Feeling Simply Quilty

Polar Bear Triathlon, Shelbyville Series, Race #1

2012-01-30T13:35:00.001-05:00

It was a beautiful cold below freezing morning. I was in my 2nd triathlon I have ever done. My first was in September, 2011.

I must say I am hooked! What a wonderful way to spend a day. Outside running, biking then indoors, swimming. My crew, Bob, drove me to the facility on the request 7:00am check in. Then it seemed we waited forever for the 8:30 start. We won't do that again. I was excited. So excited I forgot to stop my Garmin Forerunner 610 for a more accurate reading on the statistics for the race. Oh well, I am not in the hunt to win. I just really enjoy being in the mix, only as a participant. Triathlons are a means for losing weight and getting healthy for me. The other benefits are stress relieving, (which I really don't have any stress) toning and general better healthy attitude.

I highly recommend them.

Fartlek-This is White on Rice for Me...smile

2012-01-22T20:16:00.001-05:00

http://video.about.com/running/How-to-Do-a-Run-Walk-10K-Training-Program.htm

So I've been training for my first triathlon Sunday, 1/29/12. Along the way, I've found running to be my most difficult activity. If find myself anaerobic most of the time. This last Saturday I ran with the Triple Crown Running club for the second time. I was lucky enough to have a woman hang back and coach me. Her name was Charlotte and she is a cross country coach!! What luck for me. She told me about interval training and how it is called Fartlek. A terrible sounding word, which I am sure got many jokes and least of all snickers from the school age children she coached.

Fartlek, in a nutshell is interval training. Running and walking for a faster recovery time. I plan to execute this training plan next week before my race. Click on the video above if you would like to try it.

My First Below Freezing Run, I was covered in Frost!!

2012-01-16T14:26:00.002-05:00

I ran my first run with the Triple Crown Running Club last Saturday morning. This first run was 4 miles long in below freezing weather. We began running at the firehouse behind the McDonald's in Crestwood, Kentucky.

It turned out to be a fabulous day. We started out at 7:30 and ran on a fairly flat road. The only real danger was some black ice. I was totally comfortable, although I was covered in frost by the end. I didn't have frost bite on my fingers or toes. As a matter of fact, I had to remove my gloves because I was so hot. My body sweats a lot and I guess that's what caused all the frost on my hair and clothing. There were several runners out that morning, besides our club, and everyone turned to look at me as they passed me.

I am not a fast runner, but, I am training more and am getting a little faster.

This is my list of items to wear in a really cold run:

1. Hand warmers. I got mine at Costco. You open them and shake them and they get warm. I place them inside my gloves and put extras in my pockets.

2. Heavier gloves. I don't like mittens, my hands sweat too much in mittens. But, gloves with hand warmers to start out are just right for me.

3. Scarf. I wear it around my neck until about 2 miles then I take it off.

4. Layer wicking clothing. I like a wicking Specialized undershirt, then long sleeve Saucony shirt then my blue fleece Old Navy shirt. This is for below zero running.

5. My reflector utility belt. I like to listen to my music, and safety is a concern. So I like to carry my iPhone with my head phones on the front middle of my utility belt. I don't like it on my arm or in my pocket. Running is all about balancing the items I have on. Also, after about a mile or 2, I begin to take my gloves and scarf off. I like to hang them on my utility belt.

6. Sham Wow headband. I sweat a lot. I thought, what's the most absorbent material out there, and the Sham Wow came to mind. So, I make my own head bands. They are pretty wide for covering my ears.

There you have it. My recipe for coverage that includes as few items as I need when I run.

Thanksgiving 2011, Split the Baby

2011-11-27T08:30:00.001-05:00

We traveled, we split the baby, we ran, we headed home. Such was our whirlwind visit to Oklahoma.

My folks live in Clarlemore, Oklahoma near Oologah lake. The fog was rolling in when Chelsea and I walked Fawn in the early morning.

We ran the Owasso YMCA's Thanksgiving Day Hog Jog. It was a 5K race. The important thing is I got to run with my daughter, Chelsea and her cousin, Kyleigh. My dad, sister, Lisa and her daughter, Rian, as well as Kyleigh's husband, Jared and daughter, Nora were in attendance, along with Tea, Rian's daughter. In essence, my whole family was there.

Like Sampson and the decision, who gets to keep the child, when you live a 10 hour drive away, we must split the baby and share our kids with both sets of families. Bob's family lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Yes, there are all kinds of Indian jokes about the names of the towns in Oklahoma.

I had grand plans to work on quilts and teach my daughter how to make one. She has made one, but, this was to be another balloon quilt which she was really excited about at the time, but, splitting the baby means traveling back and forth from grandparents to grandparents, as well as great grandparents.

My First 5K! In Louisville, Ky

2011-11-13T17:22:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my niece, Kyleigh Brewer, I am now interested in 5K's. What a lovely way to spend a weekend morning.

I like to carry my wrist purse. It contains, Kleenex, sunglasses, phone, small bottle of water. It is large enough to put my gloves or headband in if I get too warm. I might carry hand warmers in January in it. That's me in the white Tshirt on the left side. I like to jog, it's a little faster than a walk, but not much. I'm just happy to be healthy enough to participate at my age.

This is the finish line. My husband took this picture. I had actually passed it about 15 minutes before he took this picture. I have increased my jogging speed since my triathlon. In September I jogged 2 miles in 45 minutes. For this 5K, I jogged 3.1 miles in 47 minutes. Ha!

2011-11-01T19:15:00.002-05:00

We went to the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC.

Building this outlandish display of wealth must be something like the Kardashian wedding today. A ten million dollar wedding today; a mansion built around the turn of the century. It was in the middle of nowhere at the time. It is in a place I think I would like to retire. Near the mountains, a college town, it has everything, but, family.

The fall colors were everywhere. Especially in the park that Olmstead built around the mansion. He considered it his last great project. Thousands of trees were brought in.

Something was planned to be blooming at any time of the year. look at the dragon flies in the mum display.

This is a bald cypress. I must have some cajun in me somewhere, because I love these trees, especially when they have spanish moss growing from them.

This the bass pond. It must be nice to have enough money to make a pond for you to fish and boat around in. eh hem, Charles, I think I'd like to go fish in the pond today, please make it so...smile.

We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway. It rides across the ridge of mountains. So beautiful.

My sweetie pie. How lucky am I?

I love juxtapositions, new growth out of snow.

What a fun place to work. This is the staff at the restaurant on the highest peak, east of the Mississippi.

We had hoped to fly fish, but, it was just too cold. There was an early cold snap in the area. But, it was still a very nice trip!

Our trip to NYC

2011-10-20T12:11:00.000-05:00

NYC is like Zingo. It is constant forward movement and sensory bombardment to the max. It is both exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. But, I like it a lot.

Our first night, Saturday, we went to Times Square. Like Bell's amusement park, NYC has it's "junkie kid's stuff" and Times Square is it. This area is probably what you think of when you think about the city. Huge TV screens and lots and lots of people. On the night we went the Occupy Wall Street protesters had decided to take it over. This made it even more crowded than usual. The police were out and they made it so the protesters could march. This made it a lot more crowded than usual for the tourists.

On Sunday morning we went to the Hungarian Pastry shop which is across the street from my favorite old church, that I've seen, in NYC, St. John the Divine. Walking to the church we found a really cool very small sanctuary garden with this statue in it.

Next to the church is a really large and wonderful statue. It has characters from Noah's Ark added to the rope like fencing.

Then we found a restaurant where Seinfeld was filmed.

Next we went to Central Park, where there was a walk for breast cancer.

We saw the Guggenheim Museum, which I wanted to go to, but they were in a transition for a new gallery show, so I didn't get to, next time, perhaps.

They were making a film near the park.

Central Park is amazing. I read it costs 38million to maintain, every year. There are so many beautiful fountains.

My First Mini Triathlon Completed!

2011-09-11T10:06:00.000-05:00

It was a cold day in Buckner, Kentucky and even colder in the water when I swam the required 400 yard serpentine laps, but I was smiling all the way. Then jump out of the pool and be sure to drag your foot across the blue mat so your time is recorded.

