The Stranger

I am the "Stranger."  At least I am one where my own home, my own bed is concerned.  I should include my blog in that, too.  Strange, or, not, it feels great to be here.  Sleeping in my own bed, finding my pottie in the night, hearing snoring next to me....Heavenly.  O.k., so the snoring is not so Heavenly, or so strange-- Brandy helps out in that department most of the time.  Just having Tom next to me is about as perfect as it gets.

 I spent most of yesterday with a power tool in my hand.  Get your mind out of the bedroom,  it was a Leaf Blower, my friends.  Remember, Tom was home when I got here.   The yard was sooo neglected.  Brandy and I even got up on the roof and cleaned the gutters.  Now, I feel like I was run over by a truck!

Guess what I discovered while we were in Vegas?  Anyone remember I mentioned ages ago that I was working on fabric designs for a sewing machine company's new luggage?  Well, that luggage was introduced at convention that same week we were at Las Vegas.  The "secret" company is Baby Lock and I am so honored and pleased.  As soon as I can figure out how to get images off my email, I will post hem.

Thanks for the unbelievable support.

Quilter's Chaos

What's new?  Chaos to others is, in my world, the order of business.  I call it Organized Chaos but I seem to be the only one on the planet who would think there was any organization to this at all.  What they do not see is into my brain.  (I think they need new glasses) My brain looks just like my order of business and, it makes perfect sense to me.  They want busy...I am busy.  At any given time I have at least 10 things in the works.  My daughter throws her hands up in despair because my "Plan" is so-o-o-o-o not how she operates.  What baffles her is that I manage to get all 10 things done, on time, and often, ahead of time.  She spends so much of her time rolling her eyes at me that I occasionally forget she has pupils.

One thing that causes her stress is my tendency to stop working on a project that just HAS to get done and start a project that has nothing to do with what she considers "important, a.k.a., On-The-List."  Of course, she is right, but, that is my business, heh heh.

Check out my latest Not-On-The-List project.  New kitchen rugs.  One teensy weensy concern.  I forgot to see if this fabric is washable.  Not the best idea for kitchen rugs, gulp.

 

Blueberry Bust

I just succeeded in picking the world's most expensive blueberries.  Brandy and I drove allllll the way to Birmingham to pick Mother and Gene's blueberries as we have done for the last several years.  I promised everyone I knew  that I would be bringing them a container of berries. Well, we will be eating my words, not blueberries.  We waited about 2 weeks too late to reap nature's bounty.  The ground was covered with berries.  Our basket was basically empty.  Oh well, we had a lovely visit with our friends Thad and Liz.  They are such a lovely couple, and such an in-love couple that even when they are in different rooms, you can feel the connection between the two of them. 

So, folks, I am sending my vibes out so you, too, can FEEL the LUV. 

Reminder of the Free Pattern Offer in 7/14/13 blog

Don't forget to post your comments and let me know in an email   (sales@quiltinacup.com)

Quilter's Dejas vu?

Bloom Where You Are Planted (c)

I have been searching for this image on my blog all morning long.  Perhaps I only posted it in my dreams.  If you think you already saw it, you might just have been in my dream, too.  Welcome to my world....and welcome to deja vu????  Whatever, this is my latest, bestest, newest chair.  It has actually been around for several months in my booth even if it did not make it as a Thread.  Blah blah blah...

Quilting Gift

I love feedback.  Well, not if it is yucky.  Yucky ones have the potential to make me cry.   The good thing is that so far, I have never gotten a Yucky comment.   I did get a Yucky email a few days ago.  One gal went to my website and apparently either ordered or considered ordering one of my Quilt in a Cup kits.  She yelled (as much as one can yell in an email) at me saying how dare I ask $24 for a Quilt in a Cup kit when it does not even come with fabric.  She said that she would never ever order from me and would spread the word to everyone she knew to do the same.  Interestingly, when I offered to give her money back I never heard back from her.  Dang, my dream of make everyone happy just got busted....

 O.K., back to the Feedback Thingie, I have my Kleenex ready because I have decided to send a free pattern or applique (it's a surprise) to everyone who comments on my blog this month.  (I will say that, because I am a girl,  I can change my mind about giving mean people a reward.  My prerogative)  You will be limited to one pattern per week, but, whoever comments the most times in July, will earn an extra free pattern.   When you post a comment, send an email to me (sales@quiltinacup.com) so I can send you a copy of a pattern to download (or, a hard copy if you prefer)  If there is a tie, there will be a drawing.  If this works out nicely, I may just continue this until I run out of different patterns to send.  I better get busy.....

