Locks of Love

http://www.locksoflove.org/
Well, I guess there is an upside to waiting over a year for a haircut. I've had about one hair cut a year in the last six years that I can recall. In 2002, I had my hair cut short and I mean short. It was no more than 1 to 2 inches long depending where you measured it on my head. lol. I really liked it but the hubby wasn't a fan. lol. So I began the process of growing it out. I finally went to Great Clips yesterday and did it, I got it cut. It's not micro short this time but it turns out when I told her I wanted it cut off and different, when she measured how much I wanted off of it, it was over 9 inches I wanted cut and that qualified me to make a donation to locks of love and I got a free hair cut from it to boot.

I so wanted to take a picture of my two little curly pony tails laying there on her counter but I felt silly asking if I could take a pic of my donated hair so I didn't. lol. And there are no pics today because I'm just a tad unhappy with the cut. Not bad, it's just longer on the one side and it's too full on the top and sides yet. I kind of have the look of a football head. lol. So, even though I'm not looking forward to it, I am going back and getting it evened up and ask that they take some more around the crown. I may have to pay for it today but I really can't be lookin' like no football head. lol. So, once I get it where I want it, I'll post new pics alongside the old ones I already have on here. It's drastic difference.

On the sewing scene, that little project I started this week with the intent of a doll quilt in mind has been finished off as a throw pillow for our sofa. It went together so well and was looking good when I noticed one of my triangle squares was a little smaller than the rest in the last row, therefore it threw off the alignment so I couldn't possibly quilt a straight line all the way across it. Drat!!!!!!! Hubby consoled me and told me just to make us a new pillow out of it so I did. It's not even a great pillow. Being the ever-imaginative recycler that I am, I thought I'd stuff it with some old work shirts hubby had ready for the Goodwill. Bad idea. It weighs about ten pounds, and it's not soft. lol. lmao. So, it needs opened back up and re-stuffed with polyfill. Should have used it in the first place but I didn't want to use all I had to stuff this one pillow. Too bad for my luck. lol.

I also went ahead and did some major cleaning in the sewing room yesterday. I didn't finish the room but I made a definate improvement. All of my fabric is sorted by color now and all of my sewing incidentals have their own spot and I can get to the machine and my ironing board now. I rounded up all my scissors and hung them on a hook and I think there are six pairs. lol. But, during the sorting I came across some blocks my sister had started and I found enough to put together what I think will make a nice size sofa throw. Not quite a full sized quilt, yet bigger than a baby quilt too. It will have 6 rows of all "like" color blocks seperated by crisp white sashing and borders. I have a red row, orange/yellow row, green row, tan row, and a light and dark blue row of blocks. It will be a quilt of many colors but I just couldn't let these blocks sit and do nothing with them so this project is born. lol.

Our local Wal-Mart has eliminated the domestic department. Well, the fabric department is gone. They still have yarn and fake flowers and scrapbook stuff. They even eliminated embroidery/cross stitch floss and such. Dorks. Now I have to go to Mansfield if I want new fabric. There are some small, independent quilt fabric shops around here but they are pricey. Anyway, while they still have them, I went ahead and bought three or four packs of needles for my machine. I'm using my last one right now. lol. I got a couple spools of thread and some elastic for fixing hubby's long johns. So, I should be a busy girl today. I have one more row of blocks to put together for the colorful quilt top. Then I have to put the sashes and borders and I'll at least have the top done. I got two pairs of long johns to fix and I have a small bulletin board to trim out and cover for work.

What are you all up to? I'll be around later to read some blogs so I'll be anxious to see what this weekend has brought for everyone. Happy Quilting.

Renee

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty!!!!

And look at who's home from work sick for the second day. This is my poor, poor honey. Yesterday, the 13th was his big 4-0. He felt lousey. Poor honey. Not even a good home cooked meal made him feel much better. And he didn't even eat a piece of his birthday cake. He was a good sport though. We had Tony and Steph over and Shawn and his girlfriend were here and we had a little birthday dinner for him. I just wish he had felt better.

