Temptation

I get an hour for lunch and often run errands.  Today I didn't have anything particular I needed to do, but I still wanted to get out of the office.  I am going to tell you that I only went "there" to look for something for my mother-in-law, but let's face it I just wanted to go.  Where?  The local craft store.  They do have a large cake/candy decorating section so my excuse could be plausible - my mother-in-law put me on the lookout for raspberry oil for candy making.  For the record the store didn't have any flavoring oils.

Since I had plenty of time...


I noticed they had a good scrapbook paper sale. 

I love all the colors and patterns.  And one can never have too much scrapbook paper, right?  Wrong!  I am sure I already have more than enough for 20 scrapbooks.  And the last time I scrapbooked was when?  I have no idea...a conservative estimate would be...years!!



Well, since I have thousands of pictures (most live in digital land, but I do have boxes of prints from the 35mm days) and plenty of scrapbooking supplies...maybe I will check out picture frames.  Oh good...another sale...

 
But then I remember this...

The empty frames already hanging on the wall and the numerous other empty frames (single picture and collage) waiting to be filled and hung.  Perhaps lack of frames is NOT the problem.

I can't help but check out the bargain bins.  I noticed cute little journals.  Since the "A" didn't come in the color/pattern I wanted (see "L") I was able to walk away.  I even checked for my last initial...but it must be an even more popular letter because they didn't have it at all.  If only that "L" had been an "A" I might not have been able to walk away.  

It wouldn't be bad to peruse the wedding supplies aisle.  Turns out since I just got married 4 months ago it wasn't really a temptation...so why I am even looking?

Back to the baking aisle instead.  I am thinking about making "conversation heart" sugar cookies.  My cousin made some yummy and so-cute cookies for the baby shower I went to a couple of weeks ago.  I have never been able to get the same look for my icing.  I now have her recipe and it calls for meringue powder. 

They had it, but since it was $5.29 for the smallest can I thought I should check with my coupon-loving sister to see if she has one of their frequent 50% off coupons.

I couldn't help but notice all the adorable cupcake liners...I talked myself out of buying any, but they were so cute.  Maybe next time?  Maybe when I have a reason to make cupcakes?  I am working on buying only for a current project.  For example, it is so-and-so's birthday and I am making cupcakes...how about some cute cupcake liners?  So for now, I walked away.

Fact is, today I left the store with NOTHING!  I know it sounds a lot like bragging...but I think it is okay to be proud of this accomplishment.  The craftroom project is driving home the point that I have heaps of supplies that I have never touched...I am embarrassed at how much money I have wasted.  Maybe I didn't improve the craftroom today, but today I did succeed in not adding to the problem...that IS an accomplishment and I AM proud of that.


Are you an impulse buyer?  


Anna

The Big One!

This week I have been struggling a bit.  Now that the craft room is starting to be useable again I am getting ahead of myself on projects.  I have found several unfinished projects (UFOs - UnFinished Objects) in there and I've been finding fun new ideas (bad Pinterest!!)  Ideally, I need to complete ALL old projects before starting on new ones, right??  

Now, I will completely disregard that thought and tell you about the big one - it is sure to be an on-going project that I am sure will not be finished before I start/complete any other projects.  



So far, I have made three bed quilts, two lap quilts and a doll quilt using a red/white/blue palette accented with denim.  The goal has been to use salvaged fabrics...old clothes (especially jeans), fabric yardage that was given to me from other people's stashes or fabric/clothing purchased super cheaply at yard sales.  I confess I have loosened my rules and bought several new fabrics to incorporate.  There are just so many great prints I can't help myself!

As you may have guessed the "big one" is my current quilt.  Over several years I have cut and saved fabric squares so I have a good supply.  I have wanted to make a full-sized quilt with the 3 by 3 inch squares that I previously only used for lap quilts...little squares equals much more work :)   I loved the look of the lap quilts and wanted one for my bed.   In the middle of this on-going project I have married my fabulous husband, so I have added some fabrics to represent him.  I bought a martial arts print (he is a black belt in jiu jitsu, hopkido and tae kwon do) and an Indianapolis Colts print (he is a big Peyton Manning fan). 

Several months ago, I finally had enough squares to complete the quilt - nearly 1700!!  Time to lay it out.  The living room furniture was pushed aside (we spent a weekend climbing over the couch in the hallway).

The placement is completely random except I have to be sure the same prints don't end up side by side.

After several days and plenty of rearranging the "completely random" placement of squares I was satisfied.

Satisfied with the arrangement and ready to have my living room back.

I devised a plan to keep my squares in order.  Each row was carefully picked up and stacked in order.  Each stack went in its own baggie with a row number.  All the baggies went into a box... to be ignored for several months.  

When I decided to work on this project again there was a complete panic - I had forgotten where I had put the carefully organized box of squares.  Finally found it and crisis averted!

A couple of months ago, I sewed together 8 rows...then back into the box with the project.  This week I pulled it all back out to work on.  I am hoping to see it on our bed before winter is over - who wants a new quilt for summer??  It is almost February so I better get busy.  The following pictures are from this week's progress.

First I ironed the seams flat.  The seams are ironed in opposite directions for each row.  This helps strengthen the quilt.  

 Then rows are pinned together and sewn into pairs - I used a 1/4 inch seam. 

Notice the numbers from the baggies have been pinned to each of the sewn rows so I can continue to keep the order straight.

 I now have 8 rows sewn together - just about enough to cover our feet!

Check out my faithful assistant on the other side of the ironing board...

Don't strain yourself Zommie.

I have a long way to go, but am excited that it is finally back on track.  Stay tuned for its progress.  And as I mentioned before I am sure there will be a few more projects started/finished before this one is finished, but that is okay, right??  And a reminder to myself the room is FAR from neat and organized..."don't forget to keep working on that too, Anna!!"

I would love to hear about a UFO you could pull out and work on this week...

Anna