Christmas Flu

Whew! Christmas is over; all Christmas guarantee quilts were finished by December 21st, and I have stopped throwing up! Yep, the flu. It went through the family like dominoes falling. First Kai, then me, then Laura, then Joe, all down with the intestinal flu. Kai's continued on into the chicken pox - what a bummer. In spite of being vaccinated, he hadn't had the booster and somewhere was exposed to it. He had a light case; and if he hadn't had the flu first, probably wouldn't have felt so bad. Missing Christmas mass and the choir and program performances that he had worked so hard on was probably his biggest disappointment. Fortunately, Quinn got her booster early and will not be getting the chicken pox, and Kai has bounced back and is allowed to go out in public tomorrow!

In spite of our illness, Christmas was great. It was our turn to have both daughters, husbands, and family for Christmas Eve and Day! Fortunately, I cooked the easiest and best Christmas Eve dinner, Paula Deen's No Fail Rib Roast. I would put something in the oven, go lie down, turn something off, go lie down, etc. I skipped mass so I wouldn't spoil it for others and was drowsing in front of the tree when everyone came home starving for dinner.

It's become my tradition to give everyone in the family pj's on Christmas Eve as well as a game or something to keep people occupied -- we also exchanged family gifts that evening so Santa wouldn't be overshadowed on the next day. Torn paper, empty boxes, and satisfied children were the result.

Everyone enjoyed seeing Lily, the chocolate lab puppy, and spoiled her with lots of hugs. It was great to see Daisy and Lily interact - Daisy really has taken an almost maternal concern for Lily and since Daisy is the best dog ever, there's hope for Lily, who right now plays for an hour, sleeps for three, and according to Lisa and Jeremy she also eats nonstop and pees every hour. Maybe Lily's middle name is Marley. All I know is I got some great pictures of Quinn and Lily!

I hope everyone who reads this had a great holiday and is looking forward to the New Year!

Puppies

Technology failed us on the way to Malta. Lisa and Jeremy have decided to add a chocolate lab puppy to their family for Christmas, and because it was a surprise for her husband, Lisa asked Laura and me and the grandchildren to ride along and see the puppies when she put down her deposit. Sounds great! A fun Sunday afternoon ride with squirming puppies at the end -- what could go wrong?

Lisa mapblasted the directions (this is the technology part) and we were off - a winding up and down trail over three counties, going back and forth and looking for places that went straight (I swear that's what the directions said). It was enough to make some stomaches queasy, and we were lucky that the kids fell asleep. On Saturday there had been snow, but it had all melted at home. The further south and east we went, the more snow was left on the countryside and back roads. Our progress became slower and slower. Of course, we missed a turn or two and resorted to looking at the map and coming onto our final road from the opposite direction. But we were there, almost.

As I turned on to the road, Laura yelled, "Stop." We were at the top of a steep hill, covered with snow and cinders. I cautiously backed up to the berm while Lisa called the owners of her puppy who explained we were almost there --take a right just halfway down the hill. I put it in low and we cautiously descended and turned into their large clear driveway. And then, in the yard, there they were, ten black and brown puppies tumbling about in the snow. Even 4 year old Quinn who's a bit nervous around dogs was thrilled at the cold little noses and warm fur. Kai tried to act like he wasn't interested, but soon even he was out of the car to check out all the excitement.
Lisa's new puppy was inside, staying warm and clean for her new owner to check her out. She's adorable and her name will be Lily. Lily will be coming home on Sunday to meet Jeremy and Daisy, a 2 year old chocolate lab the kids rescued last year.

It was definitely a fun day and I chuckle every time I think of it. The owners are going to meet Lisa halfway when she picks up Lily so it won't be quite as much fun. Even if she were to have to travel all the way to Malta again, we now know it's not near as difficult as the mapquest program made it. If you want to get to Malta from Jacksontown, take route 13 south until it intersects with route 37 east. Turn east on 37 and it will take you directly to Malta. Go figure. We came back that way on Sunday. It was a pleasant trip home but not worth any chuckles.

December Rush

December is a great month. I love the anticipation of Christmas and the holidays. Trained by my many years as a school teacher, I close the shop for two weeks around Christmas and New Years and spend my time playing with my family and quilting friends.

With so much to get done for others and myself, I have scheduled Friday Night Free for Alls for the first three Fridays in December and I will actually have everything done by Friday, December 19th! Yippee!

