Last Night at Fiber Art Fusion...

Last night at Fiber Art Fusion we did a 5x7 fiber art exchange. What a blast. First of all, everything was incredible. There were so many different techniques and fibers and... Everything was unique. Anyway, I had a great time. Here is the piece I made for the exchange. It went home with my friend Heidi, who does incredible work herself.


Here is the piece that came home with me. It was made by Hellenne Vermillion. I love it, and it is already displayed in my home.

Oh well, life goes on...

Alex did not get a part in Seussical. He was relieved, but a little sad. Anyway, he has moved on to other things, such as learning tennis from his dad.

I had a great time at Fiber Art Fusion Tuesday night. I just love getting together with those wonderful and creative women. My friend Heidi Miracle-McMahill is going to be in a art show on Sunday and I am very excited about seeing her. She had these incredible felted vessels at the meeting and I am going to buy a few.

I am also hoping to go to the open house at Shades Textiles this weekend. The whole artist colony behind the bowling alley in SoLoNoDo (south of the loop, north of Dobbins, according to Stacy Michell) is having an open house, so I am hoping to see some really great things.

Well, that is all for now.

The Ballet Mothers' Guild Changes Names

When we were growing up, my sisters and I all took ballet classes. Each year, for many years, we were in a local production of The Nutcracker. My parents volunteered for the production--my dad worked on the sets and helped run the production back stage. My mom sewed many costumes. One year, my dad even recruited my grandpa to help back stage. They needed someone to work the pulley to make the tree grow.

For some reason, the group of moms meeting about the production needed a name, and they were called The Ballet Mothers' Guild. Well, my mom was a college professor. She did not have a lot of spare time on her hands. Not that my dad did, either. So they split all of these parenting things pretty much down the middle. So my dad started attending the Ballet Mothers' Guild meetings. And it brought about the name change. It was changed to the Ballet Parents' Guild. And suddenly, a lot more dads started attending. My parents were pioneers.

Since I went back to work, my husband has been doing a lot more of the parenting things. He has taken kids for check-ups. He attends things at school when I cannot. (Although I must say my supervisors are very good at making sure I can attend many school functions.) While I don't think he will be making any costumes for Seussical, (if Alex has a part because he didn't check today,) I know he will volunteer in some way or another. Especially since it is in between soccer seasons.

Postcard from my dyed fabric

Here is a postcard I made from the fabric I dyed a couple of weeks ago. I am sending it to the woman who taught the class. Since the fabric must cure for at least 12 hours, she doesn't get to see the results. So I thought I would send her a small sample of the results. The buttons are from the sewing table of my great-grandmother. I found all sorts of goodies in the drawers. I have decided to use them instead of store them.

We are still waiting to hear about the Seussical part. We should know tomorrow. However, there were 7 boys at callbacks, and there are 7 boy parts in the show, so I think the odds are in his favor.

The last pair of first shoes

I bought my last pair of first shoes today. I took Sam to Stride Rite and got him his first pair of shoes. And I didn't get the standard white baby shoes this time. I got him cool looking blue ones. I didn't think I would feel sentimental about this purchase, but I do. I still have each of my children's first pair of shoes. I have always planned to get them bronzed like my mom did with mine. So when Sam outgrows these, I'll have to find a place that does that. My mom has ours on display at her house. She also has her own bronzed first shoes.

It made me start thinking about everyone's first steps, too. Alex took his at the zoo. Ed took his in our family room at our old house. Amy took hers at the aquarium. Sam will be taking his in about a month or so. Maybe he will wait until Christmas so my parents and sisters can see him do it. My kids are all late walkers. But so was I. My first shoes are much bigger than my sisters' first shoes. My baby sister walked at exactly 10 months on my mom's birthday. I didn't walk until I was 15 months.

Go Dog Go

When I was little, my dad was in graduate school. My mom finished grad school before I was born, but it really leaves you with a certain mentality. The mentality that you must cite EVERYTHING! So when my parents would read me books they would state the author's name along with the title. After all, they needed to cite who wrote the book. It is a tradition that has stuck with our family. So my kids know that Mary Pope Osborne writes The Magic Tree House books. When we were at Borders the other day to get a new book in the Boneville series, they knew that Jeff Smith was the author/illustrator.

Anyway, I was reading a post on a forum about children's books, and I knew immediately that Go Dog Go was by PD Eastman, not Dr. Seuss! (Do you like my hat? Yes, I LOVE that party hat. Goodbye. Goodbye.)

By the way, if you read this before tomorrow afternoon, please think good thoughts for my son Alex as he goes to call backs for Seussical, Jr. It is his first time trying out for anything like this, and I am so excited for him.

Funny thing at school...

The school choir went to a nursing home to perform this week. It had a profound effect on a few of my students, which I thought was cool. Anyway, two of them returned to my last class of the day singing. It started with "I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone." So I sang along. Imagine their surprise that the algebra teacher knew the words to this song. Then they went into "Bridge Over Troubled Water," another song I know. After a few more songs, I finally realized that they had no idea that these had been popular songs in the 70's. At least they knew the Beatles sang "Let it Be." And I totally impressed them with knowing that the Fugees remade "Killing Me Softly" and I could sing it like the Fugees. (One of the saddest things about Howard Dean not becoming president was that he was going to make an executive order for the Fugees to start performing together again!)

Fabric Dyeing Class

I took a wonderful fabric dyeing class from Stacy Michell at Fiber on a Whim on Saturday. These are some of the fabrics. (Pictures courtesy of my 6 year old...)

The class was awesome. Stacy is a great teacher, and I am so glad she shared her expertise with me. If anyone is in the Atlanta area, her studio will be open for a tour the weekend before Thanksgiving. I plan to go see it, as it has been over ten years since I last saw the studio. She says there have been many wonderful changes.

One aspect I loved about the class (and now you will know that I am the geek you always suspected) was her telling about the chemistry that goes on. I just think it is so cool that the dye actually forms a covalent bond with the fabric. She even has pictures of carbon rings on her handout. I am pretty sure the rest of the class thought I was nuts when I talked chemistry with her. (Of course, I was the youngest by a number of years.)

I am working on the little houses that I started ages ago. I have them all quilted now. A couple of weeks ago, Fiber Art Fusion met at Rubber Stamp Fantasy and had a great evening of learning and playing. I got really enthralled by shrink plastic. (You remember Shrinky Dinks? This is similar to that.) So now I want to make buttons out of shrink plastic to embellish my little houses. Maybe a surf board? Or some trees or flowers? Anyway, I just need some time to get back to Rubber Stamp Fantasy and pick up my supplies.

That is all from this corner of the world. Back to planning algebra class for tomorrow...

