Updates

Just to follow up on some people and situations I've mentioned the last few months.

Remember the post on "Blue Star Moms"? (Check here). Susan's older son had just come home from Iraq, but the younger one was still there. And M's daughter and son-in-law were in Iraq, and the daughter was a few days late in reporting back from a mission.

Well, they're all home, safe and sound!!!

YeeeHaaaww!!

M's daughter came home in June, has picked up the baby, and she and her husband are living on base in another state now and parenting that precious little girl.

Susan was able to meet her son at the airport in Atlanta and spend a few days with him last weekend. He'll be leaving for his home in the midwest tomorrow or the next day. I know she's glad not to be managing all his affairs anymore.

My daughter has leased a tiny apartment in her new town, and will be moving this weekend. It's four hours farther away from us, but it's a larger town, a more permanent job, and I'm hoping she can finally develop a social life. This past year has been spent in a place that had only 1000 more people than the last small town--and it didn't have a University like the other did, so there were few opportunities to make friends her own age. She's been okay, of course; I just worry about her.


On a more somber note, I posted this on July 10:
I've had an old WWII vet, who has never been the same mentally since the war, grab my throat in a warning to not bother him with petty heart medications while he's trying to sleep--and not remember the incident 16 hours later.

Well, this man went home within a couple of days, but then his girlfriend found him unconscious a few days later. EMS brought him to the ER, but he didn't make it. Poor old guy. His injuries and illnesses from the war cost him his family, his mental health, and finally, his life. He didn't deserve that.


I hope he's at peace now.

And the Winner is.....

...me, for having some terrific bloggy friends out there! Maybe I would continue blogging if no one came by to visit, but I don't know. I'm sure entries would be few and far between, and the past year would have been a little emptier without you all.


And I timed it just right--this is officially my 200th post! I knew I'd hit it within the next week.



Oh, you want to know about The Giveaway? The Happy Birthday/200th Post/Cleaning-up-the-sewing-room Giveaway? Okay, you didn't have to smack me that hard!


(Ooops, hit the wrong key and the post was published prematurely. This is the completed version)
J-Man pulled his cap down over his eyes and left his glasses off to pull from the basket--which he almost didn't find with all those precautions!

Okay, enough stalling. The box of goodies goes to.....





Woohoo! Congratulations Pinky! Send me your address, darlin' and I'll get this into the mail by Friday!







Whew. All that excitement did me in.
Gotta rest now.

2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad

Well, I have officially finished both my 4 Seasons Summer Quilt Swap, and the little quilt for my giveaway. Here they are:

This is the one for my swap partner, who needs to remain nameless just a bit longer, since I have yet to mail this off:


Now the one for my giveaway:

As you can see, it's a smaller than the swap quilt, and that is why I'm giving it away--it didn't meet the size requirements posted. But it's basically the same--borders are different and I turned one fish to swim against the crowd, same as the one I'm making me:

I do like the brights, so my borders are a bit wilder, and this is the Papa Bear of them all by size. See, the fish are appliqued, but the quilting, binding and embellishing aren't done yet. I should have this one finished in the next day or so.

The pattern came ouf of Quick Quilts Sept. 2006. It caught my eye from the very beginning and I had decided to make one for us some day, so when it came time for the summer swap, the deal was sealed. It's rated "Easy", but to my mind, this is an intermediate level.

So that's it! Drawing will be by J-Man in the morning at 10:00, so I will be cutting off entries at 9:30 EDT to give me time to gather the names together. To see most of the other items in the giveaway, and be eligible for the drawing, be sure to leave a comment on this post, along with a way to reach you; either email or blog URL.

Good luck, everyone!

One More Day!

(Scroll down for the answer to last Saturday's movie trivia question)

Rough weekend at work! I think what jinxed me was taking the swap quilt to work to hand stitch the binding during "slower moments". Ha! Now I'm happy to be home and participating in a little fabric therapy.

I've found a few more items to add to my birthday/200th post/cleaning-up-the-sewing-room giveaway.

