Quilts, Quilts, and More Quilts

Yes, I'm still here and have been very successful this week.


I aged by one year and survived! I'm sure the skin has aged too, but I'm not looking.

Made several sales from my website (happy, happy day)

Had major discussion with the dear one, then kitty, this morning.

Dear, dear one cleans the litter box each day. Yes, I said dear and dear. So, since I paid a huge sum for hairball remover medicine for kitty the other day, I wanted to know if the cost was worth it. So after a couple of days, I asked dear if he had seen a hairball and I was informed that he wasn't checking!! Well, my and my. So, I gave him a day to get his act together and asked again this morning. You already know the answer. No, no sign of said hairball.


About this time, kitty snickered and in her "I told you so" voice, really told me so! I know I heard a very bad meow word. Not very lady-like either. She is very tired of being propped up and spoon fed a dose of foul every morning that's not clearing out what apparently was never there! My ears are still burning. Should I ask for a refund? I'd even take office credit to be applied to next visit. I'm sure kitty will hit me up for a road trip again. The little trickster...

Had two big projects to sew this morning so pulled out the extension to my Horn sewing table. This gives me another 4 feet of work space, but it really cuts into sewing room space when extended, so I save large sewing projects to do while it's out. Got the bindings sewn onto two large quilts. I'll get better pictures later after I've finished the hand sewing.


Now have a stack of four large quilts to finish binding. Need to get to work on that since I have four being longarm quilted that will be ready next month. I'm in quilt deluge heaven!! Not complaining one bit.



I finished binding this little doll quilt yesterday.



Oh, and did I tell you that I bid on a piece of wool on Ebay the other day and won the bid. Received yesterday and it is beautiful. Just perfect to back my wool square quilt. I'm loving this work-in-progress.





Have already spent my birthday gift certificates. Was in a very "i need a spring outfit" mood so invested in white linen skirt and blouse. Was just about to check out when I spotted those just to perfect to pass up shoes. (I had to pay for those myself) Gift certificates only go so far..







Kitty is also enjoying my trip to the store....hey, if the shoe box fits, wear it!


Birthday lunch out with friends was delightful. Here we are....I'm the one seated in the middle...you know the one with no birthday earrings on!!!

I Think It's My Birthday.......

The telephone rang really early this morning....that means either bad news OR dear sister is calling. She has two times to call - before church, before work OR during dinner. Never fails.

I woke up this morning with a little tune running around in my head....I hear it's your birthday, we're having a party. So, when I was distracted from my task of sewing yarn around a picture...more on that later....with the ringing telephone, it hit me. It's my birthday. Oh, boy. And, it's true what they say "another year older and deeper in debt." Yep, dearest made the trip to Lowe's yesterday to get the final purchases to set up my photo studio. Now, I'm waiting for the light bulbs and we'll be set. I'm hopeful that with these initial purchases, I'll be set for a lifetime of good pictures of my quilts. And...kitty had to go to the vet yesterday. (cha ching)
She has been really lethargic the past two days (that means she hasn't been pestering me when I'm at the computer), so, being mother hen that I am about my animals, off we went. By the time we got in to see the vet, she was the same kitty as she always is. I decided she must have just wanted a road trip! He did prescribe medication, just in case she has a hairball! Like I said, cha ching!! .... deeper in debt

But anyway, dear sister got my day off to a great start. She makes me laugh, especially at myself.
Received her card in the mail yesterday and she mentioned the perfect earrings she had bought for me to go with the perfect blouse (to be purchased when it went on sale). But to her dismay, the blouse was already sold when she went back to make coveted purchase. Thus, a gift certificate was taped to the birthday card. And, I'm still searching for the earrings. I was trying to be very discreet this morning by asking her about the earrings. She, of course, had the perfect answer for my not receiving said earrings. They, of course, were too bulky to go through the mail and she didn't want them to get damaged. So, guess who's wearing said birthday earrings this morning!! I'll have to remember to buy MYSELF some great little earrings come HER birthday in September. Sounds fair to me. Can't wait to go cash in on my gift certificate. I'll probably do that today right after lunch with friends.

We have a fun restaurant I love to visit. Back patio/balcony overlooking the water. And, the weather is suppose(??) to be warm enough for us to sit outside today. Plus, they make a complimentary picture of the birthday group and in lieu of singing the embarrassing birthday ditty, the birthday child gets a slice of cheesecake. We just pass it around the table until it's all gone. That way, there's not too many calories allotted to each of us.

Now, back to my sewing yarn around a picture....I'll clue you later on this latest project.

Have a great birthday for me.

Hugs,
Marty

New best friend

I have found the most fun place to visit....the name says it all....check out This That and The Other. What a great giveaway! Now, if I can get a rhyme arranged in my brain, perhaps I'll be the winner.

Marty

Defrag..ed the computer, then myself!

OKokOk, I haven't blogged in two days. I've been feeling a little sluggish.


When the computer starts to run sluggishly, we are told to go in and run the "defrag". I did that, even deleted all the recently visited sites. I deleted all the unnecessary (unwanted) and already read emails. Filed the keepers in their proper folders. The computer is now running with rapid speed. So, why am I still feeling sluggish?

