Someone is Successful

After reading Finn's comment that she had tried a braided quilt that went down the same ragged road as mine and Linda's, I was wondering if anyone had done one successfully. I got my pattern from my sister, who kept telling me about the beautiful braid quilts her boss was making but I never saw one.

I was just looking for a bag pattern that Belvie made on the Welsh Quilter blog. As I was reading, Andrea (Welsh Quilter) mentioned that her in laws loved the braided quilt. So.....she has posted pictures of a lovely one. So, someone can do it. Wonder if she gives lessons? I am encouraged, might try again in ten years.

Now I need to go back and find that bag pattern. I am soooooo easily distracted in my advancing years!

De-Clutter is Back On Track

After a completely lost week last week in my de-clutter journey, I am back at it. I have sorted the kids movies and priced them for the garage sale. That was a hard as getting rid of some of the books but, time has come. I will admit I did it once, then had to go back and do it again with what I kept, but I finally reached the goal on that one.

Last night I sorted and priced all the things I have gathered so far and started another donation box. I could post a picture but you know what boxes look like, right? Best thing about that was I told my self when I have at least two donation boxes, I could make another Good Will trip. I am using what ever motivation I can find out there!

I have started on the sewing room but that is slow going. I need to find some motivation there to part with something. It would be counter productive to say if I get rid of something I could buy more! Just moving around in there should be motivation and the shame in that messy room even more, but so far that hasn't worked. Oh well, it is out there somewhere and will come to me soon, I hope!

I can't believe I have been at this a month. It is really just three weeks, I guess, because I blew last week off but it seems to be taking forever. At this rate, I will have to start again back where I started once I finish. NO, NO.....the idea is not to let it ever get back to where it was. Maybe I better just drop off my donation at Good Will and forget the shopping trip?

Pioneer Braid NOT!

First of all thank you to all of you who commented on my last post about the little guy who was sitting waiting to be picked up at the bus stop. I have shared what I found out with my neighbor and she will share it will the other folks who are at the bus stop and have voiced the same concerns. We will be watching and if need be, will call the school again, will call the police if necessary and if we can get his name, will call CPS. Meanwhile, lots of folks are sending good thoughts in his direction. All that is left is to hope that this is one little one who comes out OK in spite of a parent with bad parenting skills and poor judgement. I am carrying him in my heart and I hope that is enough for now.

I had to laugh when I read Linda's post about her Pioneer Braid that had turned out "wonky". Not so long ago, I had one that did the same thing.........what a mess. I had spent a lot of time cutting strips and putting these beautiful braided strips together, only to find that when I put them together as a top, it was short on one end and long on the other. I took it apart. (bad move, bias edges) I put it back together........and took it apart again. Then I realized that no way was this going to have a good ending because if it was bad BEFORE I took it apart twice, it had stretched some more. So, in a disgusted mood, I took my 6 1/2 inch square ruler and made blocks out of the strips. Then I VERY carefully sewed those together in rows and below is what I got. I put borders on it and packed it away for some other day. Linda asked to see it so I dug it out, think I might just have to finish it up soon because I really like it now. Someday I will do a real Pioneer Braid
because I do love the look but not for a while! Excuse the wrinkles..........

What To Do, What To Do?

This was a Christmas present from the great white hunter. I ask for it so I could set it on my vanity where I do my hair and makeup every morning. I have tried to live my life by this prayer, not always successfully but this helps remind me. I call it my "know when to shut up" prayer.



There is a situation going on in my neighborhood right now that is testing that prayer for me big time. I just don't quite know the right thing to do.

Your gut tells you one thing but then you know that you don't know the entire circumstance and maybe you are sticking your nose where it should not be. But to not do something might mean harm for a little boy.

I live in a subdivision where the kids are bussed to the nearest schools. At about 3:20 every day two buses, each from a different school, drop off kids on the street that leads out of the subdivision and at the end of my cul-de-sac. Last year I would go to the school to pick up my grand daughter everyday as she was just in kindergarten and we were not comfortable with her riding the bus.

Every so often, if I went out after the buses had dropped off, I would see a little boy about seven or so, sitting on the curb all by himself long after the other kids had gone. When I say long, I am talking anywhere from a half hour to a hour. This was in 110 degree heat and he was on the sunny side of the street with no water. Other neighbors mentioned seeing him there also. Several called the school where he goes and I guess the principal talked to the mother. She even came out one day and sat and waited with the little guy until his older brother (of driving age) came to get him.

