Sloppy Studio Annex & Archives

So why do I keep Blogger?

2008-08-29T18:06:00.004-04:00

When I moved my blog to wordpress - I did it because Blogger was having issues on a regular basis with their photo uploads. I'm very happy I moved to wordpress, and most of the time the issues I have are my own doing! :-) But I've kept this blog because many times you need a blogger account to post comments on other peoples blogs. Today Jaye sent me a link to a blog and it had a great template - and following the clues I ended up at the FinalSense website - they have a ton of very nice free templates for blogger. So I've updated my look here - but if you want to see what I'm doing - stop over and visit me in my SloppyStudio !

A unified look

2007-04-07T18:26:00.000-04:00

This last week - I've been revamping my website and main Wordpress Blog. This Blogger site is kept mainly so that I can comment on blogs where you need a Blogger account. I still have a lot of content to add (mostly to the website) but I hope you come over and visit and tell me what you think. I've added one of my modeling photos here for my profile. But it may take a few hours to update. :-D eirdre

Have you missed me?

2007-01-14T20:41:00.000-05:00

Even though my blog is now moved back to my website - I'm going to continue to post here occasionally so that people's links will remain active, it also allows me to continue post on other blogger blogs . This is the piece I've been working on over on the other site - come and visit over there! I've also made some blog template changes (couldn't sleep last night). They aren't finished yet, but I like of like the fact that all of the images are photos I took!

I'm Moving My Blog

2006-12-22T12:29:00.000-05:00

I've decided to follow Deb's example and move my blog to my website. This will be a work in progress as I figure things out (like how to make a larger image appear in the post). Please switch my link and come and visit. My new blog is located at http://www.deirdreabbotts.com/wordpress/ See you soon!

Just in time for Xmas and Chanukah

2006-12-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

Remember A Clockwork Orange?

I drove by a store yesterday and I HAD TO go back this morning to take a photo.

Yes - its legs, arms and BREASTS!

Then I got really curious and had to go back with a friend to see if it had a head. We peeked into the side window but only saw a red fingernail. So into the store we went - The owner was at the rear moving boxes around and as we came in we said we wanted to know if it had a head. In a monotone voice he answered, "No head, wipe your feet."

Excuse me - I wasn't out mucking the stalls or plowing the lower 40 - and who the fuck puts white carpeting in a retail shop?

And more importantly wouldn't you think that someone who put this in their window would have a sense of humor?

I wonder what it costs?

Red Shoe Ramblings blog moved

2006-12-12T19:53:00.000-05:00

Just want to mention this in case any of you are wondering where Deb went off to! I think this might be the beginning of a trend! Visit Deb's new blog at http://debrichardson.com/blog/

Invitation to a beading class TONIGHT!

2006-12-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

This was posted over on The Lone Beader - I thought some of you might be interested - I know I am - her work is incredible!

EBSQ Live!

Adventures in Bead Embroidery

Date:Monday, December 11, 2006

Time:Eastern 9 pmCentral 8 pmMountain 7 pmPacific 6 pm

Please join me in another adventure as I demonstrate the basics of bead embroidery on this month's EBSQ Live. My presentation will take place in the EBSQ Chat Room. If you would like to participate, all you need to do is get there a few minutes early, log in with a user name, and enter the room. Presentations usually last between 15- 30 minutes. You can stick around to ask questions, or you can just watch and learn. EBSQ Live workshops are open to both members and non-members, so I hope you'll remember to stop by:)

Productive weekend & added excitement!

2006-12-10T22:35:00.000-05:00

This is the weekend I wanted to get ready to put up our Xmas tree - not that I am actually going to get the tree up by Sunday evening, but I needed to do the deep house cleaning that needs to be done before bringing the tree in. Stuff like moving furniture, vacuuming under the rugs and washing the wood floors - icky dirty stuff. The living room looks good, and yesterday the kitchen looked pretty good too! Today the kitchen is still clean but there are piles of things not yet baked or cooked, and because I will be doing these things in the next 3 or 4 days, its silly to put it all away. So what else did Morgan and I get finished this weekend?

We made 7.5 pounds of fudge
6 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies
5 dozen double-chocolate crescent cookies
Morgan made chocolate peanut butter candy with her Aunt
All the laundry is washed, folded and put away
I finished 2 books on tape - Entombed by Linda Fairstein and Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris. I'm getting ready to listen to The Kills also by Linda Fairstein
Half of the gifts I've bought - are now wrapped
The refrigerator is cleaned out and washed

Now for the excitement - While I was washing dishes I heard an explosion. I looked out the window and saw smoke and flames across the highway near the train tracks. by the time I grabbed the phone to call 911 - the fire had spread to about 10 feet wide and within 3 or 4 minutes it was probably 80 to 100 feet wide. The good news is that there isn't too much brush to fuel a fire and the fire department arrived very quickly. Of course I grabbed my camera and took a bunch of shots - I even got photo credit for the one featured on WestportNow . Here are a few others

Do You Deserve Your HS Diploma?

2006-12-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

I saw this over on Kristen's blog. She is much younger than I am and does not suffer from as many senior moments as I do. She also probably studied.

