In other news, one of my Aunts (Ants?) called me the other night to tell me about a surprise dinner/party she’s going to have at her house on the 21st of November to celebrate my Grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary. So, that has me thinking of making something for them. I am thinking maybe a pillow, a small wall hanging, a table runner, or something along those lines. Maybe doing some hand embroidering of hearts and/or flowers. Maybe putting a saying on there like “60 years of love”, “Happily ever after”, “All you need is love”, “Forever and always” etc. You get the idea. Or do you? Do you have any ideas or suggestions? I always need help making decisions. LOL! I was looking online earlier today to get some ideas/inspiration/motivation. I want to be able to do all or at least most of it by hand, since I’m still sick and have been needing to be in my bedroom, hooked up to my ventilator/oxygen so much lately. (For those that don’t know, I usually only use my vent and oxygen to sleep and/or lay down. When not sick, I am able to breathe fine without them both throughout the day, but when sick, I need to use them more often.)

My “craft room” is in our spare bedroom and there is no way for me to be in there, while using the vent, to use the sewing machine. I unhooked from my vent for a little while earlier tonight and went in my craft room for a few minutes. I wanted  to look through all of my fabric to pick out the fabrics and materials I’m thinking of using. I’ve had this round pillow form for like two years now that I’ve been wanting to make a cover for, but just haven’t yet. I could use that if I do in fact decide to make them a pillow. I don’t know if I do want to make a round pillow though. I’m thinking more along the lines of a heart shaped pillow or a stuffed heart decoration to hang on the wall, from their fire place mantel, a door knob or something. My boyfriend will be gone all day tomorrow (as he is most Saturday’s) to go to his RC (Remote Control Car) races, so this is most likely what I’ll be working on all day, while I am home alone and have nothing else to do.

Oh! I made my 6th sale on Etsy the other day. A guy from Canada bought the queen sized quilt that my mother had made for me to sell. He bought it for his fiancee. I have to ship that out within the next week. I got the box ready for it earlier tonight. Sort of. I need my boyfriend to buy some packing tape sometime this weekend. I’ll most likely get it all packed up this weekend and then ask either my boyfriend to bring it to the post office for me on his lunch break on Monday or ask my “cleaning lady” to take it there for me when she comes on Monday. She’s a “Personal Care Person” or “Aid”. I don’t know what they are called officially. She comes once a week to help me with things that I can’t do, like run errands, do the laundry, clean the bathroom or vaccuum.

More good news. I had applied for a grant from the Harry Gregg Foundation back in August to get money to help me purchase a portable, electric wheelchair and I found out the other day that I was approved for the money! I contacted the company(1-800-wheelchairs) that I am ordering the wheelchair from and they are going to send me an invoice. I then have to send the invoice to the people at the Harry Gregg Foundation and they will send the payment to 1-800-wheelchairs. Shortly after that I will have my very own portable wheelchair! Then I will be able to go out and not have to be pushed around in a manual wheelchair anymore! I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost four years now and I think we have only been out shopping and/or to dinner and such a handful of times without him needing to push me around everywhere! I can’t wait to have my independence back!

I think that is all for now. I wasn’t planning to make such a long post tonight, but look at me rambling on and on!

More another day! Take care!

Love Jessica Always.

I made my very first quilt in my tenth grade Home Economics class. By then I was more in touch with my girly side so I chose different shades of purple fabrics with varying flowery prints and made it in an Around The World pattern. I still have it to this day.

After that I kind of lost interest in quilting. I was more into hanging out with friends and chasing boys. And still not willing to learn how to do any of the crafts my mother was doing.

In 2001, after I graduated high school, and a two month hospital stay, I suddenly wanted to make another quilt. So, I did. This time choosing pink and white fabrics. After that I made a black and dark blue quilt and gave it to my brother Jason that Christmas. Then once again, I lost interest.

My mother moved to MN in 2002 and I went to live with my father. I tried college for a couple of years, but that wasn’t for me. In 2006 I met my boyfriend Corey and six months later we moved into this apartment together. About a year and half ago I started getting the creative itch again and wanted to get back into sewing to give me something to do while Corey was at work. I didn’t have a sewing machine though. I mentioned it to my grandmother and two aunts, who also sew, and one day while at my grandparents house my great Aunt surprised me by giving me her spare sewing machine. Soon after that I found a woman on Craigslist that was selling all of her fabric for a dollar a yard. I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. I explained to Corey how good a deal that was and he brought me to her house one day where we spent a couple of hours going through piles of fabric. We ended up buying sixty dollars worth.

Now all I needed was a desk to put the sewing machine on. We found one not too long after that and my craft room was finally set up. I started sewing but was quickly frustrated with the machine giving me trouble every time I tried using it. Last year, noticing my frustration, Corey bought me a brand new sewing machine of my own. Finally I was able to sit down and successfully sew a quilt. I started making baby/lap sized quilts and pot holders. Later on I started making stuffed bunnies, bears and cat toys. All of which are in my Etsy shop right now @ www.lovejessicaalways.etsy.com

Love Jessica Always