I did it!

(Note  This post is mostly for my sister, Bonnie, who understands my joy.  Mark tried to be joyful, but he just doesn't get it.)

I wish I could call my mother and tell her how clever I was today.  She always loved the idea of being clever.  And she was when it came to sewing.  I called her after I made my first quilt block and she rejoiced in my cleverness.

I have been making quilt tops for 11 years and then sending them out to various quilt ladies to do the quilting.  My sister, Bonnie, has done some beautiful quilting on the quilts she has made with her sewing machine (which is just like mine!)  But I never liked the bulkiness and (my) awkwardness of doing it on my machine.

Two weeks ago, the fabulous Wendy and I went to an all day class in San Mateo to learn how to quilt on a long-arm quilting machine.  This quilt shop offered lessons (for a fee) and then allows you to rent time on their long-arm.  Which is good because they are VERY expensive to buy.  The quilt, batting, and backing are attached to the frame and the sewing machine is mounted on rollers, so that the machine moves instead of the quilt.  Kind of like driving a car.  You guide the machine as it sews.

Today I took two quilts over to the shop for my first try and Wendy offered to come along as moral support and to help me get the quilts onto the frame.  A true friend!  I just did a random swirl pattern of stitching all over the quilts as a beginner.  It's not that easy to drive the machine through loops and swirls and make them look even and random at the same time.  I got two smaller sized quilts done in 3 1/2 hours!  The first one I did was a quilt top I've had done for over a year.  (Yes, Sarah, it's finally done!) 

And the other is a quilt top I posted a picture of a couple of posts ago, and now I have quilted.

The back:

I like the idea of being able to make a whole quilt from start to finish.  It's actually quite liberating besides being less expensive than paying someone else to quilt it for you.  I certainly don't have the artistic talent that my current quilt lady has, but for now I am satisfied.  And I think my mother would be too.

Happy Birthday, David!

So, it's finally happened.  A day I truly thought would never come.  After 34 years, I no longer have any minor children.  The youngest has turned 18 years old. 

Eighteen and a half years ago when I, somewhat apologetically, told our older 5 children, ages 4, 7, 10, 12, 15 that we would be having another baby in 6 months they shouted for joy!  He has been pampered and doted on.  He was a life-sized doll for the girls.  He was a trick pony.  He was pushed around in a laundry basket sitting on a pillow like he was a king, adored by his fans.  He was also the source of embarrassment at times (something involving relieving himself on the driveway as an older sister and her friends drove up.)  He got into things he wasn't supposed to.  Like my lipstick....  You should have seen the couch cushion!

But he has been a delightful child, always easy going.  Sometimes TOO easy going, which can drive me crazy.  I had him when I was 38 1/2 years old and he has helped keep me young.  Sometimes he would be in the middle of playing with his toys and stop and look at me in the kitchen or wherever I was and say, "I love you, Mom."  (melt)  He has a soft spot in his heart for little children and is very good to spend time with them.  Probably because so much kindness and love was shown him from his siblings.  He was funny and quick witted at an early age, sometimes, it seemed, beyond his years.  He still is.  Something that hasn't always been appreciated by his teachers and coaches.

I am going to miss him in September when he goes to college.

random things

9 days.   5 rides.  250 miles.  Boo-yah.


And here's a great quote:
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.

'The fact is most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. . . .

"Life is like an old-time rail journey--delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

"'The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride'" (Hinckley, 1997).

sewing like the wind

About a month ago I was feeling a little down about my abilities as a seminary teacher.  When I feel inadequate I need to spend time in my sewing room.  It's what I know, where I can reassure myself that I am good at something.  Before I could do that I needed to go with the lovely Wendy to a quilt show for some inspiration and some retail therapy.  (She who has the most fabric at the end, wins!)  We saw this pattern hanging in one of the shops and Wendy said she had it (Wendy has everything!) and would loan it to me:

 

So I made this quilt top from that pattern with some fat quarters I bought at the quilt show and went online to find the border fabric.  I love internet shopping!

It is always exciting to see how something turns out when the pattern looks so different.  Then I made this quilt top from a kit that I bought:  (it looks out of alignment because of the angle I photographed it at)  It may or may not be for a little girl who is getting baptized.

Along the way, I decided I needed a table runner and made this for my kitchen table.It's been a good month. I feel like I've accomplished something.

There is a correlation between making quilt tops and teaching seminary.  Sometimes a class is like the quilt you make from a kit.  It comes complete with a picture of how it will turn out.  And sometimes a class is like using a pattern that looks ho-hum, but forces you to imagine the possibilities.  I may never know how this class turns out, but I'm hoping for the best!

bring it on

This evening I return home at 6:05 pm after running errands.  It's Fend for Yourself Friday which means I don't cook dinner.  And besides, David has the Sadie's dance to go to.  David got home from swim practice just before me.
David (tentatively):  "Can I have people come here tonight?"
Me:  "Sure, what time does the dance get over?"
David:  "No, I mean before the dance, like have food for us to eat."
Me:  "You mean like hors d'oeurves?"
David: "Yeah. Only kind of like dinner."
Me: "Sure, what time?  And how many people are we talking?"
David:  "Uh, like 6:45 or 7:00?  And there could be as many as 12."

I look at the clock.  It's 6:10 pm.  Thanks for the heads up buddy. 

Let me just say that I love it when my kids want to entertain at our house.  I encourage and welcome it.  But it's nice when they give me more than 30 minutes notice.  I grab my keys and head for my car.  A quick run through the grocery store (David called and downsized the number to 5) and I'm home at 6:35 pm.  I quickly prepare carrots & tomatoes with Ranch dressing, strawberries & pineapple, mozarella sticks with mariana sauce & tacquitos with guacamole, potato chips & onion dip, a sliced baguette with salami, mozarella & cheddar cheese.  Oh, and sodas.  At 7:10 I have it on the table:

At 8:10 pm, the kids have come and gone and I have the kitchen cleaned up.  Two hours since he asked me if I could do it.

I'm pretty awesome if I do say so myself.