Love, and do what you love - Saint Augustine

LOOKIE LOOKIE...I won the cutest table runner from the "Whirl into Winter Giveaway" I had so much fun visiting so many bloggers which was really my objective. I NEVER DREAMED I could be so fortunate as to win a prize... I found out that I had won through email then waited for the mail to come...well the package got a little delayed in my neighborhood but I finally got it...isn't it cute!!! I especially love the appliqued snowflakes..just precious. I'm going to take it with me to show in my quilt lecture in Panama City this weekend I will add it to the line up of 50 other quilts and show it off.

The workmanship and care Doris put into this project is obvious. I will treasure it for many years to come...Thank you Doris. Visit her blog it is terrific! Threads of Conversation. I hope I get to meet you someday Doris.

I think I told you that I started this blog thing reluctantly and now I feel so blessed to be connected to so many wonderful bloggers. Thanks so much for making my quilting/life/etc, blog such a fun thing to get into. I will be thinking about having a give a way soon. (post knee surgery)

Packing again to go to Quilters Paradise retreat in Panama City.. I can't wait. I'll be driving by myself so I've got the Ipod all ready with my books and music. I'm going to listen to the last part of the the book "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown and then who knows I have about 16 books loaded onto my Ipod so I'll choose another book for the rest of the ride. I absolutely love to listen to a book while driving it really makes the trip so nice. I'll miss Quilt Boy this time!

Speaking of Quilt Boy...he struggles with meals while I'm away. To be honest he still is a little unsure as to which appliance is the microwave! I'm the chef in this organization for sure. I left him some Ziti and bread and I made a big salad...I will be home Sunday evening so hopefully the house will still be standing. That is if he doesn't turn the gas stove on! His job is to take care of Osama Bin doggie, she is apparently alergic and has a disc problem in her back so in addition to his kitchen duties he has to administer the doggie meds. YIPPES! Sophie is in for it.

I plan to document my trip while away and will blog about my Florida adventures.

Have a quilty weekend,
Pat

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
- Erma Bombeck

We are back from a fun trip to the North Georgia mountains, in Blairsville. Wow! MISTY MOUNTAIN QUILT GUILD what a wonderful group. This group was warm and welcoming and the were about a zillion people in attendance. I enjoyed my lecture the group was super interactive and the workshop was tons of fun on Tuesday. "Quilt Boy" went with me and he hauled the quilts around and took care of the details and I just jumped around with all the quilters and enjoyed myself! Now I'm really playin the PRINCESS CARD aren't I??? So it is back to reality and getting ready to go to the "Quilters Paradise 2009" retreat in Panama City Florida. Quilt boy is staying home so I guess I will leave my princess crown at home and haul 50 quilts around myself. dang

We had an interesting ride into Blairsville...we had to drive over "Blood Mountain". Now just seeing the name made me a little nuts. Then there were the crosses with people names along the sides of the road. Did I say sides of the road? Well there was not much "side" to the road. Twisty turns, foggy mist (well it was the Misty Mountain guild we were seeking). I was not enjoying that part of the ride and Quilt Boy knew it, could be the clutching of the door handles and gasping. Of course we did the same route on the way home..more clutching and gasping.. I don't think I would like to cross that mountain on a daily basis. The ladies at the Guild told me they all hate that mountain too. They also told me a few horror stories for me to digest as we drove the mountain on the way home...SWELLL!

I spent the morning the vets office with Osama Bin Doggie aka Sophie. She was not a happy camper and very disrespectful to the staff and doctor. You get the drill they brought out the muzzle. Now she is on benadryl and calmed down a bit. They think she has allergies and needs prescription meds...#$%$%^&$%^& no tellin what that is gonna $$$$$. Oh well anything for little precious!

I'm taking Licorice to Florida (featherweight) I would love to get some sewing done while I'm away! Somehow these things never quite happen the way I plan them. We will see. I read other blogs from other teacher/lecturers and they manage to sew a good bit while on the road. I'm going to see if I can accomplish just that! Sewing in my hotel room may be just the relaxation I need prior to pre surgery week.

