Hey, At least I thought about Quilts!

Yep, over the last couple of days, thinking is all I was able to accomplish when it comes to quilts. However, we had a lovely, very Merry Christmastime with friends and family. Now, we are home for one night and then we leave for our respective mothers' in Alabama. Thing is, tomorrow, the 28th, is our wedding anniversary. Not exactly the way I had hoped to be spending it. It continues to amaze me what we do for family. Not complaining, just thinking, again. However, I will admit that thinking can be dangerous so I am not going any further with this.

Did I mention that my sweet husband, a.k.a., computer whiz, has my website all pretty and with an actual working shopping cart???? I have been after him for three years to do this and, bless his heart, he finally got it done. It was a tremendous amount of time and work, but, it is done. Please take a peek ( www.diannespringerdesigns.com ) and let me know if you like it, if you have suggestions, whatever. The funny thing was that we put in a "fake" order to test it out and before we finished, there was a real order placed. Talk about confused. It took us several minutes to realize, "Oops, that is a real, bonified shopping cart order." Of course, right off was a mistake. She was charged triple for her shipping. So, now, I also know how to give a credit.

In case I do not get a chance to say this, again, before the weekend, be sure to have a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Merry Christmas Quilters

Today, we are heading out to San Antonio so we can spend Christmas with our son, Chris, and his new wife, Kathy. They have called nearly every day for the last few weeks to remind us to bring our stockings. Me thinks that what they really want is for us to bring the stocking I knitted for Kathy last year. I am delighted to say that she loves it. It is made by using strips of fabric as your yarn. I thought it was so cute when I saw the pattern at a quilt show. Now I would love to make more but I'll be darned if I can find where I put that pattern. My organization skills are showing, again. I am seriously considering changing my middle name. Heck, let 's not dink around; I am changing my first name. From now on I answer to "Chaos."

Merry Christmas to all of you lovely folks out there in the World of Chaos,(previously known as Dianne). Thank you for not only checking in on my musings over the last 12 months, but for supporting me with your time, thoughts, emails, purchases, ....everything. It is a gift that I am lucky enough to get all year long. I hope your Christmas is everything you would wish for.

Not Quilting

I am sooo not quilting. I am playing with my new computer. This could be dangerous. The screen is a touch screen and the monitor has face recognition. I just love it. I feel like I am on CSI. WAY cool.

My husband gave this to me for our anniversary. Of course, our anniversary is not until the 28th of this month but he just could not wait. Actually, he ordered only a new monitor at first. It proved to be too cumbersome to have the laptop with its monitor up (so it was possible to use the keyboard if you were emotionally attached to that idea and not open to the modern age of touch screen or totally computer savy like I -----HA HA HA HA. Right, like that computer savy deal describes Dianne,...so-o-o NOT) and also have the new monitor behind it. So, in keeping with my emotional-attachment-to-a-keyboard thingie, it just did not work very well with two monitors sitting on my desk. Generous gal that I am, I gave the monitor to him. Great idea, don't you think? I am totally confident he likes his anniversary gift, um, from me.

Now, he could not leave well enought alone, so, he ordered an entire new computer. This one is actually waaaay more cool than the one "I picked" for him, heh heh. This has all the computer stuff in the monitor, itself. No huge tower under the desk. Nada. Love it love it. The only bad part is installing all the stuff from the other computer. That kind of puts a kink in my play time. Tom, Honey. Please wake up and get this puppy all installed and ready for me, pleeeeeeze? Silly boy. He keeps insisting he needs more than three hours of sleep?!?!?!?

Not Just the Same ol' Fabrics

"Not just the same ol' fabrics." It is feedback like that from you guys that brings joy to my heart and happy tears to my eyes. Since I apparently am getting through to some of you with my follow-up comments but not to others, please assume that I got the comment, and am smiling. If you reaaaaaaally want to get a feedback, just email me ( sales@quiltinacup.com ) and I will respond, promise. If your comment is not so nice, why don't you keep it a secret because, remember, I am the "Queen of So Not Keeping Secrets," so, fair warning, I tell....everyone.

I don't know why, but, posting the fabric images has been the kick in the bootie that I needed to inspire me to write on my Thread. Prior to this, I often thought, "Sigh. I don't really have anything to offer today except being a sleep aide." Sharing the fabric has been a major ego trip and as I mentioned before, I have little integrity in that department. Big fish, small pond, no problemo for Dianne !!!

As you can see, no new designs here, just fun playing with different colors. New line coming so-o-o-o-o-o-n.

