tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77688066718868223222024-03-12T17:19:59.781-05:00My Life Post-GradThis is a peek into my life post-grad. I've been out of college for over a year now, and I'm still learning the lay of the land as a working adult.Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-23958547279162557282012-08-27T21:59:00.001-05:002012-08-27T22:04:27.754-05:00Baby Quilt<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niS-gMSLGZI/UDw0-KzTEiI/AAAAAAAAAHg/kWA7Hn6S_oo/s1600/530886_703815751222_178397001_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niS-gMSLGZI/UDw0-KzTEiI/AAAAAAAAAHg/kWA7Hn6S_oo/s320/530886_703815751222_178397001_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping Beauty in the tutu her Oma made her</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From
the moment my sister told me she was pregnant with my future niece-or-nephew,
my heart was filled with joy and my eyes with happy tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I thought of all the fun I would
have with this little person, and of all the things I would make for
him/her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we found out that
he-or-she was definitely a she I was thrilled at the possibilities of little
girlie dresses, nail polish parties, and sleepovers with “Auntie Rach.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a few trinkets, a stuffed fabric
cube with bells inside, a stuffed lion (whose embroidered face turned out so
sloppy I haven’t had the heart to either start over or actually gift it) and
bought a few irresistibly cute outfits. But the BIG project, the thing I
promised my sister, was a crib quilt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Deciding
the pattern was easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
envisioning a simple block quilt, maybe a thick border, potentially a soft
backing made out of that fun minky fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emily, who has always been very creative, described her
vision: a sky blue background fabric with branches appearing out of the sides
and cute little silhouettes of birds sprinkled throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the idea… but I was
daunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drew a little sketch
that she loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all I had was
a concept!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Picking out the fabric was easy. It was a very happy afternoon
spent at Joann’s fabrics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
picked up about 1 & ½ yards of a pretty sky blue fabric with chocolate
brown mini dots, a nice grassy green for the border, and a whimsical pale green
with grass green whirlies for the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We labored over the decision of which fabric samples to get
for the birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up with
around 16 smaller fabrics that were going to be sweet little birds on this
quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so inspired after
buying that gorgeous fabric! And 2 months later, it was still sitting in its
plastic bag in my sewing room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMXj2p0sYn8/UDwsi5BfKwI/AAAAAAAAAFw/upP9ZNgQ0QM/s1600/294536_706203126902_1842192767_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMXj2p0sYn8/UDwsi5BfKwI/AAAAAAAAAFw/upP9ZNgQ0QM/s320/294536_706203126902_1842192767_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> The gorgeous array of fabrics</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Emily was very patient with me. Time passed, and I threw her a(n
awesome) baby shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fabric
remained untouched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends asked
what my big present was going to be for the little one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I answered, somewhat embarrassed, that I
was working on a quilt, but was still in the beginning stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 2 months til the due date, I
enlisted the help of my domestic-goddess mother-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made baby quilts for her 3 boys, I
figured she could help me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Tessa was a lifesaver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We spent 4 or 5 long Saturdays together out at her farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first week we washed and dried all
the fabrics, so that we would ensure the quilt would be washable. (Kind of a
must when it’s designed for a baby!) Then we determined the measurements we
would use for the quilt. (If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m sorry, this
is <u>not</u> a tutorial! I’m lucky I figured anything out at all.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made the first cuts into the sky
blue fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I sketched out
bird silhouettes until I was satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t get much cell phone reception at the farm, and I wanted to text
pictures to Emily for approval, but I did alright on my own!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pretty much adore the sweet little
bird silhouette that I ended up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Emily and I had pinned different bird images back and forth, and had
found our favorite, but I was doubtful of my artistic abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we traced and cut the bird
silhouettes out of each fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With 2 woman who love sewing, we somehow ended up with only one pair of
fabric scissors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I think that
you can never have too many pairs of fabric scissors, and you should always
