Looking forward, looking back.

And in the best "gather ye rosebuds while ye may" tradition, I'm thinking about the season and we slide towards autumnal equinox next week. June came and went, and we are approaching the second time of equal night and day. Altho pesky, squirrels are wise creatures. Nature has built in the need to gather and store things. Which leads me to think about how many quilts I "have or have not" finished this year. The number is quite small.
 Disappointed with my slow progress, I have been thinking about last years UFO Challenge. I pledged to finish up 5 UFO by New Years Eve. I made that promise on August 24th. 72 of you joined with me, and we finished up a total of 256 UFOs! I managed to get 15 done, passing my goal of 5! But.....
 I still have many that I didn't get around to, plus the new ones I begun this year.
 So I'm going to challenge myself(and YOU) to a New Years Eve UFO goal once more. I'm sure with ongoing "One Project A Month" challenge, there won't be as many of us playing along. But I'm going to set it up anyway, even if it's only me *VBS* If you are interested in coming along for the ride, just leave a comment or email me at Finn922000@yahoo.com. Last year we had 4 months and 7 days til New Years Eve. This year we have fewer days, but it still is 3 months and 13 days and that's enough for some progress I think *VBS*

Tick tock, tick tock.....

the minutes are slipping away and 2008 is drawing to a close. With the chimes of the midnight hour, our New Years Eve Challenge ends. Seventy two blogging friends joined forces, and on August 25th, we set forth to see if we could reduce the number of UFOs(or Pigs in a Poke, to quote Annie of Quilt til you Wilt). The goal was large...well over 300 to be finished up. That is a HUGE number of unfinished projects, but we were undaunted. Personally, I had been feeling quite overwhelmed by the number of projects staring me in the face. I bravely chose 5, then upped my goal to 8, and have managed to finish 12. Those I chose to count for the challenge. I finished up two smaller ancient ones that I didn't count, and 3 totally newly begun projects that I took to completion. I'm very, very happy with the outcome. I never could have, or would have accomplished that much without the friendship, support and enthusium of those who stitched with me. We are are winners, and each finish is a VICTORY!! The clock has just chimed 10, and I have done a prelimenary count of "finishes". I have that number, but am going to wait until tomorrow to publish it, since it's not New Years Day as yet. I loved getting Maria's note earlier today, letting me know of her last finish and that it was already tomorrow where she was in Denmark *VBS* Thank you Maria, I loved hearing that from you *VBS* God Bless each of you and the Happiest of New Years to all. Hugs, Finn

A road less traveled....

is definitely one that would lead you to my new abode. Off the beaten track is putting it mildly! My community in The Valley was small. ElmVille is tiny! Not much has changed in the 7 years I lived elsewhere.  Back in 1984 I arrived here, young(or at least younger), one 'new job' happy hubby, 4 'less than happy' school age kids and a pair of cats. Mama Cat Chelsea, made a dramatic leap for freedom when the car door opened and son, Marmalade looked on quietly. Mama was never seen again, LOL,there are probably a whole new line of gray tabby cats somewhere here in town. Marmalade accepted the new place. As did I, after a while. The maple leaf quilt was born of those early days of being the 'new fish' in the pond. Of knowing no one, and trying to adjust to the new smaller fishbowl existance. I was in my 'early' stages of being a quilter, but already adapt at doing it my own way. Thus the embroidered stems, and quilting done in sewing thread to match the leaves. It's no great beauty, but has served my family well for 17 odd years. It was my one and only attempt at prairie points!
And 17 years later, I'm back in this little hamlet by choice. A home coming of sorts, maybe the only kind a 'wanderer' such as I, could have. There really is no place I could call "home", depending on your definition. The quilt and I are both back where this adventure Began. No telling what the next chapter will bring *VBS*
 Sewing has happened. Sewing each morning with my coffee as usual. I'm up to date on my Rainbow Scraps Challenge, but lack a camera cord to show you my progress. October's color is orange, and I've got orange Shoo Flies a plenty! Maybe tomorrow the missing cord will appear...
 
