Fat Quarter Quilt Farm

Thread Emergency!!!!!

2011-02-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

So!

Pretty darn excited to be quilting this BEAUTY!!
I was really surprised to find out that it was a KIT (!)
My customer, Mary has excellent taste in Antique quilts as well.
http://www.thequiltpatternshoppe.com/shop/product/alliance-collections-for-a-cause/
I dont think the picture on the website does this justice ,IMHO.

I really love this one!!

I had 3 different Aurifil Mako Brown threads I was considering using. I SHOULD have used the 2 on the left. One on top and the other in the bobbin. But Noooooooooooooo.

I decided to go with the one in the center because I already had 3 bobbins wound that matched it and thought that would be enough.( duh!)

I was wrong. I am one third of the way through quilting and even with changing the top thread to the other color when quilting the 9 patches, I
still wont have enough .

If the backing fabric had been a PRINT I may have been able to substitute the other color without it being noticable.

I called my usual thread place "Bigfork Bay Cotton Company"
http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ and spoke with David who was crazy helpful , even giving me the name of other shops that carried Aurifil when they didn't have what I needed.

But then I remembered
"That Thread Shop"http://thatthreadshop.com/ located in LeMont, IL, which is so much closer to me .I called them right up and lo and behold they had my color !(1318) in the weight I needed! ( 40) and were super friendly .

THREAD EMERGENCY AVOIDED PEOPLE!!!! WHEW!!

We chatted about the the next quilt shows they were going to be vending ( Lancaster.Pa , Bloomington,In and Cincinnati,Oh)

and how we were both bummed about the International Festival moving from Chicago to Cincinnati.( Chicago is so much closer for us both)

And.......as an added BOUNUS..to this saga... that SATEEN..... is looking pretty darn GREAT!! IMHO!! LOL!

Who knew?! Now I can say "Sateen is my friend!"

Secret Squirrel Santa revealed:Project #1

2011-01-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

December was the month for commission quilts!
Besides the usual "Quilt for Hire" routine, I had agreed to custom build 2 quilts for former classmates. Because of Facebook they had seen examples of my work and had inquired about the possibility of making custom quilts.

(name can be seen upside down on the back of the quilt in the front upturned corner)

This first one was decided upon early in October but was to be made and delivered at the very last minute before Christmas as a surprise gift. The fabrics were picked by the recipients Mom ( dyed with this project in mind)via secret Facebook messages and photos, as was the entire process .Each stage of creation was documented and she was excited to be able follow along with the progress.

Fabric choices and shadow waaabits...

Chosen fabric layout..

Deh Puppeh heps....

Hand dyed Fabric pieced for top..

Variegated thread choices ( all King Tut cottons)

Quilting..

More Quilting..

Christmas message detail..

This was made for her daughter Kara, who is attending college in California. Her name and Christmas message from her Mother and the date are all quilted within the design of the quilting.

Binding...

Finished quilt detail shot..

Finished Quilt !!

It was really great to get reacquainted with my old friend and classmate!We realized we had not seen each other since once a long long time ago at the grocery store when her daughter was just a pre-schooler and before then, High School graduation! We both felt and agreed because we had been friends, the meaning, the making and the gifting of the quilt was even more special for the both of us!

Shhhhh...... Secret Santa Squirrel!!

2010-12-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

HO! HO! HO!
Lots of extra secret quilting activities this past month down on the Farm!!And...... it's all been business related!! Longarm quilting AND Custom Quilt Building!!
The custom quilts are super classified TOP SECRET SANTA SQUIRREL STUFF... so I cant show any pics till Dec 26th.
Through the magic of Facebook, I have been reconnecting with old classmates from Kindergarden to College. Two of these friends asked me to build custom quilts as Christmas gifts for their loved ones. This was pretty exciting because ; I had a personal connection to them as friends and I was adding to the list of items and goals I had intended to accomplish this year.
Big Fat Wooty!!!!
I CAN show some pics of a T-shirt quilt I quilted for a friends son who graduated from college this year and landed an awesome job in his field.
He is a major dude and a real character.
Unfortunately he is also a KISS fan.
This quilt also led me to implement a new policy for 2011.
Because I was around back in the late 70's and nothing has changed. I still dont like them.

..... with a bonus "Rudy"
It's the "No KISS T-Shirt " policy..because I can't deal with the instant "Ear Worm".
"Keep on Shoutin.. You keep on Shoutin!!! What!?""

GFG Raffle Quilt Ticket info!

2010-10-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

REMEMBER THIS VINTAGE BEAUTY??
I just heard from the ladies in charge of the raffle and they have sent along this information . The quilt measures approx 95"X80"
It only TAKES ONE TO WIN!!
( complete info at bottom of page.. and Good Luck!)

QUILT RAFFLE TICKETS FOR SALE!!! $2 FOR ONE TICKET OR $5 FOR 3 TICKETS.
Send SASE and check made out to "Nativity Prayer Shawl Ministry" to :
Sue Leimbacher 6047 Old Porter Rd.Portage, IN 46368
Drawing is December 19th!

APQS SALE on Houston DEMO MODELS and BLISS SYSTEM!

2010-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me start off by saying I "drove " the Millennium with the new BLISS SYSTEM at the Chicago show this past Spring and was FLOORED. I MUST have this new upgrade. It's like driving a "hot knife through butter!!!"
So here's the DEAL on the Houston Demo Models SALE:
( ...before it hits the general QUILTING public)
A $500 fully-refundable deposit is required to secure a machine--and they are limited--so act fast. All customers must take possession of the machine before November 30, 2010, or the order will be canceled and deposit refunded. Machines are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Demo Millennium with Standard Table
Machine value is $20,000Customer gets
* Choice of 10, 12, or 14 foot table
* Full 8-year warranty
* $1,500 cash off
* Free Quilt Glide ($1250 value)
* Free Motorized Fabric Advance ($1350 value)
Customer pays only $15,900

Demo Freedom SR with Standard Table
Machine value is $19,400Customer gets
* Choice of 10, 12, or 14 foot table
* Full 8-year warranty
* $1,800 cash off
* Free Quilt Glide ($1250 value)
* Free Motorized Fabric Advance ($1350 value)
Customer pays only $15,000

Demo Lenni with Standard Table
Machine value is $10,900Customer gets
* Choice of 10 or 12 foot table
* Full 8-year warranty
* $1,000 cash off
Customer pays only $9,900

Any of these DEMO machines can be put on a Bliss table for an additional $1000
New Machines ordered at this time can also get the BLISS upgrade for the crazy sale price of 1000!!
CALL ME @ 219-575-4276 OR EMAIL ME... Fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com to place a deposit to secure your DEMO machine.. or order a NEW ONE UPGRADED WITH BLISS for only $ 1000 extra!!
HAPPY QUILTING!!

Shipshewana Antique Fair 2010

2010-09-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Once again... I'm behind on my posting... it has a month since we we're actually there...but I wanted to share this years outing with "Blogland".

I love the sign..."Tourists" indeed!

Remeber when these were going for around $1 ?? ...Still always enjoyable to look at..

I believe my great grandmother wore a hat like this to my parents wedding..... I should have bought it and wore it to quilt guild... or at least w-mart!!

This vendor had a fabulous display of Vaseline Glass... and ws so gracious to let me take a few shots...divine!!

... and then there was this mini monster!! I totally missed the shot of him yawning... he was just a baby but what a character!!

Quilts!! This one was at the Antique mall..

No trip to Shipshe is complete withut a visit to see Rebecca Haarer and her drool-worthy selection of wares...... Sandy has thrown self control out the window..... haha

We wrapped up the day with a trip to the mini-burg of Emma , just a few miles out from Shipshe for some old fashioned hand dipped Ice Cream....
call it another BIG FAT DAY!!

My FAVORITE part......

2010-08-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is a VINTAGE GFG ( GRANDMOTHERS FLOWER GARDEN ) that I just finished quilting for a Church Raffle.The church is in Portage Indiana and hopefully I will have more information next week as to where to purchase tickets!!( stay tuned!)
It had been hand pieced, was donated to the church and was in great condition.These vintage tops are always my favorite thing to quilt!
I had some trouble with top thread breakage, probably due to the amount of seams every where. This was maddening as I had puposefully used a heavier weight of thread (Aurifil 28) on the top, and quilting on almost every flower had to be restarted. (&*%@*&!!!)
Victory was mine when I actually completed a flower with out breakage . That was maybe a dozen of them!
One of the flowers had been constructed with 3 prints.... which was fun..

I always wonder about the piecer of these lost tops and would hope to believe she would have been pleased with the finished result
But it was too windy today for a leisurely photo shoot and I always like to take my time because more than likely I never ever get to see them again once they leave the farm.
Sometimes ...that is sad because sometimes... of course I want to keep them!
But then that would require a "Quilt Room" that is envoironmentally controlled and closed off to 4 cats that like to take turns barfing on stuff.
Which explains the polarfleece blanket on my bed at the moment.

Perfect Wedding Shennannigans

2010-08-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

So here we are on the beach after the 2.5 minute ceremony.....there wasnt a lot of beach space that was workable so we had the ceremony up in the corner of the yard over looking the shorline.

My Brother in Law,Scott managed to score some extra happy meal items from the drive thru on their way up.... of course after I had pounded 2 Schlitz beers it seemed like a perfect photo op...

Whatever it was it was pretty damn funny ( again after 2 beers..)

Tailgate after ceremony ... it took me a Month(!) to get that beer..? go figure!!

Our interpretation of " American Gothic"... the Wedding Edition ...

Bridezilla countdown!

2010-07-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Hey!
True to form... it's been a while! The greenhouse gig has FINALLY ended for the season and I'm home longarming and reclaiming my much neglected living spaces.

We are off to Onekama,Michigan early Saturday morning to conclude what has been a verrry looong engagement.....( hello! 6 years!)
Initially the wedding was going to be a micro event.....with 2 other couples ( one of who was responsible for getting us togehter in the first place!)
When my Sister and Mom got wind of this .... they decided they were going to indeed "crash" this party and drag along my Dad and Bro-in law.
I's not that they werent invited.... this was just an opportunity to have a wedding "event".(.... our friends had rented this beach house for the week and invited us up for the weekend... and it just happened to be 4.5 hours away...)I was the one who added the wedding to the whole thing at the last minute( well sorta).
Of course I requested their approval prior.( uh YEAH how about a wedding during your LAKE VACATION?!?)
Really this was just an excuse to take the motorcycle on a much anticipated overnight trip...why not make it a combo platter??
2 birds,one stone.. in one weekend!!
My Mom was supposed to be coming to my house and watching over the farm zoo and quilting a quilt for a friend of hers on my Longarm while we were gone....
...and now that she is going to be up there for our wedding ..I had to enlist another backup zoo keeper in the form of my next door neighbor ( who's zoo I've watched many a time).
Naturally she is going to be out of town that weekend.. but her husband graciously volunteered.
So todays task is getting the inside dog quarters fit for public consumption.

This project is going to get a little.... ummm....HAIRY!

QUILTED AND FINISHED!!

2010-04-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

... AND HERE IT IS!

Ten Long Years in the Making

2010-01-21T19:32:00.000-08:00

Last week it hit me.
I was thinking about what project I would be taking to our Annual Winter Quilting retreat in Shipshewana......and I sighed to myself.
I had been dragging this quilt top with me every year since we started going...... and I was annoyed with myself and embarrassed that I still had not finished it.
Everyone else always has new and exciting projects finished and in progress to share when we go....and then theres me and my standard UFO.
Every two years our quilt guild has a show and I always think I'll have it done by then. Or the next show.
I was daydreaming at work looking at the show poster I had taped to my shelf at my desk.This years theme for our show is "Quilts in Bloom" and I had to smack myself upside my head. I thought "if I can't get this thing done for THIS show then I might as well stuff it into a giant ziploc and sell it at the guild flea market!"
And that was it! I was GOING TO GET IT DONE!!!!!( it's only been TEN YEARS..)
I headed to Jo-Anns after work to see what ric-rac they might have that would work with the leaves.... spent an evening auditioning different colors and the rest of the nights after work sewing them on. I was now ready to take this to our retreat,( again!) tape up a design wall, and start calculating how to sew the odd shaped blocks together. ( this started out as a pattern but soon morphed into a free for all with different types of base fabrics in linen and pique in various sizes)
This time this project was my ONLY FOCUS,... and I was a woman on a mission!
I knew if I didn't finish it THERE it wasn't going to happen because of all the quilts I still need to quilt for customers and my Mom in time for the Guild Show.
I'm left with sewing on ric rac for one of the leaves ( because I didnt have the thread color needed with me) and constructing the backing and binding....
oh, and QUILTING OF COURSE!
Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!

f"Hether"ed Heart Tote

2010-01-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!
Here are some shots of the quilting I did for my friend Hether.
This was exciting because she requested a totebag for herself after seeing the one I did for Polly. Hether and I were roomates way back in the day at Ball State University. We didn't know each other when we started out as roomies but became fast friends after realizing we had a few things in common .
Come to find out just recently ( she confessed to a commentor on my FB page).. I guess I made her laugh so hard she would pee her pants?? Seriously. Who knew?
Hethers last name those days was " Hartzer" and she loved all things pink and hearts ( remember this was the mid 80's, people). When she requested one I knew just what to do: what colors to use and how to quilt it!
Unfortunately I did not get any shots of this constructed ( due to my haste in getting it to her by the Holidays) nor her modeling it, ( but I have requested some of those photos)

I've got a few more totes quilted and in various stages of pre-construction, and will post here in between quilting Mom quilts( and pics of those too) for the Spring Quilt Show....

2009-09-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

Polly at the R.I shore modeling her "exclusive" hand-dyed, custom quilted birthday tote..FABULOUS DAHLINK!!!!!!!!!

Pre tote bag... just quilted fabric at this point.....

Late afternoon shadows really enhance the quilting.....

I'm taking orders.......

who wants one??????

Finished!

2009-09-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

well.. almost except for the binding in this last shot.... but my "binder"( Hi Mom!) has since reported it being completed...
Sometimes when working on a single project for an extended period of time ( it's been a year) it is hard to get a clear perspective . In this case the ( almost) finished project left me feeling a bit wanting. I was stressing it and second guessing myself ( unusual because 95% of the time the quilt top has been created by the client.....this was that 5% where is was all my design but still dictated by the scarves themselves) Then my Mom suggested we put it on the bed. That made ALL the difference.
Now I am confident that whichever residence( Texas or Indiana) it calls home , will be just the right place for it to be viewed used and enjoyed!
I learned a LOT about working with silk from this project,mostly that it has a mind of its own. I did enjoy the challenge of taking these "ruined" scarves and creating a new useful and ( hopefully) aesthetically pleasing piece that will remind the owner of the memories and events each scarf signifies.

Hello finish line!!!

2009-08-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

WOW.
I can't believe it's finally quilted!!
The 2 close ups are a more accurate color representation btw.....
I tried for a simple quilting approach.....letting the silk fabrics speak for themselves without a lot of competition form the quilting...
I cant decide if I've achieved this until I get to see it hung up outside in the daylight on my clothesline.
This may not happen tomorrow as the forecast is calling for rain.
Bummer!

ALMOST ready to quilt!!

2009-08-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

I decided to add the few remaining inches to the shortest strips.
Mostly because I usually ADD to things rather than remove or cut......
and isn't bigger better anyway?
Call me a "Size Queen", see if I care.....
So another day later and I FINALLY have the thing ready for the machine.....
should have the backing sewn up and then both pieces pinned to the machine.
That's the goal...but I seem to be moving at a slower pace these days!.......

kickin silk BUTT!

