Happy 2011

WOW, Just where has the time gone?  I'm alive and well and I've been so quiet (so not me!) and I have been quilting and acquiring a large stash of fabric - yikes!   I need to get my feet wet with Blogger, so this post is like a learning experience.  How do I do this and add that and say something witty and entertaining in the process?  How do I even add pictures???

As I don't make Resolutions for the New Year because I would never keep them, I have instead set some goals for myself.  And, I'll start with making myself heard more.

I have been so inspired by all of the Blogs that I visit on a regular basis and I'm pretty quiet there, too.  One of my "Goals" is to leave comments.  I've also put myself on a Fabric Diet -- or a severe Stash Manicure sounds so much better.   How did I accumulate all of this stash?  Does it multiply while I'm asleep?  Geez, there I said it out loud & no, it doesn't make me feel better.  Hello, organization and purging.

Once I get the hang of how to add pictures and discover something witty to say, I'll be back!

Snoopy Is Still Dancing

Today, I went for my 18-month check up since finishing Chemo for fNHL -- everything looks good - blood work is good, no lumps nor bumps, I feel great and Remission continues. My doctor only believes in sending me for a scan if there is something suscipious -- so I haven't had to have one since December, 2007. Huge sigh of relief!! It's hard to believe that it was two years ago, almost to the day, that I walked into that office for my first Chemo scared -- no make that terrified.

It's so nice now to breeze in, get a blood draw, meet with the doctor, chat with the nurses, and breeze back out. Do I still get nervous? You bet - I broke out with a case of hives on the back of my legs this morning and I could feel them inching up my back and neck in the car going to the appointment. By the time I got into the office, they were crawling around to the side of my face, which required a shot of Benadryl to clear them up. On the drive back to work, the Benadryl must have kicked in because I could feel them receding. It's amazing what your nerves can do to you! Deep down, I knew everything was fine - so why was I such an itchy mess?

I really and truly feel like I've got my life back, I feel great and I'm enjoying everyday. Yes, there really is life after cancer - it's just a shame that it took a cancer diagnosis for me to start enjoying it. I've come along way in those two years.

The Perfect Weekend

I was on vacation last week. No set plans, no alarm clock and no watch. An entire week off to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was heaven!

I just had to start a new quilting project, when I stumbled across a 2007 issue of "America Loves Scrap Quilts" and spotted Nine & Vines. Sure, I had other projects that I could have been working on and heaven forbid, maybe even getting around to finishing something -- but, that wasn't in the cards for me. I wanted a "What I did on my summer vacation" quilt. I would get up in the morning, put on a pot of coffee and head up to my sewing room to sew a few 9-Patches. When/if the sun came out, I was out in the yard, with the boys, soaking it up. Then back to a little more sewing into the wee hours. Hey, this is vacation. But, I must admit, I think I was seeing 9-Patches in my sleep. Here is a little preview - I'm done up to the first border.

I had picked something out for the final border, but it just wasn't working for me. I feel a Road Trip coming up. I'm even kind of antsy to start on the applique -- yes, me, appliqueing, but, did I say -- I really want this quilt?

On Saturday, I got together with my Quilt Buddy, Susan, and we checked out a new Quilt Shop not too far from home, Lil Country Quilt Shop in Middletown, DE. As soon as we walked in the door, I could feel the MODA-love just pouring out from every corner in the store. All those FQ's, Jelly Rolls, Dessert Rolls and Charm Packs screaming "pick me, pick me". Who am I to leave a Moda Charm pack behind? Each and every one of them were just too cute for words.

These are the charm packs that came home with me. I'm hoping that by holding onto the label and fanning through them will cause all kinds of inspiration and scream "use me, use me!"

This was a really cute shop with a friendly staff that were more than happy to indulge us. Susan and I are usually a force of nature when we get together with fabric and have to touch, fondle and cajole, then, usually end up buying everything we put our hands on. You can almost say, this shop brought me to me knees or I'm praying to the altar of St. Moda.

When we left the quilt shop, laden with bags and a little lighter in cash, we headed to a little shop that sells Brighton jewelry. After all that "soft-ware", I needed a little heavy metal to round out the day.

Fast forward to Sunday and I went canoeing down the Historic Brandywine River. I'm not really an outdoorsy type of person, but something about this really appealed to me. I called Sonny-boy and he was on-board with this crazy notion of mine, as was my granddaughter, Kylie. A family outing!!

