tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31744608320861648542024-03-12T20:27:15.883-07:00Billye's BlogMy quilting, stained glass, and painting.Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-6077430089219223222012-05-21T12:11:00.001-07:002012-05-21T12:11:49.790-07:00Wow it's been a long time since I bloggedI'm going to upload some photos, but not much else. Nothing really super good to report, except I have a new boyfriend who is super sweet and a really nice guy. Am posting some pix of some of the work I've done in the last few years -- at least the ones I have access to from here.<br />
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A Blooming 9 Patch I made for my Mom:<br />
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The Pacific Rim (class photo) -- mine is off being quilted by my great friend Nan. It looks exactly the same (luckily!!).<br />
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Ricky's quilt last Christmas.</div>
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The baby quilt I made for my former boss, Allison, for her beautiful little girl.</div>
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That's enough for now -- I don't appear to be in the mood to blog (surprise surprise!!). Just can't get into it right now. Sorry!</div>
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Billye</div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-79491814773822933272010-09-28T06:43:00.000-07:002010-09-28T06:50:51.870-07:00Jax Quilt Show and stuff<div>So, Diane and I went Saturday to the Jacksonville quilt show and we had a wonderful time. A couple of weeks ago I finished this quilt:</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521959959646986418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltCsiCejVAJ9OCxnRn_hyphenhyphenB8zkArYIqk5QiZftV9VOFLNcIXmeiJocNjItDfHEochPUxAYRfDnlk_txWP6UkxDJGCJVExvsy5J_Dk90WCykBLEzbhyyiHZVHVvr7aOY_wmE3BDxec0By96/s320/Batik+Quilt.jpg" /></div><br /><p>The baby, my wonderful nearly 2 year old granddaughter, Natalya, is still sick and still needs prayer -- she'll eventually require a kidney transplant, and other very major surgeries, but they are holding off as long as they can for her to get as big and as old as possible. She is on the transplant list, and I do worry about her, and about my daughter with all the financial and physical stress of the situation, a lot. On the other hand, my grandson, Ricky, is 10 today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICKY!! Ten years old. OMG. Where has the time gone?</p><p>So I went to the doctor today. I have great news -- all my blood work is wonderful and for 58 that's a great thing. I saw the dermatologist yesterday and I'm going to be getting my skin under control. One issue -- I am FAT -- yes, I said it, FAT. On the chart for height/weight, I am just a couple of pounds from obese. Yeah, I said that word -- it's killing me, but I said it. And so, the eating plan and exercise program I keep talking about being on (but I'm not really) has to be for real. Despite great cholesterol numbers and stuff, being fat is not good! So, exercise right now -- it's raining out so a walk in the park is out, but I can dance -- and that's what I'm going to do -- before I go finish the cool tote that I bought in Jacksonville. Just need to do the handles and put it all together -- I'm going to try to do better on my blog and I'll post a photo.</p><p>If you follow my blog (and why would you?), do me a favor and kick me about my exercise/eating. I'm going to need lots of reminders! I do wish I had an exercise buddy -- that would help. But no excuses -- I quit smoking, I can do this!</p><p>Love to all,</p><p>Billye</p>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-63377097934228891082010-08-04T16:47:00.000-07:002010-08-04T16:50:55.806-07:00It's Wednesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmne6MlCLHumi7hFuW-3_fb1aG0EW7wDuHGwjYfQRn_uEEZwdNoaFAxtWpTLjHYcYkbEZQ1H26ZqT4DwLaGaEX_u6ZrhdREnN1y4Vkp9H31lagi4SUKvL-liJisjK5o1yO_hFHui47JFTT/s1600/Lynn's+quilt+without+borders.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501706163930689490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmne6MlCLHumi7hFuW-3_fb1aG0EW7wDuHGwjYfQRn_uEEZwdNoaFAxtWpTLjHYcYkbEZQ1H26ZqT4DwLaGaEX_u6ZrhdREnN1y4Vkp9H31lagi4SUKvL-liJisjK5o1yO_hFHui47JFTT/s320/Lynn's+quilt+without+borders.jpg" /></a><br /><div>and I just finished the quilt top that is a gift for my friend. She picked out the fabrics (with some helpful advice from me). I think it will be gorgeous once the borders are on. The photo doesn't really do the colors or the fabrics justice, but I think it shows off the pattern pretty well! </div><br /><div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-79399386782622395392010-07-07T09:42:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:55:56.531-07:00Ok, here's some photos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YRyDXRbS4NlPMmgIIZHNi1yz__lh20oJ-TqiQRTmVirptuzQCY9OYjzLMYamsUNPKnfsklFNhkXz4dGYZSxoapmbFbHAWcPfHiIu1YjV5qw1IkMciT5uGEABSdj-3jcQ07MYZ-TUUoGs/s1600/Professional+Tote.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491208820280750418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YRyDXRbS4NlPMmgIIZHNi1yz__lh20oJ-TqiQRTmVirptuzQCY9OYjzLMYamsUNPKnfsklFNhkXz4dGYZSxoapmbFbHAWcPfHiIu1YjV5qw1IkMciT5uGEABSdj-3jcQ07MYZ-TUUoGs/s320/Professional+Tote.bmp" /></a><br /><div><div></div><div><div><div>I know, I know, it's about time! And the sad thing is, I can't find photos of all I've done since I last posted photos. Sometimes I forget to take them.</div><br /><div></div><div>Here's a photo of my Professional Tote. The fabric came from one of the vendors at our Guild's show and I fell in love with it -- I use it every day (even though it clashes with most everything I wear!). I also made one in all black for my sister for her birthday, but apparently I didn't take a photo . . . at least I can't find one! This tote has tons of pockets, including one on the opposite side that can hold a file folder or magazine. The front side has a zipper pocket and a pocket behind it. There's a pouch on either side for an umbrella or water (or in my case, Diet Coke). Inside is a center zippered pocket that goes all the way across, pockets on the interior outside (one with a flap), and large deep storage on either size of the center zipper pouch. There's yet another zipper to close the whole thing up!</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Here's a photo of the machine applique that Diane taught me on Sunday (thanks Diane!!). I'm raring to go to start some more . . . . but I'm requiring myself to finish some UFOs first! Of which I have, uh, several.</div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491207212141684626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGWxPL3JJ2KYoicXCYxfViDaVhvC7ri38XMVgLLswg9GyGoT_ChKv2UM_3CPsM4CWYYqARfushqnNvkvR7zMuMBfIDA_vohTsS5nyJdlr4uxkf_fviGuBj8MNzRuu1LIq3E737A2PJkCl/s320/Sunflower+applique.bmp" /></div></div></div><br /><div>This is a photo of the batik quilt that still needs borders etc. I think I like it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0S7yvDDRV0mZeVqGhciC_bUgxJcjo2WgPuL-t1o-VVhSAzBrk1GpgAw3MnPs9p01ztwQ5CJff-4HmuZGy2G8vt7fsmuQQOkGZkGyDjwMkgBENNN-Not5KB8xlQE3MfiMBjNudZi_NXQ8/s1600/Batik+in+process.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491207752189152098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0S7yvDDRV0mZeVqGhciC_bUgxJcjo2WgPuL-t1o-VVhSAzBrk1GpgAw3MnPs9p01ztwQ5CJff-4HmuZGy2G8vt7fsmuQQOkGZkGyDjwMkgBENNN-Not5KB8xlQE3MfiMBjNudZi_NXQ8/s320/Batik+in+process.bmp" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><div>Last, but certainly not least, here's a photo of a few of the Bento Box blocks for my sister's California Queen size quilt. I've got the sashing on one side of each block, and as I said yesterday, I was amazed at how much it took. I made a ton more sashing last night, and once I get them all squared up, will be adding. We may need yet more!</div></div><div><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiW-h7s1jLw8UfhcdYXXJggVB2z224_9nDii_HYTivEBAe47mzpOmhHoe5W4Yyz0B73hKfZOj8RbApomtBSg01GHyDKLb6U0NUifTGC9fiyky6ogLh4CmUg7Pv4KpyjBoMfnUoSWk6NWE/s1600/Sandi's+Quilt+Blocks.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491208278175960306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiW-h7s1jLw8UfhcdYXXJggVB2z224_9nDii_HYTivEBAe47mzpOmhHoe5W4Yyz0B73hKfZOj8RbApomtBSg01GHyDKLb6U0NUifTGC9fiyky6ogLh4CmUg7Pv4KpyjBoMfnUoSWk6NWE/s320/Sandi's+Quilt+Blocks.bmp" /></a></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiW-h7s1jLw8UfhcdYXXJggVB2z224_9nDii_HYTivEBAe47mzpOmhHoe5W4Yyz0B73hKfZOj8RbApomtBSg01GHyDKLb6U0NUifTGC9fiyky6ogLh4CmUg7Pv4KpyjBoMfnUoSWk6NWE/s1600/Sandi's+Quilt+Blocks.bmp"></a> </p>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-9965838267357326922010-07-06T06:07:00.000-07:002010-07-06T06:34:24.136-07:00Now it's been FOREVER since I posted!I know I'm terrible at keeping up with my blog -- just terrible. So let's see what's been happening.<br /><br />I'm working on several quilts -- a Bento Box for my sister in California King size -- yeah, its huge. All 36 blocks (15" each) are made and the sashing (with scrolled variegated thread down the middle of it) has been added to one side of all 36. I thought I'd made enough sashing for the whole quilt. HA! Not even close. Barely had enough to do the one side. So I began making more last night --if that's not enough, I'll have to buy more fabric. The plan tonight is to sit behind the machine and let it do the scroll work -- it takes forever, and is pretty boring, but its a good time to do a book on tape.<br /><br />Diane came over on Sunday and taught me how to do fusible applique in a way I really understand. And yeah, there's a photo and guess where it is? At home -- and not available for me to post. But now my mind is envisioning all the quilts I've been wanting to do -- houses and butterflies and landscapes and and and and and . ... . lots of other things in the works first. I think I'll quilt that one (it's a sunflower) and hang it in my bathroom with the sunflower my art teacher painted and gave to me. A rose I painted is in there as well . . . .as my sister said, it'll be a flower garden!<br /><br />I house sat for Diane for a while a couple of weeks ago and got a lot of piecing done -- including putting my batik kit together. The pattern that came with it was horrible, the batiks are beautiful but there weren't enough of each one to make the pattern that came with the kit -- and all it was was a photo. So one day I just sat and pieced all the HSTs with the white she sent and all the batiks, very carefully sorting the fabrics into piles. But no matter how I turned it, what I did, I hated it. SOOOOO, being me, and being odd and never doing what is expected, I put them in a bag, literally, and mixed them up and then just started sewing them together -- trying, but not really working very hard at it, not to have 2 next to each other. Then I made rows, then I put the rows together. I end up with an on point square of unmatching batiks and an on point square of white. I plan to do the quilting in the white -- although my mind is racing as to what. I have a photo of the flimsy, but guess where that is? Yup, same place.