One more project almost down. . .

Here are photos of the quilt I finished piecing this week. I realize that photos aren't great, and I need to iron the pieced top, but this at least gives you the general idea of what it's going to look like. It's not that wrinkled in real life; I was just too lazy to straighten it out once it was down for the photo shoot. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm thinking about backing it with the dark purple star print that forms the inner border, but I probably won't get around to quilting it for a while. Having to write a thesis kind of cuts down on free time.

Sick again.

In all of my years at college, it never fails that I get sick the week after finals end. However, in an unusual twist, this year I got sick before finals started. I really need to find a more adaptive stress response! I got really sick two days after I defended my prospectus in October, and my immune system has again decided to react to the end of something stressful. I taught my last class of the semester on Thursday, and a cold set in the very next day. Blech! I was planning on doing all sorts of productive things this week, but I've basically had the energy to shower, eat, and put myself back into bed. I've done a few things constructive, though. I managed to put together a quilt I've had in progress for a couple years, and I just have to add the borders to it. I have another quilt I pieced over Thanksgiving that only needs a border to be completed. If my nose stops running, maybe it'll be safe to lean over and cut my fabric. I'm crossing my fingers. If I get it done, I'll post pictures. I've decided that 2008 will be the year of finishing projects. I've got the stocking done and two quilts almost pieced; I'm hoping to go through my checklist of domesticity and cross off a few more things. Hope springs eternal, after all.

Another project down. . .

Seeing as how today is a reading day, I used it to finish Max's Christmas stocking (with 11 days to spare!). I'm posting a picture here. I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. I'm also posting pictures of Grace's and Ethan's stockings, so now you can imagine how the whole set will look together. By the way, does anyone know how to turn off the automatic date and time feature on a digital camera? I'm stumped, and it's annoying me. :-)


Max's Christmas Stocking--complete!

Ethan's Christmas stocking--beary nice!

Grace's Christmas stocking--the one that started it all.

Merry Christmas to you all!

On the edge of exhaustion

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I updated. It's felt like so much longer. I've been trying to get in my doctoral applications (so far, I'm at 1 and 1/2 submitted) as well as keeping up with TAing and teaching responsibilities. Add to that Family Home Evening and other church activities, and I feel exhausted. I'm averaging about four or five hours of sleep a night, which is not very healthy when you're used to more. I realize that anyone with small children will tell me that they can survive on even less, and I admire you for it, but I'm just so dog-gone tired, physically and emotionally. Plus, I've had a roller-coaster ride with getting the pieces of my applications together. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. I also have only done half of my Christmas gifts. I'm usually the freaky individual who has everything ready in June, but not this year! Oh, well. That's life. However, in good news, Amy, I'm almost done with Max's stocking. He might get it for Christmas, after all. I'll post a picture when I'm done. It's so dang cute!

Addresses, please!

I decided that since submitting applications wasn't enough stress, I'm going to try to send out Christmas cards this year. The only problem is, I'm enough of a slacker that I need mailing addresses from most of you. Yes, I'm pathetic, I know, but it's the fatal flaw in my master plan. :-) So, if you'd like to receive a lovely card-shaped, card-sized envelope (and one that actually contains a card) with a return address from Provo, would you e-mail me your mailing addresses? I can't promise that I'm going to personally make such cards, since I'd like to emerge from the holidays with my sanity intact, but I will at least send some lovely cards on which someone else spent lots of time. I will instead endeavor to do something else creative at some point in the near future, when I have time and lower stress levels (and no, I'm not holding my breath for that happening any time soon). Thank you so much, and happy holidays!