Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:14:34 GMT

sdrayton, I would LOVE to have you visit me in Oregon!!!! I've had an open invitation to trade a night's lodging for a machine embroidery lesson!!!! :)

It appears we have some experiences in common....our teaching training and

master's work in special education.

I LOVED your beautiful country of Australia!!!! Enjoy that Tour de France!!!!

What a wonderful trip that will be!!!

Chatty Cathy in Oregon

P.S. I am happy to hear that my experiences with my car accident and recovery has helped you and may help others! ( Glad it helped someone!!!..I sure would not want to go through that again!!! :):):)

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

sdrayton — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:52:31 GMT

Thanks for sharing about your accident and how you came through the recovery and there being light at the end of the tunnel. I have printed this section and will share this with others who are experiencing adversities in their lives, also helpful for myself.

My original teacher training was as an Art/Craft teacher , but I also did my Masters in Special Education.

I live in Australia and may be one day I might be able to join you in Oregon. It would be good to come in our winter. But not next year as my husband wants to do the Tour de France. He has never wanted to go overseas before, so whilst he is cycling I will find plenty of Art etc to see.

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:23:01 GMT

Oops...my note to you got cut off Kimberly...Sorry.

Thanks again for taking the time to write. I loved hearing from you!!!

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:22:09 GMT

HH Kimberly,

Well 1st of all CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss!!!! That is truly FANTASTIC....46 pounds - what an awesome accomplishment!!!

Share more with us your strategy if you'd like. :)

That's so true, that we can learn from the past...not change it....but it sure can help us with future decisions and situations we put ourselves in etc.

Finding something you love to do really helps and I'm so glad that you have found that joy in machine embroidery. Ya know, no matter how crummy a person's day ( or life for that matter has been) with MEing one can make INCREDIBLY cute and/or beautiful things that can bring immediate joy and pleasure and can CHANGE how one feels ( at least for me) .....then if you do indeed give some of those items to others you can change how THEY feel too. Whammo fast!

That's how I feel about flowers and giving arrangements. I have yet to not have a person 'smile' when they get an unexpected bouquet.

( I hope to do the same with ME'd items that I have done myself. So far

the only ones I have given away are done by somebody who is showing me how and know what they are doing!!! ) It's a process and it's been frustrating and humbling....but it is STILL coming along. I hope ME will be like flowers are to me.

Do let me know when you are having those GREAT days and share with me what you've done....be it MEing, walking, eating healthy etc.

I know for me...that if I've had a rough day ( car trouble recently comes to mind)lol IF I take a shower and wash my hair...I ALWAYS feel better no matter what has happened!!!

There were more than a couple of times when I was going through a divorce that I showered more than needed physicially....but emotionally I just needed to wash the pain away and it really really helped. (When I could afford foo foo good smelling body soap that helped even more!)...Another mood lifter for me was to put on some music I loved. Back then I put on Neil Diamond's UPBEAT songs....( not the slower reflective songs that I love too) but when trying to 'get

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

Kimberly51 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:55:22 GMT

I’m doing fine now. Sometimes I wish I had more time for myself, but you do what you have to do.

My Dad’s death was really hard for me to accept. For about a year after, I was really depressed. I probably should have gotten treatment for the depression, but I had too much to do and felt I had to be strong for my Mom and Husband. I didn’t have the energy to do anything, didn’t enjoy doing the things I always did and didn’t care about anything but getting done what had to be done. Looking back on it, I realize what was going on with me, but you can only learn from the past, you can’t go back and do it over again. Now I appreciate more when I have a great day and also when it’s just an OK day.

ME is something I wanted for myself, something that makes me feel good. I also made some personal life style changes this year that I feel good about. I changed my eating habits and started get more active again and so far I have lost 46 lbs.

My next post will be on your other blog page; I too shopped up a storm and will share my favorites.

Make the most of today and everyday.

Kimberly

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:28:46 GMT

Kimberly51,

THANKS so much for sharing and going into detail about how you d0 a home business & how to balance it out with family and obligations etc.

I KNOW this WILL help some of the readers on my blog who DO want to increase their income by doing machine embroidery!!!

OH...and how SO true your last paragraph is!!! For me the switch took place more so in the last year. ( I would have thought it would have come sooner after the really bad car wreck but that was in '86, but I guess I still was in the

"i will live forever' phase)...Time does go by so quickly. E and I have to really make some decisions as to what and how we want to live the rest of our lives.