<br /><br />I have also started and am fairly well along on the quilt for Lynn. She picked out beautiful fabrics (with a lot of help from me -- thank you Lynn for letting me guide you) and the quilt will be, unless I'm sadly mistaken, just gorgeous. I need to take a photo of the blocks I've completed and post it as well.<br /><br />Sandi is back in town and we spent most of the weekend together. Trixye stayed with her, but Saturday we noticed she was limping. Sunday it wasn't better and by yesterday it was really bad. So we took her to the vet -- she's been chewing on her feet, one in particular, and that one is swollen, red and just ugly. They gave her antibiotics and a steroid injection. They wanted her to wear a collar so as not to chew on it any more -- but little Houdini dog was out of the collar in 2 seconds (or less) 3 different times. So I took it back and paid twice as much for an inflatable collar that gets looped through her regular collar. Well, 5 minutes of that and she'd about hung herself getting the inflatable collar over her head with her regular collar still on -- who knows how? I was in the bathroom! Anyway, the vet's next suggestion was socks, and that so far has worked. Except this morning her OTHER foot was wet where she'd been chewing on it, so now she's got socks on both feet. I'll be taking the inflatable collar back tonight and then I'm off to Target to get baby socks. With painter's tape, the sock (so far) stays on without pulling out her hair when I change it. If she starts chewing on those back feet too, she'll be in 4 socks!<br /><br />We had a quiet 4th of July -- spent it with Mom and Sandi, playing cards on Mom's porch. I have to laugh -- a thunder storm came up about 6 or so, and we stayed out on the porch playing cards until one particularly horrible thunder clap and lightning flash. I jumped up, said that's it, and ran into the living room. Of course, Mom and Sandi were right behind me, scared too, but it was ME that acted like the biggest chicken. I hate lightning -- particularly when it feels like it's coming in the doorway! Of course, once we got inside, got resituated and finished our card game, there was not one more flash of lightning or clap of thunder. We watched the panoramic view of fireworks from Mom's balcony, which used to be a much better show when she first moved in there 6 or 7 years ago -- the trees have grown up now and so you just see them peeking over the top.<br /><br />Greg's mom has been very sick and in the hospital for the last many weeks, and isn't expected to recover. I have not heard from him, but they had told him two weeks ago they would be taking her off life support yesterday unless she'd begun to show improvement. When I last spoke with him, she'd not shown any improvement, but I do not know what happened yesterday. My heart goes out to him, that's got to be incredibly tough. I can't even imagine. So, yeah, I've held off on the divorce again -- not that I can afford it anyway. However, the tax situation makes it such that I really do need to go through with it.<br /><br />Meghan and the kids are doing OK -- Talya seems to be doing well considering that her kidneys don't work right -- she's so cute. We webcammed the other day and she's growing so big! And talking and saying Hi Nana, waving, just being adorable. Meghan claims she asks to call me all the time. I'm not sure she really does, but I certainly enjoy believing that she does! She wants to call me Grandma, which she can do if she wants. . . Ricky is so tall and so good looking -- he's always been a good looking boy, but I keep expecting him to go through a gawky stage -- so far he's still gorgeous. The girls must be crazy about him, but he doesn't mention it any more. He was crazy about girls as a little boy -- he always had a girlfriend. I'd be willing to bet he still does! I miss them terribly and wish I could afford to have them come here or go there, but it's just not in the budget this year.<br /><br />Ok, so that's my boring life. See why I don't post to this blog? There's not much to post about!Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-60624938592558951372010-02-04T10:04:00.001-08:002010-02-04T10:36:24.901-08:00Ok, it's been a while again!I'm not good at keeping up on this thing, now am I? So, here are photos of a couple of quilt tops I've finished<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL36JiyQEaRUAAWyecwawHxudg5eCBF9Ox2ITL0aQ_Uec6azMg2N-sd2f_rhtDjU44SnRqUiAhu2DfComlaw8pArULGpndMM7zU_su07bfNdQ5aaMi-kJaAmswoP5pVJ9zEgjw70mzG1u/s1600-h/NYE+mystery.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434450854867169026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL36JiyQEaRUAAWyecwawHxudg5eCBF9Ox2ITL0aQ_Uec6azMg2N-sd2f_rhtDjU44SnRqUiAhu2DfComlaw8pArULGpndMM7zU_su07bfNdQ5aaMi-kJaAmswoP5pVJ9zEgjw70mzG1u/s320/NYE+mystery.bmp" /></a><br /><div><div><div>This one was a New Years Eve mystery that I did with my friend Diane. I ended up trying some new quilting techniques on it -- this photo (the one I had handy at work) is before it's been assembled, but it shows it basically. It is square, so I've used it on my square coffee table. I made a couple of easy coasters out of the focus fabric to go with it. Diane gave me a book on machine quilting with a walking foot, and I tried some of those ideas on this. I really need to snap a photo of it, because it was quilting at a level I'd never tried. I was pleased with the results and very grateful to Diane for the great book!<br /><br />This is a photo of a mystery I did that was a test for a designer -- not saying which one! It's still a flimsy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKb691SI9Sx_JJk5k5TdTl_Wmfgkns4JweCgPT1fUqq6n0RupHyMjsRezc3i4Xaje76khUePP2-1egoI_UFjStq5ciPVqOU8d_VjrvmXm2JJ2RCXFgorH2A1bDse9K_cA3HAscEZAu3iQ/s1600-h/Mystery.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434451498557457442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKb691SI9Sx_JJk5k5TdTl_Wmfgkns4JweCgPT1fUqq6n0RupHyMjsRezc3i4Xaje76khUePP2-1egoI_UFjStq5ciPVqOU8d_VjrvmXm2JJ2RCXFgorH2A1bDse9K_cA3HAscEZAu3iQ/s320/Mystery.JPG" /></a><br />I am also finishing up Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas (should have the flimsy together tonight and will photo and hopefully post). I made all the blocks, but I decided it was too busy, and too big, and I think I want to try some additional quilting techniques on it (never done a Baptist Fan). So I'm using one set of blocks for what will still be a good sized couch throw, and putting the other blocks in reserve for when I need a quick gift. </div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div>Oh, I know, I've not posted about my Singer 201. I've been looking for one for about a year, and finally the Singer store called and told me they had one in. At first I said, no, no, I'm not spending that much money on another machine when I alread<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1axEZCSW9BtXqD8XBfAfhyfRV6n9KOofI5tLPUeuU3AMj04Oeh_u3mYxP6x_VroOi4qVgZvMwRb8otrNlfrQGhRvwxcrdzxctzKeQsaZygh1SnmrwQMMB0vcKSiEq9XaXvnKWjiIm3m9e/s1600-h/Ami+2.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434455233797600466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1axEZCSW9BtXqD8XBfAfhyfRV6n9KOofI5tLPUeuU3AMj04Oeh_u3mYxP6x_VroOi4qVgZvMwRb8otrNlfrQGhRvwxcrdzxctzKeQsaZygh1SnmrwQMMB0vcKSiEq9XaXvnKWjiIm3m9e/s320/Ami+2.bmp" /></a>y have 4. Then my friends were saying, hey, you've wanted that forever -- it's not an impulse buy. And I realized I really wanted it, so I called and was able to negotiate the price down. She was built in 1955 in New Jersey, the first 3 of her serial number are AM1. So I named her Ami (pronounced Amy). Here she is!! She runs like a dream, all my feet work on her, and she's got all the gold decals in perfect condition. New cords all around -- just a delight to work on. Cabinet looks like brand new. I don't much care for the foot pedal -- I have to wear shoes to sew, which isn't something I normally do, but hey, I can manage!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFlgyGxS2RAoX7KKk3L_wMapO4xFDXGZRLM5TXjRbhWbRD6J2zSSEhSIQiI6sR2_HHGkT2_GoWUuuWBUGvapu72wpTIHsdvumxE309NvXe8QnYKi5mBXy5Nrckm1KFqwNMwM326Vg08WX/s1600-h/Ami+3.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434455234014988642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFlgyGxS2RAoX7KKk3L_wMapO4xFDXGZRLM5TXjRbhWbRD6J2zSSEhSIQiI6sR2_HHGkT2_GoWUuuWBUGvapu72wpTIHsdvumxE309NvXe8QnYKi5mBXy5Nrckm1KFqwNMwM326Vg08WX/s320/Ami+3.bmp" /></a> So much for using the 2nd bedroom for a sofa sleeper, which I had thought about. . . . I figure I didn't make a decision on what I wanted to do because I was waiting for Ami and didn't even know it!</div><div> </div><div>Have a great day everyone (all 2 of you that read this!).</div><div> </div><div>Billye<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-80851212338440048452010-01-07T06:15:00.000-08:002010-01-07T07:11:22.711-08:00Gee, it's only been a couple months!<div>Since I posted. Let's see. Talya is doing well -- one kidney is up to over 90% functioning and the last test showed the other working in the low teens. They had considered removing that kidney since they didn't believe it was working at all, but with it working some, the plan is a laproscopic surgery to repair it and hope that it, like the other kidney, recovers. She's walking, talking up a storm, and has the bitch attitude of the rest of the women in this family (which is probably what kept her alive during those rough times!), so she's a handful. </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>My life is pretty dull and boring. I quilt A LOT. I house sat for my friend Diane over the holidays, and she insisted on giving me some gift certificates to some on line fabric stores. I won't need fabric, probably not even backs or anything, for EONS. Which is good, since I've put myself on not only a food diet, but a financial diet, so I need to quit buying fabric. I did fall off the wagon (well before I self imposed it) and bought a batik kit. It's not my fault! I always wanted a batik quilt!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><p>I had to go back to see what I posted last in my quilting, and that was Lynn's quilt. I'm at work, and not sure what I have photos of, but here goes:</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RRBUx_H5jXBqhcltABRG7hzrn69MiSUMqJu6CwmUoS1Nsp88oBqSt_MDH9-SdVUIR3eS4MRmZKGbxUGkyZvjfQj9v5O62NysFyqzARjzhdF1iEN4J73VNoZRHGkQ5bL9i_0EXFnqWQNQ/s1600-h/JoAnn+BOM.