Meghan's Material World

While Meghan was out . . .

I commandeered her blog!  Which gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another!  I'm Emily.  You may remember me from the previous post (which was, like, a million years ago – which is why I'm writing this!).  I work full time as an accountant (but I'm not one of those boring, dry people you think of when someone says that.  I promise!) for a small clothing company, and part-time for Z&S fabrics writing fabric descriptions and generally helping to keep the site current.  Meghan and I have known each other off and on for the better part of 15 years.  Her brother and my husband were best chums in high school.  It's all quite wonderful, really.

So, Meghan's brother was getting married.  My husband was asked to be part of the wedding party.  I'm not the world's most social creature and was desperately figuring out how to get out of attending this wedding.  Then there was Meghan.  "I haven't seen Emily in years.  She HAS to come."  She whined so much about it that we almost had to call the "wahmbulance" to come help us out.  Okay, not really, but it makes a better story.  Don't you think so?

To cut all the fluff out of this (too late, I know) – I went to the wedding, Meghan and I picked up right where we left off, and we've been living happily ever after ever since.

You may be asking yourself what it is that we have in common.  Well, let's see – our birthdays are one day apart (Meghan was born a day before I was and she never lets me forget it!).  I think that might be it.  Okay, just kidding!  We have similar interests – fabric and yarns and fun stuff like that – and we share a strange sense of humor.  But we're different enough to make it fun to be around one another.  Really, it's a perfect match.  Plus, I just adore her mom (Carol) and am considering adopting her for my own.

Hmmm.  Stuff about me.  Well, the husband and I just bought a house two months ago (has it been that long already???) and left our apartment of two years.  Our landlady owned the building we lived in and the house next door, where she lived, and when she passed away earlier this year, her son opted to sell.  The people who bought our building (with two apartments very well adapted from a rowhome) wanted to live there, so we had to go.  We weren't sure what we wanted to do, but we finally figured it out.  And started packing.  One Saturday, we gathered together about a dozen friends and got all the boxes and furniture to our new house.  Next door to the old house.  Yes, that's right – we moved NEXT DOOR!  Let me tell you, it's really hard to explain that to the electric company, the cable company, the gas company, and the post office.  They seem to be really confused by it.  It's been two months, as I said, and we're all settled in.  Some minor plumbing problems and a little bit of standard home repair, and we're loving our new house.

One of the rooms in our new house has been designated "the sewing room".  Let me backtrack a bit:  I learned to knit and crochet when I was six.  Most of what I've made have been fairly simple afghans and things of that nature.  But, in the last few years, I've become a yarn snob and have been experimenting with baby clothing, intricate stitches for scarves, and have been looking at trying my hand at felting (there's a hat I really like).  I'm also very interested in jumping on the sock bandwagon – they look like loads of fun!  So, most of my "stuff" has been yarn-related.  I've also done my share of counted cross-stitch and related, so there's quite a bit of that, too.  About eight years ago, I was at an estate auction with my father-in-law and spotted a nicely kept

Kenmore

with tons of accessories.  I had about $45 to spend, and started bidding.  When it got to $40, I stopped.  Dad didn't.  It made it to $75, and that was my birthday present for the year!  My mother-in-law taught me how to thread the machine, wind the bobbin, and some basics, and off I went!  But, I didn't really like it (I tend not to like things I'm not immediately good at), and it sat for quite a while.  After a move to

Maine

, I found a quilting class being held at the local high school, signed up, and started sewing.  What a disaster!  Ever seen a log cabin cut on diagonals?  Not pretty.  So the machine sat again. . .  Until about a year ago.  I tried AGAIN.  I'm nothing if not persistent (stubborn, whatever).  And this time it's going quite well.  I've got a log cabin top put together for Meghan's brother and his new bride (needs borders, backing, quilting, and binding – but progress is progress, people!) which is on hold for a quilt for my brother-in-law.  He's planning a move from

Dublin

to

London

, so he'll need something to help keep him warm, right?  Any excuse to play with new fabric!  I'm sure there are at least a few of you who can relate.

