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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Froggin my stitchin and other stuff

Well some friends and I got together on Saturday to stitch and reconnect. What a glorious day, the sun was shining and the temperature was 80+ degrees. Unusual for this time of the year. In between reconnecting with friends, having lunch and I brought my "Put your big girl pantites on" to work on I realized that my count was off after several hours of stitching. I asked the hostess what she thought of the design and then while she was looking, I mentioned that my spacing was off. She thought it looked okay since the wording was balanced in it's wrong spacing.
So the weekend progressed and I continued to stitch on it as it was until I said, "I can't do this". So the froggin began and I ripped it out. I don't know where this perfectionism came from, I know I'm by no means perfect and I always am thrilled with my rebellious nature, but I can't let a known mistake just be. I'll tear into it and try to correct it even though I try not to. Maybe Janie, that's the point, just tear into it sooner and don't dwell on it so. Hummm, a light bulb moment, talk about a little dense.The design is by Janlynn and has been in my to-do cabinet for 6+ years. So while traveling to visit my sister, I pulled this work out knowing the binding on the baby quilt would be done quickly and I'd have idle hands if I didn't bring something more. Almost done, I'll post more when it's completed. Still trying to figure out how I wan tit finished as a framed piece on the wall, a pocket for a quilter's tote, humm any suggestions?

The above and side pictures are my PGD#1 and a coat I bought for her while visiting my Mom in Florida. A woman she knows and is in her guild makes these coats and sells them. The one at the quilt show that I saw was too small so I commissioned her to make one for myPGD#1. What a beautiful job she did. She even inscribed on the label that it was made especially for her. Does the fabric look familiar to anybody? It started out as a Pillow sham. Amazing work Diane E. I absolutely LOVE it!

Happy stitchin
Jane

Thursday, April 23, 2009

A wonderful time was had by all.....

What a whirl wind of a vacation. DH and I took our PGS#2 with us to visit my sister in Annapolis. Left the day after Easter and traveled continuously down to Md after DH saw the chiropractor since he messed up his back. Luckily the Dr. fit him in without an appointment. Finally after 2 Rx's, I was able to stop "coughing up my lungs". It feels so much better to feel better again. PGS has a predisposition to car sickness (I wonder where he got those genes from? - But I know all to well) and he did well traveling. Despite the rainy and gloomy weather the first several days, and this little bit of moaning, we all enjoyed ourselves.


Day #2- Visited the inner harbor of Baltimore to get indoors on a chilly day. The aquarium was very crowded but a great visit. Saw the dolphin show and the Imax theatre production. If you've never been, then you're missing a great experience and sights. Eventually went to the ESPN zone, checked out an old submarine that was a tourist spot docked on the waterfront, and ended at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch.
The ESPN zone was just where a 12 year old would love to spend the entire week I think. He had a wonderful time and I must admit, so did I. We all took turns playing some of the electronic games. My first "game" was riding a horse on a race track. Picture that! I was perspiring pretty heavily by the time the race was over and embarassingly, my horse came in last. Of course, you couldn't just sit in the saddle. The designer of this game thought it would be best to do a sitting stand in the stirrups and keep your weight to the front of the stirrups, a hard pose to maintain while jerking and "riding your race horse. The horse was rocking like a real horse and you had 2 buttons on the handle bars to "whip" your horse to make it go faster with a digital picture of how you were doing. Of course, PGS#2 and I were racing, but not each other, so DH was in the background cheering me on saying, "Whip it good, whip it real good." I know I know, pretty kinky uh? But it was exhilirating. After that, I got to actually lounge in a seat that represented a car in a digital roller coaster. That was pretty tame and just what I needed to cool off. PGS#2 kept looking over at me to make sure I was okay.

Days 2 and 3 we spent in Washington DC. What a wonderful city with so many beautiful, historical and life enhancing sights. Our forefathers all had so many glowing characteristics that has made a positive change in humanity for this country. Even though DH and I have been there numerous times, we saw many new sights on this trip. Such as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, The National Cathedral, Union Station, Ford's Theatre, and the Peterson's House. PGS wanted to see the Holocaust Museum, I became a member so that we'd be able to get in with all the vacationing students visiting the DC sights. Take an open double-decker bus tour that allowed you to hop on hop off for a 2 day period.

Day 4, we all went to Ocean City, MD and spent the day at the beach with my sister. She is so much fun. I love her dearly. I know PG#2 and she developed a special bond on this trip. We all rented bikes and rode on the boardwalk. Those 2 actually rode the whole length of the boardwalk. DH & I had a bycicle built for 2 that we rode awhile and then just stopped to "smell the sea aire". Shopping, dining alfresco and playing in the surf and sand with beautiful weather. Who could ask for a better day. Singing with sis while traveling the 2 hour ride to the beach, priceless. The following picture is of a of the few items I purchased at some shops, The first I can't remember the name of i got while on the way to Maryland and the second one, The Salty Yarn, that was conveniently was located a couple of blocks from the bike rental shop. The area where I live doesn't have any shops like this, so I was able to get the few neccessities I needed (wanted) for a couple of my future projects besides quite a few packages of the MIll Hill petite seed beads for some other items too.