2009-08-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

SOOOOOOOOO. yeah its been AWHILE.......
I'm stationed at home for the next SEVERAL WEEKS.... RECOOPING FROM MAJOR SURGERY..
( doing fine though thankyouverymuch) and I've been struggling with this silk scarves project.... mostly because its slippery everywhich way I turn....
( on the face side AND the back fused lightweight interfacing side)
BUT........ I think I've got it nailed... I span the presser foot so that the fabrics are only Under the left set of the feeddogs and the right set is left to grip the presser foot which FINALLY is giving me a bite!!
I'm using pins and pulling the fabric as it comes out the back as well as holding the fabrics TAUT...BEFORE they go under the presserfoot!
WHEW!!

Still deciding on the final size of the finished product....( always am compelled to do BED SIZE STUFF !?)
If that is so then the strips will need to be added on to.....
Planning on buying backing fabric this weekend . I found some taupey asian influenced stuff at Shipshe last time I was there.....I'm hoping it will still be there to purchase....
Regardless,I will take this whole thing with me to perfect backing fabric auditions if need be....
Its a tough job but you know I'm up to the task.! (* wink!*)

2009-03-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sik Scarf "Upcycling" project continued...

2009-03-01T18:55:00.000-08:00

Remember these..?
Late last summer I took this pic of a collection of silk scarves that had sustained dye-transfer damage due to a water leak.I had been comissioned to create a new textile piece from these scarves.
Not having much experience working with silk, I soon discovered it was like working with ( for a lack of a better term) "fluttery butter".
This has been a slow on-going project due to many different factors, time and motivational challenges. ( wake me up when it's Spring...)
This time I actually took the advice of my mother (hi Mom!) and used a light fusible interfacing to stabilize them and so far so good.( it took a long while to fuse them and some scarves only partially, I wanted to get some of each fused so I could start visualizing and playing with color placement)...
so... I guess you could call this step 3 ( step 2 :Fusing just wasn't photo worthy..)
Next is step 4 color placement and construction
They are now cut into strips 9 and 4.5 inches ( of varying lengths). I will post pics of the next step as it is completed .....
Stay tuned for the ongoing drama of silk scarves upcycling project of 08/09.....

tRoll Road Blues .....Goodbye Kitty

2009-01-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I have a sad story to tell today. If you are a road worn commuter ...stick around for the first part at least......
If you are an animal lover or just extra sensitive to the plight of the helpless.. you may want to opt out of this one.
Also I get off on a few tangents...whatever .... I'm having a beer.
(I'm just sayin....)can't say I didn't warn you

Today was like any other day.. I took the "Indiana" tRoll road to work .I drive to my day job (one exit to the next exit) and live so close to it that I can hear it most of the time. In fact if my road would keep going it would t-bone smack into it. My towns exit is so close that It should me MY EXIT.
Hell it would even be a good job. No one is usually attending the booth itself, instead inside the buiding doing god knows what ( I would be hand sewing certainly) at 530 in the am.
Or... answereing the many many calls of the distressed commuters who CAN NOT GET THE SELF SERVICE MACHINE TO TAKE THEIR FREAKIN CARD
OR just deciding not to show up at all ( or having their hours cut) and let the distressed motorist make the call on whether to keep trying to pay or do the drive and dash.
I do need to mention that the "Indiana" tRoll road was indeed SOLD by our gov. Mitch Daniels to an AUSTRALIAN / SPANISH conglomerate. Now since it's practically in my yard I took offense to this and wander why they can't hire someone( Spanish? or just could be Hispanic? or have at least SEEN the movie "Australia" )to at least be there to help with the stupid machine..I mean we have some JOBLESS HERE IN indiana
But wait a minute....MAYBE this is a conspiracy to get EVERYONE TO SIGN UP FOR I-ZOOM..... you know I thought about that... but thay had a 40$ minimum..... which is how many bags of dog or catfood ?( actually only one of the good stuff).
Lets see.......I work 4 days a week 50 cents per trip....
OK here comes the math part... 7 - 4 + 3 = 530 am divided by 1994 piece O shit truck that was totaled by a willow tree in my driveway @70 mphMPH ummmmmmmmm .....yup 4 $ a week!!!!!
Well.... I cant afford $36 to be sitting idle in some Spanish/ Australian conglomerate
slush fund when cats and dogs are hungry around here.........besides I wasn't going to commit to having another electronic online account that had automatic withdrawal from my checking account THAT I HAVE TO BABYSIT to make sure the Australians and Spanish arent buying Vegimite and Bullfighting pants willy-nilly.
AND MY LUCK would be just as soon as I got the damn thing set up and activated I would lose my job...( no need for the tRoll road now...AND Damn I sure could use that $36 right now for gas $ to drive to the unemployment office and the liquor store!!!)
Today I had less than the dollar needed to get me the round trip ride and I didn't think twice about it until I GOT TO THE TOOL BOOTH this am( it's @ 5:50 mind you) and both lanes were SELF SERVE /I-ZOOM... odd...... ??
OK .....so I pick the outside one that has enough room to go around the gate ( backup plan cause 85% of the time the machine DOES NOT WORK PEOPLE)
but.......I have noticed sometimes there is no gate ( probably SMASHED by an irate driver??) or they ( Spanish /Australian Toll Road Gang) have in fact acknowledged yet another operational failure and have surrendered the white flag.
OF COURSE the damn machine will not take my ticket ( I should be used to this and I have verbally tutored many a motorist ahead of me) so I give it the 2 trys my policy allows and proceed to push the call button which USUALLY contacts the person in the office hand sewing or whatever and they manually allow the machine to function properly so it can indeed take my 50 cents and I'm (finally ) on my way to be yet again delayed by the electronic security reader that wont let me into the door,BUT I've got that TIMECLOCK mastered....I don't even bother to swipe...I punch in my employee # no messin around...
ANYWAY this morning as luck would have it after pushing the call button my card was finally accepted (17 tries), I pay my toll, the phone was still ringing and as I drive away I see there WAS NO ONE AT ALL ANYWHERE.. the office building was completely dark.
I think that was when it hit me and I had made up my mind that I had had enough of this so called convenience at this bargain price and I was going to take the long and winding roads to and from work ( well OK unless the snow was really bad) besides I din't have the 50 cents required for the trip home.
Now I could have borrowed the QUARTER needed, but this was a matter of principle. Today I was going to have to try and blaze my trail home on the country roads from this day forward.
For I was a woman of principle , who had reached the end of her tolerance for the abuse handed down by Spanish/ Australian conglomerate via the "Indiana" toll road.
My day was my typical 10 hour day on my feet ( with the exception of 2 fifteen minute breaks and half an hour lunch) .
I'm trying my best to ignore the co-worker who has a constant live feed from her brain cell to her mouth and thankfully the estrogen circus was at a steady but manageable flow.
Generally everyone was leaving me alone to do my job and I wasnt too concerned about trying to remember the alternate path home. I had driven different versions of it several times earlier this fall and have a pretty good sense of direction in general anyway.
Blame it on the frozen landscape or the icy roads or my energy level finally hitting the wall, but I must have missed a turn and ended up taking the longer way home ( more than 2 times longer). I must say at this point that there is no direct or quick way using the back roads option.
So you can see why I have enjoyed the toll roads very direct path at 530 am in the dark just barely awake semi-auto pilot option.
But tonight it was just starting to get dark after 430 and I was FINALLY turning on my road @ after 530 ( the OPPOSITE end OF MY ROAD however) and I see what appears to be a dark kitten crouched down on the light pavement near the side of the road which is bordered by 2 foot of snow.
Naturally I am concerned and immediately decide to turn around wondering why it isn't running istead of sitting like its hunched on a chair. I must have thought that it wasn't a Feral cat or that something was wrong with it( lost and confused but used to vehicles??) because it was sitting still. I check my rearview and see a vehicle coming a ways behind me after I drive into the otherlane avoiding the still crouched cat .I then do a 3 point turn in the middle of my road and as I'm turning around to change direction TO COME BACK TO THE CAT I signal to the vehicle that is now coming upon the kitten with my headlights
OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON SUPID ASS SLOW DOWN FOR CRIPE SAKE OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON
OH MY GOD HE DIDN'T EVEN SLOW DOWN and I held my breath and prayed that the kitten passed under the truck between the space avoiding the tires....I felt my breath and heart stop .... but it was too late.
The kitten died instantly and was thrown intact on the snow beside the road.
Maybe I was in shock or more likely wanting to prevent the inevitable road pizza I have witnessed too numerable times to count;I got out of my truck and picked the kitten up and put her in the back of my truck. As I proceeded to drive towards my
house , the truck who hit the cat slowed down as did I, and asked what was wrong?
I said " you ran over the Kitty" and he replied without concern "but I swerved" and I can't remember what I mumbled as I drove off thinking I had kept my self control pretty well and hadn't my cell phone gone off??( doug wondering where I was) at some point and now it was a blur as I was almost home.
I was upset and confused and decided to go back and check the closest neighbors to see if the cat belonged to one of them. I talked to one but it wasn't theirs and they suggested it may belong to the well kept farm that sat way back from the road. I drove up the long driveway and thought I saw cat tracks in the snow, but couldn't get an answer at the door. I drove back to the road and placed the cat by the road and near their mailbox so someone could see it from the road driving by , in case it didn't belong to the farm.
I came back home and sat here convincing and tormenting myself that I had been there for a reason( considering my untypical route home) and tormented myself with other options i could have taken to prevent this (or future) tragic occurance but decided any other possibility would have been dangerous or even illegal. (Small lost kitten plus farmgirl VS speeding man in truck) Not good.
I took a long hot shower and had my last beer and damn good cry and came up with the only thing that I could put together that made sense.
I guess I was there to remove the cat's body out of traffics way and to hopefully help the owners find it and just maybe if you choose to believe in such things....
........ there is one more kitten in heaven for the children to play with.

2008-11-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

I'm at home today in my Studio. Doing the typical day-off dance in my pajamas; quilt a little, surf a lot and REPEAT..
Todays news about a Wal-Mart employee being trampled to death by shoppers after crashing down the doors really disgusted me.Firstly, I have been a Wal-Mart employee more than once in previous lives. I currently have a love-hate relationship with the retailer,which I admit I'm not exactly proud of. I have been employed in more retail postions throughout my adult life than I care to admit.For this reason I refuse to participate in the Black Friday
consumer freak show and the yearly Holiday consumerism.To this day I personally avoid Holiday decorating and music.
Last season I worked at a Gap Outlet in a popular local outlet mall that lures people from many different countries. Everyone was scheduled to work a shift on the DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING STARTING AT 12 MIDNIGHT. My schedule started at@ 4-6 am ( I can't remember specifics due to my preferred coping method of blocking out unpleasant memories). All empoyees were encouraged to sign up a friend as a "work buddy" and that person would be entitled to the employee discount for a limited amount of time. My sister, a devout consumer, was up to the task(not surprisingly.)
The Mall management had asked employees to park a couple miles away from the mall so shoppers could have access to all of the parking. They would be shuttle bus-ing us to the mall.
I didn't feel this was a safe option due to the surrounding neighborhoods and found a spot in a nearby county office lot.
I had never participated in a super early Black Friday as a consumer, but had of course worked on that day in a typical time frame.When we arrived in the VERY EARLY AM at the mall I was blown away at the amount of people EVERYWHERE, not to mention the crowds in the store.
It looked like a bomb had gone off inside the store! There was literally merchandise strewn allover the floor and hanging off fixtures and in haphazard heaps on tables.
Again the anger and disgust of the situation came over me like so many other times when I had to force myself to walk into the store of my employment, fighting the sick feeling in my stomach after merely pulling into the parking lot.
What I'm trying to get at is this:
I'm shocked, saddened and disgusted by this event. How could anyTHING on sale be of such importance that it could cause a person to participate in a MOB MENTALITY??

Ladies...GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET..... IF .... WE EVER KNEW......
.
WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago....

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote

(Lucy Burns)

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

Dora Lewis)

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf
So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because- -why, exactly? We have car pool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.
Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The
right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history , social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum. I want it shown on Bunco and Bingo night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

Wilson was a Democrat

Read more:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/tactics.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/brftime3.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Snow ~ Baad Foto

2008-10-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry no pics of frozen precipitation but believe me when I tell you my front yard is the premier magnet for snow in NW Indiana. I had to bust out the snow boots to get to my truck to find the snow brush so I could clean off my car. Heavy wet stuff and it aint even Halloween yet.
I suffered a bit of ridicule at work because apparantly I came in looking like Nanook Of the North. No snow on the way to work or anywhere near the building.?!
I will be prepared though...last winter the old truck blew a tire at 04;30 am and I had to walk back home on the coldest day we had yet.
so don't even start with me.
We had an ISO compliance meeting today. Nothing exciting but since I was shipped off to a different department today , I went to it before the rest of my usual coworkers.
You would have thought I had come back from some secret SPY mission...some people need to get a life.
Speaking of just that... highlight of my day? : homemade pizza at lunch and ice cream!
Lowpoint? Tack welding brackets for braces for 9 hours.C-O-M-A !
Several weeks ago the entire workplace had their pics taken for new ID badges and security system. There was an expensive looking camera on a tripod and a backdrop and everything. It looked like a real photo shoot. Today we get our new badges which look like they were printed on a home printer set to the rough draft setting. My head looks like a pumpkin. A better shot could have been made by my freakin cell phone.
Speaking of Halloween........
So.Very. Bad. Everybody was complaining about it and tomorrow should be very entertaining checking out the casualties.
I threatened to paste a pic of one of my chickens over my head shot.
(Scroll up and down quickly. See! We all look a LOT alike!)

Seriously! Who could tell the difference ??I'm so sure.
We're all a lovely golden orangey ...

Silk Scarves Commission

2008-10-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

Earlier this summer I was approached by my Aunt who asked if I would be interested in creating a piece for her.
She had been wearing and collecting silk scarves for most of her professional life, purchasing from artists and when she had an important event or occasion to commemorate.
Unfortunately her home sustained a water leak into the basket which contained almost every single scarf she had amassed. The scarves were ruined by the dyes rubbing off on one another ,but were saved in hopes of salvaging to another purpose.
As a quilter I am, of course, familiar with this concept of converging disparate parts of textiles into a newly useable form.
This will be the first time I have constructed a piece from mostly silk and also the first time I blog about the project process from start to finish.
I have a simple design idea to start out with, but am open to the prospect of the inevitable evolution of the finished product.

Laura Armeta Barnes 1923-2008

2008-10-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Christmas 1964 and 2006
Last Wenesday evening my Grandma passed away. She had been in the Alzheimer's unit at a local nursing home for the past 16 months.Our family had hoped and prayed for a peaceful passing ; she had diminished to a confused whisper of herself both mentally and physically. My Mom ,myself and Grampa were there when she left. She was probably waiting for all family members to come say goodbye, somehow. I couldn't visit on a regular basis, fearful that this newer memory of her would be unbearable and somehow override all the fond childhood memories. I was the first Grandchild ,born on their 22nd wedding anniversary.
after the initial shock of seing her so close to the end of her life,I felt a stange sense of calmness and accepting. Appropriately enough, my Mom and I were with her at the end ,pulling threads through on a quilt that needed to be done by that Friday for our Quilt Guild show that weekend.I don't think she would have thought it was a pretty quilt, but she would have been helping us finish it just the same.
My Grandma was the pure definition of the word. My Mom's Mother, full of kindness,generosity,grace and warmth.She was an accomplished seamstress, tailoring and sewing countless garments for her children and grandchildren. Always there to hem or alter a garment when we were growing up. Her love of "material" was passed on though my mom and myself. I have many fond memories of going to the fabric store with her and spending time in her sewing room which smelled like emeraude perfume and spray sizing.My sister and I laughed at our too long dress pants for the funeral. She was trying to hem hers, I gave up and had brought the painters tape.Our Grandma had spoiled us with her willingness to sew for us.
The funeral service infortunately , in my eyes, was an unfortunate dis-service. I had not been to many funerals but I thought the whole idea was to give a happy snapshot of that person's life. The pastor told stories that were for sure out of context for they were given to him by family members. Somehow they were reduced to the dogmatic delarations of the consequences of Sin ....etc....blah blah.
I was so very offended by this man's proclamations that had I known , I would have gotten up and (as my Aunt Kathy so perfectly stated "Sit down buddy, I'm telling the stories,I'll let you know when I'm done!") given a more accurate portrayal of the love ,kindness and grace that was my Grandma.
My Grandma was 40 years old when I was born on their wedding anniversary.She would have been 85 this December 11,2008.
Myself at 44, I hope to continue to remember how my Grandma lived her life, and to hopefully somehow follow her example.If I live to be the same age I have 40 years more to strive to live my life to the fullest .
As she would say "I'd better get busy!

