Quiltathon Prep

Tomorrow is the big day for starting the Quiltathon. If you would like to join us, click on the "Judy's Quiltathon" button on my sidebar, and it will take you directly to Judy's blog. She has some wonderful tips for you to do ahead of time so that you can have the freedom of sewing without feeling guilty if you aren't doing laundry, cleaning, running errands, or whatever else it is that you do that keeps you from sewing.



Today I did laundry and did some picking up. I'm still recovering from my surgery I had 3 weeks ago, so I can't really do much...DARN!!! lol



In order for me to get ready for sewing I have to have a plan of action. If I don't then I will go through every UFO box trying to figure out what it is that I am going to work on. So here's my plan...



This block belongs to a quilt I am making that I call "Road to Paducah". I posted an entry about it here. There are 169 of these 8 inch blocks to make a queen. So far all I have made is enough for a lap size. I thought if I sewed a few blocks every day then eventually I will have all 169 of them completed. Most of the blocks are already in little sections. I have 4 patches, nine patches, and side pieces.

I have to psyche myself out when I am sewing, especially a quilt with this many individual blocks. Most quilts I make tons of blocks at a time. However, for this quilt I have made the blocks individually because some blocks have dark centers, dark 4 patches, medium sides, and some have medium centers, medium 4 patches with dark sides. It would be too confusing for the dyslexic mind of mine to make 676 4 patches with all different fabrics at one time. Besides that, I wanted to enjoy making this quilt and not get into a big rush. I have accomplished that goal since it has been a year and half since I got it to the lap size. As with all of my UFO's I got busy doing something else, put it away, wrote a weird note to myself, and here I am trying to pick up where I left off.

Okay. Back to how I psyche myself out. Like I said, I decided that I would work on a few blocks at a time. I chose 6 blocks to work on during the quiltathon.


What's this? Well, I'll tell you. It's my miniature quilt batting square cut from left over batting. It's like having a little flannel board for my blocks. I cut mine 9" so that all of my block pieces will fit on there.


Here are the parts to the center 9 patch.


Here I have added my 4 patches that will need to be squared up. I can square them up, and place them back on their little quilt batting square. I will then decide which fabrics to use for my side's, sew those on, and go to the next block.



As you can see, I put 6 of these little quilt batting boards together. If I am busy working on one of the blocks and the phone rings, I can put the pieces on their quilt batting board, and it will be happily sitting there all in one spot when I get back from answering the phone!



Here they are, stacked beside my sewing machine ready to be sewn!



I even have my little side table with the cutting board, rotary cutter, and square ruler ready to trim those little 4 patches to perfection!


I also plan to get my 2 youngest grandson's Easter quilts appliqued and bound. Here you see the bunny, one of the carrots, and the threads I am going to use for applique.


This quilt started out as being strip sets. For some reason (I didn't write myself a confusing note) I had part of a strip set left over, so I cut it into 2" binding to bind the edges of the quilt. If you think that I painstakenly sewed all of those little pieces together...well, bless your heart. You must think I'm much more patient than I really am.

Now I'm off to straightening my sewing room and maybe cleaning my machine. I'll see you all tomorrow!

Happy "Quiltathon" Sewing!

Amanda

Ironing Board Show and Tell

Libby is having a leap year/Sadie Hawkins Day giveaway. All we have to do is post a picture of our ironing board, write a post about it, and give the link to Libby. At 8:00 pm Pacific time on February 29 she will draw a name from the many, many posts she has received.

This, my dear bloggy friends, is why I don't go to the trouble of making my own ironing board cover. I just bought it a couple of months ago. It's Martha Stewart from K-Mart. It's a pretty aqua like blue that goes so well in my yellow sewing room. Look at that stain that's already on it! Oh well, at least it looks better than what I had. I don't have a picture of it, but it was an ugly green and had holes in it.


