Tuesday Night

I arrived home from work early as DD needed to go to a job interview. I decided to take a nap. I never take naps. I fell asleep with Jack laying right next to me purring away. When I woke up (2 hours later) I came downstairs to find Aiden laying on the couch on top of my fabric piles, while Mosen found his way to the top of my book basket. I love cats!


I had to finish my purple on the owl eyes so I got that done and loaded up the car with 4, count them 4 IKEA bags to deliver for LTW to the church. Amazing how productive she is. In addition, I thought I would show you one of her new quilting patterns. This quilt was done with different wine fabrics on the front and so she put these grapes all over for the quilting. I love how they looked!

I brought my flock of owls to show the CL's last night too. OK Jane, these bad babies are going to be packed and sent (along with Pauline's Crows) to you leaving on Thursday. We will be keeping one each of our own and I am going to let Pauline choose the one she wants and will put a note on that one so Jane can send it to her. I really like how they came out. Everyone was inspecting the backs. Why is that? Then they can see any of my mistakes, boo.

I haven't forgotten about the give away for me 400th post. I am gathering "stuff and things" to put into it and will be posting about it soon.

I did post the 2 newest house blocks in the My Neighborhood BOM on my website. So if you are ready for the next installment go and take a look. The link is also on my sidebar

Deer Tails and Bunny Tales

Funny title huh? On my way home from work on the campus of the University of Michigan we saw 2 fawns. It is kind of difficult for you to see them and you can really just see one but they are there. My DD1 was with me and has a better photo but she forgot to send it to me. She took pics with her camera first and by the time she got to mine they were more into the forest.

DD1 sent me this photo and you can see both of the fawns. (Both butts as someone pointed out, and you know who you are...) Aren't they so adorable??

I think you will appreciate that as I was coming into work today I was thinking about what I would blog about. I asked DD if she had sent me the pics of the fawns, but no she had not. So I was left with my less than desirable photo. Too bad for me (for you too as they were adorable!) I was NOT happy that I had no good photos to blog today. It was a really busy day in the lab though so I am just getting around to posting now. BUT... In the mean time, I have some exciting news! There will be a really, really good give away in my next post. I am waiting for something before I post but should be posting later tonight so please stop back in. *Trust me* you will NOT be sorry that you did.

Intrigued? Stay tuned...

Spotted Dick??

I was at the grocery store last night and found this. Who would want to buy this? Why would anyone use this for a name of something?

What's the weirdest signage you have found? My DD1 found a billboard that said, "Tuesdays kids eat free clowns"

Ok you all need to go here and enter Camille's contest to win some cool stuff!!

Gina's Houses

I am still woefully behind on my blogging and now the weekend is coming up so it will just be worse, sorry about that! My friend, Gina, over at Quilting in the Valleys, sent me the photos of her houses as they are fused and ready for her to finish sewing them down.

Aren't they the cutest?
She is doing each one with a different theme.
I like the house of sewing!
Thanks for sharing your houses with us all, Gina!!

Now I just have to share something with you all. I am *trying* so hard to be a good girl. After all the spending I did recently on my trip, but then the wonderful Anne Sutton at Bunny Hill Designs comes out with Rabbits Prefer Embroidery and, well...go see for yourself what the Fat Quarter Shop has. I need to be good, I need to be good.

Just one more thing, if any of you are done with your Baltimore Bunnies pattern and would lend it to me (or let me buy it from you) please email me.

Have a great weekend!!

My Neighborhood and TOMORROW!!

Woo Hoo!! Carol from Attic Windows Quilt Shop in Grand Rapids sent me these 2 finished houses from her neighborhood. Aren't they too cute?? Check out the lady bug in the chimney on this first one.

I love the bright colors she is using for her neighborhood.
If you are participating let me know and send me a picture of your houses so I can share with everyone!!