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 310px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424002995031540258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RRBUx_H5jXBqhcltABRG7hzrn69MiSUMqJu6CwmUoS1Nsp88oBqSt_MDH9-SdVUIR3eS4MRmZKGbxUGkyZvjfQj9v5O62NysFyqzARjzhdF1iEN4J73VNoZRHGkQ5bL9i_0EXFnqWQNQ/s320/JoAnn+BOM.bmp" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This is my first applique -- this is a BOM from Joann's -- it's huge, and would make a humongous quilt -- I have a few more blocks I've purchased -- I doubt this one ever gets past about 5 blocks and a border. . . </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3LboStf2_aMMAeNQOQbZijcW_AJ7s8zpyjlK2IV-ACnIJ-gWmTYjblw3lYCM2Qh_PHpPmZgWaB5QB4oBRw8fkLZR8_9B22im-m8y3PogSwIE4huHcw5kXRw4DcZiHeEF10GI68FdeIS1/s1600-h/Shakespeare+in+the+Park.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424013464244142114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3LboStf2_aMMAeNQOQbZijcW_AJ7s8zpyjlK2IV-ACnIJ-gWmTYjblw3lYCM2Qh_PHpPmZgWaB5QB4oBRw8fkLZR8_9B22im-m8y3PogSwIE4huHcw5kXRw4DcZiHeEF10GI68FdeIS1/s320/Shakespeare+in+the+Park.bmp" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So the quilt on the right (at least while I'm creating this post!) is my completed Shakespeare in the Park. My favorite quilt (well Double Delight is close!) and finally one for my bed. This was quilted by my good friend Barb Linares, and as she did on the One Block Wonder and the Double Delight, she did EXQUISITE quilting on the SITP -- which took a quilt I was very proud to have made to a work of art. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Hmmm . . . I don't seem to have photos here at work of several things -- like the placemats I made for Mom, Sandi's crazy quilt pillow, Meghan and Nick's skulls quilt, Ricky and Natalya's Christmas stockings. I KNOW I've been busy -- so where is everything? LOL. I never did take a photo of the applique dog I made at retreat -- and I gave that away for the auction for the Guild. I'm working on a mystery quilt as a tester (OK, so I consider that an honor, even though it's not really!), and Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas (which I am renaming to "Teal Drops"). I've also finished the flimsy of the NYE quilt that Diane and I did together on New Years Day, to which I added 7 more blocks (she added 3 for a baby quilt). That came out to be stunning, so I'll have to add photos of that. I also have my City Scape quilt that is stalled in production, and I never did finish my X-Block, which is very pretty, but I got stuck at borders. So I have PLENTY to keep me busy for the next year! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>That's all the news for now -- boring, huh?</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Billye</div><div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-50635464529657276502009-11-04T04:38:00.000-08:002009-11-04T04:52:29.232-08:00Wednesday, November 4, 2009Well, it's been an interesting and somewhat less than fun week! Sunday at the ER, all day, with a diagnosis of diverticulitis. I thought I was being silly agreeing to go to the ER with my friend, Lynn. Thought I was just constipated and having gas pains. Uhhh.... I forgot to factor in the fever. I doubt anybody reads this blog, but if you do, and you have constipation or diahhrea, with fever, plus pain, get to the ER!! Yeah, diverticulitis is nothing to mess with -- people die from that crap, or have to have their colons resected, or or or or . . . . none of which is fun. I've had to be off work until tomorrow -- and you know I don't feel well when I've not sewn a STITCH since last week. Thankfully most of Christmas is already done (most, not all), so I'm not that far behind. Maybe part of the problem is I just can't get motivated to sew -- I don't seem to have anything planned that I really, really want to make.<br /><br />I feel OK now, I still have some discomfort, but mostly it's gas moving through my system. I gotta tell ya, this hasn't been fun. I'm not used to taking a lot of drugs, and just trying to remember if I've taken my antibiotics or not isn't easy -- so I've made a chart. I think I'm going to try to stay up more today -- I've been sleeping a lot -- since I'm going to be expected (and need) to do a full day at work tomorrow. Doctors say I'll feel rather funky for about a week. Oh joy!<br /><br />I will say that this episode has shown me how truly alone I am. Sandi is in Atlanta, Mom isn't capable of helping me any longer (it's the other way around now, as is the circle of life and Lord knows not her fault), Meghan is in California -- and Greg -- well he's not exactly Mr. Let Me See What I Can Do to Help guy. Thank God for Lynn -- she pushed me to go to the ER, came and got me, stayed with me the whole time (and it was ALL day while I drank the barium, they did the CT scan, got the results, then the real delay was while they tried to decide whether to admit me to the hospital or not) . I doubt they would have let me leave without being admitted except that Trixye and I went to stay with Lynn until mid-afternoon yesterday. I'm extremely grateful to her -- without her pushing me, and insisting that Trixye and I stay with her, well, I frankly don't know what would've happened. <br /><br />Anyway, I thought I should probably chronicle one of these major events in my life -- plus I'm BORED! So there you have it. Listen to your body -- as Lynn told me, I am NOT invincible -- I worry about everybody else's health and ignore my own. I am going to be on the search for a new doctor -- as much as I like Dr. DiSanto, I didn't realize she doesn't have hospital privileges and as she says, doesn't "do" hospitals. I don't like that in a doctor -- it's never been an issue before, but I want my doctor to be able to go to the hospital if I need him/her. So the next thing, probably after the first of the year, is to find a new doctor.<br /><br />Hope everyone (all 1 or 2 of you) that reads this blog is OK. Have a great day!Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-49823419110762379352009-09-18T11:43:00.000-07:002009-09-18T12:33:27.905-07:00Friday, September 18<div>Hello everyone! All is well here in Billye-land -- work is slow (yay, today, since I'm really not into it!) and I've not posted photos of some work I've done lately, so let me see if I can throw some up here.</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqswF8lWA4ZIi3hhKlINnHlj7KvP64xAHmFZ8j59VoLyG1RIH0FXgiceEX1DDnYUAR0bGIDpd83-gyyQ_4vLItUELRdHMlMBVBvf9EQfqHRNLJ03WgTVsuAVoocPQM2lmbO48NOPuCL_G/s1600-h/Twisted+Sister+w+borders.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382892110699752850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqswF8lWA4ZIi3hhKlINnHlj7KvP64xAHmFZ8j59VoLyG1RIH0FXgiceEX1DDnYUAR0bGIDpd83-gyyQ_4vLItUELRdHMlMBVBvf9EQfqHRNLJ03WgTVsuAVoocPQM2lmbO48NOPuCL_G/s320/Twisted+Sister+w+borders.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Let's see, I was working on Twisted Sister and the log cabin quilt last I posted. Here's a photo of Twisted Sister (I've since changed the bottom two cornerstones since although I did them that way on purpose, they ended up looking stupid).</div><div> </div><div>This is a Christmas/birthday/whatever gift for friend Lynn. She's seen the photo and loves it. Time now to get it sandwiched, basted and quilted.</div><br /><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvTAFAuGHkcIrtA7w7WYNjN4khxggZI_i1XzIhcbX1h-Uyhe4q3JRc5YDA1emQ-Cyyppx3_fZ3fvuZvbWsiVaQIYUibWQipMw25JKL9tRqcm7_N1QoGvB8HmaMGHDAqkaRa20S8W9bLtV/s1600-h/log+cabin+Eleanor+burns.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382885684388198226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvTAFAuGHkcIrtA7w7WYNjN4khxggZI_i1XzIhcbX1h-Uyhe4q3JRc5YDA1emQ-Cyyppx3_fZ3fvuZvbWsiVaQIYUibWQipMw25JKL9tRqcm7_N1QoGvB8HmaMGHDAqkaRa20S8W9bLtV/s320/log+cabin+Eleanor+burns.bmp" border="0" /></a> So the other quilt was a log cabin -- as I think I mentioned in an earlier post, I'd never done an Eleanor Burns pattern, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was so easy! Only thing is, it makes a big quilt, so I'm going to have to do the QAYG method on this one -- I've assembled the blocks and made the back . . just need to quilt it.</div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0qgO8OXdIYC4LIV3eQWPiwdOA8umjmNMTEK2nfJ-JRcIj0dtXGhNeEl4srAggjNCJRr3CIqNkTDyPBX3wfLpNw2H2lYIdcPOSIAlQzeOXnSsr8GpVUBlq1qyEWoiz7Itw3jK8JGSm0R/s1600-h/bargello.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382886205007887250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0qgO8OXdIYC4LIV3eQWPiwdOA8umjmNMTEK2nfJ-JRcIj0dtXGhNeEl4srAggjNCJRr3CIqNkTDyPBX3wfLpNw2H2lYIdcPOSIAlQzeOXnSsr8GpVUBlq1qyEWoiz7Itw3jK8JGSm0R/s320/bargello.bmp" border="0" /></a>I don't think I ever posted my completed bargello. Well, it didn't turn out quite like I planned, and the photo is lousy -- but it was too skinny and I wasn't in the mood to add to it, so, I cut it in half and bound it and hung it up on the wall. Artist's license, right? LOL</div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><div>And my latest craze is crazy quilting. I've done 3 blocks. Ok, that's not true. I started the first two blocks, and they didn't even sort of lay flat, so I went back to the drawing board and figured out if I did the blocks like a paper pieced block, then I'd have a better shot at getting it flat. So I did that, and sure enough, it worked better. I've been doing some collecting of threads, lace, beads, etc. and have been given yarns and various other trinkets to add to my CQ by several friends (thanks to all of you!). The block is a bit further along now than this photo, but here's where it was a few days ago: </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382886987241162130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScuIe8nrKn0jmbTOW_AReT0Yoigxgvm6g03GNRg4QsMNCjdrQqurwfurX4bG9gNHUHaNLy4LNmIIaRRRbZM8tkIT8GnpWKmhI_ISOuAI8yLXNzl3hTj1nwufl_cCZa6BLMV2sEb4BzRPf/s320/CQ+later.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div></div>I've outlined the rose (bottom left) in pink and begun satin stitching it. The heart in the middle is done (thanks Barb for teaching me those French knots!!!). Some of the yarn that Diane gave me is on the line between the heart and the block print, and the block print now has "X's" across all the blocks. I'll satin stitch the hummingbird eventually. I did something in the top right corner, but for the life of me I can't remember what it is right now!<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Retreat is coming very quickly, and I've tried to pull fabrics and kits for it so that I don't take everything I own! I plan to get quite a few Christmas gifts finished at Retreat, and am taking smaller projects than quilts, except for one, my City Lights. Also, at some point my X-Block needs it's borders finished and to be quilted . . . the borders just don't make me happy right now, so I'm thinking on them. I hate for things to end up as UFOs, but you know how that goes!