Embarassingly, I have enough!

What that well known adage: "THE CAMERA DOESN'T LIE".
Well it is with a very red face that I'll be posting pictures of my sewing room and the overflow that has happened because of my passion with needle work. Knowing I have enough or even too much and I need to get a handle on it.


So here it is...............MY SEWING ROOM:

The view as I walk into my sewing domain is the first photo and the view of the wall that is to my back while I sew is the second photo, of course I opened up the cabinet doors so you knew they weren't sitting there empty(wicked grin here):







These next 2 photos are of the view of the wall I face while sewing. The first picture is the cabinet that sets near my design wall. This holds my whites to black colored fabics, as well as Halloween and the Thirty's Reproduction fabrics. The second photo is a view of the center of the room where 2 more of fabric cabinets are. The center cabinet holds my greens to purples and also includes batiks. The far right cabinet is for my yellows to reds, besides novelty and childrens' fabrics. Further on the right (not pictured) of that wall, are 2 corner-windows which is where a shorter cabinet stands that holds the TV, DVD, C/D, cassette player.





















These final 2 pictures show my design wall area near my fabric storage cabinets, both top and bottom.

It is a wreck! It's hard for me, who used to be a very detail specific and organized admit that this mess is mine and mine alone.



So that is my story and I'm sticking to it!
No, I'm truly posting these pictures to keep me real!
It seems that whenever my interest is peaked in whichever subject, I fall for it big time. Well, I've made this mess so I will be cleaning it up. Since it didn't happen overnight, I know it will take me a while to fix it. Now mind you, there are some more pictures of my messes, but I thought there is only so much a person can stand... so I plan on showing the before and after photo's when I get to them. That will help me continue to stay focused and to not relapse into my old self. Time will tell.



Got to run, I'm planning on working on the woven star table runner this evening. Stay Well.

Jane

Helping a good cause

A friend and fellow quilter asked if a few quilters (myself included) were interested in helping out with a charity project. As you know, most quilters are generous with talent and time, so we all agreed yes, we'd help. What a beautiful project.
We all gathered in January and February at this friends' house to assist in sewing the blocks so they'd be ready to assemble. The quilt design is from by Nancy Davis Murty and it's called, Butterfly Kisses . Here is a picture of the finished top.



What could be better than fun fellowship with like minded ladies and friends. We got together on 2 Saturdays and this is what was accomplished. One dear friend assembled all the blocks together and also took this picture at her house while it was draped so nicely over the banister railing. So she deserves the most credit, she's the engine that could, if you know what I mean while all the time maintaining a nice and friendly attitude. The quilting is now being done by Carole, a talented Long armer in our area. The finished quilt will be raffled off with all of the proceeds going to the Glenwood Cemetary.

What's NEW?

A finish, that's what. I'm so thrilled. The table runner that I mentioned ripping out all of the terrible quilting I did back around Thanksgiving, has been quilted good enough by me. It literally has been talking to me every time I entered my sewing area, so of course I strongly and willfully ignored it. What else are you to do with a undisciplined child! Well, guilt has been riding my back about my avoidance of quilting it, so yesterday I took the proverbial "Bull by the Horns" and started quilting it. It was going smoothly especially since I slowed down my machine to 440 stitches per minute. It seems my timing is off with my machine. It was okay but actually a little too slow then so I sped it up to 740 spm to get more of a faster pace without going full speed, that was a dream. (Note to self, spm now to be done at 700-800 when quilting.) It's a comfortable and doable pace. Hence a big milestone was accomplished.


Here are 2 pictures of it. The left one is of the waffle time runner.
The picture on the right is the reverse side of the runner. Using Westminster Fabrics I was able to simply design the backing myself. This was fun and I love the way this turned out. Now I have 2 different looks, all the while with only storing 1runner. The next picture is a small sample of the quilting I used, and this is the runner that was totally done in November, BUT hoirribly. Hence ripping out all the stitches to redo it. I am also pleased with my efforts there.

This design is my own since it was done free hand but I was inspired by Kim Stotzenburger with her book, "Just Leaf It".