bring one with you when you’re planning a day of sewing. (Hindsight is 20/20!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2TxsSctEUjw/UDws7NFtqeI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/wkgveUv8k-0/s1600/580092_706205242662_1943100859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2TxsSctEUjw/UDws7NFtqeI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/wkgveUv8k-0/s320/580092_706205242662_1943100859_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Tessa told me that we were going to appliqué the branches and
birds onto the blue fabric, then sew on the green border, cut out the batting
and the backing, sew it all together, and quilt it by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said this all very calmly and with
a straight face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nervous,
but I trusted her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had never
done appliqué before, but she promised me that once I got the hang of it, it
would be easy enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had 2
options – machine appliqué or hand appliqué.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She showed me how to hand appliqué using some scrap fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt kind of clumsy, but after a
while I got the hang of it and was able to get nearly invisible stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a feeling of accomplishment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how time consuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to the sewing machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were tons of different kinds of
fancy stitches I could use to appliqué by machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried out a few, but none felt right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The invisible stitch appealed so much
more than a chunky machine stitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that is how I spent the next 5 weeks of my life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Every evening after supper, my grandma (who I live with and take
care of at the moment) and I would retire to the den to watch TV, usually
westerns (gag) sometimes The Big Bang Theory (hooray!) and later, season 1 of
NCIS (intriguing and sometimes creepy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was slow… There were 6 branches and they took me about 2 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tessa got the urge to appliqué, and
invited me over for a day of group appliqué (kind of like a really, really
small quilting bee) and we knocked out the last 2 branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She figured out the secret to sewing
those partially curvy, partially pointy birds on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that was the next 3 weeks of my life! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9WBw0th2Ec/UDwsj4ibx5I/AAAAAAAAAF4/jug2lnQvZyY/s1600/431434_706203625902_23338354_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9WBw0th2Ec/UDwsj4ibx5I/AAAAAAAAAF4/jug2lnQvZyY/s320/431434_706203625902_23338354_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birds laying out on the fabric, branches sketched on</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe6P67gFbs4/UDws3xqf5JI/AAAAAAAAAG4/0hGF0eeRfEM/s1600/527072_706206175792_2053241984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe6P67gFbs4/UDws3xqf5JI/AAAAAAAAAG4/0hGF0eeRfEM/s320/527072_706206175792_2053241984_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite bird family; I loved the vivid fuschia </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Though this is not a tutorial, I will attempt to describe how I
go about appliquéing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people
do the fusible interfacing (never used it, didn’t want to) to fuse their 2
fabrics together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used good old
fashion pins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure at least 10
are lost around the carpet in the den, waiting to be stepped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left about ¼ inch – ½ inch border
around the drawn out silhouette of the birds when we cut them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That border was tucked under and sewn,
bit by bit, onto the main fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I cut little slits every so often to make it easier to tuck the fabric
under.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around the inside curves, I
cut out little v-shaped sections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tried a few without cutting slits, and it was much harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhAtgMKzcaQ/UDwszCPnWwI/AAAAAAAAAGI/mhGxi5ceT00/s1600/223957_706206719702_1119956046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhAtgMKzcaQ/UDwszCPnWwI/AAAAAAAAAGI/mhGxi5ceT00/s320/223957_706206719702_1119956046_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinned on, with slits cut around yellow piece</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbnIitzoggY/UDwsyYLjfGI/AAAAAAAAAGA/YY3EXgcE3nA/s1600/196816_706211051022_1124818693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbnIitzoggY/UDwsyYLjfGI/AAAAAAAAAGA/YY3EXgcE3nA/s320/196816_706211051022_1124818693_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewn on tight - stitch is invisible</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Once all the birds were sewn on, I felt like I was practically
finished! Believe me when I say I was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to Tessa’s farmhouse the weekend before Emily was to
be induced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We measured, cut, and
sewed on the green border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
technique is called mitered edges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then we cut out the whirly backing and the batting – extra fluffy
