Thus Far...

Here's where I am so far...

Monday

I really enjoyed sewing these blocks. There's nothing like a new sewing machine to make you smile! It's like sewing through butter... just as smooth and quiet as can be! I'm getting used to my new Pfaff Grand Quilter by sewing blocks before I put it in its big Next Generation frame. I'm not a patient person, but I think this time is time well spent.

Row D is now complete, and I've started on row E.

Have a GREAT WEEK!

My baby in Minnesota

Thanks so much to Marge for taking a photo of my "baby"

at the Minnesota Quilters 2008 show for me!

A Corner Slice of Applique

I worked on a corner of my latest quilt last night...

Stormie watched, of course. This is her favorite spot lately... Daddy's computer chair, right in front of the front window. She runs and hits it just right so it spins and she faces out the window. Not real happy that I turned the chair to take her picture. Their was a bird in the birdbath just outside the window.

Cackle cackle.

No more mailing your children to grandma...

If you are a quilter in the United States, or if you plan on mailing something to the United States, this might interest you.

In 1775, the first Postmaster General was appointed by the Continental Congress. That was Benjamin Franklin! The Pony Express began in 1860. In 1971, the United States Postal Service® began operations. 1982 was the last year Postal Service accepted a public service subsidy. That’s right – Not a single one of your tax dollars goes to the postal service! Translated: The United States Postal Service is no longer owned by the U.S. government.

And, it should be noted that while you can ship quilts, fabric, notions, etc.
you can no longer mail children using the U.S.P.S.

Really! You haven’t been able to since 1913. Don’t believe me? Check this out!!!

Now, this really begs the question: What kind of an idiot MAILS THEIR CHILD? Or even thinks about it?

Oh my.

Have you ever made a Postage Stamp quilt? If not, then go here to see how easy it is!

A Yellow Mood

Today feels like a bright, yellow kind of day...

Go spread some sunshine!

A Milestone Weekend

I did quite a bit of sewing this weekend, and I am now at 75 finished blocks for my Dear Sammy Jane quilt. Yippie! Top left is D-10, Battlefield. I love the color combinations in this block. Top right is D-11, Snow Crystal. Both blocks were paper pieced, but Snow Crystal also has a little applique from applying the diamonds on each of the four sides. One thing about paper piecing I don't like is removing the paper. Some of my blocks I've been removing paper from as I go. Others, like these, still have the paper on them. Yuck.

A few weeks ago, I posted a Give Away. The winner was selected randomly by my assistant Stormie... and Sue (sbonetsue) is the winner. Sue, please send me your snail mail address and I'll get your treasures in the mail to you!

Right Side 6

Everyone have a great week!

Ahhh... Everything Comes Around!

There comes a time in every parents life when they look at their children and think to themselves (or perhaps even say to their children).... "Someday you'll know just what it's like."

Have you ever thought that?

Take, for example, this adorable little boy. You know those little sticky toys that look a lot like a gummy worm? You throw them on the wall and they stick? Well, it seems that little Jacob ATE one tonight while leaving the restaurant. You can get them out of a gumball machine, and what kid doesn't love gumball machines? Looks like a gummy worm! And it goes right in the mouth and down the throat. Jacob's dad (my son Sean) calls me and asks for suggestions as to what to do. "Give him LOTS of fiber, lots of water, and it should come out on its own. BUT, you need to make sure, so the worst part of this is LOOKING FOR IT."

Ahhhh, yes. I remember a little boy about 28 years ago (during the time period before his little brother was born) who found a full pack of ExLax. You know the kind that comes wrapped like it's a chocolate candy bar? Yes, well, Mommy was very pregnant, and sometimes things need help. Ahem. Little boy comes out of the bathroom with "chocolate" all over his face.

"What do you have all over your mouth?"

"Nothing."

"You ate something, now tell Mommy what you ate."

"I ate your candy bar. Mommy."

"What candy bar?!?!?"

"The one in the bathroom on the shelf!"

Imagine what our night was like after the candy bar!

