The DMV is Bad!

It has been a little while since I have posted about a "bad thing" (which is usually kind of funny). But let me tell you something....the DMV really is bad. It is like a giant black hole. A time waster. Worse than a time waster, it is a time sucker. And your blood pressure goes up when you are there. And you start imagining how great it would be to fire a few people. Just like the Donald. Just shout out "Your Fired". And then you start imagining how you could clean the place up. Really make it run like a fine tuned machine. Just humming along. Processing paperwork and serving little snacks and coffee to the people while they wait in VERY short lines. And the place could use a little sprucing up, too. Something nice on the walls. And that picture of Moonbeam (aka Jerry Brown), that's got to go. And in it's place....something awesome and inspirational.  Something that makes you proud to be a US citizen. A Californian. And then maybe you could redesign the California license plate. Something pretty and contemporary and maybe a little ocean-y or mountain-y or  even quilt-y. And then you look around and realize that there are still 39 people ahead of you in line. And your blood pressure goes up a little bit more...

These pictures have absolutely nothing to do with this post, but aren't they pretty?!

I have had to go to the DMV 3 (yes THREE) times in the last month. So it has been on my mind. The first time I went, I decided to make an appointment, go early and beat the rush. Turns out, appointments are not that helpful and everybody seems to have the "go early and beat the rush" idea. I was there for 2 hours.

The second time I went with my guy and we decided to go in the afternoon and not even bother with an appointment. Turns out lots of people like to go in the afternoon. We got there at 3:30 and the place was PACKED. And what was worse was that no one was being called up to the counter. We were all just standing there like sardines packed in a can waiting and waiting and waiting. And every 10 or 15" (yes ten or fifteen minutes) someone would finally get called up.... so frustrating. But then all of the sudden things got interesting...The clock struck 5pm. Good ol' quittin' time. Except the room was still PACKED. But the employees were able to find this giant reserve of energy and dedication, and they cleared that room in 30" flat! I could not believe it. I looked around at 5:30 and we were the only people still standing at the counter. And the supervisor kept coming by and hurrying the employee along. It's quittin' time. Help these people and send them on their way.....We were there for 2 1/4 hours.

So! Don't you know that when I had to go back yesterday I had me a plan. A good plan. The 4:45 plan. I rolled into the parking lot a 4:45 and walked in sans appointment. Lots of people waiting. But I was feeling NO stress at all. As a matter of fact I was feeling a little smug. I was about to redeem some time. The clock struck 5, and just like before the supervisor appeared and started to get things moving along. I was at that counter at 5:05 and even though I had a lot of paperwork to be processed (we bought a car out of state and for some reason California REALLY FROWNS on that sort of thing) the employee and the supervisor worked together and got it all done in 10" and sent me on my merry little way. I was there for 30".

It's called the 4:45 plan. Keep it in mind my California dwelling friends!

A Free Pattern

In honor of the Royal Baby...

Let me take a minute to remind you about the free Union Jack pattern in the pattern shop. It has no set-in seams and no paper piecing! It's super easy (unlike caring for a new baby), super fun (sometimes like a new baby) and super cute (always like a new baby)!

Happy stitching!

Independence Day

via

Praise God and thank an American Soldier!

Heat Wave Humor

via

Block 23 and a Review

This is the last block! Or so I thought.
9 scrappy little pinwheels.
Simple, classic and oh so cute.

And here is the quilt all laid out and waiting for the checkerboards and filler strips.

And this is where things get sad. Tragic really.
See that big hole on the bottom left. There is supposed to be a tulip block there.

Remember this one from way back on day 10?
I was supposed to make 2, but I didn't notice!
So now it is back to the sewing machine for me.

Block 22

This block is called the Square Daisy.
It happens to be another one of the blocks that caught my eye when I first saw this quilt.
But again, the hand piecing diagram was brutal.

So I had to improvise.
I made a minor, teensy-weensy little miscalulation, so mine is not quite right.
But it is close enough for me.

Blocks 19, 20 and 21

It's time to play a little catch-up.
I was out of town with no way to up load my blocks for the weekend, so here they are along with today's block.

The Clam shell block is up first.
I have been dreaming of making a clam shell quilt.
A big one. So I have really been looking forward to trying my hand at this little block.
Turns out I am going to be living a clam shell-less existence from here-on-out and forever more!!
I love the block, but it is just not worth the work.
Good to know.
So good to know!

Then there is another sweet little appliqued flower block.
This process I love.
I used my favorite needle turn technique, back basting.
(And for the record, this pattern does not have an applique block #4. Funny.)

And now for today's block.
The double drunkards path.
Another favorite of mine. Made from scraps. So cute.
And don't be too concerned about the wonky picture...it is a DOUBLE DRUNKARDS path.
TeeHeeHee.