New Projects for 2010

Today, I plan to spend time digging out my studio.  Working on last minute Christmas projects and using it as a Christmas present wrapping center have left it a little disheveled. Now it's time to get back to normal (we all have our own degrees of normal). Mine is nowhere near immaculate or perfect but if I can find my tools without digging TOO deep, then I'm happy.

I received 3 new books for Christmas full of inspiration for new projects. What about those UFO's? They'll keep. 

My sister sent my this book on Woven Quilts by Anna Faustino. The first projects start out with simple(!?) basket weave. Other projects combine bits and pieces of different woven pieces with added applique and embellishments - right up my alley.

I gave myself a present of Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II edited by Eleanor Levie. It includes small quilts by favorite designers including two of my personal favorites, Sue Spargo and Frieda Anderson. A good way to try new techniques in a small doable project. (Fewer UFO's)

Beyond the Block by Johnson/Wells combines different elements and block sizes to create visually exciting quilts. I've been pondering trying out more creative settings and it's given me ideas for ANOTHER new quilt. Maybe I could use some of those UFO's as a practice project.

Here's looking to a creative 2010. Try something new.

Step out of your box. 

A Jazzy Little Christmas

I have a ticket to "A Jazzy Little Christmas" performed by the MSU Professors of Jazz that I will not be able to use. It's on Saturday, December 19th at the Pasant Theater. If anyone would like the ticket, please let me know. There is a possibility of a second ticket available also.

Update Fri 12/11. Looks like the tickets are taken.  Enjoy!

Turkey Day

We had a very traditional Thanksgiving celebration this year. Just the family. I made turkey and all the trimmings (including cranberries in the shape of a can - kids' request). Mom made the gravy. Desserts abounded: pumpkin pie with whip cream from a can (another special request), pecan pie, apple pie, cheese cake and carrot cake. Who needs dinner?

Our special treat was that Cubby is now old enough to say the blessing... God is good, God is great..... It was cherubic and absolutely precious.

Ian and Liz (and mashed potatoes). They had driven in Thursday morning from Liz' parents in Midland. After dinner, Liz went to get some shut-eye so she could get up and make the Black Friday specials at Tangier Outlets with her mom and sis. Midnight at the outlet mall. Wonder how that went?

Gennie says she's getting too old for all of this commotion. She did get a little bowl of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Afterall, we're very thankful for the most wonderful dog in the world.

Note to self:  remember to recharge the camera battery before the next holiday.

Letting Go... or not

In a previous post, Cyndee noted that I had donated this wall hanging to the Solar Circle project. Yes, I did. And on Saturday, I went to the "Alternative Holiday Sale" and bought it back. I guess I wasn't ready to part with it. My mom likes it and she may receive it for Christmas. She said something about having a place for it near the piano... I've already added a few wooden buttons and some beads since Saturday (not in this photo). We'll just have to see what it looks like by December 25th.

Kzoo Show continued....

Here are a few more quilts from the Log Cabin Quilter's show in Kalamazoo:

This was quite striking and really grabbed your attention when you came around the corner.

I have this pattern somewhere. I also have a stack of lime green Christmas fabrics. Rather whimsical.

This is another quilt by Billie Gunderson. "Yellow Submarine" is Cubby's favorite DVD at the moment. He's quite taken with the Blue Meanies and doesn't seem to find them threatening at all. " 1, 2, 3, 4, can I have a little more? ... look at Meeeeeeeee. ALL TOGETHER NOW!" You'll have to get him to sing it for you.  He gave a full voice rendition at Speedway last night. Gotta love him!

Plumbing ... again

Tuesday night I walked into the kitchen and the floor went "squish". I often have water on my floor from Cubby and/or the dog and my belly ends up wet almost every time I do dishes but this was different. I opened the door under the sink and was greeted with a lake. I called Marty, who singlehandedly keeps most of Groesbeck from falling apart and he was able to come and take a look on Wednesday am.

Here is a photo of my NEW under sink plumbing. Didn't I just show you bathroom sink pictures? (It was May 2008. Seems like yesterday.) The old copper pipe going into the wall had corroded and split. Luckily, he didn't have to tear into the wall. It's always something.

