We haven't had tile work for a week and have nothing scheduled. I am going nuts. We actually did do something last week. On Monday and Tuesday, we painted a kitchen for a tile customer. After that, everything stalled out.
I have been praying and praying for work. In order to keep from going mad, though, I keep busy. A few days ago, a friend of mine said her husband was making a doll cradle for their granddaughter, for her second birthday. I said, "She will need a blanket." I began work immediately on a doll quilt and pillow. I wound up actually making a little mattress for the cradle as well, all out of scraps.

I love using scraps. They always make me feel I'm "getting a bargain." The party was Saturday. I didn't really have time to piece anything, so I took a large piece of colorful flannel and made a 19x23" sandwich with the cotton batting inbetween and a solid color flannel on the back. I cut strips of flannel and sewed them together for binding, but first quilted the sandwich by stitching vertical rows 1 and a quarter inch apart, turning it once, and making more rows to form squares. It reminded me of tiles! (Of course.)
Since I prewash my fabrics, but not my cotton batting, it shrunk up nicely in the dryer and the little blanket was puffy and soft. Them, I got inspired to make a pillow and a matching pillow case. I also made a simple "mattress" out of poly batting and cotton.
My friends were delighted with the results. I was too. I realized it was that ol' "applied stress" which brought the results! Craft projects can be a great way to turn stress into creation.

I am also catching up on reading, am almost finished with Betty Smith's "Maggie-Now" which is a story similar to her "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." I love some of those oldies! I also have a recent "Vogue" and "Vanity Fair" with the Obamas on the covers and those articles to read.
Wait! This dreaded hiatus is turning into R&R.

I made a turkey pot pie tonight. I am trying so hard to make meals we can really enjoy. I love to eat out, but, with such high prices and the constipated economy, we're lucky to even eat!
There is a snowstorn approaching northeastern CT tonight, though I hear from a friend on Long Island that they already have 6" and expect 12 more!

Well, we just keep on praying and keep on trying. It's all you can do. Hope this finds anyone reading it keeping the faith!