Hourglass in Amy Butler...

I love Amy Butler fabric. It's organic-looking, modern and always done in the most gorgeous colors. The very first modern fabric I bought many years ago was an Amy Butler. See that navy and aqua piece in the lower bottom of this picture? - that's it!

So around Christmas time last year, I took out all the Amy Butler fabrics I've collected over the years and started cutting them up to make Hourglass blocks. My Bee buddy and fellow STLMQG member, Rene, even gave me some of her scraps to round out my collection.

When I laid out my blocks, I decided to be a little daring and see how it would look with some "empty" spaces. I wasn't real sure about it, but went with the plan and I think it turned out kind of interesting!

I could be wrong, but I think I have a piece of every collection including the newest, Alchemy.

Simple straight line quilting...

And some more AB on the back...

It was a fun quilt to make! Rita at Red Pepper Quilts has a great tutorial on making the blocks. You should try it!   . . . Cindy

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Life goes on

It does.
No matter what befalls us in this world, life plods on.  I remember a book about the American Revolution  I read eons ago, called "The Day Must Dawn", by Agnes Sligh Turnbull.  I always thought that was a phrase to remember, no matter what.
The day must dawn.
Things you can count on.  Like the sun coming up every morning.

Another book has stayed with me for 20+ years.  Control Theory, by William Glasser.  It is hands down one of the most important books I have ever read.
What I remember most from it is this:  it doesn't matter what happens to you, what matters is what you do about it, how you react to it.  That is really all you have control of.  You can't change history, even your own.

That being said, I am making a concerted effort to spend more time with my daughters.  In the last year and a half, my headache ruled.  I didn't make the hour trip to visit and hang out with them and my grandchildren.  Now that I am getting better, it is on the top of my list.
In the past three weeks, I have gone three times, and it feels good.

 Gabby in the new skirt Mimi made her.

I have also scheduled Weaving Weekends again.  The one in June is full already, and there are weekends in July, August, September, and October.  I just gave myself permission to make my own schedule, and to not feel guilty if I'm not working all the time.
I'll probably have to remind myself many, many  times that it's ok.  I'm like that.


Lois was in charge of the camera on Sunday.........I really couldn't stand it around my neck.
But the paddling didn't bother me one bit.
Now THAT was good news.

I also instructed her to take some pictures of me kayaking, so I could send one to my neurosurgeon.
What better kudos could you give to someone who has been inside your head, not once, but TWICE?

He responded right away.  My email to him, with these photos, was " a picture is worth a 1000 words", and his answer right back was ....."you made my day, maybe my whole month".......ha  !!!   now that made me smile.

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Lucky Stars and a winner!

First up, the winner of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine is Suzanne! I've sent you an email!

I did some catching up this weekend on my paper-pieced Lucky Stars blocks...

April...

And May...

I did change up the pattern a bit by piecing the center star in one fabric instead of two. I've been hoping to use this Field Study print and wanted it to make a bigger impact. This may be my favorite block so far!

. . . Cindy

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A short life.

Here is Nuff, last summer.   He came to us wild and not very friendly.  We coaxed him, socialized him, got him neutered, fed him, wormed him, treated him for fleas.  We made places for him and his brother, Nexxie, to sleep and be warm.
We loved him.

 He repaid us with affection every time we walked by him.  He loved us back.

 We tried to bring both of them in, even just to the inside porch, but it was not anything either of them were interested in.  In fact, they were downright frightened of anything that looked like we were trapping them.  They had been outside for their whole lives.  They loved hunting in the tall grass, lying in the labyrinth, stalking the bird feeders.

We knew that there was danger for them, and that we wouldn't be able to always protect them.
Mostly from the road.


Today was a beautiful day kayaking for the first time in a year. I'll have to wait and tell you about it later. Cause when we came back to the studio to drop off the kayak, we found Nuff by the side of the road, and it became a sad, sad day.
No matter how much you can do, sometimes it is still not enough.
Nexxie is going to miss you, Nuff.
And so will we.

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Cleaning house

 Spring has arrived in northeast New York.  I am not alone in saying hallelujah.

I mentioned FREE fabric rolls the other day.  They are up in the loft of the barn.
The outside of them is dusty, but after you unroll the top layer, they are fine.
They are huge rolls, from 30-40 lbs, and they are shades of black...............and shades of blues.  No other color choices, unfortunately.

