Wrapping Up May....

and that does sound like May is a present, doesn't it? And maybe it is....as the capricious Ms. April flits off on her journey...Miss May comes to us like a beauty queen, beginning her reign. She seems to intensify people's feelings all around her. She lures the last of the late blooming spring flowers to show themselves, and applaues the full leafing of the trees in our clime. I know that May brings other things for those of you in other parts of the world.
Her glory is nearly past. The lilacs are done, along with the apple and cherry blossoms. Lilies of the Valley are ready to close up shop and rest awhile. The daffodils and tulips have dropped their petals and begun to store food for next year.
What we still have in abundance is 'stormy weather', and I know WI is not alone in that.
And so, today, I give your "Sunshine, on a cloudy day". I spy type fabrics, used to make one of Bonnie's free quilt patterns. I think it is my 4th. The first one was scrappy, and belongs to my friend Jean. The other two were planned colors, much as this one. All 4 were machine pieced and utility quilted with perle cotton. This one belongs to this

grandson...*VBS* His younger brother has one too, but in different colors. Pretty hard for Gram to resist those dimples, which are a carbon copy of his Daddys.

Right now, I'm avidly quilting freeform fan on the little chinese coin hand dyed I showed earlier. I've decided to orient it vertically, and the fans will go across the narrow width, but I can do more rows of them that way. I've decided to use a medium violet perle cotton, size 8. It shows up well against the black, and pretty well against the colors.
I have a nasty sinus headache today(a rare thing for me), and it's just plain miserable. Serious enough to make me sick to my stomach...so I'll probably lay low and quilt. No sewing right now, but I am powerfully tempted!! Doctor visit yesterday, the hacking cough persists, and a steroid has been added...oh joy! Mostly I just want it gone.
Ebby is doing well, and getting used to her dimished food portion...not without complaints, but she's tolerating it, at least. She's found a new place to sleep that she thinks I don't know about...LOL. Silly me left the slidding door ajar on the big stash closet. There is a fleece blanket in there on the floor, and she's claimed it...lucky girl! It's good to have secrets...*VBS*
Thursday night(tonight) will bring the first episode of Pirate Master, from the directors of Suvivor, and I've got to see what it's all about. The reality shows venue never seems to quit...LOL, at least this one is abit different and on a ship....time will tell.

Graduation Day...plus 49

It's that odd time of year, for me, emotionally. The peaks one hits in life, the milestones, the memories. Quite of few of those are connected to today and tomorrow. Memory is such an odd creature, almost a shadow being, rather than anything tangible. Nothing truly distinctive, even our photos only show one
dimention of what we consider 'reality'. For me, gradution came on May 29th, 1958. I was happy to see it come, I'd had enough of the 'system', altho I was in no way ready for the world. Of course I thought I was...LOL. I graduated near the end of the line to march in, me with an 'S' last name.....155 graduates... 7 p.m. on a balmy early summer night. The old school(pictured here)not large enough to hold us and our families. Chi Hi...my alma mater, ready for destruction in the summer months that followed. The class of 1958, the last that would call this building theirs. I wish I had thought to go and snap a picture, but I didn't. Luckily I have this note card, that was part of our graduation package, meant for 'thank you' notes. We graduated outdoors at our local fairground. Luckily our town hosted the Northern WI Distric Fair each year, and was large and had a grandstand to hold guests and lots of parking. We marched across the horse race track to take our places on the stage. The over head lights that were a part of our carnival atmospher of 'fair time' shone brightly, and bugs buzzed and droned and dropped on the bleachers. I wish I could tell you I remember everything that happened, but I can't, because I don't, almost nothing except arriving at the fairgrounds and finding my cap and gown. What I DO remember, is being required to 'stay' at my hospital job til my normal quitting time of 6:30. A mad dash to my mom's car, a hasty trip across town to don my white dress and shoes, and a race back to the fair ground(across town), trying to make the line-up before the 7 p.m. processional.
Mostly I was furious! Furious at the world for putting me in that position, furious with the nun I worked for, at her lack of empathy for my situation, just plain furious at everything! Needless to say, rage tends to spoil things, and is a useless emotion anyway....much ado about something that can't be changed.
There were no graduation parties in my circle of friends back in 1958, and we weren't a family of close knit ties. My parents, 2 sisters, and my beloved Grandma Lottie attended. And that was that. No coffee and cake, no party, some sort of gift from my parents that I've forgotten, probably luggage. I was invited to a party out by our Lake Wissota, but my Mom wouldn't let me use the car. So I fumed instead. Finally went to bed, and the next day began the rest of my life. Back to work at the hospital for the summer. Short lived tho, as I had a mental/emotional collapse in mid June. That ended my summer working and any spare money for college in Sept. By Sept it was a 3 ring battle with my family dr. to relent and let me begin college. He thought I was mentally and emotionally unstable....LOL(probably no more so than any trapped animal) wonder how he got that impression...??*VBG* I did begin college on schedule, but I can't say it was all that I hoped it would be. It was (almost) another place where I had difficulty fitting in. Wonder how that would have worked out if I hadn't met my future DH there at college in early October? I stayed two quarters and then dropped out(at 18) to work and prepare to be married.
That clever part of my life's work took place on May 30th, 1959. In one year and one day, I had managed to go from a starry eyed(?) 17 yr. old to a semi-cynical married lady of 18. Pretty good work, huh??? In reality, the marriage provided the same type of escape from my family that graduation and college had provided. Still.... a couple of peaks, milestones, times of memory making, no hint of valleys anywhere on the horizon.
I'm a huge fan of Sir Anthony Hopkins. Even in the disturbing movie 'Silence Of The Lambs', I find him brillant and an enmiga. The first time I saw 'Shadowlands' I adopted the word for my own. If you find a word that speaks to you, and you are a 'word' person, you take it with you...forever. So many places in life where the sun never quite makes it, the dark, shadowy places. Not the underworld, or the depths, but the section that leads to them, where you leave the sunshine of meadowlands and enter a place that is darker, perhaps greener, quiet in an erry way, where there might be a sliver of sunshine but very well filtered.....for me, it is called Shadowlands. It's a place where you find the memories that are not comfortable nor suitable, in the meadows of sunshine and flowers. And the choice is YOURS, you don't have to know about, or have any places of shadow unless you want them. It works out perfectly...*VBS*