Pottery Fun

Here are some pictures of the pottery I painted last month. It was a relaxing and fun afternoon.

My quilt made it to Michigan. I am so excited to have a quilt in a show.

I went to the opening of the local show. I forgot my camera, so I am hoping someone else took some pictures. Maybe I can get back there one day this month to see it again.

Here she is, ready for her trip to Michigan...

How I spent the day...

I spent the day working on Nursing Mom. I layered and quilted it. One line from the Pamela Allen lecture that stuck in my mind was that she thought stipple quilting on an art quilt was a waste. I kind of thought the same thing, but, well, I have never tried anything else. So I decided to write words in the sky. It looks great, if I say so myself. (I would post a picture, but it is wet and lying flat to dry. It doesn't look so good wet.) Also, I decided to quilt in the nose, and I am happy with that. After quilting it, and rinsing out the basting spray, I worked on the ribbon flowers. I am happy with those, too. If I had more time, I would get more ribbon and make more flowers. I might do that after it gets back from Michigan next month. (Did I mention I am sending it to a show in Michigan so it needs to be done this weekend?)

I am not feeling well. There are different germs than I am used to in my school, and one of them got me. Actually, for the first two weeks, I was downing Airborne. I felt great. Then I ran out, and now I am sick. I am buying more at the grocery tomorrow. I think it really works.

Well, the little people are in bed. Daddy has the older kids at the movies. I am going to drink a rum and Coke and watch the US Open, or maybe the CNN Specials called, "God's Warriors" that I recorded a couple of weeks ago. My friend's husband produced one of them. I thought the one he did last year was incredible, so I am sure this one will be, too.

Any one in the Marietta, Georgia area, be sure to check out the Fiber Art Fusion show at "The Art Place" starting Thursday, September 6th, and going through the month of September. My tree will be hanging there, along with some other fabulous art pieces. I am going to take my parents next weekend when they are in town.

Arty Stuff

I finished the tree and turned it in for the gallery show. I forgot to take a picture, so I will take one of it in the gallery. I am working hard on Nursing Mom for it to go in a show in Novi, MI at the end of September.

Last Friday I attended a lecture by Pamela Allen at Fiber on a Whim. I loved it. I love her work. It is incredible. I also had a great time hanging out with my friends Becca, and Kristen and Jan who own Fiber on a Whim. I came away very inspired. I have been working on embellishing things more, and Pamela Allen was further inspiration to do that. (Of course, my original embellishing inspiration was Debra Spincic.)

Well, I need to go take care of children. More later.

It used to be called Home Ec

My seventh grader is taking FACS this quarter. FACS is Family and Consumer Science. It is the equivalent of the Home Ec I took in middle school, but it also goes beyond.

School has been in session for two weeks. Last week he made us calzones for appetizers. His younger brother said they were the second best thing he has ever eaten. (We aren't sure what the first best thing is, but I can assure you that chicken is not one of the ingredients.) Now he has to cook us something else out of the cookbook. After he makes it, he has to write what we thought of it, any changes he made to the recipe, and how it all went. Then I have to sign it. When I was in home ec, we just cooked in class. I never had to make anything at home. However, he is doing a great job of it.

They also have "smart" babies in the classroom. These are robot dolls that cry when you do not take care of them properly. I am hoping that one never comes home for homework. It is all we can do to keep up with the real baby in our house. Alex says they are harder to take care of than real babies. Maybe our baby is just a well behaved baby? I don't know. But I have found a place I can safely donate two used baby seats. They can use them for the smart babies.

Anyway, school is going well for all of the kids. Amy LOVES her preschool. She runs in every morning, and doesn't want to leave in the afternoons. She has made a new "best friend," and asked the teacher if her seat could be moved so she could sit with her new friend. (Precocious, isn't she?) Her incredible wonderful teacher complied.

Ed had a rocky start to first grade, but then he has never been one for change. He is doing better now. He has two certified teachers and a student teacher in the classroom, so they are really able to differentiate instruction for the different levels.

And Sam is a happy baby. He loves the sitter, and crawls around with the other kids. They are a happy group.

Just want to say Hey

I went back to work last week for the first time in over 4 years. Boy am I busy! So far, I love the job. There are no kids in the building yet, but I do enjoy the rest of the faculty. I have set up my room. There will be some fiber art added in the not so distant future. Meanwhile, I am finishing up my piece for the Hope exhibit. I have the camo now, so I just need to make the leaves. I showed my sister the tree, and she loved it.

Stuff and Nonsense

The tree is on the quilt. The quilt is quilted. I just have to do the leaves now. My sister, who is the final recipient of this quilt, loves it.

I made a couple of butterflies for a church banner. I need to do some daffodils next. I forgot to take pictures of the butterflies before I turned them in. I didn't like how the banner was going, so I kind of took over. I didn't think it should be just another flat banner, so I made stuffed butterflies and will make three dimensional daffodils. Really, people should not get me involved if they don't want me to change everything. I really have a hard time following patterns anymore.

I have been working on the trip around the world quilt. I tried to talk my mom into finishing it for me, and she just laughed. I don't know why it is so hard for me to work on it, but I am determined to finish it. The son-in-law of my mother's college roommate (I know that is a convoluted relationship) is a neurosurgeon at Walter Reed. I keep telling myself that one of his patients may need this quilt. But I think I am almost scared of it.

Thanks for all the kind comments about my chosen path in life. It really helps to know that people a pulling for me.

I started putting on the tree

Well, I decided to layer the quilt and put the tree on all three layers. I knew it needed a stabilizer, so I figured backing and batting would work. I didn't want anything heavy in there that might interfere with the quilting in the other part, where I have decided to put words. So the tree in half down. It is taking a lot of time. I was hoping to have it down by Monday, so I can make a trip to Nicholas Kniel for a yellow ribbon. Since I am at "New Teacher Institute" the rest of the week, it will be Saturday before I get there if I don't go Monday. This working stuff is sure getting in the way of shopping.

Speaking of working, I got some new shoes from Liz Claiborne the other day. One pair of black. One pair of brown. I also got a couple of tops from Ann Taylor. I haven't bought nice clothes in years, so this shopping has been fun. I am hoping to make a trip to Talbots, too.

Hope Piece Coming Along

I work so much better with a deadline! Here are the latest pictures of my Hope piece for the Fiber Art Fusion show.After tea dyeing the muslin for 24 hours, I dried and ironed it. I then fused it to some stiff craft interfacing. (I think it was Pellon weight 50.) I then cut out the tree using a little rotary cutter. That was harder than I thought it would be, mostly because I was afraid of cutting myself. I then sprayed spray baste all over the tree. I used 5 skeins of embroidery floss to embellish the tree. I couched it down using YLI clear thread. I really love that stuff.

