Really???

I know, I know, I'm a terrible blogger. I did warn you though!

I've been really busy, making myself crazy. I finally realized I had to fit in some hand quilting (Slither Eek makes its return) and sewing to get some balance in my life. This is my current sewing project - yes, I started a new one and no, the previous one isn't finished. I want to make a scrappy red and white sampler that's super busy. Don't ask me why, that just sounds fun.

I thought with all the different patterns that the letters would be much harder to read than they actually are.

All it took was getting fabric out to lure Pokey into posing for pics again.

My gorgeous sweet baby.

I have a long list of things for this post since it's been so long since my last one. Have ya'all heard about the new Gee's Bend fabric line and kits that have just come out? What the... Huh? Really??? Am I the only one who sees this as an incredible contradiction?

The quilters of Gee's Bend became famous for their quilts made of recycled clothing and now there's a line of new fabric??? They work in an improvisation style and yet there are kits??? I took a look at one, hoping that it was actually a subversive attempt to get quilters working without rulers etc and just winging it. Nope, concise instructions for making the exact quilt. I mean, exact "cut this triangle exactly this size" and that one that size instructions.

Sheesh, I don't begrudge the Gee's Bend quilters wanting to get a reward for their hard work. I really don't. It just disappoints me. I've been hoping for a book written by the women themselves about how they work, and so far that hasn't happened. Instead we get Quilt Police instructions. sigh.

I did actually buy some of the fabric. I'd call them batiks - like the ones I loved so much from Bali Fabrications that aren't available anymore. I'm hoping they're that easy to hand-quilt through because I love the colors.

In other quilt stuff, I went with a friend to the World Quilt Show put on by Mancuso Brothers in West Palm Beach. It was bigger than I thought it would be and very well attended. We went early on the first day and I think I was one of the youngest ones there. Didn't see a single child. Ah, Florida.

I was disappointed that so many of the quilts were Art Quilts and very little playing on the traditional side of things. Nothing liberated. No antiques. And all the glitz? All those stinking crystals? There were several quilts that would have looked better without them. I mean, you're using silk for goodness sake - it's a gorgeous fabric, don't tart it up.

I did buy some things so that my husband could accomplish some Christmas shopping. In other words, I buy the presents I want and it makes both our lives easier. So no pics.

While I'm on a whinging streak... The finale of Project Runway? Bleah. Dark and uninteresting. I didn't care who won.

Before I go off on a tv tangent, I've got a bunch of quilty links for you, in no particular order.

For anyone lucky enough to live in the San Francisco area, there is a show at the Fine Arts Museum of Amish quilts from the collection of Stephen and Faith Brown. The show is on until June 2010 - definitely one I'd love to go to, but I'll have to be satisfied with the book instead. Apparently you can't have too many books on Amish quilts... There is a good article on the show here.

Comicbooklady made a fantastic Thinking quilt which I truly love.

I love how Bemused Jan is playing with her orphan blocks, including the houses on cheddar.

I'm not sure I ever posted a link to House of Krom Sarah's great Friend quilt that included a free-pieced gnome and mushroom. oops, that was way back in July. Sarah also made this wonderful placemat (I love how the "thanks"glows)...

...in a swap with Knit One Quilt Too Kristin, who made this darling apple placemat.

Scraps and Strings Brenda made a wonderful wonky houses quilt with words and I love the work that she and her Strip Piecing friends have recently made (especially that Noel quilt!)

J's Quilting Blog Joyce also played with houses and words in Kitty Corner and Patchery Menagerie Lynne too! Lynne has been posting a lot, so just take a peek at her November archives. Caitty Quilts Deborah did a bright whimsical houses quilt that includes applique as well as liberated piecing.

Pokeytown Kim added liberated letters to crumb quilts. Wonderful! I've gotten a sneak peak at another liberated project she's working on, so I know there will be upcoming wonderfullness on her blog.

Dordogne Quilter Clare is making great progress on hand-quilting and piecing two great projects.

So happy to have Quilt Words Meg posting again. She finished her lovely soft linen quilt with the gorgeous freehand fans and lines hand-quilting.

I'm sure I haven't managed to link to everything I want to, but I've worn myself out ;) Besides, I need something for another post...

I am actually doing really well, no cause for concern for my blogging absences. Ya'll take care!

Liberated

I was so excited to see an advertisement for Gwen Marston's new book that I scanned a pic to post on the blog. That's my stickie on it with Woohoo!!! - that wasn't part of the ad. I was looking at the image on my computer when Pokey came by for a peek, so you get an unexpected photo of two of my favorite things in the world. Kitty Pokey and Gwen's book.

Not that Pokey is a thing: she's a tiny cat person.

I spoke with Gwen last week. I'm sure I've mentioned before that she's my hero. I finally asked Gwen if I could use the word Liberated to describe what I do. Now obviously it's liberated, but could I capitalize and make it official. No more having to always say "free-piecing" to describe things. Guess what?