On to the transition area where I put shirt and jacket on over my bike shorts and swim suit I wore in the pool. No time to change clothes, just layer, bike shoes and go. Then walk your bike out of the area and cross another blue mat to begin the bike ride, 10.5 miles around the morning mist covered hills of Kentucky. This race had 2 really large hills and a few progressive climbs. Horses and cows and spectators were cheering us on. Bringing up the rear an ambulance screamed past me. There was actually someone BEHIND me, that needed some help. Coming back into the transition area, a careful dismount and drag your foot across another blue mat.

Remove jacket, put running shoes on and take off across another blue mat and begin the 2 mile cross country run. I'm smiling and tired. I love the outdoors and Kentucky has some pretty beautiful parks, Wendell Moore being one of them.

Then across the finish line and into the building for pizza and socializing.

What fun! I'm onto another new hobby. I now have an outdoor hobby, triathlon training and an indoor hobby, quilting. Life is pretty good.

Bike Riding Poem

2011-09-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

The Gears

Damp swirly roads make my bed
Patty Griffin in my head
Low gears are friendly and happy

Arcade Fire lifts it up
climb those m'r f'n hills
Pushing and pulling
the high gears command

the dimension is near...smile.

2011-09-04T10:05:00.001-05:00

Well, it's coming down to the wire. My first triathlon is going to be next Saturday, September 10. I received my letter from the organizing committee addressed to Dear Triathlete! I'm number 224 out of somewhere around 300 entries, I guess. Maybe there are only 224 entries!!? It's all gaged on my swimming time. All those years at the Collinsville pool, growing up I guess created a love for swimming. It's so sad they had to fill the pool in in my hometown. The costs are heavy on small towns where the jobs are drying up. Running a pool proved too burdensome. I have so many fond memories spent there. We would find empty pop bottles and sell them at the grocery store for a nickel and walk to the pool and spend all day there. I used to be able to dive off the high dive. I'd probably break my back now. If I had an extra million dollars, I'd go to Collinsville and open that pool up again.

I digress, I might do okay in the swimming portion and possibly the biking portion of the triathlon. Everyone will pass me on the running trail. I am a participant/finisher for my first race, so it's okay. This is a goal I have set, and I hope I can make it and compete and finish. Everyone needs some goals in their life. It's an important part of our lives. Setting goals and accomplish them gives me something to look forward to. Reading over what I've written, I need to set a goal and make myself not end so many sentences in prepositions!!

If you want to come and cheer me on, I'm in the water at 8:11am. Then out and on a bike, for about an hour and then I run for around an hour. I doubt I'll be going too fast after getting off my bike, when I've rode for 10.5 miles up 2 pretty challenging hills. You can enjoy one of the many beautiful parks we have here in Kentucky. This is the Wendall Moore Park, with the John Black Aquatic Center and then on the bike along the beautiful hills of Kentucky, highway 393.

I will collapse at the finish line and say Go Cards!! That's really for Collinsville Cardinals, but, everyone here will think it is for the Louisville Cardinals.

Triathlete! That

2011-09-04T09:50:00.002-05:00

I've been

Label Making Tutorial

2011-08-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

The saddest thing to me is going to a flea market or some sort of sale and finding a love worn quilt that no one knows it's story. It may be a quilt from China, but, I imagine even Calvin Kline puts a label in his product.

If you are going through the process of making a quilt, please put a label on it. You know it could give it more value. Take for example, the Baltimore Album Quilts. Those quilts from that area have a pretty pricey value. Kentucky has a strong heritage of quilting, so maybe in the future quilts from Kentucky may also have a little more value because they are made in Kentucky. Also, quilts are most times made for someone, daughter, niece etc., so there is an inherent value in leaving your legacy with a written history of sorts for the family to share. So, that being said, here is how I like to make a label:

What you need to make a hand made label:
1. Finished Quilt
2. Freezer Paper, you can find this at the grocery store
3. Archival quality, acid free pens
4. 100% cotton fabric

How you make the label:
1. Iron your 100% cotton material.
2. Write out your label information on a separate piece of paper. Once you begin writing the message on the fabric using the fabric pens, you cannot erase it. So, no in advance what you would like to say.
3. Cut the freezer paper the size of the finished label.
4. Using the PLASTIC COATED side of the freezer paper, on the wrong side of the fabric, iron it on, using the cotton setting. If you make a mistake, and iron it to the right side, simply peal it off and iron it to the correct wrong side.
5. The fabric should be one half inch larger than the freezer paper for turning under and pressing to clean finish your label.

After you have thought out what you would like to write, use the acid free pens to write on the right side of fabric with the freezer paper plastic coated side ironed on the wrong side of the label and the edges are clean finished (1/2 inch of fabric turned under and pressed).

Turn under and press again, the 1/2 inch of fabric to clean finish the edges of the label.

Peal off the freezer paper.

I like to put my labels on the lower right hand corners of the quilts I make. Using a needle and thread, you next whip stitch the label in place, going over it twice for added security.

There you have, one of my preferred methods of label making.

I've been training for 5 weeks for my triathlon

2011-08-16T18:19:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, 5 weeks of training. Swim bike run and one rest day. I can't say the weight is falling off. Probably because, muscle weighs more than fat and when I work out this much, I tend to eat more. My body is burning the calories and I need to adjust my intake to much less. So far, it's been about a pound a week, which is average. I go up sometimes and down more times, you know 2 steps forward, one step backward. Slow and steady wins the race!!

I looked at last years results of the triathlon I'm hoping to compete in. The oldest women in the race were three 50 year olds. Looking at their times, I'm a little faster in the pool than 2 of them, but, I really just want to finish. I'll be the old lady in the group if this trend continues. I figure, even off all 3 come back to race, they will be 51!!

Ah well, you have to have goals and things to look forward to. Like vacation. We haven't been on vacation since March and we hiked the Grand Canyon. Whew! That was something, very difficult. Awesome experience though. Sharing it with our daughter Chelsea was extra special. Jennifer wasn't in shape to make the hike. Maybe next year she will be feeling better and we can hike the Glacier National Park!

2 Quilts Almost Complete

2011-08-06T15:14:00.000-05:00

The heart shaped log cabin quilt above is finished except for the label on the back. This one will say: Made by Julie Brunner from 100 % cotton fabric and thread. The quilt is for Chelsea Brunner who made the first request for it when I posted the picture on Facebook.

The friendship braid quilt is made for Tea Begley, my niece. It is approximately 3 feet by 4 feet. All it needs is binding and a label.

Turtles, a favorite family recipe for the Pot Luck party for our Quilt Guild

2011-07-25T09:48:00.000-05:00

Turtles are a favorite family recipe here. They have similar ingredients to the candy, chocolate, caramel and nuts. This is how I make them:

First you gather all the ingredients. Then you mix the German chocolate cake mix with 2/3 cup EVAPORATED milk-not condensed milk.

Spread it in a 9 X 13 inch cake pan with STRAIGHT SIDES. Some glass pans have sort of smooth, roundish sides, you don't want that. I use this pan that my MIL got for my birthday one year. You can get them personalized at the flea market. Love that pan for a pot luck, you know people we be able to get it back to you. Instead of the usual pot luck dish confusion.

Put 1/2 of the cake mix in the pan and cook for 6 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Let is cool completely.

Meanwhile, melt the caramels in a double broiler. I tried a new caramel, Werther's I like it better than Kraft.

Poor over the cooled cake. Make sure you don't let it seep around the edges. This is where the value of the straight edge pan comes in.

Add 1 1/2 cup pecan pieces and 12 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips. Then I tried this seasoning, lemon, lavender and pepper, which I sprinkled lightly over this layer. I really like this addition of a little savory to the mix, especially with the hint of lavender....yum!!

Next add the second half of the cake mix on top and bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

I know it's the most difficult part of the process, but, DO NOT CUT UNTIL 24 HOURS LATER!!