By the way, you can make a comment on any of my Threads, not just the most current one. It just has to be a new comment and you have to let me know which one.  Hope you have fun....

Addicted Quilter

I am beginning to think that "Addicted" should be my middle name.  I have always thought that I had an addictive personality and was so grateful that I did not smoke, drink, or do drugs.  I would have been one of the ones who not only do not stop, they do not want to stop, ever.

I am addicted to doing, in general.  The BEST is Doing-two-things-at-once.  Take driving...how boring that has the potential to be.  Not for me.  I take projects (notice the plural?) with me to work in the car.  The invention of cell phones was done with me in mind so I could do two things at once, love driving and talking.  Thank you, Apple.... I actually overcame being carsick by teaching myself to do needlepoint in the car.  Relax---it was while my husband was driving.  Anyway, I have finished a number of quilts, knitted several sweaters, cross-stitched my way across America......all because I love "doing" who I love while in the car...(that might not be a typo, heh heh..................)

Years ago, I discovered ebay.  By the end of the first day, I had won over $800 worth of stuff.  It was so much fun.  And expensive.  I discovered there was no "Department for Bidding" in Alcoholics Anonymous for me to call.  So, I went cold turkey.  It is so hot here in Louisiana, no one noticed the withdrawal sweats.

Then, I found casinos.  Luckily I have to drive to get to one so I can really get some stuff done before I hock the house.  Seriously, this is was-a-a-a-y too much fun to be legal.  I am not ready to look up AA for this one but I am thinking I might be psychic because I see a need for withdrawal in my future, gulp.

Now, guess what I discovered??  Quibid.  Talk about dangerous. No driving.  No leaving the house.  No having to get dressed.  And, if you "win?  buy?" something for less than 50 cents, it is not only free, it is free shipping.  Talk about addictive....at least if you check it out, be sure to put me in the "Reffered by" section so I can pretend I am making money on this addiction.

My husband said, initially he was hoping I would get an addiction to.....well, he stopped mid thought and realized that this could have led to many more children and that had the potential for being even more expensive than casinos.  Better leave well enough alone.........
 

Johnny Be Good

Oh my goodness.  Was he ever good?  Stop what you are doing and go have some fun at the movies!!!!  That was such a fun, entertaining movie.  Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, John.....how many times are you supposed to repeat a word and it will stay with you forever????? Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp,( I am not taking any chances....) Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp, Johnny Depp,..........................

Quilter in Love

Yippeeeee.  Tom is home for a four day weekend.  He is so good at welcoming me home that I had to live up to his...um...welcoming home skills?   I think I did O.K.

Today, we are off to see "The Lone Ranger."  Not only does it look like a cute movie, it has Johnny Depp in it.  Win Win Win.  LOVE Johnny Depp. 

This has the beginnings of a LOVEly weekend, don'tcha think????

Same ol' Same Ol'

Just KIDDING.  The fabric is being printed as we speak.  Looking forward to the first cuttage (is that a word??)  pieces from the production so I can put it in my booths as temptation, heh heh.  Now, to find that list of all those sweeties who pre-ordered.  Jeez, I am so lucky that my head is connected.....

Sewing and Scratching and Skeptics

Whew, I am sewing like a crazy person....hmm, perhaps that is more appropriate that I realized.  Anyway, we finally are sleeping in our own beds.  Of course, I am having a difficult time finding the bathroom.  Shouldn't there be some standard placement for toilets? I mean, it would be so much easier to adjust moving from one hotel to the other, one hotel to home, if the bathrooms were always to the right of the bed....or to the left.... or....whatever.  I mean, it gets very close to "puddle" sometimes...TMI????????

I had one day between trips so I took the time to do some yard work.  Need I say, desperately needed yard work?  The yard punished me by sharing its "stash."  Yard stash came in the form of poison ivy, wasp stings, and horsefly biting.  I have been itching to the point of bruising and bleeding for almost two weeks.  I called my son who is trained in Asian medicine and asked him to please put together some of his magic potions. This worked out nicely since we were heading immediately down to Houston to see him and his lovely bride.  Little by little my skepticism is dwindling on this method of medicine.  My preset mindset of "Skeptic" is putting it gently.  Shame on me.  Within less than 24 hours of taking the first dose, my poison ivy was drying up.  Normally, I have this scratching/itching/insanity for weeks and weeks.  It's a miracle!  Apologies are definitely in order.  I feel a new religion coming and I can see some door-knocking-preaching-to-the-masses in my future.