I leave tomorrow EARLY to make my way down to Bloomington IN with LTW. She has our route all mapped out with a few quilt shop stops thrown in so we don't get bored with the 5 and a half hour drive! If any of you will be at the Indiana Heritage quilt show email me tonight and we can try to meet up. If you miss this deadline email me anyway, it goes to my Blackberry but include a contact phone number so we can talk! I have class all day on Thursday but am free Friday and Sat.

One more sleep, one more sleep...

Things I love that begin with the letter "V"

Well, this is not something that begins with the letter "V" but it is how my morning began. A few summers ago when DD1 worked with me in the lab we would enter the parking structure and it is gated. So we would play "Arm or No Arm". Some mornings the arm either into or out of the parking structure would be broken as you can see in the photo below. This morning the arm to let people into the structure was in the "No Arm" status.



Now on to the letter "V". I found the blog Infinity More Monkeys, by Jennifer recently and she is assigning people that want to play along a letter. You get your letter and have to list 10 things you love that begin with that letter. Mine is "V". So here goes.

1-Very crazy friends:

I went over to my friend Mary's house last night because it seems like it has been an age since we have seen each other. She and her DH have a condo in Fla and well, who wouldn't choose Florida over Michigan in the winter. But I digress. So I had a birthday gift for her (her bday was in Jan) and it was an Ohio State wine vest. Here is her DH modeling it for her!!

I love my crazy friends, helps with down time, (LOL, right Mary??)



2-Vicki:

Vicki is my older sister. I love her very much. Even though I hardly ever see her anymore. She was born mentally retarded and now suffers from several mental illnesses. She lives in a group home about 4 hours away from where I live.

3-Violets:

I love violets and violas. They are such happy flowers. I love that they have faces and can grow anywhere. I have them all over my back yard! The violets invaded from the woods.

4-Violin:

I love the sound of the violin. DD2 played it for many years. She is a sucker for that instrument and probably wishes she had not given it up. It's funny but I always think of her whenever I hear the violin. Her favorite music as a tot was the Nutcracker Ballet. And her favorite video was Fantasia (can you imagine a 3 year old watching that movie over and over??)

5-Vacuum:

Just ask my family, I am a freak about vacuuming. I love my vacuum! (Actually I love DD1's vacuum the most, but someday I will own that kind).

6-Vikings:

I love Vikings. They are my heritage. Most of my family on both sides are from Sweden, with a little Irish and Welsh and Scottish. All the Celtic nations! I've posted about this before but Dupuytren's contracture:
A syndrome where your fingers curl up and a hard knot forms in the palm of your hand, is often found in people with Viking heritage. Both my grandfather and father had this. So we come from good Viking stock!!

7-Velvet:

OK, so what's not to love about velvet? It is so luxurious and fabulous. MMMMM, velvet!

8-Vixen:

The BEST reindeer ever or who I like to be sometimes, giggle!

9-Vintage:

I love, love, love vintage stuff. I have lots of vintage furniture at my house. I own a lot of vintage linens and a few vintage quilts. Vintage is awesome. (Will I be vintage since I am turning 50 this year??)

10-VACATION:

The BEST "V" word of all! Speaking of which, I am going to be going on vacation with LTW on Wednesday of next week. We will be at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show from Wednesday until Saturday. I am so excited! We are both taking a class with Marsha McCloskey on Feathered Stars. LTW is in the 2 day class and I am in the 1 day class. I am really looking forward to the trip.

Anyway, I don't know how much I will be able to post while I am away so hopefully I will have some more posts before we leave but I will be sure to take lots of photos!!

Oh yes,a BIG thank you to Amy at The Calico Cat for helping me to learn how to upload from Flickr!!

Oh Happy Day!!

Maybe I should have said Happy Night? (Not whatever YOU are thinking either, DH was out of town). The shop I had DH take my Bernina to (Bits-N-Pieces) called last night and she was ready for me to go and pick her up. *Insert Happy Dance Here* YEAH!! So what was wrong? I hear you ask? The plastic hook inside where you insert the bobbin and case broke. Yep that's right it BROKE!! Now these machines are not cheap so how come they put a plastic part that could break in a spot where a sharp object would be hitting it?? Who knows. I do know that I had Jay (my favorite repair guy) replace it with a steel one. It cost a little bit more but I don't think it will need to be replaced for awhile either.

