Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Two Weeks of Nothing

Well, not exactly nothing.  I've been sorting, purging, tubbing ... and generally making a huge mess in the place.  Did I already say I hate this moving thing?  I did obtain estimates from moving companies.  They were about where I had estimated they would be - really really really expensive.  Of course, my brother said I should just hire a truck and do it myself.  "A truck"?  That one had me gasping for air after ROFLOL'g.  He hasn't a clue.  The sad part is that what seems like so much here (minus the quilting stuff) is going to be totally lost in the new house.  It seems furniture shopping will be on the agenda after I get there.  That's another thing that I hate doing - right behind car shopping and getting a root canal.

Of course, to add insult to injury during the past two weeks, I turned another year older.  That day was spent in an almost all-day meeting, an early dinner with my late boss' wife, and then home to return phone calls.  I was teased that dinner at 5:30 was for old people.  Hello.  I qualify.  'Nuf said on that!

I received a birthday package in the mail from Sally, my dear friend over in the middle of the country.  She had been posting about this project and I was following her progress for a couple of months.  Imagine my surprise when I opened that package and saw that she had sent it to me! 


It's a gorgeous table topper made from batiks.  I have studied this thing and I can't figure out how she did all of those edges.  There is no binding.  Sally is a true artist - not only with her beautiful piecing and creativity, but for the extra touches she adds to her quilts.

 
In each of the neutral blocks, she "painted" the leaves using Derwent Inktense Pencils.  I don't know exactly how they work, but you draw your design with the colored pencils and then wet them using some gel agent (not water) and feather out the color.  The result is gorgeous!  Then she beautifully quilted it to highlight the painted area.  True artistry!  I had an insane urge to get some of those pencils (check them out on Amazon) but cooler heads prevailed since I can't even draw stick figures that actually look like stick figures!  Sally, thank you so much!  You inspire me!
 
I said a couple of weeks ago that I had finished the binding on two quilts.  The binding color for this one threw me for a loop.  I tried every color in the rainbow but ended up going with red.
 



The red is too -- well, it's too "red."  I had three or four different reds and they were all too red, but no other color worked.  So red it was.  This was truly an instance of repeating over and over "not building a piano here."  It's done.  It'll be cute on the breakfast table or somewhere.  Maybe in the doll bed I rescued from Mom's attic thirty odd years ago.

Isn't it sad that I have nothing to report on the quilting/sewing front?  I have blocks that need to be assembled but no "design floor" that's not filled with boxes and tubs.  All of the blocks will be packaged up for assembly in the other LA.  I did keep out some of Carrie Nelson's Little Bites patterns.  The one that is on my cutting table is Sample.  A few weeks back Carrie offered kits and I snatched one up.  It'll be interesting making the sample blocks from mini charm squares.  I'm up to the challenge!  And speaking of Carrie, I know I can speak for everyone when I say how sad we are at the loss of her beloved Miss Rosie.  I am thinking of Carrie every day.

Maybe the next post will be more interesting.  I don't know.  I've kind of given up on "interesting" for the next three to four months .... but am still looking (perhaps hopelessly) for a glimmer of humor in every day.

12 comments:

Kate said...

What about getting a POD? And a couple college boys to load it? Then you're not driving it yourself - it's a little more expensive than a truck but a lot cheaper than movers! And that batik pieces is amazing! I like the red binding on the other quilt - it makes a great frame.

julieQ said...

Never hopeless! Hang in there girl...moving is absolutely the pits, and you are right...but your new studio is going to be the absolute wonder of the world!!! I too turned another year older...wonder if we have the same b-day??

Laura said...

It's all interesting to me! And my hubby and me - both in our 50s - love early dinners. They're generally quieter, and we don't go to bed on uncomfortably full tummies.

Darlene said...

Another birthday wish! ((Hugs))

Moving is incredibly expensive but bear in mind that it's your last move. woohoo!!! And, you're going HOME. :-)

If you sew that's great and if you don't sew that's great, too.

ILY

antique quilter said...

this move will be all worth it , your going home and will be near family. A win win in my book.
your posts aren't boring, love hearing about all this moving stuff I can relate :)
glad you kept out a few things to keep you busy if you need a quick little quilt kit just let me know happy to send you one!
love the red binding.
good choice.
Kathie

antique quilter said...

happy happy happy birthday!!!!!
Kathie

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Belated Happy Birthday to you!

That table runner is just gorgeous. It is fun to see the something new to me up close like that.

All your efforts now are not for nothing... you will appreciate unpacking bins that you packed/sorted yourself when you get to the other LA...and it will all certainly be worth in the end. Hope things go smoothly as you work them all.

mascanlon said...

What a fabulous batik piece of art, lucky you!!! And I know you are slowly making progress on all that has to be done to prepare, I think you'll be surprised at all you've accomplished coming moving day!

Sally Weber said...

Ah, I'm so glad you liked it, Vicky. AFTER quilting it, those big blank white crosses bugged me so I whipped out my Inktense pencils and colored in the quilted pattern (leaves). Just like a coloring book! I LOVE my Inktense pencils!
I love you too!!
♪♫ Happy Birthday to YOU!♫♪

Anonymous said...

I so enjoy your blog and can relate to your life challenges. I recently went part time and love it. Hopefully, in 3 years full retirement. I actually changed my hours to have more time to enjoy life and quilting. love it! I look forward to more of your blogs and beautiful quilt projects. thank you.Mary in Glendale Az

Carrie said...

Brothers. I'm sure it was a man with a sister who wrote the laws about shooting them. ;-)

A belated Happy Birthday - I've stopped counting. Or at least I'm trying to do that... though I have to say I love some of the freedom of getting older. I'm less worried about lots of silly "stuff". But I could do without the "saggy and jiggley bits".

I love the littles you've made - they're all gorgeous. And thank you. :-)

Nini said...

Mini charm packs...hope you post the photo, I've bought some, but never worked up enough courage to make anything from them. I'm always impressed with what ever you do, so please share!