Quilting and Life

     I finally finished my Eye-fooler quilt, after three long years of working on it on and off. I think it looks amazing! BUT, if you look at it up close, there are many, many imperfections - points cut off (my nemesis), corners not quite matching up, etc. 

    
     That is my life in a nutshell - every day I make mistakes, today for example - it's not even noon and I've already done something I regret. I was riding my bike this morning and a dog (note - I am not a dog lover) came running after me, barking like a fool, I was scared! The owner came out of her house after I'd passed it (riding like a madwoman, wondering, rather desperately if could I out-pedal a medium sized dog) She called the dog back and I was safe, but I meanly yelled back "There is a leash law!". I did not need to do that, she was probably already worried/embarrassed enough about her dog.
That is pretty much how it goes around here!
     BUT, I look at the whole of my life - my amazing, handsome husband who still loves me madly after 32 years of marriage, my wonderful, beautiful children (including the in-law kids), and of course my stupendous grand children that give me joy each day. I have my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ which gives my life great meaning and I could go on and on, as I'm sure each of you could about your own blessings in your own lives.
     I am learning and getting better at quilting - when I first started, I would be quilting a quilt and notice that some of my seams weren't quite closed, that doesn't happen any more, I guess it's true practice makes perfect (eventually, I hope). My life is like that too, I don't judge myself or others as harshly as I used to when I was younger, I see things more clearly now as my experience and faith grow. I watch the people in my life and my gratitude and amazement are increased as I see the wonder and beauty that is in this world and my experience in it.
     Well, those are my deep thoughts for today, hope you have a great one and if not, as I like to remind myself when those bad days come (as they do for ALL of us), they don't last forever! Happy Quilting!

More Pictures

I finally have downloaded some pictures from my phone:  Here are the two quilts I made for my niece's twins: (They are much cuter with the twins on them!)

 

 

 Here is the nifty little table I got from IKEA (my absolute favorite place for sewing studio furniture!) This is a little secondary (or even tertiary with the flaps up) sewing spot, for when my friends come and sew with me:

 This little beauty is perfect for storing my quilting thread, and it rolls along my machine, holding pins, etc. - very handy - also from IKEA:

 

The Big 5-0

  So, I have been remiss about blogging (obviously). BUT, I am now officially "retired" - when I say retired, it makes it look like I was at the same job for 30 years instead of 3...  First day off, two calls from the office, second day, 3 calls and an email, third day 1 email - excellent!!!
    Had a FABULOUS birthday yesterday, quilting, yummy lunch, more quilting, volleyball and a nice soak in the jacuzzi.  Visiting with family and friends, all in all a wonderful day! My son, Jeff cracked me up, he left me a message "Happy Birthday Mom, 50, you're half way there" - Hahaha, funny family! 
    Our family was blessed with grandchild #8, Holland Danielle, the 4th baby of Brooke and Ben.  We are going to see her later this month! 
    I only have one picture to post, of the quilt in progress I posted last time, a close up of my favorite block - it's all quilted, bound and given to my sweet neighbor in Hurricane.  I need to get my phone pics uploaded to my computer, then I will have a plethora of photos to share - stay posted.

The Dust

     I have a favorite cereal I pretty much eat every morning, "Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds". I buy it at Costco, where it comes in a big box with two bags inside. It is inconvenient to pour from the bags, so I have a nifty Tupperware-type plastic container I dump the bags into and pour into my bowl from there. The problem is, when it's nearly gone, it's just "the dust" at the bottom, which I do not like, I like my flakes nice and big.  So - I just dump in another bag when it gets like that. The problem is, that now that I've done this multiple times  I swear, half the container is now "the dust".  I just want to throw it away, but Mr. Handsome (who, incidentally doesn't eat carbs and hasn't for MONTHS) has forbidden me, saying he will eat it, just save it! Yes, he is sort of a penny pincher in odd ways.  So - I keep wondering, would he even notice? Is it worth an argument? Should I do it on trash day, like I used to toss the kids papers, hoping they wouldn't notice that I did not keep every precious word they'd written?  We'll see...
     My "old car" is officially sold and gone. So we are a one car family for 3 weeks or so, until the "Mini-Quilter" arrives.  That is the same time frame that I should be done working!!!!! And it's also my birthday!!!!  Yay! 
     On the quilting front, I have added a couple more fabulous IKEA pieces to the studio and they are working out great! (I love IKEA). I will post pictures soon, but for now, down to enjoy them! Happy Quilting to you too!

On the design Wall

So I've been working on this quilt for a year, it was a block of the month at my local quilt shop. I like how it turned out, but it had terrible directions (or I am just a failure as a quilter - a distinct possibility). Each month you chose another fabric to add, so the first block had two fabrics, the second block had three, etc.

I am going to give it to the kind couple who have the condo next to ours in Hurricane and always take our trash cans down, since we are never there on trash day.  So I just need to piece 3 backs now and I can get back into quilting them. Did I mention I hate to piece backs?
On another note - the other day I read in the paper about a study of how the heat makes people more likely to  commit acts of violence and start wars, etc. Ha - I could have told you that, I feel pretty violent when it's super hot - especially day after day after day! Hope you have somewhere nice and cool to quilt and escape!

Progress...

I've quilted 4 more tops with two more in the cupboard to go!  Here is a little "Eye-Spy", nap time quilt for Grandma's house. Beckham already quite likes it. I tried to pick things that the kids would know.  A big thank you to Kathie for giving me all the novelty fabrics! I never would have had the patience to hunt them down and buy little pieces of them!  My friend did an exchange to get her fabrics, I thought that was a good idea too, if you don't have a Kathie.

Here is the first block done for my Snowmen A-ZZZ (A Crabtree Hill pattern, I believe). I am working on blocks B & C at the same time, so I should have two to show soon.  This should be completed for Christmas 2025 (maybe).

Meanwhile, I am counting down the days till I am done with working! I think I gave my notice too early, because I am super impatient and just want to be done! Mr. Handsome ordered up my new car, the one I'm driving is giant, which is quite handy sometimes but gets horrible gas mileage, and it's 10 years old, so it's getting a little raggedy and we're starting to have to put a little $$ into it, never fun.

I was going to get the red one (arrest-me red), but decided to go with the more sedate white one.  So excited, I've wanted a mini for 10 years! They finally came out with a 4 door, all-wheel drive so I can fit some grandbabies in it, pack up my sewing machine, table and projects for quilt retreats and drive in the snow.  Mr. Handsome says we'll call it "The Mini-Quilter"

Note to Self...

My Quilting Machine is up and running! I was looking at my unfinished projects and realized I had not quilted/finished this little baby for my newest granddaughter, who is nearly 3 months old!

     Got it finished up quickly! I am excited that I will finally have something for "Show and Tell" at quilt group this week!  My big 3 year project "Eye-Fooler" quilt is up next for quilting, I just have to pick up a back for it - 7 + yards - it's a big one!
     I am kind of excited that I have this funky little clothesline on my back patio from when my dryer was having some hiccups earlier this summer - (note - do not squish the vent thing behind the dryer!) Anyway, my quilt colors are MUCH better when photographed outside!! (duh). I don't have to look at my outdated carpet (bleck), I don't get weird shadows, etc. I am keeping this line up forever!
     My "Note to self" is to get my machine serviced more than once every six years! The timing was off, among other things, now it works great. I am excited to get through the stack of tops while enjoying my nice, cool, beautiful basement!