Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass its about dancing into the rain!

-unknown

Yesterday I went to the sewing room at 9 am and came downstairs at 6 pm. I never stopped sewing. It is time to complete my quilts for our annual Just for You event at guild. Quilts made for the children at Childrens Health Care of Atlanta/Scottish Rite Hospital. I finished four quilt tops several months ago and put off the quilting part...remember this post? Once again I sat in front of my machine and started to quilt. (I really needed a glass of wine or prozac or sumthin) Please let the quilt gods be with me this year! Ok so I know my limitations and I kept those feed dogs full engaged. No droppin the dogs in this house. I'll quilt with my credit card before I will do that!

It took all blasted day but I managed to get all four quilts finished. I'm tellin ya I needed a massage after this. Shoulders tense, fingers worn out, arms tired. OK I'll stop whining now. The job was done the bias binding made and sewn onto two of the four quilts. Ready for some peaceful sewing at night while watching TV (well, listening to TV) with Sir Quilt Dude, I'm good at that. While I managed not to make a new quilt for the dog which will be thrown in the backyard...I still need tons more practice, or better yet one of those new machines with a throat you can drive a bus through. As for now I'm done with my machine quilting project for the year. I'm back to calling a long armer and passing the cash.

I'll practice the machine quilting NEXT YEAR. Stay tuned.

Paducah Day 2

We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us.

-Winston Churchill

It is time for a bit of Spring cleaning..then a lot of sewing and design work. I have some huge projects in the pipeline that are exciting and sadly and again must be a secret. #$%^&*()$%^&.

I interrupt this blog with a big shout out to my sweet Son In Love...Happy Birthday Russ...YOU ARE SOOO LOVED. My daughter is a lucky lady!

DAY 2 in Paducah

Up and out early...grab that breakfast and hop on the bus at 8 am..(hold on I'm drinking coffee right now(sip sip) at 8:25 and I have NO INTENTION of zooming out of this house today!) Johnny took us to the AQS show dropped us off door to door service and picked us up at 6 pm. We shopped and ate and shopped and looked at fabulous quilts. Wonderful quilts, workmanship OH MY...Makes you feel like it is time to up your skills! Suzanne says she is a quilter who sews strips and squares together with an occasional triangle...well let me tell you there was none of that in the show! I'm so sorry I can't post photos as it is against the rulzzh! I don't want to offend any of the quilt police. I tend to stay in trouble any way..I don't need to push my luck.

I was misbehaving a bit and look some photos of people. I love this photo..proof positive that women will drag their man ANYWHERE...and men can sleep ANYWHERE!
HAHA this guy was sound asleep and there were 70 bazillion people walking by him. I could not resist a photo, after all you wanted me to give an accurate depiction of the show right???

And how about these folks..Don't they look so happy...just like they are at a party right? Or maybe they are waiting for the bus to take them to prison. Ok I'll stop now cuz I'm gonna get my Silver Thimble butt in trouble.

Oh one more. I accidentally took a photo of someones butt. Proof positive my photography skills are improving.

After the show staggered to the bus with our huge purchases. Then it was off to Tom's Grille for a great dinner. Got back on the bus and I told everyone we were done for they day and they could unhook their bras...but not to do it at the same time cuz the bus would tip over. Johnny almost wreaked the bus with that comment blasting on the the microphone! I think I may be sent to the back of the bus next year.

Paducah Day 1

Walk through the different rooms where you eat, sleep, and live. Bless the walls, the roof, the windows and the foundation. Give thanks for your home exactly as it exists today; sift and sort simplify, and bring order to the home you have. Realize that the home of your dream dwells within.

-S.B.B.

Glad to be home, smiling thinking of Paducah and the Paducah Princesses! I will try to give you a mini day by day accounting of our trip.

Day 1. Load the bus and off at 8 am. Johnny is in control of the Coach and the whole bus was buzzing with excitement. Two hours later...eating. We had to keep up our strength so we stopped at Cracker Barrel loaded up on Pancakes and such. I managed to get the spending started and did some Cracker Barrel shopping..theme for the trip "oh Lord we apologize!" I was the first one to whip out the credit card! Bought myself the cutest little birdie business card holder! teehee. Back on the bus and off to....

