Quilt Testers In Action

Quilt Testers In Action

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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

List-It Tuesday, Ginny's List

Ginny decided to provide my list for today, on a very important subject.


This is Ginny, showing Weasley her list, wondering if she left anything out. I think she pretty much covered everything still out there.


For some more fun reading, check out Artseyville for Aimee's list, and links to many more.

A Happy Way To Start My Day

Just before my walk this morning, I jumped on the computer while waiting for my neighbor/walking partner.  Much to my surprise, I found that I had won the November Give-away from the wonderful Mandy Saile over at Bijous Whimsy. I had to do a little happy dance, because I loved this painting from the moment I saw it. Actually, I love Mandy's work anyway, because it is so joyful, but this piece really spoke to me.  She will be having prints of this painting at her Artfire shop, so hop over there and check it out.

Off to dance a little more, and probably scare the bunnies. Back later with a list.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

List-It Tuesday, Enjoying A Quiet Moment

My list for this week was written Monday, just before a last push to get everything ready for a visit from the in-laws. It will be a strange Thanksgiving this year, with the older Daughter staying in Pittsburgh. I'm sure she will have a great time with my brother's family, but we will miss her.


Check out Aimee's list of mood indicators that she suggests wearing on post-it notes on your forehead, to warn people you meet in the morning. You can bet that bouncy and perky would not be on any foreheads around this house in the morning! There are links to a lot of other interesting lists in her comments, also.

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Little Bit Of Everything

Just a final word on my post about the word FOOT.  Maybe Weasley's feet aren't the hairiest ones in the house! These feet belong to the Second Daughter, and yes, they have had their rabies shots.

Last night, I attended a meeting of my quilt guild, The Material Girls Quilt Guild of Central Massachusetts. It was tool night, and we had demonstrations of many cool new gadgets, including the GO Cutter.   Since I'm not really into accuracy, I won't be buying one, but it was fun to see. 

The women who run Sew Fresh Fabrics were also there, selling gorgeous fabrics that literally had me drooling. Despite having just said two days ago that I can't buy anymore fabric, because the lids to the storage boxes no longer close, I was  unable to stop myself from acquiring these fabrics. I heard them say that they pick and choose from the newest fabrics out, instead of purchasing entire lines of fabric.These are from various manufacturers, which is OK with me. I don't worry about who made the fabric, as long as it does what I want it to do. 


That blue fabric on the left looks as if it should feel like barkcloth, but it is very soft. They also donated a packet of fabrics to be auctioned off to guild members, and I was excited to have my name picked.  I went home with these bright beauties.


I also bought this fabric, because it made me think of a fabric that I have had in my stash for a long time. Look closely. Don't you love the bird perched on the arm of the couch?


This is the fabric that the one above reminded me of. It came out of my husband's Grandmother's attic.What do you think, is it 1950's? Or maybe 1960's?  Anyway, I've never seen anything else like it. I have three repeats of this scene. Several years back, I donated two repeats to a guild auction. I never saw anything made from them, so maybe the fabric stumped the receiver as much as it has stumped me. I do love it, though.


Here is a close-up of the balcony.


And another of the orchestra. You know I love a tuba player!


Besides buying fabric, I have also been working on making my own design. I carved this stamp based on some sketches I did of church windows in downtown Leominster last week, while waiting for the marching band to perform on Veteran's Day.  There are a LOT of churches, and the range of architectural styles is amazing.


I wasn't sure how it would print on fabric, but it seems to be OK. I think I need a larger brush (there must be one around here somewhere), to get the paint on a bit faster, and more evenly, and then pay close attention to applying even pressure.


So now I have yet another piece of fabric that I need to figure out how to use! But that's the fun part, right?

Have a very Hoppy weekend, everybunny.!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Not All Rabbit's Feet Are Lucky

This week's Creative Cue is FOOT. I thought I would post a picture of a lucky rabbit's foot, or two.


Those are Weasley's feet, proportionally the largest (and hairiest) feet in the house. The Satin shine is really glowing in this picture. I always think that he and Ginny look like they are walking on marshmallows. Anyone want to clip those nails for me?

Ginny's feet are a little less lucky, although they are at least still attached, so that counts for something. See the dark spot on the left heel?


She had to go to the vet on Monday, for a check on another one of her lumps. She thumped during the entire car ride to the vet. When I pulled her out of the carrier, there was blood all over. She had another lump on her heel, and the thumping had split it open! So, we added yet more medicine to our growing bunny apothecary, and the foot is healing up nicely.

Weasley

Weasley says since I disturbed his nap, I should at least put something in his dish. His wish is my command. But you knew that already.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

List-It Tuesday: This Is Not My List

It has been on the kitchen counter, giving my heart a little jolt every time I walk by and see it.