There's another kind of "rush" I feel for December -- It's the joy of watching: my grandson Kai carefully placing ornaments on my tree so the Santa Clauses face outward or serving at Mass and trying not to yawn or sneeze, my granddaughter Quinn climbing into my lap with a book or seriously coloring a picture with only one crayon, my daughter Lisa's chocolate lab Daisy plopping herself at our feet, Lisa and Jeremy together and still obviously in love, my daughter Laura and her love for her husband and children, my husband Joe bonding over football with his sons-in-law.

I have never had any trouble finding the real sentiment of the season -- it's all around me -- I just have to look.

Miscellaneous

That cough I treated with slushies and chicken soup turned out to be bronchitis. Most of my family has been sick with bronchitis and pneumonia. Having learned that pneumonia is contagious, I will be more aware from now on. We are all on the mend after major drugs, and even though I had to cancel one Friday Night Free for All, we are back on schedule now.

This past Friday we gathered at the new location and everyone likes the new digs. It is so much easier to keep clean and is brightly lit. I can seat 6 to 8 quilters comfortably and a few more if they don't mind rubbing elbows.

BFG's gathers tonight to work on our ninth block of the NQA block of the month. It's my turn to have the block done ahead of time so, of course, I did it today. It's really a pretty block. I find that I have to square up each unit to 4-1/2 inches before I put the blocks together as nine patches, or it won't work. It amounts to shaving off no more than an eighth of an inch but seems to make a big difference, and this way I don't lose any points when I put the blocks together with the sashing and cornerstones.

I have the prettiest t-shirt quilt on the longarm. (That's a statement you don't hear very often.) The t-shirts are all from long distance runs and marathons, sashed in turquoise, with a border of running fabric in the same turquise and greens on cream. It really is quite attractive and is the last one I must finish before Thanksgiving.

Still have a line-up for before Christmas though! No matter how hard I try, the Christmas deadline always sneaks up on me and I find myself coming in early, staying late, and working on Sunday afternoons to get them all done. It's a good time to make extra money though so no whining. Therefore, don't ask, I can't squeeze in another quilt before Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Recharge!

I think retreat is a funny name to describe an event which so recharges everyone I know. Retreat implies defeat to me and certainly every road trip I have ever taken was a success, one way or another. This past weekend spent at a borrowed home in Lakeside, Ohio was no different. Rosie, Denise, and I drove up on Thursday afternoon, arriving after dark, but that little community still manages to be beautiful. It rained most of the time but we didn't care; we were quilting! Rosie and Denise found some time to walk down to Lake Erie and enjoy the scenery even in the rain. I passed, hoping that my cough would get better. I doctored it with wine slushies and Rosie's homemade chicken noodle soup, and it seems to have worked.

We worked on separate projects on Friday and Saturday morning, but on Saturday afternoon we started in on the real purpose of our trip -- cutting and organizing the kits for the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild Retreat next February. We took a break to enjoy dinner, meeting Denise's niece and friend at the Nagoya Steak House -- one of our favorites -- it's like dinner and a show --and then were able to finish the kits after dinner.

The hardest part of any recharge is that it ends. Sunday morning we sewed for a few hours and then packed up, cleaned up, and were on the road by noon. Appreciative that someone was willing to share their Lakeside getaway with us, we could endure the trip home and all the duties that awaited us when we got there. We were recharged!

The Final Challenge!

Heavy Metal Quilting is moved, slowly being unpacked and starting to look like a place to quilt. It wasn't easy though. After three days of packing and loading the van and driving across the street and unloading the van, over and over again, there was only one final challenge -- the heavy stuff that I and my women friends could not carry. Rose Mary, Kendra, Denise, Khris, and Virginia are the best but we could not carry the machine, its steel 12 foot table, the library table used as a cutting table, or the largest storage unit. The most difficult is alway the steel table -- it's awkward, it's unforgiving, and it's heavy. It's time for the MEN.

The first time I moved the shop, it was from an old victorian house to a building that had previously been the post office -- both with nice extra-wide doors. The second time, I moved into a refinished garage, complete with garage door -- no problem just stroll through the garage d00r with the table. This time the shop moved into an office space with an entry way, the office space itself and a bathroom. The work space is like a T with the bathroom taking a chunk out on the left and the entry way taking its chunk out on the right. The entry way has a door from the outside and a door into the right hand side of the T work space.