Mary, Mary.....quite contrary,

I think my Mom missed the mark when she named me Sylvia. I was a very contrary child. Maybe from being an only child for 7 years, living with 3 adults, or maybe that was my nature. I was a rebel, an outlaw and definitely a maverick all through childhood. I learn to 'comply' about the same time I learned I didn't like being 'in hot water(trouble)'. Do what is required and make a fast get-a-way. It took alot for me to stand up for myself (or go against authority) in the recent past. While dealing with the depression issue of the past year, I have found my voice again.You know, that fun voice that says "fiddle dee dee, I'll think about it tomorrow?" That voice that says outloud, "it's not my problem", or better yet..."no is a complete sentence". Scarlett O'Hara I am NOT, but having found that part of myself again is wonderful.
BUT.....with absolutely NO reason(or business) starting or taking on a 'new' project, here I go again. The Baptist Fans have caught me in their web and won't let me go. Help Tonya, help!!!
Back in Aug. '06, I showed this little star quilt. It emerged from a hand dying class with Jan Meyer way back when. We only got about 1/16th yard of each of the colors we dyed that day, but I began a 'series' with the small bits. The star quilt was #1 and has the largest selection of the colors. #2 is a random patch, that I'm sure I've shown, but can't find the picture. #3 has just languished in the plastic bag of scraps, pieced but not loved and not quilted. I was tired of it.

Yup, for the record, cleaning and organizing is dangerous to your mental health. Why on earth I feel I have to quilt freehand baptist fans on this one is beyond me, but I do, and I will. Now all I have to decide is if it will hang as pictured with fans going from right to left, or if I will hand it as a traditional Chinese Coins and quilt the shorter width instead.....decisions, decisions. Suggestions welcome...*VBS* Oh yes, quilting thread or perle cotton??? And on I go, slightly stiff and sore, but moving...*VBS*

My life..........

is not so very different, it seems to me, than my scrapbag. I was thinking this morning about 'a life..as a quilt'. Would it be just one multipieced creation? For me, I think the answer is 'no'. I use the word 'think' frequently. Most things I don't 'know' with certainty, but do have a 'maybe' to think about.
There doesn't seem to be any continuity in the week just ended. All random bits in my opinion.
Maybe I shouldn't look for the connecting thread. Thursday lunch and shopping with Shorty was lovely. Not much additional 'treasure', altho I did find a really neat Made In China pitcher, small and a rosy strawberry pink. Thursday's supper visit happened. The puppy has been cremated, the son is quite beside himself, but coping better than previously. A financial contribution to the expense was made. He borrowed some videos, and abruptly my Universe shifted as I took a full length 'header' in the living room. I think I caught my toe in my pants leg, but next thing I know my stumble turned into a crash into the dining room table, tipping over a chair, and landing full length on my side with my head hitting the china cabinet base. Oh my! I'm not even sure how it happened, nor what sounds I made, but in an instant DS was by my side wanting to help me up. At my age, you don't get up immediately..LOL He picked up the mess I had created by falling, and I got myself up and standing. Weird. I haven't fallen in ages..years in fact. I was ok, but shaken. He left for home shortly after that, and I took to my recliner to have a think about things. I was pretty sure I would be stiff and maybe bruised, but ok.
Needless to say the Universe now had my ATTENTION. Even Oprah subscribes to the 'pebble' belief. It's profoundly about our relationship with the Universe and our journey. She says you 'get hit with a pebble. If you don't hear the message, it becomes a handful of pebbles, and eventually you'll get hit with a brick to the head. Fairly dramatic but well put. Call it what you will, the Universe, your personal angel, whatever...there is something you need to hear. I'm still not sure what is going on in my life, but apparently I'm NOT paying enough attention.
Did some blog reading yesterday and left a few comments. Worked on the house, did some laundry...did NOT drive anywhere or leave the house except for the patio area. Ebby and I had a nice hour outside right after lunch. Today I'm sharing what I've planted this year...mostly my Mother's Day plants and a lovely orange and purple minature petunia basket I bought. I have a
few other large pots filled also, but figured this was enough of this..*VBS*