I brought Kara's quilt and my Texas quilt to show the shop owner, Julie. She has taken some of LTW's business cards but had not seen any of her custom work. So that was fun to show and tell. Then we 3 (me, Julie and Jay) began talking politics. They already know my political viewpoint so it was safe to talk with them. I ended up there talking with them for over an hour!! Then Jay, bless his heart, carried my machine out to the car and asked me where I got my
"nobama" bumper sticker and if I ever see another one would I get it for him. I said "sure" and we laughed. Since DH was overnight in NC it was a fun way to spend some time.

Speaking of fun...Mary will soon be posting the next installment of MY Neighborhood. So hurry right over there and get the next patterns!! If you click on the house link it will take you directly to her website with the patterns. Go on now, get going!!

I also found a cool Ric Rac site from Very Mary's Blog. You may *need* t0 go there and check it out. Who knew there were so many colors?? Now they just need to work on a search and the different widths!

Ok so I also held a quilt hostage last night. kind of exciting, right? My friend Charlotte, was coming over to pick up a quilt that I had gotten back from LTW for her. Well, Charlotte had my last 2 chicks that I needed to have to be able to put that whole quilt together. Well, what's a gal to do? "They don't have their feet and legs yet." She said. "I'll put them on", I said. "but you can't have your quilt until you bring them to me", I said. So she did! Now I should be able to put that quilt together this weekend.

DD2 is coming home tonight and we will be having her favorite thing that I make, chicken pot pie (from scratch) for dinner, then going to see "He's just not that into you". A friend of hers gave her that book when she and her long term BF broke up, before she went away to college. They were going to different colleges. It helped. We said that if it became a movie we would go see it together. So TONIGHT! Then we have Big Tens for swimming tomorrow am to watch her friend Kara swim. She is such a sweetie. I really like her mom too and will get to see her and go out for lunch with them both after the meet. I will get to give Kara her quilt on Sat too.

What are you all doing this weekend?? Hope you have fun!!

New Hair!!

I just thought I would share my new hair cut with all of you. I HATE pictures of myself but here you go. I like it better this morning now that I can style it myself. I want to grow it out to one length so the "bangs" are still growing.

I really like the back too. I asked my stylist, Melissa, to help me out with my HUGE amount of gray hair that is growing in too. I want to let it come in but I really wanted it to blend with the rest of my hair. So she gave me a few ashy colored highlights and everyone at work today just thought the gray was the highlights too!! SUPER!! Thanks, Melissa.
I am so happy with how it turned out. I just had to share.

No quilty news today. I was such a slug last night. I did receive a phone call from a woman that works in the religious ed office at the church asking for a quilt to donate to Relay for Life. She wanted the word HOPE somehow incorporated into it. *Of course she did* right? Cuz that's no extra work or anything. So about 6 months ago or so a man came to the church quilt group to donate a ton of fabric and tools from his mother that had passed away. I have been slowly going through the bags and having some of the CL's put the quilts together that have blocks made. I just got one back from LTW that was a chrun dash and it came out quite well, so I thought of that one immediately. BUT...no "HOPE" on that quilt. So...I came in to work today and spoke with my friend, Robin, who is a graphic artist and she made me the letters so I can copy them. I will use sewable fusible interfacing and sew it to the fabric, cut and turn the letters. This will allow me to hand applique the letters to the upper left top of the quilt in the border. I even managed to find the same pink fabric that is in the churn dash to use for the letters!

Now, speaking of Jack, (the man who brought us all his mom's "stuff")...One of the CL's suggested that we take some pictures of the quilts we have finished and make a little photo album for Jack. I think that is a wonderful idea. So next week I plan to photograph what we already have finished and start with those. As we finish more I can add them. That way if we give some away, I will already have pictures. neat, huh?

Wowsa!

