A New Hobby(?)

So last year I kept toying with the idea of learning to quilt. Why, you may ask, when I have a closet full of scrapbook supplies that are not getting used, another closet full of yarn and knitting needles, and a basement full of various unfinished Relief Society projects? The answer to that question is: I'm looking for that perfect hobby ... or I just like to buy supplies (I haven't decided which is the correct answer, although I'm leaning heavily to the supplies side). Anyway, follow me, if you will, on my journey to quilting nirvana.

I mentioned multiple times throughout the year to MOMD that I'd like to learn to quilt. He bought me a gift certificate to a quilt store for Christmas (pretty thoughtful, huh?). Anyway, I went to the quilting store a few weeks ago. I told them my situation - I don't know how to quilt, I don't know how to sew, where do I start? The sweet little angel clerks told me I'd come to the right place. I needed to start with "Beginning Rotary Cutting". I'm off and running! (I Am Woman - Hear Me Roar!) I sign up for the $15 class with high hopes and visions of quilt wall hangings, quilts to pass on for generations, and somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking of becoming Amish.

I took my supply list and left those angel quilters. As I am leaving the store I glanced at my list. Of course I need a rotary cutter. I can handle that. A mat to cut on and a special ruler - no problem. Four different types of material (one light, one dark, one medium, and one to just practice cutting on) - I'm on board. One sewing machine ... RRRRKKK! (That's the sound of brakes slamming.) What the ...? I DON'T have a sewing machine! I don't sew! (Don't even ask me what I was thinking.)

I was actually thinking about buying a sewing machine for this stupid $15 class. I called the quilt store and said, "I need to buy a machine for this (stupid) class but I don't want to spend very much money because I DON'T SEW and WHAT IF I HATE IT? Suddenly (before my very ears) the angel clerk turned into some cackling witch. She told me that I would not be able to LEARN to quilt on a machine that was less than amazing and she began to rattle off all the features I would need on that wonder machine. Then she told me not to buy any fabrics at the area stores, but only to buy fabrics at the quilting store because of the quality. Yikes, I think I'm in over my head.

The next day I was off work so decided to go machine shopping/looking. I left my list at work of all the absolutely necessary features I needed on my new miracle machine (it was supposed to change my life) so I meekly called the quilting store again and asked the same questions as the day before. This time I got one of the angel clerks again who told me NONE of those "necessary" features were needed on the sewing machine (in fact, she didn't have some of them on her machine at home), she told me to get the cheapest material I could find to bring to class (since I was just learning) and pretty much told me exactly the opposite of what the cackling witch had said. I was so relieved ... not because I could buy a cheaper machine or cheap material, but because this angel clerk may possibly be my instructor at my $15 class (she wasn't).

I went to the store, plopped down my cash, and bought everything on the supply list. My $15 class has now cost over $400. I'm a little sick.

On the night of my class, I was so nervous that I got there 45 minutes early. (I won't even mention that the class started 20 minutes late because we were "waiting a few minutes for the stragglers"). I really enjoyed the class (after we got started) but I could have borrowed Wilma Flintstone's sewing machine for the class. We sewed two seams (we were supposed to sew three, but I didn't have time). The sisters sitting next me me brought this old black Singer sewing machine and said everyone always wanted to buy it because it was an antique. They shared the machine. Couldn't I have shared? Oh no, I bought my OWN machine.

After the class (which I think I enjoyed), I still didn't know how to quilt. I knew how to cut (which is hugely important) but I didn't know how to quilt. I wasn't sure of the next step and I was afraid to ask the angel clerks/cackling witches what to do next. I talk to MOMD and he had the solution! Every Wednesday MOMD goes to a guy's house to carve (or to play with his wood ... however you want to look at it). Anyway, the guy's wife is a quilter extraordinaire! MOMD set up a visit (without consulting me first). Oh crap! Why did I say anything - I don't do visits!

We went to this extremely talented couple's home and MOMD did not stay by my side, (where I wanted him) but instead went to talk with his whittling buddy. I'm alone with a stranger. (STRANGER DANGER!!!) She was extremely helpful and encouraging and told me it doesn't matter what the rules say, it matters what you like. What a relief! I don't even know what the rules are, let alone know how to follow them. She pumped me up and told me that she would be willing to help anytime (yeah, like that's going to happen ... remember the stranger danger?). She told me some other quilting stores to check out.