Oh and remember the scraps? Well my Silver Thimbles helped me a lot in that they thought working on some blocks/quilts for charity/Hospice could be a good thing. I am going to investigate the hospice organizations in my area while I'm recovering from surgery.. They will talk to me while I'm on drugs I"m sure of that!!!

Have a quilty day/night
Pat

A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song."
--Joan Walsh Anglund

I'm to do a guild talk and workshop in Blairsville Georgia tomorrow and Tuesday. Packing the quilts (50!) and materials for the workshop. Quilt boy is loading them in the car and off we go to the North Georgia Mountains! FUN HUH?

The girls came home with boy friend and husband and we had a birthday weekend with DAD.. The girls absolutely could not wait to throw a surprise party for Andy. He turned 60 today.. Dang I'm married to an old man...and me so young! hahahaha.. We had an absolute blast and he was certainly surprised when a about 30 people came crashing through the doors with party hats and horns...it was GREAT. Andy was presented with a shash and crown..hilarious... I told Andy it didn't matter what the stock market was doing...all he had to do is look at his children and know how wealthy he really is...
Emily and Mary Beth gave a great toast to their dad and we had a wonderful time!

After everyone had left on Saturday night I walked into the keeping room and look what I found..I swear it was my brother in law reading a golf magazine and my sister in law reading a quilting magazine. I laughed my head off and Emily snapped a picture! PRICELESS.

I will only be home for one day then I'm off to Panama City for another lecture/workshop. Ok so don't worry about me I'll be looking at the beach and listening to the waves! AHHHH. I'm going to take my sewing with me so I can sew in my "Off" time...I can't wait! I can't wait to party down with the Florida quilters!

Actually if I don't get some sewing done in the next two weeks I know I won't be able to sew for awhile as my surgery looms ahead. DANG

Have a quilty day,
Pat

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
-Bara Ram Duss

I need to be very quiet and still today so I can hear. My sweet daughter lost her job today in a massive lay off. Such a short time ago she was the most beautiful bride and so happy and looking forward to the future. She still is... but today she is sad and I can't smile if I know she isn't smiling. The fact is...a MOTHER IS ONLY AS HAPPY AS HER SADDEST CHILD.

So today I will be still and pray for the wisdom to be able to advise and comfort this terrific young woman and her outstanding husband.

I'll post one more wedding photo I swear it is the last...but right now it just makes me happy.

Pat

Imagination is more important than knowledge
-Einstein

Two busy days (so what's new!) have kept me from blogging. I swear I run from one thing to the next. I'm sure we all feel the same way! Speaking as a wife, mother, quilter, designer etc. etc. I think I'm busier now than I was when my children were little and needed every minute of my attention. I thought these were supposed to be the quiet relaxing years. Ha! But on the other hand....I wouldn't have it any other way I just needed to remind myself that busy is busy but not all bad, I'll step off my soap box now.

This beautiful lady is one of the Silver Thimble Club members her name is Mercidene...She is a terrific person and a quilter that brings such joy to her quilts and our club. I love her shirt..It says "Quilters Search Engine" "If I can't remember where I put it do I it have to count as part of my stash?" The drawing if of a quilter bending over in a not so flattering pose. hahaa way to go Mercidene.

This quilt just knocks me over. It is being made by Kristie aka..her majesty queen of all block of the months! It is a Jan Patek quilt with HONKER (my expression for big) blocks. Kristie is needle turning it to perfection. I just love it. I'm planning a mid night theft of the quilt soon. Watch out K. I'll wait till she gets done hand quilting it.

I am having another knee surgery (replacement aka I'm getting my knee chopped off again) Feb 10. This is why I'm trying to get 10 zillion things done in a hurry. See paragraph 1. I will post and blogg as much as I can before the big event @#$%^&*()$%^$%^%^&&*(!

Have a quilty day,
Pat

Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can.