One of the other interesting things that we did while in Houston was visit a psychic.  Several words come to mind here, as well, and, again, Skeptic was high on the list.  Whatever my beliefs, it was interesting to say the least.  The psychic was the most lovely of men, gentle, and sincere.  Without knowing us at all, he described my mother to a T.  He talked, first, to Brandy, addressing many of her issues.  Then, suddenly, he began to write, frantically, and when we asked what was happening he said it was my sister talking.  We said, "To whom?"  He pointed to me.  When he stopped writing, this is what he had written:

                Dianne, my darling girl - you have done such a fine job with your own life, and 
     your family.  I suppose I could hunt around for something to improve on, but I wouldn't
     have you change a thing.

               You sparkle as you walk, and you leave behind you a trail of stars and dusty light, 
     ever so easy for me to see, no matter where I go.  Thank you for that, for we can always 
     see you, and so I always know where you are.  I am so glad you are having so much fun 
     now.  It's your time.

              Now you know, I wanted to work with you.  But, in the end, I guess I really didn't.  
     Pink dress...Remember that pink dress?  You looked better in it than I did, but I still would
     have liked to wear it.  Your whole life has been a pretty, pink dress, and I hope you know 
     how lucky you are this time around.  I know it.  I've always known it.  And I love you for it. 



What else can I add other than perhaps miracles do happen.......

 

Back to Reality

"the trouble with reality is it doesn't live up to the best expectations of my fantasies"

 No wonder I stay in my own little world most of the time...reality often smells more like a dirty diaper.

Anyway, I ran away from home for all of last week.  I ended up at the beach.  It was wonderful.  What was amazing was that my sewing machine and projects somehow snuck into my car.  So, I was only partially in my Fantasy Land.  As Brandy and I were driving South, I checked the weather for Fort Morgan....rain was predicted for the entire time we were planning to be there.  

"Why don't we just head back home, Brandy?  We could probably get a lot more done and would not be wasting gas and time driving?....Nah.  I would rather be at the beach house, regardless."  To our delight, reality did live up to some of my expectations.  It was sunny every single day.  Part "B" of my expectations was that I would come back lighter than when I left.  Hrumph.  The only thing lighter was my wallet.  I actually gained 3 pounds!  Pew.  Stinky stinky pew.

I do have some stuff to show you, though....

"Carry All of It" (c)

"Ruffled Apron w/ Gabbi's Rose II"

Where-o-where???

Hey, where have you guys been?  I have been looking for you for a month and.....oh, wait....it is I who have been gone.  Oopsy.

It has been a zoo around here.  I know, you are asking yourselves, "Is that something NEW???"  Oopsy.

There really is no excuse that will stand up in a court of logic.  It is simply that I have not stopped long enough to talk.  Oh, I have been "talking," just not where you guys could hear.  I have been talking to B.....about the sewing machine luggage that has my fabric on it ( MAJOR EGO TRIP so it is a good thing that I will have the new luggage to pack my new, larger hats in to fit my newly larger head) ,  I have been talking, a lot, to the printer about my fabric that I had hoped would already be in my hands,   I have been talking to ....well, myself, mostly.  Creating requires a lot of conversation with oneself, particularly when oneself does not always know what oneself is talking about.  I tend to babble more then but I don't have to worry because I am the only one in the conversation, heh, heh.

And now, you are conversing with yourself asking, "This is what you have been waiting for for a month?!?!

More Quilty Gabbi's Rose

As I said, here is another project for Portland.  Whatchathink???  Inside the pocket is a hot pad. (The "flower")

More clipboard stuff.

Working Quilter

As I wrote the title of this chat, I started wondering, "What exactly is "work" anyway?  Is making a quilt working? When people get paid to sing, is that working????  So much for deep thought.