Shroomage!! and Vintage Quilt Tops

2008-09-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Whoops!! these are so fab I had to post twice..! Enjoy

hey I finally cleaned off my desk so I can find my computer!! how YOU DOIN?
No it's NOT a giant golfball....D found this when he was mowing the lawn last time .....and we have had some rain since then ( yeah SOME!!!!!) and I pesuaded him to leave it till I could get a pic of it and or cook it!! I looks like the over grown nuclear( nuke-U-lar) version of the ones you buy from the Kroger......Now I don't exactly have a "Field guide to Mushrooms in North America" and I wont eat it but damn I sure is curious about what it will look like when I slice it UP!!! ALSO....it has been a stressful summer what with the job market being a tough nut to crack but I have landed another job(finally!) this time it's a real one with the potential for the whole -range- of- benefits- package AND they feed us lunch...for FREE CAUSE ITS A 4 DAY WORK WEEK...10 hrsM-Th Fridays off...this is week 3 and thankfully they are teaching me other things besides what was originally intended..which is GOOD cuse I tend to get bored......and they've got me up and around and moving which is good to cause I tend to slip into a coma if i have to sit at a desk(which is what I was doing the first week and a half.
Here are 2 vintage quilt tops I snagged at the Shipshewana Antique fair last month. We go to my family's lake cottage for the yearly SUMMER quilting retreat when it's happening and always find some lovelies. (ssshhhhh the trick is to ditch your friends and go off by yourself if you are going to snag the good stuff cause they are looking for same!!)

Heh!

USA RURAL MADE QUILTS FOR SALE!!!!!

2008-08-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

SAFARI BABY QUILT 42.5x51 INCHES Drapery Weight Brushed Flannel Twill (both sides)
Outline Quilted Neutral Colors perfect for any baby!! $75.00

GRUNGE PLAID PATCH QUILT ( custom matching pillow covers are available for an extra charge)83x73 INCHES Drapery Weight Plaid patches on front, garment weight flannel on back. Utility quilted in large X design. Perfect for the "outdoorsy alternative dude getting the band back together while eating pizza with the family dog in the basement " types.$ 150.00
SPRING PATCH ( custom pillow covers available for extra charge) 74.5X77 inches
Fresh, different and one of a kind!!! Would be lovely in a young girls room , yet cool enough for a teenager. Top Fabric imported from Germany, muslin backing and binding.$175.00

help
I've been partially unemployed since Mid-June and it's starting to get pretty scary around here. I've been looking and applying for jobs since then but as any of you job seekers know.....it's slim pickens out there.
ANYWAY............
I'M OFFERING UP 3 100% USA HANDMADE QUILTS FOR SALE!!!!!!!!!!
All new materials (batting and fabrics) 100% cotton ( fabric batting and thread)
Please feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing or have more questions (fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com) "quilts for sale" subject heading please...... or if you would like to see more photos....(Click on photos for close up viewing..)
Thanks to CRAZYAUNTPURL and PIONEER WOMAN for all the awesome blogging love and
Thank you for supporting HANDMADE IN THE USA!!

3 APQS Demo Millenniums on Sale!!!!!

2008-07-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here is an AWESOME OPPORTUNITY to get a GREAT DEAL on a
2008 APQS MILLENNIUM!!!!!!!

These are gently used Demo models ,come with a 1 year warranty and are available for immediate delivery!!Price is $16,400!!!!!!!
ONLY 3 ARE AVAILABLE!!!

E-mail me

Susan at Fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com

with any questions and or your deposit information!!!
These machines will go fast!!!
Happy Quilting!!!

APQS PRICE BLOWOUT!!!!

2008-07-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

APQS 72 Hour Price Explosion!!!

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE FIREWORKS WERE OVER!

Price Explosion!

$1,000 of any New or Used APQS Millenium Quilting Sytem.

Offer Valid July 9th, 10th & 11th only.

This offer is in addition to the July special of Free Freight.

Contact APQS at 800-426-7233 or your nearest representative today( THAT WOULD BE ME!!)

Susan at Fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com

to take advantage of this first time ever event!

www.apqs.com

sales@apqs.com

Customers must pay for and take delivery of the machine before July 31st to qualify for this special offer.

Double Rainbow

2008-06-22T18:19:00.001-07:00

Crazy weather this afternoon lead to this awesome double rainbow right outside my door.I've never seen one so vibrant let alone double and one that went the full half circle!

APQS Used Millennium Sale!!! also Save $1000 in June

2008-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

APQS is offering a nice selection of Pre-0wned Millies for Sale!!
These machines go fast so

CONTACT ME

for current availability!!!

Susan at Fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com

Used Machine Sale! Serial # 1855 Millennium (2000) $12,800
Serial # 1927 Millennium (2000) $12,800 Serial #2441 Millennium (2002) $12,800 Serial #2449 MIllennium (2002) $12,800
Serial # 2742 Millennium (2003) $13,800
Serial # 3045 Millennium (2003) $13,800
Serial #3223 Millennium (2004) $14,500 Serial #3548 Millennium (2005) $14,500 Serial #4078 Millennium (2005) $14,500 Serial $4401 Millennium (2006) $14,500 Serial #4512 Millennium (2007) $15,400 http://www.apqs.com/apqsrewards.htm
Serial #4553 Millennium (2007) $15,400
Serial #4624 Millennium (2007) $15,400 Serial #4723 Millennium (2007) $15,400 Serial #G570 Green Millennium $14,000 Serial #G1628 Green Liberty $12,000 Serial #B0114 Liberty (2205) $12,800 For more informaiton on these machines call 800-426-7233 or contact your local representative.
ALSO APQS is offering a

SAVINGS of $1000

with the purchase of a new machine.$600 in Cash and $435 in Hartly Products with a NEW MACHINE purchased in the Month Of June!(Me!!Me! Pick Me!!!)See

APQS website

for complete details!!

Susan at Fatquarterquiltfarm@yahoo.com

www.apqs.com | apqs@apqs.com | 1-800-426-7233

S!#T Job (for this I went to college?????)

2008-05-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

Several weeks ago the Boss announced he had a "Shit Job" for us.
We were assigned 2 walls of the greenhouse and were instructed to scrub the greenstuff off the floor, pull any weeds and wipe down the plastic wall with soapy water.
You guessed it :Hands and Knees Style!
(as you can tell there was only one way to get under those benches anyway )
Naturally we had to heft out the 50 ft hoses first in order to get to where we needed to clean!( and then try to neatly coil them back up!)
Of course I was indignant. Didn't he have a crew of "laborers" to do this?????
We are the "Customer Service" crew!!! The "Annual Experts!" "Plant Professionals!"
(Ok ,so we weren't "Officially" open yet)....but people were still coming in and poking around, asking questions and buying stuff@!!@
Can you tell I've got a bad attitude towards this kind of task? I'ts bad enough doing your own down and dirty cleaning (from what I can remember) but cleaning someone elses place, business, etc always makes me feel like some sort of subservient lackey. I know !I know! Some people own cleaning services and are paid
quite well by loyal clients for a job done with, enthusiasm, speed and finesse( Hi Lauri!)
It ain't me kids. (Not to mention I wasn't getting paid a "housecleaning wage")
Anyway we plowed through the rest of the day nearly getting the entire area done, knees raw, cold wet and dirty......so lunch could be served from any spot on the floor of your choosing.

Tools of the Trade

Phyllis and Edna sucking it up and working with a smile.

Note the "Good Housekeeping" T-shirt !I didn't get that memo!!. Edna shows us her "best side!"

This is what we were scrubbing and weeding under.

Good times.

International Quilt Show, Chicago 2008

2008-04-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
I have to apologize to the 3 people that actually read my blog. I was told just this weekend that I had to update cause the winter pics were BRINGIN HER DOWN!!
Well word to your Mother, Mrs. Robinson!!(and I hope she is doing well) I am here for YOU and to say Check This OUT!
For those of you who don't know, IQS was in Chicago this weekend and my friend and longarm lady co-hort Sandy and I made a promise to take some classes this year. We weren't fortunate enough to get into the AQS program in Paducah this year so we took advantage of the "proximity" of the Chicago IQS and signed up for both of the Classes Bobbie Aug was teaching.(Intro to Quilt Appraisal: insurance and fair market value and Dating Vintage Fabrics)It was an awesome experience
Here are some shots of a vintage quilt top, another quilt held by the
FABULOUS Bobbie Aug and a shot of some actual vintage fabric we were allowed to fondle and take pics of throughout the entire duration of the class.
We headed up EARLY Thursday am and arrived an hour late due to Traffic and weather. I was scheduled to help set up both APQS booths( 4 Lennis No Waiting! and the other Booth featuring George, the Millennium, etc)Thankfully the timing was just right because Jim and Bob ( 2 of the 3 Major Dudes......awesome!) were just getting there too. I learned a ton and can now say with confidence that I could assemble a machine by myself.
After taking the better part of the day to get the 2 booths set up, we took a break to find the hotel (as if!!!)check in and change into something more Adult -like for the Preview( open to the public for the first time). Now I would like at this time to point out that I am NORMALLY NOT DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED and I consider Sandy to be THE MACGUYVER OF LONGARMERS but kids, we must have SET THE RECORD FOR U TURNS on this trip!!Let's just say we experienced every possible route to and from our Hotel with in a 3 day span.
When we got to the Hotel Thursday night @ 10:30 P.M ( after exhausting our eating options at MacDonalds!)we discovered there wasn't a single place to park. Seriously, people were parking on the grass, in front of the dumpsters, at the entrance......We were SO EXHAUSTED and desperate times call for desperate measures.
I insisted we bust out the Handicapped tag( legitimate!) and park in the only spot left. ( Sandy is sure we are going to burn in hell for this one!)We were up and out of that space by 8 the next morning and did not have to use it again.( much to Sandy's relief)
I'm sure she will be COMPLETELY MORTIFIED when she reads this.
Hey Sandy!! Remember....... Tragedy + Time = COMEDY!!!!
Stay tuned for more of the 2008 IQS Saga....and Quilt Pics!!!!

(yet another ...) SNOW DAY!

2008-02-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to today.
Forecasts are calling for a possible accumulation of up to 20 inches by the end of today.
I think we've hit that already

27 car and Semi Pileup!!!!!!!!

2008-02-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

Here in the "Hoosier Snowbelt" I've had just about enough of this seemingly neverending winter weather!! Sure enough just when you think your situation couldn't possible get any worse ...something like this smacks you across your pathetic little whiny forehead! This happened this morning about 7 miles from where we are directly within eyesight on one of the ways we take to get to Michigan City ,In. Unbelievably only 4 people were injured and no fatalaties...These poor people!! I think I'll shut up about my pathetic situation!
I-94 27 Plus Car/Semi Pile up
Be sure to also click on the link to the video to see what I tried to post as a video clip ( with no success!!)
Yikes!!!!!

yet another Farmy Quilt......

2008-02-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

These blocks were family made(her husbands mother?) and the quilt top was pieced by my customer. She is Putting them away for her grandchildren. This one is going to a male grandchild.

Once in a while I run across some really fabulous vintage fabrics while I'm quilting old tops. I'd like 9 yards of the brown and rust print , thanks!

Finally!!! Ryann McKenna Farm Quilt Finished!!

2008-02-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

OK!!
Hi !!It's me blogging from the NW Indiana frozen Farmland Tundra
I know it's been quite a while.....
This is a Ryann McKenna quilt I finished a while ago for a client.
Of course I love anything "Farmy" and this one was most certainly qualifying for sure.
Almost every single piece of fabric that was fused on to create the scenes and animals was outlined quilted by me on the longarm.
I think I used more than 26 different colors of thread!!
The fabrics were all batiks
and as some of you (quilters for sure!) know batiks have a higher thread count per inch ( almost like a percale bed sheet) and will leave tiny holes where they are sewn. Another previous unexperienced situation was the compounding of the tight weave of the fabric along with the fusible web times 3 or 4 layers in some areas!!
In my opinion this would have been almost impossible to hand quilt.I would seriously doubt that the pattern would even suggest such a thing!! As I was quilting it on my
industrial strength machine...it sounded like I was quilting a DRUM!!
That was a fairly strange sensation....
All in all, it was a fun one to quilt and most of all the owner was very pleased with the finished result. Of course that is the most important concern!!

Chicken Mudbog and Dirt Dusting

2008-01-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen!!! Laporte County, Indiana is pleased to announce the first event of it's kind in 2008. Welcome to the first annual CHICKEN MUDBOG and DIRT DUSTING !!!!!The DIRT DUSTING event is starting off at a nice , steady pace....

Looks like the MUDBOG is off to a slow start.....
but wait !!!.. Here are two contestants now, testing the conditions!!

Looks like a fun way to spend some family time on an unseasonably balmy Monday afternoon in January!!!!!

Happy Snowy Farmy Quilty 08

2008-01-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

It's snowin like a major MOJO here in Farmland.
Weather reports say an additional 4-6 more inches on top of what weve got already.
The only working snowblower is rendered useless in my polebarn due to a very frozen door.
We had planned to go out and see a movie at the nearby theatre but decided against it due to the State Police reporting some roads impassable.So it's going to be a leftover New Years DVD rental.More Johnny Depp."Deadman"
We saw "Sweeny Todd" this past weekend and enjoyed it. Those who might be a bit squeemish ( like myself) will probably want to close their eyes during the super juicy parts. I thought the makeup, costumes and just the general cinematography was outstanding. My favorite part was the "fantasy scene" of Mrs. Lovett.
Do I have to even mention Mr. Depp?????................ go on then, love!
Sooooo,........... anyway................
The snow was up to the top of my snow boots( and falling in) when I went out to let the chickens out
@ 7:30 and my foot prints were covered up by the time I got up to actually start my day.
So here for your viewing pleasure:
a customer quilt I finished a few weeks ago.....it was a big one and will be residing with my clients mother in one of the Carolinas......

Blizzard.....technically..........

2007-12-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

last year....(I think)....... not so much.........

This year..... like today........

So ....work calls and leves me a message saying uh... I guess we're technically having a BLIZZARD so call back at 11 to see what's going on.
I was supposed to work 10-2:30.
4 hour shifts are annoying anyway..... just enough to sap you of your energy and time when you are closing in on that last minute sewing project deadline.
Obviously it's going to take more than a little snow to affect my fashion sense anyway.
(yes.... that is a dog positioned oh so perfectly on my scarf....need I say more?)

More Mancuso Quilt Show.....

2007-12-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

yep...it has been awhile since I posted on the ol Blogger....
and I remembered I had taken a lot of pics at the latest quilt show ( for future blogging purposes) ........
So here's some more!!!
These are the examples of the antique / vintage / traditional part of the show.
I'm not sure if they had been juried in, but I was so glad they had been included!
Speaking of vintage inspired........be sure to check out Bonnie at "Quiltville"
She just finished a very cool top made entirely of recycled shirts from resale shops...AND is now working on rail fence units from the same recycled shirt source...
you can even "string along" with her on this one as she is creating a "mystery quilt"
where the rail fence units are included.
So far its looking very cool....I love almost anything with red and blue anyway....
I don't think I will be participating in this venture ( apparently I require too much sleep from here on till April.... "Wake me up when it's Spring!!!!!! or before you go-go)
but I am looking forward to seeing what everyone does!!

