thinking out loud... for all to see...

ok. I'll admit it.

Sometimes I wonder what I want to be when I grow up. Oh, I know what you're thinking... "Dang. She's a gram. She's pretty much grown up. Doesn't she get that?" Well, no. She doesn't. She's feeling pretty darn young and full of potential and she's thinking about what she could do, be, make, sell, love working at.

One day she thinks she'd be a fantastic decorator. She even goes out and helps a friend pick out new furnishings for her family room. It's great fun. Perfect way to spend a day. Hmmmmm... that has possibilities.

Another day, she runs down to Kansas City for a spur of the moment tour of Quilt Market.

Can't you just see it? Kelly and Roscoe running a quaint little quilt and home decor store? He'd make the perfect shop dog, you know. He's all friendly and happy and he doesn't shed or smell like a dog. Yep. He'd be perfect.

If only that lovely little spot across from Boyd and Charlies in downtown Elkhorn was still available. *sigh* And then there's the girl who'd love to buy and sell vintage-y goodness at monthly or quarterly sales. Yeah. Miley and I could tour Nebraska and pick all kinds of great junk that other people would fight over at our sale. See, I've got lots of ideas. ;) Now if I just had a clue which one would really rock my world... That's the beauty of dreams though. You get to enjoy them while you try and figure them out.

p.s. the pictures? #1- Me on my way to KC... :) #2 The most amazing sectional at Nell Hill's in KC. The store's looking particularly amazing right now! #3 A cute little button I got at Quilt Market #4 The most amazing dog looking spiffy after a day at the groomers. Isn't he so fun sitting in my little convertible entertaining passers by? :)

See? That wasn't so bad.

I spent most of my week busy and happy and not thinking about the fact that we didn't go to Peru. In a lot of ways, it was perfect. Thursday morning, the boy and I hopped out of bed and threw a few things in a suitcase and hightailed it up to Minnesota where we stayed at a lovely little hotel and I shopped while he hung out with his brother. Dinner out with friends and relatives filled our evenings. I loved it. We don't often get a trip where no one has expectations of us (read: a company paid for our trip and therefore expects that we will attend certain functions) They say things happen like they're supposed to and this week I'm inclined to agree.

I've got a pile of boxes from Ikea in the front entryway that will entertain me for hours this week, I'm sure. And if those fail to delight, I've got plenty of fabric in this little room I call a studio that I am certain will not let me down. Here's to this silly little experience we call life. Any way it goes one thing is for sure- it's rarely boring! :) Off to the movies with my Youth Group tonight. Do I even want to see this movie? Not sure. But I do want to hang out with those kids... and as I tell them all the time- sometimes it's not about the activity but WHO you get to spend time with. Ready. Set. Go!

p.s. the photo? A wall in at West Elm that I think will serve well as inspiration for that blank wall in my kitchen. Fun, yes? :)

 

 

Blogging from...

home. Yep, home. Not Peru. Not Machu Picchu. Home. Ugh. Oh well. I didn't really want to go anyway. Well, I guess I should say I didn't want to go until I knew I couldn't. Then, I suddenly did. :) Isn't that just the way we humans work? We don't want something until we know we can't have it and then suddenly it seems like the most incredible thing ever? ok. I'll back it up and tell you the story. Every year, Scott's companies that he writes insurance for take a nice trip. One of the companies apparently has a thing for the exotic destination and their picks for places to travel to often catch me off guard. This year, they chose Machu Picchu. I never even knew that I might want to go there until I told a few people about it and they raved about how amazing it was supposed to be and how it was on their list of places they wanted to visit. So, ok. We're going. But wait, we're not there.

Seems that my silly iron levels have decided they're not interested in increasing despite my attempts to lure them into a higher state. I've done 6 weeks of iron infusions and despite that my levels are still below normal. Add that to an unstable blood supply in Peru and high altitudes that aren't ideal for someone in my state and you have me sitting in my studio in Nebraska instead of winding my way up the mountains in Peru. Oh well. The boy wouldn't go without me (crazy boy!) and he stayed home and we spent most of the weekend just hanging out. It was great. No worries about being sick away from home or wishing I hadn't gone. Just a quiet weekend with the boy and a trip to Minnesota toward the end of this week. Ikea or Machi Picchu? Hmmmm. I guess I'll take Ikea. ;) More trips for iron and doctor's appointments in between to find out why my levels haven't gone up dramatically will be on the schedule this week too, I'm sure. Hoping for answers and learning that sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. I'm going to finish up my Monday work and sew. That always makes everything better. Yes? :)

p.s. the picture? My new ride. :) It's a great way to increase my Vitamin D levels (also, very low) and it's another car the boys can drive on the track. Win, win. At least that's how I spun it to get the boy to agree. ;)

Settling...