I was fortunate enough to be helped by four men: my son-in-law, my son-in-law's Dad, and two quilters' husbands. Also three women and myself were there to help accomplish this final challenge. Leaving the old shop was pretty easy, open up that garage door and shove that table onto the open trailer provided by Khris's husband Jeff. Denise volunteers to stay on the trailer and hold on to stuff so it won't move ( I think she's crazy as how is she going to stop that table if it shifts, but fortunately nothing does. She enjoys the trip and does the queen wave the whole way.) At the new shop Jeff backs up to the front door and is really a bit too close as we need to take the table off and turn it before we take it into the shop. Instead of his pulling forward and then removing the table, they take half the table off and have him pull forward as Denise and Cease, Virginia's husband, walk the back part off. I am now oficially getting nervous. But again all is well. The table is off the trailer and turned in the right direction to be taken into the 400 square foot shop.

After several measurements, I had forewarned the guys that the outer door would have to be removed and then it would be clear sailing. After a consult and a gathering of tools, the door was off. As we tried to carry the complete table into the new space, it suddenly became obvious that my measuring was incorrect. Looking at the two metal rollers that cantilever out to the side of the table, my men decided they just needed to take one roller off and it would be fine. Fortunately Jeff is the king of all tools and had everything needed. The table started forward again and there was success until the end of the table which has more thingamajigs on it than the other reached the outer door, the table was stuck again. This also left one man trapped in the shop and all others outside discussing what to take off the table now. My son-in-law Jason climbed under the table and between the doors to rescue his dad Gary and help him lift the rest of the table. Have I mentioned this table is really heavy, made of steel, and not on wheels, which if I ever move it again, it has been suggested that I purchase some. The men decided to remove the second roller cantilevered on the side of the table but only at the rear where it was stuck. We were good to go!

But the big concern now is not getting it through the outer door, but turning the 12 foot table toward the center of the T as it comes through the second door. This turn being difficult never entered my mind but it was and by less that an inch we made the turn! Whew!

Now Jeff puts it all back together, and the only bolt lost is one I had taken off to remove the center roller which allows the sewing head to be removed for the trip. The rollers are back on, the sewing head is back on. I plug it in, sew a few stitches; all is well!

I am so grateful to my friends for their help. The only thing that could make it better would be if we'd had a video camera.

Slow Motion Move

Moving is always such a quagmire of things. I have changed the electric into my name, signed up for village water, arranged to have the phone transferred, and patiently waited on my good-intentioned new landlord to empty the space, paint the walls, clean the carpet, and now finally install a window into the previously claustrophobic space. I am ecstatic about the window, but I keep hoping I can start moving the little stuff in so that the big stuff will only take a short time to move on Saturday.

Knowing I need to keep busy, I have a simple quilt on the machine, am piecing a top for a client, and am packing all at the same time. Also BFG's will meet here tonight to work on Block #8 of the NQA block of the month. Their special treat will be a tour of the new space! The next time I blog, I hope I am moved!

The Stash That Ate Hebron

I may not have mentioned that my small shop is home to my stash as well. I do very little sewing at home although I have a nice machine in a great table. But storage of fabric is a real problem so gradually all my fabric has migrated to the shop. I never thought I had a huge stash. Most quilters have several tubs of fabric that they draw from and add to as they piece and quilt their projects. Me, too.

I took having to move as an opportunity to reorganize and purge my stash. My goal was to separate all fabrics into colors except for the flannels, the batiks, and the fat quarters. After buying eight additional containers and sorting for two days, I am almost done.

After an hour, I had to stop agonizing over where the fabric really belonged --whether the blue fabric with the large yellow flowers should go into the blue or the yellow box; did the white fabric with the black and red design belong in the white, the red, or the black box. Crazy! Finally I just started tossing, making arbitrary decisions that will probably make no sense the next time I get into these boxes to look for fabric.

Blues! The blues overflowed the large container and are now taking up the extra-large one. I don't use blue a great deal and didn't think I had very much of it. I must buy it and then never use it as I have tons.

Pinks and Purples! How much of that can there be? Putting them together in one container didn't work and now each color has its own home, a medium for pink and a large for purple.

I knew I would have a surplus of red, black, green, three more large containers.

I had already purged my batiks for another purpose but I still have a large container of batik. Flannels left over from my Thimbleberries' days fill a laundry basket.

Creams, whites, tans, are overflowing in three containers. Yellow and orange also each have a medium container.