I wanted to mention, if you haven't been over to http://quiltville.com/ Bonnie has a great new pattern uploaded, a split 9 patch, but with a variation in the piecing...two variations actually. Really a cool quilt!! I'll be making one I know *VBS*
AND....please, if you love my Orphan Train quilt, go and check out Yankee Quilter at http://scrapsandthreadtales.blogspot.com/ Sio has one of the NEATEST orphan block top that is completely quilted and on her bed. It's vintage, but will never be old. I know it's hard to see beauty in the combining of the leftover blocks, but they seem to create a life of their own. A couple of posts down she has a great crumb quilt from the 1930's.

Wednesday Weather...wild and wonderful

and 'wacky' too, just like my find on Tuesday's shopping trip. The first creature is one I picked up years ago, it's about 5" high. It became a favorite of my youngest son. It lives at my house tho, under the stairs, where things go 'bump'. The new treasure is the 2nd picture. It's quite strange, I think. The thrift store tag said 'a doll from Saudi Arabia'. Who know? Maybe something made for tourists? It certainly is made of bits and pieces...wool, suede, upholstery and regular cottons. Some buttons are old, some new. It is machine stitched, but hand embellished, like a crazy quilt. I don't think that it was cut from crazy quilt...just a hunch. I snapped a picture of the

backing also. It cost me a ridicilous .99 to bring it home....I was happy!
And altho I'm not sewing quilts at the moment(life and the sewing studio on the front burner) I am in the process of making a rug for my oldest DD's screened-in porch. She recently painted the floor burgandy, and requested a rug,even one of my scrappy ones was o.k.(her words, not mine) LOL... So I stopped at our hardware store and grabbed a couple of paint samples and keep them handy as I select colors to sew together. I'm headed to about 36", I think I'm about 15" right now. It's a slow go, as I hand select the strips to conform to a burgandy, but autumn tones, theme.
I'm off to lunch shortly with my old friend Shorty, we'll hit the thrift store after lunch and have a good old time. Then home again,with the possibility of a visiting son for supper. Their young puppy had to be put down on Tuesday for a horific intestional problem, and he's not quite as o.k. as he should be, a little Mom-time seems to be needed. It'a a cool, rainy day in my part of WI, and just maybe I'll have time to make a batch of cookies this afternoon....*VBS*

I was reminded, this morning.....

of the childhood nursery rhyme, Three Blind Mice. You probably are wondering why...*VBS* Well, think back through the rhyme...."she cut off their tails with the carving knife, did you ever see such a sight in your life?"....yup, that's the part I remembered...did you ever see such a sight in your life???? And THIS is progress altho it doesn't look like it...LOL
It began back on May 2nd when my kids switched the bedrooms for me...by May 8th I was making slow progress. 14 days later, it really IS better, but the worst is just about at hand. Time to sort out each box, figuring out where the stuff in it will go. Obviously some is destined for disposal, some for the fabric stash in the walk in closet, and then their is the rest of it.
What I really need is about 5 days of no one inviting me for lunch, supper, dinner or shopping
Not sure that is going to happen, and for sure NOT this week. Jean wants to go shopping, I have things that need returning from my last shopping trip, lunch Thursday with friend Shorty, and visiting kids on Sat. or Sunday. So I guess I'm going to have to work overtime. Translated, that means "in the evenings" just like a working gal....hope I've got it in me...*VBS*
The raspy coughing spells haven't backed off completely, and now with the Advair stopped, I've begun having wheeze again. Should see the dr. and should called the optho. guy, as things are blurrier in my good eye. AND I need to do something with my hair...darn, a cut and a perm, but when??? Every day seems like I should be doing something else and so I don't call for an appointment. But when I do finally get this room all assembled..it's going to be SOOOOOOO

awesome! I have a corner(north window) for my easel, my painting-drawing supplies, etc. I have a wooden bookcase in that corner that will hold my art and travel book and miscellaneous stuff like that. It was a lucky find destined for the trash.
This white plastic bookcase will go out into the garage and be pressed into service.
And you probably should know that in the process of removing myself from the Maverick web ring, that step was the first towards moving myself into the 'next' part of my life. Quilts have been my passion for soooo many years, and will continue to be, but the Universe is pushing other things to the front, in my being, and I'm not at all sure I am really ready, but .... here I go anyway!
I hope I will never, never stop seeing things to do in fabric, primarily quilts. But being 'un-attached' to all expectations of me is what I need. I will keep journaling here, and I will continue to pull 'pieces' from my bag of scraps, as I have all along the way. The next time you see this room, it will be MUCH better...LOL Sieze the day everyone, do your own thing, with passion. Hugs, Finn

The rest of the story.....