</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I'll be taking a class on art quilts at Retreat and am looking forward to utilizing the technique in my own art quilts. And sometime in mid-October or early November my Shakespeare in the Park should be coming home!!! YAY!!! I'm sure Barb will have it quilted beautifully and I can't wait to finish it up and put it on my bed. The pillow shams have been done for some time now.</div><br /><div></div><div>I am also on the lookout for an old Singer 301. I can't afford the Janome 6600 that I want, but I've been doing some research and that old Singer 301 has the largest harp and is probably the most dependable machine that's ever been made. I'm going to be checking thrift stores/garage sales, etc. Hopefully I'll find one for next to nothing, because people think they're old so they're junk. NOT!!</div><div><br /><div>All else is good. Everyone have a great day!<br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-16378706139903543532009-09-06T15:08:00.000-07:002009-09-06T15:15:24.905-07:00Sunday retreat progressSorry! No photos to post -- way too tired! Yesterday morning I finished putting the borders on the Eleanor Burns log cabin quilt and making the backing. Then I went to run errands with a friend and came home 6 hours later exhausted! I put stuff away and then did some work on my CQ block, but really, not much. Spent most of the evening vegetating and packing for today -- and a super hot bath, which is next on the agenda for tonight as well -- I'm tired.!<br /><br />So today was sewing with Diane and Barb at Barb's house. What a great day! I learned how to make Twisted Sister blocks and Barb showed us how she makes baskets and rugs with the toothbrush technique -- -I need to get me one of those! We let Barb get by with not making a Twisted Sister because she has to have the basket made for a class she's teaching. . . Diane's fabric choices, as always, were gorgeous, and my blocks ain't too shabby either.<br /><br />Stopped at my Mom's on the way home, took her to the bank and then to the store. Made dinner, eating it now and am beat, beat, beat. I was planning on painting my bedroom tomorrow, but unless I make a miraculous recovery, I'm thinking tomorrow is going to be a sewing/relaxing day. Sewing relaxes me -- does it relax you? Painting -- uhhhh. . . not so much!<br /><br />Hope everyone is enjoying this virtual retreat - I know I am!! Thanks for hosting, Susan!<br /><br />BillyeBillyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-44026715770863302812009-09-05T03:14:00.000-07:002009-09-05T03:33:02.738-07:00Labor Day Virtual Retreat<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVSrZ4n94W8TXAF1qF2pC269I5lvUrr_Bic6WdZ8-dtl3lbSQRDF7MC2TWvvf54RvELF55P-OjNQoA25cvOND2YhW0VQWjpESzb3J8YoR53AaNZ1K2cpmgVg9M1XRbeSt5RIzCkOLkIgz/s1600-h/Log+cabin.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377925679014443650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVSrZ4n94W8TXAF1qF2pC269I5lvUrr_Bic6WdZ8-dtl3lbSQRDF7MC2TWvvf54RvELF55P-OjNQoA25cvOND2YhW0VQWjpESzb3J8YoR53AaNZ1K2cpmgVg9M1XRbeSt5RIzCkOLkIgz/s320/Log+cabin.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>Mine started last night. Well, the quilt started last week, but my retreat started last night. Here's a (bad) photo of the quilt I'm working on. Since this photo I've assembled the blocks 3 rows and then 3 rows. My plan is to put a burgundy 3" border (unless when I audition it that seems to dark, then one of the lighter darks as border), and do QAYG with the burgundy as backing (if I have enough). As much as I love FMQ, I'm thinking straight lines. Any ideas anyone? And can you believe I'd never done an Eleanor Burns pattern? Duh. SO EASY!! I wish . . . well I wish I'd gotten one of her books a lot earlier, but then perhaps I wouldn't have tried the more difficult things I've done, like my Shakespeare in the Park or Bonnie Hunter's Double Delight (which I absolutely adore!).</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Today will be spent doing some housework and putting the borders on this log cabin - if the weather stays nice taking my dog to the park this evening. . . and hanging with a friend for a few hours this morning. Tomorrow I go to my friend Barb's with another friend Diane for a long-planned Twisted Sister sew day. That quilt will be for my friend, Lynn, for her birthday (passed already) and Christmas present. I chose colors I thought she'd like -- then have spoken to her and, uh, maybe not so much. Still, I'll make it and if she doesn't lik<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IHewVSfVmcmz0xJHQp64fhWm-tDPhiQUDyq8Ny8EKphx0zmvIHlzEfeJOfK-u2zmD5pGNG0RGkBIbBxazCVZ66i_qfDED1a8Lnuz2GtiezLzXA0lyZ_OR9d3O3fGzeJD-c17vSiWf0oF/s1600-h/improvised+quilt+rack.jpg"></a>e it, I'll make her something else.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_NYQr7-OnWzZHIw_82zVqBdF0EQfR8p4X4O-bigr4KVZb-t9chJ5opVCx5uO6X8iOSYFrY21lAVWuVdYUFhZofgxD565M74vd1vAaWcLaNJlZViWa2sQ_4QgbXg8DcGCxVlkFNpzPtoe/s1600-h/improvised+quilt+rack.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 121px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377927739064229506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_NYQr7-OnWzZHIw_82zVqBdF0EQfR8p4X4O-bigr4KVZb-t9chJ5opVCx5uO6X8iOSYFrY21lAVWuVdYUFhZofgxD565M74vd1vAaWcLaNJlZViWa2sQ_4QgbXg8DcGCxVlkFNpzPtoe/s320/improvised+quilt+rack.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>I also had an epipheny last night. Repurpose, reuse, right? Well, I've been wanting a quilt rack. I don't have much space, but I never use my front door so I thought one somewhat like a ladder to lean up against the door. Then I realized that I HAVE a ladder that I really don't have a place to store . . it's metal, not exactly what I had in mind, but . . . . here's a photo of what I did. I'm not sure why my photos last night are so fuzzy -- it must be me!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>On Monday I plan to paint at least one wall of my bedroom -- it will be a pale yellow, which hopefully will look really nice with the pale yellow stars on my Shakespeare in the Park. Barb, who has it to long arm, says it's slated to hit the frame in mid-October. The shams are ready and waiting!! I have time to paint the room, but Monday seemed like a good day, and hey, it's still quilt related, right?</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>So I'm off to decide on borders for the log cabin. I really would appreciate any thoughts on quilting it! I've even thought of doing a pantograph of some sort on the back and trying my hand at that. This quilt will probably end up going to my estranged husband . . . . all the fabric is stuff from my stash that I probably would never have used . . . and I enjoyed making it. It's a bit masculine for most anyone else, you know?</div><div><br /> </div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-38980962291871313182009-08-25T06:11:00.000-07:002009-08-25T06:24:33.498-07:00Well, imagine that, it's Tuesday again!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpvoKB3-zcjsEK7oLvlh6LlN6raVey5Bn5lS4Lypf63d3lnwCSNtq9zXjvxQeuMDkvOYsXpMe6p84NA4AkiVpG2Gqpy3AbvLcCQWb5-Hcat4LPGODNZJUip3dr0mvGiAO0zTp9TQYULOD/s1600-h/Becky's_Quilt.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373888778215163122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpvoKB3-zcjsEK7oLvlh6LlN6raVey5Bn5lS4Lypf63d3lnwCSNtq9zXjvxQeuMDkvOYsXpMe6p84NA4AkiVpG2Gqpy3AbvLcCQWb5-Hcat4LPGODNZJUip3dr0mvGiAO0zTp9TQYULOD/s320/Becky's_Quilt.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Here I am back blogging on a Tuesday. Here's a photo of my great-niece Becky's quilt -- I've named it "Rising Star" and put on the label "Made Especially for Becky -- who is the rising star". I thought that was pretty cool -- I'm not usually very creative with stuff like that. Maybe that's not very creative either, now that I think of it! LOL. I'm still in the process of finishing up the binding, but should finish in the next day or so. These blocks are left over from my Shakespeare in the Park, when they were just too much color and the greens didn't flow with the greens in the snail trail blocks. Pretty decent for leftovers, I think!</div></div><br /><p></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGClEb2RBJeNnJM0-a42DOMA1dSSj2c-Z5-Xl4hHp7hQsi6torkKrPidJNve_0ig6UhaPDik5ipsXxwPtaloMAi5Q_cgYnOt9dZZCiGViJHopoaLStB-IlqbIJON91_Ww9KNAsSj5cbfja/s1600-h/JoAnn+BOM.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373889021514919298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGClEb2RBJeNnJM0-a42DOMA1dSSj2c-Z5-Xl4hHp7hQsi6torkKrPidJNve_0ig6UhaPDik5ipsXxwPtaloMAi5Q_cgYnOt9dZZCiGViJHopoaLStB-IlqbIJON91_Ww9KNAsSj5cbfja/s320/JoAnn+BOM.bmp" border="0" /></a>This is a Joann's block of the month -- I fell in love with it, although it is a technique I had never tried-- machine applique. This is the center block -- I've since purchased (with coupons of course!) 2 more blocks but have not begun them. I don't think it's too bad for my very first machine applique. And no, I have no idea where I'll put this quilt -- it will be huge when done and here we go again, another one on point! However, I am rewarding myself every pay period with another block kit. The kits are pretty cool. They come with the backing fabric and all the fabrics and the patterns. You trace the patterns onto the fusible web, iron it on, cut them out, place them on the base fabric, iron it on and then do the machine applique. You can also do needle turn applique, but I'm really not into doing that, so I chose machine applique, but it still takes a lot of time (AND THREAD). Right now this is just one block stuck up on my wall (with pins yet!), but eventually, I think it'll be a gorgeous quilt! And no, I have no idea how I'll quilt it. Maybe I'll do it QAYG and try some stippling in the free spaces. Heck, I don't know! This one is on the back burner for now, but I want to get all the blocks while Joann's still has them.</p><p>Shakespeare in the Park is still with my friend Barb, the long armer. I am anxious to get it back, but I know she's got many quilts in front of mine, and that's a huge quilt. It'll cost an arm and a leg to get it out of hock when she finishes with it! But it'll be worth it. Barb, Diane and I are quilting over Labor Day. Their significant others are out of town and we're contemplating a mini-retreat. That would be fun, but if not, my plan is to get at least one wall of my bedroom painted that pale yellow to go with my Shakespeare in the Park quilt. If we do a mini retreat, well . . . the walls will just have to wait!</p><p>All else is good for the moment, and now it's time for me to get back to work. Have a great day!