A Crafty Canary's Life...

Being Free

2008-05-08T05:11:00.002-04:00

Crafty Canary, the site will be moving on. I've felt unable to post anything relative to my current state knowing who could possibly read it. For a while, I was providing the site for myself and for family members to get regular updates on what's going on. Lets say drama, contention, and now fear have led me to curtail my real life wants and needs to post. Believe me, the drama is ripe.

This caged bird is about to be freed!

My next art quilting project is going rile up a number of people's feathers, but I need to be freed.

For more information and moving location:
Contact me at ragingcanary+movingon AT gmail DOT com
(replacing the AT and DOT respectively)

Good news

2008-02-19T14:19:00.002-05:00

We just went and got the ultrasound scans. Despite being incredibly ill and losing lots of weight from the enigmatic mystery of "functional bowel disorder", the baby looks perfect. Everything is where it is suppose to be, and even better my attachment to a gender specific name is well founded. I've been obsessed with the idea of having another little girl and have become extremely attached to one name. So much so, the name has been used by daughter in referencing her baby doll.

Enough dreaming of taking two girls to the mall to go shopping. Sewing wise, things are bleak. I'm thinking about taking up some hand appliqué for my couch potato days. The new, super restrictive diet is working wonders digestively, but I have a few difficulties along the way, hypoglycemia and calcium deficiency. Every day, I'm working towards keeping things in line. Hopefully soon my sewing machine will get a work out.

Best wishes!

Sleeping Snoogles

2008-02-12T15:54:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest things for me about pregnancy is sleeping. Heck, I had trouble sleeping all my life! Pregnancy just makes everyone more uncomfortable. Before Cordelia was born, I probably averaged three hours of sleep a night. When she joined the family, even less sleep made me more of an irritable person and lets not forget over emotional and useless.

In that last week, I've been waking at 1AM and am unable to get back to sleep for hours. Half the reason is with sleeping with 4 to 5 pillows and continuing to cosleep, I check her breathing constantly. (She's a pro at cosleeping, if a pillow gets anywhere near her she's the first to hop on top of it or the person using it.) After much researching, I decided to go with the easy purchase at the local BabysRUs.

The new arrival, the Leachco Snoogle pillow. I've slept better in that last two weeks with this pillow than I've had in over a year!

Has a great shape for supporting many side sleeping in multiple positions and reduces the pillow footprint. Sleeping is great. On the minus side, the cover is scratchy and difficult to get on and off for cleaning. The company sells a number of covers but they have the same problem with getting them on and off. I will say most reviews overstate the time to get the cover on and off by double (or more). Only took me about 10 minutes max in front of the tv, but ten minutes is too long when you've got a toddler wrestling with one end of it while you try to get it covered. Of course, turning out sewn straps and stuffing pointy kitty might have given me a leg up.

Monthly Goals? Never going to happen now. I call this my things to try to get done before the end of June.

Snoogle Sewing Plan #1:
Make a zippered cover for the pillow for easy laundering use. Cut enough fabric to make two or make a paper pattern.

Snoogle Sewing Plan #2:
Make a zippered cover for the pillow that includes an attached blanket to use the pillow as the bump for cosleeping. Reference, Humanity Family Bed.

Sewing Plan #3:
Make new baby very first quilt.

Sewing Plan #4:
A mei tai baby carrier that feels better than the last one I've made.

Diagnosis Coming Soon

2008-02-08T14:12:00.000-05:00

Most of my life has been lived with the expectation that I'll always be in pain or uncomfortable. After working with a nutritionist, I found that a certain food gave me headaches. So we pulled it out, headaches went away, my allergies to other foods disappeared, my cognitive abilities came back, I became happier. Even the constant pain in my stomach that had me zantacing my life away from the age of 10, finally disappeared. The culprit, wheat/gluten products. Life was wonderful. Then my nutritionist mentioned I might want to get tested for celiacs, but after being wheat free for months, my husband and I decided that going back on the wheat to test positive was not worth it.

With my first pregnancy, I craved items with gluten and a little bit wouldn't hurt. So indulgence pursued. No negative consequences, or so I thought. The worst of the worst responses arose after Cordelia's birth. A return to gluten free living returned, but flare ups still occasionally occurred, sometimes when eating safe made at home meals. The flare ups were few and far between, life is too busy to worry about things like that.

