as promised

i finished the new mini.  it is definitely ’simple’ and easy.  there are some outside points and the center circle is kinda small, but that’s the worst of it.  course my sample didn’t turn out exactly perfectly – guess watching basketball while doing applique isn’t the best plan?? 

hmm, forgot to position the curser before i did the download.  a lucky accident the way it turned out. ^_^  anyway, this is one of those weird designs that has one center if you are putting it in a circle and a different one for centering within a square!  yes, i did remember to tell you that in the words!  and indicate both on the drawing.

there’s a rumor the sun may be shining here tomorrow.  oh how i do hope so!  will be going to retrieve all my wares from bobbie’s house if so.  it’s about time to get it together for the show in turlock!  setup is the 19th.  it’s at the fairgrounds, by the way. ^_^  stop by and say ‘howdy’.

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

the day after

well, at least the superbowl wasn’t a disappointment.  while i am normally a peyton fan (but only after my hapless bengals), - this time just had to root for new orleans given all that city has been thru.  mostly, just happy it was a good and entertaining game to watch.  and one of those two guys had to make some ‘mistakes’ in order for a winner to show up.  ok, we could have had the final score dependant upon who scored last, i guess.

as for the BOYS!! in green – what in the devil does doc say in that locker room at halftime???  whatever it is, he needs to just stop!!  once again they forgot to showup in the 3rd quarter, blew their lead and ultimately lost. grrrr  however, the bruins finally broke their 10 game losing streak!!!  yea!

like ya’ll really care – sorry.  guess you came here to read about applique, not sports!  so, yes, i did begin that new mini.  it’s so easy i’m sure i could have finished it in one sitting if not interrupted by my sports addiction. ^_^  so, i will attend to that today and post the picture either tonight or first thing tomorrow – i promise.

as for the weather, today looks iffy – early on looking like some sunshine.  now, still just kinda grey overhead.  some hints of blue, but only hints!  no drops yet.  really do need a clearing so i can go to bobbie’s house and get all my stuff!!  can’t do the next show without it!!  and i’m sure there is some major reorganizing to  be done.  i told them not to worry about trying to put things in right tubs – i would sort it out. (i left the show in tucson a day early and they took down and packed everything – hers and mine!)

i have posted this picture before, but thought i’d just give anyone here a reason to smile again. ^_^

you really must be smiling now!! ^_^

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

super sunday

hmmm, wish i could say i’m feeling ’super’ today.  i think i’m just tired of the rain!  i know we need it, so won’t really complain, but given i didn’t even get sunshine in tucson . . . . well, what else can i say??

on a brighter note – spring is obviously beginning to nudge old man winter aside.  the early almond tree has buds already showing pink – may even have some blooms today – haven’t been out there to check.  and the dogwood buds are good and fat.  and, have you noticed the sun showing up just a tad  earlier these days – even with all those clouds!

as for me, trying ever so hard not to just fritter away these days before the next show (in turlock, ca) - gets tough some days!  just finished a drawing for a new mini – a really simple one.  guess i will choose fabrics and get started soon as i get off here.  my boys in green play today, so will be watching that.  and, yes, will definitely watch the big game.  sure hope those two great quarterbacks each have a fabulous game – so it’s as much fun to watch as the commercials! ^_^

also, finished (front only) another pin the other day and thought i’d just post it here so you have a picture to look at.

have fun today, no matter what you do!!

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

back home

need i say it is wonderful to be back home – safe and sound!  long drive alone with some minor uncertainty about your vehicle.  all went well.  at least the driving part.  had a little trouble with the ‘lodging’ part.  ended up having to go to a different rv park from where friends were staying.  one of those ’snooty’ places that wouldn’t allow me to stay because i wasn’t in a ‘full hookup’ rig.  well, la de dah.  found a place even easier to get to and from conv center.  however, made it too much trouble to do evening things – like dinner – with friends.  i was too dog tired to drive around town.  and it was as cold, wet and windy there as here.  nasty.  so, spent my evenings alone in the van – ok, not quite alone.  it’s just that sophie doesn’t talk much.  kinda like being with a husband, i guess??? ^_^  and, not a lot of room to move around.  but, warm enough and dry.

as for the show – not all that great.  just ‘ok’.  still, long way to go for what i made.  oh well – maybe next year.

but the class yesterday – well, that was great!!  record attendance for them!  and they all seemed well pleased at the end.  that is always good.  and a whole lot closer to home!  try 200 vs 2000 miles round trip!!

in case you missed the picture of the new design – here it is finished.  not an easy one, still nice, i think??

crocus cuties, available as pattern or kit.

love and beauty      www.artfullyapplique.com

 

nearly ready

i now have less than one week before i leave for tucson.  have finished most everything – except am really dragging my feet (actually fingers, i guess) with regard to that new  design.  not sure why.  it is now crunch time, sorta.  so will just sit myself down in that chair and ‘just do it’! 

i did come up with a new pair of geometric type designs so that kakuji #1 now has a sequal.  been bugging me. ^_^  only thing is, the name is a misnomer – kakuji translates to “square shaped Chinese characters” (according to the book i used).  i have never found another pair that i really liked.  the new ones are actually shapes used for crests called “Mountains”. (found in the new book ruth gave me) So, if you speak Japanese – i know i’ve used the wrong word.  sorry.  here’s how they look, and like the first set, both designs are included in one pattern. (that’ actually a really light blue, not white.  mountains and water. ^_^)

there are also kits available, both designs included for $16.  neither is on the webpage yet because my printer needs a new printhead and i must wait for it to arrive -( office max does not keep those in stock. grrr  bad news is, i installed all 4 at the same time last time, but only the magenta is showing as ‘failed’.  i ordered a black one also – just in case.  am hoping i can get thru everything i need for the trip – they are even more expensive than the ink! ) so i can print the pattern covers!  did get the kit covers printed. 

ok, guess i’d best get myself into the sewing chair – NOW!!

