Sweetwater Label Crew - October

Sweetwater's October Label Crew project was super quick so I finally broke down and made something.  I liked it so much, I made a second one for Punk.  Mine will be going on  my office desk with candy to share.

I modified the bag just a wee bit.  I didn't like how the handles were put on originally; they were sewn on after the fact.  So I did them the way I know how.  Much better.  And I added a little top-stitching and a button.

I've been trying to fit some sewing in here and there.  It's slow going.  I've been working on my Santa Sack swap November gift.  If I had 2 solid hours to work on it, I would be done.  HOPEFULLY I will have that this coming weekend. 

Work has been going good.  Challenging at times and then a piece of cake at other times.  But I've been enjoying it.

Sorry for the short post but we're headed out the door for Amelia's play date.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Jen

Giveaway

Barb is celebrating hitting her 200 followers with a great giveaway.  Three chances to win!  Go on over and check it out!

Have a good one!
Jen

Surviving

It's been almost a full week since heading back to a full time job after 6 months and I've been a bit absent in blogland.  No sewing has happened here in a while.  I've been leaving my house at 7:15 am to get to work for 9:00 and not getting home until 7:00 pm.  Can you say loooooong day?! 

But the job... I like it!  Major adjustment to where I was to where I am now.  New processes and such but the people in my office are really nice and the team that I'm working closely with - Super!  We may be all spread out; most are on the west coast.  Only 2 of us are here on the east coast and she's in Long Island.  So I sit by my lonesome but I'm okay with it.  I spent my first couple of days just doing HR stuff and getting a feel for things.  I actually started doing actual work yesterday!  Super exciting!  Another nice thing was that my "at home" work schedule was approved so I only have to drive into the office on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Not bad, eh?

My husband has been great all week.  Pretty much holding down the fort with Amelia in the mornings.  I think the kinks are all ironed out and we'll get back to "normal" on Monday.

Since the west coasters are still asleep when I pop onto the computer, I took a quick ride to the store and bought myself a new walking foot.  FINALLY!  Mine has only been busted for 3 months!  I can now continue with my November Santa Swap item.  I got everything cut but I need a walking foot to put together.  Hmmmm, I wonder what it can be?!

That's all for now.  I'll talk to you all again soon!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Where does the time go?

It's been a while since I've posted and I didn't even realize it.  Things have been busy over here.  I've been working to get a bunch of things finished so that I'm not stressing, getting the laundry done that I like to ignore (sheets, towels).... there is a reason why I own 8 sets of sheets for my bed and have 30 towels and wash cloths!  LOL! 

Some good no GREAT news came my way a couple of weeks ago.  I'm super excited and super nervous at the same time.  I GOT A JOB!!!  WOOHOOOOO!!  As much as I was enjoying my time at home these last 6 months, money has been super tight.  So I start a new full-time job on Monday.  I need some good vibes my way on Monday, okay?

Onto some other things.  On Monday, my aunt and grandmother came over and we had a "Pierogi Making" lesson.  Only my aunt and grandmother know the recipe and process.  My cousin has no desire to learn how to make them so I stepped up.  4 hour lesson and I have 15 dozen pierogi in my freezer.  Homemade.  YUM YUM!!  Now, I would like to post the recipe and I can for the filling but for the dough?  I have no measurements.  It's all by look and feel and I had my grandmother coaching me all the way.  But at least I know what to look for.  Here are a couple of snapshots from my lesson.

Grandma hard at work, rolling and cutting dough rounds

My batch before getting boiled

13 dozen - cooling for the freezer

I finally finished Amelia's "Amelia" quilt top.  Finally.  Now I can get backing for it and get it quilted so that I can give it to her for Christmas.

One last thing.  Ellyn received her chickens so I can post them here.  She and I had a mini swap and I made her a little chicken family.

Cute chickens!

I've also sent out my Santa Sack Swap gifts for September and October yesterday.  Melissa - be on the lookout for the box! 

Amelia is going to be home from school soon and I have to get a light dinner ready for her so that she won't be starving at her Karate class. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

As promised!

Okay.  New card reader purchased and now I can show you what I have been up to.  Well, I can't show everything since some of it is a secret for my Santa Sack swap partner, Melissa.  :)

Ellyn and I did a mini swap and she included some Halloween charms with my swap items.  Instead of sticking them on a shelf for "someday", I whipped this table topper/runner up.  Super simple patchwork.  Nothing fancy but the top is done!  Now to get it quilted... that's another story!  I'll show you what I sent Ellyn as soon as she receives the package.

And this.  It's just a sneak peek but what I'm working on... it's coming out fabulous!  I love it and thankfully have enough fabric to make myself one too!  It's my December Santa Sack swap item.  I know.  Jumping ahead.  I have September and October done and they are ready to go into the mail.  November's gifts I'm still debating but December has been started.  Melissa, here's a sneak peek for ya!

And I need to share these.  Those of you "80s girls" will appreciate my handiwork.  Amelia's school had Crazy Hate/Crazy Hair Spirit day last Friday.  Since we don't own any crazy hats, we teased and sprayed 80s Old School style.  My hair prodigy.  I had big hair and I mean BIG HAIR back in the day.  Sigh.  I miss it sometimes.

LOL!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Insert pictures here

First off, I would like to thank everyone for their condolences.  Bloggy friends are super terrific!  Saturday was a really hard day to get through but it's done.  Dave is a peace and I think the family is as well.  The next several months are going to be hard with the holidays coming up but I know they know Dave is watching over them.

The service was beautiful and emotionally draining.  The picnic afterward to celebrate Dave's life was awesome.  I think at one point, there were close to 400 people there.  That night, we went to our neighbor's house for a bon-fire and fireworks.  A fitting tribute and send off to a great man.

Okay, before I start crying again, onto some sewy-ness.  As you can see from my post title, I have nothing to show you.  Not that I haven't been sewing, I HAVE.  It's just that my SD cord to get the pictures from my card to the computer has decided it doesn't like me anymore and doesn't want to work.  Soooo, I have to get to Walmart and get another one.  Tomorrow.

I hope you will be back tomorrow (or the next day) to check out what I've been up to.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Sadness

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not meant to be,
So he put his arms around you
and whispered "Come to Me".
With tearful eyes we watched you,
as we saw you pass away.
Although we loved you deeply,
we could not make you stay.
Your Golden Heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.
Copyright © 1997 Therese Williamson

A great man lost his battle with cancer yesterday afternoon and my heart is broken.  I sit here shedding tears as I type.  My neighbor introduced Chris and I 9 years ago.  Her father, Dave, worked on the same firehouse crew with Chris so I got to know him and the family very well.  Dave was a sweet and gentle man.  Would give you his shirt if you needed it.  He had a booming voice and his smile went from ear to ear.  Every time he saw me, he gave me a big "HI JEN!" with a hug and a kiss.  Asked about Amelia all the time.  He loved her as his own granddaughter.  He was not my family but I will miss him so much.

Forever Rest In Peace, Dave.  You will be missed more than you can ever imagine.

XOXO

Jen