Classes and office move

Wosers, I truly enjoy learning new programming languages. But this Java class has truly not been a whole lot of fun. It might be better if what we were to do with our assignments were actually discussed in a book, or maybe a lecture. I spent hours trying to find a code to pause a scrolling output. It reminds me of learning to quilt but at that time it was not as popular and your local stores did not have a clue how to do such a strange hobby. That too was a lot of trial and error. I understand my program extremley will after the hours of working on it.

Which means no sewing for me. I had promised myself that every day I would find something to sew on, whether it was a big project or something small. But that promise was sidelined.

Oh yep the office has been moved 5 blocks down from where my boss/mom originally opened her business. I spent yesterday getting her computers up and functional, I managed to even get the server, DSL and computers all to work together again without to main hitches in the process.

I am hopeful that today I can spend sometime sewing as a small reward for reading the next chapter for my wonderful Java class.

Had to play along

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 30. What is your score? Get it here.

My score may not be a high as Susan’s but it came really close.

Yesterday I made the silliest thing an plastic canvas an Orange magnet. Sam just was having so much fun learning this new needle work I just could not resist playing along. She had to have a handle on her sign; already changing patterns.

Tonight Sam has her very first gymnastics class, her nerves are going already. I know that it will be fine she makes friends easily and has done well the last two years in dance class. I just know this will be another place for her to blossom and make her dancing stronger for it.

T-shirt day

Yesterday was T-shirt workshop day for the Sloanies. I started working on mine yesterday, did not get very far on it. But did continue to work on it today and did get it finished.

Spent the first part of my day writing a program, then posted it to my class teammates for quality control review. Later I checked in an someone took my program and made it theirs. Then today another classmate took my program and did the same thing. I hope the teacher docks their grades for plagarism. It is frustrating to know that others cannot do their own homework and have to basically steal others hard work. Ok enough venting.

Today I taught Samantha my 8 year old how to plastic canvas. She made the most darling little stop sign with handle.

Finished block

It's taking me awhile to get this block done. I've basically spent the last week finishing my C programming class. Now I'm trying to figure out Java. Sometimes it would be nicer if we could have more than 5 weeks to a class; that way we did not have to cram so hard to understand something that seems so Greek.



Anyway the block I got done is from the Farmer's Market series by Pat Sloan. I ran out of the thread while stitching around the letter's and of course did not manage to get the same color. But I do not think it's noticeable.

Izzy's Garden

I finished Izzy not to long ago. So I decided to take her to our local county fair. She got 1st place I was kind fo shocked. The comments were all positive from the judge. So maybe next year I will enter some more of my work. The other two quilts only got 2nds. The biggest comment was to roll the quilts instead of folding them. I only took a picture of the first place quilt with the ribbon in place.

Apron Day

Today on Pat Sloan yahoo group we had Apron making day. Well I got my apron done. It turned out really good. I used Rick Rack on the pockets and binding on the round bottom. I picked the pattern because it seemed easy. It wasn't too bad, did have to stitch the waist down by hand. But this waist piece covers the gathers and tie ends nicely, so the hand work was worth it. Now my daughter wants her own apron just like mommy. I actually had seen a mother/daughter pattern when I picked up the one for todays event. I'll keep her request in mind, maybe as a christmas present.

It was nice to sew something useful especially after spending hours proofreading and rewritten parts of a team paper, then having to get my presentation put together off of the paper. The Apron was the perfect getaway from school work. Thanks Pat for the project for today.

I Scream, U Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

Amy M. posted a picture of her Ice cream sundae Pincushion that was so cool. So I just had to get the directions. Ok, I sent husband to look for a plastic sundae dish at Wal-mart, all he could find was a glass dish. It turned out really cute. I plan on making one for a christmas gift for my step-mom. And then a couple more for some quilter friends. But I better find plastic dishes, because glass does not work well in a sewing room if broken. This was a very cute idea and lots of fun to make.

Aprons

I received this in my email today and thought it was perfect. Especially seeing as on Saturday Pat Sloan yahoo group is having Apron day.

I Don't think our kids know what an Apron is.The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.It was wonderful for drying children's tears and, on occasion, was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.Send this to those who would know, and love, the story about Grandma's aprons.REMEMBER.........Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.Her granddaughters set theirs on the kitchen counter to thaw.

What a crazy week

I have been working really hard trying to write a computer program. Which has taken longer than anticipated. The last week of classes are always push, push and push some more. There's always a team project and then a individual project due as well. It's amazing how a person can get so much accomplished let alone have time for work, family, and sewing (oh don't forget the sleep).

I did manage to get the binding stitched down on the October block I posted a while back.

Tomorrow I hope to post a picture of my quilt with it's ribbon from the fair. Two did not do so well, that is fine I only truly wanted to show that there was more than traditional quilts that can be made. I am a little afraid to read the comments on the back of my entry cards though. The lady who judges our fair can be extremely harsh, especially if it is not a full size quilt.

So tomorrow I'll know her thoughts and get them back home were I appreciate them and my family knows the story behind why they were made.