I pray you....your play needs no excuse.

-William Shakespheare

My choice of a quote is appropiate for what I am about to do! I have no business setting aside three quarters of the day tomorrow to play...the "list" is massive...the wedding looms....market looms....home, patterns, meals, family, friends, emails, updates, laundry, shopping, ironing, 2 charity projects, the very special quilt that is a secret, photographing new designs, binding, magazine submissions, book submissions, and on and on and ON.
Guess what?? I'm so excited !! I'm heading out tomorrow with Debbie and we are going to the East Cobb Quilt Guild to hear Mary Lou Weidman...The Hoochy Mama quilter IN THE FLESH.. I am going to enjoy it too! I'm not going to think about the list...I'm not going to even look at my PDA....I'm going to be a student and enjoy this lady and my day away. Her style is so fun and free and I have been wanting to do something really different for some time now. HERE I GO! woo hooooo... We leave at 8 am and I don't even care that we are going to be in the massive Atlanta traffic. Pat is going to enjoy the day. We plan to put a cherry on top of this lovely event by stopping by Little Quilts to see the Primitive Gatherings quilt "A Primitive Garden" which is on display! They are making this kit as a Block of the Month program. OH BOY I KNOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL!
(I this IS THE PART when I will have to remember the TO DO LIST).

From Hoochy Mama to Primitive Gatherings...that is quite a mixture for one day. Can I relax and not beat myself up for not working on my list...we will see! I gotta get some sleep I have a big day tomorrow. (I'll take pictures!)

Have a quilty day,
Pat

To affect the quality of the day, is the highest of arts.
-Henry David Thoreau

This is the stupidest thing I have done so far this week........and it is only MONDAY.
Well it is cleaning day...I decided to clean in the a.m. I am better in the am with these kinds of things. The DD can come home at 4 and work on his list...as for me I shall CLEAN IN THE A.M. On goes the music out come the rags and swiffers and dusters and all that jazz. I was having a "cleaning like you mean it" celebration. I was filling the laundry room sink with hot water and Murphy's Oil soap preparing to clean my MILES AND MILES of hardwood floors. The phone rings. It's Becky she is having hip replacement on Wednesday and we have so much to chat about. It was a good chat! Back to the floors, back to the laundry room..........I LEFT THE WATER RUNNING IN THE SINK! Yes people in the middle of my pristine clean home, in the middle of DROUGHT STRICKEN ATLANTA.......I decided to have my own personal FLOOD. So I used all of the 10 million towels I own...sopped it all up.. (thank goodness the floors in the laundry room are tile), stopped the flood before it reached the hardwoods. WHEW that only set me back on my cleaning schedule about 45 min..(plus the conversation with Becky) Ok so now I have all these wet towels AND I MEAN THEY WERE WET. I finished my cleaning and threw a load into the washer, took a shower and went to run a quick errand. Came home and DD was in the laundry room with another flood! As it turns out you should NOT put very wet towels in the wash...too much water I guess! This presented another problem as I had to explain the first stupid flood...As I said stupidest thing I've done all week and it's just Monday. I'll see if I can top this feat as the week progresses.

I really should forget about cleaning on Mondays and stick with this... What do you think?

Have a quilty day,
P

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.
-Emily Dinkinson

I did something yesterday I don't do nearly enough! I planned to be in my studio, not an unusual event...it is also my work. I gathered my ice and diet rite and water bottles (gotta keep hydrated!) made a healthy lunch...went upstairs to sew and said I was not coming down stairs all day! I usually listen to a book or music on my ipod or flip the TV on. However yesterday....I turned on the silence. The only noise was my sewing machine. I realized I don't do this enough. Silence is a very good thing. I enjoyed my day so much! The quiet was wonderful. Don't get me wrong I love love love my ipod and particularly my books on tape...but a day of complete silence was so relaxing. Often times I take a few hours of silence rarely a whole day. I think the background noises need to be muffled from time to time it does the soul good what do you think?

Here is the quilt I promised. It is Gretchen's version of my Peace in the Valley quilt (she is adding borders). I love the fabbies in this one! She offered to let the quilt visit Houston this fall. Yippeee!!! It is so yummy!

