KICKING AND SCREAMING

KICKING AND SCREAMING... That was me when Betty was trying to get me to take her free motion quilting class and learn how to do it the RIGHT way.  I had been resisting for a long time.  It was because I didn't want any one to see that I was doing it the wrong way.

AND YES THERE IS A WRONG WAY.

KICKING AND SCREAMING

Actually we don't look all that put out in this picture.  We were kicking up our heels and having fun at this quilt show in New Mexico and I have to admit that we had a pretty good time at the quilting class....
                BUT DON'T TELL BETTY.

I tell everyone that I went to keep Betty from nagging me, but the truth is ...

                 I KNEW I NEEDED IT!

This is the kind of quilting I was doing.  It was perfectly fine, but since all I could do was straight lines...
STITCH REGULATOR.


       I could wander around a quilt pretty well, but it was pretty boring.

I did an awfully lot of quilt turning and starting and stopping.  It was good enough to win ribbons, but not good enough to make me feel good about it.  Feeling good about my work is very important to me.  I needed to do better...
NOT FOR BETTY, BUT FOR MYSELF.                     

I needed to empower myself...kinda ironic as
a great many of my quilts are about female empowerment.

I took the class today along with four other lovely women and we really did have fun.  I won't say the tracing and practicing is my favorite thing to do, but I did see my stitching improving.

I would advise anyone that wants to quilt to take Betty's class.  And I hope she reads my blog and that this gets me some brownie points.

Another weird thing happened today.  The first weird thing was that I actually enjoyed myself and the second was that as I was leaving the class I put my big machine on it's side in a suitcase and Betty said not to lay it down on it's side.  I joked that I had given away my old rolling sewing case and that if I was going to continue to bring my big machine, I had better go to Goodwill and find a new one.

                 I WENT,
                 I DID....
                 HAPPY QUILTING...REDFOX

WOO HOO!

Look at the adorable face on the NEW HOO that Betty bought me.

GUESS WHO GOT A NEW HOO FROM YOU KNOW WHO?

We stopped to shop at GW on the way home from doing a trunk show for a large group of quilters in Casa Grande.  The show was such a success that Betty wanted to celebrate and she bought me a gift for my white living room.  IT IS SO CUTE!

We really had a lot of fun with that group of quilters.  Before we started our show they had a meeting and had SHOW AND TELL.  I'm telling you, they are a really active and fun group.  

    IT WAS A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW...

We really put on a good show, A GREAT SHOW.  My arm hurts from patting myself on the back and Betty's head is really BIG again.  They gave us an hour and a half to do our song and dance.  I know they really liked it and we are already getting bookings from other clubs that have heard about it.

I was so excited about doing the show that I forgot to hand out my cards until everyone was leaving...NOT TOO BRIGHT!

ENTERTAINING BUT NOT BRIGHT!

Here are just a few of the quilts that I took to show.

 This is just a portion of the cancer quilt that I did for the AQG show.  The title of this quilt is survivor and it is dedicated to my two sisters, Mona and Elaine who are both cancer survivors.



This quilt is an example of using black paint on white fabric to do surface design.  The figures were appliqued.

GOODWILL HUNTING

   This quilt was one that they really liked.  No one had ever seen so much JUNK on one quilt.
The ladies had fun picking out the various garments that I had used and were amazed that it all came from the Goodwill.

I THINK THAT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES SHOULD HIRE BETTY AND I AS AMBASSADORS.  HEAR THAT GOODWILL?

BECOMING

  Talking with the women after the show I discovered that the almost all liked the three panel quilts the best.  That was the very first style I did.  I try to do other types to be more main stream, but
it seems that more of these get in the shows too.  I know why they like them...

   THEY ARE THREE TIMES THE WORK!

ANY WAY, IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL SHOW . 

             WHAT A HOOT!
                                        ...REDFOX 

LET THEM EAT CAKE

YOU KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND THE QUOTATION

                                                    LET THEM EAT CAKE.

Let me tell you a story about the quotation " HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO."

Once upon a time I made a cake.  It was a very good cake.  It was a oatmeal cake with penuche frosting.   The once upon a time was YESTERDAY...

ONCE UPON A TIME CAKE

 

 

YESTERDAY THIS WAS A WHOLE CAKE.  It was a big cake.
It was a 9 X 13 cake.  It was a very tasty cake.  My husband really liked the two pieces he had of it.  I really liked almost the whole rest of it.  TODAY THIS IS WHAT IS LEFT.

Last nite I wasn't feeling too good.  I had an upset stomach.  Jerry said it was because I ate too much cake and licked the frosting bowl while it was half full.

 
I did feel kinda guilty licking that bowl while max watched me.   So I let him lick the spoon.   He didn't get sick, so that is just proof that I....

MUST OF HAD THE FLU. 

