Goofin' Off With a Return in 2018

Well, it’s been months…four months to be exact since my last post.  The time has just flown by.  Thank you to those who have contacted me to see how things are going.  I appreciate your care and concern.  Everything has been just great the past four months in the Goofin’ Off household.  There have been a lot of great things happening here, but I’ll get to that in a little further down in the post.  I know a lot of you are just here for the project updates, so let’s get started there. 

I did manage to finish the quilt top for the Toy Story Woody quilt.  It’s a happy little quilt.  Now all I need to do get it all finished and sent off to the recipients.  

Woody/Toy Story Quilt Top Finish

Mickey and Minnie "Love" This Finish

Mickey says it’s a happy little quilt.  He is very pleased with how it turned out.  Now all I need to do get it all finished and sent off to the recipients.  I had hoped to get this done months ago...but...well, life gets in the ways sometimes.   

In my spare moments the past few months, it has been easiest to work on my cross stitch project, so this is where I have made the most progress.  Mickey and Pirate Friends is coming along quite nicely.  I didn’t always take pictures as I finished each section, but here are the latest sections I completed.  I am excited because the corner of the pirate flag is beginning to show in the bottom right corner.  

Mickey and Pirate Friends Cross Stitch - 01/26/2018

Mickey and Pirate Friends Cross Stitch 02/14/2018

In my last blog post, I had mentioned that I was excited about landing my dream job as a travel agent/travel consultant with a company that specialized in Disney travel.  I was supposed to begin training the first part of November…then it was middle of November...but it was really the end of November before training began.  It was a bit disappointing that training took so long to get started...one of many red flags I should have seen...but the bright side of that was a trip Mr. Goofin’ Off and I were able to take to Disney World in mid-November…at least I didn’t have to do training while I was in the happiest place on earth.  

Our visit to Disney World just happened to coincide with the transition of decorations into the holiday season.  As you can see from a few of the pictures I took, when Disney does decorations, they do them big…quite literally. 

Life-Sized Gingerbread at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel

The Detail of the Gingerbread House - The "Frozen" Window

Giant Christmas Teapot

We had a great time and enjoyed the warm weather while it rained and poured back home in Seattle.  A week after I got home, the training for the dream job began…but would it really be my job? 

The first week I became certified to sell Disney travel.  I was in heaven.  I was an official graduate of the “Disney College of Knowledge.”  Certifications to sell vacations to Universal Studios (and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) came next.  Then certifications to sell Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines…all in all, I was spending 40 to 60 hours a week doing training and became certified to sell all of the major cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and tour companies. 

The paperwork I signed had indicated we (myself and the other three trainees) would be allowed to actually sell with the company about three weeks into the training.  More than three months later, I was getting excuses from the back office as to why I wasn’t able to sell despite the fact that I had clients waiting to book and was OK to sell according to Disney and the cruise lines.  They suggested I send my clients to one of their other travel agents.  I asked if I would get to split the commission since I brought the client.  Nope.  I had enough, and they had breached our contract already several times, I had lost confidence in the company, so I said a goodbye to the them.  This was mid-January. 

So what have I been doing the past month, you ask?  I have been working on projects which gave me some time to think about what I wanted to do.  It’s amazing how much I can focus and think things through when I am working on a project. 

Even though I hadn’t personally booked my clients, I went ahead and worked with them to book their trips on their own.  I saved several of them from $500 to $800 from what they had been able to put together on their own.  I was hooked.  This is what I had always intended to do…provide people with the vacation they want at the best price I could find.  So…after interviewing several new travel agencies, I signed on with a new one on Monday and should be able to start booking my clients within two business days.  Yippee!!! 

Rest assured, this blog will be all about my stitching, quilting, and love of Disney…not selling (although I will always be happy to help my blogging friends book their trips – fee free). 

Thanks for allowing me to ramble today and catch you up on what has been going on.  My life is returning to a semi-routine normal again, so I should have blog updates more often and hopefully will be able to join some stitch-a-longs and quilt-a-longs.  I have missed you all more than you can know.  