Since he is still working ( 43 year anniversary with Portland Fire Dept this week) he is going strong like he always has. He is NOT thinking retirement yet ....For me, it is different.

Not only do I want to enjoy each day, I want to be of service to others even if it is in tiny quiet way to help as I see it. (or feel it.) Sometimes it just involves NOT being in a hurry!!!

I can't tell you how many times now I have ended up hearing an elderly person's life history ( and regrets, worries etc ) in a store.

( I know...some are thinking...huh...you Cathy.... you like to talk all the time...) Well I also am learning to LISTEN ( finally ) and that has been really a great experience too. It's just amazing what people have gone through and/or accomplished. I just LOVE hearing about people's lives...I learn SO much from others!! So on my blog....we REALLY "Chat up a Storm" and it is A OK with me....I know it may drive some bonkers, but I do believe there is a niche for this style of blog on AtG.

You hit the nail on the head too with setting priorities. That is the ONLY way I could accomplish what I did in the classroom and it SOOOOOO works.

Now that I am home and NOT on a schedule like that, I have slowed way down! :)

IF I do end up opening up the art studio/retreat...then I will need to get back into 'work mode' but for now I am taking a break and 'smelling all those roses I planted." :) I appreciate the days something doesn't ache! :)

I am SO sorry to hear about your dad's cancer and your loss.

Your Mom is so fortunate that she has you there to help her get settled into a new place by you. I am SO sorry to hear about your husband' s health issues too. My goodness girl, how are YOU doing? You seem to have it all together and not only are you able to work successfully from home you are able to give a lot of love and support to your family, who needs you! That is really wonderful!

Please know that I appreciate EVEN SO MUCH MORE the time you took to answer a question that will help others!!!

So many CYBER HUGS going your way,

CinO

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

Kimberly51 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:13:09 GMT

Cathy

Easy answers first . . . I live in Union City, California (SF Bay Area) The photo is my oldest Grandson when he was a baby, he turned 4 this week.

When I first started working at home, my husband was still working, he worked four 10 hrs days and I pretty much did the same. When business got really busy, especially around Christmas, I would work about 4 – 6 hours the other three days of the week also. In addition to my Custom Photo Jewelry Business, I also worked part-time with another Photographer, who I meet and became friends with when I was going to school. I worked with him on photo shoots and help him start up his Studio. I designed his business cards, sales flyers and brochures. I also picked up part-time work doing graphic designs and did bookkeeping work for the company I used to work for full time. For about two years, it seamed like I was always working. My first full year of self-employment, my gross income was $30,000.

My life totally changed two and half years ago when my Dad lost his battle with colon cancer. My Mom couldn’t live on her own, so I had to move her to an assisted living apartment close by. After I got her settled, my husband started having major health problems and was off work for about 6 months. He did go back to work for a few months, but couldn’t take the hours or the physical part of his job anymore. He is now on permanent disability. I’m so glad that I have some work that I can do from home, so I am here for my Husband and my Mom.

I have to balance my life these days between family and work. My busy time is still the Holidays, summer is usually slow and with the economy the way it is, who can say what this season will be like. I still spend about 10 – 20 hours a week on my business.

As for tip and tricks on running a business at home, you could start a whole new blog. I can say that you really need to be committed and self motivated. You need to set priorities and you need to plan your time. I’m not talking about scheduling every minute of every day, but you do need to make sure you have enough time to get things done. You need to enjoy what you are doing, feel satisfaction in your work and leave some time for yourself.

My priorities have changed now, but I still take my business seriously.

My husband and I do a lot of activities together, he can’t do as much as he used too, but together we get done what we want and need to do.

When you are young, you spend a lot of time wishing your life away. You can’t want until summer vacation, going to high school, getting your drivers license, turning 21, etc, etc, etc. At some point in your life you realize how important ever day is and you want time to move slower, but it doesn’t. As I get older, it seems to go by faster and faster. Make the most of today and everyday!

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:02:40 GMT

HH Serene...Nope...not a word...He must be too busy reading my newest blog that came out this weekend...and he hasn't come up for air yet! ..:) It's old and new ( I wrote it the day E left for Alaska but it just got published because I was 'behind' because of my grad classes. So...I'm still answering comments from here and there so I am switching back and forth....:):):) That's a 1st. :)

Thanks for the nice compliment! :) & thanks for....... 'sharing' :):):) I'm gonna pick his brain!

