Monday Make It: Valentine Edition

Thanks to it being Valentine's Day I was reminded that I was supposed to make a heart block for a quilt our circle will be presenting to our friend Deanna who recently lost her husband. 

I found a block that I liked on the internet and made a rough drawing, literally tracing it by holding a paper up to my computer screen.  I then measured and squared it all up and came up with this:

Since I had never done foundation paper piecing before I headed on over to YouTube to see if there was a tutorial available.  Yup, there were plenty, each one I viewed more confusing than the last.  I was happy to find the tutorial below that was really well done and quite simple...just my speed.  Bravo to the woman who made this tutorial! 

Paper Piecing Made Easy Tutorial

It took me a little time to figure out where I should start, but once I got things going it came together fairly easily.  Funny how things seem to work well when I'm working with fabrics I really like.   I just love mixing pinks and reds and purples. 

Considering it was my first attempt at foundation paper piecing, I think it came out pretty terrific.  I'm definitely hooked on this technique.  Everything came out so crisp and exact.  If I do this particular pattern again, I will most likely make the bottom of the heart pointed. 

There seemed to be a lot of scraps left over.  The woman in the tutorial said that the more one practices paper piecing, the better one will get at using smaller pieces.  I totally get that.  I think my next paper pieced project will definitely be a lot less wasteful.

Next up: 

This one I can't simply trace...way beyond my figuring out.  Besides, there is a woman who sells this pattern fairly cheaply on Etsy as a PDF file that I won't even have to wait to come in the mail!   

Now that I've gotten one heart under my belt, I think I'll attempt another and start working towards making something similar to the above quilt.  I'm hoping to present it to my Jules when she graduates high school.  I've got about a year and a half to get this done...I'll probably wait until a month before graduation before starting on it though, cuz that's how I roll.  :o)



  

Proverbs..........................................................42/365

I was perusing Lollyquiltz most amazing quilt blog.  Talk about original creativity!  One of the things I like about her blog is the header:

Hope I don't get in trouble for reproducing that. :o)

I really, really like the quote from Proverbs (my favorite part of the Bible) and wish I had been smart/creative/well-read enough to have thought to use it for my own blog.  (Although I seriously doubt those lovely words would fit with the x-ray of the skull impaled with scissors.)

Which brings me, once again, to the subject of liking who I am and not always second guessing myself.  I still have a long way on my journey to finding happiness, becoming fit and embracing true contentment with who I have become. 

One thing I don't care for and have been trying to banish from my life is jealousy.  Such a useless emotion and all based on insecurity.  I can't say that I'm never jealous, but I like to feel that I'm not as jealous as others, but then...who am I to judge?  But to banish such awefulness as jealousy, I need to appreciate all of the positive things I do have in my life.  One emotion replaces the other so readily, it's almost silly not to try to achieve contentment on a daily, if not minute by minute, basis.

And I'm working on it.  I really am.

 

Valentine Barrettes.........................................40/365

The hardest part of this project was finding the "hair snaps" that were small enough to make these adorable Valentine barrettes.  It's been a long time since I've done that sort of handwork, my chaotic stitches prove that.  :o)

Hoping that if I get them in the mail today, they will arrive in time for the adorable little girls above, Camden (my nephew Chad's little girl) and Emily and Chloe (my niece Jennifer's daughter and her BFF.)

The dark red heart at the top of the photo is specifically for Jules because it has a more grownup feel about it.

Wish I would have made more effort to do things like this when Jule's was little.  Such is the life of a single mom.  Just seemed like there was never enough time...sigh. 

 

Oy! And I was doing so well!............................39/365

Forgot to post for the past two days...

Sunday I was going to post about our trip to the Belagio to check out the Chinese New Year display, but ended up working and calling volunteers instead.  After the year I've just experienced with so little work available to me, I can't take the chance of missing out...as much as transcription bores the living daylights out of me.  Jules was understanding...as usual.  Such a wonderful daughter that I have.

Decided we would try to go to the Belagio on Monday after Jules' got home from school and I was done with my DQN board meeting.  Came home to Jules being sick again.  I told her those early morning scooter rides to school weren't good for her so soon after being sick.  She never believes me.  Spent the afternoon and evening calling volunteers.

