Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life.

-Sophocles

No blogging the past few days, not much sewing. It has all been about her. Below is only a sample of where we have been this week...Think of it as the tip of the iceberg.


Sweet Mary Beth. She pulled out this morning for a stop at the hairdressers and then back to college. GOD how my heart breaks when that car is in reverse and she is waving and smiling as she drives away. I miss her already.



She was so excited to be getting back to school, sorority rush, her friends, her boyfriend, her new room in the sorority house. I don't understand !! she has a HUGE room with her own bathroom upstairs right next to my studio...why would she ever want to go live in a shoe box with 16 other girls. She could stay right upstairs in her PRINCESS comfort room. Good ol mom's home cookin and the list goes on...BUT NO.... She was sitting on my bed last night chattering about her new room and how excited she was to be going back to college. Did she realize she was leaving us? Does she know how much we love her? Will she be safe..OH MY... her 21st birthday is Tuesday....I'm going to go down there and follow her round and hide in the bushes to make sure she is ok. She is a responsible level headed young woman..but dang 21st birthday.....




This is the part where I'm supposed to be happy right? We gave her roots and wings RIGHT? dang those wings..........So its me and Quilt Boy...the nest is empty again. I'm making some comfort food for tonight Pot Roast, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, sweet tea....smaller portions...sad sad sad...



As for me....it's upstairs for the day to visit my dear friend (see above)...I'll take some photos. Don't worry about me. I think there are Cheetos up there too!

I was going to give up chocolate but I decided that I was not a quiter.

-unknown

With Suzanne at the wheel, B.J, Vickie and Cathy in the back we arrived home around 8:30 Saturday night. Took the "scenic" route home. Don't ask...lets just say the new motto is TRUST YOUR G.P.S. We managed to make a couple of detours and played a bit on the way home. I was working on red work and enjoying myself all the way! The chatter was hilarious and the countryside was glorious. The picture below is of what I call "Fabric Storage Facilities" they have them everywhere!!! I purchased one at the show on aisle 300 and they are delivering it to my backyard next week. I got the "show special"


This is a photo of what I did all the way home. Red work and Cheetos...what more could anyone ask for?



I went to my last class during my stay in Knoxville and learned soooo much about the "Custom Set" feature of EQ6. The class time FLEW by I hardly looked up from the computer the whole time. The classes I took were taught by Barb Vlack, who is knowledgeable to say the least. I was joking around with her on Saturday morning about my bunny and she looked at it and said mine was better than hers...and dang I looked at hers and she WAS RIGHT!!!! If you have an interest in this software and have an opportunity to take a class from her JUMP ON IT...you won't regret it. Ya know, just about the time you THINK you know something....you find out you have a lot to learn. heck that should be my quote of the day after my classes in Knoxville.

I had to teach a class all day Sunday at Patchwork Cottage. Now I am devoting the rest of the week to getting Mary Beth off to school. She leaves on Friday and has lots of things she wants me to do with her in the next four days. Today was shopping for school supplies and stuff for her room. FOR THE RECORD....this is my 21st straight year purchasing school supplies. She is in her last year of college (well sort of she will graduate from nursing school next December). So we are on the down hill slide into the finish line.....yippee. Good thing because she will have to take care of us when we are in our rocking chair and wearing diapers.

Ok, I'm off to read blogs now and catch up on what all of ya'll have been up to!!!

Later my friends,

We came we saw we tried to buy it all.
- the Knoxville Five

I can't even tell you how tired we all are. This spreading merriment everywhere we go is work baby. I'm tellin you. I went to two EQ6 classes today. In the am class there were about three of us that were "Big Dogs" in the class. We knew a lot about what was being taught. Then there was the afternoon class...no big dog here. I spent all afternoon and I made a bunny. A not so good bunny. AND I WAS AN ART MAJOR. Trust me folks this puppy has a lot to learn about COMPUTER DRAWING. I will need some practice and for now I'll stick to my graph paper and colored pencils. What do you think of Mr. Bunny?? be nice.
I got to walk the retail floor with the girls.