I almost had a wreck the other day....passed a sign that advertised "Colonic Hydrotherapy!!!" for quick weight loss. WELL. hello. I guess so! Back in my day we called this an enema and it was included free any time you checked into a hospital! There are people starving out there.....and some are paying for an enema to lose weight?? I have this to say about that....these folks have more dollars than cents. I'll deny being sluggish before I'll voluntarily submit to this little number.

Now, I'm getting warmed up and feeling a little less sluggish. I've been whining more and more about (l) not having room for a design wall and (2) not being able to take good pictures. I found this great friend website, Holly Knott, who has helped me tremendously with the problem. After reading her "how to" notes, Dearest and I made a trip to WalMart (yes, together). He bought the grocery/toilet tissue/dish soap needs and I bought a camera tripod, yards of flannel, white knit polyester and light clamps. Ordered the light bulbs from Tabletop Studio as Holly suggested. Dearest will go find the lumber and feet and foam board to complete the project.


Wow, I just lost another pound of sluggish..Can't stop now...


Reorganized the storage space in my sewing room last night. My clutter was weighing me way down. I now have a delegated space for yarn and knit projects. There is space for fabric-cotton, batik, wool, drapery/upholstery. Magazines and patterns are organized by type of project....quilting, purses, needle felting, knitting, home decor. Oh yes, the cotton fabric (of which I have the most) is sorted by color. One bin holds the neutrals/browns and yellows, one the reds and blacks. Blue has a place as does green. Cannot begin to tell you how buoyant I'm feeling.....just about to float from this very, very organized space.


I've been invited to make a presentation (do the program) at one of local quilt guild chapter meetings. Any time I'm asked I just say "YES, I CAN" then agonize over what I will do. Finally, Finally my thinking is beginning to clear and I have narrowed my demo choices to two.

See, the less cluttered and sluggish my mind and body, the more focused I become.

No pictures today...just a musing, but can't you just see the creative gleam back in my eyes.

Sunday, what a fun day to blog.

Marty

All the Accoutrements...

I see and hear this all the time..."IT comes with all the accoutrements." And, I'm thinking why does it always have to be an "it" that has all this good stuff.

So, can people have accoutrements? In order to answer this question (to myself), I first had to find the definition. Merriam-Webster online always gives me a very brief define...they(?) said accoutrement functions as a noun...equipment, trappings. OK, I had to step back and think about this. Now, I can envision a bathroom with all the accoutrements....a towel warmer, terry robe, deep soaking tub, oversize shower head for different water spray choices. Dearest and I live in a 50's era ranch so my only taste of these accoutrements must be envisioned!!

Rather than dwell on that, I'll just continue to add accoutrements to my art quilts and art cards. So easy to do these days....so many buttons and beads and yarn and crystals and wool roving and angelina fibers and........(whew, I'm out of breath)
Swarovski Crystals..

Button face and yarn hair! Oh my



Novelty yarn decorates these Christmas trees



So, back to my original question...Can people have accoutrements? We hear that he or she comes with baggage...and trappings (children, oh no!!) So why not he or she coming with accoutrements? Novel idea? No, just a redirection of thinking...

Equipment might be good health, an education, resilience, independence, happiness, smiling face, kind words

Now trappings...I think of trappings as a wish list. For instance mine might include always having a clean car, having time alone to sew, ready access to how-to tutorials, just to mention a few. Well, now, what are my accoutrements ...do I have more equipment? or more trappings?

Hopefully, it's a nice mix. Hugs 'til later


Marty

Art Quilt, Art Card, Bookmarks and more

Where, oh where do my mornings and afternoons go? It's way past lunchtime already and I've only just finished my creations.

I get my inspiration from lots of places, sometimes it just an advertisement in a magazine. Such as the case here....here's the ad. It's a large scale print created by Sally McQuillian of Raoul Textiles. Loved the look of the deep lush brown on natural linen. And while I was deep into the web to locate the link to Raoul Textiles, I ran across The Fabric Guru, a wonderful site to purchase fabric (let's not limit ourselves to quilting cotton only!!)




and following is my interpretation of the large scale leaf. I thread painted the leaf on natural muslin then made two bookmarks. One measures 1.5" x 6" and the other 1.5" x 8".

And on I went. What a lark I had "painting" the mini fabric art card. It is 3" x 6". I think I'll call these my "California Dreamin" series. You know how the song goes...."all the leaves are brown on such a winter day..."









And, finally here's something I did with an ugly piece of fabric I won somewhere as a door prize. Killed two birds with one stone (as they say) by using ugly fabric and practicing my Karen McTavish style free motion quilting at the same time. Nothing really lost here but some time. I pinned snippets of fabric down then quilted with a lime green thread. Now I have a piece of art!! Of course, it's ready to be hung. You can see from pics of my sewing room, I display my art quilts everywhere.




xxxs and ooos
Marty

He calls it the Park Avenue sweat shop...I call it my creative hot spot!