This is a wooden scroll-type plaque ready to paint and place on a wreath, or above a craft display:


Next are two little gold-tone angels, and a 3-dimensional pewter sewing machine, which could be used for embellishments:


The drawing is tomorrow at 10:00am, so you still have time to visit this post and leave a comment. I know it's a long post, but those blogs are worth visiting, as were the blogs I mentioned in a similar post. Besides, don't you want to see all the items I'm going to mail someone?

Good luck, everyone!

Movie Trivia Answer 7/26

In the restaurant, Raymond is having a meltdown for a toothpick. The waitress, Sally Dibbs, goes to open a new box and the toothpicks spill onto the floor.

Raymond: 82, 82, 82.
Charlie: 82 what?
Raymond: Toothpicks.
Charlie: There's a lot more than 82 toothpicks, Ray.
Raymond: 246 total.
Charlie: How many?
Sally Dibbs: 250.
Charlie: Pretty close.
Sally Dibbs: There's four left in the box.

Libby was the closest, and you can see, she had the name of the waitress correct, as well as the actress who played her, which I didn't remember--and I like Bonnie Hunt.



The photo above, where Raymond leans over and touches his head to Charlie's, was completely ad-libbed by Dustin Hoffman. No wonder he won an Oscar. The man knows how to work it.

New question on Saturday!

Saturday at the Movies (on Sunday)

Sorry this is late, but work has been H E double hockey sticks!

Okay, quick, probably easy one.

In Rain Man, when the waitress spills the box of toothpicks onto the floor, how many are left in the box?

The Rain Man knows. Do you?




Answer on Tuesday!

More Peeks

Have you registered for my birthday/200th post/cleaning-out-the-sewing-room giveaway yet? I've added a couple of items. I'm sure you could find something you want in there. Go to this post and leave a comment for me. Lurkers, I want to meet you! Who are you? Where is your blog so I can pay you a visit, too? Come on in and make yourselves at home.

Here are some photos to tease you. They are of the same general area on the wallhangings, but, as you can see, they are different.

Wallhanging #1--for my swap partner:



Wallhanging #2--for the giveaway:


Wallhanging #3--this one's for me:


I have to blind-stitch the binding on the Swap quilt, and then it's done. The applique is now finished on the giveaway, and it's ready to quilt, then bind. It's a little bit smaller than the others, so it won't take long to finish. Mine needs to be backed, appliqued, quilted and bound. I'm trying to finish mine up almost as soon as the other two, before I get really tired of this pattern.

I'll be working the next three nights, but should be able to squeeze in at least the movie trivia post. And some news about some friends I mentioned a couple of months ago.

Have a contented, grateful weekend, everyone!

Birthday

Thanks to all who stopped by yesterday to wish me a happy birthday! And it was, too!
(Don't forget you can go leave a comment on yesterday's post to get a chance on the birthday/upcoming 200th post/cleaning-out-the-craft-room giveaway.)

I really didn't have much planned for yesterday. Just having some time off from work was enough for me. And look what came in the mail for me yesterday from DD:

She doesn't read my blog, so didn't know I'd just mentioned wanting a Norah Jones CD, but does scan my wish list on Amazon.com. Don't you just love sites that provide wish lists? It makes shopping easier for friends and family and the recipient gets something he or she doesn't want to exchange!

DD turned 30 on the 11th of July, but had to cancel her trip down to see us the weekend of the 4th, as she was desperately seeking housing in a new town and hadn't found anything yet. In fact, she had called us in tears, asking if we could take her little Bella for a while, because no one wanted to rent to a gal with 2 cats and an indoor dog. Of course, we would, as Isabella and Tandi get along pretty well, and we didn't want her to have to find Bella a new home.


DD had been hunting for places for a while, but since it is a University town, and school starts next month, affordable housing is at a premium. I asked if she had put her own ad on craigslist, which she hadn't thought of, so she promptly did just that. (Imagine! Mom might have something there!) Someone who needed to break her lease contacted my daughter and now DD has a place to move into next weekend. AND, she gets to keep all 3 pets without paying an outrageous amount. Sweet.

As a pleasant result, we were able to arrange to meet for dinner last night in a city between us, a little less than 2 hours from here. The three of us sat around for 2 hours, eating and visiting and enjoying our time together. It's been Feb. since she was here, and her new town will be over 6 hours away from us instead of the 2.5 hours it has been. She's got her own life, and is looking forward to her new job as an attorney, but as she was talking animatedly about the apartment and moving plans, I couldn't help wishing she was going to be just a bit closer. Or that she had found a 2-bedroom so we could come stay with her now and then.

