Name Dropper...Back from EXPO

Last Monday I posted this: "Eleanor and Marti Michell, Kaye Wood, Sandra Betzinger, the Ya Ya Sisters: Rita Faro & Mary Mulari, Susan Wells, Pam Clarke, and Glorianne Cubbage. Yes, I'm a name dropper!" I am back from EXPO and even added one more name to DROP, because her class still had tickets- Sharlene Jorgenson. I was not "connected" at EXPO, so I couldn't read or update my BLOG each day. I was the topic of conversation in the Social Media lecture the first couple days. If you took the seminar from Glorianne Cubbage before Friday, you know what I'm talking about. I should have kept a journal, but was way too tired to do that at the end of the day. I can't even think of what was the most "exciting". I had lots of 1 needle seminars and I like it that way. I travel over 300 miles to go and this year got to do the FULL thing, at least for me. Sorry that the Red and Pink fashion show is on Sunday. My DD#2 and her son wanted to leave on Friday, but waited until I got to go to see Eleanor -1 more time at "Quilters Night Out". Got home a little after 1am. THANKS, Janessa for Driving, I'm getting "really old! It was great to really meet some of my "online friends" at the Wednesday Night Dinner. What a good way to start the week of gathering quilters/Sewing ladies. Thanks Laura! There were a few people jealous of our BAGS, since the EXPO didn't have those paper ones this year. Glad they went GREEN! Thanks for setting up the Puyallup web group Gabby. I was so happy to visit with you and share in your show and tell with Pam Clarke. ...And the lady from Maryland; Mary Susan, (I shared the room with her), I think we'll be friends for life. I have to catch up on sleep and BLOG about my EXPO in more depth later. There are a few more pictures, they don't ALLOW us to take pictures during the Seminars at EXPO, but this is enough for now...[my only complaint is that nobody told me to fix my bangs. It was raining on Friday] Mary C waving "HI" from way over here again...

SBS (Sylvia's Bridal Sampler) BOW 2-28-10

Lynn and were sewing Tuesday and since I finished the project I'd taken out to work on in the morning. We decided to make our BOW's for the SBS 30's quilts. The simpler blocks don't take too long and my time for sewing with Lynn was cut short by my little trip out of town. Here's my Glorified 9 Patch done in 30's. I am sooo excited to meet Eleanor Burns in case I haven't stated it before. When I went Visiting Teaching, the two ladies we visited didn't know who she was. I am amazed that they weren't impressed by my excitement to meet the Quilt-in-a-Day Founder. I will have to take pictures and report back later to them.

Design Wall Monday #8

It's been a long week between Design walls...I've changed what is on mine several times. Had to check and re-check the Stars and Crown blocks for placement of the outside completer borders. After I got them all sewn on, I took it upstairs to get a full picture of it on the floor. This is one of the many Pat Speth "Five Inch is a Cinch" patterns. Thanks Lynn for seeing the need for the extra row around the blocks on this quilt. I'm soooo grateful for my quilting buddy. She has a real good eye for seeing what should be obvious. I did some frogging when I saw a few fabrics touching in spite of myself. Better to take it out now then to see the big "BOO BOOS" after it is quilted. So many of my UFO's now only need Borders...that is my quilting hurdle that I have yet to conquer. I hope when I receive Judy L's book (my autographed copy is in the mail) that I can get the inspiration that I need to finish more pieced borders and get those UFO's off the "Needs final Border" list. I can't resist showing the Siggy Quilt that is being made with my WASIQ group swapped hatchet blocks from 2008, the 10th anniversary of WASIQ (Washington State Internet Quilters). It's been a sad week for the group with the passing of one of the members. I didn't know her personally, just through the group. Several attended her funeral services. I was very touched hearing how her quilts were there in a box to be given to Julie. Julie was thoughtful and gave the Siggy quilt, that she made in secret for the member who died, to another of our members who didn't get to participate in our SWAP. I look at the names differently since I've met some of them in person. I'm excited that I will meet some more of these wonderful friends this week at the EXPO I'm attending. I'll be there with my name tag and WASIQ pin by the Escalators. I get to meet a few "famous" quilters while I'm there also. Namely the lady who had her show on PBS back when I was just getting interested in Quilting--Eleanor Burns. My children didn't like that I watched her on Saturday Mornings when they wanted to watch cartoons. I have signed up for classes with Eleanor and Marti Michell, Kaye Wood, Sandra Betzinger, the Ya Ya Sisters: Rita Faro & Mary Mulari, Susan Wells, Pam Clarke, and Glorianne Cubbage. Yes, I'm a name dropper! I have my Siggy Squares ready for them all to sign if I get the chance and have the nerve to wait in line after the classes. There are many more design walls over at Judy L's "Patchwork times".