Two hours later we emerged with guess who as the big spender? I felt is was my duty as one of the leaders of the trip to set the standard for the rest of the group... an example so to speak. Yup I think I won the prize here. Johnny was laughing his head off as I was walking toward him with my giant bags. I tossed them to him and told him to hide um under the bus...I'll put um in my suitcase later. Honestly Hancocks is a shrine to all fabricdom, a place where fabricoholics converge and loose their sense of financial security. It is nuts people.... I'm just sayin.

Dinner at Rafferty's also known as...Let's just see if feeding 50 women at one time can be done. It was good...I figure we needed to eat at least every 45 minutes or so that way nobody would get grumpy...After a lovely meal we boarded the bus and went to hotel and nightie night. It is exhausting riding in a luxury COACH, watching a movie, spending money on fabric and eating. How many more days can we keep up this pace?????? TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY.
Sincerely,
Scarlett (trust me Rhett is not in Paducah)

Grace is available for each of us every day-our spiritual daily bread-but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

Getting ready for the big trip to Paducah. Melisa and I put the goodie bags together with a whole bunch of great stuff! They are super doooper. We are going to put them in the seats on the bus as a welcome to everybody as they board the bus. The best is the name badge pouch we made for everyone. There is a pocket in the back and a vinyl pocket in the front with their name tags. The pouch is very spacious and really you don't need to carry a purse. I'm going to put my cash and cc cards, ID etc lipstick and point and shoot camera and off I go...HANDS FREE TO GRAB all the goodies. The pouch and pocket is made from selvedges and bright happy fabrics. They are adorable and will certainly make a statement. I love them...BUT... I never want to see another selvedge as long as I live. These pockets were like birthing a baby.

OK, so I'm taking my lap top and my camera and I'm planning to blog a bit. Realistically I think the lap top will just be taking a ride to Kentucky. I know I will be tired at night and the chances of getting off a blog post every day will be a challenge to say the least.

We are planning games and activities with terrific prizes on the bus and back at the hotel at night, every minute is packed on our itinerary. I'm so looking forward to the trip. As for me, my shopping has goals associated with it. I have some specific fabrics I'm looking for to accomplish a huge very special project SO that means I'm on a mission.

I will be at quilt guild today and then off to get a pedicure. Must have cute toes in Paducah right??? If you are going to Paducah look for the ladies with the adorable name pouches...I think I will name them PADUCAH POCKETS! That works!!! (the coffee is kickin in now baby)

Paducah

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live in every experience, painful or joyous...

-Dorothy Thompson

Joyous, Fun to the Extreme, Inspiring, Heartwarming, Laughter Filled days and nights, Exhausting, Credit Card Spending Overload, New Friendships, Bonding, Sewing on the Bus, Knitting on the Bus, Planning projects on the Bus, Swapping Ideas, Games, Prizes and OHHH those Paducah Pouches...

I can't even describe in human words the fun we had on our Sweet Thimbles Bus Tour of Paducah. Melisa and I planned for months in the sincere hope that we would host a successful bus trip. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. My mother used to tell me that when you have a party..if the hostess has a good time...the party will be a success. MELISA AND I HAD A DAD GUM BLAST! I was actually sad to see it all come to an end. Needless to say there will be another trip next year! BOOK IT DANNO! I will post for the next few days about the events of our trip. I hope you enjoy hearing and seeing a bit of the wonderful Paducah experience!

Remember these? Well we thought they were pretty cute but we never anticipated the response everyone would get as they walked around the show and other events. People stopped all of us..took pictures...and oh the comments. Melisa and I were eating lunch at the show and a lady looked at our Paducah Pouches and asked about them. We told her that we made 49 of them for the ladies on the bus, along with goody bags and stuff. She held up her name tag which was paper on a string and said that this is what she got on her bus....ooops....so sorry baby! It was actually pretty funny. I have written a pattern and directions for the Pouch and it will be on my web site within a couple of weeks. I will let you know when.