Goofin' Off With an Exciting Possibility and a Disney Animator, Director, and Producer

Last weekend, Mr. Goofin' Off and I had the opportunity to hear a 32-year Disney veteran speak here at a local community college. It was so much fun and fascinating to hear his stories of his years working on movies, books, and Disney theme park projects. I'll save that for later since so many of you are here for the updates on my projects.

I have finished assembling the center of the first Toy Story quilt for my nephew and his adorable wife. I am pleased with how it's turning out. Just need to get those borders on now and then go ahead and sandwich, quilt or tie, and bind it.

First Toy Story Quilt - Center Assembly

Here is a close up of the design and fabric.  It like it so much, I may have to make another one at some point...maybe for charity.

Woody is Adorable Smiling and Tipping His Hat

Just a reminder that the pattern comes from the book Modern Views With 3-Yard Quilts. The fabric of Woody from Toy Story comes from Camelot Fabrics.

I managed to get some stitching in over the past week and you can find the top of Goofy's head getting closer to completion. I still can't wait for more of his friends to appear in their pirate attire.

Mickey and Pirate Friends Cross Stitch as of 10/13/2017

I like to post a picture about once a month of what the piece should look like once it is finished. It also helps to keep me motivated to see where I am headed with it.

Mickey and Pirate Friends - End Goal for Me

Towards the end of last week, I received an unexpected e-mail about an opportunity that I had applied for months ago. I had honestly assumed they weren't interested and had forgotten about it until I received the e-mail. I had a phone interview earlier this week and have my fingers crossed I will hear something back sooner rather than later. Who wouldn't want to have their dream job? If you think about it send positive thoughts, cross your fingers and toes, say a little prayer, etc., for me. I appreciate all you!

Last Saturday, our local group of Disney enthusiasts got to a meet-up at the local community college and hear Dave Bossert speak. I love this group. If you live in the Pacific Northwest area and are a Disney enthusiast you can find the group and all of their activities here at www.pnwmousemeet.com. They even handed out a little swag which included an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit frisbee.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Frisbee

Dave worked with Disney for 32 years as an animator, producer, director, and as well as on special theme park projects. He worked on movies such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, to name a few.

One of his more recent projects actually has been to hunt down, save, and resort Walt Disney's first series of cartoon shorts...the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series. Can you see the resemblance in the picture of the rabbit to a certain mouse? Throughout his presentation, he showed us three different shorts. It was fascinating and fun to watch them.

He talked a little about his work that he did on movies and some stories about some antics that happened behind the scenes at the studio...including a flying nun habit that apparently wasn't as funny to a newly-hired Michael Eisner and his group as it was to the animators who were horsing around with it.

His speaking about the movies he worked on...namely The Nightmare Before Christmas...reminded me of this fun new Halloween display greeting us outside of Disney's California Adventure last month.

Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas Greeting Guests at Night

Sorry for more Disney pictures...well, sort of...  I have a few more to share with you before Halloween.

This got me thinking...about Halloween...about movies and cartoons...and I must ask...do you have a favorite Halloween movie or cartoon? I'm kind of partial to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's very nostalgic to me. I'd love to hear in the comments if you have a favorite or favorites. Maybe there will be something new for me to check out this year.

Have a magical day, my friends!

Linking to More Funtastic Quilting/Stitching Blogs:
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop
Finished or Not Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Show Off Saturday

Goofin' Off With Friends and Toy Story

I had a fantastic weekend this past weekend. As I have been working on my newest project of three Toy Story-themed quilts, I have been pondering a lot the theme of the Toy Story movies...which is one of friendship. Blogging has brought so many new and wonderful friends into my life and enriched it. As we share tips, tutorials, recipes, patterns, and stories about our families with each other I find myself among a very supportive group. Thank you for that, my friends!

Block A Finishes

On Saturday, I finished the first set of blocks for the first Toy Story quilt.  How can you not smile seeing Woody's happy face smiling up at you?