which could have ended that day over tea, but didn't. As fate would have it, the very next year, in guild Jenny drew my name as Secret Pat. Of course we have no idea til the very last meeting who our 'pal is...LOL Imagine my surprise when I opened this lovely wall quilt from Jenny. The label on the back reads: "As per the definition in "Webster's Dictionary"- Goat#6: Get one's goat, U.S. Informal, to anger, annoy or frustrate a person.
Sylvia,*giggle*(of geese) at those who try to find out where you keep your goat tied!(Don't let them get your goat!) Love, Jenny L. your secret pal 1994.
The quilt is entirely hand quilted and is very well done. Altho sections are made according to directions from Country Threads patterns, I belive the assembly is a Jenny Original. It's very scrappy and works for me! I never see this quilt without thinking of Jenny and how the 3 way split was mostly resolved. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the new friend #3, continued to come between Jenny and her old friend #2. #2 and #3 lived in the same town, Jenny lived about 10 miles away. And then Jenny's DH helped #3 to buy her first house(in Jenny's town) and when friend #2 came to see #3, it didn't including Jenny. That stuff hurts, and is hard to understand. I can't say Jenny really 'won' by not letting #3 get the best of her, but her anger over it seemed to go away. Such is life, isn't it? But on to the quilt itself....
I love this scenery fabric that she used and quilted in the definition.
The quilt is about 36" X 36". The goat section is about 6" X 8". Those wild stars are a favorite part, as is the goat and the giggle of geese. How about sharing a special quilt you've received from a good friend?

The door slammed shut. Hard.

I heard the sound of it opening, and then, slamming shut hard, again. A moment later, a third and resounding 'bang' was heard as the front window was closed as well. "My goodness, I thought,what can be going on here?" One doorbell answered, 3 loud angry bangs. Silence. In the silence of the kitchen doorway, my friend re-appeared. To say she was 'fuming' would be an understatement. Her face was red, her fists were clenched. Before I could speak she said "I'm so mad I could spit". O.K. Better just let her talk and tell in her own way and her own time. I took a sip of my tea and waited.

Little by little it came tumbling out. A close friendship between two, she being one of the two. Another close friendship between the other and a third friend. Oh, oh...I think I can see where this is going. One of the hardest things I've encounted over the years. Friendship between 3 individuals...quilters or playmates..a hard combination to piece together. The friendship is never quite equally divided into 33.3% each. A combination of either two seems to get along better than either paired with the 3rd.

She ended her tirade with a final sputter and a "She just gets MY goat". I had to smile at this point...I felt so very old and she looked so very young. "Dear, dear Jenny, I said, don't you know how to keep her from 'getting your goat'?" She looked startled and then said "no". "It's quite simple, I said, just DON'T tell her where you keep it tied". "If she doesn't know where you keep it tied, she can't possibly 'get it'." And to my great delight, a minute or two later, as what I said sunk in, she grinned from ear to ear.....end of story....almost *VBG*

"The time has come, the walrus said.....

to speak of other things, of ships and shoes and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings" Another old favorite....*VBS* But I haven't as much time, today, as the walrus. Just popping in to say

hello and let you know that I have Webshots albums, mostly of quilts, that I have shown on my blog. If you are interested you can find them at http://community.webshots.com/user/finnleah

AND I wanted to tell you that you are welcome to "have" my wooden spools picture/pictures.

I have begun an album called "The Best Things in Life...." where I will periodically add pictures that I have taken that I REALLY like..*VBS* I'm sure you all know the drill...you can download them at Webshots, or you can right click your mouse and copy them from here to a picture file.
I decided(*G* Pardon my ego!) that the 'spools' picture of yesterday was just too good not to share with others who love thread, color and old wooden spools..*VBS* Enjoy!! Hugs, from Finn

Patchwork Project Possibilities and old favorites...

Excitement stirring at the sight of a bag of multicolored scraps. Is it the fabric, the color, or the possibilities? Maybe all 3? Under my skin, like a poke from a needle, a spark that sends a ripple of "maybe" or "what ifs" all through me. That spark jumped from a pile of scraps and leftovers straight to my eyes and then my brain. That doesn't always happen with bolts of fabric in the shop, or the stacks of stash, but show me your scrap bin and I'm in heaven.
With dozens of projects in progress, a bag of trimming from flannel backings, and a few left over 9 patches 'got me' this weekend. Along with everything else, I let myself play. Not necessarily the best choice, but a happy one...*VBS* I made about 20 crumb squares that trim to 6.5". I'm not sure the 9 patches will stay, or maybe they will get modified to be more liberated...time will tell.
And play time extended over into Monday when, totally unprovoked, I decided to 'dump out' a tin of wooden spools and see what was in that tin...LOL I must say I do LOVE the picture I snapped. This one would work for a jigsaw puzzle or greeting card. What great colors and excitemtnt they create
against my crocheted rug! Isn't it wonderful that every once in a while we manage to get a really GOOD picture of something??