HH LaughingRain...I don't think we've 'met' before...so HI !!!

I love your 'call sign". There is a proper name for it that starts with an "A" .

I think it's called an Avatar....anyway I LOVE "Laughing Rain!!!" Tell us more about how it came to be...if you would. :)

So...tell us more about you!! How long have you been an Ann the Gran-er???

Oh, so you are a quilter...oh...boy is that sure is taking off like crazy again.

You will find other avid lovers of the craft on this site and Ann has a special section on quilt stuff too....There is just SO much going on in that area now. ...I caught a small section on PBS with someone using a bleach pen on a piece of fabric that was COOL and another who used a little gizmo device to blow paint and to write sayings on their quilt blocks! Boy....is this a far cry from my 1st time trying to quilt as a newlywed (1st marriage) and detesting every pin *** and 'your stitches are too far apart'..days.

I can see where machine embroidery would certainly be more appealing to me as far as the 'work' part goes...and the 'play part' oh my goodness.....my girlfriend Kitty just did a 'landscape' and it is BEAUTIFUL....and then there are the 'panel's you can buy which I REALLY think makes a lot of sense....( had to buy a few cuz they were sooooooo gorgeous...) found out too you can just put them on canvases instead of quilting! They ARE works of art...Oh my goodness...I can just see why you quilters are totally hooked....but I am TOTALLY going to restrain myself and stick to learning to ME 1st!!! If I could buy a panel and ME a border and then just GLUE it together...then I might quilt. It will take me quite awhile to recover from those early memories of 'quilting' the old fashioned way and totally being embarrassed at 'my section' of the quilt...which all had to be torn out...by those in charge there....I tried my hardest, I bled and I then I quit! The quilts were to be given to humanitarian projects and so for that reason I participated...but when I was causing more work for the other ladies I decided I would help in other ways...buying school supplies! :) So...I have staunchly avoided 'quilting' ever since....but now with the new machines etc there MIGHT be a day I will do one....but the canvas idea I love for the time being.:)

Sooooooo enough on that....

Thanks...I love the way they (cherries ) look too...I have them up in a cupboard with a glass door and they look so pretty there...Yes I do agree....but then I have this overwhelming desire to eat them...and so it is a tug of war. I have to 'dole them out ' for the year and hope that next year's crop will be great & not freeze etc. Home made canned cherries are my favorite....that along with home made grape juice! Do you can other things?

OK LR ( laughing rain) let's seriously talk about 'cleaning house' sometime.

I have the VERY same issue!!! Let's get this brain stormed out and so that we

figure out a way to do WHAT we love to do creatively instead of always

'cleaning.'

I think I will do a blog on that and ask for input.

There are ways...

=====

I just got a phone call...E was in line with Greta VanSusteren, attorney/commentator on Fox News ..that I LOVE to watch...Anyway...I got to talk to her!!! Oh my goodness...I asked her ( after telling her I love her and that she is just SO smart and my favorite news person) anyway...if she just got off a cruise and she said no...that she just got back from Korea!!!

Oh how exciting was this...!! ???? Oh wow!!!

You heard it 1st , live from Oregon...where Greta has been!

OK...I need to get going.....

Thanks to all of you who take the time to read and write me!!!

Have a great Sunday Everyone!!!!

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

laughingrain — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:45:27 GMT

I love the way your cherries look. I have a beautiful jar of my cherry preserves on my desk.

If i did not have to clean up this crazy house I might have more time to be a ME er took me awhile to figure that term out but i have it now,

I like to use ME designs to quilt with. So much fun!

LaughingRain

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

serenemachine2 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:58:22 GMT

Cathy, have you heard from my friend Taylor yet??? And yes you can talk to my hubby, his voice I'm willing to share!!! (: (: I don't think there ever was a 1 or 2 D, but maybe?? I started with the 3D Embtroidery software that allows you to "work" with a design., i.e. resize, change colors, etc. The software came with my Viking Designer 1. Not that I did much "working" (lol)Like you I DId alot of "buying" (lol) Keep up the great blog!!!

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:19:56 GMT

HH Judy...You ARE included ...we love transplants...:)

Laurie...What an interesting background!!! For sure, let's get together and let's NOT do it in the winter. I so agree that driving in the ice and snow is NO fun at all. Now that I am retired I stay put & you being from Hawaii...well goodness, no wonder you don't feel comfortable doing so.

