud grandfather of four. His oldest step daughter is due any day. He is only 29 and a grandfather already. He always said he wanted a large family and he certainly does.
James and Charles have finally bounded as adults. I am so happy that this has happened. And to think they did it over a over heating battery in Charles car???
Last night was race night and we watched the NASCAR race at Bristol. I fell asleep before the race ended and right now I have no idea who one. That will have to wait until I have time to sign on to the NASCAR website.
I have photos of my existing family room for before pictures. Unfortunately I am having trouble uploading them to my PC. That will have to wait until some evening this week.
Today is laundry, family room and misc. I cannot wait until the 8th of September when my one-on-one with Myrna starts. Three months with an expert at designing a quilting studio. What an honor!
Have to get to my Sunday chores.
Have a great day, Karen
Saturday was spent with my MIL and our extended family. I had a chance to get better acquainted with my step grand daughter Brandy Jo and her half brother Austin as well. They are two very well brought up children. Shortly my step son will be the proud grandfather of four. His oldest step daughter is due any day. He is only 29 and a grandfather already. He always said he wanted a large family and he certainly does.
James and Charles have finally bounded as adults. I am so happy that this has happened. And to think they did it over a over heating battery in Charles car???
Last night was race night and we watched the NASCAR race at Bristol. I fell asleep before the race ended and right now I have no idea who one. That will have to wait until I have time to sign on to the NASCAR website.
I have photos of my existing family room for before pictures. Unfortunately I am having trouble uploading them to my PC. That will have to wait until some evening this week.
Today is laundry, family room and misc. I cannot wait until the 8th of September when my one-on-one with Myrna starts. Three months with an expert at designing a quilting studio. What an honor!
Have to get to my Sunday chores.
Have a great day, Karen
Friday, August 22, 2008
Cub Scout Vest
Today I spent my lunch hour finishing attaching patches to my grandson's Cub Scout Vest. For someone who has only been in scouts for 12 months that kid has so many patches my fingers are sore from sewing them on. They must use some of the hardest plastic in some of these patches. But Gramma loves the responsibility of putting them on. It is one way I can show him how much I care.
DD told me that there will be some more patches soon. I cannot wait. I love to put them on for Jeremy.
Tomorrow will have very little to do with quilting. We are going to visit my MIL in Falmouth. My DH youngest son, wife and daughter are supposed to be visiting at the same time. I will have to keep the two men apart. They do not get along well. DH son has a difficult past and it keeps coming up again and again. I hope that someday he grows up to be the man his father is.
DH has so many wonderful qualities and it is a shame to see them disappearing into his dementia. It is hard to deal with loosing someone while they are still there. I think I said this once before, but it bears repeating. I am loosing my soul mate and at some time he will forget who he is and who I am. A veil of tears.
Unless you have gone through this you cannot begin to imagine the fear and sorrow and anger that courses through me. I want to fix it but I cannot do a d... thing about it. I know that we all will die some day, but what a horrible way to go and how hard on the family. My MIL watches DH like a hawk. She cannot believe what she sees when we visit. Her heart is breaking just like mine is. Sometimes all I want to do is strike out at everyone around me and make them see that I am falling apart in side. All they see is the anger and it pushes them away. Why oh why cannot friends be friends when you need them most?
I need something happy to think and talk about. I got another e-mail from Myrna today. She is in the process of setting up the first lesson for the Studio Makeover. Until then I have 16 days to get my family room ready for the invasion of the major alteration it will be under going. Wonder what the garbage man will think on Monday? And then again on the following Monday? And finally on the last Monday before my class starts. I hope that a lot of what goes out will be recycled. That it will not end up in the land fill.
There are several project that I want to complete before the end of September. Wish me luck as I work on my UFO list and complete things.
Love you all, and have a great weekend. Karen
DD told me that there will be some more patches soon. I cannot wait. I love to put them on for Jeremy.
