Quilting: Not Just For Your Grandmother

Every summer, I try to take on a new "project" that I may or may not actually complete during my time off. I forget exactly what my project was last summer - which means I didn't complete it. Maybe it was to get all my summer work done in advance, or knit a complete sweater inspired by Mrs. Weasley. The point is, this summer, my last summer before the infamous College, I actually need to get this silly project done.

So of course what do I do? Go to Jo Ann Fabrics and buy a completely gorgeous but impractical steampunk fashion pattern for this complicated dress and corset. Because I'm definitely going to be able to make that in one summer...

To save myself from feeling like a complete failure, I also bought some very cute and soft flannel, and I'm going to try my hand at quilting! It can't be that hard - I have a sewing machine, so all I have to do is sew lots of straight lines, right?

Yeah no. That's what I thought and that was a lie. I got some quilting books out of the library and it's WAY more complicated than that. You have to cut identical sized pieces, or else pieces that line up somehow, and pin them together, and press them, and then sew them and then press the seams and then sew them the other way and then when that's all done you have to put it on the batting in a "quilt sandwich" and sew it to the backing and then sew allll over the top of it. And then put on edging.

What have I gotten myself into?

The end goal is to actually sell the baby quilts that I'm making. We're going to be craft-fairing this summer, so I actually have to get good at this. I have the attention span of a gnat but we're going to see how this works out!

Perhaps I will actually finish a summer project... (I don't think I've ever actually done that before, but I usually start about ten "Summer Projects" per summer.)

In other news, I'm going to be in Switzerland for the midnight release of the new Harry Potter movie. Which was super disappointing until I realized I might actually get a chance to go see Harry Potter in EUROPE. Which is quite thrilling in itself. If only I were going to the UK instead of to Switzerland, I could see the movie days before all you American people... Darn.

As we gooo onnnn, we reeemmeeeemmmberrrr....

So I've officially graduated from high school, and also finished up the play that happened after graduation so technically was the last thing I ever did in high school, and I have my diploma and my Clark-themed cap, and I know what preorientation program I'm doing...man, it's really hard to believe that I'm what they consider an "adult" even though all this stuff has happened and I'm about to be thrown out into the world.

I mean, can you believe it?

No. Didn't think so. I can't either. I'm not really sure why you can't believe it, but for me? I just don't feel ready! Sure, I'm super excited to get away from home and I really need the space. But that means I have to do things On My Own. Very scary concept. God, I sound like a five year old going to kindergarten for the first time. But honestly that's a little bit what I feel like - college is going to be all new, and very exciting. People I don't know, teachers I don't know...except in kindergarten you don't move into a dorm. And they still give you nap time, and you don't get recess, but you DO get lots of free time, so you can have nap time and recess, and snacks and stuff.

So it can't be that bad, can it?

Anyway. The point is, there are all sorts of weird and new things to deal with now that I'm going off into the world on my own. In some ways I feel like I'm less prepared than other people, because I haven't exactly been the most independent person, and I tend to get myself into these weird and uncomfortable situations, and I have a short temper. So getting ready for college and then going? It's going to be quite the adventure.

And now you get to read about it. I'm not sure if you should be glad of that or not...I will most likely become your cautionary tale of how not to prepare for college.