First I would like for you to meet Johnny. He was our bus driver. He hauled us around, toted our bags, filled our giant cooler under the bus (it was the size of a mini coffin!), listened to me yappin on the microphone, he overheard much too much information and jokes about bras being too tight and our feet swelling up like sausages...OH MY! I would look at him when we were joking around and his shoulders would be bouncing up and down with laughter. Here is the the thing. I AIN'T GOING TO PADUCAH AGAIN....WITHOUT MY JOHNNY! We fell in love with him and he is booked for next year! And let me tell you...that bus was beautiful...excuse me it was not a bus, it was a "COACH". MAN O MAN and talk about door to door service.

So here we are, the Paducah Princesses about to depart..everyone snug in their places...Next post..Day 1 the trip up and HANCOCKS OF PADUCAH. aka the beginning of the destruction of my 401 K.

"Well THAT went well"

-Pat (Silver Thimble Quilt Co.)

Remember these? Planted just 6 short days ago. Taking to the new earth and the cow poop we dumped in there with them. So happy to be getting ready to produce wonderful tomatoes for our family enjoyment.

Remember her? The sweet doggie I saved from the evil VET who thought she was ready for the shot that would send her to her eternal DIRT NAP! (photo dark she was sleeping on her princess pillow!)

Well, we don't call Sophie "Osama Bin Doggie" for nothing. Aside from the fact that she looks like the said terrorist...SHE ACTS LIKE HIM TOO! She dug up the baby tomato plants and slung them all over the #$%^&* yard. I had to go buy new ones and we put up a little string fence (she won't jump it she has arthritis).

That went well........My tomatoes will be delayed by 6 days...

As God is my Witness that dog will never dig up my plants again! (I'm from Atlanta ya know?)

Tomato Planting in Atlanta

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

-Somerset Maugham

I love gardens, I love flowers, I love fabulous landscaping, I love home grown veggies. That being said I am no gardener. I think I posted last spring that the plants at the nursery shrink and gasp at the thought that I may pick them up and put their little pots in my wagon. They have a 50/50 shot at life. The problem is...I loose interest when the temperatures approach boiling hot outside with humidity through the roof (or sky). They don't call it HOT LANTA for nuthin. Who remembers my stinking hot blog post last June? And if you think it is stinkin hot in Atlanta in June...well don't even plan to come near this place in July and August.

That being said, I decided that we would plant some tomato plants..6 to be exact. I put the precious baby tomato plants on the back porch because the nursery guy told me...don't put those in the ground until after tax day...ok. Well, Sophie decided she would sling the little pots around the back yard. I think she figured they were going to die a slow and painful death anyway so she would just push things along a bit.

The plants survived (one is a little questionable) and Sir Quilt Dude and I set out to plant in the back pasture (we live on a low maintenance lot) believe me the yard she ain't so big, just big enough for 6 tomato plants. My mouth is just waterin thinking about my first tomato sandwich. Or some good ol' fried green tomatos...yum yum. We are sure to have a bumper crop!!! Sir Quilt Dude dug a trench and I came out of my sewing room long enough to place the little babies 24" apart! We added Natures Helper and a bag on Cow poop or sumthin they told me I had to have. Mixed it with the stupid harder than rock Georgia red clay...and he stuck the babies in the ground. OK so it was 3 days before tax day..don't tell my friends at the nursery. I thought I would get a jump on the rest of the farmers. I told Sir Quilt Dude to water the babies IN (that is farmer talk for give um a big drink) and I went back to my sewing room (I had been out there long enough). So at 11 pm when we were getting ready to call it a day I said "You did give the maters a hefty shot with the hose didn't you?" "No" he said...At this I stormed out to the pasture and got the blasted hose IN THE DARK and watered and watered. Holey Moley I need to give them one good day before they die right????

I'm checking my emails I'm sure the Hunt's people are going to want to can my maters!