Tomorrow will have very little to do with quilting. We are going to visit my MIL in Falmouth. My DH youngest son, wife and daughter are supposed to be visiting at the same time. I will have to keep the two men apart. They do not get along well. DH son has a difficult past and it keeps coming up again and again. I hope that someday he grows up to be the man his father is.
DH has so many wonderful qualities and it is a shame to see them disappearing into his dementia. It is hard to deal with loosing someone while they are still there. I think I said this once before, but it bears repeating. I am loosing my soul mate and at some time he will forget who he is and who I am. A veil of tears.
Unless you have gone through this you cannot begin to imagine the fear and sorrow and anger that courses through me. I want to fix it but I cannot do a d... thing about it. I know that we all will die some day, but what a horrible way to go and how hard on the family. My MIL watches DH like a hawk. She cannot believe what she sees when we visit. Her heart is breaking just like mine is. Sometimes all I want to do is strike out at everyone around me and make them see that I am falling apart in side. All they see is the anger and it pushes them away. Why oh why cannot friends be friends when you need them most?
I need something happy to think and talk about. I got another e-mail from Myrna today. She is in the process of setting up the first lesson for the Studio Makeover. Until then I have 16 days to get my family room ready for the invasion of the major alteration it will be under going. Wonder what the garbage man will think on Monday? And then again on the following Monday? And finally on the last Monday before my class starts. I hope that a lot of what goes out will be recycled. That it will not end up in the land fill.
There are several project that I want to complete before the end of September. Wish me luck as I work on my UFO list and complete things.
Love you all, and have a great weekend. Karen
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Studio Makeover
I paid and signed up for the Studio Makeover class being offered by Myrna Giesbrecht last week. Today I got an e-mail from Myrna informing me that she is taking the class another step and will be offering it one-on-one for three months at a time. Since I had already signed up I will get it at the original price. I was blown away. Of course I immediately replied that I was more than willing to take the class in the new format.
Now comes the hard part. I have always been known as a fast starter and then rarely getting to the finish line. I will have two lessons in one. First will be the sewing room of my dreams. Second will be learning a new pattern of behavior. At 60 years of age learning anything is very interesting and to change a behavior is even more challenging. I look forward with excitement and concern.
I still have to completely empty my family room in preparation for this undertaking. I will be taking before and after pictures...but I don't know that I will share all of them with you. I definitely will share the photos as the studio takes form from the empty room to the completed room. I have a photo album somewhere on webshots. At least I think that is where it is. I will do some searching and that will probably be where my photos will end up.
Enough for now. Have a great day, Karen
Now comes the hard part. I have always been known as a fast starter and then rarely getting to the finish line. I will have two lessons in one. First will be the sewing room of my dreams. Second will be learning a new pattern of behavior. At 60 years of age learning anything is very interesting and to change a behavior is even more challenging. I look forward with excitement and concern.
I still have to completely empty my family room in preparation for this undertaking. I will be taking before and after pictures...but I don't know that I will share all of them with you. I definitely will share the photos as the studio takes form from the empty room to the completed room. I have a photo album somewhere on webshots. At least I think that is where it is. I will do some searching and that will probably be where my photos will end up.
Enough for now. Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I digress
Today I need to sit on the pity pot for a while. The last two days have been (deleted expletive)! DH has had two very "bad" days in a row. It caught me off guard. Then he asked me to promise that I would not tell the doctor at our next meeting. He is so out of it that I don't know what to do. He is taking his pills at the wrong time and consequently he is drugged instead of medicated. Then my small quilting group on Mondays totally ignored me last night. I finally left at 8:30. I was the first one to leave, but I was close to crying.
Off the pity pot!
I have almost finished the second Alaska baby quilt. Only three rows to sew on and then the two major sides to sew together. I plan on finishing the top tonight.