Ok, the purging thing. I really did intend to throw away and give away fabrics, but if I have held on to a piece of fabric for ten years, I must really like it. So I kept all but the smallest and yuckiest pieces which I did throw away -- In secret-- by the dark of the moon-- so that my dear frugal friends who applique tiny figures and piece together discarded triangles from my trash will not catch me and scold.

Four small containers perfectly sized for fat quarters are full of fat quarters. If I buy any more fat quarters, I will have to buy a new container. Terry Atkinson keeps designing delightful quilts which take fat quarters so no guilt there --I just haven't had time to make the tops.

Project boxes kept showing up as well, as I dug through my stash. UFO's (unfinished objects) are again common for quilters. Many of us like to work on several projects at the same time, going back and forth, back and forth, and then sometimes putting a project in a box and forgetting that it's there. I refuse to count them. It's too scary. I should go through them though -- all tools, scissors, and patterns misplaced in the last ten years are probably in those boxes, tucked in with the appropriate project so they wouldn't be lost. But not right now. Right now I should be packing!

Moving Daze

It's official. I am moving the shop from a converted garage space (440 square feet) to an office space (app. 400 square feet) attached to storage units. I keep downsizing but as long as I have room for the Gammil longarm and a space for my friends to stop by and sew, I am satisfied.

I didn't choose to move; my current landlord wants to expand his "used stuff" business into the space I currently occupy. When informed that I would have to move, for a few brief moments, I thought about closing the shop and taking all my marbles and going home. Then sanity returned and I started checking into places to move the business. Before I became sane, I emailed my two daughters and my friend Denise, describing the situation and laying out the two options. Both girls simply emailed me back "Are you crazy?" and encouraged me to move by offering to help. Denise's reaction was a bit more emphatic: a phone call which when I answered all I heard was "Nooooooo!" So I am moving. I have the rest of the month of October to compress and discard and box up and walk across the street. Right -- across the street. I am moving from 101 North Street on the east side of High street to 106 North Street on the west side of High Street, still in Hebron, of course.

The new space has some definite advantages: private bathroom not shared with other occupants, no stairs, immaculate walls and floors, excellent lighting with a promise of a window to be put in by the front door.

The disadvantage is all the work of moving! Fortunately, I have many friends who are willing to help and it will all be fine. So as of November 1st, I will be settled in my new shop. And then the next weekend, I am going on a quilt retreat to Lakeside (a beautiful community on Lake Erie), and the retreat should heal all wounds and reinvigorate me for the Christmas rush. I usually quilt twice as many tops as normal during November and the first three weeks of December.

Some of those quilts are even my own. Recently I completed a full size quilt for the Heart of Ohio Auction and two baby quilts. I have at least fifteen quilt tops and probably ten additional wallhangings that are my own unquilted projects since it's difficult to find time for myself when other people are willing to pay me to quilt theirs. My love of piecing and creating quilt tops will undoubtedly continue to create this imbalance. There's always room for another quilt top, no matter how small the space.

Hebron's First Annual Music and Arts Festival and Me

Hebron, Ohio, had its first annual Music and Arts Festival this past weekend. I think it was fun and went well, expecially for a first event. Because our Heart of Ohio Guild is nonprofit, we were invited to fill a vendor's spot and were allowed to advertise our Guild and our upcoming Auction, which will be at 10 am, October 18th, St. Leonard's Church in Heath, Ohio.

Our idea was to display items that will be for sale at the auction and items that represent our three major service projects: Quilts of Valor, Quilts for Kids, and Hugs from the Heart. We also wanted to encourage individuals to come to guild meetings and to become interested in quilting. That's where I come in.

Four of us arrived at 9 am to set up our area -- it consisted of a square of grass designated with blue paint. My van was packed with quilts to display, three tables, five chairs, small sewing machine, materials to demo piecing and redwork embroidery, and anything else I could think of we might need during the day--an iron, ironing surface, cooler with water and diet root beer, etc. Becky's van held more quilts to display, the awning and all its accoutrements.

Fortunately, Becky and Rosie knew exactly how to do this, and Carla and I took directions well. Our awning replete with three walls was up lickety split. It then took us another 45 minutes to put up quilts and signs. I must say it was one of the most striking displays there.

We settled in, and I set up the small machine and began to demo piecing a block. Electricity was available if your extension cords were long enough. I brought with me the 7th block from the NQA Quilting Quarterly (block of the month 2008) which the BFG's have been working on. I was all set with precut pieces and the directions and was ready to go.

