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Showing posts from June, 2008

Quilt Mailed....

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Yes, quilt has been mailed! I wonder how such a package would be received by me had it been for my child diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. It's caused me to think about this period we call life. No one goes through life without hitting bumps, potholes or crevices. Sometimes it makes us stronger - sometimes it makes us bitter. Sometimes we get over it and move on. Sometimes we don't and it becomes a focus that distorts everything we do. It's all a matter of choice. Pure and simple. You have a choice to get on with it and move on. You have a choice to let a bad episode become your main focus in life. Choice - everything we do involves a decision - and as result, we choose which path to take based on many things. A bad hair day, your thumb caught in a car door. the mechanic calling you with bad news about your car....or just because. I do love that. Why did I make that decision? Why did I choose that? Just because. It's a wonderful phrase - unarguable and has such

The Making of a Quilt - Step 3 and Done...

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Many obstacles always seem to pop up when one is trying to complete a project. Some of those obstacles are outside our control - others, we create ourselves. Sometimes they're not obstacles - they're just LIFE. LIFE happened when I found out Riley's father was back in the hospital. He had been admitted earlier for pneumonia . I'm not sure why it turned out not to be pneumonia - but he's in a lot of pain for multiple fractures in his back. Years of medication has made his bones very fragile. He had bent over to pick up a flower pot in the garage - and that's all it took for the bones to fracture. For a man of 83, he has great fortitude. He voiced only one concern when told he needed to go back to the hospital - please take care of Mom. No woman could ever ask for more than that. I took a break from quilting, drove to Columbus (a 90 minute drive) and spent the night with our daughter & family. The next morning, we drove on to Wellington (a 90 minute plus driv

The Making of a Quilt & Other Stuff - Part 2

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Two steps forward, five steps back.... I've been having difficulty the mere activity of getting up after sitting for more than 15 minutes. Some days are worse than others. Finally x-rays were taken - and result: arthritis in both hips. Excuse me - but arthritis was NOT on my list of things to accomplish until I'm well into my 90s. Sigh. Okay - the quilts will take longer, I will knit standing up, I will read in a reclining chair (ah ha - an excuse to go shopping) - and I will learn to get up gracefully to cover the aching bones. And I'll shop for a chiropractor if need be. Not sure what a chiropractor can do but the good ones do work miracles. I digress. The Making of a Quilt Part 2. Strips are sewn - yahoo. Panels are sewn to the strips - yahoo. Okay so far. Now the borders - top & bottom. Top is finished! Okay - not completely finished. Need batting, backing & binding....and then on to tying. There is something to be said about sewing for short periods of tim

What - Another Step Backward??!?!?

Ha - back to square one my patootie. More dinosaur fabric needed. Yes sireee. The quilt pattern consists of THREE panels plus a top border & bottom border. Unbeknownst to my sharp eye, these fierce dinosaurs only know one direction. Three panels must be cut lengthwise. Sigh. Okay - back for more dinosaur fabric and then to wash, dry & cut. I should have settled for Barney. Angel45402

Back to Square One....

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More contrast! Must have more contrast!!! This quilt definitely needs more contrast.... Out to the stash, pull out some interesting colors that will compliment (I hope) the print.... Okay - that looks a little better! Need the quilt to be a little larger than the pattern I found in a quilting magazine. Panels need to be longer (44 1/2" vs 39 1/2") - which means more rectangles. Intrigued yet? - 5 panels of the print - top/bottom/sides & middle strip - 44 1/2" x 6" - 78 2 1/2" x 6" rectangles On to the cutting! Angel45402

A Quilt in Progress

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I did it! I finally commited to make a quilt. Many groups today exist for the sole purpose of helping others. Members of various groups will crochet or knit hats and blankets for preemies - others will make & donate quilts for soldiers' families - to be given out while the family members are waiting for their loved one to be treated at a local hospital. "Charlotte's Garden" is such a group - quilts for adults & youngsters who are ill. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take a look at this group's mission: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Charlottesgarden/?yguid=273763372 I joined the group awhile ago. Last night I jumped in and decided it's time to commit. The story of a quilt begins today. The young man likes dinosaurs and the colors blue & green. At first I thought I'd have to applique dinosaurs - no dinosaur fabric to be found at first. No, Barney does not qualify as a dinosaur. But once again, God provided. Fabric found!!! Material is in

Expecting the Unexpected

Many years a very wise woman shared her traveling story. She dreaded driving, wether it be a short distance or long distance. One day it occurred to her that God could help change her mindset. She would start the trip with a very simple prayer. God please bless this trip and reveal the unexpected. Every trip became a wonderous trip. I thought little of the story until today. I had several appointments and didn't relish the idea of driving across town - not when I would have much preferred to stay home and sew or knit. While driving across town, I thought of the traveling story and prayed - bless this trip, God - and reveal the unexpected. In less than five miles, I saw momma goose nudging her five babies away from the road, a young woman standing next to a bus stop with headphones dancing to music only she could hear, and a red Corvette's license plate that read "Bond007". God works quickly! We all need reminders that He watches over us - and grants our hear