Since my sewing room is always in such a disarray (as is my head), I've been reluctant to make it public. But today is the day. As you can see, working space is small. I drool when I see long arm sewing machines, design walls, cutting tables, ironing boards and steam irons out there in your blog pictures. I'm not even going to mention light boxes and photoshop and professional speed digital cameras... there's another lifetime for all that love.

But, my little space is actually quite cozy. We are adaptive creatures, aren't we? And you know, I really do not want a larger house. Who wants more to vacuum and dust??? I'm not that brain dead. No, not yet anyway! I have my little 18" x 24 inch ironing pad and cutting mat. I purchase the cheapest iron I can find on the market. My little laptop is very adequate as is the little 12" flat TV screen. Wall mounting also gave me more counter space. I'm all connected to the printer and the camera stand is safely stashed in a cabinet nearby.












There actually is quite a lot of cabinet space in here and the beautiful kitchen cupboard helps to hold more fabric and sewing accessories. The cupboard is a real treasure to me....hand made by my grandfather in the early 1900's when he and Grandma first married. It had many layers of paint that took me all of one summer to clean off. But the labor was worth it when I got down to the beauty of the natural cypress.

















OK, I have to share the room also. I am so generous, dearest is allotted 3 square feet (to pay bills)...Hey, somebody has to do it!!

Hugs till later - Marty

A Cat's Meow

I just had to stop a minute to give this site a "head's up". Many days, our local news is...well...just not newsworthy. I check the obits, front page headline (to see what our worthless city school board superintendent has done lately). His pontification has made headlines several times lately. Sorry to say it's a sorry state of affairs on the local level.

But today, there was a great article about Eggcup Designs. The owner/designer creates the most fun array of hats in the attic of her Delaware home. It made my heart sing to read this wonderful success story. She obviously had a dream and her passion and tenacity made her dream come true.

Be creative today..... Marty

What a Way to Give Away

Blogland becomes more fun every day. Take a look at this great give away by The Painted Quilt. Sure hope she's a prolific blogger 'cause drawing day will be on the day of her next 50th blog. Now, I must wait patiently. What a great way to make new friends!

True to my word, I finished two more "Butterflies are Free" art quilts. Hope to get those posted on my web page this afternoon.

"Butterflies Are Free" #2 art quilt 9.5" x 13"

 Are Free" #3 art quilt 9.5" x 14"

Completed "Butterflies are Free" fabric art card 5" x 6.5"

Plentiful sunshine out today so I'll just hop out and get some natural vitamin D++++

Hugs....

Quilted in Spite of Myself

Just about the best day ever....except I got up an hour earlier. I did get lots of outside yard maintenance done. And so did he. We have several fountains throughout the garden and they were all tilting, some very tilting so they got leveled today. I love to hear the tinkling of water when I am in the garden and the birds will often refresh and listen also.

It was almost a blogless Sunday, but since my back is already aching from doing the outside work, I may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow. So thought I better get something said today just in case.

And, in spite of myself, I did get two art cards made and one art quilt. I delivered one of the art cards to my new neighbor as a little "welcome to the neighborhood".....and forgot to take a picture of it....don't I know better by now. I wonder if she would let me drop in for a photo shoot! I made her an art card almost like this one, but the tulip was a different color. This one is "Tiptoe Thru The Tulips" #1 and it's already in the "Misc. art cards" section on my web page. #1 means that I'm now obligated to make #2, #3, #4 and on and on...


Also posted "Butterflies are Free" #1 in the More Art Quilts Gallery. Take a look...and it's also a #1. But I have #2 and #3 on the drawing board. Fun making a series out of my fabric art cards and art quilts.


See you tomorrow...maybe, maybe not.

Life Savers...More than a hard candy

Seeing.... the first hint of spring green and a clean car

Touching.....velvet and rose petals and a baby's skin

Tasting.....chocolate and cilantro and Grandma's fried chicken

Smelling.....aroma of fresh baked bread and just brewed coffee and clean hair

Hearing...."I love you" and "Can't wait to see you" and "I'm so glad you are here"

Favorite pictures taken on a trip to Washington State a couple of years ago.

Happy Saturday

Nice View if you can get it...

This is the view from my sewing machine. I like to wait until all chance of frost has passed before deadheading my herb garden. The pineapple sage is particularly messy looking now. Hint....click on all pictures to enlarge. New trick I recently learned....


There are two birdbaths within my view and oh what a treat they give me every morning. Whether warm or freezing cold, they do love their bath time. And after watching them for awhile, I've learned that each species has different bath habits. The robins normally bathe alone. The kinfolk patiently await their turn to rotate in and out of the tub. The sparrows on the other hand have no pride...not a bit shy about sharing the tub. As many as are in the group just plunge right in at the same time, fussing at each other all the while. The doves are the dainty ones. They just float from the sky and gingerly land on the rim of the tub. They first take sips of water, I presume testing the temperature, then they may or may not step in. Haven't yet figured out what degree water temperature they prefer. A little dialog between the two of us would really help me out here!!

I've never had a yen to make a selvage quilt, but I found The Selvage Blog this morning. Check it out for great ideas. I cut off a few selvages from my fabric stash...thinking perhaps I'll make one of those little postcards. I'll keep you posted on my progress in that direction. If you don't see a selvage picture from me again, please don't prod, just know that I've moved on to other projects...OK??