Now, in my second pregnancy, the flare ups are constant. Feeling poorly five out of six days, losing weight, and having no energy, I've been to many doctors. My OB gave me magic medicine intended to keep chemo patients from vomiting, but it fails to help. My GP said, "I think it's time for you to see a Gastroenterologist". We'd talked about it before, but decided we would wait it out. Now with my losing weight, fighting to keep healthy and from hospitalization - referral made.

My GI doctor was nice, but I was in pregnancy haze. Half of what was said, I missed. Thankfully, I brought the family along to keep me on track. All I retained was "biopsies". More than one? Yes. Both ways? Yes, but we'll wait until after the baby is born. Do I have to eat wheat? Yes. I cried (a lot) and started babbling about my brain function. She wrote a note for the next blood draw to have a Celiac panel done. She then showed me a book. A book that will later scare me senseless later while giving me hope. The book details the Simple Carbohydrate Diet, which targets the main audience of those with ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease. Paul indicates she used the words "functional bowel disorder" and "IBD" a ton. Enter the fear.

Yesterday, my nutritionist stated she thinks I should eat only meat and veggies until the book is delivered to see if my symptoms subside a little. I don't enjoy meat much but given my 'diet' the baby needs it. I haven't been sick since meat and vegging myself. Hope, hope, hope. The book is waiting on the porch for me. I am happy that my GI doctor wants to work on diet before running to the meds.

In the next few months, I may know what's wrong. Even better, in the next few months I'll feel better and be able to start some of the projects I've had time to day dream about. Overall, I hope everyone else is doing better than me.

Just when it can't get any worse..

2008-01-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

it does!

Cordelia and I have been ill the bulk of January. My normally unbudging weight has been dropping when it's suppose to be increasing. We've been hanging around doctor offices so much, I might as well work there. I've been exhausted, unable to keep up with things and have barely been into the studio. So much for the feel good second trimester. Hopefully, things will let up and I'll be able to start on the little one's first quilt. Would be great if it was completed before his/her homecoming.

Resolutions.

2008-01-08T17:38:00.000-05:00

I'm currently on the sofa watching my toddler sleep restfully. A nice change from the crying and clingy behavior that started at 3am this morning. Delia has a fever.

I've had very little time to post with illness, busy schedules, and home improvements. Even less time to get in the studio which some how became a dumping ground for displaced items.

Now that I have a few moments to reflect on my resolutions for the year. My resolutions have been thought of for a long time.

1 - Spend less time frivolously online. I use to read my news online but that time was later absorbed with LiveJournal, no more new or current events. I've been weaning myself off that over last year and have not read on LJ post since Christmas. Realtime world is too time consuming. Still reading quilting/knitting blogs, but cutting subscribe lists occasionally. Updating this blog keeps me on track craftwise, so that will not be dropped.

2 - Be more active as a family. Pull out the bicycles and skates to hit the American Tobacco Trail. Since the three months of running gave me the worst migraines of my life, activities with less bounce are required!

3 - Dedicate my crafting hours and budget intelligently. Time is limited. Stop dreaming of new projects or adding to lists of want to dos, just do. With another little one on the way, this resolutions will be even more time consuming.

Whoops! Someone just woke up...

Coming out of the hole.

2007-12-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

Some nasty virus came my way, getting me and Cordelia sick all week. In addition with some other health concerns which my doctors say are *normal*, I was really out of it. On Tuesday, I had Cordelia in my care as we tried to recover, I passed out for almost two hours only waking for brief moments while she played in the room with me. Never in my life have I fought the dredges of sleep and lost like that. A quick email to Paul and he motored home.

Suffice it say, there are no more ornaments on the lower part of the tree. Cordelia removed each one of those precious balls, with great, giggly reverence exclaiming "Ball, Ball, Ball" as she laid them in circles around her sleeping mother. Thankfully, she left the wrapped presents alone.

Before the viral entrapment, I was able to get a quick quilt done for a White Elephant gift exchange. The constraints, under $5. The materials going into the quilt quickly overcome that constraint but each fabric used was bought years ago before I realized my dislike for overtly, Asian fabrics. What's that rule? If you've had the fabric for over 3 years, whatever you make from it is free.

Still not sure why I dislike Asian fabrics, which have a faithful following. Being half-Asian, they make me feel kind of sketchy.

A quick picture of Almost Asian when I was turning the binding. I use a giant clip to mark where I am sewing and to hold the needle for easy and safe traveling. Instead of using pins, hair clips are easily visible if dropped and not sharp. I enjoy the hand work of the binding when I can take it out on the road, to church, or easily around the house.

