In an effort to practice what I have been preaching, I gave M something really nice.
She has been asking that we buy her a laptop case for her new laptop so she can take it to school. The kid has a thousand bags - nope not good enough. I offered to make her a cool laptop bag - nope not good enough. Yesterday was errand day and we went to Staples to check out bags. I see her walking around the store carrying TWO black briefcases. A BRIEFCASE????? A black one no less?????
Where is the FUN in that???? Boring - business BLACK briefcase!!!!!! I refused to buy it. I told her that if that was the style she wanted, then I had a NICE burgundy leather briefcase that she could have (ACK!!!)
We get home and I dig it out. Oh yes - I LOVE that briefcase very much and even though I don't use it any more, it never got stashed too far away.
MY briefcase |
BUT in light of the fact that if I am NEVER going to use it - why let it sit there. So I just sucked it up and gave it to her. I hope she takes good care of it - it wasn't cheap! AND she isn't allowed to GIVE it away!!!! OK - so I still have a problem with stuff AFTER I give it away. But I don't think people today (and my kid in particular) value things that we have worked hard for. Of course - she didn't have to work for it so maybe that is why she won't appreciate it as much. I think we need to have a chat about that!!!!!!
Better she uses it NOW instead of finding it after I am gone and wondering why I never used it!!!!! Think 10-10-10. Giving her the briefcase will NOT affect me in 10 minutes, 10 months or 10 years!!!!!
HOWEVER the real reason we need to clean up is those UFOs. So I am working on those four seasonal quilts. And we know that there was a box of bags.
The BOX of pieces |
Now if you received this box of stuff - would you dig through it to figure it out????? Probably not and there is a LOT of work and SEVERAL quilts in the box. But while there is a lot of work done - there is still a lot to do to complete the projects. Not only stuff to do - but SHOW STOPPERS.
But look - all those little corners - already cut and marked with a line. |
But OOOPS - we seem to be missing ONE little square. Oh know! Went to the blue box and found a similar fabric. Hey - it is a tiny piece of fabric - no one will know. |
Now the pattern isn't that well written and there are some spacers in the quilt and I THOUGHT I had the right width of strip. But NO - as I worked on the autumn quilt, I realized that the spacers are supposed to be cut 1" and I cut them at 1 1/2". So.................
Had to open up SEVERAL seams and cut off one half inch |
So I had to deal with both of those, but I got them on.
Then I searched for that inner border fabric and right there on top of the brown basket was the SAME fabric. AH - for once something is going right.
Brown border fabric matches the original quilt |
Hey - I am ALMOST done the autumn quilt - I might as well just get that last border on. BUT
when I cut the first two pieces, I glanced at what remained of that autumn print and then I measured and YEP - I don't have enough!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not enough BORDER fabric. |
I have a couple of places to check for that fabric, but I don't think there is any left. I have already made the binding (GRRRRRRRRRRRR) and now I am going to measure out the binding EXACTLY to see if there is any extra there that I can pilfer to finish off this quilt. When I cut the borders and binding, I noticed that I had cut out a whack of it for another project. OH - NEVER DO THAT.
Hmmmm - just checked the one project that I thought might have this fabric. Not the same, but similar.
I could piece some of the binding to make the border long enough and then use this other one (on the left) to finish the binding. Yes - I think that would work. |
I will check a bit more when I get home, but not sure that I would have bought that autumn stuff -well more of it and if so - where would I have put it????? I don't have an autumn category. Got to think about that today.
Here are the two spring quilts so far. Still LOTS of holes. |
So you see what I mean. Even though MOST of the stuff is in the box, that doesn't mean the project is complete. Just like a jigsaw puzzle. And even though a LOT of the work is done - the next blocks I have to work on (I started at the front of the pattern and I'm working my way through in order) - anyway - the next blocks - log cabins - NOT even cut out, but the fabric is there!!!!!
I am thoroughly enjoying the process though. I find it VERY calming (and exciting) to work on these small pieces and having to solve a problem or two along the way. That is what sewing/quilting is all about to me. While I love the look of the modern quilts and FAST EAST techniques, my heart lies in scraps and small pieces. I MUST get back to work on my log cabins - but I few projects to get cleared up first.
Oh yes - I did not have a chance to nap yesterday, but in the event that I do and I am bored with the bicycle linen set - how about this...............
Orange trimmed pillow case from Ronda and my Friendship Star quilt |
I am all set - perhaps later today I will need a nap. Yesterday I had some problems with allergies. My nose was running like a sieve, sinuses were ugly, my head just felt like it was going to explode. Then the next minute, everything was fine. Two minutes later - I was back in agony. I am so stuffed up today and I am dehydrated and I am tired!!!!
Here is a picture of Sparky as she awaits her carrots!!!!! |
Made our vegetarian dinner last night. M made a hummus with baked pitas.
Hummus with pita - she cut up red onions for the top and it was DELICIOUS as evidenced by how much I ate!!!!!! |
I made dessert - had to cup up and cook apples |
And I made cupcakes. To keep them vegan, I made them with the only NON-dairy milk we had. Almond milk - and it was CHOCOLATE!!!! |
They were EXCELLENT. Oh yes - we are pretty slap happy with the ingredient substitutions and measures!!!! So far so good, but we must really get coordinated - I would have LOVED to have a vegetable last night. Next time - NO dessert - but a salad or a vegetable. And just so you know - vegan DOES NOT mean light eating - there were tons of calories in everything we ate. That is why we need to get a bit better at organizing the ENTIRE menu, not just randomly picking things. Hey - it is a start and we all cooked together in the kitchen. It was actually FUN - oh my goodness - did I say cooking was fun???? Well - my magic apron helped a lot!!!!
I was out on my bike in the morning and NO allergy problems. Did 66 K by myself. It was great fun and that road bike feels like NOTHING to ride. That handlebar bag is very heavy when it is loaded down. The weather was beautiful - the leaves are starting to turn. But there was a headwind - an east headwind so when I turned to come back home - yes - I felt like I was in Newfoundland.
Well - it is Monday Motivators and I must go since I now have the key again!!!!
Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao!!!!!!!!!!
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