Sunday, October 14, 2007

Crazy Busy

I have just been crazy busy, so I've neglected the blogosphere. No posting, no ring-surfing, no nothing. Just lots of traveling and the like. I did get to watch Grey's Anatomy while in Seattle, which gave me an odd thrill!

Here's some catch-up . . .

While away on one of my trips, I received this absolutely beautiful quilt from Anne Ida as part of the Four Seasons Quilt Swap.



It came all the way from Norway, with a chocolate bar! She said she envisioned it as a table topper, which is exactly how I'm using it.



This was the trip when I came back to town at night in the middle of a thunderstorm and found that my headlights didn't work. This was one straw too many for this camel, and I immediately (I mean next morning immediately) went looking for a new car. I bought a Camry hybrid within two days and love it. Plus, I feel super virtuous when driving! Oh, and the lights work.

Given all I've been rushing around doing, I haven't had much time for quilting. I did start and finish a baby quilt for a friend, but forgot to take a photo. It was still warm when I dropped it off with someone to deliver to the shower on my way out of town. I actually used a UFO from who-knows-when that was in bright brushed plaids and backed it with a great, bright Amy Butler print in orange, yellow, and purple.

I'm in a finish-it-up-and-get-it-out cycle, I guess, as I also just put borders on another UFO; it has been sitting around for over 5 years! I was also going to quilt it right away, to strike when the iron was still sizzling, only to realize I'm out of batting. So, I ordered a bunch, which will hopefully arrive within a week or so. The quilt came from a pattern out of an old Cabbage Rose book. I can't believe I made all those flying geese. I clearly had too much time on my hands before I had children.



It's hard to tell, but the background for the stars is a novelty print with little salt and pepper shakers. I'm going to call this, "season to taste."

One of my trips took me on a consulting visit to Kentucky. I flew into Nashville and rented a car to drive about an hour into the state, and as I approached the Tennessee/Kentucky border, I got so excited. There was a sign featuring a bunch of quilts that read, "Paducah, exit 4." Of course, as soon as I crossed the border, I realized that I was at exit 89. Oh well, I'll go back one day.

One late night in some hotel room, I was checking email and found a message saying that I've been dropped by the Quilting for Pleasure blog ring because I hadn't posted in a month. The message caught me by surprise and seemed to undercut a bit the jolly tone of the blog ring title. There was something about the email that really irked me--especially given how many folks in the ring barely post about quilting at all--so I think I'll take this as a message from the powers that be to go quietly into the Q4P night and drop the button from the sidebar without a fuss.

I start a cake decorating class in a couple of weeks. Not one of those frothy Wilton things, but a class with the top cake-maker in town. I'm really excited! So, if my work turns out presentable, I'll post some photos down the road. The good thing is that even if the cakes are messy, they'll still be super yummy!

14 comments:

May Britt said...

The table topper looks great on your table.
I agree you getting iked by the mail from the blog ring. Some times you do not have time to blog. So blog when YOU have time. I have you on my bloglines so I'll find you when you post something new :)

QuiltingFitzy said...

I dropped my Ring because of "the warning" as well. I don't need one more rule in my life! I'm all grown-up now!

I stop by every day trying to catch a glipse of what you're up to. I'll keep you company!

Lights, while driving at night..."it's a good thing"!. What color did you buy?

Vicki W said...

The table topper is really pretty - what a nice surprise! I love the season to taste quilt too. Flying geese have to be one of my favorite quilt patterns but I hve yet to make one myself!

Paula, the quilter said...

I'm considering dropping out of one of the rings I'm in. I don't get around the rings like I should and I subscribe to a lot of blogs via the Bloglines feed and read blogs I enjoy. I need to update my sidebar. That little swap quilt is darling.

heather said...

I love both quilts!

floribunda said...

I've been driving a Camry hybrid for about a year now (just renewed my registration!) The only problem is that, despite the fact that it's screaming bright red, people keep running into the back bumper and leaving little dings in the paint -- there must be a dozen of them now, and I know I only put a couple of them there...

I don't think the mileage is quite as good as they advertise, but it depends a lot on how you drive!

Anonymous said...

I don't really see much benefit in rings anyway. I use Bloglines to keep up with my faves and the ring really serves no other purpose than that. Big deal. I agree with Fitzy--I'm a big girl now and I can make my own rules (or not).

Quilting Pirate said...

what an adorable quilt! Isn't fun to do little swaps like this!!

I hear ya on the ring thing as well. And I'm dumbfounded because you post at least once a month and all your post tend to be quilty! I joined rings at first to bring attention to my blogs, but I rarely surf them anymore. I love my bloglines to keep up to date on blogs.

Laurel said...

I found your blog on the ring originally, but I liked it so I subscribed on Netvibes, which I think is like bloglines. So now it tells me when you do a new post. Plus I find a lot of blogs by the links from other blogs, not the rings.

I'm amazed at how much quilting you do with two young kids and what sounds like a big job. Do you ever sleep?

Carol E. said...

Love the Season to Taste quilt! (and what a clever name) Isn't it hard being near Paducah but not stopping?? I was IN Paducah twice (going and coming) but was with a big group and couldn't stop. That just about broke my heart.

Shelina said...

That is a pretty table topper, and your flying geese quilt looks great. I love all the different colors and fabrics you used for it.

atet said...

The table topper quilt is adorable and the flying geese just look like fun (and yep -- aren't you sometimes amazed at what you managed to do before you had kids? I know I am!). As for rings, I've never been part of one -- but the whole blog thing should be FUN, not a chore!

Unknown said...

Lovely four seasons quilt - and I really like your flying geese quilt - I keep meaning to make one similar but then forget again

Lucy said...

What a lovely adorable flying geese quilt !