We had picture-perfect weather for our trip.

After gearing up, and of course, posing for a few pictures, we were transported to our drop-off location, given a shove-off, and we were on our way down the river.

This was the first time any of us have ever tried canoeing -- but, we can't wait to do it all over again.

No cell phone, no iPod, just people power...

Enjoy the view - we'll do the paddling for you:

Ponderings

A friend of mine just asked me recently, "do you always have a quilt project going?" Hmmm...I had to really think about how to answer that question -- the operative word there being project -- as in just one. OK, you can stop laughing now. The questionee is not a quilter, so I just smiled and nodded.

I still have my quilting "mojo" - YAY! The proverbial "Quilting Bug" has bitten me hard and I have quite a few projects on-going, but alas nothing is yet finished. This time of year presents quite a few challenges for me with quilting -- I live in an old house that still has fuses. Now, do I run the A/C or turn on the iron? I've taken to quilting in the early morning and later in the evening when it's much cooler in the sewing room/sweat shop. Gotta have the iron on!

This morning I decided that I needed something for 4th of July - like, maybe a table topper. I went shopping in my stash and found exactly what I was looking for - woo-hoo! Now, I sketched out this table topper a while ago from somewhere in blog-land, so I don't remember when nor where I snagged it from -- but, I must have been destined to make it because it's just going together so well. Doesn't every patriotic quilt need Homeland Security protecting it? What is it about quilts and animals? - I see them all over Bloggerville - out comes the camera to get a shot, and there is the pet.

I'm still working on my First Quarter project for 30's Club, too. Yeah, I know - we're closing in on the end of the second quarter, but, hey, the Road To California is a long trip! The flower blocks are all done - and 6 out of 24 Road to California blocks are completed. HST's have become a way of life in those stolen minutes.

Lastly, I became the grandmother of a teenager! We celebrated Kylie's 13th birthday last week - oh my, where has that time gone? Now, what to get a teenager for her birthday? We don't

have the same taste in clothing, she already owns everything "Twilight"-related and cash seemed so impersonal. BUT, what teenager wouldn't appreciate a little cold-hard cash. After seeing the Geico commercial on TV, I went to the bank, got a stack of $1's and put googly eyes on it -- Man, did her face light up when she saw that little guy sitting atop the rest of the presents. There was other teenage-stuff in the birthday box, too, but I think that stack of cash was a big hit.

Happy Memorial Day & Seeing Stars

Happy Memorial Day and a special thanks to all of those serving in the Armed Forces that provide that blanket of freedom that we live under.

The Quilting Bug has bitten me hard and I'm so happy that I'm seeing Stars. Let me explain...the other night I was in AC Moore picking up some yarn, and while I was in line waiting, I picked up the new McCalls Quilting Celebrate Your Stash - America Love Scrap Quilts - whew, what a title, eh? Well, as I was flipping through the pages, I came across this quilt that just sung to me. What's not to love, scrappy, red/white/blue, and a sampler of stars --maybe, I can even put a major dent in some of my stash - hey, a girl can dream!!

Since all of the Season Finales are finally over, I decided not to turn on the TV on Thursday night. I took the magazine up to my sewing room and started pulling fabrics. Good-bye clean sewing room - hello new project.

I've been busy. It was like eating potato chips -- one block led to another, and sew on and sew forth. I must have been destined to make this quilt, because everything went together beautifully.

I was on vacation Friday and my morning ritual is usually a cup of coffee and Sudoku - I forwent the Sudoku puzzle and started sewing until the sun came out.

Since this quilt uses 4-patches as fillers, I've been sewing them as my Leaders & Enders.

I'm kind of a computer geek, because I made up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the blocks that I made and the many, many that I have left to do. But, I have been enjoying the process and that's all that matters.

I met up with my Quilting Buddies on Saturday for a little quilt retail therapy followed by Afternoon Tea and Show & Tell. What a perfect day. If you look at the reflection in the glass, you can see picture-perfect blue sky and not a cloud in sight. I also fell in love with the planter between Deb and Susan that housed a Diplidina -- I just had to have one and stopped at the garden center to pick one up. As a matter of fact, all three of us got one!



