Beach Retreat 2007

I'm back today from my guild's annual retreat to the beach. I'll post more later, but here is a photo of the entire group. Every year we have a theme, and I think it's obvious that this year's theme was the 60's. Our tie-dyed shirts were so bright that we decided the space shuttle could see us.

(photos are clickable for larger version)















Here's a shot of the two cute boys that very kindly took our group photos for us. We must have handed them 8 cameras for photos and they did it all with a smile.

First Cars

We were talking recently about first cars. My first car was a 1961 VW Beetle. It was like this one except for the white paint on the doors. (clickable photo)



I bought the car from my Aunt & Uncle for $200 and had to learn to drive a stick for it.


The only other car I've purchased on my own was my 1990 Miata.


I had 10 good years with my Miata and it still looked great when I traded it in for my current car (another convertible!)







I leave in the morning for my guild's annual beach retreat. We'll spend the weekend sewing and socializing. I'll be back on Monday.

Too much time on his hands?

Jerry gets a magazine called "Make" that contains a bunch of odd projects.

One project he decided to try was to make "The Brain Machine" a sound and light machine that produces sound and light pulses at brain wave frequencies. This is supposed to help a person sleep, wake up, meditate or experience a pre-programed state of consciousness. (huh?)

He finished the contraption today and tried it out. He puts on the special glasses and an LED light pulses and a constant sound comes through the earplugs.




It must work because he fell asleep on the couch when he tried it out! Looks kind of odd though don't you think? If you click on the link to the magazine (click on the highlighted word Make above) you'll see the cool looking glasses the author of the article made.





Here's what he looks like without his funky glasses! He's much cuter without them!

Cute grandkids!

The kids were here last night for dinner. We think Noah and Hayden are the cutest, but I suppose we're a little partial. Hayden will be 7 weeks old on Monday and Noah will be six in a couple of weeks. He's looking forward to his birthday party at the water park. (photos are clickable for a larger view)














I like this photo of Hayden better than the one below, but I like Noah in the 2nd photo better than in this first photo.















We just couldn't catch Hayden with a smile. She is just so sweet when she smiles at you.

Inspiration

When I worked at the law firm in California, I enjoyed all the art work in the buildings. The firm even had an art committee for selecting the pieces for the various locations. I walked by this painting several times a day for 6 years and kept thinking 'there's a quilt in there somewhere.'

I finally took a photo of the painting and stuck the photo on my design wall and pondered it for a while. I shared it with Jerry and the math guy that he is, he helped me draft out a pattern which turned into this quilt:




The entire quilt was paper pieced using freezer paper. If I were making the quilt again I'd made the transition between the dark and medium teals less abrupt. The line is just too defined. It couldn't have been too bad though, since it did get juried into Houston a couple of years ago.

What inspires you?

Yard Art

Several years ago the QuiltArt list had a discussion about tacky yard art. As often happens on that list, soon a challenge was issued to make a yard art quilt. While deciding what my yard art quilt should look like, I remembered Carhenge which is one man's tribute to Stonehenge. I knew that would be the subject of my quilt. This photo (clickable for larger view) was actually taken before I added birds in the sky and additional "bushes" by the cars on the ground, extending the bushes over the binding.


A conversation on QuiltArt yesterday prompted one list member to ask about the challenge, so I decided to post of photo of my quilt.

This quilt was in a special exhibit at Houston in 2005 called QuiltArt at 10. Representative quilts from various QuiltArt challenges were displayed in the exhibit. In addition to Houston, the exhibit hung in Chicago and France. My silly quilt has traveled more than I have!

Productive Day

My mini group (the Ducks) met today for a marathon piecing session. Our guild, the Cobblestone Quilters Guild, is making quilts for the families of the Charleston 9, the 9 firefighters that were killed in the line of duty on June 18th. Several members of our guild knew some of the fallen firefighters.

The guild plans to make more than just 9 quilts so that members of extended families will receive one. Today the morning Ducks managed to piece 5 tops. The evening Ducks will make a couple and a few other mini groups will make several. We will turn the quilts over to the fire chief and let him decide to distribute them.