Well. That's why hotels exist, isn't it?

On the way home, I popped the Stephen King audio into the CD player to help me stay awake, because I am a person who can fall asleep in the car 5 minutes after pulling out of our driveway. And it was my turn at the wheel. Driving through the mountains late at night, I was getting delicious goosebumps listening to Mare Winningham read the story of a gal trapped by a psychotic killer.

A rest stop just over the state line offered the opportunity to get out and walk around in the cool night air and grab a cappucino. Just as I was getting back into the car, I heard a series of short barks that ended with howling sounds, coming from the woods up the hill behind the rest stop. That cappucino almost didn't make it back to the car with me! They could have been wild dogs instead of the wolves or coyotes I assumed they were, but there was something decidedly unfriendly out there. J-man assured me they wouldn't come into the light, but I wanted a substantial barrier between them and me all the same. Just in case he was wrong, you know.

It was a wonderful birthday.

Twice the Fun

I'm blown away! Lettie, of Polkadot Pineapple, has honored me with the Arte y Pico award! Yep, that makes me a two-time winner. Move over, Oscars! I've got something more valuable!

Actually, she did this on 7/11, and it was so close on the heels of my first Oscar, er, Artie, I forgot to mention it. That makes me seem ungrateful, but really, I'm very grateful. I'm grateful for those of you who visit my little scrapbox and play movie trivia with me and offer suggestions for my quilting dilemmas and like my photos. In the year since I started blogging, I have swapped Halloween goodies with fellow ghosties, swapped quiltlets with people from around the world, found (and sometimes tried) new recipes, learned new words, sponsored another little girl, vented, laughed, mused, and cried. My life is so much richer with all you cyber-friends in it. Who knew?

So, since I've been doubly blessed, I will do the same. First, the Arte y Pico:


This is what it means:
What is the meaning of the expression: Arte y Pico
Basically, ironically, it translates into a wonderful phrase in Mexico, “lo maximo.” LOL! It will never find its counterpart in English, but if it HAD to, it would be something like, Wow. The Best Art. Over the top.

This is why it's given:
This lovely statue is called the "Arte y Pico" award which was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and talents no matter whether it be in the form of writing, artwork, design, interesting material, or contributions to the blogger community. When a blogger receives this award it is considered a "special honor" and, once presented to you, it is to be passed on to at least 5 other bloggers who meet the criteria.

The rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.

4.The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

Okey dokey.

Here are 5 more bloggers I'd like to send this on to:

Ellia of Greenbean baby. This is one of the first blogs I ever started reading. Ellia does very intricate cut paper work of the cutest cast of characters you ever saw. She is a SAHM to Diego and Isabella who are no doubt the inspiration for her designs, and married to Ramel, an artist in his own right. If you get a chance, check out her Etsy store--if it hasn't all sold out yet!

Julie Stiles Mills (no, not the actress Julia Stiles) has several blogs, but the one I read most often is Pragmatic Compendium. I won my first giveaway from her site--a copy of "Kite Runner". Julie is so very down to earth, funny, and caring. She would deserve the award for this entry alone, but you must read more. One of her posts gives a website where you can figure out how much your donations to charity thrift shops are worth for tax deduction purposes. She's a very handy gal to have around!

I don't remember how I found Wendy of Wisdom of the Moon, but I'm glad I did, if for no more than her worm composting tutorial. What a blast! She has 4 kiddos, "only one of who was raised from scratch", is in love with her husband and is trying to tread lightly on the world. I've only been reading her blog for about 3 weeks now, but she's on my Reader already.

A blogger I found last week is Jessie, of Diary of a Self-Portrait. She has re-started her "Be Brave" movement (check her July 8 entry), and I am giving it some serious thought. Jessie is an artist with a passion for dogs and life. I am enjoying reading her past entries and learning more about her.