And last but not least, my friend, Little Boo. He usually greets you on October 1st...but is a "Johnny Come Lately" this year...oh well, who's counting?? Better late than never!

Finn's New Years Eve Challenge....

Big or small, short or tall, we'll take them all! The challenge is open to anyone who wants to participate...the more the merrier *VBS* Quite a few of you have indicated that you are coming ot play with me...yippee! I will be posting a list with your name, your chosen number to finish and a link back to your blog. If you don't want your name on the list, just hollar. If circumstances change, just hollar. This is suppose to be fun *VBS*, and help some UFOs move out of the closets and drawers. I have this polka dotted beauty...its been aging for a few weeks now. Time for borders and some "getting it together". BUT.......
 THIS is the one I'm going to start with as I undertake this challenge to myself. These are the "Whatever" blocks from a year or so ago. They are SUPPOSE to ba a baby quilt for that new grandbaby Hailey Marie. She's a month old already, I better get busy!!! I will post what I am working on as I move from quilt to quilt(hopefully).
Regarding the challenge: There will be NO pressure on you to work faster. NO Quilt Police will ever see your name on my list. "Finished" can mean quite a few different things. All the way to binding and a label, or just that the blocks are completed and awaiting join up.
If you fall short of the deadline, we'll be here to cheer you UP...and if you make it, we'll cheer you ON! We are people, after all, not machines, and what is reasonable to you is certainly reasonable to me. Let's have fun and get some quilts D.O.N.E!!!

Things I have learned in 68 years.....

Not everything, of course, I won't live long enough to list it all! It's been a wet and wild day here again. Thunderstorms last evening and lots of rain and wind today...from the south, which is unusual. Ebby has spent more time on my lap since I came home on Tuesday than she has in the past 2 years. That is unusual also. It might just be she has finally realized I'm her person...LOLI've had some "down" time lately, the laying or sitting and waiting kind of "down" time. I got to thinking about life, in general. I'll share some of that with you, everyone needs a good laugh now and then.
I've learned: If I have a thing, an 'it', I can manage to 'lose' it. Often more than once.
And:If I set 'it' down somewhere, makes no difference where, I for sure won't remember where "where" is.
I've also learned that: I will eventually find the 'it", and probably just lose it again shortly. Makes no difference if it's the checkbook, my keys or a spool of thread. I never used to have that problem...hmmmm?
I've learned that: truth is the shortest route through almost everything, and if you are lucky or smart enough to know what your particular 'truth' is, you're ahead of the game.
I've learned that: everything has a place where it ends. The word "ends", which can be either a positive or a negative thing, means so many different things. Over the years I have a difficult time with 'endings' of all sorts. A special piece of fabric that you just don't want to see the last of it used. I've learned that 'that' particular feeling can change and you are actually glad to see the last of something used and gone! Who knew?
And I've learned there are so many ways to look at things. Kind of like the blind men and the elephant story. To one of them, feeling of the trunk, the elephant is like a snake while the one feeling of its legs, thinks an elephant is like a tree.
And that, along with looking, the words we use....good, better, best or ugly, bad, awful are subject to the view of the person speaking them. The word doesn't make the 'thing' what they call it. All of those words used to describe belong to the viewer.
Since I can't do bending over, until the stitches heal, I decided to dig into my UFOs and make a list. I did that a year or so ago, and posted it on Stashbusters, of which I am a member. I'll admit to having 60 UFOs in my care at that time. I wiped out 18 by July, and then lost interest. I've been re-visiting the remaining ones plus the new arrivals. I sat today and copied and cleaned up my list.
And I learned something about me....I'm not too happy about the number of things I have started. Some of them I am still enthused about, and then there are the ones I'd like to "lose", but of course, they NEVER disappear! The total count, and I seriously doubt this is ALL of them...is 51. On hangers, 21 flimies to be quilted. Only a couple have a backing hanging with them. I have 3 wall hangings, 1 table runner and a couple of pillow fronts. BUT....that still leaves 20+ UFOs that are in the block stage. None have enough blocks to sew together, so I must make additional blocks. I'm not including the 10 UFOs I've finished in the New Years Eve Challenge. That calls for a big "OH MY"! I think I'm determined to finish 'ALL' of them, or maybe just the 'ALL' that still make sense to me. Because I've learned: I can always change my mind *VBS* Re-purposing is a great word!!

