Thursday, February 5, 2009

The hurrier I go the behinder I get

Seems I'm busy all the time but doesn't seem like I'm getting much done -- ever feel that way? Too much to do, not enough time to devote to something, always feeling like you are putting out the biggest fires first...that's the way I've been feeling for some time now. Nothing wrong, just not enough checked off the to-do list if ya'know what I mean.

This past week I managed to catch up on some paperwork. Seems my two adult sons really hoped their mom would take some time out to do their taxes -- after all, you file early you have a good chance of getting your returns faster (grin). And yes, I did both of their tax returns and yes, they hope to get a direct deposit within a few weeks. Oh the simplicity of the short form! To be young again...next year perhaps I'll take time and teach them how to do it themselves. Not that I mind, but somehow I've managed to miss this teachable moment for several years now...and I've always prided myself that I was raising men not boys! Oh well, other than the fact they know that their momma can (and will) do their taxes faster than they can both really are perfect sons!

I also took out some time to work on some paperwork with hubby and get our things ready to file our taxes. Having a quilting business complicates things a bit, but I'm pretty good with paperwork -- just not good with having enough time. Too many distractions, too many directions, too many things wanting my time and attention.

In addition I've upgraded some of my computer programs -- came out of the dark ages actually. This was the year to go from Quicken 2005 to Quicken 2009, and then there's the old (too old to admit just how old) MS Office that got upgraded...and did I mention that I needed (wanted) a new wireless printer to go with my new laptop....yep, not enough hours in my day to deal with all the behind the scene stuff, I'd rather be quilting!

I'm behind in uploading photos to my webshot albums, I am humbled each week when I get the stats that people are still looking at my photos when there's not much new (but then again, there's a lot to look at -- too much for one setting unless you drank multiple pots of coffee!) I have the entire 4th quarter of customer quilts waiting to be uploaded not to mention over 50 photos of Quilts of Hope for Ike survivors that haven't been added to that ever growing album. Maybe later this weekend, we'll see.

Oh, and then there's the random acts of kindness that I need to repay -- Ginny tagged me with some sort of photo story that I haven't gotten a "round to-it" yet. You can read more about the way the game goes on Ginny's blog and perhaps in the next day or two I'll play along. I think Millie started that one and now Millie's got me going on something else, an award that I need to take time to pass along to others. Check out Millie's blog if you can't wait for me to tell you about it (grin) You girls are just way too much fun! Don't count me out just cuz I'm slow, I really like playing along, I'm just still behind -- remember that wall calendar page that I just turned over, somehow I really think I missed a month, isn't this January instead of February????

Okay, so in the meantime I figured I at least needed to keep up with all the new gals I'm finding on blogville -- those of you that are piecing a mile a minute and throwing out all these luscious quilting eye candy...I'm soooo inspired and really really want to get behind the eight ball and catch up with ya... I'm working on it, honest Abe!

Don't have a lot to show, but here's a little eye candy back at'cha....a couple of customer quilts that brought a ray of sunshine into the quilting room recently. They remind me why I do this -- I love the perpetual quilt show in my studio!! Hope you enjoy the photos and be patient with me, this quilt rambler is trying to build up steam to run on track again.



Can you see the rays going out of the center on this one?



Lots of color and movement in this little wallhanging.



Add a fun border and call it done!



Pixxie wanted in this photo of a customer t-shirt quilt.
Some lucky granddaughter has a new quilt full of old college memories to call her own.



How'bout a longhorn quilt?
Had to get over the fact that I was raised by an Aggie as I quilted this one (grin)
For those of you outside of the lone star state, UT (University of Texas) and
A&M (Texas A&M) are big big rivals.



The backing was fleece and it quilted up beautifully! And yes,
it's a "quilt" -- there's batting in the middle



Multiple borders on this one -- and since it's for a man and it's football...
well, what can I say, no girly feathers (sigh)



Tried to add a little texture with the background fills

I think I'd like to do a fleece backing on one of my personal quilts -- it was oh so soft! and I really liked the way the quilting showed even though you really couldn't see the actual thread. Have to add that to my quilting goal list....which by the way, I hope to work on one of my PS's (project started) this weekend! Stay tuned. I have a lot of irons in the fire and hope to have something interesting to share next time I take a computer break.

karen o in TX
your blogville quilting buddy

Okay, I got distracted. Went to check out Ginny's blog and found this about rainbow colors...just had to play a long...

Your rainbow is shaded yellow.


What is says about you: You are a joyful person. You appreciate optimism. You're good at getting people to like you.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.


Sorta surprised me cuz I really like purple -- but here lately I've found myself putting in a lot of yellows in my quilts (it goes with purple ya'know). Maybe there is something about this color because it's bright and cheery and that's what I gravitate to.

Well, I had to do it twice. There were a few choices that I could have gone either way...so here's the second time around's results.

Your rainbow is strongly shaded white and yellow.


What is says about you: You are a joyful person. You appreciate quiet moments. You're good at getting people to like you. People depend on you to make them feel secure.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.


Guess it's yellow! Not as in yellow-belly, even though I've been taught (and believe) to turn the other cheek. Hum. Does this 'knowledge' change my life? not really -- but I played along and it was fun! I do hope however that folks find me joyful. That's a good goal!!

Okay, if you are reading this why not be tempted to click and find out what the quiz says about you -- all in fun but a nice distraction!!

Friday 2/6/09

I'm cheating - I'm adding to the bottom of a post (grin) but I couldn't help it...decided to take the rainbow color test again -- different day, different mood .... does this mean I have a split personality?? Or that I'm easily entertained.


Your rainbow is intensely shaded yellow, blue, and violet.


What is says about you: You are a joyful person. You appreciate friends who get along with one another. You share hobbies with friends and like trying to fit into their routines. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

2 comments:

Trudi said...

Love the Rainbow :0) But where I live people are very porud to be a 'Yellow Belly', it is the local bread of sheep and that is what people of Lincolnshire are known as. Not that I am one myself, but both my childrenare yellow bellies. I love that there is always a different take on sayings. Good luck with the catch-up weekend.

Millie said...

Beautiful quilting as usual, Karen. But this time I enjoy Pixie, the quilt model. She has excellent balance on the little stool while concentrating for the photographer.