Number 16

Something that could probably have made the the 15 Interesting Things list is that I love to read.  I am an escapists and it works well to take me away while keeping me pleasantly entertained.

I am currently just finishing up Time Weaver by Shana Abe that has been an entertained easy read.  Not usually into romance, I was drawn to the science fiction/fantasy aspects of the book.  I would recommend it - it would be a really great book for a day at the beach.

15 Interesting Things About Me

Wow. 15 things seems like a lot. Maybe they will just be facts and not so much interesting... here goes.

#1. I have an incredible long term memory. I mean truly remarkable. I remember details about everyone I have ever met and can tell you details from birthday parties I attended in elementary school. Until like last year I thought this was normal. My short term memory, however, not so good.

#2. I do not like to be told what to do. You can guide me into doing what you want me to do but if you tell me, I am NOT going to like it and most likely not going to do it.


#3. My family is everything to me. My husband, my kids, my parents, my brother, my in-laws, my nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. I have been down more than one bumpy road only to discover that they have stood by me when others have not.

#4. I am crazy about my husband and truly believe him to be the nicest person I have ever known.

#5. I have an unusually high white blood cell count and rarely get sick - although at the moment I have had a nasty cold for almost a week!

#6. I think I am very funny and sometimes make myself laugh until I cry and need to be reminded to breath.

#7. I am a lover not a fighter and hate confrontation. Not to say that I am wimpy, I just hate to have anyone mad at me. My Mum seems to think I am the fighter of the family - she says I am a shark - but I think that is only with her and my brother and maybe sometimes my husband because I know they will let me get away with it and still love me.

#8. I believe in ghosts. There is no doubt in my mind that they exist. I have had some experiences that cannot really be explained any other way.

#9. It is hard for me to call someone a friend and when I do they had better not let me down. I feel very deeply and do not get over being hurt easily. Maybe that should be another point about me. I could write a whole post about it.

#10. I have been married twice. The second time has been so much easier and more about the important stuff in life - family, love, respect. The first time was more about how things looked to others and being young and taking what seemed like the next logical step.

#11. I am very uncoordinated until I have a couple of drinks and relax. And then look out dance floor! I come from a family of dancers. We all love to do it but only a couple of us is any good at it.

#12. My Mum is one of six girls. Those six girls are the most remarkable (some of them are even Googleable) women I know and I adore them all. Between them they produced 17 equally amazing children and there are only 4 boys!

#13. I blow my nose 90 times a day. I am hardly even exaggerating.

#14. I get super freak nervous when I am going somewhere I have never been before.

#15. I find it next to impossible to see the glass as half empty. I recently read a quote "If plan A does not work, don't worry about it there are still 25 more letters in the alphabet.". That totally works for me. I can always see a bright side and mange to find something good even in the worst situation.

So, like I said, I am not sure if those are interesting things about me or if they are just things. It was an easier list to come up with than I thought it would be so maybe I will do it again sometime.

My Dear Friend Krista

I friend of mine - someone I have know since forever but I don't remember why or how - has a blossoming blog called Twirl.  I covet it and her amazing creative energy.  She is so interesting in all the areas I need to work on.  Visit her blog and you will see! Her vision is great - her photos have a professional quality to them.  I covet that as well.

I am going to try to do a collage of photos of the shop this week, she suggested the subject matter and so I am hoping it will be fabulous.  Should I use the standard camera or the Hipsamatic??? I suppose I can try both.  Stay tuned...

The Long Journey...

On Thursday the DH and I road tripped to Vancouver for a last minute doctor's appointment. We rented a car and got two! The first one ended up, well... check it out for yourself!








So, we took out a runaway lane sign. No good, but not that bad either. We are alive and totally uninjured. Our own car is fine. Countless kind people stopped to see of we were okay and some nice guys from Fruitvale pulled us out!

The second car was much nicer! and after we unthawed from our four hour wait in the mountains in -15, it was very comfortable. The rest of the drive was uneventful - thank goodness - and the next day we woke up to a beautiful blue sky day.

I took a million pictures in hope to get some really goods ones from the moment I walked out the door in Trail and all around downtown Vancouver. These are the ones I really liked.

This is a barn near Midway and Rock Creek - my iPhone takes really god moving pictures!

The tunnel going onto the Second Narrows at about 11:00 pm - finally almost there!

One of downtown Vancouver's gorgeous old buildings, somewhere near Georgia and Broughton.

This is the old part of St. Paul's Hospital.

The historic First Baptist Church on Burrard Street was built in 1911.  It is one of many cathedrals in downtown Vancouver - all of which are very beautiful.

Doily art in the hallway at St. Paul's Hospital.

(This one is for you Jack!)

This is a new building but the stone color makes it look old in this picture.  I did not take this for any reason, I was just snapping away and I thought this turned out really well.

I hope you enjoyed my photos - I enjoyed taking them - and the trip.  Eventful AND I got to see some people I really really love and I was home before I had a chance to miss my kids!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Whatever

I have had a lot on my mind lately.  I have become very reflective and was just thinking that I am pretty sure no one ever reads this blog so I am going to use it to vent and to talk about what I am doing or whatever is on my busy mind and not worry about how every little word or image comes across. I am might jibber jabber on but as I am the only reader WHO CARES!