More baby quilts

2011-07-24T16:20:00.001-05:00

More work on my numbers quilt. It's going pretty quickly. Should have it finished tomorrow. Then quilt it next week to mail to mom to have on hand for any of her visiting little grand or great grand babies.

Swim, Bike, Run Training continues for my mini triathlon on September 10th, 2011

2011-07-23T12:30:00.001-05:00

I biked at the YMCA for 77 minutes which is 20.5 miles on a random hill course.

Then, I ran for 10 minutes on a treadmill for 1 mile.

It's a punishment, of sorts, maybe, but I have a goal. Hopefully I don't get knocked off track (no pun intended) and I can attend the triathlon at the Wendell Moore Park in Buckner, Kentucky on September 10th, 2011.

I first got interested in triathlons after watching Sonjay Gupta compete in the NYC triathlon. It is actually running in 2 weeks. It sold out in less than 6 minutes. My race only allows 200 participants. The NYC race, which is about twice as difficult as mine, allows 3,000! What an accomplishment that would be! Hmmmm, who knows. I like working out and I need to lose weight, so it could be another goal for me for next year. There is no way I would be ready for that race in a couple of weeks. But, I will be watching. Maybe if I can continue the workouts I am doing, 6 days a week, swim, bike run, then who knows....smile.

I wouldn't pooh pooh the one I am entering, the bike ride has lots of big hills and the run is a combination of cross country and hard surface-it's pretty tough too.

Working on a "Numbers" Quilt.

2011-07-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

It seems like a brilliant idea. Fabric is printed with the ending quilt in mind. I suppose those lucky enough to have an embroidery machine can do that. Or you could print on the fabric with your printer. But, this is a nice option, a kit with the coordinating number words and numbers themselves printed on the fabric. Using prairie points to lift, it becomes a seek and find of sorts.

The new Harry Potter is great!

2011-07-19T07:13:00.001-05:00

This had better win an academy award. The make up and acting by Raphe Fines, Lord Voldermort, was really good. Snape was also great.

Go see it!

USA Loses the World Cup to China in Women's Soccer

2011-07-17T17:30:00.000-05:00

They were counting the cars in the garages too soon. So said the commentators about one of the US Women's Soccer team members father. The nation would buy you a pool of cars...not so, this day.

It was a really great game. The Japanese had the finesse with ball handling skill. America scored first then Japan, then America, then Japan. It came down to the penalty kicks and Japan came out on top.

Ah well, if we had to lose to any country, let it be the one that has gone through so much in the year. But, they deserved it. Either team could have one it, it was just their day.

Lots of things to catch up o

2011-07-10T18:06:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to eat healthier. I've entered a Triathlon which races on September 10th, 2011. So I have to work out almost everyday. I have a killer training schedule, 6 days a week, swim, bike, run. I'm not in it to win. I just want to complete it so I can check it off my bucket list. Sort of like the Grand Canyon hike I did in March with Chelsea and Bob.

View from my reading "perch" in the mornings. I like my lemon water and tea and read for an hour or so.

I finished a quilt for our Christmas in July party for our Northeast Quilting Friends quilt guild which I lead and have led for 11 years. It's so popular we started a second group which meets every Friday and Tuesday. Now I have to put on the binding.

This is an old Bernina that still runs like a top! It has a giant foot pedal.

This is a travel bag. One of our members, Shirley Passino, taught our group how to make it. I had to add some piping around it to give a little more finish It's really handy and you need to get a Bohin Thread Braid. It's every color in the rainbow and then some. That way you don't need to carry a bunch of spools around with you.

Great Product for Piecing Batting

2011-07-08T11:22:00.001-05:00

I'm big on trying to use all my fabric. I have a clean trash can I keep beside my cutting table. After I cut fabric, I use it to scoot fabric into for real scrap quilts. Some people buy fabric to make scrap quilts. Not me! I use all my scraps from previous projects. It's like visiting old friends.

I also save my scrap batting. In the past I would use a needle and thread to sew my pieces of batting together. Now, I found this fusible product to iron on the seams. It works very well. It's faster than a needle and thread. My quilting machine likes it too.

It is called Heat Press/Batting Together

WARNING!!! NEVER HAVE SHOW AND TELL AT LUNCH WITH A BUNCH OF QUILTERS~

2011-06-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

Such was our fate at in Salem, Indiana. The day started off just lovely, wonderful weather, our troop of gals shrunk from 18 to 8, but, that just meant fewer to have to wait on. So it was just right. Quilter camaraderie is a good thing, however, it can lead to copious amounts of spending if you have Show an Tell at lunch. Those of you not familiar with the quilters Show and Tell at lunch, well, it's shopping first then walking to Christie's on the Square and having lunch. Hmmm, now whose bright idea was it to show what we bought, maybe me. But, oh well, we must support on LQS's in the area and we did just that, not once, but, after seeing things purchased and the hearing the reasons for buying them, it made perfect sense to return to the shop and make even more purchases.

My first round of purchases netted these lovelies. Can you ever have enough Christmas fabric around? What about Steam a Seam Lite 2? Just in case the Mackenna Ryan pattern that I've been putting off comes to call my name in the late of night, I can't be without the fusible web material to make it.

Round 2 after a great lunch at Chrisitie's on the Square and our Show and Tell, found these lovelies for me to have. What quilter should be without a license plate frame for their car. A quilter puzzle and scissors for gifts are always handy. Then a bit more fabric and I was done!

That wasn't too bad now was it?

Find a thread your machine likes...

2011-06-26T09:59:00.001-05:00

My machines like the European brands of threads, Aurifil, Metrosene, Mettler seem to work best in my Pfaffs. Coats and Clark only works for a short time, before my tension becomes messed up. It has something to do with the way the thread is made. If you are having problems try one of these brands. Cheap and on sale is not always the best option for quilting/sewing.

Do your self a favor and wind 5 to 10 bobbins at a time. I like to have gray colored thread in my bobbin. It is a good blender and goes with about everything. Unless you are doing an embroidery project, then I recommend using matching threads, as sometimes the bobbin pulls to the top. Then you have a tension issue, which is a whole other discussion. I like this variegated gray from Aurifil. The spools of this thread brand seem to cost more, but, in fact there is around 1500 yards on one spool, which really makes it more economical than your average thread spool.

I recommend getting a thread box of some sort to avoid the madness that is a drawer of bobbins.

Succombing to Facebook?

2011-06-24T21:00:00.004-05:00

Is that the way the world is, 2 seconds to read a sound bite on someone's "status"? Like? Hate? One word synopsizes of the way we feel.

I guess in a nut shell you can sum up the difference of the blog and Facebook. The blog is more of an investment in time to read and also the writing. Facebook is a quick update, a status update. I think they are both worthy on their own merits. I like being able to stand on my soap box in a blog, or be able to teach a quilting tip or technique. There have been other personal things I've gone through that I've been able to share on my blog, and hopefully help some people along the way. But, maybe the blog value is more for an opportunity to purge our thoughts and feelings, way more than a thumbs up or down.

Ah well, it's nice to have this opportunity to write out our thoughts. I see it as some day, when I'm in the nursing home, I can look back and see how I had lived my life at this time over these years. Maybe my grand kids will get a kick out of it. At least they will be able to see my quilts, I hope. The value of the "cloud" may be too much to pay for some day. Maybe then I'll print out some of my better blog pictures or waxing poetic tirades.

Like making a quilt, the writing of a blog is all about the process. Facebook is running out to buy a quilt on sale at a retail shop. You miss out on the pleasure of creating and making things with your hands.

I Want To Always Be this ENTHUSIASTIC!!

2011-06-06T19:17:00.001-05:00

New extension for my Hinterburg quilting frame

2011-06-05T11:53:00.000-05:00

My Horizon sewing machine gave me an extra 3 inches to quilt on my frame. But, my frame was not as wide as my machine. while I could make it work, I decided to take the plunge and get the extension for my frame. This gives me my extra length. But, you it makes me wonder about getting a longer arm. Ah well, I'll live with this one. It works fine for me. I'm not in the machine quilting business so I'm not in a big hurry. But, my quilts are like my children and I've yet to hire them out for the final process, the machine quilting.

