The trials and tribulations of quilting . . .

OK do you want the good news or the bad news first?  Good news?  (That's what I usually go for as well.)  I completely finished TWO quilts today. 

One is a hydrangea quilt that I began probably six years ago.  Mom and Sue were visiting, we went quilt store visiting, saw this gorgeous quilt hanging up and promptly bought two kits.  One for Mom and one for me.  Sue began teaching me what to do and how to do it.  At one point she was on the floor laying it out and I remember thinking that with my knees that would never work for me, which is ironic as I spent most of yesterday with my knee up and covered with a heating pad.  I was cutting things out, she was arranging, I was sewing.  It was a memorable day.  I think we manged to finish both quilt tops.  She promptly went home to Texas and finished Mom's and I have admired it over the years at Mom's house.  Then I would think, "hmmmm, I have this SAME THING that I love at my house - why don't I stinkin' finish it?!?"  It was something to do with the backing.  I am sort of a purist and usually want one of the fabrics featured on the front of the quilt to be the back as well.  Due to my procrastination, this went undone for a couple of years, then I was frantically trying to order more fabric to match and couldn't get what I needed, etc. etc.  Thus, I had to piece the back and didn't want to and, well, it just sat.

So, this year my New Year's Resolution was to finish my unfinished quilt projects.  I had a goal to finish one per month and felt that was workable.  Well, then I began to buy more fabric and make other patterns (it's all Joyce's fault, she was teaching classes!).  So, finally I decided to suck it up and finish it and today it happened.  It is in the wash as I write this.  I can't wait to see it when it comes out of the dryer all comfy and lovely.

The other one is a "Trip Around the World" from a class that Joyce taught.  I was pulling fabrics for it and not sure what I wanted and it ended up looking like a baby quilt.  A twin-sized baby quilt.  So, it is done and I am mailing it to Marti who has a new granddaughter named Quinn Rain.  Marti only had one son, so she was very overdue to buy pink stuff and I am so happy for her.  So, as I finished it, I pictured Marti curled up with Quinn at her beautiful home in Spokane reading a book to Quinn and her grandson, Robbie.

And, the bad news?  I am making a very detailed Christmas quilt and just realized today that I have used the wrong fabric for the background of the ornaments and presents that I have painstakingly made and they won't match when I assemble the blocks.  Sigh.

Fun is Busy; Busy is Fun

What a great weekend I had. Saturday I met with six gals that I have known for at least 30 years and we went to lunch at a lovely tea house in San Juan Capistrano. Then, there is a great yarn shop next door, so we went there and I bought some beautiful raspberry-colored yarn for yet another scarf. But, I also bought a book of simple-looking patterns and have hopes of branching out to something new. I have a hankering to learn to make baby booties; we'll see if I can learn that! Then, we caravaned north a bit to a new quilt store where I fell in love with a darling Christmas Quilt wall hanging and bought that, too. So, I have lots to do and am looking forward to it all.

Today Dan and I went up to visit his mom in Cerritos. She wanted to have lunch at the Olive Garden, so we loaded her up in her wheelchair and took her to lunch. She enjoyed it and said it was good to get out a bit.

So it was a fun weekend, but a very busy one as well.

Guess what! The house on the other side of sister Sue is now empty! Hmmm, Mom on one side of Sue and us on the other; wouldn't that be fun? But, our jobs are here even though my heart is there. One day, hopefully, I can live near Sue and be in quilter's heaven. But, I would miss my ocean, the rolling hills, and the quilted landscape that surrounds our tract dotted with farms and horses and trees. I have quilter friends here, too, that keep my heart here as well. I heart quilting friends.

Garage O Plants

Pigs must be flying somewhere because we are going to plant the front hill that's been bare for nigh on to three years. Now THAT'S embarrassing. I don't know where the time has gone. So, I worked out a plan, we ordered 200 plants and today they were delivered and placed in the garage. Yellows and pinks and purples, OH MY! It is going to be lovely. Tomorrow Lionel comes with his team to plant them and apparently I have to be up and at it early to direct them. It will be worth it.

