Drama is best kept on the stage and in the theatre system. At worst, kept alive by television shows, movies, and books. Drama is not best-served in person. It is truly best-served in small doses, as you watch on for other people to deal with. I have determined (although I admit, through a rather small sampling of the human population) that those who start drama and manage to persist in constant drama are they themselves unhappy with their own fortunes and/or lots in life.
My child's other biological parent is one of those such people. Through arrogance, sarcasm, and a very poorly developed sense of right or wrong, there is a constant stream of degradation and defiance coming from their home. I feel at a loss so many times to competently deal with the drama that is attacking me on a near constant basis.
Readers, in whatever you do, to whomever it's done to, please be respectful that you are in constant dealings with other human beings. These human beings are dealing with their own set of challenges, whether they be social, academic, or spiritual. NO HUMAN DESERVES MALTREATMENT. I don't care how much of an idiot they seem to be, each one has their own mission in life, no matter how trivial or substantial. I can't say it any clearer that I hate drama for the sake of drama. I also cannot stand to see words or actions used to abuse another human being!
Ok, rant over....Thank you for reading that one....I promise I'll post a quilting post next.
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Cathedral Windows and Such Ramblings...
I have been swamped trying to juggle school drop offs/pickups, during-school schedules, after-school schedules, workouts, and quilting.
Pardon the short post, but wanted to let you in on the quilting work I'm focusing on right now. The Mother-in-Law's quilt....a Cathedral Stained Glass Quilt.
This is not to be confused with this:
http://sohappytosew.blogspot.com/2011/02/cathedral-window-quilt-tutorial-part-2.html (Although I have to admit that I have yet to do one of those, and plan to before I go to quilting heaven..)
I'm taking my focus from a window I can't place (I don't know where the window is, and I don't know the name of the cathedral, photographer of the photo, etc. ...I'm so sorry that I didn't grab all that.) I've got a picture I accidentally drew over in MSPaint that shows the whole window. This is the main part I'm focusing the quilt around.
Pardon the short post, but wanted to let you in on the quilting work I'm focusing on right now. The Mother-in-Law's quilt....a Cathedral Stained Glass Quilt.
This is not to be confused with this:
http://sohappytosew.blogspot.com/2011/02/cathedral-window-quilt-tutorial-part-2.html (Although I have to admit that I have yet to do one of those, and plan to before I go to quilting heaven..)
I'm taking my focus from a window I can't place (I don't know where the window is, and I don't know the name of the cathedral, photographer of the photo, etc. ...I'm so sorry that I didn't grab all that.) I've got a picture I accidentally drew over in MSPaint that shows the whole window. This is the main part I'm focusing the quilt around.
While I'll admit, mine won't be quite as symetrical as it would be to be a replica, I have an intentional reason to not do so (I may choose to explain later, I may not).
I had considered doing something to pull this window:
Which is the South Rose Window of the Chartres Cathedral. While beautiful, it is currently far too intricate for my timeline of 4 months, and I can't really change the colors or themes to reflect the recipient's choices of reds and golds.
Ok...off to get walking to pick up youngest school person, then off to pick up next one. Tomorrow, driving the oldest one off to college again. I promise I will eventually get back to this thing. (Today, I just got the 4 main pieces drawn and freezer-papered for templates to use later. Woot! Progress!!!)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Travesty Called Time...and Other Ramblings
OK, Everyone....
I'm kinda back (again)....
To explain my absence (not really necessary, but will comment anyway), I have to take a two-fold approach.
One, my health has been really iffy lately...as in: not sleeping, hyper-sensitive to everything (light, sound, touch, etc.), and stress. We're still working on figuring out this sudden change, so please be patient while I expect to start playing russion roulette with meds again next month to see if we can find the problem.
Two, there've been more than a few "outside affecting issues" preventing me from wanting to post. I've held off in deference to detracting from the issues others have going on (where my posts would help some, it would distract others from paying attention to those truly needing it). I've also been swamped with multiple different things (and one of those is in the form of much-needed, paying work).
Now, to update you on the few things that are GOING to happen (I'm holding off on the "has happened" for a very, justifiable reason).
1. Christmas is upon us....Yes, it's the latter half of July, but that is when most quilters who've put off Christmas stuff really start worrying and preparing things for gifts. So that quilted pot holder or simple pajama pants that you got from us last year? Yes....it was in the works since MUCH earlier in the year. If not, it wasn't because something a bit bigger was in the works.
I've got one super-large order for Christmas. Last year I gave out three quilts to members of my family. This year, it's my Mother-in-Law's turn. I promised her last year that she'd get a quilt this year, and she finally gave me her color choices. My current plan (please don't hold me to this....anyone!) is a stained-glass, Spanish-Gothic inspired quilt. I'm planning to use window ideas from Spanish and southwest-Americana stained glass windows along with some of the features of her furniture from the room that the quilt will go into.