I finally finished the 12 Smart Bags for the Bridesmaids and other friends. My daughter is giving them to her friends on their Bachlorette weekend at the lake. The DD can fill them up with goodies...I began the project at the Stitch In but had never sat down to sew the buttons on (an OLYMPIC EVENT! thank you NBC for the diversion) . Whew! CHECK ANOTHER PROJECT OFF PAT'S TO DO LIST!!!!.. They are so cute, but let me tell you sewing 48 buttons through all those thicknesses was no picnic. I made them from the "Portugal" line by Moda. Very sweet! These smart bags are so much fun and very handy little bags. The buttons dress them up and add a lot to the bag...But 48 Buttons!!

Okay so yesterday was so much fun I think I will do a repeat. I have set a lofty goal for myself in the sewing department. I have several market projects in the works and I have set the end of next week as the finish line for a special gift quilt. This quilt is time consuming so I don't know if I will make it in addition to the other stuff on the quilting, writing, charity quilts, etc etc list but I'm sticking to the list and off to the studio! Wish me luck..and progress!

Have a quilty day,
P

The difficulty of life is in the choices.
-George Moore

I have been thinking a lot about choices and coming to very difficult decisions on what paths to take in my schedule. Choices and change can be so hard and so wonderful at the same time! I have recently made a big change in my teaching/club schedule which is so near and dear to my heart I cannot express the words I feel. I'm going to open up my schedule a bit in the next few months and then begin some new adventures in very early 2009. Change is coming and I'm looking forward to the growth it brings me personally and hopefully fun is in store for lots of Silver Thimble Club members! I'M WORKING ON IT DAILY!!!! I'm not being coy (well maybe a little bit) but need sometime to make some adjustments. Stay tuned for further announcements.. I'm Pat and I approved this message.

Look at the two ladies in the photo...they are club members with a PAST... The photo is of Carla and Pam and THIS is what happens to HIGHLY RESPECTED EDUCATORS WHO RETIRE AND TAKE UP QUILTING!!! They walk around smiling and laughing when they once were teaching Calculus. These women shaped and formed the mathematics BRAINS of High School Children!! They are now running around with fat quarters in their hands and constantly laughing...oh if those kids could only see them now!! AND CHECK OUT THOSE SUN GLASSES!!! Oh and by the way these are only two of the retired Mathematics geniuses that are in my club!! I'm surrounded by them. Remember the Hypotenuse incident??? In my other life I was a first grade teacher.....all I had to be concerned with was making sure everyone knew where the bathroom was...now I have students check my math....Hey who is the teacher anyway???

This weekend Cheryl brought in her Star Gazing quilt. It is so soft and blended...very different version of the quilt. I just loved the quilt. I had to share it today. And here is a knock your socks off red white and blue quilt. We raise the quilt and pretended it was our Olympic quilting flag...fun fun fun... I tried to steal both these quilts but it didn't work out so well. But Barbara offered to let me sleep under the patriotic quilt at her new home in the mountains..and I will be taking her up on that offer!

DH is out of town until Wednesday night so I'm putting the pedal to the metal and scratching off things my Monday list like a mad woman.. Will post some more pictures of quilts from this past weekend later.. What till you see Gretchen's Peace in the Valley....whoo hooo (tried to steal that one tooo!).

Have a quilty day,
P

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?

-Frank Scully

The quote I send to my blog friends is appropriate for today. I have been enjoying the Olympics (and sewing at the same time) while keeping my eye and prayers on a quilting friends son Eric Shanteau. Eric is from our area, swam in High School for Parkview, college for Auburn. He is the young man who was diagnosed with testicular cancer just prior to the U.S. qualifying trials. Eric's mom is a friend and wonderful quilter! We are all pulling for Eric hoping his Olympic experience brings him joy, peace and that he feels the support of the world as he battles cancer. I love that he said "I have cancer, cancer doesn't have me!"(and you all know how I love those great quotes!) Unfortunately he did not qualify for the finals in the 200m breaststroke. I just saw Eric and his dad (who is also battling lung cancer) on TV and he seemed very positive and upbeat! A great young man and one that the US should be so proud! I can't wait to see his mom at our club sewing meeting and get all the inside Olympic scoop!!!

