Just walk.

Well I did it .... I let "Life" scoop me away from blogging.  Now that I am on this side of the electronic world I can honestly say it does take a lot of deadication to post on a regular schedule.  So where did I disappear to in the real world?  During the month of October I mostly had work commitments but, I did have one glorious week of vacation.  Then with the month of November comes the start of the whirlwind of the holiday season.  I have been working on some of my unfinished projects with the help of a supervisor ....

 My supervisor jumped right in the container  after I removed some of the fabrics and the blocks.  You think she is trying to tell me something??  More come on this quilt.  (Still a WIP.)

The vacation that I mentioned earlier was at Folly Beach, SC.  This was the first year that we went in October.  The weather was splendid.  We ate, walked, and ate some more.  We took a cooking class for the first time (Charleston Cooks) - would love to do it again.  Went on a walking tour downtown Charleston.  Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable about historical tidbits - Thank you Scott!!  And we finally walked the bridge.  During our prior vacations the temperatures did not increase my desire to explore the bridge.  But the cooler weather offered us an opportunity that was not to be passed.  Now for those that know me ... I do not run,  I walk.  So that is what I did ....

I walked and walked .... The view was worth it!!

So before you let "Life" scoop you away .... walk.  You do not have to run ..... just walk .... you never know what you will see.  

AQS Road Trip

"Road Trip" means different things to different people but, when you throw quilting in the mix then you must add fabric and vendors.  I had a wonderful opportunity to join friends at the AQS show in Chattanooga this past weekend. We discovered a wonderful shop called Spool. www.spoolquilt.com  They are a modern quilt shop that was a delight to the eyes and a comfort to the soul.  We all left with some of their fabulous fabric and plans of new quilts in our heads. Our next stop was lunch .. traveling and fabric makes a girl hungry. The shop owner had told us about an upscale "Southern" restaurant - Tupelo Honey Cafe.  I must say that we filled our bellies and laughed all through lunch.   So far our road trip was not a disappointment to anyone.

Next stop the Quilt Show  .... the convention center was a very nice venue for the show.  The lighting and the space made the adventure much more enjoyable.  The crowds where not that bad for viewing the quilts or shopping in the booths.  I know that this is the first year for Chattanooga to host AQS but we found the city very welcoming.  I was told that Chattanooga will host the show in 2015 and 2016. Well we stayed until the show closed at 6pm then headed to our hotel.  After getting settled ..... we then loaded up ....... to fill our bellies again.  If you enjoy finding a unique pizza place then this is for you. 

A Neapolitan Pizza is a thin crust pizza that is cooked quickly in a special oven.  They also serve a New York style pizza and various pasta dishes.  No one tried the gelato we where to full.  Saturday was spent at the show then later for our journeys home.  Everyone arrived safely home with their purchases in tow.  Oh I must add that I have been very busy prior to my travels working on two quilts.  One a for a baby girl and the other for a fund raiser.  I will post pictures of these quilts when they are completed.

Dead Lines

When the boys where younger we took them and of course each had a friend to a Civil War reenactment near Camp Sumter in Andersonville, Ga.  In case you did not know the "camp" was one of the largest Confederate military prisons during the Civil War.  The amount of time and energy that was used for the reenactment is mind boggling.  After we had our fill of the reenactment we then headed over to the cemetery and the "camp".  Upon first glance you would notice a park like setting with a trickle of a steam running thru it.... that is where the "camp" was located.  My husband and I read and explain to the boys what the conditions where like here at the "camp".  How cramped together the men where, the terrible living conditions, and unfortunately the number of men that did not make it out alive.  It is then .... when you looked around a second time at the setting that you notice a shade of grey surrounding it and a feeling of sadness.  I thought it was interesting that the boys one impression of the camp was about the "Dead Line".  This was the line for the solders to use  if a prisoner crossed it ... they where shot.  No questions asked, just cut and dry.  I thought about our trip and the "Dead Line" the other day while packing some things in my sewing room.  I was thinking about how different the "Dead Line" was for those solders and prisoners as compared to our deadlines that we have in our lives.  Some are more important for us to achieve and others can be merely extended.  I have so many unfinished projects that they seemed to be holding a shade of grey over me.  I am not going to give myself a deadline for these projects.  But I am going to work on them two nights during the week.  Just think about how a deadline sometimes make you feel - are you the prisoner or the soldier?  I have decided that I do not want to be either one ..... I want my projects to shine with a positive light ........... not a feeling of grey.

