Saturday, August 28, 2010

UPDATE: More news about Karl

Quilting is still on hold, but...

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Karl will be leaving the hospital tomorrow for home!

After spending the better portion of the day sitting and moving around a bit, speaking to Grandma - and then Brian - on the phone, he dropped off to sleep faster than a stone down a well. Besides all of that, it was good to see him eat, and excellent to see the pain abate, and hopefully now he will sleep for as much of the night as the medical staff will allow - without interruption.

So, good night for the time being, I will let you know the details tomorrow...when I am not too tired to type. Thanks, again, for all of the prayers and good thoughts. <3

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Totally unprepared for not working again

It's been two weeks since the film wrapped, and I was mentally not ready for being inactive again. I truly thought the responses I received (to all of the email I sent out) meant I would have another gig to go to before too long, but time is passing much too quickly, and it looks as though the projects coming up in late August are now crewed up. Or, they have another week of rushing to do before I am out of contention for any of those, too. So what does that mean for September?

Quilting?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I have seen very few new productions posting for September, in fact, so I will hope for a little time sitting at the grandmother's (as I am right now) to make a little necessary money, and hopefully sell a quilt or two to people who "ooo" and "awww." This, of course, means I will have to get busy and finish the process on a couple. I have three completed tops (two with backs) that need stretching and basting. I already have one other top sandwiched and ready for the quilting process (in truth, I have used it for at least the last two years as my blanket when company comes over and I sleep on the sofa). Guess I should get moving, eh?

And still, in the back of my head, I have huge hopes (and intentions) of finishing a quilt for each of the boys before Christmas! [foot stomping, hypertensive affirmation] That's right, I mean it! I really do.

Although, the last couple of weeks have found me more focused on finishing the kitchen floor and getting the space ready for installation of the stove I purchased five years ago, which has been living in the garage (long story - read the other blog) all of this time. The resulting chaos in the rest of the house is driving me nuts!

Once I had the mental steam built up and had given myself over to the grueling work and all it entailed, I was going to get it done and out of the way in a hurry, but then life intervened and even the floor finishing has been (tragically) on hold for more than ten days now. All my good intentions, all of my promises to myself are now down the tubes. Worthless. What's left?

Quilting! Quilting is left.

I reasoned that once I felt the relief of having the kitchen done, and my stove in place, and I part of my domain in order, I could absolutely allow myself the guilt-free mental space to jump back into lots of time cutting and sewing and quilting.

I've recently taken time to put many more squares together on Karl's quilt, finish the final fabric selection from the stash (to complete the white squares of the quilt top), filled in the 'holes' for the backing and binding, and I even brought a top with me to Gram's to stencil, in order to stretch it and begin quilting once I have time during the drying process of the floor finishing.

See! I really am trying to be smart about it all.

But when it comes right down to it, I really just want a job. I was not meant to sit and spin my wheels.