The Great Project Challenge of 2008

John knows me very well. He knows that I need a little outside motivation now and then to get things done. That's why I always did so well in school--the motivation of a grade was enough for me. Left to myself, I'm a pretty lazy person.

Anyway, in an attempt to motivate me and also to reclaim the fireplace (good luck!), which is currently covered by my sewing and project stuff, John has made me a deal. If I can finish 200 projects in the next year, he will pay my $5 a project, $1000 for the year, to go toward a new quilting maching for me. This motivates me in two ways: 1-I will do a lot of things for a little money, just ask me about the $5 story that was so successful for John in the beginning of our relationship, and 2-I really want either a new quilting machine to quilt my quilt tops or a fancy quilting sewing machine to do my sewing on.

Now this is a lot of projects, almost 20 a month. They don't have to be big projects, and I have easily that many projects already bought at my house. And I may not make it, but I will have fun trying. I like a good challenge.

So here are my first few projects:

Project #1: A Space Rag Quilt for my new nephew Benjamin. I almost had this one done when the challenge started on August 5.

Project #2: Quilt Block-of-the-month for August. My mom and I take a class and I do one a month so this will be a recurring theme.

Project #3: "The Five Dollar Success Story"--a transcript of my journals, beginning when I met John and going through our first five years of marriage (my 10 year anniversary present to him). I was really excited about this one. I've been working on it all year. John has mild dyslexia so he really can't read handwriting and I had a vision of me dying and him not being able to read my journals about our life together (since he really didn't keep a journal back then). It was a great project and I loved doing it. I'm going to keep working on from 5 years on and add his blog entries, from when he started writing on his blog, and eventually we'll get it bound like a real book.

I have several other projects done but they're presents that I haven't given yet so I'll have to wait to post them. All in all, I've got 9 done at present. But lots in the works. I'll post more as I finish them. It should be fun. John's a good guy who really knows how to get me going. I love him!!

Thanks Grandma!!

Grandma Oaks sent me a package in the mail. I loved all the things she sent me. She sent me an apple slicer which I've tried already and both me and the girls think is really cool. She also sent me a bag to put my plastic bags in that we use for garbage bags. It is great. And, last, she sent me an Apple Jacks dish towel that is super cute. I love breakfast cereal so this is right up my alley. Anyway, thanks Grandma! I love all of it!!

Ode to the Original Adam Payne

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this is a really long poem. See ya soon, Adam.