This year I am not driving Julia to school so haven't seen him, until last Friday. My DD and I drove by at 4:20 and he was sitting there waiting. The school gets out at 2:50 on Friday so he had been there waiting by himself on a busy street for a hour and a half. Today I called the school and the principal told me she would AGAIN talk to the mom. She said this lady was a good Mom and a nice person...........OK, a good mom does not leave her small child out on the street alone for a hour and twenty minutes but, she said it, not me.

It was pretty clear that the school was going to do nothing. So, I called the Child Abuse hot line to see what could be done. They said it was a law enforcement issue and I should call the police next time it happens. Then the cops would contact them if need be. They also said if I had notified the school, as well as several of my neighbors, the school had a mandate to contact them. She also said that unless I had a name, I could not file a complaint. I don't know the name, nor do I want to know.

Mom knows I was watching today to see when he was picked up, she made sure that I knew she knew. I expect things to change for a few days, then go right back. When she left from picking him up, she drove out of our subdivision, I don't think they live in this neighborhood, if so he could go home and wait. The mother was angry and basically told me to mind my own business. She was driving a really nice car, so I don't think this is a single mother with no other option. But, you never know.

So, what do I do next? I worry that someone is going to harm this little one and if that happens and I don't do something, I will never forgive myself. Then again, should I get involved in such a major degree in a situation that I don't know the circumstances? The school knows and is not doing much, the bus driver dropped him off today and drove off. This has been going on now for at least a year that I know about.

Another question is, is this one of those things that no matter what you do, is going to fall through the cracks until something bad happens and then the involved parties are going to go around saying "Why MY child?" Grrrrrrrrr......

No De-clutter Any Thing This Week

The de-clutter movement at my house was like a balloon this week. It was all blown up and slowly deflated.............ssssssssssssssss.

So, need to set some new goals for this week and get back on track. First goal is to price a bunch of garage sale stuff and pack it up better. The second goal is to do the kids movies, pricing as I go. Last but not least, get started on the sewing room. I had planned that for last week but had Colin here with pinkeye and just fooled around the rest of the week. I am not quilting because to be honest, every time I go in that room, I look around and then just walk out and close the door. Hope to have some progress for the side bar this week!

Fast and Easy

I saw these first on The Pioneer Woman website and then Mama Koch made some and showed them on her blog. DD had a jewelry party tonight so I tried some to take with me. I am diabetic and shouldn't eat many and the great white hunter keeps saying he can't eat it all so it was a perfect chance to try them. They are really fast and easy and so good.

I wasn't happy with the brownie ones. I used Rolo candy and I think the Hersey Carmel Kiss would have been better. I had a hard time getting them out of the baking tin so they aren't as pretty either.

Quick recipe but The Pioneer Woman gives the whole thing in pictures on her "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" section of her site.

You need a roll of peanut butter cookie dough, and a package of Reese's miniature candies. Cut the cookie dough in 1 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch slices, then cut that slice into four quarters. Put the quarters in a greased mini muffin tin. Bake at 350 degrees 6 to 8 minutes (or golden brown). Remove from oven and quickly put a Reese's in each tin. I got twenty four out of one roll of dough. The chocolate ones are the brownie mix in a roll and Rolo candies. The brownie roll is softer so I filled the tins with a spoon, then added the Rolo after I took them out of the oven.

The ladies loved them at the party and we will see what the great white hunter thinks tomorrow. The party was fun, I usually avoid this type of thing where you are supposed to come to some one's house and spend money but it was DD after all. Good news was after I sat there and told everyone how I NEVER win anything, I won a pretty bracelet playing the game. (Wow, first Toni's prize and now this, need that lottery ticket).

Made My Day

I have posted before how I was not happy with Colin's Christmas quilt. I had the long list of reasons that I won't repeat again but I was feeling better when DD told me how he used it.

Today he was here because he has pink eye and couldn't go to school. He found a scrap of the car focus fabric and said, "Hey, these are my cars." I told him that it was the last piece, the rest had gone into his quilt. He said, "You know what, Nana? I have named some of those cars on my quilt. One is Axle and one is Bolt." DD said that was the first she had heard about it so he must have been looking at the cars on his own. That kid just made my day! It was great when DD told me how he enjoyed it, but having him tell me was the best!

I started to quilt because I wanted to make memories for my loved ones and hopefully leave behind something useable for them to remember me by........he told me today that if I never take another stitch, I have accomplished my goal.