I had never before tried to sew with a live show going on in front of me. On the small pavilion facing our space, we had square dancers twice, line dancers, blues singers, and a rock band --all of which were distracting to various degrees. Not far to the side of us was the children's play area. The merry-go-round never stopped and I had vertigo just watching it. Far enough away we couldn't really see them but could hear them was the field for the three marching bands to perform: Lakewood, Heath, and Sheridan were all great! Smells of great food drifted into our area from the food court. I stopped sewing to have barbecued chicken and spent quite a bit of time getting the barbecue off my hands so I could resume sewing. Fortunately the Battle of the Bands and the main stage were out of hearing for the most part. But, of course, we had the crowd and were glad to see them -- we handed out over 200 flyers on our auction and many about our Guild. However, all of this did not bode well for my piecing.

It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't cut the first piece incorrectly back at the shop. The square was meant to be 2- 5/8th inches, but I cut it 2 -7/8th inches. That's a quarter inch error and a big deal to a quilter. It probably took me an hour to finally break down and go back to the directions and realize my error. Many other errors and several hours later, the block was pieced, finger pressed, and stored in its container, and I was ready to go to BFG's Monday night with a finished block to flaunt before the other Bodacious Fabric Goddesses.

Monday morning, wanting my finished block to look great, I heated the iron and pressed my block. As I pressed it, I realized I was pressing in a few grass stains and that one section was sewn in backwards. Go figure. Ignoring the grass stains, I spent my time at BFG's unsewing and redoing my block, again. I did have it done before we broke up for the evening.

The Festival was a success for me though. I loved seeing old friends and talking to people about quilting and the guild.

I think if we do this again next year, I may not demo piecing. Maybe something a bit easier to do with all the distractions. I noticed next year's Quilting Quarterly block of the month is paper piecing. Hmm. I can't paper piece without swearing so that's definitely not an option. I am sure by next year I will have come up with something.

Quilts of Valor

The war on Irag has left me feeling helpless. The thousands killed is sad, but many more thousands are hurt and maimed, permanently changed by war.

When my friend Judy spoke at my quilt guild about Quilts of Valor, I thought there is something I can do. So I dutifully made a quilt and sent it off as a token of respect and love to an injured soldier. There, done, did my share. I have a longarm quilting business to take care of, so I went back to working for money to pay the bills of the shop. It certainly keeps me busy enough.

Then I read an email in the longarm list on which I lurk. There are soldiers going without these quilts --they can't be made fast enough. So now I am trying to quilt one top a month for Quilts of Valor so that no soldier will go without this small comfort. I don't think I can quilt fast enough some days.

Bravo Junkie

Maybe because I am fascinated with fabric and color, there are three shows on Bravo that draw me in -- Project Runway, Make Me a Super Model , and Top Design.

I know next to nothing about fashion so I am surprized that I like Project Runway. I often disagree with the judges and am amazed at the backstabbing --these people do know they are on tv, right? I haven't picked a winner favorite yet but really like several of the finalists right now.

I watched the whole first season of Make Me a Super Model last year and again the drama made the show. It also had something to do with the fact they kept making them do stuff naked probably. I was intrigued with Ben, former jail guard turned male model. Heaven forbid, he should go back to the jail. I hope this year's show can be as interesting.

Top Design I like for most of the right reasons: use of color, use of fabric, juxtaposition of texture, and interaction of form and use in challenging situations. I am aware of the potential for drama but mostly like to see how each project is handled.

Three of my secret vices --revealed!

Lucky Days!

I am feeling very fortunate today as we not only have electricity but also the cable came back on close to midnight last night. Not that I was up and watching tv, but my son-in-law was and said he almost woke us up to tell us, as we have been bemoaning the loss of cable to keep everyone entertained. The only discs I had at the house included Quinn's favorite Pretty Ponies. After seeing it way too many times, we were actually all starting to discuss the philosophies behind the ponies' fight with the zebra.

Our daughter, son-in-law, and their two chidren are staying with us until their power is restored which could be up to six more days. But being over-run with family is satisfying, even in our small house, and I am always grateful that Joe and I didn't lose power and can do it.

Also I look at the morning newspapers (we actually get three real print newspapers a day), and my heart breaks for those who will never return to their homes because the homes are gone. So no matter how tight it is to have four adults, an almost 4 year old girl, and an 8 year old boy in a thousand square foot house, it's still almost a delight. Besides, the shop has power and we all know where I get to go!

