Good Day!

Despite the fact that I couldn't sleep last night and got only 2 hours of sleep before the alarm woke me up in the morning for work, today was a really good day! I blame the lack of sleep on an over busy mind. I have a documentation project due, our office is moving, most of us are going to start working from home (my husband and me included), and we're going on a cruise to Alaska all within the next 4 weeks - so I have alot on my mind. Last night was one of those nights when you just lay there and the mind just keeps running. I even got up and did a couple of the things that were occupying my mind, doing that usually lets me relax and sleep, but not last night.

I finished a quilt that's been in the works for the last 10 years last night. That was a really good feeling. The quilt started as a gift for a friend. One of those friends that you feel compelled to do things for. I usually stay away from those kind of friends, but she was a friend that I made back when we were like 5. Anyways, I started the quilt and actually had it pieced and sandwiched 10 years ago. I wanted to free motion quilt it, but just never could get the hang of it, and it is a HUGE quilt. I was really frustrated because I'd buy quilting books or check quilting books out from the library and they'd all just complete a quilt by saying "now quilt it by machine or hand". Lots of instructions on blocks and binding but nothing on quilting. I was frustrated about it for 10 years. Finally I did some research on the internet, bought a darning foot, practiced a little, then took on the giant quilt from hell. It's now done but I'm no longer in touch with the original recipient. So this afternoon I called my mom and asked her if she wanted it. My lucky mom.

Today was also a good mail day! I got a copy of Antique Doll Collector, accessories for my new phone, and some fabric I ordered from A La Mode on Etsy. Check out this mail box booty!

And here's a little lagniappe...a peak at what I'm currently working on. My Mod Sampler Quilt, which is pieced and needs to be quilted and bound, a zig-zag baby quilt, and a diamond baby quilt. :)

Another Give Away!

Check out this fabulous artist's blog for another adorable giveaway! :D

As for me...I'm finishing the binding on a nine patch quilt that I pieced about 10 years ago. It's overly cutesy country and was originally pieced for a friend that whined that "no one has ever made me anything". lol. So I kinda don't like the quilt, but Bran does. I thought about giving it to his mom or my mom when it's finished - which should be tomorrow. But I shouldn't neglect my sweet husband's wishes to keep it for himself, however I just don't like the quilt. But, on the plus side, I'm finally finishing this quilt after all these years. That's part of my plan - finish some UFOs while finishing the new projects I'm starting as well. So far it's working. :)

Documentation

In case you didn't already know, my paying job is Software Documentation. Yes, I write those training manuals, user manuals, and help files for software. You know those amazingly boring things you should read when using new software? I once read that Amy Tan, one of my favorite authors, had written documentation for IBM. Based on that I think I'm in pretty good company, now I just have to write an amazing novel and have it made into a movie.

A co-worker of mine found this quote:
"Documentation is like sex; when it's good, it's very good, and when it's bad, it's better than nothing." -Dick Brandon, Author

I'm not sure if he's telling me my documentation is good or bad.

Check This Out!

About 6 months ago I purchased this great rag quilt from A La Mode Fabric on Etsy. I love it, Doxie loves it, my mother loves it, my mother-in-law loves it, and it looks great in my living room! Heather makes some fabulous quilts so check out her store. Or, check out her blog! She's having a fabric giveaway of some great hard to find Heather Ross fabrics. I must be crazy sending more people her way to sign up for this giveaway - because I SO want these for myself! lol.

I Took the Plunge!

So, I decided just to go ahead and put three of my baby quilts up for sale in my Etsy shop. If you're interested you can find them here. I'm excited - they've all been favorited at least once so far and I just finished putting one of them up half an hour ago! :D

Baby Quilt #4

I've finished another baby quilt. Two of my friends and my husband's cousin are all having babies, which is what got me working on baby quilts to begin with. Now that I've got more quilts than gifts I may start putting my quilts up for sale in my Etsy shop - which at this time is an empty shop. I'm not really sure that I want to just put a couple of quilts up though in an empty shop; maybe I should wait until I have 8 or 10. I'm just not sure...

I've also completed all my squares for the Oh, Fransson mod sampler quilt along. She posted instructions yesterday on putting the quilt top together, but I haven't started working on putting it all together yet. Her original instructions were for a lap sized quilt, but I think I'm going to add another row of blocks to the bottom, instead of using them on the back, per her instructions, and make the outside sashing bigger to make the finished quilt closer to a twin bed sized quilt. That way I can curl up under it. :D

Busy Week

I made the drive across the lake to New Orleans four times this week. Three of those trips were for the Tulane Symphony Orchestra, two rehearsals and a concert. I don't love the hour drive to get there, but I do love playing the viola - so it's worth the trip. The drive gives me a chance to listen to audio books. That's strange, right? To listen to books instead of reading them? I used to love reading - now I don't have the time - though I have plenty of time to watch TV and play games on the internet, lmao.

So, other than the Tulane Symphony Orchestra taking up most of my free time this week, I've completed two more sets of quilt blocks for the Oh, Fransson quilt along. Below is my favorite of block sets 3 and 4. I started working on the 5th and 6th sets after work this evening and I REALLY like those. My cheesy novelty Christmas fabric is calling my name as well - I might just have to make this quilt again.

Bummer - tonight is the final episode of Battlestar Galactica.