So here I am Monday night, feeling quite ambitious and wanting to finish machine quilting my baby quilt, right? Well, the needle tension has always been off on my sewing machine that I purchased in January, so I decided to try to fix the bobbin tension. Logical thing to do, right? WRONG. Not only did I screw things up, I totally delayed my quilting ambitions. =( Fail for Amber.
I went ahead and took it to a sewing sales and repair shop that has been around for 40+ years and has this amazing reputation. Well, I go there and of course two things happen. 1) It's pouring rain out. and 2) My stupid locks on my car doors are totally screwed up, so I have to unlock it from the inside while getting drenched. Yay. Went in and filled out the paperwork, and the older gentleman that owns the shop started talking with me because I was checking out the machines. I totally loved this one machine that was made for both sewing and quilting, but had quilting more in mind because it had a longer arm on it. Totally cool right? He said he'd offer me a great trade-in value for mine...and the price would be $3000 for the other machine. Holy man! I mean, I understand a shop owner has to sell his stuff, but talk about an expensive sewing machine! Maybe if I win the lottery someday I'll go back and say, "SOLD! I'll take it!" but since I don't play the lottery...I don't think it'll happen.
But the guy totally made me smile after we were chatting for a while. He said, "Be careful out there, you're a sweet girl, and you know what happens to sugar in water, right? It dissolves." Ha. Totally made my day.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
BUMMER!
So yesterday I had my craft subgroup over at my house (even though the lovely Jana was the only one to show up -- that's because we ROCK IT) yesterday, and I asked her to be my accountability partner. I need someone to help me stay focused on the Lord and keep me going to church weekly, and to share my experience with and such. She kindly accepted :)
Anyway, so the first step was for me to go to church. I told her I love going to church, but I don't like waking up *early* on Sunday. Okay, granted it's not early if you're going to the 11 AM service, but still. I like sleeping in on the weekends. So what did I do? I went to the Saturday night service with her, of course! I found out that the church is having a "Riverboat Prom" type of thing this weekend, and I was SO EXCITED because I REALLY wanted to go. I never went to my prom, and I thought it would be a lot of fun!!
So I get home, talk to my husband, and talk him into it. He's not a big dancer. But I succeeded :) Come to find out this morning...that it's on Friday night. Which totally stinks because I already bought tickets to go see a show for my new favorite band Edens Edge. Never heard of them? Go here. They're amazing! And I had to talk my husband into going with me to that! Oh well.
I'm kind of bummed out, but I'm still excited to go see my favorite band.
P.S. I'm about halfway done with the quilting itself of the baby quilt. Pictures will be up after it's been binded and washed. I'm using chalk to fill in the stencils and it's going okay for my first time quilting. Hopefully I can finish it today. :)
Anyway, so the first step was for me to go to church. I told her I love going to church, but I don't like waking up *early* on Sunday. Okay, granted it's not early if you're going to the 11 AM service, but still. I like sleeping in on the weekends. So what did I do? I went to the Saturday night service with her, of course! I found out that the church is having a "Riverboat Prom" type of thing this weekend, and I was SO EXCITED because I REALLY wanted to go. I never went to my prom, and I thought it would be a lot of fun!!
So I get home, talk to my husband, and talk him into it. He's not a big dancer. But I succeeded :) Come to find out this morning...that it's on Friday night. Which totally stinks because I already bought tickets to go see a show for my new favorite band Edens Edge. Never heard of them? Go here. They're amazing! And I had to talk my husband into going with me to that! Oh well.
I'm kind of bummed out, but I'm still excited to go see my favorite band.
P.S. I'm about halfway done with the quilting itself of the baby quilt. Pictures will be up after it's been binded and washed. I'm using chalk to fill in the stencils and it's going okay for my first time quilting. Hopefully I can finish it today. :)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
God is GOOD!
To start off this post, I'd like to inform all of you that Brian and I have been struggling financially these past two months with the big move and everything. I said a long time ago that it's not expensive to move-- well, oh boy, I was WRONG. Brian and I couldn't buy groceries the other week, and because we had to throw a lot of food away when we moved, we really didn't have much in the fridge. So, of course, we have been praying every day, "Please, Lord, please help us financially. We lift this struggle up to you that you may provide for us." So, getting the mail on Thursday, we received a piece of mail from "Minnesota Revenue". This kind of scared me -- because my husband has his own eBay business, and if you make more than 20K a year, they will start taxing you. That's what I thought it was. To my surprise, I opened it up and there was a check to Brian and I. I almost cried, I was so relieved. I've been living paycheck-to-paycheck to pay the bills and such, and this was such a huge relief off of our shoulders. Praise God!!
