Thank You, God!

Today I was able to use my sewing skills to make quilt blocks for the 'First Saturday' Block-of-the-Month program at Greenbaum's.  The fun part is seeing the completed block before any of the 'club' participants! I also get to help plan the colors and fabrics which will be used in the blocks each month.

So- photos of the block? Nope! It's a secret for now! I can share a photo of my close compadré and 'secret-keeper, Maggie...

She tucked herself into my scrap-box to take a little nap while I was away helping finish kit-folding at the store.

It's gonna be a fun 'B.O.M' quilt for people to make, and today- I'm thankful to be ALIVE!

Much joy can come from simple things:

A warm kitty, and a well-pieced quilt block!

Bye for now!

An Extraordinary Day!

Hi Friend,

Well, if you happen to be in the Salem, Oregon area today, you will see that we are in the midst of a rare (for February) string of beautifully clear days.


WOWZA!!


Like I wrote earlier on Facebook:


'God, You TOTALLY ROCK!'




Anyway, i happily declined to watch the Superbowl-and MADONNA?!!

REALLY?!


-no faves here;


instead I opted for a quilting weekend.  Haven't had a chance to do that in forever!  What a lot of fun!  Added in a couple mornings 'sleeping in' til
7am


(anyone who really knows me won't believe that!  Used to be 'sleeping in' was 10:30 or 11am--but now during the week, my regular wake up is 5:30 am now, so I guess 7am IS sleeping in!  haha)



If you've read my blog here for awhile, you know that my kids have two Labs, Kona and Tucker.  Well, now there will be a quilt with Labs on in at the Kennedy household! 

check out this cute pattern from 'Cabbage Rose,' called, 'Max.'


I did start out with similar colors, but of course, ventured out a bit.  Originally, I had planned to make a totally different pattern, and I'd purchased fabrics for that one...but when I showed Caitlin and Evan, the Max pattern got their vote instead.  Needing a few more fabrics, I mixed in some of my own fabrics as well.

(the piecing of the square-in-a-square blocks)

Starting out, I also didn't have the required yardage for the background fabric.  I 'stewed' over that for awhile, and decided to gather all the blue batiks I had in similar tones, and made a scrappy quilt. 




One fat quarter looked like concentric rings in a mud puddle; another piece had water droplets (Labs LOVE both of those!)...One chunk had roses, one looked like tropical flowers (the kids DID honeymoon in Hawaii!)

(a few of the chosen!)

And--my companion this weekend?  None other than 'Maggie'!  Usually, she's all over the place, and this time was no exception--


Have you ever seen a cat who FETCHES?!! 


Maggie does! 



Her favorite thing to 'go for' are the ponytail elastics in bright colors.  One day, I moved the couch for 'dust bunnies' running by, and found 11 'scrunchies' UNDER THE COUCH!! 


I can shoot them like rubber bands across the room, and she dives and slides over the hardwood floor (kitty surfing!), grabs them in her mouth and brings them over; jumps up, drops it in my lap, and is ready to go again.


(hours of fun!)

Saturday, Maggie realized the wisdom of having her own blankie in the window: she could watch all the neighborhood comings and goings.  As the window was open to the sunshine, she could hear motorcycles, lawnmowers, cars, trucks, people walking by. . .


lots of action!



(she's still small enough to curl up and fit on the sill, too!)


This could be a new favorite hide-out...




I also this week started a quilt for me, which I saw in a 'Possibilities' book from 2005!  The book is 'Pineapple Quilts,' by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith.  Here is the shot of the quilt, right from the book:

This quilt was also on the front cover.  I knew I had to make this exact quilt!  It's been on my 'Bucket List' of Quilting for those 7 years.


7 years ago I bought the book,
6 years ago, I bought the corresponding ruler, 'which you NEED to HAVE!'

for two years I thought about it,

3 years ago, I cut all the printed pieces from my scraps, and bagged them in ziplocs, so 'I'd be ready.'


I looked at the Pineapple Ruler, and the directions.  didn't understand ANY OF IT!


Thought some more.


Then, one Tuesday night at Greenbaum's, I happened to be working with Sally, who made the Pineapple Quilt sample for the shop when the book/ruler came out.  Sally had an upcoming class, told me she'd teach me, and so!!



The Pineapple Quilt BEGINS!!




don't expect this to fly together overnight!  7 years in the making...



"Mother, Let's Not Rush Things!"

Old Finishes...

Hi There!
How was New Year's? 

I'm so happy to be starting a new year.  I had challenges last year, and it's good to start fresh.  Last year was a great transforming year...



I began working four part-time jobs...now, I'm blessed to have a full-time job and a part-time job, both of which I love.


I began last year with no health insurance, and now, I'm blessed to have benefits!



I began last year wondering what I was going to do when I grew up...
during the year, I decided I would go back to my childhood when I wanted to be an artist; and simply BE AN ARTIST!

Of course, I am many other things as well...I'm a weighmaster, a receptionist/accounts payable, a quilter, a kit-maker, Mom, Friend, Newsletter Editor, church attender, kitty tender, comedienne, daughter, sister, 'Auntie Fruitcake', and a few other things...


but as I went along through the year, I knew every one of those roles that I take on, I try to take it on in My Style...My Artistic Style...so


as I look at it:

I'm an ARTIST!