I am BAD!

I didn't make it to the Goodwill with my donation last week so, I loaded up seven large boxes and off I went. The new store by our house is so huge! They have a drive up drop off center. You park and someone comes out and UNLOADS your stuff and takes it in for you, then give you the receipt. I like the idea of loading it up and taking it NOW rather than waiting for a curb side pick up.

So, I was there right? It is a brand new store and I had to go see what it was all about, right? OK, now for the confession. Goodwill has fabric. I doubt it is quilt shop quality but hey, I love scrappy quilts, especially string quilts so........I bought a bag of someone's "Get Rid Of". I also found a nice piece of dark blue flannel that had I have seen at Joann's. There was enough for blocks for a raggedy quilt for a child. Then I found a piece of blue green print cotton (Cranston print works VIP) that was large enough for borders or a small backing.

So, I am happy with my treasures.......and I resolve NOT to make a habit of this. I will drive right by, I will drive right by...................

Road to California/Eleanor Burns

We had a great time in California. If you have ever thought you might want to go to a big show like this, do go. I found the whole thing a bit overwhelming and will plan things out a little better next time, but it was wonderful.

The vendors are wonderful, just about any thing you would want is right there, you just have to find it! That will, however, take some doing unless it is a very specific thing like a longarm machine or sewing machine. It was amazing the variety of quilting things that the vendor's had to offer. It made you realize what big business quilting has become. Just watching those ladies with their plastic in hand, lugging large shopping bags tells you that in the quilting community, our economy is well and good. President Bush should give quilter's a tax rebate, we would spend it faster than you can rip a stitch and give the whole country a boost!

I didn't buy much. For one thing, I was awed by it all and so busy looking that I didn't stop to buy and too, I am trying, in all aspects of my life to just buy what I need now. (and I sure don't need anything quilty!) I did find bobbins for Julia's Christmas sewing machine at the Janome booth and we bought a beautiful wooden quilt hanger for the living room. I bought some fabric with tools on it for Colin.

I missed Judy L but she has a great post about the show. We were at Ginger's booth a little after 12 on Sat. and her red jacket was on the back of the chair but no Judy. Think it was lunch time. We didn't hang around. The great white hunter was being such a great guy there in the middle of all those women that I decided to keep on shopping! LOL

Then there were the quilts. This was in a lot of ways, the Tucson show only magnified about ten times. It should be a "quilted art show". There were fab wall hangings that were quilted, that most of us could never even dream up, never mind make. Beautiful, yes, wonderful, amazing workmanship, yes............and that is all I will say on that subject. I did see a few traditional quilts that were amazing. There was some applique that was to die for as well as hand quilting. I saw a couple of Lone Star quilts that I really liked.

Vicky and Judy both had quilts in the show. I am sure I saw them but after it was all said and done, everything ran together and I don't remember them. Go to Vicky's blog for a picture and read what the judges said about her wonderful quilt. Yes, quilters, they said that about her beautiful quilt. Personal opinions but believe me, one to make you want to never show your work again.

I have admired Eleanor Burns forever.........at least as long as I have had this quilting bug. I saw her on Simply Quilts a long time ago and that is when I decided that I wanted quilt. I love her laid back approach to the whole thing. I greatly admire how she started her patterns from home, then took it to become a major company yet, it still has the feel of easy does it. The honesty that she has shown in telling her story is something else I love about her. Her husband walked out on her and two sons right after the first Quilt in a Day book took off. She kept going so she could support herself and her two sons. Today, they are part of her company.

I knew that she was a big part of this show but was thrilled to death when I walked in the front door and saw this display. This was one of the first quilts from Quilt in a Day. It was in great 70's fabric's, well loved and often washed. It seemed like something you would remember from your childhood. In the display was a strip of the brown fabric, very obviously torn rather than cut, something she did with her first quilts.





Here are more of her quilts hanging at the entrance. My great white hunter said I was standing there with my mouth open. I believe it, I was thrilled.



So, would I go again? Ask me in late Nov. of 2008. After the Tucson show and this one, I have been there and done that enough for a while.

Off to Road to California

We are off to California in the morning. We will be at the Road to California Quilt show on Sat. My special great white hunter is being a real sport about all this quilt show goings. I will be back on Monday, hopefully with pictures of lots of quilt show loot.

Judy L. of Sunshine Quilts is there....wonder if we will be able to find Ginger's booth?