Working the Night shift...quilting

I have always been a "night owl". Just ask my family. Since the Olympics are happening, I am watching at night. I have gone to Lynn's and quilted during the day this week. Then I have to take an early power nap, so I can stay up to watch the re-broadcast. Quilting is on the agenda while I watch. I'm getting some things "DONE" that have been on the UFO list for a while. Lynn and I are finishing up our Star and Crown blocks in 30's fabrics. We see a really nice secondary pattern that requires a bit of FUSSY borders to complete the blocks. Can you see it??? Here is Lynn sorting her last 6 Star & Crown blocks to sew. She says this quilt is all my fault! I have cracked the whip to get us both to finish it this week. Self imposed deadlines and the desire to start a new project helps in making the choice to finish. "So many Quilts, so little time" as they say... I have had my Strippy Hidden Star Quilt spray basted since early January when Paul put up my "Design Wall". It was crossed it off pre-maturely. Now it's quilted and I'll get the binding on it in the next couple of days. The quilt will hang vertically when it is finished. Do you see the 'Hidden Star"? I have had trouble trying to decide what to enter in the Tri-City Quilt Show. The deadline is coming soon and I can only enter 3 quilts. Choosing them is the hard part. I made too many quilts last year to have to choose just 3... I'm glad that the next quilt show doesn't limit the number of entries per person. My way around it is to have my girls enter quilts I made for their children in their names. The quilts that have held up best with use since they were given will be selected.

Monday Design Wall #7

I have the SBS Quilt ready to add the final borders. It's decision time. Do I do a "Blob-o'border", a triple border or just one big border and be done? These are three of the fabrics I'd like to use in the border...I want the focus to be on the center of the quilt, that's where the work is. Since I have a March 1st deadline to enter the quilt for the Tri-city show there isn't much time left to play. I have the collected little squares of fabric to put on the back somehow around my Label and hopefully Jennifer's signature. I might even put the extra blocks I made on the back somehow. But for now the Borders are what I NEED to decide. Please leave me a comment and give me some input. Thanks Judy for the chance to link to other Design Walls each Monday!

Happy 56th Birthday to My DH!!!

I've been wishing him a Happy Birthday for the past 34 years. Each year a bit differently, I hope I can still surprise him after all these years. What do you give to a 56 year old guy? The kids have asked what he needs...IDK! I got him 2 new ink Pens, 4 more bandanas, in new colors and renewed the subscription to the "Church News" because he asked for it... I will call the KORD radio Station in the Morning and make him Pie to share in the evening with some friends. A low key Birthday for sure. He has to go to work, I don't know for how long. It's President's Day so there is "no mail". Give him a call and wish him a Happy Birthday, and tell him I told you to...OK? The picture is him pretending to suck his thumb with some of his favorite little people. (he is such a tease) We Love You bunches Paul/Dad/G-pa

V-day Eve with friends...