-Anonymous

Silver Thimble Quilt Club in Grayson Georgia is underway! We had 3 fabulous classes this weekend. Friday 10- 3 Friday 6-11 and Sat. 10-3. Everyone arrived smiling and glad to be together in a fabulous new home. The church fellowship hall worked very well for us. The kitchen is terrific and we don't have to stress ourselves out about food (THANK GOODNESS!!) we all brought our lunches/dinners and snacks...Never a shortage of food where quilters gather that is for sure! About half of the "Thimbles" worked on my pattern Pinwheel Parade and enjoyed the kits from Melissa's shop Sweet Home Quilt Co. The rest of the Timbles worked on other projects and EVERYONE had a great time. Look at the stain glass window in the sanctuary of the church..they put a Dresden Plate window...so see it was meant to be that we would sew at this church!

Here is Karin's Star Gazing quilt. I love the way she put a gorgeous red on the back of the quilt. The red is totally unexpected and WONDERFUL. The quilt was made from Minick and Simpsons Prarie Paisley line and well....most of the Thimbles know well how much I love their stuff. YUM YUM. I'm appointing myself chairman of their fan club! Good job Karin! My pattern + Praire Paisley= Silver Thimble Heaven!

During the Winter Stitch in '08 we played Left, Right, Center for Patriotic Nine Patch blocks. Sarah G. won! She was challenged to make a quilt from the blocks she won and DANG if she didn't meet the deadline of having it finished by Winter '09!!! and the quilt is awesome! I love the warm antiquey feeling of the quilt. HOWEVER the quilt poses a problem for me. We played the same game for blocks (red and tan) at the Summer Stitch In. Guess who won? me. The pressure is on now for me to design and finish a quilt in time for the summer stitch in.....YIPESSSS. And guess whose idea it was for this little challenge??? I can get myself into more messes. Way to go Sarah (can I just copy yours?)

More pictures tomorrow from our wonderful weekend. Don't cha wish you were there???

I'm spending all day in the studio, I have a huge deadline. One of those secret things I'm not allowed to talk about. I JUST HATE THAT..

Have a quilty day,
P

When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either. -Leo Burnett

Tomorrow is the DAY!! WOO HOO. The Silver Thimble Club has our first meeting in our new home at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Grayson. We are all so excited to be back together and sewing. Some of the members are working on Pinwheel Parade. Melissa at Sweet Home has got the kits ready! If anyone outside of our area wants to order a kit, contact Sweet Home Quilt Co.

I got a delivery from the UPS man...a box of MANY fabrics from a distributor for me to use in my designs. Now this is WHAT I LOVE!!! Fun with fabbies! I'm working on designs right now for Spring Market (can't show cuz it's a secret..dang) I'm having so much fun again with the whole creative process I can't even describe it. Just smile really big and you will know how I am when I'm upstairs in the studio.

I'll post pictures and blog on Sunday after our club meeting tomorrow and Saturday. More smiling people!

Have a quilty day,
Pat
sorry I'm pictureless today!

We are each other's reference point at our turning points.
-Elizabeth Fishel

I asked everyone at the workshop I taught on Friday to send me pictures of their completed projects...and ZIPPITY DO DAH here pictures from Diane and Patsy. Diane worked on Stringin Along and Patsy worked on Good to Go. The both finished quickly as these are very fun and fast projects. I challenged everyone to not add another UFO to their sewing rooms...CONGRATS Diane and Patsy YOU DID IT!!

I woke up this morning prepared mentally to spend all day on new designs and projects that are in the "works." My coffee pot had a different plan for me!
A RIVER OF COFFEE was all over the counter (and seaping into the grout at the tile backsplash..Well after I got that cleaned up I realized my day of working at home in my comfy house clothes (Don't ask you will NEVER SEE ME in them) was not going to be in the plan this morning. So off I go to get a new coffee pot. DANG. Don't cha just hate it when you have to go spend $$ you were not planning to spend. Oh well it is better than no hot coffee in the AM right? I've got the think programed as I aways to go off at 6:30. I love to "Wake up and SMELL THE COFFEE" hahaha.

Pat

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

-Maya Angelou

Who are your she-roes?? That is a good question! I have a couple of friends who live their lives totally selfless in everyway. Because of that they would not want to have me mention their names. But lets just say they wake up in a GIVING mindset everyday! From history one of my she-roes would be Abigail Adams there are many others!. From present day personalities there are a quite few...I might need to ponder this one a bit.