And now for a commercial message....

We're rolling merrily along with the New Years Eve Countdown UFO Challenge. And while it's wonderful, marvelous and all that jazz, I'll still have UFOs on January 1st. How about you?? Want to keep the mojo going and finish up more??? I do!!!!
And here's just the place to do it!!! Our pal Myra, is hosting her PhD(projects half done)Challenge again this year. Hers runs a bit longer than mine(which is GOOD) and I have jumped on board(my first time) and hope to get at least 6 more finished up by the end of June. If having less PhDs or UFOs or WIPs appeals to you...pop over and join Myra and so far 20 more of us in this new challenge!

Color me blue....

Many of you will remember this quilt. Made years ago from a 9 patch project at a quilting retreat. I used my 9 patches(plus Betsy donated hers to me)and my tub of black scraps, to make the quilt. I liked it, and I utility quilted it. A couple of years ago, GS Nathaniel adopted it for his own. He's not hard on quilts like some boys are. It came home with me the day after New Years to be washed.
 And this is what washing revealed and what makes me blue on this January Monday. Actually, it would make me blue ANY day. Scrappy blacks and not knowing what could happen. This is what ALL the poly or poly blends are doing...shredding, or fracturing, if you prefer. In a few places they are gone completely except for the 1/4" seam and the row of stitching. On close inspection, the bad strips are outnumbered by the good cotton ones, so mending is my answer. I feel the quilt has many good years left, if I deal with the fractured ones.
 This is how I am doing that. Look close and note the PRINT pieces where lattice used to be. I don't see well enough to cover the bad ones in plain black. So I'm using print strips. I lay them over the rotted area, and sew down that first 1/4" by hand. Then I finger crease the other 3 sides and flip the patch into place and pin it. Using the same stitch as binding, I sew those 3 sides down by hand. So far I've patched roughly 12-15 spots..and have a few more to go. I'm happy that the cotton outnumbered the poly in those black scraps. It's slow work, but I've been doing it in the evenings as I watch TV.
 
On a happier note, I've joined the 2011 Rainbow Scraps Challenge at Super Scrappy. A color is assigned for each of the 12 months of this year, and you make whatever you want from scraps of that color. January is blue, and I'm using some of my blue scraps to make "you guessed it" 9 patches. I've gotten a late start since I just joined yesterday, but I'm ok with that. It is the result of a blog hopping trip last evening....love what turns up when you blog hop!!!

Crossing the T's and Dotting the I's...

I'm tardy, as usual. Here is some general information about the New Years Eve UFO Challenge. Anyone can join and play along. The purpose to clear the decks of a few more unfinished projects before we begin 2010! Each quilter(or cross-stitcher) selects how many projects she wishes to finish between now and New Years Eve. Drop me a line or leave me a comment and I'll add you to the list on the sidebar.
There are no prizes(except the obvious satification) and no quilt police will check up on you. When you have a finish and let me know about it, I'll mark it off beside your name. Post about it on your blog, or not, which ever works for you. The project can be any size and in at any stage of complete-ness. They don't have to be specifically quilting projects. It helps alot if we visit each other to cheer each other on to victory. If you have question, pleaase ask and I'll try to answer them. Happy Stitching everyone!!

I must confess.....

I 'snitched' a milk chocolate easter egg from one of the Easter baskets today...*G*. Of course I did, how could I not? All I have to do is smell chocolate and I'm right there to see what might be available. And as I lick the milk chocolate from my fingers, my mind drifts back to Easters Past.This Easter Eve, is my 66th night before Easter. And my how they have changed over the years. *VBS*

Probably the most memorable Easter came on April 6th of 1947. My baby sister was born just as the sun came up that Easter morning. This year was her 60th birthday on the 6th of April... Happy Birthday Pony Girl..*VBS* This picture was taken March 28th, 1948. I was 7, and my little sister almost 1 yr. We all look so young and happy. No snow in this picture, and only light weight Easter clothes. And lucky me! Long white stockings for church instead of the brown cotton ones for everyday wear. New clothes at Easter was something that continued all of our childhood for us girls. There was a new dress of some sort every Easter, and usually they were frilly, ruffled, spring colored and unsuitable for everyday wear. It was like a sign of spring, those new Easter dresses in pastel colors. New shoes, sometimes a new coat for spring. As I grew old, a hat for church and eventually white gloves to complete the outfit.