Last, but most definitely not least, is Stefani of Blue Yonder. Mom to 3 bright, active, funny little boys, she writes of her and her husband's efforts to raise these little guys into wonderful men. She turns everything into a life experience or memory for them. We should all have such moms. Life is never dull there, and this post will have you rolling in the aisles. Once you start reading her blog, you're hooked. It's a healthy addiction, though.

Well, that's the roster. My Google Reader list is getting longer and longer by the day, and now I'm starting to have to choose between sewing and blog-reading. (I already chose between my blogroll and housework; THAT one was a no-brainer). If it comes down to choosing between work and visiting all my blog friends, well, we might be back on the red beans and rice diet.

Now for the second part of the "Twice the Fun" title, and your reward for sticking with this extra-long post: I'm having a giveaway.

I know, it's about darn time! Well, I missed my 100th post, and I missed my one year blogiversary, but there are always events to be celebrated here in blogland, no?

Sometime in the next week or so will be my 200th post. (Good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise.) Also, it's my birthday. Today. It was at ten past midnight, to be exact, so let the party begin!

First in the package:

That's a yard of 100% cotton, quilt shop quality fabric, from the "101 Wishes" line by Makower. With it is a little box of tiny gold glass beads, suitable for embellishing or other crafts, and a strip of hand-painted silk.


Next is a package of inkjet magnetic sheets:

I don't remember why I bought these, nor why I bought so many, but the package has never been opened, and I'm sure one of you crafty ladies can figure out a use for them.

Next up:

A package of three little brass stencil cards, also never used.

A set of small rubber stamps with symbols for sun, moon, sky, star:

I still love rubber stamping but I have more than I will ever use. (Not that that has ever stopped me before.) These can be used with fabric paint to stamp labels for the backs of quilts, or on aprons, or with regular ink for stationery, etc.

This is a hanging magnetic board with 2 magnets:

I won a giveaway at BooMama's blog, and couldn't decide which of two items I wanted more, so I won one and bought the other.
I have the wrapped canvas hanging in the kitchen above my Hoosier, but really don't have a place for this board. Since I have the saying on a bracelet already, I thought I'd pass this one on to another life-lover.

Finally, remember the little quiltlet I was making for my swap partner that is too small for the requirements? It's such a cute pattern, and I'm already making myself a larger one, so I will finish this little one and include it. But I can't post a photo until I get the swap quilt mailed off.

Other things might find their way into the box, too, being as it's still a week til it gets mailed. You never know.

Okay, how do you win? Post a comment on this entry anytime between now and midnight July 30. That's it. Well, you have to give me at least an email address or a blogsite so I can reach you, of course. I'll write these all down on strips of paper and have J-Man pick one out at random. Now is the time for all you lurkers to show yourselves! Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Neighbors

Our Homeowner's association planned our community's very first annual picnic, and held it at a nearby park 2 weekends ago. It was something they had talked about for a couple of years, but it took this year's board to actually put it together. Fortunately, the neighbor who mows our lawn let me know about it before the actual mailing went out, and I was able to arrange my schedule so we could attend.

About 40 families were represented, though more indicated they would have attended had they not already had other plans. The Board duly noted this and has promised to get an earlier start next year. I took my camera, but never did take a photo--I guess because it's too large to be discreet about the photos and most of the folks there were strangers to me.

One of the doggy moms I've met has a small catering business with her husband, and they did the food. It was all very informal, with our choices of hot dogs, burgers, or sloppy joes, a pasta salad, potato salad, beans, sweet tea or lemonade, and peach cobbler. No Alcoholic Beverages Allowed. Folks seemed to congregate with those they knew, but there was a lot of mingling and meeting going on, too.

It was fun putting faces to houses. Last summer and fall we watched as a couple did a lot of their own work clearing a lot for a modular to go up. We have seen them plant flowers and a Japanese maple and put in a driveway, and I got to meet them, but now I've forgotten their names again. Next year, maybe we should wear tags with our addresses as well as our names.

One of our neighbors, a pastor, made the rounds, as did the local real estate agent. We found out what the range is for homes in the area, and the info on a street that just appeared in neighborhood a couple of years ago. Apparently it had been planned there all along, but never built until someone bought a couple of the lots.

One of the gentlemen in my neighborhood has been my patient in our hospital more than once, as was his wife, and she died less than a year ago. I was able to give him a hug and hear about his upcoming plans to visit children and friends in Colorado and Oregon.

