Wrapped in Love

Smile, silly!

Purple Quiltiness

It's finished!  I put the finishing stitches in the label shortly after midnight last night.  (I had to have something to do while waiting for C to get home before curfew....)

I washed it last night and dried it this morning.

The quilt has been claimed by Sarah.  I'll have to take pictures of her with it tonight.  She spent the night at her friend's.

Hey, it's summer!

Quilt particulars:

48x60"

Ruby Slippers pattern, from Kansas City Scrapbook (Atkinson Designs)

Bowtie Block Border is my addition.

Inspired by Patchworktimes Monochromatic Challenge

Quilted by me.....

"I'm bored, but that doesn't mean....."

Summer isn't even here yet and I'm already hearing, "I'm bored!"  The kids' last day of school is May 25th.

Just because they're bored, though, doesn't mean they take me up on any of my suggestions:

Read a book, go outside, take a walk, clean the house....

We had a family meeting yesterday after our difficult week.  I really don't think we got through to any of them.

It's a toss-up.

C did clean out the disgusting refrigerator today.  Woe to anyone that messes it up.

Needled

I'm a big idiot.

I like a certain needle for sewing on my bindings.  I have trouble with my hands--I know, I know...I've mentioned it a million times before--and so I like a looooong needle because it seems to make the hand sewing not so fatiguing.

You'd think I'd pay more attention then to the type of needle I was using so that I could by more?

I was a that the quilt shop and bought more needles, but they're not right.  I knew they weren't right, but I bought them anyway.  Milliner needles.  I am an extra special idiot because I found another package of Miliners at home.  I'm an extra extra special idiot because not only did I buy more of the wrong needles, but I also bought chocolate covered raisins at the quilt shop and two half yard cuts of red fabric that I didn't really need.

I went to the quilt shop to buy thread by the way!

I also am more disgusted with myself because I did all this at the quilt shop I don't really like, but have to shop since Great American Quilt Factory closed.

I'm pretty sure I've been using Beading needles.  I looked online....  Back to the store I go...  JoAnns this time.

The shopping is a whole other issue.  It's not making me feel any better, either.

Twist the Knife

Did you know that I talk to much?

Did you know that I interrupt and talk over people?

Did you know that I don't listen?

Did I know that it's okay to tell me to shut up?

Did I know that it's okay for my kids to tell me to shut up?

Did I know that I don't matter?

Yeah, I guess I did know.  How could I not with you telling me, screaming at me, threatening me.

Did I know?  I really do....now

Don't Cross the Streams....



Remember?

Dr. Egon Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you.


Dr. Peter Venkman: What?


Dr. Egon Spengler: Don't cross the streams.


Dr. Peter Venkman: Why?


Dr. Egon Spengler: It would be bad.


Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm a little fuzzy on the whole "good/bad" thing, here! What do you mean, "bad"?


Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.


Dr. Ray Stantz: [low whistle] Total protonic reversal!


Dr. Peter Venkman: That's bad. OK, all right, important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.

For more adventures in Shannon and free motion quilting read on.....

I got tired of looking at the Purple Paisley Quilter Eater Quilt draped over the back of one of the dining room chairs.  I decided to quilt it at the spur of the moment yesterday.  I stayed up way too late last night trying to finish the last area and ended up finishing it this morning.  I spent the last two hours last night after refilling my bobbin trying to figure out why my machine was acting up and I was getting bad thread nests and wrenching noises before giving up.  With a little help from the Internet, I figured out what I already knew.  I wasn't threading my machine properly.  Stubborn is as stubborn does.

It's done.  I can't wait until I've quilted another 50 quilts as maybe I'll be better by then.  The quilting isn't that much better than what I did on the Remember Whooooo Loves You quilt.  My meander got confused in more than one place and I'll accidentally crossed the streams in a couple of places--my meander quilting crossed some other meander quilting.  Oh, well.

These things I know:

I don't think I will ever enjoy quiting for myself.  I'm sure I will get better, but I don't think I'll ever enjoy doing it.  I'll be meandering the rest of my life.

I like Isacord thread.

I still like 80/20 Hobbs batting.

I want a sewing table that fits my sewing machine--one where my sewing machine sits down inside the table so everything is level.  I KNOW I COULD BE A BETTER QUILTER IF I HAD ONE.

Things I want to try:

I need a new Supreme Slider or I want to try that silicone spray that is supposed to help the quilt glide across the sewing bed and table.

I should have quilted this quilt on the back instead of the front.  I forgot I wanted to try that.  I think I would have been able to keep track of my quilting better.

I'd like to try taping off sections to see if that helps me stay focused and not quilt too far.  I think it would also help me plan my quilting better.

I need to take the emotion out of my quilting.  I get too worked up and don't know when to stop--once I start I don't want to stop and I just want to finish.

Ultimately, Sarah won't care about how it looks.  I will also forget and not care.

Next up?  Binding, finishing Alex's puppy quilt, and making a quilt I will have longarmed.



Don't Stray

I'm having a really hard time staying focused on anything.  My mind keeps straying.  Anxiety creeps over me.  I can't keep my mind on my work.  I don't feel like doing much at home either.

