Showing posts with label Sewing for Charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sewing for Charity. Show all posts
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Day 923
This I know for sure:
Doing for others will make your own life better.
(Also - knowing you have these kinds of projects to come home to makes a day full of meetings not so bad.)
Doing for others will make your own life better.
(Also - knowing you have these kinds of projects to come home to makes a day full of meetings not so bad.)
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Day 921
Hubby always says "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". I have to add something else to that.
Close also counts in quilts for kids. After a marathon weekend I came so very close to being finished. All but the bindings. Just look at that stack!
Close also counts in quilts for kids. After a marathon weekend I came so very close to being finished. All but the bindings. Just look at that stack!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Day 914
Welcome to the new look of my blog. You can tell something is up. It is.
I've made a decision. 86 days left. The blog stops at 1000 days.
When I first started here my goal was to get through a day. Hopefully string enough of those days to get to an entire year. And I did - and then some. And then some more. But it's about time for it to end.
My daughter wants me to try out Facebook. So I guess when 1000 days rolls around - I think that'll be right before Thanksgiving - I'll be making the shift.
Not yet though. I've got lots more to prove to myself before then.
Like being able to do for others with the completion of a colorful quilt top for a little girl in Alaska.
I've made a decision. 86 days left. The blog stops at 1000 days.
When I first started here my goal was to get through a day. Hopefully string enough of those days to get to an entire year. And I did - and then some. And then some more. But it's about time for it to end.
My daughter wants me to try out Facebook. So I guess when 1000 days rolls around - I think that'll be right before Thanksgiving - I'll be making the shift.
Not yet though. I've got lots more to prove to myself before then.
Like being able to do for others with the completion of a colorful quilt top for a little girl in Alaska.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Day 913
There are so many things I love about my life. One of my most favorite is the time I get to spend working on charity quilts for kids. It always makes me thankful for my circumstances.
Joy is a choice.
Joy is a choice.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Day 912
Today found us sleeping too late to see the balloons over Boise. Strawberry pancakes. A cold french dip sandwich. A training at school. Melted then frozen miniature candy bars. Receipt of a chastising email. A late afternoon-evening nap.
And cheerful fabrics in a quilt.
And cheerful fabrics in a quilt.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Day 911
If there was a messy way to decide on colors for a quilt, I think I found it. Lately it seems I pull all kinds of fabrics off the shelves and out of the drawers to make my decision. We'll see how many of these fabrics actually wind up in this next little girl's quilt.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Day 907
When I dragged myself in the door yesterday I found that a new set of pictures came. Pictures from the military base in Alaska. Pictures of kids and dads and moms in the service. Pictures for me to put into quilts.
Then today I kept rubbing and reading my tattoo - a way to get myself out of bed, a way to motivate myself to try to overcome post-infusion side effects.
Put the two days together and I made it to the sewing room long enough to pick out some of the new fabrics to use in one of the new quilts.
Baby steps.
Then today I kept rubbing and reading my tattoo - a way to get myself out of bed, a way to motivate myself to try to overcome post-infusion side effects.
Put the two days together and I made it to the sewing room long enough to pick out some of the new fabrics to use in one of the new quilts.
Baby steps.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Day 891
If you've been a reader for a while you know one of my passions is sewing and quilting for charities.
Turtle Pillows for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camp.
Stockings for Soldiers.
Quilts for children of servicemen and women.
Usually the quilts are for kids who have parents away fighting some war somewhere around the world. While I know who I'm making the quilt for, I don't usually know much about the families. (Remember back on Day 497 when I got to personally present quilts to kids when I went to Anchorage? That was certainly special.) But today's quilt is special, too. It's for a soldier's niece. She's been growing up with her uncle being a big part of her life, developed a very close bond with him, and loves him as much as anyone could. But she misses her uncle, the soldier, dearly.
When the military base in Alaska contacted me about the possibility of making this special quilt for a special little girl I was honored to be part of it. I hope the bright colors and vivid pictures hold her uncle - the one who was killed on Christmas Day - close to her heart.
Turtle Pillows for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camp.
Stockings for Soldiers.
Quilts for children of servicemen and women.
Usually the quilts are for kids who have parents away fighting some war somewhere around the world. While I know who I'm making the quilt for, I don't usually know much about the families. (Remember back on Day 497 when I got to personally present quilts to kids when I went to Anchorage? That was certainly special.) But today's quilt is special, too. It's for a soldier's niece. She's been growing up with her uncle being a big part of her life, developed a very close bond with him, and loves him as much as anyone could. But she misses her uncle, the soldier, dearly.
