DOING THE ARTIST'S WAY

I never heard of the book until recently. The quilting forum at about.com has a group of quilters that is starting this program. I was skeptical to say the least about the whole "spiritual journey" aspect of it. I am a very logical person. I could have been a Vulcan.. Mr. Spock made plenty of sense if you ask me.. But I got the book at the library, read some of it. Decided that a 'spiritual journey' could for include the real God, and not some spiritual 'idea'. And that maybe the logical part of my mind is holding me back and forcing me to be too precise with my quilting, which holds back my creativity and productivity. So, I am going to give it a try. The leader of the group decided that we should all have a blog. Luckily, I have already done that. I decided that I will not do my daily pages on my blog. I bought a couple of small hard bound journals for this purpose. They are about 5 x 7 ". Logical mind worked with this. Why buy a larger one? I don't write by hand anymore if I can keep from it. There are supposed to be 3 pages... no one said how big they had to be.
Okay, the first assignment is to write 20 things about me. This is going to be hard, but what the heck.

20 THINGS ABOUT ME -that you might not know

1. I have been married for 24 years and I have 3 children, a son and twin daughters.
2. My ancestors are Ulster Scotch-Irish who came to America in the early 1700's, settled in Appalachia, fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars (winning sides). I believe the strength of those people have helped shape the person that I am today. A polititian at the time spoke of his distain for the Ulster Scots in Appalachia by saying " These people come to this country, and the first thing they do is build a church, set up a still, and start playing their devil music". Yep, that about sums it up for my family.
3. My grandmother taught me to make my first quilt block, a churn dash. I remember visiting her mother's home high in the mountains of West Virginia while the women quilted.
4. I have done some kind of hand work since I was a little girl. Starting with embroidery, cross stitch, crochet, knitting, smocking, garmet sewing, heirloom garment sewing, woodcarving, painting in oil and acrylics, photography. I know there are many other things that I have dabbled in, but I can't think of them. I am largely self taught.
5. In 1997, I decided that I just did too many crafts. I needed to choose one thing that I loved doing the most, and give up the others. I chose quilting and I have never looked back since that point. To me, quilting is as much as a culture as a craft.
6. I went to college for nursing and history. But I don't do either as a career. Now that I am past my 'women's lib' days, I don't think it is important what a woman 'does'. And I can't think of any one else's career/job that would impress me. I work, but a career at this point in my life is highly over-rated, and is just the means to the way to make money for quilting. My most important career move was giving it all up to be home with my children. And now, making my quilts.
7. I was born in Bethesda Naval hospital, and had a father in the Navy, and a mother who worked in the Pentagon for a Navy Admiral.
8. In my younger years, I was a self taught banjo and dulcimer player. Chronic tendonitis in my hands forced me to give it up.
9. I was raised in a Republican family. I registered as a Democrat when I was 18 and remained loyal until the early 80's when having children made me grow up. I am now a Republican.. or I should say a 'Conservative'. That is more important than a party affiliation.
10. My favorite movie line is "Are you a politician, or does lyin just run in your family?"
11. I was raised as a protestant, my uncle was a Baptist minister, my great grand father was a pentacostal who when 'overcome by the spirit' would jump pews and put his hands on the wood stove in his country church, to prove that God would protect him. I don't know how that turned out for him. I lived in a neighborhood by a Catholic school (Pre-Vatican II) All of my friends were Catholic, and I like all of the cool things that went along with it.. the rosary, the lacy head coverings for church, the holy water fonts in their bedrooms. I longed to be Catholic, but that would never do in my home. Even though my parents weren't regular church goers, they wouldn't allow their daughter to be a Catholic. So, after my father died, and I needed God.. I started going to an Episcopal church near my school. I got baptized and confirmed in the church. I converted to Roman Catholic about 25 years ago when preparing to marry. I imagined my Ulster Scots/Irish ancestors spinning in their graves. The one's still above ground sure did some spinning about my decision. And I will admit that this bit of rebellion gave me much pleasure.
