Roadtrips and pottery

Let's just say my roadtrip this weekend didn't live up to expectations. Not even close. Too much driving, too many u-turns, too much really bad coffee, not enough road signs, too many mistakes in the Mapquest directions, too little reception for the cell when the tire no longer has enough tread, too few tow trucks when the two truck carrying our car also blew their tire, and way too many bug bites from sitting next to a cotton field waiting for someone to find us in the middle of nowhere. Now I have whined about it for too long...

So we got home last night very late. Piled a U-haul truck full of stuff for my stepson and his family. Doesn't seem to have made much of a dent? Scarey, a truck full of stuff and there is still too much here! Our next shipment is on Thursday...maybe then it will seem a bit more managable!

Needless to say I haven't gotten any stiching time in so instead of talking quilts I decided to show some photos of my other love...pottery. (I saw Laura's collection on her blog Pine Ridge Quilter and really enjoyed them!) I love the feel of hand-thrown pottery. I particulary like it if I get to meet the potter or know something of them. A majority of my collection is either from Ireland, the southern U.S. or New Mexico. A few I've made myself...the two face jugs at the top of this posting are mine! Edgefield S.C. is famous for it's facejugs made in the late 1700's so I felt I should make one...paticularly since that was the only way I'd ever be able to afford one!

The center piece is a Majollica dish my Mother gave me. She bought it in England when she was stationed ther during World War II. How ironic that it will make the trip back there again! The blue and tourquise vace to it's right is typical of what I buy when I'm out west. On the shelf below are several Irish pieces fromNicolas Mosse Pottery. I visited his pottery back in the early 1980's and have continued to add pieces ever since. My earlier pieces from him are a lovely grey with a blue dove on the side. (those are aleady packed.)

The purple-blue round pot is from Polly Whitcomb who has a gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. The glaze on this one is so unusual I love to just stare at it! The round dish next to it comes from Carlsbad N.M. Whenever I visit my sister who lives there I go to the Artist Exchange downtown. A group of artist share exhibit and sales space. I've never walked out of there empty handed or had buyers regret! I particularly like Bill Crabb's work. He uses lots of blue and tourquise glazes which I am obviously patial to!


The raku vase in the photo on the lower left came from Dave Warfield in Maryland. The smaller jar with a top was made by Jack Mason from around Atlanta, Georgai. He also painted and did sculpture pieces. This piece has traveled with me a long way...over twenty years! And unlike the couch, clothes or even plates that I bought back then, I still love this jar. Most of my pieces are already packed or are in places I've made unaccessable due to huge piles of "stuff." I'm acually looking forward to just getting there so I can refind things again!

Post 60!!

I am writing my 60th post...I can't believe I've hung in there this long! My DH is starting to refer to it as an addiction!

Well I took Tonya's advise and we went and picked up a new Lazyboy recliner for DH. I didn't have a choice really...he saw her email saying they were scarce outside the US. I was in the middle of a presentation to a conference room with about 20 people when DH sticks his head in the door. I give him a hard-what-are-you-doing- stare. 15 minutes later I go to my office and there is a note telling me to meet him at the LazyBoy store at 5:00. (he only saw the email the day before..he was serious!) I get to the store and there he is sitting in the biggest ugliest recliner in the store (and that my friends is saying something!.) I thought he was kidding. He wasn't. "Try it," he begs. I get in. I shift the chair back...back again...and then yet further back. I felt a bit like Edith Ann from Laugh-in. This chair was as big as our love seat! "I feel a little lost," I said, "could we try others?" So off my husband runs in search of anther chair. I try and get up. Nothing happens. I'm flapping my body like a fish on the pier. That chair isn't moving an inch. I'm afraid of what would happen if I try an climb out while it is reclined all the way back. Do I wait there? Call for help? Take a nap? Finally I roll over so I can reach the wooden handle that helps move the chair and almost gracefully slide to the floor on my knees all the while trying to make it look like I'm just inspecting the fabric.

In the end he got slightly smaller chair which is slightly more attractive. He and the cats got to use it last night watching the basketball games. I took several photos of the chair but it is even uglier in the photos...instead you get one of brownie sitting on the give-away pile of craft stuff going to the next quilt bee!

We are headed down to Charleston for an overnight and then to drop my DH's car off at the port. Are we taking a sensible auto with us...like my beloved Hyundi Tuscon? No. We are taking a bright blue Mazda Miata that doesn't even fit my husband's full set of golf clubs in the trunk. I lost on the car controversy but settled for final say on the apartment/house/flat rental. I am looking forward to stopping at a few quilt stores on our way down to the coast. I have a favorite in Summerville, SC called People Place and Quilts. She carries everything from repro's to Kaffe Fassett. The samples on the walls are really fun and original. They also have a store in Charleston.