Hello out there my Quilt friends

Hello-o-o-o-o into that big internet world. I have a question. Are my "comments" in response to your comments getting to you? I am so not computer savvy and cannot find where the responses go. Duh.

How about another image to make up for my duh-ness.

I might have posted the stripe, already as that "lucky" one was actually one of the "worthies." I was so pleased with myself on that one that I figured it needed a second look, heh heh. (My shoulder was sore from patting myself on the back)

Quilting Friends

I am often reminded of the saying, "Some people come into our lives and quickly go, others come and leave footprints on our hearts." Many of the folks leaving imprints on my heart these days are from the quilting world. Today, one in particular comes to mind, Connie James , the Fiber Goddess. What a complete delight she is. One of the things I really love? She makes me feel good about "me." How is that for selfish? But, truthfully, I think that's what makes a lovely friend, one that adds to your life, supports you at every step, leaves you smiling, energized and looking forward to the next time you meet. Well, girlfriend, you meet those criterion and exceed it. My wish is that I make her feel the same way about herself.

I do feel that I slight some of you in that regard. Several wonderful folks out there actually take the time to write comments and lend support and kind words. How do I thank you guys, be a better friend? I have yet to figure that out but if you could feel my giddy heart when I am touched by you, you would know what your lives add to mine and how appreciative I am. My dilemma? how to reciprocate. Sigh.

Time for some new images....

Hi Quilters

Welcome to my day, to my world. Hmmm. What could I talk about today? Fabrics? YESSSSS. I seem to recall having promised more Awestrich fabs. Pun intended, heh heh. Hope you enjoy.

What I am enjoying today, more than anything, is the fact that it is Saturday and that means my sweetheart is home. Think I am gonna go play with him some more. In fact, I might be having too much fun playing with him to add to this blog any more this weekend.....we will see.

Awestrich? What does that have to do with Quilting?

Prepare yourself to be overwhelmed. At least that is my plan.....

O.K., here is the design for another center panel that was hoping to be the beginning of a quilt. Whatchathink? I was told that no one had done an ostrich before so it would not be considered for fabric. Hmmmm. Wouldn't that be a good reason TO print it? Oh well. I keep asking myself, "What do I know?" This line is called "Awestrich" I will be publishing more of these unworthy designs in the next few days.

I went to a lovely gathering of sewers, tonight, hosted in the lovely home of Ron and Louise Adams. The food was plentiful and delicious, the ladies beautiful, talented, and sweet. Merry Christmas to all and thanks to those of you who give me such great support.

Quilting Dreams Continue

Hmmm. If I post on my blog more than once a day does that make up for nada for a week??? I must say that I have worked on this theory before and find I have to work on that premise more often that I would like. In fact, I am working on last month where I went weeks w/o a word, heh heh.

I thought I would finish up the Pieceful Picnic designs and move on to other lines. Like I mentioned, my butt is apparently glued to the seat and my fingers seem to work best when attached to a mouse. Luckily I have such a cute mousepad to work with (shameless hint). Anyway, you can see that I finally posted the image I described earlier, the red w/gold apples, then the bananas have hearts from the strawberries added in the background, and the others are simply color variations of the main fabric. Now, next, Awestrich.....let's see how long I go before opening up that basket of tricks.

Dreaming of Being a Quilt

I was, indeed, having the most lovely dream. Of course, quilts and my fabrics were part of that dream. Then, someone woke me up right in the middle of that dream and reality struck. I actually have proof of my dreams....These are some of the "to-go-withs.." that are not as exciting as the focus fabrics, but, they are the supporting characters. More to come... OH OH OH. I just discovered something neat. Did you already know that if you click on the images that they enlarge ?!?!?! That is too cool. Please, if you have not already done so, go back and enlarge the stripe from the earlier blog. It was one of my faves. Again, thanks for checking in and joining me on my downward slide from fame and...well, there was no fortune. And, of course, I did not have far to go so you don't need to call 911 . Sniffle, sniffle.

More Quilt Fabric Wanabeeeees

O.k., these are more designs for the Pieceful Picnic line. As I write this I have no idea which one will be on top, second, etc. so please bear with me. The apples are what I consider, "solids" and there are three of them. The first and second are here in gold with red apples and the other, red with gold apples. I will post the third later. The other image is called Melon Balls and the fourth, "the Uninvited Guests." Publishing these images on the blog is actually liberating!
Thanks to all of you for your great comments and for your support at every level. In spite of my disappointment, I spent the entire day working on more designs. It really is addictive. I am beginning to think I have an addictive behavior, anyway, at least where any type of art is concerned. Did I mention that I was one of the oldest living grad students? I only received my MFA a few years ago. It did not really change anything, financially, it was just for for me, personally, in my own little part of the world. As the saying goes, "I know I am in my own world, but, it is O.K. They know me here."

