March Accomplishments and April Goals

March

I got all of dd's fabric washed and need to press it and my Spring Breeze is not topped. Those were my goals for March. I am glad that I made progress on both this month.

April

• Top Spring Breeze
• Top DD's Bamboo/Pinwheel quilt

Going to continue to keep things simple here until I see what I can accomplish on an ongoing basis. I do have fabric washed for a few other projects so you may see a "zinger" in my list of accomplishments.

I Got the Nicest Phone Call

I got a call from a local gal here that is a member of the guild in Monroe on Monday. She was one of, if not the first, to respond to a message I posted on the guild website asking for information on Monroe. She was asking me about myself and how I was doing. She let me know that she had told other ladies about me since she might be late and that they were expecting me. Wow...expecting me. What a nice welcoming feeling that is.

I had also happened across the blog of another Monroe guild member. I left her a comment and let her know I was in the area. This wonderful lady offered to give me a ride to the meeting. I sure would have taken her up on her offer but I like to explore in my car and am always finding new and interesting places.

Tomorrow is the guild meeting. My first ever guild meeting. They told me to bring show and tell. I have been busily working on my Springe Breeze and hope to have more of my little 3 x 3 units I am making. I need 8 but I am a pinner and it will take me awhile. More is better than not.

Hope you are having a happy springy day.

Getting in the Groove

This is the start of my third week in Monroe. Work has been somewhat slow due to issues with other groups getting the work done with quality so that we can begin our work. Every day we have promises of work to do but so far very little has been delivered. Right now I take advantage of that by leaving early on Friday in order to get home in daylight.

On the apartment front I have a real bed, my kitchen is totally setup and I have t.v., phone and internet service. My living room looks like a college kids apartment since I am using 6 foot banquet tables for the t.v. and my sewing. I have a reclining lawn chair for my living room furniture. I am trying to avoid charging things as long as I can. I feel that I have a livable situation and will add furniture as I go. My next exciting purchases will be a nightstand and lamp and some sort of t.v. stand. All in good time.

The apartment is nice and the neighbors are too. I have heard very little noise from them so it seems like a well insulated place. I have put in a few service requests. Nothing too major though. When dd was here she noticed a dusty substance coming up from the floor. I ran the vacuum and there was a white chalky substance in the carpet. I found it in several areas of the apartment. I think it is carpet deodarizer that you sprinkle then vacuum up. I mentioned this to the management office and they are sending the carpet cleaner to clean the carpets. I spent last night cleaning the apartment so that I had everything off the floor. I think this will mark the last of someone coming into my apartment to do something to it for awhile.

I have a neighbor on the downstairs level to the side that has his patio covered with bird feeders. It is really nice to wake up and see all different birds outside my window. I have tried taking a few pictures but they are not the greatest. I will continue to take them and see if I can improve. Here are a few varieties I have seen so far.

Week 13 Stash Report

OK I havent done a stash report in a few weeks. Been a little busy so here goes and there was an increase for the Dallas show.

Fabric Purchased this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 7.625 yards

Fabric Busted this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Busted YTD: 16 yards

Net Used YTD: 8.375 yards

Dallas Quilt Show 2009 Booty





6.5 yards of fabric, Ficklesticks book and accessories, sewing machine screwdriver, 3 patterns, 2 Bunnyhill pincushion patterns (not shown) and bo nash bonding powder with pressing sheet (also not shown).

Dallas Quilt Show

I met up with my long time quiltchat friends.

michele, purplefiend, scooter, swooze and arachnea.

I also got to meet new friends from various yahoogroups.

Safety Concerns

I got a strongly worded email from one of my blog readers and friend. She felt I was putting myself at risk by showing my apartment complex online and also my office. While I don't necessarily agree with the reaction my family does and got a little upset so I have removed those identifying photos.

If you would like to see the pictures email me and I will share with you if I know you.

Butterball and Max

Butterball greets me when I get home. Max won't let me touch him but he is curious about me. Someone who shall remain nameless let Butterball in my apartment so guess who thinks he lives with me now???

Inside the Apartment

I was trying for a yellow and purple color theme. No pans in those colors so we did red. I now have a red crockpot too :).



Louisiana Stash.



Sewing area.



My stash consists of my kitted fabric. Should I bring more? My sewing area is in my living room for now.

