What's new?

So many times someone will ask, "how are  you" and I say "same as always".  Not trying to be flippant, but lots of times it feels like my life is pretty much the same, day in, day out, nothing changes.  I do the same job, wear the same clothes, live in the same house, married to the same guy.  Not a big traveler, very content with life, which could lead one to feel boring.


But there are changes in our lives, even if they are very subtle.  


So, my top ten changes in the last year. Letterman style.


10.  I have a new cat named Fred.  He is my challenge child.


9.    Have learned a new appreciation for summer.  Being a farmer's wife, summer used to be difficult for me.  Everyone else went on vacation, we worked, and we worked long and hard.  I got over it, it's what we do.


8.    I am living the organized life I have always dreamed of, with the exception of the desk.  Haven't conquered that one yet, but I still keep trying.


7.    A Garmin, when traveling with a man, is a good thing.  


6.    My pants are two sizes smaller.


5.   I have learned that you can't quit trying to do your best job until you quit your job. You can however hire good help!


4.    With determination and sweat, you can do things you thought were impossible.  


3.   We celebrated 35 years of marriage.  I used to tell Dan I wanted to be married to him for 50 years.   Fifty years used to seem like forever, now I tell him that I want to be married to him forever.  Fifty years may not be enough.


2.    We have a new grandson, Little baby Henry born in December.   Four grandsons after raising two daughters is a big eyeopener!  


1.    And the number one thing that has changed in the last year is that I have figured out how short life is.  Dr. Phil says there is no reality, only perception.  Well the reality is that I need to make more of my days, and my perception is that they are all much more of a gift than I thought.

Quilting My Own Sunshine!

OK, I figured it out, it is spring, the weather is very unpredictable. I have no control over it, but I also feel that you can make your own "weather" by adjusting your attitude and surroundings.

So, with the addition of the beautiful new spring Westminster line of fabrics that I get to look at when I am at the shop, the decision was made that I could bring that same sunshine into my home and quilting project.

This is a paper piecing project that perhaps won't get finished in a couple of weeks, but it will carry summer sun and bright color and pattern with me while I work on it.

For those of you who have never tried English Paper Piecing, it is a great take along, sit at the ball game, watch TV, and hopefully sit on the deck in the sun kind of a project.

These are big pieces and I am just loving the color and patterns of the fabrics. Join me, I challenge you to jump in and start your own garden quilt.

Color one way or another......

It is so pretty! There is nothing nicer on a gray, dreary day that a beautiful new wall of brilliant color. Our new Kaffe collection is in place and it is just so amazing. It looks like a rainbow!

We hear a lot of people say things like how do you use some of these big prints...... well the fun part is that you just use them. Don't worry about the patterns, it is all about the colors. This is the time that you let the fabric do the work in the quilt, perfect for patterns with larger pieces. That being said, they can also be cut up and add so much interest to your project.

I admit these are sometimes challenging for me as I started quilting at a time when everything was planned, and now am moving into a more free and easy style of piecing it all together. It is fun to do something out of our comfort zone that turns out so stunning.

Stop in and get a splash of color for your life!