Saturday I made a major road trip. Jo Ann's Fabric, Staples, Half Price Books and Meijer's. Polka Dot material...I didn't own a single piece. Sentimental Stitches is starting a polka dot garden so I loaded up on 1/4 yd pieces of each that Jo Ann's had. Along with that I got several pieces of fabric that will work as the backing for my charity quilts and some foam core board to make a design wall in my new studio. Staples was a stop for more color ink cartridges for my printer. I am going through them at the rate of two a month. Half Price Books was just to look for books by Chiaverini and another author. I ended spending $50 on books from idiot's guide to home security to beginning wood working. At Meijer's all I was going to get was two book shelves. I walked out with three book shelves, one computer desk, three lamps, three lamp shades and an African violet for my flower garden in the kitchen window. Wow, what an expensive day!
Myrna Giesbrecht is starting her Studio Makeover classes from her website on September 8. I need to gut the family room before that. After this top is completed the sewing machine is going to be packed up and I am getting to work! I am excited and just a little worried. I have never approached a total renovation of a room before. I guess the class will keep me on the straight and narrow and I will end up with my dream sewing studio in the end.
Have a great day, Karen
Off the pity pot!
I have almost finished the second Alaska baby quilt. Only three rows to sew on and then the two major sides to sew together. I plan on finishing the top tonight.
Saturday I made a major road trip. Jo Ann's Fabric, Staples, Half Price Books and Meijer's. Polka Dot material...I didn't own a single piece. Sentimental Stitches is starting a polka dot garden so I loaded up on 1/4 yd pieces of each that Jo Ann's had. Along with that I got several pieces of fabric that will work as the backing for my charity quilts and some foam core board to make a design wall in my new studio. Staples was a stop for more color ink cartridges for my printer. I am going through them at the rate of two a month. Half Price Books was just to look for books by Chiaverini and another author. I ended spending $50 on books from idiot's guide to home security to beginning wood working. At Meijer's all I was going to get was two book shelves. I walked out with three book shelves, one computer desk, three lamps, three lamp shades and an African violet for my flower garden in the kitchen window. Wow, what an expensive day!
Myrna Giesbrecht is starting her Studio Makeover classes from her website on September 8. I need to gut the family room before that. After this top is completed the sewing machine is going to be packed up and I am getting to work! I am excited and just a little worried. I have never approached a total renovation of a room before. I guess the class will keep me on the straight and narrow and I will end up with my dream sewing studio in the end.
Have a great day, Karen
Friday, August 15, 2008
Oh how I wish I could work on my to do list
Good intentions never accomplished anything. If I don't work in my family room I cannot have my sewing room / studio. Does that make me go down there and work. Nope. I piece my quilt tops instead.
I have given up on trying to make the Trip Around the World a post on my blog. I just forget to take pictures as I go along and take off sewing. Sorry. If anyone wants the instructions and the photos I do have, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.
Last night I got most of the top put together. Once I have it finished I will take the two tops to JoAnn's and get backing and binding fabric for them. The fabrics for the tops are not "baby" fabric so the backs will have to be "baby" fabric!
Big weekend coming up. Two days to work on the house. I would love to give the family room floor a really good SCRUB! It has been too long since it had more than a lick and a promise (if you know what I mean). To do this I will have to put a lot of things out by the street for the garbage man. I have Saturday and Sunday to do this since the garbage man comes early on Monday morning. Wish me luck, please.
My next EQ6 class assignment should be available at 6:00 P.M. EDT this evening. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. If I can finish it tonight then that will leave me all of the rest of the weekend to work on house cleaning.
If you haven't already guessed, I HATE HOUSE CLEANING! I am my own worst enemy as far as this housewifely practice is. I strongly believe in a place for everything and everything in it's place. BUT, I don't have a place for everything I have and therefore do not put away things. I am known as person who is controlled by my stuff instead of me controlling it. I have several books on how to get rid of clutter. That is the problem...too many books about it and I cannot seem to follow the directions.
Enough.
Have a great day, Karen
I have given up on trying to make the Trip Around the World a post on my blog. I just forget to take pictures as I go along and take off sewing. Sorry. If anyone wants the instructions and the photos I do have, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.
