On their way

I finished the coasters today and took them to the post office this afternoon. Now they're in the hands of the Austrian postal service (which I've heard is not so great, although I've only had one problem with them). So, without further ado, here's the design I settled on.




It's basically the design that everyone seemed to like, with a few extra lines thrown in. The coasters ended up being a little larger than my first one, so I added a second box around the whole thing. And then I added a diamond inside the blue diamond on the fabric.

I really like how they turned out.

And while I was at the post office, I picked up a package from Amazon. The mailman knocked on our door at 7:30 yesterday morning (which is a bit too early for me -- so I made Brian get it) to inform us that we had to pick up the package at the post office and pay the customs fees. The last time we got something from Amazon, the mailman delivered it to our door and collected the customs fees. He also showed up around 10 instead of 7:30. I wonder if this is because we didn't tip him at Christmas? Ha ha! Since you didn't give me a tip, I'll make you pick up your own mail. And knock on your door while you're still in bed. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's a different guy than before, but maybe they're in cahoots.

In any event, I've been eagerly awaiting these books. Especially Amy Butler's InStitches pattern book. I have one more sewing project to finish before I can get started on the wide-leg lounge pants. It's a good thing I have some time off from school.

This is university

My German teacher has a lot of sayings. My favorite is, "This is university." I like this one because it can be used to mean so many different things. I'll give you a few examples.

If you....

... didn't do the required homework, "this is university" means that you need to get your act together and treat the class with a little respect.

... didn't do the optional homework, "this is university" means don't worry about it; it's up to you whether or not you do the optional homework.

... miss class, "this is university" means she doesn't need to hear your excuse. Whether you were sick, attending a funeral or recovering from a hard night of partying, she doesn't care. You can miss up to 20% of the classes for any reason or no reason. (Of course, if you miss one day over the 20% limit, you don't pass the course regardless of your grade.)

This expression became even more humorous to me yesterday. Last week we took our two final exams -- an oral exam on Wednesday and a written exam on Friday. But we still had class through today. We spent Monday reviewing the final exam and discussing some final points, but we were left with two full days of nothing to do. So what did we do? We went on a field trip. After all, this is university.

Yesterday we loaded up on the public transportation and headed to ORF, the local television studio. We saw several other groups of field-trippers -- mostly between the ages of 6 and 8. Even though I felt a little silly going on a field trip, I had a good time.

Today was the last of class and the plan was to go to a cafe for coffee and cake. I assume that that's what happened, but can't be sure since I didn't go to class today. Do you want to know why? Well, I don't have to tell you. This is university.

Your opinion matters

First, some blog news. This is my 100th post. I feel like I should do something to celebrate. So I offer you this lovely shot of the sunset one day last week -- or maybe the week before last. Recently, in any event.



Now, on to other things.

A while back I mentioned that I had signed up for a coaster swap. I've been checking out some of the other coaster-makers and they're pretty impressive. So, of course, I'd like to do something impressive as well.

This what I'm working with right now.



The front side reminds me of cathedral window quilts, so I thought -- quilted coaster! Now here's the dilemma. Maybe you noticed that I've done a little quilting on this coaster already. Maybe you haven't -- it's a little hard to see in the photo. But I'm not sure that I like the design. Here's the front with some lines drawn on it so you can see the design.




The lines are kind of wonky. I think my sewing is a little straighter and more even. In most places. So my question -- should I keep this design? Or should I go with something more like this to highlight the cathedral window aspect?



Or should I just quilt them like Martha?

So many possibilities. I'd love to hear your opinion.

It's a nice day for a white wedding

Today Brian and I had our first oral exam in German class. Just so I don't keep you in suspense for too long, we both did well. We don't have the grades yet, but we are both confident that we passed with good marks.

The whole thought of an oral exam was a little intimidating, but I had a lot of info going into it, so that helped put me at ease. I knew that the proctor administering the exam would not be my regular teacher, I would have to speak over three topics and it would last about 5 minutes.

First, I had to introduce myself and tell why I was in Vienna. Then I had to speak about my favorite object -- the one I presented to the class earlier in the semester. I knew both of these topics prior to the exam, so I was completely prepared for them.

For the third topic, my teacher gave the class a list of possible questions earlier this week. Then when it came time to speak over the third topic, I had to draw a card and answer the question. Some of the questions were really easy. Talk about your last vacation. Where did you go? What did you do? But some of them were a bit more... abstract. What do you think about the future?

Fortunately, I drew a pretty easy question. I'm visiting your hometown for 3 days. What attractions are there? What do you recommend I see? This question was especially easy because it's the exact same question I drew during the practice exam yesterday. So I felt pretty confident in answering it.

The hardest part of the exam was knowing that the proctor could ask additional questions at any moment. She could ask something about your family. Or some detail about your hometown. Or whatever.

I know the proctor asked a few questions, but only one sticks in my mind. While talking about my favorite object (a wedding photo), she asked me whether I wore a white dress.

