Irish Muses: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

My September Star

I am thrilled to introduce to you Terrie Sandelin as my September Star. She is a quilter and a published author of the book Minature Quilts. She has a blog called Bits and Pieces and also a website for you to explore. She is an amazing talent, and has introduced a revolutionary, easy technique of doing paper piecing, which is discussed in her book. She has generously offered to send me two copies of her book: one is for me, and the other will be for a giveaway that she will have that will be hosted by me on my blog. Thanks Terrie for your generosity!

Interview for September:
Name: Terrie Sandelin

· A Bit About Me:Let's see. I think I am what used to be called a woman of a certain age. I may even qualify as a woman beyond a certain age. In any case, it means that I've been quilting for a little over twenty years now. It is amazing how much joy this art/craft has brought into my life: the pleasure of creating; the many, many friendships; the challenge of writing a book.
In addition to quilting, I love novels and writing. (In fact, my graduate degree (from many moons ago) is in creative writing.) About a dozen years ago my husband decided to return to school. We agreed that when he finished his degrees, I would take some time off teaching to pursue some enrichment of my own. I decided that what I wanted was time. I planned to write a novel. But, there it was, my first week of free time and it occurred to me that I could use this cool Anita Grossman Solomon paper-piecing technique, tweak it a bit, and use it to make a miniature quilt. And, wow, did it work! I was amazed and suddenly I was a mini-quilting fool. I kept finding new ways to use the technique and was absolutely thrilled by the diversity of patterns I could develop. So, suddenly it was months later, I had dozens of new mini quilts, ideas for more, and no novel. Hmmm. I scratched (with some guilt) the novel plans and focused on a book proposal for mini quilts instead. Imagine my surprise (and delight) when C&T Publishing told me they were going to publish my book!
Well, I think that's actually more than a bit. Odd little bits: also in my life, a husband, two grown(ish) sons, and a new puppy (as you know). When I'm not quilting, I teach literature and writing at Colorado State University.

· What Inspires Me: I am most inspired, I think, by the sheer creative exuberance of the quilt world. There is always something new. Fabric styles change. New color combinations are explored. I remember when I first started quilting, there were so many rules. I was taught I should always use a small, medium, and a large scale fabric in my quilts. And yet, look at how many gorgeous quilts today use nothing but large scale prints. There are always new techniques and new combinations. I am inspired by the inspiration of others!

· What I Love to Do the Most Creatively: I really love to play with technique. I love learning a new way to do something and then fiddling with it and seeing what else I can make it do. It's why I had so much fun taking Anita Grossman Solomon's Fold and Sew technique and applying it to miniature quilts. I love to play with color and fabric, of course, but I think my deepest love is in solving the puzzle of how to make a new design work with the technique. I am currently coming up with new foundation patterns that push the ideas explored in Miniatures in Minutes even further.

· My Favorite Fabric and Designer: There are so many!! I love Kaffe Fasset fabrics. But I also love reproduction fabrics so Barbara Brackman and Jo Morton are also high on the list. There are a lot of fun new designers like Heather Bailey that I also adore.

· UFO I Intend to Finish First: Oh, my Star in a Star wall quilt is invoking some serious quilt guilt. That has to be first.

· What’s on the Design Wall Now: Well, I do work in miniatures. My design wall tends to be crowded with lots of little bits in process. There are little nine patches, a Crossed Canoes quilt in process, pin cushions to finish, an EQ design I'll sew up once I finish collecting fabric . . . .

· Who Would I Love to Meet: Other than Jon Stewart? Oh, you mean a quilter? I was lucky enough to meet Barbara Brackman at Quilt Market, and that was quite, quite lovely. I'd like to meet Anita Grossman Solomon, so I could thank her for the wonderful inspiration!

· If I Had One Wish: Am I unutterably shallow if I say I'd wish for hard wood floors in my living room and new kitchen cabinets? No, no. Wait. One wish? Travel. I'd like to go to Ireland and England and France and Italy.

