12/26/12

Dull Day

It was kind of a ho-hum day after Christmas today.  I worked on some embroidery, and then did some work on the computer.  I made up a grocery list, and I needed to get to the post office.  We had good intentions about taking down the tree today, but it still stands as yet another monument of the Christmas tree's domination over humankind.

Around 1:00 Mike and I drove into town for a rip-roaring day of errands.  We needed some salt for our water softener equipment, and so we went to Home Depot for that.  While we were there we got a doormat for Matthew's house.  He left a couple of things at our house and so we went to see him to deliver said doormat along with the other stuff.  Then we went to the post office.  Are you excited yet?

After that...now get ready for the really exciting part...we went to Harbor Freight.  We went for something else, but I decided to pick up a packet of these carpet cutter blades.


I've heard that these will work in a rotary cutter, and these will fit the 45mm size cutter.  They were cheap at $1.99 for a pack of two.  A ten-pack of Olfa replacement blades is on sale this week at Joann for $34.19; so at a dollar a blade, these are significantly cheaper.  I've heard they will work fine.  I've also heard that they don't stay sharp as long.  As long as we were there, I decided I could afford $1.99 to give them a try.  (I dipped into my savings account.)  I'll let you know what I think after I've used them for a while.  

By then, I was hyperventilating with excitement so we decided (cue scary music) to go to a shopping mall.  I was looking for a magnetic bulletin board for my sewing room, but the traffic in the parking lot was too intimidating, and we headed home.  You'll notice that we never made it to the grocery store, but I'll do that tomorrow.  (Or maybe you nodded off already and didn't notice.)

When I got home, things picked up a little when I found a package from Kris, my partner in the doll quilt swap.

She was so sweet and wrapped my quilt up all Christmasy, including these little embroidery scissors.  Sweet!


The theme for this month's swap was "Signs of the Season".  Isn't this precious?  I love the fabrics she used.


Here's how it looks from the back:


I love this little quilt.  Thank you, Kris.  It's just as sweet as can be, and these fabrics are just wonderful.

So that's about all the excitement I could stand for one day.  I'll have to hit the grocery store tomorrow.  It's just one rip-roaring event after another here at the Three Cats Ranch.  I imagine you're tired just reading about it.  Go ahead.  Yawn if you must.

21 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Your day rivaled mine for thrills altho i actually went to the same drug store twice for two different reasons. Wow was it exciting or what-ski ?~!

I made a crochet hook holder and backed a quilt with grey linen-what great fabric to work with I l ove it already.

Happy day, Barbara, give that kitty Smitty a rub from CatCat... she wants to meet but refuses to travel so I don't know what she can do....

quiltzyx said...

I have bought those blades from Harbor Freight too - the first batch worked great, and I didn't notice any early dulling. The next bunch (I ordered online & got 10 pkgs each time), a lot of them seemed to have nicks in the blades. Oh well, still cheaper than JoAnn's!
Wonderful doll quilt! Simple, but just right.
I didn't do much of anything today. Did some dishes, made some hot chocolate, ate a sandwich, talked to my sister on the phone. (She loved her Christmas prezzie - a set of 3 Barefoot Contessa cookbooks) Amazingly, I did get dressed & took out the trash for pickup!

Rosa said...

Gorgeous doll quilt.Merry Christmas!

kc said...

Oh my, what fun! Our day was much the same...first we cleaned the microwave (again, you'd be surprised how bad (and LONG!) burnt biscuits can smell up the place), then ummm....gosh, I don't even remember. Perhaps I slept thru it?

Oh yeah, I packed up yet another plate of cookies for our friends at the kitchen counter place - I'm trying to bribe them into changing my stone out for free....no, it did not work...I found out they were charging me $200 restocking fee...OIKS, THAT woke me up!

Then we braved the W-M crowd to get some little candy-foil-cups (I do not know what their proper name is) on sale for next year's baking, then to Lowes, for filter for said burnt biscuit micro, then Pier1 for next year's neighbor present. All in all, pretty ho-hum.

But, back to your blades...I, too, found them to be significantly cheaper than other sources. And a HUGE waste of $2. (then again, a 20% restocking fee wasn't??) They were full of nicks, even worse than the old Olfa one I was using...I haven't been back to try them again. But, I did find some, brand new & name brand, still in original packing & all, on ebay, that were affordable.

