Quilting Blogs

I cracked open my new sewing machine almost immediately.

Since I was still in the Spirit of the Season, I figured I'd make my wonderful husband a new Christmas stocking. Last year when I was still living in Wisconsin with my parents, I used my Mom's sewing machine quite a bit and being that I am IN LOVE with colors and textures, I accumulated a lot of craft supplies and fabric. It was with these fabrics and fat quarters that I was able to piece this together. Ultimately, I just wanted to knock something out with my new machine. I like the colors and patterns on the fabric, but I probably should have used a real pattern to cut out the shape of this stocking. Haha.

So then I used the scraps of the fat quarters to just practice a little with different cuts, shapes, etc. It, like many of my projects is unfinished, but I want to turn this into a tote. Just have a quilted side and I think it'll work as a good bag.

And since I still had fat quarters left, I wanted to try a Bargello. I know, I know... lots of work. And it was, but I just want to test the waters right now with all my projects. I'm sure some things are WAY out of my league, but I just want to try things to get ideas. So here's a quick shot of my Bargello. Again, just like most of my things, it is unfinished.

Another thing I got "into" if you will, when I was in Wisconsin was working on baby quilts. Now, I know NO ONE that is having a baby, but I still love making baby quilts. I had purchased some fabrics that I really wanted to work with and so I've finally cut them all up and started putting together another baby quilt. I don't think it'll take me very long to make it, but my husband likes the "nine-patch" more than the "disappearing nine-patch", so that cuts out some of the work.

New Start

The new year started a little different than I expected, but the changes have been amazing. My new hubby returned from Iraq and my big personal change was that after leaving my job, I was able to drop my muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, and response drugs for migraine issues. I think that was one of the best things I could have done.

In the search for change, I started fixing up the house. I started with my "craft room". It is kind of my catch-all room, including our guest bed and craft storage. I feel incredibly organized and inspired by this room. It is un-cluttered and ultimately, makes me happy. It has rapidly become my little sewing center thanks to my wonderful Mom who bought me my first sewing machine for Christmas.

The next room I had to change thanks to really out-dated wallpaper and the new towels we got as wedding presents was the bathroom. I didn't get any good pictures of this, but imagine a light teal with cream and chocolate accents. I LOVE it!

From there, I took on the dining room. Now, I'm going to show a picture and I'm well aware that the pictures do not do the work justice. The house is from the 50's or 60's and the wallpaper must have been too. It was a horrific solid wall of green and pink plaid with baskets of fruit as a high border around the entire room. Small details, but the curtains must have been original to the house also, seeing that they were the worst winter scene I've ever seen. By removing the wallpaper, I had to spend another 8+ hours with goo and a scraper to get all the glue off. Which, in turn, scraped off all the texture. My next move was to fumigate the place by putting new texture on the walls. And finally the paint. As I said, you definitely can't see the extent of the work that went into it, but it is there.

So now that everything is done, I started on new projects. All of them include fabric, thread, needles, and a lot of stitches.

It makes me happy.

Fear Vs. Opportunity

Today I had someone tell me, "When I die, I want to come back as you." I laughed and responded with, "This isn't courage; it is stupidity."

This theme of fear versus opportunity came up in several conversations for me today.

We ended up talking about how courage and the confidence of looking at something fearful can also be seen as an opportunity. I fully agree. I think I look at a lot of situations that scare me and think how that fear is hurting me.

For example, I'm shit-scared of airports. Has nothing to do with the crowds or actually flying, but I just very much dislike airports. But I REFUSE to let that stop me from seeing all the places in the world that inspire me. How can I let it? How could I possibly let one irrational fear hold me back from exploring my dreams?

Granted, the people that travel with me are well aware of this fear and, while probably really annoyed, have always helped me. Gradually, I feel I'm getting better with airports, but since I don't fly much more than maybe once a year, it is hard to practice this growing confidence because I feel like I'm starting over every time I take another trip. ANYWAY.

Unlike I said, it isn't stupidity either. I think sometimes it can be, but mostly, it is courage and confidence to overstep your fears. Just because I jumped off a platform and had to stare 90ft down into a ravine, doesn't mean I wasn't scared.

Today, I also heard a lot people say, "Oh, of course she'll do it, she's used to this!"

Thrill-seekers may come across as fearless, but that isn't always the case. Maybe it is them feeling empowered by their opportunity to push past their fears?

But it is all about the opportunity... right?

So, what about when you don't "take the plunge" or do something else that makes you uneasy? Does that make you a coward?

The answer is NO! I also feel that knowing you own personal limits is a strength and a voice of confidence. It shows that you are comfortable with yourself and you are aware of your own capabilities.

Empower.
Jump.
Be Confident.

Plain Ridiculous

This week has been fairly fun for me. I've been doing a lot of "shadowing" for my job, but mostly hang around and talk to people. Keeps me busy when there isn't really much of anything I can actually do.

One of my ventures in shadowing took me along with one of the outreach staff to a college class to just speak with them on what resources are available through the county and such. I'm guessing it had something to do with the fact that when I was in college, EVERY semester, someone like this co-worker would come to ALL of my classes and give talks, but I was kinda dumbfounded that no one had ever even heard of any of the resources she was presenting. Kinda surprising, but inspiring too because we want to share info to everyone.

I suppose I should say here that this blog is about to get really opinionated. If you aren't in the mood to continue, don't.

The topic of this particular presentation was on stereotypes and their relationship to violence. One of the big points that we hope people come away with is that it is never the victim's fault. It is not something they ask for, it is not something they want, and it is not okay. SO, as my co-worker is giving this presentation, we came to the question that many people need to hear debunked:

Does the clothing the victim is wearing matter?

