Create vs work vs sleep

Turn back time ... just a few months... 

I did "finish" the top to the Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller Challenge.

(more on that later) 

as you can see, I did have a little help! ... this is how i like to sort my strips 

- it's my favorite way to work ...

... Work In Progress ... 

                                   ... my little helper

 ... I love her so! 

 She too plays fetch, has spirit & spunk ...

the fabrics ...

...  playing on the design wall!...

I really enjoyed this fabric - it's been one of my favorite Challenges! 

I look forward to quilting the final product ... i do believe this one will be MINE!

August Already!?

 

I  apparently am technology challenged.  

simply, i must wear out my devices.

When a smart phone became part of my life i thought it would make my life easier, 

but it appears it has become another source of frustration.

My "phone" ... which i declared i would more adequately refer to as: 

THE DEVICE

~ ate my pictures! 

Besides a couple fresh fur-babies... 

I wanted to share some of my Quilting & Altered Art

... between spending time with my people...

Before the demise of the CAMERA portion of my phone i was able to save these: 

Spring 2014

May: mom, aka: Nanny, got to attend her youngest grandson's graduation ...

to be quite honest, the boy is too smart for his own good,

existing under the impression  "homework" was unnecessary busy work... 

but - its true -we will soon be empty nesters ...

Older brother * baby brother * 'big' sister ...

Where did spring go!?

EASTER WITH THE GRANDS, I wish they were closer!

Hey Lady, What's in your bag?

Favorite Sewing Bag

"I like to the secret kind of things a person keeps inside.... " Edith Anne

You know those times your husband drags you into the hardware store ... and you look at all that junk through new eyes? ... i found this bag, and made it my own.  It goes to all my Quilt retreats & Sew Ins... 

> one can never have enough pens, and doo dads - (sh, some of the favorite things i've lifted from my kids ... the mini kaleidoscope, a magnifying glass that lights up!) ...

One can never have enough needles...

Altoids tins & thimble collections

Pocket Pallet

{fav threads ... the thread in the 'Rx bottle' my son removed the center, pin cushion lid.}

... makes me smile ...

Lent 12/40

Wordless Wednesday ~ Says it all...

Quilt Show! 2014

Derailed ...

... sorting & organizing will have to wait til 'tomorrow' ...

... well, i'd had great hopes to be faithful about blogging .. the progress of getting organized. 

... but, OF COURSE,  God has had other plans... 

Mom, aka: "Nanny" ... has been in the hospital after a fall, with a broken rib .

.. she was primarily dealing with Bronchitis prior, which she shared with my brother and I.  

After piecing the events together ... we are certain a stroke was involved. 

 The bronchitis alone is brutal.

After nearly a week in the hospital she is now recovering in rehab 

- receiving treatment for her bronchitis and Therapy to get her strong enough to move back home -

This is one tough lady! I'm proud to call her my mom & my friend!

MOM OUT ON THE TOWN @GENESSEE KC MO 2/2014

.. One of mom's favorite memories - Learning to use the Ipad with Great-Granddaughter, Meia.  Hearing her tell it is priceless ... "she was very patiently teaching this old woman new stuff .. then she would just laugh! .. "

~ I'll never forget when the grandkids showed her how to download music;  we were sure she was going to go to jail for "stealing" off the internet!

 

so ...

in addition to  getting over this nasty bronchitis myself, 

my primary goal is to get this lovely lady healthy & back home!

lent 10/40

ScrappyBee Blocks:for Lauren ~ Catch up!

'Miss January' 

Finally got to get Belated Bee Blocks to Lauren.   

String Pieced blocks, inspired by Film In the Fridge "Faceted Diamonds" ... 

I see making more of these blocks in my future. 

Guild Nights - second thursday - favorite Night of the month. 

 Playing catch up - Sadly missed the past few meetings!

Safely delivered all past due blocks! 

Whew, what a great feeling.

Who knew...?

Late 'night' homework with young procrastinator could be so... entertaining! Ah, poetry....
Jonathan Swift ..."I'm reading that one again! ... listen... " And on to Woodsworth & Hardy. Friday is going to be a long day.

Poetry, Just what I wanted to do after a great QUILT guild meeting, which on the drive home ironically listened about "sitting around being INSPIRED is not equivalent to being productive" ... basically.

Trying to treasure this moment.

Lent 8/10

Personal Geometry

Tuesdays mini Road Trip to the Spencer Art Museum in Lawernc Kansas ... this was one of my favorites by Quilt Magician Virginia Jean Cox Mitchel. I just love the detail and the intricate handwork! 
The work of both Artists was intriguing.  I was fascinated by the techniques & detail in Yoshiko Jinzenji's work.  I hope to make it back again while the exhibit is still up. {OH by the way - did you know you can get yelled at by the guards - for POINTING at the work... ?  leaning in to examine the stitches makes them edgy also!  ~ who knew?}

.... couple of long days ...

lent 7/40

I wonder if...

