With a Joyful and Full Heart!

All that we behold is full of blessings.

  ~William Wordsworth

Gratitude! I have the best life I hope that my gratitude for the life I have been given comes across in my blog posts. I have had blessings in my personal life and business life that remind me everyday to give thanks. Thankful for the life I have been given and for the people I love and meet everyday is what I feel...alllll the time. 


Recently, I got three notices that I had been nominated in three categories for the Golden Quilter Awards 2012. Let me just say that out loud again THREE CATEGORIES! sigh..heart racing. How cool is this????

The first for Best Designer...A comment. To be in this category is so special. When designing, (at least in my case), there are times when the design just flows and is so easy. There are times when it is like pulling teeth and I want to walk away. Then there is the "Will they like it?"  voice. Then there is the "This is a bit complicated and not a  make it in a hurry quilt, perhaps I should edit MYSELF!"   the dreaded self doubt voice. Designing is so much fun and full of many voices. I might add that these voices and cause one to lose a lot of sleep!  This nomination means the world to me! The voices will continue there is no stopping them!

The second category for Best Author...Holey Moley the breath just got knocked out of me! When I started writing "Spotlight on Neutrals" I wanted to make a statement about using neutrals, helping people to view neutral fabrics with a different eye. I also wanted to write a  Quiltmakers Primer with lots techniques (which I teach in workshops) and that could be used in any quilt. Then there was the private desire to write a book that was readable and had a voice, my voice...not just a book of patterns.  To say that the book is well done and place me in this category..is quite simply the BEST!


The third category Best Teacher...I have been a teacher for 30+ years. In public school and in quilt classrooms and lecture halls. IF I had ever made a difference in the life of ONE  child, or ONE quilters life..then that is award enough. To be listed in this category...brings me to my knees ,and takes my breath away...  I am so grateful. (tears now..sniff...blurry screen!)


While I would LOVE your vote and you can go here to cast your vote...  in so many ways...I've already won...see above! Thank you so much for the nominations! Go on now.....time to vote!

Trip to the Low Country part 1.

But Officer, I've Never Gotten and Ticket Before and I'm a Quilter and a Grandmother!
-Pat Wys March 17th 2012

Here is my story and I'm stickin to it! Upon leaving the Low Country of Beaufort SC our hostesses were telling Debbie and I not to go home the way we came. Why? Well Savannah is one of the worlds largest St. Patrick's Day party towns. They die the river green and apparently there is a lot of booze , merriment. (I didn't want any details about it because my youngest daughter and her friends decided to go to Savannah for the historic ambiances and enjoy spring in the South or so I was told. Please leave me to my delusions okay!).  Back to our story..We were given terrific directions by our hostesses and told to watch our speed because there are speed traps. OK..no problem! Also, the drive was, as they said...beautiful and we would pass a church that was partially burned by that scoundrel Sherman as he made his March to the sea during the Civil War.  

They weren't kidding about the drive..it was so beautiful. The Live Oak Trees and Spanish Moss was amazing, so southern, so low country. (insert.. Gone with the Wind music here.)

This is where our story turns ugly. We both saw a sign that said 55mph. Ok so I'm chuggin along. Then came the blue lights. OH MY! Here is the dialog. 

Me: "Hello officer" (with a bright shinny smile, I had on my pearl earrings and my lace jacket!) 
Officer: (a very large and imposing man...very large..kinda scary) "You were going 53 mph in a 35 mph zone" (gruff, I'm refraining from typing the way he pronounced and enunciated his words nuff said)
Me: "I didn't see the signs, the last sign I saw was 55mph" (chin quiver but keeping my composure) "I've never been on this road"
Officer: "That is part of the problem." (alrighty then, my blood was starting to boil)
Debbie thinking...hold it together girl don't get the smart mouth..we don't want to go to jail in this town, those pearl earrings are gonna get you no where!
Me: "What do I need to give you, here is my license?" 
Officer: "License and registration" Debbie was already digging in the glove box.
Me:  okay let's play the stupid card   "Is this it officer?" (insert batting eye lashes)
Officer:  "Yes, how do you pronounce your name" 
Me: " Weeees" (thinking...if you are going to give me a ticket I'm not going to help you with my name...BOZO!)
Debbie: thinking...she's gonna blow and I'm GOING to go to jail!!!!!