I've got a ticket to ride.....

the train to yesterday, my very own version of 'time travel'. Much of what I hold dear lies along
that winding route. I watch bits and pieces of my life slid by, watch it through windows that are dusty with time. Nothing is ever as 'blue' or as 'gold' as is seen in our memoryt. This train to yesterday is available to everyone, just have to look over your shoulder and there it is. One important thing....when you get your ticket to ride, make sure you have a round trip ticket. Yesterday is NOT a destination. It is what the railroad calls a "round-about", where the train is switched to other tracks and comes back to where you began. It's important to be clear about that. One way tickets aren't for us.
Riding today, with my ticket's destination in mind, I honor and greet my lovely Mom, her youthful image frozen in time..Summer 1948. Happy Mother's Day Mom, sending hugs, kisses and dandy-lion bouquets. The scent of lilac brings you near this Mother's Day. And I salute and honor her Mother, my Grandma Lottie, who outlived her daughter by many years. And my Great-Grand Mother Mary Elizabth, who raised her two daughters alone in the late 1800's. She saw one daughter die, and one marry and give birth to 4 children, one of whom gave birth to me and my two sisters. We span the
decades, daughters having daughters. Both of my sisters have daughters, who also have daughters.

Of course the parade of memories doesn't stop there, but I've reached the 'round-about' and am heading back to where I belong....here, now and with daughters of my own. And sons, and grandsons, lots of grandsons. And two honorary granddaughters that they allow me to "claim".
Here is the quilt my DD#1 made for me this Mother's Day. It's her second quilt. Years ago she made me a lovely fabric patchwork card for Mother's Day. This one is clever and I was ready to give her credit for having those horizontal lines all line up perfectly...LOL. Then she explained that the striped paper is the background paper, with the slits for weaving...*VBS* I love homemade cards...*VBS*

Happy Mother's Day one and all, whether you mother children, fur babies, DH's or the needy of the world. We are all givers and piecemakers, each in our own way.

In(and out of) ...the lost and found box

Little boy blue, come blow your horn, the sheep are in the meadow, the cows in the corn. Oh, where is the little boy, that looks after the sheep???...under an afghan, fast asleep...*VBS* My little boy blue in 1979, age 3, sleeping on the family room floor. And all grown up with sons of his own, 2006. His smile would melt anyones heart..*VBS*
The big gray and white male cat had wondered to our country home a couple of weeks before. Justin adopted him immediately, and it wasn't hard to tell he had been a house cat and someones pet. This was mid-November, and we were moving across the state to a new job over Thanksgiving. Many years later now,and I don't remember what Justin called him, He went for a 'walk' a few days before
moving day, and we never saw him again. I would happily have moved him along with us...he was such a sweetie.
And here is a quilty picture of my sweetie-cat. Any quilt is up for graps as soon as it hits the floor. Betsy gave me this little "Cracker" quilt, quilted with baptist fans, one year for my birthday. I may have shown it before, but after 800 some posts I'm beginning to lose track....LOL Hard to believe, right? LOL...
Good thing I snapped when I did, because...

here's what came next....*VBS* She has no shame about her, just moves right in and that is that for quilt pictures. I had a lovely supper and visit with DD#1 last evening for Mother's Day. She made me a quilt....LOL, in her own special way. I'll share that tomorrow *VBS* And I now have a third window box for the last railing on my little patio. A couple of ice cream pails of new potting soil to fill it, and some lovely annuals to plant in it...soon! Snapdragons, pansies, wax begonias and some minature dahalias.
A call from my oldest son, let me know he would be here tomorrow afternoon for a visit. He's headed to Madison, WI for a business conference next week, and I'm right on the way...hurray! I could count the times I've seen him alone, just the two of us, on one hand(since he married 14 years ago). I love his family dearly, but it's always wonderful to get some one on one time with my kids..*VBS* He's the hardest one to get to spend time with, and I feel very blessed.

Please, watch your toes !!!

It is not my intention to step on anybody's toes, but no matter how carefully one treads, apparently it can happen. I have followed through on my post of earlier this week. I have asked to be dropped from the Quilt Maverick web ring. Bonnie has done her part and I have removed the logo from my blog. There is no blame to be placed on anyone or anywhere. Maybe it was just a case of 'right place, wrong time', or 'wrong place, right time'. It doesn't really matter. What I can tell you, is that it is what I NEEDED to do. Remember me mentioning last week or the week before, that lots of things went badly on my shopping trip? Way more than can be accounted for by 'circumstance'. And I finally woke up and smelled the coffee. Figuring out...finally, that the Universe was directing me, and I'd better listen or the happenings would get worse. The 'dropping out' is part of that same directive. It's time for me to be the maverick I am, and go off by myself. I've not done it to join another web ring, nor to start one. I simply need to be independent, and to 'own' my space. I apologize if toes were stepped on, or feelings hurt.
I'm still just 'Finn', doing her thing.
Photo op today, peeking into Ebby's world where not much changes. She's doing what she does best about 10 every morning...LOL I had a hard time getting her to wake up and look at me for the second picture. She continues in her ultra aloof ways, but is adjusting well to where the bed is now, and the activity in the
new sewing studio. And I wanted to snap and share something 'quilty' since it's been a while. These are the blocks I am working on in reds, creams, mediums and darks. It's a 9 patch variation, and this isn't the correct lay out. It will be on point,
and have setting blocks. I've gotten all the 9 patches done(of course) and am working on the fence rails here and there while resting from the rooms transfer. I'm ready to have the cutting table and cupboards delivered and begin
putting the room together. Still lots to be sorted, but that will come gradually.
In the meantime, here are a couple of new friends and blogs to check out..*S*
http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com/ and http://deemcdonaldoptonlinenet-dee.blogspot.com/ and another new one at http://quiltingmemories.blogspot.com/

