Meghan's Material World

Changes.

I realize that I haven't written a post in a really long time....for that I apologize.  However, this post will probably be my last - at least for awhile. 

Currently, my life is in a period of transition.  It seems as if everything is changing, all at once, and it has been quite overwhelming.  Some changes are for the better, and some are not so great, but that is how life works, right? 

As a result, Meghan's Material World has been put on a back burner, but not forgotten!  I will be back, but I don't know when, yet.  Here's hoping that it will be sooner than later....I really do enjoy the entire blogging experience - I love sharing my world with you, and I look forward to a time when I feel comfortable enough with life to start sharing again. 

Thanks for making my Material World part of your world, too!

Love.

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!

Just Call Me Miss Trial

I suppose we didn’t pray quite hard enough, because I did end up having to go into Philadelphia for Jury Duty.  I really thought I would only have to be there for the day.  I certainly never expected to be chosen to actually serve on a jury!  Well, surprise, surprise, I ended up serving as Juror Number Three (and I was picked to be the Foreperson) for a case involving drug trafficking and gun possession.  Whoo-hoo!  I was so excited…not!

Before I continue my Jury Duty Saga/Drama, please allow me to rant about the process for a moment.  There are very few things in this world that irritate me as much as when an adult human being is unwilling to READ and FOLLOW directions (please note- this is very different from someone who is UNABLE to read and follow directions).  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there is an official “hand-holder” for potential jurors.  It is this person’s JOB to read every line (at an excruciatingly slow pace – so “everyone can keep up!”) of the information and paperwork that had been sent to us weeks earlier!  I am sorry, but if you can’t fill out a form with your OWN name, address and social security number, then you really should not be expected (or permitted) to serve on a jury.  You are obviously too incompetent for the job!  And, while I am at it, if you cannot pronounce the word LIBRARY, then you, too, should be cut from the pool of potential jurors.  You are just too DUMB to be allowed to judge anyone!  I apologize if this rant seems harsh, or even rude to anyone.  It isn’t my intention to offend, this is simply me venting about some things that drive me nutty.

 

I believe that many of my fellow jurors had a difficult time accepting that the defendant does not actually have to PROVE that he is innocent, but that the prosecutor does have to PROVE his guilt.  I think they forgot that the accused is supposed to be considered INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty.  It felt, to me, like the majority of the jury wanted the defendant to explain why he was not guilty, which is not how the game is played!  Forgive me for calling this situation a game, we did, in fact, hold the fate of another human being in our hands, and that is serious stuff.

 

I must admit that my jury duty experience was interesting and I now understand a little more about how the American Justice System works (or how it is supposed to!)  I discovered that the decision of the jury is really quite subjective (in a criminal case).  What is a reasonable doubt?  It was explained to us (the jury), at least in part, as any doubt that would cause a reasonable person to hesitate before making a decision of importance.  Arrrrgh! Of course, we couldn’t get an answer to the question “what is REASONABLE?”! 

In case you haven’t guessed, yet, I was the odd-man-out.  I was the only one of the 12 of us to vote him NOT guilty.  I cannot honestly say that I think he was innocent.  In fact, I would have to say that in my heart I am fairly certain that he was/ is guilty, BUT there were several holes in the prosecutor’s case that were not sufficiently filled in, and in my opinion, they left enough room for reasonable doubt.   After the case was declared a mistrial, I had a discussion with the Assistant District Attorney (the prosecutor), about how/why we couldn’t reach a verdict.  Can you imagine how surprised I was when he admitted that my argument was convincing, and that I had some very strong points.  Finally, some validation!

Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to try to explain your doubt to 11 people who appear to be bent on conviction?  I seriously considered switching my vote, just to end it, although I am glad that I didn’t. I was in tears several times – In fact, I had to lock myself in the bathroom at one point in order to compose myself.  The entire experience was quite awful, and it drained me both emotionally and physically.

By the end of the trial, I had no voice, and my head was throbbing like never before.  It even hurt when I tried to sleep!  I have been fighting this awful illness for over a week now, and while it is a LOT better, I am still not right.  I have got to make a doctor’s appointment, because I am guessing there is an infection somewhere in my body, and I am going to need medication to beat it.