Red and Yellow Log Cabin #2 DONE!!

2007-11-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

Yeay!
One of my favorite parts of quilting( besides the sense of accomplishement when it's finally done!!) is when it gets unpinned from the machine and falls into its own new shape, free from the tension and constraints of the frame.

I also got lucky today because the weather was photo friendly. I'ts also nice to be able to stand back and view the quilt as a whole, instead of the right under my nose perspective.
Plus!! the timing is finally right and I will be able to deliver it and show it( with the owner) at Guild tomorrow night.

Greater Chicago Quilt Exposition II

2007-11-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

Well we survived it again this year!! Thankfully this years event was "targon free"
which just added to the enjoyment.
I would like to start with the above quilts "Digital Shibori" ; by Tricia McKellar.
These were by far my favorite of the contemporary entries. Her shibori images are transferred digitally and manipulated to create a collage on silk.
Upon close examination, the image is made up of several "pieced " pieces of the image that has been transferred to silk. Very interesting,some sort of abstract, minimal and serene. Elegant in only the way a tractor tire image on silk would be .
The next day , a synopsis has to be discussed ( as any mumsy and daughter would do) and mumsy concluded she didn't like the show and that there weren't more than a handful she wouldn't care to wipe her #@&! on!! ( no need for alarm, she is taking a much needed vacation very soon!)
That being said, it was no wonder she ended up in the bar later that afternoon.
My friend and I had decided to call it quilts for the show.
The concrete floor had taken its toll on us!
I had brought the 7 Lb lunch to drag around for most of the day, and she was positively exhausted from the 30's fabric shopping session I orchestrated for her next project. ( LOVED!! spending her $ for her!!)
She insisted we search out beers at the mystery "bar" we had been hearing about throughout the day. Heard they had "hot food!!.....
Lo and behold what did our weary eyes spy but a very lovely and posh bar complete with lime green patent leather lounge chairs and quite the industrial beaded curtain!!
( for you quilt show newbies......THIS IS NOT STANDARD AT ALL QUILT SHOWS!!)
WELL!! this was just what the quilt Dr. ordered!! We proceded forward with a lovely pilsner each of Sam Adams SUMMER!! ale on draught and it was heaven!!( not a sam adams fan normally but this was a surprise and now a new favorite) too bad I have to wait only 6 months for another one!
A few other quilt cronies wandered in for a late bite of lunch and I proceeded to chat them up about my favorite subjects and ones they are knowledegable in :the appraisal,restoration and historical studies genre'.
I was interrupted by a phone call from my farm hand regarding the possibility of burning the pile( he had spent the day with our friend "the pyro") and inviting some friends out to do so. I agreed but only if he clean a couple specified areas of the house.Well I dodged that bullet cause he called back later and said the party had been moved to my friend and her husband "the Pyro)s house.Good for me , not so thrilled was she.
Meanwhile, my friend had orderd us another round and was treating us to some calamari!..and
next thing you know, Mumsy and her (*our) cousin, show up looking for a bit of refreshment themselves.We proceded to harass the bartender( like only a gang of old lady quilters can do) and generally make a nuiscense of ourselves until the cops showed up and hauled us off to the pokie where we taught our fellow cell mates the art of bad vest making!

Ha! Just kidding about that last part...making sure you were paying attention.

I cannot stress enough the difference this bar made in my quilt show experience.
Usually towards the end when the old ladies are pooped , we have to settle for a folding chair if we're lucky, most of the time it is a piece of carpeted concrete floor, while waiting on friends or the bus. Had I just heard about it and not experienced it for myself I know I would have been skeptical.
This show wasn't on par with the major players like Paducah or Houston/Chicago ,but was worth the trip if one was in the general vicinity. Not to mention, Shaumburg is a shopping mecca complete with IKEA and any other possible retail experience one may hope to find.
Next up;: more photo worthy quilts from around the world..........

Log Cabin #2 and QUILT SHOW ALERT!!!!!

2007-11-08T16:36:00.001-08:00

I've been working on this:
the second yellow and red log cabin for a new customer. The two matching quilts are for her grandchildrens beds at her home.
The first one was finished just as she was coming to pick it up and went out the door without pics ; I didn't want to post anything until she saw the final product.
I have to say I've really enjoyed quilting these also. I've just fallen in LOVE with this color combo and want to somehow do something for myself in these hues.
I'll just ADD IT TO MY LIST!!!
QUILT SHOW this weekend in Schaumberg,IL at the rennaisance center(?).
My Guild is taking a bus full of ladies up for a big fat day of quilt related
festivities and stash enhancement....... You know!!!!!
F.A.R.T. !!!!(fabric aquisition road trip)
Unfortunately I will have to be satisfied with just drooling and fondling( maybe some sniffing?!FOR SURE SNIFFLING!!) only........
(See previous blog regarding large shiny expensive necessary equipment.....)
So So Sad Schnoobie!:(

More fun.........

2007-11-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Old, wornout, funky and gunky....

New! Shiny! Gut Wrenching Expensive! Looks Like a Thermos!!!

again... a chance to say goodbye......

Let's look at them together!!..sort of a "Generational Portrait".........

What's long, shiny silver and costs more than my Mortgage???????
That's RIGHT kids!!!!

I'ts a brand new, shiny and VERY EXPENSIVE Well Pump!!!!!!!!!!
wow!! Just when you hoped things wouldn't any worse.........
( I had a very long and drawn out post documenting the inhumanity and blatant disrespect at the job yesterday but lost it due to god only knows)..
Lets's just say it was a 2 beer evening and exactly 2 hairs away from being my "previous job"......
And then today!!......(I thought my shower water looked extra dirty last night??..)
Good morning!! Your water is very murky!!!
We called a well guy and he diagnosed it over the phone pretty accurately.
He showed up with his crew in the afternoon and confirmed the horror.
(I guess it could have been worse...like needing a new well dug!)
Thanks anyway this will do just fine for a second runner up.
I guess they last 10-15 years and it looks like we're right on schedule folks.
According to the date on my well tank in the basement its 15 years old.
So after much wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth ( that was just me..)
the new shiny silver pump complete with new pipe and wiring was installed in less than one hour.
One very painfully expensive and shiny hour.
Did I mention my ETSY shop?? 2 quilts for sale....also ...
Farm Fresh Organic Brown and Green/Blue eggs...... Organic Catnip for sale ...
Donations accepted.........

Safari Baby Quilt Done!!

2007-11-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

Finally!!
Some Quilt Content!
Today was the "Perfect Fall Day"!; clear and crispy !!
I took advantage of the gorgeous colors and took some photos of the trees turning at the back of my field and the new (old recycled metal!) roof that Doug was installing on the chicken coop just in the nick of time.( next up blog....)
I was especially pleased with the majestic Fall sky and the rich contrast of colors in the backdrop of this shot against the neutral quilt.
I've had this Baby Quilt quilted for some time now....just needed to pull threads and put the binding on.
And now its done!!!!!Just in time for the upcoming Holiday gift shopping season.
So now I've got 2 (count 'em wooo hooo!) QUILTS FOR SALE in my ETSY shop.(see link below!)
Selling on ETSY is something I've been wanting to try for a while now, but I've been concentrating on "Guaranteed Income" like quilting customer quilts.
Selling on E bay or ETSY has always been "iffy" for me anyway.
Kind of like a bonus or extra credit ....or something.....?

wake up kitty

2007-11-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is Snarf's evil twin ...separated at birth no doubt!!!

Crazy Chicken

2007-11-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

Check this chicken out!
I love the Jerry Lee Lewis influence.......

" out here in the fields, I farm for my meals........"

2007-11-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

"I get my back into my living....."
Wait!! What's that rumbling noise??
Now if you know me at all, you know I love me some farm equipment.
I ran like mad for my camera. It was all I could do to not run up to the driver,all excited jumping up and down and beg to ride with him!!!
My adult senses got the best of me and I figured the next best thing would be to just blog about it!!!( Bummer!!that's sooooo not even close!)
Back in the "working in Chicago days" I would come home @ 7 p.m. to darkness and sometimes miss the fact that my field had been picked.
Once I even got to drive a combine while picking corn! That was EXCITEMENT!!
I was so thrilled with my new experience and was eager to tell my coworkers the next day.
They just didn't get it. Not even that but most of them had no idea what a "COMBINE" was. Just one of many city-dwellers-don't-get-the-farmy-thing moments that used to happen quite frequently actually!!
I finally got smart and started selling them "blooming weeds" in their farm fresh cut flower arrangements that I would schlep in every week on the train. It was a huge pain but a nice bit of extra income.
They loved it. Ate it UP!
I also remember conversations regarding harvesting "wild asparagus" which invoked much fear and concernation in the heart of the city-dwellers. Forget about speaking of your spinach crop for bugs could surely be a problem....not to mention the dirt in which its grown.
Good times.
I can just imagine the !HORROR! my fresh organic eggs would invoke in the hearts of the city-dwellers. They're BROWN! and GREEN!! Unspeakable! Are you sure they're OK to eat????
I always used to say to them when the end of the world is near and your neighborhood Starbucks runs out of Latte' fixins and pastry , you'll be showin up to harvest that "wild aparagus" down here on the farm.
Right after you take your turn manning "the shotgun in the window" shift.
Can you tell I'm thinking about the new season of "Jericho"??
And I must apologize for the lack of new posts.
I've been struggling to acclimate to a new job and time schedule.
Pre-Up-with-the-Chickens time. Still Dark.Power nap when I come home.
Painful and definately cramping my style in so many ways.
I let the last finished quilt out the door without any pics(NAR!) thinking I would just get shots of the second identical one. Which is still in progress.
oh yeah ...a not so closet pyro friend called whilst I was blogging all this and told him of the news that the field was being cut.
His first response?
GOOD!! That means now we don't have to wait till December to burn the pile!!!!
Pyros!

Local QUILT SHOW!!!!!!

2007-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Kids!!!

and fellow fabric fondlers and quilt lovers........

My long-armer friend Sandy and I will be vending our wares at a QUILT SHOW in South Holland, IL this weekend!!
It is located at FAITH FAMILY FUTURE CENTER 16932 South Park Ave, South Holland,IL.
It is being put on by the Heritage Quilters of South Suburbia
for more info and a map to there.
http://www.southholland.org/midwest_fall_quiltfest.htm
We will be featuring out Longarm Quilting(WE ARE LONGARMLADIES!!!) services of course...AND

BOOKS FROM LEISURE ARTS
DESIGNER FABRIC SAMPLES (cheap!!)
HAND-DYED FABRICS
HANDMADE GLASS BEADED SCISSOR NECKLACES
HAND MADE NATURAL SOAPS
ORGANIC CATNIP
VINTAGE APRONS
QUILTS FOR SALE
BIG BOARD IRONING BOARDS
STOP BY OUT BOOTH AND SAY HI!

Americauna Egg #1!!

2007-10-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!!!
One of the "girls" pictured has givin it up! #1 in the race for the first egg!!
Very EGG-CITING!!
Aruacana/Americuana chickens lay pale Blue and Green Eggs. Just ask Martha.
This one is a lovely pale dusty green. I tried to give you some sense of color with the pink yarns. Its a "pullet" egg and it's smaller than an adult egg.
Although I was surprised at how big it was. I was Egg-specting something even smaller, but what do I know?? I'm a first-time Chicken Mama!
Buffington has been jumping on top of the girls lately we just noticed. Today he has been extra vocal....really Doodle doo-ing it up!! (typical guy:"I'm so great !!!Look what I did!! Let me tell you how great I am!!!)
So I guess this means we will be having more eggs than we need and will be able to finally start selling them!!
They are ORGANIC,SEMI-FREE RANGE( for safety reasons but very happy, just ask them!)and probably FERTILIZED!!
If anyone is interested let me know.
$1 for 6 OR $2 for one Dozen . Cash and Carry only!!

Pocketfull of Stars (with bubbles)?

2007-10-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest effort from the longarm studio here, down on the farm.

This one is owned by the very gracious Joanie B, she is a new customer and kindred spirit.
Story goes: My mom happened to be in a fabric store looking for the Reproduction fabrics when a stranger ( not for long!!) steps up and guides her in the right direction. Naturally my Mom starts chatting her up( UNBELEIVABLE! not) ( well ok maybe it was a mutual thing!) one thing leads to another and this person is looking for a longarmer in the area ,mom mentions my name ,she says it sounds like the name that was referred to her by a lady at the library(thanks Linda!)and wham!.
Next thing you know we are all meeting at my mom's house for some serious quilting chat; fabrics, retreats, shops, guilds etc. yadda yadda and 3 tops to quilt!!!We all hit it off right away and had a lovely visit.
If you look closely, you can see a very unusual and fun feature to this quilt. The small triangles are actually 3 dimensional and form tiny pockets in the corners.Joan told me the pattern called for sewing the edges of the triangles down but she decided to leave them open, like small triangle shaped pockets. Which, I think , makes the quilt so much more creative and interesting!
I hadn't ever seen anything like this and enjoyed all aspects of the challenge in actually creating the quilting design ,the execution of it and of course the final result.
The piecing called for a simple enhancement of the triangles. I felt an overly busy quilted pattern/design would distract and or compete with the piecing, as would a contrasting or variegated thread.
So thats the latest installment kids...
NEXT UP: Twin Log Cabins.......stay tuned.........

Reproduction Directional Fabrics

2007-09-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Spoils from the F.A.R.T. Baby!!!!!
Used to be, back in the day....I would purchase fabrics sort of willy nilly.
I've got a LOT of fat quarters (duh!) 1/2 Y and 1Y pieces.Whatever caught my eye at the time. When going thru all my pieces, blocks and parts of vintage stuff I've collected throughout the years,It's come to reveal that I need YARDAGE TO finally put these things together with alternate blocks ,sashings ,borders backings ....that's why I needed me some YARDAGE!(mmmmmmmm yardage!........)
Lately I've been completely sucked into directional fabrics(reproduction of course!)....they do all the work don't cha know...!
This is what I hauled home from the super quick and dirty road trip.
For your viewing pleasure!!!
OH! BTW...a little birdie told me someone liked her quilt that I was working on that she saw on my blog....(HASN'T BEEN UP FOR SHOW AND TELL YET)
hmmmmm ?????COULD IT BE???????another lurker?????
So I gotta say HI BRENDA S.!!!!!!!!!! you've been chosen as "LURKER OF THE MONTH!!!!!!!
Come on out and say something!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moving Right Along.......

2007-09-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well ALMOST!!!
I've got 2 more rows to go.
Here are examples of real machine (longarm quilting top and bottom)
The middle pic is odd/interesting. Looks like someone was wanting to know what some hand quilted stitches would look like.
"Faux Quilting" I guess, because there are no other layers joined by these stitches.
I thought it would be interesting to document because you know .....
I'm going to have to RIP THEM OUT!
My quilting progress isn't as far as it should be because yesterday was "one of those days".
I'm blaming it on the impending full moon.
And the fact that I had a kind of pointy heavy frozen thing(rigid ice pack family size!) fall out of the freezer and hit me on the back of the head . It was hurty and must have affected my judgement because I threw up my hands ( on the quilting and STOOPID INTER-NOT!!) and ended up watching some ridiculous thing on "Fashion Week" and a Bridal thing.
I know.
Someone check to see if some alien being has taken over my person.
AND THEN!!!
We went back and forth between some 80's rock band movie with Marky Mark(when he WAS) AND jENNIFER aNISTON (again, I know!!!??????) and the geek gaming chanel featuring the Halo release freak show shenannigans.
I think I'm back to "normal" today. (define normal!) A friend of mine called up needing some moral support in exchange for lunch.
It did us both some good to get the hell out of the house, and the beers didn't hurt either.
I returned just in time for the internet guy to show up and did not hesitate to walk up to his vehicle,smack it on the window well and inform him that if he didn't fix my internet connection I was taking HIM HOSTAGE.
( all very charming and delightfully of course!!)
So far so good cause I'm bloggin again kids.. Later!!!!!