This is club weekend I will be at the shop 10-3 and 6-11 on Friday night and 10-3 on Saturday and 1-6 on Sunday...whoo hooo can't wait to see everyone and sew, sew, sew.....

I am sewing today finishing so additional goodies to add to my Little Slice of Christmas pattern. All is in preparation for Fall Market. I'm getting excited about all the new look my booth will have this year. I hope to get some sewing done on a special quilt I am working on as a gift........Wheww these deadlines are approaching fast fast fast.

In recent weeks I have not made my daily To Do List. This is something I have done for years...Well!! I have discovered that my productivity is greatly increased when I make the list. I make a weekly list and a monthly list and work off that for my daily stuff. Are you a list maker? I love to check off my items as I finish and love to see the whole thing disappear at the end of the day.. Well to be totally honest lots of items get pushed to the next day as I usually have unrealistic expectations for the amount I can accomplish in one day. What do you think? How do you organize yourself? Come On now lets get some chat going!

Off to work on my list,
Update blog (check!)
P

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
-Albert Einstein

I can't stop smiling when I think of the wonderful weekend we just spent with my daughter, her wonderful finance' and his family. They came to Atlanta to meet and visit with us and see all the wedding venues! We went up and down Peachtree Street like Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett! What fun. We grilled out and sat on our porch and laughed our heads off and made more plans for our November wedding. The reality of this event is really setting in now and if the event is even a TINY BIT as happy and as fun as this weekend was we are in for a TREAT!!!!

So now its back to Silver Thimble Quilt Company and the new designs and patterns for Fall Market. I have complete the writing process for Pinwheel Parade and The New Slice of Christmas. Today I will write the pattern for a project which is finished but yet to be named!!! I usually have a name right away but I don't for this one. hmmm name blockage a new problem...I'll have to get in the car and drive it will come to me!

Here are some more fun pictures of the Stitch In. Kristie shows us how to follow the directions on a pattern when they say to randomly mix block elements. No planning here!! I love it!!!! Throw um up in the air and sew um together. What can be better than that?? The other picture is of Catherine and her show and tell. It is a wonderful quilt and she is a wonderful quilter. Prolific! a mother of 3 young children too!

I'm adding 10 Quilting Wishes to my blog. These are important but in a different category from the 20 other wishes. How about you?

1. I wish fabric would NEVER RAVEL
2. I wish my bobbins would fill themselves as I sew
3. I wish I had more time to hand quilt (maybe I need to assess my time management)
4. I wish Moda and other fabric manufacturers would reprint more of their lines
5. I wish to design fabric (big dream!)
6. I wish I could do lectures and workshops at every shop and guild in the nation (I love, love, love to do this!!)
7. I wish to run retreats and workshops bringing quilters together and promoting the art and love of quilting. (how the heck can I do that while I am doing #6)
8. I wish quilting burned more calories
9. I wish ONE of my children (two daughters) would turn out to be a quilter.(we need lots of younger people to join us and carry on the traditions, besides they would inherit some great stash and notions...machines...etc.)
10.I wish I could make a quilt for every sick person to hold and be comforted on the planet.

Ok it's time to get to quilting! Family fun weekend is officially over now....what am I going to name that new pattern??

Later,
Pat

Quilts are our art, the way we express what we feel about life.
-author unknown

This is a picture of my Pickets and Posies pattern which was done by Lynn R. at Silver Thimble Quilt Club at Little Quilts...How cute! She made the pickets different sizes and also made little YO - YO napkin rings! I love the brown pickets that they put in her kit. They still have more kits in these fabbies at Little Quilts.
I may want one my self!!!

My friend Becky asked us to post 20 wishes...Here I go....this is tough.