The Easter bunny never missed us. We may have been a low income family, and one that charged groceries and rented from month to month, but there was always candy, a stuffed animal, maybe a basket... usually a basket, and sometime small toys like jacks or jump ropes, maybe a book or paper dolls. Easter was a special time. We rarely had other family members present for dinner, but it was almost always ham, potatoes, salad, a vegetable and probably a lemon merangie pie for dessert. The house wasn't decorated much, but the Easter Bunny found us anyway..*VBS* I remember the sharp smell of the vinegar being added to the cups of hot water, to set the dye we put in each cup. One year they added little wire holders to sit the egg in, supposedly guaranteed to keep the dye off your fingers...LOL. I remember the decals that we so carefully stuck on the eggs and tried to take off without smearing the design, and the little white wax crayon we used to print our names on the eggs.

My mom wasn't one to hide Easter eggs, a combination of too much work at the end of a long day, and the possibility we wouldn't find them all...oh my...the smell! But I don't feel I missed anything by not having hidden eggs. What we each got was OURS, and the amounts were very equal...nothing to squabble about who had more or most. The biggest challenge was seeing who could hold out the longest before biting the head off the big chocolate rabbit....LOL. I usually won! I always started with his tail or his back where it didn't show..*G*

I remember Easter grass going from a waxy paper shred, to cellaphane shred and eventually to the unshiny paper grass and then the tinsel kind. All in all, it didn't matter what kind of grass was in the basket, it was a mess!!! I feel that way to this day! But of course, you do 'it', cause otherwise it wouldn't be Easter.

As I married and had children the containers for the Easter bunny loot changed from my childhood ones. The goodies might be in a new wagon or doll buggy, or maybe a sandpail or cowboy hat. Almost anything to get away from the collection of baskets. In my husband's family, times were much harder, and once they got a basket, it remained theirs, and was put out empty year after year for the bunny to fill. Much bigger emphasis on the dyed eggs, and less on the candy ones in his family. I rather suspect that most of us carry on part of the traditions of the family we were raised in. Combining that with the memories of our spouse's family and it becomes what our children will carry forward with them.

I was amazed back at Christmas how many of us share a similar experience with christmas stocking containing an apply, orange, mixed nuts to be cracked and some kind of candy, as well as a toy or two...*VBS* I suspect the Easter traditions are similar also, for us born in the 30's, 40's, 50's, etc.

It's been quite a few years now since I have dyed Easter eggs, and I can't say I miss the mess or trying to get those eggs used up. But each Easter I find myself smiling at brightly colored eggs when I see them. Happy Easter Eve Everyone!!!

The nitty-gritty about the UFO Challenge....

 
For anyone who wants to know, and to remind us veterns. The New Years Eve UFO Countdown is in it's 3rd year. We accomplished alot collectively by playing along with this challenge. The purpose is to try and clear the decks of some older(or newer)projects before we begin our next year of making hand crafts. I keep track and provide the updates and final tallies. What you chose, the number, the craft, it's all up to you. No one will check up on you..no quilt police. ALL hand crafts that need to be finished up are welcome. There are NO rewards or prizes other than the wonderful satisfaction of having it "done". As many say, "Done is better than perfect"! We are here to cheer each other on. It's a great chance to meet new quilters or greet new blogging friends. I'm merely the 'reporter' and stat keeper. You can post your choices and/or your finishes any way you choose.When you have a finish, either tell me in a comment or shoot me an email.
Given that we are starting later than the other years, give careful thought to how many projects you choose to pledge. You can always do MORE than your chosen number. Or it can be reduced down if you want or need that. The first year I chose 5 and finished 15. I didn't have BIG ones, and that makes a difference. This year I am choosing 5 again, and I'm a bit concerned, as I have one really BIG one. I also am planning on flannel pillowcases for each grandchild...read 15! And if time permits, one for each of my kids and their spouses. I'm not figuring those into my tally, but will give it my best shot at getting everything done! So, that's pretty much it. The logo is the the one from last year, and I'm feeling really "senior" since I can't remember who made it for us. Feel free to right click it and use it. You can link it back here if you'd like. It's not required. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me. Oh yes, anyone can join us, it's open to everyone and it doesn't have to be on this particular day or week.

