How do you stay in touch with who YOU are?

I LOVE that HP quilt!
I enjoy sewing but I've never made a quilt before. I'm horrible at cutting strait lines

 

Liz, that's what a rotary cutter is for. Straight lines are so simple!

The HP quilt is awesome. I'm posting it of FB for a friend of Rachael. You had said "blocks", and the other quilt was more "blocks" in my mind.

 

Speaking for myself, I can get caught up in taking care of the home front, playing on the computer, or doing things of no significance, that I cheat myself out of "me". There are times I have had to ask myself if the computer is more important than tatting a bookmark, or painting a ceramic vase. I have had to make myself pick and choose what I value. I value my family, walking with my dogs at the lake, gardening, crafting, and my ministries. I was spending hours on the computer that I forfeited precious "me" time. I function much better in the morning, so I try to take care of errands in the morning so I have the rest of the day to do what I please. Granted, being a wife and mom is a part of my day, but finding a time that I can do what I enjoy is very important for me and to me.

 

On the HP quilt, each square is 5 blocks across.

Liz, the HP quilt is done by a process called paper piecing. Look it up on YouTube.. it's really neat and feels even more like a forgiving puzzle than the thought of having to cut a bunch of perfect pieces.

My other sewing love is doll clothes.. I really love making them, but DD has sooo many I see no point in making more and I don't think my stuff is good enough to sell (most sold things have serged edges.. and even though I have a serger I hate using it and I'm not sure I would make any money on it, gosh $10 for an outfit that took me a few hours to put together from start to finish plus supplies I would be making pennies an hour lol).

Patty, I need to start forcing myself to put my priorities straight. I find myself on the computer way too much for sure, and time flies when Im on it.

I'm going right now to take a bubble bath and READ, I'm about halfway through Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear, I'm going to try to finish it before the end of the month... they are long books lol

 

Liz, paper piecing is super-easy. And you don't have to cut a straight line to do it, lol! I made a really nice something that is like a big square Christmas table runner that way. The Quilter's Cache has great instructions, as well as an easy pattern to learn from you can print out. http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingthree.html (Quilter's Cache is my favorite quilt site!)

 

Oh Sommer I feel you gf!! I'm getting my bunch out the door and the grands keep coming lol. I'm not complaining but it has made it very hard to find me. Where did I even leave myself?! Going back to work which I know is not something you are looking to do at this time has opened my door a little. My checks are spent before I get them - gas for work and getting Joyce back and forth to school take the majority of them - but I love the chance to be out and am loving the interaction with people. Something I said to a child one day made the mom say "you must have kids" lol. Yesterday I got to chatting with a guest about our love of books. Btw, how in the world have you not eaten up the Stephanie Plum books?! Another series I love is by Emilie Richards. If I remember right it is set in the Shanendoah (sp) Mt area and are quilt themed. You don't have to be a quilter or sewer to love them. Project Linus - another suggestion along the same lines is to look into a Battered Women's Shelter. They may have a way to donate to their program. You may have to go about it in a roundabout way. My sis in Upstate NY has to pass them off to the fire dept who in turn gets them to the shelter. Locally we have a daycare program that is for homeless families and they would use totes (these can be made) and they always included a blanket for the child to keep even when they were no longer in need of the program.

Keep your head up. You KNOW your hubby loves you to pieces I can hear it when you talk about him! It may take awhile to find you and don't be afraid to realize the old you is still there but the new one you have become along the way is capable of alot and is an awesome woman!

 

Thanks Jennifer

I have no idea why I haven't read all of the Stephanie Plum books, I guess because they get repetitive and I get bored, so I move on to something else for a while then come back to them.

I will look up Emilie Richards, is she the one who writes something about quilt mysteries or something?

I have thought about volunteering at the Womans Shelter in my hometown (or what I call my home town), but I'm afraid it would bring up some bad memories that are best left at peace. I'm at peace with them now, but always fear them coming to the surface refreshed. I'm not sure if they have any kind of blanket program or anything. I know I have heard of a program that knits hats for premies and one that does burial gowns (the thought of that is horrible, but I can imagine how relieved a mom would be to not have to worry about shopping for that). Our NICU is very busy, I might see what they may be in need of.

 

Wait? What? We're supposed to get ME time? We're supposed to hold onto our own identity while raising our kids? Really? Wow.....my husband is NOT going to like this news. But, if I'm supposed to be doing it, and I MUST keep up with other homeschooling Moms, I think I'm just going to have to insist on Me time!

Just kidding, of course! LOL

I participate in a bi-weekly women's study (but we only meet maybe 5 times in fall and spring)...still, makes me feel connected.

I also do a "Girls Night Out" once every 6-8 weeks with a group of friends. We go out to dinner or brunch or do something fun together.

Once a month I have dinner out with a single friend. Sometimes we go to a concert, museum, Food & Wine convention or similar. We have fun.

On my own, on a daily basis, I do very little to maintain my own identity! LOL I do manage, however to educate, feed and care for my kids and husband. And maybe a load or laundry or two. I would adore learning to sew. My stepmom got me a sewing machine for Christmas, and I have yet to even crack the tape off the box. Some day....some day.

 

I think I found who I am... I'm the crazy old sewing machine lady!!

Yesterday while out at the flea markets we went to one that is always open, it's kind of flea market mixed with antique store mixed with crafty shops. It's an amazing place and I could spend weeks in there looking each time I go. Anyway, yesterday I noticed that there were lots of different vendors so I was looking closer at things and this table caught my eye. I have had my eyes open for a long time now for a nice table to sit my sewing machine on. I figured there was no way it was in my budget, but I looked anyway. On the top I noticed a pannel like a sewing machine inset thing. Inside is a 1929 Singer sewing maching in beautiful shape. The price was amazing, it was only $45 and came with a beautiful matching chair with a ratan seat. Oh and the little drawer thing is full of all kinds of old goodies!





We just redid the breakfast room, and I was going to get a new table for out there, but instead it's becoming my sewing room, I'm so excited!

 

FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!! For that beautiful antique? You've GOT to be kidding!!! What a great deal!!!

 

I know, I almost died! I would have expected more for the table missing it's machine, and at least $45 for the chair alone!

 

When the kids move out, I'm hoping to turn our computer room into a sewing room. I did buy a case the other day for my machine! They were $90, on sale for $40, plus I had 20% off of that at JoAnn's. It has wheels for easy trasporting. I was afraid it would be too small, but it fits just right! That will make life easier, as I often take it to Project Linus events or to co-op.

 

Finally a minute on the laptop lol! Shenandoah Album is the series I referred to. They aren't mysteries but really good. Kristen Hannah is another awesome author. Homefront is one by her about a woman's experience with PTSD after serving in the Army.

Volunteering - I totally understand what you mean about physically volunteering is why I suggested sewing something. Does your local hospital offer a kangaroo program for babies? I know some hospitals allow volunteers to come in and rock babies that my not have someone able to do it.

 

I looked up Shenandoah Album series...is it more a romance?

But she did have another mystery series....

 

I wouldn't peg them as romance but not sure what genre lol. They are really good. I love the history of the quilt patterns that are used.