A reason to Smile

When others drive by the property I know they see weeds and chaos.  I am trying to be patient and let mother nature show me what hidden surprises that she might have for me.   My neighbor told me that one of the previous owners had some wonderful flowers growing here.  I like to think that the lilac bush that I see from my kitchen window was planted by her.  I also like to think that her spirit is watching me when I am tending to the plants on the property.  Hopefully the two other owners, between her and I, have not disrupted some of the hidden surprises.  For some time I would ask my DH to not mow where I thought the flowers might be growing.  But as mother nature would have it ...she likes to keep you on your toes.  Theses beauties seemed to pop up from no where.  You can not see theses from the road due to the "weed cover".  I think they are spectacular.  Just what I was wishing for .... thank you mother nature ... you have given me a smile.  

Family is like a Scrappy Quilt .....

First I promise this will not be a sad post.  But to explain where this post is going I need to tell you that my Aunt passed away this weekend.  She lived in the Lancaster County area and I still have family that resides there.  Even though we had been separated by geography for many years she always held a spot in my heart.  You see, she was the Aunt that had a way of making you feel special.   Growing up I remembered family gatherings at her house.  The adults entertained each other while the children played outside - rolling down the hill, playing tag, tormenting each other, or catching fireflies ...... just being kids.  If a special was on the TV we would be allowed to watch the show -- quietly of coarse as to not disturb the adults.  When the food was ready we would eat at the children's table.  I know my tale is bring back memories to some of you while others, from another era, may think this to be strange.  By know you must be wondering what my Aunt did that made us feel so special..... don't laugh it was the simplest of things...... she made celery with peanut butter for me and had black olives for my sister.  When it was time for us to fill our plates she would remind us quietly that she had the celery for me and black olives for my sister.  Funny when we see black olives or celery with peanut butter, we immediatly smile and think of her.  Many of my family members are gathered today remembering her.  I unfortunately was not able to attend.  I did have the chance to talk over the phone with my cousin.  We both agreed about how our family had gone in different directions over the years.  But when brought together it is as if time had stood still.  (Everyone is older mind you .... we have not found the fountain of youth.)  We have become a blended family of sort's.  Just like so many of American families.  That thought started me thinking  about how a scrappy quilt comes together.  How some fabrics have been with you for some time ... while others are relatively new.  Some call for your attention and some are just happy to be present.  I made this quilt many years ago at a workshop at my guild.  Some of the fabrics where mine and others came from someone else's "family".   When all mixed together they become a wonderful blended family.    If you are interested in the pattern .... just ask I can always email or snail mail you the pattern.

The Whirlwind of Fabric ..... and Friends

Last weekend I had three wonderful quilters at my home.  All four of us live in different cities.  We started sewing, quilting , laughing, and bonding many years ago at a quilt retreat that now meets twice a year.  Our retreat group is composed of between 20-28 women and our ages range from late 40's to early 90's.  Everyone has their own unique color palette and the knowledge in that room can only be described as infinite.  I will be honest with you and say that we do not always agree with each other but, we do respect and care about each other.  We are each others muse.  The four of us meet two others for lunch on saturday.  We descended upon a Quilt shop, a Bead shop, and of course thrifting and antiquing just mingled there way in to the day.  Bless My Stitches in Murphy, NC was a pleasant surprise.  I will defiantly return for future shopping.  The four of us purchased owl fabric to make a tote.  Well ...... only one finished hers, you understand how that goes sometimes.

Birdsong Beads and Designs really had some unique pieces and the six of us would like to take a class.  Hopefully we can arrange for that to materialize within the next couple of months.  During the thrifting of goods some of us found treasure that had to return home with their new owner.  We discovered two machines one was a feather weight and the other we think was a hand crank converted to electric.  Has anyone hear of a "NewBee" machine?  The decals looked great.  The gentleman was selling these items along side of the road and we all wondered how the machines would perform.  Neither machine traveled home with anyone.  Oh well a feather weight will be in my future one day.  The weekend flew .... filled with laughter, fabric, and friends.  I do cherish our times together but those girls always leave me with new projects to finish .... well I did say they are my muse didn't I?

The country cousin meets her city cousin .......