It's still a little early for me to start seeing butterfly caterpillars on my fennel, so I thought I would make my own butterfly fabric card today. Work still in progress. I still need to find a backing fabric and finish the edges.




















And my final project for the day - "self portrait in white shirt". Her (my) neck got a little thick...but no problem, I just grew hair! Wouldn't life be grand!



Hugs 'til our next visit.

"I Told You So"

I encourage the dear one to wear a hat when out in the sun, but he doesn't, says a hat is too hot. So today he was mowing out front and I saw him sneaking by my sewing room window....which puzzled me. Sometimes I tune him out but today I was listening just in case there was a problem. So, yes I heard him loud and clear when he said "Damn bird pooped on my head." Next time he passed my sewing room window, he was wearing the hat that was too hot. I didn't say "I told you so." Didn't need to!!

We are having a fun time these days at our quilt guild chapter meeting. Great program today...Holly's topic was "Quick Tips for Quilters from Quilting Potpourri." Now that title covers a broad spectrum...very informative. Holly's background is teaching computer technology, so it goes without saying that she did a bang-up good job of bringing us up to speed on some web sources and electronic quilt guilds. She made me want to dig out my EQ Design book and refresh my skills on quilt design. After I got home today, I visited some of the sites she offered. Wish I could share them all here. I did find an online tutorial on making crazy quilts at The Caron Collection. Very easy instructions and schematics.

I also enjoy going to Joggles to see what classes they make available. Lots of different ones there. More the artsy type.
OK, changing the subject....my tummy is growling grrrrr.....

We're having grilled salmon with mayo/lemon/caper sauce, grilled asparagus and spinach salad for dinner tonight. Guess I better go prep the salad and make the sauce for the salmon and the dressing for the salad. He's the chef tonight and I'm happy to be sous chef.

If I forgot anything I'll catch up in the morning.

xxoo

Munchkin pillows and 1 art quilt

We have had a perfectly beautiful day. I made more munchkin pillows today and dearest laid them over my pot of chrysanthemums and pictured them. Isn't he the darling. And, supper (as we say down south) is cooking. I'm serving up red beans with sausage over rice. I like cornbread with mine, but he bought french bread at Walmart today, so I guess that's what he'll have. We're beginning to read each other..... Anyway, back to my day, here are the pillows.

Here's an art quilt I started some time ago, but it apparently got lost in the shuffle (that's a pleasant way to say my messy sewing room), that I finished today. It's now ready to be placed in my web site gallery.



Later...

Marty

Hoping A Wish Comes True...

I'm hopeful for a creative day....but in the meantime, here I go on a tirade.

I mentioned Sunday my disgust at the father who was rejoicing at the reconciliation of his daughter and her abusive boyfriend. In effect, what he said to her was "you did something wrong for him to do this to you....you deserved it. You should be glad he is willing to take you back." I have given this more thought. Actually, can't get it out of my head that a person would put so little value on their worth as to think they deserve to be beaten. Obviously she does.

If it weren't for domestic violence, sexual battery, molestation and child abuse, we would barely have anything to report in our newspaper. Well, I almost forgot the divorce, births, bankruptcy sections of the paper. They really contribute a lot to local news. It's true in our town that if it weren't for bad news, we'd have no news at all. Well, I for one am sick, sick, sick of reading of these horror stories. No, I don't wish for these horror stories to be shoved under the carpet, I wish there would be no horror stories to report.

I wish for children to be taught at a very young age, the value and worth of their being. I wish that children could live in an environment that aspired to being drug free and crime free, an environment where life was a treasure.

I wish these children had a choice, but they don't! So, I wish somewhere, somehow, someone will be there to touch their little lives so they may have a leg up in life. I wish, oh my, I do wish...

Binding Sewn On Three Quilts

Been a very busy day......did get the binding sewn onto three quilts. Now, if I can find the time to complete that project. I still stitch the binding to the back by hand. So pretty when done. I can usually find a good movie and move right along without knowing how much time has passed.

Oh, and today is friend Sandy's birthday. Remembered to get a call in to her. The conversation was brief, tho, she was headed out to a smocking class. Sandy is loving her new-found talent. (And her granddaughter is loving her smocking too.)

And got an art quilt added to website along with another one added to Humble Pie Gallery.

I added "Don't Rain on My Parade" which I pictured a few blogs ago. Haven't yet come up with a name for the HP quilt, so I just listed is as soft and mellow. I'll think of something.

Am putting together a "things I do" folder for the next vice president of our quilt guild. Thought this might make the newbie feel more comfortable in volunteering. VP has been the most fun position to hold (I get to pursue all those talented people in our area to do a program). You know, I decided when I took that position two years ago, that all they could say was "yes" or "no" and neither response could hurt me. So I think we have had some really good guests during this time.

We're having stuffed bell peppers and baked potato for dinner tonight. So I better get hopping to finish the prep work. Dear One has already wrapped the potatoes....I guess he's the sous chef tonight. See you guys in the morning.