Here are some of Terrie's work, and get ready for some amazing e

ye candy!

Thanks so much Terrie for your lovely interview and for your generosity! I will be honored to host your giveaway. Information about the giveaway will be in a future post. In the meantime, enjoy your visit to Terrie's blog and website.

Resting, Resting, and More Resting

Joe and I are still taking our walk in the morning, even though I have pain..I try to just ignore it.We walk down to the lake and then feed the horse carrots. It is always a nice walk....it is a total of about three miles.I saw the doctor today for an appt. and had to travel by bus,but when I finally got home I was resting, resting, resting.As a matter of fact, I have resting down to a fine art.

I have two kits that came in the mail today for the afghan I am making, and I began to crochet one of them later in the afternoon...I started wih the pink one of course. I have been reading, watching tv, and I am scheduled for therapy this week. I am trying to rest my legs as much as possible. The Pilates machine still has not arrived at QVC UK yet, but they are expecting it any day now, and then I will start that. I saw the doctor yesterday, and although she told me it would take months to totally heal, she thought that my conservative approach was the best way to go.
In the meantime, I am ordering the rest of the supplies that I need for the circle quilt, and I will start that soon. I am also going to work on a romantic Victorian journal and Joe and I will be the stars of that one. I will rest totally for a week more and then begin, but do it all slow and easy.

Just wanted to tell you that I am still alive and well. Thanks for all of the warm wishes and emails. Enjoy your week!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Some Giveaways

Pat at Silver Thimble is having a wonderful giveaway. Stop by and enter and also congratulate her for having her book published by Martingale and Company.

Then, another GO giveaway....Paulette from Sweet P Quilting and Creations is giving away an AccuQuilt GO....Of course, I am trying again.

Zlaty from Zlaty Sews is giving away a kit for a Candy Table Runner...very pretty indeed. Join in on the fun!

C&T Publishing is giving away a fantastic prize. You have to see this one....the Kaleidescope Kreator 3 software Innovative Fabric Imagery. Both look great!!!!

Quilt Story is giving away two sets of fat quarters. We all love fabric, so do enter!

Heather at A la Mode Fabric is giving away a GO...Yes, isn't that exciting?...another GO Giveaway!

Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works is giving away two lovely prizes. One of them is a book called Star Struck Quilts, and I just love making stars. Check this one out!

Sherri from A Quilting Life is giving away an AccuQuilt GO. This is the opportunity to finally win a GO.

Monday, August 23, 2010

What the Surgeon Said and Amy Joins My Teddy Bear Collection

Thank God, the visit with the surgeon is over. I met him in Letterkenny at 9 AM...I walked in there expecting an appt. for surgery, as two doctors told me I would need it. There was the surgeon...He was a very formidable, cold, icy, person, who was the caricature of what you would imagine a surgeon to be like.I know he wasn't 10 feet tall, but he sure looked like he was. Needless to say, I was scared as soon as I saw him. He examined me and boy did it hurt...He yanked and pulled and when I made a noise of pain, he asked me exactly where the pain was. In between the grimaces of pain, I told him what he wanted to know.

He told me that I had a minor miniscule tear in each knee, but more importantly, I had very severe arthritis in both knees. He then said if I opted for surgery, I only had a 50-50 chance, as I have severe arthritis and that would require extensive repairing. It could get better, but it also could get worse....50-50 didn't sound good. He didn't hesitate to tell me that my turning 60 was a big factor too. He was very surprised after he examined me and saw what my pain level was in each leg that I was still walking 4 miles a day. He commended me on that one, and that was the first time he smiled.My goodness, I thought, the man can smile. That didn't last long.

