I am going to apologize for the length of words and no pictures ahead of time. Also, this post is not quilting or sewing related, just life related, so move along if you want. I just needed to put my thoughts on paper, and I figured if I was going to write them down, I might as well post them for your entertainment. :)
So the company I work for has a Leadership Expectation of being Resilient and Adaptable, basically meaning, how well do you roll with the punches. In my employment and for as far back in my life as I can remember I have been really good at this. I'm a fairly laid back person, I'm a planner, but because I'm a planner, I am usually prepared for most situations that are thrown at me and the exceptions that usually come along as well.
For instance, I just moved across the country with just three weeks notice. I had everything together, switched, closed out, paid, etc. My side of the execution of the move was solid. The only part that was subject to change, which I was willing to deal with, was the arrival of my stuff at my new place. Usually I would've fine with a window, a few days to a couple weeks, cool. I get it. The only worry I had was that I was leaving for an international trip 9 days after I arrived so I NEEDED my stuff to get there before I left. If it didn't, I would either not be there to figure out where everything needed to go/receive my stuff, or it would have to be out in storage and then moved into my place when I got back. Not cool for any party involved. The moving company had a 5 day window of arrival, the last day being the day I left. They switched the arrival day and time 3 times, all within 24 hours of the expected arrival. Cool, different day and time, let me work it out and let's make it happen. And it did. My stuff got there the afternoon before I left and was unpacked and I will be able to come home to a mostly put together house. Was I pumped about all the changes, no, but did I stay calm and roll with the punches, yes. And it all worked out.
Situation B. I am managing a project in Belize and got down here yesterday to do some pre planning before the group got here. I want this project be go smoothly and for them to have a stress free and organized experience, and a lot of that is determined in how well I prep on the ground for them. I was supposed to have a car yesterday when I arrived but they didn't have one so I was lucky enough to catch a ride with a friend of a friend to the town I am working in. Cool, going with the flow. They said they would be able to deliver a car to my hotel the following morning so I could take care of all the errands I needed today. I knew it was probably going to be the afternoon, knowing Belizian time, so I got up early and took care of the close by errands and then came back to the hotel at 1 when the car guy said the car should arrive. Again I knew it wasn't going to be a timely arrival so I took care of some stuff on the computer that needed to get done. 3p no car. I call the guy back and he says 20 mins, almost there. Cool. I still need to meet with a partner so I will have time to do that and drive around and make dinner reservations as well. 6p no car. He says he is at the shop getting the car fixed and will call if anything changes. I already called and cancelled my meeting and have done everything I can possibly do within walking distance. I'm assuming I will not get the car tonight, and not going to count on it tomorrow either.
And that's what sucks. I have been to Belize 5-6 times working different projects and have never done anything "fun and touristy" here. My plan was to get everything done today so that I could take the car and go cave tubing tomorrow. Now I don't have a car. I could still go, but it will be exponentially more expensive without my own transportation and now I won't be here to get the car if and when it arrives. I can roll with the punches but when I'm already running low on reserves of resiliency and adaptability from the move, it is proving very challenging for me to continue to roll with the punches. Especially when it affects the time that I had specifically planned ahead for in order to have my own personal time. :) I am trying to decide whether to go or not. I will most likely still go because I would be kicking myself if the car doesn't show up and I missed the opportunity to do something super fun and cool.
I pride myself in being Resilient and Adaptable. But damn. Give a girl a break. But hey, I need to shush it because I have an amazing opportunity to even work on this project, have this experience, and its all part of the experience. I guess it's my planner oriented self that gets frustrated when I make plans and then the plans were deemed worthless for reasons out of my control that bothers me. At the end of the day I am one lucky girl and by the end of this I will be able to pop back from anything that hits me, just like I always have. I just have a couple more things to take care of and I will find a way to take care of them through the phone or during the project. Plus, I probably didn't want that car in the first place since it was in the shop tonight.
Everything happens for a reason. That's my life motto. I need to make something that says or reflects this. You can learn from anything and every single experience you have shapes you into the person you have become and is one more experience to put in your toolbox for life to draw upon in the future. As for rolling with the punches, yes I'm rolling with them, but sometimes I wish I could throw a few punches myself as well. :) For now, I just had a great dinner and am now 3/4 the way through my per request STRONG strawberry margarita so I am chalking today up to the books. And I know that's not the end of the fun for this week so ill make sure to keep you updated throughout the week. :)
Thanks for sticking through that, and happy quilting, ;)
So this is a really special post. I have been wanting to do this quilt for a really long time but wasn't sure of how to go about designing it. I have the best dog in the world. I know other people think their dog is better than mine but its just not possible. Marta is awesome. I'll share the story of how I got her and what we have been through throughout the process of this quilt, but for now all you need to know is that she is so awesome, that I have always wanted to make a quilt that represented her.
I have seen several pixelated quilts online and also at QuiltCon and always knew that's what I wanted to do with Marta's quilt. I always had the picture I wanted to do in mind as well. This picture was taken in the University of Texas boathouse and it completely encapsulates Marta's personality.
I pixelated it several years ago and then never did anything with it. I wasn't sure how to really break it all down and make it into a doable quilt.
After QuiltCon I saw that Craftsy had a free pixelation class!! It's was my chance!!!!! I sat down and did the class one night and played with the above picture and came up with a "pattern" to follow.
I made her ears a little bigger because the original pic didn't really represent them properly. I also turned the background to white to make Marta the focal point of the quilt. I am going to be out of town most of this next month so I probably won't be able to start on it until the end of April but I am so excited to start!
I totally recommend the pixelating class on Craftsy! It really shows you exactly how to do it and gave me the confidence to do this quilt that I have wanted to do for years. Go check it out. It's free!
I am stuck in a hotel for close to a month so I have sworn to finally finish hand quilting my best friends wedding quilt. She got married almost a year ago and I have been in the process of hand quilting her quilt for about 18 months now. She has repeatedly given me a hard time about it and has even told me that she thinks I'm lying about if I have even made a quilt for her yet. This was in a joking manner so no worries...
I have realized that if I get in a groove is it very easy to get one or two blocks done quickly in a sewing session. The hardest part for me was getting my fingers used to the wear and tear of hand quilting again and now since they have toughened up it is much easier to quilt for longer periods of time.
I had forgotten how much I love hand sewing. I have always loved embroidery and hand quilting but it's one of those things you let time overshadow and forget to love unless you do it. I have 3.5 rows left to go and have promised her that I will have her quilt ready for her when she makes the 14 hour drive from Texas to Minnesota with me in mid March. I can do it!!!!
Can you say OMG. Chocolate chip cookie dough stuffed cupcakes are awesome. I found this fabulous recipe at The Girl Who Eats Everything. The recipe is good, but a made a couple of changes. I made my own cupcake batter from scratch, and since I didn't have any condensed milk, made the cookie dough part on the fly. (Next time buy the condensed milk, it turned out fine but the consistency of my dough was slightly runny)
I also made these jumbo sized, as I realized half way through when I looked at the size of the baking cups I had purchased. These are VERY rich, so I would suggest doing regular size if not mini cupcakes if you try this recipe yourself.
Overall these were a fabulous hit with all my friends and my boss at work threatened me if I didn't bring him another one. If you want to bake your way to friendship, this is the cupcake to do it.
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