Here's our adorable grandson Jacob again. Looks like he is getting his hair washed, doesn't it? Actually, this is PRE-hairwashing. Here, Jacob has HAND LOTION in his hair. And then there's the clown-face boy after enjoying Mommy's lipstick.

Yes, everything comes 'round. I remember finding Jacob's father in his crib after a nap at ... oh, around 2 years old. He woke up from his nap and decided to take the industrial sized jar of Vaseline off the dresser next to his crib and apply just about ALL of the contents on his lovely brown curls. Try and get THAT out!

Yes, life gives us adorable little boys and girls. And with that comes a lot of "fun." Enjoy it! They are only little for a short while. Then they get to experience the joy on their own!

<--- Jacob's Daddy.

Gotta Love Hearts!

I love anything with hearts on it. This is a triangle for the border of my Dear Sammy Jane quilt. It's called RS8 - Love Forever. Since this quilt will be given to my granddaughter Samantha someday, I used a pale pink fabric for the hearts that was used in the slip that went with her christening gown. It seemed fitting for this block! (The triangles scan funny for me... sorry for the photo quality!)

Speaking of hearts, I happened on this website and love the pattern for the hearts block. Check it out!

Dear Jane Progress

I'm gaining on it, but slowly. I managed to get one block stitched last night - E 13, "Moth in a Web" (see below) which felt good. Dean and I went shopping after work, then had dinner at Logan's Roadhouse. MMMmmmmmm, steak and a sweet potato! An hour of stitching after that and I was ready for bed. I decided I need to do a little stitching every day - that's my goal. Have you posted YOUR goal yet? If not, go here and post your goal in the comments section.

Don't forget about the fabric and postcard giveaway on June 21st. That's this Saturday!

E-13 Moth in a Web

Make your day a GREAT one!

Are you on target?

Successful people don't just happen overnight. They work at it. They set goals. They strive to be better, taking classes, fine-tuning skills and techniques. They tackle the unknown. They push the boundaries and force themselves to think "outside the box."

Are you a dedicated quilter? Do you take classes? Do you set goals for yourself? Even a quilter who quilts for relaxation can enjoy and see improvement from taking a class or two.

I need a few classes. I enjoy paper piecing because it lets me accomplish things I might not be able to hand or machine quilt without the pattern. But often times, it's not easy for me. I need a good instructor to help me get over that. I love to applique, but some things are a struggle, like sharp inside corners. I'd love to take a class in dye techniques... just for fun. And outside the quilting arena, I am longing for a basic art class. My goal is to take one of the classes above before the year is out.

I've noticed in some of my recent blog posts that I complain about not having enough quilting time. Time to quit whining and set aside a little time each day. Time to hold myself to task.

Barack Obama spoke to a congregation on Father's Day about improving their lives and the lives of their children. He said, "All B's? Is that the highest grade?" Obama said. "It's great that you can get a B, but you can get a better grade. It's great that you've got a job, but you can get a better job." He was talking about improvement. I can improve. So can you.

The block above is for my Dear Sammy Jane quilt. It's block F-11, "On Target."
I'm going to write down a few goals and post them where I can see them. Why don't you do that, too? Let's check in at the end of the summer and see where we are.

Can you stay "On Target?"

Take up the challenge to improve your quilting. Post one goal in the comments section, then let's check back at the end of September and see how we did.

Have a GREAT sewing week!

Nothing like a new haircut

I just got my hair cut three weeks ago. Actually, more of a fine trimming. I was trying to grow it out longer. Don't know what I was thinking! After three weeks of it in its longer style, I gave up. Couldn't stand it on my neck anymore, and in this Michigan humidity, it would look poofy in the morning, only to be flat as a pancake by 11 AM. No more.


Yesterday I made a lunch appointment to get it cut. Patrice, my stylist, is my son Loren's age. She's adorable and SO talented. I took a picture with me of exactly what I wanted. I explained it to her, showed the photo, oohed and ahaaaa'd about the sexy look with the long bangs, higher-in-the-back poof, etc.
<----Here's the picture I had with me. Pretty darn sexy.



If you've ever tried to take your own photo, you know how hard it can be. So excuse the poor photography in the photo below, but I think it shows you enough to get an idea of the hair cut I came home with.

