Updates and Musing

Recently I have found myself with pinched nerves in my neck, which result in awful, terrible pain down my right arm. After several visits to the Chiropractor, my MD, and most recently to the Physical Therapist, there is relief in sight. I must continue with PT - they strap my head into a contraption and it pulls so that the discs separate to give the nerves space to become unpinched. I asked the nice young man (with lovely strong arms) if I could bring the machine home with me, to which he chuckled and said I'd have to come see him to use it. It is scheduled for three times next week - M/W/F, and we go from there. It is SO much better after only one treatment, I hope this may be enough.

Those of you reading this know I've been on a Crazy Quilt sabbatical recently doing more cross stitch. Not that I've gotten THAT much done, especially with this pain in the neck, but if you care to see what I've been doing you can pick up the link to my Needle in Hand blog on the left.

I've recently bought myself a serger. Now you know I've never even made a quilt, but I wanted one - at least to use for going around my blocks to keep them from unraveling. Then to use for hemming things since I'm a shortie and it costs at least $10 to $12 bucks to have a pair of pant done professionally, and there are tons of T's I'd love to wear, but they're too long and cling too much to the hips! So I got one. Won't you leave a comment and tell me what your favorite thing to do with your serger is.

Anyway, Susan asked the other day if I missed CQ yet, and I confessed, Yes I do and have been thinking of things I want to do. So today I decided to spend time with my CQ Friends to see what they've been up to, and as ever, I was delighted to see all the amazing work you have been up to.

Susan and Candi are now shop owners etsy. Go have a look at some of their lovlies! Allie has turned a plain denim shirt into a thing of beauty! Janet is "going crazy" through some sane quilts - with great precision and beauty. Gerry's Fritz has been having a great commune with his animal friends, and it's no wonder since his Mom has such a decorative hand on those seasonal blocks!! Ati made a thing of beauty from a baggie of s'trash'. No, these aren't all my CQ friends, but they're the ones who were in the blogroll review today!

If you're at all interested in the old advertisement/trade photo cards, please go look at BibliOdyssey! There are some great ones shown there today! I think so many of these would make fantastic central images for blocks.

This little post has taken most of the day to compose, so I'll be back again sooner than later to continue with the visit to friends! You've been missed.

CQ Retreat - Omaha, NE

February 26, 2008

As promised, here is the latest from the Omaha Crazy Quilt Retreat:

Hello guys and gals. This year's information on the Crazy Quilt Retreat being held in Omaha, Nebraska, July 11th - 13th, is now posted on the Crazy Quilt Society website. There are some great teachers and lots of great classes to choose from. If you are interested, go to www.crazyquilt.com and click on Retreat on the left side of the page.

I'll pass along any special information as Nancy Kirk lets me know about it. As you can see by the class listings, there are also two pre-retreat classes on Thursday July 10th (a beginner's crazy quilt class by Nancy Kirk and a Beginning Brazilian Embroidery class by Rita Goff). There are also two post-retreat classes being offered on July 14th (3 dimensional embellishments by Nancy Kirk and an advanced Brazilian Embroidery class by Rita Goff). Get your classes reserved early. Some of them will fill up very quickly!

I hope to see lots of you there this year! If you have any questions, please email me privately. My email address is below my name at the bottom of this page.

Mona from Minnesota where the temperatures have finally moderated!
cqbunch@charter.net

January 24, 2008

I have never been to this retreat, but have often wished that I had planned better in order to go. If you're interested in going this year, now the time to start planning! I am not affiliated with this conference, but feel the need to share information about it. The following is a message from Mona who has been for nine years and always provides lots of helpful information. Her contact information is included in the text, but you can also click on her name to email her.

The actual dates of the retreat are July 11 - 13, 2008, with pre-retreat classes on the 10th and post-retreat classes on the 14th. Nancy Kirk is working on getting the last of the teachers booked and is hoping to have more information posted on the website within the next couple of weeks. I can let you know that she has booked Cindy Brick and Martha Green as the two main teachers for this year. I'll let you know more as soon as I hear more from Nancy.

