Quilting again

I wasn’t sure I ever would but I believe I’ve finally started settling into my new nest.  When I moved to this house I had decided to take some steps away from everything and come back as a whole new person.  I set myself some personal goals and business goals then went about achieving them.

My most important goal was to regain my health and rid myself of high stress.  I knew I couldn’t be healthy unless I stopped listening to other people and took control over my own health.  Moving was just the first step to relieving the stress because living in a high crime area is very stressful.  Leaving all that far behind me feels so much better.  Sure there is crime everywhere but at this new house I’m not constantly worried about getting shot while sitting alone in my own home.  I’m no longer dropping to the floor everyday at the sound of gunshots.  That’s hard on old bones ya’ know.

Bullet hole in window of house next door to the old house. It just barely missed a toddler.

I’m happy to say my worst health issues are behind me too.  My A1C level at one time was 11.6 but is now at 6.2.  If you are not familiar with those numbers it means my diabetes is almost at pre-diabetic level.  My doctor is proud of my progress and I may be taken off all my medications at my next doctor appointment.   I went from 235 pounds top weight to 165 pounds currently.  I have 30 more pounds to loose before I’m back to my pre-diabetic weight.

A bean pie, a carrot pie, and fresh out of the oven loaves of bread. I don’t believe that diabetic eating has to be bland and boring?

I’ve gotten rid of lots of STUFF.  Anyone who has been reading my blog for awhile may remember how STUFF plagued me at the old house.  The stuff bothered me so much it took on a life of its own and became STUFF instead of stuff.  I’d rid myself of lots of STUFF only to find more came to replace it.  The STUFF moved with me.  STUFF took up so much room in this new house that I couldn’t settle into my nest.  Each week I take one day to sort and purge.  I like to think STUFF and I went on a diet together.   Both of us are getting thinner.

I spent more time with my frugal living blog than this one while adjusting to having a monthly mortgage payment again along with higher living expenses.  Its a struggle for sure.

Before my move I had begun to loose my teeth due to my diabetes and bad eating habits.  I decided it would be best to have them all pulled.  Its taken a year of visits to the dental school but I’m happy to say I have new teeth.  I’m in the process of learning to actually live with them.  I’ve been told its going to be a slow process.  The teeth still don’t fit together as they should.  I’ll live with these for awhile so I’ll know what to discuss with a dentist for a new set in the future.

Another goal was to relieve myself of the stress of being a longarm quilter.  When I moved I completely stopped quilting except for commitments already scheduled.  I stopped quilting for customers and stopped quilting for myself.  No piecing of quilts either.  I posted on this blog only occasionally because I wanted to clear my mind (to create a blank slate) and come back with fresh new ideas.  I wanted to start my quilting business all over again with no residual memories of the way it used to be.

I had hoped to begin quilting again right after the first of January but I had no idea how difficult starting a whole new quilting business could be.  When I first started my business years ago things were much different than it is today.  My years of experience have taught me many valuable lessons.  One is how important communication is between longarm quilter and customer.

I’ve spent the last couple of months working out details of intake forms, waiting list, customer instructions, and pricing.  There are more details of behind the scene things to be worked out.  I’ve finally dusted off the quilting machine and started putting names on a waiting list.  You can see three new links on the side bar of my blog.  Machine quilting prices, Quilt waiting list, and Preparing your quilt.  Have a look and tell me what you think.  Yes, I’m interested.  Did I forget something that should be put there or mis-spelled a word?

I’m still working on a very detailed intake form, better income and expense tracking sheets, and new business cards.  The business cards are the most difficult for me.  I know how I want it to look and what I want it to say but I just can’t seem to get it right on paper.  So frustrating.

That’s it for today.  I have on the machine the last of the 2016 quilts.  The owner is due back from her winter vacation home soon and will want to pick it up.

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