This week being so crazy and all, I've only been able to find good time to blog in the evenings. This presents a problem, since around 5:00 every evening, my Internet connection gets dreadfully slow. Not just a little slow, but so slow that usually the page times out, as if I'm back in my earliest days of dial up!
Otherwise, my connections is super fast. I have Internet through the local cable company, and all I know is it's the fastest and most reliable otherwise I've ever had. The only explanation for the evening issue I can come up with is that the entire town of Deary decides to log on around 5:00. Not likely, you're thinking? Well, if you live here you might know why it's perfectly reasonable to assume that there's nothing else to do here in the evenings except web surf.
I have come up with a solution to this problem. Find a hobby, people of Deary! What's more, I have also come up with the perfect hobby, something you can easily do in Deary, no less! Take up quilting. Your local quilt store will be happy to see you and can help you on your way to becoming a quilting guru. You can all sit down in front of your sewing machines instead of your computers, and I can return to having the lightning fast connection that I've become accustomed to. I'd say it's a win-win situation, wouldn't you?
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Moda U Hangover!
What a week! Yesterday, (Friday), I woke up with what I call a "Moda U Hangover." Moda University meetings are always a blast, but the morning after this time was not so fun. Probably due to the fact that I gave myself a total carb overload. I was so busy all day I hadn't taken time to eat, and then by 9:00 that night I was ravenous and eating everything in sight, which of course included whatever was in the baked goods case. Yikes, carb overload since I have been avoiding carbohydrates all week. I slept for 2 hours Friday afternoon as a result, and missed posting on my blog yesterday.
Today is Sip & Sew at the shop, and my goal is to finish my Garden Friends quilt top. Easier said than done, as usual! So far today I've taken in 2 more quilts, packaged all the monthly mailings, and done NO sewing. Just another typical day of getting 1/2 of what I'd like to done!
I did manage to add both of the new kits to the website from the Happily Ever After fabrics. They are both great, and the pictures don't do them justice!
The new Holly Taylor fabrics, Natural Garden will be arriving this week, so it promises to be a fun and busy week again! If you like these fabrics, don't wait. I have lots of preorders, and some of the bolts are running low already, and they're not even in the store yet!
Today is Sip & Sew at the shop, and my goal is to finish my Garden Friends quilt top. Easier said than done, as usual! So far today I've taken in 2 more quilts, packaged all the monthly mailings, and done NO sewing. Just another typical day of getting 1/2 of what I'd like to done!
I did manage to add both of the new kits to the website from the Happily Ever After fabrics. They are both great, and the pictures don't do them justice!
The new Holly Taylor fabrics, Natural Garden will be arriving this week, so it promises to be a fun and busy week again! If you like these fabrics, don't wait. I have lots of preorders, and some of the bolts are running low already, and they're not even in the store yet!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
It's Crazy at The Crazy Quilter!
Today has been a CRAZY day! What else would you expect, from the name of the shop? Today is the monthly Moda University quilt club meeting, which always means an especially hectic day. Add that to a busy day of special requests and online ordering, and it's truly crazy!
A first for me happened today. I found out that I sent someone the wrong pattern. OOPS! I feel like such an idiot! The worst part is, not only did I send the wrong pattern, but the package was damaged and an entire jelly roll was nowhere to be found. I'm glad that I have a new jelly roll to replace my customer's order, but I'd love to have the other one back. Some postal worker/quilter is probably really enjoying it right now!
In my defense, the day I shipped her order was just as crazy as today, but that's no excuse! You can bet I'll be double checking everything from now on. I'm also implementing a new shipping policy for jelly rolls. They will no longer be shipped in the roll, unless requested. From now on, we'll unroll them to make a better package fit, and if you request they remain rolled there will possibly be additional shipping fees of $2-$4.
There is a great placemat pattern that coordinates with the Happily Ever After fabrics, and thanks to it I will soon be out of the panel! The kits are $30.95 for 4 placemats, everything but binding. They are absolutely awesome and soooo easy, and I'll be adding them online as soon as I get a chance. Watch for them under kits and Happily Ever After fabrics soon!
A first for me happened today. I found out that I sent someone the wrong pattern. OOPS! I feel like such an idiot! The worst part is, not only did I send the wrong pattern, but the package was damaged and an entire jelly roll was nowhere to be found. I'm glad that I have a new jelly roll to replace my customer's order, but I'd love to have the other one back. Some postal worker/quilter is probably really enjoying it right now!
In my defense, the day I shipped her order was just as crazy as today, but that's no excuse! You can bet I'll be double checking everything from now on. I'm also implementing a new shipping policy for jelly rolls. They will no longer be shipped in the roll, unless requested. From now on, we'll unroll them to make a better package fit, and if you request they remain rolled there will possibly be additional shipping fees of $2-$4.
There is a great placemat pattern that coordinates with the Happily Ever After fabrics, and thanks to it I will soon be out of the panel! The kits are $30.95 for 4 placemats, everything but binding. They are absolutely awesome and soooo easy, and I'll be adding them online as soon as I get a chance. Watch for them under kits and Happily Ever After fabrics soon!