 

Don’t you just love all of the fun sewing notions I have recently acquired?  I am setting up a shelf of fun vintage sewing things, and these items are all destined to find places of honor upon it.  I figured you might enjoy some prettiness while reading my Blah post about jury duty.  I feel much better now that I have gotten most of the experience out of my system – we will now return to our regularly scheduled program…

So, I did have some fun while doing the jury duty thing….Do you remember that alpaca yarn I spun up awhile ago?  Well, I had dyed it, and started knitting my FIRST project ever (they are hand-warmers!) when I had to go to court.  So, I took it with me.  I got most of it done during the jury selection process, and then whenever there would be a recess during the trial.  I actually had them all knitted up within 2 days!  They were super-easy – I am making another pair now!  I don’t know if I am ready for anything too much more challenging, yet.  But perhaps actual mittens are in the foreseeable future.  I would really like to make a hat, but I don’t know where to find a pattern….Does anyone know of an easy (and FREE) hat pattern?  And, is there a place online that explains what the knitting abbreviations are, and how to do them?  For instance, I get K2T (knit 2 together), but how do you KO (knit over)?  And, I was told that I cast (bound?) off incorrectly…which is probably true, I had NO IDEA how to do it, so I did what I thought might work.  My project didn’t, and won’t, fall apart, but I did it so that it isn’t “stretchy” like the rest of the piece.  Does anyone “get” what I am saying? Thanks for any insight you can give to this new knitter!

 

I am such a loser!

So, I made a public commitment to write on my blog daily, and I fail within 3 days!  I am so disappointed in myself!  I do have an excuse, though....I have been working over-time to get as much inventory onto the site as possible this week, because next week I have JURY DUTY!  I will have to serve for 2 days, maybe longer if I get chosen for a trial....Please pray that doesn't happen....for my sake, as well as the sake of the store, the accused, and the community at large!  There are MANY reasons that I should not be on a jury, but the most obvious reason is my complete lack of an attention span....

Well, I have lots of stuff to get finished - both at work and home - before I do my civil duty next week.  I will attempt my daily writing thing again once I am through with that . 

A Saturday to Myself!

It has been pleasant, to say the least.  I love my Hubby, dearly, but I do enjoy having a whole day to myself sometimes!  I have been surprisingly productive, too.  See?

I have got the layout of my Never-ending quilt project figured out....I think!  There are actually 10 rows of blocks, but there is only enough room on to lay out 4 rows at a time.  Now that this major step is done, I should be able to get this thing sewn together rather quickly, so that I can finally FINISH it! 

I also spun up my first alpaca yarn!  This is the finest yarn I have made so far, and I am quite pleased with it.  I am planning on dyeing it tomorrow, because I think it needs some color.  Not that Kool-Aid is ever really expensive, but I was able to buy five 5-packs of drink mix for $1.00.!  The unforuntate thing is that there weren't many flavors to choose from.  I will be sure to share pictures of my colorful creation once I do it!

Oh, how cool is this?  You know that local connection I made while shopping for a new wheel?  Well, she introduced me to another local spinner and teacher, and I am going to be taking Spinning Lessons!  My first "real" lesson will be on Tuesday morning.  I can't wait!  I have so many questions to ask.  Maybe I should start writing them down so that I remember to ask. 

Alright, I am yawning like crazy, and I am having trouble making my fingers work correctly right now.  I think I have spent half of my time with my finger on the backspace button! 

Day 1

Not much to post today.  I am very tired.  But I made a promise to myself to post something every day for a week, so I am doing that.  I am just going to show you some of my spun goodies.  Perhaps I will feel more "wordy" tomorrow.  Have a great one!

 

We Got Wheels!

Hello all!  Sorry I haven’t been more diligent in posting….I really should get into the habit of writing something – no matter how insignificant- every day!  I am going to make that my goal for the next month….I will write a post – even if it is only a sentence or two- every day, starting today.  Now that I have made this public declaration of my intention, I just hope that I can follow through with it!  Okay, enough about my slacker blog-posting ways….onto the wheels!

