Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day

Oops, I don't think that link to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day site was active. Let me try, again.

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1474

THANKS !!!!!

The Quilt Shows are Coming

Oh my gosh. It is less than two weeks before I leave for a marathon trip for three back-to-back quilt shows. My friend, Gina, of Splinters and Threads, is going to drive here on Monday. On Tuesday we leave for Springfield, Missouri. Show No. 1. Then we head to Chicago, Illinois, for Show #2. Next, it is on to Paducah, Kentucky, for the Third Show. (That one got all CAPS because it is a BIG SHOW.) We are madly trying to get everything done before we head out.

But, before we go on the Quilt Trip, we head to Alabama to help our Mother celebrate her 91st birthday. My challenge there is to make two twin bed dust ruffles before we leave the following weekend. Stressed is not even close to a description. Sleep is only a word in the dictionary.

I will try to report on our sights and sounds as we move from state to state. Please stop by if you are attending any of these shows. I LOVE to meet new friends. Please do not forget to help with our fundraising efforts for our 60 MILE walk. I will continue to place the link for the BREAST CANCER 3-DAY so you can donate.
http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1474

Suzy Homemaker

For the last several years, Suzy Homemaker seemed to have moved to another address, and with an unlisted phone number, to boot. We have been out of touch for such a long time that I had pretty much given up any hope that she would come back here. Well, surprise, surprise, surprise, she is at least visiting, occasionally. I mean, hey, we have not bought commercial bread since Christmas. I have been perfecting a recipe for oatmeal bread with flax seed that is amazing. And the bread recipe makes the best cinnamon rolls. Did I mention that I have gained 10 pounds? duh.....

My husband now has his hopes up that "Ironing Suzy" will come for a visit, as well. What I did not tell him was that she came back but I told her we rented out her room to "Cooking Suzy." I never did like Ironing Suzy so there was no love lost there......

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure

Just a reminder that I am walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure and I need major HELP with my fundraising. I have to raise $2,300 in order to walk. If you can find it in your heart to contribute, please go to this site:
http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1474
and follow the directions at the top of the thermometer. Thanks, in advance for any size help !! The quilt in an earlier blog is the quilt that I am raffling. If you notify me that you have donated, and let me know how much, I will fill out a ticket for every five dollars you give. Hugs, Dianne

On my way to the Quilt Show...

About an hour outside of Dallas last weekend, I was in a great mood, singing like I was a contestant on American Idol, you know, the ones that bring tears of pain to the judges' eyes? My problem was that I was desperately in need of a potty break. I stopped at the cutest place. Some of these modern stations are more like mini-malls. Houses of Temptation. The biggest test of my willpower was the bling-bling adorned cell phone holder. I was determined to be good so I decided to go potty and think about it. (Did anyone notice that my bladder had taken a back seat to shopping???? Hey, I have my priorities!!) One little bend at the waist later, and PLOP. Nope, not what you think, it was my cell phone jumping out of my back pocket and into the toilet. It amazed even me how quickly I reacted. Unfortunately, it was too late. I tried toilet paper, the dryer, even packing the phone in rice like I read on the internet. Sigh. I am now on my fifth, yep, my 5th cell phone in 14 months! Boy, did I learn my lesson. Next time I gonna put Willpower in my back pocket and go home with the bling!!

Quilt Shows to Baskets to Silk Painting (all in one weekend)

Spent last weekend in Dallas at a Quilt Show but the best part was at the hotel. There were four of us gals, and we spent much of the time sewing. Of course, I made another basket instead of the clipboard samples I was supposed to be working on....such is Dianne.

Then, Gina, of Splinters and Threads, taught us to paint on silk. Waaaaay too much fun. Now, I can feel myself slipping from baskets to scarves --weeeeeeee.

Fodder for new Quilts

Spring is definitely in the works. These beauties are now
in my front yard bringing sunshine to my life when there
is none in the sky. I immediately went out to draw some
for future needs. Spring always make me feel rejuvenated, full of new possibilities. While I know that is not new, or unique, it still feels great.