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind! Do you deserve your high school diploma? Create a Quiz

Quilting post

2006-11-27T07:32:00.000-05:00

Belated Happy Thanksgiving - I had a post all ready to write for Thanksgiving and I fell behind in things I needed to do. So I will publish that post later this week. I think it is always appropriate to say Thank You, and there are special Thanks needed to be said.... So that being postponed.... Here is my quilting post (no photos) I have a few deadlines, recently past and looming and this weekend I went to work and made a pretty big dent. I started off making 15 Fiber Artist Trading Cards - most are for a swap with other Artists, but I made a few extra's to tuck into holiday cards. I'm always amazed that even with doing this assembly-line style they take so long to make! How is is possible that a small business card sized piece each take 20 minutes or more? Well I'm sure that there is a reason and I'm glad that I multi-task when I sew. No my multi-tasking isn't causing me to delay (unless said task is checking email or IMing with friends). Mostly my task of choice is listening to audio books - I'm almost through with my 2nd book of the weekend - this one is pretty good - Cross by James Patterson. Before that I read New Orleans Mourning by Julie Smith - also a pretty good book. Back to quilting... After I finished the sewing on my cards I really wanted to find snowflake confetti or sequins which i was sure I had. I know I could just go out and buy some - but I am trying to use up my stuff - not just go out and buy more... Of course because it was a fiber card, I could also sew or bead but I had already put on the back and truth be told, I really wanted the sequins - so late last night I found large (quarter-sized) silver snowflake confetti in the bottom of a drawer, dug out the E600 and attached them. The cards look pretty good. My next project was making 2 heart blocks for a friend - I'm slightly behind in sending these out but they are going this morning so I'm pretty sure they can still be used. I hope she likes them My last task for the evening was to cut up large (14") squares of Christmas fabric and cut them into triangles. I cut enough to make four 60" square quilts. I will be pleased if I can make 1 or 2 holiday throws for family members, but maybe I'll be ambitious and make all 4! Hey a girl can dream can't she? My goal tonight is to sew all the triangle halves into squares and do some layouts - I had a plan, but not quite enough primarily white Holiday fabric, so I think I will adapt the blocks I have into another design. Again not wanting to buy more fabric and with a goal of using up as much of the stuff I already own. Time to get ready for work - I hope you all enjoyed the long Thanksgiving weekend and got at least some of (if not all) of what you wanted to accomplish done! I DID!

Bright Spots in week from Hell Part1

2006-11-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

Last week was the week of our largest and most important meeting at work (day job). This year was filled with technical hurdles which we should have been able to jump easily, but unfortunately a subcontracted failed miserably (IMHO). I'm not going to say anything else about the meeting. However, I was treated wonderfully by the hotel where the meeting was held, if you ever have a chance to stay at The Millennium Broadway (feet from Times Square) Jump and say yes! The rooms are richly appointed, the staff was superior and everything was beyond my expectations. Special thanks go to Eunice and Lynda for making our meeting and stay wonderful! This was the view from my room - I was a little down from Time Square and was treated to a view of this oasis, can you see the glider complete with plush pillows on that rooftop? I took a quick stop to meet a business acquaintance that I've been doing business with for more than 10 years! Robert is the catering director of The Warwick and he treated me to a quick tour of the facilities, and gifted me with a very special bottle of champagne! Walking back I wanted to take photos of the Rockefeller tree which was covered in scaffolding, the tree once belonged to a friend of Julie (who I work with), and came from Ridgefield, CT. Here is a photo from the front - showing the size in comparison with the skaters. Walking down the street I saw a window that reminds me of Laume. She often uses quotes from Le Petit Prince as her tagline. They were working on the windows across the street and here is a pciture of somone under the draping - people were trying to peek in. I guess I'll have to go back to see the windows after they've been uncovered! Blogger is being a pain - I'll finish this in the next post!

Bright Spots -Part2

2006-11-19T10:05:00.000-05:00

More views Broadway at Night & Rent Strawberries replacing my Zen Rock Garden Reflections Cartier wrapped up for Christmas

Artshare MeMe

2006-10-30T18:49:00.000-05:00

Artshare Meme I saw this on Emmy Schoonbeek's blog (and she saw it on Arlee's... who saw it on Skybell's ...) So if you want to play along read this and you wil get a piece of art from me , but you must follow the instruction. The first five people to respond to this in the comments section will receive a piece of artwork. BUT, in addition to the comments you have to post this to your blog too and continue sharing the art. What will you get? It will be a surprise, but you will have it before the end of November!.......

Fall on My Face

2006-10-24T09:25:00.000-04:00

Fall on My Face was suggested as a name for the pins, by my friend Susan, she has a couple of other suggestions, but I can't remember what they were - they were good though! LOL Finished up one pin last night and beaded the face of the 2nd one. I'm planning on veining the 2nd pin with thread instead of beads.

2 Fall leaf pins

2006-10-23T09:28:00.000-04:00

These are 2 pins I started last night. The face on the left with the beading is one that I purchased several years ago. The one on the right was one I made this week - its painted with Lumiere paint. Both are glued to Ultra Suede and are pretty easy to bead through. Once I finish beading the rust-colored leaf, I'll add a stiffener and backing. Should be done tonight.