What else do we do on Memorial Day?

2011-05-30T14:47:00.000-05:00

Eat Black Diamond Watermelon!

It has seeds but, in my opinion those seem to taste better than the seedless watermelons.

So What do you do on a hot Memorial Day Weekend?

2011-05-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

You paint and clean out closets of course.

Here is my DH hard at work. We had to remove and rebuild broken shelves and then paint the walls. Next is the sorting of Jeni's stuff. The Horror the Horror!! That will ensue once we begin to cull through the "collections" of lifetime stuff that we/she doesn't need anymore. Can you hear the shrieks?

Lights Out! and Finding Our Rhythm for the French Braid Quilt

2011-05-26T14:54:00.001-05:00

Retreat time has become one of the favorite outings our group likes to do. The idea of an extended "play time" with friends and fabric is just too good to be missed out on. Well, at least that was to be the idea, except for the fact that the storms that are passing around our area hit our favorite place to retreat, Pieceful Haven, in La Grange, KY. There was only a 2 day power outage, but for quilters that's pure disaster. No electric, no irons, no sewing machines and only the light of day to work with for a few hours, until there was no joy on Tuesday. I was packing up my car and walking out, when there was a huge hoop and holler from inside the house and yes, you guessed the lights were on.

Well, most everyone had gone for the day. Our generous host, Cheryl Kuprion, offered us another 2 days in June, but, we could stay and sew on Wednesday, as long as we wanted.

So here are some pictures of our abbreviated retreat, soon to be attended again in June.

The Supper Quilt and French Braid Quilt fabric selections

2011-05-13T17:05:00.001-05:00

We are getting ready for a retreat. Mary, one of our many talented teachers in our group, will be teaching the French Braid Quilt pattern. These are my selections for the quilt. I'm going with my Japanese fabrics.

These below are my friend Sheelah's fabrics.

This is the Supper Quilt made by a man. There are 55,000 1/2 inch squares. The back fabric is hand dyed. The front fabrics are hand dyed also. It is a beautiful quilt on display at the Mt. Washington Spring Festival. There is a quilt show next door with 2, 200 year old quilts that are amazingly well preserved.

Casserole Carrier, Mother's Day Flowers and Beautiful Kentucky

2011-05-12T08:03:00.000-05:00

Spring time in Kentucky is really beautiful. This is the view in my backyard. I will miss this place. The yard is over an acre and it's getting to be less than inspiring to work in. It's almost time to scale down and move to a smaller yard.

Our Mother's Day sermon ended with something about retiring to a place that had a study, a sewing room and a guest room in the scaled down version of the retirement home. I think that sounds about right. It's just blasted hard to get motivated to move though-so much work!

We have a family recipe for turtle brownies. You make it in a 9 X 13 pan. I made this casserole cover for her. She likes to make the turtles and bring them to parties. I made this with insulated batting so whatever she chooses to bring to a party, it will stay hot or cold.

My daughter lives in Albuquerque where they celebrate the Day of the Dead. It's sort of like our Memorial Day where they visit graves and remember people that have passed.

There's Almost Nothing You Can't Fix in Quilting!

2011-05-11T09:39:00.003-05:00

I always like to tell people, in quilting, there is almost nothing you can't fix. This is a quilt I have decided to give to my friend's daughter who is getting married. This is a quilt I started in the 1990's. I had the horses cut and adhered to freezer paper. I had used a glue stick to make the edges turn under more crisply.

With the popularity of Steam a Seam, you don't hear of freezer paper applique much these days. Or, maybe it's a regional thing and in your area there are a lot of quilters choosing that technique for their applique projects. Compared to Steam a Seam paper backed fusible applique, it gives a softer look to the applique.

When I removed the glue stuck freezer paper from behind the batik applique pieces on the purple horse on the right (looking at the quilt)I tore part of the horse. Over the tear you will see a butterfly. The butterfly is fused on with Steam a Seam. Steam a Seam has a definite advantage here. Batik material is very tightly woven and therefore it tears easily. Fusing the butterfly as opposed to appliqueing on top helps to bind the fibers so they will have less chance of tearing in the future.

There you have it, nothing you can't fix. This is the quilt I had intended to give to Mom's Closet for a fund raiser but just couldn't get it done.

The Winning Purse Luncheon was sooo much fun!

2011-05-06T08:26:00.003-05:00

The luncheon was lovely. Just like a quilt show, the colors were bountiful in the room. There were more hats here than anywhere I've seen. The horses were well seen at both the paddock and the finish line of the track from our fifth floor Trophy Room veranda. Yes, it's Kentucky and the south so it is a veranda.

The "veranda" made it much more enjoyable to bet the ponies. I did pretty well and won 3 out of 7 exactas-which basically means I broke a little better than even money for the day. FUN!

The Mom's Closet had so many donations that there were some pretty good bargains to be had. Someone told me that one of my horse quilts last bid was 280.00 at the silent auction, but the auction was still going. I had 3 people want me to take orders for the quilt, but, I am not in the business of quilt making, so I'm telling people the only chance you will get to buy one of these quilts will be at the Winning Purse Luncheon, next year. The Dakota quilt was in a 20.00 a ticket raffle, along with 5 other items. I was across the room, so I didn't get to see in what order is was chosen. I understand from the girls collecting the money at the check out desk that both quilts went to people that were very excited to get them.

I got a Coach bag, regularly 450 bucks for 220! I'm not really a Coach bag kind of person, but, you get caught up in the bidding atmosphere. In my quilting club, Northeast Quilting Friends, I'm kind of known for a certain green color that I like and use a lot in my quilts. Don't you know, there was a purse made of that color that went for a lot less than my Coach bag, but, silent auctions are what they are and they end at a certain time and unless your name is the last one on the line, you don't get it.

There were all kinds of silent auction items you could win, jewelry, purses, and gift baskets. The big money went in the live auction. Pat Day gave 2 guided tours of the back side of the track to people that went back and forth with the bidding and it settled well over one thousand dollars. Pat said he would do two tours for that money if they agreed and they did.

The food was excellent this year, a luncheon and hotdogs and sausages toward the end of the day. YUM!!

Mark your calendars now for the Wednesday before the Derby and buy a ticket to the Winning Purse Luncheon. They've already sold 8 tables for next year, and the Trophy Room isn't that big, so don't dilly dally about this event. Call the Mom's Closet for more information.

I got a hat and I'm ready to attend the Winning Purse Luncheon

2011-05-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

Yes, I got a hat. I think I was inspired by the Royal Wedding. America has it's own big hat day, that's the Derby at Churchill Downs. The first Saturday in May is our version of the Royal Wedding, I suppose. Women don their best dresses and hats for the day.

I'm going on the Wednesday before the Derby. The Derby is just too much chaos. You can't even see the horses, there are so many people there. I will be in the Trophy Room on the Wednesday before. We will be helping to raise money for the Mom's Closet. It's a charity that gives women a hand up, not a hand out. In other words, you must be making movement forward in your life, attending school and working. So these women need help with their children and finances. Each woman that in the program needs about 2,000.00 a year to help them through the year. This includes financial aid for school. This sometimes excludes them from the Food Stamp Program from the government so there is a pantry of donated items on hand for weekly help with groceries.

Quilters through Quilters' Day Out, this year, gave about a ton of groceries to them. My part in that was to bring them into our program and give them some publicity for the good work they do.

Now I'm donating, at least 2 quilts to the silent auction and raffle ticket sales. I'm hoping to finish a third quilt, but, things keep coming up and I can't seem to get motivated to complete the third.

When your daughter has had cancer, things just change. And I know it's up to her to make the moves, and I can't do it for her. All I can do is pray and wish she was the Queen of Spain and every move she makes is done for her. Nope, that is not her life, she chooses to live it in her room and not come out and not eat and life is not good right now. Yes, she was dealt a crappy hand, but, life does go on and she's got to live it. We are not her handmaidens. She needs to reinvent herself and become the Queen of Spain. Or just suck it up and get on with it.

A little bit of quilting and some binding is all I need to do.