When the military base in Alaska contacted me about the possibility of making this special quilt for a special little girl I was honored to be part of it. I hope the bright colors and vivid pictures hold her uncle - the one who was killed on Christmas Day - close to her heart.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Day 884
All that Suck the Marrow Tour confidence I had quickly dissipated once the infusion side effects hit. And to let it interfere with my job? Certainly something someone "living deep" wouldn't do. I'm thinking I need to get that tattoo of the quote as a reminder to continue living when things aren't so good.
In the meantime I decided to spend a big part of today doing what I did before - back in the first year or two of the blog - when I felt crappy.
Back to sewing. Finished one of the Alaska kids' quilt tops. Here's a sneak peak at a piece of it.
In the meantime I decided to spend a big part of today doing what I did before - back in the first year or two of the blog - when I felt crappy.
Back to sewing. Finished one of the Alaska kids' quilt tops. Here's a sneak peak at a piece of it.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Day 879
Hubby and I are usually behind the times. It took us years to get hooked up to the Internet. And then it took us just as long to give up dial up. A debit card? Our daughter had one before we did. Online payments? Only started those in the past couple years. Online banking? We haven't yet made that leap.
So it should be no surprise that we've just started watching a show that came out in 2008. We've heard lots about it, but again we're behind the times in knowing what everyone is talking about.
Breaking Bad.
Watching season two is probably not the most romantic way for us to spend today - our 29th wedding anniversary - but neither is what I was doing while hubby was cooking dinner.
Another kids quilt in progress.
So it should be no surprise that we've just started watching a show that came out in 2008. We've heard lots about it, but again we're behind the times in knowing what everyone is talking about.
Breaking Bad.
Watching season two is probably not the most romantic way for us to spend today - our 29th wedding anniversary - but neither is what I was doing while hubby was cooking dinner.
Another kids quilt in progress.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Day 741
This afternoon was too important not to get it right. This afternoon, next week, and the week after that and the week after that and the one after that and the one after that. Just too important. I want it too bad. That recording booth is calling my name and I'm going to have to work darn hard to get there.
When I was in elementary school I used to get to help at the school next door. This was when students with special needs were placed in a separate school. Me, the good ole' smart girl, the one who finished my work early - with few mistakes - and always needed more got to go next door to the school and work with deaf students and blind students. I learned sign language; I learned braille.
It was that experience that made me want to teach the deaf when I grew up.
I headed to college, took my undergraduate classes, took sign language classes, all the time knowing I would be a teacher of the deaf. I took a job teaching second grade, knowing someday I would be teaching the deaf. After several years I moved onto teaching fourth grade, knowing someday I would be teaching the deaf. I moved to a position outside the classroom, thinking someday I might teach the deaf.
And now here I am, forty years later since that first thought of what I wanted to be when I grew up and twenty years since I started teaching. I've just recently come to the realization that I won't be teaching the deaf.
But I found a way to bring things full circle and make sure I don't give up on my dream completely.
The Idaho Commission for the Libraries was looking for volunteers for their talking book program. This is a program where written materials are recorded and then distributed to the blind, kind of like a book on tape program.
So today I had my first interview. Being I'm totally inexperienced in a recording booth I'm going to be working my way up the ranks. I will start by editing the recorded materials for a few weeks (or months). Then I get to move up and work with the narrator, editing their spoken word as they go. And then, and only then - and after a voice "audition" - will I be in that booth. Alone in front of the microphone.
Narrating books for the blind.
It might not be teaching the deaf, but I can sure live with it. As close to a dream come true as I will probably ever get. Makes me want to work even harder to get to that booth!
Today's unrelated pic is another quilt top I'm working on for charity. (Obviously for a girl.)
When I was in elementary school I used to get to help at the school next door. This was when students with special needs were placed in a separate school. Me, the good ole' smart girl, the one who finished my work early - with few mistakes - and always needed more got to go next door to the school and work with deaf students and blind students. I learned sign language; I learned braille.
It was that experience that made me want to teach the deaf when I grew up.
I headed to college, took my undergraduate classes, took sign language classes, all the time knowing I would be a teacher of the deaf. I took a job teaching second grade, knowing someday I would be teaching the deaf. After several years I moved onto teaching fourth grade, knowing someday I would be teaching the deaf. I moved to a position outside the classroom, thinking someday I might teach the deaf.
And now here I am, forty years later since that first thought of what I wanted to be when I grew up and twenty years since I started teaching. I've just recently come to the realization that I won't be teaching the deaf.
But I found a way to bring things full circle and make sure I don't give up on my dream completely.
The Idaho Commission for the Libraries was looking for volunteers for their talking book program. This is a program where written materials are recorded and then distributed to the blind, kind of like a book on tape program.