"Make new friends...

but keep the old....one is silver, the other gold". Remember that old song that we sang as 'round' back in Brownies or Girl Scouts? I wonder if singing is still such a big part of being a scout? Maybe it's just that the times were simpler, back in the late 40's and 1950's. I was a Brownie Scout, and I 'flew-up' to the Girl Scouts..*S* I still have my Brownie pin and my wings. It was a 'good part' of my turbulent growing up years. Something that stayed constant.
Along that same line, is my friendship with Jean. I thought it was time you met this person who plays a big role in my day to day happiness...*VBS* Jean and I have sons that were friends all through school. And altho Josh(her oldest) played at my house, or Justin(my youngest) played at hers, we never got acquainted until 2000. She is quite abit younger than me, but it doesn't seem to matter. I offer wisdom, well seasoned ways of looking at things, and a place to lean.In return I have found loyality, companionship, and someone to laugh with....and much more. I think she and I are kindred spirits. I taught Jean to quilt in 2001, and she was an excellent student. She's a scrapper and believes in 'use it up'. I couldn't be prouder.

Of course I had to show her my crocheted rugs, and before I knew it, she was off and running. She makes the rectangle shaped ones, and has sold several. I knew it wouldn't be long before she'd HAVE to try a basket...LOL. Sure enough, by Sunday evening she 'caved'. When I talked to her yesterday, she'd finished 5...*G* I think it's fair to say that her mom will be getting a set of stacking baskets for Mother's Day on Sunday. I snapped these pictures last week while she was visiting. She's activities director at our local nursing home. She works from noon til 8:30, and often stops after work to visit. Her hands are always busy, crocheting, snipping the sewn strips of trimming off the overlap and winding the rag balls. She's sitting on the floor so she can stretch out her tired legs..*S*
And here's that elusive picture of my three baskets,stacked. You can see the smallest one is about a row taller than the other two. Hedgie ask how much fabric it takes? More than you would think! If you know how to crochet Hedgie, take a large hook, and a strip about 3/4" wide of fabric and make a chain. I think 36" of fabric will give you about 10-18 single crochet stitches, depending. I tear my fabric. I prefer tearing to cutting, but I tear down the length of the yardage, instead of across. It gives you a cleaner tear. There are a couple of threads to pull away and discard, but not too bad. Polyster fabric tears poorly to not at all. If you need or want more information on the baskets, give me a hollar...*VBS*

Busy work...

I'm sure some of you, thought I'd end up with a rug for every available space in my house, but that's not the case. My mind rarely stays in one place very long. I was curious about fabric basket/bowls. I've seen the rag covered rope baskets,
but I know I would hate sewing the 'rounds' together. That's the problem with granny squares and braided rugs. So I experimented using my trust K hook and the same rag balls as the rug uses. This is my first attempt. It went pretty well. The tin they are sitting on is 10"across, which makes the basket about 10" X 5" deep. I haven't ended off as I'm not sure if I want it higher or not. I am a Libra and decisions take time..*S* Then I decided to try an one color only. These fabric strips are slightly wider(were cut earlier in the learning process) and make a firmer basket. This one is about 8" X 5". And who
could stop there? Of course, putting what I had learned into practice, I made a smaller version of the first one. It was done in only hours! And I like it..*VBS* I wanted to take these 3 to show Jean on Sunday, and of course, stacking seems natural to me...so I did. They nest inside each other very well. The second one would have to be bigger to fit well in that first one. But I'd rather that the first one was just slightly small around. The 3rd one fits perfectly into the 2nd one, but is one row taller. I will take that into account next. I think a set of 3 of these, as stacking baskets, would make a neat gift for a quilter, or any person who stitches. I can see them with Halloween candy or pine cones. Peppermints or mini muffins. And of course they could be washed right along with the towels. Just shape and set to dry!
My mind has wandered on to adding buttons to the outside, or hanging beads, a row of eyelet, or anything you can dream up. You could even add applique shapes to the outside, or a liner to the inside.....see how crazy I get?????
Post-a-note: There is suppose to be a picture of the 3 baskets, stacked. Any body's guess where that picture is....LOL

Moving right alone...