Last night I got most of the top put together. Once I have it finished I will take the two tops to JoAnn's and get backing and binding fabric for them. The fabrics for the tops are not "baby" fabric so the backs will have to be "baby" fabric!
Big weekend coming up. Two days to work on the house. I would love to give the family room floor a really good SCRUB! It has been too long since it had more than a lick and a promise (if you know what I mean). To do this I will have to put a lot of things out by the street for the garbage man. I have Saturday and Sunday to do this since the garbage man comes early on Monday morning. Wish me luck, please.
My next EQ6 class assignment should be available at 6:00 P.M. EDT this evening. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. If I can finish it tonight then that will leave me all of the rest of the weekend to work on house cleaning.
If you haven't already guessed, I HATE HOUSE CLEANING! I am my own worst enemy as far as this housewifely practice is. I strongly believe in a place for everything and everything in it's place. BUT, I don't have a place for everything I have and therefore do not put away things. I am known as person who is controlled by my stuff instead of me controlling it. I have several books on how to get rid of clutter. That is the problem...too many books about it and I cannot seem to follow the directions.
Enough.
Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
History strikes again
Yep, I didn't go to the group meeting. Shame on me!
I continued to work on the baby Trip Around the World and cut one piece of the sewn together strips 1/2 inch too long. Just means that I have one less row to fudge with. I have been taking pictures as I go along. Once I figure out how to add pictures to my blog you will be able to watch as I go.
I have started to read one of the three books I bought through Amazon dot com about setting up a sewing room / studio. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. First I have to literally get every piece of furniture and all knick knacks out of the way and start measuring the walls, windows, fireplace and sliding glass doors so I can diagram the layout. I think I may have to throw away a love seat that I have had since 1982. It's in poor shape and I don't have the couch that went with it any more so I won't be too much of a pull on the heart strings.
After I finally get everything cleared out I have to figure where to put my 7 (yes seven) sewing machines. I could keep the one for traveling in it's case, but it is the most modern of all my machines. I will have to think about it. I have purchased several different storage containers and other things to make this studio my own. The Dollar Store and sales at JoAnn's are making this an easy transition.
This evening I think I will plan on spending one hour working on the family room and then reward myself with some more work on the quilt top. I would like to get it finished before the 21st so that I can give it to one of my friends who has a long arm and has offered to layer and quilt my tops for charity. Oh, I do so want my own quilting frame.
I wonder if Uncle Sam will hand out some more money for fuel surcharges and what my IRS refund will be next spring. Maybe I will have enough to get the machine to go with the frame. I am easy to please and don't need the top of the line machine. I requested several books from the inter library loan service in Ohio on long arm machines. One of them even tells you how to set up your own business.
Well, maybe after I retire I can supplement our income with quilting. Who would think I would ever want to go back into business on my own? I have been fighting with DH for years because he wants to start up some kind of business. After two failures in our own businesses I didn't ever plan to do that again. But, with only myself to contend with I might even consider it. We will have to see what the future brings.
I continued to work on the baby Trip Around the World and cut one piece of the sewn together strips 1/2 inch too long. Just means that I have one less row to fudge with. I have been taking pictures as I go along. Once I figure out how to add pictures to my blog you will be able to watch as I go.
I have started to read one of the three books I bought through Amazon dot com about setting up a sewing room / studio. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. First I have to literally get every piece of furniture and all knick knacks out of the way and start measuring the walls, windows, fireplace and sliding glass doors so I can diagram the layout. I think I may have to throw away a love seat that I have had since 1982. It's in poor shape and I don't have the couch that went with it any more so I won't be too much of a pull on the heart strings.
After I finally get everything cleared out I have to figure where to put my 7 (yes seven) sewing machines. I could keep the one for traveling in it's case, but it is the most modern of all my machines. I will have to think about it. I have purchased several different storage containers and other things to make this studio my own. The Dollar Store and sales at JoAnn's are making this an easy transition.
