Try(ing) Angles

I am not sure what I think of this so far, but I am determined to keep going. It is hard to get much done, since I only sew one day a week and usually only half of that day. I want this quilt to be totally scrappy as though my great-grandmother put it together from what she had on hand or cobbled together from friends. I also do not want to abide by any rules of color placement. It should be easy, since I am reasonably ignorant of those rules. The red fabric at the top edge is being considered for stripes down the quilt. Or maybe just for the binding. Not sure; just playing.

Number one son came by for a short visit. He told me the little boy in the previous post was a co-worker's son, and they were just doing a check up; he was not sick or anything. That's good. He looks to be a sweet little guy. My son is going to be 30 next month. 30! I can't believe it.

Kitten gets high and I work the angles

Kitten was exploring the higher altitudes of the kitchen today. She is quite the queen of the universe!

Today is sewing day.

I have everything I need. Including Janis Joplin, James Taylor and Carol King.

Chain, chain, chain. Sounds like a song.

Ugly quilt top, but beautiful Kitten

Remember this quilt top? I couldn't get a good picture of it indoors? Well, today the sun is shining, it is not raining nor snowing, so I ran outside in my bathrobe and slippers to get a shot of the ugly quilt top in the sunshine. Shoot me for being impulsive. I should have dressed myself and ironed the top first. I just don't do things that way. I hope the fabrics look better even though they are wrinkly.
Kitten wants to let you know that cats are superior pets because they do not need "potty pads." And doesn't she look adorable in the empty box?

Kitten decided she likes her "daddy-person" again. He and his sweatshirt are good and soft for kneading.

We stopped at The Stitch Store yesterday afternoon. They were in the middle of Camp Iwannastitch, so there were ladies stitching away. One was a visitor from the Kansas City area. I cannot remember if she said she lives in Sugar Creek, or she grew up there, but Donna says she knows the Dumskys (who doesn't in Sugar Creek?). A "six-degrees of separation" moment. It is so cool that folks get around the country supporting small businesses in the crafting arts community. (See also Primitive Woolens and Missouri Gal)

This morning I was looking at The Stitch Store's website and found a picture of the shop owner's other cat, Scooter. Holy moly; I thought I was looking at Kitten. You can see Scooter's picture at the bottom of the Camp Iwannastitch November 2009 page. I'm not crazy. One more eye on Kitten, and they would be twins.

#1 Son at Work

I snaked this photo off my son's Facebook page. It is charming to see him at work and being so gentle with a little person.

Kitten's scary day.

If Kitten could dial the phone, I think she would get herself a ride out of here. She was left alone with my husband yesterday while I attended a tutoring conference. When I got home last night, my husband bragged about how much house cleaning he did while I was gone, and he decided to tell me about the really funny thing that happened. Seriously, he thought it was so funny he re-told the story to me this morning. While he was laughing (and I was staring at him, horrified), I interrupted to tell him if he told me the story one more time he was going to be fatally injured (by me) because it was NOT funny.

Does she look okay to you? She is kinda clingy today, but I think she is okay.

Here is what happened. Husband-person took a load of laundry out of the dryer, carried it to the bedroom to fold, went back to the dryer, threw wet clothes in, and turned it on. As he was walking away, he thought something was wrong with the dryer's motor because it was going (well, the imitated sound is atrocious and he laughs when he does it-so freaking hideous!). My beautiful sweet angel baby loving one-eyed love-bug Kitten was IN THE DRYER--the g-damn GAS dryer. Anyone willing to give her a better home now? Oh, thank God she is okay as far as I can tell physically speaking. Who knows what additional emotional damage has been done. So he (incompetent house-husband person) is NOT allowed to laugh about it! EVER!

I want to mention this book. Not because it is wonderful to read. It isn't. It is unlike Rick Bragg's other books, but because it tells about cotton mill workers, and I think quilters should have an acquaintance with the origins of the fabric we love and the historical human toll of producing it. (No kittens were harmed during the reading of this book.)

Look at this yummy vintage Brannock & Patek fabric that Wanda from Exuberant Color sent me! Oh my goodness, I cannot wait to play with it! But this morning it is off to work, then I get to play at Thimbles for a few hours. Thank goodness for playtime because tomorrow I am attending an all day conference at Macon State (2 hours away). I don't allow myself to get bored but I am impatient very often. I think playtime should be mandatory in everyone's life everyday.

Pat from Silver Thimble Talk sent me an award!

The guideline for this award is to choose bloggers that blog with great attitude and or gratitude (I was one she thought of?! That makes me feel GOOD.). Enjoy the blog tour!

My award winners are:

Missouri Gal

Exuberant Color

Primitive Woolens

Magnolia Bay Quilts

Jan Patek Quilts

Sue Spargo

Silver Thimble Talk

Pieceful Kwilter

Liberty Star

French Charming

Life in the Slow Lane

Stella Bella Quilts

Quilting Booklady

Inspired by Antique Quilts

Here are the rules (this is some work, so don't feel like you HAVE to do this: Just enjoy your nomination!)

Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.

Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

Link the nominees within your post.

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

My Favorite Movie

It is so appropriate to honor the tiger-striped Thomasina on this Chinese New Year which ushers in the Year of the Tiger!

My husband and I got Thomasina from Netflicks the other day. Watching it was so much fun. I love the costumes, the accents, the charming children. It was my favorite film as a child, and I have to say, it is still my favorite today. The Thomasina site linked above sells still shots from the film. Wow, I just had a great idea for redecorating my guest bathroom. Or maybe just buying a couple of photos for my sewing room.

Snowed in Day

Please spend some time admiring Kitten's new collar. She is mighty proud of her first "diamonds."

I have not quilted for two weeks. I have regressed to this cross-stitch sampler which has been hanging around my life for more than a decade, so now I have some momentum going on it (remember I was stuck on the strawberries?), I figure I should gut it out to the finish line. I already have a spot on the wall picked out where I think it should hang.

I had to leave space for some drawn thread work. I don't have the required natural linen thread, so I ordered it from a new needlework store over in Buford.

While I stitched this morning, I listened to "The Help" on CD. I give this novel "two thumbs up."

And then I colored my own hair. Years ago I did my own hair color, but that was so long ago. Now I have that little touch of grey at the temples, and I am going brunette. My husband said I actually look smarter. Trust me; that was not the motivation for ditching my blonde locks. Mostly I am trying to save money, but also attain a lower maintenance lifestyle.

And when I got bored enough, I measured how much snow we got last night.

I'd say it was a good bit more than last time.

Georgia Snow

Atlanta is getting slogged in by the most wonderful snowfall! I wish it meant a day off school, but I'll take a quiet Saturday at home. This is outside my front bedroom window.And this is looking across to the right at the driveway and big white pine tree:
And look at what I found when I was out this week. I was looking for a gift for a co-worker when I happened on to these blocks. There was only one set (it would be nice if I found a set for Jan Patek, too), so I will take these Blessings blocks to Mom when I go up in April. She has something for me too, and I am dying of curiosity. But I can wait to find out, if I have to. I think it is enough of a treat for me to be going to see Roberta Horton and Mary Mashuta with Mom during the Quilt Guild of Greater Kansas City's 35th anniversary celebration. I am seriously thrilled I get to attend!