Caitlin’s Neighborhood

so about 4 hours after I wrote the last post my dad passed away after a very very sudden and unexpected surgery. I don't really know what to say.
but this one is for you Dad

Two weeks vacation has gone like a wind. On Monday I am going back to work. Busy times is ahead with preparing for a tourist season, and yet the financial difficulties is really taking its toll on the tourist industry in Norway. And I am sure we are not the only ones feeling the effect.
On a more personal level I really feel the financial crisis too. Interest rates on my loans skyrocketed, and I am struggling to pay the extra 200 $ a month. If I hadn't had a generous dad who payed for my trip to the states in March I would probably not have been able to go. And I am sooooo looking forward to finally visiting my girl. We have talked on a daily basis for 6 months now, more or less 24 hours a day we have skye open. Which means we really get to know each other. She can listen to me sleep if she wants, she is the one waking me up in the morning, she is the last person (usually) I hear the voice of in the evening before going to sleep - that is - if she isn't at work. She gets to know the sounds of my apartment when I am gone - she probably knows my neighbour's daily routines better than I do.
I love getting to know her sounds, all tones of her voice and what they mean. I feel like I know her - and yet I dont know her at all. Cause I have never seen her body language, I have never seen her face brighten up with a smile or laugh because something I said was silly. Which is all the time. I have seen all kinds of pictures.
visiting her will be amazing. And we will have almost 3 weeks.

I am thinking 2009 will be a good year. :)
Here's a wish for all of you - I hope your 2009 will be as great and wonderful as you are hoping.

Where did time go? I cant believe how quickly this past year has gone by. When things change around me I have more than enough with just clamping my hands to the rollercoaster cart and hope I'll get through it in one piece. And let me tell you - the rollercoaster I have been on lately is the best one for ages. there are changes going on, and I love it.
First of all - the new job I have is great. Fun, educational, stressful but great. I have had to learn so many things - I thought I was organized and accurate before I started this job. Im not. *lol* I m disorganized and forgetful - and I need to change that. I wikll tho and have hopes for the next season. Secondly - I met someone. I am in love again and that feels amazing. She is funny, cute as a button, has the most wonderful voice, giggles like a schoolgirl and has the most gorgeous eyes I have seen. And she loves me too. Only problem is - she is in CT USA and I am in Norway. Damn. Thats a 6 hour time difference and a loooooooooooooong flight away. Thank god for Skype. I m on skype almost 24/7 - and no I am not kidding. *lol*
thats not all the changes going on - I am more confident, I am out to my friends and family at last, And I am not afraid of being myself. Online or anywhere else. Im done hiding. So - without more ado - here I am. Latest pic of me - only a few days old. It's good to be back!

Hello everyone! I'm alive!

I'm watching this movie on SciFi called NYC: Tornado Terror. It involves cute little baby tornadoes turning into your average everyday twisters. Except, you know, in New York.

You will never believe this, but I finally got a job! I'm a CSR for Restoration Hardware. My official hire date is August 7th so I've been there almost 2 months, which I can't believe that much time has already gone by. It's not highly difficult, but well this is a public journal so I won't say more. lol

I'm still selling Avon as a side project and as far as I can tell I'm the only one at my work who does. I've been told that once word gets around I'll have orders up to my eyeballs. whooo!

Not much more to say, nothing I can think of anyway. I'll be back. If I remember. lol

Originally published at caitlin childs (dot) com. You can comment here or there.

While down in Bishop for my sister's wedding last weekened, I had the opportunity of visiting the town of Bodie, CA. The old mining town was abandoned in the earth 1900's and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It was quite eerie to wander around the town: it seemed like many of the buildings had been abandonded abruptly with furniture, clothes, bottles of alcohol, etc. having been left behind.

I seem to have forgotten all about my vox account. Whoops. haha I was only reminded of it when someone started following me on Twitter and had a link to their vox.

Everything is the same with me. Still have no real employment. Still selling Avon. Still living with my mom and her loud ass of a boyfriend. Blah.

Yes I'm alive. lol I still haven't found a full time job, so I've been doing what feels like a million and one part-time things. Avon, Ploose, selling website memberships, office work for my dad, etc, etc.

Ok that's all I've got. If you're interested in buying Avon, please check out my online shop. There's a special for free shipping with any purchase over $10 going on right now.

youravon.com/juliewaters

Originally published at caitlin childs (dot) com. You can comment here or there.

Last week I visited my older sister up in Portland and was stoked to find out that she was thinking about getting a kitten. Boots was just over 4 weeks old and had only been off his bottle for a day and a half before she took him home. I had a lot of fun going shopping for kitten supplies and playing with him. He may still be small, but he's a little tiger! Boots had a great time pouncing on the feathers on a stick toy we got him and his little mouse on a string.

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Originally published at caitlin childs (dot) com. You can comment here or there.

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For this project I cut my front and backing fabric to 12.5"x16.5" rectangles.

To add a bit of volume and weight to the placemats I used this fantastic Warm & Natural cotton batting. I cut the batting a 1/4" smaller around than the top and backing fabric for a 16"x12" rectangle.

After cutting, lay the three layers out and iron flat.

I used a free form amoeba like pattern when quilting the layers together. It's important to make sure that the layers stay flat together while quilting, to make sure that the placemat will lay flat after quilting.

Once the layers are quilted together iron the placemat flat again.

After having been quilted and ironed flat, your placemats are ready for binding.

I used a pre-folded double fold bias tape to create the bound edge on these placemats. There are several ways to attache the binding, I pinned mine in place and sewed straight down, making sure that the thread was correctly sewing on both the front and back of the placemat.

I created a (admittedly inexact) mitered corner by folding the bias tape in on itself. One hint for the process is to fold it in place and then continue sewing straight to the corner. When you get there, leave the needle down in the fabric, raise your presser foot, and rotate the placemat 90º then lower the presser foot and continue sewing.

Placemats make great presents for birthdays, christmas, and especially housewarmings. Enjoy!

Originally published at caitlin childs (dot) com. You can comment here or there.

Safari West, one of the coolest places in Sonoma County, held a series of Winter Open Houses and I used the opportunity to take my friend Dani and her daughters with me to check out all of the animals. Safari West houses and breeds dozens of endangered species and they're one of the only private facilities to be members of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

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