We had our third webinar today.  Somehow, I missed last week’s but no worries because Carla saves the file so we can watch later.  It’s just more fun when you’re there during the actual thing.

She asked us to send pictures of quilts we’d like for her to whisper for us.  I sent the EQ7 file of Eye of the Storm.  She made some really good suggestions.  Actually, this quilt is close to being finished but I wanted to see what she would do with it.  I’m going to show you her suggestions and in a few days, I’ll show you what I’ve actually done so you can compare.

Carla Barrett's Whispering of my Eye of the Storm

Part of the extra credit homework was to actually quilt a free-motion all over design.  First, we drew the designs on black construction paper.  I couldn’t find a white Gel pen so I used the silver Sharpie which worked just fine.  Here’s the last design I drew (don’t forget that drawing isn’t my big skill).  Thank goodness, I think I’ll be a better quilter than sketcher. 

Sketch #6

And here’s the photo of the quilting I did.  We were to use black fabric & a light thread.  I did my Free-Motion Quilting Challenge on the same piece so you can see part of that.  There’s a button to the challenge on right side of the page.

What I quilted

Even though the Free-Motion Challenge is designed for sit-down quilters and I use a Juki on an older  Grace frame,  I know I can benefit from taking part in it.  And now, for the January Free-Motion Quilting Challenge….finally…..

January Challenge: Leaves

  January’s challenge was led by Frances Moore.

I’m tired friends, so I’m going to call it a night.

East Wall of Longarm Room

Don has added plenty of wall plugs on each wall.  The original location of wall plugs was high on the walls and the new ones are lower so we have lots of outlets to utilize.

This is the South Wall in the Longarm Room

Partial North Wall in the Longarm Room

My Dear Hubby hard at work

I took these pictures as he finished each section.  The plan for Monday is for me to sweep & clean out the front room and start moving some of my shelving/fabric.  I think that means I need to pack fabric this weekend!

Did you ever think we’d get to this point?  I’ve talked about my longarm for so long, I think some people don’t really believe I’m getting one.  Lol.   Sometimes, I have to pinch myself so I know it’s really happening.   I’ll take volunteers to help straighten up the mess as I move.  Grin.

Free Motion Quilting Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge

Judy’s UFO Challenge

Christmas Town Sampler

Quilt Whisperer 101

So, what have I gotten done, you may wonder.  Well, I sketched one page for the Sketchbook Challenge.

I’ve done absolutely nothing for the UFO Challenge.  I should be working on 2 quilts:  Don’s Family Signatures quilt &  the Topiary wallhanging.

I’ve checked out what Susan, Judy, and Denise have done for Christmas Town Sampler but I haven’t even begun my block designs yet.

I haven’t done one single sample for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge.

The only one I’ve worked on (beside the Sketchbook Challenge) has been Carla Barrett’s online class “Quilt Whisperer 101″.  I’ve done several of the excercises for the first week.  I’m working on the ones from the second week and I haven’t even looked at week #3.  Gee Whiz.  This is a fabulous class.  You might want to bookmark her blog so you can watch for when she holds the next session.  Carla shows you how to break a quilt design down into manageable spaces for creative quilting.  Fun, fun.

About Chris.  It was easier to leave him last night.  He didn’t cry but I had to eat dinner with him and watch the 49er’s and Giants game.  About half time, he decided to let me go home.  He’s already called this morning and left a message on my cell phone.

I talked with the Mom of one of his roomates on my way home and she gave me some insight on the whole thing.  It does help to talk to other people who’ve been in the same shoes.

I’ll probably be absent for a few days while I try to get this homework done for class.  Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers.

Our new baby chicks of course!

Don sent Chris & I to the Feed/Seed store to get English Pea seeds and they had babies.  Cute, adorable, noisy babies. Doesn’t he know how dangerous that is?

I know….I do not need any more chickens but they’re so cute!  I did manage to exercise a little restraint as we only came home with two instead of 4 or 6.  They’re in a cat-proof cage inside a large box with a light for warmth and food/water of course in the den.