I can't say that the new house is all settled. It's really not (mostly because so much of what belongs here is still out at the lake house) But here and there, I've managed to get rooms in some semblance of "settled". Of course, the first priority was the studio. I know. I know. I should've concentrated on the kitchen or something domestic like that. But seriously, the studio is where I find my little bit of calm and peace in the midst of what can be a stressful and all too busy life so I started in here. It's starting to feel creative and happy and all the other good adjectives you can think of. It needs a little art on the wall but I think this room will have a more curated look and won't be so busy on the walls. I love the color I chose to have it repainted. It's the most perfect blue/green/grey color that's almost beyond words. It's light and bright without being too boring. I love it. And the green cabinet is stocked and ready to provide hours of inspiration and fun. Settled. I love it.

The desk that holds my computer and cutting area faces the front of the house and sits directly in front of a big picture window that looks out onto the front porch. The light streams in and it's just a really cheerful place to sit and enjoy the view (both inside and out!) I think we're going to like it here. It already feels like home and that's very settling... :)

I should take my own advice...

I've moved a LOT in my 44 years of life. Seriously. A LOT. In just 25 years of marriage I've had 19 addresses. Yes, I said 19. Apparently the boy and I must not mind moving too much. ;) So, if you want moving advice, I am your girl. Really. I am. And my number one piece of advice? Pack like you're moving across the country even if you're moving down the street. I mean it. Don't tell yourself that you can just "stick that in the back of the car". You'll be moving FOR.EVER. Why I didn't follow my advice this time is beyond me. Well, really, it's not beyond me. Things just got out of order. With closing delayed so many times, I kept pushing off the packing because I actually use most of my house and I didn't want it sitting in boxes. And there's the "low iron, I'm so tired I could just go to sleep standing up" issue that helped me decide to move things a little at a time. And so, I'm packing up a room at a time and moving it over. It's not ideal. I often find myself wishing that I had this or that and remembering it that it's at the other place. Fun. But, I do love this new space. It's smaller and cozier and it's just "enough". That feels good. It's also amazing to be able to drive to almost anywhere I usually go in about 10 minutes. LOVE that. We'll keep on packing and moving and know that soon it'll be all the stuff will be in place and it'll all be worth it. Right? Right. In the mean time, I've managed to set up the studio just enough to knock out a few projects that need to go out the door including this paper pieced block with FIFTY SIX pieces in it. I did two of them for the Inspire.Do.Good.Stitches bee group over at Flickr.

They're a pretty block- just a bit tedious. :)

And now, I'll get back to a little bit of "me" sewing and pick up my Flea Market Fancy blocks again. I can't wait to add to my collection. Let's talk again soon. I'll bring pictures. :)

I'm a 10...

Well, actually, I'm a 10.6 :) At least my hemoglobin level is. Although the iron infusions are time consuming and not real fun, they do work. I'm not up to a "normal" level yet but I'm sure hoping at the end of treatment (3x's a week for 7 weeks) I will be. Even though I'm not at high levels yet, I can tell a difference and I'm feeling more like myself and that's a great thing. I've been getting a lot more done and I've actually felt like sewing some and that does so much for my attitude and my mood. I started working on a project "for me". It's going to be a king size bed quilt. The blocks finish out at 19" each so I need 25 of them. I've set a goal for one a day which means I'll have the blocks done by about April 17. I'm calling it "Hangin' with Denyse" (It's mostly Denyse Schmidt fabrics). I'm pretty sure that I'll send it out for quilting because it's SO big and I've not quilted one that big on my own and I really want this one to be "special". Special means it'll go to Angela who is quite possibly the most talented longarm quilter I've ever met (or seen their work for that matter).

I love the Flea Market Fancy prints (both old and new) and I mixed in a couple of her collections that she's done for Joanns because they just seemed to fit and I needed more variety than I could get with just my Flea Market collection. So far, so good. Here's to feeling good, sewing more and just generally getting back in the swing of a busy life. It's so nice to not be tired all the time. Let's talk again soon. I miss coming here more often and meeting up with you. Take care.

Done.

This was a fun round of the Pillow Talk Swap for me from the sewing end. I got a partner that I really was happy to sew for. I just "got" her vibe and I think I was able to create something that she's going to really enjoy and that always feels good. I haven't received mine yet and I'm ok with that. I always like to get mine after I've sent the one I made off. Somehow I feel guilty if I get my package before I mail one out. ;) Crazy? Maybe just a little.

Anyway, Lee did a Summer Sampler Series last year and it had the prettiest block in it. I pinned it and I put it in my favorites at Flickr. (p.s. if you want some SERIOUS quilty eye-candy go look at my Flickr Faves!) When I got my partner's info and started thinking about what I wanted to sew, I couldn't forget about this block and the typewriter fabric I'd just gotten in the mail (oh the wonderous amazingness of mail order fabric!) So, I combined it all together and this is my end result.