It's amazing what can be accomplished with everyone pitches in.

Purses

As I mentioned back last month (here)I made a purse while sewing at Karen's. Here's a photo of the purse from that day. (photos are clickable for larger views)

















I liked the purse, but wanted one that was in spring/summer colors rather than fall/winter. I used the same pattern to make my new purse.



In addition to the patch pockets that the pattern called for, I put a zippered pocket in this new purse. Didn't do a very good job with that part, but, it serves its purpose.






I got the button from Wal-Mart!

Who's that girl?

My quilt guild has a retreat every summer. The theme of this year's retreat is the 60's. We've each been asked to bring a photo of ourselves taken sometime in that decade. I don't know what's going to be done with the photos, but I'm guessing that we might have to try to figure out who's who from the photos. I was talking to my mother recently and mentioned that I needed photos from that time frame. She went through a couple of boxes and found a few to send me.


Here's one of me and my oldest friend in the world, Liz. Liz and I are a month apart in age and grew up across the street from each other. (she's the tall one on the left) Notice my cute cat eye glasses. Aren't they the height of fashion? I think Liz is looking at me like that because she's jealous she doesn't have cool glasses too! (photos are clickable)

















What's missing from this next picture? Do you think Liz stole my glasses?

Actually, I'm sure the glasses are missing because my mother made me take them off for the photo. She hated herself in glasses and almost always removed them for photos and she often had me do it too "to look better." When I graduated from Junior High school (9th grade) we had graduation photos just like the high school seniors. My mother 'encouraged' me to have mine taken without the glasses. When I passed them out to my classmates they didn't recognize me - none of them had ever seen me without the glasses. What were we thinking - and why did I let her talk me into that?

I've always considered myself over weight and yet I don't think I look that heavy in these photos. I'd kill to be that size now!


Both of these photos were taken at Christmas 1965. It's obvious that the photo of me alone was taken before the one of Liz and me because of the number of Christmas cards on the piano. Note the inflatable angel on the piano? Very classy don't you think? I noticed that the cushion on the piano bench is different in the two photos. Maybe we got a new one for Christmas?

By the way, no one in the house really played the piano. My dad was the only person who could play and it was actually his when he was a kid, but it stayed with us at the house after the divorce.

Guess I'll have to find some other photos to take to retreat now that I've shared these!

Deb's questions

Deb over at Red Shoe Ramblings always has some interesting questions. Here are some she asked in honor of the July 4th Holiday.

It’s a summer holiday and you’ve been invited to a big family-and-friends potluck celebration. What would you bring?

I'd probably bring my Calico Beans - baked beans with a little extra. They are always a hit. I have to confess that it's not my recipe - I got it from someone back in the 80's when we lived at Fort Totten, New York, (an Army base - we were one of the token Navy families on the base)


Once you’re there at this imaginary holiday party, how would you spend most of your time?

Probably sitting around socializing. I doubt I'd be taking part in any games like volleyball, etc. because it's usually just too hot here in South Carolina.

The person in charge of music is taking requests. What song would you like to hear? Would you get up and dance to it or just sit back and listen?

Oh, that's easy - anything Motown. I might not get up and dance but I'd be grooving in my seat for sure.

They’re having fireworks! Would you enjoy them or endure them? Would you help set them off or sit back and watch?

I'd really enjoy the fireworks, but I wouldn't take any part in setting them off. I'd hope that whoever was doing that was being very careful.

It’s getting late and the party is breaking up. Would you be one of the first to leave, or the last person the host is pushing out the door, or somewhere in between?

That would depend on whether Jerry was there or not. Typically he seems to be one of the earliest to leave, but I think I'd tend to hang around longer if he were not with me.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July! Yesterday was my sister-in-law Janice's birthday and today is my grand-nephew Brandon's birthday. Happy Birthday to both of you!

I spent a couple of hours today making a quilt block for my local quilt shop's block of the month. The quilt we're making is called Hot Flashes. Here's a photo of it, but we're using slightly different fabrics.