Now I have to figure out how to attach the tree to the background. I also need to figure out a quilting scheme. I thought about just echo quilting around the tree. Then I thought about quilting words into the background. Anyway, no decision has been made, yet. I may quilt the names of the guys in my brother-in-law's unit.

Part of the challenge I have given myself with this quilt is to only use things I own to make it. So far, it has not been that difficult. I am also trying out new techniques. I really like how the embroidery floss on the tree looks.

What is a feminist?

I have met a lot of women my age (37) and younger who say they aren't feminists. So what is your definition of feminism? I think it is women having the choice to be and do what they want for equal pay and with equal opportunity. I would also throw in that women can and should think for themselves. I am curious to hear what other women have to say about this topic. My other question is, do you have to be liberal to be a feminist? I really don't think so, but maybe I am wrong about that, just like I wrong thinking that all women were feminists.

By the way, I asked my husband about this issue. He thought it would be boring to be married to someone who was not a feminist.

All right, back to playing with my tea-dyed fabric...

How do you like me now?

So, in the past week I have discovered that one acquaintance from high school has a movie, The Painted Veil, that he both produced and starred in, on my cable's On Demand. I have another friend from grade school through high school who was on "The O'Reilly Factor" about boycotting the new release of Hairspray. The best man from our wedding just returned from a week of rebuilding a church in New Orleans. (He is the tall one in the back on the left.) And what am I doing? I am teaching algebra to at-risk students. Not that it isn't an important job that I am very excited about taking on, it just seems a little lackluster at the moment.

In order to combat my feelings of inadequacy, because all three of these men would think that teaching algebra to at-risk students is important, I decided to work on my piece for Fiber Art Fusion's show, Messages of Hope. (I have also been working on my Trip Around the World, but I need some variety in my life!) I made the background piece and designed a tree. But then I decided I didn't like any of my fabric for the tree bark, so I decided to try to tea dye something to thread paint. I only have herbal tea, so I hope that works. The leaves of the tree are going to be made of camouflage and button onto the tree. There will be a yellow ribbon around the tree. (I get to go back to Nicholas's shop to buy his most fabulous yellow ribbon.) Here is what I have done so far...

And the tea dyeing...

It has been too long

I have been working on things for my new job, and my sewing room has been neglected. Well, except for designing and making ribbons for the rookie league of our swim team. But tomorrow, it is back to work. I hope.

I just finished a two week course on "The Essentials of Effective Teaching." I passed, so I am ready to start my job teaching algebra. I hope. I am very excited about teaching starting in August. I know I am in that fantasy stage where I just KNOW I can change the world. Well, maybe I cannot change the whole world, but I do think I can have some positive effect on these kids.

The kids are out of school. They are swimming every day. We have one more swim meet, and then swim team is over for the summer. It is fun, but a lot of work, and making 18 ribbons a week is just the tip of the iceberg.

Just wanted to say a quick hello.

Kindergarten Program

I went to Ed's kindergarten program today. It was cute. He is not really into doing a bunch of singing and dancing. So he sang some of the songs and did some of the hand motions. He really got into the Spanish songs for some reason. He was standing next to a hyperactive kid, so it made Ed look even less interested because that kid was really singing and motioning. (Even when they were supposed to be still...) Anyway, after the program we got to go back to the classroom and see the books they had written and had bound. They were cute. Each book had a page for everyone who reads the book to sign. It was obvious which parents had older kids in the school because they knew to wander around the classroom and sign everyone's books. Since I had a baby and a two year old with me, I didn't make it around the classroom.

I thought I would share what he wrote about me for Mother's Day. There was a breakfast at school last Friday for the moms. Each mom was given their kid's answers to the prompts.

My mom's favorite color is green.
My mom's favorite food is chicken.
My mom is 37 years old.
My mom wears her favorite clothes when she goes out to eat.
When I am at school, my mom likes to feed the baby.
I love it when my mom cooks a steak for me.
My mom is happiest when she goes to the beach.
I know my mom loves me because I was after Alex, my brother.

I don't quite understand the last one, and certainly my favorite food is not chicken. But I cook chicken all the time because it is easy and on sale a lot. So I can see where he gets that. There were also pictures all over the classroom that the kids had colored of their moms' favorite activities. Ed said I like to play with Amy and Sam. A lot of moms were playing tennis or jogging in their pictures. One mom was sleeping, and we all thought that was a really good thing.

Seven Interesting Things

JenClair over at Bayou Quilts tagged me for the 7 interesting things about me meme. Ihave to say, this process was really hard for me. I am so totally normal. I am a suburban wife and mother. I am the typical soccer mom, down to the blue Ford Explorer with the soccer ball and school magnets on the back. And I have my yellow ribbon one, too. However, here is what I came up with...

1. I grew up in a planned community. Columbia, Maryland was planned by Jim Rouse in the 1960's. All the streets, shopping centers, schools, etc. were planned at the same time before the land was even bought. It was a wonderful place to grow up. People camped out overnight to be able to buy townhouses in the city. We had great schools. The population was very diverse. There are no church buildings in the city limits. The churches meet in "Interfaith Centers". These buildings have large rooms for church services, small chapels, classrooms for Sunday and Hebrew Schools, and offices for the church staffs. The one where my church met had a baptismal fount (is that the right word?) for the churches who did the full dunking for baptisms. We often had ecumenical services on religious holidays. Anyway, it was a cool place in which to grow up, and I miss it. Oh, and legend has it that Mr. Rouse, who attended my church, coined the term Mall in America. So the mall where I grew up is simply The Mall. By the way, Mr. Rouse designed the renovation of Faneuil Hall in Boston, the waterfront in Virginia Beach, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and other places, too. The Rouse Company built the Nordstrom at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. My husband says you can literally watch the stress leave my body when I enter Nordstrom. I am transported back home.

2. I skipped class a few times in high school. (Anyone who knew me in high school who happened upon my blog is now saying, "WHAT??") My friend Norre (who now has an MD from Stanford) and I walked out after second period one day. When we were stopped by the assistant principal, we told him, as student government president and board of ed liaison, we were on our way to a meeting at the Board of Education. He actually got in his car and followed us. Luckily, once we turned into the parking lot, he went back to school, and we went on to the Mall. Emily, who graduated from Williams and is running charity operations in Georgia (of the former Soviet Union), and I walked out of calculus one day. We told the sub we were going to the library, but went and hung out on the pole vault mats for the rest of the day. I don't know why we weren't caught. That was the same day as the Howard County Scholars of Excellence (or some other such craziness) Night where we were both honored. I remember word getting around that Runyan and Reese had cut class that day. It was hysterical. It even made the senior edition of the school paper, The Bear Press. Reese and Runyan, Class Cutters Extraordinaire.