Last week I also wrote out four things to complete by Friday. Not too much success there though. Two out of four aren't bad. Did work on both numbers 3 & 4, but didn't quite finish those as listed. Understandably so with having grandchildren here 4 fulls days since last week, but a girl has to have priorities!

1-Waffle time runner quilted
2-Finish reading "A Letter to My Daughter" by Maya Angelo
3-Embroider the Giraffe block on the Noah's ark stitchery
4-Finish Reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.

My plan is to continue to list 4 items weekly to help in progressing my UFO's and works in slow progress (wisp) that I'd like to edge towards completion. So I'll add to my list and relist what wasn't completed. At the end of March, I'll be going to a quilt retreat weekend set up by friends, so I'll need to "kit" up some of the UFO's I thought of working on. Sew what's next? Stay in touch, you'll soon see since I feel like I'm on a roll.
Enjoy your day and catch up with you soon.

Jane

Bread

While surfing blogs I ran into a recipe for homemade artisian bread. Found the original recipe and printed it out. Wow! Fantastic! We both love this recipe!


DH has made several batches of it so far and every time it's scrumptious. I even brought a loaf to share with my Artist's Way meeting this past Sunday with some cheese and butter. Was I surprised, every morsel of bread was eaten and there were cheese slices still left. Usually it always seems like it goes the other way around. Anyway, several friends have asked for my recipe, so that I thought it might be best to share my link here with the original recipe and who to credit:

ARTISAN BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY
by J. Hertzberg and Z. François
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0312362911

The Master Recipe: Boule
(Artisan Free-Form Loaf)
Makes 4 1-pound loaves

3 cups lukewarm water
1 1⁄2 tbsp granulated yeast (1 1⁄2 packets)
1 1⁄2 tbsp coarse kosher or sea salt
6 1⁄2 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour
Cornmeal for pizza peel


Tips to Amaze Your Friends
The “6-3-3-13” rule. To store enough for eight loaves, remember 6-3-3-13. It’s 6 cups water, 3 tablespoons salt, 3 tablespoons yeast, and then add 13 cups of flour. It’ll amaze your friends when you do this in their homes without a ­recipe!

Ouch, OOOHHH! Fell off my No Buy Wagon!

Hi all, while reading some favorite links I ran across a notice of a $50 gift certificate for Superior Threads. They have the best thread and are the best thread makers around. Anytime I go to a quilt show, I always treat myself to more thread from them. I think I have all their thread charts too and would love to get the stitched out examples they offer. King Tut is nice, but I'm starting to favor the lava thread line, it seems smoother and so nice to fall into the fabric.

Well today is a mixed up kind of day. Yesterday, I did not feel well at all. Wasn't sure if it was the flu on top of my neck back injury. While visiting Mom in FLorida, my pain had lessened. Now that I'm back at home, it seems worse. Why? I think because I need to do more. Dishes, laundry, shopping, etc..... I really and truly relaxed while on vacation and was actually spoiled too. The only "House work" things I did were to make our bed and dishes after dinner. Mom was so organized that all meals were prepared well in advance (even before most of us were awake) in her house. But back to reality.

Yesterday DH and I went to a LQS named Dreamcrafters for their annual 25% off sale. I had a list of needs (fabric and stabilizers) for completing UFOs and quilt kits that were already in my stash. It seems great that I'm shopping my stash first. I have many mediums and prints, but the stabilizing pieces of solids and such are surely missing. I am trying so hard to behave with quilty purchases. Despite behaving, I still spent $160. Yikes!

With the traveling, I think the frost heaves on the road trip were horrific for my spine. I hurt so bad with the trip that when we got home, I went to bed after taking my meds. Contiued to hurt throughout the night and even this am, I am in pain. Need to watch our 2 month old grandson (PGS#3) this am and this evening. Well off to lie down again while I can.
Stay Well
Jane

Lost a friend.