On another note, my craft group is meeting at our new home today! Wohoo! It's kind of exciting, even though there only may be one person that comes over, I'm excited! Now that I have almost all of my craft stuff out and organized, I'm debating on whether or not I should keep working on my cross-stitch or if I should try to finish the baby quilt with the owls on it. It's basted and waiting for me. *le sigh* I just don't know how to work the "freehand" foot on my sewing machine yet, so I'll have to figure that out.
On ANOTHER note, I was so excited to find this other blog by this AMAZING woman that challenged herself, starting March 5th this year, to NOT look in a mirror for a WHOLE YEAR. How crazy awesome is that? You'll have to go check out her blog. How inspirational, in my opinion. Us girls look in the mirror way too often, I think. I check myself out while shopping, in the bathroom, etc. I look in the mirror too much! I did make a post to her, and SHE RESPONDED WITH A NEW BLOG POST! I am so honored. Here is the link to her response post!
http://www.ayearwithoutmirrors.com/2011/08/day-139-3-new-things-that-i-love-about.html
Hope all is well! I'm off to grab some new books from the library (#12 and 13 in the current series) and get some eggs from the store since I want waffles for breakfast :)
Ciao!
-Amber
On another note, my craft group is meeting at our new home today! Wohoo! It's kind of exciting, even though there only may be one person that comes over, I'm excited! Now that I have almost all of my craft stuff out and organized, I'm debating on whether or not I should keep working on my cross-stitch or if I should try to finish the baby quilt with the owls on it. It's basted and waiting for me. *le sigh* I just don't know how to work the "freehand" foot on my sewing machine yet, so I'll have to figure that out.
On ANOTHER note, I was so excited to find this other blog by this AMAZING woman that challenged herself, starting March 5th this year, to NOT look in a mirror for a WHOLE YEAR. How crazy awesome is that? You'll have to go check out her blog. How inspirational, in my opinion. Us girls look in the mirror way too often, I think. I check myself out while shopping, in the bathroom, etc. I look in the mirror too much! I did make a post to her, and SHE RESPONDED WITH A NEW BLOG POST! I am so honored. Here is the link to her response post!
http://www.ayearwithoutmirrors.com/2011/08/day-139-3-new-things-that-i-love-about.html
Hope all is well! I'm off to grab some new books from the library (#12 and 13 in the current series) and get some eggs from the store since I want waffles for breakfast :)
Ciao!
-Amber
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Parched for creativity...
So as of right now, for how much I've been working, most of my free time is spent reading this awesome series. I'm currently on book 11 out of 20. I started them in the beginning of June. What does this tell you? I'm addicted.
Now, don't be alarmed, because I have been working on that needlepoint!! But during the move I got an eyeful of that pink owl crib quilt that I need to finish. I know, I know....one thing at a time. I'm so bad at starting things that I finish. Except books of course.
I've decided that for the needlepoint that I'm going to take a picture of it each time I finish a color. Which means that...this could take a while. Well, I'm out of creative juices for today, so I'm going to lounge on the couch and watch So You Think You Can Dance...which is fun to watch the dancing, I fast forward through the "judging" though. Booooo-ring. Then it's up to bed for the night and reading under the covers with my booklight...hehehe. I'm such a nerd.
In other news-- my low back pain that I've had for the last 10 years flared up last weekend. So much so that I had to call in sick on Monday (not yesterday, the week prior) and go to the MD. I never go to the doctor. For anything. My parents were both RN's so that pretty much took care of everything that was ever wrong with me. Except broken bones and things of that severity. Anyway, the MD did a couple of tests (and I'm super out of shape by the way, and not by any means limber at all either) and said, "Why on earth haven't you come in sooner? You need to go to physical therapy at least three times a week or so for this. I'm astonished you haven't been in sooner." He also gave me a Rx for a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory (kind of like an NSAID - aka ibuprofin, but stronger). I couldn't believe it -- this is the first time in ten years I was pain free for more than a couple of hours. I am not taking the muscle relaxer unless I absolutely need it because it makes me super drowsy if I take the full dose, and kind of loopy. But I know I need to get physical therapy for sure -- my consultation is on September 13. We'll see what happens!
Now, don't be alarmed, because I have been working on that needlepoint!! But during the move I got an eyeful of that pink owl crib quilt that I need to finish. I know, I know....one thing at a time. I'm so bad at starting things that I finish. Except books of course.