Great Weekend

On Saturday morning we packed Mr. Energy in the car for a trip to the Apple Butter Festival at Fenner Arboretum. It was very cold but the sun was shining. Seems like it's been a long time since we've seen the sun. We saw Jackie B and Pam A (and another quilter that I didn't know) quilting on behalf of the CCQG. Cubby wasn't too interested in stirring the apple butter, I think the fire and smoke was too scary. But he loved the music and actually sat still for a song or two.

This is his "I'm at the top of the stairs and I'll be gone by the time you can get up here" smile. Gamma Gamma needed a nap by the end of the day...

On Sunday I drove to Kalamazoo to the Log Cabin Quilter's Show. Cyndee was too sick to go so I drove alone and made a side trip to see my parents. Saw Kari and Dan at the show too. Bought too much hand-dyed fabric from Windberry Studio but I couldn't resist.  The show has moved from the hotel to the fairgrounds. Easy access off of the highway but unfortunately not much improvement in the lighting which was my biggest complaint at the Raddison. Nice show. About 300 quilts. This quilt is by Billie Gunderson and uses Jane Sassaman fabric.

I have quite a stack of Jane fabrics that I have collected. Maybe it's about time...

Homework

I'm taking an online Microsoft Office class from Lansing Community College to update my skills while I am job hunting. This was one of our homework assignments - to create a personal poster using Microsoft Word including an imported image, bullet points, border, etc... you get the idea. Actually, I was surprised at the design tools that are available in Word so I guess I'm learning something.

Durand Quilt Show

Saturday, Cindy and I went to the 10th Annual Durand Quilt show.  It was a small show but it had many very nice quilts. In addition to the quilts at the Methodist Church, there was also a display of antique quilts at the train depot. The depot itself has been restored and is very beautiful.

I really liked this applique quilt. It has that folk art flavor that would look good in wool also.

This quilt was bright and cheerful. I'm pretty sure I've seen this commercial pattern before.I have a sunflower quilt in process (UFO) that has paper pieced petals. Maybe I'll get back to it someday.

Today I went to the Turner Dodge House for the First Sunday Gallery walk. There were several amazing photographers exhibiting their works.  I particularly liked Kim Ellen Kauffman. She scans actual pieces of plants and then photoshops different layers on top of each other. Check out her work.

I also saw John Diephouse who lives in our neighborhood. He has a photo of peppers that I would like to hang in my kitchen. I'll have to wait though because right now it is on display in Midland.  He has a exhibit beginning Friday in Owosso. Maybe a road trip.....

Circles and Orbs

When I was in California, I picked up at fat quarter pack at JoAnn's for something to hand-piece on the 350 mile journey to Monterey. The fabric didn't really thrill me but "grab a fat quarter pack, use my 40% off coupon" was where I was at the time. This is the result. I like the whole much better than the parts.

I'm still getting used to my new camera. I finally figured out how to recharge the battery. I think I've been using the auto focus but some pictures turn out better than others.

Memorial Day Weekend I bought two tomato plants for $2.99 each. Admittedly they sat on my back patio for a month before I finally got them in the ground. Here are tomatoes #3 and #4 from my plants. That makes my ROI (return on investment - I've been out of work a long time...) about $1.50 each so far. There are still more green tomatoes out there. Maybe if we can squeak out a little more sunshine before it frosts, I'll have more.

Floral Baby Quilt

At long last, here is a picture of the baby quilt I worked on the last week of June (my first week of funemployement as Mary H says). I sent the top out to my sister and she finished it. It has a new home with a new baby somewhere in Michigan! The baby's grandma works with my sister. 

Chris machine quilted it in a 2 inch grid pattern

and added a fun pink polka dot backing. Just right for a new baby girl.

This handsome model (my brother-in-law) is showing off my sister's latest messenger bag creation. She's already sold it to someone in her office for a laptop bag. The library is having a craft sale in October (Phyllis check it out). The creative minds and sewing machines are already humming.