We looked at some great stuff. I'm in the market for a light/magnifier . I tried on one that clips on to some glasses. So don't you think this is the Hannibal Lector look for quilting. I don't think this is what I had in mind. What I really want is the lighted circle light that is on a stand...BIG BUCKS.

Here are a few of the lovely quilts that are in the show. I will send some more tomorrow/Sunday. These Baltimore Album style quilts remind me of my efforts at making a Baltimore quilt. I bought all the supplies, all the books (and had them spiral bound), needles, fabric GALORE, I signed up for a year long class and paid in full. I'm telling you people I was ready. MOVE OVER DEAR JANE...






I now have a beautiful Baltimore Album POT HOLDER.

Pie Fixes Everything.

-Author Unknown

Hello from Knoxville! Suzanne, B.J, Vickie, and Cathy are all here in our room. I think they are working up to watching "So You Think You Can Dance" ...as for me...BLOGGGGS BABBIE!

We left the ATL. and headed toward TN. Stopped in Sweetwater to go a a quilt shop...which was closed down. DANG apparently we did not get there in time with our money to save the shop. We went antiquing which was so much fun. I didn't buy much just a little linen basket stitchery.

Then we headed for Sevierville to go to the "Cherry Pitt" (oops it's Pit I was thinking about Brad Pitt!!!). Boy is this a wonderful shop. Wonderful fabbbies everywhere. We arrived at 4:30..of course they said we could take our sweet time (they close at 5) and shop allllll we wanted. Jane the owner was so friendly and wonderful I wanted to pinch her cheeks... she is just what you want every quilt shop owner should be! I loved her instantly.! Waving to you Jane. Hopefully she is reading my blog.



Guess who won the prize and spent the MOST $$$$$ in the shop...You guess it. and I'm not sorry either.

We went to eat dinner because heaven only knows we have to dang eat every hour. We had a wonderful meal and relaxed. Cathy and Suzanne are entertaining us with their escapades in search for a man...(I think Cathy is going to try to scoop up Quilt Boy in the event of my demise).... As for me I could not lay my head on the pillow without touching base with my blogging friends. Wish you were here. I'm taking two EQ6 classes tomorrow with some shopping in the middle...LATER PEEPS. Remember...Pie fixes EVERYTHING.....sort of!!

Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.

-Russell H. Conwell

I'm packing and getting ready to go to the Knoxville Quilt Show. Looking forward to the trip with friends. This show was moved from Nashville to Knoxville due to a scheduling conflict with the Opry Hotel in Nashville. I'm signing up for some classes and a lecture which I am really anxious to take. I love to visit the quilts on exhibit and do some walking around on the floor. This trip is more about the classes for me. I will take my lap top and try to do some bloggin' while on the trip. Another adventure is in the works. I'll try to get into as much fun as possible OK. Eating out will be involved I'm sure.

Yesterday was guild day. Our speaker was Regina Carter who is a magnificent long arm quilter and her trunk show was some kind of eye candy for sure. She free motion quilts with unbelievable skill and talent. I wish these photos did justice to her artistry at the machine. The fact that she does her custom work with out a stitch regulator and strictly out of her head blows my mind. She puts the quilt on the machine and walks by it and develops ideas for quilting the piece... She said that she draws and doodles constantly and often she takes a picture of the quilt while on the machine and draws on the quilt photo what she wants to quilt. It reminds me of putting my quilts on my design wall. I have to look and look at a new design before I figure out if I like it or what needs to be changed same process I suppose.

As a side note I told her how good I was a machine quilting. Remember the little charity quilt I blogged about in April. She thinks I have a future in domestic machine quilting. I didn't tell her about running over the spool of thread.

I absolutely love whole cloth quilts. They definitely make my skirt fly up!And whole cloth with trapunto...well....................


Sorry that some of these lovely quilts are blurry...they were flying up and down so quickly my camera couldn't focus fast enough. Or maybe I need a photography course. You decide.


This quilt was so lovely. She cut the rose fabric and numbered it and put it back together, alternating the black fabric and the rose could be seen all put together like between the black bars. Man this girl has WAAAAYYYY to much time on her hands. It was really sumthin!