She has booked a block of rooms, so when you call the DoubleTree Suites Hotel to reserve your room, be sure to mention the Crazy Quilt Retreat or Crazy Quilt Society and ask to be added to their block. There are two DoubleTree's in Omaha, but one is downtown. The downtown one is NOT the hotel in which the retreat is being held. July 11th to 13th (the actual retreat dates) there will either be a hotel shuttle or Nancy will have a van and driver available from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. to pick you up at the airport and deliver you to the hotel. If you are flying into Omaha, try to get a flight that will get you there after 9:00 in the morning and before 9:00 at night. She's not sure if there will be any shuttle on the 10th or on the 14th, so be prepared to take a cab.

Show and Tell this year will be held Thursday evening during Chocolate and Chat. During past retreats, Show and Tell has taken place during the Silent Auction on Saturday. The past couple of years things have taken longer than planned, so it was decided instead to move Show and Tell to Thursday evening. That way the auctions should be done by 5:00 on Saturday afternoon and everyone will have a chance to go to dinner and still get back in time for the "make and take" classes.

I will be the "roommate" coordinator again this year. If you are in need of a roommate, email me privately at cqbunch@charter.net - put roommate request in your subject line. I will send you a short questionnaire that I ask everyone (like do you snore or do you smoke). I will match you up with someone as I get enough gals responding.

Because this is a "Suite Hotel" there are two double beds (or one king) in each bedroom and a sofa sleeper in the living room. There is a fairly good sized refrigerator in each kitchenette area, as well as a microwave and coffee pot. The past two years the hotel has been going through a major remodel and the extra vanity areas have been removed from the bedrooms. That used to give us an additional sink area to wash up, brush teeth, and put on makeup. We all let the hotel know last year that we didn't appreciate that they had removed the vanity. They now have a large mirror by the desk in the outer "living room". That will give someone an extra spot to "get ready" each morning. I've been to 9 retreats and have roomed with 3 to 5 gals each year. It's been a blast! Some gals prefer 2 to a room and some prefer 3. If you don't mind sleeping with someone else, you can double up in the bedrooms (which is what we do). As for getting ready in the mornings, some of us bathe or shower at night and that frees up the shower for those that prefer to shower in the morning instead.

When we get closer to the retreat, I'll send out a list of items that you may want to bring along. LouAnne Sassone put this list together after the first retreat. The last morning we were there, she went around and asked gals what they wished they had brought, what they brought that they wouldn't bring again, and what they were happy they brought. I'll be putting together more information as I receive it and am more than willing to answer questions. If I don't have the answer for you, I'll check with someone that can give you the answer.

Just 24 weeks and 1 day until we leave for Omaha!!

Mona Berning from freezing cold Minnesota
cqbunch@charter.net

Lover of Crafts

Wow! Am I ever surprised and humbled. Linda, of I Love Crafts & Craft Blogs has written an article about my blogs. If you'd like to read another craft lover's opinion of crafters' blogs, have a look at her site. When I looked, mine was first in the list.

Thank you so much, Linda. I hardly knew you were speaking of me!!

RAOK for Valentines' Day

Yesterday when I got home there was a package for me. I wasn't really surprised since I was waiting for something I had ordered. But I got closer and saw that it was from Gerry! She had already sent the Winter block she promised... Wonder what it was?

WELL - it was a box stuffed full of great goodies and stash! Inside the note said, "Just to let you know I'm thinking about you"! Wow, was she ever!

Look at all the pretties she sent! A case for crochet hooks, or whatever you'd like to store. A neat card to carry with quilt dimensions - I always have to write that down when I'm going shopping for such!



Pretty, colorful spring fabrics with ladybugs and coordinating fancies, beads, buttons (ladybugs, too), charms, and ribbon!



A Dolly Mama's cross stitch kit - she knows that's what I've been up to lately, and do have another one of these!



And the sweetest little Shoe Pin Cushion - along with a note that said, "Yes, I made it". Didn't she do a fabulous job?



Gerry, you are the sweetest, girlfriend! You certainly didn't need to do this, but then you already know that, don't you? I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. You are a dear heart!

Crazy Quilt Retreat in Texas!!