I felt fine when I got up this morning, so I know it wasn't the cake.


Just to make sure, this morning I had a piece for breakfast.  I knew that was all right...
                   AFTER ALL IT WAS OATMEAL.

I felt fine so I had another piece for lunch...
                    IT WAS FULL OF NUTS AND EVERYONE KNOWS NUTS ARE GOOD FOR YOU.

This afternoon I felt like a little snack...but first...you know how everyone can tell when there is a piece of cake missing from the pan?

                      BOTH JERRY AND I COUNT THE PIECES, YOU KNOW WE KINDA KEEP TRACK WHERE THE CAKE IS GOING.

Well I decided I should take the cake out of the pan...you know, so it wouldn't taste like the metal pan.  At least that's what I told Jerry.

                       I HAD MY SNACK.

It is really hard to see if one is missing from a pile.

Max was looking at me again with those green eyes that see everything.

THANK GOODNESS HE CAN'T COUNT.

I gave him a bite.  I told him that cake wasn't really good for dogs and that Dad didn't want him to have any.

By then you know what time it was... DINNER TIME.
I made waffles for dinner as I always do on Sunday nite.  I wasn't feeling too hungry so I skipped the waffles with fresh blueberries and just had another piece of cake.

That is four pieces of cake for me today and I feel just fine.  I feel something else too.  My tummy seems flatter tonite.   It just proves what I always say...

TO LOSE WEIGHT YOU NEED TO CONTROL YOUR INTAKE.  

You see I ate four small meals and no eating between meals.  I feel much better tonite than I did last nite.  


I MUST HAVE HAD THE FLU LAST NITE AND HE WILL NEVER MISS ANOTHER PIECE... REDFOX   










                    

TIT FOR TAT

Today I had a really fun day.  Today I played all day with a new friend.  My new friend's name is Joyce and I met her at the artist's reception for the Botanical show at the West Valley Art Council.  I was riding high because I had just won second place, had a glass of wine, and I was very talkable.  Is that a word?  I don't think so but that's alright.

Joyce was there with a friend and she told me she wanted to learn art quilting.  She is a web designer and since you know how much I know about computers, it seemed like a match made in Heaven.  So we made date.  I'd show her how to make a quilt and she would help me design a web page...

                           TIT FOR TAT

Today was her first lesson.  She brought a notebook to take notes and I decided she should just jump in and I provided her with some fabric.

SHE JUMPED IN

  She learned many new things:

1.   HOW TO CUT PERFECTLY GOOD FABRIC INTO 
       LITTLE BITS.

2.   HOW TO CUT 1IN STRIPS FOR INSERTS.

3.   HOW TO SEW ALL THE LITTLE BITS BACK
       TOGETHER.

4.   HOW TO MAKE CIRCLES, AND

5.   WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CLOSE YOUR ROTERY
       CUTTER WHEN NOT IN USE.

OH, SHE LEARNED A 6TH THING TOO...

         HOW TO BANDAGE A FINGER SO YOU DON'T GET BLOOD ON YOUR QUILT.

POPPY JOY

 

This is the quilt that I had in the show and we decided to do one using all the techniques that I had used in this one.

She did a really great job, and it's not easy to use someone else's sewing machine.

     

We were so excited that we forgot to take a picture.  She is coming back next week with all the embellishments done.  That is really what makes a quilt come to life.

So if everything goes well, Joyce will have a beautiful art quilt and I will have a beautiful art quilt web page.                                                   

  

AND REALLY, SHE DIDN'T REALLY NEED THAT TENTH FINGER ANYWAY.

                                            ... REDFOX  

  

                      TIT FOR TAT.     

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK.

Today I Put this photo of my red yarn up on Facebook.  I was really scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as adventures to GW go.  This is that picture.

It is a rather nice picture, but nothing to get excited about...
           UNTIL YOU NOTICE THE CHAIR.

DIVORCE CHAIR?

  This is the chair that almost got me a divorce.  I mentioned in my last blog that I hid it from my husband in my sewing room.....

The chair was in my sewing room, not my husband.

IT TURNS OUT THAT SOMETIMES MY HUSBAND DOES READ MY BLOG...BUSTED!

I can't understand why Husbands don't want us going to Goodwill.  Betty's hubby Jerry doesn't love it either.  With him it's not chairs, it's PURSES.  Right Betty?

I try to tell my Jerry that it is my job to go to GW.  It is a tough job, but somebody has to do it.  He's not buying.

         (oh, but he is, he just doesn't know it.  I'm thinking the reading the blog thing was just a fluke.)

 This chair that I dragged home was a real steal...$2.99

I used a rather pricy finish on it.  I used Silver leaf. but it looked great.  The fabric was not cheap either.  It was $49.00 a yard, but it was well worth it.  It is silver leaf on a burlap-like linen.