Thursday Tidbits....

 What a difference a day makes...no rain, but lots of wind, and the mood of the landscrape is changed. Shades of November on an October day. No evidence left behind, Madame Wind removed all traces of those lovely leaves.
 And for me, a new perspective...moonrise and sunset playing among the clouds across the street. Pure magic!!
 A recent finish. I've hand quilted this Peppermint table square with perle cotton. Got it bound and ready for the holidays. I'm very pleased with the outcome.
  And a look at the backing I chose, a splurge for me. Using a whole yard of a new Aunt Gracies reproduction fabric because it goes well with the top, and makes the quilt reversable.
Regarding last evenings post, I am DEFINITELY going to host another New Years Eve UFO Countdown! Several of you have indicated an interest in joining me, so consider it a "done deal". Put on your thinking cap and decide how many you hope to finish up. I'm asking for your "challenge" number again. We might be a small group this time, and we are definitely working in a shorter time span.
In 2008, we began on August 25th, giving us 4 months and 7 days. 72 of us pledged to finish 300 projects.
The count on January 1, 2009 was 256 finished projects...wow!!
Last year we began on September 19th, giving us 3 months,13 days. 32 of us pledged to finish 175 projects. January 1, 2010 found that 24 of the 32 finished 148 projects. The numbers don't really mean as much as the personal satification we each felt about our success.
For what ever reason on my part, we are getting a late start this year...BUT....we have 2 months and 10 days. Choose your goal accordingly.
I will be posting the Challenge on my sidebar as usual, and will add your finishes as you let me know of them. I'll post some additional details for any newcomers. Just let me know you are participating and I'll add you to the list, along with your goal number. Feel free to email me at Finn922000@yahoo.com with questions, amounts or concerns. Happy UFOing!

Victory Celebrations are in order...

 this morning, and a HUGE bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace for Michele,With Heart and Hands. She has completed her 10 chosen UFOs and a whole bunch more! Michele has been playing in our New Years Eve UFO Countdown Challenge. Her chosen number of UFOs to finish was 10...which really shocked some of us. Quite the storm of additinal challenges rose up out of that number 10! At last count, I believe, 13 additional quilts will be made to benefit organizations of the makers choosing!! Clare couldn't resist Michele's goal, and jumped in with 9 projects promised, but on a different timeline...LOL. I'm so very proud of all your hard work Michele, and I know most of it is for donation...awesome!!
 And we need additional bouquets of flowers for Julie, Barn Quilter, and Roz, of Counterpane. Julie has met her goal of 3 UFO's and finished an additional 8 small quilts for gifts. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think she's done yet...LOL. Roz met her goal of 1 UFO finish this week, and probably will continue to finish up more! Way to go gals! Everyone's a winner!!!
 As for me, my play time this morning needs a change, so I pulled out the container with 6.5" log cabin blocks. I got 14 more sewed up and trimmed. Now I will put them neatly back in their container and put them away til next time. I am happy to find this many weeks into my "return mojo high", that I feel the same drive and desire to have this old stuff done. I've hung in there pretty well in the "no new starts" department and with some success behind me, maybe I can ride it out. I was sorely tempted to take on Bonnie's new Mystery, and even pull fabric for it, but talked myself out of starting, and quietly put the fabric away again. I think there's hope for me yet...LOL

Sliding towards January....

and choosing what I will finish in the early part of 2011. Decisions are really, really hard for me. Apparently that's partly the nature of being a Libra. One thing I've loved about MY challenge is that I could choose to NOT choose which UFOs got finished until I chose to work on them. That's not the case at Myra's challenge. She's coaxing(mostly me)to "step up" and commit to what I'm going to do....darn! Well, I'm getting there. This elderly hand pieced bow tie has been chosen as #3.
 And I'm providing a closeup of those lovely feed sack and vintage fabrics for you vintage fabric lovers!
 I've also chosen this ancient Birds In Air. It dates all the way back to the late 1980's and early 1990's. It will become a quilt before the end of June, 2011.
 