12. Since putting my 3 children through Catholic schools, I have realized that the Catholic church just wasn't for me. Funny how things like that turn out, isn't it? I can't escape my roots, And I more and more felt like I couldn't find God in the church any more. Actually, I like one on one with God, I need to read the bible myself, and that wasn't encouraged in the church. The parishioner's were too dependent on the priest to tell them what God wants. So, I pretty much don't deal with organized religion because I find that too many of the people in charge are somewhat un-Godly. Billy Graham is my idea of what a man of God should be, if you ignore the big money aspect, what he says and how he lives his life speaks volumes.
13. I have a best friend named Nancy who I have known for 43 years. We grew up together. She now lives 75 miles away. We don't see each other as much as I would like, but when we do, it is sweet.
14. I am opinionated. I have a hard time believing that there are grey areas. There is only black and white, right or wrong. I am aware of this aspect of my personality, and I try to adjust my attitude when I can, and I feel that it might be warranted.
15. I am patriotic. I love my country, I feel that I have an investment in it, because of the blood sweat and tears that my ancestors all the way up to my father put into making it a wonderful place to live. I have strong views about it, and one of the areas where I am strongly opinionated, is when someone talks against my country. I come from a military family. All of my uncles were in the military. I had an uncle that died in Viet Nam. He was a medic, and died while trying to save one of the men in his platoon.
16. I have had animals my whole life. Mostly dogs. But I have owned hamsters, birds, fish, mice, cats,and I even had a quarter horse for a short time. I now have 3 dogs . Shih Tsu's Sam and Lily, and Golden Retriever Claire.
17. My father had a heart attack and died one evening at home when I was still in high school. He was only 41. I remember trying to do CPR, but I didn't know how. My mother and my brother panicked, and logical, stable me, called for help. I spent many many years being afraid that I would get sick and die.
18. 4 years ago, I had viral myocarditis. My heart stopped 3 times. I remember my husband asking me if I 'saw' anything during those times. I told him I remember being really anxious and frightened, thinking, "I always knew this would happen, I don't want my children to always be afraid because of me." During one of the episodes, I remember panic, then 'Someone' was speaking to me, I remember a very kind face, but I don't remember what was said, and when I 'woke up' I had a profound feeling of peace. Since then, I have never been afraid of dying, because I know there is something else... AND the peaceful feeling remains with me.
19. My Mother died of Cancer in the early 90's. At this point in my life, I vacillate between wishing I still had parents, and being thankful that I don't have the worries that friends have with their aging parents. When my friend complains about her parents, I want to tell her how fortunate she is to still have both. I think my husband understood my point when he lost his father last year. I think we take them for granted, but we won't have them forever.
20. My early childhood was spent in Virginia because of my parents Navy jobs, since they moved here when I was small I have lived in Ohio for nearly my entire life. I lived for a while near where my friend Nancy is now, but after a few years I moved back to northern Ohio, I have lived in the same house for over 24 years. It is the house I came home to as a new bride, and the house where all of my babies came home . It is only one town away from where I grew up. And no, I don't feel like I have missed out on anything.
21. I don't like to travel. I love being at home. When I'm not at home, I yearn to be home. I relent once a year to go to Paducah for the AQS show.