Mouse Update
In case you were wondering, we caught our mouse this morning. It was in the trap when we woke up, thank goodness. I was not enjoying thinking about it being who knows where all over my house!
By the way, those gloves Monte left out the other morning? He informed me that those were his "mouse catching gloves." According to him, he nearly caught the mouse twice that morning before it made a narrow escape. Likely story, I say.
One good thing did come out of all this, I scheduled a furniture cleaning for my couch set. It's about 4 years old, and has survived time in storage and 9 months of daycare kids, so I can't wait to see how much better it will look! After that mouse crawling on it, I decided I'd rather not wait for my tax rebate!
By the way, those gloves Monte left out the other morning? He informed me that those were his "mouse catching gloves." According to him, he nearly caught the mouse twice that morning before it made a narrow escape. Likely story, I say.
One good thing did come out of all this, I scheduled a furniture cleaning for my couch set. It's about 4 years old, and has survived time in storage and 9 months of daycare kids, so I can't wait to see how much better it will look! After that mouse crawling on it, I decided I'd rather not wait for my tax rebate!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Miracles Do Happen!
And this week's miracle is......I finished something! Well, if you don't count the quilting, that is. This is the tablerunner that sat in pieces around my kitchen for a month before I finally got the focus to do it! I'm so glad I did, I absolutely love it and am going to try to quilt it this evening.
This tablerunner is from the Classic Runners pattern. I used Celebrate Spring fabrics, but I think there are many options for this runner. It would look great in Happily Ever After or Twinkle Little Star. I would love to see a funkier version done with Mix & Mingle. Anybody up for the challenge?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Eeek! A Mouse!
First, let me preface this story with the statements that my house is clean. I vacuum almost daily, keep everything neat and tidy, and by most standards my house is EXTRA clean and not cluttered. That being said, read on:
Last Fall, shortly after moving in to our new house, we had our first mouse. Monte was away at logging camp, and late one night a mouse appeared while I was watching television. I usually watch tv at night with one small table lamp on, and at first I wasn't even sure I had really seen it. It ran out from under our very large entertainment center, to the middle of the room about 3 feet, and then turned around and went right back under the tv. It was like a bird in a cuckoo clock, and it took me a few seconds to react. A mouse in my newly built house is NOT something I ever expected!
The first thing I did was jump up and stand on the couch. It was dark, and Monte's not home, and I hate mice. When I calmed down, I went to the phone and called, who else? My dad. "There's a mouse in my house!" I yell through the phone.
"Yeah, so?" he says rather calmly. Nothing like, "I'll be right over," or "How can I help?" Nope, just a nonchalant "Yeah, so?"
Forced to do it myself, I ran to my parents to borrow a mouse trap. It was hard to go to bed, I had the urge to stuff a towel under my bedroom door. Then, I thought about my kids sleeping in their rooms, and figured it wouldn't be fair to seal my door and not theirs. Or, worse yet, what if the mouse had already moved on to a bedroom? So, I reluctantly went to bed and left my door open.
Over the next couple of days, the mouse proceeded to eat everything I left in the trap, no matter how hard I pressed it on. Finally, after Monte reset the trap Friday, we caught our mouse.
We assured ourselves that the mouse had snuck in through an open door, and about a week later I'm just starting to let go of my fear, even though every little twitch out of the corner of my eye set my heart racing. Just as things calm down, what should appear, but another mouse! Nearly the same story: late night tv, out from the entertainment center, only this time Monte is home and he's very cranky when I wake him up yelling about a mouse.
Griping about how I'm such a wimp, and it's "only a mouse," Monte sets the trap. The next morning, I get up from bed to find the trap gone. "Did you catch the mouse?" I ask Monte. He's cranky because I'm waking him up about the mouse AGAIN, but he insists that NO, he didn't catch it. Now I'm really freaked, because the trap is nowhere to be found. After searching all day, we finally find it behind our dryer, the mouse still inside and still alive. (Ewww)Monte takes care of it, and all is back to normal.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well......
At 5:30 this morning, it's me who's being woken up by Monte yelling "Mindi, where's our mouse trap!?" My first groggy thought is "Oh No." Plus, I have no idea where the trap went since last Fall. "There's a mouse in our couch," Monte yells.
"Are you sure?" I ask him.
"Yes I'm sure!" he yells as he looks for the trap, "The little f***er just ran across my stomach while I was sitting there!"
Monte ends up leaving for work without finding the trap or the mouse, and I toss and turn until 6:30 convinced that I'll feel that mouse on my covers any second. When I get out of bed, I find Monte's work gloves forgotten on the floor, the coffee table pulled out of place, and the couch pillows tossed aside. Well, well, well, looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't like mice! I'll be buying a mouse trap on my way home today, that's for sure!