With a grim face, he then listed all of the complications of this type of surgery like blood clots, infection, etc...By then my jaw was dropping down further and further.Gee, why didn't I leave my hearing aid at home?I asked him what was my other option....He said that I could try physical therapy and hope that would stop the locking of my left leg and then continue to do excercises that would strengthen the muscle around my knee, so that the pain would be lessened hopefully. I would have to take pain medicine as needed and take anti-inflammatory medicine regularly. Funny enough, he was being blatantly honest with me, and though he wasn't saying it directly, he was steering me away from surgery, at least I felt he was. Knowing what surgeons get paid , I was surprised with this whole strategy. He then said that he wanted to see me after the month of physical therapy to see if there was an improvement, and then I could tell him if I wanted surgery or not....like I would even consider it after all he said. LOL Needless to say, I decided to try the other option.

I will be having therapy once a week for a month in a place in Falcarragh and then do more exercises at home...I start this week. I was told that the therapy would hurt, but I knew that. I have decided to then purchase the Pilates Aero 4695 from QVC UK, as it was developed for people who do have injuries like myself. It gives you the resistance training, but also has a cardio board for the cardiovascular excercise. The surgeon thought it would be the best, as it is so low impact.Here is a video to show what the Pilates is like:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIQCJZ-bVdY&NR=1 He ended it off with saying that he hoped all of this would slow down the process so I would not need knee replacements years from now

...My jaw dropped a bit more, and I left his office.

Boy, was I glad to leave that office...I hope that all of this therapy and excercise will help the pain a lot. I don't know what the future holds for my two knees, but I will be trying very hard to reverse the process a bit or slow it down, if it kills me. LOL

Joe took me out for coffee and toast at The Quiet Moment, and boy did we need a bit of quiet. We left and passed a store with a teddy bear in the window, which I fell in love with immediately. Joe bought me the bear and here she is. I dubbed her Amy, and she is just so cute.

We are both watching the Rose of Tralee on tv, and we are cheering for the Kerry Rose. I did a lot of walking in Letterkenny, so I am in a bit of pain, but thrilled to be back home with Joe.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

What You Can Make in a Lounge Chair

While waiting for tomorrow to come to see the surgeon, and we won't think about that right now...I worked on some projects. It's amazing what one can do from a lounge chair.LOL

First, I had to make a card for someone who is going through some hard times. I am a member of the International Friendship Quilters Group, and I volunteered a long time ago to be a guardian angel for someone, so when I was told about Debbie going through some hard times, I made her a card, gave her a wee purse that I had made, and bought her Butler's Chocolate, and it is on its way to England. I loved making the guardian angel on the card, and I like being someone's guardian angel.

Second, I made a journal for a dog that we used to have called Cory. Cory was Joe's dog from the time she was a puppy, and she got him through some rough times before he met me. When I married Joe and came to Ireland, Cory was the first to welcome me, and she gave me all her love. It was like I had been her owner for many years. We became great pals. She died some years ago, but we truly did love her. We of course then rescued Rufus and Charlie.I decided to make a little journal in honour of Cory. It meant a lot to Joe, and now we can look at it whenever we want. I wrote a bit about her on each page, and boy did she deserve it all.

I will update you after tomorrow's visit to the surgeon. Oops, I wasn't going to say that horrid word

again. LOL

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Another AccuQuilt Go Giveaway

Jackie is hosting a giveaway and the prize is an AccuQuilt Go. Enter the giveaway at Canton Village Quilt Works and you could win a GO.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

1930's Fabrics and ER News

I spent all morning in the ER....I saw a doctor and then took an x-ray, which showed that I have a floating meniscus in my knee. It means surgery. They need to remove the floating meniscus and then repair what remains of the meniscus. I am scheduled to see the surgeon on Monday at 9 AM, and expect that at that time he will arrange for an MRI, give me an exam and then schedule the surgery. Joe is getting me a wheel chair, so he can take me out to see the horse each day, so that will be nice. I was prepared for the possibility of surgery, but you know how it

is...one still is shocked when it is finally confirmed....I have to admit that it is all a bit scary.
As to my circle quilt, it will have to be on hold for a while. I got the 1930's fabrics, and I am including a pic of the fabrics. They are so pretty! Well, as I said, I will be doing things that I love to do from my lounge chair like crocheting, reading, hand sewing, painting in my art journal, and playing my tin whistle...yes there is nothing like a tin whistle to play lovely Irish music. My goal is try to keep a positive attitude. Joe keeps on reminding me that he will spoil me silly, so how can a girl complain about that! I will have to psych myself up to remaining positive and upbeat...alot better than allowing myself to get down.

