Life Changes & Big Decisions.

So I went to a birth yesterday morning. I was paged at 148am and I jumped out of bed ready to bring new life into the world. (and happy to be making some money!!) Over the last few years, I haven't done as many births as I had in the past because of doing private nursing with kids in their homes. It was too hard to do both so I put home birth on the back burner. I enjoyed the kids I took care of, the hours were more consistent, but the work never really fired me up like home birth did. Last October, as some of you know, I had a 'situation' occur and I took some time off from private duty and worked only doing births. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough work to be had with Home First so I started dipping my toe back into agency work. I got in touch with the agencies I'm on staff with and began inquiring about jobs. I set up a few appointments to go and see some kids, but ended up having to cancel them the day before I went (this happened twice). I would get really anxious about going and then end up not going.

Yesterday, after the baby was born and things settled down, I sat at the mom's table doing paperwork. Mom was sitting in her rocking chair nursing her newborn and her other young children were gathered around her admiring their new sister. It was then that the thought hit me like a ton of bricks. This is what I do...this is what I'm good at...and I love it. This is what I need to do. It fills my heart to be with these families and to help these moms who have chosen to bring their babies into the world peacefully in their own homes. I couldn't ask for better work. God has blessed me with giving me the skills and knowledge to do this work and do it well.

Which leads me to the 'Big Decision'. I've decided that I'm not going back to private duty nursing at this time. Maybe sometime in the future I'll feel ready to try it again but for now its all about home birth for me. I'm weepy as I type this because I feel so relieved and unburdened to have made this decision. Altho, things may be a little tight financially at times for me, I'm going to make it work. (Thank God I got me a husband!!) Chuck has assured me over and over that things will be fine. He is always so positive that things will work out and I'm so very grateful to have him. (153, baby!)

So, there you have it.....comments anyone?

Little Pink House BOM...Update.

Here's my take on January's BOM. I ask you....when is the last time you saw a pink flowered house?! I think it turned out cute. I had fun making it but it kinda took me a long time. Cutting the fabric precisely probably took me the longest. I'm still having issues with cutting a straight line. Kathleen whipped her house up in no time and when Cara gets hers done, I'll post all three of our houses.


Here are Kathleen and Cara's house's. Good job ladies! I'm looking forward to next months house. The pattern won't be available until Feb.15th.

Kid Art

Ducks With Crowns by Jessica

Sewing Class

Here's the block I made last week at my sewing class.

Cute Fabric

I found this adorable fabric at my favorite thrift store this week. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I'm open to suggestions. I thought maybe since it is printed in strips, I could use it for sashing on some kind of kitcheny quilt.

BOM

I'm going to start on this (B)lock (O)f the (M)onth quilt. Each month this website, Forever Green Quilts, will post a different block to make. At the end of the year, you then have a full quilt or wall hanging. Auntie Kath is going to play along also. Anyone else want to play? Of course you can use any colors you want. I'll probably do mine in pastels or maybe all pinks. Then I could call it the little pink houses quilt.

Dear Lord......

....please don't bring these back....the leg warmers that is. I'll take a pair of those shoes, tho.

More ATC's....miniture landscapes.

There's a big quilt show coming to Chicago in April. One of the booths will be hosting an ATC swap, so I wanted to get some cards ready for that event.

needle felting

I learned a new needle art this past weekend called needle felting. Needle Felting is a process using wool that has been washed and carded (so all the fibers are going the same direction) and using specially-designed needles with cut out barbs on the end. You poke the needles repeatedly into the wool (which can actually be quite therapeutic for getting out some bottled up aggressions ;)to bond the barbs in the wool together until they begin to form shapes. I made the Atc card above. Its a close-up shot. The size of the card is only 2.5 by 3.5 inches. I thought the bag was cute and something I could make....someday.....I haven't bought any supplies yet for this craft....I'm trying to hold myself back.

Mister

Gracie

Gracie hard at work on a school project.

ATC's

Slumdog Millionaire

Disturbing. Beautiful. Happy. Scary. Tender. Sad. Enlightening. Overwhelming. Sweet. Thoughtful. Crowded. Wonderful. Powerful. I loved it. See it.

My friend.

My friend Jackie's dad passed away last Sunday. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

WIP

(W)ork (I)n (P)rogress.

Computers101

Chuck and I went down to dad and Cheryl's house to help them with their computers. Dad bought a laptop from Chuck but had no idea how to use it. Here were some of his questions: "How do I turn it on? ", "Where is the 'H' ?", "Can I take it to Panera and be like the cool guys?"

Chuck was very patient with him. It was all quite amusing. BTW, Cheryl made us an awesome brunch, too. Thanks Cheryl!

BTW#2 Dad had some cancer cells removed from the side of his head last week....thats what the bandage is for. Doctor is pretty sure he got everything.

My Dad's House

....He has a lot of toys......

Snow day

Chuck made me shovel the street yesterday...............just kidding. I got my work out by clearing the driveway.

new square

This is what I made at my LQS last week...................I screwed it up, but I'm not tearing it out.

Bubba baby

More Sue.

As the stash grows.....

I've always had a thing for 'ole Sunbonnet Sue.....

....and her cute cousin Holly.

...not as fond of SS, but she's okay.

...only if she's vintage.

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's far from perfect, but its DONE! My first absolutely finished quilt.

I love it!

Big Girl Bed

Sweet Sydney got her big girl bed this past weekend. I visited with the twins yesterday. Mom reports that Syd is having a hard time staying in the bed and ended up sleeping with mom and dad the first night.

I could use a little co-operation, please!!!!

I'm trying my darndest ok damndest (are those words?) to finish this project. I've started 5 quilts....I will finish one. Unfortunatly my machine is (in the words of cousin Sarah) flying its freak flag and won't co-operate. The stupid bobbin thread keeps breaking. I googled the problem and am in the process of trying the different options for fixing this annoyance. Anyway, hopefully by the end of the day I'll have a finished quilt.

Latest project.

It's sandwiched and pinned....just needs to be quilted and bound.

Chicken soup & My bedside table.

I caught a nasty cold last week so I made some homemade chicken soup ( A handful of scientific studies show that chicken soup really could have medicinal value) the way my mom makes it...start with simmering the bones and then adding all the other good stuff. Spent a lot of time in bed with the NyQuil and kleenex. I seem to be over the hump now....back to full-time crafting tomorrow. Work? What work?

In the 'I need to get a life' category......Fancy up your computer....

....with an Amy Butler yo-yo. The scrappy lamp should be in this category as well.