Working with Wool Part II

I'm running a little late this morning. Yes, I got up on a timely basis, just have been taking pictures of what I made yesterday. That always slows me down. I first started yesterday morning making more "Munchkin Pillows". Got the ones posted in my Etsy Shop that I made Saturday. But, even after making all these little pillows from the remnants, my wool stash was not shrinking. But, never fear, I'll get it whittled down to size!!

Buried deep in the wool bin was a bundle of 13" squares. I rationally decided that I could never get all this wool put into little Munchkin pillows, so decided to put together a quilt throw. Now I need to find wool to add borders. Or, maybe I will leave it the 50" square. Always a decision...

And what will I use for backing?? and how should it be quilted? and the other day, I passed on a sale for wool batting...now why did I do that?? OK, that one I can answer....I thought I would never use wool batting!! Who knew?

We're having a plentiful sunshine day. And....I don't have to renew my driver's license 'til 2010. Thank goodness for the little things. I said that to say this....I heard of a survey the other day that proves?? that we think we look better than we really do. Oh my, I'm in trouble since I'm not looking so good many days and I look worse than I think I look!! Since my DL pic is always very, very sad, I just couldn't bear the thought that I don't even look that good.

More later (no doubt)

Arise and Shine

I profess to get up when I wake up....not one to toss and turn and wish the clock would stop. When I wake up...I'm awake. I should have held to my regimen this morning. I woke up and decided I would go back to sleep...it's Sunday. Then my mind started rolling and it wasn't especially fruitful.

Here's one thought that ran around my head for a few minutes - "what color is puce? and what do I wear with it???" From there well, then "what color is aubergine? and is it in my color family?" Since I've been color-coded, I really like to wear the shades and hues in my best colors, so how would I know. I'll just continue to thumb through the catalog pages that advertise a puce or aubergine sweater.

I can quickly put my finger on orange, olive, grape, lime, tangerine. I can even wrap green as in grass and blue as in sky around my head. But puce? aubergine? Okay, this took a few minutes of tossing and turning. By now, dearest had stopped snoring...

Okay, now I moved on. I admit it....I'm a Dixie Chicks fan. Not politically the correct thing to admit, but I enjoy their music. I don't have to endorse their political beliefs (or lack thereof)....
They have a very fast little toe-tapping song that stays in my head for hours after I hear it.

Don't know the name of it, but just a short snippet of it....."I shouldn't be wearing white and he can't afford no ring.....mama don't approve, mama don't approve, he's the best thing in town and mama don't approve." (not my grammar)

Anyway, dearest is beginning to toss around....so, I moved on

Why do women subject themselves to verbal and very physical abuse? I was appalled yesterday to hear that Rihanna reconciled with Chris Brown. To those of you who don't know the couple, he's the one who beat the living h(*! out of her Oscar night. There is so much domestic abuse in this world today, I was so hopeful that she would seek help and overcome the need to subject herself to this horror and ultimately help others to escape their entrapment.

But, even more appalling was that her father publicly says he is okay with the reconciliation. A father is okay that his daughter is not in a safe place? How sick...

Now my feet hit the floor... And dearest is sleeping soundly again. My mood is beginning to lighten. I bet I get up when I wake up tomorrow. Happy Sunday one and all....

Working With Wool

Once upon a time I decided I would learn to hook rugs...actually did get one made. And hopefully in this lifetime, I can find the time to pick that habit up again. But anyway, I had gone to the Goodwill store and found garments with 100% wool (hard to find these days) brought these iffy garments home and washed them first...so now I felt better about putting my hands on them again. Next step was to salvage usable pieces/parts. Had a sizable bin of real wool on my hands that I decided to use. Had much fun yesterday making up these little pillows. Hopefully I'll get them posted in my Etsy shop today.

Yes , that's an old picture of family in the background. Back row...cousin Max, Dad, Mom, and Uncle Hurdel. Front row...Marty, Sandy, Jackie (two of my siblings). I love this picture. It's a reminder of from where I came which greatly influenced where I went and where I now am.

And speaking of Etsy check this out. Kudos to our friends...great job you three.

Later.......

I get up early.....'cause

I get up early 'cause yellow cat is usually waiting for his first nibble of the morning. I prefer he eat cat food rather than the little winged tweeters. Dearest loves to feed the birds and keep them in bath water. They think our little garden is their sanctuary....I call it a baited field! Oh yes, cat that usually runs away from me didn't run away this morning. I even got to rub his or her chin. Perhaps he/she will tell me his/her gender on another day.

I also get up early to get my hands on the camera. Every time he sees me with the camera, he grabs it. It's a gadget, it's a man thing. Granted, he takes better pictures than I, but I need the practice. And it saves me a lot of explanation when he's not watching me take pictures of things he doesn't understand. For instance, if he saw me taking this many pictures of my newest calendar, the dialog might go something like this....

he..."What are you going to do with those??"
me ...."I think I'll blog about the calendar."
he...."you need that many for your blog???"
me...."yes, I have several things to say today."
he...."about a calendar?"
me...."yes"
he... "How much can you say about a calendar?"
me..."obviously, more than you can!!"

