Heading to new beginnings.......

isn't it amazing that at any point in your life you can hit a new beginning that breathes life into everything that you are doing and trying to achieve?  And this happened this week....

A relationship that I thought I had lost has been revived and there is forgiveness from both sides and a new understanding of family.  Then another friendship that I thought was strained became as it had always been and I can believe in that again.  Then, following on from the stress of the visa renewal the bank came through and all the things I want to do in the next few years are now possible.  So here I come world!!

Caper is proving to be an absolute delight.  I miss Bandit very much, and Maggie, but this little lady is just wonderful.  I did some research and found that she had been at the kennel with Heartworm Project (www.heartwormproject.org) for a whole year and that she is only about eighteen months old - so she came to the kennel at about six months old.  She is a little pudgy and still a puppy, but so easily trained and willing to do what I want her to do - she loves her crate and took only two nights to get house trained and is now running with me on a loose leash and able to wait in doorways and in the car.  Very impressive. 

 

The picture is a little bit blurry, but black dogs are so hard to picture.  Her ears are usually pricked up but she was so 'what are you doing new mom?'.

 

 

This quilt is a bit of a sad story.  My new landscaper asked me to make a quilt for his 25th anniversary to include silver and earth tones.  We made this quilt and spoke to him on the day, since we had not heard from him, and he had had a stroke.  I hope that this story will have a happier ending next week.

 

So 'Oodles of Sensations' has been given a new lease of life with a lot of crystals.  Crystals do not show up in a photo so I cannot show you how spectacular this quilt now looks.  So let's see how it does at AQS Grand Rapids!!

 

Reinar and Jill - I am working on your quilt!!

 

The new design/blocking wall - J.P. got her DIY on and this is the result - thank you so much!!

 

And this is the chaos caused by the new design/blocking wall - J.P. (the other one) I hope you are ready for tomorrow!!

So - that is enough for tonight - we have plans for mystery quilts and other things in the near future, as well as other exciting things on a much more regular basis.  Caper says 'Hi' and could you please let me out to go potty.  Nature calls!

Oh my, life has become interesting.......

and I am glad to share it with you.  It's not about quilting - it's about life.  I opened up to my lovely J.P. and realized that I had issues that needed to be addressed.  Over the last many years I have kept a day minder and looking back over the last three years I was able to see that I had a major event in my life in late December 2010 that changed my life. 

I had no idea that this event had caused so many issues, but now that I have related the event to what has been going on in my life, I can make adjustments and sort things out.  So things are looking up - I realize that I can make it on my own and that I am stronger than I think I am - so look out world - here I come!!!!

Watch this space - things are going to happen.

For my lovely furry friend......

who finally gave in to old age and joined his mother, Maggie, and his human father, John and is united with them both in my closet.  It may seem strange to some that I keep the cremains of them all on the closet shelf, but my aunt started this tradition and now it seems to me as if they are all together and it is a good place for them - I know they are there and they are always in my thoughts.

When I got back Bandit was so glad to see me and I was so glad to be home, with my visa and five more years to come up with a plan.  On Tuesday afternoon last week I picked up Caper from the kennel - she has been there for at least a year as one of the dogs that we keep for the Heartworm Project (www.heartwormprogect.org) - please check them out and consider adopting a pet from them if you are looking to add a furry friend to your family. 

So Bandit knew that I had a furry friend to look after me before he passed on and he lived until last Saturday evening and I was holding his paw when he took his last breath.  There were four of us that crossed the pond to be here in the USA (me, John, Maggie and Bandit) and now there is just me - the last of the four musketeers.  And although sometimes it seems strange to make plans on my own I have to move on without them and take my life in the direction that I want to go - and that is the challenge.  Where do I want to go and what do I want to do? 

I do know that quilting is my absolute passion, as well as teaching what I know to anyone that will listen.  So I will focus on that for a while and try to put as much into the blog as I can in the near future.  And to that end, I have to recommend Sally Collins to you - she has a number of books that I have loved and a DVD that has some of the most amazing tips for precision piecing that I have ever seen.  Check her out and watch and learn.  My J.P. doing piecing took up one of the tips on the DVD and has produced one of the most masterful quilts in terms of the pressing that I have ever seen - trust me I have seen all of the spectrum of piecing and pressing! - anyone who pieces needs to see this pressing and cooling technique. 

OK - I am drawing up a new schedule that should have me blogging more often and with a plan!  I have the next new fabulous craze that I want to introduce in the next week or so and a lot of other things that I want to do - more quilting but also more other hand work and skills. 

Thank you J.P. - the quilting one - for prompting me to blog.

I need to thank all the kennel staff and the studio staff for the wonderful work that they have done to help me out, keep me going and keep the businesses ticking over. 

Tomorrow is a haircut!!