I saw the announcement of this plan for a CQ Retreat in Texas, so I asked for details and if I could share this info with others who may be interested. The QuiltedDiva said Yes, I could share if I didn’t publish her personal information. If you’re interested in contacting her, leave me a comment with your email address and I will provide her contact information to you privately.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CRAZY QUILT RETREAT
April 17, 18, 19, 20
Tomball, TX

Cost $185.00 plus $25 Food Fee Total 210.00
Total amount due no later than March 1, 2008

You may check in April 17 at noon
Check out is 3 pm April 20 at 3 p.m.
Web site for accommodations: www.quilterscabin.com

What you get:

• Uninterrupted time to CQ
• Meet other CQ folks
• Really comfortable sewing areas
• Accommodations for 3 nights
• Food (Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Lite meal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday-lunch) Drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water and fruit
• All linens provided MUST BRING YOUR OWN PILLOW
• Hairdryers in all bathrooms
• Soap, shampoo provided
  

Thursday meals are on your own
Feel free to bring snacks
Bring all your CQ supplies to work on your own projects
Possibility of outings on Friday and Saturday – participation not required
We will have some planned activities - these will be announced later. I am open to all ideas. Some things:

• mini classes if someone would volunteer to teach a technique to the group;
• white elephant swap;
• squishie exchange;
• field trips to Thread Art and a needlework shop;
• the local resale shops.
  

Yours truly will take the food money and go shopping and have the kitchen stocked with breakfast goodies, soups, cold cuts, fruit, and salad makings.

Would you like to be in charge of preparing one breakfast for the group? Please let me know and I will make sure the ingredients you require are on hand.

Do you make great crock pot soup? Let me know and I will get the ingredients and that can be our meal one day.

What I need from you:

Name
Address
Daytime phone
Night time phone
Emergency contact
Anything you would like to volunteer to teach or cook --- PLEASE!!!!
Activity ideas

YOUR CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO:

Leave a comment to tell me you’re interested and I’ll provide contact information privately…

Please keep in mind that I have planned corporate events – much easier than planning for 12 crazy quilters. I will do my best to make sure you have lots of time to work on what you want and interact with other quilters. I will not plan your entire weekend for you.

I am receptive to all ideas and suggestions. I am doing this because I want to spend time with other CQ folks, get inspired and have fun!!

If I have forgotten anything – feel free to tell me.

Thanks.

Deborah,
AKA QuiltedDiva

Conspiracy in Death *****

A friend from work loaned me a book, Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb (a pen name of Nora Roberts) that I've just finished reading. This is the first by either that I've read.

This is not the first in the series, 'in death' mysteries, but was enjoyable just the same. I will read others - possibly from the beginning to get the background.

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant who uses her instincts to track ruthless killers. Her husband, Roarke, an Irish billionaire, assists in the investigation along with her assistant and others from the force. In this episode, Eve investigates the sidewalk murders of homeless people by a killer collecting human organs.

Are you thinking reading is keeping me from stitching? Naaahh - that's not the case at all. It just seems I can't go to sleep unless I read a few pages to relax.

Winter Season Swap

On the CQ for Newbies yahoo group, I was a part of the Season to Season Swap. As fate would have it, my Winter block went missing. I decided not to make another one to replace it, so Gerry, the hostess, made one for me. I asked her not to - it wasn't her fault and she made every effort she could to get it back. But she wouldn't hear of it! So, she made the block and embellished it, and WOW is it ever beautiful!! Thank you so much, Gerry! You truly are "The Hostess with the Mostess."

Wizard and Glass - The Dark Tower IV *****

First Line: ASK ME A RIDDLE,' Blaine invited.

About the Book
Wizard and Glass, the fourth episode in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, is a Western love story. It begins with world-weary Roland, and his world-hopping posse (an ex-junkie, a child, a plucky woman in a wheelchair, and a talking dog-like pet named Oy the Bumbler) trapped aboard a runaway train. The train is a psychotic multiple personality that intends to commit suicide with them at 800 m.p.h.--unless Roland and pals can outwit it in a riddling contest.It's a great race, for the mind and pulse. Movies should be this good. Then comes a 567-page flashback about Roland at age 14. Roland and two teen homies must rescue his first love from the dirty old drooling mayor of a cowboy town, thwart a civil war by blowing up oil tanks, and seize an all-seeing crystal ball from Rhea, a vampire witch. The love scenes are startlingly prominent and earthier than most romance novels (they kiss until blood trickles from her lip).After an epic battle ending in a box canyon to end all box canyons, we're back with grizzled, grown-up Roland and the train-wreck survivors in a parallel world: Kansas in 1986, after a plague. The finale is a weird fantasy takeoff on The Wizard of Oz. It is a long read, almost 800 pages -- but few will deny it's a page-turner. It was GREAT!!

