Okay, I admit it, I’m a total blog slacker. I used to post regularly, then I got hooked on Facebook. That’s like posting mini blogs throughout the week, so I felt like there wasn’t much to say here. I’m working on balance. Isn’t that a constant battle?

I’ve been crazy busy, but don’t have a lot of pictures to post. I did 3 large quilts in the same week, then made back to back trips to L.A. and San Luis Obispo in the same weekend. That totally did me in! I have to remember that the Fibro can kick in when I overdo, so that’s a no no. I’m not good at pacing myself. I don’t sit still very well, and I’m not much of a t.v. watcher either. I guess I need to take up some handwork and visit the library more often. At any rate, one of the most fun days I’ve had recently, involved meeting a VIP.

When you are preparing yourself to meet a VIP, you make sure you look spiffy. You do your hair, put on the make-up, make sure you smell nice, and wait with anticipation. The drive to the coast was fabulous, as I was traveling with my sister-in-law, who I love dearly. It gave us some alone time to chat, laugh, and yell at other drivers. As we pulled into the meeting place, I could feel the excitement build in my chest, as my heart pounded at a quicker pace. As we walked into the home, he was just inside the door, this VIP.

My newest nephew, Jackson. He’s beautiful! It also shocked me just a little to see this photo, because I realize how much I look like my mom.

I love this picture of my sister-in-law, Tami, and Jackson.

Later in the day, we drove over to Cal Poly SLO to see my baby.

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that he was so tiny. *sigh* Right next to this sidewalk, there’s some gorgeous flowers blooming, and the hummingbirds were too numerous to count! I could spend hours watching hummingbirds dance, so it was quite a treat. I took several pictures, but they were moving way too fast to get much on film.

We finished off the day by having a lovely dinner at the Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo.

A zippy day, and a good time was had by all. Oh, and I’m totally in love! It’s a good thing that I’m too old to have another baby!

I enjoy relaxing a bit in the afternoons with a cuppa tea. Last week I was cleaning windows, and it was tea time.  I didn’t want to stop what I was doing, so I had the cup on the floor where I was washing the lower part of the windows. Emily popped over for a cuppa and a short visit. While I was in the kitchen brewing her a cuppa, we suddenly heard some very loud slurping! Apparently, Chipper likes his tea time too!

While Chip enjoyed “his” tea, Oscar was quite peacefully taking a nap.

And I’m not talking about dishing the dirt! I’m talking about an all day windstorm and how it looks the next morning. ACK!

My customer, Linda, made this quilt using techniques learned in the Peggy Martin workshop held at our local guild a few months ago.  Peggy taught how to use strip piecing to make the NY Beauty blocks, and I love the layout that Linda used. The quilt is quilted using Arc thread in the top and Sew Fine in the bottom, with Hobbs 80/20 for the batting.

I’m working on a few things of my own, in between working on customer quilts. I hope to have several projects for our guild quilt show in January.

I picked this up from Strawberry Patches about 2 years ago, I think. I finally decided to get it together.  I think I’m going to change the border, though. It needs something a little more substantial.

I found these fabrics at Debbie’s Fabrics in Tehachapi. The line is called Proud by In the Beginning Fabrics. I wanted to show off the bold graphics, so I’m using Nancy Rink’s pattern, Red Brick Road.

I tend to love bold, graphic prints in clear colors, and I couldn’t resist this line, which I picked up at Strawberry Patches.  The line is called Folklorica, also by In the Beginning Fabrics.  I’m really jazzed about the quilt I’m planning with these yummy bits!

Yesterday was Zack’s 21st birthday. He’s been sick for several weeks with mono, so he wanted to just have a quiet, kick back day. I fixed a special breakfast for him, and Scott took him to do a little birthday shopping. As I was fixing dinner, Zack got a call from a friend, wanting him to go to Oktoberfest. I told him to go, and I paid for his ticket. He was quite happy to be able to order a beer, but a little miffed that he didn’t get carded. LOL!  I remember when I turned 21, and I wanted to be carded in the worst way! The guys had a designated driver, and Zack came home early. He had a great time, and I was glad to see him get out of the house for a bit. 

