Quilting My Way Through Chaos....

So today was playing day on the new (used) machine. I purchased a gently loved Designer 1 from my local quilt shop yesterday. I signed up to do a class, to keep the chaos from overwhelming me. It's emboridery/quilt called Hoop Sisters. My Husqvarna Rose is out of production as well as any larger than 100 x 100 hoop for it, so I had to upgrade. I upgraded? to a machine who is also out of production, but it was priced right, had what I needed. The shop owner takes wonderful care of her machines and I get a one year upgrade at the price I paid for another machine!

I used the new D1 for free motion quilting and I think I need to play a bit more. I snapped 4 quilting needles.... grrrr. I can't blame the machine, I blame the operator. I was using a Rayon thread.... not the best choice and I didn't play with any tension settings, so I had a tiny bit of trouble. I added some flower blocks to a quilt that was done, but needs it's binding. It was a nice touch. I did some emboridery, a leaf design in a lovely varigated fall color thread. I wanted to embroider everything I could get my hands on. I made an apron, a chair cover, and a dish towel. I would have made new fall kitchen curtains, but didn't have enough fabric to cover the huge window. I usually free motion on my Janome, but it's always nice to have options.

Today was the last day to avoid the work chaos. I was out with the flu for the last week..... if I'd have felt better it would have been a nice mini vacation.

Back about the same time as the last entry here, my family hit some serious chaos. My son, God love him, struggles with depression and seemed to hit a serious low. We tried a series of antidepressants that, wow, changed him and not for the better. One made him so angry, almost gave him a super man complex that he feared no consequence and truly turned our once quiet house on it's side. One made him so anxious he couldn't function. So sad to watch, live through and for him, experience. He obviously is antidepressant resistant and that's not a journey he is willing to go on again. We've now chosen a mood stabilizer that seems to be okay, but still is cause for worry.
While dealing with those issues I decided I needed to take a class, find a space where MOM wasn't crying, watching over him, or basically falling apart with him. During a shopping therapy day I ventured to my local quilt shop and found a class called "Hoop Sisters". It's embroidery & quilting.... quilting in the hoop. Of course, it inspired me to need a new machine. During the class I used a HV Designer 1. It's now sitting ready for me at the shop, all packed up and no place to go. I've been side lined with the flu. Yep, the grand H1N1. Let me tell you, this sucker is horrible. It's been 5 days since the onset and I still feel like crap!! I've been told I can't come to work till I'm 24 hours fever free and can't seem to get the fever below 99. The deep cough has made my rib cage hurt. I'm now not chilling with 101-102 fevers but a headache has set in and the cough remains.
Taking time off work to be sick.... ugh, it's the worst. I'd rather be sewing something. I took 2 weeks of sick time off with my son, now I eating away a week on myself. That's 3 weeks of sick time in 2 months!!! I guess that's what it's there for. I just feel horrible that I've left the department short handed.

So, to complicate my chaos a little bit more. I'm embarking on a new personal challenge.... a goal to complete 365 days of stitches that can consist of handwork, machine piecing or quilting, and cutting for piecing. Come see my personal challenge at 365stitches

Good morning Friday! (my favorite day of the week because everyone else is working and I'm home!!! gotta love 4 ten hour shifts).

My new love is Quilter Blogs.com. I love looking at other's projects it kind of motivates me, where motivation is slim. If I didn't have a shopping with Mom day planned, I'd get on it, but.... it shall have to wait. I WILL complete the pink quilt for the Relay for Life Raffle. I started it last year to late, knew I'd not have time to do it justice, so it will be this years raffle. I've decided to start the new one as soon as the last one is done. I was so thrilled when Denise, a co-worker, won the year priors "Blue Breeze" quilt. Disappointed when I found out she won't use it! She said it was to pretty to use. I may make pretty quilts, but they are not for display they are for love and warmth..... she's doesnt' see it that way. Silly girl! If she curled up with it, just once, she'd see.
This new one is a mix of fun and thought. I've embroidered inspiring word blocks to mix with bright pink and polka dot fabric 12" squares. I found it not at snappy as I'd wished so I think I'll add a boarder of pink around the pink of white word blocks. We have the "Pink Ribbon Walk/Run" in a few weeks. Do I think I could get it done to start the raffle early???

I think while Mom and I are out today I'll stop and pick up some fabric to finish the fall colored top that is ready for sandwich. Today is the last day I will get to spend with her before she drives off to a warmer winter so we've planned a day of shopping and dinner tonight.

Oh how I don't love Monday!
Why is it I am always exhausted on Monday? I don't work any harder on Monday than any other day. I try to get to bed early for my early to rise Mondays. Today's Monday I actually left after 10 hours.....not 10 and 15 minutes, not 11 and definately not 12. J had a wonderful dinner made, yumm yum.
I think I'll curl up in bed with the "Winter Wonderland" blocks and see how long I can stay up.

It means I want to sew!! I love fall, the colors, the cooler nights, the warm days and the slower pace. I'm sitting here, thinking, surfing and remembering all the UFO's (yes, I read my list) and wishing I was more motivated, worked less, and had more money to finish them. Now would be a perfect time to put that lovely orange and brown quilt on my bed, maybe the pumkin table cover on the kitchen table.... but noooo, they are sitting down stairs in the sewing room not done, not near useable. Ugh! gotta get moving!!

I put the Aniversary Quilt J bought me years ago in Lancaster. I remember the Amish woman saying "are you sure you want this one". It's such a simple design, but the memory lasts a lifetime. It looks beautiful!

Well, I'm following my usual pattern, gung ho into a project them poof, stopped. The snow has fallen and fallen and yet, that snow man marked blocks are still sitting in the bag, 1/4 done. I blame my middle aged eyes for one, my laziness for two, and three.... well I'm sticking with the eyesight. I even bought a "full spectrum" light to help me because I can't see the sewing line even with my bifocals, but alas, still..... yea, not touched sence Thanksgiving.

The chaos of my mind keeps me going from project to project and back to the couch. I've gain an astounding amount of weight this past year. Stress eating is my specialty. I know if I have fabric in my hand at night I snack less, so it's time to get back to the groove. The doing what I love groove and stop sitting around waiting to meet a need someone else may have. I spend my "free" money last weekend buying new allergy covers, filters, etc. for Ryan's needs. I've got plenty of UFO's to keep me out of the fabric store for awhile.

I purchased new kitchen rugs a while back and of course, that means making new valances. I made them, found them to short. I tried to "live with it", but I realized the fabric wasn't that expensive, just make a new set. So today, I will finish that new set and use the shorter version for other things to decorate the kitchen with. When I purchased the fabric I also bought a yard of natural color canvas to make a table center piece. Today I'll try to tackle both projects.

Kayla is coming home this afternoon, Ryan is working tonight, and John I'm sure will be on the couch all day so I plan to make a turkey breast for us to eat as a family for the short time we are all together. Ryan's first job is his first experience missing out on things. I'm very proud of him and think he's ultra handsome when he walks out the door in his black slacks and white dress shirt. Lordy they grow up so fast! Some days I want my babies back, other's I am thankful they have grown up to be healthy productive citizens.