Procrastination

Procrastination is something I am really good at. Currently I should be finishing a longarm quilting job (gorgeously colored double wedding ring which is getting an overall rambling rose), working on the star quilt for a client, finishing any one of probably 30 UFO's (unfinished objects), and instead -- I am blogging.

In high school and college, I was always the sleep deprived one because I put things off and then had to pull all-nighters to finish. Fortunately I worked well under pressure.

As a teacher, I discovered that I no longer procrastinated preparation because facing 25 teenagers and not knowing what I was going to do was pure suicide. So I was always well-prepared for every class. Where the procrastination did creep in was in evaluating huge projects. There's nothing more mind numbing than reading ninety term papers. As a retired teacher, that's something I don't miss.

Crazy as it sounds, I do miss teenagers, just not enough to substitute teach. I do miss their enthusiasm for mostly anything not involved in a classic education. But if I could convince them that the Old English epic Beowulf was just like a horror flick, we could communicate. Then it was such fun.

Procrastination time is over! I need to finish a few things!

Priorities

When asked by daughter Laura to watch our two grandchildren for the weekend, of course I agreed. Then I looked at my schedule and theirs and realized I would have to close the shop two days and also skip Friday Night Free for All. Family is always my top priority so I posted that the shop would be closed for Friday and Saturday. But my sanity is a priority as well, so I notified Joe that he would be in charge of serving the darlings frozen pizza and watching cartoons with them from 5 to 10 on Friday night. Friday Night Free for All was not cancelled!

On her way, Denise picked up dinner from Chipotle for those who hadn't eaten. Then five merry quilters settled into the normal routine of sewing and chatting. One breakthrough --I was thrilled to discover that one person not related to me by blood actually reads my blog. But quilting is a pretty strong tie because we all process our plans and require feedback on the ongoing projects. I think quilters sometimes know more about each other than friends of a more miscellaneous nature. Some husbands live in fear as to what is revealed on a Friday night.

But never fear, husbands are high on the priority list -- just not quite as high as they would like to be.

Special Delivery

My dear brother and his wife have 14 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 to 19. (My two daughters would have to have seven children each just to tie -- not that it's a competition, of course.)

Each of the 14 received a baby quilt from me -- Some when I had just barely started to piece fabric together so I bought them from more accomplished friends but others received my better work. I know they all treasure them regardless and I really appreciate that.

But when it came to graduation quilts, I thought that would be almost impossible. My optimistic sister-in-law felt sure it could be done if she made the tops and I quilted them. I delivered our second quilt during the family picnic at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia. Never having been there before, it was wonderful to discover Tuscora Park is perfect for all ages with lots of activities, huge shade trees, tables, and grills. Although the oldsters had to keep moving their chairs to stay in the shade, it was really pleasant weather. My biggest fear was that I would forget to get the quilt out of the car and drive it back to Hebron with me. I did remember, however, and it was fun to special deliver the soft blue and green top quilted overall with a climbing rose pattern. My sister-in-law and great-niece were thriled.

The thing is we have twelve more to make. Fortunately, Nita is starting to talk about crocheting something different for the boys, but I don't know; we may be making #14 when we're in our eighties. Actually, if we are, more power to us!

Joe and John Cooper

Bodacious Fabric Goddesses met last night at the shop. Since it was now a "school night," we broke up early but most people had block #6 from the NQA Quilting Quarterly done. Notice I said "most." Not me. Once again I had too many stories to share and ended up turning two pieces wrong and had to take apart what is undoubtedly the easiest block of the twelve -- will finish it this week when I take a few breaks from longarming.

The story I told about my husband Joe is worth repeating, and I think you will understand why I was distracted with whoops of laughter. Joe and I were at the Ross Heart Hospital on Thursday for his follow up tests and appointment with one of his heart doctors. (Joe is doing well, by the way, but we periodically have these appointments.) We are sitting in the main waiting room in between events when a nice-looking older man walks by. Joe perks up immediately and says "Do you know who that is?"

Ok, the guy is vaguely familiar but I answer "No."

"It's John Cooper!" At this point Joe is really lurching forward in his seat, and I thought he might actually get up and accost the guy to see if it's really him.

Given the name, now I recognize the former OSU Buckeye coach but only from all the Kroger ads he did on tv. I recommend to Joe that he leave the guy alone as the only reason he would be signing in at the receptionist's desk is that he also has an appointment with a heart doctor. Joe glares at me and demands I find a piece of paper for him to get John Cooper's autograph.

