Being a Good Church Member (Very Nearly Without Complaint)

We have a church retreat and planning event all day today. I know it's important, but it's supposed to be really nice today, so I would rather be playing outside. OK, let me get honest: I would rather be playing in my craftroom with an occassional sojourn onto the sun porch for a cup of tea, a snack, and a good book. But, with Michele on the road, I will be the only representative of the Wescott clan that can attend and attend I will. I'm sure it will be fun and it's such an important activity, so I will enjoy myself. It's over at 3 and I have promised myself an uninterrupted evening of crafting, chocolate, audio books, and soda (with maybe some dinner thrown in there for good measure!)

This is where I'd rather be, but what's new? If I had my way, I'd be in here 24/7 365!

Ctrl + Z

I spend a lot of time on the computer. I am on the computer for my entire workday and then I come home and work on my store or write my blog or any number of other things that seem to need to be done on this wonderful machine. I love the convenience and access to people all over the world that the computer and internet have given me, but I also adore that feeling of the world receding and life slowing down when I sit at my sewing table. That being said, this evening, when I needed to cut 10 strips to 7.5" and I accidentally cut them to 6.5" my first thought was "Oh how I wish I could just press Ctrl + Z and undo that!"

On a completely unrelated note, I have been giving a lot of thought to my future career as a roller derby girl. Each derby girl gets to choose a number and a cool name, which is usually a play on words, like Thea Pocalypse, Bomb Voyage, and Harriet Clubman. I've decided that, as I am no triskaidekaphobic, that I would like to have the number 13 (which actually is and always has been my favorite number, simply because 'M' is my favorite letter and 'M' is the 13th letter in the alphabet!) and I've thought of a very cool name: Sojourner Ruthless!! Ain't I a woman, indeed!

The Cats Who are Not Away

I know my blog is titled "While the Cat's Away," but ever since Michele started her new career and is away from home so much, the real cats are never away from my side! In fact, Myah, is standing on my desk chair behind my back as I type. Castor likes to twine around my feet while I sew and often stands on my presser foot and starts my machine at the exact wrong moment, though I exculpate her from the incident during which I sewed through my finger - that was entirely my own fault. Now, Pollux, on the other hand, just sits quietly in this box across from my ironing board and stares at me. You gotta love cute kitties! (And Teresa, in case you were wondering, that IS the box you sent all the wonderful goodies in. I placed it there to reuse, but Pollux layed claim to it and that was the end of that!)

Clearing the Clutter

Those who have been following me for a while now probably remember following along on my tour of my craft room. Well, this room is the largest in the house (aside from the attic, which houses the other half of my crafting supplies!). One of the problems with having such a large space is that when it gets messy it takes a lot of time to clean and straighten it up. My predilection is to clean up after every project, but I've been so busy lately that I haven't taken the time to do so and things are just out of control. So, today is the day! I will end clutter's hold on my craft room and my creativity!! (Just as soon as I finish goofing off on the computer!)

Speaking of endings: today is the last day of the Fall Celebration giveaway, so if you haven't yet entered, now's your chance.

Craft Room Tour

Tomorrow a friend who heard a rumor that I have a pretty cool craft room is coming over for a tour. I figured since she's getting one, I'd give you all one, too. It is a pretty cool room, if I do say so myself - and it just happens to be the biggest room in the house (not because I am spoiled, but because I have the most stuff! The sad part is that half of my crafting stuff is up in the attic because I don't have enough room!) If you are interested, click on the pics to zoom in - it's fascinating, I know!

Let's start in my office alcove. This used to be a walk-in closet, but I thought that was a waste, so I took down the doors and made it my crafting office. I have had the desk since I was 10, but painted it orange just a few years ago. It was brown and that was all wrong!

Next we move to the back wall. I love these windows. I get so much light and air - see how my plants flourish! If the Home Depot guy who sold me these shelves saw them he would cringe, but I can't help it. If I see an empty space my soul aches until I fill it!

This is the other part of the back half of the room. It's space for my bead working and sometimes I sit in the polka dot chair and read for inspiration - that is if a cat hasn't already occupied the chair, sleeping furtively.

On the right wall, I house my bolts of batting, frames, glue, and other assorted sundries. I also package up any sold items here.

On the other side of the room, I do all my sewing. This ironing board and iron are primo! I asked for them for Christmas and reminded Michele constantly about them. The ironing board comes up super high so I can comfortably iron standing up without hunching over. And it goes really low so it can be level with my sewing table. I love it!!

This needs no introduction: my closet full of neatly ironed and organized fabric and neatly separated and crated scraps. Sometimes I just stand in here and breathe.

And last, but not least, my sewing area. I adore my sewing machine - another gift from Michele. Whenever I am near her, I am in bliss! After years of working on cast off tables, these work tables were heaven sent! They provide me with a massive amount of work space, but also fold up easily so that I can have a nice big clear space on the floor to work and really large quilts!

Well, that's about it for my room. It is my favorite room in the house and, not surprisingly, the only room I actually enjoy cleaning and clean regularly!

*Note: I would include today's Dictionary Word of the Day in this post, but Dictionary.com doesn't refresh it's word of the day at midnight (as it should), so I will have to wait until it is officially today (according the Dictionary.com) before I will know what today's word is. You will note that I did use yesterday's above (I think it actually was yesterday when I wrote it, too!)