After the car drop off we will visit with his son and grandkids in Savannah and then head back home. His son is coming back with us and will haul a rental-truck full of stuff back with him. He is taking the huge couches (my DH likes biggggg furniture), some tables, bookcases, and dishes. He just recently bought a house so this trip should fill it up!

I'm also bringing down lots of daylillies. The photo on the left is how some of them looked this morning. Last year I divided them up and have a dozen pots filled with "baby" lillies. SS's house doesn't have any flowers around it yet so I'm bringing everythig from the potting bed. It also saves me trying to get them all planted at our house before I leave!

Not too much in the way of quilting stuff to write about. Very sad. I am packing some to bring with me on the road trip though...

Thanks for all the reading reccomendations. A few of the authors I've already run through (Brown, Michael Connelly, Austin and Kingsolver!) When I find an author I like I tend to just load up on all their books. That ends up leaving me on hold until they write more! A neighbor just gave me copy of the latest Laurie King "Mary Russell Mystery." I have a real soft spot for historical mysteries. Also for the Jane Austin fans, the Jane Austin Bookclub (which I've already loaned out so I can't remember the name...) is excellant. It has some of the best character development I've read in a long time. It does help if you've read a bit of Austin, but she gives you enough to keep pace if you haven't read them or are just Austin-rusty. In honor of Austin I give you this 1850-ish turkey-red signature block purchased in Annapolis Maryland. The quote reads, "May you be happy."

I am getting happier about moving...not so much about moving - but excited to think the move will be over in the forseeable future and England will be exciting. We went to an Irish Pub the other night with friends and had Shepard's Pie, Bubble and Squeek, and Fish and Chips. (Can you believe this Irish Pub hasn't gotten their liquor license yet! At least the food was good!) It did occur to me that maybe I should be getting my last taste of American or Tex Mex before heading out instead of getting the American version of what we think we will get over there? Guess the next night out will be somewhere else!!!

Looking for good reads

There is little I love more than a good book. I've gone through several "must read" book lists (USA Today's, NPR, and the NYT Book Reveiw) trying to get togher a stash for all my traveling this summer. I know is isn't like I'm going to a country that doesn't speak english but books are something like a comfort blanket...I like to have a couple on the side. Sort of like hiding enough money in my car to fill the tank with gas or to buy lots of Dunkin Donuts Coffee....

So any suggestions? I love mysteries, good sci-fi, and even current events. I just finished The Bookseller of Kabal(really good), The First Man in Rome by Colleen mcCullough (this is a reread from several years ago and I still like it), Longitudes and Attitudes by Thomas Friedman (aferwards I reread the Harry Potter series...Friedman is intense and not optomistic...I needed some fantasy in my life after that book), and Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman (braincandy...a good beach read!)

About the only things I don't read are horror (alright an occasional Stephen King, but just becuase I like his writing style) and romance.

The quilt top in the photo was mixed in with my 1930's repros...go figure. I made it during our move to Georgia a few years ago. I had a lot of oriental fabrics left over from making jackets and had seen something like this done in Idigos. I like the simplicity of the circles. The fabric really takes on center stage in this quilt.

Late night quilting...

Picture this...all the closets are emptied and the contents stacked sort of neatly in various corners of the house...furniture all has a funny little red, green or yellow sticker on it...bathroom walls are primed but not painted...and every inch of the kitchen counters is covered with slightly damp glassware packed so tightly you only vaguely make out the colors of the towels beneath them. That is my house this afternoon. What am I spending my evening doing? Sewing.

One or two hours isn't going to make a differance. I'll either be ready in June or they'll pack all our junk up and I'll deal with it them. Besides, while sorting books I came across one of my favorite Kaffe Fasset's and since my sister dropped the hint that she would like a more modern blue quilt (preferably a courthouse steps) I've had it in the back of my mind to start working on it. Of course the responsible part of me was whispering, "you are in the middle of a move, you've complained non-stop about all the half finished projects and quilt tops your are packing...what are you thinking!" (Note a sort of panicy whineyness to my conscience - at this point I had alread grabbed an armload of blue fabrics from the bookcase. Evil-quilter-me was winning, "there must be a reason I haven't packed the blues yet, Tonya says I shouldn't overdo it with the packing, and K is a good sister." Woops, the basket it now full of 2 inch strips...

Anyway, I've finished a half-doen blocks only using fabric from the stash...my theory - it doesn't take up any more space as a top than it does as just fabric. So K may have her courthouse steps after all. I'm also leaving an antique crip quilt from the turn of the century with her...also court house steps.

Just wanted to point out a new blogger that you may want to visit. Anne at Quilting Bebbs is from England and does some really beautiful applique and some fun quilts.

Now back to work....

Another finish!

Yes, more 1930's reproduction fabric from the same dark corner of the closet! I think I won the blocks at a guild raffle several years (and states!) ago. Setting blocks like these can be a challange. There isn't any one color to tie them together and the needed something to break up the white. I opted for varied sashings with yellow cornerstones (but different yellows!) There is a double border with 4-patch cornerstones on the outside. The quilt top is starting to grow on me.