Now to my other ironing surface: my June Taylor Cut and Press. It's an ironing surface on one side, and a handy cutting surface on the back. It's easy to take to workshops, and it allows you to have have a place to iron or cut right by your sewing machine. As you can see, mine is in bad shape. There are no holes, but again I ask "How did those stains get there?" If I didn't know better I would think went to battle with a diet coke and a cup of coffee!


It looks like I need to heat up the hot glue gun for some serious repair work. Wait a minute...I must have already done that! I guess I better heat up the glue gun, again!

Go on over to Libby's blog to the condition of hers and many others ironing boards. I'm just glad she's not challenging us to show the bottoms of our irons!

Take care!

Amanda

Quiltathon Fun!

Wow! Two posts today. That's great for me!




A few days ago I was thinking it would be fun if us bloggers could do something fun together. At Pat Sloan's Yahoo Group we had a retreat one weekend. We sewed, posted pictures, talked back and forth; it was great. Mary Ann and Nancy were a part of it, too. Mary Ann brought Weight Watchers snacks, and Nancy's husband didn't quite understand how someone Nancy had never met or seen before could keep her busy sewing with people she didn't know for a weekend. These two girls are so funny!

I love getting together with my friends and sewing. Now that I have so many friends in blogland I think it would be fun to sew with you all, too! So, there I was wondering how I could get this idea going, when I clicked on Judy's blog and saw where she had the same idea, too! We do that often. I guess great minds think alike. She's just jumps in and does things. I think about it too hard, wonder what people will think, blah, blah, blah.... She's originally from Louisiana, too, but she talks fast, sews fast, and gets things going. My Southern ways are so laid back.

Look over on my sidebar and you will see the "Quiltathon" button. Click on it and it will take you to Judy's website where she will tell you more about everything. She has wonderful ideas to get you prepared for your marathon of quilting, whether it be for an hour or an all nighter!!

If you join, tell her that I sent you!

Amanda

P.S.

Be sure to scroll down to the next post. I baked some cookies for you!

Cookie Time

All week I have been wanting something sweet. I love cupcakes, but I knew if I made them I would most likely eat them all. Since basically all I am doing is lounging around, sewing, and blogging I'm sure I'm not burning any calories. Hmmm. What could I make?



Tea cakes! My Mom used to make teacakes on Sunday afternoons when I was a little girl. I loved waking up from my Sunday afternoon nap to some warm tea cakes. Julia isn't feeling well today, so she stayed home from school. She loves tea cakes, too.

Tea cakes are just a basic cookie recipe. Just about every cookbook I have has a tea cake recipe in it. Here's how I made mine.

1 cup of butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 1/2-3 cups of flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add salt, baking soda, and flour. Get a large spoonful of dough. Roll into a ball. Flatten on cookie sheet. Bake in oven at 350 degrees making sure they don't brown (like the one on the top), but aren't raw in the middle.




I like my teacakes big, as you can see!



Wait a minute...I guess I was wanting something a little sweeter than that. Let's see....





That's better!





Shhhh. Don't tell Ina Garten from "Barefoot Contessa" on the Food Network. Sandra Lee might be okay with it, but I don't think Ina would!

Take care!

Amanda

Sunday Stash Busting Report

For all of you in Judy's Sunday Stash Busting Report group the reason I haven't posted the past few weeks is because I had surgery. The last thing on my mind was sewing, however, now that I am feeling better I've been sewing up a storm!

I have longed for days that I could stay at home all day and just do whatever I wanted to do. Having surgery has given me the rest and relaxation that I have needed. I can't do much housework, so all I do is blog and sew! How fun is that? I can't go anywhere, do anything, and I get to do it all in my favorite place: home! I do have to cook for my kids, but because my husband cooked turkey meat and chicken, all I have to do is throw things together! It's been great.

First I will show you what I have been sewing on, and then I'll share a recipe with you: Chicken Pot Pie. It's another great one for when you've been sewing all day. Scroll down a few days and you will see the chicken pizza.