3. My favorite food is French Fries. There is nothing better than Boardwalk Fries. I have been trying to come up with excuses to go to Maryland to have fries since my parents moved a year and a half ago. I am not kidding you.

4. I got my first case of poison ivy three weeks ago. I have never had a reaction to the stuff before in my entire life. I know I have walked through it before. I spent a week clearing some area in our backyard for our new playground and got a little case of the stuff on my legs. It is nasty. I have since worked on getting the plants out of our yard. I will definitely be more careful in the future.

5. My best friends in all the world are my sisters. Though they don't live anywhere near me, I talk to at least one of them every day. I email with my younger sister at least 5 times a day. We vacation together almost every year. I am so glad that I have them.

6. My husband asked me to marry him three years to the day before our first son was born. There was a snow storm in Blacksburg the night before. He asked me to marry him on a playground. The night our son was born, there was no snow storm, and he was born in a hospital. I just think it is funny that the day was the same.

7. My husband and I have the same anniversary as my parents. Of course, they were married 28 years before us. But same day and same time.

Ok, that is it.

Not much

First, the christening picture was a huge hit. My sister-in-law had tears in her eyes. She told me where they were going to put it in the baby's room. It went over very well.

The quilt for the first communion gift was a big hit, too. When my niece opened it, she immediately wrapped herself up in it. She has been sleeping with it ever since. My mom said that everyone at the party ooh-ed and ahh-ed over it. So I am happy about that.

I threw a great brunch after the christening. I made coffee cake, muffins, and hash brown casserole. I served it on my good china with linen napkins. I put the juice in glass pitchers. I did a buffet with a set table. I didn't want people eating on their laps. I really think I did a bang up job. And everyone was appreciative.

Now that I am done patting myself on the back...

Last Thursday was my son's orchestra concert. It was wonderful. My brother-in-law received his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech the same night, so my husband was at that with our kindergarten child, and I went to the orchestra concert with our little people. I sat in the back right next to the exit thinking we wouldn't last very long. We lasted the entire hour. My two year old sat on the edge of her seat directing along with the director for the entire concert. (She had to sit on the edge, or the seat would fold up on her.) She really paid attention. And she recognized a couple of the songs from hearing her brother practice. The baby was mesmerized for the first half. He started to get loud after intermission, so I just fed him. It really was a wonderful evening. I wish I could buy a cd of it for my husband to hear. Another little girl was carried out of the concert kicking and screaming, and I wanted to stand up and say, "Alex, it isn't us. We are behaving back here!"

I have noticed in the past week that my kids are really growing up. The baby is now sitting on his own. He is also getting up on all fours and rocking as if he is ready to crawl. My two year old is really starting to show very appropriate behavior in many different settings. She was great at the christening, too. My six year old has become extremely coordinated. His attention span is getting much longer. He can read just about anything, which has its good and bad points. His math skills are improving by leaps and bounds. My twelve year old, well, he is all preteen now. I am having to give him more independence. He can discuss things on an adult level. (And I think he is beginning to notice girls. Maybe.)

Soccer season is over after next weekend. We are hosting the U6 team party at our house. It should be great fun. We really do have a great group of kids and parents.

I have started getting calls for interviews for teaching positions for next year. I am excited and a little sad. I feel like an era in my life is over. But, I know it will be a good thing.

Christening Picture

I finished the christening picture last night. I need to get a frame and frame it today. For this picture, I just set it in this frame. I haven't decided what size frame to use. Well see. I blocked the baby's name out. The printing is done on ExtravOrganza, which is an organza that has been treated for printing on an ink jet printer. I used Misty Fuse to fuse it to the base. The blues were all pieced. I quilted parts of it with a Sulky silver thread that I have been wanting to use for a long time. All of those products came from my fun visit to Fiber on a Whim yesterday. (I got to go without children for a change.) Anyway, this is to go with a silver plated bunny bank that will have a little cash in it. I hope this gift is appropriate. I am over this whole thing. I have been cleaning like crazy for a week, and I am tired of it. (What do boys do to their bathrooms to make them so gross?)

Just to say hello

First of all, this picture is for Jane Ann. My mom made this dress for Amy to wear to my husband's niece's christening next weekend. She wanted to make a coordinating outfit for Sam, but she ran out of time. My niece is having her first communion at the same time, and my mom was making a gorgeous dress for my niece for that occasion. So Sam will wear one of many hand-me-downs that we have. There are certain advantages to having the two youngest grandchildren, and hand-me-downs are not the least of these.

I finished this quilt to give as a first communion present.

I am still thinking on the christening present. I decided against a quilt because both the mom and grandma quilt. I don't want to accidentally step on anyone's toes. However, I am going to do a small wall hanging inspired by Deborah.

And it looks like I need to clean my camera lens. I'll have to ask my sister to take another picture of that quilt because it is on its way to her house already.

I am a Hokie

I graduated from Virgina Tech 15 years ago this month. I spent a lot of time in Norris. I am very sad. And I am very mad.

I will be wearing my orange and maroon tomorrow for worldwide Orange and Maroon Effect Day.

I Passed!

I passed the teacher certification exam. Now I need to find a job...

Fun Shopping Day

I finally got to Fiber on a Whim and Nicholas Kniel today. And yes, Nicholas's shop is to die for. Ribbons, ribbons, everywhere. I had a hard time choosing. I cannot wait to go back when I have no kids with me. (Does that ever happen? Yes, but not very often.) Anyway, I got 6 different ribbons. My two year old has absconded with one of them. She is very into rainbows, and this one qualifies. So I have enough ribbon to make ten flowers to put on the Nursing Mom piece.

At Fiber on a Whim, I picked up this gorgeous piece of fabric. I don't know what I will do with it. I bought all that was left on the bolt. I have a sneaky suspicion that I bought a yard before. I'll have to look. I also got this thread to do some thread painting in Nursing Mom's hair. And this gorgeous bug to put on the piece somewhere, too.

But for now, I will get to work on the Trip Around the World. I hear Walter Reed needs quilts. So I will get this one done for them. And then maybe start another one...

Last Night at Fiber Art Fusion

Last evening, Fiber Art Fusion met at Fiber on a Whim. It was a blast. Nicholas Kniel was there. He has the most wonderful ribbon shop on the continent, I am told. I will find out later today. Anyway, he taught us to make gorgeous ribbon roses. He brought a ton of ribbons from which to choose, and we all made two roses. The one on the right was made with a plaid ribbon, which I just thought was crazy cool. Today, I am going to get some smaller ribbon and make some roses to go on my nursing mom piece. That way she can be sitting in a flower garden. He has a book that I am going to order so I can make some different flowers, too. It is back ordered right now, but I'll let you know what I think when I get it. I am also going to go to Fiber on a Whim to figure out a better way to do her hair. I think it needs to be more 3-dimensional.

