Picture This

Good news all around this morning. I got an email in the last few days that said the postcard I sent out to Tucson has sold. WOW! That really made my day. Whoever you are… Thank you. This just encourages me to do more.

Ok I know you all want to see pictures, so with out any further ado….

This is my friend’s quilt. Jon was brave enough to ask me to machine quilt it for her. This thing is big and I don’t have anywhere in the house to hang it so I can get a picture of the whole thing. But I think you get the idea. She did a really lovely job on this quilt and I like it a lot. But what I like most about this quilt is that I don’t have to do the binding!

Next because I had some extra muslin backing at the end of her quilt I stuck on a couple of baby quilts. They are nothing special, just some squares left over from some long ago project that I threw together. Need to finish the bindings on these two.

Following my current mantra that “Finished is good”. I found another scrap of muslin and got this one finished too. Well, all finished except for the binding.

Then a few weeks ago I got a call from mom asking me to make up some new towel tops for her since hers had all seen better days. She said that I could do them in my spare time. WHAT??? Well after some looking around I found out that I needed to buy some yarn for this project. I lucked out and JoAnn’s had one of those big skeins of yarn on sale. Bought that on the 23^rd. What you see here is just a sampling; I have finished nineteen (19) from that one skein. That should keep mom happy for a while.

Last but not least I made up these little buggers for my May Journal quilt. Yes I made more than the five you see here. I made close to 100 of these teeny tiny little ribbon roses. They measure about 3/8 of an inch across and just about drove me mad. The funny thing is that they are not even the focus of the quilt. I have to get the last bits done on that today. Best get busy.

Begin -- to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished. --Ausonius

Frog Season

Yes it is frog season here. I can tell because I am knee-deep, knee-deep in projects. I haven’t forgotten to post but I want to show you pictures! Right now nothing is quite done enough for pictures. If you will hold on just a couple more days I promise I will post about a half a dozen pictures. That is right, I am busy working on a half dozen projects at the moment.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy—Dale Carnegie.

Laundry List

I can’t believe that I haven’t posted in a week. But I guess it is because I have been busy with my long list of to-do, trying to get them ta-done. So I thought that I would share some of that list with you.

With the help of a soldering iron, April’s Journal quilt is now officially finished. Just need to get a couple of pictures taken. May’s Journal quilt is at the halfway point. If I don’t have to stop and paint any more fabric it just might be done by the end of the week.

I also managed to wash and press ten yards of muslin that will be the backing fabric for a friends quilt. Ran the seam down the back only to discover that the muslin had shrunk 3” in the width, which made it too short for its intended purpose. I fought the urge to wad the whole thing up and throw it in the trash. Instead I spread it out neatly and calmly walked away for a bit. That turned out to be a good thing to do, because while under the weather the other day, in my delirium, I came up with a way to salvage the backing and make it work. The first thing I did when I thought I could manage to make it down the stairs was to go measure everything again, and the good news is that it will work. That puppy is getting loaded today.

More good news: The Creative Hands exhibit will be accepting hands through the summer. So now there really is no excuse not to get a hand made and sent in. More info can be found here.

More good news: Tohono Chul Park postcard exhibit is now online and they are offering a catalog of the postcards for the small fee of $15. Be sure to check that out.

I don't like the sound of all those lists he's making - it's like taking too many notes at school; you feel you've achieved something when you haven't. —Dodie Smith

Rolling Right Along

Well the last few days have been very busy indeed. Thanks to everyone for the kind comments about my hands. They are on their way to Michigan as we speak. I am really excited that Karey has picked up this exhibit and it will now be seen in Houston! If you haven’t got your hand done you still have time, the due date isn’t until the 15^th and Barb has said that she will accept them even if they arrive a bit after that. Can’t wait to see them all in person!

April’s Journal quilt is nearly complete, only a few minor things to finish up, the cartoon is done for May’s Journal quilt and I am really chomping at the bit to get going on that one. Sorry I can’t show pictures of those yet, but figured I would give you a little teaser. The picture above is the start of a postcard that is destined for FFAC. It is based on my April Journal Quilt. Lots to do today.

Determine never to be idle...It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. —Thomas Jefferson

Derby Day

In honor of the Kentucky Derby, which will be run a little later today I have pulled out a picture of an old quilt. This one is called Fox Hunt and was created in 2004. This picture is one that I took of it hanging at a show so it is not of the best quality. The really good pictures of it are on slides that I have yet to convert to digital format. Se la vie.

So whether you are rooting for a favorite like Lawyer Ron, enjoy the thrill of rooting for an underdog like Storm Treasure, or just like watching the horses run… watch the Derby today.

A wise man looks upon men as he does on horses; all their comparisons of title, wealth, and place, he considers but as harness. —Robert Cecil

Creative Hands

Here is what I have been working on over the last couple of days. A set of creative hands destined for the Creative Spirit Center in Midland Michigan. I started the project with a scan of my own hands.

Then I set to work making my hands. I have to tell you they ended up being so much like my own hands that at times it was kinda creepy. But I now know what it is like to hold my own hand.

Right Hand

Left Hand

Palms of Hands

Every time we say, "Let there be!" in any form, something happens.—Stella Terrill Mann

Time Off

I decided this weekend was time for some time off and some instant gratification. No quilting projects. Instead I picked up my crochet hook and a bit of yarn and in two evenings of mindless work I finished another scarf.

This one measures 98 x 6”. Now I guess I have to get back to work.

Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another. —Anatole France