Monday Miscellaneous

Gainfully Employed:

I've fallen behind on my quilting and quilt blogging ~ again.  But I have a good excuse.  Really.  I've been job hunting, and it finally paid off.  I am now a medical instructor at Wright Career College.  I begin teaching on Tuesday.

Wright Career College is not your traditional college.  It's geared to accommodate working people.  As such there is no summer break, which enables people to get their education in the shortest time possible.  And classes are scheduled just three days per week ~ Tues, Wed, Thurs with both morning and evening sessions available for students.  For instructors, they are long days.  I will teach from 9:30AM-2:30PM and from 5:30PM-10:30PM.  In the 3 hour break between 2:30PM and 5:30PM, I'll get an hour break for lunch and then have time to do grading and class preparation.  Those three days will net me 36 hours, and is all I am required to do.  If I want a full 40, I have the option of coming in on Mondays and / or Fridays to do class preparation, staff meetings, tutoring, etc.   This will work out great because it ought to allow me at least a three day weekend if I manage my time right.  I'm glad to have one day off during the week to be able to deal with whatever business tasks come along.

The employment was especially good news having come on the heels of being rear-ended in the snow on Monday and my mom having her purse snatched on Tuesday.

Re-purposing:

I'm always a bit regretful about throwing away the nifty sized, plastic Folgers containers.  But I had an inspiration recently.  This one now serves as a desktop trashcan for all of the miscellaneous bits of thread and fabric that seem to quickly multiply during the quilting process.

I used to keep a trash can on the floor next to my sewing chair, but there were two problems with it.  The first was that if it was close enough to be useful, it was in my way.  So I'd move it.  Then it was never where I needed it to be. Secondly, even if the trashcan is close by, a puff of air sends threads everywhere but in the can.  (Nothing like a trashcan surrounded by bits of thread.)  With this little can right next to my machine, there are no misses.

Lovebug ~ Just Because I Can:

Monday Miscellaneous

It's the Little Things in Life:

In this case, my new Apple I-pod Shuffle.  I bought it in hopes it would help inspire me to get out and walk more.  The fact that Apple sells these teeny music libraries in various colors, allowing me to coordinate with my custom-made purse, is just an added perk. 

I spent Saturday night adding the music to it.  When I began the selection process, I realize just how varied my tastes have become.  135 songs later, my I-pod is filled with rock, reggae, classical, traditional, Latin, blues, and my cousin-in-law's music mixes.  (He allows anyone to download his themed mixes for free, so don't hesitate to take advantage.)  The only genres unlikely to be represented are country and rap, but even then I occasionally run across songs in those genres I like too.

Beyond the Mortal Coil:

For a period of years, my dad and I wrote short stories and novels together.  I freely admit that he was the imagination behind the endeavor.  I had a few non-fiction articles published, but fiction thus far has not proven to be my forte.  The last book, Beyond the Mortal Coil, was reviewed by an editor at Ballantine.  We were so excited to have the manuscript under consideration by a big New York publisher. 

The editor had the manuscript for 3 or 4 months.  When he'd finished with it, he sent us a glowing review that said, the book was well-written with good plotting and characters; very original, but since it didn't fit in any specific genre, he did not know how to market it, and therefore was turning it down.  Really?  WTF?  Every publisher's website claims to want original stories.  I guess they forgot the caveat ~ but don't make them too original.

The manuscript has since made it through 3 computers with me, getting transferred every time.  Now technology has caught up making it easy for authors to self-publish.  I've used Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and now have the digital version available for purchase. 

And the hard copy version is in the works.  The proof has been mailed to me. 

Now, I just need to become an expert in marketing.  If anyone has any suggestions, don't be shy!

Monday Miscellaneous

Custom pillowcases:

I used the tutorial at Film in the Fridge to make the two sets of pillowcases featured below.

The zebra striped cases are a Christmas gift for my nine year old cousin. After relocating to Kansas she asked her mother to paint her new room purple with zebra stripes.  So three walls are purple and one wall is indeed zebra striped. It's quite striking.

