Playing phone tag

You know how you become eligible for an "upgrade" when you have reached a certain point in your cell phone contract? Well, first let me say that I really liked my Samsung slider phone. A lot. Did what I needed it to do, you know, like make and receive phone calls. But my phone was kinda dinged up and I could get a new one for free. "Free" meaning that I only had to pay activation and tax. So not really free. And speaking of activation: what part does AT&T actually play in activation when I take the sim card out of the old phone and put it in the new phone? They should be paying ME an activation fee. But I digress.

So I got the free (ahem...) phone, the exact same phone but this time in shiny red. Really awesome.

But then I started thinking, hmmm, did I make a mistake by not upgrading to an iPhone while I had the chance? It was now...or wait another two years.

So Saturday I went to AT&T to bite the bullet, spend the big bucks and upgrade to an iPhone. At Store #1, they told me that since I had upgraded online, they could start the paperwork but could not give me the actual phone. I had to go to Store #2, a "corporate" store, to get the phone. So I got in my car and drove to Store #2. Store #2 was out of iPhones (what??) but were getting a shipment that afternoon and would hold one for me.

Went home, ate lunch, tried to call Mark (who was at Lakeview Cottages) and found out my (red) phone did not work at all. Went back to Store #2 and indeed my phone had been blocked by Store #1, they couldn't undo it, and I would have to go back to Store #1 to get it unblocked. Went back to Store #1, they tried to unblock my red phone, couldn't do it themselves, so they actually had to call AT&T (which I found sort of funny, but by then I was really tired of driving back and forth).

Went back to Store #2, turned in my red phone along with the box it came in, and (finally) got my new iPhone. And as I was ready to leave the store, the customer service guy said, "The phone charger isn't in the box. Do you have it at home?" *sigh* Back home, back to Store #2 to return the phone charger.

And then Mark and I spent the rest of the weekend playing with this:

And while of course I don't actually believe horoscopes have anything to do with real life (because how could the same advice possibly apply to everyone born between November 22 and December 21??), it is kind of amusing that my horoscope on Saturday said "check out the pros and cons of an investment. What makes you feel you must spend or do something with your money?" Who cares? We have it, and boy is it cool!!

Nancy Crow Quilting Course

Back from the quilting course in the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa. What a wonderful experience and a huge learning curve. We learnt about lines, shapes and their proportion to the background - how lines form shapes etc. Much like positive and negative space. It is a design course - certainly the most advanced I have ever done.

We arrived at the conference centre on Sunday afternoon, unpacked and started work bright and early monday morning. Nancy did not say much before sending us off to discover the exciting world of "lines, lines and more lines". Our brief was to produce 18 pieces using different types of lines by 9am the next morning (Tuesday). What a journey of discovery, a bit nerve wracking as well. The following is a photograph of one of my pieces from this task:


 

The following morning we were tasked with doing a piece 4 feet x 6 feet (1.2m x 1.8) using our chosen colour palette and "lines, lines and more "lines". We had to have the piece completed by 9am Wednesday morning for a critique. (Help). The start of my piece.

This is as far as I got.... still a large amount of work to do.

On Wednesday morning we were tasked with making a sampler with at least 7 different shapes from a "C" curve to a "S" shape to a circle. I have not started this as I took Nancy down to see the Drakensberg Boys Choir perform. What an amazing experience. It was totally worth going to see the boys sing especially as one of my boys is in the school. :LOL

On Thursday morning we woke up to the start of the major work - an 8 foot by 8 foot piece. This is what it looked like when I started work. We had about an hour to put the following frame work together and then start working on the detail.
















 


This photograph shows the final detail of the top right hand quadrant - It's all I managed to do in 2 days. My sewing skills need to be radically improved......

The first thing I need to do tomorrow morning is organise myself a design wall and then I can finish these 2 projects. I can't wait..