Quilt Fabric Wannabes

The first image is part of the quilt design that I was hoping to make. It is a panel then the green polka dot and the black stripe are coordinating pieces that were also some of the "turn downs. " The cherries and the stripe are in that group, too. I will add most of the others in the days to come.

Maybe one of the reasons I do not typically
like blue is that it is associated with feeling
down. Well, right now my whole world
feels blue.

What do Quilters Want?

I guess I have no idea what anyone wants. I was so excited about my latest offerings to Timeless Treasures. I must have submitted at least 30 different designs and they do not like any of them. As soon as I peel myself off the floor, I will add more of the rejects to this blog for all to see and share in my humiliation. I am definitely humbled. beyond bummed out.

More Quilting Blogs?

I just noticed something. At the top of the page where I sign in to add a blog for the day is a box that says "Manage Blogs (1)." It dawned on me (hey, it is still dark outside) that I could have more than one blog. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. That is exactly what I need, another thing to add to my "To Do List." Christmas here I come; my list is growing and....oh, wait, wrong kind of list. Never mind.

Now, for some reason, I was reading over my last blog. I might have been just a bit unclear about the part where I did not get my husband to show me how to download images, then, there is an image right at the top of the blog. What I meant was I had difficulty getting my new fabrics posted. The image I have on the blog is actually a design that I have been working on that may never even get accepted. Just thought I would share what I was working on. Whew, I knew all of you were staying up, losing sleep, stressed over that confusion. Aren't you relived? That resolved, how about another design in that line. Enjoy.

O.K., so I am really lousy at this blog thingie. My intentions, great. My actions, not so great. I will say, again, my roads are well paved....

I have been attempting to work on my list. It has not gone well. One of those things was to get my husband to show me how to get my fabric images up. You can see how well that progressed. Another thing, I am hoping to make my husband's Christmas gifts. Still not happening. I am supposed to be completing several quilt projects. Ha. Oh, and that book thingie? Ha Ha Ha. What I have been doing is working on new fabric designs. I work on them as if new fabrics are introduced every week. Oh yes, I plan each and every day to get back to my walking routine---major HAHAHAHAHA. Do I wonder why my jeans are getting tighter? nope.

How about a sneak preview of some of my designs? I am soooooo bad at keeping secrets. If someone says, "Dianne, you cannot tell this to anyone...." I immediately say, "NO NO NO. Do not tell me if it has to be kept a secret." I was born with a genetic inability to keep secrets. My kids plug their ears when their birthdays are near. And Christmas? forget about it. My children never looked for their "hidden" gifts. Given the slightest provocation, they knew I would tell them the surprise. So, the story here is, "Don't tell Mom!!!!" hmmm. Wanna see an image of some fabrics that may or may not make it to the press? SH-h-h-h-h

New Quilt Fabric

Believe it or not, I finally got one of the images of one of my fabrics to look halfway decent and a even managed to get it to the "publish" stage. Voila!!!!! Don't, however, count on the rest of the fabrics until the weekend. I am really not good at this....

Can computers get too full? At the very least I think mine needs an alka-seltzer...a really good burp would probably help. It takes forever for anything to work these days. Again, where-0-where is my hubby?

Where is the Quilt ANYTHING?

I am still meeting myself coming and going. My brother told me to hug myself the next time I met myself. If that is the case, I am going to get hugged---a lot.

I had promised you, as well as myself, that I would post images of my fabrics as they will now be printed. Wellll, that is going to be placed on hold since my photos were beyond awful. Where is that computer whiz of mine, a.k.a, husband, when I neeeed him? Oh yeah, at work in another state !! I guess I need to forgive him for the time being.

The reality is that my agenda for the weekend when he comes home is a long "Honey-Do" list. His agenda, "Wow, it is the weekend. I worked all week in Arkansas, then, drove three hours home on Friday night looking for some serious hanky-panky. Next, I am planning on sleeping in, then watching every sports event available on television." Guess whose list got done? My "Honey-Do" list just gets longer and longer with each weekend. At least one of us is smiling......O.K., so both of us are smiling. Does Lloyds of London insure body parts? I keep thinking of the saying, "Kisses are like real estate, location, location, location...."