Taking a turn at sewing

This Sunday I finally took time and made the cover to my bullet journal and here is the results

front

inside front

inside back

Of the 5 fat quarters I purchased, this only took 3 and Ive got quite a bit of left overs of the 3 I used that can be made into pockets or doo-dads on the front if I decide to make another.

I did use a piece of muslin, which I already had and I finally found ribbon I wanted to use for bookmarks. And I used the orange elastic to keep the book closed.

I mostly followed the directions found here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Sewing-composition-book-cover/ 

I have two pockets on the inside front.  My next one I will use a stiff interface so they are a bit stronger.  The pen holder is a bit too big for what I thought it would be.  It does have a bit of wonderunder in it cause I didnt want to mess with stitching and then turning it inside out.

I used wonderunder for the orange stripe on the front – again being lazy and wanted to get done with all the stitching.

I did do the 1/4-ish inch stitching along the whole edge when all was done.  It was just a bit too baggy and doing the edging removed the excess I didnt like

It was fun and in total took about 4 hrs from start (ironing the quarters) to final stitching.

Make Cover

At least one.

I have a bullet journal I use primarily for work.  Using a simple/basic composition book (quad) as I just cant bring myself to spend the cash for the expensive ones and I hate books.  I can bend the spine on the basic comp book back as many times as needed and can still write in the damn thing.

But it is b o r i n g as hell.

I cant find a cover that is within what I want to spend and a search on the web for DIY covers tossed me in to the deep pit.

Oh the possibilities! I had to create a new Pinterest board for all the ideas I was finding.  This didnt even cover what I found on YouTube.

And off to Joanns I went!

Here is what I picked up

5 fat quarters and elastic.  I could have got more but trying to keep it somewhat simple.

showing finds with my journal

Now to work out in my gray matter how I want this to work.  I would love to have the solid green as the outside but the black of the journal cover shows through.  I may add a muslin backing to the green just so I can use it.  The green pattern use for the pockets of the journal cover and the orange for an extra pocket for notes if needed on the inside, possible pocket on the front cover and to use for the pen/pencil holder on the side.  The elastic is to be sewn on to keep all of this closed.

My need for control means I need to chart everything out before bringing scissors anywhere close to fabric.  Hopefully it wont take weeks/months to get it all figured out.

Trying to Plan Ahead

So many things are happening at work that are making me rethink my job path and the S word is coming to the forefront of my brain more and more.

School!

To help market myself better, Im thinking of getting my MBA in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University

This would be another year - year and a half commitment and more $$ spent towards schooling (still paying off UofP).  Im giving myself until the end of July to think it over, then I will start the process rolling. 

One Big Quandary

What do you do when someone you dont know very well drops a load of TMI information in your lap and now knowing this you feel the need to do something for them?

I had a person do this to me today.  Ive never met him face to face, only through phone conversations for a project at work.  Today  he tells me his wife is going through a total hysterectomy and they found a good sized tumor.  Only warning she really had is not feeling good.

In 5 min, know more about his family than I do most of my co-workers or even personal friends and I just dont know what to do.  Or what I can do as its the whole work thing.  GAH!

*Sigh, on to other things

Food for thought

I made Loaded Potato crock pot soup tonight. 

ok, the fun really started last night with

(its bacon after being baked in the oven at 450 deg)

And then it went down hill (as if anything can be bad after bacon!).  While peeling potatoes I sliced a finger open, and part of the nail with it.  SO not fun!

Thankfully its doing better together.  I was happily surprised I was able to type as well as I did with a band-aid

Now on to dinner.  I liked it, D thought it was ok.  The boys, not so much.  Even with BACON!

Well, next time I will use russets and not red.  See if that will be better.

Love Quilts

Vonna reminded me of a very worthy cause, Love Quilts.  This organization is a cross stitch group that takes squares stitched with love and creates wonderful quilts for critically ill children or children with life long illnesses.

They have a few ways you can donate finished squares, sign up for a specific quilt or send in squares on specific themes that they can use on any quilt.

Well Im off to add x’s into something before going off to bed.

Another baby, another sampler

A friend of mine had another grandbaby.  Little Mackenzie Rose was born yesterday afternoon.  So I got busy today creating a sampler as a gift.

The font needs to be changed.  Its good for a place holder now.  I need to get off my butt and add more fonts to my program.

Part of me feels a tad bad as I didnt do anything for grandbaby #1, but I wasnt back into stitching as I am now.  I suppose I could to a late one just so everything is “fair”.  And I would get to great another chart :op

Other than creating this new chart, I didnt do much today except for search for blog post publishers outside of blogger.  Work has blocked me (bummer!) and there are computer-geeky things Ive been wanting to post to my geek blog.  I think Ive found it in Windows Live Writer.  Im able to easily add pics without having to program where they may be hosted (they arent) and labels pretty easily.  The real test comes tomorrow while I try and post my findings (SharePoint, InfoPath) to my geek blog.  Wish me luck in that Live Writer isnt blocked from posting to blogger.

