Sewing Room, Sewing Summit & Creating Your Own Nametag

First I have to say my sewing room has been coming together as has the rest of the house unpacking (work is not letting me move as quickly as I normally would.)

Here's a before picture of the sewing room.

Here are a couple from yesterday.  Not bad.

Now, onto some really fun news. I'm attending The Sewing Summit this weekend. My first retreat, ever, and I can't wait! I plan to enjoy meeting new people, improving my skills, and exploring a city I've never been to. Salt Lake City, UT, here I come!  (So who else is going?)

Lastly, as part of the retreat, someone made the note they were making their own nametag. I thought, "oh, nametag, that's probably a good idea." Then I remembered I hated wearing a nametag. 

Then I realized it wouldn't do to try to network & meet people if I didn't put myself out there and bank on the name (ha!) I've made for myself in blogosphere. So, I forged ahead and tried to decide what kind of nametag represented me. I thought, paper-piecing might be good. So I crafted a basic PP piece and decided I'd use the sewing machine to write my name. Quicker being right up my alley.

BUT

the machine had other ideas.  I wanted to use the batting as a stabilizer. The machine disagreed with that approach. It was fine if I was sewing letters on the fabric only (when practicing) but not so great when I tried with batting behind the cotton.  This is the 3rd try. 

I decided I was not picking out these stitches and chucked it.   I decided I would live with a paper name tag stuck to my shirt.

Then I saw the Sewing Summit Flickr group photos of name tags made and felt inspired to try again.  I cut the practice pieces and tested placement on fabric.

 I ended up sewing them onto a piece of fabric in an off-kilter way. I decided it fit my desired plan of "getting my name tag to give a first impression of me." I do not sew perfect items, it's not always neat or pristine. This is definately a good first impression of my skills. LOL

So what do you think?

I'm proud of it and would say, the lesson here is, when you want to quit. Step back and see if inspiration hits again.  It just might!

Cheers,
Beck

Favorite Things Friday

This Friday's favorite things is dedicated to the things I've missed, and missed, and missed...

And missed...

in our rental homes the last 2 years.

Such as, a decent sized shower with a perfect spray and a hot water heater that has the hot water at the ready almost the minute it's turned on.  Ahh, heaven! Only second best way to wake up after a great cup of coffee.

Also, a decent sized refrigerator that actually holds its temperature.  Nice, cold, soda and longer lasting food.

I can't forget, a GAS RANGE!  Oh my, how did I miss this. I cannot wait to cook more often b/c I can regulate the heat temperature to my satisfaction.  I was able t function with an electric range but it's just not the same.

Oh, and most of all, reliable INTERNET!  YESSSSSS!!!  I now have Verizon FIOS and have to say, I'm loving it.  It means I'll be back online more again and browsing (of course, this will be after unpacking our stuff. lol). 

And finally, with the internet comes the abiltiy to connect with XBox live and play an online game my sister hooked me on last summer.  "Call of Duty, Black Ops"
The rating on this game is "M for Mature.  Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language."  

I'm a bad ass.

Well, I wish I was a bad ass. Mostly, I die and start havign uncontrllable spells in which the only word in my vocabulary is generally one word. "Fucker, Fucker, Fuck (wait, here I extend my vocabulary), I shot him how did he manage to kill me?" Then, "Fucker". 

All the while, I'm having a blast (or being blasted, depending on how you look at it).  I am so bad at this game, my screen name had to be appropriate. I pondered calling myself EasyTarget or Blood Donor but just didn't like them. Finally, I settleed on BornToDie33.  It fits. I resurrect in the game and promptly die.

So, here's the the things I've missed and the beginning of having them again!

But, sigh, I will miss this, which is not at our new home. One day, I'll have it all... -wink-

Glad to be back to FTF. To see other FTFs, check the sidebar and click on the button.

Cheers! Beck

EARTHQUAKE! No, really...

So yesterday there was an earthquake centered in VA.  Turns out, centered 45 minutes drive from my home or less if you go the way the crow flies.