2. I am planning (hoping, really....planning may be too strong a word) to do some webcasts with sewing projects and/or sewing techniques. I've got some young sewists who've learned the art and procedure to sewing from me....and most of them don't live nearby for one reason or another. Most of them do, however, have internet access and would be happy to have my webcasts....so that's the plan/hope.
3. School starts in little less than a month for my boys (one high school, the other elementary), and for my daughter (college)....so I'll be running around like crazy with that in addition to work.
So....among the things that are going to happen...none of them leave me much time for this blog. That doesn't mean I won't be trying (I'm very trying at times), but it does mean that I'm now going to have to schedule time to work on it. See you in a couple of days again, methinks! (Sooner if I nail down ideas or finish ANYTHING!)
I'm kinda back (again)....
To explain my absence (not really necessary, but will comment anyway), I have to take a two-fold approach.
One, my health has been really iffy lately...as in: not sleeping, hyper-sensitive to everything (light, sound, touch, etc.), and stress. We're still working on figuring out this sudden change, so please be patient while I expect to start playing russion roulette with meds again next month to see if we can find the problem.
Two, there've been more than a few "outside affecting issues" preventing me from wanting to post. I've held off in deference to detracting from the issues others have going on (where my posts would help some, it would distract others from paying attention to those truly needing it). I've also been swamped with multiple different things (and one of those is in the form of much-needed, paying work).
Now, to update you on the few things that are GOING to happen (I'm holding off on the "has happened" for a very, justifiable reason).
1. Christmas is upon us....Yes, it's the latter half of July, but that is when most quilters who've put off Christmas stuff really start worrying and preparing things for gifts. So that quilted pot holder or simple pajama pants that you got from us last year? Yes....it was in the works since MUCH earlier in the year. If not, it wasn't because something a bit bigger was in the works.
I've got one super-large order for Christmas. Last year I gave out three quilts to members of my family. This year, it's my Mother-in-Law's turn. I promised her last year that she'd get a quilt this year, and she finally gave me her color choices. My current plan (please don't hold me to this....anyone!) is a stained-glass, Spanish-Gothic inspired quilt. I'm planning to use window ideas from Spanish and southwest-Americana stained glass windows along with some of the features of her furniture from the room that the quilt will go into.
2. I am planning (hoping, really....planning may be too strong a word) to do some webcasts with sewing projects and/or sewing techniques. I've got some young sewists who've learned the art and procedure to sewing from me....and most of them don't live nearby for one reason or another. Most of them do, however, have internet access and would be happy to have my webcasts....so that's the plan/hope.
3. School starts in little less than a month for my boys (one high school, the other elementary), and for my daughter (college)....so I'll be running around like crazy with that in addition to work.
So....among the things that are going to happen...none of them leave me much time for this blog. That doesn't mean I won't be trying (I'm very trying at times), but it does mean that I'm now going to have to schedule time to work on it. See you in a couple of days again, methinks! (Sooner if I nail down ideas or finish ANYTHING!)
Monday, June 10, 2013
7 Months in the making...
The photo on the left is of the original guild members, and the one on the right is current as of 2013. There is an Established Date block in the lower right hand (it's in place of an 8th block). The center is also embroidered in two different shades of silver. There are also 7 hand-pieced/hand assembled pink dogwood blooms in the center block. The quilt was quilted with clear monofilament thread on top and grey cotton underneath. The quilt also has a false back covering the white back of the quilt. This false back uses pink, grey and white fabrics from the front of the quilt. I put it there to protect the quilt for many years of wear hanging in the guild house. The binding is white, and hand-sewn.
Now, to make things even more interesting, my little boy has just finished his first quilt top! I normally don't share people photos, but this was too good not to share.
He started this quilt top back in December after prodding me for a couple of years to let him machine sew. He's always been proud of buttons I've let him sew on or embroidery work I've let him do (all by hand), but he's been longing to get behind a machine and use an amazing power tool. And yes, I just called sewing machines power tools.....I rather love my power tools.... but moving on....
He was extremely proud to hold his quilt up in front of mine to show his ties to an even greater legacy I hope he's really starting to understand. I should have known when just over a year or two ago he watched in amazement as I made a couple of purses as Christmas gifts that he'd be using one of my old machines by now.
His exact words regarding the purses: "When I grow up, I want to sew purses for people just like you, Mommy!"
Whilst this definitely isn't a bag of any sort, it's something that he'll keep and cherish for a lifetime. He already knows that it's hard work and plans to hang the completed quilt on the wall in his room after it's made a few quilt show rounds!
He was excited enough that he immediately wanted to baste his quilt and get started quilting it.
I think the bigger challenge for him will be getting it done in time for the next local quilt show in October!
:) Whew!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Dogs and Children
Sunday, yeah, I'm almost certain it was Sunday....two days ago? yeah....okay....
Anyway, Sunday, the dogs got out. Not just one of them. ALL THREE OF THEM! The mischievous one decided to finish punching a hole in the already weak boards on the fence. We didn't see him. We don't have to. We didn't have escapes until we got him. There. It WAS him!
