QUILTS 4 QUADS DELIVERED

My friend and creative cohort Lisa and I delivered the quilts.  We were able to catch 3 out of the 4 little ones and their mom actually awake.  That's pretty good odds, huh?  Just wanted to share their reactions with you:


I'm just drooling over this!

These are so my colors!

 

Amazed doesn't even describe how I feel.

 I have been so busy this week that I wondered where all the Halloween candy went to, then realized I ate it!  I have so much to tell you and hopefully that will happen next week.  In the meantime, have a frightfully delightful Halloween weekend.

GIVE ME A BREAK: TAKE TWO

Quite by accident I discovered yesterday that only half of the original post I worked on was actually published.  I started growling.  My dog cocked his head, raised his ears and totally agreed with my growl that there was something seriously wrong in Blogland.  My guess is that a refresh didn't refresh, but can't say anymore about it without additional growling.  Instead, I will try to reconstruct. GGRRRR.

*NOTE:  As I was getting ready to post this redo I noticed my post was not being saved.  I kept clicking SAVE NOW and it wouldn't save.   Oh, many more growls later and I was able to copy and paste and start a new post.  I bet that's what happened yesterday, huh? 

 I left off with the lovely CRAFT HOPE book/blog and Manda McGrory's contribution to the book.  Her patchwork pillow was especially appealing to me since you know of my personal fondness of contemporary patchwork.  This book is a keeper and a jumping off point for others wanting to use their creativity to help others. 


Manda McGrory's Patchwork Pillow in Craft Hope

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Have you seen Delish magazine yet?  No?  Well then, you are definitely in for a treat.  Delish is a new, free online publication for women.  The quality and quantity are top-notch.  Just sayin.  And, ah-hem, I am honored to be featured in an article in their Fall edition called Woman of the Cloth (giggle snort).  Now I will admit that I am hyper-critical of myself.  I cringe when I read what I said and how I said it in print for all eternity.  So as you read this I just ask for you to extend more grace than I extend to myself.  I want to blame it on a coffee overdose, but truth is, anyone who knows me would never fall for that that.  For goodness sake, I said I liked Anna Maria Horner's artsy fartsy side.  WHAT?  PA-LEASE.  Anyway, the talented Tamara Komuniecki / Editor-in-Chief did a such a great job and you are welcome to gently critique my ramblings starting on page 40.  Check out the whole magazine..you are going to love it.

GIVE ME A BREAK

CONFESSION: I watch Dr Oz.  Not because I'm a germaphobe or hypocondriac.  But at my age I am just a bit curious about what the heck happened to my body.  Why, in the blink of an eye did my body head south while my mind ended up in LaLa land?  I want answers people!  So while other stay-at-home business owners might listen to music while they work, my days highlights are The Ellen Show and Dr Oz.  So one day Dr Oz says that I just have to have these Crispbread thingies.  I NEVER fall for that malarchy. 

Well almost never.  I ordered, not 1 pkg. but half a case of these babies all the way from Norway.  A few days later I receive a box via UPS.  I think, "Glory to God, I can finally lose weight, become regular and look like a Norwegian hottie in no time".  Why I bet I could become the spokeswoman for this miracle wafer.  I rip open the box, tear into one of the 15 packages containing 10 crackers/wafers/crispbread/manna from heaven; whatever. 

If you have ever wondered what compressed tree bark tastes like, well have I got a deal for you.  Now, they are only 12 calories per slice.  So for the first few days I was carrying a cracker around with my morning coffee, but after a few days I noticed uneaten crackers still sitting around.  Do the math, I've got a 150 of these thingies that I couldn't pay anyone to eat.  I'm a waste not, want not kinda gal.  I bought them.  I'll eat them.  Solution: I slathered them with cream cheese and low sugar orange marmalade and couldn't stop eating those suckers.  Oh, what's that you say?  Something about calories?  Sorry, I can't hear you.....I'm in the bathroom...

Okay, I'm back now.  Along with my other issues I also can't sleep.  I've had this problem my whole life.  I've tried everything.  Well, except maybe regular exercise, but whatever.  So now I just don't let it bother me much.  One night recently I decided to catch up on some blog reading.  I landed on TreeFall Design.  One of my favorite reads by a lovely redheaded Brit, Manda McGrory, who uses words like whilst and mum and makes handmade goodness with a focus on repurposing.  I came across her CRAFT HOPE book giveaway (scroll down to August 24 to see Manda's great review, and she contributed a project for the book).  The next morning I was still thinking about that book.  I don't normally enter blog contests and giveaways, since I didn't think I should.  But I did.  And I won.  Don't hate me. 