I wonder what michief he’s cooking up now?

This was the Quilt for and Hour project that was hosted by Judy Laquidara last year. I’m notorious for starting things and not finishing them. My friend, Nancy, and I have challenged each other to finish some UFO’s before the end of the year.  I decided that I’d only work on my own quilts for the weekend, so I tackled this project.  Now I have to decide how I’m going to quilt it.  Judy is currently hosing another Quilt for and Hour project on her blog. Check it out!

This is another customer quilt that I finished on Friday. The quilt pattern is called Bargello Heart, and I quilted it with a freehand edge to edge (E2E) design.  I call this freehand Lynn’s Froo Froo, because I just sort of doodle it as I go. Sophisticated name, eh?  LOL.  I added a feathered heart in the center of the quilt. This is a design I picked up from one of Jamie Wallen’s classes a couple of years ago.

As October is fast approaching, I wonder what happened to September?  It’s been a hectic and emotional month.

Moving our son back to college was both exciting and a little sad. He’s in a new apartment rather than a dorm room, so he was quite happy about that. He took a lot more stuff, and our visit with him was a whirlwind of unpacking, shopping, unpacking some more, and back on the road for home. I’ve been cleaning out his bedroom so that I could get it painted, and it looks mighty lonely to walk by his door. I’m going to make it into a sewing haven for myself, but I’m leaving the bed up so that he has a place to sleep when he visits.

After the weekend of moving, excitement, frustrations, and some tears, I got some great news on the quilting front! I was asked to quilt two quilts for the Superior Threads booth at the Houston Quilt Festival, which is coming up in a few weeks. What an honor to be asked!  I have great respect for Bob and Heather Purcell, owners of the company, and I’ve seen the work that is on display in their booths. No small shoes to fill!  I received the quilts last night, and I’ll be working on them over the next few days. I get to play with some gorgeous King Tut and Rainbows threads!  I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend!

The day after I received the request from Heather, I got a note from Bruce and Diane of Sew Batik.  They asked me to be a featured longarm quilter for their Tiki Times Newsletter.  Bruce and Diane are lovely people, and they do a lot to support the longarming community. I’m a Longarm Associate with their company. If you’re interested in their awesome batik wide backing fabrics, I have swatches in my studio for you to look through! I’d be happy to help you place an order for one, or several!  The quality of their fabrics is top quality!  The little blurb about me will be in their October newsletter.

I also had some heartbreaking news a couple of weeks ago.  A treasured friend, Kathy O’Daniel, was killed by a drunk driver in a head on collision in Rohnert Park, CA. I’ve known Kathy since our grown children were toddlers, and I loved her dearly. I can say with all honesty, she was one of the very best people I have ever known.  With a warm heart and courageous spirit, she was always available to anyone who needed her. That included her awesome husband, Chuck, and their 5 children. She seemed to be tireless in her ability to always be there when you needed her. An easy laugh, a bright smile, and encouraging word, a heartfelt prayer, were all traits of Kathy.  She taught me so much by her example, and I am a better person because she was my friend. She touched more lives than anyone will ever know, and she is missed dearly.  I have shed a lot of tears for the loss of my treasured friend, and I’m sure there will be more.

Yes, this has been a rough month.  Lots of highs and lots of lows.  Another heat wave kicked up the rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes it’s hard to push through and work when you need a box of tissues, a hot bath, and a warm hug.  That’s life.  It’s a mixed bag.  My friend would tell me to pull myself up by my boot straps and snap out of it!  I can’t make it to Northern California today for Kathy’s memorial service, so I will have a private one. In honor of Kathy, I will work this weekend to help someone else, and I’ll thank God for the gifts that make what I do possible.  I am truly blessed.