The big C is a horrible disease. A good friend succumbed to this disease after being under under hospice care. He left our world very quickly, his diagnosis was first mentioned last fall and now he is gone. Words are not adequate for how I feel and with trying to express all the feelings I have for him and his wife, both I consider good friends. His wife of 55 years is battling her own health issues and is very confused at times.
I do feel that "T" made up his mind, that his time was over and not to linger. Almost as if he was willing himself to die. The little bit of time he had left to share with family and friends, he was a very different person than his "living" self was. Normally he'd be very communicative and receptive, but after the diagnosis, he seemed different. He was just as gentleman like, but seemed to be very reserved, so that I feel like we lost part of him even then.
I hope I never have to experience a disease like that close to my life again, all the while realizing that I know I will. Psychologically, there are many different aspects of one's own demise. So when trying to assist someone, without trying to subject them with your own views, is a very difficult position to hold with grace. Trying to allow their dignity to stand on it's own, yet hope they realize that caring and love is offered and extended in what ever manner they need. My thoughts are many, and as you can see by my tortured english phrases, I really am having a hard time in trying to articulate all that I feel.
With Belief in the ever after, I remain
Jane

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a nice surprise! While sifting through our huge stack of mail, (son said he's never seen somebody get as much mail as we do)it must have piled in an area of 10" high by 2' by 3' wide, I found these two postcards.
.

I received this one
from Pat L. in NY





This one I received from Kim.


Aren't they both beautiful. It's always amazing to see the creativity of the different members of stashbusters. I also enjoyed the creative process making postcards for 2 other members and my Mom. The one below is just one of the 3 I created. I find that it's a challenge to come up with a plausible idea. For mine I pieced fabrics stamped desins, chalked and painted backgrounds besides adding a few free formed hearts. I was pleased with my final results but I hope the recipients wil be as well.


Hope your Valentine's day was shared with all that you love.

Jane

I'm back.....Long post

Just got home Friday night from visiting my Mom in Florida and having a little vacation with "DH". What a wonderful trip. Despite my last post of our ticket purchase for a flight with Allegiant Airlines, the flight was smooth, nice and rather quick. Much easier than driving all that way. We rented a car after landing so while visiting Mom and her Boyfriend, we were able to come and go without having to rely on their vehicle. This was so much nicer. I can relate now more easily with Mom (Which I really never have had a problem doing) of how she felt her first year in Florida without her own set of wheels.
The time flew, Mom and I didn't get as much alone time as I had hoped for. I told DH I could see him any time at home, that I wanted to spend some more time with Mom. He understood, but my Mom wasn't feeling the best the last week we were there. Regardless, I was glad to get there to see her and reconnect.
While traveling in Florida, we went to the Keys.
The Keys are such a beautiful area and the weather was tropic even for January! Since we were only there 2 full days, we left with quite a tan. I was pleasantly surprised. I did use a 30spf lotion so I wouldn't burn, which I didn't. Luckily though, neither one of us has peeled either.
One of our days was spent sight seeing Key West. The 1 1/2 hour ride took us about 4 hours since we really enjoyed the journey. Robbie's Marina allowed you to go on their docks for $1.00 each. It was unbeleivable the number and sizes of the tarpon that swam aroung the docks. Of course, since fish was the menu, quite a few feathered friends were trying the "all you can eat approach to". Baria Honda Beach for a little hike before crossing the 7 mile bridge. A beautiful day in Key West taking a trolley tour, seeing Ernest Hemmingway's house, the Southernmost point in the "Continental USA", shopping, Mallory Square with many artists sharing their talents, a beautiful sunset off the wharf, Marguaritaville, Slopppy Joe's establishment even a drag show which was really quite funny! So we successfully did the "Duval Crawl". Of course, I switched from alcohol to soda or water. That being said, you guessed it , I was the DD. We returned to our resort in Key Largo at 3:15 am! Glad we had the next day to play - lounge lizards.




The resort we stayed at was luxurious. 2 pools and a jacuzzi with Tiki bar, and at the ocean beach with another tiki bar. Swam, drank, used jacuzzi, drank, sunshine, drank, swam, heaven! This is the view from floating in the pool. The bougainvillia were hanging over the waterfall flowing into the pool after a 10 foot drop. Beautiful! I miss swimming in the North during the winter. I'll have to try to fit in the YMCA this week for swimming. It was so wonderful. My plan on swimming with the dolphins though was crossed off my list on this trip. The temperature of the ocean was a little too cold for me.