Working long into the night

And nope its not stitchy work sad to say.

Ive been researching InfoPath and SharePoint issues (errors) trying to find answers that just arent out there.  

Why am I working late into the night you ask?  Well the wonders in the security department have taken it upon themselves to save us from the wilds of the World Wide Web in the name of "You're using all the bandwidth!"  Sad to hear from a technology company (yes, we sell software).  So to surf the web and look at the blogs that are now blocked at work, I have to work at home.  If anyone has any hints, tips & tricks or know how in InfoPath or SharePoint (2007) I would love to pick your brain.

I was able to take a break and work a bit on Dragon of Fire.  Promise to share photos soon.  He finally has somewhat of a head, much better than the lump of what before.

The Spring bunny cube was well received :o)  Pretty much a sure thing when its with bunnies.

Something quick

Just a quick note before I head out to toss DL on the bus and run to work.

I started work on Dragon Tulip and got a tad annoyed from the get go.  All these colors (62 at least) and a few are only used a smattering!  I may just have to do two of them to get my money's worth in time (lol).  I will post pictures of this gem this weekend.

And for some exciting news - I got a promotion at work!  The grins were stuck on my face most of yesterday afternoon and Im still giddy today.  Im officially a Sr. Systems Administrator - title and all.

Finally Wednesday

Whew!  Finally reached the end of the three day class.  My brain is packed with stuff I learned and what fun things it could be used for and starting to figure out how to move people to MY way of thinking but have them think it was theirs and the bestest thing in the whole wide world!  

Now for stitchy news

While I havent had the energy to do much I do have an update on Midnight Fright

On the mark

CLOSE-UP!

Now time for bed as I have a real day at work tomorrow :op

Classy Monday

Had a share point class today, for work as its (may be) a new app for me to admin.  I was a bit worried at first as I was the only one who was actually using share point, all the others were taking the class to see if the program would fit their needs.  And worried that I knew most of what they would be teaching - with my being nosy around the system we do have.  BUT no!  Im learning new fun (and difficult) things/areas to play around with!  Booya!  Now to try and use these in an actual work environment...  Most of the "tools" they have arent practical for a work environment and keep it user friendly, not having to keep multiple areas updated.  

Not much to report on the stitchy front.  Had a shocker this morning - forgot to arm the alarm this morning and Homer picked today to not bug us for food.  So I got shocked awake 20 min after P and I should have gotten up.  The adrenalin rush that causes is enough to burn through all the day's energy.  It was enough for me to make it through my class!

I did get one whole (smallish) pumpkin completed and 1/2 the outline on a large pumpkin - not enough to warrant a pic.

I think I have subconsciously started a rotation of sorts - by picking 1 project and stitching on it for a week.  Mine all Mine was week 1 (due to a frog - toad infestation), Sunshine House was week 2 (til I completed what I could) and so far this week has been Midnight Fright.  Not sure if I will change this or not - have quite a few WIPs that need to get worked on.  Would like to get some completed for birthday or Christmas (gasp!) presents this year :o).

Thx for visiting :o)

Sad news

They are tightening down the hatches at work - or at least what we are 'allowed' to look at on the web using their connection.

Yes it makes perfect sense but its still annoying as hell. Its one thing to block me from looking at my own blog (backend - making changes - accessing the dashboard) but at least make it consistent such as keeping the block on YouTube!

The axe came down right before lunch - I found out by some poor person wanting to know why Pandora (online radio) suddenly stopped working (like I would know). So on a whim, I tried other sites and yup - blocked. Even lolcats! Who would want to block those! A few weeks ago 538 and Intrade were blocked but Electoral-vote wasnt. I am waiting to find out when Fark will be toasted. Guess I should have picked the 3G iPhone instead of my tilt (easier to surf the web). Such as it is, my phone may be getting more of a workout during lunch while I check up on reader (not blocked - yet) and Fark.

I did test emailing posts via mms (text messaging via cell phone) and email (from computer and phone) and was successful on all attempts - which you may have seen earlier.

October day

Walked out this morning to the perfect definition of a fall morning. Crisp, slightly foggy and a bit green tinge to the sky. Combine that with the wonderful colors of falling leaves - beautiful.

Im still working on When Witches go Riding on Max. Easy to pull out the pattern, take a quick look at my next stitches and go to town (literally!) I spent part of this evening (ok, 5 min or so) pulling out branches from Midnight Fright so I can replace them with the darker thread. Not much energy for anything else. I do have a few ideas on what to try and finish for SILs Christmas present. Combine that with a lot of days off between now and Christmas and I should be able to pull everything off.

