Box of the Month

This is not a New Year's Resolution... since most of you know I am fundamentaling against them and almost any quest for perfection. I have simply been musing of ways I can stay close to the grandkids since seeing them only once or twice a year doesn't seem like enough.

This month I made them books they can have their parents help them write what the best part of the day was for them. Then the rest of the "stuff" they can use to decorate it up. Hopefully I can read all about it when I visit next. Looks like this may be a gift for the parents. No pressure, but there better be something in those books, damn it.

So It's Been Awhile

Nothing in my world changes at a fast pace.... however I have been busy. Most of you know, my mom fell and fractured her pelvis..... again..... this time in the front and back and had to have surgery, but is now back at the Berkshire rehab recuperating. I have been trying to finish up alot of my projects, and all of mom's as well, so I can start out the new year a little fresher.

We... ok, Ken..... hung up some of my wallhangings I did. This one is over the piano and the pattern is called a bargello. We still have a couple more to do.

We got a dress-up doll for Kenzie for Christmas.... so I have been making little outfits. I hope she likes it cause I want to make it more clothes.... it was so fun.

Pacific International Quilt Festival

We just returned home from California and I'm happy to announce I won the blue ribbon for the Best Use of Embellishment on a Traditional Quilt. It is really fun to win things..... I'm not that accustumed to it. On the way home it felt like I had had a magical little quilt moment and now I would go home and do my regular quilts. Ken did an amazing job of keeping me company at the fair and offering thoughtful comments on all the quilts. However, he did have to call it a day when I said I was going to look at the vendors for things I just couldn't live without. He went to the motel and played his guitar. The other bonus of the weekend is Ryan flew up and spent the day with us on Sat. It was really, really good to see him.

The other pictures are a few of my favorite from the show....


You can't see it on here but the whole thing was quilted with a gold metallic tread.




This is the one I voted for..... for viewer's choice

Fall Retreat

Last week my quilt group had a fall retreat at Brenda's house. For 3 days we get together and sew, laugh, learn something new and basically make fun of each other. It is a great group that I have learned so much from, and amazingly with 30 members we have no drama among us.

This is a Mexican Star pattern that Yvonne taught us.

This afternoon Ken and I are leaving for Santa Clara, CA for the Pacific International Quilt Competition where my spirit quilt was juried into their show. I don't know how excited Ken is, but I can't wait to see all the quilts and visit all the vendors with cool stuff I just can't live without. The bonus of the trip is Ryan is flying up on Saturday to spend the day. That should be alot of fun.

Last week I went to the Utah Quilt Guild Quilt Festival and had so much fun. I took a couple of classes, attended luncheon lectures by the National Teachers, enjoyed the company of tons of people with our common interest..... got to be with lots of members of my quilt group. I will definetly go again. I'm hooked.

The bonus of the week is I won 1st place in my category of special effects. And when I was leaving I saw Melody Crust (the national teacher expert of embellishing) who is totally intimidating and unapproachable..... so I mustered all my courage and asked her if I could make an appointment for her to look at my quilt and give me feedback. Long story short..... I spent about 45 minutes with her and Paula Nadelstern giving me good ideas of how to improve it for the next show it is going to.

I love quilting.

Happy Birthday, Ken!!

Ken announced, starting today, this year was going to be all about him. Heaven knows he deserves it. However, Annie and I have been basking in the sunlight for so many years, I'm not sure the rays can glow in a different direction. I don't know what brought this on.... I suspect the previous pictures had something to do with it. But wait.... I hope that doesn't mean he won't do the vacuuming.... clean up after dinner.... share his candy bars.... or remember to water the plant out front because I always forget. So at least for today..... this is your day. Happy Birthday!!

Getting Caught Up

I'm trying to get a few of the things that I like, quilted and done. If only I could stay cleaned up. This is a quilt I did for the table. It was a technique we learned at my quilt groups spring retreat. And now it's almost time for our fall one. I even cleared off the table and bought a pedestal candle, so it would look like a grown-up house.

And here it is today. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to keep my quilting projects in one room. I hate being in my quilt room downstairs all the time, especially when Ken is home. I like to listen to him play his quitar while I sew. Don't you think that's a noble enough reason to excuse me from keeping things all neat and tidy?