My mind is scattered like Autumn leaves

2006-10-22T10:14:00.000-04:00

I have an idea for a small doll using shaker pegs and polymer faces. I think I got the idea because I have 200 or 300 pegs - one of my earliest eBay purchases, and not one I've ever used! Yesterday I asked Tom where my Dremel was - he wanted to know why I wanted it - well DUH - its mine... As I got the box and attachments out and started to bring it up to my studio - he told me not to go too far with it - HELLO - its MINE - the Dremel is now in MY STUDIO and hopefully it will stay there for a while. When I bought it - I learned that I should get a good one - a powerful plug in, and I even got the one with the flexible shaft attachments and the small rotary saw attachment. I've had it 3 years and the only thing that I ever used it for was to have TOM drill a hole in a dozen dominos. I used it to sand off the knob from a few shaker pegs. Then I was thinking how to attach some purchased faces I had - well I have about 8 lbs of Sculpty, so I decided to make my own faces and embed screws into them. The only real problem is you can't use torque to turn the screw - so I had to use a pair of pliers - I learned this when one of the heads exploded! The small doll isn't right yet, but I think I know what direction to take her in, and I really liked making the faces - I think I may use the large round one on a bendie doll - it is the perfect size for the face.... Great another PROJECT! LOL

Vote Early - VOTE OFTEN

2006-10-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

AND VOTE FOR ME! AQS International Online Quilt Contest Voting NOW OPEN View all the great quilt entries and vote for your favorite quilt (MINE # 1001 on page 20). here is a quick link to page 20 - My quilt Deirdre of the Sorrows is on the top of the page. http://tinyurl.com/yga9az I will continue to annoy you with Blatant requests for votes until the voting is over! Only your votes decide the winners. The top 15 quilts selected by the voters will be included in a special quilt exhibition at the 2007 Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky. And you, the Voters will be automatically entered in a random drawing for spectacular quilt prizes, which includes a trip to the 23rd Annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest in Paducah. Voting ends November 10, 2006. REMEMBER - VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN AND VOTE FOR #1001! (page 20) http://tinyurl.com/yga9az Photo in previous post

Vote for #1001 ... please

2006-10-20T13:18:00.000-04:00

Blogger is being a pain - so I'm posting the main text separately. The general message is... My blatant request for votes: Vote for quilt 1001 (page 20) http://tinyurl.com/yga9az

QuiltedFamilyTree Website updated

2006-10-16T08:17:00.000-04:00

My sister asked me for a donation for their school to be used for an auction. I donated a QuiltedFamilyTree quilt and it was used as the grand prize! I understand the auction was a huge success and made Huber Street School lots of MONEY! Way to go Ardath! I decided I had to get my head out of my butt and updated the QuiltedFamilyTree website. I have a few more things to update, like the FAQ and how to order. But right now these quilts may be ordered in time for the holiday!

We opened an Etsy Store

2006-10-15T15:53:00.000-04:00

Morgan and I made a few rings today, so we decided to try our luck selling them on Etsy. I really love the way the rings came out - we would make more but I want to see about getting a rod with sizes on them, right now we are estimating the exact sizes. The pinky ring is approximately a size 5 and the ring-finger is size 6. Both are available for $5/each plus shipping. Please visit our shop on Etsy the link is http://dabbotts.etsy.com

Halloween Costumes

2006-10-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

For the entire month of October I wear my large collection of brightly colored Halloween Socks! They almost never fail to get a comment or 2, or 10! However, try as I might, I can't get Morgan to participate in this annual ritual. There was a time when she loved to dress up as a dinosaur, puppy or other strange Halloween visitor, even when it wasn't Halloween. I was thinking of that today when I saw this costume online at I suggested to Laume that she make this PINK costume for her darling Granddaughter on a group we belong to - Laume's reply to me was that I should make one for Morgan, "Her cute little face scowling evilly above the pink petals". Just to show how Cute Morgan's little face was - here she is in her Seasonal Festive Costume. I'm pretty sure her Glazed-Stare is from watching BARNEY, BABY BOP and friends on TV!

Y is for...

2006-09-29T09:25:00.000-04:00

To find out more about WordPlay and the nut that started this insanity! My personal dictionary continues with the Letter Y

Yellow - I wear lots of yellow - because my husband thinks it looks good on me. The real reason is because I don't like washing yellow items with anything else or I think they look dingy - so I have to wear lots of them so I have enough for a whole load!
YURT - I want a YURT - don't you want a YURT too?
Yell - my inside voice
Yankee - my husband and kids are Yankees (not Yankee fans - they both like Boston), I however think of myself as someone from Joursey (NJ)
Yesterday - I don't know what yesterday will bring because I'm writing this several weeks early - so right now my yesterday is really tomorrows
Yoga - I loved doing yoga - now it just seems like starting would be WORK
Yodel - something I can't do and shouldn't try to do
Yield - interesting concept, something that might be good to teach again in driver's ed classes
Yawn - Damn - just typing the word made me do it.

Center of the Swamp

2006-09-24T21:17:00.000-04:00

Here are the center 6 panels. Next weekend I'll quilt this section, then add the side panels. I have a lot of extra pieces cut out - maybe I'll make shams - NAH - that won't be happening! Dust ruffle?

Swamp Quilt Update

2006-09-24T15:49:00.000-04:00

I figured out that I need a quilt 9' x 9' for my bed - this size would lay flat with enough on the sides to drape to the spot I want. This would not count any extra to wrap around the pillows, etc. My block units will be 3' square so basically I need 9 blocks for the bed. I've also decided that I want to make a small throw quilt 9'x3' to go over the pillows we stack on the bed. Currently there are 4 pillows sometimes there are 6, sometimes less). This will require 3 block unit, so I will need a total of an even dozen. I've made enough pieces to make 12 units (I have 3 completed and not in these photos. I also have decided that basically I will quilt this in a 6 foot section (the middle) then after I will add an additional 18" to each edge - this will make it easier for me to quilt - even on the HQ - as I'm limited to 8 feet with the current set up. If you look at these photos taken from floor level and from the loft - the first chair is right above the 3rd unit - its amazing that this doesn't look like it is basically 9 feet from the bottom to the chair but it is. The cat and dog have been moved to a bedroom, so I can try and assemble the sections, then I will get the actual layout figured out. I think the final draft will be easier on my bed.