Over the last week – you know, while I WASN’T posting – everyone (mom, dad, hubby and I) got wheels!  Mom, Dad, and Hubby all got wheels of the automotive variety, and I got – well, at least PURCHASED, and am now patiently awaiting the arrival of – a new-to-me spinning wheel!  And I have continued to spin everything in sight while I still have possession of the loaner wheel.  I will show off some of my latest spun goodies tomorrow.

I know that Dad got a car, but I haven’t seen it yet, and I am not certain what it is, so I really can’t say much about his new wheels.  I do know that Mom feels much better about his daily commute (almost an hour each way) now that he has reliable transportation.

Mom got a gently used, low mileage beauty, which I covet!  I suppose that my (and the Hubby’s) many years of praising the Volkswagen has actually made an impression on her because Mom bought her first import, ever, a Volkswagen Jetta station wagon. Isn’t it pretty? I am so happy for her!

Hubby surprised me with his purchase.  It was a surprising in several ways….first of all, he has been talking about selling (or keeping) his car for about 3 years, now.  He was constantly changing his mind, so I really wasn’t prepared for him to buy a new (to us) car, especially so spontaneously.  Friday morning, he mentioned that he was going to be going to see a Volvo wagon.  Even though he said something about it, I still didn’t expect him to BUY it, at least not without talking to me first!  It is a general rule around our house that if one of us is going to spend over $100 we consult the other…..well, I guess Hubby was so excited about this car, that he forgot about that little detail!  Lucky for him, I like the car, it is really pretty, and it is a wagon – hooray!  (I had a wagon several years ago, and I LOVED it!  Unfortunately it was hit by a drunk driver – it was parked at the time – and was totaled….I was so sad!)  I think that the Hubby is worried that I am going to commandeer his new car, so I have not been invited to even sit in it yet!  The honest reason for my not being in it is that the A/C needs to be charged, and I have chosen not to drive/ride in it – I like to be comfortable – not hot and sticky!  But, I really do love my car, so I don’t think he really needs to worry, too much.  Besides, my plate would look rather silly on a Volvo, considering it is “hello” in German!

 

Now for the really exciting wheel – MINE!  Oh, I cannot wait for it to get here – it should take about 2 weeks – it is coming from Holland.  Hubby bought me a Louet S10 – like the one I am currently borrowing.  It also comes with a skein winder, and a set of brand new hand carders.  I cannot wait for it to get here!  I can guarantee that I will be putting some major miles on it!

While searching for the “right” wheel – that means the lowest price when dealing with Hubby! – I was fortunate enough to make a local connection.  I have learned there is a local spinning and weaving guild, and I am looking forward to joining them.  The guild does take the summer off, though, so I will have to wait until September for a meeting.

With all this talk of wheels, I feel it is appropriate to share my favorite part of the drive to work.  I pass this sign daily, and each and every time I see it, I just have to laugh.  I find it ironic that these have been posted together, since there has never been a buggy that can move that fast! 

Happy,Happy!

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back messages!  I think that is what I missed most about blogging.  For almost a month now, my email box has been empty…well, I have had a few “real” emails (hello to G.H. in Texas!), but for the most part, it has all been junk.  It has been quite sad.

But, since I am sure that no one wants to read about my pitifully sad empty email box, I will instead, share with you some things that make me happy!

 

First, I was thrilled to find a four-leaf clover this morning – and I wasn’t even looking for one!  I almost stepped on it as I was walking into the shop from my car.  I have an uncanny ability to spot a four-leaf clover at 100 paces….okay, maybe not, but I have found more than (what some people would consider) my fair share of them over the years.  I am well over 100 at this point.  Yes, I used to actually LOOK (search) for them.  Now, they just seem to pop up at me from nowhere.  I still get that giddy happy feeling whenever I come across one, so this was a very happy way to start my day!

Yesterday was Jeannie’s (the new Mrs. Gehman) birthday, and there was a little family get-together at their place to celebrate.  Of course, I brought the cake!  I had big plans for this baby….I actually started working on it LAST WEEK!  I had made some adorable little fondant candles and other 3-d decorations for on it, however, they didn’t have enough time to dry out.  The weather here has been so humid that the poor things were still soft.  SO, I had to change my entire design idea at the last moment (yesterday afternoon).  I ended up doing a paisley-themed cake, with no pre-planning at all….I was pasting paisleys to that thing like a mad woman, in fact, I was putting on the final touches as I was walking to my car!  Considering the major changes that I had to make from original concept to finished product, I am quite pleased with my results.  And, even more importantly, Jeannie was delighted with it, and THAT made me very happy!