My mother has made a zebra striped fleece throw for her as well. 

Her brother, my young 11 year old old cousin, is into skulls.  I made these last winter for his birthday.  He very politely thanked me for them. I noticed them on his bed quite a few times.  However, I had no idea what a hit I'd made with them until his mother told me that when she takes them off to wash them and replaces them with others, he immediately puts the skulls back on when they come out of the laundry.  That's the kind of news that makes this quilter smile!

So new skull pillowcases for Christmas.  I hope he likes them as well as the others.

What do the following two items have in common?

Laptop and lapcat:

This new quilt inspector is appropriately named Lovebug, because that is exactly what she is.  She has absolutely no issue with laying on the laptop if I do not make space for her.  Yeah, I really can't complain about that too much.

(You can see a slice of the cheerful quilted table-topper / wall-hanging that P from The Way I Sew It made for me.  Thanks P.!  But that's another blog topic for another day.)

Monday Miscellaneous

Gag Quilting:

When I posted on the Maple Leaf Table Topper, my wise-ass cousin-in-law, and best friend, Eric, commented thusly:

I'm thinking even that's too big. Can you quilt me a single coaster? Thanks!

You can imagine how snickered, as I created this:

(Thanks for the picture, Eric!)

It was a quick process.  Eric had so enjoyed the Asian themed fabrics in my mom's latest quilt, that choosing fabrics was a no-brainer.  Since the project was quite small, I merely raided her scrap bag.  Then, I snickered some more.  The whole thing probably took an hour, and most of that was hand-sewing the binding down on the back.  And I snickered as I stitched.  (Are you sensing a theme here?)

I  snickered when I surreptitiously laid the coaster on Eric's keyboard while he was away from his desk.  And I laughed out loud when he came out of his office carrying the coaster, giggling, and saying, "I can't believe you did this."  The coaster now sits on his desk amongst other interesting treasures, which he blogged about here.

Joann's:

Made the trek to Joann's at the Town West Mall yesterday morning.  Normally, I would avoid the mall on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I have no urge to deal with the crowds.  However, I needed some supplies to finish some Christmas gifts, so what was a quilter to do? 

Fortunately, the crowds were not too bad (maybe they'd all shopped themselves to death the day before?) and the sales were great.  No, not just great, fan-freakin-tastic is more like it.  I came out of the store with 7 1/2 yards of quality fabric for $19.  $2 off per yard Keepsake Quilting fabric; 75% off end of the bolt fabric (I picked up nearly an extra yard with this deal), and 25% off the total price coupon.  Do I feel like the cat that swallowed the canary?  You bet!

I was so blown away with my savings, I blew off the gym too.  My cousin, Shirley, said I could justify it by having "weight-lifted" bolts of fabric.  I love her!  (And really it's okay, because I hit the gym on Sunday and redeemed myself.)

Monday Miscellaneous

Work:

These past couple of weeks, I've been into my PRN (as needed) lab tech job in earnest.  Training is over and the real work began. I'm currently recovering from working 8 out of 9 days, which included my first weekend of being on-call.  (7PM Friday to 6AM Monday).  Interestingly enough, I was not needed for 9 hours during the day Saturday, but Saturday night I got 2 1/2 hours of sleep.  Looks like I need to learn to sleep during the day.  Hmmmm.

But you'll get no complaints from me.  I'm one of those fortunate people who likes my work.  Additionally, I have an excellent manager, which makes it possible to concentrate only on the work itself.  No drama.

New York Beauties:

You're looking at near the last of the blocks I need to make for this project.  It appears that I was on a blue-purple-green kick.  No doubt they will play nicely with the brighter blocks I've made.  Two more blocks (if I've counted correctly) and all of them will be done.  Yay!

Music from the Renaissance Festival:

In April my cousins and I visited the Renaissance Festival is Waxahachie, Texas.  One of the highlights of the festival was seeing Wine and Alchemy:

Their music is one of my new favorites.  We bought all three of their CD's.