Work and the Roads There

Spanish Moss



Bayou



Another Bayou

These are the sights on the way to work.

Community Kitty

There are two cats hanging out near my apartment. They are not skinny by any means but do not seem to belong to anyone as they are outside at all hours. Should I put out cat food? Should I put out water? I know some of the neighbors are putting scraps out for them.

Thoughts?

Hello My Faithful Fans

Please bear with me. I am still trying to get a computer setup at the apartment. The roadblock is deciding what to get. More than likely no pictures until then and not many other updates.

I made the 300 mile drive home over the weekend. It takes me about 4 hours and is a pretty straight shot. That reminds me...I better check the gas tank!

The time at home was too short. So much to do in so few hours. I did manage to pack up my sewing room, well a portion of it, and carry it home with me. It took me an hour to unload everything. I have to climb a flight of stairs and some of the things were very heavy. I even had to lay down for a few minutes (no chairs yet) to catch my breath.

I was good and setup and put away everything I brought. I pulled out fabric for my next quilt and washed it along with other laundry last night. I will have to setup the ironing board and iron and see how I like them. Both new. Tonight I will more than likely just sew on my Spring Breeze to get that top done.

So here is an interesting fact about me. I have never lived alone. Last night was my first night alone in the apartment. I locked my bedroom door. I fell fast asleep and slept hard. I will be fine. I took an upstairs apartment on purpose. I think it is safer for me. My mother asked me if I am lonely. So far, no. I think I will enjoy the peace and quiet. I will be talking with lots of folks and try to catch up on past friendships. In other words, I plan to make the most of my time.

Hello from Monroe, LA

I arrived safely this past Sunday. Checked into a hotel and found something to eat. What did we eat? Wow I can't even remember now. Taco Bell? DD and her friend are with me. DD wanted to be here to help choose the apartment and furnishings.

We drove around to look at the two apartment complexes I was interested in. Before I arrived I was more interested in one than the other. After seeing them my mind shifted to the opposite. I am using hubby's GPS. Their directions are....interesting. Let me just say they are close enough. At both complexes I met a resident and asked about the place. Both received good reviews.

The girls went to check out the pool at the hotel. Covered and closed. Oh well.

Monday I reported to work. Had an orientation of sorts. Had my badge made. Drove to a nearby lab for a drug screen. I returned to the office and had lunch while waiting for my supervisor to get ready for us. We had a meeting to go over some things to get setup with access etc. Once that was over they let me leave to go look at the apartments.

My original first choice only had 2 bedroom apartments. The other was full with nothing open until May. Both apartments are on train tracks and the apartment I was shown backs up to the track. I asked how frequently and when the trains passed. There was some vague response and then here comes a train. Very slow moving, quiet and only an engine and one car. I felt it would be ok and signed the lease.

Tuesday we checked out of the hotel and moved into the apartment. We went shopping and got a lot of things. Still had a long list left to buy but got the bare necessities so that we could shower and have something to eat. Wednesday the girls roughed it with no electronics. I did meet the cable guy at lunch time and he got t.v. service started. Phone and internet will be setup next Thursday. Things are slow going there.

Wednesday night another night of shopping for more stuff for the apartment. We got home and went to do laundry. 4 loads after only 3 nights here. Sigh... Did find out the machines are nice and efficient. Very quick. Went home and fell into bed.

So here it is Thursday. I have been in a 3 day meeting and am picking up some things. Refreshing my knowledge on some items so that I can hit the ground running when it is time. I leave tomorrow for home. I have a list of things to bring back from the house and hope to get back to sewing. It has been a very busy, exhausting week and look forward to getting my real schedule established so things become more routine here.

I will take pics to share with a post this weekend. More later.....

Digging Out

I didn't want my last week to go as it has been. Still digging out from the stacks of stuff that I sorted out. I have 2 days planned at the Dallas quilt show too. I leave Sunday for the new job. No pressure....no pressure......HELP!!

Week 10 Stash Report

No change. I will more than likely be buying at the Dallas Quilt show next weekend.

Fabric Purchased this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 1.125 yards

Fabric Busted this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Busted YTD: 16 yards

Net Used YTD: 14.875 yards

HST Update

They are all pressed now. I will be working to sew them into pairs tomorrow at least. If it goes quickly I will make them into complete blocks as well. Ahhhh progress!

