Appalachian Quilts

I think I have become high maintenance!

2012-02-16T05:52:00.001-06:00

Remember everything I was going to get done this week because Hubs is out of town? Guess how much I have gotten to do.....oh, go on--guess! NONE!!! I have had a special project for work that I have had to do. The rewards for this one will be a nice benefit, but two nights this week I have worked until I went to bed!

Last night--I got my hair done. Now, usually, that entails spending a few hours on a Saturday and coming home with "prom" hair. In my infinite wisdom, I switched salons in the hope that I could move my appointments to a weeknight. I must have this sign on my head that says "lacks self-esteem". Every time I get a facial or I get my hair done, those ladies can sell me anything. Remember the makeover with the make-up lady??? Well, last night was no different. I spent money I didn't have, and left the salon with two bags of hair products that I am pretty sure will leave my hair looking exactly like it did BEFORE I got my hair done! I got a bunch of the length taken off...and I have strange hair. Some days, it is naturally curly--that's how Hubs likes it. Some days, it is poker straight--and when I say poker straight, I mean that even if I use a curling iron on it, it is still straight!

So, to recap.....I need a degree in fine arts to put on my make-up, and I now will spend an extra half hour slopping various hair care products on my wild and unruly hair every morning trying to tame it all down. It's like I told the stylist--me and my hair have been together in this life long enough for me to know not to fight her. If I shake my head when I get out of the shower and she is curly, then curly it is. If I shake my head and it is straight...don't bother, she won't curl for love nor money!

I guess there is always next week to play in the studio.... :*(

P.S. If you have placed an order online this week and have not gotten it yet, PLEASE check your e-mail. I have an order sitting here waiting to ship....but you used your old phone number (when we used to be neighbors) and I have questions about your order...

Have a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T06:47:00.000-06:00

Mmmmmm

2012-02-12T08:40:00.000-06:00

Because I am the World's Greatest Wife....

I got up at around 5am. I did my weekly reports for work, then I made this for Hubs....

It is called a Cinnamon Pull. Basically, you buy a sourdough bread, slice it and smear it all over with this incredible honey vanilla butter and bake it for 25 min. You are supposed to drizzle it with icing when it comes out, but since it had a cup of sugar and cinnamon smeared all over it, too, I figured that might make it a tad too sweet! Serve it up with steaming hot coffee, and Hubs is in H E A V E N ! ! !

I have a lot to do today.....have to get Hubs all packed for his impending trip, which also means hemming a pair of pants and some heavy-duty ironing. I also intend to finish a custom quilt I have been working on for a month! I will have logged around 100 hours on this one, but it is coming to life through the quilting and it is so dang exciting! While I am working on the custom, I have a few allovers that were dropped off yesterday, so I need to get started on them, too! Busy busy!

Then.....there is the party planning for while Hubs is out of town! Of course, it is a sewing party....I don't know what YOU were thinking!

Have a blessed day! I'm off to get my fingers all sticky from the Cinnamon Pulls......

I'm baaaaack....like a bad dream!

2012-02-11T08:48:00.000-06:00

I have not been "that" sick in many many years. Of course, I felt the need to share with Hubs. You know how men are when they are sick....so I won't tell you what an incredible sick nurse I have been. Even though I'm still not all better, I am a stupendous nursemaid.

Now, where was I? Oh, I was going to show you the back of the last quilt I had finished.

This is how I did the HST blocks...

And this is what I did in the borders....

It was fun just to 'play' on this one. I'll have to play around with another of those UFOs, so I can get started on this year's goal. An entire month has gone by and I have done nothing...nada....zero....zip! The good news is that Hubs will be out of town all week (Don't judge me--remember, he had been off work for over a month and was getting a tad too clingy.) and I will have more time to sew and quilt. Usually, in the evenings, he expects that we remain in the same room doing the same thing because we are gone at work all day and don't see each other. I love him that much, too, but a girl needs her playtime!

I have a few customers picking up quilts today, which should be interesting. Our driveway is a huge hill. We got some snow last night. AND Hubs is so violently ill (ahem) that he cannot get his rump out there and use the snowblower. If only I could have milked this sickness as well as he is, I would still be at death's door, lying in bed, with a little bell to ring when I need something. But nooooooooo....I'm going to hide in the longarm studio with the music too loud to hear his incessant whining! ROFL I do feel sorry for him....I think! :)

Have a blessed day!

My New Diet.....

2012-01-27T04:43:00.000-06:00

You start your day with a sensible breakfast: Oatmeal

First snack: Robitussin

Second snack: Robitussin

No Lunch

Third snack: Robitussin

Dinner: Chicken Noodle Soup

Late Night snack: Robitussin

When you wake up in the middle of the night: roll over and take a swig of Robitussin....

Guaranteed weight loss! I've been coughing so hard my curly hair went straight!!!!!

Have a blessed day!

I just couldn't do it.....

2012-01-24T05:12:00.000-06:00

My girl is still in the garage! Several fellas showed up with wads of cash....but not enough. I told them I was firm on the price.....I came close once, but all I could think about was how disappointed my boys would be. So, she is hanging out...waiting for me to get her started this Spring and take her out for a spin.

But, now for the fireworks up there....Hubs got a job! He starts Monday with the same company where I work. He will have to be out of town during the week and home on weekends, like I was, for a month or so....which means I can spend time on my longarms and in my sewing studio!!!! Woot Woot! He is trying to get a different room ready for the longarms and we will hopefully get them moved this weekend. It will give me more room and we will go back to having a spare bedroom! Considering the only sewing I have done this week has been to mend two pairs of pants, I am thrilled!

Well, I have a busy day at work today, so I need to get myself dressed and out the door. Have a blessed day!

When life hands you lemons....

2012-01-22T07:16:00.002-06:00

you make lemonade, right? Right now, that saying is really getting on my nerves! It's been a tough go of it since Hubs lost his job. I would be lieing if I spread sunshine all over my blog and told you it hasn't. However, it does help you gain focus. I've had my hot rod, a 71 Dodge Challenger, since 1984. It has been hauled all over the state as we have moved in the hopes that I would be out driving her again. It has been 'glue' with my boys and I. I've taken them to car shows and showed them how to appreciate vintage over always having new. Being the hypocrite that I am, I bought one of the new Challengers. At this point in the game, I struggle inwardly on whether I really need to keep the old one. Yesterday, I put the old one on Craig's List. To say that the phone has been ringing off the hook is an understatement. We have at least three different potential buyers coming today to look at her and I'm torn...so very torn.... I know my boys are both going to be more than disappointed if I sell it, but if nothing has happened with her in over 20 years, I'm thinking we aren't just going to have the time for her in the next 20. So, good bye dear friend, but I think your days in my garage are nearing an end.

I put our hot tub and a treadle on Craig's List yesterday, too. Sold the hot tub within two hours and it looks like the same fella is going to buy a generator we bought this summer at auction.

So, now for some (in my mind) funny....We have been adopted! Yes, someone loved us enough to want to move in. We feed him like a king, only gourmet meals...but he is a tad shy. A field mouse has moved in... Now, I know what you are thinking....I haven't talked about this because frankly it is quite embrassing. I can't hold it in anymore, and here's why. We have been pinching pennies and trying to be very frugal with our money. However, we are now the proud owners of virtually every mousetrap available on the market today, and we STILL can't seem to catch him. We have tried peanut butter, cheese, nuts, bacon and even gorgonzola cheese! (Nothing but the best for our mice!) This little fella is so smart, that he has alluded every trap associated with the aforementioned treats. Now for the funny....have you seen the movie Caddy Shack? How about Mouse Trap? Since Hubs has soooo much extra time on his hands, it is somewhat like being a movie star in **pick your movie**. He wakes up every morning with a shot gun in his hand looking for our pesky little friend. The only thing he has caught so far has been the nose on our golden retriever. Our mouse is definitely a Harvard graduate! I'm pretty sure he has a "Free Buffet" sign out trying to entice his little mouse friends to come enjoy the high-living he seems to be enjoying here! I don't even want to guess how much money Hubs has spent on every innovative mousetrap available in today's market. I can only say that when they were invented, no one knew about Milton. Yup, I have named him....it looks like he will be around for a while!

Have a blessed day!

Words you DON'T want to hear....

2012-01-21T10:45:00.000-06:00

Hubs: Honey, I think it is time to clean your sewing studio.....

OOmph! Hear that? It is the sound of me being socked in the gut. Yes, it is true....but the room is small...I have multiple projects going....and I maybe have a few totes in there that I don't know where to put them....not only that, but did I mention I don't have time for that nonsense??? Anyhoo....

I told you about a project I finished quilting in December that was on my UFO list. I don't have the binding on it, but here are some pics....

I took the bottom two while she was on the longarm, because the lighting was better to show the quilting. I was just playing around with the quilting. They are big squares and really needed something fun in them. I would have taken more pics, but the camera card was full. I hate it when that happens! This quilt is from the book "Sew One and You're Done".

Today, I am working on a beautiful custom quilt that a customer's mom made years ago. It has a little applique and lots of pencil lines for me to follow for the quilting. Thus, the little break to come show you a little something, since I haven't been around for a few days.

I won't be gone so long this time!!!

Have a good day!

Saturdays

2012-01-07T07:06:00.000-06:00

As a kid, I always looked forward to Saturday. I would get up, fix some breakfast and watch cartoons with my younger brother. He calls me his 'little sister', so I can't refer to him as my little brother. When my kids were young and at home, Saturdays were spent cleaning house and running from one sporting event to another--looking back, I wonder how I made it to them all! When I had the shop, Saturdays were usually a day when I was teaching a class and we had a full staff on at the shop to take care of all of the quilters who made their way out to the shop for inspiration after working a long week. Today, Saturdays are longarming days. The stresses of the week fly out the window as I bring quilts to life with the girls, Gammie and Gabbie. I still look forward to my Saturdays.

To say that Hubs has been a little overzealous in wanting to use the longarms would be an understatement. I love that he is excited to spend time with me. Last night, he wanted to get in one more practice piece before my customers drop off quilts this morning. He has been drawing pictures with Gabbie and making LOTS of wholecloths. (I even had to order a few bolts of fabric for him to play, because he wanted specific fabrics!) I had a lot of computer work to do last night, setting budgets and my Action Plan for 2012. I didn't watch him as closely....he really didn't want me to. He was certain he didn't 'need' me. Afterall, he's been doing this for a whopping two weeks! I'm sure, in the back of your mind, you can see where this is headed...

He loaded one of my old tops on to do an allover quilting design. He threaded the machine....he only asked my help in re-sizing the pattern. I went back to my computer work..... The next thing I know he comes to the top of the stairs and calls down, "I need you to come up here. The machine is making all kinds of noise and I had to stop it." Thinking she probably just needs a little oil, I go trudging up the stairs and down to the longarm studio. Oh, she needs more than oil.... When he threaded the machine, he didn't get the thread all the way in the tension disc. Hubs is now a PRO at the art of frog-stitching. Rippit! Rippit! His reply--you will love this---"who knew that one little threading mistake could waste so much thread and make such a mess". I love it when he appreciates my pain! It hadn't gone too far, so the poor little fella only had to spend about an hour (ha ha) frog-stitching. Hubs, do you remember when I had to pick out a whole row once????

So, off I go to my stress-free day in the longarm studio today. Looks like this weeks posts will just be quilts that I have longarmed. Jennie (my Janome) has to go to the Dr. on Monday. Dr. Karen says I should have her back by the weekend, thank goodness!

This is where I should insert pics of the pile of thread and the mess Hubs made, but if I go in there with a camera in hand, he's liable to get a little *ouchy*.

Blessings....

Shameless....

2012-01-05T04:37:00.000-06:00

I am shamelessly out there trying to drum up more longarm business, if anyone needs any quilting done. I have gotten completely caught up on my allovers! :) Haven't had time to blog much, as I have been working on those customs. Trying to alleviate some of the financial stress from Hubs, with him losing his job. I won't go into all the gorry details of everything that has been going on around here....I'll just say I'm thankful for my quilting aka stress relief.

I really do have some pics to show you....I'll try to get them on tonight when I get home from work.

Have a good day all!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T08:34:00.000-06:00

Had a great time with the Reptile Son & Co. last night playing games and catching up. They brought a ton of food, which I am proud to say I passed on. So far, I have not wavered from my Sacred Hearts Diet, although I was tempted. His GF felt the need to bring a Chocolate Lava Cake. I have a rough time not succombing to the pressures of evil that are otherwise known as fudgy chocolate!

I got a lot done yesterday. Made a huge dent in a customer custom quilt, which I will hopefully finish up today! I also got quilt number 27 quilted from the UFO list! So--it was 27 in 2011! Too excited, I will show you pics later today or tomorrow. This makes the goal for 2012 27 more UFOs. Not a bad one! I'm also going to take more time for myself in that sewing studio next year. It is a great stress reliever for me and I have to look at it that way. As far as my longarming is going....I am 100% caught up on my allovers and getting there on my custom! It feels GREAT! I've even been training Hubs on using the longarms, which we will continue on today. He was playing and designed a wallhanging for Reptile Son's GF which is just gorgeous! I'll try to take a pic, but it is somewhat a wholecloth done on a batik and I don't know how well it will photograph.

I know it sounds strange, but I am really excited about going back to work tomorrow. I've had a lot of successes in the past few weeks and I am extremely proud of it. The VP of Sales and Marketing will be back from vacation tomorrow, and I am sure to get an e-mail from him! How's that for being presumptuous?? The last two weeks have been that stellar---and holiday weeks at that! I'm also excited for Hubs. Although things are tough around here right now, I know that the new year brings him opportunities that we just have to be patient in waiting for. The right job is out there, he just has to be patient. He's had a rough time of it with the holidays, but I am sure that he will have something by the end of the month.

I wish you all peace and prosperity during this next year. Take and make time for yourself. Don't take anything for granted, and most of all surround yourself with people you love and who love you.......

Blessings...

Cutie Patootie!

2011-12-30T13:07:00.000-06:00

Can I just say that I got soooo much done last night that I am absolutely ecstatic??!!! Gave Hubs a badly needed haircut.....loaded and started longarming a customer quilt....and finished binding these two Cutie Patooties! Oh, and I also kicked some serious tail on the Wii Jeopardy game against the Hubs!

These little cuties didn't take long to quilt....I think they actually took longer to bind than to quilt. I wanted to hurry and get them quilted because they are going to serve a specific purpose. I need to set an iron candle holder on the antique treadle in the dining room and don't want to scratch it up, so I'm going to use the hex one of these little toppers.

These were done in a class at the shop where we showed several different flying geese rulers and the advantages/disadvantages of each. I will probably put Mr. Hex here back on and quilt 1/4" in all the way around the background triangles. He was stitched in the ditch with no start/stop. :) Chalk up 2 more finishes! Even though they are small, I was able to load them on the longarm. I used one backing and just floated them both on top. Super fast and super easy!

It's a cold, windy day here in the Midwest. Perfect for quilting! I should finish a customer custom quilt today so that I am able to load the next custom one on to work on tomorrow. See the smoke burning from my speedy self??? I am working so much there is smoke rolling off my fingers! Woo hoo! I love it when I get to quilt this much! Always puts me in a great mood....especially when I am catching up on customer quilts!

Enjoy yourself today! Blessings.....

Ta Da! and Goals for Next Year

2011-12-29T13:01:00.000-06:00

I finally got the quilt bound that I have been telling you about. Let me tell you....this has been a UFO for approx 7 years! It has hung in both shops waiting to be quilted. I've always had in mind to use this as a topper on my kitchen table, and now I CAN! :)

I tried to do a close up for you of the back, but it was difficult.

There are little beads in the middles of the flowers, and I have to fix one set...they are a tad loose. But, other than that, we can mark this one off the list!