The Turners invited us and the Limburgs to join them for their pre-valentine dinner at "Creek Towne Cafe". It was nice to visit again with such great company. The menu was like what they describe on "Food Network". It was totally delicious and the desserts were to "die" for! No wonder Jay was saving room for dessert...We had the waitress/server take our picture. I think you can see the desserts in there... "real" Chocolate Mousse and cream puffs with Mango ice cream in them. Paul poured the chocolate sauce over his Cream puff... YUMMO!!! No buyers regret here, we deserved it! Happy Valentine's Day!

Dancing under/on "Cloud 9"

I spent two days helping with the decorations at the Church for the Winter Dance for our Stake. Each year it is held around the time of Paul's Birthday and Valentine's Day. I was on the decorating Committee. We filled a lot of helium balloons. Tied them to a poster board -to make clouds with them. Oh, my aching back... The men came and helped Thursday Evening to string the lights across the cultural hall. This is how they looked Thursday night... On Friday morning when we got there the 'clouds' were a bit droopy. By the time we were ready to dance the clouds were below the lights. Brother Davis helped us to disguise the basketball hoop (a major detail, not to be forgotten). The band "Copious Notes" with Mark Gilbert played the Music for us. My Dear Hubby doesn't really like to dance. He goes along with it and will dance one slow dance every year or so. He had to get our heads in the center 'cloud' as we danced... He is kind and lets me get all dressed up and I get to choose his tie to match or at least not clash too much. Paul likes the 'food' best so I made some treats for that too. There was a lot of good and fancy foods to eat. This year we didn't have a Professional there with everything to have pictures taken... :( I heard a few others who were disappointed in that. Thanks, Keith and Tara for bringing your nice camera and taking a few snapshots. Tara used our camera to get this picture... I was looking forward to the Fireside more than the dance I have to admit. I grew up with Teresa (Sharp) Christensen (until she moved away in Jr High) in Moses Lake. She reminisced about some old songs from the 70's that had connections to the Theme "Cloud 9" and Marriage. Her Husband Mark spoke also. Paul commented... who would have thought that we would be in the same Stake all these years later. Life is funny that way. Everywhere we have moved we find connections to our youth and former Stakes we have lived in. We have met many good friends along the way to make life more enjoyable. The Fielding's dressed as Golda and Tevia from "Fiddler on the Roof" a sang the song, "Do You Love Me?" they also sang "My Cup Runneth Over With Love".

3 finishes and a new Hairdo!

Finally! Vincent's Train quilt is ready to give to him. All bound and quilted. I found the Red 'Kona' binding fabric when I was looking for something else, isn't that always how it goes??? I had it with my Red, Black and White fabrics for another SBS SWAP, due in April. I played with my Bernina and got my MINI quilt done and the one for Elizabeth also. Her Mini quilt looks better than mine. I have to practice my 'arcs' MORE! Janessa drove us to see Danette, so I had time to handstitch bindings down. Thanks so much Janessa! I took a picture of all 3 up on the design wall. I can't stand to see it empty! The walls at Lynn's are pretty empty now too. We'll remedy that next week when I get out there to sew again! Here's my new hairdo, kinda curly, but I like it.

TA DA!

The quilts were a hit at Guild, I think. I heard someone say, "She used to be 'Sane'" It is such a great feeling to have all 140 blocks in one place. I still need to do the borders and get it quilted before March's Quilt show...Time to do it after EXPO, I hope. I will post a picture on here since Facebook requires another plug-in that I don't want to mess with tonight. Then I can link back here to the BLOG. I came home and had the Elders and Paul hold it up for me. So the picture is sideways. This is one big quilt and this is without any borders on it yet. Here is Lynn with her SBS at Guild... And this one is Mine!