HSTs Trimmed

I have all my HSTs trimmed now. I did use the 28mm cutter and liked the control I have. Now to press them all which is tomorrows task. There are about 90 or so. Should go pretty quickly.

How Big Is Your Rotary Cutter?

I use a 45 mm rotary cutter. For awhile there I thought I had gone out and bought a 60mm and been using that but then one day a friend sent me a pack of rotary blades without any discussion of size. When I got them, it brought me back to my reality.

I bought a 28 mm recently to use with some slotted rulers I bought. During my big sort out today I found one that I already owned.....sigh... It will get used, no worries.

So here is a question for you. I am currently trimming HSTs. I watch a friend of mine trim scraps. When she does this she uses a 28mm cutter. She seems to have good control with it so I plan to try trimming the rest of my HSTs with the smaller cutter to see if that works better for me. Things seem to slip around on me with the 45mm.

When you trim what size cutter do you use??

February Accomplishments and March Goals

February

• finish ds' blooming ninepatch top DONE
• baste all the waiting tops (not including the blooming 9p) nope
• quilt something! Anything! nope
• start my Spring Breeze top Started
• start dd's quilt I found her lost project. Does that count?

March

• Top the Spring Breeze
• Prep dd's Bamboo/Pinwheel Asian Quilt

With everything else going on in my life right now I am going to keep it really simple.

Nickel Update

I have now cut all my nickels down the middle between the sewn lines. I have them stacked in sets of 10 and am currently trimming them. When I get bored with the trimming I sew a little. Nothing exciting to see at this point.

I am still decluttering and getting things in order here. I reached a point over the weekend where I feel I can accomplish all that I had hoped before I leave on the 15th this month. Keep sending me positive thoughts that I can do all that I want in this remaining week and a half.

Week 9 Stash Report


Broken record here.

Fabric Purchased this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Purchased YTD: 1.125 yards

Fabric Busted this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Busted YTD: 16 yards

Net Used YTD: 14.875 yards

You Better Sit Down. I Sewed Today

Here is a little cross section of my Spring Breeze quilt. Enjoy!

UPDATE

It is now 12:40 Sunday a.m. I have sewn the rest of my nickel pairs together. Now to cut and trim them. Maybe it will be a day of sewing.

Clothes, clothes and more clothes

With my decluttering and culling I have been taking a serious look at my clothes. How much is enough? I know I have way too much. Plus with my weight loss there is quite a bit that just does not look good on me. Then there are the stained things or the washed out looking things. I need to just let them go. I want to start my new job with a nice wardrobe and I am hoping I have enough already to get started.

How are you at maintaining your clothing? How many of each item does anyone need? My opinion is more tops than bottoms as the tops give variety. Then I have to consider my laundry schedule. At home I normally do the laundry through the week. When I am in an apartment will I do the same? We shall see.

I am interested to hear your input on this topic.

About That Job

Still waiting for my contract to arrive so that I can sign it. I now know that tomorrow means a few days with this consulting firm. But that is ok. They do get the job done just a little slower than they think they can.

I live in the Dallas, TX area. The job I am taking is in the Monroe, Louisiana area. I will be working on converting customers from one billing system into another billing system. I have experience in a system similar to what the company currently has.

In the beginning I will be coming home on the weekends. Eventually I will be allowed to work a week here and there from home. There will also be times when I will not be able to come home on the weekends due to work duties.

I think this will take a little adjustment for everyone. But with all the layoffs that are going on I felt this was a good opportunity for me for several reasons. It will help me and my family attain some goals that we were not going to otherwise be able to achieve. I will get to learn a new system with a new company. I currently have 23 years all with the same company. Variety is the spice of life. My family and I are preparing for my absence. They know how to cook, do dishes and laundry. I think they will manage just fine.

I will be paid a per diem which will more than cover my expenses for renting and furnishing an apartment while I am there. I contacted the quilt guild there and 3 very nice ladies (aren't all quilters nice?) contacted me and recommended apartment complexes. I have been in contact with all of them and have found the one I will rent after I look it over. It looks great online. But you know how that can be. They have an apartment coming available at the time I start at my new job. I think that is a bit serendipitous. Time will tell.

I start March 16th and am ready to get to work!