So, have you been contemplating your goals for next year? Notice, I did not say "resolution"?? In my opinion, a resolution is to change something or "resolve" to make something different. I am not a big resolution person, but I am a huge goal-setter. Whether it be in my personal, professional, financial matters, I set goals. I've been thinking about my quilting goals for next year. Again, I am not at all upset that I didn't finish as many of those UFOs as I set out to. I know why it didn't happen, and it certainly was not because of lack of effort on my part. So, my goal for next year.....finish as many UFOs as I did this year. I was taking a shot in the dark when I set my goal last year. I had never been unemployed or gotten to spend that much time at home, so how do you judge how much you will accomplish?? I still did a ton of longarming for customers and was more focused on what I was doing, so it wasn't bad that I snuck a few of mine on in between. That's what I will do again in 2012. In between customer quilts, I will just sneak a little something in of mine.

My last giveaway winner never claimed her prize, so....I will have another giveaway. Stay tuned tomorrow for details!

Blessings

I snuck one in on you!

2011-12-27T06:57:00.001-06:00

First, I just have to tell you about my day at work yesterday. It is about a 45 minute drive for me one way--that's in my 'moving target' at slightly over the posted speed....ahem. Anyhoo...as I am driving around to various customers, not making any headway AT ALL because of the holiday, I decide to text my boss. Chuckling to him that I seem to be the only one working.....and WHY is that you ask??? Because even our drivers weren't working! I truly WAS the only one working!!!!! It would seem that there was a MEMO that said something to the effect of .....work from home....as needed! Say what??? I didn't get the aforementioned memo! Ugh! Such a dedicated employee I am...working on my day off!

Fast forward to my getting home. I was taking what was going to be my last UFO finish off the longarm machine and decided to throw another quickie on, just because I was feeling sorry for myself! So....I snuck another finish in on you!

I tried to do a close-up of the quilting for you, but that didn't work out so well for me. Not enough coffee yet.

This was a KT Stash Society project. I quilted the coolest feather motif in the center, but...you can't tell. We got kind of burned out on the KT fabrics at the shop-they seemed like the same thing over and over-so we did this one in Jo Morton fabrics. I LOVE it! I was even able to scrounge a scrap of batting, so I worked on that batting scrap pile, too!

What's even better??? I still have one more I will get done before the first of the year! Just a little binding, and she is done done done!!! Woot Woot!

Hubs is starting US on a diet today. I'll just warn you ahead of time--if you hear a news article about some crazy lady who felt the need to gnaw off her own arm....it would be ME! Actually, we are doing the "Sacred Heart Diet" that they start heart patients on. Here is a link, if you are curious.

http://www.idiet4u.com/diets/sacredheart.html

Well, I'm off to be the dedicated employee....have a blessed day!

Progress

2011-12-26T05:26:00.000-06:00

Remember these blocks?? Well, I now have 86 of them! The kids were here Christmas Eve Day, so they could honor commitments elsewhere for Christmas, so my gift to myself was a day in the sewing studio! I truly enjoyed myself. Yoga pants, old sweatshirt, fuzzy socks and a never-ending pot of tea. (Don't tell anyone, but I didn't 'do' my hair OR put on make-up!) I just sewed....and sewed...and sewed...it was

A W E S O M E ! ! !

These strips are all gone! If I want this quilt to fit my bed, I need 196 blocks! So, I'm not even halfway done. I need to cut more strips. I'll try to cut them this week after work, and maybe...just maybe....I can get some more blocks made next weekend. I do have some longarming to do, so that will have to be a priority, but I will certainly try!

When Hubs saw this arrangements of strips, he actually thought I had cut too many! ROFL Little did he know, this just got me to the 86 blocks! Hopefully, I don't get bored with it and just turn it into a smaller quilt. I love these blocks! Julie sent me a pic of a quilt, that I am going to try to do. I'll lay them out the same way and see if I get the same umph (is that even a word??) from the blocks as the quilt in the pic she sent. I refuse to let this one become a UFO!

Remember Kim's challenge? Well, I have one more quilt that is almost quilted and will need bound this week, and I will have another UFO done. I will continue next year working on getting them all quilted and bound. I'm not upset with myself that I didn't get to my goal...I think I will almost be halfway through it, honestly. I'm just thrilled that I got as many done as I did!

Most of the girls enjoyed the gifties. One of them said she didn't have a table to put one on...really? No table....oh well....but I do need to make another one of these.....

Reptile Son's girlfriend really liked it. She was the one I had in mind when I made it. Some of you know her from when she worked at the shop. She wanted it, but one of the step-daughters just painted her dining room in this color and nabbed it right away. I was glad she found one that she liked. So, I will just work on training the hubs on the longarm some more, and have him make another this week. He can bind it while I bind the UFO....hmmm....doesn't really sound like I am the one making it afterall! LOL

Well, I need to get ready for work. Have a blessed day! Don't forget the sale over at the website....

http://www.quiltweb.net/

Blessings.....

Working into the wee hours.....

2011-12-24T05:14:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to finish up some of the towels, now. It does look like I will be working into the wee hours. Some of the kids are coming tonight, so I will have to sneak into the sewing studio and re-start the embroidery machine when necessary. Whew! Here's what I have done so far....jump stitches haven't been trimmed and horrible lighting in there....sorry about that!

The colors on the blue and green towels are close, but not necessarily true. I had to change them a little so you could see the embroidery. I chose colors to match everyone's powder rooms. I had the towels before we found out Christmas was going to be a little tight.

Off I go to keep working. Have a Merry Christmas!

A few more gifties finished.....

2011-12-23T06:33:00.000-06:00

Is it just me, or is there absolutely nothing good on television right now? Everything is re-runs. I don't watch TV much, but when I do, I would love to curl up with something new! So, after about a half hour of frustration last night, Hubs put in a Clint Eastwood Movie, Hang Em High, and we were off to our own personal binding marathon.

I know you have already seen the Christmas placemats, but he wanted you to see that he DID get them all bound. <>

This next one should actually count as a completed UFO. The green isn't really that dark. I darkened it so you could see the metallic gold thread a little better. There are hanging loops on the back. This one was actually done on the longarm.

The last of the runners done on the embroidery machine. He is done more in my colors.

Here's a close-up. He's telling you all Merry Christmas!

I know some of you are wondering why I didn't piece some projects and quilt them. Let's just say I don't think the step-daughters are really going to like these (I could be wrong), except for their Dad helped make them. They are into more modern decorating and haven't been exposed to quilts much.

Hubs informed me yesterday that if he could take off an entire YEAR from work, he could have our remodeling done around this house. Seriously??? An entire year??? I'm thinking a month here, a month there, and he could be done by Spring! I guess he isn't used to having me beat him over the head with a stick to make him work faster! He also got this "brilliant" idea that I should make a million different table runners with the embroidery machine to sell. Um...NO! I want to enjoy my time in the quilting studio! If I throw the occasional one on while I am sewing, that's one thing. But, I'm not going to mass produce anything! Gotta love him. He's just a tad worried....

Well, I need to get to work at the "real" job. Have a blessed day, and don't forget about the SALE over at the website! http://www.quiltweb.net/

Blessings...

More gifties all done!

2011-12-21T16:48:00.001-06:00

We finished binding two more of the gifties for the girls last night. Poor hubs will be binding those table mats right up until Friday night! :)

This one really isn't my decorating taste. It is a metallic snowflake background with BLUE Santa! I have never decorated for Christmas with blue, but I must say--this one was my favorite.

Isn't he just too cute! I love this embroidery pattern!

This one was my least favorite--until I got it quilted. I love how it quilted up, and I just love that plaid binding!

We have more binding to do...want to give them a good selection to choose from. Hopefully, they will like them. Otherwise, I have a good start on MY decorating for next year!

Hubs made a pork roast with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. It was all ready for me when I got home. The house smelled like PineSol...yup, have him trained to be a great Trophy Husband...he had been cleaning house and doing laundry! Oh, if only we could afford for him to stay home all the time!

I confirmed with the two sons (and one significant other) that they will be spending the night Friday night. Family game night before our Christmas Eve breakfast. Life is good!

Hope your day is just chock full of blessings!

P.S. Don't forget the sale over at the website!
http://www.quiltweb.net/

Cookies! Finishes! AND a SALE!!!!

2011-12-20T07:21:00.000-06:00

I finally started the holiday baking last night. I made approx 10 dozen cookies. If I tarry on every night this week, I MAY just get it all done! Have you ever baked with stoneware? It is my favorite! The more 'seasoned', the better the finished product.

Mmmm....the family favorite...Chocolate Chip!

Hubs and nephew's favorite--ginger snaps! I quote, "No one makes these from scratch anymore!"

Peppermint pinwheels....I have fond memories of making these with the kids. <>

Here is Hubs' metal rose. It will not be staying in this pot, but he is thinking about making some of these to sell, while he has time on his hands. What do you think? Do you think he could sell them? He is going to make other varieties of flowers, too. I want some Calla Lillies!

Here is one of the home made gifties for the girls. It is a table runner, quilted with varigated thread. It is really a little teensy bit darker than it appears in the pic. The rest are all Christmas-themed. I did have one of the girls in mind when I made this one--it matches her couch. I'm thinking about doing it White Elephant-Style. Have all of the girls draw numbers. Number one pics first. Number two pics second--and she can choose to take the one that number took...and so on. Should I do it that way, or just make it a free for all???

And, last, but not least...due to the circumstances in my last post....I am having a BIG sale over on our website! I already price everything less than suggested retail price, but I find myself in need of some serious cash! LOL So, if you are looking for some great deals...head on over! http://www.quiltweb.net/

Hubs is processing orders, learning to longarm and blacksmithing. Kind of funny that our tables got turned and I am the one working, and he is the one being a Trophy Hubby! Just taking it all in stride....

Have a blessed day!

The Dynamic Duo is Back!

2011-12-18T05:55:00.000-06:00

Back when I first opened my shop, many years ago, Hubs used to work along side me. I know some of you would cringe if your Hubs infringed on your territory, but we usually had a lot of fun. He worked quilt shows, cut fat quarters, cut kits, did binding....and confesses to knowing more than any man should about quilting! Believe it or not, it was less stressful for me when I had him working with me, than when I didn't. Well, due to circumstances beyond our control, he finds himself with a little more time on his hands, and we find ourselves having a 'homemade' Christmas. It has been a roller coaster week with emotions running everywhere, but I have pulled myself up by my bootstraps and am moving on. Having 6 adult children with 3 significant others, we have never spent much on Christmas anyway, but I did have to take back the few things that I had bought. After my own little pity party, I re-channelled my energies.

One of my customers told me that one of the best things she ever did for a Christmas get together that she had gone to was to make a basket of everyday goodies. She didn't wrap anything, just added a few bows, and filled the basket up with everything from First Aid kits to smelly lotions, etc. I was already going to steal this idea for the kids....but now, it will be their only gifties....and will all be handmade.

So, Hubs and I spent the day yesterday running 2 longarm machines, embroidery machine and my poor little Janome. I will show you some of what we got done, but I can't wait until you see the rest! I have to tell you, we had an absolute blast working together again! He wanted me to show him how to use one of the longarms, so we practiced....

These are table mats. Hubs quilted 6 of them. I'm stitching the binding on with the sewing machine and he will whip-stitch the other side of the binding on this week. These will be rolled and tied and will be one of the gifties in the basket. Because he used batiks, there will be no right or wrong side! Sweeeeeet!

I can only show you above and below without showing you what they will be yet. So far, we have created 3 different ones, with my favorite NOT being in the pics. I'm going to try to get these two projects longarmed today, perhaps teaching Hubs how to do this. If he doesn't learn to do the custom quilting of these, he will be doing more training on the embroidery machine. You know what they say about idle hands!

The three step-daughters have never really been into the whole 'handmade' deal. My half of the Brady Bunch always has. Prodigal Son has nabbed more of my quilts than anyone....Reptile Son has a list and needs a couple new quilts (notice I didn't say just one...) and Princess Daughter used to actually craft Christmas gifts with me. I'll never forget the year we made a million christmas ornaments for her to give to everyone on her basketball team, her teachers, her grandmas....I even snuck one for myself. :*)

I do have a feeling that after this Christmas, ALL six of our children will have a whole new appreciation for that which is handmade. The fact that their Dad was the one who actually made their gifties will convert them for sure! Oh, and don't feel bad for the boys.....they are getting gifties of MOUNTAINS of homemade cookies, peanut brittle and fudge!

We are more excited about this Christmas than we have been about any Christmas in a long time! I hope yours is a blessed one, filled with family and friends. Ours will be....and we are counting our blessings daily!

Christmas Around the House

2011-12-11T07:47:00.000-06:00

After blog-hopping around and looking at all of your decorating pics, I feel so unworthy! Here are a few of mine, but interestingly enough, not many of them show the million quilts I have everywhere! Go figure!

This is a tablescape on the buffet in the dining room that usually looks cuter than this. OK, so I can't buy good things to put in the blog like hubs can give them to me. Let me explain....I'm uploading this pic for the blog.

Hubs: I've seen that quilt before. (Referring to the wreath quilt in the pic...)
Me: Ummmm, yeah, it's hanging in our dining room.
Hubs: Oh...I knew I had seen it somewhere.
Me: You know this conversation is going in my blog, right?
Hubs: You just can't buy this stuff, it just rolls off my brain. Sorry, honey.

Usually, I put some poly-fill around under Santa and his sleigh, but I don't feel like cleaning it up this year....LOL

Remember my Santa bringing me wine from last year?

This is my NEW mantle! Hubs made it from a pecan tree that fell in the yard during the storm. He made the brackets in his blacksmith shop and I just LOVE it! I've been begging for a mantle since we moved into this house, because I needed some place to put those iron stocking hangers!

It looks like our tree has no ornaments on it. Far from the truth! There wasn't a branch left to hang the rest of the ornaments we have! They just don't show up in the pic. Hubs got the train all set up. I'm thinking the train and the train tracks will get much bigger as the grandchildren start coming....

This is a very cool hand-painted Nativity Scene from Italy. Hubs remembers buying it with his Dad when he was 11 years old. Guess that makes it an antique! ROFLMAO

Today should consist of baking, longarming and working on those Christmas hostess gifts. We'll see how it goes....day 5 of the migraine! Ugh!

Breaking my vow....

2011-12-09T06:25:00.005-06:00

I've been trying to show you more of what I am doing, rather than customer quilts. BUT, this one is so cute, I want to make one! I met this customer when she was part of our Thimbleberries club. Big stretch from Thimbleberries fabrics to these....whomever she made this for is one lucky duck! I love these fun fabrics!

I apologize for not posting more this week, but I have had a migraine...this is Day 4. I try not to take meds, but this one is kicking my rump! I have so much to do this weekend, that I don't have time to be down with a migraine. I fear it is going to get worse. I am off to get my hair done and the smell of all of that hairspray at the salon will probably just do me in!

Later, I will post the gifties I am making for all the kids for Christmas. I'll tell you the story about it then...got it from a 'work' customer. I'm also longarming while I keep the embroidery machine going, so this should be fun. Then, either today or tomorrow, I need to kick it up a notch and have my bake-a-thon in the kitchen. I tried to recruit elves to help me, but they are all too busy. So, it is just Momma in the kitchen.

Enjoy your weekend. Temps here are in the teens, so it is a great weekend to stay inside and bake! Here come those holiday pounds!!!!!

Decisions....decisions....

2011-12-04T10:46:00.000-06:00

After Hubs brought the tree in, Bambino was having a devil of a time figuring out what to wear while we decorate!

I guess it IS kind of obvious he wasn't as thrilled with the Dr. Seuss hat. He didn't like the bell!

Enjoy your day!

And the winner is.....

2011-12-04T06:32:00.000-06:00

Sue, who said "Well I have been following your blog for quite some time. I love the Barn raising, but my suggestion would be streak of lightning. I think that's a variation. Anyway, it looks like a zigzag stitch! LOL Okay, I think I've followed the rules and would love to be entered in your giveaway! I really do love those colors you are using for your log cabin. Love Jo Morton."

E-mail me your snail mail addy, Sue, and I'll get your charm pack and pattern out to you tomorrow.