For photos of the area that I stayed in see the following blog : http://slicesofafrica.blogspot.com

Doodle Tools

Many of you asked similar questions in yesterday's blog post comments, so I thought I'd answer them here.

You may remember that I took an online class called Calligra-FUN by Martha Lever. Well that was where I learned the basic letter shapes for the lettering I'm doing in these doodles I've been making. I have really just written the letters and then embellished them further with my pens. So that is how I'm doing the lettering.

As for which pens I use, the photo above shows the assortment I've been using for my doodles. I really like the four-pack of Pitt pens by Faber-Castell because each tip is a different size and I like that I have a choice, depending on the effect I want.

Also in the photo is my latest doodle. I'm undecided as to whether to fill in the center white space with something.

I'd like to thank all of you who visit me. Your presence here makes me happy. I appreciate all your comments and very much enjoy when you leave one.

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Doodles

I created these doodles over the last few nights.



I thought I'd try incorporating them into a greeting card. Here I've fused some painted paper towels to the cardstock and then I stitched around it. Then I held the doodle on the background and stitched the four corners so that the doodle can easily be lifted out and the recipient can save it and do something with it.


Anyone out there in blog-o-sphere going to the Fabrications Retreat? It starts Aug. 30 and runs through Sept. 4. There is also a mixed-media art exhibit, Blurred Boundaries. I have a quilt in this exhibit. I won't be there, but if you are, perhaps you'd stop by my quilt and say "hi"?

My head's in the clouds

Little Spouse on the Prairie (which makes me smile every time I say it...) did a post on clouds and asked others to share their cloud pictures. Here is my contribution, taken at Lakeview Cottages in June, actually on our anniversary. The story behind this picture is that Mark and I, Aaron, Christa, Charlotte and Levi had been at the cottages for the weekend. I was staying up at Lakeview for the rest of the week, and they were all going back down to Fresno, but first we were going to stop at a restaurant on the other side of the lake and have an anniversary dinner (ours on June 8, Aaron and Christa's on June 10). Well, it was Monday and early in the season, and none of the restuarants were open. I sadly turned my car around, to go back to my cabin and eat alone, as they all continued on to have dinner together someplace closer to Fresno. When I got back to Lakeview and parked my car, I looked across the lake and this was my view. How majestic. And how quickly my mood improved.

Hey Look! More Books

So lately I've been busy making books. Just thought I'd tell you that in case you hadn't noticed.

Why am I making books, you ask? Well because Sue and I are writing a book on books. Sounds a little funny huh? Yes, it is called Creative Ways with Books and Journals. It will have a variety of hard and soft cover book projects all with different surface techniques. We are planning a November release, just in time for Christmas. Here are a couple of the journals I made for the book.


Yesterday I was able to retrieve my sewing machine from the repair shop. While there I happened to glance over toward the fabrics. Not a good thing to do. I usually try hard to avert my eyes from that area. I really have no need for more fabric. Well of course they had gotten some new batiks in and they were just calling to me. So I gave in and bought just a 1/4 yard of each. That is pretty good for me because usually I have to have at least 1/2 yard or more. I usually hoard it thinking there'll never be another fabric as gorgeous as this one. I'm slowly beginning to realize that there will always be gorgeous fabric available.


I looked at these fabrics all together and thought that maybe they'd look good together in a quilt. What do you think?

My inspector is hard at work. She usually has to check everything out that comes into the house.

Notice of Immediate Termination of Tenancy

Over the years, we have opened up our spare bedroom to many guests. We either extended the invition ourselves or they asked and we said, "Sure. Come live with us..." Some college students have even stayed for up to a semester.

So yesterday, I was cleaning up/organizing the glass workshop so we could finally get back to work in there. And I happened to notice evidence that someone had been living there. Completely uninvited. No, not a person. Nope, I think it was something furry. With a tail. Ewwwww. I didn't hear anything scurrying when I walked in. So that's a good sign, right? I have tentatively opened up the door a couple more times. No sounds. As we never gave him permission to be there in the first place, I hope he has moved on, or I will take the necessary steps.