 

So here is Caper - black dogs are so hard to photograph!

 

And here is the Hoffman Challenge that actually made it on time and will be judged - I should know by the end of July if it has won anything or will travel.  This time I have hopes for a win or at least a travel......the last one bombed but this one should do well!

 

Goodnight all - does anyone in the USA or UK remember the Magic Roundabout and Zebadee - 'time for bed'? 

This is the last post for a couple of weeks or so......

sorry, things to do and places to be.

Raleigh NC for the show next week and there is a ton of stuff to do.  My lovely assistant Lindsay is sequestered down at the kennel and I have to do the preparation myself with J.P. and J.P. (aka Jeeves!).

So this down time is quite a challenge - the guild challenge quilt has got to be quilted this weekend so that someone can get it to the meeting for me (hey J.P.!!) and then the Hoffman Challenge quilt need to be in their hands by July 19th - that will be tight as I will be down until July 8th (which also happens to be my favorite son's birthday xxxx M.C.G).


And my dear friend R.H. would very much like her Lone Star quilt completed for show by July 24th - love you!

But all this gives me so much to strive towards and plenty to keep me occupied - so much better than nothing to do. 

I am going to change the look of the blog once I get back and attempt to give you much more content and fun things to look at - vidoes, patterns, ideas and much more.  I love telling you all about what is going on in my life, but I really want to share more and give you interesting stuff to see.  Which means learning how to add stuff!

Back to my personal goals! I know - me, me, me.  When I get back I am going to get a companion for Bandit.  We have discovered that when he is at the kennel he eats much better because he feels that he is in competition with the other dogs, so I have decided to get him a companion and a friend for me so that I can take them running with me in the mornings.  'Caper' is being homed at the kennel at the moment and I will pick her up when I return.  I have read all about her and I think she will be a perfect addition to our small family.  Pictures later, but in the meantime, a return to my favorite photo of Maggie and Bandit (for new followers, Maggie was Bandit's mother and she lived until she was 16 and a half and one day!)  Bandit is the taller dog in the picture.

 

I have no idea what they had seen on the deck or in the back yard, but they were intense.  The funniest thing (and they are still there) were the two nose holes in the screen door at their different heights.  I hope you read this R.G. in New Jersey - I saw your post about your Maggie today, and mine would have been 18 last week!!  

 

OK - I promised a wedding photo and the engineer approved this one for the blog!  

 

 

It never ceases to amaze me how brides always look so radiant and she was no exception - absolutely gorgeous and, of course, a very proud Dad.

 

Very excited about the next five years and there is much in the planning - life is all about five year plans (Oh Boy - is it ever!!) and much will change going forward. 

 

Watch this space and when I get back I will update you all on where I am going and what I envision for the studio, the kennel and the books and patterns planned.  New beginnings.

 

In the meantime, as I head out for an important time of my life, be safe, be kind, be challenged, be artistic, but most of all, be happy.  See you all in a couple of weeks!

 

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON - the original.  Although 'Keep Calm and Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate' is really cool. (Whovians unite - watched the 'Five Doctors' last weekend - those who know, know).  Quick pole - who (haha) is your favorite Doctor?  Pertwee for me........

 

 

I promised to post yesterday.....

And I tried.  I typed up a storm for an hour or so, and then my wifi network went down and I lost the whole thing.  Today had a new router purchase.

But I have to say that I have a bunch of better things to tell you - so here goes.

The wedding went well - breezy but gorgeous.  White sand and blue sea - absolutely wonderful.  The cruise was fabulous and a good time was had by all.

I have discovered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - fabulous but not exactly carb friendly.  Thanks J.P.  can you NOT leave this temptation around?

So, today was a really interesting day.  The problems with the landscaper escalated to a real issue so he is fired and I am out of pocket and have no grass on the hill at the kennel.  But it will be sorted. And then I got an email from my attorney and I have a visa interview in London which may be as early as June 26th.  So a trip to the UK is in my very near future.

That covers most of the drama, so now I am down to planning for the future of the quilting studio.  Once I get back with my visa I can plan the rest of my life (or at least the next five years).  I have to say that this is getting old, so there will be a major review in the next year or so.

There is a lot going on, so I need to post some pictures in the next few days.

I need to thank you all for your support and good wishes.  So many of you have helped me to believe that this could happen again.  I get to stay home.

Where in the world did May go?.........

Last time I looked up it was April - wow, so much has happened!

Here is a quick update on all that has been going on:

Visa application is in, attorney has been paid and everything is in the hands of The Universe (or the American Embassy).

The engineer's daughter graduated.

Training has been ongoing and a 5K race was run (if slowly) and the emphasis is now on getting faster.

Quilts done for the designer to go in the magazine.

Fixed the very expensive sewing machine that I broke because I did not read the directions - does that make me a man??

