Old Year, New Ventures

Well, folks, here we are at the end of 2011, and it can't come soon enough for me.  It has not been a good year for our family in several aspects.  However, one good thing that did happen is that our granddaughter is now living with us.

Emily came here to NJ to visit us at the end of her school year in Oklahoma at the end of May.  The plan was for her to visit us for 10 weeks, and then return to Oklahoma.  However, she ended up imploring us to not make her go back (a number of things were involved in this).  So, we kept her with her dad's permission.  We registered her for school, and started getting her settled into her new "digs."  Since then, she and I have worked together off and on, making small quilts, pillow cases, pajama pants, sock creatures, tote bags, and even a fancy apron from a commercial pattern.

As soon as she started making new friends, her friends wanted to learn how to sew, too.  So now whenever they visit, or she has a sleepover, they all end up in my studio, pulling out scraps of fabric and attempting to hand sew them together.  At this point I have not had a chance to work with them on any specific projects, but I can see that it won't be very long before we'll get started on this new venture.  Don't get me wrong - they're great kids, and I enjoy having them here.  But at my age, it doesn't take very long for my "batteries" to start running down!

By the time they head out, my studio is even more of a disaster than it was when they arrived - fabric strips and scraps everywhere, tools out of place, and just a chaotic mess.  But if it means they're interested in learning how to sew, how can I complain?

After all, it gives me something to look forward to in the new year.

Something Old, Something New

Well, folks, here I am in the blogosphere.  The day after Steve Jobs passed away.  After being one of the original users of the Apple II.  Ironic, don't you think?  Pretty amazing journey Mr. Jobs made.  Just goes to show you, you don't necessarily need a college degree just to prove you're smart, y'know?
Nowadays it's more about finding unique ways to innovate and scratch out a living.  Huge kudos go out to those who are occupying Wall Street to express their frustration at how it's all turned into the "haves" vs. the "have-nots."  How anyone can justify not asking the rich to chip in their fair share is beyond me.  Sometimes I think the Republicans should change their logo to a Hippo - for their hypocrisy.  Just saying.
Anyway, got lots to do so I'd better get scratching.
Have a good day!