Cute, Cute, Cute…..and Noisy.

Barred Rock Pullets

Click here to see what they look like when they’re grown.  So pretty!

Ribbon Fancy

Go to the Garden Party page to find the link to download this new block.

I asked if I should meet them at the ER and they said…no, no, no.  I saw him later at his house and he seemed to be fine.

Wednesday, he had a worker who picked him up from work and took him to the library where he got a library card and checked out some books.  He seemed perfectly fine.  His worker let him call me 3 times within 30 minutes though.  Hmmmm…not a good thing.

Thursday, Deanna called to say Chris was upset because he didn’t want to wash his clothes at his house.  He told her I said he should bring them here to wash them.  NOT.  I talked to him and we argued/discussed it a bit and I wasn’t sure how it was going to progress from there.  He told Deanna when he left that house Friday morning for work, he was NOT coming back.  Oh, Lordy!

He came home on the regular Options bus and first thing he said when he came in was I wanted to wash my clothes here and I don’t want to go back, I want to stay here with you and Dad.  We talked about reasons he needed to give the move a longer time to adjust and then I got a call that the refrigerator I had bought was freezing everything.  Everything!!

We met Don at the house and the thermostat was stuck.  Since it was a used fridge we had to take it back ourselves.  At least that’s what the paperwork says.  Don went to Lowe’s and bought a brand new fridge/freezer and brought the other one home. While we waited on him to go to Lowes, Chris sorted his clothes and started washing/drying them.  I think his idea is that if he washes his clothes over there, that means he really does live there,.

We took the used fridge back today and the owner said she wished I had called her because her husband would have come to look at it.  I said “well, that’s not what the paperwork says” and she said “I know, but you should have called”.  What????  Anyway, they took it back and issued us a store credit to use later.

I’ve talked to Chris all day just like this is a normal weekend that he comes here and will go back to his house Sunday evening.  So far, it seems to be working as he is talking in those terms also and talking about the new worker who will be assigned to him.  I’ve been making him do all the things Miss Ann and Miss Deanna make him do at his house.  If he cooks, eats, whatever…he has to clean up after himself.

That has been a challenge and we’ve had a few terse words about it.  Just keep us all in your prayers.  I’ll let you know how things go.

I’ve spent the last several days trying to get Chris ready for his move.  It hasn’t been easy.  He’s been asking if he can come home if he doesn’t like it and trying to get me to put a number on the amount of days he has to give this move a chance.  This is hard!

He stayed home today from work so he could help move more of his things.  It was a battle all day long.  He kept saying he wanted to come home with me and spend tonight with me and his Dad.  We discussed over and over why that wasn’t a good idea but he still didn’t want to stay overnight at the new house….or as the care workers said “his new home”.

The House---J's Mother cleaning windows

Look at that wonderful screened back porch. It's huge!

And gorgeous red roses too. Chris love roses.

Chris's Red Bed

Don & I both know he really needs to do this but I miss him already.  He’s never lived away from us.

So what am I doing now?  I’m baking a Lemon Tart for Chris.

I’m working on this with 3 dear friends who are also involved in this project…Denise Russart, Susan Neves, and Judy Laquidara.  These pictures are of us having fun at a retreat in Arkansas.

Take a look.  I hope you’ll like the idea and decide to join us!

For January, the subject is “doodling”.   I took a look at some of the things other people in the challenge have done to see just what “doodling” means.    After taking a look, I decided to use a lamp in the den as the beginning of my Doodle.  It’s a bit wonky but it gave me something to start with.

From there, I drew some sections and filled them with quilting motifs.  My Sketchbook efforts will mostly be with quilty designs.  I first sketched it out in pencil so I could erase & re-sketch if needed and then I used a roller-ball pen to emphasize the sketch.  I kind of like it but I can see lots of room for improvement and I surely hope I get better at this. And if you’re a real sketchbook artist, I’ll gladly take constructive criticism.

You can tell me what you think but please be gentle.  Remember, I’m a “budding” artist.