Luckier, not Wiser Quilter

O.K., I love Casinos.  On the way home from that lovely dinner where Tom drove all the way to give me the Ikat fabrics, Brandy and I decided to stop and blow a wad.  We chose El Dorado.  I am not ever going back to El Dorado.  That was probably the worst return, and fastest expenditure I have ever done at a casino.  I mean, to me, it is like going to the movies...I usually set aside about $20 and fully expect to lose it but have fun in the process.  I play the penny slots and think I am rich every time it dings.  10 ding-dings for 10 cents, impressive sounding, at least... Most of the time,  I put in that $20 and am entertained for a couple of hours with free drinks included.  How fun is that?

Well, at El Dorado, I spend $75 of my hard-earned $$$ and got NADA. not even 30 minutes of entertainment and this was a company who has gargantuan billboards boasting best paying slots, SO. NOT. TRUE

Now, move forward to the trip home.  We are feeling good having broken our sales record for a Jefferson show.  Let's go back to the casino -- a different one.  Let's try Harrahs a.k.a., Horseshoe.  They have the coolest slot machine with a three-dimensional genie.  My kind of game--the penny slots and it talks to you and the chair vibrates.  Vibrating is good, heh heh.  By the time we start to leave, we have over $500 bucks.  We cashed in the voucher and then decided, why not blow the original $20, again....Bang, we win another $365.  Greedy little gals that we are, we blew 65 of it before waking up and taking our money and heading home.    Now, we are feeling pretty amazing.

Did I mention that they also gave us a free dinner for two?  So, we had errands to run, why not run them in Shreveport????  You guessed it.  Apparently bad luck is what runs in threes....we blew about half of what we had won and, folks, earned our very own, "Stupid" pin.

When I called Tom to let him know what had happened, he said, "Dianne, I thought you were smarter than that."  What on earth does this have to do with being smart???????????????  It has to do with GREEEEED.  Where I am incredibly Lucky is the part where my husband hangs up laughing.  Like I said, Luckier, not necessarily Wiser.

Even Luckier Quilter

My thinking was, "and, a good time was had by all," until I realized that I probably should not speak for anyone but myself.  So, I, Dianne Springer, had a terrific time at the Jefferson Quilt Show.  Brandy and I set up our booth with time to spare (that means we were not the very last to finish), we saw gobs of great folks, I got in lots of hugs, we set a personal best for time it took to pack the trailer, and, we topped our sales from last year!!  How cool is that?

Thank you, everyone, for your part in making my weekend even funner than I had hoped for !!  You shared your hugs, your stories,  smiles, tears,...your hard earned dollars, but, most of all, thanks for sharing your hearts and passions.  I am definitely one Lucky Gal.

Surprised Quilter

We arrived safe and sound here in Jefferson, Texas.  Of course that was only after arriving late, even by our standards....three hours to unload and set up, gulp.  Naturally, I had to potty.  There I am sitting.  Oh look, the lecture schedule is taped to the wall of the stall.  Reading material for those who like acomplishing two things at once. Hmmmmm.  Let's see.  Lectures: 11:30, Dianne Springer, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."  Good to know the time I am scheduled to speak.....

I wonder who else is speaking.  Oh, there I am, again.  I did not realize that I was scheduled to talk about "diamonds" twice.  No prob..... um, wait, it is a different topic!!!  It is my lecture on Ikats.  Holy Cow.  I do not even remember agreeing to do that.  Jeez Pete's what am I going to do?  What else can one do but call 911.  You got it, TOM.  Bless that angel-of-a-man's heart.  He drove from Arkansas, to Ruston, picked up the materials, and then drove to Shreveport to meet us, AND paid for a lovely dinner.  How lucky can one person be?

Listen, my definition of lucky definitely includes loving what one does each day and includes having someone in their life who loves them warts and all.   Well, I do love what I do.  My warts are the size of Mt. Everest, and amazingly, there is someone who loves me in spite of that.   So, color me extremely lucky....just please don't use Beige, heh heh.

