Beach Retreat

I got back this afternoon from 3 great days sewing at the beach. About 50 members of the Cobblestone Quilters were in attendance. Here we all are. I'm the 2nd person from the right in the front row of standees.

The organizers did a fantastic job. The theme was "Pajama Party." Upon arrival on Friday afternoon we each received a hand made pillow case with a number of goodies inside. Just before lunch on Saturday we each received our "bag lunch" which was actually an assortment of fat quarters. The ones I originally received were not my style, but I was able to trade with someone. She loved what I had and I loved what she had.

Saturday night we had one of those gift exchanges where you either steal a gift from someone or select one of the wrapped ones on the table. (I know there is a name for that, but can't remember what it is.) I had items stolen from me several times! It was fun. We all wore our pj's and were given a pillow for our new pillowcases. Those that didn't want to sew Saturday night could watch the special movie - Pillow Talk!

I started and finished 2 quilt tops. One is a Spiderman quilt for Noah. I don't have a photo of that one yet. This is the other:



I can't figure out a name for it. Can you help?

The painted center zebra panel was purchased at our quilt show in March. It's on a fairly loosely woven fabric. I had about a yard of the squiggly black & white fabric that I wanted to use as a border. When I put the panel on top of the squiggly fabric to audition it, one of the other quilters there pointed out that the squiggles made an interesting pattern showing through the panel fabric, so I went with it. I was lucky that matching the diagonals on the outer border just fell into place. I'm pleased with the result.

B is for...

Sorry I've been out of touch. Not much going on. Here's my next entry in WordPlay.

B is for

Beach Retreat - I'm leaving Friday to spend a long weekend on Seabrook Island at Camp St. Christopher. My quilt guild is having its annual beach retreat. This will be the first time for me so I'm not sure what to expect. I still haven't gathered up a project to take, but I'm sure I can come up with something.

Blueberry - one of my favorite fruits

Bill - my stepfather. He and my mother were married about 15 years until his death in the mid 80's. He had the greatest sense of humor and could always be counted on for a laugh.

Bernina - I've owned several Bernina sewing machines. My current model is a 170.

Buddy - Noah's lovey.
Chrystal bought Buddy from an internet friend who sells the approx. 12" squares. One side is flannel the other a satin like fabric. Buddy has 2 "ears" and 2 "tails" for extra tactile stimulation. Noah cuddles Buddy when he sucks his thumb. Here he is about 18 months ago with Buddy. Buddy has been facing some plastic surgery lately. He is becoming a regular visitor to my sewing machine while we try to keep him from falling apart.

Craig had his own lovey. It was a blanket that had been hand knit by my sister-in-law's mother, Joyce. That blanket went everywhere with Craig. It went to camp with him tucked inside his pillow case. He also took it to college. In fact he still has it stashed somewhere in his house. The once white, pink, yellow, green & blue striped blanket is now an unattractive shade of grey.

Blue Bell Ice Cream - One of my new favorite brands of ice cream. They just started selling it here in Charleston. I almost didn't buy it when I found out it was George W's favorite and that he serves it in the White House, but I decided not to punish the company just because I don't like one of its fans!

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream - my other favorite brand. It's hard to pass up B&J!

I hope to have quilt photos to post after the retreat!

What would it take?

Courtesy of Deb

GRUB-OLOGY
1. What is your salad dressing of choice?
Lately I’ve been partial to a red wine balsamic vinaigrette.

2. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
I don’t search out fast food anymore. For a while, though, Noah was on a Wendy’s kick, so I’ve been there a lot lately. He loves his nuggets and fries!

3. What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
Wow, tough call. We haven’t been able to find the perfect place since we returned to Charleston.

4. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
I leave 20% but I think Jerry leaves between 15-20%.

5. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Deb’s answer of fruit is good, but I think if I’m going to be honest I’ll have to say ice cream.

6. Name three foods you detest above all others.
Fishy fish, liver, oysters

7. What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?
Something Szechwan

8. What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Ham & pineapple.

9. What do you like to put on your toast?
Jelly

10. What is your favorite type of gum?
Sugarless. I chew LOTS of gum and I crack it – which is SO irritating!


BI-OLOGY

1. What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
The thickness of my hair.

2. Are you right handed or left handed?
Right

3. Do you like your smile?
I’ve never thought about it. I suppose I’d like it better if I had my teeth whitened.

4. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Does an IUD count?

5. Would you like to?
If I knew it was entirely safe I’d have all my excess fat sucked out!

6. Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
Smell

7. When was the last time you had a cavity?
Don’t remember exactly.

8. Do you have 20/20 vision?
Not since I was in grade school – and maybe not even then.

9. What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?
My fat ass

10. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No

MISC-OLOGY

1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to
die?
I don’t intend to die.

2. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
Not sure what I’d change it to. Probably something normal where every third person shares the same name. Then I would have been able to find personalized items when I was a kid.

3. How do you express your artistic side?
If I ever find it I’ll let you know.

4. What color do you think you look best in?
I had my ‘colors’ done back in the 80’s when it was so popular. I’m a winter and I look best in winter colors - pure white, jewel tone colors, black.

5. How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?
Don’t think I’d last very long at all. Would I have to share a room?

6. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
Probably. They say people swallow bugs in their sleep a lot!

7. If we weren't bound by society's conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?
No!

8. How often do you go to church?
Like Deb, for weddings and funerals.

9. Have you ever saved someone's life?
No.

10. Has someone ever saved yours?

No.

DARE-OLOGYFor this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.

1. Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?

I wouldn’t do it for millions. I’m sure in my present condition they’d pay me not to do it.

2. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
Just a peck on the lips? Yes, but nothing more.

3. Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000?
No. I wouldn't even have sex with a member of the opposite sex (except for Jerry) for money.

4. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Nope.

5. Would you never blog again for $50,000?
Sure – I don’t think anyone is reading anyway.

6. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
No! – see #1

7. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Yuck. No. Back when he was a teenager, Craig probably could & would.

8. Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
No.

9. Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000?
Since I consider my hair my best feature, it might be hard to lose it for a while. I have a big ole scar on the back of my head that is probably very ugly and I’d hate to subject people to that on my bald pate. I guess for 100,000 I’d do it.

10. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?

How would I watch the Oakland A’s, and all my favorite reality shows? For $50,000, I’d do it.

If you want to do this meme, feel free! I'd love it if you'd tell me so in comments so I can check out your answers.

A is for...

Back in the spring Laume started her Wordplay posts. Go here to read about it. Since I've only recently started blogging, I'm coming late to the party, but thought I'd give it a try.

A is for:

Artist - what I wish I was. Right now I feel like an artist wannabe.

Anxiety - something I have occasionally. Fortunately, I'm able to medicate to help control it.

Adam's Apple - the name of a wallhanging that I started last year and have yet to complete.


Asilomar - Where they hold the annual Empty Spools Seminars and where I created Adam's Apple in a class with Judy Sisneros. I was fortunate to be able to attend Asilomar every year we lived in California. I don't see myself being able to go back from here and I'll really miss it.

Allen and Annette My sister-in-law and brother-in-law. They live in California so we don't see them very often. Even when we lived there we didn't see them much! Annette is Jerry's younger sister. Her name is really Georgia Annette, but she has always been called Annette. Allen and Annette are the parents of Shaniqua and Jameia.

Check back in the next week or so for the B's.

Hot...hot...hot

As the entire country knows it's record breaking hot everywhere. Actually we haven't broken any records here - it's just normal hot. Today it was in the high 90's with humidity in the 60% range. Thank God for air conditioning! I've been using the inside time to catch up on my blog reading and I got this one from Debra

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

After visiting that "quiz" I took a couple of others.

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Sky Fang Your Superpower is Nanotechnology Your Weakness is Garlic Your Weapon is Your Dark Blaster Your Mode of Transportation is Skateboard

What's your Superhero Name?

Since the smell of garlic really bothers me, that could actually be me!

Then I had to find out this piece of important information!

Your Pimp Name Is...

Sexxie Kisses

What's Your Pimp Name?

Then I ended with this one.

You Are 62% American

Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home. You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

How American Are You?

Share YOUR results!

Four Things

I was cleaning up my blog bookmarks (deleting those that haven't been posted to for several months) and discovered this four things meme from quite some time ago. I cut & pasted the list and then proceeded to delete the blog before getting a link to it to give credit. Sorry..


Four Jobs I've had:
1. Paralegal
2. Key Punch operator (yuck!)
3. Stay at home mom
4. Clerical worker

Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Major League
3. Gone With The Wind
4. It's a Wonderful Life & Miracle on 34th Street

Four Places You've Lived:
1. New York
2. Charleston, SC
3. Dunoon Scotland
4. San Jose, CA & Los Angeles, CA

Four TV Shows You Love to Watch:
1. West Wing (so sad it's been cancelled)
2. M*A*S*H
3. Survivor
4. Simply Quilts

Four Places You've Been on Vacation:
1. Disney World
2. Copenhagen
3. Yosemite
4. Myrtle Beach

Four Websites You Visit Everyday
1. Yahoo groups
2. Delphi
3. Blogger
4. QuiltArt

Four of Your Favorite Foods
1. Ice Cream
2. Pizza
3. Sugar Cookies
4. Fruit

Four Places You'd Rather Be:
1. I'm happy right where I am

Four Albums You Can't Live Without
1 - 4. All the Beatle albums

Four People You'll Pass This On To:
Nobody, since it's so old.