Coach Cooper turns from the reception area, walks toward the waiting area, and (Wait for it!) sits next to Joe. I could no longer protect the man.

Joe starts in on a conversation with "Coach" and continues to nudge me with requests for a piece of paper. The only paper I have is a pad of Mary Englebreit sticky notes. I hand this to Joe who requests an autograph for our son-in-law Jason who truly is a real Buckeye fan. Coach Cooper obligingly writes "To Jason, Go Buckeyes! John Cooper," in the midst of Mary Englebreit's design. Then, thankfully, Coach Cooper is called back to his appointment, and Joe is left clutching his pad of sticky notes and smiling joyously at the other men seated around Coach's now empty chair.

I was very impressed with how nice John Cooper was to my presumptuous husband. Thank you, Coach, it made his day.

That afternoon when Jason arrives to pick up our grandson Kai, Joe is ready with the autograph, and Jason loves it. He even loves that it's on a sticky note. It will be framed in that so far mythical OSU room that Jason is going to have.

Men, you gotta love them!

Update

My daughters have reminded me that most bloggers write much more often than I do, but I think once a week is about the best I can do.

Friday Night Free for All was quiet because 4 out of 5 were doing hand work. That's really strange as we are usually the machine queens. Embroidery projects for the Guild President's thank you quilt kept two of us challenged. I do like hand work but usually only do it in waiting rooms.

Longarm quilting is keeping me busy and the current quilt is beautiful but taking forever. I am putting a feathered wreath in every 8 inch block (84 of those), a half wreath in all the side triangles, and feathered roses in the borders which I will have to turn. I am being well-paid to do this, and it's fun, as the quilt is gorgeous, but again, taking forever.

I have 15 tops backed up to quilt and the Christmas quilts are starting to come in. I try not to take so many that I will go crazy -- it is a retirement job which manages to pay the bills for the shop so I don't have to sew in a dark, dank basement. The shop also sends me on three or four retreats a year.

I am currently planning to take off to Lakeside (on Lake Erie) for a November weekend -- can't wait. And Denise, Rosie,and I are in charge of the Heart of Ohio Retreat in February, 2009. Maybe because my husband does not like to travel, I adore getting away. I will pretty much go anywhere that I don't have to cook, other than breakfast and salads, and maybe only clean when we leave so they'll let us come back. Getting to sew without being asked what's for dinner is wonderful.

Quilt Therapy

Friday Night Free for All was a quiet one as two of our best talkers were unable to be there - one was on a business trip and the other, spending time with her dear husband who passed away later that weekend. We all share JoAnne's loss and hope she and her daughters will find comfort.

Quilting helps. I have found personally that quilting is excellent therapy. Friends have told me the same. There's something about the planning of a project, the manipulation of the fabric, and the completion of each aspect that enables the heart to heal.

Whenever my husband has a health issue and I know I am looking at some long hours in a waiting room, I try to make sure I have some hand embroidery with me. Even though I am a voracious reader, I find reading impossible in such times. But doing something with my hands is just distracting enough to make the time pass. Redwork has been my choice several times as it is a bit mindless -- one stitch, one thread color. But, I also did a complete cross stitch with varied colors at the Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital. I bought the kit for 75 cents at a Guild yard sale because I had immediatly recognized it as a kit that my mom completed many years ago, and Mom's finished project hangs in my niece's kitchen. It was quite satisfying to work with the actual colors and flosses that my mom would have used. It's ready to be framed now, and each stitch was taken as I waited in various areas of the Ross Heart Hospital. Recognizing the synchronicity of my stitching and the doctor's stitching on Joe's heart was somehow comforting.

I hope JoAnne and her quilting daughter Becky will find comfort in their craft as time passes.

Wine Slushies

Art Walk in the City was great. From 4 to 8, Denise and I wandered the square in downtown Newark, looking for the balloons that marked each display area. I was amazed at the truly gifted artwork and photography that was on display.

Heart of Ohio Quilters had about 16 quilts including one of mine in the Merrill Lynch office, and their display was my original purpose of going to the Art Walk. They were very lovely and nicely shown, and the group had handouts that informed people of the guild and its upcoming auction and show. Great idea.

