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!

Happy New Year

It's hard to believe it's 2009 already!  Seems like we just turned the new millennium yesterday! I had a few extra days off over the holidays and Cubby and I braved the cold to go the park in Delta Mills near Linda's. The slides are pretty high and open so we went down together. Lots of giggles and laughs. Cubby is wearing his monster hat. He's been feeling all of his terrible two's lately so the hat is quite appropriate.

 
My sister has been calling for a week to find out "is it Christmas yet?" With the snowy weather and first my mom sick and then my dad sick, we hadn't gotten together to have our Christmas. It finally all worked out this weekend and we got together to open presents including the ones that had been sent from California. My presents included tiger eye beads and wonderful silver african animal charms so I guess there is going to be another quilt in the works. 

Mom, Dad, Liz, Ian and I also went to see the Seuss exhibit at Saper Galleries.  Ted Geisel created much more than just the books I grew up with. The show was wonderful and we had great fun talking about our memories reading the stories together.

Saturday night my mom had her first Mystic Shake experience. Dad was still a little under the weather so mom and I went to Cappuccino Cafe to hear the band. Irene joined us there and we all had time to catch up with holiday happenings.