Noah!

Yesterday was a Noah day. Jerry and I took him to Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston.



He (and Jerry) had a great time playing in the fountain.

It was a hot humid day, just perfect for a stroll in the water!





He was so tired after spending the afternoon in the fountain and fell fast asleep on the way home.

We have fun on Noah days!

My brush(es) with fame

I have always had a crush on Mark Harmon as my answer to the question about favorite actor indicates. It's not surprising that I married someone with similar coloring is it?

We lived in the Los Angeles area just prior to our return to Charleston. Every once in a while we'd cross paths with someone famous. (I saw Lassie's mom more than once). One day as I left the grocery store I found a man standing next to the driver's door of my car. I stopped for a second to wait for him to step aside & then realized it was MARK HARMON my crush for years. He noticed me standing there - we locked eyes (sigh) - and I lamely said 'excuse me.' His response was 'oh, I'm sorry' and he stepped aside. MARK HARMON spoke to ME! I can die happy now.

Up until then my big thrill was that we once flew on a plane with Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland and Robert Redford, but none of them spoke to me. (they actually filmed a small portion of the movie Ordinary People on the flight- but up in 1st class, not back in the cheap seats with us)



I also once spoke with Joe Namath. Jerry and I were staying at a hotel in Atlanta. There was an interesting star in the tile design on the lobby floor and I was standing there sketching the design when Joe Namath walked across the lobby. They were holding an induction ceremony for the Georgia sports hall of fame and he was there to induct a friend. Since I had paper and pen in hand I got his autograph. I used the star design as the center for this round robin quilt which I titled "Joe's Traveling Star." It was a great group of round robin folks. Each quilt was beautiful. Unfortunately, since I only knew the people from the internet, I've since lost track of all the women who worked on my quilt. If you recognize it as something you worked on, drop me a line!

Countdown

I got this from Deb

10 Favorites
Favorite Season: Probably Spring - especially April in Charleston
Favorite Color: I like the brights - fuschia, orange, lemon yellow, etc.
Favorite Time: I'm with Deb on this one - Daylight Savings Time rocks.
Favorite Food: Ben & Jerry's ice cream
Favorite Drink: alcoholic - margarita; non-alcoholic - diet coke
Favorite Ice Cream: see Favorite Food
Favorite Place: I like Charleston - where I am now, but I also really love Pacific Grove, CA.
Favorite Sport: Baseball - specifically Oakland A's baseball
Favorite Actor: Mark Harmon - remind me to tell you about the time we actually spoke...
Favorite Actress: I'm more into the role than the actress

9 Currents
Current Feeling: stuffed up
Current Drink: coffee
Current Time: 11:05 a.m.
Current Show on TV: some sort of organization show
Current Mobile Used: Cingular
Current Windows Open: Google Talk, Blogger, Outlook
Current Underwear: Yep - I'm wearing some!
Current Clothes: shorts & top
Current Thought: I'm hungry

8 Firsts
First Nickname: I'm assuming the current one - Corky
First Kiss: Can't remember his name, but I must have been 7 or 8
First Crush: I really don't remember, but it probably was that first kiss guy.
First Best Friend: Liz - who lived across the street. She was one month younger than me. I haven't seen her for years, but we do still keep in touch.
First Vehicle I Drove: I learned to drive in a 1965 Mustang. The first car I owned was a 1961 VW beetle.
First Job: The first real job was as a file clerk at a Ford dealership.
First Date: Steve Weinberger. It was a blind date. When he picked me up one of the first things he said was "my dog's name is Corky" It didn't get much better after that.
First Pet: The first one I remember was a dog named Mittens.

7 Lasts
Last Drink: Coffee
Last Kiss: Jerry
Last Meal: Beef Paprika - last night's dinner
Last Web Site Visited: Post Secret
Last Film Watched: Kindergarten Cop - it was on yesterday while I was sewing
Last Phone Call: Chrystal
Last TV show Watched: Flip this house

6 Have You Evers
Have You Ever Broken the Law: yes
Have You Ever Been Drunk: yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: ??
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire: no
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: yes
Have You Ever Broken Anyone's Heart: I doubt it - I tended to be the one getting the broken heart not giving it.

5 Things
Things You Can Hear Right Now: TV, a plane overhead
Things On Your Bed: 4 sleeping pillows, 2 shams, 1 decorative pillow, duvet cover (without the duvet inside!) sheets, laundry to be folded
Things You Ate Today: nothing yet - I need to get to the grocery store - the cupboards are bare.
Things You Wouldn't Want to Live Without: Jerry & the kids, laptop, sewing room, microwave.
Things You Do When You Are Bored: surf the web, read, watch TV

4 Places You Have Been Today
bedroom, bathroom, livingroom, kitchen. I haven't left the house yet. Jerry even went out to get the paper for me.