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

hello again

and Happy New Year!  my absence has been not so much about being ‘busy’ (as in, holiday madness busy) as about ‘no news is good news’ or ‘if you can’t say something nice(or positive), don’t say anything at all’.  yep, once again, just once year later – we are facing the very real possibility of being ‘homeless’.  a fate i refuse to accept – so don’t even think about it.  the end.

as for quilting news – am preparing for my first show and the long drive to get there – tucson, az.  i am nearly finished with the sample for the latest design.  yes, just one so far.  haven’t been to tucson for 2 years, so will have other new things where they(you) are concerned.  bobbie (&woody) are also going, but i must return a day early, so will be driving the van and not riding with them.  no, not the rv – it is gone.  did lose it.  c’est la vie.  onward and upward!!!  anyway, will be posting the picture of the new design in the next couple of days – crocus.  used to love them back in ohio – first flowers of spring and often peeking up out of the snow!!

i will have a few new kits to offer – just finished doing 2 fused samples for the ginko and have one more to do.  also new colorway for #16 and #9.  and will have to do a new sample for the foxglove due to fabric being gone.  darn.

while we didn’t have a white Christmas, we did have a real snow storm here in dec.  power out for couple days, snow nearly up to my knees, etc.  wow!  yep, of course a snowman!  with some help from cutie rachel! ^_^

well, that was quite an ordeal – no, not building that funny guy – getting the stupid picture into this post!  i think it’s time to get to work!

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

musings

just something interesting i realized this morning.   things are very not ok around here – in the financial realm.  once again, as we were just this time last year – in very real danger of being ‘homeless’.  so, i have been in the process of finding things to sell – to contribute to the cause as well as to be able to purchase some necessary items for myself (and critters – they do like to eat now and then).  so, i spent yesterday unpacking china and crystal.  things that have been sitting in my storage shed out back for going on 12 years now. (hard to believe i’ve been out here that long!)

for the past few years, when doing my ‘trunk show’, i have included words about my ‘interest’ in things japanese.  specifically i have repeatedly said “before now i have never had or been interested in anything remotely related – except for a pair of jade earrings”.  and then, yesterday, upon unpacking my beautiful (spode) china – what did i discover and finally realize this morning in my journal??  the pattern:  Geisha!  what does it look like?  pure white with light blue cherry blossoms around the edge. hmmm.  and then, i remembered something else very similar.  a lamp i made in ceramics (you know, where you go and clean up something that has been ‘poured’ and then you paint it to make it your own).  light blue with cherry blossoms done in ‘reverse’ – where i removed the blue paint to create the design.  i loved that lamp. (ex broke it.  another reason he’s an ex!^_^)

so, what does all this mean?  makes me wonder what subtle hints of what’s to come for me that perhaps i’m missing – here and now.  where is life taking me?  for sure, i am being forced to clear space – which is always a good thing!  free myself of a lot of past baggage and make room for more good to flow in.  and to more fully appreciate what i am, where i am and what i have.  and even more importantly – how much i love my family and appreciate living here with them.  i pray it will continue so.  and humbly ask for your prayers as well.

and, anyone interested in some really beautiful spode china?  or noritake.??  here’s a ‘rough’ picture of both.

love and beauty      www.artfullyapplique.com

 

fabric on etsy

just listed fabric bundles on etsy.  4 half-yard pieces (2 yds) for $10 or 3 half-yards for $8.50.  very reasonable shipping.   check them out.

http://jrixman.etsy.com

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

snow

well, we thought we got a lot of snow last year.  hah!  a mere dusting compared with sunday/monday!  and it hasn’t gone away yet!  not sure exactly how many inches – at least 12 and perhaps 18?  and some ‘piles’ nearly 2 ft deep where it had fallen from a tree.  too bad not more fell!  it was wet and heavy and clung to every tiny twig and then created actual blankets that were at least 6″ thick.  need i say some trees didn’t handle it well?!  we didn’t lose any whole trees, just some branches – as did most everyone in placerville.  needless to say pg&e has been hard at it ever since.  we were restored yesterday, mid morning.  myra, this morning.  bobbie (in shingle springs, but out in the boonies) still not when we talked earlier today.  i use little electric heaters, so it got right chilly in here.  temp was low 20’s past two nights.

as i look out my big window, there is still snow in some trees, after two days of sunshine!  and the path – what a mess it is.  deep footprints that are frozen and very slippery.  and big bushes that broke off and are covering it in one area – which means a detour around, which is downhill.  slow going up and down the path for me!

today i finally turned on the nice hot shower and had already wet down my hair when i noticed i was standing in water about 1″ deep.  oops.  drain frozen.  so, i have ‘rinsed’ hair.  it didn’t thaw until just a few minutes ago – with little bathroom heater blowing toward it all day.  good to lose those luxuries every now and then – generates authentic gratitude!  and here’s the 2009 mr. snowman. ^_^

he’s a happy guy. ^_^  as is his friend, rachel.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

new pin

just thought i’d post the pin i just put on ArtFire.  Have two more to finish.  Lots to do in the weeks before i head out again!

    

so, it’s back to it for me.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com