Quilter's On the Road

Look out Texas, here we come.  Yep, another year, another show.  Looking for those sweet shiny faces in the crowd.  As I mentioned earlier, come with hugs, smiles, and stories of what you have accomplished over the last 12 months.  Better yet, let's have a show and tell.  I love show and tell.  Tom just surprised me with a visit in the middle of the week.  I think I will go play show and tell with him...see ya.........................................

Quilter Gets Down to the Wire

Wouldn't you know that even with an entire month to prepare for a show, Brandy and I are now trying to get the month's work done in the next two days?  Deadlines, I definitely need deadlines.  It is a love/hate relationship, that is for sure. 

This weekend is the Jefferson, Texas, Quilt Show, Quilting on the Bayou.  While this is the smallest show we do, it is also very likely my favorite.  The folks are just lovely.  The venue is beautiful.  The quilts are always wonderful and hung right in the middle of everything. Lunch is provided, and I might add, good eats. They are truly concerned that everyone has a good time.  It is close to home.  It is the first show where I entered a quilt (did I mention that my quilt won first place in the "First Quilt" category, heh heh) and the first show where I set up a booth.  The weird thing is that I was not asked back the second year.  When I called and asked why, they said, "We thought you did not like us."

Where on earth that came from, I will never figure out.  All I did was brag about this show.  Rumors!  Oh well, that is all cleared up and we are looking forward to our first show of the year.  Please come join us.  Let's start the, well, my year, out right..... I need my hugs!!!

Hittin' the Sack

This says it all for me right now-- I am heading to bed and it is not even 9 p.m.  The best of me is fighting a losing battle these days.  More later.....

Quilter Loves This Idea

I just loved this image I borrowed.  Talk about up-cycling!

This Quilter is Lookin' Gooood

I am so excited that I want to share.  I believe I mentioned in an earlier Thread that I discovered a new product.  It is called Nerium.  I have been using it for a few months now and It is amazing.  I have used so many products by all the big manufacturers in the cosmetic industry.  Not one of them produced any real resutlts.   Not until now. 

To me, having someone who does not know you say, "What do you do to your skin that it looks so amazing?", or, someone who does know you say how great your skin looks, what are you doing?  is like losing enough weight that you don't have to actually tell anyone that you lost weight.  It is noticeable....  Well, someone, more than one someone, has noticed my skin, my face, and commented on it.  TADA.  Worth every penny!!

If you, too, are interested in diminishing wrinkles, lightening age spots and discoloration, call me so we can talk.  I would even let you try some.  I think I am going to get someone to take a new picture for my page!!!

Seriously, I feel like a reformed alcoholic, or someone who has quilt smoking and now needs to help everyone else.  Forgive me if I feel enthusiastic to a fault, but I am so excited about this product.  Anytime I like a show, a book, a play, or a product, I want to share it with the world.  Of course, if I am not happy with something, I usually share that, too....

Call me if you would like to share in my enthusiasm...318 247-9725

One Sick Puppy

You are going to feel so bad about getting frustrated with me for not writing.   I have been sick.  The truth is that I rarely get sick.  In fact, I cannot even remember the last time I was sick since I got pneumonia about 30 years ago and ended up in the hospital.  So, when a germ catches up with me, it calls for reinforcements.  Two days ago I was whimpering like a baby.   I am now upright thanks to the powers of the pharmacy as well as all the TLC my daughter could muster.  I can finally say, I am on the mend.

The really cool news is that I got my "palm" samples from China. 

Wanna know something?  I had the samples sent expedited mail.  It cost me $32--remember, from CHINA.  Today, I tried to get a small package expedited from the U.S.  Guess what they were asking for the shipping?  $45.00, in addition to the regular charges for shipping.....how does one justify that?

Anyway, the samples are fun.  What an ego trip--one's own designs on fabric.  It does not get much better than that.  Well, it does get better when one is validated by folks purchasing the fabric.  I know I am not supposed to be judging myself or my work on what others think, but, that is asking more than I am capable of.   If you don't like what I do -- I am dirt.  I am worthless.  I am nothing....  If you do like it....I am WORTHY!!

So, the gauntlet is passed.......

