Stash Report: Week 3

It's SNOWING!!  Yay!  We don't have much yet, but more is predicted.  I am so stoked.  Can't wait to get outside with my camera . . . just as soon as I get out of my pajamas.  Yes, it is after 11:00 a.m. as I write this, but it is also Sunday . . . which means I stay in my pajamas as long as I possibly can . . . just like on all those other days.  Oh, and I suppose it would make sense to put on something else over my birthday suit while I'm at it.

So, let's see.  Well, fabric in this week.  And there will be more next week.  It hasn't arrived yet, and so I won't count it until it hits my doorstep.  Thankfully, almost all of it is already spoken for.  This week's yardage is intended to make a quilt back for my Checkerboard Flowers quilt, which was finished nearly an eternity ago.

Fabric Used this Week: 2 yards
Fabric Used in 2012: 5 3/4 yards

Fabric Purchased:  8 1/2 yards
Total Fabric Purchased in 2012: 8 1/2 yards

Net Purchased in 2012: 2 3/4 yards

Not so bad.  That 8 1/2 yards will disappear within the next two weeks, and then I'll be back in the minus column.

So I couldn't miss this opportunity to tell you about the best tool I've found in 2012.  I've been looking for a way to get more light on my work.  I've looked at all the little mini lights that hook over your ear and onto your sewing machine.  Most of them have limited battery power, expensive batteries, not enough light, etc.  There always seems to be some reason that I reject them.  Then Mike got the bright idea (pun intended) to look at head lamps on the REI website.  I was quite taken with this Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp. 

It has a bright LED lamp that can be recharged without removing any batteries.  You just plug the whole shebang into the wall and charge away.  The lamp itself tilts down so that you can put the light right where you want it.  You can get 64 hours of use on low and about 5 hours on high.  Also, it has a flashing red light on the back (which can be turned off) so that if you're out walking or running while sewing, cars can see you as they approach.  I haven't found this to be too much of a problem, living on country roads as I do, but you never know.  Fast-flying cats can see me while I sit on the couch too.

Now, it will flatten your hair.  I've ameliorated the problem by attaching the head strap and loosening the strap that goes around my forehead.  That way it sort of sits on my head more like a hat than a strap.  Still, I wouldn't want to use it if I were getting gussied up to attend my prom or something.  (Beware . . . scary picture ahead.)  Now you know I must like this item if I'm willing to post this picture of myself wearing it.  (I gave up on vanity long ago.  It was futile to continue down that road.)

This item is just a little spendy, but you can get a 6% cash back rebate if you click through on Ebates.  (And if you don't know about Ebates, you really should spend some time poking around there.  It's a great sight for online shoppers.  Questions happily answered.)

And as long as I'm posting pictures of my hand-sewing exploits, I might was well say here and now that George believes he is entitled to free and full access to my lap at all times.  Some people have a morning cup of coffee . . . I have a morning lap of cat.

George doesn't so much as like my hand-sewing time in the mornings as he tolerates it.  Hand-sewing just means that my lap is more or less horizontal for a good portion of time in the morning, and he's okay with that.

Also, today is the last day to enter my giveaway to win the CutRite Bind Up Tool.  I'll give you until 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time) today, and then I'll close it off and choose a winner.  Go right here to enter.

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