Cordelia's first Christmas present from a gift exchange! Wasn't the best toddler gift, but she loved it.

A completed Pointy Kitty, Flora, checking out the Christmas tree. Pointy Kitty is one of the many free patterns available on wee wonderfuls. A quick and easy project completed in a short time.

Missing!

2007-12-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

I made a number of earrings for some Christmas presents. About ten pairs. Showing others earring making gave me more than enough reason and opportunity to make more than usual. Saturday evening, I decided to package each pair on a separate card. I looked everywhere, not a pair was found.

I'm convinced that my house is being burgled by an anti-Christmas troll. An elf gone bad. A comedy of events occurring only around Holiday paraphernalia. Unwrapped presents are going missing. A new roll of transparent tape only provides for four presents to be wrapped. Scissor getting lost for days at a time. The burgling troll is smart, going through my beading, finding the loose pairs of earrings in multiple places, in multiple rooms of the house to get all them and drive me crazy. It's working.

The earring gifts are not the only gift or Christmas items to go missing. Luckily, fully wrapped presents have troll repelling power. Quick wrap up all your gifts.

I'll be concocting a wrapping paper trap any day now.

Wintery, December

2007-12-03T18:15:00.000-05:00

November goals:

Quilt "Catching Lunch"
Create all the big blocks for the Square Clamshell
Make a origami crane mobile
Fold fabric for storage. Done, too!

Hmm, my stash looks in need of some lights.

December goals:

Clean up and organize the kingdom and scary rooms in the basement. It is 40% baby gear, 50% craft paraphernalia, and 10% miscellaneous.
Make quick lap quilt.
Decorate Ornaments.
Start and finish up some holiday goods. Stockings, Tree skirt.

I sincerely doubt this month's goals will be completed in time!

Hidden Agendas

2007-11-29T22:50:00.000-05:00

One of the wonderful attributes of my husband is his willingness to give me time to myself. Most of this time, he's consumed with online stuff or taking care of Delia (holding her two feet away from the sewing machine so she can Ooo and Awe). Sometimes he wistfully looks at my interests and voices his want for a hobby of his own.

His hobby constraints:

Must not involve a large quantity of materials. (He's afraid of adding another stash to our home.)

Must not involve machinery.

Must not involve a huge setup.

Must be easy to put down.

Must be easy to pick up.

Must be non functional. (Decorative, yes. Useful, no.)

Must be able to illicit some compliment from me after an hour of work. (There's a story in itself. I'm sorry. I couldn't see his light blue Xstitch on the natural backing from across the dimly lit room.)

Must be something that I would never want to do or would be extremely sucky at. (Competitive, a little?)

Anyways, his constraints make quite a list. Since he's busy all the time, I took it upon myself to toss possible hobbies his way. Xstitch, took too long to setup and put everything away. Drawing, not enough time to practice to get good. Ink pen drawing, fun but he never had the right pen(s). Wood Burning, could be too useful - I thought a set of wooden spoons would be precious.

Then came origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. In our home, any thing Japanese is revered as cool. (Paraphrasing from here on out.)

Pdaddy: *Balking* I tried origami when I was younger. It sucked.
CraftyCanaryGoddess(me): Maybe it's worth a new try? It's low cost.
Pdaddy: I still have that book from when I was 7. I don't know, I really didn't enjoy it.
CCG: Did you use super special Japanese origami paper?
Pdaddy: Super special Japanese origami paper?!?

That night we made a run out to ACMoore and got some origami paper. He started with the traditional crane and has been enjoying it in the few moments he gets. What do I want? More cranes.

When everything stands still.

2007-11-29T22:31:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, we are watching the demise of our 20 year old dryer. Our tumble dry low setting has gone and died. When we first moved in, the low setting only took 60 minutes. Slowly, those 60 grew to 90 minutes of required drying time. I love how human interaction with machine hasn't changed much. One evening, we sent the load through three 90 minute cycles on low. Uh, yeah. What was it Einstein said about insanity? Yup, two engineers sitting mystified. So four and a half hours later, turning up the heat setting, from soggy wet to burn was initiated. Anything other than cotton doesn't have a chance. My quilts are doing fine.

In the studio, everthing is running in slow-mo with Square Clamshell. If I thought fussy cutting tons of blocks would be time consuming, the thought of sewing 49 little blocks together hadn't crossed my mind or pressing the 49 tiny seams open!

