Weekend update

I was the lucky winner of a pattern and fabric kit from Jane Sassaman's blog a couple of weeks ago.  The prize was delivered last week.  Since I'm a pre-washer, the fabrics went right into the washer.  Liza found them fresh from the dryer.  Cats seem to have evolved a special sense so they know when there is fabric or a quilt they haven't slept on yet in the house, don't you think?

I decided the "Rule Breaking" quilt did indeed need beads.  So I've been playing with that a lot of evenings this week.
I add a little then look at it and say

 Maybe a little of this,

then look again and say Now it needs....

 

 

Now that I've gotten started, I'm not sure I'll know when to stop! One friend from the Guild said if the quilt is too heavy to lift, I'm done!

I am finally quilting the last 2 sections of the "Liberated" project.  (Are you sick of this project??? I know I am ready to be done with it!)
Leah was talking about layering and basting using elastic a while back.  I decided to give it a whirl.  This long skinny piece wasn't the best first thing to try it on, but I can see where it will save wasting the masking tape once I get more elastic!









If you look closely you can see the pin securing tools my friend Dodie devised. (not sure what name she decided on.)  I've looked at "pinmoors", but am too cheap to pay those prices.  Dodie came up with the idea of cutting up the thick craft foam in the kids' crafts section of Michael's and JoAnn's instead!  Works like a dream!






I am leading an activity for the ArtCGirlz tomorrow evening.  As part of that, I made a color wheel (sort of) out of scrap therapy squares.  I may sew them together and use them as a reference for future projects!

Thinking Green this time, I want you to ask the fishermen in your life to please be careful of where they leave their fishing line and other fishing gear when they go out on the lakes to enjoy their hobby this time of year.

I am grateful for:
The patience it took to get blogger to put my pictures where I wanted them. :-)
Taking the first step in getting to visit Guy this summer.
All the useful information one can find on the internet.
One week of no meds and no pain!
A more gentle change of seasons.

Have- to-do's

I have two lists tacked up on the wall in my "studio". (it's also the guest room) One of them is projects I have seen and have decided I would love to make. That list is titled "for me". The other list has the projects I am more or less obligated to do. Things like the Scrap Therapy samples for the quilt shop, a baby quilt for my niece who is due in two weeks, and even some of the projects I started for fun, which have now become odious chores.
This week is filled with obligations, and next week isn't going to be much better. Warning: Be careful of volunteering lest they change the rules on you midstream. (just ask Elaine!) For the next two days I'll be doing demos at the quilt shop during the winter thaw sale. Ironically, the thaw ended Monday and today is rather blizzard-like. Monday we are setting up the display of Challenge quilts at the library, then Wednesday is the judging. So Superbowl Sunday might just be my next free day. (I'll be wearing black and gold)

So, when I finished the "In the Pocket" bag- made with the fabric I stenciled a couple of weeks ago- I decided to reward myself by allowing myself to play a bit. I took the piece I started in the class with Jane Sassaman last spring off the design wall and have been working on that. Another couple good days and I'll have it finished! So hopefully a photo soon. It was a pure delight being able to work on a project purely for the joy of doing it for a change. When I am stuck, I refer to Jane's book for inspiration. For me WWJD means something else entirely!



I did enjoy working with my beads last week as well- in spite of the fact that I dumped some of them and will be cleaning them out of the nooks and crannies for the next six months! The pin I always wear on my hat broke, so I had to make a new one. While I was at it, I made a couple of extras. Never make one of something, you know.



I am grateful for:
The gift of time when I can find it
A job, even is getting here this week hasn't been easy
The silly emails my friends share with me
A good night's sleep