Funeral protests

Just heard that a church (not sure if same one...I'm getting ready for work, so half-listening) is planning to protest at the funeral of the 7 children who perished in the fire in PA. Come on folks! That's ridiculous! God didn't take those children to punish the USA!

I did hear that this church threatens, but rarely shows up. I would hope that folks would line the street and block this protest!

Have a terrific Tuesday! Live, laugh, and love!

Too tired to quilt/sew???

How can this be? I can usually find the strength to release the stress of the day by digging into my quilt work...NOT today. I did my kennel duty, put dinner on to simmer, sat down to watch GMA (recorded from this morning) and now...don't think I can get up. Brain work today. Sometimes that's worse than physical labor!

We have small group bible study here tonight. I guess I'll just wait. I'm hoping to get the applique pieces on my log cabin quilt so that I can start appliqueing it on. I would like to applique by hand, but due to time constraint, I'll probably machine it down.

Watching all the reports about Japan. I was raised to believe the Bible. I really believe that these are the signs of the times. I believe that one day, the world will cease to exist. When, there is NO WAY anyone can know. That's in the bible. God is the only one who knows when. The point? Just be ready. Isn't it the Boy Scouts who use the motto, "Be prepared?" Well, let's be prepared.

I'll keep quilting and sewing, loving on my dogs, and taking care of our family. Take second place, though that is hard sometimes.

May the rest of your Monday be magnificent. Live well, love much, and laugh lots!

New diagnosis

I just learned that I'm really not a Quiltaholic...I have OQD...Obsessive Quilt Disorder!!!
...and I'm proud of it!

Happy Sunday. Celebrate life with your family today! Chillin with my honey!

Quilts of Valor day

Today, our guild, Camden Quilt Guild, made their first blocks for Quilts of Valor. Wow! I thought folks would want to make one and move on to their own quilts...OH NO! Someone ran home and grabbed more muslin for the foundation and we ended up making 33 blocks! These ladies are awesome! It ended up being more of a "Quilts of Valor" sew in than anything.

We have quite a few members who are connected one way or another with a man or woman who is serving or has served in one or more branch of the armed services. We want to show our appreciation, and this is just one way that we can. The group plans to work on more quilts for QOV each month.

It was a busy, but productive and rewarding day. I'm unwinding now, listening to the sweet sounds of Rocker (our oldest Cocker Spaniel) snoring under the coffee table. (And I am listening to Pierce Brosnan singing to Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia...)

Sweet dreams of perfect seams!

Not enough fabric...

Ok, have you ever started your project, been thrilled with how it's coming together, and suddenly - whamo, you are short enough material to finish one block and border...

Well, it happened to me. I was sure I bought enough of the background fabric. Upon closer inspection of the pattern, I realized that the border is listed separately from the background. Hmmm...well, ultimately it's my fault for not buying ENOUGH FABRIC to complete the top at one time. The good thing is that I need white on white. There's a lot of that around, right? NOT! I am convinced that I bought the last of that fabric when I bought the background! It's nowhere to be found.

Ok, so I bought some that is a close match. The other good thing is that the quilt will have lots of applique around the border and in the center. Several quilt friends assure me that the applique will detract from the two fabric background!

Lesson number 1,345 learned!

The top is beautiful.

Our guild, Camden Quilt Guild, is having a sew-in this Saturday. I will work on Quilts of Valor and my log cabin. Hopefully I'll get some applique pieces basted to the top. Pics to come later.

Enjoy your quilting!

Confessions???

I am not so sure I should say "confessions." I used to hide my quilting hobby because I was afraid folks would not accept that in my spare time I cut cloth into pieces and sewed it back together into a quilt. That was almost 20 years ago.

Today, I am quite proud of the fact that I am a quilter. Yes, I was influenced by my maternal grandmother and a neighbor to begin quilting. I put aside thoughts of quilting for many years. I did craft, though.

In 1995, I'd had enough. I bought my Husqvarna Viking, some fall themed fabric, grabbed a quilt pattern, and took off. For the most part, I am self-taught. Having a background in education, it wasn't difficult to read and understand the process. Of course, not long after starting quilting, I discovered Simply Quilts! Alex Anderson and the cadre of teachers set me free to soar as a quilter.

And today???? I'm so hungry. There's so many quilts I'd like to make and create. Quilting is my major stress-reliever after a long day at work. I live for quilt retreats! I buy fabric. I won't cut it for months.

My quilting goal for 2011: sew curved seams. Yes, I have never sewn a curved seam. I have a pattern for a quilt similar to a New York Beauty. Going to give it a whirl!