</p><p> </p><p> </p>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-791866527678419532009-08-08T04:33:00.000-07:002009-08-08T04:34:11.339-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pUYxEkDt_sZTdK5HicIpw343JMq_PyXOI2EIKhZYH7r9kjuLbJr1CHp4XvVSLukrwe4xA40EzO-fH2YfR2bdEmHE1xrnqQg99pNNC-jEXSVFClXJ1BT0F-awZUUmiQwaDCMYwR4TxkG1/s1600-h/SITP+Pillow+Shams.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pUYxEkDt_sZTdK5HicIpw343JMq_PyXOI2EIKhZYH7r9kjuLbJr1CHp4XvVSLukrwe4xA40EzO-fH2YfR2bdEmHE1xrnqQg99pNNC-jEXSVFClXJ1BT0F-awZUUmiQwaDCMYwR4TxkG1/s320/SITP+Pillow+Shams.jpg" /></a> And here are the pillow shams I made for my Shakespeare in the Park. Looking forward to it coming back from Barb, my long arm quilter! <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-63061065794375972032009-08-08T04:32:00.000-07:002009-08-08T04:34:26.426-07:00Ricky & Natalya<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCdsyrKnD5kazKjghr1JfmsMLlzsVnRJFDkX3ynr98VDs3wsa8JzFG9FEP4omSo5X6OPUlMjSQZe7nGUygLRbY1ePzmVCR5KLNHzuOoiNfaa4McW5A2cLVZCi2xRCozV42eg_2QMBYE5j/s1600-h/555.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCdsyrKnD5kazKjghr1JfmsMLlzsVnRJFDkX3ynr98VDs3wsa8JzFG9FEP4omSo5X6OPUlMjSQZe7nGUygLRbY1ePzmVCR5KLNHzuOoiNfaa4McW5A2cLVZCi2xRCozV42eg_2QMBYE5j/s320/555.JPG" /></a> I just had to post this adorable photo of my grandchildren!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-81891351104788653232009-07-28T06:13:00.000-07:002009-07-31T14:45:16.760-07:00It's TuesdayTuesday seems to be my day for blogging. As mentioned earlier, my friends and I had a sew day where we made X-block patterns. Here's a photo of my flimsy -- without borders (which are sewn but not squared up or added as yet). <div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363499056898010386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h-8Y9rJDRalMB30OOAtsTB0WciURRkQlTIThJk8mOLPXlUF5g1NHnK0qagPvaJP9LgKU6KEuKDRbmELtGawRZIdXnbVB1lE4QqRdfSZjB4n8ndmEqDOi1ycM8g8Ccx3vDuVkJzo11EHu/s320/X-Block+Nightweave.bmp" />The top is actually square -- it's just where I hung it up to snap a quick photo and the edges are falling off. Diane's and Barb's look completely different -- but just gorgeous! They used different X-Block patterns. Here's photos:</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj79noKzz3kWLg4T1TA2_OMroh11Ih3Yp9YoneHoXem2_Dy65TNXqfw_Ug5-OoLxEa91gmPDe0B1baJf22pDE7emxSED72va3OyJBtLcXSAITyY-floGAT8sh4JcKeJb19lfmkgZKgsNSv/s1600-h/Diane's+X-block.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363505435493042274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj79noKzz3kWLg4T1TA2_OMroh11Ih3Yp9YoneHoXem2_Dy65TNXqfw_Ug5-OoLxEa91gmPDe0B1baJf22pDE7emxSED72va3OyJBtLcXSAITyY-floGAT8sh4JcKeJb19lfmkgZKgsNSv/s320/Diane's+X-block.bmp" /></a>This is Diane's X-block -- cool, huh?</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUptQjccDm2g3zM1ac6y2ocuEYQETn3vP4oPT-5umrFoNhfFq1VxlSG4c9jFzlSO0RVnjuUOPtySwWO1Vf32JPPi9XEMn298bU6w5TAXYPEm9GLSYfhbyn_pr1ag97P_ZRH8rAOuq40tw/s1600-h/Barb's+X-block.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363505431009008098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUptQjccDm2g3zM1ac6y2ocuEYQETn3vP4oPT-5umrFoNhfFq1VxlSG4c9jFzlSO0RVnjuUOPtySwWO1Vf32JPPi9XEMn298bU6w5TAXYPEm9GLSYfhbyn_pr1ag97P_ZRH8rAOuq40tw/s320/Barb's+X-block.JPG" /></a>And this is Barb's -- her's has what are called "belly buttons" and is a lot more difficult. Gorgeous, huh?</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So yesterday was my Mom's 87th birthday. We had a whole weekend of birthday stuff, and it was great. My sister and brother-in-law (although he wasn't here) took us all out to Red Lobster on Sunday and we had a wonderful dinner and a great time. Before that we went to "The Ugly Truth." Warning about that movie -- my 87 year old mother, sister, niece, and 18 year old great-niece (as well as my aunt) went. It's a bit raunchy and I couldn't stop laughing at all of us sitting there watching this rather racey movie. But it turned out OK. My niece and great-niece and I went to see Harry Potter Saturday night. Trixye and I spent the night at Mom's (Trixye did super well, I was so proud of her) and Mom got some rest on Sunday morning. I had to work yesterday, but Mom and Sandi went out to dinner at Olive Garden, and my niece and great-niece stopped in for breakfast. I think she had a good birthday. I laid out the star quilt I'd planned for my great-niece and she loved it -- she said. I hope it's true -- lots of work to be done on it yet. I also got to see the quilt my great grandmother made (or is that great great -- I'm not sure, I think it is), that my great-niece has. Lovely scrappy split rail, all done by hand, with the most beautiful even stitches, just gorgeous.</div><div><br /><br /></div><p>I had to ruin it a bit due to more trouble in Meghan's world. It is so hard to be so far away and not be able to help. Now she's got cancer, and has been denied MediCal (California's version of Medicaid) so no insurance and they've referred her to a place that only charges 10%. But 10% of thousands and thousands of dollars of treatment is out of reach. I'm sure she'll figure it out -- I only wish there was some way I could help her.</p><div>I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a quilt for my sister. She likes things very luxurious, and she wants a queen size. Having just finished a queen size (which is with Barb, my long arm quilter now -- I'm sure it won't be done for months), I'm not quite sure how to attack this one. She doesn't really want geometric, which as you know is about all we do! Then she looked at the comforter on her beds and realized they are geometric in design. Part of me wants to attempt a double wedding ring -- but I think that may be past my skill level. I know I need lots of extra templates, etc., to even attempt one. I'd like to make her one for Christmas, but I'm just not sure what she'll like. She wants jewel tones -- maybe I could find a nice quilt as you go pattern and come up with a queen size. Any ideas anyone? Any patterns you'd suggest? What are jewel tones anyway? Golds, purples, sapphire blues, ruby reds? Would they clash? Maybe with the right pattern . . . . scrappy or not? I don't think she'd like scrappy. It's scary to try to make something and just hope she'll like it. I want to do it . . . . just not sure what to do! I'm open to suggestions!!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Oh, Talya is healthier than she's ever been, she's talking, beginning to walk, etc. Had a minor ear infection yesterday (to top everything off). But she has insurance and the doctor treated her. Kids and grandkids -- God the worry! I try not to worry, but I don't succeed.</div><div><br />Did I tell you I gave Mom my One Block Wonder for her birthday? She was at my house a few weeks ago and claimed it was her favorite. As many of you know, it's my favorite too (well, one of them -- Double Delight and SITP are too) -- but isn't that why we quilt? To give the ones away that people actually love? So I did. I hope she didn't feel it was a "left over" or anything, and I know it doesn't match a thing in her house, but she did claim to love it back then -- I hope she still does! It was hard to give that one up. So much of "me" went into it.</div><div><br />Started to design my shams for my Shakespeare in the Park last night, but with the phone calls from Meghan, etc., I lost interest. But I do have a layout. Can't work on it tonight-- going to the American Idol concert. A birthday gift from my friend Lynn. I think she's the only friend I have that is addicted to AI as I am. So this will be the third or maybe fourth time we've gone to the concert. Third, I think. I'm trying to pull my mood out of the basement so that I can go and enjoy it. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Anyway, any thoughts, ideas or suggestions on a queen size quilt (not past my ability level) for my sister would be appreciated. I know she wants one, and I want to make it. I'm just somewhat intimidated by the size and scope of the project, and what pattern to use. . . . and whether she'll like it once I've finished. But I know she really wants a quilt. Help!!</div><div><br /><br /></div><p>Billye</p><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-24439545066162845292009-07-20T08:38:00.001-07:002009-07-20T11:41:28.157-07:00It's been forever (again)Since I posted. Lots going on quilty and otherwise! First, here's a photo of my (nearly) completed Shakespeare in the Park:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360567411480162274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35Sz46_phGnAr-asedg6mhkFmBoxw7Ev6_NpgL1R1HSZn__wWVJqRbF2fUxnfMdren7Lp1K07JiGCNXRmgVHkaOSKZhi6SEkhgxtoEey3GeNqx1sJIqpjx2gbC0seOBnXcDVnOU9SdQk1/s320/SITP+before+borders.bmp" border="0" /><br /><br />I say nearly completed, because I've added a small yellow border and a 6" green border -- just to make this already gigantic thing bigger (and at the suggestion of my long armer, Barb, who didn't want my star points cut off when it was quilted.) Just need a bit more of the green -- 3 of the borders are on. It'll be about king size, but will fit nicely on my queen size bed (I like them bigger).<br /><p>This is a photo of a gift my friend (long armer Barb again) and I made for our friend Diane. We gave it to her for her birthday when we went to her house for a sew day on Saturday. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360598316263803778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRdRmgpKFxhkhRfSpEuGYXGMuiUOWn_oWNnauFTBVOeWwVI3Ohrw4sde_9AdBEC5ugl0T4_LppInM842Q7RVJE2UGqJDM0fZzdccwYPYimMtYodqxCvFWienf2TV3LdjWOiKU6EbnUAk/s320/Diane's+birthday+quilt.jpg" border="0" /><br />That Saturday Diane, Barb and I worked on X-Block quilts -- using the same tool, different fabrics and different patterns. Diane, who had not even chosen fabric yet, is almost done with hers. Mine is in process -- I cut a couple blocks backwards and have remade those, and am at assembly stage. Photos to be posted on completion. Barb is so busy -- we'll see hers (which is GORGEOUS) when she gets it done.