It was a LOT of paper piecing (which I've decided I pretty much LOVE to do) but it all came together relatively quickly. That's the good thing about a pillow- it's a lot of effect for not a whole quilt's worth of time. And you get to do things that you might not be willing to do a billion of for a whole quilt. ;) The back was pieced in Amy Butler gorgeous dots which I've been hoarding for a while now but seemed oddly perfect for the back of this project. Mix in a little Sweetwater text and a zipper and you've got a darn cute backside (and really, who doesn't want a darn cute backside?!?!?) 

And with this back, I can officially declare that I am no longer afraid of zippers. So take that you formerly scary metal thing that used to reduce me to a puddle of fear. No longer. I own you. I am the master. ok ok... maybe that's a bit extreme... but I did rock this zipper if I do say so myself. :)

Anyway, it's on it's way and I can now stalk the mailbox with nary an ounce of guilt about how I should be sewing my partners pillow. Whew. Can't wait to see what's in my package when it gets here. Seriously, I love the Pillow Talk Swap. :)

Giving myself a little grace...

I had big plans for 2012. Big sewing plans, at least. A quilt a month? no problem. Or so I thought. Here it is March 1st and I have one quilt sewn and quilted. The binding's been attached but not hand stitched down. You see, sometimes my plans and life's realities just don't jive. I got sick right after we got back from Kentucky and I literally spent an entire month feeling downright yucky. As in the girl who never takes antibiotics did 2 rounds in 4 weeks. Yeah. So, I got over "the crud" and still felt bad. Went in for blood-work since it was time (annual thing for me) and found out that my Iron has tanked and my vitamin D is ridiculous. Great. Fun. Now it all makes sense. Fortunately, the Iron issue can be taken care of with infusions and I'll see the hematologist on Monday to get rolling on that. The Vitamin D seems to be a bigger issue to deal with (at least for me) but I've got some leads on things to try and we'll go down those roads and see where they lead. I've been taking 52,000 iu's a day. Yes, that's not a typo- 52,000. That's a LOT. Ugh. Oh well. I've felt pretty discouraged about my sewing time and my lack of "dones" but I'm letting it go. Until I get these things worked out I'm going to do what I can and let the rest of it sit. It's not like it's an emergency. I'm pretty sure that life will continue even if I DON'T get a quilt made every month. ;) Gonna take it easy, use my mornings wisely (when I'm at my best), nap with my pup (even though I wake up feeling just as exhausted), and just generally take it easy. I'm blessed that I have a husband who's understanding and willing to just let me do what I need to and not make a fuss about perfection in household matters or office work. I love that about him.

We did manage to get this house whipped into shape last week and we listed it for sale. Not sure if it'll sell or even if we really want it to but it's an option. We bought a cute little house in town that will make it a little easier for me to help mom and get myself to Doctor's appointments and not have so much time on the road. In the big scheme of things I'm just fine. Exhausted, but fine. So, there you have it. Excuses why I didn't meet my goal and grace for my short comings. ;) I can't wait to feel like sitting at my machine all day again. That'll be fab!

Talk to you soon... I'm off to take a nap with Roscoe. He went to the groomer yesterday and he's looking mighty fine and smelling like a pampered pooch!

p.s. First photo? Our GuestRoom. :) I love that upholstered king size headboard that we bought to use with the twin bed nestled into it sideways. It's a fun look. And before you ask- no I did not make that quilt. It's Martha Stewart from Macy's. It was a great look and cheaper than I could've bought fabric to make it. The Second photo? World's most amazing dog laying on the new rug that arrived for the new house today. Lots of dark tan/brown walls and I'm trying to decide if I'll go with that or repaint. The neutral toned rug will look fab either way, I hope. :)

Sew as you go...

It's seems that lately I have more ideas than sewing time and when I sit down to sew it's hard to figure out exactly what I'd like to work on first. I'm having a bit of an issue with tendinitis in my elbow and have found most of the things I really love to do rather painful as of late but the other night I couldn't take it any more and I sat at my machine determined not to leave until I'd cleared my head and felt a little better about life. You see, that's how I roll. Time at my machine is sanity time for me. It gives me a sense of creativity and makes me feel like I can control at least a thing or two in this crazy life I live. ;)

I bought this typewriter fabric a while back because, well, because I liked it (as good a reason as any other, I suppose) and I really wanted to use it in my pillow for this round of the Pillow Talk Swap. Just so happens that my partner likes this fabric too (and that's not giving away too much info because EVERYONE seems to love this fabric) so I decided to use it as the focal point of my design. I couldn't just fussy cut out the typewriter and roll with it. Oh no. That's WAY too simple. So I cut out two of the typewriters and created a super fancy striped typewriter. I'm in love. Now to create some sides and figure out exactly where I want to head. It's easiest sometimes to just make it up as you go along... wish me luck? :) I'll be sewing tonight. If it turns out like I'm seeing it my head it's gonna be super cute! :) YAY!

Wishing you love...

Love is all around... You just have to look for it sometimes. :)

Happy Valentine's Day... I wish you lots and lots of LOVE and LOVEly things to surround you.