Some really good news...Tim Holtz's Vagabond is arriving in the UK sooner than I thought...It's coming in September. I will be using it for embossing and cutting dies, and even try cutting fabric with it. It will use dies from any machine.It is supposed to be so powerful, and no more cranking...It is all electric. I have to admit that I fell in love with its looks...the old style look of an attache ....It will look nifty on my craft table. Until I can use it, I will just look at it with a smile on my face.

I have to get back to watching Dynasty, as I

missed an episode this morning....There is no one like Alexis Colby. She always reminded me of the younger Elizabeth Taylor, but so much meaner.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What's Going on and the Latest

Ironically, my supplies for the circle quilt are arriving. I just got the wonderful 1930's fabrics that I ordered and more supplies are on their way. It is ironic, because I won't be able to sew for a bit. The reason why....If you remember that fall that I had a few weeks ago involving the donkey and trying to aid my husband while he was entangled in the donkey's rope, well the pain has continued and my leg has been locking when I wake up and try to get up from bed. It is only happening when I get up from bed, but boy is it painful! With my last lock, it took me almost twenty minutes to straighten my leg because I was in so much pain. The room actually went black with the pain...It made childbirth pains look good....Gee, I never thought I would say that.LOL

Anyways, my doctor wrote a letter for me to go to the emergency room tomorrow. This is to expedite the process, so I will get the x-ray, see the orthopedic doctor and get my MRI all in that one day. She is suspecting a tear and was talking to me about the possibility of surgery. Well, my friends, this year has not been the best for me in the health department: bouts with shingles and now this. Ok, on a positive note, after the surgery, I will get lots of reading done, surf the internet on my laptop, crochet to my heart's content, play Wii and DS games and get waited on and spoiled rotten by Joe, while I sit in my comfy lounge chair with my legs propped up.

I will post on Friday and tell you the latest. I am not looking forward to the Orthopedic doctor stretching my legs in every direction to see where the pain is as he tries to determine what is wrong with me...while I cringe in pain. I just thought it was ironic and a bit funny that my supplies were finally arriving for the circle quilt, and now this happens.

Maybe someone should send me a rabbit's foot or some lucky charm...I am beginning to think I need one.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway

Jaybird is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop. They are giving away a wonderful FQ bundle of the whole collection of Sweetwater fabrics. If you decide to enter, good luck!

Monday, August 16, 2010

AccuQuilt GO Giveaway

Just to remind you to enter the AccuQuilt Go Giveaway at
Sew Many Ways.

Our Adopted Orangutan

We are the proud parents of a wonderful orangutan named Kai. Kai is a male orangutan who was born at Monkey World on 15/03/05. His mother's name is Hsiao-quai , and his father's name is Tuan. Kai means triumphant or victorious in Chinese, and he was the second baby born to Tuan at the park. Isn't he just gorgeous? He has the cutest grin on his face and well when you look into his eyes, you can see how very kind and sweet he is. The fun part is that we are seeing him on tv when we watch the show Monkey Life. It is neat to see him in action. I loved getting the adoption paper. My name is the only one on it, as they couldn't put two names on it. Joe has decided to adopt another orangutan or possibly a chimpanzee under his name.

We also got a booklet for the weddings held at Monkey World.They really make elaborate ceremonies. We will choose a more private, quiet ceremony of course,as it will be only the two of us, and funny enough, it will take place alongside Paddys enclosure, where the chimpanzees in that group can watch the ceremony. How funny is that! After the service, there is a toast , and we get a tour of the 65 acre park, which I am sure is a photographer's dream, and then we return for a private dinner. I will have a good read of the booklet tonight, along with the magazine that came that goes over the latest events of the park.