Sophomore Year

I remember sophomore year in East Quad (the hippie dorm) at U of M.  I was lucky enough in the dorm lottery drawing to score a single room on the second floor.  A tiny white cell with (for you MSU fans) a green accent wall. You could also climb out the window to a small balcony which was actually the roof of the bay window of the lounge below.

As I said in my earlier post, we took my nephew to begin his 2nd year at CSUMB. The land has been leased from a 77 year old military post. It is rather eerie driving around looking at old, no longer used, abandoned buildings imagining what life was like when it was teeming with soldiers. There are also many new buildings which the college has built since 1995.

A couple of enterprising management companies are leasing the old base housing to students. Here is my nephew and his new roommates in front of the 3 bedroom house they are leasing. My sister and I both agreed that it was much nicer than our first student rentals.

Here's a closeup of the crew. 

Has everyone seen Julie & Julia? Did it inspire you to cook anything? Cyndee made 4 or 5 different muffins and quick breads to take to her sister's, Irene made Sheperd's Pie, I was going to make plain old spaghetti but was inspired to make a Ham Rotini Bake instead.  How about you?

Timmy and Matt go to Chicago

Here are Matthew (shotgun) and Timmy (driver), my sister's Collies, ready to drive to Chicago.

When we were kids and used to go to the bank or other errand with my dad, he would leave us in the car (back in the days when you could leave kids unattended in the car). We would climb through the bucket seats - our Dad drove a mustang - and sit in the front seats and pretend to drive to Chicago.

Last week I was in California and we moved my nephew the 350 miles back to CSUMB (Cal State Univ Monterey Bay). The "boys" apparently thought it would be fun to go along. Sorry guys, not enough room. Notice their dapper, cool summer haircuts.

Auntie Lisa also taught them a new trick. While getting ice out of the frig for my beverage, a few cubes landed on the floor. I just threw them into the dog water dish like I do at home. Matt and Timmy thought dunking for cubes was great fun and now expect it every time they hear the ice dispenser. Sorry sis. 

Aren't they Great!

Here's the troop on the 4th of July. I wasn't there but Claire shared the picture. Although sighted very rarely, this is Ian and Liz with Claire and Cubby.

My sister flew back to LA today. We had a nice but short visit.  Went to see the Lugnuts Friday night.  13 innings! (they lost) but we had to stay to see the fireworks.  It was in the 50's. What happened to those hot summer nights?

About that baby quilt top......I gave it to my sister to take back with her and finish for a coworker's grandchild and I forgot to snap a photo first. My sister promised to send one. You'll have to wait a bit longer...  She brought my 5 yards of Jane S. fabric that she bought on sale for me. Maybe I'll have to bop over to Jane's blog for some ideas.

Drive on!

Here's Cubby at the Ft Wayne Zoo.  I know, his hat says  Detroit Zoo but we were really in Indiana. He's becoming quite the zoo traveler. He's driving a jeep in the African safari exhibit. It's very cool.

I had planned to show the completed top for the baby quilt I'm working on.  I realized that I hadn't prewashed the border fabric so the top is not finished yet.  I don't always prewash my fabric, especially for wall hangings but on baby quilts that will be washed frequently, I think it's a good idea.

Sooooo, you'll have to wait a little longer.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Drum roll please.... Last Thursday was my last day at work. After 30 years, it seems totally strange to not get up and drive out Grand River. I was just thinking last week that I didn't have to watch the speed limit signs along the way because my car KNOWS exactly where each change occurs. I've always pondered what I wanted to be when I grew up. Now is my chance to totally change directions... or not. Do I take the first job I find just to have a job? Do I go back to school and start something totally different?  Stay tuned......

I was trying to think of some analogy to a snake in the grass but I couldn't come up with anything. This is me petting a snake at the 

Ft Wayne Zoo so that Cubby wouldn't be afraid. Be brave, try new things...

I wished that I had more time to enjoy the summer which seems to be flying past (it's July already!) Last Friday we took Cubby to the water park and enjoyed time in the sun and a picnic lunch. Today I spent some time working in my long neglected garden. 

Be careful what you wish for.