I have been busy (working) on samples for Market in Portland.  Thus, I am going to do my best to (see?  I have stopped promising) to post the completed items.  So....(the top image is the closest to the "real" colors. The other images look faded to me.  IPhones are probably not the best choice for images, heh heh)

Totally shocked Quilter

From time-to-time I take just a teensy weeny peek at the statistics on my blog.  There are actually those of you who are so loyal, so amazingly faithful to me that you are kind enough to check in on me even when I have been very very bad.....beyond neglectful.  I don't deserve any of you.  Consider yourselves hugged.....heck, just go and give yourself a big fat kiss from me, too.  I am nothing if not generous....

The show in Paducah was grrrrreat.  We were placed in a new spot this year.  Even though we were way over in a corner at the very back of the building, we managed to set a personal best as far as sales are concerned.  The folks were delightful from the AQS personnel, to the shoppers, to the fellow vendors, to the sweet young fireman/EMT who came to ou booth to drool over my daughter.

As you can see from the hour that I am writing this, I should be heading to bed.  So, more later, I just hope it is sooner rather than too much later.  Again, kiss kiss.

Quilter Lovin' It

Truthfully, I love a lot of things.  That can be a problem, especially when it comes to clothes, food, fabric, quilting,jewelry, shopping,  painting, do-nuts,  slot machines ....you get the idea.  Right now, I am in love with the weather.  That is a rare statement coming from someone who lives in northern Lose-iana.  The usual weather is hot, or humid, or hot and humid.  These last few weeks? GORGEOUS.  Dogwoods are in full bloom, even ones that do not usually have blooms.  Azaleas, just WOW.  Roses, AMAZING. Now, lucky me, I get to prolong this time of year by heading North. 

Good news, I hope I hope I hope.  My strike-offs are in the U.S.  Sadly, that does not mean it is in my hands at this second.  I have to wait a few more days because it will be waiting for me in Paducah.

Addictive Quilter

I have always known that I had a tendency to have an addictive personality.  Thank Heavens I did not take up smoking, drinking, or drugs.  The scary part???  I have discovered CASINOS.  I just love the slots.  It used to be doughnuts.  My car turned automatically into the Krispy Kreme parking lots.  I tried to resist, screaming at my kids, "Grab the wheel. Pull."

  But, it was a fight we often lost.  What else was I to do?  We were already in the parking lot....so, I bought, and ate, wonderfully warm, fresh, gooey, delicious doughnuts.

Now, it is Casinos.  On the way home from Schaumburg, we stopped at two casinos.  In fact, we stayed at the second one until 2 a.m.   After sleeping a couple of hours in a WalMart parking lot, we arrived home around 8 a.m.  When I called Tom he asked if I won.  I said, "Sure, I won.   I won, then I lost, then I won, then I lost....."

Luckily, there are no casinos within a hour's drive from here...however, there is a doughnut shop in town.  It is not a Krispy Kreme, but, sometimes one has to be a bigger person and overlook small flaws.  Yeah, if I keep overlooking some of these flaws, I will be a lot bigger person.

Where has this Quilter been?

Are you kidding me?  I have been in the Never-Never-Land, in OZ, ...in The Cloud.  Wherever...By the way, I have no idea what this new term, the Cloud, means.  I guess someone figured out that the Earth just could not handle all the krappola that we as humans create all the time so they decided to clutter up the sky, as well.  Feed it to the Clouds, yeah, that's it.  It could be that when one goes to that Big Cloud in the Sky they will not be bored because there will be so much up there to check out.  An eternity's worth.

As for my fabric, sadly, I cannot say that you guys have exactly bombarded me with orders.  I consider this to be a bad sign and am wondering if I have made a HUGE mistake by ordering thousands of yards of the stuff.  Gulp.  Oh well, too late now.  The first of the fabric will be in my hands by next Friday.  If everything checks out and there are minimal changes, then the entire batch will be made and in my hands in a few weeks. My first order of business will be to use up a good bit of it making samples for Market in Oregon. But, first, we will be headed to Paducah, Kentucky, and plan to show off the fabric then.  I will be taking pre-orders there as well.  If you are able to walk, run, fly, or use magic, you should get thyself to the AQS show in Paducah.  The town is charming, the quilt show is fabulous, there are a bazillion vendors selling everything from quilting supplies to shoes and jewelry.  Waaaay fun. Hope to see you there.