Happy Memorial Day!


On this lazy Memorial Day Monday, I'm going to try to catch up once again on my blog reading.  Hope you are all enjoying the long holiday weekend.

Monday Miscellaneous

A Quick Trip:

My cousin and I made a quick run to Kansas last week--6 hours one way.  We were in Wichita from Tuesday through Friday morning.  Our grandfather was hospitalized.  Fortunately, he is now home.

Reward:

For great teamwork and a job well done, when we got home, Lori and I were rewarded with cheap wine.  Yay!

Owls Revisited:

Shay from Quilting in My Pyjamas asked Lori for a tutorial on how to make these adorable little owls.  She came across the directions online and provided the pdf to me to share.

Coming Soon:

Lori's gnomes.  (It's a good thing she's being so creative or I'd have nothing to blog about!)

Monday Miscellaneous--I'm Back!

After such a long absence, some of you may have forgotten who I am or what I do.  I wouldn't blame you.  I've been horribly negligent in both my blog-posting and blog-reading.  It's taken two moves (from Nevada to Kansas, and then Kansas to Texas) and some significant adjustment to regain my equilibrium.

New Job:

On April 10th, I began a new job--laboratory technologist, PRN.  (PRN: a Latin abbreviation meaning "as needed.")  I have been out of the lab for ten years.  Going back caused me a little trepidation.  Would I remember how to read a slide?  Draw blood?  I've found out that some things really are like riding a bike. 

My Enabler:

My cousin and I share a love of fabric.  She is a gifted crafter.  I have my love of quilting.  We're both hoping to learn to become experienced seamstresses.  A trip to the fabric store constitutes a barely controlled extravaganza of drooling admiring the wares.  Each of our stashes is more than adequate, and yet the normal desire to add to them is magnified when we're together.  A beautiful piece of fabric sets up an energetic imagining of all the creative possibilities.  We're both hoping to abide by the rule that we actually finish something before buying any more fabric or patterns, but it's going to be tough.  I'm predicting a creative month.


Need a New Blog Title:

When I moved from Nevada to Kansas and changed the title of my blog from The Desert Quilter to the Prairie Quilter, one of you (I can't remember who) suggested that I not include a geographic reference in the title of my blog in case I moved again.  I thought to myself, "Yeah right.  Moving is such a special kind of hell that I won't be doing that again soon."  Ironic, huh?  So now I'm mulling.  I'm also open to suggestions.

Monday Miscellaneous

First off, I want to thank everyone who offered their sympathy and reassurance to last Monday's Miscellaneous Meltdown.  (That probably would have been a more appropriate title, don't you think?)

Anyway, since then, the seller's have agreed to make the repairs to the electrical system, and the irrigation guy put in the pressure reducers.  The irrigation guy is a nice person, but he wasn't happy about installing the pressure reducers.  He is one of those people that thinks something "should" be done a certain way--in this case maximum water delivery in the shortest amount of time--and it bothers him when it's not.  I was breaking one of his rules.  I told him that I understood what he was saying, but to humor me, because I could not afford a complete re-do of the entire irrigation system.

Now that we've got most things in order around here, we put the house on the market: 

Mt. Charleston is visible in the background.  It's an 11,000 foot peak that's beautifully decorated with snow every winter.

Listing the house is bittersweet.  Nevada has been good to us for the last 8 years, but our needs are different now.

****

We're getting ready for my dad's memorial next weekend.

(1944-2010)

It won't be anything formal.  (My dad hated funerals.)  Just family celebrating his life.  So we'll share stories and remberances, drink some beer, and hopefully get out the guitars and play a little.  My dad was the best musician in the family.  However, my cousin, Ben, has a natural talent for it, so now the honor of primary musician falls to him.  Me?  I inherited no musical ability whatsoever.  I can play a solid blues bass, but it's only because it's relatively simple and I've practiced A LOT.  Don't ask me to improvise though.

 (My dad, Bill, Ben, and Mike, my dad's brother)

We'll try to give my dad a send off appropriate to who he was.