Category: Personal

Lone Star Love & Personal Updates

My strips are cut and arranged in order. Time to strip piece them.
My strips are cut and arranged in order. Time to strip piece them.

So I have always loved the Lone Star quilt pattern.  I decided to try one awhile back with a small quilt, from there I went to a very large quilt.  Now, I’m making one that will be “just right”.  It’s still in construction, but I wanted to share some of my progress with you.  I’m creating this Lone Star using 10 colors (3 of them are repeated).  I’m SO excited and happy about this color combination, I really love it!!  Two of the “burst” sections are the same multicolored fabric, that for me was moving out of my regular comfort zone.  However seeing the end result, I think it adds a bit of magic to the entire thing.

Creating the "blades" for the Lone Star
Creating the “blades” for the Lone Star

 

I start my new job this coming Tuesday, I can’t tell you wait a relief it is that.  I was laid off from my job in October of last year and was given the end date of January 1st.  So I was off and running on the job hunt, then my current job extended me until the end of February.  Luckily I found a job at my local hospital and begin there this Tuesday.  If someone would have told me this would all work out this perfectly I would never have believed them!  So now I am employed again, and will have time to focus more on my quilting once again, instead of resume editing, job searching, interviews etc.  So I’m very grateful and thankful for that.

Lone Star on the design wall after it has been blocked and pressed.
Lone Star on the design wall after it has been blocked and pressed.

On another personal note, we are one of 3 couples who are being considered to adopt a little 3 year old.  We are the only couple of the 3 who have had any interaction with him (we’ve provided respite for him the past 6 months).  So we’re really crossing our fingers on this one.  A really special little one, so we are cautiously optimistic things will turn out well for us.  (If you have any spare good vibes to send our way please do!)

So now that everything seems to be falling into place, please expect to see new projects and posts on a more regular basis.  I know I was sparartic at best for awhile.  😀

Hire Me!

hiremeYes, it’s another personal post.  Sorry we will return to our regularly scheduled quilting posts soon.  🙂

So my hunt for a new job continues.  It’s a strange process, having only 2 jobs in 20 years makes me rusty at the art of the interview.  I have had several promising interviews, however once everything is out on the table my skills and their need don’t match up, and that’s ok.

Being a long term employee is a good thing, it also makes you REALLY evaluate the place you want to work.  You want to be an asset, but at the same time, work in an environment where you feel comfortable and like your part of the team.  So, the search continues.

It’s stressful being in a partnership where your lack of job could hurt things you have worked years to achieve.  Karl (my spouse) has been nothing but supportive, but it’s just that feeling where you don’t want to let down your other half.

Now separate from my job hunt is our foster and adoption journey.  Which is wonderful and scary and frustrating all at the same time.  It’s a Labyrinth to navigate at times, and I’m getting advice for how to go about various different things.  But not knowing whether the advice I’m getting is sound, or if I should ignore it.  So add that to my job stress, and you have one heck of a ride.

So today I’m choosing to be positive and know that the right opportunity will present itself at the right time.  Until then I just need to trust and stay in good spirits, and with that….Christmas might come a tad earlier this year, as that always puts me in a good mood.  🙂

Quilter….Interrupted!

Ohh My StarsI have become a quilter interrupted!! It seems like the more I try and make time for quilting the quicker it gets eaten up.

Take today for example, today I was going to lock myself away in the studio, put together my other design wall, finish up my BOM blocks and a quilt that I need to cut sashing for. So I get my design wall all put together (it takes all of 5 minutes) and then start putting my quilt blocks on my wall. Then I really hate starting project(s) in a messy sewing room, so I sort a few things, pull out the sweeper and vacuum the floor, and have just about everything ready to begin. Then Karl comes done and says, we’re meeting some friends in 30 minutes. Friends I like, friends that always take care of our dogs when we’re out of town. So of course I want to go and see them….but then I’m a tad torn because…well I was going to sew today. Can I sew when I get back, ABSOLUTELY. But, I always have a problem starting a project I know I won’t finish that day…

When I quilt I love know that today I’m going to press and cut everything. Then tomorrow I will get the first part of piecing done, then the following I will piece the blocks, etc, etc. I like have a clear beginning and ending, because it means I met the goal I set for myself. While I LOVE doing it this way I clearly need to take a new tact. My friend Charisma finishes TONS of quilts, and she does it in small increments, 5 minutes at a time if that’s all she has. We works little by little and at the end of the quilt POOF there’s a quilt, next week POOF there is another quilt.

So, I’m going to FORCE myself not to come up with an excuse today why I can’t go back down, and then try and set aside at least 30 minutes each day to each some sewing done. I really do love it, and it helps tremendously with releasing stress (except when you can’t get those blasted seams to match up)!!

So this is my new challenge to myself….less procrastinating more short bursts of productiveness…