Early Fall F.A.R.T of 2007 (the door mouse)

2007-09-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

OK kids!!!
Here it is !!! More bolts of fabric than you have probably ever seen under one barn roof!!
As you can see also....some of the bolts on the floor actually blocked the view of the bolts on the lowest shelf...so you had to move piles around to see everything.
I managed to find several "directional prints" in my favorite genre' "reproduction type fabrics. There were however a lot of things I wasn't very interested in. That's just me though . I'm pretty specific about what I'm gonna purchase.
I do recommend going though at least once just for the "over the top buttnormity" of it all.
On the way we stopped in Maumee at another quilt shop'The Quilt Foundry"located strangely enough in an old foundry!! They just happened to be open late that night...... lucky us!!The lady who was working there was giving us some history on the place and in addition to being a foundry waaay back in the day , it was also a manufacturer of the yellow dye that used to come with Oleo margarine.
I guess the margarine came in a sort of grey color and the yellow dye packet was mixed in by the consumer. For those of you who are too young to remember Oleo...ask your grandparents ...sounds nummy!!!!!
It was also interesting to learn that the current owner of the building had parents that worked in the building and lived nearby. He used to stop in on his way home from school.
As we were leaving, I was attacked by a quilted fish on a stick on the way out of the quilt shop...more on that later....I'm waiting for my insurance photos to be returned.
(I'm fine really!!! thanks for your concern....)
So....more stories and pics of the infamous trip later......
(I'll show you my stuff!!!) LATER!!!!

Up Next.....LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-20T08:03:00.001-07:00

This quilt top belongs to a very good friend of mine. I believe she picked it up at a flea market..
It may be the next up on the ol longarm.
I know I will have a hard time giving this one back also

Early Fall F. A. R. T. of 2007

2007-09-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile......
Down on the Farm................
Dad and Dougie had a little "coop improvement" session here today.
We're upgrading from "Silver Hillybilly Tarp" to
some nice metal roofing with a solid wood support.
This will no doubt support the "frozen preciptiation" (you cant make me say it!!)that we tend to get in these here parts during the winter months.
We will also attach a wind barrier to all 3 sides of the enclosure( recycling that Silver Hillybilly Tarp!) along with some clear plastic sheeting to let some sunlight in.
All 5 days of it.
The chickens now have a 5 watt night light bulb in the enclosed part of the coop..
Doug is going to insulate that with some foam sheeting and we also have a heat lamp for the super cold days and nights.....
Just perfect for playing poker during those long winter months...

(This is a new topic but refers to the Blog title....and involves the other half of my parent two-some......EQUAL TIME!!!!!!)))
so............... my Mom called me up the other day.
Her granny grundies were obviously in a bunch.
"I'm just so CRABBY and I don't know why.....I just want to run away!!!!!"she said.
" OK!! Let's go on a road trip .I feel a F.A.R.T. coming on!!( FABRIC AQUISITION ROAD TRIP)!!I'll be your hostage!!!" I said. "Lets go to THE DOOR MOUSE or .....we could just go to Shipshe...."
(Shipshe isn't a road trip technically for Mom so to speak...She can go there ANYTIME she wants when she's at The Lake)
I was however THRILLED at the prospect of just getting out of town . Regardless!!
"I think we could do THE DOOR MOUSE!!!!"I can't remember how far away it is.....though I think it was right off the toll road. We can spend the night."
"Let me check my calendar..Yup !!!!I'm free from now till .................????"
(HELLO!!!!! STILL NOT WORKING....ME NO JOBBIE !!)
"OK I'll get on the web and check it out. I'll call you back.!!""Ok! i'LL CHECK IT OUT TOO!"
And this kids, is how the whole thing started.
THE DOOR MOUSE (www.thedoormouse.com)is a huge quilt shop in a BARN in Bettsville, OH.
If memory serves they had an aisle FOR EVERY COLOR. 3 HIGH PLUS 2 layers of bolts on the floor.!!!
You need to have some sort of a plan or theme or project in mind before you make the pilgrimage.
Otherwise its completely possible to end up in in a corner sobbing and chewing on your hair....due to the BUTTNORMITY of the experience.
We took pictures last time we were there but that was the "pre-digital era" so who knows where the hard proof is.
Stay tuned for more coverage on this "2007: The F.A.R.T. Of Early Fall!"

String Thingy

2007-09-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well its DONE !!!!
For my part anyway....Mom gets to pull all these thread ends through..
hahahahahahahahhahahahahaha better her than me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It looks worse than it is although it is pretty bad! When cross hatching these very small 9 patches you get a lot of starts and stops...Some quilters do knots but I'm of the other school of thought. I think it looks neater and you have the added security of knowing the thread is samdwiched between the 3 layers.. Quilt judges prefer no knots also.. for what thats worth..
Normally I would pull these through for a customer quilt...but Mom knows the drill...sometimes we barter..and thats the dealie-O!!

JUST AN UPDATE.....

2007-09-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

(unrelated quilt pic!)
A couple of things today:
I am plodding and I do mean PLODDING along at getting the afore quilt mentioned.
IT IS TAKING FOREVAH!!!!!!
I thought I would be brilliant(!) on Monday and went down to my local library. I finally got a library card(i've only been here 7 years ok??) and proceeded to check out some audio books and perused the shelves looking for written works on creativity.
I've heard other quilters and artists enjoy the audio because it gives their brain something to do while their hands are busy. ( I really NEED something to keep me focused once the design decisions are made)This would also keep me from checking the internet cause I'm trying to feed my brain cell. ( I only got 1 but its HUNGRY!!!)
I plowed through all 3 of the audio books ( on cassette TAPES yall)the selection wasn't huge at the library....but I did get something out of each one.
Just recently I joined Audible..they had a special intro deal for 3 months and I was perusing my first free choice. Then I remembered I had a set of cassettes by Dr Phil....somewhere.....I found them and busteed them out.I had never listened to them! Wow! 5 90 minute tapes..I was excited to be able to keep improving my brain cell whilst I plodded along.
Maybe I was at my improvement capacity for 1 brain cell,( having just finished a self -development marathon!!)but by the time I got to # 3 tape I couldn't handle it anymore. What was wierd was Dr. Phil KNEW HE WAS BEING OVERBEARING because he mentioned,sounding harsh; not being negative, just a REALIST.
Like he knew at this point people were going to shut him off. Which is exactly what I did. I do like Dr.Phil....especially his abrupt, no nonsense let's get to the point RIGHT NOW approach.....but not for extended periods of time.
I've managed to stop the swelling and bleeding from the audible brow beating! Thanks doc!

and for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT..............
MY blog is rapidly approaching the devils number of hits. What puzzles me is the HUGE AMOUT OF LURKERS and so very few posters. I for one am a poster especially when there are few comments.I've almost ALWAYS got SOMETHING TO SAY.( I know blahblahblah) I's just nice to know someone OUT THERE is willing to COMMUNICATE.
SO I'm urging all y'all to OPEN UP YER CAKE HOLES AND SAY SOMETHING !!
lEAVE ME A COMMENT!! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YA!!
Tell me your favorite audio book.....or chip dip!!!
Ask me the difference between a QUILT and a BLANKET!!
It matters not!! What is important is that we are creating DIALOG...
Help me out a little here. I know that you can!

Mumsie's 9 Patch

2007-09-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

You know....one can never do enough for ones Mother.
( ok I've owed her this one for a while now)Hi Mom!!Gettin er done!!!!!
This is what I meant earlier by "devil may care" color combos.
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!
AND it's the next bestest thing to quilting one of my own!!!!
I am cross hatching with black Aurifil Mako thread (cotton!!)on the pieced center in the blocks and sashing. Stippled in the black outer border and still undetermined on the inner green border.
I'm waiting for it to speak to me.
Sometimes I hear quilt voices in my head.

Another Quilt Finished

2007-09-06T07:53:00.001-07:00

Done.Yeay!
This quilt is owned by the same lady who did the "Brown Bricks"(see previous post). She was stash busting and just wanted them "Utility quilted" which was completely understandable for the 2 brown bricks . I was happy to oblige. When I pulled this one out of the bag I knew it was going to need a little extra somthin somthin ( more than utility quilting for sure!)as far as quilting goes. I spoke with her about this and she told me to go ahead and do whatever I wanted.
Which, If you are a Long Arm Quilter, can be both a blessing and a curse.
Most of the time clients say this and again I am happy to add the "frosting" (in the form of quilting) and hopefully the quilting adds that finishing touch and the owner is happy with the result.
I am now to the bottom of my pile of customer quilts. Mostly because I have had so much time to get caught up and havent been to quilt guild to take anything for show and tell to remind them that yes indeed I AM STILL QUILTING!!!!!!
(usually I only quilt part time due to the having to have a "real job ")
Last night I had 4 client quilts I delivered to members but no one showed preferring to show when they are bound and truly finished.
I did bring the BIG BLOCK MONSTER to show ...but it doesn't exactly exemplify my custom quilting skills.
So today I will start on my Mom's quilt for her "other Guild"show coming up in October.
This will be a fun one because I love these types of fabrics and"devil may care" color combos!!!!!!!

Prairie Pride Harvest Market 2007

2007-09-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

This past Labor Day weekend I participated in a local Harvest Festival.The owner/promoter of the festival has a very lush farm setting with flowering grounds and a great rustic barn with a large porch.She had the local conservation club selling food and a husband/wife team of strolling folk musicians. I was lucky enough to get a porch space last year due to a vendor cancellation. I snagged a different spot on the porch this year.(See pics from both years) All in all it is a quaint and charming experience.
This year I added Vintage Aprons to my list of wares.I also sold organic produce,(tomatos,peppers garlic) natural salsa,designer fabric remnants, hand-dyed muslin, hosta,lemon balm, catnip and hollyhock starts and seeds as well as fresh cut flowers.
For some reason its taken me 2 days get back to feeling like my usual self. I guess every ounce of energy I had was spent preparing for the festival...
Oh! and cleaning and organizing my studio for the Local Newspaper to come and interview me about my LongArm Quilting business...The photographer has already been here...the interviewer cancelled on my last week and is going to show up today..
(We will see!!!!!!!)

Alzheimers Quilt Initiative

2007-08-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

My Grandmother Laura Armeda Barnes is 83 and has Alzheimers. She has been in a local nursing home (in the Alzheimers unit within) since Spring of this year.
She was an avid seamstress.When I was a young teenager she spent a lot of time making custom outfits for me ( I was hard to fit) as well as garments for my mom when she was a teenager growing up and for herself.
I credit my Grandmother (for both DNA and fabric exposure)with my fondness for fabric(OK anything TEXTILE RELATED!!)
In her most recent years she caught the "Quilting Bug" along with my Mom and me. She managed to put together several quilts as well as collaborate with us on some bed quilt projects.
She also enjoyed crocheting afgans,doing embroidery and stitched several pillowcases for us.
My Mom has become involved at the nursing home,most recently their Alzheimers fundraising event that took place this weekend. She pieced a quiltop and I machine quilted it. It was raffled off this weekend and a young girl won it.
The link above will tell you more about this Alzheimers Art Quilt Exhibit and how you can help by sending an e-mail to OPRAH (cause we ALL KNOW what happens then...)to get this exhibit for this worthy cause OUT THERE!!
If you have had the opportunity to view this exhibit and attend the lecture,(and/or buy the book or CD )you know how moving and important this exhibit is to getting the message across. PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE with the Oprah people.
There are links to view the quilts also a NEW EXHIBIT TO PARTICIPATE IN (small quilts)if you are so inclined.You can also read more about the project in general.

did I say big?? I meant BIG!!!!

2007-08-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

It's DONE!!!!!!!!!
Quick N Dirty Baby!!!(well kinda...)Yay.

UPDATE!!!!
D found an update for the printer software so now I'm compatable enough to be able to download NEW PICS and be Bloggin for ya!!(who loves ya?)
~~**~**~**~~
So......remember the plaids in the washing machine pic??
Well they have been put together into what I would call a "Utility Quilt" top and are now as I type, being quilted.( Well I'll get back to quilting it in a minute!! First I must update!)
When I say "Utility Quilt" I'm thinking of "usedbythefamilyanddog havingpizzainthebasementwiththeneighborhoodkidswashedweekly" kind of quilt.
And this one would stand up to it...these are more of a canvas type weight fabrics..pretty darn sturdy. When it gets quilted up with the batting and backing on it they are also heavier than the usual.
The blocks in the pic are soooooo big ( I'll tell ya how big!) that I have to advance the rollers on my machine back and forth to get to each end(on the diagonal)
in one contiuous line.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about just trust me on this one.
LARGE 22inches square LARGE.
Anyhoo....this should go fairly quickly...... hopefully cause I've got lots to do
today!!(UPDATE Got 'Er DONE!!! see above pic.......)
But before I go........I must mention a couple of things!!
FUN NEW SNARKY QUILTING MAGAZINE!!
I'ts called "Quilters Home" . I'ts edited by a guy by the name of Mark Lapinsky..( I know I had never heard of him either but) I AM NOW A FAN!!!!It's put out by McCalls and worth picking up!!
Also new link "Quiltville" check it out!

Kinda soggy here...........thanks for asking!!!!!!

2007-08-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Kids!!

Yes....it's been a few days. I know you are all wondering WTF?????
OK here's the deal.....
Was super busy trying to finish stuff and get ready for doing local Farmers Market today.
COMPUTER took a crap. no worky.bupkis nada etc........NUTHIN!!!!.
D got out his "other' computer and we are hooked up for maximum GAMING PLEASURE now here but I am without a compatable connection to all my old photos and method to up load new ones.
Heavy sigh.
Drove around to a couple neighboring towns looking for a video card for computer.
Again nothing.
Stopped at a Midwestern Dairy Burger Chain and orderd my usual. Several girls were standing around waiting for something to do.
One was playing with her hair and then decided to wipe her nose a couple of times with her hand....then to my horror...she proceded to begin to make my ice cream order..........
This was more than I could stand !! I said excuse me !! and in a polite ,subdued but explicit way asked to to go wash her hands and imitated what she just did.
I cannot tell you how many times I have observed people in the 'FOOD INDUSTRY" handling food after touching money or as in this case touching their hair or face .
D said he had the worst meal he has ever had there. I was completely apalled at the lack of basic hygiene skills being exhibited. I 've got 1/2 a mind ( not a full one) to go to their website and let them know.. too bad I didn't keep my receipt!!
ANYWAY!!
New "video card" (let's hope it will fix this) has been ordered from "large feline with stripes electronic geek supply" and will arrive shortly.
So I apologize for not having any exciting(!) visuals...AND
In case you were wondering..
I'ts been RAINING everyday here in the good 'ol MIDWEST for the past week.
Lots of places have been hit hard with flooding,uprooted trees,and power outages.
We ,thankfully , have been pretty lucky. The chickens were mudboggin until we got them some straw yesterday. My yard is one giant grassy sponge but no biggie really!!
TODAY we got up before the chickens at 5 am and loaded up the ol truckster in the DARK in the RAIN to go to the FARMERS MARKET. There were a few(very!) other vendors there and we endured a handful of shoppers and a whopping blowing rain front for a short while.
Then the rain started soaking thru to the front of a quilt I had hanging as a back drop.
Thats when I decided to pack it up and head home @ 9:00 or so.
I made a whopping $6. I put on some dry clothes and went back to bed.Fooey.

QUILTS FOR SALE!!!!!

2007-08-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

Customer quilt....Bricks #1.....