SPIDER ALERT!!!

2006-09-21T18:55:00.000-04:00

don't scroll down if you are squeamish about spiders - But can anyone tell me what this is? The web is around 5 feet across and was built yesterday - I saw it last night for the first time and Tom went onto the porch yesterday morning. I took the "sleeping" photo this morning and the rest were taken a few minutes ago - This thing is frigging scary!

Guild meeting and quilting

2006-09-20T10:23:00.000-04:00

Last night was Guild night for Northern Star Quilters. I was excited to get back after the break - last night was a really full house and Karen Stone had a great audience. She brought a trunk show and slides and her style was relaxed and funny. Sorry I'm missing the class today but that pesky thing called work, demanded my attention today. I bought show and tell, which normally I don't do but it was fun to share the family tree quilt, the BaggO sCrap made from Marion's stuff and the large Phoenix. By the time I ate dinner after getting home it was after 11 - way too late for me, but still a good way to spend the night. This morning after getting ready for work, I decided to work on the bedquilt for a little bit. I have 15 original blocks from the Swamp Swap - and I've decided to replace some of my larger 12" solid squares with the smaller Swamp blocks I have. I also now have no place to lay it out = so from now on all photos will have to be taken on the bed. Here is block #3.

Show of Hands

2006-09-18T07:59:00.000-04:00

Hoping to add some beading, but mostly finished - To find out more about Karey's Show of Hands and send a hand to hang in Houston!

2 Swamp blocks

2006-09-18T07:57:00.000-04:00

Last night I decided to cut up a bunch more fabric and join some to make sections - then this morning before work I added another completed block to the wall - so right now it's 6x3 (feet)! Here they are pinned together - I am not going to have anywhere to hang these when I get another block done! I guess I'll have to lay them on the bed. You can also see one of the original size Swamp Blocks pinned up beside my 2 blocks!

I need a quilt for my bed!

2006-09-17T19:53:00.000-04:00

Just because I quilt, doesn't mean I have a bunch of bed quilts in my house - yes there are a few ugly utilitarian ones that I've made but so far I've neglected to make a bed quilt for anyone except my mother, and she doesn't live here, so it doesn't count! Morgan and I put one together for her room, she picked out the colors and before it was finished, she decided to change her color scheme - so that one is sitting around assembled waiting for quilting (and a place to put it). So I've decided to put together a quilt for my bed - my first thought was to use Dianne Hire's, "Come Play with Me" class. I've taken the class - it was fun - it should be fast and I only need a king size - well its not really fast because although it seems like just grab and sew - there were too many decisions to make... I like the way the blocks are coming out, but don't have the patience to make a king sized quilt ---so my next thought...

Is to throw a bunch of batiks on the bed and see if I really hate them - or more importantly if Tom really hates them - he isn't jumping for joy but he can live with them. Now to pick a pattern that is relatively fast and something I like...

One of the groups I belong to has a block they call a SWAMP block. Normally these are made in 12" blocks and they are fun - so lets see - if I enlarge it 3x then I only need 9 to 12 blocks (I want to have a flip over for the pillows). Here is my first block - I've very pleased with it - and it took less than an hour to cut and sew. I know I have lots of the Orange/Pink batiks - and I might need to buy a few 1/2 yard pieces of a few darker colors... But - I think this might work AND be FAST!

DAT - Maple Canopy

2006-09-13T06:22:00.000-04:00

Another Fall photo, printed on fabric and thread painted, with a few sheer leaves thrown in for texture.

X is for...

2006-09-12T20:16:00.000-04:00

Laume's Wordplay is winding down... this is good because "X" is tough - but here is my list... Xmas who needs more than that!

DAT - Abstract

2006-09-12T06:31:00.000-04:00

Today's DAT is a small quilt I was making for the Quilting Arts Magazine Challenge. I didn't finish it (or really work on the actual quilt only the photo) until the deadline was passed, but I'm happy that I decided to do it - and like the way it came out. I also really like the zigzagged edge with its irregular shape.

This quilt was also the quilt I was working on in the Simple Still Life. It no longer looks like a tube in a pool but that's ok - its Abstract so it can be anything you want it to be - LOL You can see the tube transformation in the beginning posts. This photo is upside down but the right side up one is on SSL.

I think I will try this on several other quilts I need to bind - I really hate binding quilts!

That being said, last night I bound my Family Tree Quilt - WHOO HOO! Very few WIPS - guess its really time to start the bed quilt.

DAT - Reflections

2006-09-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

Today's DAT is a postcard I made from one of my photographs taken last Fall. This card has metallic threads reflecting the trees off the river.

BaggO sCrap

2006-09-10T15:31:00.000-04:00

A long time ago, in a distant yahoo group - we had a swap/challenge - similar to the one on the QA list. Basically you bag up a tyvek bag of scraps and send them to a central location (me), then you are sent a bag of scraps and you make something - eventually the scraps and the quilt/something make their way back to the original owner. Our first round went very well, the 2nd round went not so well. I swapped these bag without looking at the contents. One bag was sent to someone and the contents totally freaked her . So after deciding she could not do it justice - she sent it back to me - I have to say that I also freaked when I looked at the contents - now I know/knew who they belonged to (Marion) but it was still a challenge. This is one of the first weekends I've had time to spend in the studio - really working so I wanted to work on it. Here are my attempts with Marion's baggO sCrap. I hope she likes it!