batting makes a happy baby!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pinned
the 3 layers together, and then ran a basting stitch all through out it, so
that we could later remove the pins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was nice finally not having to mess with pins and get stuck
constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was
truly almost done at that point. I. Was. Not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">I spent part of that evening and the entire next day
hand-quilting the baby quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Experienced quilters tend to take their quilts to the quilters shop to
be professionally quilted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I know
you were wondering how many times I could use a variation of the world ‘quilt’
in one sentence.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tessa told me
that quilts that are sold are valued by how many stitches are in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that respect, professional quilting
is the way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, you
will spend at least $100 paying for that service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes the quilt very flat, not like a fluffy comforter,
but has a lovely quilting stitch all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to spend the money, and Tessa was confident
that hand quilting was the way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6W28EarFB7A/UDws2Bh7BOI/AAAAAAAAAGo/f2QblpaLTC4/s1600/320272_706211270582_596636677_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6W28EarFB7A/UDws2Bh7BOI/AAAAAAAAAGo/f2QblpaLTC4/s320/320272_706211270582_596636677_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just love those swirls</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">We bought special quilting thread, which is thicker than
all-purpose thread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine it
is in between all-purpose thread and fishing line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very easy to thread, so I liked that aspect!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You need to start with one small knot. You want to bring the needle through all 3 layers, but just pop the knot through the first layer, leaving it stuck in between with the batting. </span>I didn’t quite do the stitching quite the way Tessa
taught me, which was to use a quilting thimble and kind of rock the needle back
and forth through the layers to create a uniform line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a difficult time doing that, so I
just painstakingly went up then down then up then down to make sure I was
getting through all the layers.</span><span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfBJmhfyv-Q/UDws4twkVnI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UenvjYWX4A8/s1600/545897_706211639842_358980613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfBJmhfyv-Q/UDws4twkVnI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UenvjYWX4A8/s320/545897_706211639842_358980613_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whimsical quilting stitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
drew the most fun swirls and loops around each little ‘bird family.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the best time on the
quilting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt really relaxed –
it was truly the easy part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
felt a little rushed, knowing that baby Shiloh’s arrival was imminent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still quilting we sat in
the hospital, anxiously awaiting the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still quilting after the baby was born! I actually
took a little break knowing I hadn’t quite made it to that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But finally, when little Shiloh was 6
days old, I finished the quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since the responsible parents wouldn’t want to risk SIDS, we are making
the quilt a wall hanging until Shiloh turns 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front of the quilt has a border, and the layers came
together with the assistance of some matching green bias tape. Love! So
helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used a thick bias tape
on the back to serve as a long loop so that the quilt can be hung on the wall
either with a dowel rod or a curtain rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PkuvbjV1rE/UDws1TuI_eI/AAAAAAAAAGg/5f7FeYOn2DY/s1600/293263_706212418282_1680468245_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PkuvbjV1rE/UDws1TuI_eI/AAAAAAAAAGg/5f7FeYOn2DY/s320/293263_706212418282_1680468245_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry little birdies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">When everything was stitched on good, I washed it to give it a
good cleanse from my anxious, hard-working sweaty hands, and to get rid of
pencil lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried about
it unraveling (as if!) and washed it on delicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That did not get rid of pencil lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ever-helpful MIL advised me to
dilute some detergent with water, and rub it over the pencil lines with a
toothbrush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also told me that
the next cycle up from delicate would be just fine, my solid quilt would not
unravel. She was correct on both accounts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All fluffy and fresh, I grabbed my quilt and delivered it to
the cutest possible recipient alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you are still reading up to this point, even if you skimmed just