Well, the boys (the mischievous one is a black lab, the other is a Siberian husky) made it about 4 miles street distance away before anyone got them stopped. We found on our journeys to find the girl (hang on, almost there), that all three stopped about one street over to sniff one neighbor's yard pretty thoroughly before the boys continued on their journey. A very nice gentleman saw them, recognized that they weren't the typical ones he sees in that area of the neighborhood and stopped them. He said that they were very happy to have had human attention and came right up to him. Yep, my babies have never NOT been friendly. Sometimes overly so, but they are definitely friendly. After playing phone tag for a little while (oops, forgot to update tags with current numbers), we got the message that the dogs not only were out, but two of them were safely being held for us to pick up.
That means there's one missing, right? Yep. With NO identification on her. She's never escaped past one neighbor over. She's part coon hound, part yellow lab. The hound in her wants to smell everything. ... EVERYTHING ....
After about an hour of frantic driving around the neighborhood, stopping neighbors to ask about her, and enlisting others to drive around to look for her...we got her back. Two very ingenious kids grabbed a leash when all three stopped near their friend's yard, and managed to catch Sally (aka Baby Girl, Sweet Miss). They were diligently walking her, hoping she'd lead them back to her house. They were only about 1/2 a mile away. Just took us an hour to find that out.
Now that they're all safe and home, I spent yesterday tending to making them identification that they can't lose, and that we'll notice to change if my cell number ever changes. They each now have new collars (reused old collar hardware, used new webbing that didn't smell). Each collar is color-coded either pink, green, or blue. Each has the dog's name and the phone number embroidered directly onto it. I took some iron-on vinyl and affixed that to strips of cotton in a color befitting each dog. I embroidered the piece then affixed it to the webbing and crafted the collar in a one-size format that would fit properly for each.
Now, if the dogs get out, then they'll have my cell number with them no matter where they go! Faster response time!
As for the "Children" part of the posting... I've been busily dealing with medical issues for one child, and mentally preparing myself to watch another compete in track and field in a few days. Watching one of my kids compete in something I never could have dreamed of for myself back in the day gives me the chills and reminds me how awesome it is. I'll post track results, provided I can and don't forget. I'll also post when some of the medical issues have been resolved for the other. Oh crap....there's also another birthday to work into all of this. Off I go again!
Anyway, Sunday, the dogs got out. Not just one of them. ALL THREE OF THEM! The mischievous one decided to finish punching a hole in the already weak boards on the fence. We didn't see him. We don't have to. We didn't have escapes until we got him. There. It WAS him!
Well, the boys (the mischievous one is a black lab, the other is a Siberian husky) made it about 4 miles street distance away before anyone got them stopped. We found on our journeys to find the girl (hang on, almost there), that all three stopped about one street over to sniff one neighbor's yard pretty thoroughly before the boys continued on their journey. A very nice gentleman saw them, recognized that they weren't the typical ones he sees in that area of the neighborhood and stopped them. He said that they were very happy to have had human attention and came right up to him. Yep, my babies have never NOT been friendly. Sometimes overly so, but they are definitely friendly. After playing phone tag for a little while (oops, forgot to update tags with current numbers), we got the message that the dogs not only were out, but two of them were safely being held for us to pick up.
That means there's one missing, right? Yep. With NO identification on her. She's never escaped past one neighbor over. She's part coon hound, part yellow lab. The hound in her wants to smell everything. ... EVERYTHING ....
After about an hour of frantic driving around the neighborhood, stopping neighbors to ask about her, and enlisting others to drive around to look for her...we got her back. Two very ingenious kids grabbed a leash when all three stopped near their friend's yard, and managed to catch Sally (aka Baby Girl, Sweet Miss). They were diligently walking her, hoping she'd lead them back to her house. They were only about 1/2 a mile away. Just took us an hour to find that out.
Now that they're all safe and home, I spent yesterday tending to making them identification that they can't lose, and that we'll notice to change if my cell number ever changes. They each now have new collars (reused old collar hardware, used new webbing that didn't smell). Each collar is color-coded either pink, green, or blue. Each has the dog's name and the phone number embroidered directly onto it. I took some iron-on vinyl and affixed that to strips of cotton in a color befitting each dog. I embroidered the piece then affixed it to the webbing and crafted the collar in a one-size format that would fit properly for each.
Now, if the dogs get out, then they'll have my cell number with them no matter where they go! Faster response time!
As for the "Children" part of the posting... I've been busily dealing with medical issues for one child, and mentally preparing myself to watch another compete in track and field in a few days. Watching one of my kids compete in something I never could have dreamed of for myself back in the day gives me the chills and reminds me how awesome it is. I'll post track results, provided I can and don't forget. I'll also post when some of the medical issues have been resolved for the other. Oh crap....there's also another birthday to work into all of this. Off I go again!
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