Well, Heck!

I just couldn't stay away! I realized that if I didn't talk to you, I probably wouldn't hear from you either, so I thought I'd stop in and chat a little. Besides that, I've found I'm at a stopping point in the Sweat Shop tonight because I just don't have the "right" fabric I need, so I have a little time after all.

So, I guess I'll take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about what I'm up to. Originally I had scheduled vacation days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday because I needed some time to get things together for the "Spring!" quilt class next weekend, and I wanted to devote some concentrated time to doing what needs to be done to set things up to produce and sell quilt patterns. All well and good.

Then yesterday morning--Thursday--Hubby called my office to say his company had closed down his department and he was out of a job. Yes, despite my best efforts to stimulate the economy, I apparently didn't work hard enough, and now we've been hit personally. It wasn't totally unexpected--there have been rumors for the last month or so--but we were hoping the company would reorganize a bit and move Hubby and the other people he worked with into other positions. Obviously that didn't happen. So . . . .

By the end of the day Thursday, I had decided to shift my vacation up a day so I could be home today--Friday--and help Hubby out with whatever he might need. As it turned out, I was able to offer some computer assistance with his unemployment application, so I'm glad I was here.

In the meantime today I got busy on the "pattern thing." I read about half of a book entitled "Publish Your Patterns." I ordered 100 photo prints of the Spring! quilt on line through WalMart and picked those up. I ordered computer software. I ordered a tape gun for adhering photos to the covers of quilt patterns. I went to Office Depot and bought paper for covers and regular printer paper and doublesided tape to get me through until the tape gun arrives.

What else did I do? I stopped in at Goodwill and found five wool blazers. I told Hubby he's my boy toy now, and among other duties, it will be his job to take apart wool blazers for me until he finds another job.

I went to a fabric/home dec store and bought muslin, stuffing, fabric paints, and buttons for my quilt classes. I stopped in at Bearpaws and Hollyhocks and chatted with three of my favorite people--Lindy, Gran, and Carol. I measured the Spring! quilt that's hanging in the shop so I could include this somewhat vital information in the pattern.

I grocery shopped. I fixed dinner. I made an iced latte. (I found out Hubby had eaten all his Girl Scout cookies and was making in roads on my peanut butter cookies!)

Then I headed into the Sweat Shop and got out mostly yellow, purple, and pink scraps to make tulip blocks so I can demonstrate to the class next Saturday how the quilt is made. And that's where I got stuck. As it turns out, I don't have any suitable light colored background fabric. It's not something that appeals to me much when it's sitting on the shelves in a quilt shop, so it's the one thing my stash lacks. I guess I'll need to do more running around tomorrow--at least back to the quilt shop!

Between the "pattern thing" and the classes, I still have a TON of stuff to do in the next few days. So, no promises on regular posts or interesting content, but it looks like I'll be around. And if any of you want to hire a man to take apart wool blazers, eat your cookies, or keep your recliner warm, let me know--I've got just the guy for you!