Another oldie from the early to mid 2000s, Aunt Gracie's Stars is #5. It's such a simple quilt, I'm not really sure why I haven't finished it. Probably something else(like scraps and orphan blocks) was more interesting! Soooo...Ded. 16th, how are ALL of YOU doing on your goals? Many have met their New Years Eve UFO Countdown Challenge goals...how about you????

Tuesday in the Valley....

with a tale to tell *VBS* I have this little helper. She's got my time schedule down pat. She knows when and where and what I'm likely to be doing.  She's Queen Ebony, in charge of all she see. That does NOT include the quilts I'd like her to stay OFF OF. Doesn't everyone appreciate cat hair? Taking a picture of a quilt has become a challenge!
 Innocent as the driven snow, right?? Well, only if I'm watching ALL the time..
 and put the quilt on the couch for the picture. My first UFO Challenge Finish!! I got the last of the binding sewn down this afternoon. This a donation quilt and not one that really needed finishing in the "true UFO" sense....but, it's a finish and I'll take it!
 The last time you saw this one it was blocks. It's also the one that I made to fit the backing fabric...LOL. All those little green frogs are accounted for and will help keep some little one warm and snug.
I wanted to mention also, that Auntie Em has created a New Years Eve UFO Countdown and is willing to share it with all of us in the challenge. Hop on over and check it out *VBS*

The Very First and Only Y Not? quilt...