E and I both love Hawaii and I loved downtown Waikiki too....lots of traffic now though...goodness!

I just SO love the Aloha spirit throughout the islands, the music, flowers and

the beauty of the islands themselves!!!

It will be so much fun to connect with you. You are so welcome to stay overnight at my place and we will ME the night away. :):)

That's so great you got your nursing degree. Bend CC??

Glad you joined Ann's site...She has some great specials!!! :)

and HER designs are darling...She actually did many herself!!!

Cute cute cute!!! Welcome to AtG!!!

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

pualele — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:13:23 GMT

Hi Cathy!

Thank you for the welcome. I actually did not pay to write you. I could not figure out who to make a comment and I was told hat I had to sign in. I have been here for several months and I got the the newsletters and decided there such cute designs here that I had to join the club so I did.

I am from Oahu and parents live near the Waialele Golf Course. I came to Oregon and attended college in Bend in 1970 and met someone that I later married in 1977. After graduating from college I went back to Hawaii and worked at a church that was on the top of a nursing home in Waikiki and I worked on 3 bulletins a week, English, Chinese and Hawaiian. I do not really know alot of Chinese and Hawaiian but I know some. I am Chinese and my ancestors came to Hawaii to work in the sugar cane and pineapple fields and my paternal grandmother was a mail order bride.

The guy I met wanted me to come back to Oregon so I came back in 1975 and lived in Salem and I had plans to stay with a girl freind from college but that did not work out so I decided to stay and I worked for the State of Oregon for 2 years before I got married.

My daughters ages 24 and 21 are French, Itialian, Irish and Chinese.

I do not do Hawaiian quilting but it is something that I would like to do. I make doll clothes mostly for the 15" - 18' dolls and I sell what I make.

I would love to meet you some day and perhaps we could do that some day as I do come up to Portland now and then. I am not that crazy about driving in the snow but I do that very carefully. We can go shopping sometime at share ideas about ME, sewing and having fun and getting to know each other.

Please do take a look at my blog and see what I am up to. I have not updated it lately but have to do that.

Laurie

http://sewaloha.wordpress.com

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

jalcumbrack — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:55:04 GMT

Well Al,

Include one Floridian in your Oregon bunch,PLease!

Judy

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

sewwhat2 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:09:05 GMT

HH,

Looks like another group is in the making....??the Oregan Bound Bunch???I'm so looking forward to meeting up with all of you. August would not work for me. Sorry. I hope we can get it all worked out. We have time, but time does fly. I just got a chance to look at the CF groups pics they are very impressive. Looks like a fab gathering. Maybe ours will be a bit different, but just as wonderful. Let's keep the planning going.

re: Learning by Teaching, Teaching by Learning

TravelBug1237 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:34:11 GMT

HH Everyone...I'm back from the beach...didn't want to come back so soon, but E's arriving from Alaska early early tomorrow morning so I'm back in town to meet him. (The happy camper is returning with fish, clams and a lot of stories.)

( did ask him how long his beard is....only an 8th of an inch because he did shave to go to church last Sunday.) lol

Sunrai Pat,

Proof reading....Don't worry...you're amongst friends here.

(I haven't figured out a spell check in this section....so I just let 'r come out the best it can...You're right - cutting and pasting in word would probably work....but we're more into 'chatting' than publishing....:):) Thank goodness...

well at least on my blog....We do a whole lot of chatting....as is...if we were just sitting across from each other 'talking away' and ooing and aweing and

and getting side tracked etc.

That's great you are enjoying your commercial machine.

I've heard pros and cons so far for both. Like you said....$$ wise they can be similar...and also what you said about transporting is a factor. It sounds like you haven't had any issues with it working smoothly for you.

I have a new ME friend who has trouble with hers and it is too heavy for her and her husband to take in for repairs so she's not very happy with it, but I'm glad you are! :) That's great. Having a repair technician coming into your home would be great but pretty spendy I'd think.

I don't want to discourage anyone from getting one but

it would be really a good thing to ask about 'servicing' it. etc etc.

That could be a really good 'forum' discussion.

======

OREGON ME retreat....sounds like most everyone is flexible so far. :):)

Shall we say AUGUST rather than July since I've heard from 2 of you that there are some schedule conflicts in July. If any of you can NOT meet in August...please say so now....