While I'm not usually a fan of blog posts without pictures, sometimes it's just the right thing to do. So I'm not going to gross you out with a picture to go along with this post. Because I'm just thoughtful that way.

Deanna's Pines Group - Yellow Study moving on

This is Deanna's almost finished block with Vicky, Reneta, Cathy and my work. It's going to Daphne next. I've not worked in yellow much, and it's not my favourite colour, but I was loving it by the end of the first seam.

Here's what I added to the block. Some scallops. I wanted to do more to this patch, but couldn't make up my mind on what else to add. Perhaps Daphne will finish it off!

The paisley was fun to do. I also did the seam above it.

This began with small straight stitches. Then I wove six strands of sparkly green thread in and out of the straight stitches, and added a small green pearl. After that three lazy daisy stitches in orange DMC pearl #8 and in between those three straight stitches in one strand of gold sparkly thread with a gold bead on each stitch.

A little patch of chicken scratch on the gingham patch with a pea-pod seam below.

I filled this patch with herringbone and small cupped sequins.
This is the final Pines block that I will work on. What a variety there was in this group! It was great fun!

Wish List of Books

A little sampling of some beautiful books that I wish were on my bookshelf... sigh...


Naive: Modernism And Folklore In Contemporary Graphic Design



Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life





Boro: Rags and Tatters from the Far North of Japan






Grandfather's Envelopes





Japanese Children's Fabrics


So my dears, what books are you currently coveting?

Hearts and Flowers

From time to time CQ4Newbies members make a Hearts and Flowers block for a member who is going through a tough time. This is one I did recently. The centre is a chicken scratch heart on gingham.

New Books

My sewing machine had to go the the repair shop yesterday as it started acting funny. So I spent part of the day making more hard cover books. These actually go together very quickly. The photo is not very good at all. I had the books facing toward the window and there was too much glare.


Here's my book making helper. I usually have a small area on my cutting table with a folded up piece of fabric for cat snoozing, and you can see that Abby is laying on that. But I also had a small piece of leftover batting from something and she was playing with it. She loves to get under blankets and fabric.


I've added a couple of the wallets I made to my etsy shop. I will add more as I can. The following three photos show off the features of the wallets. There are several slots for credit and ID cards, an area for paper money, and a coin pouch.

Paper money pocket

Slots for credit and ID cards

Coin pouch with another slot behind for cards

Design Wall Monday Remembering Grandma

Ah lazy busy summer days.

Not a lot of time sewing. I have a few siblings that have migrated from Iowa to Arizona. The e-mails about which one is better get pretty deep. We have beautiful weather all summer they hide in the air conditioning out of the 90 plus degree weather. By November The weather here is chilly and they have nice weather. But today I'm thinking I'm ready for a season change. I love the cold for the holidays and in January when it's really cold I love being stuck inside so I can sew. Not complaining about the nice summer weather but I could use a few snugly warm inside sewing days.

Got the blocks all done this week. now to sew them up and add the borders. Can I get that all done by next Monday? And move on to something else.

Design Wall Monday Remembering Grandma

Ah lazy busy summer days.

Not a lot of time sewing. I have a few siblings that have migrated from Iowa to Arizona. The e-mails about which one is better get pretty deep. We have beautiful weather all summer they hide in the air conditioning out of the 90 plus degree weather. By November The weather here is chilly and they have nice weather. But today I'm thinking I'm ready for a season change. I love the cold for the holidays and in January when it's really cold I love being stuck inside so I can sew. Not complaining about the nice summer weather but I could use a few snugly warm inside sewing days.

Got the blocks all done this week. now to sew them up and add the borders. Can I get that all done by next Monday? And move on to something else.