Well, that's it. Hope you find it interesting

THE SKELETONS ARE HOME

My quilt came home from PIQF. I am always happy to get them back. I always have that lingering fear that my quilt will be lost in the mail. A California cyber-friend Judy, took pictures of my quilt hanging at the show . It didn't win anything. I didn't expect it would. I'm just starting at this, I am happy that it got juried in. my quilting and binding has been complemented in every show it has been in. This time the judges said:

• Excellent quilting inthe black border areas
• Very nicely bound
• Embellishments in keeping with the theme

I think that I should use what appear to be my strengths, and make a quilt that would be a little more on the traditional side. But not too traditional... Not that I profess to be any kind of an expert, but a lot of people are doing bright fused things, and most of them are better than I am. I must admit, I do awesome hand applique, even if I must say so myself. I should put that to use. And there is always my mini pineapple. I can't wait to finish it so I can show everyone. I have two of the border rows of blocks on, and I am working on the long sides. I only have 14 blocks to go... or about 20 hours.. I have worked so hard on this. I am really hoping to get it juried into Paducah.. my favorite show. I will admit, I will be disappointed if they don't want it. All of this hinges on if I can actually finish it by mid December. I hadn't figured on it taking so long!!!

Sorry to all of you that wait for me to post something. I have a mostly non-eventful life. Don't generally have much to say. I like to have a picture to post.. all reasons why I haven't put anything up lately. I'll try harder!!!

i HATE GARDENING

I figured I would blog while I could still use my fingers. The only thing I hate worse than going to the gynecologist is gardening. I love beautiful gardens, and would love to have one, but not enough to actually do the gardening. I planted two grocery store rose bushes last summer, and they are actually still blooming in October! I pulled up all of that black stuff that keeps weeds from coming up in your garden. The weeds were growing on top.. so it looked like a weed carpet. All of Bill's woodworking has produced huge bags of cherrywood mulch which I poured over and around my butterfly and lilac bushes. I planted about 10 tulip bulbs and tired of it, so that is going to be it. I took preventative muscle relaxants and Aleeve.. the last time I pulled weeds I got tendonitis in my left arm and couldn't pick anything up with my hand for 3 weeks. Bill and I discussed getting someone to garden for us maybe once a month. I REALLY ,REALLY hate doing it. Of course, I have a snotty old woman that lives next door that lives to garden. everything in her yard is perfect.. Okay, I'll admit it.. I know that the 10 foot weed that was in the front of my house all summer probably corked her, and just knowing that gives me pleasure. All of my quilty friends have lovely yards, and I am embarrassed when they see mine. but, I just HATE GARDENING! So.. now that this task is done for the winter... I don't have to think about it anymore.
I need a nap.

SUNDAY SLUMP

I am so incredibly un-motivated. I have important quilty things to do, but I cant get motivated to do them. I was up running to the bathroom all night and all morning. Bill and I ate the same thing, and he wasn't sick, so I must have picked up a bug. Sam threw up a few times to.. maybe we have the same thing.







SAM




Anyway, I managed to wrap up 9 packages of chicken tenderloins to freeze, and I cooked a mediocre dinner.
I went to JoAnn's today and bought an 8 1/2" square Omnigrid non-slip ruler. I had a coupon. Went grocery shopping. I took a nap. Didn't do a lick of laundry, and since it is after 8pm, I guess I won't. It should prove interesting trying to find something to wear to work tomorrow. That's about it. I am going to get another applique square ready, I have sewn all of my prepared blocks.
Here is a webshots link to the blocks I have finished. http://community.webshots.com/album/477490534iZYcuh
I have no plan for them. I probably should have done all of them on black. I just wanted something small and portable to take along to work on, so I decided hand dyes on Kauffman Kona Snow. Everything that I make would be black and bright, if I didn't make an effort to do something different. I hope that everyone had a nice weekend. It's back to work for me. Maybe I need a vacation just to lay around. I should figure out what I need next year, and then take a few days off.

WELL, SHUT MY MOUTH!

The Valium didn't work. After a bad night of tossing and turning, I went to work with my mouth still open. Okay, I could close my lips, so I wasn't drooling... but I couldn't close my teeth. I asked the Doc in the ER if he could help me, and he strong-armed my jaw back into place. The first thing he said was "Why did you wait so long" his assistant said, I can't believe you let him do it without sedation! Hey, What can I say.. I'm tough. After about 5 minutes of spasms, it settled down, and now I can close my teeth. Luckily it worked, if he would have needed to sedate me, I would have had to wait until this afternoon. I had to get to work at 5 to get everything done so that I could leave to take Bill home. I would have had to wait until the afternoon. Now, I am going up to take a LONG nap. I got Gabrielle Swain's 3 DVD's in the mail this morning. I can't wait to see them!

GOOD AND PLENTY AND VALIUM

Bill was in the hospital today getting his last blocked artery stented. They stented it in 3 places. He isn't as feeling well after this one, but, we are both glad it is his last. I hope forever. I had a guild meeting tonight. I love my guild. I had to be there because I am the program person. But, also because I love the ladies in the guild. Anyway, on the way home, I stopped for a coffee. I picked up a box of Good and Plenty by the register. I haven't had any for a long time. On the way home I put a handfull in my mouth, started chewing, and dislocated my jaw! I have TMJ that once in a while causes problems. But I am sitting here, unable to close my mouth! I have taken some Valium that my dentist gave to me for this problem. I hope it works. If my mouth is still open in the morning, I guess I will have it checked when I go in to work.
I finished two pieces. My Silk challenge, hand dyed silk strips on a raw silk foundation. An a pastel piece that a friend made for her sister. I quilted it for her when a long arm quilter refused to do it because it was too small.

This weekend, I am going to work in earnest on my Pineapple mini. I need to put a binding on my Aunt's Teddy Bear quilt, and get it in the mail.

