Monday, May 20, 2013

New Skills for My Resume


The first thing a person needs 
to when changing careers is to
update their resume.

With my current employment 
coming to a close this week,
I needed to think about what new or
 refreshed skills I had acquired.

Here's what I'm thinking about adding:

1.  Being able to do repetitve activities
with a continual smile and enthusisam.

2. Being able to stay up with a body in continual motion.

3. Being able to motivate or distract or redirect
a body that's in continual motion.

4. My increased ablitiy for problem
and puzzle solving.

5. Being able to keep all the balls
bouncing at the same time.

6.  Being able to wipe away a tear and add a  kiss
 
to make it all better again.

With these added skills,
I'm sure there's a new opportunity
just waiting for me.

Until Next Time-

Thursday, May 16, 2013

A Bag of Tricks

 A good cook always has a well
stocked pantry.

A magician always has an extra
card up their sleeve.

A quilter always has a great "go to"
quick and easy baby quilt
stashed in the closet.

When a new member of the family 
arrives on the scene, a Great Auntie,
needs to be prepared.

I know most long time quilters,
generally,  have a couple of quick
"go to" designs that make wonderful gifts
for new babies.

Over the years fabric designers have
created some wonderful fun fabric panels
that can easily be bordered and bound.

I keep my eyes open for cute ones and
their coordinating fabrics and keep a small stockpile
for those special occasions. 

I loved this ABC flannel panel.
The coordinating fabrics were bright and fun.

Even if a quilt is simple doesn't mean
that construction techniques can be neglected.
 Adding the narrow inner border, 1 ", and 
the wider outer border, 5", 
still requires measuring carefully and  sewing
a close to 1/4" seam.

Even a simple quilt needs to end up a 
rectangle without wobbly edges.

A design like this also gives me a
 perfect venue to practice some simple
machine quilting designs.
These spirals aren't hard, but technique is still important.

We all know quality fabric isn't inexpensive.
Even this simple quilt will end up with a price tag of
about $60.
Keeping the width under 40 inches
is one economical thought.
So the idea of taking a preprinted panel
and surrounding it with a couple of borders is:
simple - yes
fun - yes
a place to practice skills - yes
inexpensive - not really
full of love to wrap the newest baby in - yes

 Until Next Time-

Monday, May 13, 2013

My Days Are Numbered

 May, 2013 
seemed a long way off
a year and a half ago.

With Running Man's blessings
and his total support
I agreed to become 
 the Nana nanny,
  watching and nurturing and loving 
these two little grand babies.
while their mamas returned to 
their careers.

I was committed for 18 months,
living in Denver during the week and
returning home on the weekends.

We wanted 
 these little ones to be able
 to stay at home as long as they could
before having to adjust to a different situation.

With the flip of the calendar,
my days are now numbered and
in just a few short weeks, my life will
change once again.

We've developed a pretty special relationship,
these two special little people and me,
and even without our daily play dates

I know we'll always have a special bond.

Until Next Time-