This evening I think I will plan on spending one hour working on the family room and then reward myself with some more work on the quilt top. I would like to get it finished before the 21st so that I can give it to one of my friends who has a long arm and has offered to layer and quilt my tops for charity. Oh, I do so want my own quilting frame.
I wonder if Uncle Sam will hand out some more money for fuel surcharges and what my IRS refund will be next spring. Maybe I will have enough to get the machine to go with the frame. I am easy to please and don't need the top of the line machine. I requested several books from the inter library loan service in Ohio on long arm machines. One of them even tells you how to set up your own business.
Well, maybe after I retire I can supplement our income with quilting. Who would think I would ever want to go back into business on my own? I have been fighting with DH for years because he wants to start up some kind of business. After two failures in our own businesses I didn't ever plan to do that again. But, with only myself to contend with I might even consider it. We will have to see what the future brings.
Monday, August 11, 2008
EQ6 all weekend long -- almost
Friday evening was great! My employeer had Vince Gill and Amy Grant Gill come to the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio just for the employees and agents that were attending the August meetings. It was the first time that all employees and all the August meeting attendees were at a single function together.
Amy was really fantastic. She talked and sang and we got to know more about her as an individual as well as enjoying her songs. What a special lady. She was checking her oldest daughter into college on Friday morning, flew to Cincinnati just for us and was flying back to the college to finish the freshman processing.
Then Vince came on the stage. You just have to love the man. He projects this simple calm down home attitude and then belts out these songs that just go clear to your soul. I loved every minute of his singing and then Amy came out and sang back up to one of his songs as an encore.
This is a fantastic couple and I wish them the best in the years to come. We had quality entertainment for a non-stop hour and 45 minutes. My employeer is the best!
Saturday morning I started my EQ6 Sampler class from Quilt University dot com. What a wonderful class! I started and finished the assignments before lunch and had my homework posted on the gallery website at Q.U. before supper. I finished my EQ6 Mystery Quilt Lessons 1 through 3 and posted them on the EQ6 Mystery Yahoo Group Website. To say I am a little psyched is an understatement.
Sunday evening I got out my sewing machine and started sewing strips for my second baby quilt sized Trip Around the World. I will start taking pictures tonight and taking notes of the process as I go. I will post them here if anyone is interested, feel free!
I was wandering aroung the internet after I finished my EQ6ing and went out to the HGTV website for Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts" videos. Guess what was up first. You will not believe it! Myrna Giesbrecht was her visitor and there were four episodes to watch including a walk through Alex's and Myrna's studios. How great for background on my own studio makeover! So many things are falling into place that I am truly blessed.
I actually attacked some of the chaos in my family room so that I can start on my studio. The crunch to get it finished before September 1 is off. My orthopaedic said I don't need knee replacement as soon as I thought. But the pressure is still on to get my own place to sew and just be calm by myself. Sewing in the living room is a nice way to spend time with DH. But, DH is sleeping most of the time in his easy chair. So much for togetherness.
Tonight is the Caregivers Support Group. I have missed the last two months. I better get my act together and attend tonight! Even if I don't think the meeting help I know that I will need them further down the line. It is called denial and it isn't just a river in Egypt!
I am really leaning towards getting that Grace machine quilting frame. I need more research and to talk to friends in Guild to get feedback. I am thinking and thinking about this. I will not leap before I really can justify the expense!
Have a nice day, Karen
Amy was really fantastic. She talked and sang and we got to know more about her as an individual as well as enjoying her songs. What a special lady. She was checking her oldest daughter into college on Friday morning, flew to Cincinnati just for us and was flying back to the college to finish the freshman processing.
Then Vince came on the stage. You just have to love the man. He projects this simple calm down home attitude and then belts out these songs that just go clear to your soul. I loved every minute of his singing and then Amy came out and sang back up to one of his songs as an encore.
This is a fantastic couple and I wish them the best in the years to come. We had quality entertainment for a non-stop hour and 45 minutes. My employeer is the best!