In describing where we live, which is a corner lot at two major roads in the neighborhood, I found out I am known as "The Halloween Lady" by most of the kids and their parents. I love it! But it does add to the pressure to at LEAST do as good a job each year as the one before, if not better. Hey, I have a reputation to uphold! Traditions to maintain!

One lady made the rounds gathering names for a community yard sale, which will be held on the 9th of August. I don't hold yard sales anymore, just shop them. About once every 2-3 months I take a box or two to one of the local donation centers, so I don't have enough to really make it worth my while. But in the interest of community spirit, I believe I'll set up a table or two in my driveway and read or stitch the time away.

Another of my neighbors was widowed about 18 months ago, and I told him I'd be happy to put stuff out for him in my yard. I don't know if he's up to going through things, or even if his children, who live out of state, have sifted through their mother's belongings yet. He may not have anything to sell, he might have already taken boxes to donate; I don't know. It would have to be hard, though, to have strangers handling your dead wife's possessions, even if you don't want them anymore.

We weren't the last to leave the picnic, but close to it. In most of the neighborhoods where I grew up, the adults all knew each other and each other's children. It didn't matter what adult told us to behave, we'd better do it, or we'd regret it when we got home. It also didn't matter which adult was around when we scraped our knees rollerskating down the sidewalk. They were all good for a bandaid, or a glass of water, or a grassy lawn on which to lie after a rowdy game of Swinging Statues.

Now that we've had the chance to get to know each other a little better, I'm hoping to see more of that neighborly spirit here in our little community. More friendly waves and less speeding through. More dogs on leashes and less running loose.

And I hope the children know they can knock on The Halloween Lady's door if they need a bandaid or a glass of cold water.

Movie Trivia Answer for 7/19

Soylent Green

Everybody knows those last lines, that famous quote, but not the answers to my questions. HA! Stumped!

The wafers preceding Soylent Green were Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow. Soylent Green was advertised to have been made from plankton, but we know what it was reealllly made of, don't we?
Altogether now, Steph and Pinky:

American Film Institute voted that phrase #77 in the top 100 movie quotes.



Just another bit of trivia here: That was Edward G. Robinson's last movie; he died 9 days after its completion. When he's lying on the table in the Orange room, and he says "I love you, Thorn" (referring to Charleton Heston), Thorn replies "I love you, Sol." Charleton Heston was the only one on the set who knew Robinson truly was dying, and those tears were genuine.





New Movie Trivia Question on Saturday!

Saturday at the Movies

We're digging through the archives again this week.

Back in 1973, Charleton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Edward G. Robinson starred in a futuristic flick titled "Soylent Green." The year was 2022, New York had over 40 million people, poverty and famine were rampant, and strawberries cost $150.00/jar.




Soylent Green was the newest nutritional wafer manufactured to feed the masses. What was it advertised to be made of, and what were the colors of the previous two wafers?

Answers on Tuesday!

If at first you don't succeed....

....chuck it and start over.

Yep, gotta start my little quiltlet all over again. When I opened my swap quilt from Kristin today, it seemed so large to me. So I got out my measuring tape. The instructions are for the project to be no smaller than 16" x 16" and no larger than 20" x 20". With all the frog-stitching and re-stitching and replacing, my little project now measures 14" x 16"--UNquilted.

Oops.

Back to the cutting board.


Photos previously promised must be postponed.


Later, dudes, um, dudettes.

4 Seasons Quilt Swap--received!

Looky! This came in the mail today!


It's from Kristin in Oregon! It's bright, colorful and features my favorite color: purple! Did you see the yoyo flowers? I haven't attempted those yet--I'm so impressed! And she improvised as she went along. Wow!

She included postcards from the Sisters Quilt Show, 4 tea bags, and a fat quarter of more gorgeous fabric. I love it all!

Gotta get mine finished! Hope my partner likes her quilt as much as I do mine!

Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak at the back of my 4 Seasons Quilt Swap for my partner, who is...
TBA!
Gotcha!



The photo was taken before the labels were fused down. Today I'll stitch them and sandwich it and start the quilting on it. The swap quilt should be finished by this weekend, and then I'll post pictures of both.

