Saturday, November 26, 2011

Old Lady Hobbies

Over the past couple of months I have been working on a set of quilts for my Dear Sweets and I. They were an early Christmas surprise, so I couldn't post pictures (even though I have been so excited about them) until I made my trip up to Provo. I had so much fun picking out colors and fabric for two of my favorite people. The idea started almost a year ago when I made a quilt set for my little sister Hailee. The pattern was fun and easy. Ashley and Leslie came down when it was almost done, and while showing them another quilt that I was working on (which is still not done) Ashley laughed and said she wanted one next. Little did they know that I had already started collecting fabric for both of their quilts I just hadn't decided on a pattern yet. When they said they liked Hailee's pattern, it was perfect.


I started cutting their fabric a few days after they went home. I wanted these quilts to be very personalized so I found fabrics and patterns that represented each of their unique interests and personalities.



I also added a fun little monogram on the bottom corner that included the initials of our nicknames. (Ashley=Baby, Leslie=Nestle & Me= Dear Sweet)



I also added a single row in the quilt that had the same polka dotted fabric so that each of us would have fabric from the other two quilts included in ours. I had soo much fun with these, and was glad that they agreed to open them a month before Christmas, because I couldn't stand waiting any longer!






I am in the middle of finishing mine, who knows when I will finish it.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Las Vegas Ragnar

Goodness in Picture form...




Thursday, November 3, 2011

I'm a Gryffindor

I love Harry Potter. (Yes, I am an adult. No, I am not ashamed of this.) Upon discovering that Pottermore (if you don't know what Pottermore is click HERE) sorted you into houses, I started getting nervous. In all reality I thought I would be a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, and I was perfectly fine with this. I have always thought of myself more as a bookish or hardworking person as opposed to brave. But I was sorted into Gryffindor, and as such could be myself (wearing Hogwarts stuff) for Halloween. And I may or may not routinely paint my nails scarlet and gold just because. I was wondering though a friends blog this morning and found this... and thought I would share. I thought it was amusing... not necessarily true, but funny.

COMPLETE HOGWARTS HOUSE EVALUATION : 001. GRYFFINDOR

G e n e r a l - P e r s o n a l i t y

The traits stated for Gryffindors are bravery, chivalry and nerve. This stands very true deep into their heart, and their curse in life is that they really would die for something they truly love, or do anything they could to be sure they are safe. However, Gryffindors vary in their way of showing this passion. Some are up front, kind and caring though at times coming onto very strong. This is a loveable thing, though, and these are the Gryffindors that often are popular, having many friends and admirers. Then, there are the others, who are a bit rough around the edges. It doesn’t change what is in their heart, it simply means that they are more opinionated than most, and somewhere in their past someone told them that being as emotional as they are is a bad thing, so they hide it. They try to keep their emotions at bay and just show how strong they are, how incapable they are of breaking. These are the Gryffindors that put up a wall, and if you can connect with them, this wall falls easily.

P o s i t i v e - & - N e g a t i v e - T r a i t s

The most positive of traits in Gryffindors are their purity. This doesn’t mean that they are all around perfect and good, it just means they have high moral standards, and instinctively want to do the right thing. Whether the right thing is really theright thing, that is left up to debate, but it is what feels correct to them, and it works for them. The positive aspects of this instinct are their bravery and strong will, because Gryffindors are often doers, not thinkers. They will not sit and weigh the aspects of what is best for them, they only understand a need and wish to fulfill it, no matter the costs.

Gryffindors are, of course, undoubtedly loyal, and this is another positive aspect of them. They are not the type of people to give up on you and run away when the going gets rough, they will stick with you until the very end. If you are in a hard place and need someone to carry you through it, a Gryffindor is ideal to befriend. That said, this can also greatly reflect a negative part of them, as their need to stick with others and help them can cause them to forget themselves. A Gryffindor can only forget their own needs for a certain amount of time, before the lion begins to get restless, and the inner growing roar of their emotions begins to pool into their stomach. Gryffindors are probably the most emotional of all of the houses, so they need an outlet, and if they can’t get one, their impulsive attitude can back up on them, and they will lash out, doing and saying things they will later regret.

Gryffindors have a tendency to put their foot in their mouth, because they do not often think before they speak. Their intentions are not often to truly hurt another person, they are just the type of people the get caught in the moment, in the web of the environment, and this can cause them to do things they don’t really intend. Their regrets hurt them very often, because once they have time to actually think about them, their emotions take hold and their guilt is nearly unbearable. This is why lions often go nonstop, to make sure they don’t have to feel those unwanted feelings.

C o m m o n - S t a r - S i g n s

A very common star or sun sign for a Gryffindor is, you guessed it, a Leo. This is because the lions work well together, forming a family in your inner workings, in casing your heart in a shield of love, bravery and friendship. For more driven Gryffindors, Aries is also a common sign, as well as Aquarius and Sagittarius.

H o b b i e s

Gryffindors are unstoppable forces, generally very active in their ways. Adventure becomes them, and they are always looking for new and interesting ways to feel free and beautiful. They are often the first ones to give a go at more risky forms of fun, such as sky diving or rock climbing. They are also the most athletic of all the houses, especially when it comes to team sports, as they love the idea of collaboration and working together toward a common goal. The sports they very often tend to are basketball, baseball/softball, and volleyball. Other non-athletic hobbies that are common for Gryffindors are non-fiction writing (sometimes for publication, such as journalism), scary movie marathons and meddling into some household science.