Saturday morning I started my EQ6 Sampler class from Quilt University dot com. What a wonderful class! I started and finished the assignments before lunch and had my homework posted on the gallery website at Q.U. before supper. I finished my EQ6 Mystery Quilt Lessons 1 through 3 and posted them on the EQ6 Mystery Yahoo Group Website. To say I am a little psyched is an understatement.
Sunday evening I got out my sewing machine and started sewing strips for my second baby quilt sized Trip Around the World. I will start taking pictures tonight and taking notes of the process as I go. I will post them here if anyone is interested, feel free!
I was wandering aroung the internet after I finished my EQ6ing and went out to the HGTV website for Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts" videos. Guess what was up first. You will not believe it! Myrna Giesbrecht was her visitor and there were four episodes to watch including a walk through Alex's and Myrna's studios. How great for background on my own studio makeover! So many things are falling into place that I am truly blessed.
I actually attacked some of the chaos in my family room so that I can start on my studio. The crunch to get it finished before September 1 is off. My orthopaedic said I don't need knee replacement as soon as I thought. But the pressure is still on to get my own place to sew and just be calm by myself. Sewing in the living room is a nice way to spend time with DH. But, DH is sleeping most of the time in his easy chair. So much for togetherness.
Tonight is the Caregivers Support Group. I have missed the last two months. I better get my act together and attend tonight! Even if I don't think the meeting help I know that I will need them further down the line. It is called denial and it isn't just a river in Egypt!
I am really leaning towards getting that Grace machine quilting frame. I need more research and to talk to friends in Guild to get feedback. I am thinking and thinking about this. I will not leap before I really can justify the expense!
Have a nice day, Karen
Friday, August 8, 2008
What am I doing?
Last night I read two more of the quilt magazines that I picked up from Guild. They must have had 100 issues of old magazines that someone was giving away. What was interesting is that a magazine from the 80's had the same pattern as one of my magazines that I got within the last two weeks. The traditional patterns never go out of style, do they?
I purchased EQ6 a few months ago and have been dabbling with it ever since. Recently I became aware that EQ has mystery quilts on their website. I started with the previous quilt about two weeks ago and finished it up last night. Boy did I learn things about EQ that I hadn't learned yet. Tomorrow is my first lesson from Q.U. called EQ6 Sampler. It is taught by Fran Gonzales the EQ guru. I am sure that I will learn bunches from her. Also have another EQ mystery quilt to start. Looks like a lot of time will be spent on the computer.
The three books and the floor layout portfolio that I ordered have all come in. I started a basic layout for my sewing room/quilt studio and I don't have enough room in the family room to put everything! Maybe I should get the actual dimensions of the room and the placement of the windows, fireplace and doors. I always seem to do things backwards. I definitely got the carriage before the horse on this one.
Tonight my employer is taking the entire company to an event. It is to be held at the U.S. Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati. We are getting free parking, free entrance to the Event and free beverages and snacks inside the arena. We won't know who the entertainment is until the introduction at 8:00 this evening. The last time CFC did this they had Bill Cosby come during the business day and all the employees were outside enjoying a carnival kind of atmosphere with ice cream and soda. If they could get Bill Cosby, can we even imagine who they will have tonight. Some many names of entertainers are being speculated about. I imagine that only 5 or 10 upper level management know who it is for sure and one individual in Corporate Accounting that paid the fee to the entertainer. I will let you know who it is when I blog next.
I am not sure exactly what I am going to do this weekend. I know that reading is OUT! I cannot afford the time. I have too many UFO's to work on and time is getting short on the Alaska baby quilts.