Today, I had planned on trying to work my head off and call more volunteers, but spent part of the day yaking with last year's volunteer chairperson.  What a riot!  I just love people who are so down to Earth, especially when they "get" me and I "get" them in return.  She had me laughing the entire time, really lightened my mood up regarding what is turning out to be a fairly messy situation I've gotten myself into with this quilt show position. 

Oh well, it's been a long time since I've had this kind of a challenge.  Used to be an every day situation back when I was a manager for Price Club. 

Being fond of quotes, I like to refer to this one when I feel a bit bogged down:

"You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile."  Brian Tracy

And in the end there is little guarantee that anyone will even notice one's hard work, so it must be done for one's self, for one's own gratification.  I said that.  :o)

Oh well, back to the grind...


 

2011 - Year of the Rabbit.........................................36/365

As it turns out, my birth year was also the "Year of the Rabbit".  Hmm.  I don't believe much in horoscopes, but I thought this was interesting:  (My comments in blue.)

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious.  (Kind of vague as are most horoscopes, but I guess it fits.)

They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste.  (I actually had to look up "virtuous" and well, all I can say about that is that I try.  Reserved...yup.  Excellent taste...okay, but I'm sure there are some out there that may disagree.)

Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky.   (Possibly.  Not so sure.  Nope.)

They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind.  (Sadly, I do gossip, but I also try to be tactful and kind.)

Rabbit people seldom lose their temper.  (That makes me so mad...totally wrong!)  (lol.)

They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract.  (If I were really clever I'd own a business of my own...)

They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing.  (Definitely not a gambler, although I sometimes take chances where I shouldn't...that just points to my naivety and general dorkiness though, I think.)

However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise.  (Yup.  Yup.  And...I try.)

Tomorrow Jules and I will be at the Bellagio checking this out:
 
Bellagio's Year of the Rabbit Conservatory Display





 

Fabric Birds............................................................35/365

Last summer while perusing Etsy I found these fabric birds that intrigued me:

I found a very simple and straight forward pattern (the kind I like the most) on the internet and got to to work.  Although, I must admit, the idea of making a mobile work (properly balancing the deal) seemed way beyond me.

It only took me a month and a half to make them...lol.  (I got bored after the first two because there was a lot of hand sewing involved....My good ol' ADD kickin' in.) 

I like the photo where they look like they're having an important discussion, a bird board meeting of sorts.  The one where I lined them up...not so much.  I did that to show the fabrics used on the chest area.  Unfortunately, it looks like I'd been out hunting and was proudly showing off the day's haul.



This photo does not do the cuteness of this project any justice at all.

Like I said, I was a little intimidated by the idea of making a mobile work, so instead I simply put them on a long branch.  I intend to hang this above the window in my office/sewing room once I get the curtains in place.

Just now, as I was looking for the original photo of the bird mobile on Etsy, I came across this:

Dragonflies...hanging from a leafy branch.  Lord help me.  Now I have to add this to my long list of things to copy...um I mean produce.  Shouldn't be too hard, just need to find the time...  So dang cute.


 

Filth, Smut, Grime and Dreck...........................................................34/365

Yes, I said it.  This post is about all that is dirty.  Well, at least what's still dirty coming from my dishwasher.

It started last fall when I noticed that my black nylon utensils came out of the dish washer looking like this:

I usually soak then scrub spatulas, using a little dish soap before putting them into the dishwasher, and yet this is the result.

And then there are the 20 year old Ikea bowls that used to come out crystal clear, even though they have become slightly etched over the years as glass does:

I mean, seriously?  Those are fresh out of the dishwasher!

When I remember to do so, I add vinegar to each load and it seems to help, but often times I forget and it makes me want to wash everything over again by hand.  Even washing by hand doesn't seem to work as well as it used to. 

Could it be the hard water we have here in Nevada?  Possibly.

Could it be that it's time for a new dishwasher?  I hope not.

So of course being the investigative journalist that I am (ha ha) I Googled "why aren't my dishes getting clean?" and came up with this:

Dishes not getting clean? Your dishwasher might not be the one to blame

Turns out soap manufacturers are taking phosphates out of soap including laundry soap, and now they just don't clean as well. 

Granted phosphates apparently aren't good for some environments and cause algae to overrun lakes and such, but still...

I know, I know there are a lot more important things in this world to worry about.  I just really miss my sparkling clean dishes. 

Must stock up on vinegar.  In fact, maybe I'll buy stock in vinegar.  Yeah, that's the ticket.