Gwen said yes! Woohoo again. It's Liberated Letters now. She's happy to have others use that term to describe this style. I didn't want to step on her toes or infringe on her copyright or make her unhappy in any way. No such problem. She is a doll. Am I gushing too much? Sorry. Last bit of Gwen news and then I'll change topic.

Gwen's website has been updated and we can now pre-order autographed copies of Liberated Quiltmaking II from her. It's a big deal to do it that way and support her directly. You can do so here. The retreat dates, information and sign-up form are already posted for 2010 too. The theme is Liberated Quilting. I sooo want to go.

I am finally totally done with the whole sluggish, can barely move, when will this anesthesia be out of my body thing. I'm excited, happy, energetic. Of course my bad knee has blown up, but that was bound to happen. At least it's not too bad (and doing much better) - I refuse to go under another general anesthetic this year.

My husband has gotten so incredibly fit, not to mention tanned, it's disgusting. He looks 20 years younger than me - gack. He bought a set of scales that tell not only a person's weight but their percentage of body fat and body mass index. Stuff I did not need to see. I've managed to keep off the weight that I lost during/immediately after surgery but haven't done as well at losing more. Note to self: must stop weighing myself in the morning and then again in the afternoon when I've gained six pounds. Food and water are that heavy?

We are eating healthier and that's definitely good. Sweetie has been doing most of the grocery shopping which keeps me from all that impulse naughtiness I usually fall prey to. By the way, have you tried 100% whole wheat Angel Hair Pasta. Just that kind. It's wonderful, doesn't taste whole wheaty at all and I've tried three different brands. Love brown basmati rice too, whereas regular brown rice makes me want to cry rather than eat. Course you do have to love basmati rice in the first place.

In continuing health news, Pokey is doing great. She was the most bouncy happy lively bundle of fur this last week. She's not too happy with me today because I took her to the vet's for her saline. I'm now only taking her every six days instead of three times a week. I think she's so much happier this way even if she does come home with a hunchback and her little cat suit all stretched out. She's definitely got baggy sleeves today.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you that I finished the hand quilting on the Margarita Quilt. Still no binding yet, unsurprisingly. The only hand quilting project I have now is Slither, Eek, Boo. Don't take it the wrong way (it's a wonderful quilt) but I hate working on it. Too massive and heavy. Maybe when I'm down to zero hot flashes and the weather finally gets cold(er) it will be more enticing.

Didn't do anything for Halloween this year, not even the decorating. It felt pointless to buy candy to give to kids when there's only about three of them living in the area. This so IS Florida. Instead sweetie and I went out for Mexican food. I figured the calories from the chips and Margarita, and the cheese, and guacamole and okay, all of it, would maybe somehow add up to the bag of trick-or-treat candy that I didn't buy and then eat all by myself.

I am crazy crazy busy with a project and will be a baaaad blogger for awhile. I won't be disappearing, but will post infrequently, just like I have for the last couple of months.

I'm outta here. Ya'all take care.

Belated Thank You

I need to say a very belated thank you to V of Bumble Beans for organizing this quilt, sent to give me hugs during my recovery from surgery. I don't know what the whole process was or what everyone did, but I got this wonderful two-sided quilt made by some blogger friends (all of whom are listed in my sidebar).

There are blocks on the top from Sarah of House of Krom, Threadlines Kathie B, Quilt Diva Julie, Comicbooklady, Kristin of Knit One Quilt Two and Siobhan of Scraps and Threadtales as well as V.

The other side of the quilt is all about love and kitties. Lynne of Patcherie Menagerie made the Purring 4 You block and Roz of Counterpane signed her heart in embroidery.

Cheri of Jovaliquilts made blocks which got lost in the mail (argh) and Brenda of Scraps and Strings sent some too--pictured here-- but they didn't get to V in time. (I've got them now and will do something fun with them.) Nonetheless, V included their names along with everyone else's in the quilting.

I wanted to include a picture of me using the quilt, but I looked horrible in every one. So instead you get Pokey rolling very appropriately by the kitty emoticon):

And Lily on the back of the recliner - love the kitty fabric she's posed on:

[That's an older pic by the way. I've felt well enough to do some sewing, so I've progressed on this Hope quilt.]

Speaking of gifts in the mail, Clare of Dordogne Quilter sent me this little charmer:

Thank you all so very much and I apologize for taking so long to acknowledge the lovely presents.

Also arriving in the mail, a package of Bell Bottoms from the Fabric Square Shop. I love the red and white fabric in particular, but look at all the bright colors and bold patterns.

I had my final visit to the doctor who did the surgery - everything was a-okay in my belly. Clean bill of health is a woohoo, but it's gonna take another couple of weeks to finally be over the fatigue. I've been having hot flashes like crazy - stupid menopause. So I'm now on a low dose of estrogen which please, please, please will help with that and maybe the fatigue too.

New Design Wall

My sweet husband got a permanent design wall up for me for my birthday. It's a great present although I have yet to make full use of it. It's 7' x 7' and made of 3/4" styrofoam insulation panels cut down into four sections and covered with flannel. I'd have preferred gray or a khaki (something in a medium value) but couldn't find it so went with a light yellow.