This furry friend finds us entertaining? He keeps me company when I sew... he watched me as I started rearranging the basement, mostly supervising. It makes me wonder ... does he get nervous when I start to clean & reorganize... asking himself, "are we moving again?"


He loved watching this quilt come together... from attacking the design wall, to sleeping on it while it waa being quilted ...

He's completely stolen my gramma chair...

He will literally kamakzi dive bomb me, leep over me & sneak attack from behind MY chair when I attempt to sit in it....


He's the last man standing.
I wonder if he appreciates being an only furbaby....



Truth is he has been claimed by son whi admittedly says theirs is more of a Stockholm Syndrome relationship!

We love him!...

lent 6/40

~ Creative Chaos?

" The Lord is my strength, and my shield, my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices, 

and with my song will I praise him."  

Psalms 28:7

Spring 2012

Spring 2012...

...approaching Spring 2014

When we moved I had great plans for this space! ... and i really do Like my Studio - it's my 'Happy Place' ...
But I just know it could be SOoo much more functional, and I could be so much MORE creative ...

 .... SO, I'm dissecting my TO DO & breaking into manageable pieces... 

Winter 2014 ~ Truth: Scrapbooking supplies BURIED =(

It's been a SAD realization that i have NOT scrapbook in .. nearly TWO YEARS!

> GOAL: MAKE THIS AREA MORE FUNCTIONAL...

     When we moved in the guys graciously set up my shelves while i was @work.  {it took me/us SIX weeks to sort/Dejunk & MOVE}... They put my bulky machines on the shelves, and i'm grateful.  The fact is, the machines are taking up valuable space there (and i may even let ONE go?).
Fact: i MISS scrapbooking.  I miss working in Multi media .. also, handwork & altered books. 
   
I have enjoyed focusing on sewing and taken the advice of a fellow quilter:

"GO AHEAD AND CUT INTO THAT COVETED FABRIC ... IT RELEASES THE CREATIVITY!"

 ...  But, i also miss playing with the colors & textures of the Mixed Media

 .. the fibers, dyes, paints, embellishments! ...

I miss this setup, it worked for me ... 

REALIZATION: 

I like Vertical Paper storage ...

old basement ...

Dear Lord, give me strength, wisdom,
 ... to reconfigure this area in a TIMELY MANNER,

 so i can become more productive   CREATIVE! 

lent 5/40

Low Volume...

Today... a Day OFF! ...

Will start reorganizing & prioritizing my Studio...
getting my KC ScrappyBee Blocks ready to go to their new homes.
Today's share ~




Low Volume for Leslie...

Lent 4/40

I'd rather would have been Quilting!

... not exactly how I wanted to spend my Thursday! ...
Heading to work, jamming to a great song... that's right singing at the top of my lungs...
.. when I noticed the check tire gauges were FLASHING (!)

... and an unfamiliar shiny dot appeared...

"Well that's new & dramatic" thought I ...
so I proceeded with caution to the nearest exit ( within a few MILES)...
Phoned work ... "please don't die" I was informed...

Thus started the process of pulling up my big girl panties,
cussing the process of putting air in my tires
(some family member has permanently borrowed my tire gaugeS, eh-hum!)

... then, my car decided to pout & NOT start =( .
.. I truly had to consider if I'd forgotten the process

[apparently I would not have been the first person, 

by the arrogance of the tow truck operator]

... Got my cape out of the back, called roadside assistance....

 and totally handled the situation all the way up to securing my own rental &

getting to work in a less than fashionably late.
{Turns out there was an electrical short...} ?

EXHAUSTED but safe.

TGIF!!!

LENT 3/40

KC Scrappy Bee: Spider Web

KC Scrappy Bee: Spider Web, a photo by scrappystuff on Flickr.

~ for Nikki! ... Swap Block!
Our KC Scrappy Bee is going strong! 

Lent 2/40

{Kinda} Wordless Wednesday

{ Seasons ~ Studio WIP ~ July '12}

... Every purpose under heaven...

posted from Bloggeroid

"All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return."

lent 1/40

Bad, bad, blogger!

Well, this is taking "blogging with out obligation" to the extreme!
With Mardi Gras ... FAT TUESDAY ... er, uhm, Lent ... right around the corner
 ... I will take this opportunity to say...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

... and for Lent I will give up NOT Blogging...
I challenge myself to 40 days of blogging! Ash Wednesday to Easter.
We can escort winter right out, and I will post the reorganization of my ever changing Studio!

posted from Bloggeroid