A Couple of Quick Mentions

Number 1: My Father-in-Law just got home from the hospital. He went in July 3rd. Home now for two weeks, then back for another procedure.

Number 2: I would be happy for Paris Jackson and her two brothers to move in with us. And no, not for the money. They seem like great kids who need some normality in their lives. Paris needs to learn how to quilt.

Number 3: Yes, I started a new quilt. Felt compelled to applique something. Did you know that your Microsoft Word program has lots of GREAT applique designs built into it? Like this one? Snoop around in the fonts and clipart for something you like, blow it up ALMOST to smitherines in Word, then print. Enlarge on the copy machine to get the size you want, and VOILA! You got yerself a darn great pattern, by golly! (This one is not nearly completed... just wait until you see it finished!) And no, I'm not related to Sarah Palin.

Stay tuned for more applique excitement to come.

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It's July? Already?

Someone told me today that it is July 6th. What happened to the 4th of July? I missed it! For the past year and a half, someone in our family has been in the hospital at almost every holiday. This time, it was my Father-in-Law. He went in to the ER Friday morning, and he's scheduled for a procedure tomorrow, Tuesday. No telling how long he will be there. So, needless to say, we spent most of the weekend at McLaren Hospital. My husband is an only child, so there isn't anyone else to help out, which we are glad to do anyway. But it's getting a little wierd having to be at a hospital every holiday! GEESH!

Tomorrow is the memorial service for Michael Jackson. I've been angered by the media frenzy surrounding the moments and days (weeks?) after his death, yet I have listed to the news and watched television. I guess what has drawn me to pay attention is the sad life he has lived. Through all his talent and good, he has been mocked and ridiculed by so many people. He has had a few people close to him, standing by him through thick and thin. He was put on trial. His family has supported him. He had people who betrayed him, and people who wanted to believe him, yet could not bring themselves to do so. He loved children, and children loved him. He was gentle to animals, and had such a tender way with them. He was known by many names, including King. He was different. He was unusual. I know of another man years ago (2000 some years ago) who faced similar hardships.

Michael may also be more popular after his death. Time will tell. Shame on us for being a part of this media madness. Shame on us for judging him and finding fault with his unusual lifestyle and way of life. No one deserves this. Not in this generation, and not in generations past.

May you finally be at peace.

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Economy Block

I just finished my second block for the quilt that is being made for President Obama. It is called "Economy" and I chose it out of the Yvonne M. Khin book of patterns mentioned in my post earlier today. I added hand embroidery in the center square to further emphasize the title of the block. It seemed to fit the current situation in America... and the struggle that faced our new President even before he took office.

The quilt for President Obama is currently in Round One of several rounds. If you are interested in participating by making a few blocks, please contact me by leaving a comment on this post.

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What is Your Favorite Quilt Book?

I have more quilting books than any one person should own. I admit it. I haven't bought myself a new book in a long time. Well, I take that back. I bought Ricky Tim's Convergence Qult book last winter. But before that, years had gone by without me buying a quilt book. YEARS! That is unreal. Most of my books were purchased in the 70's and 80's. OK, I'm old but not THAT old.

In thinking about all of my books, I asked myself,

"If you had to leave all your quilting books behind for whatever reason, and could only take ONE with you, which one would that be?"

Here is my answer. Please share yours in the comments below. You can write about it there, OR you can post a link to your blog and share it on your blog. If you link to your blog, could you please mention my blog question and link to it? (A little SEO there, for those of you techies.)

This book, "The Collector's Dictionary of QUILT NAMES AND PATTERNS" by Yvonne M. Khin is my "quilting bible." It has 2,400 quilt block patterns. That's what the cover claims. Actually, they are drawings of blocks, not actual patterns that you can follow to make your own. If you want to make a block, you have to use your own skills to draft it yourself based upon what you see. Some of you might cringe when you think about that, but it is a skill that a good quilter should learn.

You can see that I use my book a lot. See the page markers? See the worn bottom right corner of the cover?

If you click on the photo of the open book, you can get a closer look.

Ms. Khin copyrighted her book in 1980, so when I got it, it was a brand new thing. I loved it! She was born in 1916. The last I knew, she was living in Maryland. She would be 93.

Thanks for a super great book!!!

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Thoughts on Blogging

What draws you to a blog? What makes you come back for more?

I find as I read various blogs - quilt or otherwise - I love to see good pictures. I love to read about what you are doing in your life, be it quilting, writing, art, or what is going on in your family. Who we are 24/7 says a lot about who we are as a person. If I have been reading someone's blog for a very long time and then all of a sudden they post an entry without photos, but about their life, I will read the entry without hesitation. But if I visit a person's blog for the first or second time and there are NO photos, I might not come back. I wonder why that is?

What is it about reading blogs that makes you come back for more? Please share in the comment section below, and let's get a dialogue going.

Speaking about blogging in general, if you have been following someone's blog regularly for a year or more... faithfully... and leaving regular comments... faithfully... wouldn't you think you would see your blog listed in their blogroll? Or am I thinking with a junior high mentality? It sometimes just strikes me as odd.

My kitty is not feeling well. I think it's a hairball. Having long fur, and with her licking all the time, how can it NOT be a hairball? She's been laying in strange places, making a feeble whine when she meows, and doing things she normally wouldn't do. Sad, sad Stormie!

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Fiber Art Postcards

Gave it a whirl... for the first time. "Purple Rain"

"Desert Moon"

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