Perhaps a new quilt will be able to reflect this image. Regardless, the joy they bring to me will influence my spirit no matter what I am doing. Hopefully, looking at these babies will brighten your day, as well.

The Dumb Quilter

Boy am I dumb to when it comes to combining Quilting and Blogging!! I have just noticed that I have received comments to my blogs. Totally exciting --- too bad I did not know !!! For those sweeties out there who have responded, my undying gratitude for bringing me such delight. For the two sweeties who offered to test my pattern, The Scrap-O-Lator, bless you and please send me your physical addresses. You should understand, now, why I need to send these the old-fashioned, regular mail, way...sigh.

Quilting on the brain

My brain, my soul, my life is a quilt. There are blocks of every imaginable pattern. Memories and time are the stitches that hold it together. Some of the sections turned out more lovely than I could have imagined, like the guy I met who turned into my partner for life...like every Spring when the daffodils and the dogwoods begin to bloom...

Sometimes the sections are not what I had imagined, at all. The too soon end to loved ones' lives, for instance -- my Dad at the age of 52, my friend, Max at 46, my friend Mike at 39, and just this weekend, my cousin, Jon, at the age of 55.......

Since there is no way to re-print any of the fabrics, I had better work on some new designs to be worked into new blocks. Happy Quilting.

Breast Cancer Quilt, part deux

Can you believe it??? I added this image all by myself---well, almost all by myself. Anyway, this is the photo of the 2010 offering for my raffle for for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day. I will be walking in October. We walk 20 miles a day for three days straight. It is quite an experience. To be honest, after one of my practice walks two years ago (18 miles that day), I flopped onto a chair and told my husband, "Whew. I am glad I signed up for this but it will be the LAST time I do it." Jeez. Maybe that is why I cannot lose weight. I keep eating my words like they were a Paul Prudhomme dessert. This will now be my third walk....

All this while I am in a quilting frenzy. I have three back-to-back shows coming up in three weeks. Before that happens, I have to not only make all of the kits, but go to Alabama to help my 90 year-old mother celebrate her 91st birthday, plus a quick trip to Dallas, plus...hey, I know, I will go make a list, hee hee.

Breast Cancer Quilt

Our local Pfaff Club met, today. I introduced my new "Breast Cancer" quilt and those gracious ladies donated over $350 to my efforts. Only $2,000 more to go, gulp. I always get feelings of panic at this stage of the fund-raising. I mean, if I do not collect the total of $2,300 required, it is charged to ME....more gulping... If you can find it in your heart to help keep my blood pressure in check, please go to this site and GIVE. Thanks, in advance. By the way, I will get that photo of the quilt up and running in the next couple of days, I hope, I hope.....
http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=1838682&pg=personal&fr_id=1474

oops, rejected, again

Oops, I forgot to mention that I got my second rejection, this time from Clothworks. They, again, were very pleasant, but it was a rejection, just the same. I asked for more specific information about "why." It was suggested that I take some art classes, gulp. I guess I did not learn much getting my MFA.....

Quilting, as usual...

As usual, I am in avoidance mode. What has been on our minds here in the Springer household is our daughter, Brandy's, health. Three years ago she had a tumor removed from her liver and more than a third of her liver was removed. Now, we just found out on Thursday that the liver has not only regenerated, it is now three times the size it should be. Her spleen has also grown to about three times its necessary size. We are headed to a specialist tomorrow. Novels could be written about her health issues. This is chapter five, at least.

In order to avoid constant worry, I keep very busy. I have been gathering information about just exactly how much product I need to order to be prepared for my next group of shows. Guess I need to make a list, heh heh. Heck, I am getting so good at avoiding what is on a "to do" list that I don't even need to make out the list to avoid the important stuff. I already started some great stuff, a couple of Quilted Mousepads, some Quilted Clipboards, cleaned a couple more shelves in the fabric closet,....I am even looking at knitting some socks....I am really good at avoiding. Maybe I should write a book????????