Well, it's finished..

There are more than a few things that are finished, as this post will attest. First, I finished my first quilt. It's only a lap quilt, but I'm really proud of myself for finishing it and being pretty pleased with it, and even MORE SO, starting another! So maybe my "noncrafty" days are finished too. I am book hunting this weekend for project books to use and create with. I would like to make a wall hanging of some point to put in my kitchen and would like to finish (is this theme getting a little much?) putting some decoration to these plain white walls which belong to someone else. I hope that comes to an end someday soon as well..

I have started a small list of must haves for our house hunt, which I am hoping will start this spring. If you have any house hunting tips, I would be more than appreciative. Also! If you have tips for finding the right realtor for us, I would take that advice to. How do you know if you get the right person who will be a good fit? Can you "interview" realtors? How? Advice welcome!
So, My list, thus far..
1. At least three bedrooms, but I would rather have 4. I want this to be a house we live in for a while. I'm so not a moving lover.
2. Two bathrooms, at least. (can you have too many?)
3. Curb appeal. I have to drive up the drive way and be proud that this is my house.
4. Attached garage. I've never had one in all my places until this one and I LOVE IT. There is nothing better than to not go outside to hop in the car on a miserable MN day.
5. Some updating needed. Mike and I are not looking for an overhaul product. BUT we are interested in working on a house doing some updating in a kitchen, bathroom, some paint, fixtures, etc. I know Mike would love to put on a deck, but I am NOT interested in a complete renovation. I don't know if I could live through a complete remodel. Not quite what I have in mind for our first house.


Anyway, also I am FINISHED (last time, I promise) with this DARN TRASH CAN. I am extremely grateful that my husband helps around the house a lot. He is very good about things and I am appreciative. The trash is one of the things that he takes care of all the time, but sometimes I need to take it out, especially when I get into a baking frenzy. When we got married, one of the things we got was a new trash can because our old one was also scuzzy. So we get this expensive round trash can which is going to change our lives, right? WELL, it has caused more aggravation than anything else. It rips the bag when I take it out because it catches on the hinge. Argh.. So I'm hoping I can convince him to get a new one. However, he says, "I'll take it out, don't worry about it. It's not a big deal, Stace." So.. Does this deserve to be written about? Probably not. BUT it has been aggrevating me to no end so maybe by writing about it, I'll feel better about it.

Thanks for any advice out there for the few people who read this. Much love..

Dear Martha (not THAT Martha, the other one)

Okay, you know when girls get together and "scrap" or "crop" or whatever they call it? I'm sorry out there to all of ya'll, but I just shake my head. I don't get, I can't get into it, and despite the numerous efforts by many friends over the years I just don't do it. I have been GIVEN multiple sticker sets, pages, pens, cutters, etc, all with the hope that I would get into making cards or scrapbooks and such. People spend thousands of dollars for these things and they have just been handed to me yet I don't get into it. I'll be a good sport and go to their parties and create a card or two, but that is where it ends for me.
So.. this will come as a shock to those of you out there who have tried to make Stacey "crafty". I have begun a quilt, and I love it. ** I am going to pause to let that sink in..**

So since we have moved, I have been telling people the most difficult part of the move is the fact that I haven't invested myself in something yet here. I used to be invested in my job, but since I'm just subbing now, I can't invest in that. So recently my favorite/closest cousin told me she is expecting a baby, and it got me thinking about the quilts my Grandma Martha made whenever a new grand baby was born, and that got me thinking about my grandma's sewing machine which was sitting at my parent's old house. So, I picked it up and my husband took to getting her oiled and working, even then I wasn't sure if I could make it. I often in life will not try something out of fear of failure or stop before I MIGHT fail because I am afraid.
So that's when my hubby says, "Stacey, it is your first time. It isn't going to be like the ones your grandmother or godmother has made. It will be just yours." And that was what I needed. My husband gave me the support and encouragement to try without feeling like I had to make one that was INCREDIBLE.

So, in the tradition of the many quilters in my life, including Grandma Martha whose machine is inspiring me, I have completed the top of my first quilt. Now the extremely intimidating part of basting and binding my quilt is left but I am so excited. And may have found, dare I say it, a crafty hobby. If I can figure out how to upload pics, I'll include those. I guess you just never know what the future can hold, or what the support of a loving husband can do.