Mar 2, 2009

Marvelous Monday Update 3/2/09

Stitchy Stuff
When I went to put away the specialty floss I received in my grab bags, I noticed I had a lot of Rainbow Gallery threads. Cruising the thrift stores over the weekend, I found this bronze embossed tin that I thought might work. I made a cardboard divider, and the tin works perfectly. Plus it's pretty!






I received this chart in a trade from Christine. Isn't he cute?






NOTE: Some of you may have noticed that I've been adding stash pics to my multiply albums. Just wanted you to know that I have not gone on a crazy stash-buying spree. LOL I've been organizing my charts and uploading them as I go through them. It's *almost* like getting new charts... looking through what I have. :D

I have my third finish of 2009! *happy dance*

Flip Flop Trivet
Designer: MCG Textiles
Time: 19.75 hours to stitch
Fabric: 18ct white aida
Fibers: DMC floss


Last but not least, the results of the giveway from last Marvelous Monday!




42 names into a bowl, 42 names...








Who will the winner be?? *drum roll*

PETRA!
Please email me with your address,
and the little giftie will be on it's way!


Tickety-Tickey-Tick
... is gone. So is the jingle-jangle of change in my pocketbook. The new supercharger arrived at the auto repair shop last Monday, right on schedule. It was installed on Tuesday. I should be good for another 100K, but if not at least the SC has a lifetime warranty.


Work
Remember the 3-day seminars I was a speaker at last December? I'd forgotten that I'd be getting a marketing bonus for doing it. So, on my latest paycheck was an extra $330... before taxes, of course. I bet you can guess where it went! Yep, it went toward paying for part of the SC repairs. Wasn't enough to cover it all, but every little bit helps.



The Economy
Yeah, it sucks all right. There's no if's and's or but's about it! Everywhere we look, businesses are cutting back... and so are consumers. Heck, we *have* to.


I, for one, am dumping as much as I can into my savings just in case I'm one of the unlucky ones who loses my job.

With this latest auto repair, I'll be looking into some 12-month, 0% financing credit cards and personally work up a payment schedule to get it paid off in the 12 months. These are great opportunities for people who can do it in the time frame offered, otherwise they are financially a BAD idea if you can't. I've done this many times in the past and it works for me to pay no interest and still get use of a product. It only works if one *can* pay it off in the time frame or else the consumer gets socked for interest charges accrued over the entire time period. That could be a painful, ugly thing!

I'll be cutting out some unnecessary expenses for a while so I can get the SC paid off as well as a couple of other bills. Why is it when we think we see light at the end of the tunnel, some unexpected expense crops up and throws a wrench (or in my case, a supercharger) into the mix?

I've even talked to my mom (who used to be a hairdresser many moons ago) about doing my hair, so I can avoid having to shell out $60 every 7-8 weeks. Luckily, my hairdresser of 10 years is understanding -and- she says I'm not the only one cutting back.

I have a couple of stash orders I'm waiting on, but after that... I'm putting myself on a stash diet. I *think* I have enough to keep me busy for a while. LOL It's really not so bad if this is my only vice, is it?? I mean, I'm not a clothes-aholic, a shoe-aholic, or even a purse-aholic. (LOL, look at me trying to justify my stash collection!) Must... stay.... strong... no stash... for a while.


School
*sigh* The rough draft of the class project is due today. As of 8pm last night, I still did not have the contribution of one member in our group. I am irritated to say the least since she said she'd have it to me Saturday night. Aside from this infamous class project, I've been doing really well on the homework and the tests.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Your finish is lovely Meari, well done!

Patricia Cecilia said...

Nice finish, Meari, but this week I really loved the tin idea for the Rainbow Gallery fibres--I just got the Petite Treasures for Angel of the Morning and couldn't think what to do with them!

Beth said...

I am in total accord with you on cutting back. I'm stitching from my stash as much as possible and only buying fibers WHEN I need them, no buying ahead anymore.

THat bonus came at an opportune time, didn't it?! I know every little bit helps! I'm waiting for the extra $250 that Social Security recipients are supposed to get. That's going straight towards the rest of the work my truck needs (tires and 30K service).

Hugs,
Beth

Debra said...

Oh the tin is great, what a find! Love the flip flops.
DLS

Danni's Thoughts said...

Ooof... sorry to hear about the SuperCharger. If I were you I would be very careful about using a CC with a zero percent for one year offer, as I have heard from a number of people on another group I am on that the cc companies have been trying to change the terms on those cards soon after they are taken out. I hope that you are able to find something that works for you.