Birthday Wishes & Birthday Suits

2006-09-09T08:10:00.000-04:00

I know a few people who are having a birthday today. A milestone for my SIL celebrating her 50th and several other friends having regular Cake & Ice Cream style days. But this year they can all celebrate in special Style because... Are you ready... Can you guess... Have you forgotten already? Today is the Second Annual World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD)! That's right, and you don't have to be celebrating the BIG 5-OH to participate. To read more about World Naked Gardening Day visit this website WNGD. Personal Photos are optional, but there are plenty on the website! Happy Birthday - to all of you Celebrating today - and while I'm offering Birthday Wishes, Lisa - any time you want to have your baby would be great - we are all waiting for the phone call!

W is for...

2006-09-08T15:02:00.000-04:00

Another WordPlay - you can find out more about Laume's WordPlay HERE! I am up to the letter "W" and that makes me VERY VERY HAPPY! W is for...

WordPlay - well DUH!
Winner - DebR wins because she is going to be the first one finished with this WordPlay
Water - I am totally not a water person - this makes it hard on my husband, daughter and son who LOVE the water!
Wait - not too good at this I'm afraid
Warrior - I think of my husband Tom when I think of the word warrior
Waterfall - now even though I don't like water - what I mean to say is I don't like to get in the water or to get wet (Think Elphaba), I do however love to look at water - especially waterfalls
Watermelon - I really love watermelon, as a fruit and as part of an umbrella drink!
Weatherman - I think they get their information from Oujii boards or pendulums - what do you think?
Weave - I really love hand-woven items - and usually can't afford the ones I covet!
Weddings - I would love to wish Josie and Jack the best on the start of their Marriage.
Webs - Spider webs mesmerize me, but I don't like touching them. The WWW has too much of my attention.
Welding - I think at some point I will learn to do some welding, I have a sculpture in mind
Wetlands - we have some wetlands on our property and there is a salt marsh in our lower field - one day I hope to put a small studio near it - so I can watch the egrets
Whatever... a word Morgan and her friends use a little too often!
Whine - I hate this word WAHHHH
Wine - now this is a horse of a different color!
Windmill - I would love to put modern windmills (wind turbines) on our property. I will always remember the tour on Nantucket of their lighthouse - the guide explained you could use 1, 2 or 4 sheets (fabric blades) on the windmill without a problem, but 3 sheets "to the wind" was BAD, VERY VERY BAD! there is another explanation here.
Women - I know some WONDERFUL WOMEN so I think I will end with thoughts of them! (way too many great W-words)

$8 Million Coffee Cups!

2006-09-07T12:36:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I had to drop off my cell phone at Verizon, they said to come back in an hour, and since Starbucks was just right across the street we (my friend Teri, dd Morgan and I), hurried over. Teri got a triple espresso, Morgan got a Vanilla Bean Frap and I got the seasonal Pumpkin latte. After I paid, we walked to the pick-up counter and I noticed that they had a clearance rack. In it were 2 cups that I liked. I'm slowing replacing all my coffee cups with this style - I like the size and Tom likes the large handles. I went back into the line and when it was time to ring them up the register display said

- $8,117,450.00

The cashier got really flustered when I said I would take that in small bills! She called over the manger who after several tries - pushed the cups across the counter towards me and said, "today they are free - take them". I did mention that I would prefer the cash but neither he nor the cashier looked very happy (it would suck trying to balance that register). But I was thrilled with the free gift of 2 new $8 million Coffee Cups! And you wondered why a latte costs $5!

V is for ...

2006-09-06T15:27:00.000-04:00

Another WordPlay - you can find out more about Laume's WordPlay HERE! I am up to the letter "V" and that makes me VERY VERY HAPPY! V is for...

Very - great word I use it a lot
Vine - I love vines and one of my favorite funny stories is about a friend who make a ton of vine wreaths and then found out they were POSION IVY - really beautiful but she was kinda a mess for a while.
Veal - ick ick ick - eat Chicken - you can't tell the difference
Vaccine - I know a lot of people don't believe in them - I am not one of those people.
Valentine - Who doesn't smile when you see the heart-shaped box of CHOCOLATE?
Vagina - I wonder how many lists will include this word?
Vagina Monologues - I loved listening to Eve Ensler's performance
Vday - Global movement and series of consciousness-raising events to end violence against girls and women through public performances, education and networking.
Vanilla - I love the scent and taste of vanilla
Vegetables - I like most but not all (OKRA)
Velcro - great invention and fun too !
Venison - I don't know why Tom goes hunting every year - when we have 15 deer living in our yard - they don't even walk away until you are an arm's length from them!
Violet - does anyone remember those little violet candy things that tasted like SOAP?
Vodka - not as good a tequila
Voicemail - how did we live without it?