Block B Finishes

Sunday afternoon I finished up the second set of blocks. I hadn't expected to get them all done, so I was happily surprised when I put those last triangles on the corners. Now I just need to trim them all up. The pattern I am using for this quilt comes from the book Modern View 3-Yard Quilts by Donna Robertson. The Woody Toy Story fabric is from Camelot Fabrics.

I got a small section started on my page 2 of Mickey and Pirate Friends cross stitch picture. It felt quite good to actually be starting a new page on this piece...even if it will take years to complete it. 

Mickey and Pirate Friends as of 09/26/2017

Sunday morning, I woke up to an email from Chooky over at chookyblue.blogspot.com. When I opened it, she had said she had seen something in a window display, thought of me, and took a picture of it. Here is the picture she shared with me. 

Chooky Thought of Me When She Saw This! Happy me!

I am so tickled that she saw Disney and thought of me. We are on opposite sides of the world. It is only through the blogging world that we have even met. It was one of several reminders this past week of how much my blogging friends have become a part of my life. I wonder how they are doing if they are feeling ill. I wonder if that granddaughter they've been waiting for has been born yet. I look forward to seeing their vacation pictures and project updates. Online friends are every bit as special as any other friends I have.

Mr. Goofin' Off and I decided to head out to brunch later on Sunday morning. It was a gorgeous morning, so we chose a place right on the water. Mr. Goofin' Off encouraged me to have a hot chocolate with my brunch. It was perfect for a fall morning. Mmm...rich, chocolatey goodness. 

Rich, Delicious Hot Chocolate with Brunch

After we stuffed ourselves with brunch, we headed out for a nice walk along the beach. The sun was out shining, boats were out fishing, families were out walking and playing together. I didn't want to leave and came home the most relaxed I've been in a while.

Walking Down at Edmonds Beach

A quote about friendship:

"Friendship...is born at the moment when one man says to another, 'What! You too? I thought that no one but myself...'"
--C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Have your online friends left an impact on your life? I'd love to hear your experiences.

Linking Up With - Take a Peek at These Linky Parties for More Crafting Eye Candy:
Fiber Tuesday
To-Do Tuesday
Too Cute Tuesday
Midweek Makers
Let's Bee Social
WIP Wednesday
Needle and Thread Thursday

Goofin' Off With the Start of Fall 2017

Mr. Goofin' Off kept telling me earlier this week that he felt like someone had flipped a switch and it had gone from summer to fall in a snap. The weather is cooler, the skies are gray, and the days are definitely getting shorter. Well, I guess officially it is fall now.

With the first days of fall, I am brought back to my days as a little girl. My father worked a late shift, so often my mother would often bake at night after we went to bed while she waited for my dad to get home from work. In the fall, I would sometimes wake up to the smell of pumpkin bread...mmm...pumpkin bread. That memory inspired me to make some of my favorite pumpkin muffins this week.

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin

2 cups sugar

1-1/4 cups vegetable oil

1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

1.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix well. 

2.  In a second bowl, beat the eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and vegetable oil. 

3.  Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until moistened. 

4.  Fold in chocolate chips.  

5.  Fill muffin cups approximately 2/3 full. 

Bake approximately 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. 

Makes approximately 20 to 24 muffins. 

There is just something that smells so good about pumpkin muffins fresh out of the oven. I found a recipe a few years back that tasted very similar to my mother's recipe. I tweaked it a little so that I could add chocolate chips to the recipe. My family loves them, so they don't last very long around here.

Pumpkin Goofy!

I have added a gratuitous Goofy jack-o-lantern picture here from our trip to Disneyland because well...it's Goofy...and it's a pumpkin.

I found myself with some time yesterday and got my next quilt all cut out. Here are the pieces for the blocks.  