Sharon Serrano Ahmed brought some of her wonderful pieces for show and tell last night. Sharon does the neatest 3-D felting things. I love her faces that she has been doing. I just love that she creates all the time. I can almost see the creativity flowing out of her. And she is so willing to share her knowledge and time with people. I really admire her.

Now, do you quilt a piece before you embellish it? Or do you quilt after you embellish? Or both? I quilted the heart before I embellished it. I did not put a back on it. I just quilted the top to the batting, and I am planning to add a back when the whole thing is done. I just thought it would look messy otherwise. My grandma and mom both taught me to have nice backs on my needlepoint and cross stitch pieces. So I am kind of in that frame of mind.

In other news, I did the Couch to 5k again this morning. I ran inside the house again. I don't even want to know how many laps around my first floor I do. I think I will have to invest in a treadmill after we replace the carpet. Otherwise I will wear out the carpet. My two year old walks with me for a good portion of the time. Sometimes I carry the baby during the walking parts. He thinks it is funny. Then he gets deposited in different area each time. Sometimes in the bouncy seat. Sometimes on his quilt. Sometimes in the excersaucer. (Thanks Rebecca!)

Dave threw me for another supper loop tonight. He agreed to meet someone after soccer practice. So salmon is on hold for another night. I think we will go with the Curry Chicken Salad tonight. It is from the In the Kitchen with Rosie cookbook by Oprah's former chef.

Nothing Exciting

I just realized how long it has been since I posted. I have not done anything on the quilt below, but hopefully will get back to it tomorrow. We were in Florida on Spring Break for a week. That was a lot of fun. I got to see my parents and hang out at their house. I still feel weird about visiting them in Florida instead of Columbia, Maryland, where I grew up. But, they are happy down there. They are healthier. And they have made a ton of friends. Not to mention, they pretty much have a revolving door for their old friends coming to visit. And even some really old (not in age, but from high school and college) friends have come to stay with them. But, I want to visit home sometime, too. Maybe next year for my 20th high school reunion. (Has it really been that long?!) Just another weight loss motivator.

I walked this morning. And Sunday. This morning, I did the couch to 5k program for 30 minutes. It is the same idea as when I started running in December. I hope I will keep it up this time. I had to do it inside this morning. While I own a double jogger stroller, I don't think the baby is quite big enough for it, yet.

And yesterday, I planned out a menu for the week and went shopping. Unfortunately, I mixed up which kid has soccer practice which day. It wouldn't be a problem except I have my Fiber Art Fusion meeting this evening, which means I will not be here to cook after everyone gets home from soccer practice. So now I am in a quandary for tonight. I really don't think Dave will be up to cooking salmon and asparagus when he gets home from coaching soccer for two hours while keeping up with our little people, too. I just figured it out. I will make tomorrow's macaroni and cheese casserole tonight. I will cook it, and turn off the oven when I leave. That way, it will stay warm in the oven. Everyone loves mac 'n' cheese, so Dave won't have any fights about food when they get home, either.

For the rest of the week we have:

• salmon, broccolini, and rice
• curry chicken salad, jalapeño cheddar cornbread, and asparagus
• corn chowder, cheese and crackers, salad, and maple baked beans (these were to go with the mac and cheese, but they need all day in the crock pot)
• low country boil with shrimp, corn, and potatoes
• fiesta quesadillas from Wolfgang Puck's kid cookbook

Hopefully I can stick to it. Oh, I just remembered, Saturday we have a late soccer game at the Northwest Y. That means, dinner at Five Guys. So I have an extra meal planned. YAHOO!

Inverted

(Sorry about the bad picture. I took it at 11:30 last night.) As I was sewing all those strips together, I remembered that the shop sample was an inverted trip around the world. And it was stunning. (It had to be, or I wouldn't have bought the kit, right?) So I decided to try that setting. Well, I think we have a winner. While watching Independence Day, I ripped the extra seams and laid this out on the floor. I really think it looks sharp. It is going to take a while to sew because I feel the need to pin every intersection. But I really think I will be proud to donate this quilt to Quilts of Valor when it is done.

More Update

All the strip sets are sewn, pressed, and now have been made into loops for me to cut. I am writing out the layout before I move to the next step because I don't understand the one that I have. It's a good thing my sixth grader needed graph paper the other evening to understand slope and intercept, so I know where the graph paper is located.

On a completely different note... I got accepted into the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program, which is the certification program to which I applied. I won't know for another few weeks if I passed the test. However, this program works with the school systems to place teachers from their program. So it is definitely a step in the right direction. Yea for me!

Updates

First off, kindergardener's first art class was this week, and he had a blast! He freaked out at first because it was not his normal routine to stay after school. However, his teacher called me from her cell phone and she and I managed to calm him down. I ran up to the school in case it started again, but the art teacher said things were great, so I went grocery shopping. They made clay animals that they will glaze in a couple of weeks. He is all set to go back. He said he made an elephant and a dinosaur.

What is it with my kids and elephants and dinosaurs? When my oldest was little, we didn't need a membership to the whole zoo, just the elephants. Of course, they don't sell them that way. Newt Gingrich has been known to hang out at the elephant compound at Zoo Atlanta. I try to keep a large distance between us. I have a gorgeous pair of ceramic elephant earrings. I stopped wearing them after someone asked me if it was a political statement. What? Only Republicans like elephants? So now I wear my stegosaurus earrings when I visit the boys' schools.

I have 5 of the 6 strip sets done for the Trip Around the World. My plan is to finish the last one today, do the sub-cutting, and tonight, while I veg in front of the TV, re-open the tubes. Hopefully this weekend I will get the quilt laid out.

Now I have a dilemma about this quilt. I am making it for the Quilts of Valor project, with which I am very excited to be involved. However, the quilt is from a kit, so it is not one of a kind. Is that ok? I feel like I should be doing something unique and wonderful for this young woman who has given a limb, eyesight, uterus, something for our country. I must say, it is haunting me a little.

Quotable Quotes

I took the test last weekend in an English classroom. The following quote was hanging on the wall:

You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.
~Rick Bradbury


I am currently reading Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I was inspired to read this book after hearing about a mom who successfully got an AP English teacher to take it off the syllabus. Nothing like a good book banning to make me want to read. I am not that far into the book, and I have yet to find it offensive. After all, it is just a book. I am not saying that if there is a book on your child's reading list you don't think they are ready for, by all means tell the teacher you want your child to read a different book. Suggest another book that will accomplish the same goals. But I don't think one parent should be able to change the reading list for an entire AP English class. We had a parent in my son's elementary school that tried to get a number of books removed from our library. She was told that she could say her child was not allowed to check out those books, but that they would not be removed from the library. I have yet to check if The Higher Power of Lucky (see Dorothy's post) is in my kids' school libraries. I suspect it is. If not, maybe I'll donate it...