Fall TV Premiere Dates

2006-09-05T08:53:00.000-04:00

Tidy The TiVo!! AUTUMN BEGINS NOW!!!! All The Premiere Dates!! Premieres by date: Prison Break (Fox) Aug. 21 Vanished (Fox) Aug. 21 Two-A-Days (MTV) Aug. 23 Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) Aug. 25 Celebrity Duets (Fox) Aug. 29 Million Dollar Listing (Bravo) Aug. 29 Bones (Fox) Aug. 30 Justice (Fox) Aug. 30 Desire (MyNet) Sept. 4 Fashion House (MyNet) Sept. 4 Juvies (MTV) Sept. 4 House (Fox) Sept. 5 Nip/Tuck (FX) Sept. 5 Standoff (Fox) Sept. 5 ‘Til Death (Fox) Sept. 7 Happy Hour (Fox) Sept. 7 Nanny 911 (Fox) Sept. 8 20/20 (ABC) Sept. 8 Cops (Fox) Sept. 9 America’s Most Wanted (Fox) Sept. 9 American Dad (Fox) Sept. 10 Def Comedy Jam (HBO) Sept. 10 Family Guy (Fox) Sept. 10 Simpsons (Fox) Sept. 10 War at Home (Fox) Sept. 10 Wire (HBO) Sept. 10 Dancing With The Stars (ABC) Sept. 12 Men in Trees (ABC) Sept. 12 Survivor (CBS) Sept. 14 The Underground (Sho) Sept. 14 MI:5 (A&E) Sept. 15 Amazing Race (CBS) Sept. 17 Talk Show With Spike Feresten (Fox) Sept. 17 Class (CBS) Sept. 18 CSI: Miami (CBS) Sept. 18 Deal or No Deal (NBC) Sept. 18 How I Met Your Mother (CBS) Sept. 18 New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) Sept. 18 Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (NBC) Sept. 18 Two and a Half Men (CBS) Sept. 18 Wife Swap (ABC) Sept. 18 Boston Legal (ABC) Sept. 19 Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC) Sept. 19 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) Sept. 19 NCIS (CBS) Sept. 19 Smith (CBS) Sept. 19 Unit (CBS) Sept. 19 America’s Next Top Model (CW) Sept. 20 Biggest Loser (NBC) Sept. 20 Criminal Minds (CBS) Sept. 20 CSI: New York (CBS) Sept. 20 Jericho (CBS) Sept. 20 Kidnapped (NBC) Sept. 20 CSI (CBS) Sept. 21 ER (NBC) Sept. 21 Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) Sept. 21 My Name is Earl (NBC) Sept. 21 Office (NBC) Sept. 21 Shark (CBS) Sept. 21 Six Degrees (ABC) Sept. 21 Close to Home (CBS) Sept. 22 Ghost Whisperer (CBS) Sept. 22 Law & Order (NBC) Sept. 22 Numb3rs (CBS) Sept. 22 WWE Smackdown (CW) Sept. 22 Dateline (NBC) Sept. 23 48 Hours Mystery (CBS) Sept. 23 Brothers & Sisters (ABC) Sept. 24 Cold Case (CBS) Sept. 24 Desperate Housewives (ABC) Sept. 24 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) Sept. 24 60 Minutes (CBS) Sept. 24 Without A Trace Sept. 24 Heroes (NBC) Sept. 25 Runaway (CW) Sept. 25 7th Heaven (CW) Sept. 25 Gilmore Girls (CW) Sept. 26 Help Me Help You (ABC) Sept. 26 One Tree Hill (CW) Sept. 27 Smallville (CW) Sept. 28 upernatural (CW) Sept. 28 TNA Impact! (Spike) Sept. 28 Ugly Betty (ABC) Sept. 28 Doctor Who (SciFi) Sept. 29 All Of Us (CW) Oct. 1 America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC) Oct. 1 Campus Ladies (Oxy) Oct. 1 Dexter (Sho) Oct. 1 verybody Hates Chris (CW) Oct. 1 Game (CW) Oct. 1 Girlfriends (CW) Oct. 1 Bachelor (ABC) Oct. 2 House of Carters (E!) Oct. 2 Friday Night Lights (NBC) Oct. 3 Veronica Mars (CW) Oct. 3 Freak Show (CC) Oct. 4 Lost (ABC) Oct. 4 ine (ABC) Oct. 4 South Park (CC) Oct. 4 20 Good Years (NBC) Oct. 4 Drawn Together (CC) Oct. 5 Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) Oct. 6 Trading Spouses (Fox) Oct. 6 Bridezillas (WE) Oct. 8 What About Brian (ABC) Oct. 9 I Pity The Fool! (TVLand) Oct. 11 30 Rock (NBC) Oct. 11 Ice T’s Rap School (VH1) Oct. 17 Knights of Prosperity (ABC) Oct. 17 Crossing Jordan (NBC) Oct. 20 Las Vegas (NBC) Oct. 20 Breaking Bonaduce (VH1) Oct. 22 Hogan Knows Best (VH1) Oct. 22 The OC (Fox) Nov. 2 Day Break (ABC) Nov. 15 King of the Hill (Fox) Dec. 3 Art of Betrayal (MyNet) Dec. 4 Supernanny (ABC) Dec. 4 Watch Over Me (MyNet) Dec. 4 According To Jim (ABC) Dec. 6 George Lopez (ABC) Dec. 6 Rome (HBO) Jan. 7 24 (Fox) Jan. 7 The Shield (FX) Jan. 9 American Idol (Fox) Jan. 16 To see Premiere by Alphabet click here

Minne HaHa

2006-09-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

When we were in Lake George Village on vacation, we saw the Minne HaHa Steamboat Paddlewheeler part of the Lake George Steamboat Company. Steamboats arrived on Lake George in 1817. The settlements along the shores of the lake were small, local business was slight and there was a general antipathy towards steamboats as being somehow connected with the Devil. But the success of steam on nearby Lake Champlain was undeniable and probably contagious. From the happy people who got off the boats, I think they weren't as troubled with the Devil as the earlier passengers!

Today's DAT is from the same photo.

