Sewing finally!

I managed to get some sewing in yesterday. I'm working on Bluemans anniversary gift and I don't think I'd been sewing for six weeks or more due to duties outside my control! I had to refamiliarize myself with the design and measure to find my place in the design. I even cut some more pieces as I went along. I'm really only at the beginning stages so no pics yet (I figure I'm 2/9 of the way done or almost done with the first of three panels.). I find myself both getting excited and pulled in to the process again.  So much so that when I turned to iron a section, I was taken aback by a silent interloper!

This little guy jumped onto my ironing board three times. He came within two inches of the hot iron which freaked me out. Who can really blame him. The new cushy ironing board cover is a dream!

A fun day rambling

Sometimes you just gotta go wander around.  It's been awhile since I took a local adventure.  I wish I'd done more of this in Indiana. Today is going to be spent doing "have to" things so yesterday was "want to" stuff.
There's been some new artwork around town. Sculptures and displays that are very cool.

The sculpture was wood, steel and aluminum.  The sculpture is as cool as the front of the city hall!

This one is hard we to see. It's right outside the art gallery which we visited. The sign gets lost behind the sculpture.

There were even small bits of happiness laying around, too. 

Such a little burst of  happiness hidden next to a column. Just goes to show you how much you should be on the lookout for little lovely surprises.

Where are they in your life? 

Here's hoping you find some and make some for others!

Design phase

i made some squares from a jelly roll some months ago. They are for a former coworker who is retiring in July.  (They weren't originally, but they are now).  And so I've been considering what to do with these lovelies.

I found fabric that will go nicely as the "neutral"

I tried this idea....

Used a spreadsheet function for graph paper!

And even this one made of post-its!

Knowing me, it will be something even different. I just like considering the options!

Stash adders

okay I bought the borders for the squares I made a couple of months ago. However, the remnant bin called to me.  It always calls to me. I'm going to have to wear earplugs on my next trip in.

This little beauty made me think of some squares I'd made with flower prints before.  Too cute!

I have NO idea what I will do with this but it's might beautiful.

Remnant bin at Jo-Ann's ... I both love and hate you.

First finish second quarter

I finally finished the red white and blue afghan/prayer shawl.  It's going to be a retirement gift for a coworker. I have finished six weeks early which makes me feel good. No rushing to complete last minute.

The trouble is now that because this was such light and fluffy yarn, picking up regular yarn is like moving a stone!

Early morning pictures are hard. Still sleepy and impatient to boot.

My normal spot was full of Bluemans stuff and I refuse to clean his stuff.

Not sure why this was thought to be a good pose...

Even on vacation, it finds me...

I haven't actively been buying fabric. I bought some different flavors when planning blueman's quilt (and oddly enough I don't feel like I have a good variety but that another post for another day).

But we had to make an emergency shopping stop last weekend and the store we went to had a small fabric selection. So I found a couple of cute fat quarters. The trouble with all of these cute ones is that they don't match, nor do I have a plan for them. But ding dang they are cute.

I did however find one that I think will match some fabric I bought when I was looking for turquoise but what I bought ended up too pale and more sea foamy. I will take it to the craft room later and find out. For now, please find my $3 guilty pleasure(s).

I spent almost no time choosing. Too cute!

How are you?

I have long disliked the "how are you" question. The only thing I dislike more is how was your day. I don't know why. I guess because at the root of it, there is the need when responding to talk about myself. Granted, I could just be generally vague and dismiss the question but most of the time I'll feel guilty if I do that. I have tried being flippant, I've tried ignoring the question.  I heard a response today that made me smile.  "I'm blessed!" This was the response to my dutiful reciprocation of greeting.  While this was an awesome response, it is certainly not something you can say if you don't mean it. For today? How am I? I am blessed!

PVUMC

The things I think make a fun picture...

Dinner with friends and the wait was substantial. So rather than stand as the fourth wheel... I sat and looked around and took a picture...

Blueman never saw this. To his credit he didn't look over his head....

We had a nice room. I did take a picture of the beds and the lovely walk in shower... But this one I thought was funny.

A Kuerig (sp?) and coffe station in the bathroom next to the hair dryer and sink. Mmmm, coffee and a quick pee all at the same time!

I'm a goob. But these things truly amuse me. May your day be full of the silly and interesting!

Tough week over, c’mon weekend

Laundry mountains have been conquered and a good sleep was had. Errands are completed and I’m nearly ready for a weekend trip away.

Next week looms and I’ll have to break some bad habits at work. Seven months ago I said I’d not go back to overtime and additional stress. I am finding it harder to implement than I thought it would be. Being a people pleaser can deplete you if you aren't careful. Knitting shawls, crocheting potholders or starting my sewing career are things I do to recharge. I also binge read. I love a good story to pull me away from my own internal drama.

This weekend we shuttled off to visit and old friend of Bluemans and a new one of mine. PW has a smile that lights up a room. She's real and friendly and fun. I see things in all of my friends that I would like to have.  CK has a way of cutting through crap that I wish I had. RTB has no fear when it comes to new things. I am truly blessed when it comes to my friends.

Today

Today I was....
Fractious
Crunchy
Tired
Swollen
Sassy
Arrogant
Mouthy
Distracted
Moody
Whiny
Concerned
Frustrated
Dutiful
Resistant
Sarcastic
Annoying
Distant
Isolated
Confused
Needy

Apparently it was a busy day.

The problem with getting up early.....

...the list of things you COULD do still outweighs the desire to do them.

....the furry children think you are on a fun quest to lead them a merry chase when in fact you just need to put laundry away in three rooms of the house.

...one thing leads to another. For example taking laundry out of the dryer reminds you that the laundry room floor has too much loose litter. Sweeping it leads to cleaning the litterbox which shows you the boxes need more clean litter dumped in and you do stop short of actually washing and drying the litterbox though you know you really should and a promise is made that this weekend you will do this. Really. You will. Maybe.

...stopping for a moment to write an inane blog post makes you want to just pull the quilt over you and snooze for the last oh heck only ten minutes before you really HAVE to get ready for work because today is that special lunch with a former customer and the meeting with the new marketing director and tonight is choir and just who the heck thought it was a good idea to get up early???

...since you wrote a check for the accountant, you realize that you are yawning and sleepy and poorer than if you'd just stayed in bed!

I guess they aren't real problems. Don't blame me. I'm just tired.......

Funny Easter things

on the bulletins/programs on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday the church had put a little blurb about Easter services. I looked across the aisle at one of the sopranos and thought, why are they advertising root beer?

So close up I get that this is rolling the stone away, but if you see it six feet away, I SWEAR it looks like a mug of root beer!

Then because we had to sing at back to back services, when I saw a leftover fortune cookie in my purse, I chomped down. How appropriate was this fortune???

Hope your Easter was full of blessings.