The weather turned brutally hot today. I am not a hot weather person at all! Worse I wasn't prepared at all! During the summer I almost always leave the house with a fozen bottle of water in my bag or car. More often it is used as a cold compress than to drink. Since it is early in the season I'm not back in the habit yet so today was tough.

I'm hoping to get a few hours of sewing in tomorrow. I guess it finally dawned on my DH that we needed to do some work around the house before moving (shock and awe!!) so I'm sure I will not get near my quilting room on Saturday or Monday!

One becomes three - not bad for me!

I know I asked what would you bring if you could only have one project for a month...I've revised the question to read "one box of projects" for one month. Sigh...so much easier. No more Quilting equivalent of Sophie's Choice! I have three projects in my box and still have space for a bit more!

First, I've been working on a Carpenters Wheel quilt based on one in my collection from the 1838's. The photo is of the original. (With my cat Goldie who insists on being in almost every photograph!) Anyway, the quilt is from Maryland. There is a stamped signature block in one corner with the initials M.A.Shriver or Shriner. The center has the month and date embroidered on the quilt with a star in the center. The brown fabrics are very fragile but the muslin and the indigos are like iron..still strong and holding their color! I waited a long time starting on this quilt hoping to find the perfect fabric for the border...well I finally just started on the blocks keeping the faith that the fabric would find me! I am hand piecing the blocks so this makes a great carry along project. I've cut fat quarter of the various repro fabrics and just bring a couple yards of white and I'm set for project #1 and still only filled the box halfway!



The next project is a hand applique - the Mary Manakee (sorry about the spelling Finn!) quilt from DAR. I'm doing it in the Moda red and greens. (Photo at a later date.) The next project is of course my English paperpiecing! I've posted photos before and will again...the problem with this project is I don't know when to stop! It started as a wall hanging. It grew to a a lap quilt. Now it is somewhere between lap and twin. I don't have a twin bed so...

Enough for now...the Yankees and the Red Sox are at it again. Yes, I am a Red Sox Fan...the Yankee in my sign-on is a sign of my being south of the Mason-Dixon line too long! They think anyone who "Ya'll handicapped" is a Yankee regardless of who your "people" are!

When did this happen

Sometime in the past few years I must have had a real 1930's fetish...only I don't remember it?! I knew I had picked up some of the fabric for a donation quilt and made a few baby quilts but as I pack they just keep appearing! This around the world was done from squares traded on an internet exchange from before I moved to Georgia so I'm guessing...1995!? Why didn't I finish it?I have no idea.

I found a smaller version of the same quilt...a project for a silent auction maybe? At least 6 years old...not quite sure. There are at least four other tops, a box of blocks and a case of "less than fat quarter" pieces. Reproduction fabrics I have bags full. I just didn't think of the 30's fabrics as something I had hoarded! I guess as I'm cleaning out the closets I'm learning a bit about my own "quilting past."

In ohter news...my DH and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday. We went to dinner and watched the final episode of 24 while the Boston/Yankees Game was in the small screen. Thankfully the Red Sox won!

Rent vs. Sell

Well if my quilt room looks bad to quilters you can imagine the face on our Real Estate Agent when she got a look at it! I had wanted to wait a few more weeks but since this is the hight of moving season (and my DH was getting Antsy) I just swallowed my pride and had her come over.

It was a good meeting. My DH and I decided to rent the house out for lots of reasons...mainly because it gives me a sense of security to know we have someplace to come back to if something happens. Getting sick has made me such a wimp!!! Besides real estate in our area is a good investment and we are on a good piece of property (no on can build in back of us.) Also it is very accessable...one story and an open floor plan.

The trouble is about every other day my DH changes his mind. Yesterday it was sell...today rent, definatly rent...it drives me crazy! I have a Masters in Finance, his degree is in History. I've done the numbers over and over again. Have I mentioned he is driving me cazy!! So I end up having to pull the ...it just makes me feel better card to end the conversation.

Moving is soooo much work. I know I keep whining about it...slap me...I need to stop! Anyway, three more bags of bad clothes and high heeled sandels (what was I thinking!!) The more room for fabric!

The quilt top is a Grandmother's Flower Garden from the 1930's. I really like how the maker fussy cut the stripes. It is in perfect condition except it wasn't finished...I have to add 6 hexagons to one side before I quilt it! Think I will do this one by hand.

If you could only take one...

If you could only pick out enough fabric or projects from your stash to fill one tote bag knowing that it would have to keep you buzy for 6 weeks, what would you pack? That folks is my latest dilema! I will be in-between homes for about 6 weeks and most of the space in the car will be taken up with a few suitcases and three pet carry-alls! Basically the entire back-seat will be devoted to the cats and Macbeth! I initially put aside what I thought was a reasonable project pile...think more like a stuffed army duffle bag! So, not going to work. Add this to my knowing I will visit several really fun fabric places on my drive up North (ie. Mary Jo's in Gastonia, G street fabrics in Rockville, Seminole Sampler in Catonsville.....) and at each one of them I will say, "I may not be back for two long years so I will treat myself to _______ (fill in the blank!)