Someone mentioned about the UPS store being more expensive than just going to UPS. I figure that you are right because that is where I went to mail my Skeleton Quilt to PIQF. I will know next time.
Well, off to bed. I have to get up early to go to work so that Bill doesn't have to wait all day for me to take him home. Bye all!

IT'S MONDAY AGAIN

I haven't really been up to much. I worked today.. my co-worker is going on a trip and I have to do her work when she is gone, so i guess that I will be busy for the rest of the week. I bleach discharged and overdyed a couple of lengths of fabric.

This was a piece of Kauffman Navy. I overdyed it with fire red. It's okay, but I'm not thrilled with it.

The second piece was a black print. I think it was a Moda. I really don't like how it turned out. I think that I will probably cut it up. I plan on taking a lot of my scraps and cut them into 3" squares, and HST. Then, I can just use them as needed at some later date.

I have a pastel piece that a friend made that I agreed to quilt. You know how I feel about quilting, so wish me luck. I am going to do this one on my machine. I'll post a picture when I am done. It is totally NOT me..

I

SILK CHALLENGE

I have finished my silk challenge piece. Turned out that the blue I dyed turned out turquoise on the silk.. the purple turned out more red, so I couldn't use it and ended up cutting the piece that I had planned to use for the back I started machine quilting it, but I didn't like it, so I picked out all of the quilting and started hand quilting it just down each strip. I'm really out of practice with hand quilting. Good thing this isn't going to be intended for anything special.
I like to design, I like to construct.. but I don't like the quilting part. I just don't feel I am up to par in my skills. I am a relatively new machine quilter, I have only been at it for a year or so. I have always hand quilted, and I used to be pretty good at it, but, it is a skill that takes constant practice to remain proficient. And now that I am enjoying entering shows, I am more aware about my stitches and if they are up to par. I have practiced my hand applique and I am up to 20 stitches per inch with my needleturn. I do love needleturn the best of all of my quiltmaking. I am thinking of a design to incorporate my favorite piecing pattern and needleturn applique. The design is still in the planning stages. Anyway, I bought some DVD's today, I plan on watching them this weekend while I clean my living room, and do some sewing. The movies were only $7.00 at Sam's. Memphis Belle, Anne of Green Gables and the sequel. I almost bought the original Amityville Horror, and Carrie.. Maybe next time. It's a nice cozy weekend. Cold and rainy outside. I stopped and got a hot coffee and a Glazed Devil's food Krispy Creme . We are eating healthy at home, so no goodies anymore.. I just needed something sweet. I passed up all of the cookies in the bakery at Sams. One doughnut is better than a dozen chocolate chip cookies... at least that's what I keep telling myself...

HEY! IT'S ONLY OCTOBER, WHY IS IT GETTING COLD?

Well, autumn has finally arrived in Northern Ohio. It is considerably cooler today and raining. Along with the changing weather comes stiff and aching joints.. Bill and I are going to the movie. Were are going to see Wallace and Gromitt. We went to see a movie called "A History of Violence" last week. I have NEVER seen such an explicit sex scene in a movie, and I have seen a LOT of movies! I didn't know people could get into those positions! Actually, I am getting tired of obligatory sex scenes that lend nothing to the movie. I would have liked it better without them.
I am still working on my silk piece. I needed to dye more silk because I needed long pieces that I didn't have for the final 2 pieces of the border. I want each round of pieces to go in the same direction. So since the center red/orange section is horizontal, the blue/purple/green has to be vertical. I have found that I really like working in silk. I would like to make more silk quilts in the future. The colors are subtle, but shiny and so soft and supple. I don't know if I will have enough turquoise to continue to the other sides. I can't believe that I ran out of turquoise dye and didn't notice. I have dyed some blue, but it won't be the same. I nearly ruined the whole thing when I attempted a Ricky Timms "Chantal" technique, wanting to curve the seams a little. Luckily, I was able to save it.. but I ended up with a slightly rectangle center instead of a square. I didn't notice this until I attached more borders and by then I didn't want to rip it apart, because silk doesn't 'unsew' well. I don't think it will be too noticeable. I could always say I meant it to be that way. Oh well, off to the movies, and lunch! A great way to start the weekend.

Yay it's Thursday!!!