They last few weeks I have been struggling with envy. One of my friends from Guild has a new Grace quilting frame and a new long arm quilting machine. I die of envy every time she blogs about it or mentions it. I have been looking at a Grace frame called Gracie II. It will take a long arm quilting machine or even a regular sewing machine. The amount of space that is available for quilting depends on the machine. It can be anything from 6" to 18" for the professional long arm. Am I getting too self centered and wanting this too much? I have the cash to pay for the frame and it is upgradable as far as the machine for the future. I figure the frame and the necessary accessories will be about $1250. Is that too much to be spending? I have to really think about this. When I talk to my DH James he seems to encourage me. Is that because he knows how much I love quilting or because he then thinks that we can go and get a new motorcycle for him. You know the yang and yang of that type of thing in a marriage. I must not pursue this aggressively. Patience girl, patience!
Enough for now. Have a great day, Karen
I purchased EQ6 a few months ago and have been dabbling with it ever since. Recently I became aware that EQ has mystery quilts on their website. I started with the previous quilt about two weeks ago and finished it up last night. Boy did I learn things about EQ that I hadn't learned yet. Tomorrow is my first lesson from Q.U. called EQ6 Sampler. It is taught by Fran Gonzales the EQ guru. I am sure that I will learn bunches from her. Also have another EQ mystery quilt to start. Looks like a lot of time will be spent on the computer.
The three books and the floor layout portfolio that I ordered have all come in. I started a basic layout for my sewing room/quilt studio and I don't have enough room in the family room to put everything! Maybe I should get the actual dimensions of the room and the placement of the windows, fireplace and doors. I always seem to do things backwards. I definitely got the carriage before the horse on this one.
Tonight my employer is taking the entire company to an event. It is to be held at the U.S. Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati. We are getting free parking, free entrance to the Event and free beverages and snacks inside the arena. We won't know who the entertainment is until the introduction at 8:00 this evening. The last time CFC did this they had Bill Cosby come during the business day and all the employees were outside enjoying a carnival kind of atmosphere with ice cream and soda. If they could get Bill Cosby, can we even imagine who they will have tonight. Some many names of entertainers are being speculated about. I imagine that only 5 or 10 upper level management know who it is for sure and one individual in Corporate Accounting that paid the fee to the entertainer. I will let you know who it is when I blog next.
I am not sure exactly what I am going to do this weekend. I know that reading is OUT! I cannot afford the time. I have too many UFO's to work on and time is getting short on the Alaska baby quilts.
They last few weeks I have been struggling with envy. One of my friends from Guild has a new Grace quilting frame and a new long arm quilting machine. I die of envy every time she blogs about it or mentions it. I have been looking at a Grace frame called Gracie II. It will take a long arm quilting machine or even a regular sewing machine. The amount of space that is available for quilting depends on the machine. It can be anything from 6" to 18" for the professional long arm. Am I getting too self centered and wanting this too much? I have the cash to pay for the frame and it is upgradable as far as the machine for the future. I figure the frame and the necessary accessories will be about $1250. Is that too much to be spending? I have to really think about this. When I talk to my DH James he seems to encourage me. Is that because he knows how much I love quilting or because he then thinks that we can go and get a new motorcycle for him. You know the yang and yang of that type of thing in a marriage. I must not pursue this aggressively. Patience girl, patience!
Enough for now. Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
No quilting since Thursday
Machine is still in bag. Fabric is cut and waiting. I am reading books. I am in a funk.
Will not take it out on you.
Have a nice day, Karen
Will not take it out on you.
Have a nice day, Karen
Friday, August 1, 2008
UFO weekend starts early
There is an UFO weekend at Q.U. and I am part of it.
Thursday afternoon I cut the 10 FQ for my next baby Trip Around the World quilt top. Then I had to go to sleep from 3 P.M. to 9 P.M. I am part of the team at work responsibile for the month end closeout. I was called in at 12:30 A.M. and will be working until 7:30 A.M. Then I can get back to my UFO goals.
Have a nice day, Karen
Thursday afternoon I cut the 10 FQ for my next baby Trip Around the World quilt top. Then I had to go to sleep from 3 P.M. to 9 P.M. I am part of the team at work responsibile for the month end closeout. I was called in at 12:30 A.M. and will be working until 7:30 A.M. Then I can get back to my UFO goals.
Have a nice day, Karen
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