Stunt Sewing Angel

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

-St. Paul

I had an angel in my sewing room yesterday. She came to help Me sew. I needed help and she knew it..stunt sewing!!! Thus helping me get one more project off my list (quilt needed to be finished by Friday). Cathy and I taught school together and she is happily retired..I am happily following a dream. Both lucky to be doing all the things we love. Getting to spend a whole day together....EVEN BETTER.

We made my Tic Tacs pattern from mostly Bar Harbour fabric and shirtings. This pattern is fun and fast...my homage to the jelly roll. It is a kit being set up for the Silver Thimble Quilt Club in Grayson by Little Quilts. I'm sure the gang will enjoy seeing it this weekend at our club meetings. The photo is not so great you really can't see the shirtings so well. but you get the picture right?? It is being quilted by another angel.

Tuesday sewing with friends at Suzanne's we had a wonderful lunch trio of salads and wonderful desert. I'm stuffed and it is almost time to fix dinner. dang.

Tomorrow...farmer Sir Quilt Dude and the Silver Thimble Princess plant tomatoes OH GOOD HEAVEN WE APOLOGIZE!

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

-Abraham Lincoln

Play date with Melisa! We had our third play/sewing date to make a special goodie for the 49 Paducah bound ladies. The first play date was filled with excitement over our creation. The second play date was like a sweat shop...working sewing cutting ironing with the realization that our creation was a tad bit time consuming! I fixed lunch and we laughed and sewed. Third play date was a lot of fun but we were both at the end of the rope and wondering if it was ever going to end. I told Melisa "It's time to make the donuts" and we forged on. We kept saying "These things are so stinkin cute" which gave us the strength to stay on task. But then it turned ugly........

Me.."what if they don't like them"

Melisa "tough!"
Me "we will trow them off the bus if anyone says anything bad about them"
Melisa "yeah we will dump them at the first rest stop"
Me "My Bernina is tired"
Melisa "shut up and sew" (she is so bossy)
Me: "Do you wish you were at the shop instead of here?"
Melisa "yes"
Me: "Well I do too!"
Me: "how many more hours till you go home, I've spent enough time with you"
Melisa: "thanks buddy"
Me: "shut up and sew"(I can do bossy)
Me: "What time is it?"
Melisa:"15:40"
Me: "Drill Sargent always on military time"
Me: "I wonder how much these things are worth"
Melisa: "Nothing they are probably going to trow them away after the trip"
Me: HYPERVENTILATING...."call the paramedics"

10,00 Hours later we are almost at the end of this project. Finishing touches and then it is on to the final preparations for "Sweet Thimbles Bus Tour Paducah 2010!"

I uploaded a photo with a tiny bit of our project showing, then I deleted it cuz Melisa could snap and get violent with me she is like that ....I'm the sweet one :)...I'll post a photo later but for now it must remain a secret..dad gum it!

Tote Bag for My Girl

Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

GONE, the eggs are gone, the Easter grass is gone, the chocolate is gone, the sitting on the porch and laughing is gone, the kids are gone....it was a short and wonderful weekend..which is now gone. Ok so what is one to do??? why I think I will sew..and sew...and sew. I'm okay don't worry bout me.

Oldest daughter is a pharmaceutical rep, she asked me to make my Stringin Along pattern so she could have a very large tote to carry her samples in and out of doctors offices. She gave me specific guidelines which went something like this...

"Mom, can you make me that Stringin Along" bag?"
"Sure honey"
"Okay now mom,.... don't make it too Happy"
"Okay I'll make it sad"
"No Mom, like... make it good"
"As opposed to bad, is my stuff bad?"
"ok mom make it sophisticated.All black"
"Oh so you want depressing"
"No professional"
"I get it"
"and don't use fabrics that jump"
"yeah jumping is not good"
"and make good inside pockets"
"ok"
"Big pocket on one side maybe divided in two sections"
"no problem that is how I wrote the pattern"
"cell phone pocket at the top so I don't have to dig for my phone"
"also a section for my business card holder"
"Got it, a custom made bag for Pharma reps"
"Also I need a good floor on the bottom of the bag cuz my samples are kinda heavy"
"heavy drugs...scary"
"can you make it by Easter?"
"Sure I'm not busy @#$%^&#$%^&$%^&"
"Now remember I don't want it to make a statement... okay?"
"Okay, but I'm going to put lime green lining in the dang thing..okay"
"NO"
"And how does a bag that is as big as the house (great for carrying quilting projects, matts, rulers, to classes and retreats) not make a statement?"