The solitary act of designing the blocks was wonderful and fast moving. Picking the main eight, a grueling process. Every project has it's own innate obstacles and hinderances. Took me over 20 minutes to press open the seams to seven rows (one main block). In the time it took my husband to order dinner out, pick up the food, returned home, and set the table. I was still pressing open the seams on of one block. Snail's pace.

To make things more interesting, we now have a large leak under the kitchen sink. Investigation and clean up, hopefully we won't have to shut down the whole house water supply between major uses; especially since it requires getting into the crawl space under the deck.

In other news, the earring making went well, minus the smashed finger when doing the hammering demonstration. At least I gave the girls a tutorial on what not to do. Nine women and most of them left wearing their brand new creations. Catching Lunch was handed over to it's new mother. Amelia loved it!

About to Fall Over.

2007-11-29T11:49:00.000-05:00

North Carolina has beautiful fall weather - has something to do with all the trees. We're still cleaning up all the leaves.

My best childhood friend is arriving in town tomorrow; and a visit to the Nasher Museum may be in order.

Showing another earring project this evening to my MOPs group. Wish me luck!

I've been feeling a little short on temper and energy lately. Been able to complete some of my monthly goals, but much lacking on the posting.

Catching Lunch Completed!

2007-11-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

One of the holiday's that brings me the most anxiety is Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for but I'm thankful that Thanksgiving is over. My gluten allergy is one thing, but the turkey allergy just doubles my complaint about this holiday. Turkey allergy comes from my paternal side and arrives with age. I miss me some gobble bird.

We took the week off to get some work in the house completed. Using Sherwin William's Harmony paint, which is a GreenSure product, zero off gasing of toxins, good/better for the environment, smell is liveable and gone quickly. I can at least be in the house with the painting. However, we all ended up catching a cold for the weekend. Nice.

Thankfully, I was able to get some quilting done. I am again astounded by the usability of the JF frame. I completed the quilting in less than two hours. I had a minor issue with the baste less system but that was 100% my fault.

I wanted more continuous quilting on the sides of the frog. I advanced the frame without pinning the other side of the frog and then rewound the frame. Made for a greater look on the top but had some sagging and tucks on the backing. I hadn't noticed the areas affected until the quilting was completed. I did take to safety pinning towards the end and showed no issue in those areas. In the future, pin baste unquilted areas before advancing. Some of the detailed quilting waited until the frame was removed but not much.

I fixed the tucking in the upper left, you might be able to notice if you look closely.

A machine binding due to exhaustion. Regretting most of this decision, but armed with a head cold speed is tempting seducer. Label was stamped with my homemade stamp of my emblem then fabric markers used over the stamp and colored in with my writing. A quick and easy label.

Catching Lunch was a fun project full of whimsy. My first opportunity to try out the magic of Wonder Under. A great nap time quilt for a growing boy. One of my favorite learning experiences is that the company that makes Wonder Under is where my giftee's parents work. A great, "Ah, Ha!" moment.

Who wears earrings?

2007-11-13T12:35:00.000-05:00

I belong to my local MOPs group, which is basically a group of women with young kids. We get together for community, support, and tips on how to improve *something*. Some nights we do a craft. Usually, the craft is making a card because the craft coordinator makes cards. I offered to share my knowledge on knitting, quilting, or beading. When it comes down to it, beading is the only one that can be taught and successfully executed within a matter of minutes.

After a mini-catastrophe at work, I've been pressed for time. Staying later to get back on track only to return home and try to design easy to intermediate beading that can be made by the novice in a few minutes. (Some of the girls are craft-challenged.)

So busy, I've enlisted some house cleaning help. The high heels were all her idea, though. All these earrings, who wears earrings anyways? (((Not me!)))

Thankful, November

2007-11-01T19:33:00.000-04:00

October goals:

Do some sewing
Do some quilting FAIL!!!
Make one pair of earrings FAIL!!!
Be prepared for the KF workshop

October has been good, no room to complain. I had another week long migraine and am now on a daily prescription, "living better through chemistry". Thankfully, things are looking and feeling better.

"Catching Lunch" details went in smoothly. A few more bits I was planning to add, but that happy frog is looking complete on his own. Isn't 90% of completing a piece knowing when to stop? The other 10% is actually getting started. So no background farm, trees, and corralled horses. New plans? Just a red back tacked to the front for a machine pieced border/binding.

November goals:

Quilt "Catching Lunch"
Create all the big blocks for the Square Clamshell
Make a origami crane mobile
Studio Organization/Fold fabric for storage

I'm giving up in having everything ironed, folded and sorted. Folded and sorted will just have to do. I can iron them up when the fabrics become contenders. My studio closet is just too messy. On another sad note, our laundry dryer is dying. Three hours to dry one load! I wonder if my the fabric prewashing is to blame.

