Friday, May 27, 2011

A Mishap!

I have been absent for a bit----I have certainly been thinking about everyone, but haven't been able to post.

This past week was a very busy one. Our first granddaughter graduated from high school (as a honor student). All our children were here---in addition to the three that live here, a daughter from Tacoma, Washington came, a son from Maryland and another from Oklahoma all were here. It was such fun since they all hadn't been together for over 20 years---one or the other is always missing.

We got ready to go to the graduation, all dressed in our finest and who would put a bit of a damper on everything----me!!! As I was going down the auditorium stairs, a group of people were blocking the way. I politely asked them to move ("excuse me") and they turned and just stared. I got impatient and went to move around them. The stair they were standing on was shorter than I anticipated and so down I went. I had such momentum going until I twisted my foot and ended up sorta "mooning" people behind me! Thank goodness I followed my mothers instructions to "always put on good underwear when you go out". :c) Anyway, I am now hobbling. My foot continues to be swollen and painful and although I can walk, it is with a very unusual gait. :c) No, I haven't gotten it x-rayed---I am a nurse after all, and we don't do sensible things like that preferring to "heal thyself". :c) It isn't broken but sprained and all I would do is incur bills that would seriously affect my ability to buy fabric, so I will rest my foot and move on. Seriously, it is getting better, I think, but this type of injury takes time, and there is nothing I can do about it really.

Moral of story----I must not get so excited that I become impatient with other people who are also excited; look before I step; wear fancy shoes but make sure the heel isn't slippery; wear pants to anything that has steps inside that I will have to negotiate; if I wear a dress or skirt, make sure it has a flare bottom like this one did (or I would have had not only a hurt foot, but needed pins to hold my dress together); and continue to wear good underwear. Oh yea, have an ankle brace or ace in my purse with some Tylenol, just in case.

The graduation was beautiful!!!! Such a lovely girl inside and out. The dinner we had was also wonderful---good food and lots of fun with extra chairs to prop my foot!

Hugs and have a great day!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Blogger is "Acting Out"!

For some reason I am unable to even get to my blog on my primary computer. The one with all the pictures. As a result I can't really post the pictures I want --- the ones that add interest to my posts, so this will be a sorta dull one, until things settle down.

I have been expending creative energy, but in a not so directed way. I am currently working on my Guild challenge. I drew an orange crayon; the pack also had a picture of the maple leaf quilt block, and the letter S. The challenge is to make a quilt with the exact color of orange in it; the maple leaf block and include something that begins with S. I started making a large quilt, but then didn't like it, so I cut down the blocks from a 12 inch block to a 6.5 inch block. I still don't really like it, but I am more comfortable with a wall hanging than a large quilt, since it isn't going to be my favorite. I have started though, and I am forging ahead. The problem is a cut all the fabric for the original size, so I am going to end up with a lot of little mostly unusable scraps---I hate the waste that resulted from my decision.

I think I might have shared that I purchased a couple of brand-new dies for my GO! at Paducah. The 2.5 inch multi-die came, but it didn't cut correctly. I tried everything, but I still ended up having to clip threads. I called Accuquilt and explained the situation, mainly thinking they might have some resolution, but before I had even hung up, they had put a new die in the mail. I have mailed the old one back, but I bet I receive my new die before they get the old one back. Great customer service! I will be glad to get it, since I have started a quilt that requires about 2000 2.5 inch squares! This quilt I like!!!!!! but I do have to complete this challenge first :c(!!!

Well, just wanted to update you and as soon as I can, I will post pictures! Still isn't staying warm enough to dye yet, but I have hopes for this week-end! At the very least I am going to get my space cleaned up and ready. Even if it rains, maybe I can still get a lot done and then just work with the garage door down.

Hugs!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Potato Chip Finished!!!!



I finished quilting the Potato Chip Quilt (AKA 1600 Quilt). Now I need to put the binding on and it will be all done!!!! I purchased the border doing on one of the trips Diane and I made to some local quilt shops when she was here. I didn't bring the quilt top with me, but just chose the color and type of fabric completely from memory---doesn't it fit well!!!!! I am so glad I remember color's well. The backing is also really nice---I didn't take a picture though, but will post a completed picture once I put on the binding and I will make sure the backing is visible.


On another note, I am very much behind on the UFO Challenge, and don't think I will catch up. This month's is #9 which is the scrap quilt I have been working on for a couple of years (I think). I am going to have to work on a Guild Challenge so I am not going to be working on that one either....so I officially have only completed one UFO on my list. Well, there are still a couple of months left, so hopefully I will be able to finish at least 2 more on the list.


Well, I just wanted to post this picture. Later!

Monday, May 2, 2011

I'm Back!!!!

I had a wonderful week! Diane got here on Tuesday and the fun began. It was raining here and given the weather in Paducah, we decided to stay home on Wednesday and try to make it to the show on Thursday. It rained all day but that didn't stop us from going to the local Goodwill, me to shop for shirts (I found three light ones), and her to shop for silk ties (she got a LOT) for a quilt she is making.
On Thursday we made the trip to Paducah. Things were really spread out! There were buses to all the venues, but at least to me, the routes were a bit confusing. In the end, we just asked the drivers where they were going, and almost always, even if they weren't specifically going to the place you were requesting, they took you anyway--particularly if it was within the general area. There were the usual vendors, but this year, Diane and I were very discriminating. It is funny and we laughed about it---the first shows we went to, we spent like crazy. Every gadget we saw we purchased and some of them are still in the packages!

I LOVE rulers, but since getting my GO!, I really pick and choose. This time I got a Marti Michel kite ruler. I think it will be very useful in making the spiderweb quilt. That essentially was the only ruler I purchased. I got a couple of GO! dies (my mommie's day gift from DH). I did get some FQ's for several quilts I want to make and some dyes to dye my fabs (if it ever gets warm and stays that way), plus other various things :c). Doesn't seem like a lot, but I still pushed my budget to the outer limits. Good thing this happens only once per year.

I only got two pieces of fabric from Hancock's of Paducah. There was absolutely nothing there on sale. The "back room" only had 3 tables of flats and none of them had anything interesting. There were no charms, few jelly rolls. One of the ladies there said she had come on the first day of the show and that they had much more, so maybe it was because we didn't actually get there until Saturday.

The quilts were beautiful (of course) and once again Diane and I have vowed to make a quilt and submit it for consideration. We went to the museum as well and they and had an exhibit titled "20 years of quilts" (or something like that). It was very interesting to see how the quilts had changed over the years. The earlier quilts actually were quilts that I would consider in my expertise range. The newer ones---well, I can only look and say beautiful, NEVER, I "might" try that".

I have no pictures since my camera was in my bag, but------------. Well, just wanted to update you. Have a great one!