Sidetracked Design Wall Monday 2-8-10

On my design wall this week...I was inspired by Kathie's blog "Inspired by Antique quilts" She is making little versions of "old" quilts to put on her wall. You can read about the book she got that inspired her by clicking on the link. One day last week I took my SBS quilt down and put it up at Lynn's again. Her wall is 10' and the whole quilt can be on the wall, not with 3 rows on the floor. Paul called me while I was out there sewing late one evening and said he had BAD NEWS for me. He said all of the blocks were missing from my WALL. I knew where they were, the joke was on him, but I'm glad he noticed. I still need to finish sewing on all the vertical Sashings before Quilt Guild Tuesday, but got sidetracked. I collected all the fabrics from my SBS quilt and cut 1-7/8" squares from each of the 41 fabrics I found. I took one of the White on White backgrounds out and did this "dolly sized" quilt top Friday night. I used my sashing fabric for the borders. Mine is on the left in this picture. Then I got the idea to make one for Elizabeth for her 7th birthday. I needed something else to give her. I stayed up way too late again, it was late Friday night/early Saturday when I got her's done. The striped fabric will be the binding, just like her big quilt. I needed to quilt the borders on the train Panel for Vincent. I'd put it away and hadn't found it until Saturday morning. That meant I HAD to clear off the sewing table so I could quilt on my Bernina. I got that part all done and looked for the red fabric for the binding, but didn't find it. I hate when I hide stuff from myself. Needless to say, Vincent will have to wait a while longer for his Train Quilt. I'm sure there a some new quilts to check out from Links on Judy L's Blog today too. I like to see what she's working on each Monday, how about you?

Like father -like son

Just for kicks I was looking for a picture of Joe to put on the Blog today. He's 31. I was lazy and didn't wake up in time to call this morning, (too late of a night quilting, I guess). In our house I would tease the children that their Birthday wasn't until the time of their 'birth'. So Joe's Birthday isn't until later tonight... He was born on the first Sunday in February. I remember the day well! It was "Fast Sunday", but for me it went pretty slow. I went to Church at Basin City, as usual and had a terrific back ache, but toughed it out. My Father was living outside of our house in his camp trailer at the time. So, after our Sunday meal Dad watched Milton and Paul took me into Richland where Joe was born. He was the first baby I had with Dr Felton attending. I remember requesting the Nitrous and Dr telling me I didn't need it... I also remember the feeling of being able to roll onto my stomach and the warmth of the flannel sheet they put over me afterwards. I know --- TMI! We were so happy to welcome our second son. Milton needed a playmate living at the end of the "Dead End" road. The next month he was blessed in our new Ward. We were now members of Connell Ward even though we didn't 'move'. Memories of Joe's first days on earth are a bit like the weather outside today- Foggy! I do have some pictures but the one at the Hospital didn't work out, so he got a '1st' picture taken at the Medicine Shoppe. My father took a few with his "Polaroid" camera. Joe was and is still a "worker". He helped Grandma Crowther wash dishes one time and showed her all of the pans I'd hidden in the oven, so they got washed too. I used to have a tape recording of him and Milton singing the ABC's. He kept trying to get Milton to not sing, by saying, "Not you Milton, Just me". He got good grades in School and could have been the Valedictorian, but didn't want to have to give a speech. We were so happy when he brought home his "Sweet heart" from Pasco. He had to go clear to Rexburg, Idaho to find her. XOXOXO - We Love you Joseph! The Pictures I have to share are of Joe outside our home in Mesa and the one of his 2nd son; Sam after eating his B-day Cupcake last week.

Monday Design Wall 2-1-10

I have been trying to get one more block done before I took the picture for Design Wall Monday. I have filled in a few holes on the wall this past week, but didn't make it to "DONE". Lynn called me today with great news and incentive to get this done by April. Jennifer Chiaverini is coming to the Northwest for a book signing. The chance to have her see our quilts is a BIG incentive. Jennifer has a new book coming out in April called "The Aloha Quilt". SBS COUNT FOR THIS WEEK IS: 6 Blocks left of the 140 Blocks. Judy L has over 50 Design Walls this week, go check them out by clicking on Judy's name.