and making progress, but slowly. Why, you wonder? Because I've gotten very slow at things this past year. My lower back is still bothering, and arthritsis has begun in my shoulders. So, I move somethings, and then I rest, and then move
more, and rest, etc. It all gets done, just not very fast...LOL. I have lots of stuff piled against one long wall, waiting for a destination. And I have the 2 shelves of lights and background fabric piled on a chair, waiting for a home. It had been in a tall bookcase with 2 shelves of quilting books. But the bookcase has moved across the room to a darker corner and will now hold folded quilts, and what ever quilt books that will fit. And I have
things piled on the window sills, waiting to see where they will be going. Scorch, my favorite dragon guards his corner again stray animals. And then there are
the two shelves of books that got displaced.
Those are still piled on the floor under the window. There are two more bookcases out in the living room, also filled with quilt books, and a few old favorite books by my favorite authors. I got rid of most of my vast collect of books when I sold the house. Just too much. Too much weight, too much space. And I no longer have the ability to read many of them due to the very small print. And so, onward I go...slowly, but making progress. I'd love to have the room together(at least sort of) by the weekend. Some of my kids will be coming for Mother's Day.

Maverick Beginnings...looking back

I don't like having my picture taken, but this one is ok.. It was taken in Ireland.
I try to look for the best in a situation, and am willing to be happy with what there is. That isn't always the easiest thing to do, and occasionallyit hurts. I try to 'be' about making do, being happy with what I have, I take responsibility for myself and my place in the world. I'd be happy to walk away from that mindset, but it seems to be who I am. I have a happy, goofy, almost carefree way of looking at life and I don't take it, or myself very seriously. I wish that was 'all' of me, but it isn't. I also have a part that gets hurt, or wounded, and uncertain of how to fit into 'things'.
I've been a fan of Quiltville way back to discovering it in 1997. I'd rather play in
a pile of scraps on the floor or in the wastebasket than what's in the pile of yardages. Making something from almost nothing appeals to me. I don't have anything to prove, it's what gives me pleasure. I like the challenge.
Having linked over to Bonnie's(of Quiltville)new blog in June-2005, I hestitated only a short time before deciding I wanted to journal online. To share my thoughts, dreams and quilts with whoever happened along. And of course, I registered with Blogger and was able to leave a comment for Bonnie, and eventually Tonya. Bonnie linked back and encouraged me, as she has so many others.
Over the next months of 2005 the idea of a blog ring(web ring) for makers of unusual quilts or in an 'outlaw' style was born. Not art quilts, but traditional quilts in a different style. More breaking the rules, less pattern-following and less name dropping. I was invited to join the Mavericks, and altho I wasn't sure I was what they were looking for, I took the plunge and joined. Not as prolific as some members, but more so than others, I was happy, and felt I had a 'home' so to speak. We seemed connected, for awhile. That connection is something that I miss. The group is larger now,more diverse, only slightly more maverick, in my opinion. I suppose that happens when things grow larger. And as with other organizations, little 'connections' were made between some and not others. That seems to happen when you bring friends together inside a structure.Of course you would be more mindful of your friend than of me, or others. That's why it was desireable to have your friend become a ring member. It's not that the person can't stand on their own merit, they can. Definitely. And I can't fault you if you would rather spend your limited free time, reading of their accomplishments instead of mine. Maybe it's that you are into primative quilting, or just brights or, antique quilts,or applique or maybe it's just that you are a prolific quilter and some of us just trudge along not accomplishing as much. I don't have any answers, only more questions or wonderings.
I was proud to be a Quilt Maverick, and I'm trying to still be proud to belong to this group. But it doesn't seem much like a group anymore. I suppose that's what happens as groups grow larger....right?
I have considered dropping out of the Mavericks, I've thought about it alot. The people who read my blog, and leave a comment or don't, would still come by. But if I'm out of the ring, (and without the logo) how would readers link on to others in our group?
On my sidebar I try to put blogs that are fun to check out,and gals who aren't in a ring and might not be found. I try not to play favorites, and if you join a ring you have a connection, and I can remove your blog from my sidebar and add someone else. I don't want 200 listed on my sidebar. I'm aware that some have taken my blog off their sidebar when I took their off....life happens, and such is life.Maybe you are just happier or more connected with a quilter who's blog you found by reading mine, and maybe you just don't stop by mine now, in favor of others.....it happens. Maybe we shouldn't underestimate how our actions impact others. But obviously still about personal choice, not loyality.
I know about "calling a circle", and circle ceremonies and the committment that goes with being part of circle. It implies support and connection. I thought a web ring was a circle. Maybe that's where I was mistaken.
Maybe the Mavericks are just a group, with a membership list and a few people who are always included in everything. Sometimes it seems more like a popularity contest than a supported, connected circle of like minded quilters.
I smile alot, and laugh easily, but probably not as much as back in 2005. I still don't take life very seriously, but more so than before.
And I still love blogging, and am happy I followed Bonnie into blogland. In regards to the Quilt Mavericks, maybe I just took it all too seriously, I am still happy to 'be' a Maverick, it just doesn't mean as much as it used to. Some of the innocence has rubbed off, and Finn has gotten a bit older and wiser.

How Green is my Valley...?

Unusally warm weather in April and early May, has brought spring to my valley much earlier than normal. Whether or not it can survive and stay remains to be seen. I was in search of trilliums on Thursday,WI's state flower. They are early bloomers and tho it's barely time for them, the apples trees are in full bloom and the trillums are just starting.

