The Town...a Great Movie

Who new that Ben Affleck would be such a good director/actor, but, he is both!

I've never been to Boston, but I imagine the characters in this movie to be picked right out of the white pages of the phone book for the area.

Go see it!  You'll have to wear your best green outfit and maybe drink some green beer to understand the heavy irish/Boston accents, but, it's so cool to hear what's left of a sound that is local to a weary city.  Missing "r's" never sounded so good...smile.

Tennessee Waltz tips

I'm still working on the pattern that requires a Birangle.  Improvising, I've made the bias strips for the sharp points, notice they are mirror images.

Trim off the ends then measure the width of the blocks to cut.

Next line up the points for cutting.  I'm not sure this method is all that fast, but, it's the first time I've tried this, so I'm all in.  All quilters find their own methods of enjoyment.  Some might not like the way others choose to make quilts.  Quilt making is a highly personal process and they take a long, solitary time to make.  So, you must find the method that suits your personality and enjoy the process. 

I could stay home and quilt all day, but, National Public Radio needs my help

It's our last Waterfront Wednesday and the world's greatest radio station needs me to help transport bands from the Waterfont to the radio station for interviews.  We couldn't ask for better weather or better bands to finish off a fantastic but hot, season of music down by the river.

My challenge today, for the short time I've got before my volunteering begins is to figure out how to make a Birangle, as they all seem to be out of stock.  It was a tool made by Mary Hickey many years ago for making 30 degree angles.  I'm making a Tennessee Waltz quilt.  The pattern comes from an old book I bought on Ebay.  Quick and Easy Quiltmaking by Mary Hickey, Nancy J. Martin, Marsha McCloskey and Sara Nephew.  It's from That Patchwork Place, which, in my opinion puts out some amazing quilt books.  When I see that publisher logo on a book, I know it's probably going to very well done.

These are some pretty savvy quilters that have been in the business a long time.  I think a lot of successful quilters must try to invent a tool for an additional sale item.  I wish I was that smart.  Hmmm...mabye a tool that make me lose 10 pounds while setting at the machine.  But wait, we had those in years gone by, I think they were called a treadle sewing machine. 

Ah well, something will come to me...idea, lightbulb, pop, pop...smile. 

World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremony

On a lovely football weather fall evening Bob and I headed to Lexington, Ky for the kick off event for the World Equestrian Games .  Just like the olympics, only on a much smaller scale and revolving around horses, dancers and performers with politicians in tow put on quite a show.

Kentucky is known for it's horses.  It rolled out all kinds of representation of the equestrian art form.  First things were started with the American Indian and their horses.  It was almost too perfect.  The many different tribes that were represented looked like a hollywood cast of beautiful high cheek bones and tripod noses.  My husband and girls are Cherokee Indians and they don't look like that.  I went to school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and it's the Cherokee capital.  My bridesmaid, Veda Wildcat was 63/64ths Cherokee.  She felt intense pressure to marry a full blood Cherokee from her tribe.  That's another blog discussion.

After the beautiful Indians and horses.  We were welcomed back home too Kentucky with the display of the saddle bred horses and their high stepping ways.  Included in this menagerie was William Shatner, an acclaimed horseman.  Also on display was the world famous Arabian horse bred by Wayne Newton.  The "Gift from the Dessert" as this segment was called.  I didn't know that all horses in these groups could be traced to the Arabian horses.  There were many groups in the competition from Arab countries.

Next we were treated to a display of precision horsemanship complete with John Philip Suzza custom written music for the prancing horses.

The athletes from all over the world made their group appearances walking in matching outfits and waving their country's flags.  Spain was a large group in the competition and it occurred to me that if they won this, they just won the World Cup and that country is on already on roll of pride.

The beautiful and rare friesian horses from the Netherlands.

Finally, for us at least, the politicians, from mayor to governor and Muhamid Ali we wheeled around the arena in antique cars.  We left here hoping to beat the long winded speeches sure to come and the huge amount of traffic sure to come.

If you go to the games, be sure to go to JJ McBrewster's BBQ.  Some of the best pulled pork and sauces I've ever had, top 5 for sure.  Try the mac and cheese it's great!  We are fans of the Diners, Drive ins and Dives show, this is an upcoming segment on October 4th.

The Elizabeth Town Quilt Show

It's finally fall here.  It's been so blasted hot and this Friday Sheelah and I headed off to Elizabethtown, Ky for the quilt show put on by the local quilt club.

It's so great that quilters are such easy travelers.  "Would you like to go-Me, me, I'm in".  You don't even have to finish the statement sometimes.  Quilters love to go on Day Trips and so I picked up Sheelah in Old Louisville and off we went.

This small show had everything the big shows have, demonstrations, vendors, hand quilted quilts, just everything you would like to see at a quilt show, only in small quantities.