There's a STAR out tonight ~

The local quilt guild is subdivided into three 'chapters' which is confusing to the non-locals who try to find our guild's meeting date and place since each 'chapter' meets at different times on different dates at different places!  And, what's more the guild's funds are diffused as is the camaraderie, the activities, the programs and demonstrations.  We are a small quilting community and it seems apparent to me that so much could be accomplished if we banned together as one each month. 

 

 

Time to stop whining about what will not be ~ 

My HuMan of the house continues to tell me that life isn't always black and white....that what is apparent to me is not so for everyone and I should just embrace the way it is.  When things can't be changed, then it's time for me to change the way I think about it.   So I have and console myself in knowing how much I enjoy my small little quilting 'chapter' and how active we few are and how much we give back to the community and to the guild. 

So, as I was saying, the local guild has three 'chapters' and I'm a part of the Sunshine Chapter and you guessed it, we  meet in the sunny part of the day....which would be the afternoon and our very first 2015 activity as a group is all about stars - in black and white.  There was much smiling, cheering and hand-clapping when our activity rep presented to us our  first assignment to get our quilts made.  

This month we are to make four 12 1/2" star blocks with the stars being the dominant black.  And, we are to keep one of the blocks as our own and put the other three into a brown bag.  At our next meeting, those participating will take home a brown bag with three star blocks unlike the ones we brought.  What a great way to re-mix.   Each month will be different, but in the end, we'll all have enough stars to complete a nice size starry black and white lap quilt. 

It was 'bout dinner time last night that I had two of my four star blocks completed.  Today will find me searching for more star block patterns and more black and white fabric to get my first month's assignment finished.   

 

May all the stars align to fill my black and white quilt top.

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana Traveling Quilt ~ an update to my update!!

Every now and then I remember that both my short term and my long term memory is failing me.  Anybody else out there remembering that it's happening to them?  Ah, come on!  Don't make me feel so alone. 

Was it only yesterday that I bragged blogged that I had completed my last rotation to our Louisiana Traveling Quilt.  Yes, only yesterday and almost simultaneously with my post did I get a comment from Mary that she didn't need to get this one again......she had already finished her block and sent it to me and she didn't want it again!  Okay, now what?  It was just about then that both my short term and long term memory kicked in!   The ten of us have been working on this project for the past ten months....each adding our block and passing it on to the NEXT one in the rotation!  Month by month, we were adding a block and passing it on:  not a hard thing to remember. 

Okay, I have now meekly unpacked the box that I had prematurely packed and labeled and organized my thoughts around adding another block to finish the top left corner....the same corner that I should have finished earlier. 

 

Well, I'll be a donkey's behind!  In just about  no time I had this one done. 

 

 

 

Here it is....all my houses sewn in to complete this quilt top. 

 

I like it ~  I like my neighborhood ~ a very friendly neighborhood ~ no bickering ~ no slacking ~ everyone doing what needs to be done ~ to get the job done ~ 

It is now repackaged and on its way to the postman

to be on its way to its final destination

Glen, this is a great Louisiana Traveling Quilt Theme:  HOUSES!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana Traveling Quilt - an update

I've been traveling today, but stayed in the house all day and sewed.   I was just a tad behind in my Louisiana Traveling Quilt so had a busy afternoon playing catch up to get Glen's quilt block finished.   Glen chose houses for her theme and even sent along in the traveling packet some paper-pieced houses. 

 

 

I selected two houses and one tree to surround with my 2 1/2" blocks.  My add-on is now finished and it will be in the mail to Mary first thing in the morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

Love to travel - love houses.  This was my first traveling quilt experience and was so fun that I hope to do it again.   Ten of us added a block a month and now we'll all get back our quilt top to add on even more blocks or borders and then quilt it! 

One corner left for Mary to do her architectural magic.

 

Beaches - Peaches

It was a week at the beach.  The air was cool but the rooms were affordable!

  Do you get the picture?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't cry over spilled milk

This one didn't make the cut......the rose parade passed it by.   We're not crying. 

I don't make new year resolutions but often have a resolve or two.  And one of my  resolves for the year is to make the most of what's on my table. 

The HuMAn humored me with a dozen red roses some time back.  Oh, there was no particular occasion, he was just expressing himself.  After a month or so, he decided he'd had enough of the red roses and put the vase outside to air.  I balked.  I was still enjoying the roses, dead or alive, so the roses came back inside.  As long as I kept them in my studio then he was okay. 

Well, this morning I, too, decided the roses needed fresh air....as in outside the house fresh air.  But before I let them go,  there was of course pictures to be taken.  

Being able to let go of what can't be is an attitude.....just as 'don't cry over spilled milk' is a saying that means 'let go of what can't be"! 

I can't bring these roses back to life just as I can't put spilled milk back in the glass....

we'll just let the cat enjoy them both. 

Enjoy what's on your table.                    

Marty

ColorBoard No. 28

Oh, yes, I've been doing  something

but with the rainy days and overcast skies,
there's been no good time
for getting pictures


of my sewing projects. 



I secluded myself in Photoshop
this morning and
dreamed of  springtime
and garden angels and dill and rosemary
that I know are out there
waiting for me. 


While waiting with hands on chin, pondering
how to find my way today
I put together ColorBoard No. 28.....


Hope you, too, are finding your way
today. 



Marty