These plaids are classic guy stuff!!!Just a small sampling of the "Stash from the Mart"!!!!!
Well, it's happened.
More like not happened.
I called my boss last night to check on the status of work for this week.
Left a message. No reply.
I told myself this would be the week to start looking for a job.
Bummer really.....I actually enjoyed painting houses. I made a decent wage for a change and got some sort of a sense of accomplishment out of it.
I guess I'm pretty bummed because I have been out there, done lots of it and there are very few decent jobs out there. Especially in my town. There are a couple larger towns with more going on but with the price of gas it would have to be a pretty decent paying job.
And truly kids. I'M OVER IT!!
I'VE WORKED IT ALL ,DONE IT ALL,WAS PAID VERY LITTLE AND HATED IT ALL!!!!
So. I guess I'll start with Monster and Yahoo....bleh.
But.....
As far as quilting goes..Ive got six left unfinished..I'm working on the first set of 3 from one customer who put these 3 together to just use up her stash( what? ONLY 3!!? from your STASH!!)SHE WANTS THESE UTILITY QUILTED which means no fancy stuff.
They all are a brick type of pattern with a lattice inbetween (3 different color combos) And amazingly ,as tired as I was last night, I think I've found one solution
that is different form the typical allover quilting. It serves the utility quilting price requirement, is fairly continuous( not a lot of stops and starts) and seems to enhance the simple graphic look of the piecing.( see above photo)
I also thought since I'm doing the farmers market this Sat and another harvest fest next Sun I should actually TRY TO GET SOME SIMPLE QUILTS MADE TO SELL.!!!
wHAT A CONCEPT!! This is something I've alsways wanted to do but never had the time for.
Ive only got 3 more "paying quilts"(hi mom! I'll get yours done for the show I promise!) left to do after these 3 and they are small.
Last I knew I had a store on e-bay, (unused) and have picked a name for Etsy so I could start trying to sell there as well.
As some of you know I have an INSANE AMOUNT of designer fabric samples left over from my days working at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. These are all upholstery and drapery weight fabrics that were used for display in the showroom where I worked. Since I was the "merchandiser" (read staple monkey and box beyotch) I was the one who had the glamorous job of putting up the new and taking down the old ( discos, we called 'em , discontinued!)(see above )
Now of course some of these fabrics got donated to various charities ( quilts for kids) and local design schools. But a lot of it would end up in a dumpster if it werent for me and my daily shopping bag. Yes.... this was a RESOURCE,that I recognized,and one day when I was a little old lady with lots of time, I would MAKE STUFF!!
Guess that time is now!!!!!! Stay tuned!!!!!!!

Outside today!!

2007-08-17T08:10:00.001-07:00

I've been inside the studio for almost 2 weeks now .
At the quilting machine or in from of this attention sucking computer..
I think its about time to head outside and "blow the stink off" as my Uncle Buck would say.
The weather is just right today, not too hot.... nor overcast.
There are still more tomatoes and peppers to deal with(Salsa !)
AND a while ago a good friend of mine gave me a bunch of perennials from her garden. I still have to get the mums,daylilies and iris planted...
Later!!!!!!

Vintage red ,white and blue..

2007-08-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Ok !
So here are some shots of yet another customer quilt.
This customer is a client of my Mom's amd not a quilter.
I did not get the story on the vintage blocks whether they were purchased or in the family, and I enjoyed this one too. Polka dots are always fun to work with
This one had to be limited to a certain dollar amount so I didn't get too crazy with
custom quilting.
I used Signature cotton thread in "Parchment" for the top and a white Mako (cotton) for the bobbin.
I did have to use a BLEACHED batting...I chose White Rose by Mountain Mist for a couple of reasons.
I could get it locally at the HOB LOB for 40% off w/coupon.(yeay)
Plus it shrinks up quite nicely when washed and dried.
Thats good if you're going for a vintage look. I'm pretty sure we were!
It has a super soft hand and would be easy to hand quilt.( if one was so inclined)
So now its off to Mom's house where she will attach the binding.
Red polka dot binding would be sweet... don't cha think???

I need more..........

2007-08-15T09:25:00.001-07:00

Well as you know..I've been down on the Farm quilting all week. My usual routine is to check my favorite blogs and hopefully get some new content.
Blame it on the fact that I have way more time to surf, and my need for NEW!!and EXCITING!!!!and I have no one to talk to here!.....
So I've found a couple new blog sites worth perusing. One which stands out the most (OK Cause the word Farm was in the title!)is Force Majeure Farm.(See Link, lower right)

She is a retired Coast Guard officer(!) and is now living on a farm in Illinois and has a
QUILT RESTORATION BUSINESS!!!!!! Very very interesting and informative, with pics of vintage beauties and its "Farmy" to boot!
Check it out!!!!!!!!!

My Favorite Show!!!

2007-08-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

If you havent had a chance to watch Jericho...I highly recommend it!!! Last seasons episodes are being rebroadcast on Fridays..You can also watch the entire season (all episodes) as well of lots of other videos and check out cool stuff on the website.
If I'm not mistaken...this was only the third time in TV history that a fan base reacted with such force that the network was persuaded to bring the show back into production. ( They tried to cancel on us at the end of the season!Ha!! and NUTS!!!) 6 or 7 episodes are in production right now but the network won't commit to more until the viewer numbers increase. So here is my unabashed hard sell!! It's great stuff...go ahead check it out!!!!

wow..... there's more......

2007-08-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a wall size quilt I finished yesterday. The customer provided me with a poly batt, which I normally wouldn't use if I was making th e choice. It just goes against my "all cotton all the time" motto. This will work fine for a wall hanging and it did quilt up fairly flat.
Again I used 3 colors of Cotton threads, both the cream and peach from the previous endeavor and a nice King Tut variegated green.

Back view......
OK!! now its on to the next in line. My next top is made of actual vintage blocks .There is a limit on what the owner wants to spend.Lets see if I can keep it real.........Later!!!!!!

Here Tis' Pink and Brown Beauty

2007-08-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like I may not be working(painting) again this week! (CRIPE!!)So the only thing to do is KEEP ON QUILTING!!!!AND...........
As promised....here are some pics of the latest full size quilt that I just finished quilting.The owner is Florida now enjoying some R&R..so I have a little bit of time to bask in the glow of the finished project. These are the ones I grow attached to the most and regret having to return to their rightful owner!!*sigh*
I especially enjoyed this one...and am filing this half square triangle idea away for future reference. I have some half square triangles from a swap awhile ago...and would consider making more anyway. They are fun and fast.
I used 3 colors of cotton thread.I ONLY USE COTTON THREADS and Mako by Aurifil is one I use a lot . They have a huge range of colors to choose from. This one was quilted with a nice antique-y brown, peach and cream all 40 wt.
I've included a shot of the back ,but couldn't seem to get a nice detail of it.
I've finished yet another quilt today..this one is a wall size . Pics of that one coming soon...Stay tuned!!!

As always click on pics for close up detail view......

Shipshewana Summer Stitch N Bitch 07

2007-08-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so here we are ( L to R) Sandy, Mom and me

at Lolly's digging through the fat quarters in The Boat.

Mom had to have a pic taken and some kind unsuspecting quilter obliged.

The TRADITIONAL pose though is usually taken from the other side butts out. Its kind of fun diggin through these cause you might find a fat quarter of a line of fabrics that has been out of print for a while.. It isn't a baragin however because they are $2 a piece. Fabric is generally $8( more ) a yard anyway........
Here is a shot (a VIGNETTE if you will ) and you will, of what I aquired whilst there.....and one of the projects I was working on. Note the shoes (Crocs,plastic,hoseable) they were creating quite a crowd at Yoders .They had a huge display and a large selection of styles and colors...more than I've seen anywhere else.Several ladies were deliberating .....of course being the enabler that I am..I encouraged one and all to "git cha some".

The vintage blocks on the left were purchased for $1 a piece (16 total) which was a deal that day. It was odd as a whole because random single blocks were going for $3 and more while vintage unfinished tops were quite reasonable. Right Mom????? Mom let a very old beauty go ....It had one hole in it but a great old Claret fabric as the background with a circular motif in off white...she tried to get a better price.... It was only $30 anyway.....I guess someone else snarfed it after we walked away..Pity.

The fabrics under my shoe are the choices for the alternate blocks for the top I'm putting together with the 30's& 40's 9 patches. You can see I've started assembling them. They are a pain because the stitching is teeny weeny in some spots which makes it hard to rip and reassemble. Some of them need it ..the piecing is pretty wonky.

And lastly you can see the larger of the 2 vintage leather suitcases I picked up at a vendor booth at the antique fair. I already have too many ,most of mine are the straw/fabric/linen type..but these 2 were a must have at $26 for the pair...and in great shape!!Such a deal.

Ok back to the finishing of the quilt at hand....pics later!!!!!

Ready for my close up!!!

2007-08-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Enjoying some basil.........

Biff the Rooster (formerly known as Buffy the Bug Slayer)

Here are the usual suspects....almost all grown up!

In fact, we have just succombed to what we have been suspecting for some time ....but did not want to admit..Yes, Buffy the Bug Slayer( last pic) is indeed Biff the Bug Slayer .

She (he ) had been displaying advanced growth patterns (large butt, more comb and waddle and a generally larger disposition)....and .....

We had considered it....but after a visit to our local county fair and seeing several full grown hens and roosters we decided she (he )was just a more developed hen and went about our daily

state of poultry denial.

I went away last weekend for some quilting shenannigans and returned to an undeniable COCK-A DOODLE-DOOOOOO( 4 or 5 times!) on Monday morning when I went out to feed the flock.

Doug admitted he witness the same this weekend whilst I was away.

Now I have had some doubts about having a rooster.....and we ordered all female chicks trying to avoid a situation... having heard of aggressive roosters and the inevitable fryer/roaster smackdown.

Doug spoke with the owner of a feed store today, who proclaimed it was actually better to have a rooster especially when it comes to Organic eggs: health food stores actually seem to prefer this!!

Of course it wierds me out a tad..( me who won't even EAT CHICKEN lately)

But I guess we will have to wait and see if he can behave himself!!!!!!

WEEK OFF!!!!!

2007-08-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

So.......
I just found out from my boss there isn't any work for me this coming week. He suggested perhaps getting a lot of quilting done in the mean time...and
I'm back from a fun filled Stich N Bitch weekend at my parents lake cottage with a side of Shipshewana...(Antique Fair,Yoder's.. Lolly's)
What happens at the Lake stays at the Lake...but I'll tell ya we had us some fun.
New shoes.....(Black Mary Jane Crocs..) unusually girly for the Schnoobie
Vintage blocks....... 16@$1 a piece
Reproduction 30's fabric purchases......oh and some previous century (Colonies Blue out of print) yardage 7+ Yds!!for sashing a set of another Vintage 9 patch blocks Yeay!
2 Monogrammed Leather Suitcases (40's vintage like new!) $26 for both
Smirnoff Raw Tea...New!!Yummy!! (6 pack )

Although we had this outing planned for a year there were 3 others that either never RSVP'ed or cancelled at the last minute. As had been previously warned they were talked about.
You know who you are and you know the consequences.

I didn't get a ton done....dabbled in several project options with minimal enthusiasm , zest or results . (Although it took me two weeks worth of digging through 3 large rubbermaid containers full of vintage block sets and pieces parts....trying to decide what to take to work on)
I did accomplish the selection and purchasing of fabrics for 2 different projects from 2 different points in quilt block making history...
Now I'm excited about actually sewing a set of 50 nine patches from the 40's that made me wonder why I purchased them in the first place.(poorly constructed and fugly) I found 7 different repro fabrics from the same era and am putting them with the 9 patches as alternate blocks in a concentric pattern.
I have several quilts to quilt, a studio to organize and a new design wall to dig out...(plus laundry...etc and blah blah)
Stay tuned for more info and pics as the week digresses...
I have to talk to somebody!!!!!!!!!!!Later!!!!!!

Chicken Lovin'

2007-07-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Well !!

Hello again!!!

As you can see, it has been quite a while

since my last post.

I do believe there are a few things I must update you on.

1. Not at the quilting machine job anymore.

(surprise surprise do I ever work anywhere more than 3 months at a time??)Got wierd very quickly...more later!!!!!

2.Went back to the greenhouse the day after I decided to quit the previous job. Was greeted with much joy and relief...would not let me leave unless I agreed to work there.

3. Left to go paint houses in June after greenhouse owner announced he was closing Fathers day.( not a bad living working 5 months out of the year...huh!)

4. have been painting houses (interior,exterior, new construction and existing) since.

5. claw hand is holding up quite nicely. thank you.....thanks to

6. hot wax home spa hot hot yowza

7. girls girls girls!!!!!4 Buff Orpingtons and 4 Auracanas ..they are now older teenagers and have moved into their permanent residency next to the grain shed. When they were babies living in a U-haul box in my studio I would hold each and every one of them everyday. When they graduated into the moveable coop it became harder to catch them to hold them. The coop was too large for me to reach into all areas of it. Now I can walk into their enclosure and force my lovin on them.

well maybe 3 of them..But I'm not giving up. I have one very special girl ..she is one of the Buff Orpingtons and I've named her Trixie Chicken. She likes to be held..will actually climb on to my leg from the ramp and sit in my lap for as long as I will let her. I have my own sideshow in the backyard for whoever is willing to watch my trick chickenshow.Eggspecting sometime this fall

8. Weeding weeding weeding my flower beds....

9. Getting geared up for the annual summer Wawasee/Shipshe quilting/antiqueing/eating/drinking retreat. I've decided to take inventory of all of my antique and vintage blocks and parts and put some together with other blocks of the same era or some reproduction fabrics from the period.I haven't yet decided which ones...but Yoders is fantastic for fabric choices. I am also going to take this time to get aquainted with my newly refurbished (old) Singer Featherweight (Thanks Mom!) that was gifted to me on my Birthday this year.(those of you who do not know......it was spotted sitting out in the weather on my mom's neighbors front deck.One step away from the garbage truck!!!!! )

Also....my mom is a Pied Piper of sorts...old Singer sewing machines just come to her,as well as stray cats and unfortuately small obnoxious children....But as I was saying.......just a few small repairs and a new part and she's sewing fine! Plus I got a new softsided case for it to live in!

Now I'm no longer the only one in our group that doesn't have one.Cause I can only afford FREE.

10 .Farmer's Market. Have done it twice now....will do again later on when veggies start coming in. Doing 3 kinds of Heirloom tomatoes and 4 hot peppers and 7 different colored bell peppers , small watermelons,cantaloupe and brussel sprouts.Sold Hollyhock,morning glory,catnip,lemon balm,heirloom tomato plants, zinnia and cosmos starts.Fresh cut flowers too. Organic catnip was the surprise hit at $2 for a snack size bag!! Also brought some designer fabric samples and hand-dyed muslin and hung a quilt each time to promote my longarm quilting services.This took a lot of work and energy and I've decided I cannot do it every weekend.Especially with painting houses full time and

11. Machine quilting too.Still. I don't get as much done in the Summer simply because I cannot stand to be indoors when the weather is so inviting.End of discussion. Everybody knows its a long, cold ,dark and dreary winter in these parts. Thats prime quilting time.

12.Motorcycle riding whenever I can get Alien boy to go. Daylights burnin!! Next week is Porter County Fair. Woohoo.Tractors!!Combine Demo Derby!! More farm animals!! Snarf Bunnies!! Jumbo Roosters!!Revenge of the Corn Dog!!Pig Racing!!We are so there.

So in retrospect, I have been a busy girl!!!! I just hope my fanclub masses can forgive me for the absence of bloggage. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!!!bwaaahaaaaaaa

Enuf I Said!!!

2006-12-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

Mrs Robinson sent me an e-mail today with the announcement that she just couldn't take a certain "Fiber" blog today and she was removing it from her book mark list.