F r i e n d s h i p s

Gryffindors can make some of the best friends, while simultaneously making some of the worst. They are, at their best, loyal and loving, willing to do anything for you. Friendship is a very important matter to them, as they consider their friends to be part of their family, and expect the very same in return. So, when they feel betrayed, it hits them hard, and their impulsive attributes can cause them to do things they don’t mean. They are the type to spread rumours that are untrue when they are hurt, or tell secrets you entrusted them with, simply so you can feel as hurt as they do. Though they may often judge Slytherins for it, Gryffindors are just as well adjusted to the ideal of an eye for an eye. They make fun friends, but keep watch of what you say, you may regret it later.

I n t i m a t e - R e l a t i o n s h i p s

The way a Gryffindor behaves in a romantic relationship is very similar to the way they behave in a friendship, but it is toned down slightly, rather than increased, as they hold friends above romance. They are often committed when happy, and will hold you high on their pedestal, loving you with all their heart. If you hurt them, they may lash out in a moment of emotional heartbreak, but once they calm down they will apologize and love you all the same, if you will have them. The problem with relationships with Gryffindors is that they are incredibly independent in their mindset, and do not think highly of the idea of sharing, which is ideal in a relationship. They also do not value romance as their number one priority, so if you want someone who is there for you and nothing more, it ain’t them, babe.

T y p o l o g y

The average typology for a Gryffindor is ESFJ (Extrovert-Sensing-Feeling-Judging). This varies for everyone, of course, but by nature Gryffindors are often outgoing and social, with high empathy levels and moral standards. They love others, but also hold themselves above the rest without realizing it.

A b n o r m a l - P s y c h o l o g y

Note: This section of the analysis is not diagnosis, just a common observation. Do not take it as a diagnosis, nor ask me to diagnose you. If you believe you may have a disorder of some kind and are concerned about it, please seek a professional.

Gryffindors can have a tendency to be unconsciously narcissistic, thinking they are superior and putting others down, whilst consistently patting themselves on the back. They are also very prone to black and white (borderline) thinking, simply believing what they believe, and coldly opposing of any opinions that are not their own. Gryffindors are more likely to have attention span problems, as they do not always find academics to their liking, and may space out thinking of things that concern them, rather than paying attention to what they need to know. Gryffindors are rarely prone to depression but when they begin to feel down, they become incredibly dependent, almost to the stage of being clingy toward their friends. If you know a Gryffindor acting like this, reassure them that they are loved and special, and ask them what is bothering them. If they are allowed to vent, their mood will improve tenfold.

R e l i g i o u s - V i e w s

Since Gryffindors are so strongly tied to their family, it is common for them to believe whatever it is they are raised into. Most people do this, but Gryffindors often stick with it, rather than moving along to their own path. They feel if they don’t stick to what they were told as a child to believe, they are betraying their family somehow, which sounds to them like first-degree murder. If they have doubts about the beliefs they were raised into, they will not voice them, simply settling into an agnostic view and staying comfortable in that manner, not choosing what to believe or not believe.

P o l i t i c a l - V i e w s

There will be no attempts here to try and sort any house into any particular political party, but simply how they act within parties. Gryffindors tend to be very political, as their views are incredibly strong and politics are an outlet for them to voice themselves. In fact, it is quite often that politicians are Gryffindors, as they feel comfortable with the debate and social media of it all. Regardless, Gryffindors thrive off of the controversy, and will argue with you for hours if you allow them to, and their opinion will never waver, though they may make you reconsider yours. They just like to watch you quiver, and make it known what they think.

C a r e e r s

Common career and occupational choices among Gryffindors are the ones that they can have socialization in, while remaining strong and adventurous in their mind. This means they can often move into fields either political, athletic, medial or sometimes, in law. Gryffindors unknowingly work among Slytherins quite often, because they work the best with one another, because they are naturally competitive with each other. They fuel each other’s fire, and the snake’s ambition keeps the lion’s blood pumping and this is how they work best. The more passive Gryffindor may also tend toward writing of the non-fiction or journalism category, because it is still an outlet for them to get their thoughts out there and keep others informed.

I d e a l - E n v i r o n m e n t

The ideal environment for a Gryffindor is one where there are many people of many kinds, ones they can work off of and therefore work to the best of their ability. They like places that feel like home, as while they do love adventure, they also need a security blanket. As far as literal environment, Gryffindors tend to warmer places, as it keeps their blood pumping and fuels their inner strength. They may tend toward cities, big or small, in hot to moderate dry places.

S e l f - P e r c e p t i o n

How Gryffindors think they see themselves and how they truly see themselves are two very different things. Gryffindors believe they are down-to-Earth, average Joes who want nothing more than to go through life and have fun. In reality, they view themselves as power houses, with a superiority complex on the side. They thrive off of the opinions of others, however, so they rarely take their self-view into account.

L i f e - M i s s i o n

The life mission of a Gryffindor is simply this: To make a difference, to be molded into history, and have plenty of fun midst the process.