3 Things On Your Desk Right Now
I don't have a desk

2 Choices
Black or White: white
Hot or Cold: warm (sorry...)

1 Place You Want To Visit
oh, too hard to pick one.

My Pirate Name

In honor of the new Pirates movie which premiered yesterday, I have obtained my own pirate name

My pirate name is:

Calico Mary Kidd

Often indecisive, you can't even choose a favorite color. You're apt to follow wherever the wind blows you, just like Calico Jack Rackham, your namesake. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Yep, I think this just about describes me. I am apt to follow where the wind blows me, but I must say that the wind has taken me some very interesting places.

Sexy isn't it?

I'm now the proud owner of a Swift Nasal Pillow sleep machine. Turns out I don't need the full Darth Vader mask, but this less obtrusive model. (does that look inobtrustive to you??) They tell me I'll be able to sleep on my stomach at home, but I'm not sure how that will work. The adventure begins.

I wonder if there is a quilt in this somewhere!

Luke...I am your father

Last month I had a sleep study. They slapped all sorts of wires and sensors on me and then expected me to sleep all night while they monitored my every move. Turns out I have a mild case of sleep apnea. They said I stop breathing and then wake myself up to start again about 10 times an hour - approx. every 6 minutes. Tonight I get to go back and get a CPAP - a breathing machine to keep me from having apnea episodes. I don't know what MY machine will look like, but I expect it will be something like this one. This sure will spice things up in the bedroom 'eh? Jerry has been teasing me on a regular basis about how I'll be just like Darth Vader when using it. I just want a good night's sleep.

Happy Birthday Janice

Since we don't live near any of our extended family, I always miss out on the cake & ice cream on birthdays. Years ago I instituted having "commemorative cake & ice cream" on family members' birthdays. Today we'll have dessert in Janice's honor!

Janice is married to my brother Claude. They have 3 sons, Claude, Jr., Paul & Eric.

Claude, Jr. has a daughter & twin sons and Paul has a son and daughter. Eric and his wife have their dog Zeus.

They have birthday parties for him every year. I don't have commemorative dessert in Zeus' honor but only because I don't know when his birthday is!

Yesterday I spent the day unsewing the work I did Saturday on my Grab Bag quilt. I didn't like how it was turning out so am going to adjust the plan somewhat.

Saying something

Jerry read my blog for the first time today and seems to think it doesn't 'say' anything. I guess first I could 'say' something about myself.

Jerry and I will have been married for 34 years in September. We have a son, Craig, who is married to Chrystal & they are the parents of Noah who will be 5 in August.

We're originally from Detroit but haven't lived there since the 1970's. My 2 brothers still live in the area so we do get back there once in a while. We moved to Charleston, SC last summer after living in California for 9 years. We've lived in Charleston several different times during our marriage starting back in 1974 and it has always felt like home to us. We plan not to make any more moves! I am fortunate that I've been able to retire while young enough to enjoy it.

We get to take care of Noah several times a week while Chrystal works at her part time job. Everyone always says how much fun grandchildren are and we're learning it's true. Once I get the okay from Craig & Chrystal I'll post of photo of the cutest grandson on earth.

I'll post a few meme's as they circulate through the blog world that may also tell you something about me.

Actually sewing

I spent a good part of Saturday working on my Grab Bag quilt. The GrabBag quilts are another QuiltArt challenge. Every participant filled a one gallon ziplock bag with assorted fabrics and embellishments and sent it on to the coordinator. In return we all got someone else's bag and are to make a 20 x 20 wallhanging out of the contents. We won't know who has our bag or whose bag we have until the end, so no photos until then.

I took part in this swap last year too. I got the fantastic quilt pictured above made by Sue Reno. The quilt I sent wasn't nearly as nice as the one I received.

I just got back from a class with Vikki Pignatelli and I'm using some of the techniques I learned there for my grab bag quilt. I sure hope the recipient will like it. This time a select group of the finished quilts will be in a traveling show. It would be great if it could travel somewhere nearby so I can see the quilts live and in person.

It works!

Thanks for all the kind comments to this first time blogger. I took Deirdre's suggestion and added word verification to comments. Now if someone could tell me know to change the time stamp from Pacific to Eastern time, I'd appreciate it.

I actually sent two entries to Houston - this is the other one "Call Me Lorena" This one was rejected last year, but I figured I'd try once more. I used some of my fabric stamped with male private parts in this quilt. Since I cut the 'parts' in two, I named it after Lorena Bobbitt - that famous 'part' cutter!