Finn Again. With another UNIQUELY mine quilt. Not because anyone "scared me" or "threatened me". It's an all flannel quilt(both sides) that came out of a challenge being tossed at my feet. After the
Thanksgiving meal one year, the gals talk turned to "my" quilts. It's embarrasing to have your DIL's family arguing because one of my son's family is getting a new flannel quilt . I have made NO quilts for my DIL siblings, parents, etc. That's just abit much!! I maybe see them once every 5 years except for baptism, First Communions, etc. They do tease alot in her family. The challenge was what could I make from the flannel scraps in my box or basket at home, without cutting more pieces? I was allowed to shorten length, but that was it. Well, if there is one thing I love, it's a challenge..*wicked grin*..specially involving scraps.
So I took them on..and the quilt above, of which you only see a small part of was born between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Did it empty my flannel scraps box? No. Am I clever? You bet! In the very top row, up next to the white HST's on the right side is a pieced letter Y. Just that. Nothing else even similar...anywhere in the quilt.And it's a royal blue with orange eye balls. It was left from making a bottle quilt for Andy. The first Y failed..so I made another one.
This became the "Y not?" quilt. It went to live with my son in MN's family as an extra flannel quilt for their north woods home. My son "gets" it...the Y,but it was way over the DIL's head. It's hand quilted with perle cotton and about a twin size.
So....................what prompted me to drag out my soap box this morning? I never see it as a "rant", altho I didn't know much about ranting til I became computer literate. I have this portable soapbox I step up onto occasionally as I feel the need. When I'm done, I get down and move along..*G*. I am capable of civil disobedience, but it's pretty rare, especially in my mid 60's.
So what going on here? The seed was planted a while back..don't remember dates...when I heard or read that a midwest quilter and publisher of rulers and books, was treatening to sue someone for use the phrase "mile a minute". She claims she copyrighted the phrase and it's her new quilt book, and it can't be used by anybody else. EXCEPT that was just last year, and friend Betsy had come across an article in a quilt magazine(which I never got to see) that gave simple directions or instruction to make the kind of block that Bonnie of Quiltville calls "crumb blocks" years and yars ago. Either name works fine for me..no problem. Kathie, another WI quilter( http://threadlines.blogspot.com/ )left me a comment or emailed me that she had seen that article and has the magazine...American Quilter or some such thing. So I didn't feel guilty that in my head, they are M-A-M blocks.
Then out of the blue, Bonnie, of Quiltville, found what appeared to be her quilt pattern and idea on the cover of someones book, and they were taking or giving credit to a whole different person. So I read the discussion, and Bonnie's feeling about what had happened. I think if we are part of the web ring where Bonnie is our ring master, we need to be aware of what's afoot. You don't want someone to use your idea, and then claim it and sell it. I totally agree.
We have SUCH a huge resource in being able to find great scrap quilts to make at Quiltville, good clear directions, great pictures, and loving fun. And good tips on using stash and cut up scraps. We are sooo lucky to have that available to use.
It all seemed to quiet down, I never heard if it was actually resolved or not. I did link over to the site that Bonnie mentions, and the gal there has a rebuttal, but I think it's weak. Just my opinion, as I said before. I poked around a bit, checked out her link page, and she actually had an outgoing link to Quiltville. So I let Bonnie know that, in the for what it's worth department. End of story.
NO. Another quilt pattern, that's on Bonnie's free site claimed by someone else as theirs, and being sold. I don't think Bonnie has a link to Acorn Quilting , but if you link to Sew Unique, she has the link to Acorn. I checked that one out also.
I still don't know what is what....but I'm standing behind Bonnie, because shes' been my friend this past year. She takes care of us and our web ring. She's our fearless leader, per . I appreciate all that we have and that she does for us.
But I got to wondering. So I began pulling out books and magazines and looking for what they "state" as rights of the publication.
I could find NOTHING in American Patchwork and Quilting, which is the only magazine I get. It might be there, but it would seem we can make those quilts with being paranoid. Tell me if you find something I missed...please!
And then I came across a statement in a quilt book I purchased last year. A BIG book that is all scrap quilts. I'm not even going to give you the title...ya...not worth the risk. IF you want to know where to look, email me, and I'll tell you.
The page, where they put their publication imfo, says, and I quote: "All rights reserved. NO PART of this book may be REPRODUCED in ANY FORM or by ANY MEANS without the prior WRITTEN PERMISSION of the PUBLISHER, except for brief quotations in connection with REVIEWS written specfically for inclusion in magazines or newspapers, or LIMITED EXCERPTS strickly for
personal use."
Now in your opinion, does that sound like I could scan the cover for you? Or share ANY part of it, it's patterns or by putting a picture of MY quilt(from their pattern) on my blog? It doesn't sound that way to me.
And why does that upset me, making me confused, and a little grumpy? Well, sit back and think about it.
Of the multiple postings over the life of your blog, how many are snapshots of our new patterns purchased to go with our new fabric? Or the scan or photo of the book with the Civil War blocks?
If I can't scan or photograph even the cover, much less the page, how could I, or anyone possibly recomment that book to a friend or to blog readers? How many times have we each violated some right or another without knowing it?
No one has ever critized anything I've shown or taken me to task about a quilt I've made or mentioned. But isn't it just a question of time til it happens?
I LOVE my blog, and my bloggerland friends. We each can have and hopefully DO have an opinion. You see, I don't DO all the work Bonnie does to share the quilt patterns she create, free for our use. Why on earth would we NOT mention her as our inspiration..much less steal and/or publish her patterns in our name?? I just don't think we are that kind of quilters...it's not about the money. I don't think it ever was or Bonnie would have approached it differently. I made my first "Bonnie" quilt way back when she only had a couple posted. It was a scrappy bargello.

I didn't know you can't put photos from a quilt show on your blog without the makers name. Now that I do, I think it's a great idea and I'd be happy to do that.
I just don't like the idea, of that "no part in ANY form" thing I read this a.m. Cause if I write down block measurements for you, or even for me, that's "in any form". And if I take a picture and/or give you the quilt measurement, you can count the blocks and figure out what size they and their pieces are. Doesn't it mean that I can't share my pictures of a quilt or wallhanging made from their book? Because that's "reproducing" in ANY form?