You pay shipping, and you can have one, or two, or more.
They make good rugs, but I won't live long enough to use them all, and I  am in downsize mode.

Here are some of them......see them in the front right of the picture?  and in the way back.

 My barn  is air conditioned, not in a good way.

  We have cleaned out a lot of loopers, sock strips, and more  Several sales have done a lot to help me pare down my stash.
Next week we are going to have a sale on rugs that have been around too long.

I bought an interesting metal floor rack, that was used to display carpet samples.  It looked like it had promise as a rug rack, and I was right.



 I am very happy with it.  We have about 30 rugs hanging on it, and it is really sturdy.  It makes the rugs so easy to look at, and it frees up shelf space for other things.
We're moving things around, making it look better, and making it feel more comfortable.
Refocusing with my new normal.

 Here are some of the rugs L has been cranking out while I've been recovering, now there is room for them to finally get inventoried, and have a home.

She must have been dreaming of summer when she made this one.

Have you heard of Holstee.com??
I never have, until today.
My blogger friend, and worthy Scrabble opponent, Cupcake Murphy, has recently been featured on their My Life, HERE
If you have not been entertained by her on her blog ODD GOOD TRUE  well, you have not lived, that's all I can say.  And you should go there ASAP.

 This is the Holstee Manifesto......... it should be everyone's.

 I'm making it mine.
Amen.
Thanks, Cupcake.

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Love to Boston and a giveaway...

My contribution to the Boston Modern Quilt Guild's Quilts For Boston campaign is this block, called "Heart All Around". It's found in the latest (vol. 7) Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, block #688. 

The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild is also collecting banners to be displayed in Boston Memorial Day weekend. For more information visit: To Boston With Love.

I was honored again to have my block included in Vol. 7 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. I decided not to participate in the blog hop this time as the timing coincided with the new grandson. But I would like to give away my extra copy - so if you'd like it, please leave a comment and I'll pick a winner on Monday! (US only)

My block is #675, "Spinwheel". There's a mock-up of the blocks set together in the magazine and it looks awesome. I think it would be great very scrappy! You could even use leftover triangle cutoffs!

Also whipped up this week - a tooth pillow - yup! she has her first wiggly tooth!

And I totally fell for the Steam Punk quilt along. I love this retro-looking block and have pulled some funky, retro inspired fabrics!

 That's it for today! Don't forget the giveaway!  . . . Cindy

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Looking ahead

Right before this last surgery, my BFF and I took a road trip to one of our fave yarn shops, this one was in Manchester, Vt, Yarns for Your Soul
I bought a book of baby knits, and fell in love with this blanket, so I bought the yarn to make it, thinking that knitting up a stack of blocks would keep me busy while I recuperated, and lounged around. 
And it did.
So here it is.
I already texted a picture of it to expectant daughter, so I guess it's ok to blog about it.
I am SO bad at keeping gifts secret.  Notorious in fact.

I had a baby surprise jacket in progress when I started the blanket but  I put it aside.
I'm so patient, ya know.

 When the blanket was done, I said NO WAY, you are not starting another thing, until you finish that sweater.
 I boss myself around quite often.

 I did get a tad carried away with the button holes.  But I just loved the teddy bear buttons.
I told my daughter if she didn't want so many knitted baby items, she should never have told me so soon. I still have all summer to knit.

At the studio:
 L is quite happy, because her "cat house extraordinaire" is a big hit in the house.
So much so, that she is about to change the letters on it, since Next and Nuff have never been near it.
Sydney found it to be almost heaven, next to the open window ("yay it's spring"), while Miss Puss stomped off disgusted, because she always wants the spot that Syd has.
(see her leaving)

L and I fired up the Toika, to weave off the natural warp that is on it.

This is going to be a totally random/spontaneous spring rug. Four feet by however long it turns out.

 It's the first time we have used this loom since last summer.
I was not much in the mood, you know, the headache thing.

 But yes, I am better now, every day, I get a little stronger, and a feel a little more like myself.
You know, my OLD self.

Sydney says:
We may be getting older.
We may have a couple of extra pounds.
But  we still freaking rock.

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