Quilter Wakes Up

Slap, slap.  Back to Reality.  As my dear friend said the other day,"I buried my head in the sand but every time I took it out, the world was still there."  Honestly, I like my life.  I love where I am in this phase.  That is not to say there are not things that I would change.  The changes are obvious--my husband would be here, beside me, ALL of the time ( ok, so I would let him potty allllll by himself), my sister, mother, and father would be in my arms instead of the Angels', my daughter-in-law would get her just rewards, and, I would actually be making a Profit.  Like I said, back to Reality.

FABRIC STUFF:  If you are interested in ordering any of my new fabric line, Gabbi's Rose, please do not hesitate to call me at 318-243-2983 or email me at sales@quiltinacup.com  When the fabric arrives it will retail for $10.99.  We are pre-selling yardage for $8.99 with a minimum order of 3 yards, total.

QUILTING ARTS segment:  Airs sometime around the latter part of July.

WHERE ARE WE?  Schaumburg, Illinois, @ the Original Sewing and Quilt Show, Schaumburg Convention Center, April 4-6,  10:00-6:00

Quilter's Quandry

We have a dilemma  in front of us.....we are in between shows and the taping without enough time to drive home and then turn around and get back for the Schaumburg Show.  This gives Brandy and me three days without a sewing machine!!! Or, a computer!!  What does one do in these dire situations?

I seem to recall in the T.B.Q.. (Time Before Quilting) that there were days where we read books....did a little knitting....needlepoint.... Cooking..(there must be a mistake.  Forget that I wrote that)....Cleaning (DEFINITELY FORGET I WROTE THAT.  Shake it off, Dianne.  It must be all the sleep I have been getting.  I am not in my write mind.  Apparently, too much sleep and relaxation can warp one's thinking)....

Such trials life can give us.  But we are women; we are creative..first, we overslept.  Next, we spent the day at the Chicago Art Institute ; we had lunch out.  We shopped.  We overslept, again.  We watched television without fabric and a cutting table in front of us.  I did not know the television even worked without a pair of scissors in my hand and the sewing machine plugged in and on. Now, today, we are exploring the countryside.  I could get used to this.....

Roaming quilters

What on earth will we do with ourselves??  We will arrive at our hotel around 10 tonight.   Our set up is not scheduled until Wednesday.  Not only have we already done the mani-pedi thingie, we even got a perm for Brandy.  She looks great, by the way.   Hmmmmm.  I suppose I could try to find somewhere to shop......are there any good places to shop in Chicago???

Quilters On the road to Clleveland

Planned departure time:  6:00 a.m.  Actual departure time:  11:30 a.m.  Even by Dianne/Brandy standards, this was running just a little late.   As we headed out to Cleveland for the taping,  the weather map showed a Huge Front that was directly ahead of us.  So, we chose a path that would make it less likely that we would run into Mother Nature's fury.  Day one of our drive, we were like The Driven, not doing our usual "bunny-hop" style of driving for fear of running into snow--such good girls.

Day two, the sweet GPS said our arrival time should be around 4 in the afternoon.  Wow, we can sooo relax.  We can sooo enjoy the ride....we can resume our usual mode of travel...We even stopped at a casino and won a teensy bit of $$.  We had a casual, not-so-great meal.  Drove through gorgeous country while listening to music, singing our heads off.  (Thank your lucky stars that we did not record THAT for you.)  We took our sweet time with everything....bragging to my husband how brilliant we were to have been so clever to have taken this particular route...no snow here!!!!! ......yeah, RIGHT.  We not only hit snow, it was a friggin blizzard.  Our arrival time?  How about a little reality check, Dianne.  We arrived after midnight! So much for a relaxed, early arrival.

Neglectful Quilter

I know, I know, no one has to remind me how incredibly neglectful I have been about posting new Threads. One would think by peeking in my drawers that I would have enough Thread to last a lifetime.  Wrong Thread....

Oh well.  It is not for lack of thinking about writing.  We arrived home around 2 a.m. Thursday morning.  We actually hit snow on the way home.  I was freaking out.  The last time I drove through snow I was innocently driving, slowly, I might add, and suddenly, without warning, I slid off the road into a ditch.  Now, I am pulling a trailer???  GULP. Luckily, all went well.  We actually got a kick out of seeing everything white.  Like a bride's dress, it often makes the image before you the most beautiful it can be.

Our lecture at the Hattiesburg Guild was delightful, at least speaking for myself.  The ladies were very complimentary and supportive of my jokes.  Always a good thing.  My fears always include, am I boring, am I talking too much, (hmmm, that is a given), are they sorry they asked me to come???  As long as the answer to those questions, is, "no," then I am good.  I hope they enjoy the items they bought, can understand my directions, and they are interested in having me come, again, in the future.  Time will tell.