So after devouring too many crispbreads, I took a break on my back porch to enjoy this treat.  Jade Sims has gathered some wonderful designers and 32 projects that can be made and donated to specific charities.  Such inspiration.  I was drawn to this book because we belong to an awesome church that is actively involved in loving and empowering the marginalized, both locally and globally.  Crafting for a cause is especially interesting to me. 

QUILTS 4 QUADS COMPLETE

I must say that your comments about my mini quilts have been so heartwarming.  I love that you loved them and that you took the time to tell me so.  Between the comments here, on Twitter and the emails I'm pretty sure I have inspired a few of you.  Just talking about this makes me want to drop what I'm doing and run to the studio.  I already have my next idea and my stacks of scraps are poised and waiting. 

I wanted to take better photos of those Quilts4Quads before we sent them off to their rightful owners.  We had a beautiful weekend here..a perfect Fall day to take some pictures outdoors.  It was a bit difficult to not have the sun dapple onto the quilts, but a little dance here, a little rearranging there and here ya go. 



Closup



Almost 2 years ago I started making several of these squares out of my Flights of Fancy.  I blogged about them here and here and accumulated quite a few.  While it was a fun exercise, they just ended up in the Uncertain Future pile waiting for their assignment.  When the Quilts4Quads idea popped in my head, so did all those squares.  So I made piles of scraps; only one pile lacked pinks for the lone boy in the bunch.  Those squares suddenly had a bright future. 



Carole took the aquas and greens and created her first patchwork quilt.



Lisa whipped up hers using some oranges, pinks and aquas. Sweet.





I put together the last two in pinks/greens and pinks/aquas

We got the help of a couple other talented women that quilted and bound all four in record time.  Lois and Linda, you are angels!

I'm so pleased with the results.  For a bunch of busy ladies with hectic schedules I frankly think it's a miracle that we could pull this off.  Completed projects are so rewarding, aren't they?

WASTE NOT PUZZLE ART QUILTS

 I've debated on whether to share these with you quite yet, as I realize I show you way too many not-quite-finished-yet projects.  However, I'm just a little too happy to keep these to myself.  I had piles of scraps and I am the Queen of Waste Not Want Not.  I save way too much.  Confession: It's only been in the last few years that I quit washing and reusing aluminum foil.  I won't go into much more for fear of a possible intervention.  Anyway, back to the scraps.  I love them and finally stopped my spinning universe to prove to myself (and those who think I'm too thrifty) that scraps do have a valuable place in our lives.  I challenged myself to use only my own fabrics.  In digging through my 3 scrap bins I actually found some tiny strike-off rejects.  They were always too small to use...until now.  This was just like putting puzzles together.  They are only 12x12.  At first I was thinking of adding some embroidery and stretching them on stretcher bars.  Then I thought of turning them into mini art quilts.  Not sure yet.  What do you think?  Here's a closer look.

Adding the nixed strike-offs was personally rewarding for me.  Can you guess which ones were nixed?  Hopefully, I have inspired someone to dig into your waste basket or scrap bin and piece your own puzzle art quilt this weekend. 

WORTH MILLIONS

I apologize for being missing in action lately.  I think I have a good excuse.

My husband travels extensively with his job, and in addition to his regular travels he is filling an interim position in the San Diego area until they find someone permanantly.  Oh, and they asked him if he would be willing to interview for this position?  That's like HUGE.  We thought we'd be here a very long time.  Proof?  We painted the entry hall kelly green last winter, remember?  We love it here, love being close to Jennifer, the grandkids, our friends and church.  But the fact that this might allow Tim to not have a plane strapped to his back, and honestly...we're talking San Diego, he agreed.   So I went out there with Tim to research the different areas of town and check out the real estate market.  I got on my computer every day studying, making lists and when Tim got back from work we'd hop in the car and drive around the different parts of town until way after dark.  We spent   the weekends doing the same and visited numerous open houses.  So what did I learn?  I discovered my home is worth millions!  There...not here.  The most expensive homes in the US are in California and the least expensive are in the Midwest. Oh, remember that little cottage I photographed in May and affectionately named the Keebler Cottage?  Well, it's for sale!  $2.3 mil for 1900 sf.  Yup.  Okay, it is among the most incredible homes in the 6th most expensive town in the whole US.  But that puts the whole home search in perspective, doesn't it?

 

We don't even know whether Tim will be offered the job or if he will accept the offer.  However, because I don't want to necessarily find myself living in a cardboard box I am determined to have enough info under my belt just in case.   

  

I was welcomed back home to a box of my fabric strike-offs!  Well, not all of them, sigh.  But what I do have is pretty exciting.  I so want to see it all laid out together so I've been holding out for a few days in hopes the rest will arrive.  

