Help, I'm Drowning!

I took everyday off from the shop this week except for Thursday, with the expectation that I would finally make some headway into that stack of quilts under my machine. I even dared to hope that I might catch a glimpse of the carpet peaking through the mounds of batting and folded quilt tops. But alas, the universe has laughed in my face once again. Ha, Ha, Ha.

I lost track around Wednesday, when it became clear that despite taking time off from the shop, this was going to be one of those weeks that brought in more quilts than went out. That glimpse of carpet? Never going to happen, my friend! It's as if someone sent out a special bullitin, "Hurry, prime quilting time, send your quilts NOW!!! How did they find out I dared to take time off??

Wait, did I really think I was going to get "time off" from the shop? Well, if "time off" means still going in for at least an hour every day, rearranging, reordering, unpacking new shipments and packaging Internet orders, then yeah, I guess I had TONS of time off! That doesn't include the laundry I did NOT catch up on, the dusting that ISN'T done, and the solid coating of mud on my car that I have NOT had time to wash. (Yes, I really thought I'd have EXTRA time this week)

Not only was it a big quilts week, it was a big phone call week. So big, in fact, that Monte quit taking the cell phone to work at the shop with him because he was starting to feel like The Crazy Quilter's secretary. This is especially comical if you know that I normally get less than 1 call/week on my cell.

This afternoon I decided if I didn't start a list of quilts and owners, dates to be done and patterns requested, I was doomed to forget something important. The list is done, and now I am vowing to attempt to complete the quilts in the order in which they were received. Of course, something always comes up, but at least I'm trying, right?

I love what I do, really. Otherwise I wouldn't get what I do get done. Sometimes it would be nice if things just happened slow and steady, instead of in heaps and intermittent rushes. Maybe when all of my kids are moved out things might slow down, but then again, I always seem to find something. (Just ask Monte)

Progress, at last!

Yahoo, I'm almost done with my Classic Tablerunner! I just have to blanket stitch around the flowers in the center, and then it's on to the quilting machine. This is very exciting, since it's been hanging around my kitchen counter, then to the ironing board, then to the quilting machine table, for over a month.

I also finished the hand work on 3 of the blocks for Garden Friends last night as I watched tv. I even made it to bed early, thanks to American Idol dissappointment. I'm losing interest in that show quickly, who can watch 2 hours straight? Not me, that's for sure! Anyways, the Garden Friends blocks are adorable. I'm pledging to go back to the quilting machine tomorrow, but I'm holding a sewing day again Saturday and plan to work on more of Garden Friends then.

The new fabrics should arrive tomorrow, Happily Ever After. I'm sure this will add to my list of projects, but what doesn't these days? I already have projects planned for next Fall and Christmas! Happy quilting until tomorrow!

Fat Cat Flowers

The first booth that caught my eye at Fall 07 Quilt Market had this quilt hanging in the center. It's been in the back of my mind ever since, just waiting for the right time and fabric. Well, the fabric has arrived! I am excited to get started on this quilt as soon as possible. I will be using pieces from Jill Kemp's Twinkle Little Star line, as well as pieces from the Happily Ever After line.
I'm planning a Spring themed booth for a quilt show in April, and hopefully this quilt will be done and will fit right in. Watch for it to be added under Quilt Kits soon!

What Happened to Simple Common Sense?

Things happen every day that seem to defy simple common sense. Where has common sense gone, and how do we get it back? I wish I knew. So, if anyone is listening, please give some real thought to your actions and apply your common sense. Here are some most recent examples:

This morning while I dropped my kids off at school, I watched as a high school student carefully backed his 4x4 Chevy Pickup into a parking space. So what, right? Well, how about the fact that his back yard borders the football field. What ever happened to saving the planet and walking to school??? My children live almost a mile from the school, but you can bet when they are old enough they will do their fair share of walking.

This week's Kindergarten newsletter included 2 reminders for parents. First, the newsletter requested that parents not send kids to school who are coughing uncontrolably, or who have a fever. Is it just me, or is that a no-brainer? It is clear to me why my kids are sick every other week through-out the school year.

If that's not bad enough, the second reminder is still bothering me 2 days after I read it. It said "Please wash your children's winter clothing. The hallway is starting to smell." Wow, it is just WRONG that a reminder is necessary with respect to washing your children's clothing, especially if they are stinking up the entire school. I was so grossed out after reading this, I immediately tossed my kids coats, snow pants, and hats into the washer. I know for a fact they were just washed last week, after my 2 younger kids discovered a mud hole and decided to roll in it. However, just the thought of my kids' clothes hanging in the "smelly" hallway made me feel like washing them again, and again, and again.

Phew, I feel so much better. I just had to get this off my chest. Now, back to quilting!

Things I've Learned From My Kids

Here is some practical advice I've learned over the past year or so:

If you're thinking of moving or building, and think you might save a few by have 2 kids share 1 room, try it for a while. After countless days and nights of giggling, cat fighting, toy stealing, and general insanity, you just might find out you can afford that extra bedroom after all.

Sending your oldest 2 kids to your sisters for a week can be a life saver. They'll have a blast, you'll get more stuff done than you did in the entire past year, and you're sister won't mind because she's only got 1 kid of her own and hasn't been driven completely insane yet. So Jami, what are you doing next summer, say for a week in July???

No matter how tired you are of shoveling snow, you should still remove the 10 foot pile next to your front door. Otherwise, you just might come home to find your kids practicing their balancing skills on the roof.