Let the DAT begin

2006-09-01T18:43:00.000-04:00

Deb from Red Shoe Ramblings has been doing a Daily Art Thang on her blog and she seldom misses a day - even when she is away from the computer, she surprises us with "Make-Up DAT's" when she returns. But lets face it - Deb is more of a Type-A personality than I am. You may have gotten a clue by the fact that I am starting (or going to try and start) doing my very one DAT on September First - not January First! Oh well - I like to start new things in the Fall - Lets all imagine opening up that brand new box of crayola's and instead of grabbing our favorite color - we all sniff in the wonderful smell of NEW CRAYONS! SNIFF... So with a full schedule today - I didn't want to wait until tomorrow and be behind - so my DAT today will be a photo color of the girls on their tubes in Ausable Chasm. The river actual bends here, just in case you thought it was supposed to be straight!

Clickable of course

Mossy Birch Photo

2006-08-30T13:51:00.000-04:00

While we were at Ausable (girls tubing photos), I took this photo of a fallen birch tree - I love the richness of this image (its clickable)

U is for ...

2006-08-30T13:42:00.000-04:00

..Another WordPlay post... U is for ...

Umbrella - something I need today
Ugly - not too many things are really ugly
Uniform - I wore one until I was in 10th grade.
Underwater - I love the way things look underwater, but I am not fond of actually being underwater, or in the water for that matter!
Unique - great word - we should all strive to be unique!
Upside down - as a young girl I loved swinging with my head hanging upside down. If I tried it now - I'm sure I would Throw UP!
Ukulele - If I could play one instrument it would be this one! No kidding
Upgrades - I'm all for upgrades whenever possible
Unlocked - when I was young it was great leaving things unlocked - doesn't happen anymore
Ultrasound - I have Ultrasound photos of both my children taken while pregnant.

Lake George Village

2006-08-24T17:09:00.000-04:00

Here are the 3 girls - all in a pretty good mood and wearing matching shirts!

Morgan took a photo just to prove we are actually on the trip, so here we are!

T is for ...

2006-08-24T16:46:00.000-04:00

Continuing Laume's WordPlay... T is for...

Thomas - My darling husband's name. He is actually the 4th in his family with this name.
Tattoo - I've had a tattoo since I was 20!
Tunes - I usually have a song in my head and if you are lucky that is where it will stay
Toast - I like raisin bread toast with butter, or regular old white bread toast with jam
Teasing - I tend to tease my children too much
Tests - I was not a good student and tests were my downfall
Temper - I am Irish and German - need I say more?
Tense - my normal state
Temperature - mine runs a little below normal
Tropical - I love the colors, tastes and sounds of Tropical things - especially the little drinks with umbrellas
Toes - yes I have several
Travel - I've not done a lot but I love the adventure and romance of travel
Tomatoes - I love them in the summer - fresh from the vine!
Turkey - we have several who live on our property - Tom feeds them to keep them around, as we believe they eat ticks.
Trees - I love looking at trees - and take a lot of photographs of them. Every part of the tree is enjoyable, I love looking at the leaves, bark, branches, twisted roots, seed pods, holes and the way the sun filters through all of them.
Tent - not a place I would like to spend much time.
Thunderbird Mocs - I love to wear moccasins year round.
Thunder - I feel charged after a good old fashioned Thunderstorm!
Twisted - the way I like my humor and friends
Tequila - a favorite
Tomorrow - the last day of our vacation - sniff sniff!

Ausable Chasm

2006-08-23T09:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the girls went tubing at Ausable Chasm . They had a great time! These photos are clickable and worth the look! This is a photo taken from the top - it shows where the kids will get onto their tubes. I was on a bridge about 60 feet above the river, they didn't realize I was up there until right before they looked up. These rapids made a lot of noise - the right side was the only man-made part of the trip. It was so beautiful, and the tubes traveled at a much slower pace then the rafts did, so I was able to keep up with the girls while walking along the edge of the Chasm. This is right before the end of their trip. The deeper water under them is over 100 feet deep!

S is for ...

2006-08-12T09:41:00.000-04:00

SLOOOOOOW - which seems to be the way I am working on my WordPlay list
Singer Sewing Machines - I have a few...
Sailboat - we used to have a large sailboat - which we sold to buy our property - I really miss that boat - even though I am not fond of the water
Sage - an herb I use to clean and purify
Salmon - Morgan and I love the pink fish
Salt - I use too much, but love the taste - I even salt watermelon
Sarcastic - I don't really know anything about sarcasm
sapphire - Tom's birthstone
Satellite - how we get TV service
Saxophone - my youngest brother, Devin plays the sax
Scale - not always my friend
Scent - I prefer natural - especially since my breathing issues
Sinus - where my breathing issues seem to localize
Sea - Tom's first love
Skiing - Adam was taken skiing when he was just 2 weeks old - he still seems to have it in his blood
Shooting Star - I love looking at the night sky and find that August is often filled with shooting stars
Sisters - I have 2, Megan and Ardath
September - a month that includes many family member birthday's
Small - the space we take in the universe
Sloth - one of the 7 deadly sins - I possess this one - and also own the bracelet
Smoke - something I have never done
Snow - I love taking photographs of images covered with snow
Solar energy - I would love to convert our home to solar - with the location we have I bet it would really help
Sorrow - What my name means
Snapdragon - a flower I love to look at! They always make me
SMILE
Spinach - I have always loved spinach - even when we ate that junk that came out of the can. It wasn't until I was an adult that I had fresh spinach - now I love to cook it in the mircowave in the bag!
Shells - I wander watching my feet when we are at the beach - don't want to miss a perfect specimen - no matter how small!
Spotless - a state you will never find my home in
Stained glass - the first piece I made was a small light catcher - the 2nd piece was 40 inches tall and had tons of pieces in it!