Meghan loves my sewing room (so she says), and we spend a bit of time in there.  She's got her own workspace and everything – and I finally broke down and gave her a cabinet.  She's not getting that closet space, though!  Mine, all mine!!!

Well, I've babbled on long enough.  I hope this will tide all of you over until Meghan gets off her duff and starts posting again.  Your comments, I'm sure, will go a LONG way toward that end.  Hint, hint!

em

Bribery From a Bad Blogger!

Summer is over - if you measure the seasons by the school calendar, anyway.  All the neighborhood kids are back in class, and it is almost eerily quiet around my place.  Not that I am complaining...Quiet can be very nice, but (as long as I don't have a headache) the noise outside doesn't bother me at all.

Despite my lack of blogging over the last few months, I have NOT been on Summer Vacation.  I have, in fact, been VERY busy.  As a result, the time I would normally devote to writing my blog has been monopolized by any number of other activities....some fun, but mostly work related stuff!  Oh well, I am fairly certain that I will have more time to write now, since most of my recent obligations have been fulfilled.  Life should be calming down to a more tolerable pace. *SIGH* Finally!

I will admit that I have not had much time to release my creative energy lately, either.  I find it difficult to go an extended period of time without making SOMETHING, and it all came to a head last week when I started not one, but TWO projects.  Ah, nothing like self-imposed pressure, right?

First is a Wedding Tree Quilt.  This is the second such tree I have made.  I don't normally create a design more than once - I tend to get bored, and never finish, or drastically change things so they never end up being the same.  This time is different.  I am TRYING to make a pattern of this quilt, because there have been so many requests for it  Alright, I have the pattern part down, obviously....it is the writing of the directions that has me stumped! 

I am TERRIBLE at writing out directions.  I tend to skip really important steps all together, and then I get really (painfully) specific on others.  I may give up on the directions, since this pattern is not designed for a beginner, anyway.  Anyone with the skills to put this together, probably only needs the pattern and a lay-out diagram, right?  Please tell me I am right! Ack!  This is so frustrating!

While taking a break from the tree, I started another little project.  This is my second attempt at hand-applique - my first was documented in one of my very first blog posts.  Funny thing, even with all my grand plans of making that adorable quilt, that first block is all I ever got finished!  Of course, now I am thinking about it, and I may just have to go dig that out to work on.  So, back to THIS project.  It is a little house-warming gift for my pachyderm-loving pal, Emily. 

Speaking of Em, (ha, ha, I can see her cringing as she reads this - she isn't one to enjoy being in the spotlight) she recently joined our little Z&S Fabrics family, and I, personally, could NOT be more thrilled to FINALLY have someone to help me with my job!  And, I haven't had to teach her anything (I am as bad, if not worse, at teaching as I am at writing directions!)  I think she is enjoying it.  (Are you enjoying the job, Em?  Before you answer, remember, I AM your boss!  And I am your elder, too....by one whole day! hahaha.)  She seems to be having a good time writing up descriptions for the new fabrics we have been adding to the site.  I must admit, that I am having a good time READING her descriptions.  They are fantastic!  Here are a few new collections with examples of her amazing illustratory skills.  Fall Back in Time - Newton - Climbing Jacob's Ladder - and more are on the way!  Oh, and not only can Em write well, and use a computer without instruction, she also likes fabric! 

This is Bob.  He is a tailless French-Canadian feline with a fondness for fabrics.  (If you are wondering what makes a cat French Canadian, I don't honestly know.  However, his owner I mean the person Bob owns claims that "if you knew any French-Canadians, you would understand why Bob must be one".)  As you can see, this ferocious kitty is quite protective of his stash.  Don't mess with Bob's fabric!

Don't worry, though.  We have lots more where that came from.  In fact, if you would like a chance to win an assortment of Bob's favorites for your own stash, just leave me a comment.  Say hi, or tell me how disappointed you are in my bad blogging record lately, or even share a story about your own "crafty" pet.  It doesn't really matter what you write, just be sure that your email is correct so that I can contact you when I pick your name!

I will select one winner from all comments I receive for this post, prior to noon (Eastern time) on Wednesday, September 5, 2007.  Good Luck!