2011-04-26T07:44:00.003-05:00

Race the Wind

2011-04-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

Mom's Closet is such a worthwhile charity. It's slogan is "a hand up not a hand out". I like that thought. It gives help to single women with kids that are working and going to school and trying to improve their lives. These last two quilts I've made will be donated to them to hopefully make some money at an event that is being held right before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Dakota is Done-Race the Wind is Next

2011-04-21T08:44:00.000-05:00

You've just got to love this no sew technique of fusing and cutting and ironing pieces together. Whether you choose to go around each piece with a satin or zig zag stitch it's up to you.

Me, I like to think the things I make will be around for a hundred years, maybe that's dreaming, but, there are quilts that have survived that or near that, this is one of my favorite ones. It's an anonymous quilt. PUT A LABEL ON YOUR QUILT!! Then it will be able to tell even more of a story for history.

Off my soap box.

My next horse is going to have a combination of fabrics on it. They are Japanese and Australian fabrics, with a little Kaffe Fasset for good brightness.

Now, some of the Kaffe fabrics I've chosen are mostly black. But, you have to have the darkness for the brights to pop. There are some bright Kaffe fabrics, it's in the mane of this horse.

I'm a bit on the fence about the lion like dragon in the middle of the horse, but, this horse is the back horse in a pair of two. It might stay or be removed once I add the second horse, which is visually dominant.

More Dakota

2011-04-17T20:20:00.000-05:00

Adjustments to Dakota

2011-04-17T09:06:00.001-05:00

Dakota continued

2011-04-15T20:01:00.001-05:00

Dakota continued

2011-04-15T14:09:00.000-05:00

Another Horse Quilt-Dakota for Mom's Closet

2011-04-14T19:49:00.000-05:00

Cincinnati Quilt Show-Preview Night

2011-04-09T12:15:00.001-05:00

Those of us that go to quilt shows know a little about crowding in to see a quilt. Shows usually go over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, there is a little known day called Preview Night, where you can go and avoid some of those crowds. You are limited to 4 hours, which, for me is plenty of time to spend at one time at a quilt show.

Our quilt group, Northeast Quilting Friends, started out going with 6 people and room for others. I guess I got a little nervous about all the people that were going to the Cincinnati show and decided our group needed to go to the show on Preview Night. The change caused a drop from 6 to 4 people. I've been to a few Preview Nights, and I'd say on the whole, there were a lot more people at this Preview Night than others I'd gone to. But, I have no doubt, the emptiness you see in my pictures will be completely filled with people on the regular advertised days of the show.

First we stopped off at Pompillios in Newport, Kentucky which is less than 10 minutes away from the Duke Convention center in downtown Cincinnati. The quilt show started at 5:00 so we got to the restaurant at 3:00 thinking it would take some time to be served, etc. We ordered and food came pretty quickly. It was very good, I highly recommend it. We got the sampler platter and 2 could split it. Then you want the tiramisu for dessert, some of the best I've ever tried.

Off to the Preview Night we went. We parked at the 5th street parking garage with a covered walk bridge from our parking garage. You want to park on the 3rd level (green) to be able to walk right on to the bridge.

The next bit of information for future reference, get the program and plan your day at the Preview Night. Since there is only 4 hours you might want to be able to plan to see certain quilts. The program is laid out very well and of course you have the list of all the vendors to see as well.

An ironing board cover and a horse quilt

2011-04-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

My regular quilt group, Northeast Quilting Friends, has expanded. We have 25 on our roster and from week to week, 15 or so show up. In our room we currently meet in, this is getting to be a problem, so we've started a second group which meets on Friday in the Lower Level, from 10 to 1:00.

Well, today, there is a wedding reception being set up in the LL and so I set our quilt group up in the room right next door to our regular room. I had the room to myself, the whole time. Come to find out, when I returned all the "gear" to the quilting room, that was being used by another group, there were people looking for quilting!

Oh well, it meant I was very, very productive today. I really get so much more done without all the distractions of home.

I made an ironing board cover, mine old one had holes in it. If you need to recover anything, just take it apart and use that as the pattern.

Then I started a new horse quilt. Mom's Closet has an annual fund raiser, the Wednesday before the Kentucky Derby and I'm making a quilt for them to sell raffle tickets for. This is another one I'll be donating for the fundraiser. Maybe it's a silent auction item.

So off we go back up the canyon-More Bright Angel Trail

2011-03-31T20:59:00.001-05:00

We Spent One Night at the Phantom Ranch then Hiked the Bright Angel Trail

2011-03-28T19:20:00.000-05:00

Onward! That's all you can do. Once you've made it to the bottom, you have to go back up. I had considered riding a mule up, but, they told us that is not possible. Teddy Roosevelt made the park and his intention was to preserve it's natural beauty. Nothing goes down to the bottom except hikers and mules. Unless it's a real emergency and they helicopter out 300 people a year.

There are so many things that could be done to get more people in and out of the bottom of the canyon, like having a tram to the Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail. The BA Trail is listed as one of the 10 most dangerous trails in America. I guess people start the hike at the top where it is cooler and down at the bottom there can be a 20 degree difference in temperatures.

We made it! We are now in the exclusive club of hikers that go to the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon. Whew!! Less that 1 percent of the people that travel to the rim make the hike. The S. Kaibab is grand vistas and a lot of red earth. The Bright Angel is a lot more intimate views, small waterfalls and trees.

Continuing Down the South Kaibab Trail of the Grand Canyon

2011-03-27T19:31:00.001-05:00

Feeling pretty sore by the time we get to the suspension bridge at the bottom. Some nice man feels for me and loans me his walking stick which really saves me.

The nicest people on the trail are at the bottom. Everyone is a little concerned about each other's welfare and stories are told of near helicopter rides out, but, by golly we hung in there!!

This squirrel tried to sneak up and steal Chelsea's lunch!

The Hike Begins Down the South Kaibab Trail

2011-03-26T20:09:00.003-05:00

First, we check the weather, that's the main thing, the weather-cold? Windy? Wet?

Oh my, oh my, what have we done. Nothing less than taking on the biggest physical challenge of my life. In my younger days, this would have a been, close to a piece of cake, but, a 52 year old that has only been riding her bike and swimming for a few months, had know idea of the difficulties of GOING DOWN HILL!!

My legs were in a little bit of shape for going up the hill not down the hill. I was biking every other day for a few months. But, when you ride a bike, you coast down hill. Putting on my brakes constantly, really wore my legs out. Imagine crouching for 7 miles while gravity pushed you down like a massage therapist, pushing on your whole body all the time. Also, if you choose to do this hike, get shock absorbing sticks, I think the "older pros" we saw on the trail all seemed to have those. Although there was a couple in their late 60's that put most everyone to shame with their climbing abilities-no poles/sticks just suck it up and get there attitude.

If you are planning on going on this hike, be sure to ask a personal trainer or someone that knows muscle groups, how to get in shape for 7 miles (we did the South Kiabab Tral) practically straight down. The switch backs were there, but, they were not gradual at all. Then at the end of the 7 miles, you have to hike another 3 to get to the Phantom Ranch, where you definitely want to spend at least 2 nights. We only spent one night and I can really see the value in letting your muscles rest a while.

Get a camel water bottle too! It fits in your back pack.

The Grand Canyon part 3-Our Room and a View from the Top

2011-03-25T17:31:00.000-05:00

Driving into the Grand Canyon will cost you $25.00. Our daughter, being the naturalist/hiker that she is purchased a year long pass which we used to get in.

The Bright Angel Lodge is where we stayed before our decent. It was filled with rustic comfort.

Our room was comfortable and the walls were paper thin. Unlucky for us we had the party room right next door. They were so loud the "office" had to come and tell them to pipe down. Thank goodness, we needed as much sleep as possible for tomorrows adventure.

This is our view out our room window. We were pretty close to the edge of the canyon.

Chelsea needed a hat. She chose another one, but, our little environmentalist couldn't help but clown around a bit.

The weather was extreme. It's cold at the top and warm at the bottom.

More tomorrow. These are pictures looking from the top down. Trail pictures tomorrow.