Well! It's sooooo overdue....
I must concur and you shant see the button here no mo.
Can't deal with the pedictable rainbow pallette and bad furniture gallery "paintings".
Like anybody reads this and knows what the hell I'm referring to anyway!?

( Dont hate me cause I'm waaaaaay sexy..I looked this way cause I turned 40!!!! 3 times that weekend !!!!!! anyway...........)

Yesterday I found out that a co-worker (24 , brand new to the industry...great kid don't get me wrong....) makes a couple thousand more a year than I do.

!?!?!????????!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????

Ok I know its a different job ..but I've been in the "Industry" for 7+ years......Degree in Textiles... (have been a spell check and terminology coach to previously mentioned co-worker since)

Not to mention another temp co-worker (whom the VP knows has come in smelling like booze on several occasions ....and has joked about it to the above co-worker)
we shall call him "Playa" is next in line by default (if coorperate gets their way and eliminates the regular guy) to be the next Full time employee.

Unless of course The Bears played the night before in which "Playa" is a no show.....

I'm tellin ya its the BUILDING!!!!!!!!!

aND i GOTTA GET OUT if only it werent for the fabric addiction...............
Also I came home and found out Dougs assholebrotherboss fired one of his co-workers today.
It's all sooooo waaaaay too complicated to get into here but lets just say that one certain person could take several years worth of dysfunctional pest control foibles and turn them into a Broadway hit.......
because we all know
YOU CANT MAKE THIS SHIT UP KIDS.
Have I mentioned this before?

Outta Control Winter Quarter 06

2006-10-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

So sorry Mrs. Robinson!!! I know its been over a month since I've felt like I could take the time for the luxury of blogging.
I'm feeling like my life has gotten away from me.
Working In the BIG CITY has affected me in more negative ways than I had ever experienced or imagined.
The drama, oy the DRAAAMAAAA!!!the reality of the 6th floor just cannot exist without it!
For some reason my body is not adjusting to the "get my sleep in chunks mode"(4.5 hours at home.2 in the am commute.2 in the pm =8?) ..which in turn has affected my everyday not for profit(putting laundry away,general houskeeping ,cooking hahahah) AND second job tasks(getting these customer quilts done on time ...you too mom! promise!!)
Of course the neverending darkness is the constant struggle but it feels like February already folks!!!!!!
My company promised health care benefits by Oct. 1st. Well............the insurance broker called today to say they are going to call my Dr with my info .Because I live on another planet, INDIANA, there was a problem.A 3WEEK DELAY WAITING FOR BENIFITS PROBLEM! So I can get there and get my Asthma meds (I have called off the past two days due to the 10 block haul to and fro which makes my lungs shut) and return to the urban working world.
This was mostly me making a stand because cripe , I was sick of being jerked around!!
AND.......
I decided to open up an Ebay store(FabricFarmgirl) to sell off those lovely pieces of fabric I've been dragging home from work AGAIN . These are the ones I'm not keeping for myself obviously,but delicious enough to offer up to a good home.I tried this when I first lost my job over a year ago and forgot how time consuming it is.SO! I've got ONE LISTING so far!!! yeah!! Only took me all dang day!!
I did get others ironed and photographed and descriptions roughed out though,ready for listing.

Will I ever feel like I've got a grip on something?Maybe its not having a feeling of ever being done, or not having a feeling of accomplishment?Don't get me wrong!! I AM NOT A PERFECTIONIST by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not whining because my sheets arent pressed. I just don't want to have to use heavy equipment to try and dig them out.
Am I ineffective? Should I stop comparing my accomplishments (more like lack there of) to others??Will I ever feel like I've got a handle on things?Will anyone even bid on my fabric listings? PS sorry no pics!whats up w/da blogger anyway??
Any and all advice is welcome!............
...

Shut -Up Date

2006-09-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well I finally got the phone call from the insurance adjuster. $150 for tree removal..(after the 500 deductable !)huh!pass the steak knives kids ...we should be able to cut this thing up by SPRING!
I AM surprised at the amount for the truck. Just short of the $2000 mark after they deducted the percentage for salvage, and sales tax. yadda.
This means a new used windshield from the junkyard ( hi Dad!) and I drive it till it falls apart.
hello . duh.
Doug took the sledge hammer to the door frames and the inside roof and managed to do a DANDY JOB pounding all dents back to near original.
AGAIN HE ROCKS!!!
NOT TO MENTION the brakes he fixed and the super new improved toasty heater coil he replaced for me.
He's a righteous dude!

whomp!

2006-09-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

Well I got up waaaaay to early this am and have been tragicaly behind on blogging . Here is the latest( last Friday) so not the greatest. Did I mention my insurance company? Hello? Farm Bureau! You suck!!!
I have had to make all the call stinking calls to check up on everybody to see, if indeed ,anything is being done.Dude! That's my truck!
So the auto guy is " guessing " it will be totaled. nice. Let's hope they give me enough $ to buy it back from them plus enough for a new windshield.Still haven't heard about what is up with tree removal $!!!Or if anyone has even come out to look. I sent my agent photos last friday and she still hadn't responded. SUCKY SUCKY SUCKY
Doug's truck was damaged to the tune of @$ 3000. His sprayer tank was completely distroyed.
Thank goodness it just missed my studio!! or worse yet we could have been in the driveway in one of the trucks or on the motorcycle!! OK GOTTA go catch that train to funville. Mo better post later. ya'll. word.

Shut-Update Tuesday August 8, 2006

2006-08-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

OK!!!
So they made me an offer I didn't refuse. I really wasn't trying to play hardball.
My manager called me and offered full health benefits ( medical, dental and vision,....mental would have been nice too) and a full-time (ish) hourly wage that is more than they were paying previously.
Full time-ish means hopefully ,I can work as little as 32 hours per week and still be considered full-time. Which means quickie lunches and staying 1/2 an hour later daily.....this I can handle. For a 4 day work week. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.For a while anyway. My fanclub at Kravet is rejoicing I hear....
And all the fabric I can haul home.......
This is an example of a slap and sew thing made with discontinued memo samples....
It's a lumberjack quilt top and its OK!!!Especially loverley with the vintage lawn chairs and the outta control barberry. I did not receive the overachiever award during the sewing retreat.Even though I did complete an entire quilt top. Something about a minimum amount of piecing and maximum block size. Details!!! whatever!.......This one will be quickie quilted and for sale at the next upcoming show I will be vending. Please let your lumberjack friends know!

Serenity August 2006

2006-08-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

This past extended weekend was spent at my family's cottage near Lake Wawasee. It is located in Syracuse, Indiana , dangerously close to an Amish community/quilters heaven in Shipshewana, IN.
Previous posts recorded the time we spent there this past January. This time was especially special because they had a large outside antique fair there. This was the reason why we chose this particular time to go. Not to mention the other attractions and fabric purchasing possibilities in the area. Yoder's .Lolly's. Rebecca Haarer's Antique quilt shop.Fishers Antiques. JoJo's pretzels....HELLO!!!! The rest of the time was spent on the screened porch sewing,solving the world's problems,enjoying the nonstop hummingbird king-of-the-feeder competition and local bird show right outside the porch.Along with a show-and-tell session and a discussion on creativity.Some of the participants were show offs and sewed many small pieces together in a very precise fashion........others preferred the grab slap and sew/ginormous block methods. You all know who you are.Varous types of diets were represented among the participants. From the "rabbit food points "variety to the "no migraines please" as well as the "all snack foods covered in powdered cheese or chocolate and peanut butter all the time let's stop for a "Moolatte" type.
Naturally the best ever cruise around the lake wasn't documented. Let me tell you the water,sky,sunset,blooming mallows were all just about perfect.Every single time I take that cruise I decide to become a millionaire and purchase one of those cottages on the lake . Something modest of course. Which leads me to the second part of this post.

I think I quit my job today. After two discussions with my financial/tax advisor ( hi Mom!) I made the conflicting decision to give up the ultra high profile glamour job in Chicago. Here's the facts.
1. low independant contractor wages.........
2. which means I have to take out my own deductions for 2 state taxes, FICAand my county tax( either save it all now to pay later or just hope I can pay it later) huh!
3.est. 1/3 of wages for above mentioned taxes=unable to pay bills/live /feed animals/pay daily train ( 4hr round trip commute)ticket of $15.40
4. Actual income = about the same I could get working anywhere local.Don't forget I'm working 2 hours just to pay to get there and back.
I went in as usual today before everyone else. My manager probably wasn't going to show till sometime @ 9 . I realized my return train options were severely limited so I wrote her a note and explained my plight.I expressed my desire to negotiate if at all possible also. When I was first approached about the job I was quoted a higher range of possible wages . The final offer however, was below the low end.I accepted anywas mostly because I didn't have any other options and did not know I would be hired as an independent.
So......today will be spent quilting, putting laundry away, weeding etc etc...........lalalalalalalal

Stripes Stash

2006-07-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

OK!

here they are . striped fabulousness. mine.

all mine.

I just loves me some fabric.

lots of it.

love it long time.

stripes are my all time favorite.

over it!!!!!!!!!!

2006-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Well obviously the annual family 4th of July wouldn't be complete with out some CRACK so here ya go. Courtesy of my 11yr old niece Bailey( enabler) and 14 yr old niece Taelor( addict). We were headed down to the boat for some fireworks on the lake. Never a dull moment.

Since I was unable to download a photo of the stash of striped fabrics I have acquired recently, I thought the butt shot might lessen the disappointment. Maybe not. Ok! on to the title of this post.....

Sometimes I surprise myself with what I look forward to and / or dread and what the actual result in reality is!
Case in point: going back to work at the Mart.
I was looking forward to it, truly.
Now that a week has come and gone I have to admit
I'M OVER IT! who knew it would come with such lightening speed?
I'm blaming it on a combination of many things:
1. My vocation in life. This used to be a job that made me feel like I was doing something that was directly related to my passion/knowledge/education.NOW= Trained monkey w/staple gun.
2.My direction in life. Now I am pursuing this independant/machine quilting/flower farmer/quiltmaker/quilt history studies/lecturer/teacher/quilt shop wanna be owner direction.NOW= feels like a step or two back.
3. Capacity to endure tales /trials of dysfunction in the(previous) work place.I used to just let it erode by the slow drip method. NOW= My perspective is crystal clear and my precious mental health just wont allow it!! It saddens me to see several of my friends still enduring. And the perpetrators are becoming even worse!
4. Current job stupidity. Working with unorganized cheap companies that hire inexperienced help that can't even speak clearly!what? WHAT???? Always time to do the job over again but never time to do it right the first time.NOW= I just hope I can hang on and work through this temporary situation until the end.
5. Superior additude. Been there done that . I'm EVOLVING ... Experiencing personal growth!Working towards goals. Movin' on kids!! Not settling into a comfort zone ! WHAT A RELIEF to realize this!!!

Well Hey and Yeay!

2006-07-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my last day at the greenhouse ! That's a good thing because today was painfully stupid. Mostly because I have "somewhere else brain". You know.... when you've finally made the decision to go on vacation , move on ,change your hairdo, get a new car...whatever!!I't almost impossible for me to focus on the present because I'm too busy wondering and planning for the big thing thats coming up!!In this case its not so much a big thing, but the next thing!!I will miss the view across the street. I watched the farmer pick up those hay bales 2 at a time and then fly across the field to put them all in a row. I mean that tractor was screamin!
All this week the boss has been giving away flats of annuals with any purchase of 25$ or more( which is really 50$ because everything is half off....) boy, people were just thrilled when they found out. ( I was instructed not to tell them until they had actually made the purchase, because I'm so sure the customer would stop at 25$ .....) my boss is not a retail wiz .......in fact he is one of those people who come out smelling like a rose despite himself. ( Top notch staff and sales crew no doubt!!!) So in retrospect.....I think it was a positive experience overall. I made some new friends, bought some more perennials(on sale!!) for my cut flower farm plans... and got an awesome( but slightly wierd ) tan . If I do it again next year,I know things would have to change. The line would have to be drawn somewhere regarding overtime. We did not get extra pay for over 40 hours, not to mention the lack of discount for employees. This is unheard of in my many many years of retail experience. I wanted to try selling at the the European Market(farmers market) this year but was unable to even have a normal life this past Spring. Due mostly to the insane greenhouse hours and the quilt show on top of it all. But hey live and learn right ?? Well..... hopefully!!!Speaking of ........on to Chicago and the daily drama that is
( DUN DUN DUN!!.).....THE MERCHANDISE MART!!!!!!

This should be fun for awhile , I hope.Let us keep our fingers crossed that I don't run into my ex-bosses lest I tell them exactly what I think of their dysfuntional duo and the sleezeball they still pimp themselves out for. Me bitter? Nah!

Hello Again!!!!!

2006-07-03T07:06:00.001-07:00

Well.... It's been a few months since I've had the chance to get going on the ol blogger and I do apologize.......
Stuff has been going on:
frog poo on my spigot,
flowers bloomin and ..........mostly workin at the greenhouse( full-time plus hours!!) the past months also.....
getting ready for my guild quilt show(finishing client quilts,sewing hanging sleeves on my own, getting my stuff together for my vendor booth!) that has now come and gone............. so I have been busy!!!!!!

The above 2 purple flowers are lovies I've brought home from the greenhouse....passion flower vine and a delphinium. Needless to say I've drug home quite a few specimens ..especially when the 50% off hit ( we don't get a discount normally...shame on my boss!!) Today I called off , thunderstorms predicted and I hate being in that greenhouse during a storm!!!!!!! My last day is Thursday anyway .Next week I go back to Chicago to work at the Merchandise Mart for Hinson and Co......they are expanding and remodeling their showroom space and were in need of some experienced temporary merchandising help . This should be fun because I will be working with and across the hall from previous co-workers... I couldn't ask for a better temporary gig!!Uh.... not to mention all the discontinued fabric samples I get to drag home!!Tragic, really!!!

Testing!!!!!!!

2006-04-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well the ol Blogger had some issues today. Naturally!
Cause I had prepared a farm fresh Springy ode to the old Polish lady who planted tons of stuff in her barefeet half a century ago in this very locale.
Sniff!
So....here's a little tip for all you XXL coffee drinkers who may have to mix up yer morning caffeine in the studio.
Without a large wooden spoon don't cha know!
This has been working for me for 2 weeks now.
Inkpens just weren't tall enough!!
Yet another reason to sing the praises of knitting.
So here's a mini indoor Spring thing.
Note the Rosemary in the discarded Penland pottery,the Jack -in-the- Pulpit to the left and the 2 very lovely and juicy Columbine in the foreground.
Please ignore the beat-up-left-over-from-Chicago-days-coffee-mug.
The 5-gallon buckets just weren't so portable.

Ode to Mrs. Pudlo

2006-04-24T08:01:00.001-07:00

Back in The Day........circa 1949 Mr. and Mrs Pudlo built this house on the chunk of property that is now my farm, my neighbors property and a few acres that are owned and farmed by the neighbors down the road. Mrs. (Grandma) Hay across the road proclaims that Mrs. Pudlo used to garden in her bare feet. She could be found most days doing this.
I had heard tales of the colorful bulbs that would pop out every spring and this cemented my will to own this place.
The yard had a lot of random planted tree and bush wierdness, the driveway was completely overgrown but I couldnt wait to see what a new season would bring.

There are tons of tulip, daffodil and narcissus bulbs, violets, peonies, sweetpeas,and garlic growing in a spot I call "My Meadow". I have been plucking away at 50 plus years of
garlic overgrowth and various weeds.Some years more than others.This Spring has been the most abundant I can remember.
Or maybe its because
now that I am not working in the city, I have been able to enjoy the daily flora and fauna surprises that happen here at my farm.
I am looking forward to spending more time restoring and adding to Mrs. Pudlos work.
Once Spring hits its almost imposible for me to remain inside ,but I have quilts with deadlines and the least amount of housework I can get away with!!
What's that?
I hear my windowboxes calling to me ,pleading to be planted!!!
OK!OK! Twist my arm, but after I get some quilting in!!!