My first calendar featured my "Pretty Ladies in Smart Hats" fabric art cards. I had several printed and gave them as Christmas gifts to special family and friends. The reactions were so favorable, I decided to put together another calendar using more of my art cards. Each month's facing sheet spotlights a different card. I'll catch you up today.....Calendar cover features "My Home, My Heart" Oh yes, I just recently discovered that clicking on each picture enlarges it. Was I the last to know?

January's new year's resolution, "Thou Shall Not Whine..."


February, of course, it's a heart me month....using "Be Mine"


Then, there's March....Oh, the luck of the Irish....some pairs, (oops) pears have all the luck!


So, what got me thinking about the calendar this morning? Many birthdays in March. Grandson, Cody, was born in March, as was special friend, Sandra. Great nephew, Kale, and also great, great nephew, Mikiel, were also born in this the third month of the year. Boy, am I aging myself..or did they all start very, very young. I like to think it's the latter. Anyway, speaking of aging, March is also the month of my birth. I'm a St. Patrick's Day child.

Daylight savings time begins March 8 AND happy day, spring begins March 20. Just thinking of spring puts a lilt in my voice and an extra tap in my toes. Enjoy the moment you're in...

Hugs

Finished Red Quilt Top

Was wonderful having time on my hands today. Took advice of friend blogger Annie and pieced the back of the quilt to make it fit. You know the old story, the back was too small but it's what I had. I actually like it even better having the vertical row of blocks down the middle of the back. And it certainly beats cutting the quilt top down to fit. One more ready to be quilted.

I have mini-mondo grass out the kazoo. Could start a mondo grass nursery. As a matter of fact, I have thought of supplementing our income by selling some. In lieu of owing more taxes though, I just give it away when I can. So when JoAnn called today wanting some, I was grateful to her. Got me out into the garden on just a perfect day for digging and weeding. I rambled around in the weeds for about two wheelbarrow loads full. We still have a compost pile, so I shredded all the weeds to put some green in with the brown leaves from fall to help them compost more quickly. Didn't think you needed a view of the compost. So we'll move on to harassing the cat. This handsome guy was sleeping too soundly in his little loft chair out on the back patio.

He's saying in his mmmmeow voice, "okay, okay, my eyes are open....."

"This is the only smile you're gonna get, so get it done."

"Now......that's all! Fun's over. Get yourself a life and leave mine alone."

I'm published on the WWW

Yes, I finally did it. Now I can stop my rambling on and on and on about doing it....It is done.
Take a look. I hope you'll add me to your "favorites". http://www.martysfibermusings.com


Blessings to all who endured me this month.

Marty

They Rained on my Parade

OK, here goes...Why are they raining on my parade?

I'm an A-type
No nonsense
Goal oriented
Directed
Focused type person.....never could play office politics. When I wake up, I get up.

So, why do I waltz around the vacuum cleaner rather than flip the "on" switch?

And why am I pussyfooting around my feelings about some of our local quilt guild policies?

My dander is up. That means I'm mad.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed...I awoke at my usual 5 a.m to open my emails and Oh Boy, there was our quilt guild newsletter. Always a good read. So, why this anger? The executive committee made an "executive decision" (tongue in cheek) that to publicly announce my blogspot name and how to get there would be advertising and I therefore would have to pay the guild money to "advertise" my blogspot. I disagreed then and I disagree now. To tell the group that I am a blogger is not advertising. Advertising what? That it's fun to communicate through a different channel?

Well, lo, I opened the email newsletter this morning and in my face was published the direct link to a fellow blogger. You know, what's fair is fair...and this clearly is not fair treatment. I have some decisions to make today. I feel that I am an asset to our guild. But perhaps I put too much value on my time and talent.

Up A Tree Without A Ladder

He went to church yesterday, I went to Walmart. Guess who had the best morning.

Up a tree without a ladder. On some days, this is just the way I feel. But like Snoopy and unlike the little yellow chirper, I don't have wings. No, not today, I just won't let it happen. I'm going to think through to what the consequences may be before I act. Husband dear is saying, yeah, very likely...right! sure! I won't hold my breath. (Oh, you of little faith)

I've recently been seeing "Donate" buttons on web pages and was thinking of asking for donations for a design wall for my sewing room. Consequence of receiving this donation...well, my space is not large enough, so I would have to remodel the house to accommodate coveted design wall. OK, forget the donate button. I'll just continue to spread a bed sheet on the floor and spread my quilt blocks down for audition. Works well most of the time.

Here's my red quilt blocks I've been working on. Once I'm pleased with the placement, I just pin a number order on each block.

I found some fabric for the backing for this yet unfinished red quilt, got it washed and seamed to fit the 50" ish size quilt I was going to make. Well, guess what, I've decided to enlarge red quilt to a 70" ish size. Now I have a backing that doesn't fit a quilt that's not in my design head and I have an almost finished red quilt with no backing!! Shoulda thought that one through!! One step forward...

But now, here I've made progress. A finished coin quilt top and a backing the right size ready to be quilted. I'm loving the moment. Take a look at a quilt is nice blogspot. She is the champ at coin quilts. I love all the white in her quilts so the other day I bought 6 yards of white, then had to go back for 6 more. Are you getting the idea you may be seeing more white in my quilts?

