Another Event

It's time to plan for another event.

February's event was a large work celebration dinner thing for my husband's company. After much pain, I ended up with a nice cocktail dress, very cool shoes, an AMAZING Ralph Lauren wrap, a basic black purse, and a new hairdo. I think that was all that was involved, but it took effort and agony and lots of shopping. The event was wonderful and all my preparation was worth it.

Last week we were invited to the wedding of my husband's co-worker. We think we are going, but maybe not. Jeff may have to be out of town that week and the bride is OK with our unsure answer.

Now, I have to plan for another event. The only thing I can carry over from the last bit of torturous (sp?) shopping is the purse. I could wear the dress from the last event, but it's a black cocktail dress and the wedding is at noon. Also, I've lost 30 pounds and this thing hangs on me in obscene ways (i.e. plunging neckline). With the dress go the shoes and the wrap. The hairdo needs a serious trim.

Time for a new plan:

1. Dress: I bought some fabric from the Japanese fabric company that I work for to make a dress. It is very yummy. Photos and links will be forthcoming.

2. Wrap: I spent today at the Wool Festival with some friends. It was amazingly huge and wonderful on a perfect October day. I purchased some variegated mohair that matches the potential dress. Knitting will begin this evening.

3. Shoes: I ordered some boots online and, with what I paid for shipping, they had better arrive on Monday for size and color match. There's enough time to replace them if the color and size are wrong, but not much.

4. Hairdo: I have an appointment on Wednesday.

5. Purse: Am hoping to reuse the last basic black purse unless I get some nutty scheme that I should make something 'just perfect' for the dress.

6. Wedding gift: An all-white Turning Twenty quilt that I haven't started yet.

Did I mention that I have 13 days to accomplish all of this?

I'll keep updating, but now.... I knit.

Method to my Madness

I'm making up for the last 6 months of not sewing, I think. Actually, when I have a lot of work to do, I get a lot of sewing done. I work and I work until I cannot work anymore, then I sew something of mine to remind me that I quilt for a living because I like quilting. Paying college tuition has nothing to do with why I work (Did you hear that? I think it was sarcasm.)

Well, with Quilt Market coming up and clearing out the pre-Christmas work, I'm working a lot. Like, A LOT. So, I'm also getting my own stuff done.

Here's another one:



This was the quilt from the Quilt Basket's Strip Club in September. The wonderful teacher gave us each ten 2 1/2-inch strips and challenged us to use them. I didn't go all creative or anything -- I simply added 14 of my own strips and used the sample pattern.

I'm sending this quilt to a dear friend's mom who is starting cancer treatment next week.

It looks good enough to eat!

A dear friend and chocolate buddy of mine had surgery a few weeks ago. I decided that she needed a quilt. It was supposed to be a 'while you are recovering' quilt, but it's now a 'Congratulations! You've recovered!' quilt.

Here's the whole quilt:



And here's a close up of the focus fabric:



The back is a chocolate-brown flannel. I got the pattern from Thimbleberries 'Beginner's Luck' book. I quilted it in a swirl pattern with Rainbows variegated cream and tan. It picked up the gold and blended with the rest.

You know how sometimes you make a quilt and it's 'OK' and other times it all works together great? This is one of the latter that makes me hum happily. I almost hope she doesn't like it, 'cuz I wouldn't mind having this one for myself.

Yes, life IS like a box of chocolates!

TaDa! (or, Seeing Red)

I finally have some sewing pictures to share!!!

This quilt is for a baby girl. I was trying out a new thread for the local quilt shop and it worked great!!! Thanks to Bonnie for the pattern.



The next quilt is a scrap quilt made with a 3-inch tumbler template I bought at Pinwheels. It is for another baby girl.



Thanks again to Bonnie for the idea for the scrappy back.



(Aren't my husband's PJ's cute?)

I have a few more quilts that will probably be done soon (and they are not red!!!). I'm binding as fast as I can!!!

On a less-quilty but more philosophical note -- has anyone ever noticed how tough it is to achieve balance in life? When I was working hard to lose weight, that was my main focus. I didn't work as much and we won't talk about the condition of my house. Now I'm trying to maintain a weight-loss lifestyle, maintain a clean house, get caught up with my work, get caught up with my volunteer work, and do something because I want to (quilting) and not because I have to (work). I'm getting a little closer to a balanced life, but I'm sure I'll never arrive. Does anyone have this down pat? Any advice to share with the rest of us?