I have been keeping myself busy with projects that don’t involve sugar and stand mixers….by the way, I DID get my new KitchenAid.  It is pistachio green, and I love it!  I did really want a pink one, but no one had any in stock, and I got a fantastic deal, so I really can’t complain…

We did finish the yellow quilt, and I couldn’t be happier!  I was beginning to wonder if we would ever be done with it.  It was starting to really stress me out.  Both quilts have been shipped out, and now they are one step closer to being “home” with the little girls they are meant to comfort.

I have picked up the jumbled mess of fabric from my floor (otherwise known as my brother’s wedding quilt), and I have started to make some progress on it.  I think that I may actually be done with all of the ripping and resewing that was driving me nuts!  I suppose I just needed a break from it, because ever since I started working on it again, I haven’t had any real frustrating or tear-inducing incidents….In fact, it has been pretty easy!

  You can see a little bit of the above-mentioned quilt-in-progress in the following photographs.  I am using it as a backdrop for my lovely new yarn.  Don’t you just love colorful yarns?  I do…especially when I was the one to spin it and dye it!  Oh, it’s true, I have a new obsession – spinning is the next skill I want to develop.  My ex-sister-in-law, Dawn, is an incredible spinner, and I have always been in awe of her amazing talent.  My desire to spin was piqued by the new wheel that Miss Meshell and her mother Dy recently acquired.  So, I worked out a deal with Dawn that I would make her a bunch of microscope slide pendants, and in return, she is letting me use one of her wheels for a few weeks.  I have been having so much fun!  I have, however, had an allergic reaction to wool (or actually, the lanolin, according to the pharmacist),  but I am so addicted, that I continued to spin with the wool until my new fiber arrived.  I have since used another type of wool, Blue Face Leicester, and I didn’t have any kind of reaction to it….in fact, it is really soft and super-easy to spin.  I also got some soy silk, bamboo, flax, hemp, and alpaca.  I haven’t tried the alpaca yet, though.  I have spent some time petting it, and it is so nice.  I can’t wait to spin it!

I have a growing collection of pretty yarns, and I don’t really care for knitting or crochet – and there is no room in the house for a loom (my REAL dream toy!), so, I am going to have to figure out what to do with it all.  Especially if I ever want to be able to buy a wheel for myself….I have to have some way to rationalize it to the Hubby.  Any ideas?  It would make me REALLY happy to find a way to get myself a wheel!

 

Now, on a completely different topic, could all of you lovely folks help make a Pennsylvania boy’s NBA dreams come true?  I got an email from my SIL (Hubby’s sis) asking for help to make Adam’s dreams a reality.  I can’t think of a better way to assist Adam than to ask all of my readers to vote for him….His video is HILLARIOUS, and it is well worth your vote.  Here is the link to his video in case you have any desire to help, or if you are just curious to know what this is about.  If he wins, we will ALL be very HAPPY! 

 

I'm Back!

Hi everybody!  Have you missed me?  I have missed writing my blog, so I am very happy to be able to say, that I am BACK!  I have had some trouble writing this "return" post....There is so much to say, and share with you all, that I am not able to process it all into any kind of a sensible order. 

To make it easy on myself, I am just going to show you 2 lovely pictures.  The first, is my big brother, Jonathan, and his new wife, Jeannie....Aren't they cute?  I know I said I would have tons of pictures from their wedding, but I don't.  I DID remember to take my camera, but I forgot to make sure the memory card was in it....duh!  Hopefully, I will be able to "borrow" some pictures from the happy couple to share with you.

And, this is my Aunt Andrea and my new Uncle Tod, another adorable couple.  I made the cakes for their wedding....and in a day or two, I will show them to you....

Now that the weddings are over, I am playing catch-up in all the other areas of my life!  Work is insane!  I have so much fabric to get onto the site....I really should be doing that right now, so I PROMISE I will be back in a few days, with some more fun stuff to share with you.