More later, I hear outside yellow cat calling my name for breakfast. And I'm hungry too.

Hugs

It's a good motto to live by but don't beat it to death....

"Help yourself before you ask others for help" is a good motto to live by. Most of the time though, I just work myself to death trying to help myself when the simpler solution would be to ask others to help me first.

Prime example - spell check was built into this system so I wouldn't have to go back to school to learn to spell all over again. But oh no, I think I can spell okay...so why waste my time. I hope you don't know how many times I go into edit mode (after I've published my blog) to correct a spelling error. When I read in the published blog, some words just look funny so I spell check them and sure enough, they are spelled incorrectly....well maybe not spelled - but typed - incorrectly. Is there a difference?

I have the Merriam-Webster online dictionary set up in my favorites column right here on the left...I'm looking at it as I type. Yesterday's blog referred to Mom's little dog (a Schitsu? No, Shihsu, or is it Shiatzu, well, maybe it Sh!! Sue. Why me???? Now keep in mind that I posted early yesterday morning. It's now Saturday afternoon and the dog's breed was still looking kinda funny. So, I went to Merriam and she (or he) said it is a dog from the East and it's a Shih Tzu. Now, how easy was that? So, if you're reading yesterdays blog for the first time, you have no clue that I'm a hopeless.

Just one more example, then I'll put this baby to bed for the day....My web site is ready to publish except for one little problem. I have worked for about six hours trying to fix it (the problem). After pulling out my last hair, I decided a call to the host site help center was in order. I told the customer service rep what the problem was and she said, "Oh, no problem...may I put you on hold." After many holds and an hour later, she determined that it was a problem she couldn't solve and it had to be turned over to engineering. She promised they would get back to me in 1 to 3 business days. Had I called two days ago, my site may be up and running now! Will I ever learn?

I'm so good, I'm not even going to spell check this musing. And don't you either. That would spoil all my fun of the cat and mouse I play with myself.

Here's hoping you do as I say do, not do as I do. That's a motto for another day.

Marty

PS- I've already found 5 funny looking things that I've corrected (if you're counting)

"Two Poodles and One (Dog)"

Yes....it's another one of Marty's Musings....I must remember not to think too critically of others.

Several months ago in conversation with wonderful friend, Ann, she mentioned that it was so difficult to go through her mother's old bank statements.....Well myself just couldn't get a grasp of that. Myself just thought of it as just a bunch of old checks. Myself couldn't see how old checks could bring forth memories.

But lo, this morning I was sneaking through a box of stationery, cards, etc. looking for an envelope, and ran across a folder where I had stuck notes and cards Mom had sent to me over the years. Then, there it was.....a canceled check from 8-8-90. It was made payable to a dog grooming shop here in town and signed by me.

Way back then I had two perfect little poodles, Missy and Dixie, and Mom had Jeli Bean, the Shih Tzu. When the three of them were together, all of Jeli Bean's flaws seemed to come out (in Mom's mind anyway). She always thought the poodles were more prissy with their poofy little tails and poofy little top notch and poofy little hips and pointy little nose and shaved little tummy. Whereas Jeli Bean's overbite was more pronounced when with the poodles. Her little snub nose was always dripping. The rubber band holding her topnotch out of her eyes made her look childish when around the poodles. Dixie was black, Missy champagne. Jeli Bean, on the other hand, was black AND white. And insult added to injury, Jeli Bean's hairdresser preferred to trim her ears in a block cut, whereas the poodles' ears were left long and flowing.

Back then I still received a paycheck from corporate America, so Mom took the three of them to be groomed every month. For her time and trouble, I always gave her a check to pay for all three groomings. Well, on this particular hot August day back in 1990, Mom just cracked. When she picked the three of them up, it seemed to her that the hairdresser had spent much too much time on "the poodles" and not enough time on "the dog". Thus, the notation on the check she had written "Two poodles & one (dog)". I laughed out loud then and I laughed out loud this morning when I ran across that old canceled check. Memories...even from canceled checks, imagine that....

....I really must remember not to think too critically of others.

Hugs, to Ann for being my friend in spite of myself. And hugs to Mom in heaven for giving me memories.

Another World........

I woke up in another world this morning...my (almost) normal world. I slept most of the night, felt very refreshed this morning, at peace. Yep, you guessed it! I think I can publish my website today. Need to get just a few more things done, but, weather permitting, I can get quilts pictured, described, etc. then it goes live.

I must admit, it has been a struggle learning how to maneuver in, out, under and on top of this computer. But I saw a commercial this morning... I don't know what they were advertising. There are too many new technologies out there that are totally over my head...I just remember that it's about "don't let a good idea get away. " The fellow in the commercial is sitting at his desk, talking on the phone, when one of his yellow post-it notes starts crawling across the wall, headed for the window.

That's what prompted me to slow down and muse a bit. After these past three weeks of setting up a website, I think I can now do computer animation. I really think I can make a post-it note head for the nearest window. That's the idea that I can't let get away....except that I still haven't learned how to use those things they call gullimets or is it guttemets (spellcheck couldn't find either word, imagine that), but you know the little gadgets << >> to indicate previous and next.