Just the impact on us, the quilt web rings, my gosh!! Maybe we aren't so far more that surveillance of everything we do and say, as we thought we were. Maybe BIG BROTHER is watching us as we go on our merry way. This whole thing is just nuts in my opinion. And that's what it is...me, on my little wooden soapbox...not liken' this.
P.S. You can feel FREE to use anything I show(of mine) that inspires you....LOL

here I am.....

not quite missing in action, but absent for a few days. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday and is ready for the calendar to change again, after tomorrow. Probably the best explaination for my absence, is "I'm tired". I'm certain I'm not alone in that feeling. I'm tired of the snow, the cold, the season, all of it. And I'm tired of being a good quilter and working on what I SHOULD. I'll be fine again in a few days when I can pick and choose what UFO or project I "pull" for that days sewing. I gave myself a little break over Christmas to combine left over Mickey Mouse squares with a pile of scrappy 4 patches. It's 40" square now, and I will be adding a 4.5" border, bringing it up to 48". It's for donation.
 And then last evening I pulled a rubbermaid of these red/white 4 patches and turned them into 16 patches. Got all that done last night. This a.m. I joined them into 6 rows of 6 blocks each. It's about 48" square and I'm not sure I will add borders. I may just quilt it, as is. I'm liking it's simplicity. It has the feel of the old Purina Feed signs that used to be painted on barns in rural WI. No frills, just big red/white checkboard squares and the Purina logo.
 
And lest you think there is NO peace in my Valley, I give you a glimpse into a typical days activity. Ebby snoozes here and there, through the house and all through the day. She's a sleepytime gal in this 9th year. Fat, sassy and full of bounce when she chooses. She occupies a footstool next to my computer chair, and when she chooses, just lately with encouragement, she has started jumping up on the computer desk and checking everything out for herself! And it only took 4 years!
Tomorrow is New Years Eve, and as the clock ticks down to midnight, our NYE UFO Countdown for 2010 will come to an end. We've done really well in meeting our individual goals and I'm so proud of ALL of us!! If you've got any steam left(and I sure don't)keep on keeping on!! I'm sure there will be UFOs carried over into the New Year, and some of us have jumped on board with Myra's PhD challenge. I'm looking forward to just "doing it"!! I'd love to end 2011 with NO UFOs at all...wouldn't that be awesome???

Tricks or Treats for Everyone....

and a Happy Happy Haunting Halloween to each of you *VBS* We are having gorgeous weather here in my part of WI. Predicted high for T or T Time is 60 degrees...perfect. The children are allowed to T or T from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. If you welcome them, you indicate that by leaving your porch light on. If not, you leave it off. It seems like a good plan to me. Some elderly or handicapped people have difficulty with the extra work and/or $$$. It's good for the little one to know which home welcome them. And for the second year, our local high school kids will be collecting bags of groceries(a little or a lot) for our local Food Pantry. The village is only about 1,000 people, but we maintain a very nice private food pantry in the basement of one of the churches. Its not connected to the county food shelves that receive government and corporate donations. I'm always happy to donate to the food pantry *VBS* October 31st was off to a good start when I woke up 7:30. A marvelous pink sky that rapidly changed to amber.
 What surprised me enough to get up and go outside was ground fog. We did have a warmer day yesterday, but the fog was a suprise to me.
 This is the same view across the driveways, looking towards the state highway, that I showed as a gloomy rainy day picture a few days ago. I'm not out in the country, but close *VBS*
 And here is LIttle Boo again to wish you a happy last day of October!! he's been collecting "Finishes" instead of Tricks or Treats. I helped him tally them this morning and as of 10 a.m. the grand total for the challenge is 94(that have been reported). Now more might be finished, but these are the ones I know about. We have exactly 2 months til New Years Eve...lets keep stitching!!!
This morning I want to give a shout out, or a post a note for Sara's Scraps! Sara is one of our challenge gals, and she just had her first finish! And it's awesome! Please do pop over and check out her new quilt top made from 'bonus' triangles(1.75") and also scroll down a day or two to her UFO finish. Great job Sara!!