for photos and caught this sentence, you deserve a medal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zXkszE4suA/UDws24v2IEI/AAAAAAAAAGw/HZLTjYvSZWo/s1600/484451_706212123872_1456103493_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zXkszE4suA/UDws24v2IEI/AAAAAAAAAGw/HZLTjYvSZWo/s320/484451_706212123872_1456103493_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backing, bias tape, border, and front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">I loved making this quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have found that I really, truly enjoy sewing by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m starting to get into embroidery,
for the wonderful designs, the array of colors in the threads, and the calming
handwork it provides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve taken a
short break from any major projects, but I did sneak in this sweet little
birdie embroidery piece! (Am I destined to sew only birds for the rest of my
life?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRJatdNb-CU/UDwszwZnnqI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GAUuLAYQKfg/s1600/260410_704941470272_1059696001_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRJatdNb-CU/UDwszwZnnqI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GAUuLAYQKfg/s320/260410_704941470272_1059696001_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely pattern from Pinterest (Needlework board)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYrMwDg28Ww/UDws0dS5icI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ukzxAvvMaPg/s1600/292476_706211884352_1898717862_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYrMwDg28Ww/UDws0dS5icI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ukzxAvvMaPg/s320/292476_706211884352_1898717862_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My one attempt at artistic photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #00a300; font-family: Garamond;">Stay tuned for more fun, and likely shorter, posts… but don’t hold your breath!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-26555350106103831892011-09-15T16:55:00.000-05:002011-09-15T16:55:29.775-05:00Throwin' you a bone<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It's been a little while. (Anyone surprised?) So I thought I'd throw you a bone. Or 15.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">15 Random Rachel Facts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I wish I could be BFFs
with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. We would have some crazy awesome times and laugh
all day. (dreamed about Tina Fey last night, and we hit it off. Yeah, we would
totally be buds)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I’ve known that I was
going to marry my husband since I was 16, but I didn’t admit it to myself until
18, and I didn’t admit it to the world until 19 (and I didn’t get married until
21, so I think I did a dang good job ‘waiting’).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I also wish I could
be/could have been/could ever be BFFs with Anne, from Anne of Green Gables;
though she was fictional, she was amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I have always
liked/loved the color yellow, unlike most people today, who like yellow because
it is trendy, and I hate trends. I will dislike something just because it is trendy,
even if I secretly like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I love to do “domestic”
things, like cook/bake, sew, knit, and almost anything with pretty fabrics. I’m
starting to think I like fabrics better than the crafts or things I make with
the fabrics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I would love to own a teacup
pig someday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I miss my husband every
moment he is away from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I recently got into a
sub-category of fiction, about knitting. I call it Knit-Lit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Pet Peeve: I think it’s
stupid when people who used to be roommates still call each other Roomie. All.
The. Time. Hellooooo, you’re not roomies anymore, you’re just regular friends.
Use other names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Another random genre of
books I like, of which I can’t think of a clever title, are books that
incorporate recipes into every chapter. One I really liked is called “The
Gastronomy of Marriage.” Just bought another such-like book at the close out
sale at Border’s called Edible Stories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I spend more time
thinking about and planning new crafts to do and wanting to buy more materials
at the craft store than I do actually crafting. I need to change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I wrote in a journal at
least once a week, if not every day, from the ages 15-18. It helped with my
teenage angst quite a bit, and being in the habit of writing helped develop my
poetry too. When I got to college I gradually stopped journaling, but for the
last few months I’ve started up again, and it feels good. Journaling is my
version of therapy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Another pet peeve:
utensils scraping on plates. Not just the normal diner clatter you hear in
movies, but the awful, I just wanna tear me ears off scraping. It’s worse than
nails on a chalkboard for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I have an obsession with
aprons. I’m now up to 4; 2 long, 2 little waist aprons. And I sewed my very
first little waist apron for my new sister-in-law this summer, blog post to come
(so I say!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A few things I hold
true:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 16pt;">o<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I believe that feel-good