Debbie and I did a lecture at the Bulloch Hall Guild on Thursday and I did an all day workshop on Friday. TONS OF FUN FOR TWO DAYS!!! This guild was so warm and welcoming and we really had some great discussions and interaction during the lecture. I LOVE THAT SO MUCH. The workshop was BIG fun with everyone doing a Silver Thimble Quilt Co. pattern of their choice. It is called the "Silver Thimble Extravaganza!!" and boy did we have some fun. Everyone got to learn and hear what the others were doing so it was like going to about 8 different workshops at one time. Demos and talking about quilting was the order of the day. It is UNBELIEVABLE how much I love doing these guild talks and workshops. I would do it everyday if asked! I am so lucky to enjoy this work as much as I do...wow

We went to Mary Beth's nursing orientation yesterday. Boy was that impressive! Then we went to the BOOK STORE. $800. later she was all set! I thought we were going to need oxygen when the cash register rang it all up. We were in the bookstore with other parents ...luckily they didn't have to call in the paramedics! It's all worth it she is so excited and knows she has a lot of work ahead!

Book club tonight. We are disscussing "Same Kind of Different As Me" I loved this book and recommend it. It is very insprirational. Makes ya think a bit. It is my turn to pick the book. These are the two I'm trying to decide.
I'm leaning toward the "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Debbie recommended it so I thought we would give it a try!

Andy is watching football right now with SURROUND SOUND BLASTING. I really can't complain about the amount of time spent with the TV and football because then I'm sure a comparison would be drawn between me and sewing...and we just don't want to go there now do we???? but sewing does not come in surround sound! oops there is my Ipod and docking station. I better let sleeping dogs .........well you get the picture!

Tomorrow I will be working on some new designs hoping to get a jump on some things before I have my @W#E$%^&*( knee surgery in Feb. I need to get this done for Spring Market and I know I will loose time with recovery from the surgery.. DANG. Oh well here I go again Feb 10.

Later,
Pat

To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
-David Viscott

Sunday morning and the newly weds will be leaving this afternoon to go back to TN. I'm sad already...What a wonderful surprise for New Years to have them here again. It was relaxing and cozy, wonderful family time. Russ had never played CLUE and he dominated the winning category. WON every game.. That was so much fun! (We are a board game family).

This has nothing to do with quilting but I am so thrilled to have a special family piece up and working again. This Grandfather clock was purchased as an antique when I was about 9 years old. In Wiesbaden , Germany. I have such fond memories of the clock chiming the Westminster chimes and of my father and I raising the weights in the clock. Well, it has been dormant for a number of years, Andy got a college friend of his that is "Into" clocks to come look at it. He got it up and running. It is keeping great time but the chimes are not. It is going to have to be taken apart and cleaned, oiled and put back together. Warren hooked us up with someone who will come get the clock and do that for us in the coming weeks. Right now the ticking of the clock and occasional chimes make me think of my wonderful father who I loved so much. It is simply comforting to me.(and a tiny bit sad).. Warren did some research on the clock and he thinks the clock was made between 1880 - 1920..more likely around 1913. We took a few pictures before Warren came to look at it. I thought I would share them today.

Russ is in the kitchen cooking "BISKIES". He makes a DELISH bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. He makes them every Sunday before they head back to TN. Don't you wish you had one of these babies! Poor guy now he is stuck makin them for us for the rest of his life!

Here is the promised photo of the Whig Rose wallhanging I am hand quilting. I just love this design. It is a Kim Diehl pattern from her book "Simple Blessings". My "Goal" is to have this quilted by the end of January.. hmm we will just see about that one!!

Happy Sunday. Hope yours is full of good quilting!! I will be quilting this afternoon.
Pat

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. We make discoveries about ourselves.

-Gail Lumet Buckley

Andy and I were getting dressed to go to a New Years Eve party at friends house when the doorbell rang... It was Emily and Russ who came HOME to surprise us! We were so excited and happy to have them AGAIN...The newly weds live in TN and have been driving so much during all the wedding festivities and planning we could not believe they wanted to come HOME again!

