Quilters Anonymous

Ohio Star

Turnstiles

Card Trick

Country Pinwheel

Jacob's Ladder

Castle In the Air

I've been wondering if there is some sort of intervention program for obsessive quilters. My "homework assignment" was to create four quilt blocks. This seems simple, but it really takes a lot of brainwork to figure out what to cut and how to sew it. We aren't using patterns, just drafting out the blocks and figuring out how to make them. For me, it has been great fun. However, I can't seem to stop. I wake up early every morning with plans for cutting material and sewing it back together. I don't watch TV; I sew. It is sorta creepy when you think about it. I think DoJo is planning an intervention. If my quilting rulers disappear or my rotary cutter goes missing, you will know that DoJo has stepped in. I don't see why he should complain. It's a harmless hobby. He has a hobby too. It's called Church.

Departure Day!

Today was D-Day, but last night we had a fun family dinner and one last go-round with Wesley before he became Elder Whipple.

Here is Wes with his nieces and nephews. They mostly adore him, except when he tickles too long or growls too fiercely. We tried to get Desi to pop her belly in on one side of the photo, but she said it wouldn't fit. She is looking forward to to her D-Day coming up soon.

Here Wes gets some last minute loves and advice from his two grandmas. My mom is Opal, on the left, and DoJo's mom, Shirley is on the right. Grandma Opal has fairly severe dementia and doesn't remember much from one minute to the next. She gave Wesley his "last goodbyes" about 4 or 5 times last night. Each time, she began by asking what time he would be leaving, and then announcing that she was going to tell him goodbye right then because she "probably wouldn't be awake in the morning when he left." Too bad he didn't get the departure money with each goodbye! $$$

The Other-Mothers. These girls really did help raise this missionary and they are proud of their work. (No one quite understands Kaitlin's strange attachment to the Pink Power Ranger?!)

One "perk" of knowing the Stake President personally is that Wes was able to be set apart as a missionary in our home. It was a perfect ending to a family night. For the scoop on Elder Whipple, you can now visit his mission blog, Elder Whipple Goes to Washington at elderwhipple.blogspot.com. Currently, the blog is plain and unadorned, but once the Other-Mothers get to it, they will spice it up nicely...just you wait and see!

9-patch-9

My first project, a 9-patch-9. I loved the materials separately, but I'm not crazy about the finished product. However, may I point out how very SQUARE all the corners are?! This is what I was doing at 4am this morning when I couldn't sleep. I'm hoping this onset of insomnia will pass once Wesley is safely in the MTC. In case it doesn't, I have quilt blocks to make! :)

A Good Day

Today was a good day. One of those days a mother waits her entire life for. Today, my baby went to the temple in preparation for his upcoming mission to Everett Washington. Kaitlin and Reed were not able to be there with us because they were on their way home from New York City and another appearance on the Today Show. All the rest were there.

Jared and Desiree were there too, but they are off camera somewhere chasing two tired little boys. Jace, unlike his father, is not a ham in front of the camera. Just the opposite.

Mason didn't mind having his picture taken as long as he didn't have to pose!

Nothing has ever tugged at my heart strings more than seeing my children sitting in the temple all dressed in white. Words are inadequate for days like today. Besides that, it's hard to talk (or type) about it without crying. Not sad tears, just really happy, grateful tears. Today was a REALLY good day.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop

I don't have any idea what it is REALLY like to have idle hands. What I mean is, I'm always busy. I love my teaching job (6th grade) but I often find myself longing for the days when I was a stay-at-home mom with 5 little kids. Looking back at that time in my life, I'm amazed at what I was able to accomplish. Now, it seems that I accomplish a fraction of what I used to do. (PLEASE do not attribute this to my age! I'm struggling with the nice round number approaching in May) Anyway, in an effort to produce more, I started knitting dishcloths. It all began in late June when I was recruited for a part in a Pioneer Days play. Knowing how there is lots of wait time in these productions, I began knitting while waiting in the wings. So far, I've knitted my way through one big spool of cotton yarn and about half-way through two other spools of different colors. (I had to keep switching colors because I was bored. Big spools are way cheaper than the little skeins, but you do have the boredom factor.) Here is a picture of my handiwork.

30 dishcloths and counting. My mom keeps asking me what I intend to do with them. I'm thinking Christmas presents. Who doesn't appreciate these handmade cloths? Even if you don't do dishes, they are great in the shower too.

After the Jolly Green Giant experience, I signed up for a beginning quilt class. Yes, I already know most of the basics, but the teacher, Shirley, promised that I would learn something anyway. Besides, I need to move past the basics and I figure this class might get me off high center. The first class was on Thursday evening, and bless her pea-pickin' heart, Shirley is MORE anal about fabric than I am! I knew right away that I'd found a sewing soul mate. Our first task was to buy our fabric. The instructions were to pick out three fabrics; one bold print that we love, one neutral fabric (I'm queen of neutral...zzzzzz!), and one fabric that was different than the other two. Shirley taught us the "squint test" for determining if the fabrics will go together nicely. Basically, you put them side by side, stand back, and squint (un-focus) your eyes. If it looks okay, then you have the right mix. I'm all about that since the mere mention of a color wheel makes me break out in hives. So, today being a school-free day, I went to the local fabric store to buy my stuff. First off, I'm wearing my glasses today instead of contacts. Being far sighted makes me look like Mr. Magoo anyway, but I wear the glasses when I'm too lazy to mess with the contacts. Just imagine this...Mr. Magoo standing several paces away from strategically placed fabric bolts, SQUINTING. Yes, I'm SURE I looked idiotic. Whatever. Here's what I came away with:

A bold print that I love. Say ooooh to fall colors.

A neutral. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it is a beautiful small print in ecru. And last of all, something different from the first two.

You KNEW it was going to be a green. Sorry. I can't seem to help myself. Now, do the Mr. Magoo and see if the squint test doesn't really work.

The second task Shirley assigned was to straighten the fabric. In case you haven't been to the fabric store lately, a "straight" cut is not necessarily straight by sewing standards. This bugs me, but there isn't much you can do about it except buy more fabric than you think you will need. I do that anyway, but still, you ought to get what you pay for. None of the pieces I bought were straight. Here is the result of straightening.

In some cases, I lost one-and-a-half inches of fabric by straightening it. Like I said, I'm anal. I was ripped up when I saw this pile. Get it? Ha Ha, you rip the fabric to get a straight edge. Just a little fabric joke. I crack myself up sometimes.

I had so much fun walking around looking like Mr. Magoo, I decided to pick out some additional pieces, since I know that I will be needing them sometime and my fabric shopping time is limited. Besides, I had a 10% off coupon! Try the squint test on this. Also notice the limited amount of green! Stay tuned for pics of my first project; a nine-patch-nine. Shirley says this will be an orphan piece, but I'm planning to use it to make a little topper for my dining room table.