I'm very frustrated!

Tonight I plan on sifting through my red fabrics for a Twilight project that I'm featuring on the other blog.  I know it's not going to go well.  I will be overcome with indecision.

Alex is pretty annoyed with me.  He's been looking at me with sad puppy dog eyes and asking me when I'm going to finish his puppy quilt.  Good question!!!

The purple quilt still isn't quilted.  It's hanging over one of the dining room chairs all folded up.  I keep saying I'm going to do it....

These spells are nothing new.  I will get out of my funk eventually.

It's been raining for two days.  I know better weather will help improve my mood.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I had an excellent Mother's Day.  I hope all the moms I know did, too!

I spent the day puttering around the house.  I didn't sew at all even though I flirted with the idea yesterday and early on today.  I cleaned more in the kitchen, did some laundry, and cleaned my sewing area.  The house was quiet and I really enjoyed just doing what I wanted to do, even if it was cleaning, without anyone bugging me or asking me to do something.

Not very motherly sounding, I know.

M took all of the kids except for Z to see Thor.  Z went to the mall with a couple of friends--yes, he is finally making friends and is now like Caroline.  Friends are more important than going to a movie with family even when the movie is one that really wants to be seen.

I got a Kindle for my gift!  I've mentioned a couple of times about how cool it would be to have one.  M got it for me yesterday while out shopping with C for her b'day gifts.  She got new soccer cleats and athletic clothes.  Her school soccer season may be over, but she's going to play in a tournament over Memorial Day weekend with her old rec team.

I was totally surprised and thrilled until I started feeling guilty.  I wish I could really enjoy a gift.......  I love the gift, truly, but its one of those things that I didn't really need and could have lived without.  It's a luxury item and I don't feel like I'm worthy of luxury at this time in my life....if ever.

The Kindle is amazing!!  I would compare it to the IPod as far as being one of those life changing pieces of technology.

I've not been buying many books.  I've been using the library for most of my needs.  It's actually been good for me.  I've made myself wait for books which is really difficult for one so used to instant gratification.

I've downloaded about ten samplings of books, but I've not bought anything yet.  I guess I'm too used to not buying.  M got me a gift card so money isn't the issue.  I'm fit to be tied!

Drive By

This post isn't going to more than a drive by.....

Arms and hands are still killing me.  Self diagnosis says its related to overwork and I have an inflammation.  I've been taking Advil regularly and icing as much as I can.  Ice feels heavenly except on my index finger which is numb and turns white when too cold.  I can't go around with ice strapped on my arms, though.  I guess I could, but I haven't engineered a way yet.  I'm presently typing with an ice pack perched on my forearm and squeezed between my arm and my right breast.

C's last soccer game is tonight.  It's actually a make-up game.  They lost again last night.  The game went into overtime and they lost it in the final seconds 2-1.  I wish the season had been longer as I think they are finally gelling as a team.  The kids only have a couple weeks left of school.  GASP!

I don't have any big plans for the weekend.  I have no idea if we're celebrating Mother's Day or not.  We're supposed to have C's b'day dinner sometime.  S has a soccer game.  Z will be at a track meet all day on Saturday.  (By the way...still haven't gotten his phone back!)

Finished Twilight Quilt design.  It's the only quilting I've done in awhile.....

Happy Friday!!!!

Running on Empty

I feel like I'm running on empty.....

All I wanted to do today was lay my head down on my desk and take a nap.

I ended up going to C's game.  It's the first game I got to early enough to see her announced as a starter.  The game ended in a tie, 1-1.

I have so much to do, but I sat and vegged out on the computer instead.  It's so easy to do.

The closest I came to quilting today was some doodling for a quilt.

 I think I need a day off to recharge.

Meh

I figured I'd better get a post in while I'm at work. The Internet is down at home. Yes, M paid the bill. M doesn't know why as it was working fine last night. I'm sure it will be up and running soon as nothing gets fixed faster at my house.....

I have tons to say, but not energy to say it. I'm also experiencing a lot pain in my hands and arms. I'm not only feeling discomfort, but they also feel fatigued. I'm sure something is up healthwise, but I'm ignoring it.  All I want to do is go home and rest, though.

For now:

C got home from prom safely.  She got home a little later than expected and was totally wiped out.  I made her tower of chocolate chip cookies, 15 cookies, for her birthday as requested.  I stuck a candle in the middle of the top cookie and we sang her Happy Birthday.  We postponed her dinner until next week so she could be awake to eat it.  She has confirmed that the prom date that wasn't a boyfriend is actually a boyfriend now--it is official as she updated her FB status to in a relationship.  I guess they had to go to prom first to see if they liked each other well enough.....

Alex is also a year older so we're done with the kids' birthdays for this year.  M is the only one left.  He loved his IPod Nano.  I want one!  I thought I could make do with the one I have, but that was before I learned the new ones have a radio on them.....

Pictures later......

Z will have his phone back in the next couple of days.  The school he left it at mailed it to his school yesterday.  Fingers crossed.....