Quilting My Way Through Chaos....

What a busy weekend! Nice busy, but busy just the same. I am anxious to get the table topper done(yes, officially designed) but yet another busy day. I'm going to try to squeeze in some machine time while I finish up laundry, take MIL to a calling hours and then to dinner for FIL birthday.

Another week has flown by, I love my 4 days a week work schedule!!! I don't expect too many calls from the staff today.

The question - will the day be mine or will the teenager need me because he knows I'm home? We are working hard to keep him on track and help him over the blues of the earlier part of the school year. I always start my days off with a plan in the hope today is a good day for him. Today WILL be a good day - saying it over and over trying to make it happen.

Sooooo, my plans are finish up the Valentine project (most likely a table topper my new found passion) and figure out my CGQC project for February. I've got a few ideas brewing. Oh yea, it's 8 degrees outside with a high of 17 so I have no plan to step foot outside!! Notice, there is no housework included in those plans. I still think I have J fooled when I do the last minute dash clean up. I'm sure he sees right through it, but he never says a word. :)

**Update: I made it through the entire day without a call from the boy. I finalized the Valentine project and should finish it off tomorrow! Today was a good day!!

I decided the cold, gloomy, mid-west weather isn't going to get me today!!! I'm back to the sewing den and the Valentine project. I thought I'd share what's on my sewing machine today.

In my virtual travels I ran across another fun "quilt in". On 2/19/10, Handmade by Heidi will hosting a "Friday Night Sew In". Sounds like cozy warm fun! (can you tell I'm still cold!!)

Hello again cold and snow!

We just finished a burst of semi warm, rainy and gloomy days. Mr. Mid West Winter didn't want us to forget him so today he bustled up some white fluffy stuff and a whole lot of cold windy breeze. I think I've seen 60 minutes of sun total in the last 5 days. Ugh!

I've curled up under my "Bluebird Dreams" quilt, grabbed a cup of tea and settled in with some stitchery. Wonder if I can find a good Lifetime or Hallmark movie? Now that sounds like a plan.

Happy Stitches -

It's true when "they" say raising teens isn't for whimps. What happens to those precious children when they become teenagers? Oh, I've heard the science of it all... but watching it is a different story. I swear, in this house the brain of teens go on vacation for the junior year of high school. It feels like being held hostage by an emotional creature waiting to explode at the first sign of fear. I've made it through this mission once, with a great outcome. I know better than to toss and turn trying to figure how to navigate those wonderful teen years but just can't seem to help myself.

I have figured out one of the reasons I am so slow at quilting. I don't follow patterns but design as I go. I spent my sewing hours yesterday staring at and manipulating the hearts I'd made, thinking what to add, how to border and how large to make the table runner/table topper. If I make a table runner do I have enough fabric to make a matching valance? Do I really need a matching valance? Why do I make it harder on myself? Why, because I like the challenge. I should go back to pattern design. I sold a few of my designs a few years ago. Come to think of it, I think that was when my oldest was a junior in high school. I see a pattern here.....

I decided to make a Valentine table runner today. Just something simple, hearts and maybe a red embroidery boarder. I wanted to join the Charming Girls Quilt Club but I think because of my inactivity I've been booted. :(

Well, as usual, others had plans for my planned activities day off. So after working the other days of the week, today looks like cleaning sewing room day. I love my family, but they put a wrench in plans in a quick second.
The new HOOPSISTERS club will start the new block tomorrow and I've not even picked my fabrics or threads. So sometime today I'm going to run to the shop and get my supplies. I joined a class - now I just have to participate.
ORGANIZATION: FIND IT!!!

I attended a weekend conference so I've taken today off. Today is MY day.... not answering the phone if work calls, not stressing over the laundry or the house. Today is MY day and I'm going to clean up the sewing room so I can get busy. It's really a section of our oh so messy basement that I cut out for myself. Everyone throws "stuff" at the bottom of the basement that seems to end up being toed into my area as they travel to the dark zone. We have become collectors of not putting this away, not throwing things away and well basement slobs. Sadly, that basement slobbery hinders my desire to venture to my sewing "room" and I do what they do, sit around waiting for someone else to clean it up. Not very productive! As I said, J got me a new computer so I could use my old one specifically for sewing/computing needs so today I will start with finding it's home. I will pick up the done with fabric all over the cutting table and make a Good Will bag for the clothes I can't fit in or wear that is piled right in front of my design wall. Today is MY day .....

Okay, so it's a new year.... a new day......and a chance to do the things I say I'm going to do. This year, no resolution, just a plan. I plan to quilt my way through the chaos of life more this year. I plan to finally get a grip on my every growing size 16, 40DD body. So, lets make goals.

Goal #1. Stop thinking negative. "I'm to tired", "there is much to do", "what will I do with another quilt I make?", "it (I) doesn't matter".
Goal #2. Organize the sewing room!!! Can't sew if I can't find the machines that are buried under tons of stuff!! J bought me a new laptop for Christmas so I can take the big laptop (without a battery) to the sewing room and leave it there. Wasn't that sweet of him? I have the perfect spot for it, my external floppy drive, my read writer, and all the business that goes along with making my computing/sewing easy..... just have to organize.
Goal #3. Stop thinking "if I quit smoking I'll find out I have lung cancer so why did I bother?" (very very dumb I know!!) Stop thinking "I'm not as fat as I think" (I am and I have pictures to prove it). So, back on the nicotine gum, back to Weight Watchers. I've lost weight before but never really tried to quit smoking.

So,those are my goals for my life, not resolutions mind you, to much pressure with a resolution, these are just plans......... plans to make myself more motivated, feel better, and enjoy life instead of a brown leather recliner. Although I'm blogging about my life, part of the plans can't be accomplished on the computer. So, less sitting with my feet up claiming I'm to tired to do things, admit I've become lazy and a Face Book junkie!!! Wish me luck!