Wonder what thrills today will bring for us both? I know that we are also planning a trip to the grocery store...but we LOVE our HEB. Hope it's a great one for y'all!

Lynette said...

What awesome snowman fabric!

Yeah - my day was mostly cleaning. A little play with a Christmas quilt kit that's really, really disappointed me overall. Some of the fabrics are not there, what is is less than what is listed, and the fabrics are not at all what is pictured. Not even good replacements - totally different colors and awful value levels. Having to go to my own stash for half of everything. But it'll be cute in the end. :)

Denise :) said...

I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts on the harbor freight blades. That snowman batik is the most darling fabric...fun, fun stuff! :)

Needled Mom said...

Somehow the outing sound more exciting than cleaning and laundry ;)

I have used the blades. Some work great and some get dull really quickly, but they are cheaper than the Olfa ones.

Quilting Babcia said...

Your dull sounds like excitement to me, sitting here like PegLeg the sailor, lol! If you need a little excitement, Boersmas is having a blowout sale today thru Saturday, 35% off all regular priced fabric throughout and 50% off all Christmas fabrics! What a fantastic doll quilt!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

What a cute doll quilt. I have several pairs of those cute scissors. They are GREAT! I have some of the Harbor Freight blades. They are ok, especially considering the cost vs. Olfa. Your post reminded me that I need to go upstairs and grab a new blade for the cutter before I head out to the sew in today. Lots of cutting, no sewing for me today.

Diane Wild said...

Your day beats mine. Went to the opthamologist for a lingering eye infection for which he prescribed drops. When asked where I wanted the scrip filled, I suggested Walmart as I had to stop there anyway. After standing in line at the pickup window for 15 min. I got up to the counter and was directed to the drop-off window where I was told they didn't have the drops. Grrr. They called around and told me HyVee had them and when I asked for the scrip to give to HyVee they told me HyVee would have to call Walmart. Two things you must know. My small town does not have a drug store any longer and I vowed a while back to boycott Walmart. But someone had to give me a gift card from there. 'nuff said.

Love your little quilt. Today will be better. I'll put away the tree.

Snoodles said...

I WISH my days were as "ho-hum" as that....I could definitely do without a lot of the stress we've had lately, but I know God will work things out if I am patient and try to help in little ways. I have a lot of things to work at in my own self, after all.
Love the doll quilt, and would love to hear your thoughts after using the blades.

Snoodles said...

Oops, I forgot to report on yet another Christmas tree's domination of fragile humankind....ours went up in the stand and never got decorated. LOL Now it sends out tree disapproval whenever I walk in the room. Have I mentioned that I avoid going in that room?

“Old World Goodies” said...

I've also bought some of these blades but so far have not had to chance to use them.
The main fabric in the mini quilt is awsonme, have not seen his one yet, in any of my stores around me. Good job Kris

WoolenSails said...

You will have to let us know how the blades work, they are so expensive. Love your quilt gift, that fabric is so fun.

Debbie

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Your day was way more exciting than mine. We stayed home and off the thawing roads. I am interested in how the blades work!

Rachel said...

Great doll quilt! Can't wait to hear the blade review! I read it all, feel good, you accomplished more than we did, LOL!!

Cheryl said...

I was interested to hear what others had to say about the Harbor Freight Blades...I picked some up after some internet hype and was really disapointed. You get what you pay for in this case. I pick up 5 packs with my coupon at Joanns...because a sharp blade is a real joy!

Kate said...

It is hard to do anything that rivals Christmas. At least you found something new to try. Hopefully you will be able to get in an exciting day of sewing.

The doll quilt is really pretty.

Betty said...

At least you got out of the house! In the past two weeks I have been out twice, once to the grocery store Sunday and once to MIL's house for Christmas Eve dinner.
Yesterday I ate leftovers, did laundry and sewed a cover for a travel pack of tissues. Exciting stuff!!

Anonymous said...

I've never found the blades in the local Harbor Freight, but a friend of my husband's sharpens mine for me on a sharpening wheel. I save them up and send him 20 or so at a time. I've gotten a lot in classes. Some people just throw them away, but I save them and send them for resharpening. They can be resharpened a lot of times, and even with postage, it's LOTS cheaper than buying new ones.

evelyn said...

I bought a blade sharpener at my local fabric shop. It works great. I have been using the "sharpened blades" and had no problem.
Love your "doll" quilt.