<br /><br />I have completed my Double Delight -- I think I posted photos. Have completed my 5 yard quilt, no photo since it's no big deal. I'm also working on a hand quilted wall hanging project that should be completed this week. I have a stars quilt in the works for my great-niece -- left over stars from the SITP -- I hated them when they went with the snail trails, but they're kind of cute in a quilt by themselves--and plenty of them too! </p><p>As is true in most lives, not all is good, but not all is bad either. My granddaughter, Talya, is doing so so so much better. She's actually the poster child for the procedure that they did. It was 100% successful. She's still on the kidney transplant list -- but nearly 19 lbs. now. It is my understanding that when she reaches 22 lbs, they can do another procedure to help her get even better. Still, her kidneys are not right, and that procedure won't fix them either. Eventually she will likely need a transplant. </p><br />My daughter, her mother, on the other hand, has had a rough time the last couple of weeks. After a gynecological scare of being told she had very aggressive cancer, a biopsy was performed on Friday, without anesthesia and they were able to see the tumor on her uterus. They asked her and she opted to have it removed (still without anesthesia -- OUCH!!). They believe they got it all. They did 7 biopsies of the tumor -- 6 were negative, one showed Stage 1 cancer. Not sure what kind of cancer. She's on her way now to have a PET scan done (pray that's negative), and she'll probably need some radiation therapy. And no, I have no idea how they'll handle all that because even though the baby is so much better, she still isn't well enough . . . . no insurance for Meghan, although Talya has MediCal (Medicaid in Florida). Fun fun fun! I don't plan to go out to San Diego unless there really seems to be some way I can help out. I can only afford one trip -- well I can't really afford even one trip -- but if I go, that trip needs to COUNT!<br /><br /><br />I will update as more info comes in. Back to work for me! Hugs to all.<br /><br />BillyeBillyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-79533249073864776892009-06-16T05:36:00.000-07:002009-07-28T13:09:42.826-07:00Tuesday am - it's been a while!I haven't posted in forever, I know. Some good news -- here's a photo of Talya sleeping on the pillow and pillow case I made her -- she's doing so much better they were actually able to decline a kidney that was offered for transplant. Despite kidney failure a couple of months ago, when she missed a couple of doses of antibiotics (for the UTIs) due to spitting them up, whatever, her kidney functions were up. The doctors took a risk and took her off antibiotics and, amazingly, she's doing great!<br /><br />Hmmm....I can't seem to load up a photo -- any photo right now! Darn. I was going to post one of my Double Delight from my long arm quilter -- Barb -- who did a fantastic job! I can't wait to pick it up from her.<br /><br />I've been working on my Shakespeare in the Park for months. I got almost all the blocks done and laid out (about half) of it on my bed to see what I thought. I hated it. I didn't use the same fabrics for the background in the stars as in the snail trails, and I used too many colors in the stars. I just didn't like it. So . . . I've almost finished recutting for some light yellow stars using the same fabric for background as in the snail trail blocks. I'm pretty sure I'll like it much better. The snail trails were "lost" in my opinion. Again, I'd post a photo if it would let me. Probably some sort of blocker here at work.<br /><br />My great-niece has requested a quilt after the one I made for her Mom, my niece Mischa. I made a pineapple quilt for her, and she loves it. It's flattering for people to ask for one for themselves, and I'll be happy to make one for Becky -- she just graduated high school with super high honors. One of the girls here at work asked me if I sold them. Diane and Barb and I are making an X-Block quilt (Night Weave I think it's called) mid-July at a sew date at my house. Each of us will be making our own. I'm looking forward to that!<br /><br />Work has been OK -- busier and a little less worrisome about being laid off. Sometimes I'm really busy (last week) but then this week, not so much. Of course, it's only Tuesday! It's a good job, I don't work particularly hard (certainly in comparison to my last couple of jobs!), I make good money, have great benefits, and work with a group of good people around me, some of whom are beginning to become friends.<br /><br />One of those friends has gotten me hooked on "The Bachelorette". Yeah, I know. Not my kind of television either usually. And yet . . .I'm hooked!<br /><br />That's enough for now, since I can't post photos. All is OK. I'm a bit down today, but I'll bounce back up. I always do!Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-62249408864014488492009-05-13T13:00:00.001-07:002009-05-13T13:10:45.771-07:00Wednesday AfternoonSo here's a photo of the 7 shirts quilt I'm making for my DGS, Ricky -- it's made from 7 men's shirts. I don't care for plaids, so this is what I ended up with. The back is made from the backs of shirts (and a couple of sleeves) and they are sandwiched. I plan to just do some easy quilting with "X"s across the blocks (thanks Diane for the idea) and slap that binding on and be DONE! LOL. I've enjoyed making something new and different for me, and repurposing. Plus I think it looks like a VERY manly quilt! I hope to get it off in the mail in the next week, together with Talya's quilt and some changing pads and diaper/wipes cases (and for Talya, a medicine case). My sister bought some bonnets as well, and I have a rather large box of soda tabs to send -- people at work have been collecting for us.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335401062680969890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkriJGzP_0pQpXF8J0JGEFW5fVyWGz202TxaJcytQ1vPtkquxdcAB2Q7O_YzqTVUch8W-LbpewK8D0uwoNhDGBmJIFpwOzR5yQMs5NQc2UDTpuV-hlkMWMJlaXnBIMRD_bzNRKGydjIPR/s320/Ricky's+quilt+-+top+done.bmp" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>As most of you know, Talya is going to need a kidney transplant, and the measurements and a lot of the tests have already been taken to put her on the transplant list. She'll need 3 in all as she grows up . . . but today was a good day -- her functions were up, and the doctors are confused -- it's not medically possible. Except . . . it's happened. Our family knows it's from the prayers of all of us, all of you, and from people we haven't even heard of that have heard about her. Thank you everyone. This is a very trying time and will continue to be, but we keep trying to be positive and think positively. I've not been posting partly because I've been, shall we say, less than cheerful, but I do believe God has His hand on that baby. Please say a prayer for my daughter as well -- she's being pushed beyond her limits and pulled in so many different directions -- finances, stress, sickness, Ricky's school, in-laws, lack of friends or emotional support -- just pray for her too, OK? She's been amazing through all this -- and I'm incredibly proud of her.</p><p>I want to make a couple more changing pads, etc. before I ship the box off, and I want to publicly thank Diane for teaching me how to make those too! What a great friend she is, and an incredible teacher and generous person!</p><p>Everyone take care -- I'll post more when I have more to post!</p>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-10214888512250631852009-04-20T08:13:00.000-07:002009-04-20T08:16:19.216-07:00Monday morningAnother slow, slow day here at work. I didn't get a lot of quilting done over the weekend, but I did get the 24 9 patch blocks done on Ricky's 7 shirt quilt and I've cut the squares for the snowball blocks. I just didn't feel like sewing yesterday -- and I know that when I don't feel like it, I screw it up.<br /><br />Tonight is my first quilt guild meeting as a member. I'll pick up Barb and off we'll go. <br /><br />Marc did very well meeting my co-workers on Thursday and we had a nice date Saturday night. We'll see where it goes from here. I'll file for divorce in the morning -- Greg is being very cool about it and I'm sure he suspects I've decided it's time to date. And so it is. . . I've given him about 10 years and gotten very very little in return . . . time to MOVE ON!<br /><br />Hopefully I'll get inspired to sew again after Guild tonight. Everyone have a great day -- sorry no photos to post!Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-1818700928401841022009-04-16T09:35:00.001-07:002009-04-16T09:46:19.489-07:00Most recent finishes<div>I took some photos last night of the things I've finished recently and -- voila! Here they are!</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325329340492117618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfsV2H4W3ztQ3dVHWXrguasF3jORcv9F9z6KU3fuaRWIovpJ_92kWSsvBlnLPZJqeXcYzuhrXtVXWWBm7-xHdQtz-ltzoGMvqt-HTcpAqv0UgppbpNuQwbh8aKTpTjiVDZJqdWdJ1RlPl/s320/Pineapple+quilt.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaezydKiue1gMzvC04aC0F2aCiCWOM3Y6880U-lmRRbpq4xkd_8oBeG87lxP_pLhdKwcjURU3aifd1ujAOEeQqjb1wuoUOFpw1-mCSalQGztyKxbjSBpm2Bpx8-ygDR9VZXaGew8Uba-RH/s1600-h/Pineapple+quilt+label.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325329344866233666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaezydKiue1gMzvC04aC0F2aCiCWOM3Y6880U-lmRRbpq4xkd_8oBeG87lxP_pLhdKwcjURU3aifd1ujAOEeQqjb1wuoUOFpw1-mCSalQGztyKxbjSBpm2Bpx8-ygDR9VZXaGew8Uba-RH/s320/Pineapple+quilt+label.bmp" border="0" /></a> This is Mischa's Pineapple Quilt -- done done. The binding is made with some lion/tiger fabric, and so every once in a while a pair of eyes stares out at you. I think it makes it kind of fun.<br /><br /><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325329347396807122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd7RJM6-wY_J48erNA5XrYETfDjOH874H0_nsxnCSZ3NVt80CIPLLMl-TLFSzBtRYpest-5v0Ia9Bhs7Ik4OsEXeeH0zZzPwtONxzJw8pbl5zLA1NFNsl8bz4ECTg9BBqfn4FYPNSr924/s320/Couch+caddy.bmp" border="0" /><br />The above is shown as a couch caddy (which is nice and easy to make -- Lazy Girl pattern), but I've done the adjustments and added the ties to make it a walker caddy for my Mom for Mother's Day. However, not having a walker handy . . . . she's asked for this and she wanted black. You can't see it in this photo, but the speckles are gold. Mom always likes to sparkle so I hope she likes it.</div><div> </div><div>As for me, anybody who reads this blog (like all 2 of you) may be happy to know that I have completed the dissolution of marriage paperwork and have made arrangements with Greg to go to the Courthouse on Tuesday morning to file it. Needless to say, I have to pay for it, but they take plastic, so I'll pay for it over time at least! I figure if I'm going to start dating anyone, ever, I need to be free to do so at least in my own head. Nobody but me (well, and my Mom and sister) seems to think it's any big deal, but it's a big deal to me. The paperwork was easier than I thought and I've checked with the Court that I have everything. I'll be glad to have it over and done with. Main reason? My girlfriend tells me they're getting ready to raise the fees again. It's already $400!!!</div><div> </div><div>The baby is doing well, as of last night. And finally Steve O is off DWTS! And they saved Matt last night on AI -- not quite sure why . . . but that was kind of nice. Too bad Lil wasn't voted off. I love The Rose -- and I thought she really butchered it. </div><div> </div><div>I have a date tonight -- just to a free concert here in downtown and probably not for very long. But still I'm looking forward to it. Marc is coming to the office to get me to go. So the girls will get an opportunity to check him out! </div><div> </div><div>Everybody have a great day. I'm busily working on Ricky's 7 shirts quilt -- I've only got a couple more strips to cut on one last shirt, then I'm ready to begin assembly. I hope it looks at least SOMETHING like I've envisioned! LOL.