When I travled for work almost every week I was a fanatic about only packing what I could easily carry through an airport. If my flight was cancelled I was the first one running to the next counter lookig distainfully at the folks flagging down porters or lumbering along like pack animals. This trip I am afraid I will resemble a small donkey with many, many bags piled on top, on the side, and maybe even kicking in front of me! Porters are sounding like a really good option!

The quilt is an orange peel from 1930-ish. It is Queen size and has some really fun fabrics in it. I bought it at an estate auction in the early 90's. Originally I loved this quilt now...I'm not sure why but I'm not as excited by it. It may go to one of my nieces instead of traveling with me....

Taking time to simplify

I never really considered myself materialistic (aside from the obvious huge stash of material/fabric!) That is until I started packing. Why do we have 4 computer printers? Where did all these wool suits come from (and when was the last time a size 8 woman lived here anyways!) I'm finally getting brutal. If it can be easilty replaced and it doesn't have any sentimental value...out it goes. Gone are the office christmas presents that are still packed with the holiday ornaments. I am banishing the fish plates of my husband's first wife. Say goodbye to the promotional briefcase with my maiden name embossed on the side. I am on a roll....

The quilt top in the photos is going into storage. It was another ebay purchase by my sister. It is too fragile to quilt and the stains will never come out. (I did try and now there is only one option...a sissors!) If the fabric was in better condition I would have taken the blocks apart and cut out the stains from the border making a slightly smaller quilt. I'm keeping it only because it has some truely great examples of indigo...and because I like the pattern. It is in my someday pile!

A few folks had questions about where we are moving. Eventually we will be in the Cotswald area of England. I will leave the southern US in early July and head up to New England to spend a few weeks with my family. (And maybe get to the quilt exhibit at the Shelbourne in Vermont!) We leave for England in early August. I've decided to take the "bring it all" approach. (For all read fabric...I just gave away my husband's old recliner. Old recliners and excess golf clubs do not equal all!)

Taking a break

I really did overdo it yesterday. Last week my doctor started me on some new meds to help with concentration. Other than an upset tummy they are working great...a little too great. As she told me once before when I complained after working a 12 hours day, "these pills gives you energy not common sense." She is tough!

An unexpected bonus this time however - my eyesight has cleared up! The past year my eyes have been as wonky as one of Tonya's houses! They can't give me glasses because my vision changes almost daily! Instead I bought a dozen reading glasses of varying streaghths (a co-worker thought it was a vain fashion statement! me fashion?!) Last night I picked up some applique to work on while wathcing TV and it hit me...I could see the stiches - and no, it is not because I take really big stitches! What a treat!

My DH surprised me with a new Star Trek Time Travel collection. What a great concept! It has episodes from all but the last series with the common thread being time. The episodes were voted on by fans. We watched one last night...I forgot how obvious the makeup on Spok's ear's was!! It was fun all the same.

Anyway, this morning I finally finished reading Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood. She is one of my favorite writers and I had been holding off on reading it so I would have something to look forward to. I like having 2-3 books "on reserve." These are books are pretty sure I will like so I hold them for times I really need a good escape. There are references to quilting and quiltblocks in the book though not as a central themes. It is not my favorite Atwood but I would still recommend it.

Well guess I should go back to the boxes soon...I wish I knew a quilter in England (where we are moving) so I could make better decisions on what/how much of my quilting room to bring. Each time I put something aside to either go into storage or to leave behind I have these tiny (or not so tiny) panic attacks! I emailed a store in the town I will be living but didn't get a response. I checked the internet for a guild but didn't see one anywhere close. Any suggestions?

ps. The quilt in the photo is a very rustic princess feather made in western Maryland. I bought it about 12 years ago at a flea market. It reminds me of the Red Wagon designs! It is heavily quilted and very soft.

Where does it all come from...

Today was yet another sort and pack day...it sounds like everyday is for me but to be honest I only have about 2 hours of really good physical work a day in me. Not that what I packed to day could be called heavy labor...it was my miniature/dollhouse "stuff." In the end there is more packing materials in the box than anything else! I also cleared out one closet. So one more bag goes to Goodwill, I added more to the Quilters free for all pile, and now have space to seperate items for the "fast" shipment, things to go into storage are getting red tape, things for my stepson have blue dots on them, and the rest just goes! It sounds more organized than it really is!
I am taking lots of photos though. Over the next few days I'll post some of the antique quilts that are being aired out and will be refolded next weekend. I had to order fresh acid free paper today on the internet along with a few more boxes. Anyways, it gives me a chance to enjoy them for a few days. Since I seem to be on a Log Cabin streak here I am posting a top a bought in Gettysburg about 10 years ago. I originally bought it to use some of the fabric to repair another quilt but the top is in perfect condition and at the same flea market I found a box of old fabric that had the exact match to the damaged quilt. So now this quiltop is used under the Christmas tree! The pink, red, and yellow takes some getting used to...it was very popular in Pennsylvania around 1900. It has grown on me!

