RETIREMENT ANNIVERSARY

Today marks the one year anniversary of my retirement. After 44 years of working for somebody I am free to work for myself. As I look back on the past year I must say, my greatest accomplishment was moving to Oregon. The one thing that surprises me the most is that I made three quilts, have five started and finished a few UFO's. I thought I would have finished more quilts. Oh well, there is always the next twelve months.

Wishing you and yours a day or romance and joy.

TA DA DAY

Greetings. Remember the blocks I posted on January 22? This is the finished quilt. Paul is on a step ladder trying to hold it up but it looks like his wing span was not sufficient either. So, here is it on the floor. I love the fabrics in this quilt. There is one block pattern in the light color way and the same block in the dark, 12 different blocks done in the light and 12 in the dark making 24 blocks total. Love It!!!!

Below is the fabric I will be using on my next project. Kinda crazy but I have a vision. The pattern for this quit is in the book Cottage-Style Quilts by Mary Hickey. I think I bought this book about five years ago at Pacific International. I don't buy a lot of books because I can never find the fabric that works for the quilt pattern I want to make in the book. These fabrics are nothing like the ones used in the quilt featured in the book but I think they will work. I do have reservation on the second green in the line up. I might have to dig deeper in my stash. My goal is to have this finished this month. It will be a surprise so stay tuned, film at eleven!

To help take our minds off Max, and ease the hurt in our hearts, we visited a couple of quilt shops. Details on Max at the end of this post. Greenbaum's Quilted Forest was like walking into a quilt show. They are located in Salem. They had so many beautiful quilt hanging all over. They were hung high from the ceiling so it was hard to get good pictures. The staff there were wonderful. The quilt below was so simple but the quilting on it really made it stunning. I love the soft colors.

This is the back of the quilt. It's hard to see the quilting but you could show either side of this beauty.

These tea pots are so bright and fun. The fabrics in this quilt are my inspiration. Mary has the pattern so I'm going to start my hunt for fabric.

This next picture is a darling wall hanging that measures 27" x 33" finished. There are 100 little rice lights on it that light up and twinkle. The pattern is very easy, the challenge will be finding all the embellishments. The pattern is by Cheryl Ennis at The Teddy Bears Quilt Workshop in Lebanon, OR.

This next quilt is amazing. It's called A Birds Eye View buy Terrie's Quilts in Dallas, OR. At first glance I thought it was a panel. It's appliqued and then you bring the quilt to life with crayons, colored pencils and markers. There is a Melt 'N' Blend technique that she teaches and uses on this quilt. The picture doesn't do it justice. This is a quilt I want to hang in my home.

So, about Max. Max is Larry and Mary's nine year old Rottweiler. He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on a bone in his left front leg. They were not happy with the options given by the Vet in Roseburg so they decided to get a second opinion at the Veterinary school at the University of Oregon in Corvallis. I went along for support. This experience brought back memories of Herkie and I thought Mary could use some company on the drive up and back. Max stayed for surgery and they will be picking him up on Friday. They are removing the part of the bone with the tumor and he will have chemo treatments and hopefully live cancer free.

The picture below is of a friend I made while waiting for Mary. I don't remember what breed this dog is but he is very big and acts like a big kid. His hair was soft and silky and I think I pet and scratched for about four hours that morning. His Mom gave me permission to take his picture. They drove down from Washington to get care for the other dog and in my books that speaks volumes about this teaching hospital. They were waiting for his brother, who also has cancer. What's up with all this cancer?

It's 30 degrees outside and the sun is burning away the fog. It should be in the 50's and sunny all day. I'm going to start cutting out my surprise quilt. Until next time have a blessed day and take care.

MONDAY'S MUSE

It's the start of another week here in Sutherlin. Our weather last week was incredible. The sun warmed the days to 60 degrees and I wasn't motivated to be indoors working on my goals. We have a park bench on the porch and that's where I felt I needed to be with book in had and a cup of tea. Why waste a beautiful sunny day indoors?

This morning the ground is wet and it looks like it rained. That is a good thing because people around here are worried about the lack of rain fall. Last year it rained up until May and people couldn't get there gardens planted. If it rains today there will be a possibility that I will get some of my "STUFF" done.
Yesterday we spent Super Bowl over Larry and Mary's. Mary and I had a table stacked with food and we were going to sit in front of the TV and graze all day. I couldn't waste the day like that. Mary and I hung out with her four legged friends and the feathered one's too. The all have names but I don't know who's who. These guys a very noisy. It was okay watching them bath and play in the water but the best part is when they turn their heads around and nestle them on their backs and sleep.

I have made progress on these cute totes. This is my favorite. I love the cherries. The black doted pocket is where you fold and stuff the bag.

Here are three other fabric choices. I like the lemon one too.