Grand Canyon 2011 part 2

2011-03-24T15:24:00.000-05:00

Saw the dog.

Played Easter Bunny.

Drove to the canyon.

Grand Canyon 2011

2011-03-23T20:07:00.000-05:00

Saw the Quilt.

Flew over the Arch.

Met our Chelsea.

Saw where she worked and teaches classes at UNM.

Ate the food.

Headed to the big hole.

More tomorrow.

Here's where we will be pretty soon!

2011-03-15T18:47:00.001-05:00

Getting Ready for the Quilters' Day Out, Louisville, Kentucky

2011-03-10T20:51:00.000-05:00

Yes it's another year of fun for quilters in the Kentuckiana area.

This year's Quilters' Day Out has a baby quilt challenge with double the prize money we had last year. I'm entering "Nora's Owls". It is due tomorrow and I'm doing my usual last minute quilting exercise for a deadline and am squaring it off.

I always, always, always, put a label on a quilt. There is nothing sadder to me than finding a quilt at a flea market and no one knows it's story. Almost all quilts have a story, unless they are made in China, and even then who knows the trouble they've seen.

My label says the usual stuff, my name and date and city. I ended it with a phrase, "Smart girls have more fun and Nora you are one smart girl!!

Liverpool Beats the Red Devils!! 3-1

2011-03-06T13:00:00.002-05:00

Who would have thought this outcome? The Liverpool team seemed in control for the whole game. Holding the Red Devils down all the way. The Anfield crowd let their voice be heard with some of the most rousing rounds of song to heard on TV at a soccer game in quite a while. You've got to love a team with a show tune for the team song!

The energizer bunny of a man, Dirk Kuyt was the only goal scorer (3) for Liverpool. What a striker. Suarez proved his worth with his valuable foot work, which got the ball to Kuyt a couple of times.

This is not the team of the Pre Christmas slump. I wondered if they all knew that Torres was on the way out and were wondering about their fate.

Ah well, what a turn around the Reds are on fire! Great game!!!

Embellishing is Like Icing a Cake-It's Hard to Overdue Icing!

2011-02-21T15:02:00.001-05:00

Well, maybe you can overdue it a little.

Our group shirt comes complete with a name tag in the front and a label on the back. On my last post you saw the front. Here is the back. Complete with hologram beads and antique hanky-how I like those juxtapositions!!

I cut a bit of the blue batik to give the beads a little more emphasis and for stability.

A New Retro Designed Shirt

2011-02-17T19:07:00.000-05:00

This is the front of our new group shirt. It was a really large man's work shirt I bought at Dollar General for 10.00. After cutting the sleeves down and shortening the length we have a new design.

This is not our first denim shirt we have made for our quilt group. Traditionally the pocket has served as the name tags and I chose to paint mine and then add a vintage hankie for a little bit of vintage retro flair.

It's a quilter thing. I plan to wear it on trips with our group and to Quilters' Day Out.

Happy Lincoln's Birthday Everyone!

2011-02-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for him? The civil war? Separation of states?

We will be having a log cabin block design as our Christmas July quilt Show and Tell. At our Christmas party in December we have a block or fabric exchange, then we let the members do something with it and exchange it in July.

Denim shirt redo

2011-02-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

I've removed and shortened sleeves added an interesting interfacing and cut the lower edge, maybe a little too short. But, in the fabric world, there is almost nothing you can't fix. So I'll have to get back to you after I've finished the whip stitching around my batik interfacing. I'll cut the button holes and add some fray check around the button holes on the batik side. Batik fabric is tightly woven and is suited for that kind of treatment.

Alterations are a fun thing to do. Probably if you want to make money sewing, alterations might be a good way to do that. Everyone falls in love with a dress or whatever and they want it to fit perfectly.

This shirt is very forgiving. Denim is pretty forgiving and can be eased in easily. I just love that phrase, "easing in". It's a metaphor for life, I suppose...smile.

Altering a shirt you get to use the sleeve table on your machine.

I also made a little progress on the owl quilt.

Altering a Denim Shirt for Our Northeast Quilting Friends Quilt Guild

2011-02-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

My quilt life seems to always have revolved around friends. I have been sewing since I was 8 years old and embroidering before that. Having moved to Houston, Texas, in1985, I met a young mom, like me named Meagan. Like the proverbial horse led to the trough, she brought me to her house for our kids to play and to see her quilts. She was from Wisconsin, originally and maybe it's the cold days and craving warmth that makes a lot of prolific quilters there, but, she was a quilter at a young age. She told me stories of being under the quilt to be quilted tightly stretched across a frame and many women sitting around it. The little kids were underneath, and when the needle came through, they pulled it down and pushed it back up through the layers for an awaiting family member to pull up and push back down. I wonder what the stitches looked like.

Anyway, the point is, most times it really does take someone to "introduce" someone to quilting. Whether it's mother to daughter, friend to friend, I've found that situation to be pretty common.

Moving to Louisville, Kentucky in 1996, I tried out a couple of guilds and decided they weren't for me. Meagan and I had started a guild in Houston, called the Killer Bee, it's still going strong. So in June of 2000, I went to our Women's Ministry leader at our church and asked if we could have a quilt guild there. She said yes, and the Northeast Quilting Friends began. It was called Quilting Friends at first, but, turned out 3 guilds liked that same name, so we changed it.

This year we are making a new shirt. You know most people design T-shirts and let someone else make it, but, we like a challenge so...

This is our old shirt that I jazzed up with a bit of batik trim. The pocket became the name tag. On the back is a detachable mini quilt for our guild name and logo.

Now we are going to be making a new shirt. I found this denim work shirt at the Dollar General. First I removed the pocket to design a new name tag. Next I cut off the bottom edge because it was way too long. Then I removed the sleeves and will probably cut them to 3/4 length as I like that length.

Once I get the basic shirt the way I like it, I'll work out the design for the back mini quilt which can be buttoned on.

Revenge is Sweet! Liverpool 1-Chelsea 0

2011-02-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

Sayeth the Liverpudlians!!!

Yes, the dreaded move by the sainted Spaniard turned out to be a dud for the 50 million plus for the sale.

The King has conquered and the Reds are on their way to be on top once again.

I'm a bit sad for my favorite player in the world, or was my favorite, the ultimate insult was to be the first player removed from the game. Ouch!!

Now, I think after this game my new favorite is LUCAS!! What a dynamic player on the pitch. Gerrard spent his time looking a bit swollen in the face, to me and doing his usual huffing and puffing and not affecting much.

But, they grow the footballers well in Brazil, where LUCAS is from. Not all that big in stature, but, it's his timing and tenacity that means so much more.

Besides LUCAS from Brazil, it was MEIRLES from Portugal, who scored the only goal.

Good old Dirk Kuyt was everywhere fighting and fussing and causing problems for Chelsea.

I spent 90 plus minutes yelling and screaming and jumping up and down. I'm worn out, but, it was sooooo worth it!!!

Great Games (they have won the last several-with clean sheets on all for Reine, another sainted Spaniard) Guys!

The King Kenny is on the throne and back in his place to bring the trophies home.

Friendship Braid Quilt Top Done, Owl Quilt in Progress

2011-02-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

The Blah, Blah Blahs of Winter

2011-02-01T17:11:00.000-05:00

Are only good for one thing, quilting of course. So it's on to the next UFO, my owl quilt for the lovely little raven, Nora. I call her a raven because she has black hair and seems very smart for her all of 2 years old. From what I recall about ravens, other than the poem, although I guess it did "quote", they are quite intelligent and crafty about getting food and attention.

So off we go into the wild gray yonder and turn up the music and put the sewing machine pedal to the medal and get something finished!

WooHoo!

Sad, Sad, Sad

2011-01-31T15:10:00.001-05:00

Sad Soccer News...

2011-01-31T15:07:00.002-05:00

Fernando Torres is going to Chelsea. For all of the three of us in America that like to watch soccer, and like Liverpool, this is a blow!