Goldie, my cat, is great about keeping me company whenever I am working with my quilts...I guess today was too much for her!

TGIF

What a wicked week! Rarely am I so happy to find out it is Friday! Other than a trip to the Farmer's Market I am not planning on anything for the next two days. Between doctor's appointments, real estate appointments, meeting with the movers, and way too many telephone calls to list my general life maintanence tasks have slipped to an all time low! As it works out the doctors' appointments only lead to more doctor's appointments, the real estate agents was more interested in selling our house then helping us rent, the movers couldn't come any of the days we had planned, and cat knocked the phone off the counter and now I have to go out and buy a new one with only 2 months left in this country! I needed one more thing to do!

Since my last post was of my log cabin I thought I'd include this photo of an antique log cabin quilt I picked up 10 years ago in Pennsylvania. I love the pinks and indigos. The setting of this quilt is what got me going on the other...this quilt is about 66x65. The strips are 1 inch...give or take! This quilt is very calming.

DH is off playing golf so I may just go and play in the quilt room for a few hours and forget about packing and planning and responsible stuff for a bit! At least I know I won't be bothered by the telephone ringing!

Finally a finish...

At a later date I will post the growing list of UFO's that have emerged from the closet. This one isn't very old and tonight I made myself sit down and finish the last 10 minutes of work to get it made into a finished quilt top!!!

The way I look at it this is finish 2 for the quilt. I look at finishing like the hobbits do breakfast and tea. There are multiple breaks for food each morning in the shire and there are multiple finishes for each quilt life. Finish 1 is drafting the pattern and selecting the fabric (or at least what you think will be the fabric.) Finish 2 is piecing or appliqueing the top. Finish three is marking and pinning/basting. And finish 4 is the quilting and binding. That way there are lots of intermediat celebrations where I get to splurge on fat quarters, chocolate, and trips to the book store!

Anyway, the quilt posted was a leader and ender project. I may have shown it before when it was and almost done! A couple of years ago we had an ice storm and the power went out for three days. The only room that got good light with the dining room so I sat in there and cut strips from all the odd pieces of fabric...reproductions that the color was just not right or from time periods I would never use. This is a King size quilttop and I still have baskets of strips! I think they reproduce when we aren't looking...I'm practing unsafe strip storage or something! I thought it would be a good stash-buster but now I just don't know...

Work countdown

I only have a month left to go at work...I'm definately on the downslide! I'm only part-time but it is an intense part-time. Some weeks I do 10-15 hours and others I've done as high as 60! You just never know. I am finding myself getting geared up to work on something then reminding myself - I will be long gone before the project even gets off the ground! It is a little unsettling...but I'm getting used to it!

The photo is another "back of the closet" quilt top. I think I need to add a border...This was half pinned and something was bothering me about it. I'm pretty sure it is the lack of border. Anyway, that gives me an excuse to to go play in the fabric. I plan to machine quilt this quilt top.

Reverse Quilting

Sometimes projects are put aside for the tinest reason. I made this quilt as part of a class in Maryland that used Mimi Dietrich's book on Smithsonian quilts. I think it was in 1997! I pinned the quilt to a few years later (after getting married and moving...) then started quilting. Quickly I learned to hate the batting I was using so I rolled the entire thing into a ball, stuffed it into a pillowcase with a mental note that I needed to "reverse quilt" and change out the batting. Ya, right...picking out quilting stiches is right up there with root canals! However this week I've looked long and hard at this project and decided I'm going to do it. Anyone with any hints or suggestions on easy ways to do this please feel free to post!
Most of what I find in the back of the closet has a similar story. This crayola colored quilt ended up on an upper closet shelf when I got halfway through and realized the directions had the seam allowance for one block and not for the other...trust me that causes all sorts of headaches and wins the quilt in progress a spot in the back of the closet. Not sure what to do with this one!

On the home front...I am slowly going through things and packing. Not just in my quilt room either. I am by nature a packrat...I still have some size 7 clothes that I hold on to because of the memories not because I ever think I will fit into them again! I have award plaques that didn't mean much to me when I got them so why is it so hard to part with them now? The brain is a funny thing.