My Larch is larching!! According to the local nursery owner these trees, this size, in this area is rare!They are more common in the Northwest area of the country. Lucky me!!And they produce the cutest mini pinecones!!

Chicago/Houston International Quilt Festival

2006-04-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the pictoral quilts that really blobbed my nob tab. The top one on the right with the yellow flowers is by Ruth Powers I think she is the one who won viewers choice for her 3 robins quilt. Great Stuff!!!

Apologies to my 3 fans.....AND big city stories

2006-04-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry !! I know it's been a while and all 3 of you out there are checking everyday to see if anything exciting is going on here at the farm.......I do have to say that I have been working full time at the new greenhouse gig . I am loving it but it makes me just plain ty-red at the day's end.

OK soooooooo.

Fyyyyyyyuuuuuuuh!

Well it had to happen and now our friend Rich (the pyro) can sleep at night.

Until the next seasonal accumulation.

And if you happened to miss it this time...(sorry..it just kind of happened with out a lot of pre planning) you will be getting an engraved invitation to the next one.

Who knows maybe there will be a wedding thing too at the next one. OK! OK! Maybe.

So I made the trip into the big city today to surprise my friend Lauren at lunch. Her birthday is sunday and I havent seen her or the old Chicago work crew since last year around this time.She was completely surprised and pleased .....and preggers!!!!! Due in August.She looked adorable and I know she is going to be a great mom. Plus she will finally get out of that crazy place!!

I first started blogging so that my friends in the city would be able to check in on my comings and goings and antics out here on the farm. And I obviously had a relating- to- people -on- a- daily- basis need that wasn't getting met Alas most of them didn't get the" blog thing".. but.......

Today was like a welcome back party for me actually. I've never worked with a group of people that have made me feel like my daily presence is truly something they miss . It was so great to see all of them plus a few of the co-workers from other showrooms.

I got all the low down on the dirty deeds of the company owner(unethical grabby old gross schmoozer cheezeball) and his thong girl thing and both of their impending divorces.Gross. Such a surprise.And the updates on the "Dyfunctional Duo"management team. Will she and her brother finally "do it"after a planned romantic vacation together?Will his elderly father have to move in and find out after 45 years that his son is gay? Stay tuned for another episode of "The Mart Memoirs". Oiy. NONE of this surprises me , nor do I miss the daily draaaaahmah.But it was a bit entertaining to hear these tales. Not to mention the recurring feelings of mental instability while I was employed there.How on earth did I deal with all that stuff?

It WAS THEM( crazy!) not me! ( I KNEW IT!)

Ahhhhhhhh what a perspective a year doth make.

Sproing!!( Life is short... Stay out of Knox, Indiana ! )

2006-04-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well yeay! SPRING! It finally showed up for a day! Here are just a few of the lovilies blooming here at the farm.

And as you can see the dogs were happy for the promise of better outside conditions.( they have inside heated quarters,too if they so choose)

I managed to get a few wheel barrow loads of willow sticks picked up ( tons yet to get to later...)

When Dougie came home a bit early and forced me( hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!) to go for a ride on the bike.He really had to twist my arm.OK! OK! Ouch! that hurts!Stop! I said OK! !!!!!!!!!not!

We took a ride down to N. Judson to Bailey's Discount Warehouse, looking for surplus bathroom stuff. I had heard tales of aisles and aisles of beef jerky but was quite disappointed. Must have been an urban( well maybe not so urban) myth.
I did find (at bargain prices!) :

SUCH AMAZING DEALS!!!!!

Quite the selection of Halloween 05 candy( Fresh Gummy Lifesavers!)I put the Giradelli chocolate back on the shelf...

Foodservice size cappacino mix ( hard to find Pumpkin flavor!had to try..)

Bath and Beauty Products: 10 bar(2 bonus!) count Dial Citrus Sensation Soap.....
Healing Garden Green Tea Therapy( my fave!!) gift set:cologne
and shower gel!
Needless to say, I got over the lack of beef jerky selection.

But the most remarkable thing about this outing was the encounter at the Knox Burger King.
Doug had parked the bike in front after getting some gas . We had just sat down to inhale our burgers when in walks this woman.She walks up to us and asks if it was our bike.Well yes .( duh those are helmets on our table)She then proceeds to inform us of her recent motorcycle upgrade( which up to this point is typical biker chit -chat) But then....... goes into how she had 5 miscarriages, a brain aneurism,was in a coma for months,came home, was in diapers,couldn't talk or walk...(20 minutes later, we had finished eating!) and is now riding her own Harley. Pretty amazing stuff( if it was true..) makes me want to ride my own........
If I hadn't stood up to put my jackets on, we would still be there listening to her story.
On the way home I was commenting on the encounter.
Naturally I was amazed by the incident.
Doug insists stuff like that happens in Knox all the time.
I'm thinking we were just a fresh audience!

Finished!!!

2006-03-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

I finally finished this customer quilt. The dark fabric is a nice teal batik.This is a traditional Hawaiian design,hand appliqued and machine quilted in the traditional echo method.It belongs to my best customer Penny.I know it is very special to her. She was working on it as therapy during an ongoing personal health challenge. I suppose it symbolizes her overcoming that situation.This type of applique requires a level of patience and skill which, in itself, is quite an accomplishment! Hat's off to Penny!!!

NEXT!!!!!!!!!!

2006-03-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

Tax preparer before the Gin& Xanex flight...
Well kids......I finally did it!
I quit my job Tuesday.It's OK really!!
My tax professional gave me permission.
(Thanks Mom!!)
So.....let's make a list of the things I won't miss!
1. Wearing a blue hair bonnet.(sexy!)
2. Dried out ,cracking skin on my hands.
3.Puree'd meat of any variety.
4.Chunks of food schrapnel on my person.
5.Melanie, queen bitch and mental abuser.
6.Improper verbage.(have tooken,ain't got)
7.Daily wearing of support hose.
8.Coming home with wet shirt,pants,grundies.
9.Making less than 200 a week.
10.Cleaning and changing the oil in the deep fryer twice a month.
11.Emptying the garbage cans.
12. Taking out the garbage and recycling.
13. Having to scream just to be heard.
14. Cuts on my hands from stainless steel pans.
15. The daily downward spiral into negative mental self-imagery.(LOSER!!!!!)
16. Physical and mental exhaustion resulting from #15
17. Feelings of hopelessness resulting from #15 and #16
THINGS I WILL MISS.........
1.Tegan
2.Kathy
3.Bacon ,Bacon,Bacon
4.That deeelish lemon custard layer cake thing.
5.Feeling intellectually superior on a daily basis.

Let's just say that I have been enjoying my newfound freedom immensely!!.I have been discovering new blogs with even more inspirational content.Which in turn leads to new ideas and possibilities for the future.I took a short roadtrip with a fellow long-armer today and we tossed around some ideas for our up and coming dog-and-pony-show for the quilt guild circuit.Not to mention ideas for saleable goods and educational opportunities and offerings.

I guess I could say that this job gave me the thing I needed to get back on the right track.
Motivation!!!To get out and focus on what makes me inspired and energized.It's amazing how much energy that job took out of me and how much I have now without it sucking me dry.

This also prompts me to remind everyone to listen to the good advice your tax preparer may give you.Especially if it's your mom!!

Laporte County Fair Darling and ramblings......

2006-03-17T19:57:00.000-08:00

I love this pic of this goat!!!
2 years ago we were there eating fried cheese and perusing the various animal barns..( cause they MISS ME if I don't come to visit every year..) and I was playing with my new digital camera." Miss Thing "here was obviously ready for her close up!! I went back the next year hoping to find the owner so I could send them a potrait but alas...So she remains a mystery.

Seems i've been in a funk lately(still!) I worked myself into a rightous fit of mad most of the day
at work. I was ready to walk at the slightest off color comment or glance.
Could have just been low blood sugar.HUH! Or maybe the fact that my job(HATE! HATE!HATE!IT!!!) is making me feel like a moron.(cause I am,cause I'm still doing it) I did work on my new knitting project briefly at lunch .......but .........How bout that full moon? Well, now THAT sure as hell doesn't help but makes better sense of things. For today anyway!
I stopped by the house-with-the-cats on the way home and treated them to some DELISH FISH leftovers...and when I pushed in the brake to put the ol truck in R....the pedal went all the way to the floor! And as you all know ,as they say in these here parts, THAT AINT GOOD!

So.........Poor Dougie Fresh will be starting his vacation with an early haul- my -ass- to- work and then to the auto parts store.I still can't believe he doesn't curse the day he met me and my never ending lawnmower/house/vehicle /pet repair predicaments.

I have been inspired almost daily( BIG HUGE YEEEEAY!) by the creative people out there sharing and blogging .I think back to the time when there wasn't this internet option .And it was a dark time indeed. How did you find people to connect with, talk shop with?It was so exciting when and IF you did and hopefully they didn't think you were a freak because you were just too excited beyond words and hoped your head didn't explode in their face because you could hardly contain yourself!!

So now I'm cranked and ready to start dyeing again!!I want to begin with something I can use in my knitting...hopefully sell at the quilt show in June.....I've got a ton of ideas,been researching wholesale dyeable yarn sources but no $ for implementation.It's the proverbial catch 22.And it's been messin with my serenity.So less blogs cause I don't want to bum anyone out.Positive people...... Im tryin to stay POSITIVE!!!

So go ahead and send cash or checks or chocolate or cheddar chex mix (the 4 C's!) to help support this" Struggling Artists Midlife Crisis Fund".For every donation received you will get a !Free!!!!!!!Flaming-Bag-O-Cat-Poo Kit!!!!! NO Muss NO Fuss!!!!!!!!!Just Light and Toss.... on the overpaid elected government officials doorstep of Your Choice!!!! Act Now!!!
You must be 18 or older ...Size,color and quantity may vary..
freshness Not guaranteed....One offer per household per day please...

Is it Any Wonder????

2006-03-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

QUILT FROM TOKYO QUILT FEST

Today I had to take the just finished -under-the-wire- Russian Quilt to the Post Office.( No this isnt it! See previous post"From Russia with Love") Since I had to work and the P.O. is just across the street I took it to work and planned on shipping it during one of my breaks.One creative co-worker in particular I knew would be interested .So I brought it to show her and she did seem to enjoy seeing it. Now I have to ask you...how often do you get to see a handcrafted item from Russia?? In person? At your work? Now I know these weren't the usual audience of quilt guild members.And I know this is Monday morning at 8:00 am. I didn't bring it because I have to have attention brought to every stinking thing I create or quilt.There were 3 positive responses. One asked me more questions and actually knew what a long-arm was!The rest of the groups response was akin to any reaction associated with...... oh say......a lint roller.(But not the waay cool big paint roller ones!)

Is it any wonder I search the internet daily just to visit the sites of the people doing, making,teaching, musing creating and inspiring through sharing their passion?

Today on the "Fibermania!" site Melody was singing the praises of connecting with her students.That's it in a nutshell. Connecting and sharing =inspiration.

I know I have to be in the same proximity of these co-workers. I do try to make the best out of it everyday.Today was the realization of what I knew I previously suspected but tried to ignore.

I still gotta get out of there!

More from the "In Progress Department"

2006-03-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

This close up is what my friend Vickie was working on while we were in Shipshe. She blows me away with her accuracy, attention to detail,color and design choices.Unlike myself she gets them SQUARE and FLAT!! As do most of the other quilt makers in our renegade group....with the exception of one red-headed stepchild.

.......................and another..............by that stepchild......also known as "Liberated Quilmaking"!!
Gotta love Gwen Marston!!!

"Black" ( sheets of empty canvas)

2006-03-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

This in progress top has been entitled " Black". Our quilt guild had proposed creating a quilt category for our show for quilts inspired by songs. Who else would name a quilt after a "Pearl Jam" song???? Well how 'bout "Pearl Jan"?
Come on!!
You know you want to too! Gotta keep the quilt ladies guessin!!
.....She lived on a curve in the road...in an old tar paper shack.......

Is it SPRING yet?

2006-03-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

It happens every year... right around this time. Usually I could blame it on the lack of sunlight,but this year has been very unusual. Instead of counting the days without it....I've lost track of how many days we've actually had sunny blue skies.Im not complaining..I wish winters around here were always like this.

I feel like I'm stuck in this major rut!

Maybe its just cabin fever.I'm even tired of being in my studio. I haven't been out much...work does not count!! My first clue was when I drove over to Mich City to the Hob Lob to meet a new client and pick up a quilt top. It was like I had been set free!! I went to Meijer and poked around at the yarn( shah!) and found the generic dayrunner calendar stuff I was looking for...and then just to make sure I went to Office Max to get the other size I needed....That was last week. I certainly havent been as productive as I would like. Poking around on the internet ,researching undyed yarn suppliers, art quilt bloggers in Florida.....I did some updating of my website but I'm still in the template mode.And I was sick yesterday.

I have a million things I could be doing....just stuck in a Funk....
I have to get this Russian quilt done....tomorrow!
Ok!!!! Im going to fight Funk with Funk... tomorrow I am going to find a radio station that will get me movin...there's got to be something on Sirius radio.....Funky Funky but Chic...!
Funky But Funky But Alright alright alright alright!!!!! that's it !! I'm on the right track now!!

From Russia with Love!!

2006-02-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

Check this out!! This quilt top was made in Georgia, Russia by a group of 10 women.
This group is being taught and mentored by Karen Musgrave of Naperville, IL. She has been over there to teach and help gain grants and help these women to create native Georgian art they can sell for income. Living conditions over there are quite challenging. They have electricity or gas or water for only a few hours a week.Employment opportunities are sparse if at all and not for a fair wage for sure.She has since made several friends there and you can read about her travels at http://www.quiltalliance.org click on the Center for the Quilt , weblog and the Georgia entry.
The man
in the image is a bishop from the 10th or 11th century( nobody can remember exactly who he is)
and the lettering is the old Georgian alphabet.I am very honored to have the opportunity to be part of this global collaboration!!The quilt will be on exhibit at the traveling Quilt National Exhibit in Bloomingdale, IL in July!! First it will be shown at the Pride of the Prairie quilt guild show on March 10 and 11 also in Illinois..... in a chicago suburb I'm not exactly sure of ...more details later.....now on to the quilting!!!!!!!!

Shipshewana 2006

2006-01-19T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well another fun and productive retreat we had. Lots of inspiration. Now I really want to attempt something other than my typical big block thing. Thanks guys. Mostly I made some design decisions I had been hemming and hawing about.It's also the tought part.Now that I know what its going to look like I tend to lose interest.Our quilt guild is having our show this June so I need to get these sewn together and quilted (DUH!) for our show. The more examples I have the better chance I have of getting more business.It's a theory.
We stayed at the Farmstead Inn, which has many options for conventions and in our case sewing marathons. And a pool!
Lolly's has opened their new shop in the bigger and better Davis Mercantile which is a must see. Huge wooden beams and a very large tree trunk smack dab in the middle of the center staircase. And JO JO's pretzels. Instead of dinner.
We stopped in to say hello to Rebecca Haarer at her shop of course. Then on to next door where I snagged a cool old quilt top and some vintage red striped sack fabric.Almost bought the black velvet riding cap with the bow but decided it wouldn't go with my not so formal carhartt coat.But no matter!
Yoder's was our first stop of course. Who knew I would find some comfy winter clog slip ons along with my obligatory fabric purchase????
We have booked our quilting retreat next year to coincide with the" 30% off if you wear your PJ's" sale at Lolly's next year.Sorry but that's not even a challenge.Go ahead! Give me a discount for not getting dressed!!How bout an extra fat quarter if I don't comb my hair? hahahahahahahah