Officer goes back to car for what seemed like 45 minutes. Debbie and I were chatting about what this was going to cost me...not good.
Officer returns..
Officer: "Mama I'm going to cut you a break and I don't normally do that I'm going to reduce your speed to 39 mph. The ticket normally would have cost you $329.00 now it will cost you $82.00. 
 Me: "Thank You officer, I'm a QUILTER AND A GRANDMOTHER AND I am very careful!" 
Debbie..did she just say what I thought she said!?!
We follow the officer to a little dirt driveway and he pulls out ahead of us going left. A car was coming toward him...and he flipped on the blue lights and PULLED THE CAR OVER!!!!! He was maybe 100 yards down the road from where we were pulling out!!!! I waved as we drove by. Debbie, laughing her head off  "Did you just wave to him!!!"

As Deb and I were CREEPING DOWN THE ROAD watching every sign the we saw a sign that said 55mph (I went 25 and people in back of me were passing me like crazy...whatever!), within 100 or so feet was a 45mph and then another 100 feet it dropped to 35mph...I true speed trap for sure!!!! 

So then our drive continued through what is called the Savannah River Site. 

Now this 17 mile drive was nothing but trees and road...we saw nothing except signs..BIG signs that said:

55mph Strictly Enforced

Emergency Stopping ONLY 

NO STANDING

What the HELL does that mean..You better not drive slower than 55mph or you are in trouble, and if you have an Emergency you better not get out of that car or you will have a Stealth Bomber on you in 2.5 seconds! We lost our GPS reception the whole way..
As soon as we exited the site area the speed limit dropped like a rock to 40mph. 

We told called our husbands and told them we no longer needed night lights cuz our hair would glow in the dark. 

If anyone would like to travel with me in the future...it is always an adventure. I'm taking applications!

More on the trip and Beaufort SC tomorrow. I gotta go write the check for my ticket.....

Off to some Sea Island Fun!

 Good friends help you find important things when you have lost them, your smile, your hope and your courage.

 -Doe Zantamata

Packing quilts and packing clothing and packing a project to take on the road. I'm going to Sea Island South Carolina to do a lecture/trunk show and workshop. Wanna see what I'm taking to sew?

You didn't seriously think I would show you everything did you? Well the color and shape are good indications..so keep it a secret.

This trip Debbie is riding shot gun with me. WHOOP WHOOP. We have talked about this for sometime and now we are OFF TO THE RACES. I'M SO EXCITED.  Guess who is going to be home playing with the Thimbles Club...The Earl de Schlep and the Queen of Little Quilts Mary Ellen. (this should be good for a laugh or two!) The Earl said he would step in for me. Now, how is he going to handle it when someone wants to see a demo on squaring up a block or how to make bias binding?? I hope the Thimbles Club members are ready for this! I don't like leaving them! 

  As for Deb and I, we will be seeing the sights in Sea Island, playing with QUILTERS!  eating seafood, doing some shopping,( a new quilt shop is having their Grand Opening while we are there isn't that fun!?) and then we plan to do some sewing. Don't worry about us we will muddle through.


I dare say that what I'm about to write will come back to haunt me. Here it goes...I WILL TRY TO POST A BLOG OR TWO. I always say this and then time, fatigue and fun get in the way. Then there is the downloading and uploading of photos etc. etc. etc. So my friends please don't keep me too close to the fire on this promise to blog! (I don't want to disappoint or get my feet singed).

You can choose your own COLOR!

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. -unknown

Zooooom there went another week. I swear I blink and the days fly by. It doesn't help to lose on hour. Dang I want it back! Does this time change thing make you crazy? I love the extra light in the evening but it sure does mess with the sleep thing, and sleep issues are a problem around here. The committee that lives in my head (no I'm not crazy..much)  is in full session trying to awake me up for a meeting or sewing session or writing session or thinking about plants to plant for summer. NOT GOOD!

I wanted to show you my soon to be grandson's quilt and my friend Sarah's quilt. I took a quilt that I love from my book "Spotlight on Neutrals" and slammed it with some CULLAH, so did Sarah! Yes my friends, YOU can take any project from my book and do it with your favorite color way! The quilt police do not exist in my universe. People almost apologize for choosing color over the use of neutrals when the meet me. I love the use of neutrals but I love me some color too...sooo... I will be honored if you will send me a photo of any quilt you make from my designs,  I can swoon and giggle.(be glad you will not witness my swooning and giggles)

The original "Sunnyside" quilt from my book. I love this quilt. I wanna kiss it!

