I am so thrilled that I am getting some of these tops done and they are going out the door so people can enjoy them.  Lately I have been gifting them to friends and co-workers of my daughter.  I love knowing they will get used.

This pink and black quilt was an absolute nightmare for me.  I simply cannot make tops without patterns.  I shredded 2 different fabrics sewing it wrong.  In the beginning, I even had all my teacups going sideways.  After taking it apart and remaking it 3 times, I thought wow I’m done, only to realize I had left black strips off the end of some rows.  I was not taking that thing apart again and laid it aside to quilt for the pups. I am so happy it found a home.  My daughters friend Tonia fell in love.  Even when I showed her the mistake she said she didn’t quite see what I meant.  I think it was destined to belong to her.   So it is now finished and residing in it’s new home.

The second quilt is one of my favorite patterns called Puzzle Box.  I just love it even though I’ve only made it once before. This was going to a young man so I wanted something masculine.  That isn’t as easy as it sounds in the quilt world, so viola, turtles.   I think the photo taken outside represents the colors more accurately on the turtle quilt.

 

This is my second one of the stockpiled tops being finished and gifted.  I wanted to make ones for some of my daughter’s co-workers that have worked with her for some time.  This one went to the owner’s daughter, Amber.  She works at the clinic running the office.

The pattern is called Magic Tile and was made using 12 Kaffe Fasset fat quarters and one of Philip Jacobs fabrics for the border.  Still not sure I like much of the KF fabric line but it was colorful and pretty

So, as I mentioned, I was able to get 10 or 11 tops basted using my new clamps.  Really love those things.

This one went to Diane Cope at our monthly craft group.  She is starting her new voyage into quilting so now she has one to motivate her.  I know she loved it and was really surprised.  Here she is with her gift.

The pattern is called BQ2 but I can’t recall the fabric line.

Only my sexy sister Jill would think to send me these amazing clamps.  I struggle having to baste a quilt top alone because it really takes an extra set of hands to make sure all the layers are smooth underneath before you start pinning.

My amazing sister helped me baste a really large one while she was here then sent me these table clamps.   Wow they really are sexy.  I was able to get the other 10 tops basted the following weekend.  Now to quilt them all.

I was beginning to think I would never finish this one.  It came out a nice queen size but I think it will go on the large blank wall in my guest room.  For a panel and some 4 patch squares it came out much prettier than I was expecting.    The pattern is called Garden Stroll and I think it’s one of only a few times I’ve bought bought the exact fabrics called for in a pattern.

So glad they decided to make the trip to Florida.  Talk about a completely relaxing vacation.  We planned nothing and did little to nothing.  Well, except Jill.  She organized my kitchen pantry and spent 2 days pulling all my fabrics out and reorganizing them by color, project, etc.   My cabinet looks amazing and I’m beyond thrilled.  It was like I could shop in my own fabrics since I had forgotten a lot I had bought prior.

We did make a trip to show her a Beall’s store, Hole in one Donuts and the local quilt shop.  She even took to my long arm like an otter to the water and was able to free motion 2 tops while she was here.  One she gifted to Nancy.

After that we just chilled and visited till Friday.  Mark, Jill and I met Nancy for lunch Friday and got to visit with her for a while then it was off to the gun range.  So exciting to see Jill go from I don’t like gun to I love guns.   I hope they had as good a time as I did.  I’m already counting towards our next visit.

I finally got this one quilted and bound and I just love how it turned out.  The color is so much more vibrant and deep, rich coloring than it shows in the photo.  It’s made using a Robert Hoffman digital print called Proud as a Peacock Dahlia.  I finished it with a teal and purple batik for the trim and binding.    So far I plan to keep this one for myself.

Updated this to show it was ultimately gifted to my cousin Bonnie Catron

After a life time of thin, fine lifeless hair I’m kind of used to there isn’t a lot you can do with it.  It only looks decent with certain cuts and colors have to match your skin tone and personality.  You spend a lot of time with a curling iron and hair spray.

I spent some time this weekend looking into different products and I think it might be as bad, if not worse, than the skin care research.  You need root lifters, thickening shampoos and conditioners, collagen mousse, dry sprays for volume.  Again how many products can you put in your hair in one day?  I’m seriously starting to believe that we see so many new diseases, cancers, etc. because we are just choking our skin to death.  How does your skin breathe and your scalp release built up heat when it’s layered with 6-10 products a day?

I think I need a change. Maybe I need to get a wig?

Ok I couldn’t resist mentioning this on my blog as I think women may be going crazy.   Yes women, men would never pay these prices to look better.

I agree that after a certain age you may need to change up you make up routine.  If you’re like me and have oily skin you may have to make a little more of an effort but come on, have women gone nuts?

I tend to be lazy in the make up department and throw on a foundation and eyeliner and call it a day.   However I noticed lately my face more attention as it is getting problem areas with itching and rashes.  Lupus causes rashes and a higher acid content in my skin so that certainly doesn’t help.  After a lot of talking to dermatologists and reading what I can, I’ve discovered some of these things are priced like crazy.  They definitely play on women’s desire to look younger, prettier, etc.

Do you really need an oil free moisturizer with white tea for $80 and ounce?  Or what about a matte foundation for $50 an ounce?   By the time you add in primers, concealers, eye shadows and liners then top it all off with a finishing spray,  I’s have a $3-400 a month face.  This isn’t even using high end department store lines.  I used prices from Hello, L’Oreal and Revlon.  Is that really what women need to feel good about themselves?  While I think it certainly makes me feel better to cover some flaws and adding a little enhancement to the way God made me look, some of this is nuts.   If I follow the routine suggested by the dermatologist, I need to get up at least an hour earlier and put approximately 6-8 layers of cosmetics on my face daily.  Can that really be good for you?

Don’t get me stared on the hair thing.