Pieces for Block A

Pieces for Block B

Pieces for Block C

Pieces for Block D

I love this fabric of Woody from Toy Story.  This will be one of at least three Toy Story quilts that I'll be making from the Toy Story fabric that I've purchased.  The pattern I am using is from the book Modern View 3 Yard Quilts by Donna Robertson of Fabric Cafe. I ordered it Monday from Amazon, and it arrived on Wednesday. Gotta love Amazon Prime. 

Modern Views with 3-Yard Quilts by Donna Robertson

Modern Views with 3-Yard Quilts

I already have about half a dozen of Donna's quilt patterns but none of the patterns in this book. Each pattern uses 1 yard each of three different fabrics. These are the perfect size for the charity quilts I make. The bonus of this book that I hadn't expected was that the book gave instructions on enlarging the quilts to twin and queen/king toppers.

Well, it's time to get in gear and work on the fall cleaning, baking, and getting those Christmas checklists started. Yes, I said it. I said "Christmas". It's going to be here before I know it, and I need to be prepared.

Let me know below. Are there any foods that remind you of the fall months? What are your favorites? I'd love to hear about them...and maybe drool a little bit over them.

Link Parties I've Joined - Just Click the Link to See More Crafting Eye Candy

Show Off Saturday

Saturday Share Fest

Slow Sunday Stitching

Moving It Forward Monday

Made By You Monday

Goofin' Off With Some Toy Story Buzz

Recently, there has been a bit of buzz around the Toy Story franchise. And I'm not just talking about my nephew's wedding a couple of weeks ago or that flying space ranger. Keep reading down below if you want to see what all the buzz is about and a Toy Story project (or two) I've got planned.

I'm so excited to show off my latest quilt finish. Sunday night I arranged the blocks for the center and sewed them together.

Center Assembly of Chef Freddie's Favorites

On Tuesday, I attached the borders and, voila, here is the final quilt top.

Chef Freddie's Favorites - Quilt Top Finish

Mr. Goofin' Off said that he liked all of the different patterns that showed up when I put the blocks together.  The quilt top and the colors seem a little bit bright, but that was on purpose. When sewing quilts for Project Linus, I like to use cheery and bright colors. I hope it helps to brighten the mood of the recipient.

The quilt blocks were my own variation of a block I had found in the book "501 Rotary-Cut Blocks" by Judy Hopkins. This book is my go-to for inspiration and a springboard for me when coming up with ideas when a fabric is screaming at me to be used. I've made a note to myself to write up my pattern for the block when I get a chance and put it up on my blog for all of you. 

I got a little stitching time in over the past few days and I am seeing just a slight bit of Goofy's nose appearing. If you know much about Goofy, you'll know it may take a bit of time for his entire sniffer to appear because he's got quite the schnoz. 

Mickey and Pirate Friends as of 08/09/2017

Several months ago, I saw on fatquartershop.com some fun Toy Story Fabric. I signed up to be notified when the fabric arrived. My notification that the fabric was in stock was sent to last week. 

Woody Fabric by Camelot Cottons

I ordered a bit of these two fabrics (and possibly a bit more--but don't tell Mr. Goofin' Off).

Buzz Lightyear Fabric by Camelot Cottons

Remember my nephew who got married a few weeks ago...with a few Toy Story subtle references worked in to the ceremony? Well, I've decided to make them a couple of quilts using this fabric line. One will be a Woody quilt and one will be a Buzz Lightyear quilt. His and her quilts to snuggle under during those chilly Idaho winter evenings while they study and finish up college. You can look forward to those seeing more of the quilts coming up, hopefully, next month.

And in other Toy Story news. Last week Disney Parks shared the following picture announcing the laying of the final track for the "Slinky Dog Dash" roller coaster which will be opening up in the summer of 2018...yes, that's next summer folks. 

Photo Retrieved From Disney Parks Blog Aug 09, 2017

According to Thomas Smith at the Disney Parks Blog, here is what we can expect from this special coaster:  "Slinky Dog Dash will be a family coaster attraction where you'll zip, dodge and dash around many turns and drops that Andy has created to really make Slinky and his coils stretch to his limits."