This design wall is definitely constructed ala Lazy Gal. I didn't iron the flannel first and it's hardly perfect. But it's functional, does what I want it to do, and we got it done relatively quickly.

I did all the piecing on this hope quilt top before my surgery and have yet to get back to work on this. Sharon, you have another fun name for this thing? I loved Hope Strings Eternal, what would this one be?

I still haven't gotten back into the full swing of things. Slowly slowly.

I have a bunch of fun quilting links for you.

Check out new blog Fun with Barb and Mary to read about their quilting adventures. Between the two of them they see lots of quilts, not to mention show off their own - I love their interpretations of a classic here. Look at the amazing fan quilting on these antiques. yummy.

New-to-me is Ann Champion's Blog where she's been featuring some wonderful antique finds as well as her own colorful quilt in progress. In particular I love this String Star (although it seems to me there should be another name for this block, but I can't think of it) for it's use of striped fabric. And lovers of cheddar should be sure to catch this Railroad Crossing.

Speaking of striped fabric, check out this awesome mid 1800's star quilt. I love the modern look of it. Whee.

Sticking with the theme of antique quilts, what looks like an amazing exhibition is on at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA until November 15th. It's called Master Pieces: Haberdashery Textiles in Antique Quilts. The quilts are all made out of men's clothing. Quilters Spirit did a great write up on it here. I totally love these quilts, just wish I could see the show.

Jennifer D of Pasquali Rumpus did a really fun job free-piecing letters in this pillow. I'm lucky enough to have a couple of Jennifer's words in Cake.

In a Halloweeny mood? Check out Brown Dirt Cottage Belinda's fabulous Boo ghost blocks that she designed herself. So much fun.

Quilt as Desired's Comicbooklady went to Gwen Marston's quilt retreat and sent back some great photos. Love Gwen's work and CBL's too. I am so envious!

Laura at Cloth and Mind finished up her wonderful wonky houses and words quilt top. I love it and check out the way she did her Us and Ws. Great job.

Bumble Beans is doing a really fun Waverunner quilt-along. Very improvisational, very fun. Have to admit, it'd be scary for me not to use the rotary cutter. Eeek, I look forward to seeing all the amazing quilts that come out of this.

On a non-quilt related note, I gave up on Flash Forward about 15 minutes into the most recent episode. I didn't like any of these people and didn't care what happened to any of them.

I'm almost finished watching the first season of Fringe and then I can get caught up on the new ones. I'm really enjoying it. Not a perfect show but I love the characters, especially the Bishops. Now if they could just stop using LSD to solve crime it would be that much better.

Liberated Quiltmaking II

Whee, oh boy! Gwen's new Liberated Quiltmaking II book is now expected to come out in January 2010, rather than spring (which was the last bit of news I heard). I am already excited about it. Here's a peek at the cover:

I got this info directly from AQS:

At long last! Gwen Marston has updated her signature Liberated Quiltmaking!

The fascination with Gwen’s Liberated Quiltmaking has generated a demand for more, more, more! First introduced in 1996, her distinctive processes for creating original quilts are expanded in this new volume.

Gwen presents nine Liberated Quiltmaking processes including Liberated Square Within-a-Square, Liberated Medallion, and Re-cut Blocks and Sashing. Each process is clearly illustrated with step-by-step instructions, pieced samples, and loads of example quilts. Multiple techniques and variations are also given.

Liberated Quiltmaking II provides a way of working without using templates or set patterns. Truly original quilts result from these processes that engage the quilter’s intuition and emotion as well as technical skills. Quilters with some experience will enjoy putting pizzazz into their designs.

Gwen Marston has been a professional quiltmaker, author, and teacher for more than three decades. Her work has been shown in group exhibits throughout the United States and abroad and in 21 solo exhibits. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines over the years. This is her twenty-fourth book. Gwen lives and offers quilting retreats in her home on Beaver Island, Michigan.

Ordering information: www.americanquilter.com or 1-800-626-5420

Me again and can I just say Woohoo!

I am so bummed I'm not at Gwen's quilt retreat right now with Bonnie and Lucy and all the other folks who are having such a good time. Of course I'd be pretty worthless, unable to sew a stitch, but at least I could talk.

No, I haven't decorated for Halloween. I have Halloween Houses up on the wall, since Janet was using it for inspiration for sewing liberated houses while she was here. And a fun pumpkin that Marge F. sent me (thank you!) is up as well. Things are such a mess right now and other projects have higher priority (need more shelving). And it doesn't help I need so many rest breaks.

I am getting lots of tv watched. I saw two episodes of Flash Forward and can I say bleah? How such an interesting concept can go so horribly wrong so quickly I don't know. I was sooo tired of hearing Benford blah blah blahing on about his wife having an affair she hasn't even had. And his partner, oh poor me, I'm going to die. Maybe you were asleep, buddy, or under anesthesia. I fast forwarded through parts of the show. Not a good sign. It has one more chance.

Stargate: Universe? Horrible horrible horrible. Dark, dreary, dull. I watch Stargate: SG-1 for the fun and humor and adventure. We turned the pilot off after 45 minutes.