I was online with a friend's son this am (they live in Australia) and he sent me a photo of this rabbit.  I have never seen a rabbit this large before.  It is real, not photo shopped.  It is a German giant and his name is Herman.  Just thought I'd share some of my weird morning!

Seeing Double?

I came home from work yesterday and this was what was greeting me!  (Of course you can't see the other 3 and the dog but they are all there too!)  Hallie is sitting on my cutting mat and Autumn is on the piano.  Aren't they so cute?
I really wanted to watch Grisom's last show on CSI so I was kind of a slug.  I began the TV-a-thon at 8pm and finished around 10pm.  I did manage to get my block 6 finished for the Designer Mystery BOM though.  I really liked this block.  It is so beautiful when it is done and it was not too difficult to do.  I am trying to decide whether I want to participate in The Fat Quarter Shop's 2009 Designer Mystery BOM.  Are any of you doing it?  It is all stars?

It is -8 degrees F and with wind chill it is -27 degrees F so it is VERY, VERY cold today!  Although not as cold as this!  This was taken in 1911 and it is a very frozen Niagara Falls!

Hopefully it won't get that cold here! LOL

Quilter's Show and Tell

My good friend and LAQ, Liz the Quiltin' Whiz just sent me to a blog that is all about quilty show and tell.  This is the link

www.quiltersshowandtell.com

Anyone, and I mean anyone, can submit photos and stories about quilts that you have made.  You *need* to go and check it out!!  She wants to make the site a place where we will all get to see more of everyone's quilts daily.

Why are you still here reading???  Get going and check it out.  In addition, submit some of your quilts to the site!! = )

The weekend

I had a good weekend (mostly that is) and thought I would share it with all of you.  These photos are not in the right order, but I'm too lazy to change them, hahaha.  I bought some fabrics to make cushion covers for my outdoor furniture.  I have had them for some time but really didn't feel like making them, until Friday!  So now you get to see them in all their cushiony glory!!  

The ones on the 4 chairs are 2 this blue and 2 like the green one on the loveseat.  (Can you see the cat's rain haven in the background?  I leave it out there so if they get caught in the rain they can stay dry!  I also saw some really neat lace curtain panels in Shipshewana with a not so cool price of $42 each.  I really liked how they put ribbon on each side and then pleated them from the bottom and tied them with the ribbons.  DH was all for buying them but I knew I could make them for much less.  So I went to JAF and got some embroidered organza and the ribbon and made them for less than $10 per window!  Much better than $42 per window, dont'cha think??  I have to get the spring rods for them and once I hang them I will photograph them and you will be able to see them too!
Chris brought the State flag out and sat it on the patio table and guess who decided that flag needed some orange cat fur on it?  Yessiree...Ole' Jack himself.  Just marking his flag!!
Now here is where the weekend got much better.  DD2 wanted me to go to East Lansing on Sat and pick her up after work then drive to Grand Rapids to see DD1 and my dad and sister, then back to EL and then back to my own home.  DD2 did not get out of work until 2pm so we got started around 2:30.  I drove the back way up to EL as it is a pretty drive and I could stop at the quilt shop.  I stopped at Jennifer's Quilt shop and unbeknownst to me they were having a sale to honor her being in business for 3 years.  So if you spent $50 or more you got 20% off your total purchase.  I was trying sooooo hard to behave and not spend much when she had to go and tell me that!  So I just *had to* support my LQS, right?  I have not had a chance to take any pictures of the stuff I bought but I will do that tonight.  She had also baked some pretty incredible chocolate chip cookies so I took 2 and continued on my way.  Well, as I was driving on this 2 lane highway I realized that I was going over the speed limit and began slowing back to 55 just as the cop radar-ed me speeding.  What rotten luck.  I have NEVER, in my whole life, had a speeding ticket!  I intend to send it in as guilty with an explanation and hope they just have me pay the fine and not give me the points.  I figure it can't hurt, right?  So continued on to pick up DD2.  She proceeded to talk my ears off for the next hour and a half (boy I sure do miss that, no seriously, I really miss our talks!)  Then we ended up in GR to see Dad and DD1. We ended up eating dinner at the Chinese Buffet.  There is my dad, then my sister, then DD1 and DD2.  
My mom was a hoarder.  It's true, the woman NEVER threw anything away.  I don't think DD2 has ever been in the basement at grandpa's house...until Saturday!  She had a blast!!  She discovered these things, I think they are called records (ROFLOL!!!)  OMG grandpa even had a...gulp, way to play them, an actual record player!!  Well that came home with us and is now at school with her and she is sooo thrilled about it!!  I go down the basement every time I go to visit and see what I need to bring home with me too.  (Kim, it is kind of like thrifting but for free).  So Very Mary, guess what I put my hot little hands on for you??  Yep, Saturday Evening Posts, some other old magazines and a few patterns.  It might cost you a mint for the shipping so let me know if you still want them before I go to the post office, ok?