When I got home from the big city yesterday...after my little emergency trip...I came home to hubs installing my mantle. I was so excited! When I had the big house in C-ville, I had 4 fireplaces. I had bought the cutest iron stocking hangers. I've not had a place at this house to use them and have been begging for a mantle for one of these fireplaces. All I wanted was a simple log, nothing ornate. We lost a pecan tree out in the back, so hubs cut it down, made it into a mantle, and now I am a happy girl. In inspired me to drag out some of the Christmas decorations. While I made dinner, he ran to get us a Christmas tree. NO ONE WAS OPEN! We are talking 6pm. Really???

So, there are no pics today of Christmas decorating. Sure, I got a little done....but there are totes and boxes everywhere with things in them and I am surely not going to show you what a mess I have made. I can't clean it up until I have that dang tree! I offered to put up the artificial tree, but Hubs isn't having it! So, longarming this morning....and when he gets home with the tree I shall finish and take a few pics for you. Don't hold me to a high standard....just boring, mediocre decorating.

And, for those of you asking about the job, well, that was my little emergency yesterday. I really missed the industry I was in...although I miss having the shop, too. I absolutely love love love the job, roller coaster ride that it is. I will never, however, rule out re-opening a shop. We just need for our lives to settle down, figure out where we are going to live, and then it will happen. Until then, I will just keep catching up on UFOs, WIPs and PIGs.

Have a blessed Sunday!

G I V E A W A Y ! ! ! ! !

2011-12-03T07:13:00.000-06:00

Don't forget, today is the last day to comment for the giveaway! I have an emergency trip to the big city this morning...then it's home to longarm and maybe get some sewing in this evening!

Poor hubs is taking longarm quilts in for me this morning! When I get back, he is installing my new mantle. Can't wait to decorate it and show it to you!

Have a blessed day!

As Promised....

2011-11-30T17:25:00.001-06:00

So, here's a pic of my Red/White (really creamy not white) project in the works....

I'm working on cutting out more strips tonight. These are all 1 1/2" strips. I added other Jo Morton reds/creams to the Variety line for more.....Variety! Oh, I'm just too funny with the puns! Some of my reds have more blue, some have more of a rusty feel....but you need those variations for interest. I knew if I just kept on with the Variety line, I would get bored and my quilt wouldn't be as big as I wanted.

Hubs thinks I should just make a throw. When I chose the old traditional look of the log cabin block, I had originally thought about a throw for the living room couch. But, how beautiful would it be if I had the wherewithall to make a hundred or two of these? And, I really need to figure out how to set them. I forget if there are 17 or 21 different ways to set a log cabin block, so I am definitely open for suggestions. I do remember that I love the barn-raising setting for them. Remember when you give me your suggestions....I am OCD, so it has to be symmetrical. (That's why the Red White Blue Stars mistake is glaring at me!)

So, here are my lame 24 blocks. For someone who works full-time, I guess I shouldn't be hard on myself. Plus, I am still longarming for customers. This is the result of two nights...OK, I can cut myself a break! I have tonight and tomorrow night to work on it, then it will just have to wait until next week. Too much longarming, too little time! But, I enjoy the longarming just as much, so it's an OK trade!

Now....for the giveaway. Here are the 'rules'
1. You must be a follower on my blog To be a follower, you click on the link on the top right of the page.
2. You must offer me a setting suggestion
3. You have until Saturday night at midnight (my time)

I will randomly draw the winner....check to make sure you are a rule follower....and post the winner on Sunday morning. With any luck, I will have your prize in the mail to you Monday morning!

So, what do I win, you ask....a new car? $100,000? a tropical vacation for two? Nope! You will win a charm pack of the Variety line by Jo Morton. I will also throw in a Schnibbles pattern. Do keep in mind that the Schnibbles patterns always require more than one charm pack, so you will have to supplement from your stash!

Good Luck!

SNOW!

2011-11-30T05:53:00.000-06:00

When the weather people talked about the imminent snow, they ALL said it wasn't goinig to stick. They are all BIG FAT LIARS! My car looks like a red and white snowball! Schools are delayed. Accidents are all over the roads....and I am not quite sure if I am ready for this!

In the Sewing Studio, I have started my Red & White quilt. Because we have been eating leftovers from TWO Thanksgiving dinners (Thursday AND Sunday), I haven't had to fix dinner. So, for the last two evenings, I have slithered into some sweats and snuck into the Sewing Studio! I have 24 blocks made and spent last night cutting out more strips. Still have lots more cutting to do, but I got really tired last night and only ended up in there for a little over an hour. When I get home tonight, I will post pics and a
G I V E A W A Y ! ! !

I need to take off for work. Have a blessed day! I'm thinking the house will turn into a Christmas wonderland this weekend....

Can you guess which pattern I'm using for my Red & White quilt????

Baby Embroidery Pics

2011-11-29T02:49:00.000-06:00

Rather than showing you the customer quilts I have been longarming, I opted to show you what I have actually been working on for ME! As soon as I found out we were getting a grandbaby, I raced over to the emblibrary.com website and bought some embroidery designs. Banker daughter is going to decorate in Nursery Rhymes, so I have started the embroidered blocks. I will make alternate blocks with another block design. We aren't going to find out if it is a boy or girl, so it has to be generic.

Don't worry....I've also bought the cutest "princess" pack that has all of the Disney Princesses (i.e. Cinderella, Snow White, etc.) I'm going to make a girl quilt with those. Oh, and did I mention I also bought a little baby animal pack? I'm going to make a boy quilt with those. This baby doesn't stand a chance of being cold!

So excited to be a Nana!!!!!!!!

Devastating....

2011-11-25T08:20:00.000-06:00

Today's post is more on a personal level. I'll post something quilty for you tomorrow. I just need to vent. I've heard that if you write something out (OK, so they say a hateful e-mail--you just compose and after you have gotten it all off your chest, you delete....) it will make you feel all better.

As many of you know, it has been quite the journey to get Prodigal Son on the right path. We got him through school and he got himself an awesome job in Wyoming. He, and we, are proud of his efforts. Wednesday morning he awakened to his friend (the one that drove the two of them out there--this is VERY important to the story) telling him that he was loading up and going home. Say What??!!! Prodigal Son had to chose on whether to be stranded in Wyoming or load up and come home. He had no car with him and no way to go back and forth to work. So, they are in the process of driving home now. :*( He is so upset and worried that we will be disappointed in him, which I don't understand because it is NOT his fault.

He doesn't know that we know. He has been burning up the phone lines trying to find a job by phone before he gets home. I could cry. If only you could see the text messages he has been sending back and forth with Hubs.....he was going to get us a trip to Cayman to show us how much he appreciated everything we had done....really felt a sense of accomplishment when he got that first check....got his first holiday ham (OK, that one was cute).... I just feel so bad for him. I would say I could kill his friend, but then you would all have it in writing! <>

So, why does his friend want to come home, you ask? His parents (he is a few years older than Prodigal Son) paid for his schooling. He can go to work for the family business and not have to WORK AS HARD! He used Wyoming to get them to pay him what he wanted. So, basically, he finally got to leave Ohio and see something else on his parent's dime.

I am still so incredibly proud of Prodigal Son. I am not disappointed in him. I am proud of how hard he works and isn't afraid to do the hard work to get what he wants in life. He HAS turned it around, and for that I am elated!

Thank you for letting me vent. Now, you all need to get on your knees and pray that I am not home when they pull in the driveway! I won't be able to keep from going spazoid on the friend...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:13:00.000-06:00

I hope my fellow celebraters will take the time today to remember all those things we are thankful for and sometimes take for granted. We will only have one of the six kids here today, but he is bringing a possey, so it is a celebration all the same. I did most of my food prep last night, so today I can relax while it all cooks.

I am thankful for my friends and family and all of the blessings that have been showered on me. I'm also thankful for my virtual friends who sometimes endure my rants...but always offer me inspiration.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Red & White Quilt Exhibit

2011-11-19T07:15:00.000-06:00

Ever since the pics have floated around the internet about the Red and White Quilt exhibit in New York, I have been waiting oh so patiently for Jo Morton's new Variety line. Then....the hurricane hit New York and they had to re-print it all. So, I waited some more..... I came home from a loooooong day at work yesterday, and look what I got!

Now to take myself from racing thoughts of different patterns to chosing just one and making a quilt! First, I have to load them on the website. As one of my blog readers, if you place an order this weekend, you can have the one-time low price of $7 per yard, minimum 1 yard cuts. Just mention the blog, and I will change the price per yard before ringing out your credit card.

Well, I'm off to load it all on the website: http://www.quiltweb.net/ and cut all the Stashbusters Club fat quarters.

Have a great day!

Updates...

2011-11-17T05:53:00.000-06:00

Prodigal Son's Facebook Wall says it all for me: Contrary to your beliefs, hard work pays off. Its about time

Yup, this is him jumping out of a plane! Remember, his life motto is "No Regrets".

Coffee Maker Update: Months later--->I caved! Last night on my way home from work, I stopped and got a Cuisinart Coffee Maker. I got tired of the threats from Hubs and having to re-start the coffee pot ten times just to get a pot. This one has my coffee ready in the morning, and Hubs just has to be delivery man! :)

I did happen to notice--I'm just sayin--when I was shopping for the coffee pot, that they DO sell cotton candy machines, snow cone machines, chocolate fountains and popcorn machines all in one place! The question is where to get even BIGGER ones for the grandbabies!

Have a great day!

The Phone Call....

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Saturday night, we got a phone call from Banker Daughter. She and her hubs wanted us to meet them halfway for breakfast. This was odd, because usually it takes some serious calendar checking and planning to get together with the kids. Remember the one month notice? Well, hubs must have been thinking the same thing I was, because we both were a tad worried about what was up.

We meet Banker Daughter and her hubs on Sunday at the restaurant....eat....and are sitting around talking. Maybe she really just missed her Dad and wanted to squeeze us in. Two ladies came in with a baby and she caught me staring at them. (Truth be told, I was trying to figure out if the one WAS a lady...and the baby was so dang cute, I just couldn't help myself.)

So....Banker Daughter blurts out "Guess what.....I'm pregnant....you are going to have one of those of your own!"

EVERYONE who knows me, knows I have been waiting for this day! Hubs even more so.

So.....I'm going to be a NANA!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot Woot!

Pajama Party...

2011-11-12T06:32:00.000-06:00

So, last night our online prim group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/purelyprimitivetoo/ had a pajama party. Ladies worked on everything from hand-embroidery to piecing to making wool pins. I didn't get home until late, so I just finished up my Red-White-Blue Star quilt. Finally put borders on it. I'm not entirely happy with it, but I was ready to move on. It must just be the funk I am in with Prodigal Son leaving.

There is a glaring mistake in it. It isn't the border I wanted, and I didn't get the effect I wanted from the stripe. But, it is now a flimsy and I can move on. I will quilt it, shrink it to look old and cuddle with it as soon as I get it quilted.

It was fun doing the pj party. Everyone posted updates on what they were doing, and it made us all take time for ourselves to do something we enjoy. So, I would call it a success.

After my massage today, I have longarming to do. I'm hoping the massage helps me get rid of the pounding headache I have from bawling my eyeballs out. It's all good, and I'll be fine.....just the baby bird has flown the nest.

Have a blessed day!

The Horror of it all.....

2011-11-05T07:24:00.000-06:00

So, I must confess. I have NEVER made a quilt with a light-colored border. Do you remember these?

Well, the whole time I was working on this quilt, I envisioned this for an outer border, thus finally making a quilt with a light border...

Well, guess what happened....

It doesn't look right! I don't know if you can tell very well from the pic, but the star fabric is 'creamy' and the setting triangles are more off-white. Even though the quilt is scrappy, it just doesn't look right. I was going to use the blue print as a small border and then put the large star print out from there. Horror of horrors! I haven't even BEGUN to think about another print for the outer border because I had it all planned out!

So, it is back to the drawing board. There will probably be no inner border and a red, blue or gold outer border. Once I have it all decided, I will show you the whole quilt. I am such a tease!

Off to get the hair done before the big graduation party! Have a blessed day!

My joy....

2011-11-04T15:08:00.000-06:00

It has been a *challenging* week at work, a roller coaster ride to say the least! There have been some huge highs and some low lows. To end the week with Prodigal Son graduating and starting a new chapter of his life....well, it just makes it all go away! Tomorrow is his big party here at the house. It seems surreal that it will also pretty much be his send-off party. :*(

There has been no quilting for me this week. No time in the longarm studio. No way of relieving stress. So, we will go with the Plan "B" stress-reliever--housecleaning! Time to scrub a dub dub and then, Sunday, after everything has settled, I will quilt....

Have a blessed day!

Poinsettia Quilt

2011-10-31T03:21:00.002-06:00

Have you even started thinking about Christmas yet? It is almost November, and I must confess I have not! While I was quilting this one, I kept thinking about all the Christmas flimsies that I need to get quilted for me...and the "list". We still make our kids write their letters to Santa, even though the youngest of the six is now 21. It is the only way we know what they really want/need. We don't go overboard, but we do try to get one 'want' and one 'need' (at least) per child. Most have a significant other, so there are gifts for them, too. We set a dollar limit and are pretty good about sticking to it. There are no Christmas quilts for gifts this year as they all have a quilt of their own, and I just didn't want to put that much stress on myself this year. I will probably do quilts for some of them next year....

This is the Poinsettia Quilt I just took off the longarm that started all of this 'thought' about Christmas. The piecing was well done, which always helps for good quilting!

This is a close-up of the actual block. I wish you could see the lines I put in the red paisley fabric....but such it is.

And, this is the backing fabric. I didn't take a pic so you could see the quilting, because obviously it is too busy for that. I took a pic because I just love love love this backing fabric! LOL

So, if you are one who celebrates Christmas, I am just sending out this friendly reminder that all of a sudden....the holidays are approaching....and we just are NOT ready! LOLOLOLOL

Have a blessed day!

De Ja Vu.....

2011-10-30T07:19:00.000-06:00

Today's quilt will look vaguely familiar. A few posts ago, I showed the same pattern--only from a different jelly roll. Customer P enjoyed making the pattern so much, she made another. This time, she used a Moda jelly roll. I STILL don't think her hubs gets this one. Eventually, maybe she will surprise him with one of his own. He really likes the pattern. **hint hint "P"**

I like this one even better than the last, but these are more my colors. "P" says it is a quick one to whip together, so if you have a jelly roll laying around....

This is a close-up of the back. We went with Classy Curls again. I like this panto because it makes a nice even quilting look across the quilt.

Prodigal Son Update: He got off the plane, fell in love with Wyoming, was offered the job....and TOOK it! He graduates Friday. His party is at the house Saturday....and then he loads up and leaves his Momma! Really excited for him to start this new chapter....and now I can be really excited about going to Wyoming to see him! I'll have to spend next Sunday baking goodies for their road trip driving out. Don't want him to forget me. He'll have to grab a few quilts to take with him, it can get pretty cold there! AND, since I have blogger friends that live in adjoining states--I will always have back-up Moms if he runs into any problems!

Reptile Son Update: Yesterday was his 25th birthday! We are getting the family together at a restaurant closer to where they live to celebrate. Happy Birthday Poopstick! Oops....not supposed to tell anyone his 'other' nickname!

Momma loves her some football. Our OSU team has had some issues this year, but last night...well, those boys played a heck of a game against Wisconsin. It was truly a good game, no matter which team you were rooting for. Many great plays and quite the nailbiter. Congrats to both teams for an incredible game!

I've been working on my Red-White-Blue star quilt in between everything else. The rows are together, and I only need to seam a couple more before it is ready for borders. Can't wait to show it to you!

Have an awesome day! Enjoy this crisp Fall weather. I'm off to enjoy pancakes!

Ta-daaaaaa!!!!!!!

2011-10-27T03:03:00.002-06:00

Customer picked this one up this week, so I can finally show it to you! Let me just say that I love this one so much, I now have the pattern! She gave me her wool scraps (which were plentiful), and this one is on 'the list'.

Again with the window....Sorry! The applique is all wool. The skinny border is a folded border. I love the colors and there is a Jo Morton line (Annandale, I think--I'll have to check) that would match up to these colors perfectly!