One of the things Regina said at the end of her talk was that she really works hard at her craft. She was so appreciative to be working at a job she loves so much (man I know how she feels) but she also emphasised how hard she WORKS...(ditto on the I know how she feels) I enjoyed her quilts and her comments as well Thanks Regina for a wonderful morning.

OK off to practice my machine quilting. NO I'm not serious...still quilting with my credit card.

Next post hopefully from KNOXVILLE. They better have WIFI in our hotel. (and a hair dryer)

The most I can do for my friend is simply be her friend.
-Henry David Thoreau

Remember our STINKIN HOT weather I posted about in June? Well the world is spinning around upside down in July. We are having the most fantastic weather for July. It is cool for us during the day mid 80's, very little humidity...absolutely lovely. This is the kind of normal summer weather I would love to have all the time. OK so only old people discuss the weather and their health on a regular basis...I need to stop this madness!

My book club met last night to discuss our current book "Olive Kitteridge". We sat outside and drank wine on Mary Carols lovely back yard. The weather was so cool and a light breezy... OOPPS there I go again. We liked the book but all agreed it was very different and some people might not like it. Our next book is "The Moonflower Vine" by Jetta Charleton. Jan is almost finished with it and she says it is FANTASTIC. Written quite awhile ago and said to be "An Undiscovered Classic" I think she said the book is having a resurgence, sounds good huh? Recommending books is a scary thing. We all have such different tastes when it comes to reading. Kinda like recommending a restaurant.

OK as promised here comes the next ruler...

THE TUCKER TRIMMER!!!Soory photo is sideways..I don't understand
AND
The MAGIC WAND!

The magic wand is a 1/2" neon plastic stick. You lay it on your stash say some magic words and it makes the quilts! Amazing. haha just kidding. It is a neon stick (comes in choices of colors) that is similar to the "Quick Quarter" tool many people (including me) own. The difference is that it is a little sturdier and does not require you to draw the center line. It is kinda cool..and the little thing is cheap, around $4.50 I think. I'm going to multi task with it and stir my coffee. You could buy a zillion of them and give them to your quilting friends for Christmas.

The Tucker Trimmer is like the Wing Clipper in that the tool is not visually cluttered with a ton of lines and marks. It is specifically for squaring up (remember the up sizing while sewing concept) quarter square triangles. The tool has an X reference cross hair for each size quarter square unit. I love this because a normal ruler does not have these reference points. Again you don't have to worry with the math part of it because all these reference points are built into the ruler. Very cool. It can also be used for half squares but you can easily use a regular ruler for that... Another use is for the "Mary's Triangle" units..(I just love that Mary don't you???) All in all I think the tool is a dandy!! I think Deb Tucker who invented these little babies should get the Quilters Nobel Prize for dreamin up these things. Somehow I think she has a committee that meets in her brain in the middle of the night like mine...hers is just a smarter committee. I'll be calling a daytime meeting with my committee to speak to them about this in about 10 minutes.

I am off to sew..ALLLLL DAY.....don't call me. ok.

There was a time I know you not

Bur now you shall not be forgot
And since we know each other well
Let us in love and friendship dwell

-From an old Friendship Album.

Our Thimbles Club weekend followed quickly on the heels of the end of the Summer Stitch In. What did this created was more laughing, talking, quilt project sharing, more FUN....Now here is the part where I messed up..I left my dang camera at home both Friday AND Saturday. I swear I need to buy another camera and leave it in the car!!! What kind of lousy blogger am I??? Oh well I promise to do better..really....

Mary Ellen came out from Little Quilts at my invitation and we did the ruler demo I mentioned on a previous blog. Some of you wanted to hear my thoughts about these rulers. So hopefully I won't bore you...OR this would be your chance to stopped reading right now. (sob sob sob...)
I will talk about the Wing Clipper Ruler today...and Tucker Trimmer tomorrow with a little Magic wand thrown in for fun.

WING CLIPPER!!!

