lindsey marcella

PayPal nightmare

I have just spent 3 hours of my life on the phone, and coming from me with my work background that should not upset me. When I got home today I was notified of fraudulent activity through my PayPal account, to the tune of nearly $20,000 being transferred from my bank account. It might not be hard to guess that I do not have that kind of money sitting around, so I freaked out. I've got things to pay like RENT that I actually need money for.

I called their Customer Service right away and unfortunately did not receive any help. I was told that they have noted these were fraudulent postings, but they can't do anything to stop bank transfers - even when I didn't authorize them! So that single $10k transfer? Nope, no help sorry! 

I then proceeded to call my bank and talked to a much more helpful person (thanks, Amber!) who helped me the best she could. Right now we're essentially crossing our fingers that nothing goes through...and if it does I should at least be left with SOME money to get me through. I've had to cancel direct debits, credit cards, orders (that were for Derek for his b-day!), I have to completely close my bank account tomorrow and get a new one with new checks. I'm even going to have a check bounce now for a $15 urgent care fee!!

For the time being I have had to temporarily close both of my Etsy shops. I don't know what I'll do going forward because I will have a hard time justifying going back to use PayPal, who I have fully supported for years and years even when others have told me their horror stories. I have pretty much made up my mind that once this is over that account will be closed for good, so they can kiss my fees goodbye. I try to give every company the benefit of the doubt, so I even called back and got the same 'we don't care attitude'. Very sad.

I had been having such a good week til today too! Things are great at work, I am sewing the binding on that quilt, and I've got a brand new (pink) quilt in progress that I love. In fact I was planning on sewing some more today but I don't have the heart right now. Oh darn, I just realized I needed to buy some pink backing this weekend but I guess I can't do that either...ugh this is so not fun!

this was fast

I'm working on the binding now. This is a twin sized quilt, made of some of the best fabrics. Each block is 9.25x12.75". Random, but it worked for the shape and size I wanted. This is the biggest quilt I've free motion quilted, and it went well! I brought my machine to the dining room table and that helped, I think. It even went faster then I expected. The back just has one giant 'block', and I was able to use up every inch of the grey I had. The pattern was inspired by Ashley who has a great string tutorial up now.

This weekend was so gorgeous! The sun was very welcome...hope it stays around!

cozy

I usually don't enjoy making cozies for things. I guess because I know I usually don't wind up using them; like my ipod cozy and even my camera case. 

BUT Derek does, so I made him a new cozy (by request) for his new Kindle. He bought it for himself as a gift after getting his job, and it makes complete sense because now he doesn't have to lug real books all the way across the country.

When he made the request, he told me just to use muslin so I didn't have to waste fabric. Of course I let him pick from my Japanese linens, and I think he made a great choice.

Oh, and I wasted fabric anyway...this was the second cozy I made...the first was a tad too snug!

Today it is gorgeous outside! And what am I going to do?? Quilt! I also need to go to a fabric store to buy a solid for a quilt in progress. Either linen or gray, haven't decided yet. If there's a gray with a violet tint I think that will be the choice. Enjoy your Saturday!

picture day

<and yay for derek!>

a new quilt is nice

I had a stack of wonky cut Japanese fabric squares, and I just knew I wanted to put them together into a quilt. They weren't all the same size so I had to come up with something that would work. I cut 2" strips of linen in a pretty natural color and sewed the squares together. I then cut the strips of squares so the top and bottom edges were even, and sewed up the strips!

I love how the squares don't line up, but I think it works because of the linen "frames". Plus I just love all of these prints and dots together.

I made the quilt front before work on Friday (late start time), and almost had the back done, which I finished up yesterday. Again all Japanese fabrics. The piecing kind of came to be because I was working with limited amounts of each fabric.

I wanted to quilt it yesterday but I don't have any batting! I usually keep a lot on hand but must not have realized I was out. I do have a queen sized piece but that's saved for another quilt. This little guy is small, baby or wall size (since again I was working with limited quantities of the fabrics), so I think I'll pick up some batting today and get working.

Look at these other pretty Japanese fabrics that have been sitting here waiting for the perfect project! I just love them...

here are the socks!

These are Derek's socks that I finished Friday. It was so fun knitting with this yarn that I finished these really quickly. They fit a lot better than his others that I made, but there's still a bit of tweaking I could do.

Look, I even got the strips to almost match up!

I've had to wait to get photos because a) it's been icky rainy here, and b) Derek wore them all weekend and then washed (by hand, of course) them, so they just dried for me. I really need to get some sock blockers though! Anyone know a good shop to get some? I'd like a M 10.5ish and a W 6.5!

Oh yeah; I've got a few more pics at Flickr if you're interested. And Derek got offered a FANTASTIC internship at a great company (i'll spill once he officially accepts, even though he's going to!). It's really cool, and in a cool location, just quite a ways away and for half a year!

sickie weekend

derek and i went home this weekend. my brother mark got a guitar so derek helped him get set up. unfortunately mom was sick, so she was down for the count! then on sunday cosmo wouldn't open his left eye, so when we got back we took him to the emergency vet. we were there for 3 hours because a lot of emergency cases came in on easter sunday. it was sad seeing all of the really hurt dogs...

cosmo just has a little ulcer, so he's got some cream and a cone. the vet said he probably wouldn't need the cone because he was being really good with his eye, but we figured we'd try it. the poor guy knocked over his water, so off it came! today his eye looked much, much better so that's good.

i haven't done any sewing, but my finger's nearly healed so that will change this weekend. i did get lots and lots of knitting done though! i finished derek's blue socks on friday, and cast on some new ones saturday. i was using 3mm needles but the gauge was off, so i looked up a yarn store near mom and went with my brother. they had maybe 4 addis in stock! not what i was looking for of course, so i wound up with some cheapos that are a pain to knit with. i did get about 4 inches knit at the vet though so i'm on a role! heres to a sick free week for everyone!

making progress

i've been knitting on these here and there and have actually made some progress! just like i thought these are a bit big for me (i've found i need about 58 stitches for lindsey socks!) so these will be for derek. needless to say he is pleased. he probably wears his valentine's socks 3 times a week. he even hand washes them himself!!

watching those little stripes form is too much fun. maybe i need to get a life??

chicken dress

Photo booth is so handy when Derek's not around! That's me from today. I wore my chicken dress to work. I can probably find the link to the original post but it would take me awhile...it's a dress I made out of great chicken fabric. In the bathroom at work a girl asked if it was from JCrew! I'll take that as a compliment!

thanks! (and that's not a joke!)

when i came home for lunch yesterday there was a package from mom! her excuse was that it was a sick prize for my stitches...so thanks so much!!

i got 2 yds of this ADORABLE fabric from Michael Miller. it's christmas fabric...but i loved it too much i added it to my wish list now!

she got it from her friend's etsy fabric shop who has great prices and was also giving away a free fat quarter per yard!

look how cute these are too!

i'm sure this is from etsy, but not sure which shop! cute though!

i have to leave for work soon, but i couldn't resist casting on some socks in my first ever self striping yarn!