8.31.17

This pin I made for a work friend's birthday. I put it here today, because in order to work on it, I added to the already FULL dining room table another layer of "stuff I'm working on". Complete disarray. There are at least 5 projects layered, inspiring fabrics, half of my beads, as well as my largest sewing machine.

I have a sister-in-law-in-law,  HM, who is the sister of one of my actual sisters-in-law. 

I guess that's how we refer to those types of relatives? It makes sense to me. 

Anyway, she and my sister-in-law, VM, measured my spare room and assessed my needs for a work space a couple of weeks ago. 

She is a very talented architect and room designer. She is going to draw up a plan for me and help me figure out which stages to complete first so I have a work space that is functional. 

QuiltyFriend would periodically come over and help me overhaul where I stored things, and at the end of my time in GA, she was tremendous help figuring out how to pack them. But she is 2400miles away and I need serious help. 

When HM came to measure we discussed some ideas: install the rest of the flooring leftover from the downstairs after ripping out the carpet, use curtains over the closet door, hanging wall cabinets on one wall, closet overhaul. I can't wait to see the final plans

8.30.17

KURIOS TONIGHT! 

I love the Cirque du Soleil shows. 

I've seen La Nouba, Love, and Zumanity. 

Tonight, I will add KURIOS to the list! So enjoyable. Maybe I can see it one more time before it leaves on tour.

8.29.17

TEA TIME TUESDAY!

Don't know if Stash Tea Mate' will be a flavor my nieceK will enjoy, but I have a feeling we will find out this week. 

I pick nieceK up from the airport today and we will have a week together!

8.28.17

MONDAY MANTRA

I am a strong, capable woman.

As I said last week, it's a tough time of year, but I'm staying ahead of it.

8.21.17

Taking a break. This time of year is a little bit difficult. I may be back on at the end of the week. 

8.19.17

Thought I found a fossil at the beach. 

Nope. 

It is a piece of some kind of volcanic happening. It's still exciting!

Although, I think it looks like a jellyfish in suspended animation.

8.18.17

 Three days off in a row! 





I managed to do all my errands, pay all my bills, work on the patio garden weeding, 

spend time with friends, entertain, and spend huge hunks of time on the computer.

I also spent time looking at my beads and embellishments for my elephant series. I'm not saving ANYthing anymore. If I like something from my stash, by golly, I'm going to use it.

Thanks, SwedishCB, for reminding me to live in the now.

8.17.17

Elephant #8. I went to my guild's Hand Sew group and finished him up.

I've actually been working on Elephant #0's quilting and embellishing, but that is a looooong process and I don't have a lot to show for the hours I have put in.

Tonight is the guild meeting and I am looking forward to it.

8.16.17

Seven more days until I get a third estimate on air-conditioning. Bad news--reviews of ductless heat and air say one should rely on back-up heating. Too bad for me, my back-up heating doesn't work. Good news, I have a tiny space heater that is very efficient and I can buy another this coming winter.

 Also good news, hot weather is very good for sitting still and working on very small projects that don't entirely cover your lap with a huge heavy quilt. 

Back to the elephants! This is number 7. She's a bit wrinkly, but will iron out nicely, I think. Lovely color dots but terrible batik fabric. This was some of the cheap stuff. 

Number 8 is red but not ready.

8.15.17

TEA TIME TUESDAY

So, I wanted lavender tea, like I posted about last week. But when it came right down to it, none of the grocery stores on my errand day had any. It was so hot, I came home, despite the fact that I wanted the lavender tea because it is so hot. 

8.14.17

MONDAY MANTRA

8.12.17

Happy Saturday! I have the day off! I hope to attend a Hand Sew group for my guild. Here is some doggie fun for the weekend. 

From Sisters 2017, this is a Round-Robin quilt submitted by Catherine Garner of Portland, Oregon. 

Notice the barbed wire fence around the pup.

Garner worked on this quilt with friends from Anchorage: Cathy Beattie, Janna Chandler, Linda Hartley, Lael Marlow, and Elise Rose. 

I believe the dog was the beginning of the project. 



The quilting was done by Marybeth O'Haloran.

I always think I would like to participate in a Round-Robin group, but I'm not sure if I have the confidence in my ability to see a project through to the end. I would hate to let someone down.

8.11.17

Back to the Sisters Quilt Show.

This quilt was made by a Pat Busby, a member of Cover to Cover. 

The quilt is called Fall Harvest.


Cover to Cover members all read the same book and then make a small art quilt in response.

You probably guessed that the pumpkins caught my eye. Also, look at those flowers!

They read MY KITCHEN YEAR by Ruth Reichi

8.10.17

Today's post is from the 2015 Sacred Threads Exhibit in Haysville, N.C. This quilt was made by Susan Leonard from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. I especially like the Kantha style stitching and the special, ethnic fabrics.

Susan Leonard's Artist Statement:
"In my adult life, I have finally come to trust others. This was not the case in my childhood. Different from my independent, youthful self, I now embrace community.  I have formed and joined circles to support my art, nurture my spirituality, and to provide periodic coaching.  

These are my Sacred Circles.  My piece, SACRED CIRCLES, is a composition of gifted fabric from my Sacred Circle of artist friends.  Silk from Thailand, India, France, and the United States - all from friends - is blended together and represents my love, respect, and joy in community with these amazing women."

8.9.17

Here is something especially for my QuiltyFriend and my old Applique' group. These are pictures of a quilt hand quilted by a Mennonite Ladies' Circle, photographed at the 2017 Sisters Quilt Show.

8.8.17

TEA TIME TUESDAY

Ease headaches with iced lavender tea. 





I found out about it HERE. 




I've been having a lot of headaches and the heartysoul.com website explains how the tea can lower heightened blood pressure. 

I expect to give it a try in the next two weeks.

I don't have any food-grade lavender, but I know where to buy it bagged.

8.7.17

MUSSELS to make you strong enough to power through the day!

Monday Mantra thought for the day.

We have really enjoyed our UtahFamily's visit. 

We got to go to the beach and I stepped into the Pacific Ocean. 

I did get a picture of some of the people I love feeling the 57 degree water circle their toes.

I wish I had thought to take a picture of my own feet in the water. 

Not like the Atlantic beaches I know

8.3.17

Hello, I've missed you. 

Former SouthFloridaFamily-now-UtahFamily is visiting and we spent some time looking at where I work. 

I was proud to show off DONNA, dressed by my very talented co-worker, Sandy. 

I wish I had a photo of the pleats under the overskirt. It is a lovely creation.

Although I haven't lived in Florida for eight years, I still have connections there, largely via Facebook. That's how I found out about Tropical Storm Emily. I'm sorry Florida had all the rain. I miss the rain. Unless you live here, in the Pacific Northwest, you probably don't know we are having what is becoming our annual heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.

It has been a challenge to stay cool, but we are doing it. I expect to have air conditioning installed this fall--hopefully by winter, because the heat does not work in some of the rooms and the HVAC guys will take care of all of that. 

I love my 1960s townhouse style condo, but I do not love lack of air conditioning. It almost kept me from pursuing its purchase, but I had looked so long at so many unsatisfactory pieces of real estate, that I thought I could work with this one flaw. 

Besides, I thought I would have worked out the air conditioning issue by May. Instead, I have some amazing new plumbing. Certainly a bigger priority.