(now...forget when 'I grow up'--because I'm NOT going to do that!)




Okay, so where does the 'Old Finishes' title of today's post, enter in?


I'm proud to say that I finished on New Year's Day, a quilt which I had promised a dear friend, last August! 

My friend Katie, is currently in Boston, working as a nanny.  She came home to Oregon for Christmas, and although I hoped to see her, I didn't expect to--big family, lots of friends, many events--she and I had lots to do.


In the last five months, this poor quilt top has been in a bag, in my truck, just waiting for attention, time, the perfect fabric for borders and quilt top, and the money to make it all come together.


When I heard Katie was coming for Christmas break, I was determined to get that quilt finished, and to her, so she'd have it for winter in Boston. 

(also, selfishly, I didn't want to pay postage for the shipping!  sorry!)


so, New Year's Eve, I was working at Greenbaum's, cutting fabric, helping customers, and on sale was some batik, and also some Kaffe Fasset fabric...I pondered, then made up my mind to get that quilt DONE the next day.



Went out to the truck, collected the quilt top, brought it in, 'auditioned' fabrics, and within 10 minutes, made my choices, and we were figuring out yardage!


I went home with a bag of goodies  (I had a gift card from Christmas so I got some treats for MOI as well!)  and--

 

Sunday, January 1,


I CONQUERED THIS U.F.O.!!


(in 'quiltese' that is UnFinished Object)



Now, you can tell by the photos, that I had quite a bit of help at my sewing machine--sweet Maggie believes she is a person,






and thinks she can get her paws up to the needle to 'help' Mom.  Also, anything that moves--she's All About THAT!  hahaha!


(honestly, part of the time, I had to sequester her in the garage. 


The hardest part for me in making a quilt that size is spray-basting all the layers together, before quilting.  Pulling out all the wrinkles as the quilt wants to creep along the floor, is no fun.  Could I tape it down?  Probably, but when you work alone, it's almost impossible.  that seems to creep, too.  YUCK!)


Anyway, I'm delighted with myself when I say, I got it done, called her, she came over to get it, and was Thrilled! 

I was thrilled, too, because it looked 'like her'--and when you see something that 'looks like' someone, and you nail it...that's the best feeling in the world.



I love you Katie P!  Enjoy your blankie!

(one last parting shot of Maggie--she thought maybe the quilt was for HER!)

I'm looking out the window at Sunshine and fairly-clear skies...Hooray! 



Watch out, UFO's--I'll be comin' after YOU!!

On to Christmas!

Well, the Thanksgiving weekend is over--
and the Black Friday Pre-Christmas Madness is starting:

in California, a lady pepper-sprayed a crowd so she could grab a case of Wii gaming consoles from the hoard.  

People are robbing bars with shotguns; stabbings and riots ensue over Christmas toys and sock sales; someone was shot in front of a Salem Pizza Hut, cars set on fire while parked in driveways--

Madness is upon us.

I struggle to find peace each Christmas season. What should be a time of preparation and expectation seems like a trip on crack to Alice's Wonderland.

So much hurt, chaos, disappointment, nay, LUNATICS in this battered world.

How to center myself and just breathe?

One idea- I will try NOT to check the news every 5 minutes. The media is so full of drama--anything to get our attention; and it WORKS!

(like a little screaming child, shouting, and we drop everything to race over to find out what's wrong; only to find a hangnail or broken toy.)


So- I will try to exercise more-that should help, too.


Here's a few"Thankfuls" for the last several days:

Friday: my daughter came from Bend for the weekend; love to have her close. And-I braved the wilds of my studio--I did a little sewing, finishing some UFOs, and starting a Christmas gift.

(Haven't had much time for quilting lately--what with blogging and all!)

(Block #1 of the Boo-Boos!  Cute, though!)

Saturday: a huge 'Thankful' which doesn't sound like it, was making two quilt blocks yesterday, which turned out perfect, only to glance at them later, realizing the finished block was 2" larger than it was supposed to be!

Not a big deal unless it's an example for a pattern you wrote, which will be made by about 80 people for a block of the month challenge!!!

Eeekk! Thank you God for helping me catch THAT mistake ahead of time!

Today (Sunday)'s 'Thankful'-- are many...safe travel back to Bend for my daughter, house returning to its usual quiet (which Maggie, the cat appreciates--she also is thankful for Bing Crosby movies!!), food in the frig for lunches this week, a sermon at church reminding us that:

(Maggie Loves Bing!)

'Grumbling
Generates
Garbage'

&

'Gratitude
Glorifies
God!'

(How appropriate!
Also, when we are grumbling, to catch
a glance at our 10
fingers, and come up
with 10 things we're thankful for.)

Thanks, Cory!

You know, I was just thinking...


Being able to breathe, and breathe deeply during this crazy season should be one of my 'fingers'!!

(I won't say which one!).

Haha!
More tomorrow...

Block #2 of the Boo-Boo!  Cute block though, don't you think?!