It's shorter than what I had... I'll give it that. But I don't think it looks like the hair style I had in mind. I mean, come on! Where's the strong chin? Dark, sultry eyes, beautiful complexion? Not to mention that it doesn't poof in the back! It doesn't cover my eyes and give me that "come hither look." I know what it is. I wasn't posing right. Yeah, that's it. I need my lips parted, looking ahead and not to the right.

OK, gotta go shower and try the style myself. More poof on top. Different makeup. Younger body. That might do it...

OK... back after shower and my own styling. Still doesn't quite get it for me. Geesh! Maybe I just need a new head? YEAH, that's it! Anyone know where I can get one?

Porcelain

I love this quilt. My mother made it for me when I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1989. I went back to school after my boys were in elementary school, and finished my bachelors that summer. It's all hand-made, and the cool thing about it is that it's the first quilt I ever saw my mom make. Actually, I didn't see her sew it at all; it was a total surprise to me. But the most amazing part of the whole quilt is that my mom was legally blind when she made it. She could see out a little bit with one eye, but the rest was all blurry. She described it as cutting a tiny little one-eighth inch hole in a piece of paper and trying to see through that. Check out the detail in the second picture.

It's all hand-quilted, and she embroidered the lines inside each fan shape. It's her own design, and knowing that I always name and date my quilts, she embroidered the name of it and the date on the back side:

Porcelain.

Quite a fitting name, wouldn't you say?

Roses and Mother Nature

Sometimes Mother Nature plays tricks on us. Sometimes they are nasty, dangerous tricks, like a flood, tornado, hurricane, and so forth. Other times they are simple little tricks. Here's one I just don't understand.

Several years ago, I planted two climbing rose bushes: the two you see here. The first one on my fence at the front of my side yard has always been a beautiful yellowy orange (more of a salmon color). I adored the color!




This one at the back of my yard is climbing the fence underneath the flowering plum tree. This one goes crazy climbing, producing a bounty of beautiful red roses every year.


Ok, do you notice the problem yet? The color you see on your screen is fairly true to their actual color. I'm hoping my rose buddy John will pipe in here and explain why my beautiful YELLOWISH roses are now all like the ones at the back of my yard on my other bush. I'm a little ticked off at Mother Nature right now!

If you know what's going on, please tell me! I'm off to buy more roses today!

Bathing Beauty Design

"Don't you think I look gorgeous?"

<--Gotta love the sassy hand flip on this bathing beauty!

Why is it that when we are young, healthy rolls and dimples are acceptable, and fit right into our saucy summer wear. But when we get older... not so much. Why can't designers come up with some more flattering designs for summer wear (ok, swim wear) for more (ahem) mature frolicking in the sun?

I had a fun evening last night designing "something" for a friend. I explored and pulled out my stash, played with colors and designs and began creating on something to send her way. Lots of fun! No pattern, no plan, just colors, scissors and my trusty old Bernina. Could have stayed there all night if it weren't for needing sleep!

Have a good day. Try on your bathing suit - they have a way of telling us things we don't want to hear (but probably should). I'm now at -16 pounds, thanks to Weight Watchers. Another 100 and the suit will look much better.

It's been 20+ years...

Yesterday I packed up my baby and shipped her off to the Minnesota Quilters show for their juried exhibition. Haven't done this in over 20 years. I found out it costs a whole lot more to enter shows now, and shipping has gone from $4 something to $21.56. YIKES!!!

Floral Star of Bethlehem... not holding my breath, but hoping for a little better than last place!
If you attend the show, could you please take a photo of it hanging for me?

Thanks! (And crossing fingers)

Two down and a Storm

I finished two blocks in Row D over the weekend. Three more to go to complete that row. On the left is D-4: Crystal Star, paper pieced and hand appliqued. Below is D-5, paper pieced, easy peasy.


We had a horrible storm here last night. Scary clouds, ferocious winds, and tornado warnings. We didn't sustain any damage, but several school districts around here are closed due to downed power lines and wind damage. Yikes! More of the same is expected today, and we don't have a basement at work. Pray for me!