Well, I had another quote, but it was pretty political, and I decided I didn't want to go there today. I am too fragile about things like that right now.

Back in the Studio

I went back into my sewing room today. I am working on a top for the 40 Quilts of Service. This one is for a wounded female soldier via the Quilts of Valor project. It is a kit from many years ago of a blue and white Trip Around the World. I already have 2 of the 6 strip sets put together. I have spent today ironing everything, since it has been in a bag for over two years. I am looking forward to getting it all together.

My houses and Nursing Mom are up on my design wall begging to be worked on. When I get this top together, I'll get back to them. Looking at the houses, I really don't think they need a lot more. Maybe some stars in the night sky or some trees or maybe a surfboard.

And don't let anyone fool you... Life with four kids is very busy. We have soccer Monday-Wednesday, an orchestra concert Thursday, a birthday party for both older boys to attend on Friday, soccer games Saturday morning and afternoon, and a soccer game to attend Saturday evening. Next Monday starts art classes for Ed, to add on to that above schedule. I am still hanging on to the whole family eating dinner together, but it is getting harder and harder. That was so important to my parents when we were growing up, and it is important to us now.

Thanks!

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers. I won't know if I passed for a month. And then, they only say pass or fail, not a score. So, I will do my best to relax for a month and do some fun things like reading and starting a garden and, of course, sewing.

Good Thoughts, Prayers, whatever appreciated

The certification test is tomorrow afternoon. I am getting nervous. I know I can do this math. I know I can. But, if you have a minute tomorrow, and you think about it, I would appreciate all of your good thoughts and prayers. Thanks!

And Monday, the little people and I will be in the studio!

I's Friday, I'm in Love

Who gets that musical reference? Amy?

Well, I am signing Ed up for the art class. It is about 3-D art, and I think he will have a blast. One of the little girls in his homeroom class is also taking the class, so that should be fun for them. Yes, he claims girls are ooey, but he just does that because he is supposed to.

We went to the school production of Oklahoma last night. I thought it was very good for 4th and 5th graders. The sets were very elaborate. The costumes were, too. I better practice my garment sewing before my kids get that age. Oh, and where do you find chaps for 5th graders? I guess they won't be doing Oklahoma again for Ed, but by the time Sam is there they may recycle it, and I might need some.

I think I will take today off studying and do some fun stuff. Maybe I will finish the heart quilt. Maybe I will work on my little houses. I probably will end up studying some, just because I will feel the need.

Have a great day!

Art Classes

I am signing my kindergartener up for an art class. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it. He is excited. The proceeds go to a good cause, the school foundation which pays for us to have an extra art teacher. I do hope the art teacher makes some money, because I am sure we don't pay her enough to begin with.

So what is your take on art classes? I never took an art class in my life. I did take piano lessons, ballet lessons, viola lessons, acting classes, etc. Are art classes similar?

(And I know some of you are thinking I was one of those overscheduled kids. I was not. My folks kept us busy. It was their keep us off drugs program, I am sure. However, at no time were we stressed out about all we were doing. It was a lot of fun.)

WIP Wednesday

Did you know they have Cliff Notes for EVERYTHING? When I was in high school, my parents would not let us use Cliff Notes for English class. Yes, we had to read all of those books, cover to cover. My husband, on the other hand, well, his mother would go buy the Cliff Notes for him. So it will be interesting to see what our household rule on Cliff Notes will be. With our oldest in 6th grade, I have a feeling it will come up pretty soon.

But, I have found out that Cliff makes notes about things besides literature now. I have been studying the Algebra II one today. It is pretty interesting. It tells you how to do the problems, but not a lot of the why. For example, it gives all the rules for logarithms, but it never explains why they work. Anyway, they are still the same bright yellow books they used to be. They just cover a lot more topics.

So what does this have to do with my Work in Progress? I am working on getting certified to teach high school math. So that is what is in progress.

Sparkles

As much as I have always wanted to make fun quilts, I have never really done any surface embellishing. Well, I have been having a blast adding beads and sequins to my watercolor heart quilt. My two year old helps pick out the sequins and beads. I am about 3/4 of the way done with it. I have not been working on it much because I am studying for my teacher certification exam. But that is in two weeks, so after that I should have some breathing time again.

So I am curious, what do you all add to quilt surfaces? What are your favorite things? Where do you get them? What are some of your favorite on-line resources?

The Amazing Reading Race

One of our family's favorite television shows is The Amazing Race. We have been watching it for a number of seasons. We even bet on it. I am not liking this "all-star" season as much as other seasons, but I am watching it.

I have been trying to think of ways to make the boys want to read. So today, we started The Amazing Reading Race. They chose the first book for the race. The sixth grader is reading "Spell for Chameleon" by Piers Anthony and the kindergartner is reading a Magic Tree House Book. I wrote them each a clue, which tells them how many chapters to read. When they finish those chapters, they will get a prize. The younger one is getting baseball cards. I think the older one will get a song from i-tunes. Or maybe he can get points towards a gift card to Target. When they finish the books, the prize will be bigger, like a movie night with Dad or their aunt and uncle, who like to take the boys to kids' movies.

If anyone has any ideas for prizes, let me know...

WIP Wednesday

I have two WIP's to show you today.

First is a UFO started about 6 years ago. I remember buying the fabric at the Superbowl Sunday Sale. It was made with Quilter's Grid, which I really do not like. I would rather line up the squares and sew them individually. So it was just a top until Monday. Then I added batting and quilted it. Now I am going to add beads and sequins to make it flashier. Then, I will add a back. It won't be done today for Valentine's Day, but it is nice to get a UFO out and working on it.

When it is done, it will hang in the powder room. Rebecca and I were talking about bathroom art the other day. Both of us grew up with art in the bathrooms. I called my mom the other day to ask where the poster is now located. She says it is somewhere in their house put away. So I called it. When they find it, if it is not going to hang in their house, and they are fast running out of wall space, I get it. Ha Ha my dear sisters! (I don't even think they read this blog, but just in case, HA HA!)


The second WIP is my attempt at a small series inspired by Deborah Boshert's book. These are just tiny little tops at the moment. They need some help. I am planning to frame them together to hang by my front door. They are perfectly rectangular, unlike the picture shows. They are supposed to be the same style house in different settings and different times of day. The only shape that is different on all of them is the landscaping. Everything else was cut together.