I made more of these blocks. I already had 48, but I decided that I wanted a larger quilt, so I got busy and made 20 more blocks. I found the magazine the quilt was in and realized I would have to make even more blocks, and I decided that 48 was enough. I think what I will do is go through and pick out my favorite 48 and go from there.

Late last night I was blogging around, and I found these adorable carrots at Kim's. I showed them to my son and a little while later I had 4 of these!

As Kim says, "This isn't Rocket Science. It's Carrot Science! They were so easy and quick to make.

For the past 2 years my husband has worked in Grande Prarie, Alberta, Canada. The kids and I had the pleasure of going to visit him in the summer of 2006. I'll be honest with you: if I lived in Canada I most likely wouldn't be a quilter. Fabric is so expensive there! I did find some adorable quilt shops when we went to visit in Jasper and on the way to Calgary. I bought this bunny kit while I was visiting one of the shops.


Doesn't she look cute with my carrots? I guess I started her last year because I opened the pattern and immediately started tracing her on fusible webbing. Then I pulled out the fabric from the kit and realized I had already traced her and fused her to the background fabric. I don't remember doing that!



I also worked on an Easter quilt for each of my two youngest grandsons. I am embarrassed to say that I started them last year, Easter went by, and I put them away. Yesterday I finished piecing the second one. I also made the bindings so when I get everything quilted and appliqued the binding is ready to go! Hopefully, I will have pictures to show in the next few days.



Now for the Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

1 package of Pillsbury Pie Crust that you unfold. There are 2 to a package.
2 cups of cooked chicken (with garlic, salt, and pepper)
1 medium can of Veg All (carrots, green beans, potatoes, and peas)
1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/4 Cup of milk
Non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Spray bottom of deep dish pie pan with Non-stick cooking spray.
Unroll a pie crust and place it in the bottom of your pan.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour onto the bottom pie crust.
Unroll the other pie crust. Place it on the top of your filling and press the edges together.
With a fork, poke some holes in the top crust to let out steam.
Bake in 400 degree oven until crust is golden brown.

My stash busting efforts are mainly working on things I have started and need to finish. I did buy some jelly rolls this week, but that was for a birthday present. I'm just glad we aren't on a "Quilt Book and Pattern" diet! My husband was going to get me a dozen roses for after my surgery. I told him I would rather have some quilt patterns! I ordered them the other day, so they should be in sometime this week!

Have fun sewing!

Amanda

Look What Came in the Mail!

I talk about my best friend, Terry, quite a bit. In fact, she is probably in just about every post that I write. Let's just say that Terry is to me what Pam and Elizabeth are to each other. The only difference is that Terry has no computer and she has no blog. That's okay! She is a fantastic quilter, decorator, painter, best friend, and she has a long arm machine quilting business. Who could ask for more? She also used to own a quilt shop, which means her studio is fabric heaven!

Thursday was Terry's birthday. I didn't get to see her because I can't drive, and we had an ice storm. However, I was able to do some shopping at The Fat Quarter Shop, and it came yesterday. I just had to share! The Fat Quarter Shop does some quick shipping! I love that!



Terry's favorite colors are greens, purples, golds, browns, and orangy reds. She also likes polka dots, paisley's, and anything a little on the whimsical side. I thought the "Za Za" group from Moda would be perfect for her. I was going to buy her a quilt book that uses Jelly Rolls, but without being able to see what's inside, I bought her this pattern. Of course I had to buy me that pattern, too! Both Jelly Rolls will go to Terry so that she can have enough strips to make this quilt. I'm sure she'll have it whipped up in no time!

Take care!

Amanda

It's About Time!

I told you that I was going to share some pictures with you about the Christmas Sewing Retreat that I blogged about, but then never showed pictures. Well, it's about time!

Terry(BFF,no computer,no blog) called me the night before the retreat. She had bought some things at the store to give our room that we were going to be sewing in some Christmas Spirit. Knowing that I have tons of Christmas quilts and wall hangings, she asked if I could bring some to decorate the place up a bit. I knew this meant our sewing room and our dorm. Even though I had already decorated for Christmas, I got busy taking down wall hangings and loading up larger quilts for our beds.