5.8

For those of you in CA who deal with earthquakes more regularly, let me say this, "what the hell are you doing still living in CA?" 

Of course, I'm also the person who was too close to a small tornado last year in TN and I asked of myself, "what the hell are people doing still living in tornado valley?" 

Give me lots of land, no ocean for hurricanes, no "valley" for tornados, and no tetonic plates almost direclty underfoot.  Is that too much to ask? LOL

Anyway, I thought I'd share my story with you since I'm packing to move instead of sewing and I have nothing else to write about.

At 1:50pm, I'm minding my own business at my daughter's orthodontist's office when I start hearing a low rumble. A second or so thereafter, the building shakes a little and the rumble is louder.  For those of us that are used to (a) ordinance explosions or (b) large helicopters flying low overhead, you will understand when I say  that is the first thought I had.  I was able to dismiss ordinance pretty quickly due to my location but I why a heli or two was flying so low but the rumble slowed disappeared and the little shake stopped.

Just as I and the other waiting room inhabitants started shrugging it off, the rumble came back and was loud. (At least to me, many others say they didn't hear anything.) The building decided to shake more and then the staff started hollering for everyone to get out to the end of the parking lot so we were all away from the windows.  I thought, "really?"  Then, "okay" as they were all hustling out. I went to the door and held it open for everyone (really just waiting to see my kid come out from the backroom).  I was a 1/2 second away from going in to get her when she came around the corner.  lol  I told her that she should feel comforted that her pain in the ass mother loved her enough to ensure she got out of a shaking building.  She's a teenage girl, she appreciated it for about 1 second. :p

When we get outside, we see several other buildings evacuated.  Cell signals don't work, land lines were down for a few, it was a bit strange as we all wondered, "was that actually an earthquake?"

I finally get a signal on my cell (I can't call) but I have 2 texts and a voicemail from the hubs, "Call me back, we just had a big earthquake here at home and I want to know you are okay."  Aww... I think he's being a little melodramatic based on what I felt but that's nice. I get a text back to him we are fine and that's when I find out how much more he felt it than we did.

Turns out, where home was, we lost some items off the shelves (as did our neighbors) and hubs spent the quake time holding up the entertainment center & tv so they didn't fall over. They were wobbling that much. The entertainment center, btw, is a big hulking one, too.

Anyway, I got thinking about it later (as we felt another aftershock and I heard it) that I'm really not a panicky person. I may have adrenaline course through me with an unknown but it doesn't stop the rational thought and if anything, it may actually tamp down my emotion even more than normal. lol When 9/11 happened, with the tornado in TN, with this earthquake, I just don't freak (although I did feel like I could at any moment in TN. lol)  The other thing I thought about, my hearing.

I always knew I had a great sense of smell but now I know my hearing is at the same level. Hubs and I joked I smell almost as good as a dog but that I probably hear better. Speaking of dogs, ours were notably upset but so relieved when I finally came home. I'm momma, afterall, and all is better when momma shows up. It's when she leaves that weird things like the house shaking happen. :D

Anyway, to the Californians, I hope you do enjoy scoffing at us East Coasters and our "OMG" moments, I think you've earned it.  Earthquakes suck at any magnitude and I would be just as happy not to experience one again.

Cheers! Beck

I did it. The Pinwheel Sampler is complete

So I finished the Pinwheel Sampler on time. I would have preferred not to bind by machine, which I feel is my weakest part of quilt making, but I only had so much time available.  It measured about 73"x55" and was machine quilted in a large meander.

I donated it to the silent auction fundraiser and in a small crowd, it sold for $70. I am pleased with that.

Here's the final picture. I used PS I Quilt's Pinwheel Sampler pattern.

Thank you all for your help! :)

The verdict

Okay, thank you all for your responses! I have a plan. It will look great or it will be awful but I'm going with the light fabric, inserting a tiny blue border around each pinwheel and adding a blue square into the white sashing at the corners. Wish me luck! Pics tomorrow. :)

Thank you again, by the way for your quick replies.