That is all from windy Georgia.

Don't Have A Lot to Say

Well, I have been just keeping up with life lately. My six year old is learning to read and write. He has been writing Valentine's Day cards left and right. He wrote to his dad, "You are the best dad ever. I wish you cood be in the book. But I still wont you here." By the book, we think he means the Guinness Book of World Records for the best dad category. I find glue, paper, scissors, markers, paint, etc. out all the time. Who am I to stifle creativity? Thank goodness for Crayola washable stuff. By the way, Windex can remove Sharpie from some surfaces, too.

I received Deborah Boschert's book in the mail last week. It is really wonderful. I am working slowly on a series of 4x6 pieces based on her instructions. It is more than instructions, it is inspiration, too. I am a fan of her art. When I go back to work, I am buying some, definitely.

Rebecca has great news over on her blog. I'll let you read it there. Suffice it to say, I get to say, "I knew her when..."

I am embroidering the fingers and nose on Nursing Mom. Then I have to figure out where to go next. I have to figure out what to do with her when she is done, too.

Funny From My Dad

I got an email from my dad this morning with this in it...

"Did you know your Mom has a drawer full of UFO's? When she told me I thought about heading to the pantry to get out the tin foil so I could make a hat to ward off the ET's. But she lessened my fears by telling me UFO's refer to unfinished objects. I was quite relieved."

I wrote back to ask is she has any PIGS.

What would you do with a visitor?

I got this from Amy's blog and thought it would be an interesting exercise for me.

Visitor to Your Hometown
1. Your visitor wants to see something historical. Where would you take her and why?
I would take her to the Martin Luther King Center. I find it amazing how many people refuse to go there because they don't want people to think of the South 'that way.' Anyway, being a child of the 70's, I found it very interesting and like to share it with other people. My mom taught at an HBCU (historically black college/university) when I was growing up, so I met a lot of very educated black women. Having visited the King Center, I have an even greater admiration for these women than I did before.

2. She wants to see something hysterical…well, mildly amusing anyway. She’d even go for cute, quirky, odd, or unique. Where would you take her and why?
The Big Chicken. Can you get more odd, quirky, and unique? It is a KFC that actually still claims the word "fried". I have even made quilt blocks of it.

3. She wants to take some beautiful and/or interesting photos to fill her albums when she gets home. Where would you take her?
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I LOVE this place.

4. She’d like to buy a souvenir that will remind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it?
Something from the World of Coca Cola. What could be more Atlanta than Coke?

5. Wow, it’s been a long day and you’re both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get the flavor of your area?
Williamson Brothers BBQ. I took some visitors from Australia there once and they didn't order barbeque. The waitress informed them that grilled chicken and Polish sausage were not what you ordered at a BBQ restaurant and proceeded to bring them a pulled pork open-faced sandwich, beef brisket, beans, and brunswick stew. No complaints were heard from the Aussies.

Any takers?

Do Other People Really Want My Art?

I enjoyed making those post cards yesterday. And I started working on a couple more today. I guess I am really working on finding my style. I have plans to send these post cards to friends to say hello and tell them I am thinking of them. For example, the fish one is going to a friend who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Then I started thinking. I am foisting my art on them. What if they really don't want it? I mean, I will never know if they just throw it away, I suppose. I have never given a quilt that has not been well received. But, I pick my recipients carefully. I don't just give quilts willy nilly. So, what do you think? Have you ever given art that has not been well received? Have you ever been given a piece of art you just cannot stand? And then, what do you do?

A couple of other things...
A shout out to the guys at Jiffy Lube on Sandy Plains. I was in and out of there in under 15 minutes. They talked to me like I understood the workings of my vehicle, and took the time to explain the difference between the two oils so I could make an informed decision. They didn't try to sell me any services I didn't need. They were lovely to my children. And, they did all the over the grease pit driving for me, as I am scared to do that. So thanks guys!

Thanks to the lady in the Publix parking lot. She stood there and talked to the baby while I got the 2 year old in her car seat. Really just a sweet woman. I was feeling very frazzled, and she made my day by saying she thought four kids was just perfect. (You don't know how many people feel the need to tell me I have too many kids.) I did thank her at the time, but I wanted to let you all know how much we young moms appreciate and need a little help and some affirmation.

And one final thank you to the Atlanta Sewing Center for having the Bernina free motion quilting foot I needed in stock. I have misplaced my darning foot, which means no free motion quilting. I was having withdrawals. I got a different foot with a bigger hole, so if I find the other one, it won't be a repeat.

WIP Wednesday

These postcards are what I worked on today. The heart ones are kind of blah. But they will make cute Valentine's Day cards. I like how the fish turned out.

To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street

Well, not Mulberry Street, but this bird here was on my neighbor's mailbox. I looked out, and there he was. I ran out with the camera and got his picture before he flew off. Then I realized it was cold outside and my bare feet were not happy.

Sunday Wrap Up

Yesterday was a long, fun day. We had a birthday party with 11 6 year old boys. What fun! We played soccer in the front yard, all sorts of stuff in the basement, and had pizza and cake. I am finally putting moms, kids, faces, etc. all together. We had friends from preschool, the old neighborhood, soccer, and the new neighborhood/school.

So I spent the morning getting ready for the party, the first part of the afternoon having the party, and the middle part of the afternoon cleaning up.

Then... I got to have a girls' night out. I went to dinner with 12 delightful women and then we went to see "Menopause, The Musical". What a hoot! First of all, dinner was so much fun. All the women were PTA types, with local council, district, and state officers all represented. We had a couple of teachers there. And everyone was a mom. I was the youngest by about5 or so years. The conversation was lively, witty, and very interesting.

The show was hysterical. I haven't laughed that hard in years. And I really don't think it was the two cosmos I had at dinner. The show was just that funny. The actresses were incredible. It really is great. If you have a chance, you should go see it.

So this morning we are taking it easy. We have one jacket to return from the party. My husband is supposed to play tennis, but it is supposed to start raining about an hour before he is supposed to start. I think we will just lounge around and play with birthday presents today.

One last note, the blocks for the children's quilts were mailed out Friday, so they should be arriving at the next piecers' houses early this week.

WIP Wednesday

I have been working on the children's quilts for the 40 Quilts Challenge. I am making 112 4 1/2 inch nine patches. I spent the last two days cutting the stripes, sewing them together, and pressing them. This morning I sub-cut them. Then I sorted all the pieces into baggies so they will be organized when I go sew them after lunch. (Or whenever the kids give me a chance.) My goal is to have them in the mail to the next sew-er on Friday. That's only 224 seams away! I also have all the setting squares cut. I need to cut the borders, still.