Look I really do quilt .... I had a variety of 1/8ths from Jane Sassamen "marinating" on the shelf.  You know how it is ..... you find some fabric on sale ... and then it is even better when you can split the deal a friend right?  So my friend, Sheila, and I split a nice stack of fat quarters.  And they looked really pretty sitting on my shelf.  Then one day I thought .... those solids really compliment those Sassamen fabrics.  I had been hoarding solid fabrics for sometime wanting to create an Amish style quilt.  But I threw some fabric to the wind and created this ..... Hope you like it!!!

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Thru the eyes of a "Newbie"...

Today while returning home from work, I noticed a rainbow across the mountains.  Then I noticed it was really a double rainbow.  THAT,  just has to make you smile.  I would have taken a picture to share but thought that would not be wise while driving in the rain.... But the rainbow reminded me back to when I was a "Newbie" (a new quilter) and how I viewed the world.  I remember while sitting at a Braves game looking across the field the arrangement of colors.  Some of the groupings of colors formed shapes.  It was like a living quilt.  I remember how the books on the shelves in a library played against each other in size and color.  It was like a modern quilt.  I remember how nature allowed such a wide variety of colors to play with each other.  It was like a scrappy quilt.  I started seeing how squares, circles, and triangles worked with each other to form larger more complex shapes.... it was like seeing potential quilts around me all the time.  Now I can tell you that my mind has designed quilts a thousand times faster than my hands could ever make them.  I would even venture to say that only 8% of an idea ever make it to fabric.  So let's think again about the wonderful double rainbow against the mountains  .....  my "Newbie" eye would have seen the colors of the rainbow and the mountains ... the various sizes of curves and triangles ..... the different texture of the mountains.  So can you remember what your "Newbie" eye has seen?  ...... I think sometimes as a seasoned quilter the latest and greatest fabric are what catches our eye.  So every now and again let the "Newbie" in you take a look.  Just image what you might discover!

First Harvest ....

A vegetable garden is on the outside todo list for this property.  I have had gardens in the past some successful and some .....well lets just say not so much.  I enjoy the process of gardening.  Planing, planting, watching the plants grow, and the harvest.  I have discovered another motivation for bring the garden plan to life.  A friend was telling me about a "cannery" that is located in her town.  You bring your vegetables and everything else is available, for a price of coarse, and you leave the mess behind.  I really would like to try that next year.  So I know that you are wondering about my first harvest because by now you know that I do not have a garden ..... well while walking near the overgrown mess corner I discovered what everyone locally is getting from the side of the road.  Blackberries!!!  So my wonderful DH made breakfast this morning and included the berries.  Pancakes, sausage, and eggs........ and coffee.

Yummy!  And what a pleasant surprise.  So now I need to work on removing the the other plants that might choke out the berry plants.  Add another thing to my growing list.  If you would really like to see a wonderful garden (vegetable and flowers) then you need to visit my favorite blog for eye candy.   miaslandliv.blogspot.com  She has so much inspiration on her site that I have been known you to spend a bit of time visiting her site.

Images of Joy

Discovering quilts .......

My curiosity about quilts started while I was living in Lancaster County.  I lived in the area until the seventh grade.  I would see the quilts hanging on the laundry line while dancing with the wind.  The lifestyle that the Amish lived and their quilts seeded a passion in my heart from the start.  It was not till I found myself living in Georgia with two small children, my DH, and a full time nursing career that the seed suddenly needed to be planted.  So what does one do you might ask?  Well I joined a quilt guild - I mean who else was going to help me grow?  I remember how forgone the language was and that the "quilt police" where everywhere.  I was starting to see the world thru a quilter's eye.  I have some dear friends now that had doubts that I was ever going to become a quilter.  Now I am not published nor have I won any awards.  But I do stand tall when I say ... that I am a Quilter!!  I love the feel of fabric,  the sound of my machine,  the sights at a quilt show, the tasty goodies at retreat, and the tickle of fibers in my nose.  Well that covers all of my senses.... What does quilting do for you?

A year has past ....

Well it has officially been a year that I have started on a new journey.  I have taken a job that pointed me due north from where I was living. The mountains have brought me back closer to my roots.  There is something to be said about waking up in a cooler climate.  This blog will follow the different paths that I choose, some will be easy and others challenging.  But who would always want to take the easy road???