Family coaster...yep, that's my coaster intensity level.  

Also shared was this artist's rendering showing what the Toy Story Land will look like.  

Photo Retrieved From Disney Parks Blog Aug 09, 2017

According to Jennifer Fickley-Baker of the Disney Parks Blog, there will be much more than the coaster...this is going to be an entire land.  Here is what she wrote:  "In Toy Story Land, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore the world of Andy's backyard. Fitting with the theme, Slinky Dog Dash will to be a coaster track that Andy has built over his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit - as well as some of his other favorite toys."

Do I have to wait a year for this fun to open? Really? Actually, it will most likely be much longer than a year because, you know, I don't live anywhere near Florida. 

Well, friends, thanks for joining me today. I am always so thrilled to see the comments all of you leave. I have enjoyed connecting with some of you through e-mail, too. 

Just remember:  You've got a friend in me! 

Linking Up With:
Midweek Makers

Let's Bee Social
WIP Wednesday
Needle and Thread Thursday
Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop

Finished Or Not Friday
Flaunt It Friday

Goofin' Off With Another Wedding

As I mentioned in my last post, last weekend we had another family wedding. I have five nieces and nephews getting married this summer. It's been a lot of fun. But this particular wedding had a first for us. I'll get to after the updates to my projects.

I managed to finish the all of the sub-units for the second set of blocks and have begun the assembly of the the blocks.

Beginning of Block Assembly

Last Sub-Units Assembled for Quilt - Woo Hoo!

And now for my to my cross stitch project...Mickey and Pirate Friends. You can see the top of Goofy's second eye beginning to appear in this one. Every time I work on this I can hear Goofy in my mind saying, "I'm watching you."

Mickey and Pirate Friends as of 08/03/2017

Now back to the wedding we went to last weekend. Last weekend was a first for the Goofin' Off family. My nephew and his wife asked Mr. Goofin' Off to perform the marriage. Mr. Goofin' Off was very honored and was happy to do it for them. However, Mr. Goofin' Off had never performed a marriage before, so he had to go about getting ordained in order to perform the marriage. Mr. Goofin' Off is pretty resourceful, so he had no problems there.

Mr. Goofin' Off With the Happy Couple During Rehearsal

A few weeks before the wedding, we had the happy couple over for some sweets and to go over what they wanted in a ceremony. The groom has been a huge Toy Story fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper (yes, I get the family started on Disney at a young age), so we asked if they were possibly interested in a few subtle Toy Story references in the ceremony. They embraced the idea. They shared with us that during one of their first dates/hangouts they had a Toy Story marathon and watched all three of the movies. Happily, they were married not just till death do us part but to infinity and beyond!

The Wedding Party

The day of the wedding arrived last Saturday. The weather could not have been more beautiful that day. Although the groom looked handsome, the bride looked absolutely stunning. I am so glad to have her as officially part of the family. She adds a beautiful sweetness to the family.

At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Goofin' Off handed the bride and groom a permanent marker and told the them that they should write each other's names on the bottom of their shoes to show they loved and belonged to each other...just like the character Andy did in the movies. After the ceremony, as the bride and groom left the room, they played "You've Got a Friend in Me." And, in case you were wondering, they did write each others' names on their shoes...wish I had gotten a picture of that.

The Bride and Flower Girl Checking Out the Bouquet Together

I know that the bride had picked out her colors for the wedding long before we met and talked about adding a few subtle Toy Story references. The colors she chose for her wedding were purple and green...and they went beautifully well together. But, still...

Wedding Cake

...am I the only one who knows what character is white with accents of purple and green?  Anyone?  Anyone?  I'll give you a hint, if you don't know, you can re-watch Toy Story again.  Let me know in the comments if you know who I am talking about.

And to all my friends and family who read this blog, have a magical day!

Linking Up With:  
Needle and Thread Thursday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!
Finished Or Not Friday
Flaunt It Friday