Pretty in Pink

Today began with a nice 6.6 mile run.  It was very pleasant when we started running (low 60's; low humidity).  We don't get many days like that here in Houston.  It made the run so much more enjoyable.  Afterwards I quilted up a little baby quilt and then finished the afternoon off by hand sewing some binding to the back of a quilt and burying all of those pesky little threads.  Tonight I'm going to enjoy a movie with my guy and my doggie.  It's been a very enjoyable Saturday.

Summer Reading

Look what just came in the mail on Monday. Yes, I ordered it on June 24 and waited and waited and wondered . . . what the heck??!! FINALLY, the books arrived and unfortunately I haven't had the appropriate amount of time to adequately salivate over them. I will, though. Trust me.

I also received my moleskin sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project. I haven't been able to "sketch" in it yet, but I have done a rough draft of what I want the book to be. My title is "It must be . . . ". I like it. Today I did a search for other fabric artists in the blogosphere who are participating in the Sketchbook Project and I found several interesting sites where artists are deconstructing and rebuilding. I'll tell you right now, I'm not brave enough for that. I want it to be "perfect" knowing full well that it's not going to be. I don't want the added pressure of trying to figure out how to bind the book again after it is finished. I guess I should just "do it". Hmm . . .

The Tree Matures

The piecing of the back of M's quilt was finally finished today. It took several more hours to add the last 20" to the bottom of the back. Most of the fabric used had to be fused before it could be added to the rest. I finished this portion of the quilt around 2:30 this afternoon. After walking the dog I came back and loaded the quilt onto the longarm machine. I was very excited to get to this point and start the thread creation. I used a new brand of thread (for me), Bottom Line, in the bobbin and I used a variegated Coats and Clark color in the top. Because the piecing on the back has a lot of different fabric thicknesses and holes and embellishments, the quilting had to be done slow in some places. In the end, the result turned out really well. It is still on the machine as I now need to figure out what to do in the white space around the swing. I also need to change thread color to do the flowers at the bottom. That will be tomorrow's project. So far I am very pleased with this learning project. I hope that M likes the quilt.

Doggie and I went for our Saturday morning jog and had a great time. B went to the Jackwood property and did some work in preparation for the new renters coming in. Tomorrow morning is spin class, more quilting and hopefully a real bike ride in the afternoon. So far it's been a great weekend. Monday will be hectic again. I didn't leave work until 8:15 p.m. on Friday, but you know what, it'll still be there Monday morning and it'll get done. It always does.

New Year; Same Routine

It's a new year and I feel good about that. Unfortunately I'm still employed doing tax stuff so the start to any given year is the same . . . long hours. I'm so NOT ready for that! It's year end close time and I'm part of the team that calculates federal income taxes for a multi-billion dollar company. In the scheme of things it's been an easy year - no major acquisitions or dispositions; nothing hinky. It's just a very large company and therefore a lot of manhours go into calculating our tax numbers.

At the same time, I'm trying to finish up the memorial quilt and instead I will be going into the office over the weekend to make sure that no deadlines are missed because of me. Ha!

Also my doggie is sick and I'm not spending much time at home with him. I feel bad about that and he's not a dumb dog; he ignores me when I get home just to punish me!!! Sorry, doggie.

This morning I wanted to run back inside and grab my camera and take a picture of the same car that I posted a picture of earlier. This morning the car is in a driveway, parked askew and in the foliage area where it's almost sitting on top of a very large dead branch that has fallen from the tree. It appears that the bad driver is a guest (I'm guessing an in-law of some sort) of my neighbors. I can understand old people not quite getting the parking thing right in their later years, but I'm having a hard time with the neighbors not noticing or informing the driver of the potential danger in curbs and fallen branches and driveway v. foliage. Oh, well. My relatives' parking skills are just fine, thank you . . . at least for now!!!

Here's the latest picture of the quilt. Hopefully more progress will be made this weekend.

The Tree has Bloomed

All of the apples and pears have been cut and fusible interfacing applied. Yay! Tomorrow I will cut the leaves and iron everything to the tree. I haven't decided yet if I will zigzag the edges or not. It may depend on how well the fusing held up. I can always hit the edges when I longarm the quilt. I will also work on piecing the back of the quilt. I prefer working with only cottons, but M's clothes include a wide assortment of fabrics. I may have to stabilize some of the rayon, silk and polyester pieces.

Christmas for the family did not happen today. We are cooking the brisket tomorrow. I think it will only be Boyfriend, Dog and me.

A Tree Grows in Houston

Progress is being made on the quilt design. Tonight I'll make more apples to hang on the tree with pictures attached. It looks a little creepy right now, huh? I think once the rest of the pictures and all of the sayings and the title is attached, it will be a little less creepy! With any luck this weekend will produce a near finished quilt. The back of the quilt will be pieced out of M's clothing.

The latest bag addition. I think the color combination is very soothing and relaxing. These bags are for sale and my website will be coming soon. Enjoy!

Boyfriend and I are hosting Christmas dinner with his family this weekend. We are cooking brisket and all the fixings. Yum.

Puffs v. Kleenex

Most times it is easy for me to distinguish between a cold and my allergies. Since I am an allergy sufferer from the get-go, I have a constant relationship with a runny nose. I should have bought stock in Proctor and Gamble a long time ago! This time around I am unable to tell if I have a head cold or if the cedar allergens that blew in a couple days ago are the culprits.

This past summer I planted a vegetable garden that included tomatoes and peppers among other vegetables. These two vegetables were just the most prolific of the bunch. My excitement watching the tomatoes grow was beyond me as I don't even eat tomatoes. My Mom was in town when the first tomato ripened and she was the lucky recipient. The rest of the tomatoes were given to co-workers. Two days ago I harvested 4 peppers out of the garden and there are at least 8 others still growing along with numerous blooms. These peppers smell great and have a taste unlike the ones purchased at the grocery store. I'm amazed that it's almost 2008 and I'm still harvesting peppers!

My current project is a memory quilt for a coworker whose wife passed away this year. I collected some of her clothing and pictures and I'm turning it into a wall quilt for M. Since I only know M. and not his wife, I hope that this quilt does her justice. The pictures include a pencil sketch and a life size paper model. I am currently in the process of appliqueing the tree to the fabric.