So....let's pick a week in August you'd like. Just let me know and we can start really setting up the date and solidifying it. I don't care if we incorporate 2 weekends if you like with a full week in between ...which would make it more flexible for people. We'll just block off the time and people can come and go ( or stay all they want.) Meals will be up to each person but there were be

campfires or a stove...etc.. LOTS of restaurants in the area. ( seafood, Chinese, Italian, KFC, Mc etc etc. + husbands....:):)

I'm so glad you're excited Sunrai to come!!! It will be wonderful meeting you personally!!!

ALOHA pualele !!!!!!

WOW....How neat is that!!!???!!! I LOVE Hawaii!!! Which island are you from???

Oh tell us more!!!!

Oh my goodness...,you had to pay to write me???....but honestly,...When you need ME supplies....ANN has some great deals and it will pay for itself in no time. Also, since it sounds like you travel a lot for sewing....We're keeping our eyes peeled to see when and where ANN has her 2nd annual Community Circle (hint hint) and as a bonus we got 'free membership' on her site...so that is another bonus...

How long have you read Ann's site???? Just curious. Oh....and which college did you meet your hubby to be? I LOVE a good romance!!!(with happy endings)

I'm really flattered you've read all my blogs from the beginning. You really have had a chance to follow me as a beginner!!! :) & you didn't mention a word about needing any R & R after having done so! :)

Any hints or tips you want to share with us...we'd love to hear them!!!

( Oh , E & I do get to Bend every year or 2 so it would be GREAT to meet you personally!!!) Let's work on that for maybe this fall!!! Be forewarned...I will pick your brain!!! :):) In the meantime you can send in photos of things you do etc.

There are media links and forum links etc etc.

Welcome to AnntheGran!!!

Oh and PS

Your 2 cents are worth a million to me!!! :) Oh and 1 more question (for now)...by chance do you do Hawaiian quilting???

Kimberly51......What a cute picture!!!

WHAT a GREAT gift you gave to yourself on your 40th birthday!!!!

Thanks for sharing YOUR dream and your 'going back to school" story

SOOO you are a professional photographer and followed your dream!!! That is sooooo great!!!! We LOVE hearing these stories!!!

I love your father's saying....I think that makes SOOOOOO much sense and what a way to look at life! I just love it!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

If you'd like to share more on 'life at home being self employed' we'd love to hear it. ( How many hours do you average a day do you think.)

Thanks for ALL the kind hints and encouragement you gave me.

It will be SO much fun to 'walk the beginner's path with you and the other newbies' on this site. We can really be supportive of one another and

we can really learn a lot from those who have been doing this for years.

I hear you on the 'financial vs personal satisfaction' angle.....it's great if the 2 can be at the same time, but if not...sometimes it is just what we need to take a good look at what we are doing and how we are feeling....and do a little tune up or a major overhaul....but isn't it great how life is though....we have so many '2nd chances' and incredible opportunities if we are open to them.

I sort of had tunnel vision at times but my life has been much richer once I was

open to 'leaving my 'secure' teaching position with a district I'd been with for years...but oh the opportunites after making THAT change.

Boy good luck on the digitizing.....I'm open to letting some 'expert' do a beginner's class on the subject at the art studio....so if anyone is interested and will get that organized...I'm more than happy to help provide a space for it.

Yummmmm plum jam.... what state are you in....if you care to share that.

OK Serene...you 'kept woman' ...:):)...Even though your hubby isn't coming, I'd still love to talk to him....Mr. Antarctica w/8 years of experience there!!!!..It's a bit hard to pick his brain long distance though...but I WILL try! :)

Holy Cow ....what Greek to me language are you speaking here???....3D,4D???? Now a 40 D I do understand.... 44DD even more....but the others???So seriously, & this is a real question...am I to assume there is also a 1D and a 2D??? If so....I haven't done any of the D's yet so I am sure not the person to answer you about that!!! Check with our experts.....I'm the NEW kid on the embroidery block!!!

Do you LOVE MONK???? (Now that is one OCD ya just gotta love!!! & makes it easier on all the OCD's in the world...don't cha think?

:):)

Oh Sunrai....what a GREAT idea about a forum on 'disabilities' and ajustments to them....There are some really great things happening out there and we'd love to hear about it!!!

Well it's 7:30 pm....I 'paused' the 5 o'clock news!!! Oh dear...I did have 3 phone calls in between....my friend who went to the beach just called and told me a can of pineapple slices had sprung a leak all over her cupboard while she was gone....never a dull moment. :)

Everyone have a WONDERFUL 1st weekend in August!!!! :)