Day 5 was a sister day. We had told the menfolk they would be on their own so we could spend some time with each other. Shopping at some fantastic shops and great sales were awsome. Lunch out, boutique browsing followed by a little trip to a park with a bottle of wine and of course the Cheasapeake and South RIver views on another gorgeous day with my sis. Fantastic! The men also enjoyed themselves. Canoeing, swimming for the grandson and playing with the remote control sailboat my BIL has, while the canoe was out, just in case a chase vehicle was needed. WOnderful. ALl met later for a night out courtesy us, esp. after the great hospitality and home offered to us. Then the journey home. Thanks sis & bil, we had a wonderful time and loved your home. It's nice to have a home so far away from home.

As far as recent finishes, I did complete the binding on this doll quilt that I made reversible following the directions from the Moda Bake Shop. Here are pictures of both sides of the dollies' quilt. I quilted it in a style I saw through the pajama quilter, Dawn Ramirez called "dwirling". It was rather easy for my first attempt at it and I know, I'll be using this design again.









And the blanket in use by PGD#1:


Stay Well and Happy Stitchin!
Jane

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!


Glad spring tidings are sent your way. Wishing you all a wonderful Easter Day. I am ever grateful for all the blessings I've received through my life. I especially am so overwhelmed by the talented people I've met. Recently, a friend's Mom was visiting and she attended the retreat with us several weeks ago. Her name is Sylvia and she doesn't quilt or do needle things, she paints. OM! I am ever so glad she does! She was doing her painting and I told her I loved what she was doing. That if it wasn't intended elsewhere I would love to buy it. She refused payment and said simply, "It's yours." Check it out.



I love the way she used all the colors that she did. To me I get the feeling of springtime. There is a soft awakening of the earth and the elements of nature are coming back to life. Thank You so much Sylvia! Now I need to select an appropriate frame after I get back from visiting my sister in Maryland. Will be in touch after a week plus.

Jane

Friday, April 10, 2009

I'm a Katharine!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Katharine!




You are a Katharine -- "I am happy and open to new things"



Katharines are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.





How to Get Along with Me

  • * Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.

  • * Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.

  • * Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.

  • * Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.

  • * Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.

  • * Don't tell me what to do.




What I Like About Being a Katharine

  • * being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down

  • * being spontaneous and free-spirited

  • * being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.

  • * being generous and trying to make the world a better place

  • * having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures

  • * having such varied interests and abilities




What's Hard About Being a Katharine

  • * not having enough time to do all the things I want

  • * not completing things I start

  • * not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career

  • * having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies

  • * feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship




Katharines as Children Often

  • * are action oriented and adventuresome

  • * drum up excitement

  • * prefer being with other children to being alone

  • * finesse their way around adults

  • * dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up




Katharines as Parents

  • * are often enthusiastic and generous

  • * want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life

  • * may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive





Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz
at HelloQuizzy



It figures too, since DH is always calling me by his pet nickname of Kate. He's been doing this whenever I wear my hair up. Hmmm....How did he know? Jane

Monday, April 6, 2009

Not much to report

With the bronchitis/asthma flair up, I've been down for the past week. Went to the Dr's on Friday so had a nebulizer treatment which helped me to breathe. The Dr. ended up giving me a script for a home machine with medicine for it and an antibiotic just in case since it was Friday and the coming weekend. Did try to clear up my lungs with the asthma rx and realized it wasn't getting that much better, so DH filled my antibiotic RX yesterday. Slept most of the day and even this morning. But am finally starting to feel better and can move a little without feeling like I have to cough up a LUNG!
I did complete all the embroideries for the Noah's Ark wallhanging so now just need to trim them. Then to sew fabric with a log cabin style frame around each one and assemble it together so I can finish it. (KISS Jane!) Don't try to do more with it and let it be.

While at Wadhams, I brought an embroidery I did several years ago of a basket of flowers on a pretty light yellow plaid fabric. I love the simplicity of that design, but I couldn't figure out how I should finish it. I always seem to want to make these never ending projects and complicate things. Enough! A good friend laid it out with a couple of sample fabrics she had used in a quilt and it was beautiful just like that. Duhhhhh! Why didn't I think of that. She used just a little frame of a brown wood tone fabric with a darker burgandy fabric for the outer border and binding. Perfect. So she actually has scraps that will work. Nice! A piece of "Trudy" will be in my Wallhanging.
This photo is of my postage stamp basket table topper that I have on display for our Easter season. I started doing these basket blocks and initially thought it would be beautiful as a quilt. Well the blocks are 4" square, suffice to say, I finished 17 blocks. Said "hey girl, just finish it and simplifly things". Two (2) blocks were rejected because their coloring was off for the Easter and springtime theme. So actually made one more block that would work and used this quilt topper as a stippling skillbuilder. I had fun machine stippling this. I actually did 2 basket blocks with the free form feathers though, shhhh! don't tell anyone that there is a duplicate pattern. It's my design decision. No one has noticed yet and I've showed many of my quilty friends this piece and it being a skillbuilder with different designs. So no one's the wiser, Except of course you and me (Wicked grin here). The last photo I hope you'll be able to see some of the stitching better than the larger picture. The bloc k on the upper right has what I call the olives aka double loopy loops. Oh, this was also a chance for me to try to do some trapunto. It makes the baskets quite puffy on the table top though, but with the stippling in the background, I enjoyed doing and learning this technique. What do they say, easy peasy!
Stay Well,
JAne