D has decided we are making goodies for presents this year. Cookies and fudge! (mmmm) I hope I can get in line for the needed taste testing that must happen when cooking mass amounts of goodies. Thankfully our kitchen is made for this (my perfect planing I must say) Just need to borrow mom's mixer, get a couple more cookie sheets and cooling racks (which could be borrowed as well Im sure), bring in the extra long folding table and BAM! Goodies production line!

P stayed home all day for the first time today. I was called quite a bit but more for "Hey mom, I got 3 poems done for class already" or the much anticipated "Mom, can I play video games?" Only once was I called to find out where I hide the band-aids. Apparently he was involved in a well needed trip and his desk rudely got in the way. I was told it was not anything he was planning on, it just happened. (and in my tone of voice - I had to laugh!)

DL's afternoon bus schedule finally changed. It was too perfect for me to stay the way it was so now someone needs to be home by 3:15 to walk him home. P is home by that time but not quite old enough to sit on his brother. (we are so waiting for that day!!!) So now we are working on changing schedules to work around this - change.

And to top off my week, work has decided to bring the IT depts where I work "in line" with Corp. Fancy way of saying we are laying people off to save $$. Majority were managers, one of which was mine. Us worker bees are expecting more to come, not necessarily in IT but in other areas. Upper management and HR are so cute in their surprise when they find out we know about these things. As far as my changes go, Ive worked with my new manager for a number of years already on projects so his style isnt new or outlandish, more understandable and realistic expectations. Will just have to see where November takes us... Im hoping my current schedule doesnt change too much.

Happy, busy Friday

I got a lot accomplished today. I did head into work for a few hours, leaving D & DL by themselves at home while P was at Billy's overnight. I was able to complete a nasty SQL report that was stretching my noob SQL brain to the limit, fix a couple of issues and talk to Dev about a new one. Waiting for me at work were 2 magazines, JCS Sept/Oct 2007 with Tanglewood and JCS 2208 Ornie preview issues! (insert girlish squeal here).


Then after I got home, made sure everyone was still in one piece (:D) I ran errands, which of course included a fly by of Acorns & Threads to order fabric and the thread pack for Tanglewood. While there I got another surprise...my order from M Designs was in! W00t!


Friday turned out to be a good stash day

I havent been too keen on doing any stitching since D's surgery, too tired to do much of anything. BUT I did get more of the house on Needleworker completed this evening. The framing of the windows and door is complete, just finishing up on the siding before the door and glass are added.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Quick update and a book finish

Not much stitching yesterday. Had to stay late at work for a higher up manager to grace us with his presence (meet and greet type of thing) and he NEVER SHOWED. Just rude if you ask me. The warm fuzzies just are not happening as this is the second time the parent office has done this. So my evening sort of went down hill from there as I got stuck in the usual rush hour traffic (which I usually miss) and just didnt feel like stitching last night.

I did finish reading Code Spell by Kelly McCullough. Its about the Greek Pantheon but the main players are computer geeks. As a techie, its very entertaining and I wish I could have my own webgoblin. Code Spell is the third in this series.

Work taking over

Seems the server room at work is demanding some well deserved attention. What does this mean for me? Longer working hours and less time stitching. Monday had us losing power sometime around 8pm, then again yesterday during working hours. Yesterday was slightly better than Monday because we didnt loose any data (sad to lose data cause then I cant find it!). Now tonight has most of us in command of servers staying up so power losses can be corrected. While I dont have direct command of servers, I do have a databases that need to be checked once the servers are up. SO its another late night. Maybe I can keep the eyes open to work on something.

Im trying to join up with the crew (sal) working on Happy Home Sampler. I thought I could swing by Rich's and find the magazine (and I did!) but when I got to work saw it was the wrong issue. Looked at the issue I got (supposed to be taken off shelf by 5/20, hmmm), stopped by on my way home (somehow found myself picking up June 2008 Cross Country Stitching...) and found July's ed. may be in tomorrow. SO I will be off (maybe during lunch) tomorrow to get my copy and hopefully get started. Im pretty sure I have the fabric and definitely the floss.

Flying

I get to travel to FL for work tomorrow. Trip will last from Sunday, leaving late morning and arriving back home very early Sat morning. Makes for a very long week. I have my cross-stitch projects ready to go, the larger projects will be packed in the baggage with small projects ready for me to work on. I’m also getting other entertainment items such as movies and music for my ipod ready.

I spend this morning with the family getting lunch stuffs ready for the kids as well as dinners for the boys to eat while I am gone.

I’m now on my way out the door to get a final piece of fabric I need for another small project that is plane worthy and pausing at my parents to zigzag the edges to prevent the inevitable unraveling cut fabric seems to do.