This is the back. I stitched in the ditch around the blocks and applique. This backing was a huge magnet for any threads laying around...AND it ravelled like crazy. This was a Moda line, but I don't know which one.

Have a blessed day!

Going batty!

2011-10-26T04:32:00.000-06:00

I apologize for the quality of today's pictures. I just couldn't get good ones. The light was shining through the window--the quilt was big---so here it is....

The orange squares with the spiders on them were 3-D pockets. They had to be basted as I advanced each row. I won't be doing that again! I still learn something with every quilt. I learned that basting these and watching the machine through the whole quilt to make sure the basting stitches don't catch on the hopping foot makes a girl a neurotic mess! I wish I could have gotten a better pic, because this quilt is absolutely adoreable, bright and fun!

This is the back. Isn't it the cutest Halloween fabric ever? We chose a batty allover design, and you really can't tell with this pic, but it worked out very well. There are bats in many of the prints.

Prodigal Son leaves for Wyoming tomorrow. He has a job interview. He graduates in 2 weeks and he has had sooooooo many phone calls from companies wanting him to come to work for them. It has been a looooong road, and I am so very proud of him. Have you ever realized that you really didn't think about something until someone asks you about it? I've been so excited for him....arranged his flight for him....and then I overheard a conversation between Banker Daughter and Hubs last night. She asked Hubs how I was doing with the fact that Prodigal would be moving so far away. Say what???? I've been floating on the cloud that is him taking charge of his life and doing good things, that I haven't given a thought to the fact that he will be 1700-1800 miles away!!!

But, you know what? I had a very intuitive customer tell me once (thanks Virginia)...isn't this what you prepare them for when you are raising them? You don't prepare them to grow up, live at home and never see the world. You prepare them to be a good person, have good values, love unconditionally, and grab life for what it has to offer. Prodigal gets that more than the rest. His motto has always been "No Regrets". Sometimes that bothered me. But, his personality....his life....I hope he does live it with No Regrets!

Have a good day!

What's for Breakfast?

2011-10-23T09:32:00.000-06:00

Hubs and I made a collaborative effort--Quiche. I made the dough, and he rolled it out. Could have been a little thinner, but as you can see, I haven't had any problems getting rid of it! I had sampled some customers on a Quiche Mix this week, which put me in the mood for one. Mine is from scratch....

This is a quilt I took off the longarm yesterday. Customer made it to remind her hubs of a trip to Colorado. See the mountains? She is going to trim the bottom along the fabric and bind it around all of those ends. Bless her heart--better her than me!

This pic is a close-up of the back. She chose a water ripple pantograph, which worked out wonderfully! It looks like clouds in the top, and water toward the bottom. Again, better her than me binding this bad boy!

While I was being all Martha Stewart-like this weekend, I did make an authentic Italian tiramisu. It is nephew's birthday today, so when we get back from dinner, I've made him a killer dessert. I just had to lick the bowl....afterall, I deserve it! I can't wait to jump in and eat it this evening. Just watching the clock tick by....

Well, I am off to the longarms. Another 2 hours on a custom I am working on, and it will be done done done! Also have another on the panto machine, so it should be finished while I finish the custom. Then, I get to load a Christmas Quilt on the custom machine. Can't wait....it is a beauty!

Have a blessed day! (from a coughing and barking....STILL....Cynthia)

The Definition of a Really Bad Week....

2011-10-22T06:46:00.001-06:00

I'm still coughing like I have tuberculosis. I'm coughing so hard it is giving me headaches. The rain...oh, the rain....it has been monsoon season here all week, which, turns normal careful drivers into complete morons. Yes, I used the "M" word. I was driving to work this week, minding my own sweet business. I was doing a few miles UNDER the speed limit, because the concrete barriers they have up in the construction zones make the road turn into a lake. Cars are darting in and out of lanes in front of me, hydroplaning and then there are brake lights....the whole way in, I just kept thinking someone is going to cause a wreck here. ***This should have been my clue to go home, crawl into bed and hide from the world***

Fast forward to around 1:30. Rain is still pouring and people are still acting like there is a full moon. I am backing, I mean creeping very slowly, out of a parking space. I am being very cautious, honest to goodness, because the strip mall is full of people walking, who are obviously under the influence of the aforementioned full moon! An Acura SUV, driven by someone who was obviously on his way to a fire...slams through me. Yup--I have just been involved in a fender bender. The wonderfully sensitive fella says to me--Good thing you were backing so slow, or my car would have gotten it even worse! Really? I'm standing in the torrential downpours exchanging info with him and taking pics with my Blackberry. I text Bossman. "I've just been in a fender bender." He texts back "You need to go take a mandatory drug test." Sweeeeeeeet! My horrible week gets better!

I call hubs "I've been in a fender bender" His FIRST response--wait for it----'HOW'S THE CAR?' Just what a girl wants to hear.

I spend the rest of the day--still raining and making me feel lovely in between coughing stints that would blow out any high-priced girdle--on the phone with insurance companies, personnel, and the drug-testing place to schedule an appointment that had to be done within 24 hours of the 'accident'. (I won't belabor the fact that I was at the drug testing place for an hour and a half!)

It is around 5pm. Prodigal Son calls and asks where I am. I tell him I have been in a fender bender and am walking out of the drug testing facility. His first response....wait for it.....HOW'S THE CAR?

Feeling mentally wounded, I take the back way home, because there is NO WAY I am creeping back out to the highway. I fix myself some hot tea and am sitting by the front window catching up on some work that I didn't get done because of my action-packed day. Hubs and Prodigal Son pull into the driveway. Do they rush into the house to check on me....maybe I've gotten an aneurysm and need to go to the ER...maybe I have broken bones....maybe I need stitches.....Nope! They both make their way over to the car and start inspecting her for damage!!!!! I sure as heck hope she can cook....if she is going to replace me, she better get with the house cleaning program!!!!!

Oh, and a side note--before you ask--the Cherry Challenger is fine. She just has a scratch down the back bumper.

Have you ever.....

2011-10-16T20:35:00.000-06:00

Have you ever coughed so hard your socks blew off? That has been my Sunday. I've stayed in my robe, in my bed, under my quilt, with cough drops and a box of tissues all day. Yickey, yickey, I feel blickey! My eyes are on fire, my throat is sore and I have a headache from coughing so hard. I'm pretty sure I have the plague, so I need to hurry through this post before I choke up my other lung and die!

This is a quilt P made for her granddaughter. Although, her hubs likes it so well, it is still up in the air on whether it stays at their house or goes to the granddaughter. It was made with a Northcott jelly roll of splattery-looking fabrics. I think she had to get yardage for the setting triangles, borders and sashing. It is a beauty!

This is a close-up of the quilting. She wanted a pantograph that wasn't too girly and didn't take away from the quilt. We used the classy curls. I just love this panto.

This is a close-up of the back. You can get the feel of the splattery-feel of all of the fabrics. They were pretty cool.

Well, before I start coughing again, I'm going to go curl back up in bed. Have a good evening/morning.

Blessings...

You don't want to miss this one!

2011-10-15T03:22:00.000-06:00

Combine scrappy (one of my favorite things) with a great color combination, and this is what you get!

It was too big to get the whole thing, but thisis one of those quilts I just do not want to give back!

Here in the states, it is Sweetest Day. I have a hot date with the hubs tonight in the big city. Enjoy your day and spend some time with your sweetie.....yes, I have to spend the morning with my 'other sweetie' Bambino. The pekingnese calls it a holiday if I just get Bammie to leave her alone! ROFL

Blessings....

A Christmas Quilt....

2011-10-14T03:16:00.000-06:00

K found some fabrics when going through her mother's stash. She wanted to make herself a quilt for Christmas to remind her of her Momma. This is the result....

This is a close-up of the borders. K chose an allover holly pattern.

The back. Simple muslin to really show off the quilting....

Quilting this one reminded me of just how many Christmas UFOs I have! Eeeeek! I really need to get back on my personal challenge for the year of quilting up all of these flimsies!!!!!

The last one for H....

2011-10-13T04:00:00.002-06:00

This quilt was another that H did for a little girl. We quilted the cutest flower allover on it, and we both fell in love with the allover after we got it done and off the longarm....

I love the scrappiness of it and the appliqued flowers. I can see this with a homespun scrappy back and appliqued flowers, too. Just darling!

This is the back. It was a light blue poplin fabric, but the camera reader wasn't having it. So, I gave in and just left it! Didn't have it in me to fuss with it.

Enjoy your day!

Another quilt from H

2011-10-12T04:06:00.002-06:00

H brought an almost twin-sized floral quilt to be done, too. She had to take the yo-yos and buttons off so the machine wouldn't catch on them, so you have to picture this one with a few embellishments. :)

This is the back to show you the butterflies.

Sorry about the window shining through. This isn't where we usually take the pics, but hubs insisted this was a good spot. Ugh! Now that I look at the pic, don't those flowers look like heads with pink hair? They just need little smiley faces on them! LOL This precious quilt will make some little girl very happy.

Lo siento....

2011-10-11T05:06:00.000-06:00

Probably not the correct spelling, but it means I'm sorry in Spanish. Between longarming myself into oblivion and being in a little bit of a 'funk', I have neglected my blog.

First, let's do the 'funk'. I try to keep it positive, but I just have to vent. About 1 1/2 years ago, we found the PERFECT building for the shop. We made an offer, which had to go in front of the trustee (an attorney) and he never accepted. The building went up for sheriff's sale, and we sent an agent to bid for us. We didn't want to be emotional in bidding. The building sold for half of what we told the agent he could bid, and I never could get a straight answer on why WE didn't get it. I now know....and I am so upset I could scream. The trustee (the attorney) bought the building. He is the trustee listed for 90% of the properties listed on the sheriff's sale site. He now owns a bunch of buildings in the downtown and a lot of other real estate properties. He owns the property adjacent to the building and wanted to control what went in. Really? If that isn't a conflict of interest, I don't know what is. He has the inside scoop on what is going up and buys what he wants at the sales! He actually offered to rent me half of the building! You have to be kidding me! I'm just getting myself worked up again, so I need to move on. Here I thought hubs was being synical about it all....and the 'girls' and I thought something was fishy....and it WAS!

Here is one of the quilts I did for H. She made this as a wallhanging for herself using up a bunch of scraps. She chose a Stars and Loops pantograph.

Enjoy your day! I'm going to go make myself a nice strong cup of tea! Allergies are starting to get to me....it's heck getting old!

Thinking about the beach???

2011-10-03T19:54:00.000-06:00

One of my customers was when she whipped up her latest quilt! Flip flops, polka dots....all she needs is a bikini, and she is good to go! She made this quilt for herself at a Quiltsmart class.

Poor Hubs, I need to put him on one of those stretching machines so he can do a better job for me!

This is a close-up of the back. The pantograph is called Patty's Petals. Don't you just love the polka dot!

This is one of the corners. I put this one on so you could see that we mimicked the flowers in the background fabric with the pantograph. This is a pretty big quilt, so maybe she will have it done by summer!

Well, I'm pretty boring these last few days, but Hubs is working me like I'm Amish!

Enjoy your day!

Embroidered Baby Quilt

2011-10-02T08:36:00.001-06:00

What is it about flannel that just makes us think of babies?? I don't know if this customer made the quilt specifically for someone...for some reason, I think she is getting a grandbaby and this is for the new addition, but I can't remember for the life of me!

Each of the blocks is embroidered with part of a nursery rhyme....isn't it precious???

She chose a pantograph called Star Cloud Moon (or something like that). I tried changing the contrast on the pic so you could see the pattern a little better.

Oh, grandbabies......none for me. Oh, woe is me.....while the rest of you enjoy your grandbabies, I will just have to enjoy my grandpuppies, grandsnakes, and our latest addition.....a gecko! (Did I mention I came up with a new name for Army Son....we will now refer to him as Reptile Son! ROFL)

Enjoy your day!

Hot off the longarm....

2011-10-01T14:45:00.000-06:00

Since it is being picked up today, I guess I can show you this spiderweb quilt. Customer made for her Physical Trainer (I know....what is that and why would you invite one into your home....it can only end bad!) I love the way the little spiders hang out around the spider webs!

If you look in the top left of this lower pic, you can see part of the little spider who spun the web!

The lower pic here is the back,....see the spider on the top left...

We have started bringing in the plants, gathering the furniture cushions and getting ready for the cold. Frost was predicted for last night and tonight, so I had to save them. Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the smell of leaves, walking through the yard and kicking them up....pie smells coming from the kitchen....making candles...and snuggling up under a nice quilt! I have a lot of the fall quilts out, but I'm pacing myself. Don't want to do too much at once....or no one will recognize the house when they get home! :)

It has been quite the week around here. Prodigal Son was in a car accident last weekend. He totalled his brother's car, but he is OK. He's been sore from where the airbag deployed, but at least he is OK. Prodigal Son also ran his hand through a grinder on Monday. A few stitches, and he was almost good to go. He's been bandaged up all week, which has made school a challenge. He knicked a tendon, but he should have full range of motion.....

So, if you come to my house....there are bandages, prescriptions, doctor bills, etc. all over the counter! Ugh!

Enjoy your day!

A Civil War Quilt Story.....

2011-09-28T03:52:00.000-06:00

When I was thinking about today's story, I gotta tell you...it reminded me of one of the things I miss most about having the shop....the customers...the stories....the show-n-tell.

Today's story is equally sad, as was the last one. At least it is not an enraging kind of sad. We were adjacent to a grocery store. One of the ladies in the deli department sent her husband in with a quilt when he lost his job. They were unable to pay their bills and needed some quick cash. He opens this stunning quilt and hands me an appraisal sheet he had done on it. The documentation reported that this quilt did, in fact, date back to the civil war. I won't even tell you what this quilt was worth! I was stunned. I called a quilt designer, whom I knew collected these kinds of quilts. She wanted us to ship it to her so she could look at it and then she would ship it back if we couldn't come to an agreement on a price. He didn't want to ship it. I felt horrible for them. So, as any good quilt shop owner would do....I bought it! We exchanged e-mails and he asked that if I ever wanted to see it, I would e-mail him first. I told him likewise, if they got back on their feet, they could buy the quilt back for what I gave them for it, just so it would stay in his family. (Did I fail to mention that quilt has been handed down in his family since the war????)

These little star blocks are only 4". There is so much quilting on this quilt, pictures just cannot do it justice. I started to replicate this quilt "Scrappy Style", but I don't like how it is turning out. So.....I'm going to have to start over and just do it in the three colors. Funny thing is...this quilter must have ran out of the red...because there are a few blocks that are made with a different print--same color.

I am proud to own her, and have thought about selling her....but I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. I e-mailed him a few times and got no response...so, until we move and I know whether I am going to have the perfect farmhouse for this one, it will go back to it's happy place.

Blessings...

New from the Blacksmith Shop!

2011-09-27T04:49:00.002-06:00

I just had to make a quick post to show you what hubs made me from his little blacksmith shop!

I told him I wanted a dozen, and he told me it would take him the rest of his life! LOL He is going to do one that is a rose-bud, too. I do NOT want it painted, but I am so very proud to have such a talented family!

Enjoy your day!

Every quilt has a story.....

2011-09-26T11:45:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wandered around an antique mall or flea market and seen quilts that were just unloved and waiting for someone to 'save' them? You know the quilts I am referring to....they are a little ratty, have a few sugar stains, but have been hand-quilted and probably hand-pieced. They are hanging there with ridiculously low price tags on them because someone felt like they just weren't "perfect" anymore. That is my worst fear...that when I die, our six kids will deem my quilts unworthy and they will be in some flea market or garage sale for $25 a piece. :(

Well, there was a day in the shop.....picture HER...she is a size 0 and is wearing capris with heels. Her blonde ponytail dances off the side of her head. Her make-up is perfect. She seems perfect. Then, she opens her mouth... She has a quilt in tow that was HAND-PIECED by her GREAT GRANDMOTHER as a wedding gift to HER MOTHER. Now, this little trisket is maybe a few years younger than me, but boy, she had enough attitude for the both of us.