Quilter Having Way Too Much Fun

Aren't these a kick in the pants?  In case you cannot tell, these are cell phone and IPad covers.   I created the black floral and the red floral from my fabric designs.  I was having way too much fun for one person so my darling husband surprised me with the green one for my business phone.  Wow, I think I just became a psychic....I mean, I can visualize a new cover for Christmas, for birthdays, for each show, for Spring.....amazing, huh? 

Gone to the Movies

I actually slipped away and went to the movies with Brandy.  We saw Tom Cruise beat up the bad guys in Jack Reacher.  O.K., so it is an adult fairy tale but I am, and always will be totally into fairy tales.  ( After all, my life, at least when it comes to husbands and marriage, is a fairy tale,  with Tom, my handsome prince). I definitely recommend the movie if for no other reason, it is lovely to get to look at Tom Cruise for a couple of hours and make sure he is taking care of himself and getting properly fed and exercised.  Thank goodness he removed his shirt so we don't have to speculate, we actually get reassured, yes, he is being taken very good care of...  ;-)

Quilter Watches as The Angel Sings

This just had to be shared;  Click on the arrow.  Let me know what you think.  I could listen to her forever.  When I come back in another life, I want to sing like she....


Carly Rose sings "Hallelujah" like an Angel and still does not win X-Factor

Scattered Quilter

I can hear it now, "Scattered?  Like this is news?"  O.K., so this time I am particularly discombobulated (spelling does not count...I have no idea if that is even a word so deal with it).  Anyway, I have always been a list maker. This is not a new Thread topic for me....this "To Do List...." I like to see what I have to do, then check it off when I am done.  Good girl.  I have even been known to add items to my list that I did, after I did them, then check that off, too.  Good girl.

Then, the list became my Nemesis..as I got older, more defiant, it seemed to have morphed into my "To Don't List." Uh oh...bad girl....

These days, I am having trouble even finding the list, let alone being able to check anything off that silly thing or, more likely, have anything to avoid.  Nothing is getting done.   

Holy Cow! talk about not getting something done......... Anyone remember my talking about a wedding quilt that I started long before the couple actually got married?  Then, the first anniversary passed last October.....oops.  Welllll, I just this minute found out they are PREGNANT and the quilt is yet to be completed!  Jeez.  I know, I can applique some cute little teddy bears all around the edges and hope that it gets done before the baby is born.  I do love dual purpose items.  ;-) Where is that list?  Definitely gotta add "finish the quilt".......um, as I sit here, and look around the room at the piles....I suppose I had better be more specific. heh heh.

Reality Just Won't Leave This Quilter Alone

You guessed it....another phone call.  This time it is from my husband's side of the family.  His Mother died on December 23rd.  She, too, was from Birmingham, Alabama, as was my Mother.  So, we left the beach house and headed to Birmingham for yet, another funeral.   Tom's mother was 94. 

For many years this woman was my mother when I needed her to play that role.  She opened her heart to me and welcomed me into her life without judgement or prejudice.  She loved my children, her grandchildren.  She was part of my life for many many years. 

Even sadder, the most difficult part of this ordeal was having to come face-to-face with my son whom I had not spoken to for nearly 20 years.   When he married, his wife required that he make a choice, he could have either a relationship with his family or a relationship with her.  Obviously, he chose her.  I was finally able to see my grandson who I have not seen since he was two weeks old.  He was absolutely terrified of me.  I took his hand and said, "Hello.  I do not know what you have been told, but, I am your Grandmother and I would love to talk to you." 

With a look of surprise and confusion, he said, "You would?" and then he ran off. 

I have cried until there are few tears left........

A dear friend of mine said this so beautifully:

" I do know that it takes a whole lot of strength to truly love and the pain that comes with loving is sometimes so unbearable that it cuts you into strips.

what a complicated life we all live ....in simple terms, it should be so easy to just `love`... people make it so difficult ."

Whew.  This, too, shall pass.

Tardy Quilter's Message

I thought this was so beautiful.  Let's pretend that I wrote it, heh heh.  A very belated Merry Christmas to all of you--you are a gift to me.....

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