I was able the provide just about everyone with a Christmas quilt for their bed. Next year I'll bring more!

Terry made each of us little Christmas trees to sit at our tables. She hung lights everywhere! Julie brought her Bose radio, and we listened to Christmas music the entire time.





These are some of the wall hangings that I brought. The first one is Christmas Wreath from Thimbleberries. The Snowman wall hanging is Frosty Lights, also from Thimbleberries. The Santa is from Nancy Halverson of Art to Heart. The Frog is also a Nancy Halverson design. The Santa and the Frog come in the same pattern.

For 3 fun filled days we sewed and sewed, and sewed some more. The cook at Mt. Saint Joseph's Center cooked all of our meals for us. It was so nice.

Here is what I was able to finish:

My daughter, Laura, a circle quilt.


Another Christmas wall hanging. I make a new one each year! This is one of Pat Sloan's designs. I was able to sew it, applique it, and quilt it all in one day! It's so fun to go home with something completely finished!




These two quilts went to my husband's nephews for their Christmas present.


The best thing to have is a best friend with a quilting machine! Terry was able to quilt these up for me so that I could give them as Christmas presents. Here are Garrett(standing there with me) and Matthew(sitting) with their quilts. They live in Texas. When their dad heard that we were coming to Louisiana and that I had made the boys quilts, they came to spend Christmas with us while we were visiting Steve's family and mine. I love to give people quilts, but I don't enjoy giving them when I can't see their faces when they open them.


Laura, our daughter, loved hers, too!


My "Be Merry" gingerbread wall hanging looks adorable on one of my entry way walls.

I love it when I am able to go on a retreat and get so much done. I think it's really important to have a plan and bring more than what you think you will finish. It's better to have too much than not enough, just in case you get on a roll and have finished projects everywhere! That way you don't have to go home and get more!

Take care!

Amanda

P.S.

I just noticed that the quilt that Laura is holding doesn't have it's binding on! Oh well! That's one of the "perks" about being a quilter's kid. At least it was quilted! lol I did manage to get it all the way finished.

Chicken Pizza

Have you ever seen the movie "Ratatouille"?It is an animated movie about this mouse that wants to be a cook. He is constantly tasting things and is able to tell what spices or other ingredients were used. He reminds me soooooo much of my husband that I had to buy the movie for him. He laughed the entire time he watched it because he agrees: they made this movie in honor of him.

I love to eat, but believe me I could care less about what is in a dish. I don't know why I am that way. I guess it's because I don't really enjoy cooking. I love to bake, but that's about as far as it goes. Don't get me wrong, I do cook dinner for my family, but there's nothing spectacular to share a recipe with someone. My family likes what I cook, but no one else has ever raved on and on about my cooking like they do my husband.


A few weeks ago it was my youngest grandson's first birthday. We decided it would be easier (and cheaper) to eat at home instead of going out to eat. Besides that, they all love my husband's chicken pizza. Here's Gatlin digging into his birthday cake!


He enjoyed it so much my daughter had to wash him off afterwards! He's so adorable.



And now for the Chicken Pizza. It's so easy even I can do it. We had this when we went to a pizza place in St. Mary's, PA. It didn't take much to figure out how to make it, but it is so easy and so good I thought I would share it with you guys.

Here's what you'll need:

1 Pillsbury Pizza Dough
Cooked Chicken, with garlic, salt, and pepper
Ranch Dressing
Crumbled Bacon
Mozzerella Cheese
Green Onions (optional)
Non-stick Cooking Spray

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread pizza dough out on your pan which has been sprayed with the non-stick cooking spray.
Spread the Ranch Dressing over the top of the dough.
Sprinkle the chicken all over the top of the Ranch Dressing.
Sprinkle the bacon all over the top of the chicken.
Sprinkle the Mozzerella Cheese on top of the bacon.
Bake at 350 degrees until the crust is done and the cheese is melted.