<br /><br /></div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-28893651508674292492009-04-15T12:46:00.001-07:002009-04-15T13:24:45.551-07:00D9P<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLs8aNQ22KNe_70eWnYevUOXWEZEBD_Uti4cnyYqsYyb6_EVmjfxEu3mAQZasWjN5gOnUiNP2oXk1oblvpvI50MvNpYgC3EbegVn8Mb2Tih75lQSQSZGmTf-ujppK7uoyFj2uEl1h97EX/s1600-h/D9P+quilted.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325007069908459074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLs8aNQ22KNe_70eWnYevUOXWEZEBD_Uti4cnyYqsYyb6_EVmjfxEu3mAQZasWjN5gOnUiNP2oXk1oblvpvI50MvNpYgC3EbegVn8Mb2Tih75lQSQSZGmTf-ujppK7uoyFj2uEl1h97EX/s320/D9P+quilted.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Enough grief already, Diane!! LOL -- I posted the finished one already. The pineapple quilt is quilted, bound, labeled and washed too and I'll add it tonight (probably). I just don't have the photos or camera (or quilts for that matter!) here with me at work.</div><div></div><div>Besides, Diane has seen them in person . . . so I don't know WHAT her deal is. LOL. She's suddenly Little Miss Super Blogger -- for somebody that didn't even have one a month ago!</div><div></div><div>OK, so most of you probably know I decided to test the dating waters a little bit. So I signed up for several on line dating sites (I blame Arline for this -- I am not responsible). And no, I haven't told Greg yet, but I will. I'm just going to tell him the truth -- 8 years of my life is long enough and I'll be filing for divorce soon, which he has known for some time. Still, he'll probably manage to be hurt, but I'll try not to.</div><div></div><div>Anyway, after wading through a bunch of profiles, and shockingly enough to me, a bunch of emails and "flirts" and "winks" and "I'm interested in you"s, and discarding all of them but one, that fellow (who was seeing someone else) invited me to a movie on Saturday. And so I went. Yeah. How about that? And he's nice (so far -- let's not get ahead of ourselves here!). We had dinner last night at Applebee's (not to worry all, as you probably suspected, I'm paying my own way). He's invited me to a jazz concert on the 28th. I know he'd invited another girl and bought tickets for her, but ha ha ha, she didn't like him and I do, so I get to go! Ha ha ha. Not that I know anything about jazz except I like it, but I can learn. </div><div></div><div>We were going to go to a dance with Arline and the band where I usually go dancing (the Moose) on Saturday night, but it ends up that's a big Moose convention and it will be really crowded. I'm way not into crowds, and it so happens that Marc isn't either. Oh yeah, his name is Marc. Anyway, since I've seen him twice and he hasn't murdered me yet (in fact he's been a perfect gentleman) I invited him to dinner Saturday night and I'll twirl a chicken and stuff. He offered to bring whatever -- I suggested he bring a movie. It'll be interesting to see what he chooses!</div><div></div><div>The baby is doing better than she's done in like forever, although she's got a little cold, but it's normal baby stuff. We are so grateful that so far the deflux procedure seems to have done quite a bit of good. Make no mistake, things aren't "fixed," just less bad. And for now, we'll take less bad! Meghan has been sick, but slowly getting better. Ricky is great and I am super Nana because I sent the right toy for Easter. Yay Nana!</div><div></div><div>Bored yet? Probably, so I'll sign off. Everybody have a great day and I'll try to get some photos up of completed projects. Oh yeah, a couple I can't post, but I can post Mom's walker caddy. Need a photo of it too!</div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-10320483981578090962009-04-06T15:15:00.000-07:002009-04-06T15:27:26.938-07:00D9P Done Done<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsHcTDgDDx9DuXRar7OIT2cdq_hTADq8mIwg1u43lJyI9UqdksIkHSTdRwjDF5VkdQbnMWolIxTOIkECtaWsSuO6c0nw_BxzCBkPXJi3Y3SKDJ430UZshV3mppdWznj237bXOs_MakLyf/s1600-h/D9P+Done+Done.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321706728740508866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsHcTDgDDx9DuXRar7OIT2cdq_hTADq8mIwg1u43lJyI9UqdksIkHSTdRwjDF5VkdQbnMWolIxTOIkECtaWsSuO6c0nw_BxzCBkPXJi3Y3SKDJ430UZshV3mppdWznj237bXOs_MakLyf/s320/D9P+Done+Done.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, imagine my surprise that Diane is DEMANDING a photo of the completed D9P. This is for my DGD Natalya -- who has had yet another rough rough day. She was diagnosed with epilepsy today, and her hips have a problem, she has to see an immunologist, and the deflux procedure may not have been as effective as we'd hoped. But, none of those things are life threatening -- it does however mean that Meghan can't work any time soon, and she's going nuts. Unfortunately for her, she has no hobbies, and no close friends out there -- little relief from a constantly sick baby. And yet, with the price of day care in California, she really can't afford to work with 2 kids, even if Talya could go to day care, which she most definitely can't. It's hard to stay here and not help, but they'll manage. Somehow. They did get a car at least!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Anyway, here's the D9P done done, quilted, bound, labeled and even washed. I'm working on Ricky's 7 shirt quilt and will send both when I finish that one. Need to get back to the pineapple quilt too -- that's still on the design wall and not been pieced! It's Ok, though, one thing at a time. Tonight I'll finish the binding on the OBW. I tell ya, that one turned out to be a beauty! In fact, I'm going to post a photo of it too!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-hj9VDkUeUq0B0qYy4-rUxC4pjwHCb_WOOMsGTOLlqRYxlR8PDMquavjKXyiltJ7Xv22sEr8U8HO88FcTjxc3hIr5jCUSUX6vSf58ngt9W6fIR5Gba4wSmzcOvv9ye0LdNmIxkQMUvdW/s1600-h/OBW+done+done.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321707856705240978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-hj9VDkUeUq0B0qYy4-rUxC4pjwHCb_WOOMsGTOLlqRYxlR8PDMquavjKXyiltJ7Xv22sEr8U8HO88FcTjxc3hIr5jCUSUX6vSf58ngt9W6fIR5Gba4wSmzcOvv9ye0LdNmIxkQMUvdW/s320/OBW+done+done.jpg" border="0" /></a>I don't know how well you can see the beautiful quilting that Barb did on it, but she used yellow thread (which I chose) and it's gorgeous. she used black on the back (black backing with the fabric as a trim) and well, I just think it's beautiful. Not very practical of course -- I don't know anybody that has a house where this would match, but I love, love, love it. Thank you, Nancy for teaching me! Thank you Barb, for quilting it! Thank you, Diane, for making me believe I could do it.</div><div> </div><div>Hugs to all. Please keep praying for the baby.<br /></div><div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-90815946751630882852009-04-02T10:20:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:44:42.294-07:00April 2<div><br /><br /><div>Oh, another day in paradise. Well, almost, at least it's Florida! Not that I'd know -- since I'm stuck inside. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Talya had her procedure on Monday and it went super well, which was a huge relief, until at least yesterday, when she was back at the hospital because she was peeing blood. Doctors believe it was a blood clot that she passed, so she didn't have to stay overnight. Meghan just called and said she had a rough night and didn't feel very good, but she's OK. We may have just gotten the miracle so many people have been praying for. And thank you for those prayers. Something's working and I'm inclined to think it's the prayers!</div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9Gj9M50UXaBBES1qw_M01sRwIAnRMjwTJ8GlcY3z9FKajSHVsQefLKQj_z7o3hp4XSBPn9OZ3bYzHp5JU9gz0AJfdmZZraTLq_Uwjz2mUN9uiC_8Z2cHZExp1DunzW_G9TsFkulwRR82/s1600-h/D9P+cut+and+swapped.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320146564727788690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9Gj9M50UXaBBES1qw_M01sRwIAnRMjwTJ8GlcY3z9FKajSHVsQefLKQj_z7o3hp4XSBPn9OZ3bYzHp5JU9gz0AJfdmZZraTLq_Uwjz2mUN9uiC_8Z2cHZExp1DunzW_G9TsFkulwRR82/s320/D9P+cut+and+swapped.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I have been quilting, but haven't taken any recent photos. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbWkjgm8ZsDhRXOGe7xhSBmqRYhMlMNIOewzI7Pg3LArV0XY6hLFZDGiiEQvlL4wfNve5BbEWtL8rSTkILlPZJmWwK3ueFa6vde7zJevE4hV8ls5VzptJxsEKUQ82tYjl1PTY0lMicRaW/s1600-h/D9P+fabric.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320146555927387698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbWkjgm8ZsDhRXOGe7xhSBmqRYhMlMNIOewzI7Pg3LArV0XY6hLFZDGiiEQvlL4wfNve5BbEWtL8rSTkILlPZJmWwK3ueFa6vde7zJevE4hV8ls5VzptJxsEKUQ82tYjl1PTY0lMicRaW/s320/D9P+fabric.JPG" border="0" /></a> These two are from Diane, from the class we took on Saturday from our friend Barb (who, incidentally, did a magnificent job on quilting my OBW -- I've cut the binding and plan to get that done this weekend). We finished piecing the D9Ps in class, and I've added the borders. I'm doing this one QAYG (my first with this method that Diane taught me) and I quilted half last night. A couple of wonky places I'm going to frog and redo (not quite sure how it got all bunched up in a couple places, but that's OK -- it's all a learning curve!), but overall, not too bad. Barb also quilted my 5 yard quilt (and that's gorgeous too), although it has to go back to her to finish since I hadn't made the back long enough. I stuck some fabric on it and have it in the trunk to give to her. She now has my Double Delight to quilt. I am still the most proud of that quilt. I surely posted a photo of it completed on here, now didn't I? If not, I will. She's out of town for the month of April, so I'm sure it will be May or June before I get that quilt back, but that's OK. Frankly I have no idea what I'm going to do with all these quilts, but I love making them and having them. Well, the D9P is for Talya. And I've collected all the shirts for the 7 shirt quilt for Ricky, and I've removed (and kept) all the buttons, so that's my next project. </div><div></div><div>Although maybe not. I need to get my sister's cell phone pouch done (still trying to figure out how to adjust the patterns I have to accommodate what she wants -- she's VERY picky), and make Mom either a black BFF bag or a walker bag -- I'm thinking a walker bag -- for Mother's Day. And I need to get some stained glass done for my bosses birthdays this summer, and something special for another friend of mine who might read this so I can't say what. Oh oh oh, and my Shakespeare in the Park. Yeah, that one is toward the top of the list too. Long list. And those are just the ones in some stage of actually being done!