Everyone have their Christmas list completed?

Workshop over!

2007-10-21T17:27:00.000-04:00

Kaffe and Brandon came around and gave advice. Mostly contradicting each other, but overwhelming helpful. Some of my lights were just too light. I knew this so I cut fairly few of those. What was surprising is one of my darks was too dark.

Here's Kaffe at the aide of my gal pal Barbara. She had a beautiful blue and white color scheme. Caught a picture of them as I was getting a preliminary board photo.

Here's my board at the end of the workshop. Switched some colors out. My color scheme was mossy, sagey as Kaffe pointed out in the critique. Overwhelmingly different than most the other's work. Kaffe said something like, looks like she went into the woods and pulled all these colors out. He also referred to the middle most blocks rose bud and stems as being cheeky, loved them.

I'm spent. Fun experience. I definitely will do a workshop again in the future. My fabrics were extremely different as well as my blocks but nothing to be ashamed of! No more workshop fear. However, I was the youngest quilter there.

Must have the quilt completed for in a year for a workshop get together for a show and tell.

Should have been...

2007-10-20T14:08:00.000-04:00

As I should have been cutting fabric for my Square Clamshell workshop, I ended up getting a homework project from my daughter's teacher. Shouldn't be too hard, I'm crafty, it will only take a minute. Didn't need over an evening to finish this over sized Valentine, omage to my daughter, but I should have been cutting. Each little heart has a word to describe her. At about 2 am, I started running out of steam but the project was completed.

Since I dilly dallied with my prep work, I had to step it into high gear. I've only been to work workshops involving computer software or engineering. Never had a need to fussy cut fabric or ponder bringing my sewing machine or not. The email states to have fabric "cut fabrics you plan to use". Umm, okay. What if I plan to use them all?

The quilt top calls for 8 blocks set on point, with 3 half blocks and 4 quarter blocks filling in the sides and corners. About 12 blocks give or take. With each block having 49 internal blocks, that is 588 total itty bitty block pieces! What does 588 itty bitty block pieces look like?

Say hello to my 588 block pieces, all cut to 3" square and kept in groups of 4. Eleven of the fabrics were fussy cut. Here's a mock block. I definitely missed the mark on low contrast though. Just need to make it work!

Soo busy, too busy..

2007-10-18T07:22:00.000-04:00

Anyone who is a mother of an infant, toddler, or preschooler who works full time, who keeps up with social engagements, keeps up with personal projects, and keeps a clean house. I commend you! Please give me your tips because I'm sucking at trying to keep everything going.

My art projects and the cleanliness of my home are the first to go. Been getting really exhausted and having less time to be productive outside of work. I'm failing at completing any of my projects and with KF's Square Clamshell workshop this weekend, I have tons of little squares to cut up.

I've taken a new look on the my handwork quilt. Once was yo-yos, then a grandmother's flower garden.

WIP pictures of my Redrafted Grandmother's Flower Garden (RGFG).

Today, the idea has transformed to a origami quilt flowers. I was excited to work with the redesign which was working smoothly with the templates. But really, all that hand work, precious time marking and cutting? I don't have the time! Sad to say, tabling the RGFG is going to be hard but I have much hope for some fabric folding. Wish me luck!

My RGFG project will be boxed and labeled. *Sigh*

Do something!

2007-10-15T15:22:00.000-04:00

We've only been given one planet! Our earth, our water, our air... All of our resources are not limitless! Take action and conserve, give our planet a chance to heal so the generations to come don't curse us for our wastefulness.

Make every decision for the future, not for the moment!

Pinwheel Sweater Complete!

2007-10-09T23:28:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I started on a cardigan for Cordelia. Alison from the blue blog brought this pattern to my attention. The pinwheel sweater elann.com pattern. Cute sweater/bolero style cardigan, but why was I truly drawn to knit this pattern? Because this sweater is a magical knit that can be worn by a one year old and a four year old! So I'm hoping for a lot of wear.

Time to knit: The pinwheel body part with loopy edging took about three short evenings of work. Took longer to get the sleeves knit because of a serious lack of time.

Needles: I used my denise needle set and magic looped where applicable. US 9 for body, US 8 for sleeves. US 9 boyd metal dpns for loopy edge.