It's a different "take" on pizza with there being no tomato sauce, but we like it. It's easy to put together especially when you've been busy all day quilting!

Take care!

Amanda

I'm Still Here

I haven't had much to post about. To be honest, I really haven't felt like posting. Up until today it sort of hurt my brain to think, if that makes any sense. I think my brain is so determined to get this body well that it is just too much for it to think about posting, which pictures to post, etc. I have, however, been able to visit your blogs and see what you guys are up to.

It's been a nice break to be able to visit all of you. I can't visit for very long because I get tired, but it has been something that I look forward to.

Did you know that TV is the most boring, irritating thing there is? It's okay if you're well, you're busy, and like the noise. I always have the TV on. However, for me, when I am stuck in the recliner or on the couch watching the same thing day after day...it's just so boring to me. I try reading quilt magazines, quilt books, and a book that I started reading before the surgery, but my eyes don't focus that well. Then there's the "I can't lift anything over 5 pounds" rule that is constantly playing in my head. Do you realize how many things weigh 5 pounds or seem like they do? I am not used to being so dependent. At times I feel like a fly that has fallen to the floor lying on his back wiggling his arms, and he can't get up no matter how hard he tries. My husband and kids come to my rescue.

I am just glad that I know there is an end in sight; an end where I can move better or that I feel like sewing again. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't taken anything for pain today, so that's good. Maybe my brain won't be in such a fog and my eye's will focus better. Maybe I should wear those reading glasses I am supposed to be wearing! Naahh. They'll just irritate me, and when I take them off it will feel as if they are still on, and that would drive me absolutely crazy! I can just see me wrapped up in a flannel quilt, sprawled out in the recliner, pushing up imaginary glasses on my nose. I'm sure I would look funny. It's about as funny as when last week the sun was glaring on the snow so much that I had to wear sunglasses while I was inside the house, wrapped in my husband's flannel quilt, and sprawled out in the recliner. Thank God no one thought to take my picture. At least I don't think they did.

I'm just ready to feel better and feel like sewing again. Until then, I do have some pictures to share with you on projects that I finished when I went on my Christmas Sewing Retreat. I'll save that for the next post when I'm in a better frame of mind.

See you tomorrow!

Love U and Cupcakes

This is Alexis, my six year old granddaughter. Alexis came over today to visit me, and she brought these:


I wasn't able to see her on Valentine's Day, so she and my daughter made me some cupcakes, my favorite food! She also made me a candy bracelet with a heart on it that says "Love U".

Alexis is having a hard time in accepting the fact that she can't spend the night with me right now. She says that she needs to stay here so she can take care of me. She also says that she needs a break from her 3 brothers and is ready for some "girl time" with Mom-Mom. I'm ready for some girl time with her, too!

Her favorite thing to do with me is to lay in bed, read magazines, and watch TV. She loves to look at purses, clothes, and shoes and tells me which ones would look great on me.

In the summer she loves to come over and help me work in the flower beds. You can ask her where everyone in the family works and she will tell you. However, if you ask her where I work she will tell you that I wash flowers. That's so cute!

She loves fabric. She always has. I took her to Walmart one day when she was 2. She was having a terrible two tantrum and I was ignoring her as I was walking into the fabric department. All of the sudden, she shut up her screaming and said, "Mom-Mom. FABRIC. I looked down, her arms were spread far apart and her eye's with a glassy, googly look, and her mouth opened wide. Oh, how I know that feeling when I walk into my favorite quilt shop! She especially loves to help me sew. She hands me squares to sew together. After about an hour, she gets tired, and wants to do something else. Sometimes I do, too!

We'll get our girl time, soon. Until then, Alexis, I Love U, too!

You All Are So Sweet

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts, prayers, and kind comments about my surgery.


