Wednesday WOW - September 16

Since I am off somewhere in the mountains of Colorado, I can't show you my worktable. BUT . . . if all goes well, this is what I plan to be doing some handwork on.

It is from a class I took last month. I'll tell you all about it when it's finished.

Dollmaker's Syndrome

There has been a lot of discussion around our house lately about a newly discovered disease. You won't read about it in the American Journal of Medicine, but I think it's only a matter of time. In the interest of saving pain and anguish among younger crafters, I am posting this article on what we know so far.

In Dollmaker's Syndrome, the brain of the sufferer begins to turn to fiberfil. This may be a very gradual process and you may not notice early signs of the disease. These signs may include forgetting to attach files to e-mails or hitting Reply to All on potentially embarassing messages.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more noticeable, although they may be disguised as absent-mindedness or ordinary forgetfulness. CATscans will reveal the frightening truth . . . the patient's head is filling with air!

Following is a list of the more advance symptoms. Please keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive by any means.

• you write one or more blog posts in your blog writer and then forget to post any of them
• you let the dogs in and then forget why you are standing at the door, so put them out again
• you stitch an entire row of blocks to the quilt UPSIDE DOWN
• you send your to-do list to a random person in your address book
• meals at your house have become sandwiches and microwave soup
• you mis-calculate number of blocks for a quilt - and POST those impossible numbers on the internet
• you spend more time shopping in the hardware store than in the grocery store
• you make up a shopping list - and leave it on the counter at home
• you collect a craft supply and carefully pack it away where it will not get damaged, then six months later tear the studio APART looking for it
• the only dusting that gets done is the dolls that cover every flat surface in your home
• you make up an entirely fictional disease and post all about it on your blog

If you are experiencing these symptoms - or similar ones - please see your health care provider immediately! Do not panic! This disease is not now known to be fatal. It is also important to note that the patient may believe their behavior to be perfectly normal. So listen to your loved ones and get help!

Going Away . . .

 

Sarge and I are going on a trip this week and probably won't have any internet access, so I won't be blogging or visiting for the next six or seven days.  I will try to schedule a couple of posts, but if you comment (and I do want you to comment) it won't show up until I get home and approve it.

Regular scheduling should resume next weekend.  Have a great week!

Goal Time Again!

The year is quickly slipping away.  Autumn is upon us, and it's time for another goal review!  This time around I did much better.  Not perfect - how boring would that be? - but there's hope that I can learn!

Well then, let's get on with it!

1.  Have two QOVs ready to send to quilter.   Done!

These are at the quilter now and I'll get bindings on them as soon as they return.  I posted information about these quilts here.

2.  Send some dolls to State Fair (esp. Carmen).   Done!

Carmen and Aengus were shipped off last week.  The fair starts Saturday, and I expect them to be back sometime near the end of the month.  I do hope everyone likes them.

 

3.  Make something using Altoid tins (August doll club project).   Done!

For now at least.  I still have lots of tins!  There are lots of ideas on the internet for making something fun with these tins, so I'm sure I will be using some of them later on.  You can see all of the tins I decorated this time here.

 

4.   Make bookmarks for a Stargazers group exchange.   Done!

Omigosh!  I can't believe how many times I'm typing 'Done'!  I can't show you my bookmarks just yet - they are still traveling to their new homes.  I've received one of my exchanges though, and I will definitely show you pictures when the swap is finished.  This is a picture of the backs of my bookmarks.

5.  Stitch and swap a pendibule or humbug.  Cancelled.

Oops.  This swap got put aside for the time being and - No - I did not start working on it anyway.  I've grown away from cross-stitch for awhile - although I was really intrigued by something called a 'humbug'!  I've put it into my 'sometime later' file.

6.  Can we please finish the TIF project?  Major Progress!

Ah, but still In Progress.  I'm getting very close, though.  I've been assembling the pages, and finding that the task takes longer than I anticipated.  You will understand why when you see the final product.  Which I really hope will be in the next six weeks!

 

Phew!  It was a busy six weeks.  Let's see what I have lined up for the next term. 

1. TIF again.  High priority this time.
2. Begin working on challenges for quilt guild and doll club (both due in November)
3. Play catch up on the Block of the Month embroideries
4. Do at least one Stargaze Tome page
5. Work on Christmas wall hanging

I will be gone for a week in this period, so I am only setting five goals this time.  Who knows?  I might get extras done!  Come back October 23 and see!

Wednesday WOW - September 9

Well, so far I have survived the much-discussed 09-09-09!  Just a day like any other out here in the country.  I'm not sure what it is supposed to mean or do anyway!

As usual, the worktable is a mess.  A sure sign that things are being created!  This is part of the (huge) Take It Further project. 

It's Sew Fine

OK, that's pretty corny.  Sorry. 

'It' is my new sewing table.  I love it! 

Sarge built it specifically to fit me and my machine.  He measured this and that, and looked at pictures I pulled off the internet for him, and listened to my wish list and then he built it!  He claims he is not a carpenter, but for my purposes he's pretty close, let me tell you. 

The shelf is set down just far enough so that the standard plastic table slides on and off without moving the machine.  I can change bobbins with the table on and do just about everything with it assembled like this.  If I need the free arm capability I can just pop the table off and slide the machine back a few inches.

The drawers are a unit I've had for a long time, but the table was made so they fit just right underneath that extension.  Now I can machine quilt (and continuous piece) without getting the fabric on the floor for Barney to sit on!  Please notice the nicely curved corner on that top!  Pretty cool, huh?

Just for comparison, this picture shows some of the old sewing table.  It was a portable thing that was given to me with my first sewing machine - probably 38 years ago!  I don't think it was new then either.  It has been modified and refinished over the years, but it was small, and just a tad too short for the newer machines (a little bump right in front of the stitch plate), plus it stands on spindly legs and wobbles!  Oh yeah - see how it comes around in front of the machine?  There is a (very) strong spring hinge there so you can get to the bobbin case - and it bites!  Having that thing spring back and catch my finger was getting downright painful.

So, now I'm really a happy camper and I think my sewing room is pretty close to perfect!  I'm so lucky to have a handy husband.

Wednesday WOW - September 2

September!?! What happened to August?  That means summer is about gone.   The circle of life and all that sort of thing.

Today was a day to play with beads.  One thing I love to do is  cover things with beads!  I finished this project today, but I can't post about it just yet.  The project is a swap and I will wait until my partner(s) receive this before sharing with the rest of you.  Sorry!