Excerpted from Stephen King Shopping.

Looking for me??

If you're wondering where I've been lately, come over to my Needle in Hand blog to see what I've been up to.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas

I hope all the shopping is done, list checked off and complete, and packages wrapped. I hope your home smells wonderful with the scent of spice and cookies from the warmth of the kitchen. I hope your family is well, and your Christmas will be as peaceful and joyous as you planned.

…with love and hope, from our home to yours!

Secret Santa Revealed

Today - just before Christmas - how timely?? my Secret Santa delivered a package to me! Oh, Lindy, what a grand Secret Santa you have been!! I have loved every piece of every wonderful piece you have sent to me. Thank you SO much!



If you can't see from this not so great scan, there is a packet of cards and notes, a packet of holiday buttons and bits, a snow/star pin, a bookmark requesting my fabric fairy to keep my stash supplied, a birthday candle set, and a gift certificate to the Pink Bunny. What fun - helping the fairy!!

This has been a great activity, thanks to Candi who had the inspiration and initiated it all. I only wish I had been as timely as I should have been, and when I get that final box in the mail to my recipient, I hope she will forgive me for being SO late.

December 15

Tomorrow is December 15 - my birthday! Want to celebrate with me? Turn off all your demure, controlled behaviors and get ready to let loose. I mostly dance in my seat, but if you REALLY feel like a party, get up and click here.

Rock Hill Weather??

December Weather??

Locally it has been around 80~ this week while I was out of town. Came back last night - today it was about 60! DS said I brought the cold back with me.

Secret Santa

I received another great gift from my Secret Santa today! Really pretty red and green fabrics, beads, buttons, and gold floss. Won't this make a beautiful block? Just in time for the season! Thank you so much, Secret Santa. You've been a dear one!!

Follow-up to Catching-up

Since I've been doing a lot more Cross Stitch than Crazy Quilting lately, I did the follow-up to Courtney's questions about the storage units I use for threads over at my Needle in Hand blog. There is also a link to it on the left if, when you land here, you'd like to see what's going on on that side of my brain. If you're like me, there's not much going on on either side of our brains except Christmas preparations.

I'm leaving town tomorrow for a training class in the Virginia/DC area. It had been snowing there earlier this week, but today it's supposed to be about 75~ here. Earlier this week the highs were high 40's. It's hard enough to pack for a trip without two seasons being involved!! But after I return from this, back to work on Monday, December 17, we get finished on Thursday, December 20 at 3:00pm and won't go back until Tuesday, January 2, 2008. WooHoo! I can hardly wait!!

Catching Up

It's December and Christmas is approaching quickly, but I'm not ready! I've done a bit of shopping, but no decorating. I don't know if it's age, not having little ones in the home, or if it's all the commercialism, but decorating just isn't so important to me any more. Oh, I will put up a tree and a little more for DS's sake, but my heart isn't really into it. I can't get the un-decorating out of my mind - that's the part I truly don't like! I see all the chatter and love of decorating beginning after Thanksgiving, and do think it is beautiful, but just not my cuppa tea. So there's another example of my being in the minority - could be read as weird!

Yesterday was a day with such beautiful weather here, sunny and around 60`. I spent a little time outside, but had promised myself that before the weekend was over I'd have my bedroom/closet straightened up. What a mess it was! When the season's change, I typically just switch clothes from the extra closet (sewing room) into my BR closet. Since I'd had change of sizes there were big, middle, and smaller clothes stuffed into the closet. I'd started putting the bigger into clear storage boxes, and getting smaller ones out. Then I brought down from the attic a rack of things I hadn't worn in years - the bar holding the hangers broke! So all sizes and seasons were here, there, and yonder! And the actual closet had shoes all scattered on the floor, along with hangers, tags, and dust bunnies... yuck - BUT - it's all sorted and put back into shape. I'm so glad it's finished - about 2:00 am, and it was a JOB. There's a big bag of trash and a big bag for donation. It doesn't look like much to really wear now, but plenty enough!