I have to provide the background fabric, but for an investment of $21 the shop will provide us with the main fabric and instructions for a block each month. As long as each month's block is completed on time (and we have to actually take it to the shop and show them it's done) we will be provided the materials for the next block without any further charge. I'm not sure why is signed up to do this because I typically don't do this type of thing, but I guess I just wanted to be part of the group! Several members of my mini quilt group are taking part as well.

We'd talked about going over to see the kids today, but when I called they weren't home. Probably went to Chrystal's mom's house for the holiday. I haven't seen my grandbabies for a couple of days and I'm in Noah & Hayden withdrawal.

Instead I'll just post of photo of Hayden.



Isn't she a cutie?

Fractured Quilt

I'm taking part in Tomme Fent's fractured quilt challenge. There are 40 of us taking part. We were all provided with this photo of a flower that had been cut into four segments. (the blotch on the right side of the segment on the top left is the result of me spilling paint when I was trying to add shadowing and color depth to my pieces)




We each are to construct a quilt the exact size of the photo and are to do our quilt in segments as well (adding seam allowances). All of our work is supposed to be sent to Tomme by July 9th. She will then mix up all the segments and baste 4 random ones together and return a basted quilt to each of the 40 participants. We then have to embellish as we wish and quilt the work and forward photos to Tomme.

I've actually made my segments twice now. I just didn't like the first effort very much and besides, when I spilled the paint on the photo, I also spilled it on one of the segments!

Here is what I finally ended up with.



I'm still not completely satisfied with the final product, but I'm going to have to go with it because I've run out of time. I'm still trying to decide whether I want to do any embellishment before I send out the segments. Some people have done a bit to highlight the pollen on the flower.

I took this project with me to Karen's for TTT. She was surprised at my 'working style' because I do a lot of contemplation before making a decision, while she was busily doing some machine applique and got a lot done in comparison to my limited progress.

7 Random facts

Karen over at Quilting with Karen has tagged me with the 7 random facts meme. So...here they are.

1. I'm still kind of afraid of the dark. I hated coming home from work to a dark house in the winter. One of the advantages of being retired is not having to do that!

2. I lived in Scotland for 2 years back in the 1970's while Jerry was stationed there with the US Navy. Craig was born there. (hence his good Scottish name!)

3. I worked for a year after high school before going to college. I was a keypunch operator at Ford Motor Company. I HATED that job.

4. I don't like cats, but really love dogs.

5. I can touch my nose with my tongue which is possible because I don't have that little thingy that attaches the tongue to the bottom of my mouth. (does that thing have a name?)

6. I used to be a pretty good bowler - with an average of about 165 - but I always slide on the wrong foot making people watching think I'm going to hit myself in the leg with the ball.

7. My first car was a 1961 VW Beetle that I bought from my Aunt & Uncle. I couldn't drive a stick shift when I got it, so my brother had to drive it home for me. Most of the cars I've owned since then have been stick shifts, including the stupid station wagon we owned with four on the floor! Who equips a station wagon like that?

Here's the obligatory Hayden photo.

Precious grandkids!

I've hesitated updating my blog because I didn't want the baby photos to drop out of the prime viewing spot. Chrystal shared more photos today and here are two really cute ones. Personally I think my grandkids are far cuter than anyone else's, but I suspect I'm slightly partial.

Hayden Elizabeth

Hayden Elizabeth was born yesterday, June 18 at 4:32 p.m. weighing in at 7 lb 1 oz and measuring 20" long. She's beautiful isn't she?













This is how Noah and grandpa spent the day while we waited for Hayden's arrival!













Chrystal very kindly allowed me to be in the delivery room and I got to see Hayden make her entry into the world. Also in the room were Craig, Chrystal's Mom and Chrystal's good friend Ronna (and maid of honor) who just happens to be a nurse at the hospital and just happened to be working yesterday. Ronna wasn't on the floor but was doing behind the scene tasks yesterday so was able to keep sticking her head in to see how things were going. Chrystal asked her to stay during delivery. When it came time to cut the cord, the Doctor asked Craig if he wanted to do it. Craig wasn't the least bit interested in doing it so Ronna said she would - and did. I thought it was neat that she could be a special part of the birth.