Trisket: I have this ratty, pink quilt that my great-grandmother made. Do you think I could get $25 for it at a yard sale?

Me: Sweetie, what you are holding there is a family heirloom. Don't you have a daughter or someone else in the family you can hand it down to?

Trisket: I decorate modern and so does my daughter. It doesn't go with anything we have. Frankly, it is a little too country for us.

She proceeds to go into the story how they already gave a couple others away at church, but that didn't want anyone to see how ratty this one was....

I explain how much work has gone into the quilt. It is hand-pieced and hand-quilted...two generations ago. What a momento for her family that her great-grandmother actually did all the work.

She proceeds to tell me all of the history of the quilt, yet she still isn't getting it.

By this time, *G*, one of my employees is keeping me from climbing over the counter and slapping Ms. Trisket around and knocking some sense into her. I end up paying the trisket for the quilt and sending on her way. We talked around the shop for days about how some sweet great-grandmother in heaven is smiling down on me for saving her quilt from Ms. Trisket.

Before I go on, this is the quilt:

No, it doesn't "go" with any room in my house. Yes, some places are a little ratty. Yes, there are some sugar spots. No, it will never be seen in a garage sale. She mostly stays folded up with a few friends that I have made. I get her out and fondle her. I think about the love and work that went into her. Then, I lovingly fold her up and put her away.

I tell our kids this story. My youngest son (Prodigal) lectures me when I am feeling low. He has said to me more than once...Mom, your quilts will not end up in yard sales. I will make sure we divide them all up and your grandchildren will pass them down.

Today's blessing.....no Trisket in MY family!

Blogging and Training....

2011-09-25T06:41:00.000-06:00

Lately, there have been a lot of disgruntled bloggers out there who have been upset or hurt because of other bloggers. Seems like there are more and more using blogger as a way to publicly demonstrate their frustrations with one another. Bloggers are making their blogs *private*, so that only invited readers can read, which I completely understand. But....when I get a referral from another blog or want to thank someone for their post and I am not one of their 'invited' readers, I can't thank them for their e-mails. So, for all of you out there, here is your blanket 'thank you'. LOL

Here is a pic of the people who went through training with me at the new job:

So, here is the background story for this pic. The ENTIRE Sales/Marketing Team for the entire country is in Chicago. They all left Friday and will be home Sunday.....except for us. Yup, just the 9 of us. We started at the company 2 weeks too late to have been booked on the trip. At the last few sales meetings and in our district meetings, everyone was warned that there should be no public intoxication or any other form of misbehavior that could get our Division in trouble with Corporate. So, as a little *gag*, we were all at our last lunch together on Friday and decided to have the bartender make us fake drinks and put the bottles on the table. The pic was taken and texted to our Corporate Trainer and District Managers with the caption "Who needs Chicago?" Our little pic has gone 'viral' within the company and has been forwarded to so many different Managers and Personnel that is absolutely hilarious. We've been receiving text messages back telling us what a motley crew we looked like. (Hope our gag doesn't get us all fired! ROFL)

...and I just have to say about the hair....it has been pouring rain for days. My hair would have looked like Roseann Roseanna Danna if I had try to do anything with it, so I left it curly and just pulled it partially back. Usually, I would not be seen like this in a professional environment, but I knew no one would be around to see it.....how would I have known it would have just been texted to them all! LOL

So, cheers to a good weekend! Even if it is a fake drink...

In case you are wondering, I DID make the mistake of tasting it and it tasted like Tang. Very fake orange juice. It was wretched!

Weekend Sewing......

2011-09-24T06:15:00.000-06:00

Our online Primitive group had a challenge for the week to make just one block. I was going to do mine after work yesterday. Things got a little crazy and I didn't get home from work until 8 pm and I logged over 350 miles for the day yesterday! Whoa! So.....I have made a daily challenge for the group to get a block made today! This should be interesting for me.......I have an appt to get my hair done this morning (Gotta wash that grey right outta my hair....remember those commercials??) I have 2 customers dropping off quilts and 1 picking up (Hometown Christmas), then...maybe...I can head off to the sewing studio. I will also be putting in a few hours longarming between the hair appt and the ladies coming to/from with quilts.

I see a challenge coming for the group soon to make pincushions. I love these patterns.....

How's a girl to choose which one??? Well, we all know my affinity for chickens...so, I will be making the chicken one! There are just so many adoreable pincushions to choose from. Tuffets are great for orphan blocks...

With us listing our house in January (or early Spring), there is a lot I need to get done. Do you think that is what I am focusing on? Nope! I'm picking out even more quilts to make to decorate the new house and I don't even know what it is going to look like! What is wrong with this picture??? In a perfect world, I end up in an older farmhouse (that doesn't need too much work). I want wood plank flooring, a big farm sink, shaker cabinets....ah, the horror of it all. I'm not in the mood for finishing the remodeling here, house showings and looking for something new. Hubs and I are worlds apart in what we need. I want small...he says he does, but he doesn't mean it! :)

Have a blessed day!

Want some inspiration?

2011-09-19T17:40:00.000-06:00

Check out this blog this morning! This lady's home is beautiful and full of quilty inspiration!

http://annemariesanecdotes.blogspot.com/2011/09/house-tour-quilted-spaces.html

I nabbed this pic off the front. All I can say is WOW!

Blessings

Alas, the Hometown Christmas quilt!

2011-09-18T16:05:00.000-06:00

After loads of laundry, ironing, cleaning and cooking, I finally have time to update you on the Hometown Christmas Quilt! She is all done and ready to go home with her Momma!

I tried to take the pics of the sashing and outer borders at an angle with the light so you could see the quilting. Sashing has an edge to edge holly design.

This is the design of the outer border. It has holly and berries, looped together.

This is the whole quilt. If you want to see the quilting in the individual blocks, you will have to look at previous posts.

And, last, but not least, this is the back. This puppy was huge, so I couldn't get the whole thing in the pic.

Now, I am off to get some work done in preparation of my upcoming work week. Got a little wrench thrown in, so I have to combine 5 days work into 4. I now have a meeting out of town on Friday. It will be a busy week for sure!

The step-daughters came over last night to watch the game. We only ended up with 2 of the 3 because 2 of them started fussing. Oh, the drama of it all. We watched out team lose...and I really mean lose....but, we had some great food. I made Italian Wedding Soup, Italian Crusty Bread with Pesto, Buckeye Fudge & Homemade Chocolate Chunk Cookies. I also bought some tortilla chips and we had the best green salsa imported from Mexico. Mmmmmmm......

Have a great evening! I will chat with you all tomorrow! (I did catch up on some blogs this morning. Wow, was it inspirational!)

Happy Saturday!

2011-09-17T05:29:00.000-06:00

I'm off to get my massage this morning, then I will be finishing up the Hometown Christmas quilt. I'll post pics of the finished project some time tomorrow.

What are you all working on this weekend? This fall weather has me excited to finish up another of those fall projects and another of those bazillion UFOs I've been trying to catch up on. I've fallen a little behind and have some serious catching up to do. I don't know at this point if I will make my goal, but I am going to work hard at it.

Back to the move....well, it's looking imminent. We still don't know for sure, but it looks like this Spring could hold lots of change around here. I just want hubs to decide....get with his company....and get it figured out! I HATE being in limbo!

Hubs: How do you feel this morning?

Me: Ummmm....fine....why? (I know this is a LOADED question)

Hubs: Well, I got you some flour if you want to make pancakes.

Me: Ugh! (Didn't vocalize, but just knew it was a loaded question!)

The step-daughters are coming to watch the football game tonight, so I will have to make a vat of my wedding soup to feed everyone. Should be an interesting evening. I won't go into the details, but I'm not looking forward to it. shhhhhhhh.......

Hubs took one for the team....

2011-09-13T11:15:00.000-06:00

So, last Friday night I convinced Hubs to go to an Irish Pub for dinner. I had stopped in to try to sell them food earlier in the day, and it looked like a really cool place. They had the ornate wood bar, wood-planked walls and you could just feel the history inside. I was just dieing to try them out. We went over and, much to hubs' delight, they had 20 different beers on tap! Dinner was I N C R E D I B L E ! ! ! We had their Fish N Chips. They make their own beer batter, and we were not disappointed. This is something, because we are usually pretty picky....being in the food business for so long.

Fast forward to last night...another account....I won't tell you where it was or the name because......there was another pub/bar-like eatery that I am also working on. Hubs wanted something quick and asked if we could go back to the place we went on Friday. "Nope, but I have another I am working on....are you game?" Sure, he says..... Oh heavens, where to start! It was the absolute worse food I have had in a looooooooong time! Some accounts are for selling, some are for eating! We both were nauseous by the time we got home. The french fries didn't even taste like potatoes (and it wasn't because the oil was dirty or needed changed). The ketchup didn't even remotely taste like tomatoes.....the iced tea/lemonade drink I got was so watered down and the tea was instant....words just cannot describe how bad it was. I didn't even eat my fries, green beans, salad or roll after the first few bites. Bluck! He gets a gold star for letting me put him through it....and he got a promise that I would take him back to the other place this weekend. This is from the couple that doesn't eat out much! ROFL

I did get a little more done on the Hometown Christmas quilt. I basically have some more stitch-in-the-ditch to do in the bottom borders, then I have to quilt all of the borders and sashing, and it will be D O N E ! ! ! Whippee!!!!!

This block will make you crazy...making sure you got everything all stitched in the ditch......

Have a blessed day!

Hometown Christmas Cont'd.....

2011-09-12T17:14:00.000-06:00

I feel like I got so much done this weekend! I love that feeling! Not only did I get the house all clean, had a great bonfire with the kids, got all the laundry caught up, but I also made a HUGE dent in the Hometown Christmas quilt. With any luck, this baby will be finished up later this week! :)

Still doing a lot of stitch-in-the-ditch and custom "traditional" quilting, but my efforts will pay off! This quilt just screams for traditional quilting! Hopefully, Ms. Customer will love it as much as I do.

Well, I'm off to work on it a little more. Enjoy the rest of your day! :)

Blessings

A Bonfire and A little quilting.....

2011-09-11T06:01:00.000-06:00

We had some of the kids over last night to enjoy the fire pit Prodigal Son surprised me with. While I was in training out of town, he dug my long-awaited fire pit. He lined it with rocks and flanked the outside with flagstones. It turned out very nice. What a sweetie for doing it for me! The weather was perfect and the fellowship was awesome. I just love spending time with the kids and grandpuppies! :)

Today, I will be longarming on the Hometown Christmas Quilt. I'll show you some more pics in the morning. This evening, I'm sneaking off to the sewing studio for a little 'me' time. Hubs is playing in his blacksmith shop, so we are both enjoying our hobbies. Very thankful that hubs has a hobby and a way to release and unwind.

On a sad note, I found out another quilt shop is closing. She participated with us in one of our shop hops. I feel bad for her, but I am also happy for her. She is looking forward to spending time with her family and is recognizing that life is short.....too short to be working all the time. While closing my shop was sad for me, I must confess that I am enjoying not working so many hours and scheduling so much family time. It is also fun to actually be making things for "me" rather than "the shop". Sometimes the things we made for "the shop" weren't necessarily things that would go with my tastes. Loved them, but the just weren't "me".

Well, I'm not getting anything done on this computer, so I need to head off to longarm.

Don't forget the sale over at the website: All 45" fabric $1 off per yard with a minimum 1 yard purchase. Books/Patterns 30% off manufacturer's suggested retail price. (I'll change prices on sale items before hitting your credit card.)

Enjoy your Sunday and this beautiful weather! :)

Blessings

A little touch of Spring

2011-09-07T04:42:00.000-06:00

When I look at this quilt, it reminds me of Spring! This is another customer quilt, and I just love the pantograph she chose.

Close-up of the quilting....

She pieced the back. There is not a pleat in it, it's just waving a little in the wind.... I love pieced backs. She used some coordinating fabrics with one of the fabrics from the front. It will look beautiful turned down.

I'm finally getting the house back in shape from being out of town those few weeks. Who knew the fellas could mess up so much and it would take so long to get it cleaned back up!??!

Enjoy!

Army Son...

2011-09-06T03:50:00.002-06:00

I can't call him Army Son anymore. He is now out of the Army and the Guard, so I will have to come up with a new name for him on my posts. I can't tell you his nickname, or he would KILL me! We had a BBQ to celebrate....

Hubs is "schooling" Army Son on the process of grilling. First, you start with a beer in hand....

Formerly known as Army Son......

This is my grandpuppy, Dora. She poses for Nana....her sister Sofie...notsomuch.....

This is Army Son's girlfriend. Many of you will recognize her from the shop. She used to work with us....

This is the view from their back deck. As long as this farmer doesn't sell out, they have an awesome view. When you are standing there, it is just like the scene from a movie.

I took pics of some of his friends that attended as well, but I didn't have their permission to put the pics on the blog, so Army Son will just get those in an e-mail. :)

Have a blessed day!

Hometown Christmas

2011-09-05T08:50:00.001-06:00

I'm steadily working on this Hometown Christmas quilt. I'm happy to report I'm about halfway done. Here's a sneak peak of what I have done so far.....

Since Thimbleberries quilts are very traditional, I've done very traditional quilting. The rail fence blocks are one of the borders, and I have stitched them in the ditch. I tried to take the pics at an angle so you could see the quilting. The piecing on this quilt has been done well, which makes it soooo much easier to quilt!

Working on this one is getting my hyped to work on MY holiday quilts. Of course, this crisp, cool weather is enjoyable as well!!!!

Enjoy your day! If you are in the states, enjoy your holiday!

Blessings...

Don't forget the 30% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price on all books/patterns over on the website.....just mention the blog!

A Little About My New Job....because I know you are just DIEING to hear all about it!

2011-09-04T03:57:00.002-06:00

OK, so maybe you aren't. But, you are a captive audience and I just have to tell you how much fun I am having....

TRAINING: This is where you sit in a test kitchen and various food manufacturers come in, cook tons of food, make you sample and explain why their food is the right one for your clients.
----->This is also where you start to put back on the 10 pounds you lost after you closed your shop.

Sure, there are other things you do in training....learn company policies, how to use the laptop, etc. but this is the one that stands out the most. Before you go judging me for not appreciating all of this free food, I will give you an example of just ONE afternoon...from 10am to 4pm (yes, count them--6 hours of non-stop food frenzy) we had 5 different kinds of ham, 5 different kids of bacon, 4 different hot dogs, 8 different sausages/brats, capicola, hamcola, 3 different salamis, mortadella, 3 kinds of bologna....all from the same knife-wielding "Insert Major Manufacturer Brand Here". Then, we got to move on to appetizers...breaded and battered vegetables of every species, coupled with 4-5 different mozzarella sticks, deep-fried macaroni and cheese, jalapenos, pickles and of course a million kinds of onion rings and onion petals. Not full yet, well, that's good, because we've only chipped the top off of the iceburg....we had about 4 different kinds of soups, chicken salad, tuna salad, ham salad and seafood salad. But, wait--there's more.....time to move on to 4-5 different cakes/desserts....muffins....coffee....tea.....flavored waters.....and then, we started learning about spices, crackers, cereals, hot sauces and other condiments. Now, I am feeling like a bloated toad just re-living all of this for you. The company brings in 4-5 manufacturers a day....at least 2-3 days a week...just to teach you about all of their goodies. Surely, we won't have to eat them all because there are 10s of thousands products....but the weight was thinking about coming back. AND last Friday was PASTA and PRODUCE day! So, we got to try a million kinds of Pasta, melons, salads, avocados, tomatos, berries, the list just goes on and on.....

So, I actually got to start my job this Thursday/Friday and get out of the Shark Tank full of chum in the Test Kitchen! Thank goodness! I have now written a new diet book called "How to lose all of the weight you gain in Food Sales/Marketing Training". This is how my plan works. You put on high heels and run around downtown on FOOT in temps that register as a Head Advisory of over 100 degrees!!!!! Yup....all of my gained weight is GONE! I'm as serious as a heart attack! It really happened. I figure another week of this and I will be a size 6!!!! Curse you Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkly, you have NOTHING on MY weight loss plan!