I've decided that for the needlepoint that I'm going to take a picture of it each time I finish a color. Which means that...this could take a while. Well, I'm out of creative juices for today, so I'm going to lounge on the couch and watch So You Think You Can Dance...which is fun to watch the dancing, I fast forward through the "judging" though. Booooo-ring. Then it's up to bed for the night and reading under the covers with my booklight...hehehe. I'm such a nerd.
In other news-- my low back pain that I've had for the last 10 years flared up last weekend. So much so that I had to call in sick on Monday (not yesterday, the week prior) and go to the MD. I never go to the doctor. For anything. My parents were both RN's so that pretty much took care of everything that was ever wrong with me. Except broken bones and things of that severity. Anyway, the MD did a couple of tests (and I'm super out of shape by the way, and not by any means limber at all either) and said, "Why on earth haven't you come in sooner? You need to go to physical therapy at least three times a week or so for this. I'm astonished you haven't been in sooner." He also gave me a Rx for a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory (kind of like an NSAID - aka ibuprofin, but stronger). I couldn't believe it -- this is the first time in ten years I was pain free for more than a couple of hours. I am not taking the muscle relaxer unless I absolutely need it because it makes me super drowsy if I take the full dose, and kind of loopy. But I know I need to get physical therapy for sure -- my consultation is on September 13. We'll see what happens!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A new, blond-ish me! :)
I've always been a brunette at heart. Those who know me the best know that I have the worst blond moments in the world. I had decided when I got my hair cut about a week and a half ago that I wanted to change it up and do something different -- my hairstylist suggested that I go lighter since I always go darker, so what the heck? Might as well!!
Here are a couple pictures of the process!
This first picture is of me with my new haircut, still brunette! :)
Me, marinating with my hair all crazy!
The end result!! It's subtle enough to blend with the rest of my hair, but it's different enough to stand out! I love it!! :)
Here are a couple pictures of the process!
This first picture is of me with my new haircut, still brunette! :)
Me, marinating with my hair all crazy!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Day two completion
Here's a picture of what's been completed after day two. Not much, still working on the trees. I always work with one color of thread at a time.
I'm using a pen that has ink that washes away with water to mark where my stitches should be going, since this is kind of a HUGE project. We'll see how it works out. So far, so good. I think after each thread color is completed I'm going to have to wash in the sink to get all of the ink out, then go on to the next color. Just so I don't get confused.
I'm using a pen that has ink that washes away with water to mark where my stitches should be going, since this is kind of a HUGE project. We'll see how it works out. So far, so good. I think after each thread color is completed I'm going to have to wash in the sink to get all of the ink out, then go on to the next color. Just so I don't get confused.
New project!
Well, technically I'm still on haitus, but because I joined a crafting group at my church, I needed something to craft. So off to Joann I went...
I've done some counted cross-stitch before, but nothing of this magnitude. I saw this, which is a Disney + Thomas Kinkade, so of course it had "WIN" written all over it. It's going to be a long project, but I'm very excited.
Here's a picture of the actual painting that Thomas Kinkade did. The one I'm working on is called "Snow White Discovers the Cottage". It's the first in a series called "Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade".
It's pretty darn intricate, as you can see, and I suspect this should take...oh...6 months or so? If I don't get totally burnt out and end up like my mom, putting it away indefinitely. There's a few more that I saw at Joann that I'd like to do. My goal is to make all of them for when I have kids, have a Disney nursery room theme. I love Disney.
Here's a picture of the cross stitch when it's completed:
And here's my progress after day one (man this stuff is going to take forever!!!). It's not much, but it's part of the big tree directly to the left of the cottage!
I'll upload more as I go along. Probably on a weekly basis, since I don't want to take pictures every day. Maybe I will. We'll see. I'm pretty lazy =P
I've done some counted cross-stitch before, but nothing of this magnitude. I saw this, which is a Disney + Thomas Kinkade, so of course it had "WIN" written all over it. It's going to be a long project, but I'm very excited.
Here's a picture of the actual painting that Thomas Kinkade did. The one I'm working on is called "Snow White Discovers the Cottage". It's the first in a series called "Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade".
It's pretty darn intricate, as you can see, and I suspect this should take...oh...6 months or so? If I don't get totally burnt out and end up like my mom, putting it away indefinitely. There's a few more that I saw at Joann that I'd like to do. My goal is to make all of them for when I have kids, have a Disney nursery room theme. I love Disney.
Here's a picture of the cross stitch when it's completed:
I'll upload more as I go along. Probably on a weekly basis, since I don't want to take pictures every day. Maybe I will. We'll see. I'm pretty lazy =P
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