More Views from Sauder Village

Jan, this picture is for you. Our friend Jan G has been working forever, hand quilting on a wonderful quilt that uses these same bunnies. Jan's quilt has the bunnies hiding among flowers. The first time I saw it, I thought it was an antique top that she was finishing. It has a wonderful old time feel.  I also seem to remember being on the hunt at a quilt show when Ruth D was looking for the pattern.  The are so cute they have universal appeal. 

Daisy, this would have made a good entry for your Drunkard's Path challenge.  Louise could have made it since she's into strip quilts. Look closely. There's a weird shaped curve that's kind of intriguing. At first, I thought it was the background showing through the "hole".  But I think it's another half circle appliqued on top.

For those of you who haven't seen Cubby in awhile, he's becoming quite the little man. Here he is at Sauder.  The lady in the little church played him "Twinkle Star" on the organ.  He was so excited! That's not what he usually hears at church!

It's Been Awhile

It's hard to believe it's been a month since the Sauder Quilt Show. Where did May go? We've also enjoyed the East Lansing Art Fair and the Capitol City Quilt Show.  I'll admit, when it was announced, I wasn't enthused about the change in venue to the Summit but the show was beautiful.I think the talent in our Guild just gets better and better.

Here's a photo of my quilt "Leaves Redeaux" hanging at the Sauder show.  I won a 3rd place in the Mixed Media, hand quilting category. At the CCQG show I bought some wonderful hand-dyed fabrics in autumn colors (you'll like them CarolSc and Daisy). There may be another leaf quilt in the future... and I always thought I was a 'brights' person...

On the subject of being open to new things... I have never been a big fan of stack-n-whack quilts but I thought this quilt a Sauder was wonderful! 

Here's another close up shot.  Lots of machine quilting.  Lots of beads.  My kind of quilt!

My sister called me this weekend. Big sale on Jane S. fabric at Michael Levine's in downtown L.A. I told her to buy me a yard and she bought 5!!  She's bringing it out with her in July. Can't wait.

It's been pouring rain all day so no yardwork this evening. No Cubby. No meetings. 

So here I am!

The World Really is Very Small

Can't wait for Spring to really arrive for real.   Trying not to let my mind go crazy about job uncertainties, taxes and all that. But then in the "what do you really have to complain about?"

category, we hear hundreds are dead and thousands are left homeless in the earthquake in Italy.          

 We need to find the sunshine in every day.

The skyline in Florence, Italy.

Everyday buildings there are older than anything we ever see here.

A beautiful land.  Wishing you peace.

One Block at a Time

I finally took down the Christmas Quilt and put up my GASP "Where's Lucy" quilt. This quilt was an ugly fabric challenge from 2007. I won the blocks and created this retro looking quilt. It actually looks kind of cool against my terra cotta livingroom walls.

I've been working on Block Exchange Blocks. I've challenged myself to get one done each week. Yeah, I know there are some over-over achievers in the group but I'm not judging myself against others. I'm trying to do what is comfortable for me.  This is Bonnie's block.

Here is Roxie's block.

Here is Jan's block. I guess my cell phone camera was still in shock from the orange walls in the first shot. This is actually brown and cream.

Cubby had his first ear infection recently. We feel VERY lucky that he's only had one, unlike his mother and his uncle who spent hours and hours in the pediatric after hours clinic. He made up for it in intensity though and blew his eardrum. Here he is after the doctor, asleep at the table. He couldn't even eat his favorite nuggets and fries. He's doing much better now after a round of antibiotics (free at Meijer).

 

A Year Already!

A year ago this week I was in Florence, Italy. Hard to believe the time has gone so fast! Even though it was January, the weather there was nothing like we're having here this year. The temperature was 50-60 degrees, sweaters and jackets and lots of walking.  Plenty warm enough!

I think I remember hearing our new president comment on how young America really is. Babies compared to Italy and the ancient civilizations that existed there. Florence is a Renaissance town. You can just picture Shakespearian characters walking down the narrow streets. Fantastic wine, unbelievable art, incredible architecture. Impossible to see and grasp it all in one visit. 

This boar has a very happy face.  He gets lots of love.  See his shiny snout?  The story goes that if you rub his snout, someday you'll come back to Florence.  I hope so!