Little Brother Gets a Dust Jacket

And what did I do this past week instead of packing? Made a new dust jacket for my sewing machine, of course! Poor thing was just sitting there, uncovered, begging for a new dust jacket . . . I HAD TO oblige! I made a quick pattern with newspaper and cut out 2 pieces of blue fabric for each the front, back, sides and top, which I sandwiched around some leftover bits of quilt batting. Why blue? Because that was what was on hand and already prewashed and preshrunk. Then I went a little crazy trying out different fancy stitches to quilt the layers together ...... going in various directions, like so. And I used up a whole bunch of little bits of different colours of thread (the practical part of the project). I even experimented with widening and narrowing stitch length ...... and created this pretty heart with a tail that tapers off to nothing. Never thought of trying that before. Finally, I added some yellow bias binding left over from another project, and some lace just because I never have anything lacy around, and voila ...... little Brother sewing machine sports a new dust jacket. It addresses his feminine side. I think Stanley the Button Jar is a bit jealous:Perhaps I'll make him a lacy little dust cap. His name is Stanley because he is some kind of wild critter holding a miniature Stanley Cup ... the peanut butter company must have been big on promoting hockey one year. In addition to the dust jacket, I have nearly finished the centre part of my latest cross stitch project ...

... and I'm liking these black birds more and more all the time. Besides stitching, I managed one more little stroll down memory lane as this photo ...... fell out of a book ("The Book of Canadian Verse") as I moved it from bookcase to box. Any guesses? This is my Dad, myself, and my butterball baby daughter Necy at about age 6 weeks. The year was 1972 and I was the ripe old age of 16 and very thin. Necy is all growed up now, and the mum of a teenager. My goodness how time flies!

Believe it or not, I did succeed in getting my packing done. Here's half of my "stuff" waiting for the truck to load:There are many more plants than that one, believe me! I'm currently sitting in an empty room, except for one chair and my computer desk, which I am going to take apart as soon as I post this. It's "echoe-ey" in here. I don't like it! Tomorrow is cleaning day, and the Big Move takes place Monday morning. However, I will be without Internet for a few days after that due to July 1 being a holiday (us Canucks celebrate Canada Day on July 1).

Next post will be from my new apartment! Happy Canada Day and July Fourth, y'all! I'll be back soon!

Walking down memory lane

In the process of packing some things this weekend, I came upon an old photo album. WHO IS THIS REDHEAD???I SO do not remember that ghastly shirt, although I'm pretty sure I still wear that black skirt! And if THAT shirt isn't scary, take a look at this hideous thing:

WHAT WAS I THINKING? AND WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO MY HAIR???

I had fun reminiscing over photos of friends from ages ago . . . both the human and the four-legged variety. I wonder what happened to these two?I loved both of them, but I especially loved the Lukemeister on the right.

And on the subject of unanswered questions, whatever became of this crocheted tablecloth?It had small red rosettes in each of those empty spaces, and it took FOREVER to finish. I distinctly remember how pleased/relieved I was when I finished it, but what the heck did I do with it?

Hmmm.

Some of life's little mysteries . . . lost in the fog of memory lane!

ELEVEN TIPS ON GETTING MORE EFFICIENCY OUT OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES

One of my fellow non-profit managers shared this article with me, and I just had to pass it on to y'all . . .

According to this article from the July 1943 edition of Mass Transportation magazine:

"There's no longer any question whether companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The military draft and the manpower shortage have settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and to know how to use them to the best advantage. Here are 11 helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:

1. If you can get them, pick young married woman. They have these advantages: they usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters; they're less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it -- maybe a sick husband or one who's in the army; they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Most companies have found that older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. While there are exceptions to this rule, general experience indicates that "husky" girls -- those who are just a little on the heavy side -- are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination -- one covering female conditions. This step not only protects against the possibilities of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. Companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.

5. In breaking in women who haven't previously worked outside the home, stress the importance of time -- the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slow.

6. Give the female employee a definite schedule of duties so that she'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous companies say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be nervous and they're happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick, and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful in issuing instructions or in makiung criticisms. Women are sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman -- it cuts her efficiency.

10. Be considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stress too strongly as a means of keeping women happy.

* * * * *

Considering this was published nearly a decade before I was born, I'm somewhat impressed that any employer even contemplated "rest periods" and the importance of hand washing. However ... GIVE ME A BREAK! "Husky" girls are more even-tempered and efficient??? Females lack initiative??? All it takes is a proper fitting uniform to make females happy??? What do you think, ladies?

Something for my new apartment

Naturally, moving calls for a new project. Right? Of course! In the process of emptying one bookcase, I came upon my 'SOMEDAY' binder. Y'all have one of those, right? That collection of pictures and patterns and ideas that you're going to get around to someday? Well, I was tired of packing the contents of bookcases ... yes, bookcases PLURAL ... so I stopped for a cup of tea and a wee gander through my Someday binder. And this caught my eye:I don't recall the name of the book it came from, but it had something to do with antiquated stitchery patterns. If memory serves me correctly, I was researching Assissi stitchery, or voided work when I found that little goodie. I don't even remember if the original picture was black and white ... which is too bad because there is no colour chart to go with the symbols. I have RED accents in my living room ... y'all remember the RED MOOSE, don't you? ... and I happen to have red and black DMC perle cotton on hand. So here's the first little bit stitched:
I'm using linen-coloured Aida cloth, 14 count. I wasn't sure I'd like the birds in black. I don't like crows. Nasty evil creatures. I've had a strong dislike of crows since I witnessed them picking the eyes out of a newborn lamb back when I was a little girl. And don't even get me started about that nasty crow in my previous neighbourhood! I can handle crow swearing ... I just cuss them back ... but that bad bugger kept dive-bombing me and knocking my glasses off! Anyway, these birds look more like chickens or peacocks or something, and I quite like them stitched in black. I'm picturing the finished product on an end table. So what do you think?

On a totally different subject, I changed my Internet package to "lite" from "high speed" in an effort to reduce expenses. I was thinking that I don't really use the Internet a lot at home. Seems like I'm on the Internet at work ... as PART OF my work, people! Not always reading blogs or Facebook! Honest! ... so logically didn't need the high-priced Internet package at home. Now I'm regretting that decision. One of my weekend joys is watching ...... online (I don't own a television). But "lite" Internet service is SO S L O O O O O W that it's like cli - ick, cli - ick, cli - ick from one image to the next. I CAN'T TAKE IT!!! But, I'm only here for a couple more weeks. Then I can re-evaluate my Internet service package.

I think I'll take my laptop to the Public Library tonight ... my Library card allows me 2 hours of wireless Internet every day. Two hours is plenty of time to get caught up on a week's worth of Corrie!

Update

Has it REALLY been that long? Since May 21st? I wish I could say time flies when you're having fun ... but it hasn't all been fun since then.

First the house sold.

Then it didn't.

Then it sold again ... pending a home inspection.

And then it didn't. It's an old house and needs some work. The buyer didn't want to do that much work.

But it sold again ... pending an electrician's inspection.

For which we all waited.

In the meantime, I didn't know whether to put a deposit down on an apartment elsewhere or not because the house was only listed until the end of July. If there was no sale by then, I had the offer of renting the upstairs (I'm in the basement suite) for the winter for the same price I'm paying now downstairs.

But the last sale went through.

This is my world at the moment ...

... packing and getting ready to move.

So if you don't hear from me for the next few weeks, that's why. I'll be back sometime in July with photos of the new digs.

I promise!

Take care, y'all!