I've been taking a break from Crazy Quilting recently, but have gotten totally engrossed in Cross Stitch again after years of being away from it. During one of my organizing frenzies I had sorted all my DMC into color groups thinking since I wasn't doing CS much, it would be more convenient for CQ and used the little cabinet for buttons. Well, yesterday I got a 60-drawer storage cabinet and sorted it all back into numerical order! Now I'm ready to pull threads for CS patterns, and will have to scramble through when looking for a specific color, but pulling drawers open will be easier than looking through for those tiny numbers! If you want to see what I've been working on, take a look at my Needle in Hand blog.

Most of you who drop by here know that my dad had been scheduled (twice) to have a growth removed from his kidney. The last time, they had him in the pre-op stage and realized he has an atrial fibrillation. They decided at that point (EKG) he needed to be evaluated by a heart specialist, so he went for stress and others tests. That doctor says he is fine for surgery, and after that they will prescribe some medication to regulate his heart rates. I'm so thankful that they were cautious, but WHY hadn't they done this before? Who knows - perhaps it didn't present while he was having check ups. He goes back to the surgeon on December 11, and I imagine they will schedule the surgery. I'll be in a class for work in Va/DC during that week, so hopefully he won't want to do it the next day!!

Off to do a little blog visiting, then more stitching :-)

Season to Season Swap

I received my Fall block back from Gerry, hostess for the Season to Season Swap. Helina did such a great job stitching it. There have been pictures of it on lists and other pages, but I just wanted to share one with you here on my blog. Thank you Helina for doing such beautiful stitching on my block! I am so embarrassed, Helina! I sent a little thank you through the group for Helina and Gerry, but when I opened the package, I was basking so much in the stitching that I didn't open out the lovely piece of silk Helina sent along with my block. Tonight while I was taking pictures of the block, I noticed that the silk felt a little stiff, so I unfolded it and out poured some other loveliness!! Two beautiful pieces of tatting, two pretty motifs, a silk print of a coordinated lady, all tied with a piece of sparkle fiber. You are so nice to send such a nice surprise, Helina. Thank you so much!



Gerry is such a great hostess -- as a matter of fact, she made each of the participants a scissor fob. It's usually the other way around...the participants do something for the hostess - though not required, it is just a small way of saying thank you for the headaches that MAY come along with keeping everyone on the same path to completing the swap. Isn't it really sweet? Thank you, Gerry! It has been so much fun so far, and I'm looking forward to completing the rest of the year! I'm waiting for Winter to speak to me ;-).

Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches

Practicing a few more of the Primary stitches from Carole Samples' Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches. These are 'E' and 'F',

and these are 'other alphabet stitches - non linked.

Happy Thanksgiving

I had my cookbooks out the other evening planning our Thanksgiving meal - same things using different recipes, perhaps. My DS asked, what are you doing? I said, looking for recipes... He said, I look for them online -- are we not having green bean casserole? Are we not having squash supreme?

So the menu will be our fairly standard fare: Roast Turkey, Dressing and Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Squash Supreme, Winter Veggies (potato, turnip, brussle sprouts (several stores didn't have parsnips), carrots, and garlic in olive oil), and rolls.

Something new I'm trying for dessert: Pumpkin Tassies. The recipe included a crust, but mine are 'semi-homemade', Sandra Lee style. I bought the little pie shells and baked them first. Mine must have been larger than the recipe because it said, makes 20-24, and mine made eight. Had to make two batches ;-). The filling has brown sugar, pumpkin, egg yolk, cream, spices and flavoring. The topping is very similar to what I use for sweet potato souffle - brown sugar, butter, and pecans. One of the crusts tore, so we HAD to eat that one - it was good! Oh, and my dinner rolls... they're rising in the freezer ;-)

So how about y'all ... trying anything different this year?

I am thankful for so many things: family, health, home, job, but also among the tops on my list are all the online friends I've 'met and befriended' over the past year or so. Thanks for being there, and for allowing me to share in your lives!