Liverpool Soccer Club has fallen on hard times. The thing to do is get rid of Gerrard and Carragher, not Torres. I guess he's unhappy, and that's that. Will Liverpool ever recover? It will be tough. People in Europe live and die for their teams, even if players come and go. I can't imagine Torres and Terry playing together, the low blows and dislike was very apparent. But, like Liverpool, Chelsea is losing it's momentum and probably wants to salvage something before it's too late, like it was for Liverpool.

Friendship Braid Scrap Quilt Top Done

2011-01-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

Two babies, one quilt done for the new Taya in the family. How lucky families are that have children related to quilters.

Super easy scrap quilt, this is a nice "TV Time" quilt. You can do it while you watch TV. Now I have to wait for it to tell me how to quilt it. It's true, to me at least, lay the quilt out, and pretty soon you'll know what to do to quilt it. I think I'll put a flannel back on it and use my King's Department store's special blend of batting. It's a little loft, but, not too much. Next to using wool batting, it's my favorite.

Making scrap quilts is like seeing old friends again.

2011-01-27T21:12:00.000-05:00

I have a clean trash can right beside my cutting table. All slices of quilts that aren't good for much are slid off into the scrap trash can.

Now my scrap trash can runneth over and I'm making a friendship braid quilt out of the scraps.

This is a caveman quilt, you know the kind that uses one 5 inch by 2 inch piece of material cut at an angle. I've chosen light and dark and am weaving my braid while watching American Idol and a variety of Netflex movies.

Almost every piece of material I can account for in a quilt, maybe a scrappy tote, or bag.

Quilters are great recyclers. And, while I'm concentrating on stash busting this year, it's always nice to use what you have in whatever form it is in.

Don't Show Your Works in Progress To Your Kids!

2011-01-24T10:52:00.001-05:00

Quilter family members may or may not know how blessed they are. I bet it's far and few between amongst their friends that have beautiful quilts to adorn their beds. I imagine they are even a little envious of our kids and family members that are recipients of the quilt legacy we leave.

Those of you that have experienced ichatting, know that you can talk to your kids in New Mexico or wherever and they see all of you and what is behind you. I must be careful not to have a quilt on the wall that I have intended for my daughter that I ichat with, in New Mexico. I am careful to do just that, but, it does not mean that if she's my work in progress wall while ichatting, she will make a request.

Right now I'm working on 3 quilts. Two of them are baby quilts, one is a scrap friendship braid quilt, the other is an owl quilt. Don't you know she wants the owl quilt. I told her she'll have to wait, because I'm so far behind getting this baby quilt out to Nora. She's 2 now and so it's time. Plus, my focus is finishing my projects I've started and I've been working on this for 2 years, so it's in the cue.

The Snow Days pattern is also on the wall. It's for me. My mom bought a pattern for me for my birthday. It was the same pattern, so she's keeping it and making it herself. Like mother like daughter. I hope that's a good thing. I hope my girls are like me in all the ways that are good and they take all the good things from their dad as well. Life is pretty hard sometimes. We get thrown a lot, so why shouldn't I pray they get only the best our genes have to offer.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

2011-01-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

Quilters aren't all old. We sometimes feel that way, though like all walks of life, the comes and goes and stitches that mend us, tends to wear on us. But, life is pretty good for old quilters. I'm lucky I didn't have to wait to retire before I learned to make quilts. I was fortunate to live in Houston, Texas for 11 years. Those in the quilt world probably all know about the Mecca that is the Houston Quilt Festival. Make the trip if you haven't already.

The woman in charge of that event is unveiling a similar show in Cincinnati this March. Yeah! I hope all things fall into place and I get to go. My mom and maybe my sister will attend with me, besides my lovely quilt group.

If you live in the Louisville area and would like to learn about quilting and quilt guilds, go to Quilters' Day Out on March 12th. You can google it.

Better get back to my UFO's WISPS, or whatever term you choose to associate with the humble quilters urge to create, and darn if we just can't keep up!

Worked on 3 UFOs Today...Huzzah!

2011-01-21T20:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's me the lone quilter at it again. Hmmm...maybe that's a name for a blog, The Lone Quilter. I'm not actually alone, with the internet, you can be in touch with about a million of you closest friends. You know the ones that have a deal for you if you just send them your name and address and bank account. Or the ones that tell you you've one a million dollars just click here. Never click-doesn't that go without saying?

Quilters are generally a group of people with some common sense, except when it comes to looking ahead to new projects and moving toward that light when they know darn well, they will be zapped. Maybe not soon, but, a quilter is gonna buy that next project, even if they have more than a few to finish.

Such is my life in quilting. And now, I'm resolved to do something about it. Julie's Little Quilt Shop is now open for me to take things from, so I won't be purchasing any new fabric. Until I've finished at least 3 projects. Then maybe I'll reward myself.

I Asked God

2011-01-21T09:13:00.001-05:00

This is a beautiful poem sent to me by my would be friend on Facebook. If she and I were on Facebook we would be friends. What I mean is, she and I grew up together in a small town in Oklahoma, called Collinsville. It seems everyone that went to school together is on Facebook and maybe some day I'll join the throngs. But, for now she is my best friend from my youth. We knew each other before we went to kindergarten and went through 12 years of school together. Marriage and moving for the paycheck has kept up physically apart, but, the internet is good for keeping in touch over the expanse of life.

I Asked God

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, "No. It is not for me to take away; but, for you to give it up."

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, "No. His spirit is whole; his body is only temporary."

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, "No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted it is earned."

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, "No. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you."

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, "No. Suffering draws you apart from world cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, "No, I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things."

I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said, "Ahhh, finally you have the idea."

The Snow, The Snow, The Beautiful Snow-What's It Good For?

2011-01-21T09:02:00.000-05:00

Why quilting of course!

Let the quilt marathon begin. I'm working on 3 quilts at the moment and will give updates throughout my snow day at home. Beside having snow on the ground it is blasted cold. With the wind chill it's sub-zero here in Crestwood, Kentucky, USA. I think I'd better put out some more bird seed to keep

The best thing about the snow when I'm at home, is the reflection from it makes it appear brighter inside, not so gray.

The worst thing is everyone is on the computer at once and a lot of my games I like to play are full. Oh well, I need to clean around her anyway, YUK!

A New Baby Quilt for My Niece's Baby-Taya

2011-01-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

I think I've pointed out my scrap fabric can that is a clean trash can. I put it beside my cutting table and drop in smallish pieces.

This is a Friendship Braid quilt that I'm making for her using my scraps.

It's a lovely no brainer kind of quilt-a little cutting a little sewing and it goes pretty quickly.

A tip for making a successful scrap quilt out of a pile of fabrics is to sort them first into dusty colors and clear colors. This is usually a better way to design a quilt, grouping like hues.

Hope Springs Eternal

2011-01-18T07:46:00.001-05:00

Lawdy, Lawdy these gray days of the Ohio Valley

2011-01-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

So what's the solution for these gray days and you can't take a trip to the Caribbean? Well, it's a Happy Light of course. Well, maybe not. It does brighten the room, however and it can't get too bright for me.

Also, this is the time of year we should all be "fluffing/fondling" our fabrics. It's really hard to remember all the fabric I have so a once over of my material is a great way to remind me, I don't need any fabric this year. It will be a stash busting year for me.

If all else fails, in the happiness department, and things are out of your control, put out a bird feeder and take pictures...smile.

Charlie bit me

2011-01-16T19:59:00.001-05:00

No, No, No...words of wisdom I need to follow

2011-01-09T14:27:00.001-05:00

This is a fat bird

2011-01-07T16:10:00.000-05:00

It's snowing here.

I don't know what kind of bird this is. And, maybe he's all feathers, but, I sometimes feel bloated like this. Then I do some exercise and I feel pretty good and remind myself, that quality of life is about wellness and how we maintain our physical and spiritual selves.

I'm feeding my physical self, right now, with the Gaiam Company's Pallates and Yoga dvd's. Both are and hour long and so far I've been exercising 3 times a week and doing other things on those days I'm not using the DVDs.

My spiritual self, I'm not so good at. I think I might join a bible study at our church for that.