It's NOT time for apple blossoms, but we have them,and wild plums.. I found a few trilliums and will return to snap a pic of them. Inside the village limits(pics #2 & 3) the hillsides are nearly finished leafing out. They haven't obtained the deeper green that will come with summer, but the hill is a pretty uniform color. In the 1st picture, taken outside of the village, and you can see some of the 'green mist' I was talking about earlier. The hills are a sea of green, in many, many shades. It's very lovely. And with little to no rain fall, the farmers are getting an early start on plowing, disking and planting their corn.

The last picture is of the road home..the old river road. It's hard not to love the drive. It winds and meanders, curving this way and that, as it follows the river
for the first 4 miles. Then it angles off to the right, cutting through sections of sandstone bluffs. Almost perfectly straight up and down bluffs, put there by the last glacier. Rocks and bolders often tumble down the hill and land in the road. It's good to be alert on this road. Deer frequently cross, heading for the river below the bank, and wild turkeys are everywhere. Pheasants are part of the picture and a multitude of squirrels skunks, possums and racoons. It's a wild and wonderful journey on a moonlit winter night, and relaxed and charming one on a summer afternoon. There are only 4 roads to get out of Elmwood, and 3 of those are uphill...LOL This is the beginning of Coulee country.

My head is all mixed up today....

and it's hard to know what to do about that. As of 9 a.m. this morning, no less than three(3) seperate blog 'posts' were knocking on my brain's door, looking to be heard. I sometimes have 2, but 3 is just ridiculous! So I'm going to try and just deal with ONE, if I can keep it seperated from the others.
I gave in and went to the dr. yesterday afternoon. After a particularily BAD bout of coughing and strangling, I decided something had to be done before I needed the 911 crew and oxygen. In the small village where I live, you can call the clinic and see the Dr. the same day(most of the time). She found my lungs to be clear, but the bronchial tubes swollen and blocked. I now have a steroid based inhaler and must say, it's helping.
On the way home, I decided to stop along the old river road hoping for pictures of the lovely 'green mist' that hangs over the treed hillsides. In places the leaves were fully opened, but in others I found what I was looking for. I was also in search for trilliums, our State flower. I found a few but not at a place where I could pull over. So I'll snap those another day. No green mist pictures today either.
And no whispers from the past that are trying to wiggle into my frontal lobe and emerge..*S*
What I want to talk about is words. It began yesterday with a lovely e-mail from Michele at http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/ She was telling me that she seeks out the symbolism of words. And of course, our language is based on symbols. Before a written alphabet in any language, we drew the deer, or sun, or the forest fire on the walls of our caves.Even strangers could read the pictures. That's probably not the kind of symbolism she was refering to. Altho I suspect it involves a mental picture to accompany thinking about the word. So how do I perceive and interact with words? Vocabulary was one of my favorite things in school. I took a mental library of words, meaning and uses with me when I graduated. 49 years later, I can still rattle off the defination of osmosis for you...*VBG* But enough of that. I love the sound and texture of words as they roll off someones tongue, or present themselves on a page. A string of words, such as, "something there is that doesn't love a wall" is as good as a feast to me. I often think in sentences that are song lyrics..."where have all the flowers gone..", and just the past day or two, I'm stuck with "I've got a ticket to ride....". Is that going to be a quilt??? My gosh, maybe!?! All of those 'bits' are full of symbolism, and I suspect the symbolism differs from person to person.
What I'm realizing is that I probably do 'play' on symbolizm from words when I write or speak. Is what I am saying meant to be taken at face value? Probably not....LOL
What I was conflicted about is that , in my head, 'symbolism' means a defination in a book with a picture and it's meaning explained. i.e. all the variations on 'cross'. I will think about this more....trying to understand and seperate how I use words, from book symbolism. I think I choose the words I use, to help transport you to a place of memory, or a 'peek in the window' of my memories.
I have been in conflict for some time now, trying to under what value living 'in the now' can have. In terms of dragging bags of garbage from the past, I understand. Both my oldest son and my psychologist think 'being in the moment' is a very good thing. I believe that the past we stand on(and remember) assists us as we go. So maybe I am a time travel? I can take star dust and moon beams, with fairies dancing in the garden, and spin that out for(and to)you, and then cast it into the 'morrow' for you to find or follow. How will you know if you don't seek it out?
I find that much of what is happening in 'the now' is very one dimentional and flat. Running like a line across time. It seems to lack substance, isn't 'fleshed out' as with a good book or painting. And it seems to be more about 'acquiring and having' than understanding, appreciating and giving back.Like a row of hash marks on a page...scores.
A very, very long time ago, I read this line of poetry(or maybe haiku) "Before you love, learn to run through snow, leaving no footprints". I don't remember who said it, but the idea(of running through snow leaving no footprints) stuck with me.
Snow is one of those things that can,and will, play with your mind. It's an "all or nothing" deal. Once you step one foot onto the snow, everything changes and can't be put back as it was before. Think about that for awhile.