Another pleasant surprise is that the Quilts for Quads are complete!  And before the kiddos are actually walking, right?  No, no, just kidding.  Seriously, they should  be able to roll around and gurgle and coo on these for some time.  I spent the last day walking around here trying to figure out how to photograph each one.  So I finally gave up and here ya go for now.  The next major project, I'm hoping, is to gather us gals together to celebrate our accomplishment, those babies, get a group pic and maybe, just maybe, get a peek at those miracles in person.  
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Oh, and have you seen this child's kitchen?  Talk about custom cabinets!
Besides the fact that I love the fabric, I was fascinated that this was made from scratch.  Go over to visit Kirsten Wright at the The Crafting Chicks.  She tells you how to make one of your very own.  I'm thinking I need to hold on to these instructions in case  that cardboard box becomes a reality. 

PUSHING MY BUTTONS

Often times when I'm asked what I do I hesitate and quickly assess who the audience is before I answer.  I know I do some things well enough to declare it as what I do.  Truth is I'm also a dabbler.  In fact, I have many years of dabbling under my belt.  I pick up on some things easily, like I was wired that way.  Then there are other things I tend to shy away from.  Technical or mechanical things with lots of buttons that require manuals scare me a little so I learn just enough to get by.  Computers, cameras, iPhones are what I'm talkin bout.  For instance, I'd prefer painting a flower than take the time to create one in Illustrator. I know I have to be able to do both; I just clearly prefer my way.  Lately I've dared myself to go to the next level....to push those buttons.

So people, I signed up for a Fundamentals Photography class.  Had my first class last night.  O.M.G.  I was so lost.  I didn't even know my camera had a memory card.  Go ahead and laugh, it gets worse.  I never wear my glasses when I take pictures because they collide with the camera's eye piece.  So did you know there's a freakin Dioptic Adjuster?  Of course you did because, unlike me, you probably read manuals.  Now I can wear my glasses and actually see all those other buttons I've been avoiding for so long.  

My goal is to move beyond the dabble stage when it comes to photography.   In fact, I'd like to be above average.  I can't wait to take photos like these.

Jennifer took this of Wyatt "the Mangler".

Loree Alayne Photography

You can see more of our family photo shoot with Loree over on Jennifer's blog

  I'm headed back to San Diego for another couple weeks.  I'm going to miss week 2 and 3 of a 4 week photography class.  I bought a book and I'm going to see if I can find that camera manual.  I'll be practicing and practicing cuz Practice Makes Perfect.   I'll be posting.  Are any of you from San Diego?

WINNER OF WOODLAND DELIGHT

Sorry for not posting the winner of the 4 yards of Woodland Delight fabric, but things finally got crankin, uninterrupted, with that bathroom remodel and I didn't stop til I fell into bed.  I had another killer workout this morning and am just now back in the studio.  I'm here now, but you have to listen to me talk about the grandkids...again.

We had a wonderfully busy Labor Day weekend, filled with several trips to Lowe's Home Improvement.  We spend so much time there we actually know more than some of the employees.  We have been known to help perfect strangers.  We run into friends and neighbors and after several chats we barely have time left to install what we bought. 

The highlight of the weekend was spending some time with the grandkids.  The weather was beautiful so we had a cookout over at their house.  Papa brought his banjo and we danced and laughed and played til we wore them out (it's our job you know).  

Have I told you how much more fun it is being a grandparent?  They get so excited when they know we are coming and we can't wait for the hugs and love.  Parenting is way too stressful and worrisome.  Being a grandparent is all fun and games and then we go home.  But the ride home is filled with talking about how blessed we are.  Tim and I did not have great memories of our grandparents.  Tim's were indifferent and mine were downright mean.  Our goal is to be the grandparents we wished we had. 

Thank you all so much for your comments during this giveaway.  I plan to take some of your excellant advise.  Wow, Google Reader is hands down the preferred method for following a blog.  Why did I think we had to use Bloglines?  See, now I'm asking more questions.

                                            

Many of you are not only reading my blogs but following me on Facebook and Twitter.  How do we ever get anything done?  Because I was counting each "follow" I decided to turn it over to my math and spreadsheet guru (Tim) to find a winner.  Drum roll please.

Tiff said "I follow your blog via Google Friend Connect, Twitter, subscribe and like you on Facebook.  Why?  Cuz I loves ya!  I'm hooked on your fabric and you are such a neat woman.  Seriously, I'd give my eye teeth just to get to meet you in person".

Okay, I'm cracking up.  Eye teeth?  Hold on to those Tiff.  Frankly, I'm not always that neat.  But thanks for being hooked on my fabric.  Just email me your address.  And for the rest of you, I plan to have more giveaways so stay tuned!