Later, you will have to remind me to tell you all about my new Sales Buddy, JP. I LOVE him.....here's why....he is from South America. He does OK with the English language, as he went to college here. We were going to lunch one day (he wanted to ride in my hot rod), and he asked if he could be so forward as to ask how old I was. He said if I thought he was being rude, I didn't need to answer. JP is very much a gentleman and quite the snazzy dresser--I figured him for about 40....this is the part where I swear you to silence, because he is only 36! I told him how old I was and he thought I was fibbing. He thought I was only about 36!!!!!!! This is why I love him! He said I dress nice and keep myself up nice...."for someone my age". Bless his heart! If it wasn't such a compliment, I would probably have stuck him in the trunk for the "someone my age" part!

Have a great day!

Blessings

Home again, home again....jiggity jig!

2011-09-03T09:11:00.001-06:00

We should be getting back to regular posts now, thank goodness. Tested out of the training process at the new job, another thank goodness. Longarming today (heaven knows it is way too hot to go outside).

Have you been doing any quilting or sewing? Not moi! But....hopefully, that will change. One evening this weekend, I'm going to hide in the sewing studio and see what kind of trouble I can get into....even if it is cleaning! Jennie (my Janome) misses me, and I miss her!

This time last two years ago, I got my second longarm. It came up on my FB reminder/calendar. Lots has changed since then. Truly grateful for all those things that life has given me. I'll give her a little attention today, so she can see how much I have missed her!

I was looking at pics of a friend's Christmas Tree quilt and am thinking I need to switch the quilts all out around the house today....but I've also been wondering if I should start a Christmas project or two. I need to make myself finish something first, but I would like to make a little something new for fall or Christmas or both. Our primitive Yahoo group is talking about our next challenge. We are thinking something with a winter theme. I see snowmen and snowflakes.....now to see the cutting table in my sewing studio so I could potentially make some!

Whatever your plans for this holiday weekend, happy stitching! :)

Blessings.....

Don't forget the 30% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price on all books/patterns over on the website.....just mention the blog!

What the heck happened?

2011-08-27T06:37:00.000-06:00

My pic went away from the last post! It was there for a few days....

I am finally back home. Being gone during the week is absolutely no fun! Came home to plants dieing everywhere. These bachelors have not learned the art of successful plant watering. It looks like the Adams Family around here! Came home to one of the fellas moving out on Friday night. He had told hubs he was moving, but I was standing by the door when he left and he didn't say a word. Hmpf! He and Prodigal Son weren't getting along anymore and he wanted to be able to spend more quality time with his girlfriend, so.....he went somewhere where he could have sleepovers. I just hope he finishes school. :)

The chicklet that does my hair is finally back from Italy. I have an appt. to go see here today...I think I have an all day job for her! ROFL Then, it is off to the longarms to get some quilting done today!

I'm off to catch up on blog posts! Have a blessed day....

Funny cartoon.....

2011-08-23T03:58:00.003-06:00

Daughter-in-law to be sent this to me. Is she trying to tell me something????

True Confessions.....

2011-08-22T03:04:00.001-06:00

I have never done a blind hem stitch before....there, I have said it out loud. I got a chance yesterday to try one out. Thank goodness a male customer had shown me how before I closed the shop.... I had on a pair of dress slacks last week. There was a string hanging. I knew better...but I pulled it. The hem came out of my pants and I spent the entire day tripping over my long pants. I did an absolutely perfect blind hem stitch.....the SECOND time around! ROFL

I did spend the day in my sewing studio.....hemming pants, sewing on buttons, tacking a blouse so I didn't flash everyone who saw me, and making ANOTHER welding cap for Prodigal Son. You have to know his personality to understand why he would love this monkey hat. He loves to be different. He certainly won't have to worry about anyone stealing this one! LOL

I'll be working on the longarm today. I'm quilting a Hometown Christmas quilt for a customer. Between this weekend and next weekend, I hope to get it finished. I'll be gone all week again, so.....my next true confession.

I got a JOB! I was enjoying my time at home. I was having a blast. But, with all these extra mouths to feed around here, the groceries were killing us! An old friend offered me a job, so I figured it was Divine Intervention. I'm out of town during the week for training and home on weekends. I didn't realize how much I missed it until everyone started calling and coming to see me....they are excited that I am back. That is a great feeling. I'm still doing the website....still doing some longarming....still keeping busy. But, at least I feel like I am helping lighten the load for hubs. :)

We are still unsure about the whole moving thing. If we do move, it won't be until Spring. I do know that a perfect place came on the market two weeks ago, and I would have a separate building for the longarming and shop, so we will just have to keep praying about it and see what happens......

That being said....I will continue to offer 30% off Manufacturer's Suggested Retail price on all books and patterns through the website. Just make sure to put it in the order comments. Fabrics are already way under suggested retail. Still have more coming in...Jo's Variety should be here soon.

Have a blessed day!

This is why he loves me.....

2011-08-21T06:31:00.000-06:00

Many of you know that I have a background in Sales & Marketing for foodservice companies. I know waaayyy too much about what goes into food. I know waaaaayyyy too much about dirty kitchens. I know waaaayyyyy too much about operations. I still have a ton of friends in the industry. Hubs is at the Belterra Casino right now for a large trade show. He sends me the following text...

"You need to talk to someone about the Belterra. The dishes are spotty and sticky. Maybe they could sell them better chemicals for the equipment."

My reply: They don't wash silverware there.....enjoy your breakfast!

So, right now he is eating his over-easy eggs with his fingers and making quite the mess. I'm sure of it! But, he had to have a reason to miss his OCD wife. I'm just sayin.....and that's what he gets for not taking me along!

This not having computer access is KILLING me! It will get better soon, until then, the computer diet is not even self-imposed!

In Cognito....

2011-08-06T11:23:00.000-06:00

I was out of town for a few days last week, so I haven't been online much. Hopefully, I will have a new laptop this week and can keep up with all of you. My Saturday started off with a bang! After all of my customers picked up their quilts, I went to the bank. While I was at the bank the teller was sweet enough to let me know that my driver's license had EXPIRED! I ran to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to renew and got there about 15 minutes before they closed! UGH! Since I had been out of town, I knew my day was going to be full of the funnest of festivities...bank, grocery, cleaning....so, guess what my hair looked like when I went to get the new driver's license pic???? Could my day get any better? Oh yes, it could....the lady actually told me to S M I L E ! ! ! Are you kidding me? My hair looks like crap all pulled up on top of my head. I am wearing about half of my make-up. AND, I've been running around all willy nilly. I don't think so! She made me re-take my pic!!!! REALLY??!!! I kept myself from crawling over the counter to show her just what ugly really was and smiled real big for my mug shot that I will now have to live with for FOUR STINKING YEARS!!!!!

How was YOUR Saturday??? ROFL

Blessings

NEW from Jo Morton!

2011-07-29T15:25:00.000-06:00

Sweet Emilie has arrived! This is the free pattern available on the Andover site. You can get the fat quarters for $2 each by simply signing up for our Jo Morton stashbuilder club! I'm off to cut fat quarters....yummy backgrounds!

I Believe...

2011-07-29T06:18:00.000-06:00

You haven't heard from me much this week because I have chained myself to the longarms and been working on the website. I'm trying to sell off some of the samples from the shop, because quite frankly I am OUT OF ROOM! I think I have made it to around 100 samples uploaded. Woo Hoo!

I pulled this I Believe quilt off the longarm this week. Echo quilting and stitch-in-the-ditch are highlights. It was hard to get a good pic by myself, so I really can't show you the holly pattern I quilted in the border. She doesn't pick it up until next weekend, so she can get a quick peek here! :)

Look who I caught hanging out on my elephant ears! I had a pic of his face, but it is blurry. The camera had problems with all those greens and I was afraid he would be gone by the time I went to get the close-up lens.

This is one of my hibiscus bushes. She always blooms real pretty for my birthday! When we went to the Parade of Homes, I saw some yellow ones. I may just have to get a couple for next year.

Speaking of my birthday, it was AWESOME! Although, I have to confess I was worried.... When I got up that morning, I threw open the front door just knowing I would see that metal chicken. But, no chicken. I was sad... Hubs made me french toast for breakfast, which is my favorite. The boys and Army Son's significant other (I usually refer to her as daughter-in-law to be....which she is, but it just isn't 'official') all took off work to spend time with me. If that doesn't make a gal feel special, I don't know what would! Her brother is up from Tennessee and he came along, too! We went to a local restaurant and she and I enjoyed $1 margarita night. :) We all came back to the house and celebrated until way tooooo late. It was truly the bestest birthday I have had in a loooooong time!

Still have the book sale going on at the website: http://www.quiltweb.net/ Mention the blog and you will get 30% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price on ALL books! Throw a few patterns on there, and I will give you the discount on them, too! I've been placing orders for MORE, so I really need to make room!

Jo Morton's new line Variety should be here soon. It is the red/cream line that follows up the recent quilt show in New York. I'm excited!

My next 4-5 quilts are all Christmas quilts, so I am having my own little Christmas in July back in the longarm studio! I've had customers in and out all week, so I have been a busy busy girl.

Have a blessed day!

Cleaning house....

2011-07-23T02:47:00.002-06:00

I know you are dieing to know how long it took me to paint my face yesterday (LOL), and it only took 15 minutes! Although, I do feel like I need some sort of Art Degree to get it all on right!!! :)

Yesterday, I went through my e-mails, etc. and 'cleaned house'. I left some Yahoo! groups. I deleted a bunch of Facebook friends. Just did some major computer cleaning. I didn't do it because I was mad at anyone or because I don't love them anymore....I am just putting myself on a computer diet. Too much to get done with the website, longarming and other new 'ventures'. I get nervous with all those 'lurkers' on my FB account. You know who I am talking about...people who don't reply to your posts and really just hang out to see what you have been up to. Well, I have now limited it to friends and family. Friends who I go to lunch with, have phone conversations with and genuinely want to mutually share what is going on in our lives. If you think you are offended....well, I've even deleted family members! I'll probably delete more of them later. If you go to their wall and they are talking to everyone but you, well....buh bye! Like I said, not mad...not that I don't love...but I'm wasting too much time! :)

So, I am off to paint. Really looking forward to helping the kids out! Want them to be proud of their new place and we will get this done before a big party they are having next weekend!

Quilts for Sale!

2011-07-22T12:44:00.000-06:00

We will be selling off a bunch of the quilts used as samples used in the shop. If there are any that you are interested in, or if you want details, comment/e-mail me and I will get back with you. We can ship or I can give you details about the 'private' sale....

Blessings...

They saw me coming....

2011-07-22T05:58:00.002-06:00

Do the little mall muffins have the ability to reel YOU in? I do not enjoy shopping. I go in, get the job done, and get out. My "rocky-start-to-the-day" yesterday made me vulnerable when I ran down to the mall. I bypassed all of the wild-looking, animal-printed, clingy, ruffly clothes and returned my two blouses. Success! Then, IT happened.....I am at that age when I need not only anti-wrinkle cream, but anti-blemish cream. (Still a little bitter about that, my Mom and the Aunts promised me after my 20s I wouldn't have to worry about acne anymore--big fat LIARS!!!) Needless to say, I am very self-conscious about my face. It is blotchy...I have some acne AND sun spots (sure, you call them age spots, but I won't go there...) They were having an "Event" at the mall with a new product that illuminates your skin and eliminates blotchiness.

The next thing I know, I am sitting on one of those tall chairs with two mall muffins staring me down and my 'face' is laying on a damp papertowel on the table beside me. Of course, my cell phone rings....it is Hubs...he always knows just when to call. "Sorry I can't talk to you right now, dear, I'm busy spending your money." These ladies (the mall muffins--that is what I call the made-up, dressed perfectly, always trim ladies who work at the mall) worked on me for TWO HOURS. By the time they were done giving me my makeover, and I had spent a few hundred dollars, Hubs calls AGAIN! My earlier remark must have made him nervous. Once he recovered from the initial shock of how much I spent on lotions, creams and make-up, he says..."Well, for that kind of money, you ought to look like a supermodel!" Hmpf! He used to tell me I looked like a supermodel BEFORE the mall muffins got done with me! He did add that he couldn't wait to see me, and that he hoped the product did what they said it would. Awww....sweetie.

After leaving the mall, I went to two different stores--grocery and home improvement. Now, for my rant of the day, so brace yourself. The last time I checked, neither of these stores sends me a paycheck. So, why is it that I am expected to check myself out?? Now, I usually don't mind at the grocery (except when some overzealous shopper in line behind me starts scanning her groceries before I am done packing mine). However, at the home improvement store, the things you buy are heavy, bulky and cumbersome. I push my cart up to the chicklet standing there and ask her to check me out. She says....wait for it.....NO! By this time, I was hot, tired and evidently cranky. LOL They won't pay someone to check me out, but they WILL pay someone to watch. By the time I was done, there were three....count them three....employees WATCHING! I was furious....it must have been due to the heat and exhaustion.

Does this bother anyone else? We are becoming such an impersonal world with absolutely no customer service anymore.

Anyway, back to my story...I get home, unpack the car, fix dinner, etc. and by the time hubs gets home....yes, I have sweated off my new face! He will never know how pretty I was for one day, because I am pretty sure I cannot re-create the masterpiece. It is probably just like the hair salon. You never look the same again!

Tomorrow, I am going to paint daughter-in-law to be's house, so no post. I did get some longarming in this week, and today I hope to finish up a Christmas quilt. If I get it done today, I'll get pics up for you Sunday!

Enjoy your day! Blessings

P.S. Prodigal Son DID text me yesterday and apologize for snapping at me. :)

P.P.S. The Mall Muffins did give me a treasure map to show me how to re-create my face, but I'm sure it will take me hours!

DON'T FORGET THE SALE ON BOOKS AT THE WEBSITE...30% OFF SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE ON ALL BOOKS! Mention the discount in your order comments, and I will take it off. I did add more books earlier this week and will work on it some more today.
http://www.quiltweb.net/

Well, that didn't work out so well....

2011-07-21T07:13:00.001-06:00

The whole contagious disease thing was a wash, so I am a little bummed. Glad to know I will still have 'responsibilities' if I contract some sort of traumatic infection.....ROFL (If you don't understand what I am talking about, please read my previous post....)

Let me tell you how my day started. Hubs comes into the bedroom this morning, and to his credit--he did have a cup of coffee for me in tow--but he starts fussing at me. Really? I'm still half asleep. Guess that was a good thing, because frankly, I just tuned his nonsense out. I'm not going to let him steal my joy before it is even awake!

So, I go into the kitchen to refresh the coffee. Nephew had to be at work at 7, so I missed the coffee train...the pot is now empty! Not going to let him steal my joy before it is even awake! I made some tea.

I go out to the back terrace to take my little Bamikins out. Prodigal Son is out there enjoying his cereal. I say, "It is supposed to be even hotter today than yesterday, make sure you stay hydrated." At which time he snaps at me "I KNOW--DO YOU THINK I AM STUPID?" Ok, little fella, I'm sorry I worry. (and I DID tell him I was sorry for caring and worrying...) Not going to let him steal my joy before it is even awake! I go back in the house.

Out of the four men living in this house, three of them have tried to steal my joy. Here I sit, with an empty house, an empty coffee cup, an empty heart and nothing but time on my hands. Know what I am going to do? If you are guessing that I will head off to the sewing room, you are dead wrong! After I take a shower, go to the post office, go to take the blouses back to the mall and go to Home Depot.....I am going to strip off all my clothes....run naked through the house....and pretend like I have finally lost it! Then.....

I AM GOING TO STARCH ALL OF THEIR UNDERSHORTS!

How dare they try to steal my joy!

Well, I must move quickly.....I need to get all of this done before they get home!!!!!

Shhhh.....

