Whaddya think?

I've been trying to decide whether or not to incorporate some silhouette images appliqued onto this top, so I brought it outside this morning with the back to hang off my trusty porch railing to photograph. Sometimes a picture helps you "see".



Since there is no looming deadline and actually no intended recipient for this one, I thought I might try another new-to-me technique. That tiny blue pin-stripe between the top & the border was fun (and easy!) and I really like how it separates the two. I've seen some really pretty silhouettes incorporated in other's work and thought this might be the project for it.

But after looking at these photos, I think I'm going to leave it as is. Silhouettes would just add a whole level of busy-ness that isn't needed. This will probably end up being a throw for someone's couch - I think it needs to be comforting.

What do you think?

Lisa

Happy Father's Day, Dad

Dad was a fun father - he taught us how to play while getting the work done (singing r-a-g-g m-o-p-p while mopping the floor) and play while spending almost nothing, and instilled in us a love of love of music and nature and craftmanship. Dad's been gone since December 2007 and I miss him. He did a long 3-year battle with prostate cancer that was diagnosed too late. Men!! Get regular prostate checkups - it's not too big of a deal caught early. Save your family some heart-ache. Ok, there's my commercial.

Anyway, I have been lucky and have 2 dads in my life, so yesterday my husband, kids & I journeyed nearly 200 miles one-way to see my step-dad with the car loaded with a repaired dishwasher for him and a cooler full of food for brunch. We only had 2 kids in the car with us but they provided excellent entertainment. We spent much of the drive time reminiscing about the "old days" when we would travel with all 5. Those were the days....there wasn't quite as much laughing when they were younger and we were a brand new family struggling to mesh. In fact, those rides could be quite grouchy!

No sewing yesterday, but I did work on planning my next project during the drive. I want to do a couple of Priority quilts to honor my uncle (dad's brother) who is battling Alzheimer's. Recently, I bought 2 copies of Forgetting Piece by Piece and sent one to my aunt and kept the other for myself. The art is beautiful and the story accompanying each piece incredibly moving. The quilts I send will be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to research to find a cure for this disease.

No pix today --- brought the camera yesterday and never took it out of the bag!

Have a great day all!
Lisa

An Intro

Hello all - I'm moving to blogger from my old quilt blogging site - and looking forward to it. I spend way more time than I should online reading other's blogs and have decided to take the blogger plunge myself.

Quilting for me is rapidly becoming both passion and relaxation. It's an excellent outlet for my creative side and totally different than my daily life. A quick bio .... I'm married to an awesome man, we have 5 kids and the 2 oldest daughters have given us a grandchild each (both boys - 2-1/2 years old and 1 year old), we live in Arizona and I own an offroad performance & repair shop with my brother and most days I wonder how the heck I got from the dressed-for-success corporate Information Technology world to performance parts that are never in stock when you need them, grease & oil under my nails always, race fuel perfume and metal chips & dirt everywhere but whatevah! it's fun most of the time and it's certainly different every day. No boredom for me!

My mom taught me to sew early, and then I learned more as a girl in 4H - and I remember I learned the Importance of Ironing (must have caps and bold) while struggling to set the orange cotton cap sleeves on a brown knit top (could it have been the 70's?) for a back to school outfit. Mom was busy with someone's hair so she sent me up the street to Mrs. Page with my thread and my pattern pieces and my one straggly raggedy looking cap sleeve already set. After taking a look, the FIRST THING Mrs. Page did was plug in her iron and iron everything. In my 11-year-old mind, that was NOT the first step, but I did not tell her so - it wouldn't have been polite and I really needed her help badly. Her sleeve set perfectly - and it was so obviously the ironing that made the difference. She taught me a lot without saying a word. I think of that once in a while when I drag the iron and board out .... so thank you Mrs. Page.

I've been quilting for a few years - mainly because Mom spoke longingly of getting back into quilting so many times I kind of railroaded her into taking a class (signed her up, called her up and said THIS is what you're doing Thursday - life is short - take care of you too) and she had so much fun she talked me into going to the next one with her. We usually try to go to a couple of classes together a year, and we have so much fun when we go. Giggling is good for your soul. As is chocolate. And cheesecake. Oooh, and danish pastry. 'kay, 'nuff of that!

The photo at the top is part of the 1st king-size quilt I ever made, and 2 years after I finished the top, it went on our bed for the first time yesterday morning. Long story and not all that interesting. ;)

I'm currently working on this Turning Twenty in a range of blue & green batiks. This is an old photo - the top is now finished, and I'm working on designing/piecing the back.


Quick intro? Not very. Must have needed to "chat". Thanks for listening.
Lisa