I don't know how my partner feels about lots of color, and these are some bright batiks, so I kept hers a little muted, but mine is BRIGHT! Such a cheerful little wall-hanging; it's been on my "someday" list for 2 years now. This was the perfect opportunity to jump right in and do it.

Movie Trivia Answer for 7/12

According to IMDB:

"Among the many famous actress considered for the part of Scarlett were Jean Arthur, Lucille Ball, Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, Katharine Hepburn, Olivia de Havilland, Carole Lombard, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck, and Margaret Sullavan. Bankhead (an authentic "Southern Belle" from Alabama) was the clear front-runner, but her unsavory personal life made producers reluctant to hire her.

Of all the actresses considered for the role, Louise Platt, Tallulah Bankhead, Linda Watkins, Adele Longmire, Haila Stoddard, Susan Hayward (at the time using the name Edythe Marriner), Dorothy Mathews, Brenda Marshall, Paulette Goddard, Anita Louise, Margaret Tallichet, Frances Dee, Nancy Coleman, Marcella Martin, Lana Turner, Diana Barrymore, Jean Arthur, Joan Bennett and Vivien Leigh were given actual screen tests for the role of Scarlett O'Hara."

Sorry, but I cannot picture Lucille Ball in that role. And some of these ladies I've never heard of. But I could easily see Kate Hepburn flashing eyes at Clark Gable!

Did you know that Olivia de Havilland is still alive? She's 90 years old now.



Good job, ladies!
New question on Saturday.

Dance

This just makes me smile. I get goosebumps every time I watch it.

And it stirs something inside me.

Saturday at the Movies

We're going back in time for this one!




We all know Vivien Leigh played Scarlett O'Hara (whom Margaret Mitchell originally named "Pansy O'Hara"!) in Gone With the Wind. She was one of 1400 actresses interviewed for the part, and one of 400 who actually read for the part.

There were other, more famous actresses who were considered. Can you name 2 of them?


List on Tuesday!

A Cure for What Ails Me

I am SO relieved to be here at home, indulging (ahem--busy) in some fabric therapy, after the week I've had at the (looney bin) hospital. Something is afflicting that little place--staff, physicians, visitors and patients. And I don't mean a physical virus, either.

This week I've seen brothers and sisters feuding over who is worthy and responsible enough to be mom's power of attorney, in charge of her care, and probably, her property. And I'm not sure if mom is ignorant of it all, playing it up, or just passively letting them do it.




I've seen an employee put on call due to low census, but be unavailable when we needed her to come in--for the second time in less than a week--and seemingly get away with it.

I've had an old WWII vet, who has never been the same mentally since the war, grab my throat in a warning to not bother him with petty heart medications while he's trying to sleep--and not remember the incident 16 hours later.

I've spent hours of one-on-one nursing all night pumping blood and fluids into a post-op patient sporting a whopping 50/0 blood pressure whose (addle-brained lunkhead) physician refused to transfer her to ICU. And then saw her sit up, call her boyfriend, and ask me what was for breakfast.

I have been the Princess of Poop/Duchess of Doo-Doo/Conquerer of Caca, then talked quilts and crafts with a patient and her daughter, and eaten a chocolate cupcake with blue icing--all in the same night.




Tonight J-Man took me to a little Mexican restaurant for supper, partly, I think, to make up for waking me an hour and a half early yesterday afternoon with the smoke alarm. ( He forgot the burner was on high.) The meal was so-so, (by New Mexico standards, and the salsa wasn't any where near thick and hot enough, but the fried ice cream we shared was pretty good.


And for the next 3 days, I am refusing to answer the phone. I let it be known I have no intention of darkening the door of that place, unless I am wheeled in on a stretcher. They'll call anyway. They always do.




So I've had Kate Havnevik on the CD player and have been preparing my version of the 4 Seasons Quilt Swap for Summer. I haven't finished my swap quilt, but before putting the fabrics back in their bins to multiply while I am not looking, I decided to go ahead and cut the strips for my wallhanging.

I'll post photos after I've finished my partner's.