Here is the bag. Done...Second photo is Russ husband to said daughter (he loves it when I ask him to model and then grab the camera!) The only problem is.... now younger daughter wants one...she wants hers in black white and HOT PINK..Now we are talking!

As much of heaven is visible as we have eyes to see.

-William Winter

My version of heaven is going to walk through the front door today. They are coming home. When they walk through the front door and dump their stuff everywhere and ask "What's for dinner Mom" and "Lets lets just hang out okay?" "Wanna watch a movie.." "Lets sit on the porch" etc etc. my world will explode with joy because they will be here and we will be together. Mary Beth in her senior year of college and Emily home with my precious Son In Law.......I need NOTHING more! So this is a no SEW weekend and when it is over I will NEED to sew because I will be a little sad. Once again, the healing power of quilting. Isn't it amazing!

My precious girls...God is so goood!

These two are so happy and so in love!

Have a blessed Easter everyone. I hope you find golden eggs in your baskets!

Helpful Thoughts

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.
-Willa Cather
(One of my favorite books is My Antonia by W. Cather,Pat)

I was reading this list and thought it worthwhile to share...I've added a few of my thoughts in red (are you surprised?)

Cultivate gratitude Carve out an hour a day for solitude. I call that sleep
Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation reflection.
Keep it simple. "stupid"
Keep your house picked up. Ok I do that...can't stand chaos
Don't over schedule What? I'm perfecting that!
Strive for realistic deadlines. Do you own your own business?
Never make a promise you can't keep. That is dang right baby.
Allow an extra half hour for everything you do. Particularly in sewing always takes longer than you think.
Create quiet surroundings at home and at work. OK but I'm going to watch American Idol..loud
Go to bed at nine o'clock twice a week. or every night
Always carry something interesting to read. I want an ipad
Breathe-deeply and often. As opposed to not breathing?
Move-walk, dance,run, find a sport you enjoy. Is sewing a sport?
Drink pure spring water. Lots of it. ok but not in plastic bottles..
Eat only when hungry. Except when sewing and when there are Cheetos present right?
If it's not delicious, don't eat it.I don't eat things that aren't delish..why would I?
Be instead of do. To be or not to be......
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal A whole day?
Laugh more often. No problem I'm alone and laughing right now...I crack myself up all the time!
Luxuriate in your senses. HUH? Ok I'll go sniff something
Always opt for comfort. I'm taking back the shoes I bought yesterday
If you don't love it, live without it. I love a lot of things...
Let Mother Nature nurture. Ok but I'm an in door kinda girl.
Don't answer the telephone during dinner. Family policy no prob and you better not bring the dang cell phone to the table...which especially includes restaurants!
Stay away from negative people. ok
Don't squander precious resources, time, creative energy, emotion. wheww those are wise words for sure.
Don't be afraid of your passion. Passion is a good thing teehee
Approach problems as challenges. That is sooo right! My daddy taught me that! Honor your aspirations.
Set Achievable goals. ok so loosing 100 pounds by Sunday is a bit over the top.
Surrender expectations. I'm going to think on this and let it percolate!
Savor beauty. don't look to closely in the mirror then.
Create boundaries. ok but not as much fun.
For every "yes" let there be a "no". I need to write that one on the chalk board 100 times.
Don't worry; be happy. yeah baby
Remember, happiness is a living emotion. as opposed to dead?
Exchange security for serenity. Were you at Woodstock?
Care for your soul. soo important
Cherish your dreams.
Express love every day. I will...especially to my blogging friends...LOVE YOU LONG TIME!

I enjoyed this I hope you did too! Sewing today, Melisa is coming over and we are making special secret gifties for the gang that is going with us on the Great American Sweet Thimbles bus tour...of PADUCAH...whoop whoop here we come in 21 days.