1. I wish that my children have these things throughout their lives.
A life long love of learning
A loving partner to walk with through life
Physical fitness so they can lead a long and healthy lives
Lives of integrity and spiritual contentment
Work that brings them great pleasure
2. I wish that DH and I would live our lives together forever (and we will!)
3. I wish that anyone who suffers could find peace
4. I wish that children of the world would never know a day of unhappiness
5. I wish that I could have one more day with my father
6. I wish that I could have one more day with my mother (not on the same day with dad)
7. I wish for honesty in all conversations
8. I wish to be reminded of the dignity in every person I meet
9. I wish to let go of past hurts
10. I wish I could be more frugal
12. I wish I could read more (time)
13. I wish I loved to exercise
14. I wish cancer could be cured (lost both mom and dad)
15. I wish DH would find great happiness in his new venture (second career)
16. I wish to travel more with DH
17. I wish to kiss my great grandchildren
18. I wish democrats and republicans would realize how foolish they ALLLLL ARE!
19. I wish to have dinner with these people all at one time:
Chevy Chase
Whoopiee Goldberg
Ellen DeGenerous
Billy Chrystal
Robin Williams
I figure I would need DEPENDS because I would laugh so hard
20. On the same note I would love to meet the following people:
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Mother Teresa,
George Washington, Michaelangelo, Andrew Wyeth, Abraham Lincoln,
Queen Elizabeth I, Jane Stickle (what was she thinking!), and the person who chooses
designers for Moda, P&B, Benartex, Maywood, Windham Fabrics (they need to meet
ME).

WHAT ARE YOUR 20 WISHES?
Pat

They are all there in that quilt- my hopes and fears, my joys and sorrows, my loves and hates. I tremble sometimes when I remember what that quilt knows about me.
-author unknown

Here areSue and Becky two happy winners of the Left Right Center game. They won a ton of fat quarters! Like I said the fellowship is amazing.

I'm trying to post a couple of pictures of quilts but blogger has decided I'm not going to do it! GO FIGURE. Will try again at the next posting.

Just got back from the denstist. Getting my choppers shined up. LOVE IT. Now I'm off to write another pattern. and oh yeah..today is MONDAY and that means it is cleaning with DH. I just love MONDAYS.......hmm

Thinking about all my teaching friends who started preplanning at school today. I have many memories of that! I do miss teaching little ones from time to time. Then I get over it and go make a quilt. I've had two careers......lucky me.

P

To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.

-Emily Dickinson

As usual there is so much happening I could blog and talk forever!! But alas I have writing and sewing to be done. I checked out my daughter and future son in laws wedding web site and the countdown to the big day tote board said 104 days left. After I picked my self up off the floor and said goodbye to the paramedics who came to revive me....the realization that the wedding is in 3.5 months has certainly settled in. There is more...if the wedding is in 3.5 months that means that International Quilt Market in Houston is in 3 months...I called the paramedics and told them to come back and they might as well fix themselves lunch because I was going to need them on a regular basis. That being said I have much to do!!!!

My friend Sarah came over with the best CD of pictures from the Stitch In!! She did a wonderful job of getting everyone and so many shots when no one was looking!! I wanted to share this photo which is our tally board of fun!!! We counted finished projects...Bobbins...and yes some people got their names on the board (with extra tallies for some)!! It was all hilarious and added so much to our event. Here is a smiling Leslie with her paper pieced veggies...Wonderful HUH?? Just one of 96 completed projects during the Stitch In.


Ok so now for something so neat and such a kick for me. My friend Chris who is a member of the Silver Thimble Quilt Club at Little Quilts made this quilt which is my Friendship Crossing quilt pattern. DRUMROLL PLEASE...HERE she is with the quilt hanging at the quilt show in SISTERS OREGON!!!! Way to Go Chris!!! I was so tickled and honored that she chose this quilt to enter!!! The quilt has a lot of sentimental stuff going on for me as my friend Sandy and I worked on this design..the pattern is dedicated to her. It is one of my very favorite designs and I'm so happy Chris chose it to go to Sisters Oregon. I'm doin the happy dance and isn't the quilt spectacular??

Ok so I am writing 4 new patterns and getting them ready for proofing. I'm so pleased with my new designs that will be making their debut in Houston.....in 3 months............Gotta Go Let the PARAMEDICS IN NOW.........

p