Wierdness

I know I am soooo late on this...remember my computer was down for about a month. I was told/tagged to write 6 wierd things about myself...Anyway, here goes:
1. If I enter a store and it has a Scotty Dog on anything I will buy it. I have a room full of scotty dog "stuff." I however only have one real scotty - Macbeth. The room (and the dog) drives my husband a bit crazy.
2. I have watched the PBS series "I Claudius" every year for the past ten years...sometimes twice.
3. I'm a recovering adrenaline junkie...love fast cars, wild amusement park rides, and slightly crazy horses. I am fine with hights and ok in the water but am scared to death of hights (over 40 feet) and water.
4. I can spend hours in an office supply store looking at paper and pencils.
5. I love food...not just to eat it (though I do my share of that) but to talk about it, read about it, and anticipate it. If you ask me about a place I've visited I will always start with the food. When my DH and I were looking at places to retire that was one of my top 3 requirments only it wasn't one that the web site we were using reviewed...I was soooo dissapointed! (And yes I spend too much time watching the food network!)
6. In the two years since I was diagnose with MS I've temporarily lost my sight, my abilty to walk, my sense of taste and smell (medication related), and the ability to speak clearly...all of these came back eventually and didn't happen at the same time. If I had the option to lose one of them permanently and then not have problems with the other (a Sophie's Choice) I would choose to lose the use of my legs.
7. (becuase the last one was too serious....) I am terriable at following rules that don't make sense. Sometimes that spills into my ability to spell!

ps...the photo is of one of my "lost" quilt tops (read lost to mean tucked way in the back of my closet.) I was playing with stripes and didn't quite get it the way I wanted. I may just put some borders on it and give it to Linus.

Answers...

I spent a full day at work today so am a bit wiped out so I thought I'd just answer some questions that have come back on some recent posts...

What is a crustie? I don't think it is a widely used term so don't lose sleep over it! Basicly it is a small work with three layers that is heavily embellished. I'd use the name of the artist that inspired the works except I've heard she strongly objects to the term crustie (which is really only encrusted shortened...neither of which sound very artistic but we like it...read that as the "royal" we!) I'll try and post some more this week if I get permission from Rachel...

Tic tack toe is basicly taking a nine patch, slicing it and adding strips then squaring (almost) the block up. Dianne Hire has some great directions in her book Playtime for that technique and several others that involve sewing and slicing. If you get a chance to take her class or look through her book it is worth the time.

Where do I find my antique quilts? Everywhere! I've bought them at antique shows, flea markets, and yard sales. I knocked on the front door of a house when I saw one sitting on top of a car in their garage (quilt neglect.) At a gun show I berated a dealer until he sold me the quilt top he was using as a table cover (quilt abuse.) I've been given them by people I worked with who no longer had family members who they thought would appreciate them (quilt adoption.) Once family, friends, and coworkers know you are looking for them it is surprising what you find. Just today I got a call from a guy I work with to tell me there is a person listing quilts "at least 100 years old" for sale in the "I Wanna" Ad book...I haven't looked in that book for years but there ya go! Even the local charities like Goodwill and Catholic Charities that sell clothes and donated items have my telephone number...I've alway given them a fair offer and if it is a quilt I don't want I give them enough information so they can market it effectively (I also let other quilt collectors know about it...after I look...which they have reciprocated.)

What do I do with my antique quilts? The strippy quilt in the photo is one I have had for over ten years. I call it a Cape Cod quilt because it reminds me of the beach. I bought this at a small antique shop in Maryland. It hangs in my living room during the summer. I have also used it to inspire new quilts. I posted one in an earier post in bright colors. I've taught classes on the strippy technique. So I guess you could say I've gotten about all you can out of this quilt...I also have volunteered at our quilt show and at a local antique store to do bed turnings showing the quilts and talking about quilt history. Most of my quilts are coming with me when I move overseas. Some are going to be temporarily loaned to my sisters.

E-bay blocks

My sister (one of them) has a blossoming addiction to ebay that has spilled occasionally into the quilting arena. I say unfortunately because she does not quilt so the half finished projects she "wins" online ends up in my UFO pile! As if I don't have enough UFO's of my own to feel guilty about!

The photo is of one of these projects. The interior blocks with the star were sent to me a couple of years ago (my plan is if I take extremely long times to get them done she will stop sending them!) I let them age for a few months..maybe 12-16...in my stash. Periodically I would take them out and play with them but it took a long time before I decided to set them on point and mix it up a bit. I'm just not a 4- fabric-quilt sort of person! Anyway, this came out of the almost finished pile and is going to travel with me so I can hand quilt it...at this point a few more weeks or months isn't going to make much of a difference!

I have recovered from the weekend's excitement. The fabric has been packed into boxes so they can't "attack" again. My neighbor has volunteered to take everything down off the shelves on the other side of the room to make it easier for me rummage through. I'm not sure if the instinct to tuck and roll was from jumping out of planes in the army or bomb drills that had us hiding under the desk in elementary school..what ever it worked!

Well DH is calling...the Red Sox/Yankee game is on TV and he doesn't like to cheer alone!

LIved to tell the tale...

Who knew that packing could be dangerous! (I mean packing up my quilt room not packing heat for you mystery fans....)

