Monday, August 27, 2012

Change is Good (?)

Saturday and Sunday I spent a little time in the studio.

Carol Doak 4
Saturday I finished my block 4 of the Carol Doak Mystery BOM.  If I say I am really excited about how these fabrics are looking with  these blocks, will it sound like boasting?  I think this is going to be a really classy quilt.  However, Carol is one month ahead of herself (this is September’s block) so I may have to find something else to work on next month.  Rolling on the floor laughing



Jamie Christmas 2012
I have also started work on one of my Christmas quilts.  What you can see here is the center with three rows sewn together.  I would have gotten them done but DH came in and invited me out to dinner so there goes my sewing time for today.  However, an invitation to the Mellow Mushroom is not to be turned down!  Tomorrow I hope to finish the rows and put a red stop border on before turning to other projects.





phone cover
And I have to add a picture of my new iPhone cover.  I found this in Books-a-Million this week and was so excited I didn’t even get upset when the clerk and customer ahead of me talked for 10 minutes.  What you can’t see is that this is 3-D.  Isn’t this just me?









Now, to the change………

This has been a very busy and eventful week.  I did get some sewing done on Monday but Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday and Friday were all devoted to Weight Watchers.  And all through the week I began to feel tired and wiped out.  I do have a heart condition, rapid heart beat, and it got triggered Tuesday and I couldn’t get it under control until late Wednesday with some slight flair-ups on Thursday and Friday.  And I found that during this time my ability to deal with job or home irritations was limited.   So as of Friday I am no longer working for Weight Watchers. 

I can’t tell you how sad I am about this change but I also know that this is really the best thing for me.  I am a retired person but have been working for WW, more and more, for the past 3 years, and really need to get back to a more peaceful way of life.  And both my puppies and the studio are very glad that I will be home more. 
So today part of my time will be spent working on setting up a new, not too busy, daily schedule: wish me luck.

12 comments:

scraphappy said...

That does sound like a big change. Enjoy your time now that you won't have work responsibilities to juggle. Your block did turn out quite well. The finished quilt is going to be a beauty!

Joanne Lendaro said...

Hi Gari!! I know you enjoyed the WW deal, but I also know that it consumed tons and tons of your time. I can't image anything that consumes that much time being stress free or low stress. I hope that this change will allow you tons of free time to spend with the hubs and you two can enjoy the retirement completely. Hang in there girlie, it's all good, for good reasons....

Love he batik with the dark and light, and your owls are a hoot!! lol!!

Denise :) said...

Gari, your mystery block--in the batiks--is gorgeous! Are y'all bracing for any effects from Isaac? Your phone cover is darling -- love the owls! Oh, and I've been meaning to share with you that my mom purchased that same little owl bag that you'd gotten for my daughter -- thanks for the info on where it came from!

As for the change ... it sounds like you are taking positive steps to make sure that you stay healthy and can continue to enjoy your retirement years. I'm sure you will be missed, though -- you're always so positive and encouraging! :)

Teresa said...

I went to a lecture with Carol Doak several years ago in Pigeon Forge, TN and really like her patterns. Very nice. On the rest of your message I know that WW is going to miss you as well. I have been going to WW in Hartselle for 8 months and have had 5 different leaders so I know your groups will miss you very much. Good luck.

Judy D in WA said...

I didn't know the CD block was available yet-went no mail for a bit. Thanks-it's printing now.
Yours turned out gorgeous!
Now you will have lots of time to sit out on the deck and ponder stress free. Sorry you had to leave your WW duties.

Bonnie said...

Gari it is most important to take care of yourself. If you find you have down time and want to fill it you can consider going back to WW. When they find a good leader they keeping finding groups for them. LOVE your paper pieced star. WOW! It is fabulous. I so want to get back to working on things of my own choosing. But, they are keeping even if I feel I haven't gotten much done recently. Of course, if I would quit playing on the iPad and reading books on the Kindle I'd get more done!

Beth said...

I'm sorry you had to make a change that was unexpected. The older I get, the less I like 'unexpected' ..and yet I seem to take it in stride better than I used to! The puppies and your studio will feel more important as they get more attention! Carol is a sweet heart! I met her YEARS ago..of all places...coming out of a stall in the ladies room at the Quilt show in Houston! Of course, I knew her, but she didnt' know my face from ADAM! lol At the time,she chatted with me in the AOL chat room and so knew my screen name. She was so nice...and never said "WHO IN THE HECK ARE YOU??? " lolol

Melinda said...

I am sure WW will miss you but it sound like you need to concentrate on yourself, not others. Love the block and phone case. Hope Issac misses you.

Kate said...

Love your new phone cover, very cool and fun. The mystery block looks great. I agree the fabric choice makes for an elegant block.

It's good that you are able to step back and get your life back in balance. Sometimes it's just necessary.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love the fabrics in your CD block!! It will be a beautiful quilt.

I learned something a long time ago, that I had to take care of me, because no one else is going to do it. Just because you have the ability to do something, that doesn't mean you have to do it. I practiced saying 'no' until I had it perfected. You can do it too.

Quilter Kathy said...

Oh dear...that sounds scary! You better take good care of yourself. It's sad when we can't do all the fun things we want to, but hopefully you will find other quilty things to fill your time. Like...where's that dragon at?!?! LOL

Aileen said...

Congratulations on slowing down. I am finding it hard myself to go from go go go to sedentary. I was injured in an accident last October and had to do nothing for months. I couldn't even sew. I am just starting to get use to a new schedule. A little sewing for mental therapy and just small things around the house to feel like I am participating in family life. I don't drive or go shopping for groceries anymore. Mostly Dr visits and the occasional lunch. Very rarely go out. What I did was challenge myself to create out of the box. I use a timer and set it for 20 minutes at a time. This minimizes pain and straining myself. I have been using fusible like crazy and just going at it.