I have the next 3 days off!! I am working on a Silk Challenge piece. My Twisted Stitcher group split some hand dye silks last spring. We were supposed to make a mini quilt with the scraps to be displayed at a local library where 2 of our members work. I started mine last night. I am going to do a string pieced square in square.. yellows in the center, reds in the middle, and blues/purples/greens on the outside border. It should end up at about 17" square. I am using a raw silk foundation. Here is the center. I have some silk batting, maybe I will use that. In the meantime, I am going upstairs to take a nap.. will post a picture of the finished top later.

Postage Shock

I mailed my quilt off to PIQF yesterday. I was afraid that I would mail it too early because it had to be there between the 6th and the 10th. Well I went to UPS yesterday and told them the deadline dates, and it cost me $35.00 to ship it!!!! Guess, next time I am going to call to see how long it will take to ship a package, and plan accordingly.

Bill is home. He goes in for his last stent next Thursday. The only thing worse then having these procedures done on Monday, is having them done when my co-worker is on vacation.. Well guess what? Oh well, luckily, I work in the same place my husband will be. So I can be there within a few minutes if needed. Speaking of work... I have to go now. Oh joy.

Manic Monday

Manic Monday is what we call Monday's at work ( a hospital Emergency Room).. And to top it off, my husband went in for his second set of stents. He had two put into his Circumflex artery. He still has a blockage in his Right Coronary artery, so he has to go back in a week or so to have that one done. The doctor said they would use another site next time. 3 times in the same area within a month, has taken it's toll. Poor guy. Never sick until this. So he isn't taking it well. It is scary to know how lucky you are to cheat death. He only had one episode of chest pain, no heart attack, and has so far had 4 blockages stented. They wanted us there at 5:30 am. That was bad enough. After waiting 4 hours, we find out that his procedure wasn't scheduled until 9, and they didn't come to get him until after 10. I had to go down to work, and was pretty much behind by the time I got there. Worked out perfectly. By the time I was finished, he just was put back in his room. I sat with him for a while, and then came home for a break before I went back to visit.

Now I am packing up my quilt for Pacific International. I will have to get it in the mail tomorrow. I put a new label on the back. I explained a little about the quilt, and put a picture of
my friends Kim and Kathleen, who are represented on the quilt, and a picture of me with the quilt

I am dragging. I should be in bed, but I started watching a Lifetime movie about a little girl haunted by her dead cousin.... creepy.

Hope everyone has a great day. It is beautiful here in northern Ohio. The temperature has been in the 80's but it is dry, and it drops down into the 50's at night and is wonderful to sleep. Which is exactly what I am planning on right now!!

Good night!

FELLOWSHIP OF THE THIMBLE

Catchy title huh? I have been thinking about quilting and why it is important to me. I have come to the decision that although I love the creative aspects of my craft, the friendships that I have formed with other quilters is what makes it meaningful for me. I have a group of online friends that I have talked to on a daily basis for 5-6 years. I have met a few of them, but not all. But the fact that I haven't actually met them or heard their voices, doesn't mean they mean any less to me. There is Kathie from Washington State, Teresa from Guam/Minnesota, Birgit from Germany, Maree from Australia, Gail from Wisconsi,Judy from Michigan, Sally from Missouri, Robin from Ohio, Laura from Virginia, Sharon from Arizona, Susan from Missouri, Jeri from Texas. We have, as a group, made many comfort quilts. For each other, and people we haven't met. They made a quilt for me when I was sick about 4 years ago, and it is precious to me.
There is also Marcia Hohn from Maine, with whom I worked on a Baltimore Album. She designed, I made it. The quilt will be shown in Quilter's Newsletter magazine in the future. I have never met her, but we managed to do this together.. and get a third place at Vermont Quilt Festival with the quilt.
I also am fortunate to have a group of friends that I get to see on a regular basis. Lindy, Kaye, Nancy, Karin, Bobbie, Kathleen. We call ourselves "Twisted Stitchers" and we meet once a month to work on miniature quilts. We also take road trips. Another friend is Susan, who is my touchstone.. the only one of my friends that gets as worked up about politics as I do. She is a book editor and has a wonderful sense of humor. I know that if I spend a day with her, my sides will ache from laughter. (Even though she scoffs at the fellowship idea with quilting.. in her words "fellowship, schmellowship")
I have done many crafts for a long time. Quilting is the only thing that I have done that gives me the gift of fellowship with other people that are interested in the same thing. That is,for me, the most important aspect of quilting