This is my youngest girl's list of prospective colleges. It keeps getting longer. She has yet to visit a school that she doesn't love. But, she is one of those wonderful people who finds a way to enjoy herself, no matter what she is doing, or where she is, so this shouldn't surprise me.  The background for the list is a poster that she made for herself that says "No Day But Today".

Having seen my girl consistently send the waitress away because she needs more time to decide when ordering from a restaurant menu, I dread the time when she actually has to narrow this list down to her final choice! And let's not even talk about how I am going to feel next August.

When all is said and done, one thing is true. I am very proud of the young woman she is becoming.

For more interesting lists, check out the links at Artsyville.

As for the notepaper, The Busy Bunny sent it along with an order awhile back, with a nice note on the first page. I love that touch. 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Is There A Blue Moon?

We've had this cottage for almost 6 months. I was getting ready to recycle it, because nobunny had ever ventured inside, except when I put them in (and at those times they refused to stay). Today I turned around and saw this.


That's Ginny's nose peeking out. She settled in for a long nap. Not much later, I turned around again, and saw another unexpected sight.


The toy that Weasley is licking has gone untouched even longer than the cottage! I don't know what is going on, but it reminds me of when my kids were little. They always seemed to know when I was getting ready to give an unused toy away. Must be some sort of primal mammalian instinct. We should find a scientist to study the phenomenon.

And guess what else? The fabric I ran out of on the project I was talking about on yesterday's list? I ordered a fabric that looked similar on my computer from the Fat Quarter Shop on Monday. It arrived today from Texas (only 2 days, by regular USPS!), and despite having a different name and number from the place I had ordered the original fabric from, it looks to be an exact match.   I was very grateful for this small blessing, and so now I am off to get sewing.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

List-It Tuesday, Or Have you Ever Had One Of Those Projects

that fights you every step of the way? This is one of those projects!


I'm going traditional here, which isn't my favorite thing to start with. And, everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Today I couldn't bear to look at it any longer, so I went off to the coffee shop with my sketch book. I made a list of all the things that have bewitched this project, hoping to release my frustration. I added a reminder of the one overriding factor that keeps me working on it. If you can't read it, it's not the photo. My handwriting is atrocious.


Then I spent an hour drawing my fellow coffee drinkers, and came home feeling much better. And, I have a helper now.


Ginny is doing double-duty here, helping me with my project, and eating helping my daughter with her homework. She actually carried this piece of paper in from another room. She's a dedicated bunny!

For more fun lists, check out Aimee's blog with its collection of links!

And tell me, if you've had a project make you crazy, what has kept you moving on it? I'd love to know.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

We Disapprove Of Mom

Weasley here. Ginny says I have to do this, because she usually does all the work. Kids these days! No respect! Anyway, this is what we think of Mom right now.


First, she shooed Ginny out of the bathroom, even though the space behind the washing machine was desperately calling Ginny's name. I have faith in my daughter, though. She will get there someday. Then, Mom made me get out of the pile of fabric scraps, where I was taking a nice nap. She says she doesn't want to wash the scraps again, just because I can't tell the difference between the scrap pile and a litter box! I know the difference. The scraps are warmer and softer. No hay though, except the leftovers stuck to my fur. That's for snacks when I wake up from my nap, except when my nap is rudely interrupted.

Now Mom is saying that I should show you pictures of the tiny thread sketches she just finished, as studies for something larger. I don't know why I should. Oh, wait. She's getting the papaya bag.

OK, here goes. Mom made these tiny 11 inch quilts from her hand-dyed fabrics using thread sketching techniques. I don't know what that means.The first one is some yucky predators.


The second one is a giant herbivore, who probably hogs all the hay out there in the wild. I'm glad I'm in here.


Now to go get those treats! I hope your weekend is full of treats, too.

Ginny, wait. You have to share with your old Dad. Kids!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tuesday List Or Have You Voted Yet?

Aimee over at Artsyville has been posting List-It Tuesdays for a little while now. I haven't had anything to post, but it has been entertaining reading. And then today, I pulled this out of my pocket.


My voting cheat sheet, a little worse for wear. Not as pretty as Aimee's list, but important. If you happen to recognize names on the list, yes, I am a liberal Democrat. And guess what? I consider myself a true American, AND a patriotic one, at that! I think some people out there who are making a lot of noise this election cycle are forgetting that we are ALL fellow countrymen (and women). Just because we have different ideas of how to make things better for everyone in the country, doesn't mean that any of us are Un-American!

If you are in the U.S., have you voted yet? It's not too late. (And for the record, I don't care who you vote for, just vote!)


If you want to see more (Prettier) lists, check out Aimee's blog. It's a fun, and thought provoking read.