New Quilting Idea

While I have other projects that need to be completed, I was reminded last night of a quilt website that I absolutely adore - Thimbleblosoms.com.

I've longed to do one of her quilts, but of course, don't have the money to spend on cute fabric for a quilt I really don't need. So here's the challenge, someone out there who has money but no time, peruses this fabulous woman's website, chooses a quilt (I have to okay, because let's face it, my skills have limits at this point in my quilting "career"), and commissions me to make it for him/her. I'm not looking to get paid, just reimbursed for the material.

Any takers?

Random Picture of Sara Stars

Do you know me? Even remotely? If you do, you will not be surprised that I have star snowflakes to help decorate for the Christmas season. If you look even closer you will notice that on the left side of the picture I cut out even more stars to attach to my shelf that also sports a star. Catching on? I'm wondering if there is a world record for how many stars decorate one house.

I Hate UPS

Did you get that? I HATE UPS. Twice in one year, which is really a lot when you consider how many packages I don't get, have they thwarted my shipping needs because of their really DUMB shipping policy. The first time they wouldn't change the address of my package, despite it accidentally being an old address, until it had been rejected by the person currently living there. It is, what they term, a failed delivery attempt. The second time, they wouldn't change the method of receipt until, again, after a failed delivery attempt. The package is in State College, a full three days before schedule delivery, and I need it by a specific time on Monday, but I can't opt to go and pick it up. Nope, it has to have a failed delivery attempt first. So aggravating, made even more so by the awful "customer service" people who don't help, they can only calmly but firmly restate and then restate some more of their policies. No there's no one else I can talk to, and no the shipper of the package can't change it either. That is their policy and that is their policy.

I tried writing a strongly worded 500-character email, but the response was simply to restate their policy. Yeah, I know the policy. So I am left with all of this pent-up anger and impotent rage. I feel like the evil villain, Goob, in "Meet the Robinsons," standing outside Robinson Industries with a roll of toilet paper and a carton of eggs yelling "Robinson, you stink!"

So of course, I turn to the one public medium I do have, my blog to help me vent my raging frustration. Not that UPS will ever check, nor will they ever change their stupid policy, but at least I feel better having gotten it all out.

And yes, I wrote an entire blog just so I could get in the "Meet the Robinsons" reference. Still love me?

Thanksgiving For Two

I grew up in a large family. And while we never grew up or really even knew our extended family, it didn't stop us from having a lot of people over to help celebrate Thanksgiving. We were the family that took in the strays from church and my dad's Marine squadron. Anyone who didn't have anywhere else to go came to our house. And they always left with a pie. My mother cooked for days, making 20-30 pies so everyone got one and us kids still had enough to eat for breakfast for the next week. That to me is the true Thanksgiving tradition - having pie for breakfast the morning after.

This year, Matt and I decided to stay in town. We figured, surely someone will invite us over for Thanksgiving. We've always had the offer before, despite always having other plans, why should State College be any exception? But with Thanksgiving eking closer and no one coming forward, I finally faced reality. It was just going to be the two of us. So Matthew and I looked at our options. Matthew didn't care. As far as he was concerned we could start a new tradition and make Indian curry for our Thanksgiving feast. As tempting as that sounded, I thought to myself, "Self, you are a full-fledged 31 year-old. You are quite old enough and competent enough to woman-up and make a Thanksgiving dinner all by your onesies."

So I bought a Turkey breast, because do two people really need a full Turkey, stuffing, the Booren's Green Jello fixings, as well as other Thanksgiving grocery needs. And when the day came, we had a successful little Thanksgiving for two, complete with pie for breakfast.

OPP - Other People's Projects

So remember how I wrote a post about needing projects to do? Well I am happy to report that several people have taken me up on my offer. Two women from church have asked me to finish their quilts and an old co-worker, quite possibly my most faithful follower, sent me a quilt of his to redo. I opted to start with the blanket above. I tied it and bound it. Not remotely difficult, and not remotely professionally done but I thought it turned out quite cute indeed. Hopefully the recipient likes it as well. She hasn't seen it yet.

I have to say, it's been kind of fun working on someelse's projects. And it is keeping me out of trouble, which we all know is best for humankind at large.

This is what a 31 year-old looks like

Just in case you were wondering.
Side note - as I look back at other pictures of me, I realize I wear this blue sweater a lot.

Second side note - I took this picture on 11/28, but figured I should post it remotely closer to my birthday. It's still early for Christmas decos but not nearly as early as if I had actually taken this picture on my birthday.

Latest Creation

I was telling someone the other day that I love to sew (not clothes mind you - don't ask). I am also independent enough to want to make my own designs, but not quite creative or experienced enough to do anything super fancy. And since, I was limited to the material I already own, voila, you get the following quilt. I was pretty pleased with how well my points turned out.

Need Work, Will Travel

The last several weeks have been abysmal as far as the hours I've gotten from my current position. Today, I was told that this will pretty much be the status quo for the next two months until busy season starts again.

So here's my dilemma:

• I need something to occupy my time for the next two months;
• I like not working nights and weekends;
• I can't go and buy supplies to do a project here at home (because no work, means little money);
• My search on Craig's list netted some accounts payable/admin job for which I applied but don't really expect to receive an answer on
• My search on Monster netted a UPS driver's helper job,which sounded like a big adventure, and would be otherwise perfect, but the words must be able to lift 70 lb packages and work in cold climates was just too intimidating for my small frame.

So while I am keeping my eyes and ears open for gainful employment I am in search for other opportunities. I should find someplace to volunteer, and maybe I will, but the other option my sister and I thought of was to someone else's projects. So, if you have all sorts of material, and no time to sew, send it along, I'll do it. Really any project that is outsourceable, and mailable - send it along - I'm game, at least for the next two months.

Any takers? I'm actually really curious to see if anyone is serious enough and trusting enough to send me anything. The game is officially on.