2011-07-20T15:11:00.002-06:00

I have a meatloaf in the oven. I am pretty sure the fellas can serve it to themselves. I am going to feign some crazy disease like cholera or tuberculosis so I can be left along in my sewing room for an hour or two. Wish me luck! (Don't roll your eyes at me....you are just jealous that I thought of it first!!!!)

I only went outside a few times today, and that was just because I had to take the dogs out. (Bambino gets lonely when I am longarming or quilting because he isn't allowed in that area of the house.) I'm thinking it is time to potty-train him. Dang, was it muggy! He already knows how to lift both seats....so he is already doing better than the fellas here....so all I have to teach him now is how to aim! :)

Storms and News Stories....

2011-07-20T09:14:00.001-06:00

Remember I told you how one of the things I love about my little house in the woods is that if you go down the hill, there is the mall? Well, this is part of the storm damage down at our little mall. The mall itself had trouble handling the intensity of the water and from what I understand....there is a LOT of water damage. I have to take two blouses back, so I will see if there is a water damage sale! LOL (Actually, I guess that isn't very funny....)

Another topic of discussion around here lately has been the show Sister Wives. It is a TLC show based around polygamy. The family portrayed on the show is suing the state of Utah for the right to live how they want. In a nutshell, Utah would base part of the criteria for prosecution on "cohabitation". I ended up in a "spirited" debate on Facebook with a gentleman who was very adimate in his beliefs. Now, I'm not getting into a religious or political discussion here....but here is my fear.... If we as a country decide that "cohabitation" is grounds for prosecution, I AM IN BIG TROUBLE! Think about it....I live with FOUR MEN! I can just see my neighbors getting a little suspicious and calling the law on me! I had somewhat dropped this issue until yesterday.

I went out to do some clean-up in the garden. The limbs that came out of the trees were laying my corn down, not to mention my tomatoes...cages and all. I noticed the neighbor across the street had a tree service there cleaning up a huge tree that had fallen in his yard. I go to the edge of the property line and ask him if they are OK and if there is anything I can do to help. (At this time, I am secretly hoping he will say no, because even my sweat was sweating!!!!) He asked....So, how many people actually LIVE at your house?? Uh Oh! I'm going straight to jail! Part of the problem here is that my Prodigal Son has had a revolving door of cars here lately because his died. Between his car, his brother's car(s) and his dad's car that he has borrowed, he has had a total of four different cars! And....his friends come over all the time...with all their cars....and it looks like I'm starting a used car lot. Nephew is driving my spare car because his is sitting out there broken down..... I need to think fast! I change the subject real fast, and I can tell by the look on his face, he is watching that Facebook page to see when it is time to turn me in! :-()

Now, (and please understand...I'm just doing a little kidding around here....) I could really use some Sister Wives to come and help me with all this cooking, cleaning and laundry...not to mention yard work. But, I haven't found anyone I choose to 'date' yet, so I am stuck with the four men and no help. I'm thinking if I can recruit some ladies....then it will look like we are all couples and the neighbors won't be so quick to judge!

So, here are the job requirements if you would like to apply:

Must be OCD. By this I mean....all of our spices must be kept in alphabetical order. All of our dry goods are kept in the cupboards with the labels all facing the same way, keeping like items together (i.e. vegetables, crackers, condiments). All of our closets are arranged by color and season, only using one kind of hanger so it looks tidy.

Must love to bake. These fellas are eating me out of house and home. They love cookies, cakes and pies, but only if I am the one to cook them.

Must love to grocery shop. I hate it, so you will need to pick up the slack.

Must be a quilter. No need to embellish here! :)

Must be strong-willed. I need someone to fight our battles for us. I have turned into a doormat.

Must to love to decorate. I change out the quilts and decorations once a month to coincide with whatever is going on....

E-mail me to apply!

Have a fun, blessed day. Don't take me too seriously....it WILL be painful! LOLOLOL

At last--Blogger is being "friendly"

2011-07-19T07:27:00.000-06:00

FINALLY I can show you these two quilts. This first one is a pinwheel quilt made for a granddaughter. The customer chose a cute floral allover. This is such a fun quilt, and while it is age-appropriate, it is one that can grow with the little girl. :)

This is a close-up of the quilting. These HSTs go all the way around the quilt.

This next one is a scrappy red and black star quilt. The centers of the black stars are four-patches and the centers of the cream stars are pinwheels. Lots of HSTs here, too!

Here is a close-up of the swirl allover she chose. I love the scrappiness of this quilt!

So, last night I am checking out the backs of my eyelids for just a brief moment. The next thing I know, Hubs is running around all willy-nilly yelling that we need to go to the basement. What the heck? Huh? What are you talking about? (I'm still half asleep.) About that time, I look out the bedroom window. The rain is coming down sideways and there is so much, you can't see anything....except...........our hammock. Our hammock is on a steel frame. This is important to the story because the storm is LIFTING it into the air, and it appears to be ready to come straight through the bedroom window. OK, now Hubs has my attention!

Remember I told you how much I love living in the woods? Remember I told you how much I love my house because it is all windows? Well, let me tell you boys and girls.....in a storm like last night....living in the woods could be construed as grossly overrated! ROFL As we watched limbs come down and fly all over the place like a scene from the movie Twister, I wondered what it would be like to live in a big open field! (Still would rather be here, honestly. There are just different worries if you live in a big open field....)

So, here is a pic of the back terrace. Our house looks like it has been sand-blasted with leaves. This is the scene all over our property....with the addition of many downed tree limbs. No need to spend today, with a heat index of 115-120, cleaning it up because we are supposed to have MORE storms! We lost power for a little while last night, but it is back and I am all happy. Thankful for air conditioning!

Have a blessed day. Stay safe. Stay cool. Rent the movie "Twister". :)

Blogger

2011-07-18T07:55:00.000-06:00

I was relieved this morning to see that I wasn't the ONLY one experiencing problems with blogger yesterday. It wouldn't let me post. Today, it won't let me upload pics. I will try again in a few hours...but for now, I will tell you a little about my weekend/day. :)

First of all, I have determined that Bambino is an 'opportunist'. Like most large dogs, he sources water anywhere he can. If I am watering flowers, he feels the need to make sure there are no puddles left on the concrete. I have caught him sneaking water out of my fountain outside. Understandable enough, right? And, like some dogs, he has now discovered that water in the powder rooms is cold. Ugh! We have started making sure all the lids are down so that he isn't giving me cooties. Well, guess what I caught him doing....yup....he has learned to lift BOTH the lid and the seat! We are now closing powder room doors....bluck!

Have you been shopping lately?? I don't like to 'shop'. I am not a mall muffin. If I need something, I go in and get it done..... Well, I needed some summer blouses. With all of the sales going on, I decided I would bite the bullet and go shopping. I don't wear a lot of wild prints. I don't like ruffles or things dangling from my lady parts. I am NOT auditioning to be a streetwalker. Yet, all of the "modern" clothes either don't have sleeves, are too wild for my taste or are too low-cut or clingy to my lady parts. If I can find something in somewhat of a solid color, it is so see-through that you would think I AM a streetwalker. Three malls, and even the trusted Kohl's yielded not so many blouses. I can't wait until we all become traditional dressers together again. I'm guessing everything is so revealing to show off the world's newly adopted tattoo fetish. Maybe I could get the metal chicken tattooed somewhere so that someone will see it and decide we all need to start covering up again! I'm just sayin......

Now, for something you don't get from me often - a movie review. We rented Mathew McConahay's movie "Lincoln Lawyer" last night. It is a drama. It is the best movie I have seen in a while! It didn't hurt that I think he is eye-candy anyway, but if you get the opportunity, you should check it out.

Here is the movie trailer. It is quite suspenseful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZkWlnlrk5lE

Yesterday, for whatever reason, hubs was in a "things I can do to make the wife feel better mood". He glued, welded, screwed, nailed and worked on some serious honey-do projects. Are you ready for this? He went to the grocery for me! Woot Woot! I hate grocery shopping. When he got home, he COOKED DINNER! Either he has done something really BAD, or I just had the best Sunday in a long time...just because!

Either way, I am truly counting my blessings this morning. Worked in the garden this morning and felt that inner peace it gives me. Thank you all for your prayers. I have accepted my role in the roller coaster we have going on right now. More on that another time. If you are one who believes in prayer, just keep us on your list!

Have a blessed day!

Ever just crash and burn....

2011-07-16T06:10:00.000-06:00

It has been a whirlwind week for me. Got some more quilting done. I will post pics tomorrow. I have been driving back and forth to the big city, had some "ups" around here and some "downs". Two days this week, after the 'adrenaline crash' I fell asleep sitting up in a chair. I have something called Epstein Barr Syndrome, which I hope is not rearing its ugly head. We shall see.....

Picture yourself sitting in a room with the guy from the Sham Wow commercial for 2 1/2 hours....just you and him. I am like a ferret on speed, but this 'experience' totally wore me out. Took an hour nap after!

I can't go into what is going on around here just yet....but let me tell ya...I don't need to go to an amusement park for a roller coaster!

Be well.

Blessings

Garden Stroll Quilt

2011-07-12T05:47:00.000-06:00

My final completion from National All About Me Day is bound and ready to show. Remember my Garden Stroll Quilt? This is what it looked like before quilting.

This is it all quilted. I echo-quilted the flowers....ran some straight lines through the ticking....stitched in the ditch the blocks....

Here is a close-up of the echo-quilting. Please note who is peeking out from the back... I'm thinking someone thinks they are cute and is becoming quite the camera hog!

Here is a pic of the back. I had a scrap piece of batting and backing for this one, too, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!

So, did YOU get anything done on our National holiday????

I did finally let hubs off the hook with the checkbook, although we still don't know why that bank would call us so late on a Saturday no less.....

Birthday Update: I've determined that hubs has no intention of buying me anything! Every time he talks about buying something lately, it is for HIM! Last night while I was binding, he was actually talking about something else. I think I finally understand why my Mom started buying herself presents for her birthday and Christmas. Ugh! Not that I want anything....but if I did.....like a 5' metal chicken....I'm pretty sure it wouldn't happen. Stay tuned....you may end up seeing what I get me!!!!! :) :)

Don't forget: Book Sale on website. 30% off manufacturer's suggested retail price on ALL books!! Just mention the blog and I will take off the discount before charging your card.

http://www.quiltweb.net/

My second post of the day....a funny conversation....

2011-07-11T10:47:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago, hubs bought something from the President of his Company and wrote a pretty big check out of our checking account. I told him to grab the "black checkbook". Saturday night, we missed a call on hubs cell phone from a bank we no longer do business with. We kind of wondered all weekend why they were calling..... This morning, I go to the bank to make a deposit and notice that the check HASN'T been cashed when she gives me the receipt. As I'm going from the bank to the grocery store, I remember that the bank we no longer do business with ALSO has a black checkbook. Surely, I didn't save it! I call hubs from the grocery store...

Me: So, how funny would it be if we bounced a check to Mr. President.

Hubs: Not funny at all.....

Me: I'm sorry you feel that way....

Hubs: CYNTHIA......what have YOU done???

Me: Well, I'm just wondering if YOU grabbed the wrong checkbook.

At this point hubs is hyperventilating and I'm pretty sure he is going to go into convulsions or stroke out on me....

Me: I just went to the bank and Mr. President's check still hasn't cleared.

Hubs: @#$%!!!!! You need to go home right now and check.

So, I did my grocery shopping (no one tells ME what to do!!). When I get home, I look at the duplicate checks and hubs DID write the check from the CORRECT black checkbook. I don't know why the "other" bank called....but at least it afforded me the ability to keep hubs' blood pressure a little higher than normal! :)

P.S. DO NOT feel sorry for him!!!! I should probably call him now and let him off the hook. Afterall, it has been almost 3 hours....

Fruits of my Holiday Labor!

2011-07-11T05:21:00.001-06:00

Well National All About Me Day is over. I feel like I have accomplished soooo much. Today, I go back to loading customer quilts, and I'm excited to do that. :)

This quilt was quilted and bound this weekend. It is called My Prim Star. It is finish number 21 this year! Woo Hoo! I'm getting there. It was pretty plain looking. The pattern showed it in country colors, but I did it in some florals.

I did get another quilted, but I need to get it bound this evening. Sooooo, I will show it to you tomorrow.

We are under a heat advisory today. I have a lot of errands to do, not the least of which is the grocery. I despise going to the grocery! :( (Still a little bitter that my local store has discontinued Starbuck's.)

Stay cool and happy!

Keystone Medallion

2011-07-10T03:53:00.020-06:00

I did it! I am at 20 finishes for the year!!!! Woot Woot!!!!

This is my Keystone Medallion Quilt from Jo's Little Women's Club. Again, it sadly hung in the shop all pieced but never quilted. I have to say, I am so excited to have this one done. Quilting really does bring them to life, and I have always loved this quilt. I did stitch-in-the ditch for the entire center. See the striped lines in the border? I stitched along them every inch, which equated to every other line. Using that star print from the center borders as binding really just finished it off.

Although this is not a new finish, I didn't have a photo of this quilt. This is my Harvest Carpenter's Star. When I was taking pics of the Keystone Medallion, I grabbed this one for a quick shot. My little 'poser' decided he wanted to be in the pic, too, so I just HAD to put it on my blog today. He is my bestest buddy....especially when I am throwing his ball or giving him a treat! I love my Bamikins....really his name is Bambino, but I call him Bamikins when we are being all lovey-dovey.

I do have to tell you about a little conversation I had with the hubs this morning.

Hubs: Do you want me to help you weed the garden this morning?

Me: Nope

Hubs: Do you want me to help you dig the fire pit this morning?

Me: Nope

Hubs: Well, what are you going to do today?

Me: Nothing. It is National All About Me Day.

Hubs: I thought it was all about you every day....

Oh, no....he didn't!

At this point, I cannot further repeat the rest of the conversation due to the context of the comments made. Afterward, Hubs went out to his garage to work. I get to go to the sewing studio....

I WIN!!!!!!!

You see....sometimes you have to let them THINK they won! :) Back to National All About Me Day....tee hee hee!

Have a blessed day!

Another Finish....and a New Holiday!

2011-07-09T08:52:00.000-06:00

My trip to the big city yesterday was postponed until next week. So, what's a girl to do with an extra few hours of time? Yup....I threw a 'quickie' on the longarm. The focus print of this baby quilt was rockets and spaceships, so I chose an allover that is stars and moons. (Somewhere around here, he has a 'friend' made of the same fabrics.) He hung out in the shop hanging over the crib all unquilted and unloved until yesterday. Now, his life is complete! I don't remember the name of the pattern, hopefully "G" will see this post and remember.

This is a close-up of the back. I had enough scrap backing and batting from another quilt to do this one! That thrilled me!

Now, on to our New Holiday!

I am declaring today All About Me Day! Normally, I would load some customer quilts today and get started on them....or do some work in the house....or do some work in the garden....however, I'm feeling the need for a Me Day! Join Me! Grab your favorite hobby (or a good book)...Hide out in your favorite place....and enjoy today just for you. You have to....it's a new holiday! :)

I'm a little behind on my UFO completions for the year, even with the addition of this little baby quilt, and should have been halfway done by the end of June. I'm not, sooooooo.....today I am going to see how much longarming I can get done for ME! :)

Check back tomorrow....I would declare it All About Me Weekend, but as soon as hubs catches on, I'm sure he will find some work for me to do tomorrow. Maybe I will have something fun to show you in the morning!!!!!!!

Blessings

Longarm Quilts

2011-07-08T05:34:00.000-06:00

Since these are being picked up tomorrow, I suppose..I could show them to you today! :)

Remember this one? I decided to use the matching thread, rather than the varigated. I try to longarm them the way I would if I were going to hand quilt. The stars are all stitched in the ditch, blocks are stitched in the ditch, and the stencil in the alternate blocks.

Close-up of the block. She hand-pieced all of these little stars!

I did play with the Photoshop on the pic of the back so the quilting would show up a little better.

This is the Tribute to the Civil War Quilt. This thing is so huge, there just wasn't a way to get a good pic.

This is the center star. Sorry the pic is so big, but it was the only way I could show you the quilting.