</div><div></div><div>OK, so I didn't go on the date. I canceled it. And yes, I'm on 3 different dating sites and no, I've not met anybody I'm even remotely interested in -- plus they'd cut into my quilty time!! I did get propositioned twice yesterday -- even old guys are like that. Ick. Don't worry about me -- I seem to be happy enough on my own and was even thinking this morning did I really even want a guy around -- God I'd have to shave all the time, and cook and clean and stuff. ICK!!!</div><div></div><div>I have a friend that I can almost guaranty is being scammed by one of those "romance scammers." He's followed every classic move, but another friend of hers and I cannot get her to even question it. He's promised her a beautiful home and to take care of her financially so she can retire. And she wants it so badly, that she believes everything. Even when he asked her for $3,000 because he got mugged (which I'm not supposed to know -- another friend of hers let that slip). It makes no sense that a wealthy man would need her to send him $3,000 whether he got mugged (or anything else) or not, but she just won't see it. She's in love. With a man she's never met. She's run all sorts of background checks and says he's clean, even though another friend found his exact name as a scammer and showed her. We try to tell her that just because he SAYS it's his name, it doesn't mean it IS his name. But I'm done -- I've offered to have her talk to my friend at the FBI, I've tried all I know to discourage her, but she just won't listen. I pray she doesn't get more than her heart hurt. </div><div></div><div>This has prattled on long enough. Trixye is at the vet having her teeth cleaned and I'll leave work about 4:30 to pick her up, then she'll be sleepy so it'll be a nice quiet night of quilting. I have lots of TV to catch up on. Saturday will be spent with Mom in the afternoon, after I stop off at Country Quilts & Bears to pay for the FMQ class I'm taking in June. Then that evening I'll be picking Judi up from the airport -- bless her heart, her mother passed away last week and they didn't find her for a couple of days. Judi found out on Sunday, on her birthday. So sad. We'd just been talking about our mothers the day before when I took her to a movie and dinner for her birthday. I know I'm dreading the day I have to deal with my own mother's demise. </div><div></div><div>OK, enough gloom and doom. All else is good, and I pray it is for everyone else too. God bless, and thank you God for the miracle of Talya's better health. Thank you.</div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-9601491291986502572009-03-23T08:34:00.000-07:002009-03-23T09:03:07.113-07:00Monday morning<div>Ahh, it's that time again. Time to be bored out of my mind at work. Oh yay. So here I am writing again.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVudvUtpcR91eQIsetJbz9GMYESg2cp5xC07gLeIw17UJEkJWn1ndCcDIhc5EHky-QFDgDnipF1sgn-H6UayPSPhzoaAL9weEGc9hnAp7LLbwpOoFNUzDiiacnJaraFrKoLKu198TLDdo/s1600-h/Billye+and+Arline.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316409120261163522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVudvUtpcR91eQIsetJbz9GMYESg2cp5xC07gLeIw17UJEkJWn1ndCcDIhc5EHky-QFDgDnipF1sgn-H6UayPSPhzoaAL9weEGc9hnAp7LLbwpOoFNUzDiiacnJaraFrKoLKu198TLDdo/s320/Billye+and+Arline.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>This is a photo of my friend Arline and I -- I'm on the right for those of you who don't know me. Arline is 72 -- I should look so good! She's got all kinds of men chasing her. We went to see Frankie Avalon at this cool place where she hopes to live with this guy she met on a dating website -- it is positively gorgeous. Hopefully she'll get to retire and have a really wonderful life. She's a lovely lady and deserves it. </p><br /><p>I did some FMQ on my Burger King Mystery Quilt yesterday -- I had been hand quilting it and I knew I'd never finish it. I did a horrible job -- nobody gets to see the back side of that quilt any time soon! But I'm going ahead with binding it (almost done, just one more side) so it'll be done done. Perhaps when I get in the mood again I'll take out the FMQ that's bad and either redo it or finish it by hand.</p><br /><p>Tonight I want to start on my Pineapple quilt. I've cut a lot of strips, and a bunch of squares, but I need to assemble a block or two to see how it looks in reality, and then go from there. I had planned to work on it more yesterday, but got sidetracked with the BKMQ.</p><br /><p>Talya has had a rough night -- back to the doctor for her again today -- she choked on vomit 3 times during the night and couldn't breathe. Luckily, Meghan heard her and jumped and got her all 3 times -- says she's never been more scared. Had to scoop it out of her throat to get her breathing. The pediatrician is going to be really angry with the hospital for not running the tests that she ordered on Friday anyway, and now this. Poor baby. And poor Meghan trying to keep up with everything. Luckily they did get the car fixed yesterday, and they are still trying to decide whether to buy a used car (which hasn't been going very well on finding one) or fixing up her car -- which is just a Daewoo and may not be worth putting the money into. Their decision, but yet more crap, ya know? It's exhausting to me -- and I'm not living it! I do remember those days, though, when it seemed it was one thing right after another. I'm grateful it's not like that for me any more, except through her.</p><br /><p>Ricky's been in trouble at school but the meeting with the principal went well (she just sent me an email). On the way to school, a little boy fell off his bike with a grand mal seizure. People were trying to hold him down. Meghan has to deal with seizures all the time and, apparently, that's not the right thing to do, so she stopped, jumped out of the car (bad knee and all), left Ricky with Talya and got the kid comfortable until the EMTs got there. By that time the seizure was over. That's some kid I raised -- I wouldn't have known what to do! But living with it, she does. As she wrote in her e-mail, what ELSE can happen today?</p><br /><p>Oh, and I have a date Wednesday night.</p><br /><p></p>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174460832086164854.post-63649138830448625392009-03-22T01:36:00.000-07:002009-03-23T08:59:24.836-07:00Frankie Avalon, etc.Arline and I went to see Frankie Avalon tonight. Arline has met a guy on line, who appears to be quite wealthy, and she has fallen for him. There is a new development out in Wimauma called Lake Valencia, and they put on a huge cocktail party tonight, with wonderful food, and a show by Franie Valley. Arline is interested in perhaps buying a home there with this fellow. Frankie Avalon had his son with him playing drums, and the son of one of the Everly Brothers on guitar. Oh, it was corny and Frankie Avalon never really could sing, but it was fun, and he wasn't bad. I've certainly seen old acts that are still performing that didn't do nearly as good a show. Anyway, I had a great time. It prompted me to do some "housekeeping" on myself -- nails, toes, eyebrows waxed. I feel better about me today1<br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div>So Arline convinced me to join (OK, she didn't twist my arm or anything) this dating website. Not that anything's happening -- oh, I've gotten some interest, but nothing past that. I suspect that I won't -- seems you have to kind of put out the right "I'm available and interested and you are fascinating to me" vibe even on the Internet, and since I don't feel that way . . . it's sort of fun though. I suppose my "I never want to have to deal with a man again" stance has been softened a little bit. Don't get worried though, only just a little bit! And also don't worry -- I have even created a separate email account -- I'll be super extremely careful!</div><div><br /></div><div>So next week is quilt class with Barb teaching. Somehow, the owner of the quilt retreat where we're going in July ran across my blog -- I asked her how and she said she was cleaning up old emails, etc, from when I inquired about their retreat and telling her about the one Diane and I went to (which was basically trying to sell us machines, and was expensive and we came home with nothing -- well, not quite true, I won a Baby Lock machine -- but otherwise, not). Their retreats are so much better, everyone says. I am so thrilled that Barb invited me to be her roommate, because I'd really wanted to go, but didn't want to go alone and not know anyone. Anyway, the owner got my application yesterday, saw that I am rooming with Barb, and then cleaning up her email box ran across that old email of mine and clicked on the link I used to have to this blog. In case you want to go to her retreat, which goes on all the time, here's the link to the website: www.besewcreative.com-- and you know I'll report on how good it was when I get back!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe0anDy2fDn8XW_jLLyKNa9nIw3kVPvilIkExFbvhOu_eiCBr5Ljh8bbVwxmoCVxoIizWBkID8CM3FJqWGfFwuVqdul9UTAxeuNk-Cfp7RtCnuz-DA_68hVcRtec73QHnFhhtMrXxgw5p/s1600-h/Talya's+sun+bonnet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930903985706690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe0anDy2fDn8XW_jLLyKNa9nIw3kVPvilIkExFbvhOu_eiCBr5Ljh8bbVwxmoCVxoIizWBkID8CM3FJqWGfFwuVqdul9UTAxeuNk-Cfp7RtCnuz-DA_68hVcRtec73QHnFhhtMrXxgw5p/s320/Talya's+sun+bonnet.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebh3WRAB5OvxVfRZ8rPCdOMdfqQGIV-mLe0OHKchYH7-o60rnFUSp5lRoA88RzZsz-1MtoDSOG2kudvGEOksmzvXcwgFkOhFh2fcZzr2eGfU0A8sVDm9MgSa0k2cEpKtAWGJxfRBAgfmQ/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930897589215810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebh3WRAB5OvxVfRZ8rPCdOMdfqQGIV-mLe0OHKchYH7-o60rnFUSp5lRoA88RzZsz-1MtoDSOG2kudvGEOksmzvXcwgFkOhFh2fcZzr2eGfU0A8sVDm9MgSa0k2cEpKtAWGJxfRBAgfmQ/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Anyway, a good day all in all. Baby was back at the hospital last night, but back home today. Her body just doesn't seem to be fighting any more, but Meghan assures me it's not life threatening -- scary though. Here's a new photo of her, and one of the sunbonnet I made for her (OK, I had to put it on SOMETHING!). I'll get that off in the mail this week, along with the soda tabs. Oh, you know to save soda tabs for her, don't you? Yeah, Ronald McDonald House collects them and gets $$ for them from the State of California. I know it's not much, but it makes me feel like I'm helping, even a little bit.</div><div><br />Have a great day and yes, it's the middle of the night. I just woke up on the couch and my sleep meds will take a few minutes to kick in, so . . . have a good one!</div><div></div><div>Billye<br /></div><div></div>Billyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924667293646926136noreply@blogger.com1