We have had the most wonderful time just being together, everyone lounging in "our comfy clothes" taking down decorations,(wow is that fun when 5 people pitchin! I hope they are coming back next year!!) making soup and wings, eating all the goodies left over from XMAS and playing MANY games of CLUE. There has been loads of football too (GO DAWGS). The girls and I went and bummed around some antique stores this afternoon we needed to prove to ourselves that we COULD GET DRESSED AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. We are going to have Mexican food tonight then home for a movie. PERFECT. Emily has gone to have a girl dinner with some of the bridesmaids and she is also going to Callanwolde for a photography exhibit. We will try to struggle on without her....(I bet she comes home early!!! she wouldn't want to miss the fun)

I'm baking homemade sourdough rolls. I put my thimble on the dough to show you what I am going to be doing before we go out to eat...how much fun am I having!!!!!!!!! I started hand quilting my Whig Rose wall hanging. This is another "GOAL" for '09..more hand quilting and hand applique' projects. Projects "Just for Me" and not always a Silver Thimble project. HUM we will see if time will allow me this luxury. I'll take a picture of the Whig Rose and chat about it tomorrow.

Later...off to quilt.
P
I have not walked into the sewing room those BAGS of scraps are in THERE!!!!!

Set positive goals and reasonable expectations

-Steve Strasser

This is the time that we think about New Years resolutions...I think I need to examine some REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS in a couple of areas! The most pressing issue in my sewing life is my excessive scraps. Resolutions rarely work for me so I'm trying to think of some good "Goals" and leave them at that.

I have lamented quite often that my scraps we a HUGE issue in my sewing life. I have a ton of scraps! This first photo is proof. I'm so ashamed! I heard Bonnie Hunter speak at the Cotton Boll guild and also took a workshop from her in '08. She said about scraps that they cost $8 - $10.00 just as much as a whole uncut piece of fabric! WELL this just sent me further into saving every piece of fabric I come across on the PLANET . Heck these babies are worth some $$$$ . The first picture is an example of SOME of my scraps.(This is like airing your under ware for the whole world to see!) There is more... These are very large baskets holding scraps, much of which is organized by color. There are 4 more large baskets in the closet I would need a wide angle lens to get it a into one picture (you get the gist of this I'm sure). So what am I to do about this? I have a very well organized and workable scrap closet (it is a walk in closet/ small room with a window and shelving on the left and right sides. But then there are the baskets and baskets of scraps. I decided to make a list of ideas of what to do with the scraps...Perhaps I can get some better ideas from Blog friends.

1. Find a giant shredder then throw the scraps in the woods for the birds to make condos...hell entire cities!
2. Donate the scraps to my guild.
3. I have a friend Cacey who is moving to Virginia..I could sneak over to her house while they are packing the van and stick them in the van...by the time she unpacks them they will be 3 states away!
4. Cut them into manageable usable increments...a la Bonnie Hunter. Good idea.. BUT... this would get accomplished HOW? and during THIS MILLENIUM?? ps! this would involve ironing every single scrap!
5. Use the scraps to make charity quilts for an organization I like to support...for me that would be Hospice. HMMM
6. Add a workshop to my Guild workshops on my website and use the scraps. (This would entail HAULING the scraps all over the place!)
7. Burn the scraps..(gas logs..nope)
8. Pick up one OR two of those people on the side of the road that hold up those "Will work for Food" and give them a mat and a rotary cutter then go make supper for them..Not a bad idea but this could take a month and I don't want that much company.

So what did I do? I put all the scraps into Tall Kitchen Bags..for the record I filled 13 bags. Here is a picture of 10 of them. I'm thinking about this and I will take suggestions. I am partial to #1, 3, 4 and 5. In the mean time I'm forming a 12 step group for Crappy Scrappers...Oh please forgive my wicked excessive ways! I hope Andy is not reading this blog! I'm setting as my first goal of '09 to make a decision on what to do with the scraps by Jan 7th!

Ok I'm waiting for help!

Pat