Pages

Friday, July 31, 2020

Last Day

Today is my last day in the lab.  
It begun with a complete surprise.  
My BFF decorated my bench and desk with "Happy Retirement" stuff.  
Her card made me cry, especially with what was written inside.

This is my desk and the computer I will MISS SO MUCH!






 This is my lab bench. 


"*Most* of us will miss you.  LOL, so true!






The bunny with the hat...priceless!


***this had me crying***




This is what my boss and his wife gave me.  
She is a quilting friend on top of a co-worker.
She made me some beautiful pillow cases!  
They gave me a generous gift and the sentiments written in the card meant so much to me!!



I will be coming back part time, working remotely only a few hours a week.
It's difficult to walk out today after 36 years!
I will miss many things but am so looking forward to my retirement!

~XOP~


Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Life Events

There are so many BIG life events happening for me right now.
The biggest one (after the grandbaby)is my retirement.  
My last full day of work is this Friday.
My official retirement date is August 7, but I am taking a week of vacation time.

I have so many mixed feelings about retiring.
I have worked at the University of Michigan for over 36 years now.
I love working in science.
I have enjoyed all the different people I have come to know and made lifelong friendships.
These arrived yesterday from my daughter.
Made me cry.


It was particularly special to me that she thinks so highly of me.
I can't really put into words how much knowing this means to me.


 Today I was working at my desk and turned my head and there were three of my co-workers standing to the other side of me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers!  


 I met my best friend at work.
We used to work across the hall from each other.
She was in a clinical lab and I was in a different research lab.
We lost our funding and I needed a new lab.
Our administrative person found me a position in the lab I am in now.
Then we needed another person to fill a position so I suggested her.
They hired her and the rest, as they say, is history.
For much of my career, people would call us by the others name.
We had a lot of great adventures together in the lab.
Since Covid, we have been on different shifts.
I miss seeing her everyday and spending 8 hours talking off and on.

We spent the day together with our husbands last Friday on their new pontoon boat.
I am looking forward to spending more time together like this (not at work)
She is a few years behind me for retirement but looking down the path!


It is interesting where life takes you.
Having been a Spartan all my life I would never have guessed I would work at the other school.
It has been a great journey and I am looking forward to my new adventures.

Thanks for everything, Michigan!

Peace out!

~XOP~


Thursday, July 23, 2020

Block of the Week

Lest you think it's all about baby (which it pretty much is at this point) 
I am still working on the block of the week blocks.  
Not very regularly and very slowly but still, LOL.

I finally cut out 13-18 the other night. (18 is not pictured).  
One of my goals this week is to get them all sewn.  


I finally got these all sewn up last night.  Here you go, ready?







I am loving how these are turning out.  
It will be interesting to see this quilt come together.  
I have 18/52 blocks done.  
We are getting the patterns one week at a time.  I am caught up so far. 
 I'm curious to how they will have us put them together.

~XOP~



Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Oh Baby!

My daughter and son-in-law had some photos taken recently.
I chose just a few of my favorites to share with you.
Baby is due October 8





 The mother godess pose.  I loved it!


I loved the expression on her face in this picture


 This is one of my all time favorites.  The lighting was so cool and her face was priceless.


Photos were taken by Nick's mom, and I think she did a great job.

Can't wait to meet our grandson in October!

~XOP~


Monday, July 20, 2020

Mask Making

I have had several folks stop me and ask about the masks I have been wearing.  
I found a great pattern on Tiana's Closet (her simple mask) and then I modified it.  
I am going to post a step by step tutorial for the masks I have made here, using my modifications.

First thing is to make a template.  

I used a piece of cardboard and cut a rectangle 7.5" X 10.5".  
I measured in 1.5" at each corner and drew a line to connect the dots 
(use your 45 degree line on your ruler for accuracy!) 
and then cut off the corner on all 4 sides.  
Voila!  You have a template to use!  

When I do the cutting though, I always put my ruler on top of the cardboard so I am less likely to shave off some of the cardboard.  
I have had success cutting up to 8 fabrics at the same time.  
Minimally cut the 2 fabrics you plan to use, RST (right sides together) 
to ensure everything matches up.

OK ready?  

Choose your inside and outside mask fabric and put RST.  
Put the template on top of them and cut around the template using your ruler as a guide.




Time to sew!  
With right sides facing each other sew across the diagonal corner and continue down the long side to the other diagonal corner.  
Sew the other side the same way.  
Both short ends should be open.  
Remember to backstitch when you start and stop as that area will have a little stress when you turn.


After you have sewn each long edge turn the mask so right sides are facing out.
I run my finger along the sewn line from the inside to poke out the corners.
I then set the mask on my cutting mat and finger press the seams so they are flat.
Once I am sure the seams are pushed out all the way I press them flat with my iron.


Press your mask in half along the long axis.


Fold each long edge in to meet in the middle and press


Take mask back to the sewing machine and topstitch along the folded edge


Next we will prepare the area for the elastic.  
Sometimes the short edge gets a little bit raveled.
You can see that in the photo above.  
Before I begin the folding step, I like to clean up that edge. 
 I put my ruler along the short edge and trim the edge to clean it up and 
make sure both fabrics are even.
Now you will fold over the raw edge once ~ 1/4" and press.


Next you will fold over that edge again and press.  So you fold that short end 2 times.


 We are now ready to work with the elastic.  
I cut my 1/4" elastic around 7 1/2"-8".  
To see what you like best you can play with the length.
 Just pin the elastic in place before you sew it.  
Once you determine the length you like cut 2 for each mask.

 Insert your elastic ~1/4' into the casing you created.


I like to secure the elastic end by sewing back and forth 6 times over the elastic.  
If I start on the fold side that is loose and sew 6 times I end up back where I began.
This is important for the next step.


Keep your needle down in the fabric to turn the mask and continue sewing the loose fold down. 
 Sew all the way to the very end of the fold, inserting the elastic just like you did at the other end of the mask, as you get close to the end.  
With the needle still in the fabric, back stitch until you are at the stitch line you can see near my finger in the picture.


As you can see in this photo I have backstitched about 1/4" back.  Turn the mask again with the needle still in the fabric and stitch back and forth 7 times.  This time you will end up on the outside of the fold and can put your needle up and cut your stitches. 
(Unless you are chain piecing your masks, in which case you would just sew the next one)


This is what the end on the inside of the mask looks like.


This is what the outside of the end of your mask should look like.


Ans THIS is what the mask will look like on your face!
Notice you have created a flap that goes over your nose and one that goes around your chin.



 I hope this tutorial is helpful.  Feel free to share with your friends!

Friendly reminder: Don’t ever think that having a mask means you are 100% safe from the COVID-19 virus. It only provides partial protection. Practice social distancing, personal hygiene, and wear masks the right way.

~XOP~