I was making an attempt to cull some of the fabrics I will never use, projects I will never finish, patterns and books never open...you got the idea...from my sewing room. The photo is the non-dangerous side of the room...this gives you and idea of what I was working with!

Anyway, while pulling a basket from a top shelf the entire bookcase just fell forward. It was all very strang and in slow motion. I also fell backwards and fortunately rolled underneath the sewing table. It was like being in a very odd tent with mountains of fabric falling all around me. I must of screamed because the men working on my neighbors lawn came running to the window and were shouting to me in Spanish while my Scotty dog barked and my gold cat gave me the evil eye for invading her hiding space! Needless to say I am shaken but fine. My neighbor and the yard-guys came in an moved the bookcase back on end freeing me from beneath the table. I was worried my sewing machine was hurt but it seems a Viking can take a fall and keep on sewing!

I am angry at myself though...I was told at least three years ago to put brackets on the wall and to scew the top of the bookcase to them to prevent just what happened. Did I do it? Noooo. Put aside the fact I have MS and really crappy balance, I'm only 5 foot 4 inches so most of the bookcase's shelves are a reach for me! Dumb, dumb, dumb... So my advice - bolt those puppy's to the wall or really hold your ground for built-ins!

favorite crusties

On Lazy Gal Quilting Tonya mentioned Rachel, one of our friends who refused to get involved in blogs, so i decided to post the coffe cup "crusties" they made for me. Neither of them saw the others in advance so either they are a lot a like or they both see me the same! I am amazed how well the two crusties look hanging together in my hallway!

Hanging with them is a postcard made by Margaret Hunt of South Carolina. She does really fun work. I am so not a high heel person but I got this a week after I had to clean my closet out of all non-doctor approved shoes. (read this as anything remotely fun, cute, stylish and leaving only shoes worn by blue haired ladies pushing walkers.)

I don't do much embellishment or "art quilts" myself though I like them. I am more traditional with an occasional trip into brights and batiks. This weekend I am going through my quilt tops and almost finished so will post some of those before they go into the packing boxes!

Bad photos

I'm reposting a photo of the tic tack toe blocks with cat...even with Brownie taking up her pose it is easier to see the colors of the fabrics! Some strange thing happened as the photo uploaded from my computer...it looked fine on my screen - promise.


I was supposed to participate in a neighborhood yard sale tomorrow morning but due to being behind in all things having to do with life I am not ready. So tonight I made several dozen muffins (banana, apple spice and chocolate chip) to give to my neighbors at 0700 when the whole thing begins. In my family food alway equaled forgiveness!

The piles of books and other stuff I had put aside is going into the Tuscon and going to Goodwill. It is getting bad that they know me by name!

I am going to use the rest of the day to kick back, try a new restaurant, and maybe even quilt a bit! (oh, ya, real life intrudes and I also have to get a passport photo taken...)

Back in Blog-dom

For the past month I've been off the computer...too many issue tonumber and if I do it sounds way too whiney. My apologies.



I did get to go to a great workshop with our guild. Dianne Hire who wrote Quilters Playtime was the instructor. She was fun but also kept us in line wo we were able to learn a lot. The photos are of my two "play blocks." The technique in the first photo (the blue quilt) is called musical chairs. The technique for the border is called piano keys. They are both very easy. The black and white with citris colors is called tick-tack-toe...games=names of techniques...it is fun.

I am slowly getting ready to move. The neighborhood yard sale is Saturday and I may be organized enough to put a few things out! My stepson is coming up in a few weeks to take some "stuff" like the couches, hutch, and extra bed. The whole thing is exhausting! My husband is keeping his hands off the quilting room...who says you can't teach an old dog! After seeing the prices of fabric in England I'm taking the lot with me...even if there is no way that I could ever use all of it in only three years!

Thre's a world out there...

Another favorite from the Charleston Show. She used lots of Kaffe Fasset fabrics that I love...both the semi-solids and stripes. The purple border is great!Soem of the inner corners are pieced and some jsut use dthe stripes to create the effect. Simple but beautiful
Yikes, I didn't realize how bad my eyes had gotten until the steroid teatment kicked in late yesterday! Life is good! Better living through chemistry from a woman who only a few years abo wouldn't take more than an aspirin and a vitamin! I was convince cranberry juice could cure anything...
Spring has hit Augusta early this year. We are still a few weeks away from the big event - Masters Week - and some folks are getting nervous. If it stays warm the bushes may peak too soon but on the other hand we could get a cold snap and the buds will freeze...all in the name of looking good on television! I hate to sound cynical...the course is drop dead gorgeous and it is run so civilized even non-golfers can have a good time. (What other sporting event can you get pimento cheese sandwich, a beer, and a bag of chips for under $5.)Of course it is almost impossible to get a ticket without planning at least a year in advance....personnaly I'd prefer to go to the Quilt show in Houston.
I got lots of fun fabrics in Charleston that I am slipping into the house each day. Makes no sense since I have piles of fabric to give away that I bought years ago but who needs to make sense when it comes to fabric anyways! I'm not being quite as strict on my fabric culling as I first wanted. I was tougher with the books since I can get so many ideas from the internet. Most of the books will go into storage...it is funny how I seem to pull the same ones out all the time anyways! The ones that are beside the bed come to England with me - obviously they are my comfort/inspiration reads!