Jerry didn't like the fabric either, so I really hope he doesn't read this. 

 

 I found another chair, but I paid a high price...$4.99.

I got another yard of the fabric and more silver leaf.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
MY CHAIRS.

I use both of them in my living room and my Jerry doesn't go in there...NO TV.

2's COMPANY, 3's A CROWD

 I wonder what you call it when there's five?

I HOPE IT'S NOT DIVORCE...Redfox

Oh well, it's all in a day's work.


 

A CHAIR IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO CHAIRS IN THE BUSH, OR AM I CONFUSED?

                  CONFUSED?  ME TOO.

I didn't need another chair.  I don't have room for another chair.  And my husband really hates that I have another chair.

                         BUT IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CHAIR.....CONFUSED?

A CHAIR IN PARTS

   I didn't go to Goodwill looking for a chair.  I never go to GW looking for anything in particular.  But there it was... a swivel chair in dirty white fake leather.  I forgot to take a picture when it was dirty and in one piece.  I was too excited to get working on it, you see I thought it had POTENTIAL. 

I didn't see the potential on that first trip to GW.  In fact I left that dirty chair there in the store and only went home with two purses and a hot pink jacket.  But I kept thinking about that chair.  You see it had a very heavy cast aluminum frame and I knew it had been a happy chair in its better days.

 So the next morning I drove back to the store, marched in, heels clicking, and pulled out my card...

     CHARGE

GW does not take checks.  That $4.99 went right on my card.   THE CHAIR WAS MINE.

I stripped it down and just look at those beautiful bones.

Now I needed just the right fabric to bring it into its new age.  I could barely contain my excitement as I hid it in my studio so Jerry wouldn't know there was another chair.

  Have you ever seen such perfect fabric?  The only problem is that it was $39.00 a yard.

If you know me, you know I would never pay $39.00 for fabric, but      
         WAIT.

I never pay full price, I must have a coupon somewhere.  Yes, I had 50% off.  I think I can, I THINK I CAN, I CAN.

I  CAN

  Now isn't that the cutest chair you have ever seen?  What did Jerry say?, you ask.

  " WHERE DID THAT #!!@%$^*# CHAIR COME FROM?"

        

        YOU ASKED.

                                                         ...REDFOX

WE CAN'T ALL BE STARS, BUT WE CAN ALL TWINKLE

I KNOW, I KNOW.....IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.  And yes, I know I have used this title before...  I'm sure that I was bragging about something or other the last time I wrote, but lately I've really been tooting my own horn.

MOM, BETTY, AND I HAVE BEEN DOING A REGULAR SONG AND DANCE.

We have been doing trunk shows.  We really didn't sing, but I think we might have danced a little.  And I know we did twinkle
           ..............................A LOT!

Thursday night Mom, Betty, and I drove a very long ways and arrived to put on a trunk show for the PRICKLY PIECERS.  It was a lovely time and they were not a bit prickly....Yes Lynnita, I am talking to you.  It was a great group and I think we all enjoyed each other. 

Mom enjoyed showing off the felting pictures that she has had shown at the WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL shows.

Perhaps that is where Betty and I get the urge to twinkle.  When you are 97 years young and you still have that twinkle in your eye, that is a very strong trait.

                     THANK YOU MOM.

WORDS IN THE FOREST

 
   WORDS IN THE FOREST is one of the many pieces that Betty had to twinkle about.  She had just gotten that piece back from the AQS show in Phoenix and she couldn't wait to tell the ladies that she got two pieces in and YOURS TRULY got one in.  Part of our trunk show is the back and forth that Betty and I have in our little sibling rivalry.  I couldn't resist telling about the time I got two ribbons at state and she didn't get any.  That only happened once, but .......

          I TWINKLED BIG TIME.

FRECKLES

 When it was Mom's turn to show another piece she had a story to twinkle about herself.  She told about the Phoenix Airport exhibit that she got two pieces in and Betty and I both got 
          REJECT LETTERS.   We were properly put in our places.  At least we didn't have to sit in the corner....THIS TIME!

LA FETE

 
 I had to show you the ONE piece I had in the AQS show.  This piece traveled for two years in the SAQA show SENSE OF ADVENTURE.  When I talk about this piece I don't just twinkle,  I SHINE.

I think we put on a pretty good show for the PRICKLY PIECERS.  I got a very nice thankyou letter from Lynnita Knoch, past chair.

She also paid a visit to my blog and said very nice things.  She said she felt like I was talking right to her.  I was, I am.

                                                                            

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I AM TALKING WITH THE FRIENDS THAT DO ME THE HONOR OF READING THIS BLOG.  WITHOUT YOU READING THIS, THERE WOULD BE NO BLOG.

SO WE MAY NOT BE STARS, BUT WE SURE HAVE FUN TWINKLING...REDFOX