Have you ever been in a quilting store? It makes you smile when you walk in the door because everything is so cute, fun, matching, etc. I think I may buy a small project and give it a whirl.

Now to recap ... I really wanted a new hobby that I could pick up at a moment's notice instead of pulling out box after box of supplies. I really wanted something that would help me de-stress. I really wanted a hobby I could take when MOMD goes on his woodcarving class trips instead of my huge assortment of scrapbook supplies. Instead I got:

A sewing machine
Rulers and mats that are 36" long and need to be stored flat
Stress from taking a class (independence is not my strong point)
Stress from talking to the cackling witch woman
Stress from meeting the quilting wife
Stress from wondering where in the heck I'm going to put all this stuff ...
Stress from wondering if a sewing machine can be counted as a "carry-on" on a plane ...

Oh yeah, this quilting stuff is going to work out just dandy!

Goodbye Old Friend ...

Don't you just hate giving up on something, especially when it still works? Here's my original mixer given to MOMD and I on our wedding day (February 24, 1978). (Please note some dried on food that is also 30 years old.) Although it's not used often (maybe that's why it lasted 30 years), it smokes every time I use it. Today was the perfect day for cookie making and I didn't feel like I could stand the smoke and burnt motor smell. I decided to lay my beloved mixer to rest. Goodbye faithful mixer ... I went down to Wal-Mart and bought a spanking new mixer for $16.00. Do you think it will last 30 years?

A Beautiful Day

Don't some days just make you smile? Today was one of them ... the blue sky, the sparkly snow, and sun!

Goodbye 2008!

At the risk of sounding sappy let me just say ... I am so blessed! My life, marriage, and kids aren't perfect but I am extremely happy. I am enjoying the best stage of my life. I feel like it's a blessing to even recognize that I feel this way! A few things I have to be grateful for:

Family - Of course those boneheads top my list ... what would I do without their humor, their sarcasm, their support and love, and the way they knock me off my soap box when I get carried away?

Friends - You girls know who you are - my life has been changed forever because of you (I'm not kidding). If we hadn't gone away for that first scrapping trip all those years ago, I'd be an inmate at a jail or loony bin by now. (I know that last statement isn't politically correct, but I'm just keepin' it real here.)

My Testimony - I love that it's grown this past year and I love that I recognize how much I value it.

Quiet Music - Love that soft music ... it soothes my soul.

Books - Books are my retreat, my way to ground and calm myself. I'd die without books. I pray I never go blind! (I'm serious.)

Snacks - I love snacks! When I say I'd die without snacks, I'm not talking starvation - I love treats!

Humor/Laughter - What would I do without great big loud explosive belly laughs? My family and friends seem to keep me supplied with reasons to laugh.

The Internet - I love that I can keep "in touch" with my friends without ever talking to them or actually writing them a letter. I know that sounds extremely lazy, but I'm being honest here. I also love that I can look up pretty much anything and find out about it on the Internet. Most of you probably don't remember going to the library, finding the encyclopedia, and looking up your subject. You were out of luck if someone was already looking at the volume of encyclopedia you needed. The Internet is amazing. And don't even get me started on Internet shopping ...

As 2008 ends and 2009 begins I am grateful for the little cocoon of peace, stability, and love that my family and I share. I hope (and pray) that we can sustain that cocoon for another year and that at the end of 2009 I will be able to say again that I have been blessed.

The Whirlwind of December

It's been such a long while since I posted ... here's December in a nutshell: went to work, made Christmas gifts for Relief Society ladies, Relief Society Christmas party, dinner with friends, Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert (you know how I love the Choir), mad dash to finish Christmas cards (same story, different year), realization that just because you have THOUGHT of what to give someone doesn't mean you have actually bought and wrapped it (seriously), cooked for MOMD and his work party, family parties, shoveled snow, mailed missionary packages, shed many tears for a dear friend who just received a horrible diagnosis, finally took around my neighbor gifts, shopped and wrapped for Sub for Santa (no wrapped presents yet under MY tree, but Sub for Santa family is taken care of), went to the high school concert to see my cute nephew play the drums, enjoyed the annual viewing of White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, started making presents for RS ladies in the ward to give them on their birthday (for those born in January), read a darling book I recommend to everyone for next Christmas called "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" (it makes perfect sense and since Santa wrote it, I know it's true!), ate more than my share, and am constantly amazed at how much people love each other and show it at this time of year. And it's only December 23rd! Merry Christmas everybody!