After we left the quilt shop, we made a side trip to Joann Fabrics armed with our coupons and I picked up this cool Art Bin that is now holding my Star blocks together waiting for me to get finished.

Party with Patrick

On Wednesday night, I attended the first Party with Patrick celebration at The Quilter's Hive. It was so much fun. The theme was a bridal shower and many of the participants came with some of the most outrageous bridal veils. They held a judging and had the women parade throughout the store for prizes. My creative juices weren't flowing to come up with a bridal veil, so I just shot pictures.


My name got called in one of the drawings and I won a roll of Steam-a-Seam 2. I was so excited since I've never used it before (I've been a Heat and Bond Lite gal for quite some time), but, I love trying new things.




They also demo'd the monthly project (a May Flowers banner) and my friend Susan and I got sucked in --They cast the line and we were caught, hook, line & sinker. At least it was a kit, which included everything needed to complete it -- even the backing fabric. And, of course we had to have the sunflower hanger, too.

The celebration was complete with dessert and a delicious punch.

It's Been Too Long

Just in case anyone is interested or still reading my blog, I am alive and well. I just didn't have anything going on in my life that was Blog-worthy.

I so happy that Spring is finally here - a time of new beginnings. My Knock-Out rose is just beautiful this year - it was a Mother's Day gift from my Mother 3 years ago - so it's truly the gift that keeps on giving. A robin has built a nest on my front porch and it has 4 baby robins in it. I have enjoyed watching them, but they are the shittingest birds I have even seen. It's a good thing that they are cute because I have to wash down my porch every evening. The addition of these birds does not thrill my "indoor residents" and they spend all of their time looking out the front door barking - which really annoys the Alpha Dog - ME! Here's Toby in the "Sentinel" position next to the front door.

I am finally starting to get my Quilting Mojo back. I'm attending the monthly Demo's at The Quilters Hive, I attended the Lancaster Quilt Show with my two quilting buddies and I've joined a 30's Club. Once a month I go "clubbing" at the quilt shop, which is a great social event - we have a monthly project in 30's fabric and then are treated to dessert and a discount on any purchases. If this just sounds like a lot of retail therapy - you're correct!

I've been visiting a lot of blogs looking for inspiration and lo and behold, I stumbled across http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/ blog and she is sponsoring a Quilt-A-Thon. Just one block a day - hey, I can do that. And, the block is the 9-Patch -- my personal favorite. Of course, it wouldn't be me, if I didn't get a late start -- every group needs a slacker - so I fit right in. So, here I was 16 days late, but I just love a deadline. I made an Excel spreadsheet so that I can keep track of what I've done and where I need to be.

On Friday night, I started stripping - hey, now don't go there - stripping fabrics with the rotary cutter!! I've been trying to clean out my sewing room - OK, I'll admit it -- I have too much fabric and in that too much fabric is stuff I never want to see again -- well, maybe if I just take a strip, then I can be done with it. In the clean out, I also came across tons of FQ's that I have know idea of why I bought them, but they are fun and bright and just the ticket to pull me out of my Quilting Funk. Thanks, Amanda Jean.

Once I had a pile of strips, it was grab & sew and it didn't take long for me to catch up. It felt so good to hear my Bernina humming along. I didn't even mind the hopping up and tripping over a dog to press because everything was just falling into place.

I'm happy to report that it's now Day 22 and I have 25 blocks made.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day. Yes, I am still alive and well, I just haven't had much to Blog about.

I've decided to put my Mom's house on the market, since I just can bring myself to live there. I can only hope that I am making the right decision, especially with the housing market so depressed. But, I've made a decision and I'm going to stick to it and not look back.

I did make my quilted postcards for a swap on Stashbusters, but I forgot to take a photograph of them before I sent them out. I received two really cute postcards from Nancy and Shirley. I really liked making the postcards and I plan to make more - I'm hooked.

Since stitchery is one of my greatest loves - I'm participating in the Gail Pan BOM and I have the first block completed.

I've also performed a lot of retail therapy over the internet. Isn't it great that you can order fabric while sitting at your computer late at night in you pajamas and a few days later it is delivered right to your door?

What a nice Valentine surprise -- I was invited to my son's house for dinner and he is doing the cooking - it doesn't get any better than that - spending Valentine's Day with the one's that you love!