Putting a New Spin on Old Ideas

  Wow is it hot!  I can't believe that we are nearing July 1 already, but it feels like July outside.  After going to school all my life and then teaching school for 16 years, I still measure my life by semesters and summer vacation.  Even though I haven't taught for the past five years, the habit is still with me.  I find that I make goals for myself for the summer break.  One of those goals is to paint the family room a lovely shade of seaglass blue green.  I find the color very calming, and it will look nice with the chocolate brown couch that we bought last year.  Another goal is always to catch up on my customer quilts to the point that I feel like I can take a week or two off to custom quilt something of my own.  So far, I am making good headway on the quilting goal.  I hope to throw something of mine on the frame mid-month and have it done in time to take it to the fair.

  A couple of weeks ago, I did back to back double Irish Chain quilts.  The two were very different, and I quilted them both differently.  Some people find what they like to do and stick with it.  Me...well, I have a very short attention span, so I rarely, if ever, do the same thing twice on a quilt.  Not to say that I don't repeat designs and have my favorite "go to" things that I like to do.  I just like to throw them together in different combinations to break up boredom.  I am always scanning new magazines, Youtube, and QNNTV.com for new ideas or new ways to spin old ideas.  No need to reinvent the wheel, so why not borrow ideas and put my own spin on them?  So, to all of those out there who have published ideas...Thanks!

A godly father is a blessing!

My husband is such a blessing in my life and in the lives of his children and grandchildren.  He is calm, cool, and collected most of the time.  He is a man of great intelligence and integrity.  When Father's Day rolls around, even though the kids aren't home anymore, I make sure to celebrate with him all that he has been to me and to them over the past 24 years.  As I see my son fathering his son, I am so thankful for the blessing of a wonderful husband who modeled for my children all the things in life that are important:  loving the Lord, being honest and trustworthy, and being a great husband.  Those lessons will stick with them long after we are gone, and, hopefully, be passed down to their children. 

Custom beats Edge to Edge!

I recently had fun McTavishing this embroidered quilt for an elderly woman.  The handwork was very beautiful, and I insisted that she let me custom this quilt.  When she brought it to me, she requested edge to edge.  I told her that I couldn't ruin the quilt that way, and that if she wanted it done E2E, she would have to take it to someone else.  She decided to let me do it my way, and I am so glad she did!  It turned out so much nicer, and is now a true heirloom for her family.

Beyond that, I have been doing lots of quilts lately.  Every time I think that I will get ahead, I take in two or three more.  Right now, thankfully, I don't have any "deadline" quilts waiting.  It is nice to know that all of the ones I have waiting are "just whenever you get to it" quilts.  With the county fair and the state fair coming up at the end of July and August, I am sure that more of those deadlines will be coming in the next few weeks.  Thus far, I am still enjoying my work, but wishing I had more time to do my own projects.  Balancing my time is still a struggle, but I am getting faster and more productive all the time, so eventually, I hope to set aside a whole day of rest, and at least one day a week to scrapbook or sew on my own projects.  First, I want to catch up a bit on those that I have waiting!

Memorial Day

Our nephew examines the quilt I gave him for his graduation earlier this month.

  It has been such a busy month!  Finally, today, I have some time to write a bit.  Between graduations, my husband's neck surgery, and keeping up with my quilting business, it has flown by.  I love that we have a three day weekend with my husband home to catch up on stuff around the house.  Yesterday in church, they showed a video clip reminding us of the reasons we observe Memorial Day and the heroes who have fought and are still fighting to keep us safe.  It's easy to take it for granted sometimes, but I am thankful for those men and women, and especially for God watching over us all.  God bless the U.S.A.!

Taking it all for Granted.

  I have been working on several projects lately, as well as trying to keep up with my longarm business.  It seems that many days, I get up, have my coffee, and then work on whatever it is that I feel like working on for that day.  Routine can sometimes lull us into such complacency that we lose motivation and focus.  I was snapped back into a larger sense of thankfulness for my life recently when my husband had to have surgery to fuse vertebrae in his neck.  As I sat in the hospital waiting for word, I couldn't help thinking of what my life would be without him.  We will be married 26 years this summer.  Even as I write this, the doorbell rang, and a girl brought me flowers for Mother's Day from this wonderful man :)  Anyway, I realized that the routines of my life would be drastically changed if I didn't have him anymore.  I would probably have to return full time to my teaching career in order to provide for myself.  My empty nest would be even more empty.  I felt a new sense of compassion for those who have lost a spouse and are now alone, and I prayed that I would not yet join their ranks.  When the nurse called to tell me everything had gone well, I felt such relief and thankfulness!
  Now, he is home and doing very well, but daily I am reminded of all the little things he does for me.  I had to mow the yard this week!  I had to carry out the trash, and drag the big container to the curb.  I had to carry in all my groceries.  My daily activities haven't changed, but I am grateful for that.  It may be awhile before I take it all for granted!