Last Fall, shortly after moving in to our new house, we had our first mouse. Monte was away at logging camp, and late one night a mouse appeared while I was watching television. I usually watch tv at night with one small table lamp on, and at first I wasn't even sure I had really seen it. It ran out from under our very large entertainment center, to the middle of the room about 3 feet, and then turned around and went right back under the tv. It was like a bird in a cuckoo clock, and it took me a few seconds to react. A mouse in my newly built house is NOT something I ever expected!
The first thing I did was jump up and stand on the couch. It was dark, and Monte's not home, and I hate mice. When I calmed down, I went to the phone and called, who else? My dad. "There's a mouse in my house!" I yell through the phone.
"Yeah, so?" he says rather calmly. Nothing like, "I'll be right over," or "How can I help?" Nope, just a nonchalant "Yeah, so?"
Forced to do it myself, I ran to my parents to borrow a mouse trap. It was hard to go to bed, I had the urge to stuff a towel under my bedroom door. Then, I thought about my kids sleeping in their rooms, and figured it wouldn't be fair to seal my door and not theirs. Or, worse yet, what if the mouse had already moved on to a bedroom? So, I reluctantly went to bed and left my door open.
Over the next couple of days, the mouse proceeded to eat everything I left in the trap, no matter how hard I pressed it on. Finally, after Monte reset the trap Friday, we caught our mouse.
We assured ourselves that the mouse had snuck in through an open door, and about a week later I'm just starting to let go of my fear, even though every little twitch out of the corner of my eye set my heart racing. Just as things calm down, what should appear, but another mouse! Nearly the same story: late night tv, out from the entertainment center, only this time Monte is home and he's very cranky when I wake him up yelling about a mouse.
Griping about how I'm such a wimp, and it's "only a mouse," Monte sets the trap. The next morning, I get up from bed to find the trap gone. "Did you catch the mouse?" I ask Monte. He's cranky because I'm waking him up about the mouse AGAIN, but he insists that NO, he didn't catch it. Now I'm really freaked, because the trap is nowhere to be found. After searching all day, we finally find it behind our dryer, the mouse still inside and still alive. (Ewww)Monte takes care of it, and all is back to normal.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well......
At 5:30 this morning, it's me who's being woken up by Monte yelling "Mindi, where's our mouse trap!?" My first groggy thought is "Oh No." Plus, I have no idea where the trap went since last Fall. "There's a mouse in our couch," Monte yells.
"Are you sure?" I ask him.
"Yes I'm sure!" he yells as he looks for the trap, "The little f***er just ran across my stomach while I was sitting there!"
Monte ends up leaving for work without finding the trap or the mouse, and I toss and turn until 6:30 convinced that I'll feel that mouse on my covers any second. When I get out of bed, I find Monte's work gloves forgotten on the floor, the coffee table pulled out of place, and the couch pillows tossed aside. Well, well, well, looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't like mice! I'll be buying a mouse trap on my way home today, that's for sure!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tax Rebate: Gone in 60 Seconds!
As soon as I heard about the possibility of a tax rebate this year, I could think of 100 things to use it on. I've never been good at saving, so this is no exception. Leave it to me, I'll have the economy stimulated in no time! Here are some of my top ideas:
A tanning bed, since I live in the nearest climate to Alaska in the lower 48. I'm positive my Vitamin D deficiency is the reason for all my ailments!
Save for my kids' college tuitions. (This is my responsible side. It doesn't show up too often, but it's there)
Put a down payment on a new boat, preferably one longer than 17' so I don't get sea sick from my kids jumping around.
Pay off credit cards. (You're right, that's no fun!)
Take a Disneyland family vacation.
Go wild at the spa in Jamaica. (Ok, even I couldn't spend that much at a spa)
More, more, more, more fabric! (On fabric, however, I could spend an unlimited amount!)
That vinyl privacy fence I've been dreaming of since we moved in.
A hot tub would sure be nice, of course that would require a patio to go with.
A down payment on a new lease for the quilt shop, with double the square footage!
A new living room set. OK, how about just cleaning the current set. My kids would ruin a new one in 6 months anyways.
New quilting machine, anyone? Hmmmm, wonder how much I could sell mine for??
So, what are you using yours for?
A tanning bed, since I live in the nearest climate to Alaska in the lower 48. I'm positive my Vitamin D deficiency is the reason for all my ailments!
Save for my kids' college tuitions. (This is my responsible side. It doesn't show up too often, but it's there)
Put a down payment on a new boat, preferably one longer than 17' so I don't get sea sick from my kids jumping around.
Pay off credit cards. (You're right, that's no fun!)
Take a Disneyland family vacation.
Go wild at the spa in Jamaica. (Ok, even I couldn't spend that much at a spa)
More, more, more, more fabric! (On fabric, however, I could spend an unlimited amount!)
That vinyl privacy fence I've been dreaming of since we moved in.
A hot tub would sure be nice, of course that would require a patio to go with.
A down payment on a new lease for the quilt shop, with double the square footage!
A new living room set. OK, how about just cleaning the current set. My kids would ruin a new one in 6 months anyways.
New quilting machine, anyone? Hmmmm, wonder how much I could sell mine for??
So, what are you using yours for?
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