I know what you mean about having to give up stash shopping... while I can not say that it is my only vice (the other ones are iTunes (particularly audio books and video), books and magazines, and eating out. I have been getting better about all of them, particularly stash since I have been almost completely perfect on the stash diet for the last year or so. I still need to really cut back, particularly on the eating out, as I am a temp, so job loss is a reality in my life, not a possibility. Good luck to you in cutting back your budget and getting your savings going-- you will be able to buy stash again real soon!!!!

Hugs,

Danni

Danni's Thoughts said...

I also wanted to say that I love the Flip Flop chart-- it is now on my wish list!!!

Good luck with the class project!

Danni

Vicky L said...

The tin is beautiful! I love it very much. You have such good luck find good buys. The flips flops are wonderful too.

Kathy said...

The flip flop trivet is cute. Nice job on the finish. Love the tin.
Good luck with the stash diet. :)

Irene said...

The tin is a great storage idea. Love the Flip Flops.

Lana said...

I like the tin idea for the floss! What a great find! i love looking through old charts too...as you said it is almost as satisfying to find old ones you forgot you had, it's almost like having new stash! Good luck with the project! I am in a crunch time with school right now too! Hang in there! You can do it!!!
ps...can I hang out on your blog just to listen to your music? Love it! =)

valerie said...

That was a great idea for your tin! And you managed a lovely finish. Sorry to hear about the car. I am on a stash diet and I try to reason that I have enough stash to keep be busy for the next 20 years! It's hard to buckle down!

Anonymous said...

Your finish looks great. The tin was a great find. And good luck with the stash diet, I'm trying to as wel :)
Katrien - ILCS

Stitcher said...

You know, I always say I'm going to go on a stash diet and then...well...stash happens! Everybody has got to stop showing me their nice stitchy things so this won't happen anymore! ;) Or maybe, I should stay off the computer? Oh, that would really suck...

Cool finish....makes me want summer!
Cool trade too!!

craftypatty2 said...

Love your tin I will be looking at them in a whole new light now thank you so much you always have great ideas.
HUGS
Patty

Shari said...

the flip flops are adorable!!!! Hopefully it will soon be warm enough for flip flops, but sure not today! The sun is shining brightly, but BURR!!!
Woohoo on the bonus in your check. That had to feel great!!!!!

Gabi said...

Beautiful tin, cute finish. Congrats to the winner for the give away. And I can relate on your thoughts of cutting back.

Kristin said...

That is a gorgeous tin!

Nancy M said...

I just got one of those CC offers and I am offering it to my son, who needs to take a year to pay off his CC bills. I too have used them plenty of times...why not use their money interest free if they offer? I still need to get some green fabric for my flip/flop chart, but I really need that summer project!!! So cold here today.

Debbie Jo said...

Nice find on the tin! Just the right size too. Love you trivet,,flip flops are cute. Glad you got the SC for the car and I understand stash diet very well. I have stayed on it so far.

Sorry to hear about the classmate dragging her end of the class projects. They can be a lot of fun when everyone does their part but a real PITA when they don't. Hope all turns out wonderful in the end.

Anonymous said...

Great job on the finish. I love that tin...great find.

Dawn said...

That tin is just darling!! What a great idea! I just love reading your musings! Great job on the flip flops!!

Mylene said...

Congrats on a beautiful finish.

Chiloe said...

42? :-o greedy people !!! lol

Me too I only have one vice and I love it !!! lol That's what it's good with the bad economy: we get to stitch our stash !!!

Congrats to the winner ;-)

Congrats for the bonus !!!!!

CJ said...

Hey Meari -

The box is lovely. What a great find. I knwo what you mean about the economy. I am limiting my "crafty" purchases to using my sub money only. I am hopeful that things will turn around soon.

CJ

Sharon said...

Love the finish! The tin was a great idea for the threads-very nice!

Carolyn NC said...

Love the tin and such a cute finish! Congrats to Petra. Good luck with the car repairs, finances, and school!

too_busy_to_stitch said...

Love the flip flops - I hear a Mill Hill kit on the same theme calling my name....boy do I need some summer.

Rebecca (Becky J) said...

I love the box you found, that is totally cool.

Anonymous said...

Hi Meari,
I received the scissor fob today. It's beautiful! Thanks again for having a contest, I'm happy with the fob, I love black and it'll go well with my black scissors...I have more than one ya know!
:)
Petra