I know....again with the big honking pic....but.....I started taking pics from the back on this one so you could hopefully see the quilting better.

That's all. The thread actually matches, but when I play with the color and brightness in Photoshop, I figured out how to make the thread look a little whiter to make the quilting show up.

Well, I have a looooong day today. Have to go to the big city. Update on my garden: tomatoes have blossom rot <> Update on my Hubs: He has laid off the whole coffee maker thing. Don't worry, I have it covered. Going NEXT weekend to get it. Can't have anything spoiling my birthday!

GO GREEN TIP OF THE DAY: Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Studies have shown that hot/warm water does not affect how clean they get.

JULY SHOP SPECIAL: 30% off manufacturer's suggested retail price on all books.

Have a blessed day!

July Special

2011-07-07T09:14:00.000-06:00

We will be offering 30% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price on all books. Mention the blog in the comment section of your order and we will take off the discount before processing your credit card.

I will post some more pics later today, just wanted to get this out there. I forgot to do it last Friday!

Sale runs through July 31, 2011.

http://www.quiltweb.net/

Hurrah!

2011-07-05T07:06:00.000-06:00

Remember these? I had originally picked a pattern that needed 15 of these stars. I knew I wasn't going to follow the pattern (I rarely do). The little stars were pretty addicting.....

and now.....they look like THIS! :) I was so incredibly proud of how many I had done until I took the pic. It's STILL not big enough! There are 36 here, and yesterday I cut out enough for a total of 56. I got a few finished and there are more in various stages of completion. I think I may need more!

This is NOT the way they are going to be laid out. I'm still toying with the design. I don't know if I want to sash, add alternate blocks, or make a center medallion. I don't think I want to sash. If I do add alternate blocks, do I make them scrappy? What color? Oy! I really should decide what I am doing before I make too many....what do you think?

Sadly, this is the only quilty thing I got done over the entire weekend! But, I did get to spend lots of quality time with the family, so it's all good!

Coffeemaker update: I STILL have NOT bought a coffeemaker. I bought a little time but telling hubs that I need to research a little more...and based on some purchases we have made in the last few weeks, I think we should wait. *wink wink* I do know I need to get one purchased before my birthday, or it could be catastrophic!

Have a blessed day! Mine is a busy one!

Massages

2011-07-03T03:07:00.003-06:00

I'm beginning to believe massages are like a 12-step program. You abuse your body until it's time to go..

Hello, my name is Cynthia. It has been three weeks since my last massage.

Let me preface by saying that "A" gives the best massages I have ever had! She is about 5'4" tall and weighs about 90 pounds sloppy wet, but I am sure that she moonlights as a Ninja Warrior!

"A" gives her massages at a local health club. To get to the massage room, you must parade your lumpy bumpy body past the physical trainers and South Beach Bodies, all the while knowing they are secretly thinking, "Boy, she got here just in time for us to save her." As you open the door to the massage room, they shake their heads in pity, "oh, no, another one lost...." You, on the other hand, are questioning your own rationale about that cheesecake you had for breakfast just days ago!

You strip down, and lay face down on the table. "A" comes bouncing in and starts slicking you up....just in case later the trainers want to play "Chase the greased pig". You surrender to the soothing music and sweet serenity of all that is an incredible massage. "A" is also a physical trainer, so as she is working on your contourtionist skills (working out all of the *kinks*), you, are secretly hoping that this workout will have you leaving with the same South Beach Body that you passed on your way in. As she grinds on the lumps and bumps, she tells you, "Oh, I can tell you have been longarming a lot this week....SMASH....right here!" Oh, that's gonna smart in the morning! No words need to be said. She finds all of your 'secret places'. You know...those places you hold your stress until your next visit. Out come the hot towels, hot stones and you slide back into Paradise. Uh, oh, the towels are cooling off and you are pretty sure this 80 pound giant is hovering on top of the table wielding a meat tenderizer bound and determined to work out those lumps! Back you slide into Paradise, the music lulling you into a catonic state....only to find that your massage is now over.

As she leaves, you stand in the mirror, your body is still lumpy, still bumpy, and you look nothing like those South Beach punks out in the training area. Once again, you take the walk of shame....past the South Beach Bodies.....feeling very self-conscieous about the fact that you look like an Ogre. But, secretly you are smiling....you just had the best massage of your life!

We love you "A"!!!!!

Ways to drive a Hubs c R a Z y ! ! !

2011-07-02T03:25:00.001-06:00

My birthday is this month. On MORE THAN ONE occasion last month, I made sure he knew what I wanted. Last night he asks WHAT I WANT! Ugh! My mind starts racing....how do I handle this situation? I was always taught that you don't 'ask' for anything and 'APPRECIATE' what you get. If I hang on to these teachings, it could be disasterous! The last thing I need is Hubs figuring I need something 'helpful' like a new vacuum or a new hoe to work in the garden! It is time for serious DAMAGE CONTROL!

Is this how THEY see me??!!

So, what's a girl to do? He keeps asking and I know it is driving him c R a Z y !!! I could continue to let him suffer and wonder..... I could ask for something WAY out of our budget.... I could tell him what I really want....but what FUN would there be in that? He has paced, jumped up and down like a banchee and BEGGED me to remind him.

Things I could ask for:

A diamond so big I would need a forklift to carry my hand around...
A MOTORCYCLE
A new kitchen 'of my dreams'
My long-promised trip to Italy
My "outdoor room", complete with gazebo and pergola

All of these things would require a winning lottery ticket or some sort of banditry, like robbing a bank, so I need to re-think the PLAN.

If I am not careful, I could end up with that $10 coffee maker....the hoe....the vacuum....or even worse...I could have to cook my own dinner, bake my own cake AND clean up the mess! (Yes, I have heard from a friend that he is going to a surprise birthday for another 'friend' that her hubs has her convinced they are having a surprise birthday party for one of their friends. Her hubs has told her that they will pay HER to cook all of the food. Can you image how elated she will be once she finds out: 1) the surprise birthday was for her; 2) she did ALL of her own cooking and 3) she ISN'T getting PAID!)

Yes, my blogging friends, I am in quite a quandry! The funny thing is......

even I don't know what I want for my birthday!!!!!

Longaberger

2011-07-01T03:56:00.002-06:00

Well, thank goodness it is FRIDAY! Woot Woot! I get my massage this morning, then I need to get ready for the BBQ tonight where we meet nephew's GF. So, a few people asked to see some of my baskets....I got a few pics taken before the camera battery died. Here goes...

Some of the Patriotic

Can you tell these are in the sewing studio?

The Club Miniatures. I also have all of the miniature dishes...

Note inside the hutch are more baskets and some of the pottery.....

Scooted all of these together to get their pic taken together...had the sewing basket, must have cropped it out!

Christmas Star baskets

Love these fall ones!

Yes, that is a Longaberger Iron stand....

Not that you wanted to see our powder room....

I pretty much have them spread around EVERYWHERE! If they were all in one location, Hubs would realize how many we REALLY have!!!

Have a blessed day!

Our Cookout Last Weekend.....

2011-06-30T04:18:00.001-06:00

We celebrated Father's Day last Saturday with a few of the kids, and after I saw the pics that Hubs took with the camera...you will note that all pics of ME have been deleted....it gave me a perfect idea for a blog post! Hubs takes great MUG SHOTS!

WANTED

These four have been found GUILTY of not producing grandchildren for the bestest grandparents-to-be on the PLANET~!

If you SEE them.....do NOT try to apprehend...they are considered armed and dangerous!!! A simple guilt trip is all we are asking for here.....remind the girls that their CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!!

Oh, and whatever your do.....do NOT tell them about this blog post....it could make things WORSE!

Have a fun day, and don't take life too seriously! :)

Blessings

Cheesecake for Breakfast...Oh, and some applique....

2011-06-29T07:18:00.000-06:00

I have given Martha Stewart a run for her money this week. I've baked a Fruits of the Forest Pie (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries with a streusel topping), peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies, oatmeal scotchies, Rice Krispie treats...and yesterday--a cheesecake. Prodigal Son was supposed to go over to a fella's house for 'dinner' and I've always taught them to never go empty-handed, thus, the cheesecake. As I licked the beater bar from the mixer, all I could think about was sitting in a corner with a fork and devouring the entire cheesecake. You see, all those cookies, etc. were for the fellas to pack in their lunches and really had no appeal to me. But, cheesecake....well let's just say it is one of my faves! To make a long story short, Prodigal Son's car died and he didn't go to the dinner....fast forward to the cheesecake.

I opened the refrigerator door this morning, and there she sat--in all her marbled-with-chocolate beauty! Resist! The angel on my left shoulder cried. EAT! The devil on my left shoulder cried--afterall, it has everything in it you would get from breakfast cereal with yogurt! (That's what I usually eat--Kashi with vanilla yogurt.) So, here I sit with a fork in my hand, gorging myself with the sweet creamy goodness that is/was an untouched cheesecake!

There is a quilt, a Christmas Quilt, that I have been wanting to finish for *ahem* three years. It is hand-applique, so I really didn't have time to work on it when I had the shop. I got the box out yesterday, and will keep the blocks near the TV, so when I get snookered into watching Pawn Stars or American Pickers, I won't feel guilty about just sitting there.

This weekend, I hope to cut out more pieces and get them 'ready'.

Blogger isn't cooperating with me very well today, so I think I will sign off until tomorrow....

Blessings

Kitchen Shopping....and MEN

2011-06-28T02:59:00.006-06:00

It goes without saying that I have a "few" Longaberger baskets. OK, so the number is over a hundred, but less than two hundred. I *think*. I may also have their dishes, some baking dishes, crocks, iron shelves, etc. I also have a LOT of Pampered Chef tools. Way back when, they used to have the corner on the market of quality, and when a girl loves to spend time in the kitchen, well she simply must have the proper tools. Kind of like when you go into a guy's garage, and he has so many sockets. Really? Why can't the in-between sizes of regular sockets work with the metrics? LOL But, I digress.

When Hubs and I first got married, he was complaining about my lack of a butter dish. He did start the conversation with "Wow, you sure have a lot of kitchen tools. But, I'm impressed, you do use them all!" I explained that I 'used' to own one, but threw it away because everyone would just put a new stick of butter on it without washing it first. Being the germaphobe that I am, I just couldn't deal with the fussing about it every time it happened and I got rid of it. Hubs told me he wanted me to buy one. I go to see my Longaberger consultant and explain my need for a butter dish. Well, I couldn't just get the butter dish. I mean really....so, I order the sugar bowl, creamer, serving dish, toothpick holder, salt & pepper shaker and butter dish. :) Go big, or go home! A couple hundred dollars later, he is telling one of our friends about how expensive his little butter dish was. (SIDE NOTE: Hubs did NOT know that the dishes, etc. were all Longaberger. The friend did, because he used to order with me.....)

Friend rats me completely out! I will use his name now....BYRON! Byron proceeds to tell Hubs that he doesn't see anything in our kitchen that ISN'T Longaberger. Hubs learned his lesson, or so I thought, with the $200 butter dish.

(I went to the Longaberger site to get pics of my purchases....they are all retired! Doesn't that make them a Collector's Item now????)

This one is only $2634.00

So, for those of you wondering.....Longaberger does NOT make a coffee maker! I hesitate to buy the one I showed you the pic of yesterday, because it has gotten some bad reviews. I'm thinking I should go to the Restaurant Supply Store and buy one of the ones that is cappucino, etc. all in one and hooks directly up to your water. I mean....Hubs has nothing better to do on his extra day off this weekend but to do some plumbing for HIS new coffee maker, right???

Off to do some more shopping.....wish me luck!

Not ready to open a Starbuck's any time soon...

2011-06-27T06:01:00.001-06:00

So, yesterday morning I wake up to grumbling sounds coming from the kitchen. I figured it was because Hubs got up before I did, and there was no coffee waiting for him. I go into the kitchen and find my counter covered with four different coffee pots, all in various stages of disrepair. A few months back, we had bought a new coffee maker because ours was acting up. We somehow burned up the heating element on it before we got the first cup out of it and Hubs had taken it to his 'workshop' because he was going to "fix" it. It would seem the normal day-to-day coffee maker had given up the ghost and Hubs was willing to do just about anything for a cup of coffee.

All of a sudden, this became MY problem. Hubs was doing more than grumbling by this point and feeling the wrath of his frustration, I looked deep inside me to find something humorous in this situation--like the 5' Chicken lady. I got nothing! I mean where are you going to find a 5' metal statue of Juan Valdez and his mule early on a Sunday morning? I retreated back to the computer, pulled off my orders, commented on a few FB posts and dared to head back to the kitchen. At this point, Hubs is inconsolable. He is ready to grab his keys and run to the mall in his slippers to find a coffee pot.

Hubs: I just want a simple coffee maker with an on/off button that will give me a cup of coffee.

Me: We have four.

Hubs: Don't be a smartass....I want one that WORKS!

Me: The day-to-day one does.

Hubs: If you can get it to make a cup of coffee, I will kiss your ________.

OK, so now I realize that he is no Victor (from the chicken story). He is not finding humor in the situation. I start a pot of coffee brewing in the day-to-day one. It's tempermental and I know how to get it going. In the meantime....47 y.o. nephew drives to McD's (only about a mile away) and gets HIMSELF a cup of coffee. Did he get one for Papa or the Queen Bee? NOPE! Is the Queen Bee ready to starch his undershorts over it? YUP! Having a back-up plan, I make myself a cup of tea.

Twenty minutes later, I am done drinking my tea and venture back into the land of testerone to see if the coffee maker came through for me. YUP! Hubs is pouring me a cup of coffee. Making sure nephew is not home, I gently raise the back of my robe and offer to let him "pay up".

He is no Victor....

I went to the grocery to get away and let him cool off. I have been commissioned to buy the coffee maker of my choosing before next weekend...or he threatens to buy one himself! This one is $329. Do you think it would be like the chicken story if I ordered it with HIS Visa?

I'm not going to press my luck and find out! Do they still have $10 coffee makers????? ROFL

Going Green Tip of the Day: Save all of your old coffee makers so you have something to blog about!

Happiness Is: A dog who will sigh with you when Hubs is on one of his tangents! :)

Not many words....

2011-06-26T03:51:00.002-06:00

I usually don't post on Sundays, but I took these right after the storm. Parden the weeds and sticks. Remember....I was out of town and am still catching up....

Basil

Bougenvelia

Echinacea

Hydrangea

Go Green Tip of the Day: Use a broom instead of a water hose to sweep your sidewalks.

Happiness is: Klondike bars with chocolate ice cream in the middle!

Blessings

Humor

2011-06-25T05:50:00.000-06:00

I chuckled on and off all day yesterday thinking about the blog post I shared with you. She writes a humorous column for a Houston paper and I think it is awesome that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Going back through some of the posts, she is a real person with real problems--she battles with anxiety. It really made me reflect....people used to tell me how funny I was all the time. My kids are funny. So, what happened? I think life got in the way and I started taking everything way too seriously. Everyone has issues they deal with on a daily basis. How we deal with those issues really affects our happiness. As I have been on my little hiatus, I am starting to rekindle my joy. I know it sounds cliche, but I have been enjoying little things more. i.e. birds singing, smelling fresh air, running my fingers through soil. I hope I can hold onto this happiness I am experiencing right now....

Here are the quilts I have been working on with the longarms.....I'm enjoying watching them come to life. The Hunter's Star was hand-pieced, so I'm definitely seeing an awesome stencil in the alternate blocks. I'm toying with whether to use varigated thread. Part of me sees it as really *popping*, but I don't want to take away from the piecing.... what do YOU think? BTW, these Hunter's Star blocks are 4".

The Civil War Tribute Quilt is one I have also *ahem* started. It has really kicked me in the keister to get it back out. I put it away when I started hearing the horror stories of all of the mistakes. It is a HUGE quilt, but just look how stunning hers turned out!!!

We are off to see the kids today, since we were out of town for Father's Day. I can only imagine what kind of surprise they have going....wish me luck!

Blessings