If you are familiar with the Fast Flying Geese method for constructing 4 Flying Geese with speed. You know, Big Square Little Squares..Drawing diagonal lines and sewing from corner to corner. You may have done this technique and noticed that quite frequently you end up with 3 good geese and one little geese that won't fly right...WONKY...OUT OF THE FLOCK, BAD LITTLE GOOSE ....just plain not right. Well, my quilting friends, this technique, while wonderful, ASSUMES (I think you know about the word assume) that you sew PERFECTLY...NO ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY...NO...I mean the dang most perfect 1/4" seams and straight sewing on the planet!!! Get the picture???

The WING CLIPPER ruler takes the math and perfect sewing out of the equation gives you a niffty little chart (which you can tatoo on your butt for future reference...or if you loose the chart you can call me) UPSIZES the squares and provides you with a handy ruler with wonderful lines to slap on your geese and bring the upsized geese down to perfect size with two slashes of the rotary cutter.... They have taken the math out of figuring out how to do this with a conventional ruler. They have also provided us with clear lines and not a BAZILLION other lines that we have to sort through to find the correct line to put the little geeseys on. VERY NICE FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE EYES THAT ARE WELL...aging. The ruler provides the lines to make teeney little geeseys (they are so cute!) and BIG HONKIN SIZED GEESE...outstanding for pieced borders etc.

Here is the rub...can you do this with a regular ruler..YES. Oh yes you can. I used the Fast Flying Geese technique in my Star Gazing pattern..upsized the squares and gave the technique for squaring up an upsized geese within the directions of the pattern. But my experience has taught me that most quilters don't want to go to this much trouble...and there is MATH envolved here which can drive many people to drink real coke instead of DIET COKE.. You know what I mean don't cha?????

I also think a lot of quilters would look at some of these notions hanging on the notions wall of a shop and unless they got a demo would walk right by these rulers. This is like update your current software...

I am not getting a kick back on these rulers...dang. But I am enjoying being your new "BARKER" for the quilters of the world. Rest in Peace Billy Mays...I'm going to go find my SMAMWOW and clean something.

When we truly care for ourselves, it become possible to care far more profoundly about other people. The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others.

-Eda LeShan

I have had a committee meeting with myself. You know I've told you about the committee that meets in my head and wakes me up at all hours of the night, makes me get out of bed and solve the current topics of the day...No people I'm not crazy.....well maybe a little. I think it is actually one of those age things, you know sleep issues.

We all know that as women we take care of everyone else better than ourselves right? So I'm going to work on eating, sleeping, exercise (OMG!!!!) vitamins, coffee (toooo much), diet coke (too much) etc. We will see. I try to purchase organic foods whenever possible but I'm not totally there. It seems pointless to eat good foods then fill myself with caffeine etc...don't you agree? See what I mean.... Kinda stupid actually.

OK enough of that, I promised to tell you what Quilt Boy has been up to. Remember his vision of my putting Applique' into my Georgia Hoe Down pattern? WELL now he has actually come up with a design of his own....AND HE DREW A PICTURE OF IT ON PAPER. In 37 years of marriage he has never so much at drawn a heart on a piece of paper. I have NEVER SEEN any evidence of any creative abilities. He is a financial person..he is brilliant...he even KNOWS how much money is in his checkbook!!! CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT??? So now he is drawing quilt designs out for me to execute. I've ruined him for sure now. I'm so scared. What if I have to take over the family finances? This would spell disaster within one 30 day billing cycle. It simply won't do! We all have our roles in life, I can't adjust to anymore drastic changes (especially if I have to do it organically and without caffeine!!!)

The funny thing is...his design is quite good! I really intend to play with this design and make it. This scares the beegeebers out of me. AND HE CLAIMS TO HAVE MORE DESIGNS stored in his brain. I don't know maybe the world is coming to an end. He asked me over our morning coffee when I was going to make his design. I choked on my organic cantaloupe.

I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
-St. Paul

Tired is still the state I'm in but ready to sew. I have two new secret projects to work on and I am getting some hand work together. I have sewing and lunch today with my small group buddies which is always so enjoyable and relaxing. Then it is home to sew in the studio for the afternoon. It has taken me two days to feel somewhat normal again after 72 hours of Stitch In merriment.