I sewed the binding on my Christmas strip quilt that sister Sue quilted for me. Now I need to tack it down. This is my year to finish quilts and I'm not moving on to another one until I finish this one. Jeffie is quilting my log cabin quilt with pink thread and hearts (my fav). Can't wait to get it back.

Quietly, Quietly

Both kids are gone this weekend and, boy, is it quiet here. Dan and I are finding our way; we went to church, ran errands, etc. and were fine. But, it sure is quiet! Carrie's 23rd birthday is tomorrow and she is spending it with her roomies and having fun. Ashley is with her BF and they had a fun day shopping in Pasadena, visiting his family who live very near Carrie, seeing his new hotel and new room and having dinner here locally at their favorite restaurant. I am working on my log cabin quilt. Pastor Larry gave a great message tonight on worry. I learned a lot and will focus less on worry going forward. And guilt! No more guilt! Those who know me know I am frequently "packed for a guilt trip." Hmmm . . .

TGIF

It's Friday; thank heaven I made it through the week. It was tough work-wise, but the days flew by and I am thankful for that. I learn more and become more confident every day. One thing I know for sure: I do enjoy helping the clients and providing "superior customer service." It is truly rewarding. Tonight is the night of the big dinner/dance/auction in Tucson. I have been there this night for the past six years and it just feels weird not to be a part of it. I hope everything went well and that it was a big success. Amanda wasn't there this year either, so that helped as she was my buddy walking the show and having the celebratory drink and dancing when all the hard part was over. I am looking forward to hearing all about it on Monday. Tomorrow is breakfast with my new Growth Group lady friends, then I pick up Nancy and we are going to Quilt in a Day to buy fabric for our log cabin quilt class coming up later this month. I am getting the new Moda line with pretty fabrics named after Jane Austin characters. Joyce is in Tucson, so we will miss her as she is always up for a fabric jaunt. And, a big woo-hoo to Anne Sutton for the February mystery "Tisket a Taskit" quilt block for 2009. I spoke with Sue and she is going to make it and send me her patterns; now that is a good sister! (Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!!!)

All Bound Up

Sue finished Karen's quilt and sent it to me to do the final binding on it. Frankly, it is gorgeous. I love the colors and the fabrics and the design - even if the pattern was wrong and Sue had to trim parts to make them fit. She did a beautiful job and Karen is going to love it. It's all boxed up and Dan will mail it tomorrow.

It was a sewing weekend and I do love being in my office/sewing room during the winter. It gets the late sun and is lovely and warm during the colder days. Last night we went to church and then out to dinner with Nancy, Scott and Vi at Famous Dave's. Ashley went to Chris' work holiday party and she looked fabulous in her cranberry red dress and heels up to there. Don't know how she walks in those things, but the effect was certainly worth it.

Now, on to Christmas cards and final shopping. Tuesday my work has its annual "grade and graze" - it sure is fun being in the lab and enjoying their activities. Apparently the two top guys flip pancakes in the morning for everyone. Can't wait to see that. Oh, and we'll grade some diamonds, too. Friday is the all-work holiday party, then the Helton's annual Carol Sing. It'll be a good week.

Great time had by all!

My sister, Sue, and my mom visited this weekend. We had such a great time. They live in Texas and I don't see them much, so the days we had together were precious. Got caught in the traffic on the 5 S due to the accident on Thursday, but we stalled around in the OC and visited a couple of quilt shops and then had tea and scones in San Juan Capistrano. I ended up giving Karen's quilt pieces back to Sue. I was hoping we'd have time to work on them on Friday, but we were just too busy. A huge relief and the dark cloud has passed. Am looking forward to working on a quilt that is at my beginner + 1 level again. Sorry Karen! I cut out the pieces at least. Bought a toile holiday print for a Christmas quilt plus a pattern to make up the charm pack that Sue and I bought last year to do a "sister challenge." So much fabric, so little time!

Well, maybe not . . .

OK, so I took Karen's quilt fabric to work to mail to Sue, the quilting pro, in true failure pattern. But, when I took it out to show Amanda, the blocks looked so easy and I wondered why the heck I can't JUST DO IT! So, back to the sewing room it came. It is sitting there, mocking me, daring me to try again. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Well, maybe not tonight. sigh.