music should be blasted from car sterios, not rap or heavy metal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 16pt;">o<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I believe that my
grandma and I are kindred spirits; I think she is brave, and I admire her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 16pt;">o<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I believe that I am
connected in some way to my future children; to me, they are tangible, though
they do not yet physically exist. I love them, and I feel that when I meet
them, a piece of my heart will become complete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-75902385684259186082011-06-15T21:56:00.006-05:002011-06-15T22:15:19.636-05:00My Recent Absence<div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">My Recent Absence<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">When I created my blog, I envisioned myself being a good blogger. Updating weekly, taking step-by-step pictures of every project, using clever phrasings to draw the reader in. Obviously I have sorely failed. But on a good note, it’s because I was busy living life! This past year has seen me through my first ever full time job, and that really took it out of me. Being a full time student was busy and stressful, but being a working woman was a whole different ballgame. After working all day, I seldom had the energy to do more than park it on the couch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">But when I did get off the couch…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I worked 40, sometimes 45, hours a week at my job (see the previous post). I’m very proud of what I accomplished for Tulsa Transit. It was a blessing to be there, and a very good first job for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I spent time with my friends! I love being a hostess.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I cooked and created recipes. Which my husband happily ate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I got a baby guinea pig who died within 5 days from a sad small animal disease called Pasturella. A few weeks later I ‘adopted’ a friend’s guinea pig, who is still with me. I call her my garbage disposal, because she eats all of the peels and clippings of my fruits and veggies.</span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KhSXqmvm4A/TflykCfUQMI/AAAAAAAAABk/0w2Ey86RYbY/s1600/DSC01004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KhSXqmvm4A/TflykCfUQMI/AAAAAAAAABk/0w2Ey86RYbY/s320/DSC01004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618647973590483138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KhSXqmvm4A/TflykCfUQMI/AAAAAAAAABk/0w2Ey86RYbY/s1600/DSC01004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Say 'hi' Miss Gwinny!</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I inherited some gorgeous fabrics from my grandma (still living) and designed some fun hair clips. Soon(ish) I will start selling them on etsy.com. Stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I took up knitting. I have proudly completed 1 and ¾ scarves so far.</span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G22Dj6igekQ/Tfly0g9pfHI/AAAAAAAAABs/NqBPuZ3WvWU/s1600/Photo%2B929.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G22Dj6igekQ/Tfly0g9pfHI/AAAAAAAAABs/NqBPuZ3WvWU/s320/Photo%2B929.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618648256648674418" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); "><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G22Dj6igekQ/Tfly0g9pfHI/AAAAAAAAABs/NqBPuZ3WvWU/s1600/Photo%2B929.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); ">-I survived the Tulsa Blizzard of 2011. And when everyone else was getting wonderfully lazy days off work, I was being picked up by the company caravan to spend all day on the phone carefully explaining why snow in the streets keeps the buses from running regularly. (uh, duh?)</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I spent 80 hours in a small car with my in-laws. And I still love them!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I joined a wonderful ladies’ bible study where we used John Ortberg’s small group study books. We had a blast and learned a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I taught 2 precious girls piano lessons in their homes on Sunday afternoons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I dragged my grandma’s (ancient!) bicycle from Fort Worth to Tulsa in my little car and took all of 3 rides before I let it slowly rust and gave it away at the Dumpster Free-for-all.</span></p></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TqsicqQZ99c/TflzGSF1seI/AAAAAAAAAB0/KqwjLo38Lqc/s1600/DSC00982.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TqsicqQZ99c/TflzGSF1seI/AAAAAAAAAB0/KqwjLo38Lqc/s320/DSC00982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618648561894142434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); "><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TqsicqQZ99c/TflzGSF1seI/AAAAAAAAAB0/KqwjLo38Lqc/s1600/DSC00982.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); ">-My husband and I cancelled our cable in hopes that it would give us more free time for our hobbies. In addition to that, it gave us more free time to become addicted to Netflix.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">And MOST recently:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-I resigned from my job at Tulsa Transit because…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:#00A300;">-Schuyler graduated from ORU, Suma Cum Laude(!) on April 30<sup>th</sup>, our lease was up May 1<sup>st</sup>, and we packed up and moved back to our hometown of Fort Worth.</span></p></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jV5AZC5z1IU/TflzZF4ri0I/AAAAAAAAAB8/aqEJekBvcX4/s1600/DSC01518.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jV5AZC5z1IU/TflzZF4ri0I/AAAAAAAAAB8/aqEJekBvcX4/s320/DSC01518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618648885035240258" /></a><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jV5AZC5z1IU/TflzZF4ri0I/AAAAAAAAAB8/aqEJekBvcX4/s1600/DSC01518.