Speaking of telling, I have some exciting stuff happening.  One of the machine companies is getting ready to produce luggage with my fabric designs on them.  Does it get much better than that?  Don't tell anyone but I would almost pay them to do this, heh heh.  The fabric is being printed as we speak.  Hey, you guys might just need to buy one of these machines just so you can get one of the pieces of luggage, right????  As soon as I get the "go" I will share the company's name.  They might just be one my of new BFF's!!!!!

And, with any luck, my fabric company will be officially "with fabric" (right now it is more like "with child") by the end of April.  I know that I mentioned this before but for me this is good enough stuff to be mentioned more than once, so brace yourselves.

Tomorrow, we head to Ohio so we can tape the segment for Quilting Arts television.  If it turns out all right, I will post when the show airs.  Otherwise, you will not hear a word from me...silence will be my middle name.  yeah, right.

And, finally, if you are near Schaumburg, Illinois, please come see me at the Original Sewing Expo, the weekend after this one. I need my hugs and kisses.

I am sitting in the marshaling yard in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as I write.  Not only is it friggin' freezing cold but I have been sitting in this line, waiting to load up the trailer for one hour and I might have moved 50 feet in that time.  Now I just found out that the freight elevator is broken and they have no idea when we will get moving, again.  And, I have to peeeeeee.

 The good part is the fact that this show set a record "best sales," for us for the second year in a row.  And I did not have to pull anyone in off the street to beg them to buy.  Yippeeee.

Also, I gave the "go ahead" to print, so, say a little....heck.  Say a HUGE prayer that all goes well and that my fabric arrives before the end of April.  Send all those good vibes, all the good karma, all the positive thoughts in my direction.

Just a Peek...

A quick peek at just one of my "irons."   Feedback, folks, I need feedback.  Double click on the image to enlarge.  Hugs.

Where-O-Where has this little Quilter Been?

For the most part I have been here.  It is just that I have waaaaay too many irons in the fire and too few matches.  Since I last wrote I have been invited to present a project on Public Television for a show called Quilting Arts. Dang, if this goes well, I am gonna be in the market for some new hats 'cause my head is growing just by the mere thought of an invitation, let alone the actual invitation.  Then, I checked my schedule and realized that I leave for Birmingham and the estate sale on the 7th.  Then, I head straight from there to Lancaster. On the way home, stop at a friend's home for the evening, then drive down to Hattisburg for a Guild Meeting, then zoom home for prep for the Public Television thingie.  Get in the car,again, and drive to Ohio for the taping then head from there to Chicago for another show.  In the meantime, I am making quilts, wedding gifts, trying to work on a book proposal, etc etc. Shoot, I stayed up for 48 hours and still did not get enough done that day.  Throw in all of these dang check up's at a bazillion doctor's offices and my minutes, seconds, days, nights.....all used up.  So, here I am, again, thanking you patient lovely folks for checking in on me.  Oh, did I mention that I am still working on fabrics?  I changed printers... I forget to check emails...I forget to eat, well, real food, anyway.  Somehow I manage to squeeze in a few cookies. ....I still gain weight.....great, that is probably why my head is bigger.

Houston, Here We Come

I have a wonderful friend who is very ill.   I promised myself that I would do my best to set my priorities in their proper order.  Well, in the order that I, personally, considered proper.

1.  Shopping.
2.  Playing with Tom.
3.  Shopping
4.  Eating.
5.  Playing with Tom.
6.  Shopping....

Oh wait, that was the old list.  My new list starts with anything that involves family and friends.  So, here I am in Houston visiting both friends and family.  Such a good girl.   Like this is hard.   The truth is that the hard part is not thinking about what I have facing me when I get home.  Gulp.  Think I will go play with Tom some more.  Amazingly, he can make me forget and smile all at the same time, heh heh.

Good Times for this Quilter

One might not think that beginning your Saturday with a memorial service would be a good thing.  However, the service was really nice.  It had an overall military theme with a male quartet singing patriotic songs, the flowers were red, white, and blue, and the eulogy honored not only on the deceased's exemplary military career, but honored those who served in the military during WWII, in general.  It so reminded me of my father.  That is definitely a good thing.