4 YARD FABRIC GIVEAWAY

First off, let me just start by saying OUUCCHHHH to Esther, my new personal trainer.  Not like I'm training for anything, but she's trying her best to whip me into some sort of shape, other than the one I currently have.  Now I just need to convince her (okay, and maybe her family) to move in with me to kick my butt daily.  She gets me to do things I would never normally agree to, especially if I were telling myself to do them.

We have been gaining very slow progress on our guest bath remodel.  It's not even a full remodal; we merely tackled the sink area.  With my Mini MacGyver's constant business trips, weekends filled with commitments, family and yardwork, we average about a couple hours per week on remodel.  This past weekend we hoped for a larger time frame before he took off again.  The only available time left was between 1-4 on Sunday before Tim had to leave for Vancouver, Canada by 5.  We raced from church stuff to rent a tile cutter.  Tim's job was to run from the second floor guest bath to the tile cutter machine he set up outside on the ground level (in upper 90's temps).  Once he made the cut, he ran up the stairs to place the tile, then back down to make the next cut.  And all before he had to race off to return the tile cutter and make it to the airport on time.  Fun huh?  Here's a peek at the doors Tim made and I painted.  And the handles we whittled.  No, just kidding.

Can you believe it's officially September?  Just the name of the month seems to conjure up thoughts of cooler weather, autumn breezes and warm fall colors for many of us in the U.S.  Okay, so it's still in the mid-90's in the midwest and the humidity attacks my hair when I merely let the dog out.  There hasn't been an ounce of rain in well over a month so the leaves are falling, even though they forgot to change colors first.  I know things will "fall" into place soon and the cooler weather, autumn breezes and warm fall colors will finally be upon us. 

Today, in honor of September I pulled out some of my Woodland Delight fabrics and helped myself to some of my neighbors zinnias.  She insists it helps them multiply if I cut them and I so want to be a good neighbor. As you know, I'm not a muted colors kinda gal and these are the fall colors my eyes seem to devour. 

So here's where you come in.  Michael Miller Fabrics turned my Large Modern Flora in the Brown colorway into a tiny wale corduroy.  I have been caressing the richness of it and pondering what kinds of things you would make if you had some.  Hmmm, let me get back to that idea in just a minute.

I am not the fastest techie on the block.  Okay, I'd come in last in any given competition.  Hopefully I get a half point for exposing that weakness, right?  I can spend days googling how to add features or social bookmarking and find the tutorials are usually created from someone in a far away country and the the one response to their posts are something like, " Hey dude, it no work for me.  Bad link".  Even if I finally figure how to plant an icon on my blog, I still can't get to the bottom line of how that matters to me or you.  Question is; can you figure out how to follow me just by looking around and clicking, or do I need serious blog counseling?

How do you follow me?

Tell me HOW you follow/link to me.  Is my blog in your sidebar?  Do you link to me through Bloglines?  Do you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Technorati, Flickr or Google Friends...if you follow me in more than one way, say Bloglines, Facebook and Twitter that gives you 3 chances to win. 

Each time you convince me that I am indeed your computer savvy friend, you SCORE.  And I would appreciate you letting me know if something is NOT working properly on my blog (then fix it for me?)

For your reward I will give you 2 yards; I repeat, 2 yards of this yummy Large Modern Flora corduroy.  PLUS: an extra 2 yards from the Woodland Delight Quilt Weight Collection of your choosing.  That could be 1 yard each of two different patterns, one half yard of 4 pieces, etc.  But it's 4 yards total, baby. 

Thank you, thank you and now let's get this party started!
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UPDATE: You are all so amazing!  Thank you so much for all your wonderfully helpful comments.

I will announce a winner on Labor Day, September 6
 

FABRIC AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

I know you're thinking, "What? Two posts back to back?"  Well, I found this in my inbox this morning and this is way too important to not pass this on to my friends.  There is a new book called Sew Retro by Judi Ketteler and she is posting a giveaway for not only the book, but 5 yards of Michael Miller Fabrics.  5 yards of your choosing, in any way you like it...1 yard of 5 different prints, etc.  So much to choose from.  So go put your name in the hat HERE and read the awesome interview she gave with my fearless leader Kathy Miller of Michael Miller fabrics.  Oh, and I wouldn't mind you sending me a little love for tipping you off.  This is an awesome giveaway.  Thanks Judi!

Kathy Miller

Photo courtesy of Kathy Miller; photographed by Kelly Beane

Have a great weekend and keep your eyes peeled because I have a giveaway of my own right here next week.