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Proud wifey, that's me!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 163, 0); ">-We’ve been here about 6 weeks now, and it has been so great being with all of our family again.</span><div> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="Book Antiqua";font-family:";color:#00A300;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Book Antiqua";font-family:";color:#00A300;">So, I’ve started a brand new chapter in my life. Left behind some precious people in Tulsa that I am really missing. Looking forward to what’s in store, but not quite sure what that will mean. And I can’t make any promises, but I plan on being a better blogger this time around! In my current jobless state, I have actually had time for my hobbies. I’ve started a small shade garden, baked (too much!) and sewed my first apron. Stay tuned for posts with pictures of those endeavors.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Book Antiqua";font-family:";color:#00A300;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div></div>Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-91281204586086702642010-08-25T20:26:00.002-05:002010-08-25T21:30:29.895-05:00My New Job!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Only 2 posts in, and I've already been a neglectful blogger. But, I have a good reason - I have a new job! I was hired by the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority on July 29th 2010. May that day ever go down in history. Prior to that date, I was an unemployed unhappy bum, searching desperately for ANY job. I had something lined up for myself after graduation that fell through 2 weeks after I started it. Long story short - I was thrown into the job search completely unprepared and unaware of how hard it is to find a job these days. If you have a job, be thankful. If you don't have a job, keep praying and search, your time will come! <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So here's the job title (deep breath): Bilingual Call Center Customer Service Representative and Hispanic Community Liaison. (exhale) Basically, it's 2 jobs in one. I work in the Tulsa Transit call center, as a customer service rep, but I'm also bilingual. (Para espanol, oprima el numbero 2 - that's me!) AND I'm the Hispanic Community Liaison, which is the most exciting thing to me. They're starting a new program of outreach to the Hispanic community, which involves spreading more awareness about our services to the Hispanic community, and teaching people how to use the buses to their advantage. In the last 3 weeks, I've been attending meetings with business people who are connected to the Hispanic community. Everyone has been so excited about what Tulsa Transit can do for that community. I've been helping to translate some of our informative literature into Spanish. I've also been manning a booth for the last several weeks at the Admiral Flea market. It's been great to get out into the Hispanic community, speak some Spanish with people, meet new contacts, and find out ways that the company I work for can enrich the lives of Hispanic people in Tulsa. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Not sure if it sounds cool or interesting to any of you, but it's been great for me! It's my first full time job - I call it my "I'm-a-big-kid-now" job. My co-workers are pretty cool, for the most part. They've been very helpful to me with my myriad of questions. I feel like my brain has been completely stuffed full of information since I started the job. One of the fun things I get to do is use a walkie-talkie and say "10-4." But that's just a side note.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I wanted to share some of the funny and interesting conversations I've had on the phones. A lot of the time, I'm on the phones answering calls (alllllll dayyyyyy). Half the calls are from people who use the city buses, with questions about what bus to take from Point A to Point B, what time the bus they want arrives, etc. The other half of the calls are to schedule appointments with our Lift Program. That's our paratransit service; it's a curb-to-curb rideshare for mentally and/or physically disabled individuals. We schedule their trips in the computer system. I've been making a list of some of the things people have called me, some sweet, some weird. I've been called baby, sweetie, honey, sugar, any other term of endearment. Some of them are great, from the elderly ladies scheduling their trips to the doctor and to Walmart. Some of them are from smarmy guys who think that my sweet voice is an invitation for come ons. I have to mute the phone to go "gaaahhhhh!!! Grossgrossgross!" And then politely, "Ok, sir, well you have a nice day now buhbye." I've also had a guy tell me I'm just a white woman who doesn't know how to communicate with black people. I'll have him know that a black man the day before thought I was such a good communicator that he was moved to ask me if I had a boyfriend. In your face. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I</span> know I'm getting totally wordy here, and any readership I had before has now fallen off, but anyway - that's my job, in a really big, weird nutshell. I'll keep you posted - today I went to a luncheon put on by the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and came in contact with a woman who is going to do a televised interview with me this coming Monday! The show is called Temas en Tulsa, which means Topics (or Subjects/themes) in Tulsa. I'm soooo excited and nervous! Not sure what channel it comes on yet. For everyone who prayed for me and encouraged me during my job search, thank you so much. God has blessed me exceedingly beyond what I had hoped for. This is an opportunity for me to serve people who kindness and effeciency, and I really appreciate what I have in front of me.