I'm not quite sure what she was getting at.

The most boring post ever

I don't really have anything to write about, but I feel compelled to write. It's a sickness, I think. So I've decided to show you some recent pictures. I hope you enjoy.



This is a sign for what is perhaps the most famous toilet in the world -- the Opera Toilet at the Karlsplatz U-Bahn station (right below the City Opera building). For a small fee, you can use the facilities while listening to the Blue Danube Waltz or something similar. The fee, in case you're wondering, is 60 Eurocents -- more than twice the price of the facilities at the train station which are an odd 27 Eurocents. I only took a picture of the sign and not the actual bathroom because I thought it was a little rude to snap a photo of the bathroom.



I don't know why, but I really like this old-timey Strassenbahn sign. Maybe because it's so ornate compared to the modern Strassenbahn signs. Although, I must admit, I prefer the digital signs that display how many minutes until the next Strassenbahn or bus arrives.



I was using the auto-timer on this photo. The camera makes a loud noise right before it takes the photo, which is what caused this quizzical look on Sharkdog's face.



If this is the first time you've seen this photo, head over to Sharkdog's blog for more details. And go ahead and add his blog to your regular reading list so I don't have to keep sending you over there.

Dreaming in deutsch

I had some trouble sleeping last night and decided to get up for a little snack. A few minutes later, Brian realized I wasn't in bed and called for me. I returned to the bedroom to see what he needed. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was looking for something to eat. That's when the conversation got a little strange.

Brian: "Did you tell the neighbors it was ready?"

I had no idea what he was talking about so I asked him to repeat what he had said.

Brian: "Did you tell the neighbors? That the food was ready?"

Me: "I don't know what you mean."

Brian: "Nachbartisch." (This is the German word for the neighboring table, like at a restaurant or cafe.)

Then he giggled, rolled over and went back to sleep. I asked him today if he remembered the conversation and he said he didn't.

But he still thought the word "Nachbartisch" was pretty funny.

Kultur und Kaffee

One of the girls in our German course is in Vienna to receive training as an opera singer. An opera singer! Isn't that crazy impressive? She invited the class to a concert organized by her singing instructor. It was amazing. I've heard a lot of singing in my life. Just yesterday morning on our walk to the u-bahn I heard Brian's rendition of an R Kelly song. But I've never heard anything like this.

Several other classmates were also at the concert. Afterwards, Brian and I joined two of the other students for coffee -- at Starbucks. Here we are in a city known for their cafes and we end up at Starbucks. But that was okay with me. Starbucks is the probably the only place where you can get your coffee without second-hand smoke. Probably the most impressive part of the whole thing is that we spoke German most of the night. The girl we were with speaks English and prefers English over German. But the guy either doesn't speak English or prefers German -- I'm not sure which one. But either way, it was nice to speak to someone whose first language is neither English nor German. You both get to struggle a little. Although, there was definitely more struggling on our side of the table.

Music and coffee -- that's what this city is all about.

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In other news, if you haven't checked out Sharkdog's blog in a while, I recommend moseying on over there and taking a look at the first installment of Sharkdog Adventures. (Click on the photos to view a larger image.) And don't be afraid to leave a comment. Sharkdog thrives on positive affirmation.

Coasters for everyone!

I decided (rather late) that I was going to make small gifts for my family for Christmas. I didn't have a lot of sewing experience or a lot of time, so I decided to go with something simple -- coasters.


I made two two-coaster sets, each with a matching case. One coaster says "Mine" and the other says "Yours." I also made two four-coaster sets that were the same design, only with different words or designs. This is my favorite.


All of these coasters are from the pattern in Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing book. I also made a four-coaster set based on the criss-cross coasters tutorial at Allsorts. I wanted to make them round instead of square, so I increased the size (5.5 inches instead of 4.5, I think), then after pinning the layers together I traced a circle on the back and sewed it. Nice and easy.

I made a few things other than coasters as well. You can check them out in the Made by Me set on Flickr if you're so inclined.

And if you like coasters, you may be interested in this coaster swap over at Ibby Bee. She's only taking 30 participants and is close to the limit, so hurry on over there. (She'll post an update when the slots are filled.) I've already signed up. :) Sorry, folks, it's full. If you're really itching for a swap, you can check out the options at Swap-bot.com.

Baby's got new shoes

Remember the shoes I showed you on Saturday? Well, I finally got around to making another pair for Emmy. One side is chocolate with tiny red, pink, white and blue flowers. The soles are pink.

Why yes, that is the lovely hippo fabric in the background.

The other side is white with colorful flowers. Also with pink soles. This is the same fabric I used for the original shoes. Since I'm new at sewing, I don't have a stash of fabrics to select from. Although, all the fabric for these shoes came from my scraps box. That's another great thing about the shoes -- you don't need much fabric.