This is me and nurse Steve. This picture was part of a collage for our Christmas card picture. I guess I haven't shot any pictures of him lately. Hmmm. Steve can cook awesome food, clean, do laundry, is a hard worker, is a great dad, and he's awesome at wood working. He's also good at making me laugh, which has hurt a little more this week than it usually does! He's a great guy.

All went well during surgery (Thursday, February 7), and the Friday and Saturday afterward. I was able to go home on Friday since the doctor was able to do it lapriscropically. I was doing fine Friday and part of the day Saturday then things started to go downhill a little. First I was running a low grade fever. The doctor then prescribed me two antibiotics.

Sunday the fever got worse and I started getting sick. So, off to the emergency room where from 8:30 at night until 3:00 in the morning I find out that I am dehydrated and anemic. I then had to change antibiotics.

Monday afternoon at 1:00 I went to the doctor because she wanted to see me. I got sick in the waiting room and started crying because I was so embarrassed. It was bad enough going somewhere in public with no make-up on and looking as sick as I was without having to get sick in front of so many people.

The doctor was so upset. She said it wasn't supposed to be this way. I told her that I thought I would have a few days of recovery, but for the most part I would be enjoying Steve watching movies with me while he waits on me hand and foot! She said that's how she envisioned it, too!

In the meantime there's a big snowstorm/ice storm going on outside. Snow storms are great when your kids are little, but when they are grown, driving, and have babies...not so much.

The doctor ordered a CAT Scan. Well, 3 yucky, awful drinks and 9 freezing cold with no pain medication because I thought I would throw up the 3 yucky drinks hours later I find out that there isn't anything inside that's wrong. That's good!

Tuesday I had horrible migranes. All I wanted to be in was a very quiet, very dark room. I even wore sun glasses because there was such a glare from all of the ice and snow.

Wednesday it dawned on me I hadn't had caffiene because I was drinking so much water to keep from getting dehydrated, so Steve made me hot tea and the headaches went away.

The only thing I can figure out is that my body didn't like the pain medication. So instead of being on narcartics, I started doing 4 ibuprophen every 8 hours. Now I am down to 2 every 4 hours and I'm feeling better. In fact, I feel a whole lot better!

Some of you mentioned that I should allow the pampering. I do. I called my hairdresser today. She washed, dryed, flattened, curled, and smoothed my hair. I have really thick hair, and there's no way that I had the energy to do all of that. Afterwards, Steve and I went out to dinner.

Yesterday I was beginning to wonder when I would ever feel like blogging again. Now I am starting to feel like myself again. My kids will be so happy. They aren't used to seeing me sick. I was 15 when I took care of my Mom when she first had breast cancer and chemo. I wasn't as sick as she was, but I know how they feel. Mom's aren't supposed to be sick!

Thanks again for all the kind comments, thoughts, and prayers.

Oh, by the way...I have a patch now for the menopause part. I have had a couple of hot flashes, but the doctor said that it was probably because my body was so stressed out. I am always cold so when Steve came down stairs and I was in a sleeveless t-shirt and underwear with the fan going (and it's cold outside) he knew something was up (but not what he would be hoping for :)).

Happy Hearts

Since I am having surgery tomorrow morning, I am going around the house to see if there's anything that needs to be done. My husband and kids will be taking care of me, so I am trying to get some stuff done to make their job a little easier. As I was looking around my family room, I realized that I haven't blogged about my Valentine decorations! I know for sure they don't know how to blog for me!




I made a quilt just like this for my granddaughter's first Valentine's Day. I loved it so much I had to make one for me. I had some extra blocks so I made a tablerunner, too!

It was a fast, fun quilt to make. It was the first time I had ever tried rough edge applique. Rough edge applique is different than regular machine applique because you don't zig-zag or button hole stich around the applique itself. Instead, you straight stich 1/4 inch away from the edge. When your project is completely finished, you wash it, and the edges fray a little.