So today I had my first interview. Being I'm totally inexperienced in a recording booth I'm going to be working my way up the ranks. I will start by editing the recorded materials for a few weeks (or months). Then I get to move up and work with the narrator, editing their spoken word as they go. And then, and only then - and after a voice "audition" - will I be in that booth. Alone in front of the microphone.
Narrating books for the blind.
It might not be teaching the deaf, but I can sure live with it. As close to a dream come true as I will probably ever get. Makes me want to work even harder to get to that booth!
Today's unrelated pic is another quilt top I'm working on for charity. (Obviously for a girl.)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Day 733
Why, oh, why do I shop on ebay? Because I can get great kids fabrics for a very cheap price. Just look at the batch that came in the mail today. Cost me less than a dollar a yard. Can't beat that!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Day 732 - Hello Year Three
Today begins Year Three.
Last year when I started Year Two of the blog I had this grand plan that I'd be riding my exercise bike miles every day. Enough miles to add up to a "trip" across the country. Somehow that fizzled out without me even realizing it (or doing much about it).
So here I am beginning another year. No grand plans this years, just some things I know will happen, some things I suspect will happen, some I hope will happen and some I fear will happen.
This year I know I will:
I started on my "I know I will" list today. Have a bit more of a charity quilt together.
Happy beginning of Year Three to us all!
Last year when I started Year Two of the blog I had this grand plan that I'd be riding my exercise bike miles every day. Enough miles to add up to a "trip" across the country. Somehow that fizzled out without me even realizing it (or doing much about it).
So here I am beginning another year. No grand plans this years, just some things I know will happen, some things I suspect will happen, some I hope will happen and some I fear will happen.
This year I know I will:
- continue to make more quilts for charity, turtle pillows for charity, and stockings for soldiers.
- begin infusions treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. (Finally approved by insurance, my first one is coming up is March 19.)
- publish at least two more books.
I suspect:
- my daughter will be getting engaged.
- I will move from a part-time worker to a full-time worker.
I hope:
- hubby and I can do some traveling.
- I can get some of this extra weight off.
- I'm able to get my It's Sew Idaho business off the ground - and that it becomes successful.
I fear:
- I am in for a year of additional health problems. I don't know what they are, but I'm starting the year not feeling too good about things. Could be me, could be hubby. Crossing my fingers for everyone to be healthy.
I started on my "I know I will" list today. Have a bit more of a charity quilt together.
Happy beginning of Year Three to us all!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Day 731
I am bummed about what I just realized.
Today is the end of year two of this blog. If you remember, the plan was just to go for 365 days (which turned into 366 because of leap year). Which then turned into year two.
But the bummer part is that after two years - two years of sewing and baking and crafting and going back to work. Of tutorials and coupon shopping and roses and snow. Of a cruise to Alaska and buying a new house in Boise. Of multiple injections and prescription medications and doctors appointments for me. Of hubby losing his mom, of hubby having kidney failure. Of me publishing my first book and our daughter going back to college. And if that wasn't enough - and I wasn't overweight enough - of gaining even more weight with the last several months of steroids.
With all those highs and lows, I feel back to where I started. The doggone rheumatoid arthritis is getting the best of me. Add in flu and sinus infection and bronchitis and a third set of antibiotics that hasn't made me feel much better.
Thank goodness I've documented my life over these last two years because if I hadn't, I could swear I've done nothing and seen nothing. I know my life is better today than two years ago, but right now it sure doesn't feel like it.
Sleep is my number one priority right now. I can't keep my eyes open but for a couple hours or so. I've got to get over this bug so I can get moving on these pieces of quilts tops that need to be put together for charity.
Today is the end of year two of this blog. If you remember, the plan was just to go for 365 days (which turned into 366 because of leap year). Which then turned into year two.
But the bummer part is that after two years - two years of sewing and baking and crafting and going back to work. Of tutorials and coupon shopping and roses and snow. Of a cruise to Alaska and buying a new house in Boise. Of multiple injections and prescription medications and doctors appointments for me. Of hubby losing his mom, of hubby having kidney failure. Of me publishing my first book and our daughter going back to college. And if that wasn't enough - and I wasn't overweight enough - of gaining even more weight with the last several months of steroids.
With all those highs and lows, I feel back to where I started. The doggone rheumatoid arthritis is getting the best of me. Add in flu and sinus infection and bronchitis and a third set of antibiotics that hasn't made me feel much better.
Thank goodness I've documented my life over these last two years because if I hadn't, I could swear I've done nothing and seen nothing. I know my life is better today than two years ago, but right now it sure doesn't feel like it.
Sleep is my number one priority right now. I can't keep my eyes open but for a couple hours or so. I've got to get over this bug so I can get moving on these pieces of quilts tops that need to be put together for charity.
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