Letter to the Work Scheduling gods:

To whom it may concern:

I'm trying really hard to get caught up on medical transcription after being gone a week. I've been a good girl and have remained pretty much chained to my computer, typing practically nonstop about knee replacements, assorted other problems with assorted other joints, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, migraine headaches. Consequently, I think I'm developing my own migraine.

Please, please...schedule in just a little time with my sewing machine and I'll be MUCH less crabby happier.

My family and friends will thank you for it.

Stones, Shells and Hemingway... Inspiration to Sew By

"Let him think I am more man than I am and I will be so."
- Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea


With this new piece, I happily revisited a previous theme which I first began exploring a year ago... Mid Century inspired table runners/wall hangings, (which I also refer to as "functional art quilts" as these pieces work both as beautiful, functional table runners and decorative accent pieces, as well as a beautiful piece of art to hang.)


My muses for previous pieces, (see here, here and here) included old utilitarian quilts and Frank Lloyd Wright.


For this piece however, my inspiration came from stones, shells and the mental image of Ernest Hemingway. The stones and shells, gathered on my recent visit to the sea side, were a visual influence for my color and pattern choices,


where Hemingway provided the muse for creating a piece with a masculine feel... I wanted something that would look at home in a study, draped over an old and well used wooden table that had been oiled to a deep, rich shine.

"Hemingway" - A Mid-Century Inspired Functional Art Quilt is currently available in my shop.

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P.S. I was delighted to learn from the comments on my last post that so many of you are familiar with and like Tsatsiki! What a pleasant surprise!

Wallets

I've made wallets off and on for a few years now. My Auntie Jude created this pattern and over time I have tweaked it a little for my own personal preferences. So lately I've been making some of these and this weekend I finally got six of them completed. I have fabrics laid out for more and I'll probably work on them over the course of the next few weeks. I am mainly working on these over the weekends as I'm busy with other commitments during the week.

Black-Turquoise-Orange

Magenta-Purple

Black-Gray-Purple

Brick Red

Quilting Adventure

I am off on a quilting adventure - a quilting course in the Drakensberg mountains with Nancy Crow. Not sure if I am excited or just plain scared or both. Should be fun and the scenery is beautiful. I hope to come back with stacks of photos.

Tsatsiki

Good news: I have some new work to share.
Bad news: The weather has been too rainy and overcast to get any good shots.
Good news: I had this family recipe for Tsatsiki, (Greek Cucumber dip/sauce) typed and photographed and waiting on standby for just such an occasion :0)


If you have ever had a Gyro sandwich, (correctly pronounced “yee-roh”) this is the wonderful sauce that is used. Any cucumber will do, but I like to use the greek cucumbers that my mother grows in her garden. A few years back, she gathered the seeds and brought them back home with her from a trip to Chios, the island that my father's father came from. I look forward to them all year long!

TSATSIKI
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup yogurt*
2 cups diced cucumber**
salt and pepper to taste


Combine all ingredients.

*Yogurt first needs to be drained by placing in a strainer lined with either paper towel or gauze cloth. Put strainer in a bowl to catch the water. Place in refrigerator overnight to drain sufficiently. Afterwards it will look like what is pictured above.

** After cucumbers have been been peeled and diced, squeeze them in between cloth or paper towels to remove excess water.
(I tend to keep my cucumber pieces pretty big, as I like the crunch... feel free to dice them smaller for a smoother, more traditional dip/sauce!)


I like to eat the dip with pieces of pita or flat bread. (I find that this is even better the second day as all the flavors have had a chance to blend together and the raw garlic has had some time to mellow out a bit!)


Since I am not a meat eater I also like to combine it with vegetarian meat, (Morningstar, Garden or Boca Veggie burgers, chic patties, or sausage patties) that I have seasoned with a bit of cumin, some sliced tomatoes and shredded lettuce piled in a thick pita or on top of some more flat bread, as shown above. Makes for a delicious and light veggie version of a gyro sandwich! Enjoy!