Sunday, January 04, 2009

First Photo, Sunday Stash and a Birthday Pay It Forward

Happy New Year! I hope everyone is enjoying the first days of the new year. It seems many bloggers are making resolutions and cleaning rooms. I have done neither. I'm in the middle of working 8 days in a row and then I have 4 of 5 days off. That's when I'll be cleaning and resoluting. (Is that even a word?) I can tell you that in 2008 I spent about $1,800 on quilting and sewing and then spent 457 hours playing. That comes to a little under $4 an hour spent for every hour of playing - a lot cheaper than therapy!

I took my first of the month photos on the first. The trees are still bare and there is still snow on the ground. We had a lot of snow in December and I guess it's here to stay for a few more weeks.
It's hard to believe we've lived in our condo for almost one year! We love it here and we've never regretted our decision to buy it.
Rather than decrease my stash, I actually added to it this morning. I belong to the local Freecycle list and last night a woman posted about having fabric samples to give away. Her DH is a furniture salesman. He had tons of old upholstery fabric samples. I couldn't resist. I know one of my goals for the new year is to go beyond quilting and cotton fabrics. What's better than free fabric to use for exploring? I picked up 3 bags of samples along with a pillow to recover. The bags have been put aside for now until I have a day off when I have time to sort through them.
Before Christmas I signed up for Pay It Forward at Terri's Bits and Pieces. When she replied she asked when my birthday is so I told her. It got me thinking that Paying It Forward as a birthday gift is a great idea.

So, if you would like a handmade, just-for-you gift on your birthday, please sign up for my Pay It Forward. You do not need to post your birthday in your comments. When I reply to you, I will ask for your birthday. The first three people who leave a comment on this post asking to join the Pay It Forward Exchange will be my players. They are agreeing to post a similar announcement on their blog, and Pay It Forward to three more people, who will in turn agree to Pay It Forward etc. You don't have to agree to send the PIF for their birthday. You just have to agree to do send a PIF gift within 12 months.

I'm also going to do a home-themed Pay It Forward on my home blog. If you'd like to sign up there for a different type of PIF, feel free to do so.

Happy Stitching!
Sweet P

9 comments:

Nancy said...

I LOVE freecycle. I will be watching to see what you make with those upholstery samples. I got some from a neighbor that works in a local furniture store. Mine are mostly 12x18 so am limited in what I can make. I did have a friend take some to make a couple of market bags.

Anonymous said...

It's been a while since I did a Pay it Forward. I would like to join. Is there still space?

Lurline said...

Happy New Year to you, too, Paula!Mmmmm - $1,800 not bad! You'll have to see if you can beat that this year, LOL! Sorry, I'm already committed in PIF, hope you get some nice players!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Lindah said...

"That comes to a little under $4 an hour spent for every hour of playing - a lot cheaper than therapy!" --That's a great way to look at it! Sure enough true. Happy New Year!

Rhonda said...

Free stuff is always a good thing. Just wanted to pop by to say Happy New Year.
Many blessings to you and your in this wonderful 2009.
Take care.

Unknown said...

I would love to join in with PIF but I am so far away. However, if anyone on your blog would like a swappa pen pal.. swap a fat quarter once a month or something I would love to have a penpal and share fabrics.

Paula, the quilter said...

Freecycle, for me, has been a so-so experience. Your fabric samples made think of the bag I made in this post. This post was actually one of my first posts ever! But you get the idea.

Jeni said...

Hi
I am trying to clean sewing room today... in between washing floors ...I need to get back into sewing swing next week
1st time I have visited your blog....I will be back
thanks Jeni

Mary Johnson said...

My sister-in-law's nephew is a decorator and gave me a bunch of fabric a few years ago - I just need to find time to play with it...lots of silks, satins, and decorator fabrics.