Kai is wonderful! We can't wait to meet him in person. I don't know if I can take the excitement of looking into his eyes and giving him a hug.

PS: On the adoption certificate, they put "senior citizen".....I got a special rate as I just passed 60 years....Boy, does that sound horrid! Thank God, I am never taken for that age, but putting that down in print doesn't help my ego at all. LOL

Friday, August 13, 2010

I Have Joined the Brown Bag Quilt Contest

I joined Stash Manicure's Brown Bag Quilt Contest. The challenge is to make an ugly quilt... It doesn't mean the quilt will turn out ugly, but we have to choose fabric from our stash that we don't especially like and send it to our partner, and of course she will do the same. We then use the ugly fabric that we got from our partner plus add fabric that we like from our stash and sew the quilt. This should be loads of fun, and there will be fabulous prizes too.Well, read up on the rules and join in if you like. I never did something like this before, but it should be a blast!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Giveaway at Alderwood Quilts and Mommy's Nap Time Giveaway

Stop by Alderwood Quilts and join in the fun of a great giveaway. You can win a quilter's magnet set...How cool is that!

Also check out Mommy's Nap Time giveaway...It is fabulous....lots of wonderful prizes, and her blog is charming!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Ape News and We're Getting Remarried

If you are wondering why I named the title of my post "Ape News", well Joe and I are adopting an orangutan from

Monkey World in Dorset, England. We have been watching the show,and we decided we wanted to adopt. For the yearly adoption fee, we get a pic of the orangutan we are adopting, adoption papers, a pass to Monkey World, and a magazine sent to us three times a year. When I get the pic of the orangutan, I will post it . We asked for a young one, but that can include the ages from 1-15. Anyways, the pic that I included today will give you an idea as to how cute they are.

Now, for the really exciting news....Yes, we are getting remarried. We have been wanting to do that for a long time, but the really neat thing is that we will be remarried at Monkey World. They do ceremonies there, and it will include a tour of the place, and we can meet our adopted orangutan. When we saw that they now perform marriages there and do it with a lot of style and pizzaz...including a romantic meal, etc, we decided to go for it. It will be a day we will never forget, and we will stay a week in Dorset County, and that will be neat too. We have to give them at least a year's notice for them to organize it. Here is a link to the first couple who were married at Monkey World. You have to see this article.Dr. Allison Cronin, MBE, as you can see, attended. Dr. Cronin lost her husband Jim Cronin MBE three years ago, and she has immersed herself in Monkey World.

Well, we have two rescued dogs who are like our kids...two very cute sons..LOL Now, we will have an orangutan too. How cute will that be? At least, we will get to know our orangutan through the updates that we will receive about him or her. We may even see him or her on tv as Dr. Cronin does highlight all of the orangutans on her show. One day, we will meet our orangutan and the wedding bells will be tolling.

Friday, August 6, 2010

What's New With Me?.....A Surprise Letter and A New Tote Bag

First of all, I got a letter and pin from Jennifer Chiaverini sent me a letter and a pin congratulating me for finishing the Sylvia Bridal Sampler.I don't know why it took so long to get to me, but I was thrilled to receive it.(Just saw that she had our old address...that's why) As you know, I enjoyed making that quilt the most, so I was so pleased to get this letter from her. I have decided that sometime this year, I will do another sampler. I love the challenge of making one, and I will enjoy the process again. Even though, I only spent four months on the SBS quilt, I fear that this one will take longer, but no problem...I will enjoy it just that much longer. How sweet of Jennifer to send this to me, and I do thank her! Also, if you never read her Elm Creek Quilt Series of books, you are in for a treat....They are all wonderful! At the time, I made the quilt, the SBS quilt book was not out, but it is now, so if you like my quilt, you might want t

o make it.

I just finished a bag that I was working on for a while...a Disney tote bag that I machine embroidered with lots of Mickeys. Being that my name is Micki, it fits me to a tee. It has lots of pockets inside, and I love it! I am using it for my crocheting supplies.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Giveaways

Vanessa at V and Company is giving away a Silhouette. Check it out and see if you would like to enter. I know you will want to!