We were also able to see most of the Everglades. We saw every type of animal that resides there, with the exception of snakes and the cougar, THANK GOODNESS! I never knew cougars were so far south and was surprised to see signs warning people of them being in an area. So we hiked several trails, rode the rental car to the southern most point called Flamingo Point and then proceeded back north and to the western side of the state via Alligator Alley and Cypress National Park so we could find our lodging in Everglade City. Toured that side of the glades in a Carolina boat. It was only DH and I as passengers for the tpur, so the captain (owner) was able to really personalize our trip for us. It was gorgeous weather and pleasant. Saw dolphins and even a mother and youthful Manatee. Such shy creatures. Only the tip of their snouts were evident besides the cloudy trail they left behind while negotiating the waters. Mangroves, shell islands, fishing, ospreys, pelicans.... all were wonderful.
By the time we traveled up the west coast, visited a beach, transversed the "Sunshine Bridge going into St. Petersburg and back to stay with my Mom, I was thouroughly rested and recharged. A good thing too, since The Villages were having their Quilt show. How outstanding it was.
The talent that was evident was truly amazing. Especially Mom. Her quilt "At Last" won a ribbon as an Honorable Mention. This quilt is beautiful.



While reading the label printed for the show, I started crying because she mentioned that this quilt was coming to me. I know my Mom loves me, but seeing what was written really touched my heart. The amount of time she has invested in this quilt is unbelievable. It's has celtic knot blocks, besides appliqued vines with roses, and celtic knot center medallion with vines and roses too. The borders also have Rose and vines appliqued on them. Her quilting is beautifully done. Besides hand quilting a gridwork, she hand quilted stippling within her blocks' celtic areas. The detail! I'll be posting some photos when I get a chance. Even now, just talking about it, I have a little too much moisture in my eyes.

Well, I'll catch up more in a future post and what else that has been going on. Sorry this has been so wordy, but I wanted to relay a little of what I had been doing in the past several weeks in my absence. Enjoy!

Jane

Baby It's Cold outside!

Nostrils freezing with every breath, car tires crunching the snow, whiteness has enveloped everything. At first light in the morning, the earth has an erethral, glistening quality to it, seeming to shroud all life with it's spirit. It seems magical, but Brrrrr! Baby it's cold outside. The temp read -28 degrees farenheit this am.

That being said, I am so happy to be travelling to visit my Mom down in Florida. DH and I are leaving Monday! Yippee! The funniest thing though occurred when we were purchasing our airline tickets at the ticket booth in the airport terminal.

Me: We'd like to purchase round trip tickets to Florida leave on Monday and return in February. (Of course I gave the specific dates).

Ticket Agent: Okay, yes it's available for 2 adults, price going down is $79.00 and the return trip is $29.00 each (I knew this, because we checked out the best prices on the internet before we went there).

Me; Great, we'll take them

TA: Seats are $15 - $25.00, where do you want to sit?

ME: Your kidding, (I was discreetly looking around thinking there was a hidden camera somewhere) Could I look at the schematics of the plane, then I'll let you know?

TA: We don't do that, just let me know if there is any where specifically that you'd like to sit.

ME: Well, we would like the emergency exit seat to have leg room (I broke my ankle a couple of years ago and being long legged, I truly love to be able to stretch out my legs for a 3+ hour ride especially).

TA: Okay, that'll be $25.00 each, for each direction. (By this piont, I'm laughing, I can't believe that when you buy a ticket, you then have to by a "seat".) Are you bringing any luggage?

ME: Yes, we'll have 2.

TA: Okay that's $30.00 per piece of luggage, what about him (as she directs her attention to my DH)?

Me: Yes he'll have luggage too, but we each will have 1 bag to check and 1 bag as a carryon. I'm still chuckling, I can't believe all the add ons)

This rapport continued in this vein with several other items. Sufficit to say, the total came close to $400.00 for 2 people with round trip tickets and having SEATS as well as carrying luggage. Hehe! I still find humor in it. It really isn't a bad price, but what a racket. Why don't they just charge a fair price and call it that without all the extras that need to be added.