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I got a call that the company I had interviewed with was slowing down on their hiring since they did not have work to keep everyone busy. The work was to come from another group but was slow and behind. So they told me to hang in there and that they felt a decision would be coming later this week since the people that we were waiting for were out of town on business. I felt I needed to step up my efforts on other leads and that I would work on that heavily the next day.

Today I was taking a break from my decluttering efforts and watching the boob tube. I was going to head to the sewing room after one of the shows I watch daily went off. Just as the show was wrapping up my cell phone rang. I answered and was asked my name. When I said "Yes this is she", I was asked "Are you ready to go to work?". I couldn't believe it. I start March 16th. As one of my friends said I "I am on vacation now and not unemployed". Fun way to think of it.

Thanks for all the kind supportive messages you have sent to me. I appreciate knowing how much you all care.

4 Day Declutter







But have no fear. I picked up the seam ripper and my blocks to work on those bad seams. What I go through to avoid ripping out! LOL!

Another Day of Decluttering

It must be done. I decided to work at it in the morning then sew after dinner. That didn't happen. I got to a point where things were at a turning point of looking like I had made progress do I forged on. I was rewarded when I found a bag of fabric and some patterns that I had been looking for. I still have more to go but don't foresee marathon sessions like the ones I just had these past few days. Hopefully I will have quilty content to share this week!

Thanks for the encouragement.

Quiltathons and Stay At Home Retreats

Lots of fellow quilters out there quilting their little hearts out. And what am I doing? Decluttering. I am pretty certain I will have a new job that will take me out of town during the week so I am trying to get my house in order in such an event. Friday I had 4 lawn size trash bags full of junk and then some odds and ends put out for the trash man. Maybe a kitchen bag. After today there are at least 5 lawn size trash bags, 4 or 5 kitchen size trash bags and boxes sitting on my driveway awaiting the next pickup. There will be more and my trashman will be cussing my name!

I am going to try to get a little sewing in tomorrow as I think I need a break. We will see what the morning brings.

References Are Checked and my Seams are "Tenting"

Heard back from the consulting firm about my interview Friday. References are checked and now we wait. They seemed to indicate it was a matter of them checking the timeframe of when not if. I am not counting on it yet.

I started sewing sections of my Spring Breeze together last night. The seams are not lying flat and I think it is because when I get to the "point" of the one block it is narrower than the seam allowance I started with at the edge of the block. I only sewed three rows of three blocks together. I am going to pick it out and re-sew. Hope to show progress tomorrow.

Do You Sew Over Your Pins?

Why or why not?

Stash Report, Week 7 of 2009

Fabric Purchased this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 1.125 yards

Fabric Busted this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Busted YTD: 16 yards


Net Used YTD: 14.875 yards



I have not finished anything lately. That is the point when I count stash as busted. When do you count it? I am wondering if I should change my accounting practice....

Sewing Nickels Together

I have 320 nickels to sew together. There are 2 color ways. One is red and white the other is red and black. I have only 5 left to sew for the red and white combo. Then I have to trim what has been sewn. I think I am a little over half way on the trimming. Then I have to sew 4 of these HSTs to make on block. I think I have 10 blocks made so far.

For the red and black combination I have 1/4 of the nickels sewn together with one block sewn together. I had started with grey thread for both colorways but when I assemble the white and red blocks the seams are all white and white fabric. I decided to use white for those and so will sew all that combination first then switch thread back for the rest. I think I can get this one topped this week!

Opportunities

I decided to take this week off from job searching as I came down with a really nasty cold. I had started to reach out a little to get things rolling and thought let me rest and get better and things can resume Monday. I have talked with 3 consulting firms and had an interview today with a company that seems very interested in me. They called back asking for professional references so that says a lot!

If they choose me they want me to start in about 3-4 weeks. That works for me! More to come.

UNEMPLOYED

Today is the Day

My last day at work....maybe. I had one interview in the 60 days I searched. I learned yesterday that department is under a hiring freeze. I received a call yesterday and interviewed for another position. They will have to decide today if they want me and start the transfer process today in order for me to get that job. I will have to go on leave of absence while awaiting the approvals for me to get that job. During this process the job could fall under a freeze.

Please send positive thoughts!

Stash Report, Week 6 of 2009

Fabric Purchased this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 1.125 yards

Fabric Busted this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Busted YTD: 16 yards

Net Used YTD: 14.875 yards