Also Bev at 44th St. Fabrics is having a wonderful Moda giveaway.

At Jaybird's blog, there is another fabulous fabric bundle giveaway. You will want to check this one out.

To celebrate her first free pattern, Poplun is having a marvelous giveaway!
Micki

Twilight Final Pages

I completed the final pages of my Twilight journal. One page was about Victoria. I drew Victoria, and had fun with that page...she is an evil character. who obviously wants her revenge on Edward, or better yet to see him dead.LOL Then I did a page on the Cullen family. I really adore that family as they were characterized in the books, but my favorite member of the family is Alice. Then, I did a page on the Voltari and the Newborns. The Voltari are going to play a very important part in the last movie, and I am dying to see that movie. Finally, on the last page, I had to include my favorite pic of Edward and Bella, as I am part of Team Edward, and then I wrote something to Joe...gotta get a bit romantic for that page, and who better with than my Joe.

I wanted you all to see the pages. I have to now put the holes into each chipboard page. I will use my pink Cinch machine for that. I will be putting two holes on each side and then put rings through them and fancy red and black ribbons through the holes. I have a wonderful journal page with lines on it that i am making lots of copies of, and placing the journal pages in the middle of my Twilight journal book, so that I can write about special occasions that Joe and I share. I wanted this to be a very functional journal too. When it is all done, I will show you a final pic!

Off to begin my day! I will be getting the supplies for the circle quilt so that is my next big project. Back to the sewing part of my hobby....I always have fun with quilting! I am hooked like all of us!!!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

My August Star

I always enjoy introducing my Star of the Month. I am pleased to introduce to you Linda, who has a blog called The Sewing Granny. I read her story about how she learned to sew, and I found out that she was quite the story teller. I also thought how lucky that I was that I had a mom who was a seamstress and that my parents owned a fabric store. My mom taught me how to make my own clothes and to sew everything, and that later evolved into my love of quilting. I know you will enjoy Linda's story.Here is some of her work and then on to her interview!

A Bit About Me: Well. let's see?? I am a mother of three and a grandmother of 7 and one more due within the month. This totally amazes me because I am an only child and while I am watching my life move on from one little girl to all of these people and all of these babies, it kinda scares me. I was from the time frame where children should be seen and not heard- And- times are very different now!

When I was around 6 years old, there was a wonderful neighbor who let me see her crochet and she tried to teach me. I worked the circle around and around until I had a little coffee cup- INSTEAD of a little doily! LOL But that was the first time I had ever seen any type of craft and my heart was captured.

My next encounter with any craft was that we had another wonderful neighbor, and when I would outgrow my clothes, Mama would take the clothes to her and the fabric and this lady would take the clothes and use them as a pattern and whoopee- I had new clothes. I always loved her too and was overcome with joy at the thoughts of finding some way to pull sewing into my life.

That would have to wait until I had been married 5 years and we started our family. Money was short, and one day while I was putting clean clothes on my baby girl, the thought struck me that maybe I could make the sleepers for her to wear and that was what I did. They may not have been professional looking , but they looked good and I loved them. I saved all of my scraps and made the sleeves with different colours to use all of my fabric and I was in love. I knew I had a long way to go but Christmas was around the corner, and I attempted to make Mama a house coat, but I sewed the front piece to the back piece for a front and the same for the back. I was so disheartened that I hid the project from my sight.

Along the way, I tested out smaller projects- like curtains for my daughter when she got her own place, and we had so much fun doing that. I made DH handkerchiefs, but I just could not figure out how to "really sew"- until one day online, I bumped into an organization that had sewing instructors listed and there was ONE in my area. OOOOOH- it was a dream come true. That was how I met Lynne and one of the greatest gifts had now entered my life.