Here are Chrystal & Hayden shortly after birth

















Daddy and Mommy think Hayden is gorgeous.
















Noah thinks she's pretty special too!

Baby Watch

We've been on baby watch for the past week. Poor Chrystal has had a couple of times when she thought "this might be it" but it turned out not to be. Last evening was one of those times. We brought Noah here to our house just in case. He'd already planned to spend tonight with his other grandparents so Craig picked him up tonight and took him to Chrystal's folks. I imagine Craig & Chrystal are enjoying some peace and quiet before the baby's arrival. If she hasn't arrived before Monday, the dr. is going to induce on Monday morning. We can't wait!

Donation quilt

Every year my guild, The Cobblestone Quilters adopts a community service project. This year it's baby quilts for a couple of our local hospitals. My mini group had a lesson recently on making an interesting cut up 9 patch block and most of us used our blocks to make baby quilts. I feel like this particular quilt is too big, I probably should have only used 4 blocks instead of 6. I hope they find something to do with the quilt anyway.

Tuesday sewing

My friend Karen has a separate studio on her property. It's the manufactured home her mother-in-law used to live in before they had to move her into an assisted living facility. Karen jokingly refers to her Tuesday sewing get-together as Trailer Trash Tuesday (TTT). I haven't been able to join the quilters before, but now my Tuesdays have opened up so I can go have fun too.



I packed up everything I wanted to take with me last night. I decided to finally make this Sweet Treasures purse. I've had the materials to make it for some time but hesitated to start it because purse making isn't my strong suit. I figured someone at TTT would be able to help if I got stuck. They probably could have too, IF I'd remembered the pattern!








Karen let me go through her drawer of purse/tote patterns and she had one by fellow South Carolinian Jennifer Amor that would work with the amount of fabric I had with me and it was a pattern I also have so I knew I could start it with Karen's pattern and finish up at home with my copy of it.
Here's the pattern I ended up using - although I'm not doing it as a flamingo purse because the fabrics I'm using don't lend themselves to a flamingo applique.
I'm doing the closed purse, not the open tote bag. I'm disappointed that I had to change my plan because of the forgotten pattern, but I think it will work out okay.

Challenge Ideas?

My quilt guild (the Cobblestone Quilters)will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2008. I have volunteered to coordinate a quilt challenge for the anniversary. Because I'm more of an artsy-fartsy quilter and my guild is fairly traditional, we've asked for someone else to work with me on the rules. (I think they're afraid I'm going to require everyone to use silver lame'!) So far, no one has volunteered, but I'm sure someone will. In the meantime I've been trying to come up with some ideas.

Here are some of the things I've considered:

*The use of 25 of something in the quilt (25 different fabrics...25 pieces...25 blocks...)

*The use of silver fabric

*Use a technique learned in a class taken through the guild

*A representation of what the guild means to the maker

Anyone else have some ideas to share?

Because Karen said...

Our mini quilt group met for sit and stitch this morning and while there my friend Karen mentioned that I haven't been updating my blog very often. I told her that's because I haven't had any good photos to share. So just to appease Karen, I decided to post of photo of an old quilt.

I started this submarine quilt in my first 5 day class with Ruth McDowell at the Empty Spools Seminars in Pacific Grove, CA. Because Jerry served in the submarine service for 20 years, I'd always wanted to make him a submarine quilt. Ruth helped me achieve that goal. I used a lot of the reverse side of the fabrics for this quilt - including the entire outside border. All of Jerry's duty stations, and the dates during which he was assigned to each, are listed on the back of the quilt. (We had to go through his service records to figure all that out!) There are also several duty station patches on the back as well as on old cross stitched set of dolphins (a pin that submariners wear once they've qualified aboard submarines - explanation and photo can be found here)