Working on the triage principle, I put the baby quilt on hold yesterday (although the intended recipient was born yesterday, so now I'm even more in arears). The youth director at my church called me and asked me to make this black thing (that I'm still not even sure what its purpose is). And since he needs it tonight, I had to hop right on it.
The instructions I had to work with were these: make a black drape to hang from the ceiling of the Family Life Center auditorium, 29 ft. x 93 in. Something about showing movies, but I don't think he wants to show the actual movie on a black screen.
First, I had to make a trip to Hancock's to get the fabric. I was afraid cotton would be too flimsy to make something that large, so I bought 20 yards of black fleece. And that's what you see filling my sewing table, floor, ironing board, etc.
While constructing the thing, I had a couple of near disasters. I had set up my ironing board in front of my sewing table and placed my ironing table on top of the ironing board. The table was built to fit onto an ironing board. It's wide and long and will accommodate large pieces of fabric, albeit not as large as the one I was working with. And it's really heavy.
As you can see, the doggies found this soft fabric a wonderful place to play. I finally got them to stop playing on the fabric and was sewing along when KERBLAM!!! the sewing table tipped over with a great thunk onto the floor. I jumped up to look, and saw my little Skipper crawling out from under a great pile of black fleece. The large heavy wooden table had just missed him--thank God.
Later, I started down the stairs without turning on the light first and stepped on Sophie. I caught myself before I had completely squshed her--or fallen down the stairs, but she was distrustful of me the rest of the day, and I was a bit distrustful of myself.
The third victim of the day was me, even though I didn't fall down the stairs. I used more spoons than I had in my drawer and was more exhausted last night than I've been in a long time. My arms are still shakey this morning. Twenty yards of 58" polar fleece weighs a ton, or something like it.
But the black thing is finished, and I'll be delivering it today--if I can wrestle into the car. Then maybe I can work on something fun for a while.
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On 10/29/2010, ONE said ...
My poor lil' Susan! What a DAY you had! I hope THIS one is seriously better! And why on EARTH did someone volunteer YOU to do that big old project? I LOVE you & hope you get some rest, some FUN time, and some cuddle time with the doggy-sweeties!
On 10/29/2010, Joanne said ...
Uh--my goodness, Miss Agnes!
On 10/29/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
OH! Poor you and I have to agree that I'd never agree to a project that involved huge amounts of fabric, much less fleece that has to be sewn. I don't even make king size quilts for that reason.
I think it's fair to call the youth director to come pick the fleece screen up from your house.
If you have an Rx for Flexaril, do consider taking one.
We have laughed for decades at pets who love to be a micron off the floor by lying on whatever is on top of the floor. To have that "higher"surface be cuddly fleece must have been sheer delight for Sophie and Skipper!
So thankful that Skipper didn't get squished, that Sophie didn't get smushed, and that you didn't fall down the stairs.
Be good to you, sweetie!
On 10/29/2010, Laurie H said ...
Sewing all that black fleece doesn't sound like much fun. I had to write & tell you that I'm almost finished reading "Darling Jim" by Christian Moerk. I can't wait to find out the ending, but I know I will be sorry when it's over. I found out about this book from reading your blog. Thanks!
On 10/29/2010, Ladybug said ...
People have asked me to do projects for them and I have told them I will assist them with their project but I won't do it for them. Most of the time they don't realize how much time and energy it takes to sew. They assume you can just whip it up and its finished in the blink of an eye.
You should put your health and the well being of the puppies first. Besides that think of all the fleece dust!!!
On 10/29/2010, Brenda Kula said ...
Oh, our babies sure do keep us entertained and on our feet! Well, sometimes not on our feet maybe...
Brenda
On 10/29/2010, AnnieO said ...
Wowsers, that's a ***load of fabric to wrestle with! Glad you and the pups survived, and that a day of rest will put you right again.
On 10/30/2010, Kristine Walker said ...
If you haven't treated yourself to a visit to Shops of Grand River you really must go! Bass shoes is having a buy 1 get 2 free sale on shoes. Give yourself a fun-break:)
On 10/30/2010, Ruth said ...
What a job to do! You certainly earned many brownie points. Maybe you have to tell someone that you sold your sewimg machine!
Hope you have more energy and less pain today.
Ruth
On 10/30/2010, Cheri said ...
That doesn't look like a bit of fun to me, but, of course, no sewing looks like fun to me! My mother tried hard to teach me when I was growing up because she was an excellent seamstress, but it just wasn't me. Wish now I had tried harder!
On 10/31/2010, Debby Messner said ...
That was a way to big of a project for one person. Glad you survived but sorry it was so hard on your and your furry ones. Rest a couple of days before attempting the next project. ((((HUGS))))
On 11/13/2010, Kaye Swain - SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation said ...
Hi, I came to visit for Pink Saturday and so enjoyed reading other posts as well. Sounds like God is keeping you blessedly busy and what a gift you gave that youth director - awesome! Thank you for a delightful visit. Have a blessed week. You're in my prayers! :)
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