Lynne is a doll and I just adore her. She is a perfectionist and I love attempting to follow in her steps. I did say Attempting! She was born with a natural gift for sewing. Her Mama said that she was sewing before she ever went to school. There is NOTHING these two cannot accomplish when they put their heads together! I can Never repay her for what she shared with me, because it opened a whole new world to me. Shoot- I did not even have the courage to walk through the doors of some of the places she has taken me. I had to fall over laughing one time when Lynne said that she had created a "montster". LOL Give a gal a little knowledge and watch out!!!I have always believed that when it comes to Christmas that's when I give a gift that I have hand made, and that it might mean more to a person! At least that is my goal- to show someone that I love that I put love in each stitch because they are important to me.

I hope that each of you finds the joy of creating your dreams, and they come true also.

What Inpsires Me: Everything inspires me....each new day, each new adventure, everything in nature, the love I carry in my heart to have this desire to make someone happy.

What I love to Do the Most Creatively: As everyone can see from my blog- I love tee shirts... all shapes and colors and sizes! Everyone in my family practically lives in their tee shirts- you know from home to work and shop-they all love tee shirts, and I find it a thrill to attempt to capture the essence of love and the joy and inspiration when they slide these shirts on. I want them to know that they are loved and thought of.

My Favorite Fabric and Designer: I really do not have a favorite, because I love them ALL! I learn something from each one that I find. But one of these days, the shop owners might have to charge admission because I take such joy out of touching and smelling and dreaming while I meet the fabrics! I have always felt that way. It just puts a song in my heart!

UFO I Intend to Finish: Well, I don't have but one and that is a purse by Studio Kat. I had just created purses by a Butterwick pattern, and I gave them for Christmas that year and everybody loved them. I was amazed- for some reason. I had always seen purses as "store-bought" items.

It called for quilted fabric and our stores did not have a very large supply. I happened to run across a fabric that was not quilted and I dearly loved it. I asked the lady in the store if she thought I could quilt it myself and she said yes and I brought it home and went to work . Hahahaha. I laid everything out all nice and pefect. I pinned it till it looked like a pincushion and I made my stitch row of stitches. But after that, each row that I made got more and more crooked! I knew I was whipped. But I have always had a stubborn streak-OR maybe I am so dumb that I just don't know when to quit. After I rested . I called Lynne for her advice. She asked me if I had ever heard of a walking foot. WELL OF COURSE NOT! I ordered one from E-bay and then I could not figure out how to put it on" I went and took a break and while my back was turned my DH went in and put it on for me." I just could not believe it! Now I was a force to be reckoned with!

That is how everyone on my list got a purse that year- and from what I have seen, they all have enjoyed them and wanted more.

What's on the Design Wall Now: Well, I have a list a mile long for more shirts for Christmas, and I am working on them. They also love lounge pants and I enjoy working with flannel, so soft and a a pleasant change. I am pondering last year I made the lounge pants and all of the young adults had theirs to bust out within the day they wore them. I am concerned after I work as hard as I do on them that I want them to last longer than that- so maybe I should use knits.

Who Would I Love to Meet: Why, Micki of course! Bit if I was to get that far- I would probably never come home! LOL

If I Had One Wish:HMMMM- that is a very hard one-but a hopefully reasonable wish is that when I gain more knowledge of sewing, my dream has been to sew for the soldiers who come home from the wars. I already have the paper work, but I am still shy of the knowledge and the money to pull it off, but one of these days. I am hoping to get close to that goal each stitch that I take.

Plans for the Future:Future plans kinda scare me because with fibromyalgia, I have the fog that goes with that. My pain meds make the pain almost manageable, but it gets in my brain and I get lost in the fog, and that is what it feels like. It is terrible and I hate it, so I guess my goal is just to take each step and be thankful for that one , and be determined as I strive for my goals...al of which have something SEWING in them.

Well, Linda, I wish that we did live closer. The danger of that is that I would show you quilting, and then you would get hooked with that too. Of course, as you said, you might never go home...How lovely would that be for me! Thanks for a wonderful interview, for your lovely story, and for your beautiful work, but most importantly, just for being you!