Beach time

Since getting back from the show in Charleston I've had another MS episode. My face feels like a crazy dentist attacked it with novicane...sometimes I can't feel it, sometimes I can't hear, most of the time my nose feeles like it is running, and I make twitching movesments like the guy on the Pink Panter. Needless to say I've stayed home the past few days. Wierd as it may sound it is better than the times I'm lost my sight. This disease has a way of helping you appreciate little things! Like playing with the photos I took down at the beach while we were hunted for shells, neat rocks, and fossilized shark teeth! We also called it excersise...

I also posted a quilt from the show that I loved how they set the blocks on point with a variated pieced alternate blocks. It makes the quilt glow! I apologize for not including the maker's name...I can't find my show booklet right now.

Well today I am going to go into work for a little while to pick up some performance review materials so I can work on them at home. I am also giving my notice that my absolute last day will be mid-April. We will leave for overseas in early June and I need some time to get this house together!

Quilt Show Mavericks

The show last weekend was a lot of fun. Some great vendors (I was very bad!) and I got to see Bonnie and other quilter friends. Though, like most of the quilt excursions I wore myself out!

The photos is of Bonnie with a quilt made by members of our night bee - Wonderful Woman Who Quilt (WWWQ...The initials sort of makes it sound like a wrestling channel! Anyway, it was designed by Maggie Hunt and quilted by Bonnie in time for Rachel's 50th birthday. It is a great quilt! The colors are ones Rachel loves but doesn't use...sounds odd but it worked!

I drove down on Friday with a friend from out group. A good thing since we used two lane roads the entire way and unless there were two of you there is no way you would find all the turns! We stayed at Maggie's family's beach house in Edisto, SC. There were 8 of us staying there so of course that means we stayed up late in the evening reading quilt magazines, quilting and knitting. (Oh ya, and a few glasses of wine....) The next day we had lunch at a Middle Eastern Restaurant called Saffron...the service was poor, food was good the desserts were excellant! I'd go back...no skinny little high-school girl is mean enough to stand between me and great chocolate!

The high point of the trip for me was a visit to the People, Places and Quilts's booth and little shop in Charleston. They are one of my favorite shops on earth...and since I've gone through a fair many that is saying something! They have beautiful and unususal sample on the walls, great selection of fabric, and they are friendly. I love the way they package things...I got a basket of fabric that could be used as a centerpiece it is so pretty! Anyway, since I was in Charleston I got some of the Charleston reproductions that just came out and picked up the PPQ pattern they made to go with them. I don't usually use patterns with my reproductions but this will have good memories!

Antique Charity Quilt

Since I helped with the quilt exhibit at our local museum I have gotten a call a week from someone with a qult that they would like me to look at and tell them either how to take care of it, how was it made, and what it it worth. Most of the quilts so far haven't been too exciting. Friday was different.

The quilt in the photo was dropped off at a charity thrift store a few months ago. It was at the bottom of a box with several other quilts. The others were from the early 1900's and not in the same league at all as this one! I found several names for the block pattern - Whirling Wheel and Full Blown Tulip to name a few. The color placement is a bit different but these are the closest. The fabrics are pre-civil war. The quilting and piecing is excellent. Unfortunately the black dye in the red print is popping, it is very dirty, and there are a few paint, nailpolish, or some other red hard substance on the quilt. Combine the dirty and the popping and it makes for a difficult quilt. The setting of the blocks however is striking and the yellow fabric in the centers is beautiful. No provence on the quilt hurts its value as well.

It is a very fun qult though...but I am supposed to be downsizing not acquiring! So unless someone jumps in an buys it at the store this week you will see it on ebay in the near future. Sigh.

Finding Time

First I had to post a picture of Goldie...she was feeling left out since both Brownie (her sister) and Macbeth had made it into cyberspace...

As I've made my way through blogs I've noticed lots of UFO lists. I've even considered posting my own but am too nervous my husband would see it! I'm really good at starting projects but not at finishing. Sound familiar? So, I have a choice to make - this weekend I can stay home and finish at least one project (most likely my king-size log cabin) or I can go spend the a few nights at Edisto Beach, S.C. and visit the quilt show in Charleston.

Having read the first sentance you can guess I'm heading to the beach....I'm declaring this "freedom from UFO guilt" weekend. I will not make lists. I can buy fabric. I can start as many new quilts, necklaces, sweaters, journals, jackets, or anything else during the next three days. (It helps tomorrow is payday!)

Promise to bring back lots of photos from the show.