So, with the trip coming up so quickly, I've been setting all up, travel arrangements, car rentals, travelers checks, prescriptions with over-rides, etc..... Next on my list is cleaning my house. I love travelling, but I also love to come home to a clean house, including fresh sheets. So tomorrow, paper work, house work, recycleables returned and make a soup out of the leftover vegetables in the fridge, besides watching a 1 month old grandson in am. Sunday, will take care of the laundry, make lemon poppy seed muffins for my read and bead group which meets in the afternoon, need to make 2 valentine postcards and send out some mail to friends as well as my penalty squares for buying fabric when I was on the No-Buy Challenge list in Stashbusters. Leaving the packing and changing the sheets on Monday before we leave. Ooooh, I love being organized! Sunshine state, here we come! Stay Well and Warm!

Jane

Happy New Year 2009!

Have been feeling really good about finishing some UFO's that I've been concentrating on. I just finished my 12th Redwork Santa. Yippee!
I've carried these embroideries all over the country as we have vacationed and even on the back deck. The plan is to create a Christmas Quilt with them since DH collects Santas. Besides the red and white in the santa blocks, I'll be using a black and a yellow-orange fabric in the quilt too. EQ5 helped me to create a quilt that appeals to me. Now that the embroideries are done, I'll be working on the rest of the top shortly. Need to finish some other UFO's that are already on the sewing cabinet first.
Another finish is a counted cross stitch bread cloth. I think this was started about 10 years ago and was put aside for some reason. Can't remember now why! When I pulled it out, it only needed about 3 more hours of work and it was finished. Another WhoooHoooo! I think I'll be giving this to a friend that does alot of baking.

One other finish is the jungle print fleece throw that I hand stitched the hem on the edge of using a DMC#8 thread for my new grandson, here I lovingly call him PGS#3. It is about 1.25 yards by 60" wide, so really too large for an infant, but while checking with my daughter on what size she wanted me to make it, this is what she requested. TaDah.....DONE!


Currently, I'm working on a Noah's Ark Embroidery. I'm on the 3rd block. Have all the patterns except for the last two that Lynette Anderson has shared. The other two will be coming out in the next month or two, so am hoiping that I'll catch up now that the Santas are done.

The following quilt is a kit and that my friend Catherine from Montreal did. It is a beauty. Her colors are fantastic! The quilter, I call "a sister, from another Mother, from another Country" which is our own personal joke when we reconnect, she's a treasure. If I don't call her this first, then she calls me by that name too. What a hoot.

I love the connectedness of the internet. I'm inspired by many crafty and talented quilters. When contemplating what resolutions I would have for 2009 I realised that I am spending too much time on the computer.....so my plan is to limit my computer time. Perhaps to only 1/2 hour a day. If alot of mail, maybe another 1/2 hour after DH retires. He's usually in bed by 7:00pm and I'm awake until 11-12. so I try to be quiet. Read. watch TV, hand sew....
Besides that, I need to reassert myself with my movements. With the hospital events last month between DH, our daughter and myself, my fitness plan was shelved. DH was sick for a week starting at Christmas time and then he passed the "flu" to me. I feel okay but I sound like a barking seal while coughing. It seems to have slid into my lungs and botheing my asthma, so will be contacting the Dr's tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to be seen while in town for my hair appointment.

Stay well and create,
Jane


PS: Adding this on March 1, 2009:
Realizing I need to clean up the front page of this blog journal, so I need ot list the completed projects done in 2008.
They are:

Beaded counted cross stitch candy dish
5/4 apron
Halloween Sweatshirt
Flying chicken pincushion
Autumn Song Quilt
Stippling Skillbuilder POstage Stamp Basket Table Topper
Dance Bag for PG#1
Simpson's Pillow case for PGS#2
Beaded set; necklace and matching earrings
Wove basket for quilts in Living Room (Also doubles as a doll basinet)
Wove Basket for ongoing knit projects
The Professional Tote

There probably is more, but with starting the blog in the fall and reading what I had listed, this is all I can truly remember. We'll see if 2009 is more productive, I hope so. Stay Well and CREATE!