This quilt was fun because you first fuse and rough edge applique a large heart to the center of a background square. Cut down the center of each heart block. Sew one half of a heart to another half of a heart that has a different fabric. Then fuse a smaller heart to the center, and rough edge applique it, too!

Sew the blocks together, quilt it, bind it, add a label, and you're done!

Now it's back to straightening the house and doing some laundry. My last day of doing housework for a while...boo hoo!!!

P.S.

After I wrote this post, I found some hearts online that should work since I don't have my heart pattern scanned into my computer. You can find them here.

You may have to adjust the size of your background block to accomodate the size of the larger heart. Whatever you do, decide what size you want your unfinished block to be (finished size plus 1/2"). Add an inch to that size because you are cutting it in half and sewing it back together again. For example: let's say you want your finished block to be 8 inches. Add 1/2" for seam allowances which would equal to 8 1/2". To that add 1 inch, so your background block will start out to be 9 1/2". When you're finished appliqueing, cutting apart, and sewing together again, then you can square it up to whatever size you want your unfinished block to be; in this case it would be 8 1/2".

Sunday Stash Busting Report/Having Surgery

I just got home from a quick trip to Savannah, GA. Steve and I left on Friday afternoon, spent the night in Manchester, TN, and made it to Savannah on Saturday afternoon.




I love Savannah. It is such a quaint town with cobblestone roads, beautiful buildings, great seafood, and my niece and great nephew who live on the ocean. Steve and I left the kids here (my son is 20so he took care of Julia).

My purpose of going on this little trip was to get away a few days before my surgery and to spend a day alone with my sewing machine while Steve was in a meeting at work. Oh. I didn't tell you I was having surgery, did I? Hmmm. Well, lets just say that I am going to enter the world of menopause on Thursday morning. For some reason having a hysterectomy isn't scaring me; its the menopause that is.

I think I figured it out. Now this may be more than what some people want to read about, but we're sitting on my little couch and we're girl talking! Do you remember when you started your periods? For me it was this HUGE change that I thought would last forever. I didn't have a good experience with it. I didn't even know what it was because my Mom never talked to me about it. It wasn't because she was this weird mom, it was because she was 15 when she started hers, so she thought I would be, too! WRONG! I was 11. I was totally freaked out. Anyway, I eventually accepted it and moved on.

I joined my quilt guild almost 12 years ago. For 12 years I have experienced the change of life with a lot of these women. I have learned that if I want to be comfortable at guild meetings, I should carry a sweater. They don't care if I am cold, what matters most is that they are sweating, red faced, hot. Evidently it is easier for me to get warm than it is for them to get cooled off from a hot flash. I disagree, but they don't, so I always wear a sweater. Then again, I have never had a hot flash.

I always wondered when the day would be that I would be going into menopause. I expected it to be this huge surprise sort of like when I started my period the first time. But it's not. It's this coming Thursday. Please say a prayer for me, and wish me luck on the menopause. I think I'm going to need it!

Now for my stash busting report. I didn't take "Road to Paducah" with me on my trip to Savannah, nor did I finish quilting my great nephew's big star quilt I was making him out of Airforce fabric. I did, however, bring my Star Crossing scrap quilt that I started at a workshop last January. It is made up of what seems like a million half square triangles. When I went home to LA for a week for Christmas, I took the half square triangles with me and squared them up while I was visiting with people. I can't stand to sit still, especially when there are 1,000,000 half square triangles to trim.


It only made sense to bring that quilt with me to work on for my Monday alone in a hotel room in Savannah, GA. I got 48 blocks completed, with 30 partial blocks done. I was so proud of me! I never get that much done at home.


I love the look of it when 4 blocks are set together.

I won't be online for a few days due to the fact that I will probably be too drugged up and sore to sit at the computer and try to write a decent post. However, I do have some catching up to do with you all, so I'll be posting about all that over the next few weeks.

Stash busting report this week: Fabric in: zero
Fabric used: 1,000,000 half square triangles