The BEST part is that I have been looking and looking for an old quilt that my grandma made.  You have probably heard my story about this already but for those of you who haven't, here is the RDCV.  I used to sleep under the quilt as a little girl in our camper.  I would fall asleep looking at all the fabrics trying to find 2 that matched or choose a favorite.  My mom re-covered it with this funky pre-printed crazy quilt fabric (icky).  I look every time I go and have yet to find it.  Well, are you ready for this...I FOUND IT!!!!!  I am too scared to take it apart.  I'm afraid the memories I have of it won't be what it really is.  I know, silly huh?  My plan is to open the newer fabric and take out the prize tonight.  I can barely stand it.  I will take photos of both so you can see what I see too.  

Looks like a fun filled evening!!

Updates

So I haven't blogged for a few days and now look at all the pictures I have!! I had a chance to make some of the 9 patches I am doing for my sister's Posie Patch quilt. I found some fabulous white that looks like it has dandelions on it (you always have weeds in your flower beds, right?) I had an opportunity to lay a little of it out and here is what it is going to look like. What do you think?

I found this little lacrosse guy online and ordered the software and sent it to Liz (she not only quilts but does machine embroidery, who knew?) I need her to make a few color changes but this will be my little (or not really so little) lacrosse player. Since he got the OK to play again we have had a game and he played yesterday. The whole game we only scored 3 times and he made 2 of the 3 goals. He kept going off the field and we didn't know why coach was taking him off. After the game we asked the coach and he told us it wasn't him! DS needed to catch his breath and get water as he has not been able to run at practice for the last almost 3 weeks. The coach said, "Are you kidding me, I told him to stay out there, we needed him on the field!". LOL, makes a mama glad!
I also promised to show you the fabric I bought when I went with Charlotte and so here it is, first the fish, for DH's someday fish quilt.
This one doesn't show very well but it is really nice in person, very soft.
These next photos are from Karen's bridal shower. She is my friend from Brazil that I made the garter for, remember now? Isn't this pretty? It was before everyone got there.
Everyone brought food so I thought I would show you what the food table looked like. Obviously we didn't starve, laugh!

This is Karen, the poor unsuspecting bride. We made a special "bride's chair" for her to sit in. Apparently there is a custom in Brazil where everyone draws a number and then "decorates" the bride, so this is the before.
Oh, yes, I thought you might like to see the famous Robin. She is my boss's wife and my friend. She is a fabulous graphic artist also. She helps Liz and I design quilting and I help her design her quilts. It is a good relationship! She does great work and is very easy to work with. I do talk about her so thought you might like to have a face to put with a name.
So here is the after! She was a good sport. That side pony tail really "made" the bride!*VBS*
Here she is modeling with her "bow boquet" that the infamous Robin made from all the bows from the shower. Leave it to Robin to make something so artistic from bows and ribbons!!
Here is the lovely Karen modeling the garter I made.

Well, I have to go and clean the house now (as DH is making a LOT of noise and making me feel guilty for blogging). I don't know if I will post again until I return from Paducah so have a good week.

My Red Shoes

I know it has taken me awhile to post a pic of my new red shoes (clogs really) but aren't they cute?  There is a strap across the top of my foot but I am not talented enough to raise both pant legs and use the camera at the same time!