I talked to him about an hour ago and he said he feels pretty good today so far. It's snowing to beat the band here again and he works in Mansfield which is about a 25 minute drive normally but in this weather, it takes forever for him to get home. Plus after work tonight he has to stay over for his big review/evaluation. That in itself could take hours. lol. So, I don't know when I'll see him but I sure can't hardly wait for him to walk through the door at night, especially tonight. Sometimes I feel like I am wayyyy, wayyy too dependant on him. He truly is my other half and I just don't feel whole without him. I misses him when he's not here. lol.

I tried sewing the other day and I kept having one interuption right after the other and at one point I just decided to give up on it for the day and I haven't made it back over there yet. lol. I had some little triangle squares left over from that horrid tablerunner I made sometime back so I pieced some of those together and made twelve little 3 3/4" squares. I was in the progress of putting denim sashing in between them when I decided to give up that day. I have three more pieces of the denim to put in length wise and then I have to go across it yet and then I guess I'll have me another little baby doll quilt top. I just don't have it in me right now to tackle a project like a baby quilt so I'm playing around with this and that and I like making the little quilts so I can work on my technique. Plus, when I get done I just might have me a whole little stash of baby doll quilts to give out to my little girl buddies. lol.

Shawn's girlfriend asked me last night if I could make a t-shirt memory quilt out of her cheering t's. She explained to me the one her friend had and I'm sure it will be pretty easy to make one. I just have my sewing room such a wreck again that I couldn't dare tackle such a project until I do something in there. And there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do all the things I have to do, let alone the things I want to do. lol. I don't know if I mentioned it but a friend of mine has asked me to make a quilt out of a top her grandma made. It is lovely. I want to say it is a trip around the world pattern but now that I think of it, I can't say that just yet without checking again. lol. It's so pretty though. I'll have to photo the top and show you guys. I'm scared to death to tackle that job too but I'm going to. How will I ever get over my fear of making a full size quilt if I don't just try it?

What's everyone else doing? I just love seeing what all ideas everyone has. Sometimes I think I spend too much time sitting here on the computer admiring other folk's goodies than actually working on some of my own. lol. I used to look at baby quilts on etsy til my eyes crossed. lol. After I'd found myself sitting looking for ever, I'd kind of get ticked at myself cause I'd spent that time just sitting here basically instead of doing something productive. lol. oh well. When you need ideas, you have to do your research. lol.

Speaking of research, I got an article due on Associated Content today or tomorrow so I better get busy on that. It's one of those I wish I hadn't sign on for after the fact. If I hadn't responded to the call, it wouldn't be a big deal but I did and they have deadlines and I'm afraid if I don't submit an article I claimed that they may not let me claim them in the future and/or not let me write for them period. So, I'm off. It's a silly little article about French Baby Names. I'll post the link once it's published.

Meantime, Happy Quilting to All.

Renee

Phew, Where To Start?

First of all let me start by saying that I hope everyone has had a great new year so far. I am still shaking my head realizing that it is already January 10th. And here I thought I was going to be better at posting in this new year. Hmm. My bad. I have been reading though. Just not doing alot of comment posting. So please know that just because I haven't got anything much to say right now that I am still reading and following along to all of you out there in blog land that I have come to know and love.

Second, please let me take the time again to thank each and every one of you who do stop by and visit and hear what I have to say and see what I have to see. I realize it's not much but the comments and visitors that do take a peak mean the world to me. Thank you, Thank you. Please keep coming by. Sometimes this is just what a girl needs to perk her spirits a little. Lord only knows how many of us could probably use that right about now.

Third, I just am amazed at how much talent and get up and go that this little circle of blogging buddies I have has. I have to tell you, I'm a little jealous. No matter what my New Year's intent was, I have not been motivated to make anything much. First few days of the new year I was working on some little hearts. Just little stuffed hanging hearts. The fronts are patchwork and the backs are solid. I played with using lace for the first time and had some fun but wasn't thrilled. I made a couple of little pillows for that doll quilt I put together and believe they need thrown in the trash. lol. I just have to tell you, I have no confidence in my skills at all. If it's not perfect, I am convinced it belongs in the garbage. I can't get around that. I haven't had any sewing lessons EVER in life. Never used a sewing machine up until about three years ago. I know basically nothing and feel by now I ought to have the hang of it and be producing nicely sewn items or forget about it. Will I ever get it? Will I ever have confidence in my stuff? Anybody else have this problem? How do you handle that?