Save yourself a ton of money and buy 1 Christmas present/kid, plus stocking stuffers. It wouldn't be Christmas without stockings, and 1 toy is all they're going to play with anyways once the cloud of wrapping paper and ribbon clears.

Tomatoes are "Ewwwwwww gross," but diced tomatoes aka "seasoning" are actually pretty good.

Once your youngest is smart enough to say, "No, SHE did it," you might as well give up and send them all to their rooms. You're never going to get the truth anyways.

It doesn't matter what kind or how big of a car you buy. They're still going to find a reason to fight 5 minutes out of the driveway. Invest in a good set of ear plugs instead.

I learn new things every day, so consider this post "to be continued....."

I'm Addicted!

About 3 or 4 years ago, I ordered a set of work out DVD's called Turbo Jam. I used them intermittenly for a few months, but eventually they found their way to the back of the movie cupboard, collecting dust. Well, a few weeks ago I got them out again, and for some reason this time it's sticking!
Anything that can tear me away from quilting must be pretty good, and so far Turbo Jam is doing the trick. I workout with the DVD's 45 minutes every day except weekends, and some days I do over an hour! For me, this is some serious progress, since I've never been paticularily athletic and especially not good at pushing myself into a sweat. It's making it especially hard to get much quilting done, but I just can't seem to help myself!
I usually miss work outs over the weekend, since it's just too hard with the kids and Monte home, and not as much fun with an audience. Boy do I feel it, though! All weekend, I'm tired, cranky, and just generally don't feel well. By Monday, I can't wait to work out again. It's getting so bad that I've decided to start finding things for Monte and the kids to do outside the house, just so I can get my weekend work out in.
So, you might think that this would be creating some serious weight loss. So far, sadly, that's not the case. I've just about decided to quit weighing, because it can be discouraging, even though I feel so much better. If I could just give up that morning latte, it might help, right? And then there's the evening glass of wine. But hey, Dr. Oz says that one glass of wine a day helps keep you young and healthy. Who want's to give that up, especially since I found a red wine I actually kind of like. (I tried one over Christmas that tasted like smelly feet, no kidding!)

My latest obsession is the annual Camp Turbo Kick. I'm seriously considering going, it looks like a blast. Since I won't go alone, I'm trying to talk my mom or sister into going with me. I can't be the only uncoordinated one there, can I?

Our only close neighbor returns from Winter in Mexico next week. Guess that means tomorrow I'll be buying the remaining window blinds for my living room. They'll stay shut until I start looking like the people in the videos. Hey, stop laughing, never say never, right?

Quilting Product of the Week-Yo Yo's!

It's Monday Again!!! This week, I am choosing Yo-Yo's and everything that goes with them for the product of the week. You may know already that I have never been very good at doing anything that requires handwork. If it is possible to use a sewing machine, I do! However, I have always admired yo-yo projects and thought they were very neat. Until the recent introduction of Yo-Yo Makers, I was unwilling to try making any of my own. Now, I am finding them to be a lot of fun, and a great way to make your projects unique! My current Garden Friends project uses yo-yo's in the center of a few flowers. Even though they still require some hand work, the yo-yo makers come in all shapes and sizes, and with them making yo-yo's is effortless!
I recently received the new book from Indygo Junction, Yo-Yo Fashions. This book is packed with great and unconventional ways to use yo-yo's. There are scarves, sweaters, belts, even shoes! One of my favorites is the yo-yo jeans, which I am making for my girls to wear this spring! I purchased a pair of jeans last night on clearance for only $9.00, and I'm going to use them to make Kylee's pair. They are absolutely adorable, with yo-yo's around the bottom of each leg, and a matching yo-yo key chain to hook in one belt loop.
You will also find yo-yo's making a come back in many new patterns, such as the cute Valentine's patterns from Sandy Gervais. Kim Diehl also uses yo-yo's to make awesome quilts in her Simple Seasons book. Even if you think you don't like hand work, you should give these a try!

It's only money....

It's only money, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself today. I spent the day shopping for new display pieces for the quilt shop. My mom and I share a love of antiques and old things. The older, more worn and beat up it is, the better! We found some great things at an eclectic store we love in Rockford, WA. Now we can't wait to rearrange the shop tomorrow! I will try to post some pictures when we are finished.

If that wasn't enough excitement for one day, the kids and I took a drive this evening to Lewiston. It's nice to get away from the snow once in awhile, and the kids are so tired of being snow bound and shut up in the house. Hopefully it was enough to get them through a day off from school tomorrow without driving me mad!


Will is turning into quite the little shopper!
"Here Mom, we should get these for you," he said about a pair of jeans. Bless his heart, they were a junior's size 7! If only.....
"No," I told him, "I only like jeans with pockets on the back.
Expert shopper that he is, he wasted no time in finding a different pair. "Here, these ones have pockets," he showed me. What a sweetie!

Hopefully this week is a productive quilting week. I'm taking Tuesday and Wednesday off from the shop to ensure that it is. Believe it or not, I did get started blanket stitching on my tablerunner that was previously in pieces for a couple months. If only I could find what happened to my heavy weight black thread, I could start stitching the applique on my Garden Friends quilt. (Thank goodness all of our toilets are working, or I wouldn't have to look for the thread! Remember Toilet Trauma, Part 1 and Part 2?) Three Garden Friends blocks down, 3 more to go! I promise pictures later this week!