Yarn: I used Rowan Cotton Tweed which is 70% silk, 30% cotton. The yarn knits up beautifully and feels good on the needles which helps to speed up the knitting. For $8 to $10 a skein, the yarn was exactly as I would expect it to be - dreamy, silky, soft. Because of the "tweed" style of the yarn, the yarn does not show ribbing well. There were small twigs from the silk blend that required pulling. Some skeins were worse than others. I had two of the colors pulled from stash before starting the project. Yarn requires hand washing.

Modifications Made: I modified the pattern to use 5 colors instead of 7, due to the price of the yarn. Loopy edge was done on US 9. The US 6 and 7 dpn loopy edge didn't show enough for the work going into it. Considering adding a tie for the front to hold it closed.

Knit again? Was an easy knit that went quickly. In the future, a more cost effective yarn will be selected. I'm happy with the results and hope for a lot of gentle wear.

Happy Birthday, Cords!

2007-10-08T11:21:00.001-04:00

Seems like just the other day, we brought home a little squish.

One year later...
You are running, laughing, and having a good time.

Sorry, I had to take the rock away.
I love you.

Happy 1st Birthday, CoCoDee!

Be kind, October!

2007-10-05T12:37:00.000-04:00

September was riddled with ear infections, fevers, and teething. I also lost some brain speed from the retreat food crisis.

September goals:

Finish Pinwheel top, Pieced Border Work. FAIL!
Sew Catching Lunch top details.FAIL!
Buy Fabric for Square Clamshell and look for a stacknwhack novelty fab too!
Stash organization. FAIL!

Really, it looks like I got spanked. I only was able to do the one thing I shouldn't have. Bought fabric. I did the shop hop by myself in an attempt to utilize the 20% coupon provided by each store. Also gave me a chance to see the other stores up front, let me see what each store was all about. I was hit with some lasting impressions. I won't be giving the shops a full review because of the circumstances but a brief run down for traveling quilters and locals to what to expect.

October goals:

Do some sewing
Do some quilting
Make one pair of earrings
Be prepared for the KF workshop

I'm only hoping for progress. Need to get back on the machine.

Ahoy, me hearties!

2007-09-19T11:40:00.000-04:00

Not a one of ye arr man enough to Talk Like a Pirate, it's uh, ~~National~~ International! Would it be time to pull out the plank? Arrgh!

As for a cautionary tale... Last night, I embarked on my first adventure with ye olde wonder under. Paying extra careful attention to the directions is important. I have some fabric where the right side is fusible. Oops! Neigh a time goes by where I muck something up in the details (due to pure exhaustion). Even me pirate talk is lacking.

New Tools of the Trade, the digital camera

2007-09-18T20:28:00.000-04:00

One of the most important design tools in my studio is my simple point and shoot digital camera. Whenever I'm conflicted, confused, or cautious, I snap a quick picture, walk away, and come back to the picture with a fresh mind. This technique never fails me. Sometimes I use the camera as a visual record of the design. Going back to the picture during piecing to feel confident in the way the blocks are arranged and how it's being pulled together. When it's time for quilting, printing out a grey scale of the quilt makes a great place to lay out quilting motifs.

Testing out borders.

Auditioning new fabrics. Flattens out the color for checking out the composition.

Another great quality of the camera is the ability to take endless pictures and catch the right moment.

"Not yet ready!" to "Come in for the close up!" in a matter of seconds.

Going to the mountains, looking at log cabins

2007-09-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

My voice came back Sunday night. Still goes in and out at times, but some is better than none. Thankfully, my voice was back in time for the DOQ guild meeting. Ellen Guerrant gave a lecture on log cabins. She had some beautiful work and some beautiful slides. I also got a chance to chat with two more guild members and am even considering taking on the Secretary position. Considering? What am I thinking? I'm already swamped with Tuesday night and every other Thursday night commitments. Not forgetting the full time work load, the attempts at bringing color and art into my home, but the almost yearling growing at exceptional rates. I really need to think about this more.

I bought some fabrics for the Kaffe Fassett workshop, but got a bill last night for two of the CT scans. One is still pending. *OUCH!* Fabric purchasing may need to sit on the back burner until I get the 'ok'. Shop hop? Maybe next year. So sad!

For local quilters or wannabes in the Triangle area (Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh). I created a little meetup group DurhamSassyQuilters. We are small now but we have to start somewhere!

We're heading out of town this weekend. A nice little retreat to the mountains.

I'm feeling good enough today, I'll go for a jog tonight and hope to get pressing!