I have always been a firm believer in the whole "everything happens for a reason" theory and that people come into your life for a "reason or a season". But what happens when you wish that you could roll the clock back - not all the way - just to the point where you made the decision to go or to stay or to enter into the relationship or whatever.  Knowing what you know - would you make the same choice again???

For those of you who know me, you must know that I am very loyal and that I will do whatever it takes when you need me too.  That has not always been the case.  I have not always been this strong (self taught!), nor this dependable.  I feel that is a quality that I can thank my first husband for (eeck!  yes I have had two. I am still working on the second one.  If you know me you also knew that.)  I also came away from the relationship with a vague business sense and an amazing son.  So those would be the reasons for that debacle.

The things is, I don't believe in divorce.  Don't think I don't know how ridiculous that sounds - I am divorced - but it was not my plan.  I did not (I don't think) do it out of selfishness or impulse.  I did it out of desperation.  Even now, happily married with another child and a very wonderful life I question the decision.  My husband, Steve is a wonderful wonderful person and I love him more than I can even begin to put into words - it is not that, at all.  In fact, I am not sure what it is.  My sense of failure?  I am not someone who gives up - ever - and I guess I feel like I did... it was just enough already.

Anyway, I have been really internal the last couple of weeks and I wish I could shake it.  Good thing is though, that it has been keeping my mind off of the other junk that turns my hair grey.

More new stuff has arrived!

I love getting new stuff in the shop - books, patterns, fabric, kits, thread - whatever it all inspires me!

We will be getting one of these little jems each month - but started off with three this month. They come with everything you need to get the project done except for the batting and the thread - all for a great low price!

Fall/Winter 2010 Quilting Arts STITCH Magazine Just Arrived

The theme for Stitch Fall/Winter 2010 is THE FABRIC ISSUE, exploring sewing projects and techniques featuring a wide variety of exciting fabrics. This is your chance to pull out that specialty fabric you have been saving for just the right project! Features 40 projects for the fall season!

Issue Highlights:

Sewing Room - Cool sewing products, tools, notions, patterns, and books.

Sew Boutique – From inspiring people to hot trends , check out the news from around the sewing world including indie pattern lines, limited run fabric, unique sewing companies/stores, sewing for a cause, and more!. Featured: launch of new Oliver + S fabric line; The Sewing Machine Project that provides sewing machines to people in need around the world; and Sewing Yoga to help you relax after hours at the sewing machine.

Technique Spotlight - Sewing with Silk -Splurge on a luxury silk fabric but afraid you’ll ruin it when you sew? Here are the tips and tricks you need to gain silk sewing confidence

Sew Connected – Get connected with online sewing resources from blogs to websites

Material World – fabric reviews, profiles of fabric designers, trends in colors, fabrics, fashion, home décor, fiber art. Featured: Galbraith + Paul husband and wife fabric design team; and fabric storage tips and tricks Sew Inspired - Essays from a variety of popular sewing bloggers and designers on how to be more creative with your sewing. Featured, Kathleen Frances of the popular Grosgrain blog (grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com)

Feature Article - Quilting the Modern Way – Learn how contemporary designers are reinterpreting the classic quilt in contemporary ways.

Project Themes:

DESIGNING DENIM – Not just for jeans anymore, denim can be used for a wide variety of clothing, accessories, and home décor projects. These projects explore the creative possibilities denim offers in a variety of colors and fabric weights from heavyweight denim to lightweight chambray. Designers show off their embellishment skills by adding topstitching, embroidery, and trims, mixing it with other fabrics and prints, and getting artistic with bleaching effects.

GETTING FANCY – Everyone loves a little sparkle around the holidays and special occasion fabrics can add a touch of bling, shine, and luxury to even the smallest sewing projects. Special occasion fabrics include embellished fabrics (beaded, sequined, embroidered, etc.) and fancy fabrics such as taffeta, velvet, satin, lace, brocades, organza, metallics, and silks. Featured projects include clothing, accessories, and home décor MODERN PLAID – From Burberry to punk, plaid can be traditional or edgy, and everything in between. Projects show how you can reinterpret this classic fabric print in fresh ways by playing with color, graphically mixing fabrics, textures, and prints, and using it in unexpected projects.

ONE YARD GIFTS – Take only one yard of fabric and mix it with a whole lot of creativity and you have a fabulous gift for a friend or family member that you can whip up in no time. Perfect for stashbusting or just the excuse you need to buy a luxury fabric (you only need one yard!), these small but innovative projects will please everyone on your gift list.

OFF THE COUCH – Decorator upholstery and drapery fabrics can offer an exciting array of prints and textures from traditional and retro to modern and graphic. And who says they have to be used for sofas and drapes! Designers take advantage of these beautiful medium to heavy weight textiles to create a wide variety of home décor accessories, wearables, and gift projects.

To get your copy of this magazine please email us at sales@sugarshackquilting.ca