</div>Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-17005796800554207352010-07-25T11:30:00.003-05:002010-07-25T11:41:22.180-05:00Sewing Project<div>I received a sewing machine recently, but haven't really done much with it so far. When Schuyler's home, I always want to be with him, since we're not together all that much. But last night, Schuyler suggested that we bring my sewing machine table into his office, so he could work on computer stuff and I could sew, and we'd still feel like we were spending time together. Great solution!<div><br /></div><div><div>The project I'm working on right now is a birthday present for my sister Emily. She bought a table cloth for her dining room table, but when she brought it home and tried it out in her dining room, it didn't seem ideal. So we decided that for her birthday, I will turn that table cloth into several pillows to use in her bedroom. She bought a couple of square-ish soft pillows for me to make pillowcases for, and I bought some cotton stuffing and some black linen to make some smaller pillows with the rest of the cloth. Last night I only got around to one pillow, because ironing the cloth took soooo long! I think next time I'll just cut out my squares that I need, and then iron each one, because this is high-wrinkle material.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here's what the first pillow looks like.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExojo3HKOI/AAAAAAAAAA4/LJypxzSJvIc/s320/DSC00923.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497884206585817314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here I am squeezing the pillow to show how soft and comfy it is.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExokxqkBbI/AAAAAAAAABI/ZpDhdSiZ3PU/s1600/DSC00926.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExokxqkBbI/AAAAAAAAABI/ZpDhdSiZ3PU/s320/DSC00926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497884226128971186" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Close up of the cool bird print.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExokxqkBbI/AAAAAAAAABI/ZpDhdSiZ3PU/s1600/DSC00926.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExokGt6R_I/AAAAAAAAABA/LMfNXuk-A3E/s1600/DSC00924.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TExokGt6R_I/AAAAAAAAABA/LMfNXuk-A3E/s320/DSC00924.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497884214600288242" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>Updates to come on this pillow project!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7768806671886822322.post-38308509545289503282010-07-24T12:08:00.006-05:002010-07-24T12:56:08.322-05:00Expectations vs. Reality<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TEserexnnzI/AAAAAAAAAAM/9qllFWIC_I8/s1600/DSC00690.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FY5uH7c3zHY/TEserexnnzI/AAAAAAAAAAM/9qllFWIC_I8/s320/DSC00690.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497521502480211762" /></a><br /><br />Education is important in this country. You go to kindergarten with you're 5 years old, sometimes Pre-K before that. And if you keep going, you're in school for the next 13 years. Then comes college. Four years, if you're lucky. So for the last 17 years of my life, I have been a Student. That has been my official title. I've added a few other sub-titles since entering college, like Part-Time Teacher, and Wife. Those have been good titles. But now, for the first time ever... I am no longer a Student. My life is my own! Or is it...<div><br /><div>The reason we go to college is to prepare for our careers. I've spent so much time following my passions, because I believe that's what's really important in life. I completed a double major in Music and Spanish. And yes, I did get the same comments over and over again. "So, what are you gonna do when you graduate?" Or, "How are you gonna make any money??" Valid questions. Questions that I'm still answering, nearly three months after the big graduation ceremony.</div><div><br /></div><div>What I expected of my life post-grad, and what I've experienced so far haven't quite matched up. I expected to graduate, feel a huge sense of liberation and relief, and start a great job that paid well and fulfilled me as a person. Without going into too much detail, I did have a job lined up that fell through, and I've been scrambling ever since. When you're a kid, the adults tell you that you can do anything you want to do! How wonderful! But when you're an adult, life gets in the way of the things you dreamed about doing. You get an apartment or a house, a car, cell phones, and a myriad of other bills, all demanding payment every month. Suddenly your main job requirement is that your paychecks cover your monthly bills.</div><div><br /></div><div>This summer I've had my first taste of full-time job searching. It hasn't been my favorite way to spend time, by a long shot. Plus, every employer I meet with acknowledges the fact that this is a terrible time to be a new grad searching for a job. We all know that the economy isn't at its best. But I'm young, and I will prevail. I've gotten a few job leads, and with any luck (and blessings and favor!!) my next post will be about my new job.</div><div><br /></div><div>What I want from life at this stage is a job that I can feel somewhat proud of doing, that has decent hours and decent pay. I want to come home from work, and enjoy the magic of free time that doesn't involve completing homework assignments. I plan on posting about the things that I end up doing with my free time, like cooking and sewing, which are my main hobbies. (The sewing is a brand new venture, though.)</div><div><br /></div><div>So here it is - my life post-grad. It's been quite interesting so far, and I'm sure it will stay interesting!</div></div>Rachel Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901334988921802897noreply@blogger.com6