Sunnyside for my grandson Jackson and his mother,  I'm gonna kiss him lots...we will get to meet him in late May. His parents are really nice and I love them. They are finishing up the nursery now..soft baby color. Aqua and white with some soft taupe thrown in. The back of this quilt is mikie..minky...minkie, its real soft, makes you want to cuddle and suck your thumb. I made the quilt in it's original size, in retrospect it is obviously not a baby quilt. His mommy and daddy can use it while they are holding and rocking (and not sleeping!hahahahaha) More quilts for Jackson to come, right????

Above the original Kitty's glass basket and "Kitty's Baskets" quilt from my book! The glass basket that belonged to my sweet Grandmother, with a baby photo of her great Granddaughter, my Emily. Waiting for the birth of her great great Grandson. I'm sure she was watching from heaven during the shower!

And Miz Sarah's hand appliqued version. Batik loveliness. I swooned over this one yes I did. Thank you Sarah. I'm off to do some big stitching and cut out some wool applique today!

 

Bestest Time!

As Carrie Underwood sings..."it started out this'll be fun and turned into OH NO WHAT HAVE I DUN!"

My story is about a joyful day and three special quilts!. and complete exhaustion.


Enter two fabulous young women who grew up as best friends, married and are now expecting their first babies Ansley due first part of April, Emily due end of May! What could be more fun? Oh yes each one giving a shower to the other. Hostess for Ansley's shower, Emily with me a silent helper (silent ME? well that is the first time you'll ever hear that!). Hostesses for Emily's shower, Ansley and Emily's sister my darling daughter Mary Beth. "  Let's have a joint shower"...NO...not a great idea....OK "  Let's have one on Saturday and one on Sunday" NO! " Let's just have BOTH IN THE SAME DAY, one in the AM one in the PM" Genius. We will use the same stuff and just have some  minor "   set changes"  Ansley expecting baby girl, Emily expecting baby boy Jackson. 


Here is the behind the scenes story.. Cupcakes and Petit  Fours for another Chicken Salad and Quiche. Coffee, Punch and Tea Lemonade, Cake Pops and Candy bags. Then there was the washing dishes and silver flat wear between the two showers. One ended at 12 the other began at 2. I'm telling you we were flying and running in between. It was a three ring circus. Both showers were fabulous and special for each new mom. We laughed we cried and we celebrated the joy of new birth.

THEN WE COLLAPSED FROM BONE ACHING EXTREME EXHAUSTION. 

Here are some photos of our day! There were QUILTS, OF COURSE.

There they are Ansley and Emily. They were the duck and bunny in their first grade play.

Motorcycle diaper cake for my grandson

Beautiful diaper cake for Ansley's little girl!

Cupcakes for one and petit fours for another..yummoo!

Table set ready for guests

Drinks already! I'm thirsty

Time for gifties for happy mommy and baby (that is the Grandmother Jan in the background, Jan wore a pink sweater for her grand daughter and a blue sweater in the am for Jackson! sooo clever)

Clothes line full of goodies from Aunt Susie!

Time for Quilts..a special quilt for Jackson from his GREAT AUNT TRICIA. Isn't this the most creative idea. A small quilt to play on, cuddle with..and take on the go!

Oh BOY...a new quilt! For my baby grandson. Look at his beautiful mommy!

And another one! For Ansley's sweet baby girl.

These two babies will have terrific parents and be wrapped in quilty love too!

Ok Winnie the Pooh and I are drivin the diaper mobile outta here and heading to the sewing room, there is more quilting and baby fun ahead. Thanks for sharing our JOY!

OOOH BABY BABY!

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. Carl Sandburg

This is a speed blog....It is 9:24. Emily is set to arrive at 9:30 (we'll see if that happens!). Tomorrow is a double baby shower day. AM shower is for Emily/Russs and the YOUNG PRINCE, MY FIRST GRANDCHILD!!! I have a quilt to show you but won't show until after tomorrow because their are snoopy people (my children, Son in Love) who STALK  read my blog with love and admiration! They are nosey. 

The PM shower is for Ansley, Emily's childhood best friend. I also have two quilts to show you after tomorrow, see above comment!

Oh the pregnant one has arrived! I wanted to show you some photos of Thimbles meeting at our new home. Here are a few.

I never tire of looking at this quilt. A Bonnie Blue pattern. Ooooh baby baby...

Julie's Over the River quilt. Leisa quilted it...Ooo baby baby

Our new home! Oooh baby baby

Sarah and her baby quilt. Ooooh baby baby!

Karin who believes if one magic wand is good then 4 is even better. Oooh baby baby. Ok so I have baby on the brain. Gotta run there are shower preparations going on here! OOOOH BABY BABY!