All bills paid (for the most part).

The guild challenge quilt is made and just needs to be quilted.

The Hoffman Challenge quilt is put together and needs to be appliqued and then quilted.

I have a bunch of ideas for new classes.  English paper piecing is going to be HUGE and I have sooo many ideas, my head is busting.

Here is a rough mock up of Hoffman - still a lot of work to do!

 

OK - W.G. gave us permission to post this - a fabulous dragonfly quilt that she allowed us to choose the pattern - and she has modern leanings.

 

 

 So this is the front, on it's side, but you can still see the pattern.

 

But just look at the back - a fabulous pattern!!

 

Now it's time for a break - the engineer's daughter has her wedding on a cruise next week, so we are all off on a jaunt.  The wedding will be on a beach in the Bahamas and the celebration will be for five days - sun, sea and sand.  It has been a while since I had a break so I am willing to learn how to do fun things.  I closed the studio at 6.30pm today and, apart from packing, I have nothing pressing to do - now that is a very strange sensation.  So, of course, I will leave the packing until the last minute!

 

The kennel is now in it's busy season and the sun is shining.  Bandit is still hanging in there and I have decided to get another four legged friend to keep is both company.  I am going to work on that when I get back from the cruise.  I really would like a doggy friend who can run with me on 5K races.  Bandit is too old to do that now, but he used to be so good - I would have him on a loose leash and he would run about two paces in front of me and at exactly my speed - a complete natural!  He's asleep on the office area rug right now - covered in threads from the studio!

 

So - time to do my nails (really - I said that!) - it is a wedding after all.  And packing since we leave in the morning. 

 

Happy quilting in the meantime and if I remember to take pictures I will post them in a week or so.  That is if I remember to take the camera!

 

 

A little bit of sunshine today.....

makes everything seem better.  The visa application is at the attorney's and there is nothing more that I can do - there may be a few little questions but it's all done.

I had a wonderful weekend and lots got done.  The guild meeting on Saturday morning was the 'Gullah Lady' and was a huge success.  She was truly a wonderful story teller.

So what are the priorities now?  Well, catching up with custom quilting, the Hoffman Challenge, the guild challenge and patterns for upcoming classes. Oh and running!  I ran last week on the treadmill but tomorrow I want to get out on the track - be right back, got to set the alarm.......

Done - and the pork chops are cooking for dinner. 

Just to tease you all a bit - here are some clues to the guild challenge (Blue and the letter 'B'). 

 

Very definitely blue, but that's all I am giving away!

 

Now on to the Hoffman Challenge.  The challenge fabric is the first folded fabric on the left in the picture below.  I laid out all the fabric that I will use on the background fabric.  Since last year's quilt was a disaster (due to the hanging sleeve!) I am using a variation of the same design, but I have started much sooner so I should have much more time to get it right.

 

And this is were I finished today - interesting eh?  Much more to do, but I will post more pictures in the next post.  Obviously I cannot show the finished thing but I will let you know how it's going.

 

Aside from running (there is a race this coming Saturday), I have decided that I absolutely have to finish the house renovations before I go back to England for the visa trip.  I am determined to come back to a completed house!  These renovations have been going on for well over two years and it's getting very old!  Below is a quick rundown of what is left to do.

 

 

Excercise Room - window treatment, so no-one can see me sweat!

 

Living Room - baseboards (skirting boards for the UK).  A quilt over the door, nicer window treatments and an area rug.

 

Master Bedroom - not much to do here except a TV and another quilt.  And, yes, that is a king size bed - go big or go home!!  I am especially pleased with the bedside lamps.

 

 

OK - Master Bathroom has a lot to do - painting, edge the wainscotting, molding and hang all the rails etc.  Plus window treatments.  A good long weekend in here I think.

 

 

Funny little microwave and new closet area - taping, mudding, painting and general what goes here questions?  See that certificate on the wall above the microwave - it's the original specifications for the mobile home and it's registration number etc.

 

 

Above and below is the utility room - painting, floor and hopefully all the tools can go back in the shed once all is finished!

 

Above and below - the office - just a tidy up, some paint touch up and get that ladder out of here!  Oh and hang a couple of needlepoint pictures - they are lurking next to the archive box. 

 

 

Guest room - done!

 

Guest Bathroom - paint touch up, baseboard and it's finished.

 

Oh Boy!  The kitchen - needs baseboard, cabinets painted, countertops, oh - that's it!  Not so bad - maybe a new sink and faucet (tap for the Brits).

 

 

So that it - the full list.  When I think about what needed to be done when I started this, I am amazed at how much has been done.  I did most of it by myself with some help from the engineer in the last year - so, even though there is still some to do, an amazing amount has been achieved.  And I love the floors!

 

Wow - time to close - a glass of wine calls.