Tonight seems like a Dido/Havnevik/Norah Jones type of night--except I don't have any of Norah's CD's yet. It's on my wish list for my birthday. Sometimes it's a Sarah Brightman/Andre Bocelli kind of day, or a Delilah love songs night, or time to listen to "The Point" again.




Judy Martin had a blurb in her last newsletter of the Pandora music station. Have you checked it out yet? It's pretty cool. You just go to www.pandora.com and post the name of your favorite artist or a favorite song. Then they analyze the artist or song or album and play songs that fall into those general categories. You can click on the little album logo and give a thumbs up or thumbs down to the current song and they will adjust your music selections. You can design several stations, and with a button, you can mix the two. So far I have a "Barry Manilow" station that plays a lot of Lionel Richie, Manilow, etc. and a Dido station that plays Dido and Jewel and Frou Frou and Norah Jones. If the computer were in my craft room, (and if it wasn't older than Henry VIII) I'd probably have it on most of the time.




What do you listen to when you're crafting/sewing/quilting?

Movie Trivia Answer for 7/5

Sorry this is late. Working my patootie off.

Steph got it--it WAS Scream! Then in Scream 2, remember the gal in the movie theater who was so annoyed with the movie screen victim she was yelling at her to "Star 69 his A$$"? I think that probably gained usage after the first movie, too.

Good deductive reasoning, Steph!


New question on Saturday!

Weekend pasttime

Did everyone have a happy Fourth? I'd requested this long weekend off because DD was supposed to come for a visit. Next week is her 30th birthday, but she gets the Federal holidays off, and since we all 3 have summer birthdays, we usually celebrate them at the same time. However, she starts her new job in a new town in less than a month and still hasn't found a place for her and the pets to live, so she has been driving 8-hour round trips every weekend to see prospective abodes.

So I have taken this nice little stretch of off-days and am rearranging and organizing the sewing room. I bought a table with the drop-down panel for my "new" Bernina, which sits about 4 inches above the desktop surface I'd previously been using, and that was causing some muscle strain. I love my little desk, which was refinished by a 93-year-old man in Albuquerque, and sold at his yard sale. He sanded and polished it so, it feels smooth as silk when I run my hand over it.

Well, when it's not all cluttered up, that is.

I really love this carving on the front:


I still use the drawers for some sewing supplies and didn't want to move it out of the room, so after much thought, the set-up looks like this:

I can still see out my window while sewing, and if I want to, I can still put my Kenmore on the desk to sew. But the best part is when I have a large amount of fabric it can just drape back over to the desk.

I might have gotten it all done yesterday if I hadn't decided to cull through everything and try to reduce the clutter there. (Well, that, and the Twilight Zone marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel.) I have a stack of books to take to our area bee to give away, and have started a box of miscellaneous items to donate. There are also a few craft books I think are collectibles and just can't bear to donate so I am considering posting them on eBay. I've never sold anything on there, but have bought lots of stuff, and I think it won't be too hard once I figure out how much to charge for shipping.

One thing this rearranging has brought home to me is just how much fabric I have! And how much of it is fabric I pulled together for specific quilts, which either haven't been sandwiched (so that's a lot of yardage there), or are still in the planning stages. It would free up a significant amount of space to empty those bins.

And yet, I bought more fabric Thursday. This is for my 4 Seasons Quilt Swap:

The bubble fabric was already in my stash, but the rest is new. I bought extra, because I know I will not want to part with the little quilt once it's done, so I'm going to make one for me, too.

This is to back the comfort quilt I made my best friend:

That fabric just had her name on it. Besides, I want the back to look nice, because it does get seen, if only by the person snuggled under it.

Then, Susan, my friend from the Biltmore trip, brought this in to work for me:


It's from a dust ruffle her aunt got rid of. She just tore the bed part off, and asked Susan if she knew anyone who could use it. Susan, who is bugging me to make her some throw pillows for her porch, immediately thought of the apron I made and decided I needed it. It's a 70/30 poly/cotton mix, but so pretty I couldn't pass it up. I believe there might be a few more aprons in my future.

So now that the TZ marathon is over, I should be able to finish up in the room today. When it's all cleaned up and arranged, I'll post some photos.

Oh, and if you play Movie Trivia with me, scroll down for today's question!