Our church is rinsing money for the Mexico Mission Team. Thursday and Friday I baked cookies and cupcakes and decorated them with a Valentine theme for a bake sale that was held Saturday and Sunday. Today we will be getting things together for a garage sale. Garage sales are very big in Oregon. I would like to work in the garden or just watch the birds feeding on the lawn but I must stop the day dreaming and get to work.

Have a blessed day and a productive week.

Saturday Sampler

Greetings and happy Saturday to you. When I was working Saturday's were a very special day for me. Now that I'm retired, everyday is Saturday, except Sunday. So this Saturday I will be doing various things. I want to finish my star block quilt. I have laid the blocks out in various order, on the floor because my design board isn't up yet, to determine what looks best. The blocks will be sewen with sashing and corner squares. This picture below is what I'm going with. This quilt is all about half square triangles. I will post a picture when I get it sewen together.

Thursday night I hung out with the girls at the Sewing Basket and made Tukaway Tote bags to sell at the Sister's quilt show. I love them so much I brought a few kits to sew up at home and I'm making a tote for myself, Mom and Daughter. I want to make a few extras to have around for last minute gifts too. They are 20" x 22" and fold into it's own little pocket and fits in your purse or where ever you want. I'll post a picture.

So, we are all sitting in the back of the store sewing our little hearts away and somebody yells, "Come on out here, you gotta see this." Well of course everybody jumps out of their seats and runs out of the store. You can't see anything and then everybody looks up to the West at the sunset. I gotta say, there is beauty all around here. I wonder if it was like that in Stockton and I just couldn't see it. I had to grab my camera and get a picture of this. I wonder if the people in the passing cars thought we were all nuts.

I know my photo's didn't capture the true beauty of this but I'm sure you get the idea. I was trying to get a shot without the traffic signs and buildings.

When I got home that night I noticed Paul had his camera on the counter and I asked why. He told me about the beautiful sunset I missed and when he was outside taking pictures some of the neighbors were doing the same. I need to check out his pictures because there isn't street signs and polls to obstruct the view from home. Oh, the 10 o'clock news showed shots of the sunset and commented on it too.

So I have some reading to catch up on, laundry, bags to sew, a quilt to finish, vacuuming, and grocery shopping. It's just a sampling of what I'm going to do this wonderful Saturday.

Wish you a blessed day.

MARVELOUS MONDAY

Greetings. As I start my week I can't help but wonder how I was able to get so much accomplished and work full time. Now that I am retired and have more time it feels like I am accomplishing less. What's up with that? On Monday's I review the past weeks To DO List and carry forward the things I didn't get done to my new list. Some of the things get deleted because they are no longer important or necessary. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shinning bright and the blue sky is dotted with puffy clouds. I want to sit in front of the window and enjoy the beauty of it all. It's truly marvelous. We have a lot of days like this and that could be part of my problem when it comes to getting things done. Ya think?

Thursday I attended the Umpqua Valley Quilters Guild and joined. Cheryl Malkowski did a trunk show and shared stories of her adventures. I wasn't sitting where I could not get the best pictures of her quilts but here are shots of a couple of my favorites.
I love the colors in this quilt. I was told that Cheryl's quilts hang at the Country Lady quilt store so I will have to visit with camera in hand. If I get better pictures I will post them.

You can check out her web site. www.cherylmalkowski.com She sells her books on the site.

I'm working on a quilt that contains about 340 half square triangles. It's like a sampler. I love the colors and I have some great ideas on how I want to quilt it. I will post a picture when it's done. I'm hoping that will be some time this week.

Have a blessed day.

SUNDAY SHARING

Sunday Greetings.
It's a bit cold outdoors and the sky is grey. I was going shopping after church but it felt like a snuggle up at home kind of afternoon so I came home. Paul is watching football and I thought I would check my emails. I surfed over to Proverbs 31 and there was a post on a new book by Lysa Terkeurst dealing with craving and diet. Just so you know, diet was not on my list of resolution's or goals. I started WW January 2010, lost 25 lbs and the thrill is gone. I know what to do and what not to do and it is a struggle. My biggest problem is not getting enough exercise. This book sounds like the key. So, check it out at www.proverbs31.org and see what you think. I think I will curl up on the couch with a quilt, hot cup of coffee and a good book.

Have a blessed Sunday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I spent New Years Eve at The Sewing Basket with friends. Everybody brought food and we spent a day sewing, eating, and sharing some very interesting stories. What's said at The Sewing Basket stays at the Sewing Basket so I can't give any details. 2010 was a very eventful year for me. As I reflect on it I would have to say more life changing events occurred in 2010 than in any other year, that I can remember. Some sad events but mostly, all good.

So, now it's a New Year and I'm going to be more intentional in 2011. I have my goals set, my resolutions made and I'm hitting the road running. I know the Lord has some exciting challenges for me this year and I looking forward to them.

I pray that you and your families are blessed in 2011 and you experience great joy in the coming months.
God's peace to you.