I wanted to show you some photos of some of the very "special" moments at the Stitch In...OH MY.

Here is Marilyn. Marilyn is an expert in making tote bags "with a twist" the secret is to sew the inner pocket on UPSIDE DOWN... !!!! Reaching down and up to get your cell phone or wallet makes carrying this tote a "special" experience!!


And here is Sue. She is this years winner/wiener of the CA-CA AWARD. She is thrilled to win a jug of shavings from the cutting table...contributions from her fellow Stitch In friends. This award is a 'TREASURE".....Once you have won the CA CA AWARD...The award must sit at your sewing table at every subsequent Stitch In. Wouldn't you love to win this award????



These are some of the past winners/wieners...a couple of them neglected to bring their past awards. I'm pretty sure they won't make that mistake again. Oh! and notice Cathy A. The award is so named because she is a double winner..she has two awards/jugs of scraps...She is ONE LUCKY LADY FOR SURE....



Then we have Becky who won the fabric drawing.. 10 yards of delicious fabbies....she was happy. But I'm sure she would have loved to win the CA CA award.....better luck next time Becky!



Sue decided she need to see if she could get a job with the church..So at the end of the Stitch In she strapped on a vacuum and went to town. Can you believe that this lady is a High School gifted BC Calculus teacher....man is she talented. I want to be her when I grow up.


Wait till I tell you what Quilt Boy has done...

Later my friends.

Left wing, right wing, I am wingless and tired of trying to fly. Here comes the ground.

Marc Maron

Tired does not even describe how I felt yesterday and so far today I'm not much better off. I think we must use a great deal of energy in a week long FUN FEST... Yes, exhaustion has set it BIG TIME! I did nothing yesterday...I mean NUTHIN. I never have days like that but I sure pulled one off yesterday.

My thoughts about the Stitch In are so filled with smiles, and tender feelings. The ladies that were present are a gifts from God. They were loud and quiet, sweet and strong, caring and comforting, creative and open to learn new things. My SIL was there for the last two days, she had never participated in anything like this. She was amazed! I told her that these women come to sew but really it is sooooo much about the fellowship and camaraderie. They take care of each other emotionally, spiritually and they are there for each other at all times. Yes I'm the lucky leader of the group (but not so much really..).they ALL lead at times, and they pitch in ALL THE TIME.

I don't have much of a voice. I think it is from Singing the CELEBRATE song 72 times at the top of my lungs...(a Silver Thimble Tradition when a finished project is held up). Wow we did it. Last year we finished 76 projects in 7 days...this year...72 projects in 6 days. Isn't that amazing??? We had visiting dignitaries that sat with me at the front table..Melissa, from Sweet Home Quilt Co., Leisa from Leisa's quilting Lab, Mary Ellen from Little Quilts, my Sister in Law, and Chris from Marietta came for a visit on the last day (oh my...I think she got a full dose of the group!!!hahahaha). Next year I'm inviting the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus to visit.

So, it is Monday morning and I'm still sooo very tired but I have got to get back to work at the business of Silver Thimble Quilt Co. Yikess I have been gone for a week and I have much to do! I'm dying to go upstairs to sew and I'm hoping that I will be up there by noon. My family is ready for some home cookin and frankly so am I! So I will run to the store after I finish
answering my emails etc. For those of you who won prizes in my give away I will be getting them together TODAY and sending them off to you. Thank you for your patience while I was busy with the Stitch In.

I'm posting photos of some more quilts today. WHY?? because the quilts are first and foremost in our minds. Tomorrow I will post photos of people with stories to go with them...WATCH OUT....this could spell trouble. !!!!

This is Chris ...one of my visiting dignitaries...She is holding her version of my Road to Romance quilt. Thanks for coming Chris and PAHLEZZE come back again!!!

There are no words to express what we did today. Some photos have been deleted to protect the guilty.

- Pat Wys, President of the Silver Thimble Quilt Co.

Ok here is some eye candy for you. As for me...Tylenol PM ......