And last but not least, right now and probably since shortly after the first of the year, I have been in a funk. I was so looking forward to putting the holidays behind me and moving on and having a fresh start to a new year. I wanted to blog more, sew more, be more productive and find some joy and peace. At the rate I am going, I think I'm worse than I was towards the end of the year when things were like crazy hoppin' mad around here. Truth be told folks, I am scared that I am going to have to go back on my anxiety/depression medication and I totally hate that but I also know that both are starting to creep their ugly little heads back into my life with a vengeance and I cannot, will not allow myself to get out of hand feeling so scared and sad and wanting to cry all the time. It's like the panic attack Christmas Eve started a vicious little cycle for me. The worse part of it that concerns me is that I get so quick and ill tempered. I don't mean to be mean but it's like I have little time or use for nonsense and triffling. And sadly, I guess I am at the point where I make it very obvious when someone is annoying me. Not a good trait to have when working with the public. I've been praying everyday for the ability to make it through one more and that's not the kind of start I had planned for this year. I won't let it go on much longer before I see my doctor. They say counselling may help me deal with some reasons I am anxious and depressed but I don't do the sharing thing that well with folks like that. lol. That's what my blog is for. lol. Seriously, it is something I've considered but I just can't do it. I am not convinced anyone has the power to help me and they are only guessing at what the reasons are and could only possibly make me more of wreck than I already am. Please, if you all wouldn't mind, if you think of it say a little prayer for me regarding this problem. There are days I don't know if I can stand anymore. It scares me and I don't like being so weak. I wanna be like all of you guys, full of pep and gumption and making projects and living life.

On that note, I know kind of a downer, I am going to sign off. Sorry to be so long winded again today. I can't say or write anything quick. lol. It's all about detail. lol. Have a great weekend everyone. Happy Stitching.

Renee

All Is Not Lost

I actually was creative this weekend after the Christmas holiday. Saturday I started work on that crayon bag I got an order for and on Sunday I finished it up and started a little doll quilt just for fun. I'm working on my technique and this was a great way to play around and I got a little something cute out of it. lol. I want to make some pillows to go with it and it might go on etsy. I have nothing on there currently. My items I had listed expired and I just don't think I want to re-list some of them and others I want to re-do so I just thought I'd get through the holidays and take another look at my etsy store. I, of course, want to add items and maybe one day actually sell something. lol. With this economy though, who knows what will sell and what won't. And I figure places like etsy will be one of the first and hardest hit. Handmade crafts aren't essentials and not many people I know are going to be spending for the fun of it in the near future. I remain hopeful that we'll pull out of this economic crisis. I'll certainly be cautious but ever hopeful. lol.

I better take this time to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year. I'm not as faithful at posting as I'd like to be and I just don't want to miss the opportunity to wish everyone out there a safe and prosperous new year.

I'll be working at 5 a.m. New Year's Day. Yippee skippy. Hubby and the boy have the day off but I'll be working 8 full hours. Grrrrrr. I hate to complain about my job, primarily because it is a job right now and they are so hard to find in this town, but it is about to drive me crazy. It's not at all where I want to be or what I want to do but it's the best I can do right now. My hope and dream would be to work from home doing anything, anything at all just so I don't have to leave home. I don't like the outside world much. lol. That's why I sure would love to make a go of etsy. There's just so much competition there. And craft shows and fairs are a problem for me since I don't much like being "out there". lol. If my hubby would go do them with me, I'd do everyone I ran across but he can't and won't so it's not much of an option for me right now.

Well, I wrote a book last time I posted and I don't want to do that this time. lol. So, I'm signing off for the night and am gonna catch up on all you all's blogs. Have a great night. Here's some pics of the weekend progress.

crayon bag


doll quilt front


and the back


Happy Stitching,

Renee