Please don't wear them like this. Pick brown or white, not one of each.



And just for fun, here's the classic front- and side-view photo. I don't know why, but I have to take a photo with the shoes positioned like this. It's a compulsion. I can't resist it. So now you must look at it.



Just in case you missed it the last time, these shoes are based on a tutorial at Bare Maked. If you know of any little baby toes that need some cover, check out the tutorial. I enlarged the pattern by 10%, but that was too much. They ended up looking really long, but not too wide. So I shortened them a bit and it all worked out. Well, I don't know whether they'll fit Emmy, but then I've never seen her feet.

My apron pattern arrived today, so I hope to give it a try this weekend. Don't worry, this blog won't become completely devoted to sewing. I'm also planning on making some journals soon. Okay, just kidding -- it's not going to be just about crafting. But I do have a great journal idea brewing. And I will be telling you about it. But that will have to wait -- maybe a month or so.

From the sewing room

I've discovered my new favorite fabric shop. I told you a while back about a textile shop outside of Vienna which is one of the only places you can find affordable fabric. But I found another place that's much closer to home and much better organized. Only thing is, it's not really a textile shop. It's Ikea.

I was already planning on picking up a fleece blanket or two at Ikea to use for sewing. But then I saw this jacket on Flickr made from hippo fabric from Ikea. I know what you're thinking. Hippos? But it's cute. Did you look at the jacket? Go ahead, take a look. But come right back.

...

See, it's cute. The person who made the jacket said that she used a duvet from the kid's bedding section for the material. Genius! Turns out, I wasn't able to find the bedding, but I found the same pattern in pre-cut fabric. So I took that (in lime green and in red!) and I also picked out several duvets. And all of the fabric came out to about $2 to $3 per yard. And some even cheaper than that. I have all sorts of ideas brewing for these fabrics -- but I have to wait for my patterns to arrive.

In the meantime, I've been practicing with smaller projects. I am still a beginner, after all. I made this lovely tote from the Simple Tote pattern in Amy Carol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing book.


Last month, I made these cloth shoes for my niece Emmy based on the tutorial at Stardust Shoes. They turned out nice, but there were a few things about the pattern that I wasn't wild about.


Luckily, I found a similar tutorial at Bare Maked that I like a lot. And since the shoes I made for Emmy were a little too big, I'll get to try again with this new pattern. (This pattern is much smaller, so I think these may be too small for Emmy. They were a practice pair anyways. I'll enlarge the pattern when I make her pair.)




And the best thing about this tutorial -- the shoes are reversible!

A small victory

Yesterday was a good day. Brian and I woke up early (for us) and headed across town to turn in our residency permit applications. There's an annual quota on the type of permit for which we applied and by the time we were ready to apply last year, the quota had been met. So we decided we would go the first day the office was open in 2008.

Both Brian and I were a little worried that we would have to wait hour upon hour to see someone. Three or four other people or families were entering the building when we arrived and many people were waiting at the elevator. It didn't look hopeful. But when we found the room we needed, there was only one family ahead of us -- the Haskews! We were given a number and waited 10 or 15 minutes. Maybe not even that long.

The whole thing was pretty anti-climatic. We sat down with the lady taking our application. She looked through everything. Made a few copies. Then gave us a letter saying our residency permit was in process, or something along those lines. The application said that all of our documents (birth certificates, marriage license, passports, etc.) had to be translated into German and notarized. Not the case -- she accepted everything in English. The application said that originals or notarized copies had to be provided. Also not true. Now we just have to wait for a letter. I'm not sure what the letter will say because we've been told that there's a one-year waiting period for this type of permit. But we've been told a lot of things.

Afterwards, Brian and I walked around the city a bit and stopped by Starbucks for a victory cup. It's so nice having this task behind us. I know there may still be a long road ahead as far as the acquiring the permit goes, but it's nice to have finally made the first step.

Buried treasure

Sharkdog has this endearing habit of burying his treats. You'd think this would be difficult considering he's indoors all the time. But he improvises.

It's hard to catch this on film because if he sees you watching him, Sharkdog will glare at you and then take his treat elsewhere. As if I'm going to dig it up! So, without further ado, here's the video. (There's no sound.)

The big bang

Wow.

About half an hour before midnight the sky starting lighting up with fireworks. No longer was there one firework here and then another one there. There were fireworks everywhere.

Brian and I spent about 40 minutes running between the windows in the living room and the kitchen. I've never seen anything like this. It's not just the city putting on a firework show, but it seems like everyone is participating. There were people in the soccer field right outside our apartment setting off fireworks. There were people out on the street setting off fireworks. We even saw some come out of apartment windows! Several were so close to the building I was afraid they might fly into our open window. At midnight, I turned on the radio to listen to Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz, which is always played to welcome in the new year.

I know it's never the same on video, but here's a small sample of the fireworks from our kitchen window. It was so loud, so turn up your volume to get the full effect.