But the highlight of the evening was my discovery of wine slushies at the Buckeye Winery. I have absolutely no palette when it comes to good wine; you could hand me any sweet wine, including Boone's Farm, and I would like it. Wine slushies are absolutely my style -- it was like going to an alcoholic 7-11. We started at the winery, walked the whole square, and ended at the winery.

Refreshments, often including wine and savory or sweet munchies, were offerred at every site. I passed on the wine, of course, because I knew there was another slushy waiting for me. Because we were meeting Denise's husband for dinner later, I passed on the munchies too, except for the chocolate at Goumas' candy story. Wow!

The other fun thing of the walk was running into several old friends. Denise and I have already put this event on our calendars for next year.

Why Heavy Metal Quilting?

Ok -- the Name!

I admit I have had people call asking for metal sheeting, sewing machine repair, sewing machine cabinets, and various other things not related to longarm quilting, and I confirm that I do like loud, obnoxious music.

Longarm quilting is definitely not my grandma's quilting. Grandma Rosamond was a beautiful hand quilter, and I am lucky enough to have a few of her quilts, but I could never quilt by hand with the osteoarthritis with which I am blessed.

So Heavy Metal Quilting is definitely a memorable name, and playing heavy metal music while I quilt most days makes the process go more quickly.

AfterGlow

Friday Night Free for All and July BFG's were great fun.

The July block from Quilting Quarterly was the trickiest one so far but Lynne ably guided us through it. Her block and Rosie's are full off sparkly fabric and they just shine.

Denise is making a double sided quilt by making two blocks, sunny and cloudy, for each month; she's planning on quilting them together and having it on her couch, turned to reflect her mood. I think it would be a great thing to train her husband to notice which side of the quilt is up as he comes in the door.

Sue gets the award for most improved; she got her entire block finished before she left and only had to tear out two pieces along the way.

The funniest story award goes to Brenda who explained why she froze the body of a family cat (double-bagged, of course) until her husband got home from a business trip.

The only one who didn't get the block done -- me. I will take some sit down time today away from the longarm to finish the last two units and complete my block. Because I found an amazing teal batik in my stash, my blocks continue to look similar to the pictures in the magazine--bright and high contrast.

Friday Night Free for All was a quiet group that got a lot done. Dinner from Clay's Cafe included Root Beer Floats for almost everyone. Nancy probably got the most done -- she is so industrious. I got one border on my Block of the Month Quilt from 2006 and made two Lucky Star centers. I think I talk too much. Other people get far more done that I do. We even had special guests from Heart of Ohio Guild who stopped by to pick up some quilts for display in the Art Walk in Newark, Ohio, on the evening of August 2. It's a free event and has some 50 artists displaying and selling their work. It should be fun.

Back to work today - time to longarm so I can pay the bills here at the Quilter's Bar and Grill.

Friday Night Free for All

My other favorite group of quilters will be meeting at the shop this Friday night. Friday Night Free for All began when I first got my own retail space, about 7 years ago. Before that, I shared with a full service quilt shop and had only one room. I wanted to share my love of piecing with my friends more than once a month, which is when the BFG's meet.

The number varies but usually there are at least 5 of us who meet every other Friday night, order in dinner from a local restaurant, and sew until 9 or 10 depending on how tired we are. One friend brings homemade goodies to share often enough that my husband thinks I should always bring him home a treat.

A bit of male-bashing and laughter makes the evening fly -- we sometimes call the shop, the Quilter's Bar and Grill. However, no alcohol; you can't operate heavy equipment and drink ( you can't drive home that way either.) Let's face it, some of us have trouble driving in the dark, let alone impaired in any other way.

I am going to be working on some star blocks as samples for a client who wants me to make a twin size quilt for her grandson. She knows very little about quilting so I hope the sticker shock won't stun her.

Friday Night Free for All is always fun!

Wow!

That was a bit scary! I have never blogged before so I hope this works.

I am doing this because my favorite quilters, the BFG's (Bodacious Fabric Goddesses), are doing the block of the month from the Quilting Quarterly and loving it! We aren't quite on track with the months, but will do the fifth block this month. The patterns are great and we are really having fun. Each month one of us does the block ahead of time to guide the other members through any tricky spots.

Everyone has different color choices so the blocks are all looking quite different. We originally decided to do the project from our stashes, except for the black fabric. The green immediately became an issue and some of us decided that once we had bought it, it was in our stash. Right?

Also, I am putting the borders on as I go so that when I am done, the quilt will go together more quickly.

I'll keep you posted on BFG's progress.