Life would be simple if we could <<>>.

See ya soon,

Marty

It's all about naming

I mentioned yesterday at the chapter meeting of our quilt guild that I was a "Martha." I remember from Sunday school that Martha did the preparation for Jesus coming into her home while Mary, on the other hand, made sure she heard His every word and enjoyed His presence. Martha then felt put-upon for making her choice.

I don't feel put-upon when I say "I'd rather do it myself." When I do things myself, well, I really can't blame others when good plans run amuck. (Or can I?)

Anyway, this started me thinking about names. Our parents did the best (???) they could with the list of names then available. A good strong name is meant to give us a leg up in life. We name our children with good, strong names. Our spouses have good, strong names. Even when we don't call them by their given name, we exchange that for an endearing term - honey, sweetie...you get the picture. OK, sometimes it becomes hey you...when you get a minute, I could use your help in here!!

We think long and hard to name our household pets. We dubbed one of our cats "Stretch". He was already just about as large as a stretch limo when he wandered up. And when he did the stretched out kitty thing they do, he was really long. "Stretch" just fit. Big strong name for a big, growing cat.

And then, not to let the outside cats down, we have a name for them. Never mind that none of those cats are ours! I still make sure they have a nibble of cat food on my potting bench to enjoy when passing through. I'm sure their true owners have given them a fitting name. So as not to confuse them, I just call the yellow cat "yellow cat" and the yellow cat with the blue collar, "yellow cat with blue collar" and young yellow cat that runs from me "yellow cat that runs from me". They know who they are and now I know who they are and I thought husband dear knew who they were too! All three are really those wonderful orange short hair tabby cats.

We were all doing fine with such good, strong names until yesterday when the truth came out. Dearest doesn't know the three cat's names. Where has he been?? In conversation, he made mention of "yellow cat" and it was clear to me that this was not "yellow cat" he was talking about, but "yellow cat with blue collar". Why was he trying to confuse us? So, I corrected him. And he retorted, well, the cat is yellow. I think he felt I was poking fun at his color blindness issue. So I dutifully agreed with him that yes, the cat was yellow in color, but this was not "yellow cat" he was speaking of, but rather, "yellow cat with blue collar" . And further, the yellow cats that are welcomed into our garden should be shown the respect they deserve by being called by their correct names!! Now there...

He just shook his head and muttered something incoherent....I really didn't want to know.

I clearly need to get back to quilting to clear my head.

Breath of Air

I came up for air three times yesterday - for breakfast.....lunch..........dinner!!

My breakfast menu easy: One banana with a teaspoon of reduced fat peanut butter smeared on. Scorff down with one cup fat free milk.

Lunch: I make my own humus and spread on Saltines. Dearest says it tastes like dirt. Perhaps it is an acquired taste, but I like it. Simply take a can of Garbonzo beans (chick peas), drain. Blender the beans, teaspoon of chopped garlic, shake of kosher salt, squeeze of lemon or lime, touch of olive, canola, or veggie oil. And lunch is ready!!

Dinner: I actually did get into the little used kitchen (these days) and prepared a real meal. Dearest does a lot of outside grilling, but when it's cold outside, I give him a break and fire up the oven.

I took chicken breasts, cut into half if they are large. On stove top in my large black skillet (the one I make cornbread in for my Thanksgiving Day dressing) I added and heated a small amount of oil. Salt, pepper and flour the chicken and lightly sear in the oil. Turn off heat and add one can cream of chicken soup and a couple cups of warm water. Put into 350* oven for about an hour. Don't let the soup dry out. If needed, add a little more water so you'll have a gravy. I like mine thick. Serve over rice.

Try it. It's quite tasty and very easy. Same recipe with pork chops instead of chicken is equally as tasty.

Oh yes, I opened a can of green beans.

Things I Must Get Done---NOW

My TO DO LIST is growing. Working on learning how to set up a web page has been very time consuming (as you have already guessed). Why am I the last one to hear? Well, and but, and yes, I am committed. Progress has been made. Now have a web host, a domain name, have chosen my home page template and gotten a slogan and the about me verbiage composed. Number of pages have been selected and named and folders set up for photos. That I could handle....Then, I started taking the pictures, editing. How can that little bitty picture taker be so uncooperative. Thank goodness, husband dear (on a good day) came to the rescue and worked with me yesterday afternoon.

I do have a web designer coming in this week, but really needed to get as much done by myself so the designer fee would not be astronomical. (Don't misunderstand, I think they are worth it...it's just that I don't have it.) And hopefully if I learn how to scoot around my web pages, I can add good stuff later without additional designer fees. Sounds good on paper anyway!!

But, back to my things to do list...
1. Make birthday card for Judy's February 17 birthday
2. Make fabric art cards to take to The Biedenharn Gift Shop
3. Check with Karen about Thursday's quilt chapter program
4. Call web designer, Nancy Blackwell, to schedule meeting
5. Get over to Quilt 'N Stitch to get more yards of white fabric
6. While there, pick up quilt Susan quilted for me
7. Complete scrap quilt work-in-progress
8. Relax and get desperately needed spa pedicure

Gotta get going.....Hugs

Marty