Patterns are only guidelines

A little too dull

Not exactly the right blue, but, a hint will be okay

It's too bad that life can't be more like quilting.  In quilting there is almost nothing you can't fix.  About the only time I saw something that couldn't be fixed was when I was teaching a fabric painting class.  Someone blended their paint so much they ended up with grey mud.  At that time, there were not the beautiful metallic paints they have on the market today.  Or maybe they were available and I just didn't know about them.  If they were out there in the early 90's my statement...almost nothing you can't fix, still held!

Anyway, I bought this pattern to make a lantern purse.  I liked it right away and I pulled some fabric I have and just thought it was missing something.  So, I'm going to add a blue piping to pop the blue fabric out more, just above the pleats.

There you go, the pattern  is close but not quite right.  However you look at your projects and analyze their needs, there is ALMOST nothing you can't fix to your liking in quilting.

Just don't give up on it and challenge yourself...the life of a quilter...smile

I made an excursion bag conversion today

Well, you know we are doing a lot of traveling of late it seems.  I feel like I need something that is betwixt and between a purse and a back pack so, low and behold I found this rather ugly Samsonite Excursion bag on sale at Office Depot.  It has all the things I need, a camera carrying big compartment and many functional zippered pockets.  Most importantly, it has this super safe, I think, closure.  I covered the exterior solid black fabric with the word Samsonite printed it white with this crazy quilt.  The crazy quilt cover was originally a bible cover that I never finished.  I like to repurpose things.  

Also, this is a better picture of the last quilt I finished for our Quilters Day Out.  

Work, work, work...smile

New York is just a memory now. We made our plans, we stayed at Pari's place in the middle of down town Manhattan. Another recommendation if you are going to NYC, splurge on a city hotel. We've also done the cheap route for a week and gotten a hotel in Pennsylvania and rode the train in every day to save some money, and if you must, you must, but, it's so nice to able to walk from place to place. We were a block from the Moma and the Folk Art Museum. While my DH was in a conference I was able to spend blissful hours in both. Here in Louisville, we have a great museum, called the Speed Museum. I don't take the time to visit it as often as I should. It's had quite a lot of wonderful visiting displays and now I am resolved to get my share of culture in the local museum more often. Back to our life in the routine of Crestwood, Kentucky, USA. Like a comfortable pair of fuzzy socks and a cozy jogging suit to wear, life in the routine is pretty nice. That's another benefit of going away, it makes you appreciate, just a little more, your life at home. I like to travel and the anticipation of it is so very exciting. It's a bit like buying a new car, the shopping is sort of fun, until you actually buy it. Like traveling, the planning is the best. The actual travel can be exhausting but, then you've created some wonderful memories and expands your thinking about the world. It helps you see the bigger picture in life. Travel is where life is at, for me at least. Having experiences is most important.

Ah well, back to work and routine. I've finished making a quilt with my mom for my daughter Chelsea. Now I'm making these really cool bags for people in her geology club. Apparently, as a geologist, you need a field book and a bag to put them in. So, I've been designing and working on several types, trying to find a design that will meet all the needs of the students that choose to try one. Here's what I've come up with so far. We tried magnetic snaps, but there may be issues with compasses. So I picked up some velcro buttons that should do nicely. Then there is an issue with attaching them to the belt so I'm trying "D" Rings, like we have on backpacks. It needs to be very sturdy and secure. If there are any other suggestion for improving this design, I'm all eyes...smile.

It's almost here....smile...

At last, I think, it's almost here. The leaves they are a falling...smile...We've been having record high heat and I just heard that we will be getting some cooler weather tonight. That's none too soon, because tomorrow, our quilt group is going on a trip to the Louisville Stoneware andHadley Pottery stores. We'll finish up with a trip to Bear's fabric store. It should be lots of fun and just in time to buy a gift for my MIL.

I had hoped to finish the Diamond in the Rough quilt but, have been in need of a purse so I made these 2 cute clutch bags that my DD #2 grabbed and I'm keeping my favorite.

Oh yes, I've been busy of late and am now a National Geographic Scuba Diver. Yeah me!! It's a great sport? hobby? I don't know, but, it's a lot of fun and great exercise. I can't wait to go to the ocean and dive at a reef.

We did our testing in Mermet Springs, Illinois, right outside of Paducah, Ky, yes, that Paducah, the quilt capital of America. But, alas, woes me, I went on Sunday to quilt shop-ain't nothing open on Sunday in the quilt world in Paducah, so I go this, everywhere we went

Also, went to another concert-Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem. We left before the main act, Arcade Fire-DD #1 had too much homework so we left a little early.