Shout Outs

We got Josh's grandparents a little computer for Christmas so we could Skype with them since they're in Tulsa.  While Skyping last week, Josh showed them how to get to my blog, so I want to say:

Welcome Mema and Pepa!

I also want to give a shout out to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, from whom I learned the art of the shout out, and who I may or may not listen to on Hulu during my work day.  If my coworkers hear me laughing out loud, now we all know the reason.

I told Mema I would post my most recent quilt blocks tonight, but I have two more that I want to get together so I can post two full rows.  I'm going to work on them right now and will get them up tomorrow, I promise!

Work, work, work

I've been working almost nonstop lately.  I get up and go to work, I come home and work long distance for the Tulsa office until I go to bed so I can get up and work some more.  I have really liked working from home for Tulsa.  I curl up in my parents' living room on their oversized chairs, pop in a movie, and enter donor data to my heart's content.  That's the way to make a living! 
They won't need me much longer though, and my job here will start to need me more.  Our department shrunk by a couple people, and I'll take over their duties and get a promotion of sorts.  I'm quite pleased about it, but enough about boring work things.  All of this busyness hasn't left much time for crafting, but I do have plans.

I got a couple books for Christmas that I'm excited to try things from.  First, a cheese making book.  It's fantastic, and I'm going to be a cheese making machine one day.  Second, I got Elizabeth Hartman's Practical Guide to Patchwork which has some absolutely wonderful patterns in it.  I chose an applique leafy pattern for my next quilt, and so far all I've had time to do is practice a little:

 And choose the fabrics for my leaves:

Once I've got a block put together, I'll post it.  Unless it's ugly.  And then I'll post about my new ideas.

Ending 2010

The last thing I did in 2010 was overheat my CJ.  It sounds unpleasant, but I ended up having a pretty good time - let me explain.

I was driving home from work on the 31st when the cab of the Jeep started to fill with steam.  I was just at the top of the hill coming out of Portland, so I pulled off at the next exit and into a parking lot.  I like to think of myself as a problem solver, so I thought I'd check out what was going on under the hood:

I'm no mechanic, but I was pretty sure those two loose ends ought to be connected.  With encouragement from a stranger we'll call Helpful McPasserby, I got up the nerve to cancel the tow I had called for and fix it myself.  Before digging in, I of course had to go into the coffee shop upon whose parking lot I was imposing so I could warm up.  The thoughtful baristas saw my plight and gave me a warm drink for free!

Thoroughly warmed in both body and spirit, I walked across the street to a convenience store for a screw driver and some coolant.  They had neither.  But the helpful attendant showed me that a dime will do the trick when you don't have a screw driver.  Wouldn't you know it, that was the only coin in my wallet!

Using my dime, I successfully unclamped, reattached, and reclamped the hose.  But I needed coolant.  Here I met my Waterloo.  I had to call my dad since Josh was at work and have him run some up to me.  While I was waiting, I had 3 or 4 strangers stop and make sure I was okay though.  All in all I lost a couple hours, but I ended 2010 feeling pretty good about my community.

Oops!

I wrapped and packed the placemats for Josh's mom without taking a picture of them - oops!  I guess you'll just have to believe me when I say they were works of art.  Collectively, they were the Mona Lisa of placemats.

However, I did take a picture of my workspace post-Christmas-projects:

I've become messy!  For Christmas, I want little elves to come tidy up and organize my fabric scraps.

Projects Galore

I've been working on Christmas gifts for people pretty non-stop these past couple weeks while Josh is on night float again.  I don't think any of the recipients know about the blog, so I'll put up some pictures!

First, I made Josh's grandma a purse like the one I carry from Elizabeth Hartman's Margaret Bag pattern:

Josh said, "It's so awesomely old lady!"

Second, Josh and I made a jewelry box for our older niece:

Josh did most of the work on this one.  I stained it, but he added all the fanciness.

Third, I'm making stuffed animals for our baby niece.  I've made a bird so far, and I sewed insulated batting into the inside so it crinkles when you squeeze it (babies dig crinkling, don't they?).  I'm also going to make her a fish with a rattle inside.

Lastly, I'm making placemats for Josh's mom.  Basically, I'm making 6 tiny quilts.  I've just got to bind them now and then I'll be done and I'll put up a picture!  The quilts for Josh's cousins have been bumped to birthday presents - one in January and one in March.  That will be much more doable!

Zoo Lights

Josh and I went to Zoo Lights with our residency bff, Denise, on Sunday.  The Oregon Zoo makes beautiful displays all over the grounds.  For instance, a safari scene complete with light-alligators opening their mouths and a light-bird swooping into a light-river to pick up a light-fish.  It is pretty spectacular.  I mention this experience for two reasons:

1. Among all the animals made of lights that you would expect to find at the zoo, there was a light-triceratops and also a light-stegosaurus being attacked by light-raptors.  What?  And a light-unicorn, with a beard.  Whaaaat?

2.  We rode the steam engine.  Not the new-fangled zoo train, but the old steam engine that they only bring out for special occasions.  Why is this so exciting to me (aside from the fact that steam engines are cool)?  My grandpa helped build the Oregon Zoo Steam Engine back in the day.  I feel pretty important having that as a part of my family history.  My roots are deep in this city, and I like them here.

 

This is an old picture, we don't have any snow yet!

Cowboys and Indians

While in Tulsa last week, I met FIVE babies.  FIVE babies have been born in the five months since we've moved.  I was able to deliver quilts to two of those babies, the others having already received them, while we were there.  Josh's good friend from high school (and my friend too!) had twin boys 3 months ago, and we got to meet them.
About a month ago, I was looking through the fabric store (aka: my mom's extensive stash) and had a stroke of inspiration for these little boys!  Cowboys and Indians!  Twins don't want to be exactly alike, right?  But this way, they still go together.
Here are the finished products:

The first has cowboy boot and bandana fabric and the second is covered in little teepees.  I used the same wood print flannel backing for both of them:

I need to get started on two more quilts I want to send to Josh's cousins for Christmas.  They may end up being belated Christmas gifts, or maybe birthday presents, because Christmas is coming so fast!  I have lots of projects in mind for people, and I'll try to post them as I go along.  I hope I can get everything done!