Afterwards, we were invited to the family's home where we enjoyed gumbo, red beans and rice, and cheesecake.  But, more importantly, we enjoyed getting to talk to friends and neighbors that we seldom get to see.  Again, good times.

Next, we headed to Shreveport for shopping (need I say more???? heh heh), dinner, and finally, we went to the opera.  This was my gift to Brandy for Valentines.  Watching her, watching the opera, was my gift to myself....the best of times.

Woo Woo for this Quilter

You know, sometimes it is difficult to not believe in Woo Woo.  I have a friend all the way from my High School years who I have kept only sporatically in touch with over the years.  She never calls me.  If we are going to get together, it is I who initiates the contact.  In November, when I was in Birmingham for Mother's memorial, I started trying to call this friend.  The phone simply rang and rang.  Then, over the last three months, I have called several times to no avail.  The answering machine never picked up, nothing.  Now, today, she called me...just to talk.  She was completely unaware that I have been calling her.  Like I said,  woo woo......

Now, I hope you will say another kind of WOO WOO when you see my latest work.  Whatchathink?  It is called Sweet Tooth

Another Quilter's Duh Moment

Dianne's and Brandy's schedule:
1.   On Wednesday, completely empty the trailer.  Go to the storage shed and get the sofa.  DONE (Remember, this is two girly-girls lifting a huge leather sofa alllll by themselves)   Load/pack Red Car for the lecture.  Pack/load Black car w/trailer for Arkansas and Alabama.  DONE
2.   Thursday:  Get up at 5 a.m. so we can depart by 7 a.m. for Texas for the Lecture.  DONE  (O.K., so we are 30 minutes late.  Remember, by our definition, we are ON TIME !!!)
3.  Lecture:  "Taking Quilts to Another  Place"  (Photograph them and make your own Notecards, Make your own Gift Wrap, Make your own Wallpaper,  Design your very own cell phone covers, IPad covers, computer covers, etc.....Totally FUN stuff that uses your quilts in a whole new way.  Clap, clap, clap...) 
4.  Drive back to Ruston; change vehicles and drive to Arkansas to deliver the sofa. 
5.  SOFA DOES NOT FIT THROUGH THE DOOR !!!!!  Duh, duh duh.   Could it have been a good idea for Tom to have mentioned at some point that he had to ram the existing sofa through the door?????  Perhaps he could have measured to be sure this new sofa would not have the same issues?  Sigh.
6.  Keep driving to Birmingham....second DUH.  We actually thought we could make it to Birmingham all in the same day as the Texas Lecture......

 Light on, Light off, Light on, Light off, Light off, Light off...... 



So, how about a peek at my newest item that is keeping me awake at night...it suits how I feel in the middle of the night when everyone else in the house is snoring -- all wonky and tilty, half awake, half asleep, kinda leeeaning towards the bed.....how to describe what I am doing in a pattern is gonna keep me up for days, gulp.

Quilter and Who Knows?

Emeril and Dianne at the Napoleon House Bar

There I was, having a nice quiet drink with my husband at the Napoleon House Bar when in comes the press, cameras and all.  Sneaky little guys, they tried to pretend they were not there to catch me in my daily routine so they focused the cameras on some guy in a white shirt.  His name was Emeril La....something. I think he is a cook. Who knows what could happen to this guy with exposure like this.  Someday he might become famous, have his own cooking show, signature cookware, ....the works.  All because he was in the right place at the right time.  Now I know how Lady Di felt, not a moment to myself. 

Mardi Grab

Mardi Gras in a Tree

Our trip to New Orleans was great.  We had incredible food, surprise, surprise.  We ate at the Bon Ton Cafe, at Antoine's, PreJean's, Cafe Mes Amis, and August.  I gained three pounds....sigh.  Why is is so much easier to find pounds than it is to lose them?  I mean, I lose everything else.  Remember, I am on cell phone #8 in two years....Perhaps if I draw a picture of a phone on my hips?

The Ravens and the 49 ers were in town, ready for the Superbowl.  Raven fans were delighted with all of the Purple.  It almost looked like home to them.  Check out the Mardi Gras Tree.  This is something new to me and is quite delightful to see with the sun shining on the beads.  

We actually went down to New Orleans to join friends we made while in grad school lo' these many years ago.  I was amazed at how old those folks looked.  Oh, wait, that is I in those pictures.  I knew there was a reason I hated cameras...