In other news in my life... I have now been running for 3 weeks, at least 4 times each week. I thought it would be boring. I thought I would hate it. Boy was I wrong. First of all, my mind is going a thousand miles a minute while I am out there running. (Not my feet, but my mind.) I certainly miss my friend Cheri, who I walked with at my old house. But I have found that I also enjoy the peace of just thinking my thoughts. I do listen to an MP3 player while running, mostly to keep me at a decent pace. So it really isn't boring, and I don't hate it. For this venture, I did invest in the priciest shoes I have ever owned. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. I wear them around the house a lot. Other than that, I haven't spent a dime. I wear old sweats and sweatshirts and t-shirts. I wore my "Top Ten Reasons to be a Materials Science Major at Georgia Tech" the other day. My oldest thought it was really geeky. It is, for sure. I mean, there is a joke about the Griffith Crack Growth Theory on there. (Anyone else out there heard of the Griffith Crack growth Theory?) Anyway, after three weeks of this, I really think it is something I can keep up.

My mind has been thinking about wearable art lately. I would like to create something I can wear and my family will still be seen with me. Anyway, that is what will be on the drawing board. Nursing Mom is still on the design wall. I have to figure out where to go with her.

Check out my friend Heidi's blog. She has some great pictures she has been working on!

Hello, again

I was so happy to see how many people took the time to comment on my last post. I have many friends who never nursed, and I had no idea that so many people did. So thank you for the support.

I am working on the 40 Quilts for the Quilt Studio charity event. I have started making a list of what I really want to make. And I am trying to finish up UFO's in between. I have two quilts ready for binding. I have fewer UFO's than I thought I did. And I certainly need to do some fish pieces!

Ok, just wanted to let everyone know I am still alive and kicking. I might get the Christmas cards sent this week. I have decided to save the cards I bought for next year and just send the picture of the kids with a letter. You think that's ok?

Nursing Mom

I wasn't there, so I don't know what really happened, but I have had a bit of a fear of nursing in public since the woman got kicked off the plane for nursing. Like I said, I wasn't there, and I don't know exactly what happened, and it is entirely possible that she was hanging out all over the place or something. However, it is also entirely possible that someone was just freaked out that she was nursing. I have been around a lot of people like that. I was even told at a Little League game by a coach that, "This is a park that has family values. We don't want you to do that here." And I had taken the baby to the car with tinted windows to nurse. This piece is my answer, because I was very young and shy at that time, and I am sure I just mumbled some apology in reply. This is still a work in progress. She needs a nose and fingers. I am planning to stitch those in. However, I need to get working on the children's quilts for the 40 Quilts Donation project, so that is what I will get done this week.

Tonight is Fiber Arts Meeting

I have my Fiber Arts Alliance meeting tonight. We are coming up with a new name for the group, so I don't know what to call it exactly. However, it will be fun. I have made a lot of progress on my first Family Values quilt top, and I post it tomorrow during WIP Wednesday. I would post it now, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for tonight.

I thought I would post these pictures for Jane Ann. She reminds me of my mom, who also smocks clothes for her grandkids. So here is my mom...

And here are Amy and Sam together on Christmas Eve...

It's Friday Already?

I cannot believe Friday is here. The kids go back to school on Monday. It will be back to the little people and me at home. I did work in the sewing room with them yesterday. We had a lot of fun. I almost finished a post card. I spent a lot of the time just admiring the room and deciding I need my kids to make some artwork to hang on the walls.

In going through my stash, I found out that I bought a lot of fish and water fabric. Now, I am a beach person at heart. I love the beach. I plan to live at the beach when I retire. I doubt I rival Amy and her cats with my fish, but I have a lot of them. (I would put a link to Amy, but I haven't gotten my links transferred to my "new" computer, so I cannot at the moment.) So, you may be seeing a lot of fish out of me this year. I also have numerous dinosaur prints. Maybe some evolution quilt is in order. I have deep feelings about evolution.

As for my final 12 Days of Christmas...

On the 12th day of Christmas, my husband brought to me...
12 more somethings of memory (in my computer)
11 hours with no internet
10 empty boxes
9 shelves of fabric
8 glasses of water
7 football games
6 garbage bags (stole this from Dorothy)
5 MP3 players
4 pretzels
3 lost socks
2 running shoes
and an X Box game just for me.

WIP Wednesday

It is done. I finished unloading all the boxes in my sewing room.




When I saw this stash of fabrics, my first thought was, "I cannot believe I spent all that money!" And then I thought about it. We have always been able to pay all our bills. We have always been able to feed our children and heat and air condition our home. Why shouldn't I buy fabric, if it is what I want to do? Also, it isn't like I bought all of it last year. This fabric habit has been going on since before I had kids. So, I decided not to feel guilty.

As for the 10th day of Christmas....

my sewing room gave to me...

10 empty boxes

9 shelves of fabric and on and on...

Whoops! I got a little behind and the Influences of Laura Cater-Woods

On the eighth day of Christmas I gave to myself...
8 glasses of water
7 football games
6 garbage bags (stole this from Dorothy)
5 MP3 players
4 pretzels
3 lost socks
2 running shoes
and an X Box game just for me

And now football is on again. My teams have not been doing well this weekend, but I am used to that. Virginia Tech did not get good until after I had left. And I never really got into Georgia Tech football when I was there. But I watch the games, somewhat, while I am doing other stuff. I am looking forward to the Ohio State-Florida game. My generation is the first not to attend Ohio State, so I grew up watching Ohio State football. You just can't get that Big Ten football out of your life.

My sewing room is almost all put together. My parents brought me their old stereo, which they replaced, so I can listen to cds. I do use my MP3 player while sewing, but not while the little ones are in there with me.

Speaking of my sewing room, you all are going to think I drank the Laura Cater-Woods Koolaide. She spoke of having her daughter in her studio with her. I have always thought of my studio time as my own, and therefore I don't get much. Now I am setting it up so the kids can be in there with me and entertained and safe. I am putting a small table in there for my 2 year old to do her crafts. The stereo will have "Free to be You and Me" in it, along with classical and popular music. There is room for the baby to play on his quilt, or swing in the portable swing, or, when he gets bigger, play in the exersaucer graciously given to me by Becca. And, I will have my grandmother's Singer Touch N Sew set up for the boys to use. They like to make pillowcases and easy straight line stuff.

I also carried this "kids with me" attitude a little further. We got the little kid version of Dance Dance Revolution from the Discovery Channel Store for Christmas, so the kids can play with me. Whenever I exercise, they want the same equipment, etc. I also got two extra yoga mats. And, my oldest is running with me a couple days a week, because he never gets time alone with me because he is the last home from school.

I have been under the weather for the past couple of days, but I think I am on the upswing. Got to grab a glass of water and back to football.