Obssesed

On Friday I told a friend that I was going to Chico and Paradise to visit quilt shops. He told me I was truly obsessed.

Six quilting buddies get into two cars and off we go, but not without a muffin from the European Bakery. We were three to a car. I have to admit I was wondering how we would split up and somehow they all worked it out while I was in the bathroom. All I had to do was get in the car. It really didn't make a bit of difference to me since I would have been happy to be with any of my friends.

We stopped at a shop in Marysville. I bought an embroidery pattern of different wines. I go next door to watch Criminal Minds and drink wine with my friends Anna and Adrainna. I saw the pattern and I thought I could make a wall-hanging or pillow.....Of course I used the bathroom and while I was there, plans were made. There was this cute antique green wagon on a shelf. There was a customer in the store who had one and she offered it to us--okay only one of us.....so plans were made to stop at her house on our way home. We had her address, phone, cell phone, map to her house. I was not present for any of this. So, when we made this detour to Yuba City. I was a little curious. The wagon is adorable and completely worth the trouble. The woman, Marilyn, was very nice.

I bought something at every shop. We all did. I think there were two of us who were having a contest over who would buy the most. At the first shop in Chico, there was an offer to buy a bag that would give you a 10% discount in 4 participating stores. Of the six of us, I am the only one who didn't buy the bag-for $8.00!!! In the end, I didn't spend enough to justify a purple nylon bag. At the last shop the owner somehow got the idea that we all had a bag and told us we didn't need to bother bringing the bag in. I was the last to purchase and she gave me the 10% just like everyone else. Okay, one of us had to bring the bag in and she had other problems. I don't think we will be going back there anytime soon!!!!

Silly me, I just assumed we would be home around 3pm. What was I thinking? We got back to our cars at 7:40pm. We picked the perfect person to lead us. Some people have such a sense of direction. It was 9 hours of fun after fun after fun. Lunch was yummy--Mongolian BBQ. The shop people were chatty and interesting. And I saw every bathroom at every stop!

Maybe I am obsessed.

A Trip to Paradise

Tomorrow I am going to Paradise. There is a quilt shop there and I am going with 5 other like minded friends. We are going to have a great time! After Paradise, we are headed to Chico to visit a quilt shop there. I am sure lunch will figure in this little trip somehow.

I was given a secret sister tonight. Last year I didn't participate in secret sisters and I missed it. I filled out the form and then it got misplaced. So, I was thinking this would be one more year without secret sisters. I think someone dropped out and there I was. hmmm. All I know now is she likes bright colors.

I'm off to bed soon. Tomorrow should prove to be very busy, but so much fun!

Dear Jane Still...

I spent the weekend working on my Dear Jane squares. I took the binder to show my mother-in-law and I forgot to take my binder when I went home. Last night I worked hard on my house I am embroidering for a breast cancer quilt donation. Today I am watching the Bachelor. I am not really caring what the women say.......

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. This year I am not going to give something up. Instead, I am going to change my attitude about the worst hour of my day at work. I am going to be happy, nice and loving. I am going to kill those kids with kindness. If I can't change them, I must change me!

Wish me luck!

It has been a while

This is my first block for my Dear Jane quilt. I have been not feeling so great and have not done very much in the last two weeks. Okay, I have don't nothing until yesterday. I made 7 pillowcases for the USS Greenbay which put out to sea last week. A guild member, Jody, has a son who is serving on the USS Greenbay and she is going to get the pillowcases to them. Then I made a spinning star block for a block of the month project I am involved in for my guild. I am pretty certain that Karen doesn't read my blog--probably doesn't even know I have a blog, so safe to talk about the block. Karen wants all of her blocks starched. I had no trouble putting the block together and decided to use the same technique on my Dear Jane quilt. I made one block -and it turned out to be 5.5-inches. Too big. The blocks are supposed to be 4.5-inches. So I made a second block. It is slightly larger than 4.5-inches. That is enough. I am going to make the blocks the best I can and then I may have to use a sashing and veer away from replicating the Dear Jane quilt. I hate the border anyway and was not planning on doing that border. Hmmmm.

My sewing/quilting time ended when I got up from my chair and it was claimed by Max. I don't hold out a lot of hope that it will be a quick nap.........

SO, until next time........

Catching Up

Okay, I can't spell. I really can, I just can't type. I guess Spell check doesn't check the title.....

I am doing a Dear Jane quilt with others in my guild. Could still be a chance to join if you are inclined, but I make no promises....Anyhow, Sammy is our fearless leader. I love her. Like me, she has made no blocks--unlike other people who seem to be forging ahead. I thought of being really authentic and hand piecing, but I think that I will lose the thrill pretty quickly and therefore I am going to machine piece. My plan is to use all those little extras that I have left over from Jo's Little Women. I just realized there are over 5000 pieces in this quilt, so I am not even thinking about completing it--just beginning it. I will take one block at a time. You can check out Sammy's progress at http://sammykattsdearjane.blogspot.com

Sadness. I missed the Folsom Quilt Show. I always go, but I am not feeling good enough to go walking around. I missed the quilts and the vendors. So, so sad. My husband wasn't that sad because I always spend when I go.....

Julie

Thimbleberries

I went to Thimbleberries last night. Lily, our RJR rep came by and showed off the new lines coming out. I am really excited about one of the Christmas lines. It has a wonderful cream that has lots of texture and good contrasting cream on cream. I am tempted to make a Christmas quilt this year!

On the other hand, I am sad for two reasons. One is because I haven't gotten the information for my secret sister yet. I am anxious to start on the projects I want to do for that, but I need to know her color preferences. I am trying to be patient. Not always happening for me.......The other reason is much more important. A friend of mine, who never misses Thimbleberries without a really good reason, was feeling so bad she had to go to the emergency room. She was still there when I called on my way home. So, keep good thoughts for her to feel good again. I really missed seeing her.

Speaking of Thimbleberries....we have two really wonderful women who run our group. Nicole and Pam are always encouraging and they have a way of making everyone feel like they are a part of the group. I also love the quilts they bring in to show. I hope I remember to say that to each of them the next time I see them.

Enough of that. I want to get some quilting things done tonight, but we are going out to the Golden Corral for dinner with my in-laws and the visiting cousins tonight and that could push me in bed early. Don't know why, but it happens. Debbie, Montana cousin, has finished a quilt while she has been here. She was doing a block of the month in Billings and she brought it all with her and then finished it --quilting and binding! It is a combination of blues and purples. I really like it. She says she is going to put it under glass to save forever!

Food

I was reading about all the yummy food Kim had at her Superbowl party. At our house, I was the only one watching the game, but we still had food. I am now dying to try the pizza "cupcakes" Kim made. That sounds yummy. we had Diablo Dip (beans, sour cream, salsa, onions and cheese in layers), potato skins, pinwheels and these cheese ball things that the daughter wanted to try. The cheese balls had sundried tomatoes in them and the ones I bought were cut in strips (julienne). They were left in strips, but the texture was odd. I don't think we will make them again.

I had written about all the wonderful things I was going to do last night. Well, it was the night for being exceptionally tired. I couldn't do anything. I watched a movie (The Holiday) with my husband and then stayed up long enough to watch the Bachelor and fell into bed. I was gone from 7:30am until 6pm and that is quite a day for me. I really need my nap. I love having a nap. I don't know why everyone doesn't take a nap. I don't have trouble sleeping at night even with my nap. It is my hour of pure joy! Today I will definitely have that nap so I can do something tonight! I have lots to do and not enough time...................

Bye.