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!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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.
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.
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