Ah well, life goes on and we make quilts...smile.

This isn't NYC, it's just funny

2010-12-28T20:44:00.001-05:00

Poor New York City

2010-12-28T20:38:00.001-05:00

Frogs and the Chicks are home...smile

2010-12-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

My husband likes to buy me roses. I'm so blessed. When the roses are on the fading end of beauty, is when the frogs come out. I don't why they are called frogs, but, for minimal display of flowers, they are best.

My chicks are both home, well, sort of. You know we want them to have friends, but, we like to have them see us too. Our lovely Chelsea is just way too popular for her dad's and my liking. I guess I should be happy she's here for a week and we get to see her some. She's too old to ground and who would be in New Mexico to make sure she stays there. Maybe we could pay her lovely dog Fawn to do the dirty work.

Now all you do is fill in the blanks and you've got a baby quilt!

2010-12-22T21:23:00.001-05:00

Here is a baby quilt that needs to fill in the blanks. Quilts are generally built by blocks then by rows, then sew the rows together and your done.

Besides the Dr Seuss panel I bought the fat quarters for the collection plus enough for a border and binding.

I'll load the pictures later.

Happy Quilting!

Baby Quilts and Dr Seuss

2010-12-22T21:16:00.000-05:00

Well, you know who needs a pattern. I've got a baby nephew on the way any day and the quick way to make a quilt is to use a panel. This is a chopped up Dr Seuss panel. I've decided to make it a sort of wonky medallion quilt .

I like to use stripes in a quilt. It makes it look like you've done a lot of work sewing strips together, thus giving more visual texture.

These stripes are great for mitering as they are a little wonky to begin. I'm not a perfectionist quilter, unless I'm entering a quilt in a competition.

cut your stripes and sew them to the ends. Then on the sides. Last, fold under one of the stripes in a pleasing way that continues the stripe around the corners. Use you ironed crease as your guide.

So we all have our favorite LQS, but what is your other favorite?

2010-12-22T00:33:00.000-05:00

I'm assuming everyone knows LQS is Little Quilt Shop. You know the one where they know your name and practically bend over backwards to make you satisfied. There are 3 in our town, or I guess the Louisville area that come to my mine. First, before all the rest, there is Happy Heart Quilt Shop. I say, before the rest, because literally, she has been in business in Louisville longer than any of these other two. Yvonne is a favorite in the quilt community here and has long been a supporter of the events for quilting in the area. One thing everyone in the area should do is attend one of her twice yearly retreats. You learn so much from the other 20 to 30 quilters. Call the shop for information.

Forget Me Knot Quilt Shop, has a couple of owners that greet me with a kind smile and want to help pick fabric. They really know my style and taste, or at least they seem to. Describing color is an almost impossible thing to do, one person's blue is another's teal, you know what I mean. But, Carol and Darlene are both very helpful when I come in and describe my project I'm working on. They seem to know exactly where just the right color is. In Louisville, they are probably best at having a wide variety of color gradations and helping with your selection.

The Gathering Room is in Lagrange, Kentucky, just a short drive out of Louisville. It's well worth checking out. The main room, where the cutting table is located has some very interesting samples on the walls and they often have really good Blocks of the Month to join. If you are fan of civil war prints or like a warmer pallet, then you will feel right at home here.

Now, besides the quilt shops in the area, there are a couple of cute places to shop for unique items. The Dot Fox is a clothing and accessory as well as shoe store that carries some of the coolest things for young and old. If you don't know just what your teenager might want, this is the place to buy a gift card. The Dot Fox is for daughter and mom to shop at.

Clay and Cotton is another unique store for items for the home and apparel. This is for mom and daughter to shop at.

Tis the season, hopes this helps some locals with last minute gift ideas!

Merry Christmas!
Happy Quilting New Year!!

...So you won't be USING this quilt...hmmmm

2010-12-19T12:13:00.000-05:00

That was a line said to me by one of our newer quilters in the Northeast Quilting Friends group of which I am a part.

Quilts are "used" in so many ways. First and to me foremost as a work of art. Whether it adorns a bed or a wall. Tradition and function collide in the quilt world in that way. A quilt is to be used for warmth and snuggling is probably the traditional thinking of quilts. To me an art quilt is also functional in that it is used to warm the heart just by it's "mere" existence on the wall.

So there, quilts are great, no matter what they are used for. This one, may be for either purpose, it can hang on a wall or to snuggle. I don't think the embroidery will be any worse for the wear.

Here is what you see when you walk in my house at Christmas time. I like kitchie things...smile.

Finally feels a lot like Christmas around here...smile

2010-12-17T19:29:00.001-05:00

Wow! It's been a rough few weeks. I've been under the weather a bit after returning from family in Oklahoma at Thanksgiving. Why can't we make a national vote and spread this fabulous holidays out a few months!

Oh well, off my soap box for now. We got rid of my 7 foot tree and have scaled back to a 4 foot one. I still have the tree skirt for a big tree and I have an angel for a big tree. I think I'll keep my tree skirt but, I need a new topper. Don't you think?

We've also been snowed in here for a while and not even the snow can brighten the grey days of winter. Oh well, these are great quilting days. Hmmm...I just realized I'm working on a project that is taupe-grey, what's wrong with this picture?

Actually it's a project that includes embroidery. The embroidery work "bleeds" onto the quilt blocks. I've said it before, if you to want to renew your interest in quilting or any hobby, go back to what excited you when you first began. I began my obsession while living in Houston from 1985 to 1996. There of course is the Houston Quilt Festival where there are so many teachers available to the quilter. I took a lot of classes. As a child I was an embroiderer, so crazy quilting was what really lit my fire. So, going back to it, even on a grey quilt project during the grey winter days lifts my spirits.

The Sing Off

2010-12-16T09:09:00.001-05:00

The Reverend would be proud of the Christian singing group. They make him sound so good.

The Sing Off

2010-12-16T09:06:00.001-05:00

Here is group #2 that's giving the other group a run for the winning title.

The Sing Off

2010-12-16T08:55:00.000-05:00

The pure voice doesn't get much better than this! This program is new to me and I'm liking it.

Tammy Faye Quilting No More

2010-11-18T14:13:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, my days of eyelashes on the back of my quilt using my Horizon are gone. The thing to do is crank the tension to the maximum 9 and the top thread is not sucked to the back yeah!

Baby Monkey (Going Backwards On A Pig) - Parry Gripp

2010-11-15T14:22:00.000-05:00

Chelsea's Raffle Quilt Step 2

2010-11-12T08:45:00.001-05:00

Let me first start off and say whenever I'm making a quilt, my studio is quite a mess. It's an organized mess for me but others look at it differently. Rest assured that between quilts the room is pretty clean.

This is really a design quilt. By that I mean, that you aren't dealing with red, white and blue fabrics, let's say and making a star quilt. Instead you have a variety of fabric colors and over all pattern, i.e. solid, tone on tone or stone like, etc.

The way I start to put this quilt together is just start sewing up a bunch of those blocks separately and play with the design on the wall.

Jennifer is helping with the critique.

Chelsea's Raffle Quilt for the Geology Club

2010-11-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

Yes, quilters are either generous or we have sucker written across our forehead and don't realize it. Well, it's not really being a sucker if you love your daughter and want to help her succeed. Which is the case for me and my 2nd DD, Chelsea. She's working on her Master's Degree in Geology at New Mexico State University. While at college it's important to get involved and Chelsea is trying to help earn some funds for the group. So guess who she turns to for help in fund raising, her local quilter, me.

I chose this pattern, called Gems which is a no brainer pattern, the best for raffle quilts, most times. But, it being a geology club, I chose fabric that had a certain stone like quality. You know if you click on the pictures you can get a close up of the picture and you will see. I'm liking the floating effect of the bright squares.

In order to make a quilt like this it is vital to have a design wall. This is one I've had for a long time, it's flannel that's quilted in 2 inch squares. It's really valuable when you make a watercolor quilt, but, I use it for designing anything. Another design wall is using batting. Pin it to the wall and the fabric pieces will stick to it for easy move around design.