I want to throw it out there that the answer is wholeheartedly NO.

I have to admit that I was offended and appalled that the TEACHER of this said class kept saying it does. Her point [which is true] is that society teaches us appropriate attire for our surroundings. I agree. We learn what to wear to interviews, we learn what to wear in the workplace, we learn what to wear to a football game, and yes, we learn what to wear to a bar. BUT, here's the kicker. Did anything you were wearing have printed on it, "RAPE ME"?

Her point was that when girls skank out and get all fluffed up for the bar get assaulted, they asked for it.

Nope. If girls go out looking for a one night stand, cool. Congratulations, you just did something that I can't say I'd ever do. BUT, then that is consensual. They chose to bring that creeper from the bar home and show them their front door, which is the difference between an awkward morning walk of shame and an assault.

Statistics show that the majority of assaults happen outside of that environment and that it is NOT about the clothes you wear. And to assume that it was all about the clothes, how can you explain that off to the significant majority of victims that were in their own homes? And WHY in your right mind would you ever blame a victim like that? How could you ever explain that away? It isn't like the police ask you how short your skirt was when they come to help; they ask for any clothing available for evidence.

So if I wasn't frustrated enough at this teacher, she blew my mind at the next question. My co-worker decided that she's change the scenario.

Imagine that you are at home, it is getting late and you're getting tired. You doze off on the couch watching tv and at some random hour you wake up and go to bed. But crap, in your sleepy haze, you didn't even realize that the front door was still unlocked. In the middle of the night, someone breaks into your home through your unlocked door and rapes you. Who's at fault?

The teacher had the GUTS to shrug and say, "Well...... you did leave the door unlocked."

Bitch. I was pissed off. Just because you left the door unlocked, DOES NOT give anyone the RIGHT to enter your home without permission. It also DOES NOT give them the right to assault you.

Grrr... I could have punched her. LOL.

It's About Time.

Jeez. Where have I been lately?! What is wrong with me?! Apparently, I'm a complete slacker and haven't been online. LOL.

That's entirely a lie.

But I have been really busy and working on the MANY changes this summer brought with it. In the last week:

Love and I got our MARRIAGE LICENSE!!

Finalized LOTS of wedding details!!

Picked up my WEDDING DRESS!!

I started my brand new JOB!! [in my new office! with green walls! and my own desk! and computer!]


The only downside, is apparently I haven't completely adjusted to the switch of days over nights... and I am AWAKE at 4am most mornings. Suck.

WHooo Hoooo!!

So, I'm pretty convinced I've had the best week ever. The bonus is that it isn't even over yet!

Just this past weekend, I switched to the overnight shift at work. This was for several reasons.

The first being that my Love is switching to overnights soon at his job. I figured that as much as I don't completely love overnights, I'd be willing to do it for the fact that I'd get to spend more time with him.

Second, for my own sanity. That place can drive the most patient person up the wall in less than an hour, and I really didn't want to say that I got burnt out by a job. I don't ever want to say "I have to give up". It's just not my style.

And my third reason had a little bit to do with the management. It really SUCKS when you know that a bunch of people are mad at you because you made them stick to the rules. Go ahead and be mad, but when the legal issues start to pile up, don't say I didn't warn you.

So yeah. I ended up switching and I love it! I have lots of quiet space and although it is mainly cleaning, I really don't mind it. And the supervisor is rockin', so that's a good deal.


BUT.

Yesterday I was offered the job. This is the dream job that I applied for, while lacking a touch of confidence that I could do it. I mean, I wanted so bad to get it, but compared to many of the other applicants that I thought had applied, I was pretty convinced that they had way more experience and education than I had. I guess I thought I was pretty low on the totem pole. BUT I GOT THE JOB!

And so I felt incredibly guilty telling my awesome new supervisor that while I just got on his shift, I'm gonna duck out and leave him hanging. Suck. But being the great guy that he is, he gratefully accepted my resignation and said that he's proud of me because he's seen me work and feels that I've definitely gone into the right career field. That was a blessing to hear, and I'm grateful for all the help and guidance he's given me. He's a rockstar boss.


Whew. Good times.

Hiatus

I kinda feel guilty about not writing lately. I look at this page everyday when I turn on my computer because it comes up right along with msn.com and facebook, but I never actually have much to say it seems.

But that isn't the entire truth. I've always got something to say because everyday has something to it that I'm focused on.

A few weeks ago, someone emailed me a posting for a job opening on the ULTIMATE perfect job for me. I was so excited about it I pretty much immediately sent in my resume. The posting was for a job that I'd love to do, but while I was researching for my interview, I discovered that they also have a position that is my dream job! It is the exact position that I had in mind as I was finishing college and preparing for the "real world". So during my interview, I asked about it and they were really excited to interview me for both positions. But now it is the waiting game....

Then after that bout of shakiness and nerves ended, I had to focus on getting wedding invites in the mail. Consider them (or 98% of them) signed, sealed, and delivered. It feels great to get those done. It also makes everything seem so much more real. I think that's because we haven't been focusing on wedding stuff lately.

BUT it is officially less than two months until Love and I are married! :D How exciting is that?!



I'm also floating on cloud 9 because a few weeks ago, I was asked to photograph an event for some friends. While it took me awhile to get the shots I wanted, I'm TOTALLY stoked at how the whole event went. And now my photos are on a public website and are being used for promotional purposes for the next event they are having in August. No worries. I'll have plenty of time to photograph that event because it sits comfortably between my wedding and honeymoon. Haha...

And now for a quick comment on work. It's rough. I frequently get hit, bit, kicked, spit on, and yelled at, but for some reason I have no intentions of leaving just yet. Haha.... Well... I guess that depends on how that interview went....

Until next time.... Ciao!