I got these in Shipshewana and I like them almost as much as my green ones.  

I finished the back for TUQ last night and brought it all for Liz to work her magic on.  I used a light aqua print for the border that I really liked and it had these orange viney things running all around on it with teal and orange flowers on it too.  I am uploading a photo of it right now. It is one of the fabrics in this ugly quilt I actually like! 

 I loved the aqua dot fabric too (that was Kelsey's favorite one also).  I actually *bought* that one to go with the other ones.  So I bought 3 fabrics. excluding the border to add to the FQ's I was given.  I think I will have to tell my friend, Ellen, that if she wants to buy me fabric for Christmas or my bday, please buy something I like not "something outside your comfort zone".  I would *never* do that to anyone, especially now that I know how it is to work in that context.  

I couldn't get a good photo of the flimsy as it is very BIG.  I will see if I can get Robin and Liz to hold it up so I can take a photo and post it later!  Have a good day!!

Stargate-The Ark of Truth!!!

Warning   If you are not a fan of the show Stargate you may want to skip this post!

OMG!!!  It is *finally* out!!!  I was so excited to get home from work today so I could watch it!!  for anyone that does not know, I love the shows Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.  (Especially SG-1)  It ended in it's 10th season and so I have to reconcile myself with only Atlantis but since one of the main characters from SG-1 came over to Atlantis it is much more fun to watch.  So back to the movie.

I was all set to make dinner and settle in but nooooo.  My DH was watching an episode of SGA so I just concentrated on dinner.  Then my all time favorite episode of Stargate SG-1 came on... The Loop!  I love that one.  So I had to wait until that was over to begin the movie.  I decided to put together the rest of the 4 block units on TUQ so got that done during the commercials.  Finally it was time to watch the movie.  Oh no, but wait... the DVD player had become un-cabled from the TV and needed to be fixed. About 30 minutes later it was hooked up.  We put the movie in and the sound was screwed up, ARGHHHH. So DH had to mess around with that WHILE THE MOVIE WAS ON!!!  *Finally* it really was all set and we could settle in and watch it.  

The SG-1 team was re-united and the movie ROCKED!!  The scenery was amazing, the music was sweeping, the dramatic tension was fantastic and the fight scenes were fabulous.  I loved it and can't wait to watch it again along with all the "stuff" that comes on a DVD.  I can't wait for the second film to come out.  This review was pretty good.  There is good info on the show also at the MGM site.

Cats N Stuff

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was pretty productive. I got home from work early on friday so I finished my crazy rail quilt top. I will try to get a photo today before Liz comes to get it. I went to East Lansing with my Dh to pick up DD2. We went out to dinner with her and her boyfriend and we had a really good time. Sat was LOTS os shopping. DS needed a shirt and tie for his homecoming dance that night so he went and picked them out and I had DD go and purchase them while I went with my DF Charlotte to a quilt shop. I got the cutest ghost fabric! I will try to remember to get a photo and post it tomorrow.



I then went to the mall with DD, and to Sam's club and then to the grocery store. I was exhausted, but i worked on some of my swap pumpkins. When I got up on Sun am I took a quick picture of my pink Morning Glories for Jeanne at Luv2stitch. For some reason the frost seems to have killed the purple ones. They sure are beautiful at the height of summer!


I was sitting on my couch in the FR with an old quilt (a cat quilt) over me and guess who decided to join in on some quilt action...that's right, Jack. I got up to go and do something and he stayed where he was napping so I took a few pictures. He is so sweet!




On Sun am he decided to help me get my batting ready to send to Liz with my quilt.



Then last night when I stepped away from the pumpkins again, Aiden decided my sewing bag was the puuurrrrfect head rest while she napped on the couch. Oh to lead the life of a cat!

Fun Stuff

Hey, have you ever wondered what the icons on your desktop do for fun while you're away? A hidden camera captured the action here http://www.xs4all.nl/~jvdkuyp/flash/see.htm Check it out!