2006-08-05T11:16:00.000-04:00

Basting Glue
This is a great tip - I can't wait to try it out

R is for

2006-07-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

RED - The color I relate to Red Shoe Ramblings - one of the best blogs online Road - I spend quite a bit of time on the road Rest - I seem constantly in need of just a few more minutes rest Rum - not my favorite drink Rust - Right - In my home - I am almost always RIGHT Read - I love to read although my current Rainbow - They make everyone smile Rap - Music my daughter loves and her parents hate Raven - A bird I'm partial to Reality - A genre of TV that I am addicted to Recess - the best part of grammar school Reflection - mine is growing old Report Card - We are expecting huge improvements in our household next year Republican -how the hell did I marry this one? Ruby - much more pink than I always expect them to be.

Phoenix-Phinale!

2006-07-15T23:57:00.000-04:00

PHINISHED!

Cheap Studio Help

2006-07-15T21:48:00.000-04:00

Making sure that the lower half of the Phoenix didn't escape, Hunter maintains his death grip.

Sarah - thanks for the idea of using Angelina - I think it works perfectly.

Phoenix bound

2006-07-15T18:09:00.000-04:00

The binding has been added, and the moon is sewn on (not in the top photo). I'm trying to decide if I want to add clouds - The phoenix body will be the last to be sewn down, which should be easier than sewing around the feathers. I can't believe I have all the hand sewing done - I hate sewing bindings and sleeves!

2 days and counting

2006-07-12T22:13:00.000-04:00

About 11 hours to bead/sequin the body. Tomorrow I'll quilt and bind - really!

Phoenix - Progress

2006-07-11T07:17:00.000-04:00

So far I have just over 9 hours into beading and putting sequins on the body. This is about 30 inches square. Maybe 2 more hours to finish the body. This needs to be finished by this weekend - Plenty of time! LOL

Q is for ...

2006-07-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

Continuing Laume's Wordplay list...

Quilt - goes without saying this needed to be first
Quiet - Something I need more of
Quest -
Quaint - the way towns in New England are often described
Quartz - I collect quartz crystals, especially Herkimer's
Quell - the first job of a JP is to Quell Riots (like that would happen)
Quill - I'm glad we have Sharpies
Quiz - something that DebRichardson loves to take
Quirk - I have a few
Quarters - I really like the new state designs, but I'm going to miss the old quarters.
Quiche - the only Q food I can think of - take it or leave it
Quail - I guess this is a Q-food too, I've never had it.
Quick - these are all I have time for right now

Photos from the Italian Festival

2006-07-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

Here are a few photos of Morgan and her best friend Elizabeth. Tom and I went to the Festival last night with the girls but I came home early to sew (I have a deadline this week). Before I left I bought 2 raffle tickets for a brand new Harley - They told me I had the winning ticket, so I'm guessing they will call me tonight!!

P is for...

2006-07-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

Continuing Laume's WordPlay (link on sidebar) Personal word list.

Pace - my ideal pace is leisurely, although I can pick it up I prefer a little bit of speed to snail-like
Pagan - my current leaning
Pajamas - I prefer flannel (much to Tom's dismay) almost all year round, thanks to central air
Pain - something I see in Tom every day - this fucking Lyme has been making his life miserable
Pedicure - I had my very first professional pedicure last week - humm very nice, I think I might add this to my routine
Pantyhose - something that I am very very thankful that I do not have to wear to work!
Pansy - a fun uplifting flower that I enjoy finding in the early garden. Other flora I like include: poinsettia, poppy (this is my 1st year with them in the garden) and pussywillows
Parrot - there are flocks of green parrots all over CT - until 2 weeks ago I never saw one in Westport before. I know they are noisy and can cause program - the noise I can live with, and right now the bright green color still makes me happy
Pasta - I think my favorite "P" food - others include pineapple, pancakes, pastry, peas, peanuts, pecans, peppers (veggies not spice), pears, prune (not prune juice), pumpkin pie, pistachio, plums, popcorn
Peacock Plumage - Bright beautiful feathers
Poker - a game I never play
Paint something I have used often in my life - first as a child, then as a faux artist and now I use paint in my quilt art, especially for portraits
Practical Magic - a film I watch more than once
Puzzles - The only ones I get to do these days are online - still fun but not the same

Lighthouse Simplified

2006-07-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

I've simplified the design - took out the green and purple grassy color-blocks and turned the 2 mottled browns into the rocky island. I like the way it looks, but have the neverending issue of how to bind it when its done - I think Bindings are my new "problem" area.

Happy 4th Of July !

2006-07-04T07:24:00.000-04:00

Last night Westport had their fireworks (here is a shot), this is the true mark of summer. Our fireworks normally are a great show - last night it seemed like they must have run out of matches - everything started out fine, then there was a long (minutes) pause followed by a short burst and then nothing. Not the show that Grucci normally puts on - and I'm sure the local paper will either have an explanation or lots of comments. We live less than a mile from main beach - Last night Tom at the last minute decided he didn't want to walk down - the parking fee is $25 and the spaces are gone hours before the show. Morgan was already there - so I planned on going by myself. A short way from my home - I hear some kind of a motorized vehicle come up behind me - and turn to see Tom driving the gator. No fee to park it - so that was great. At one point Tom went back to check on the gator and came back with 2 friends. They were looking for us, and wanted us to know they parked at our house and rode their bikes. It was great seeing Cris and David - they have 2 rug rats and are in the middle of a house remodel, so I'm sure they needed the break. I hope you all have a safe, fun holiday. I'm sure Tom will be watching John Wayne movies, I'm going into the studio and Morgan has to go to Sailing School.

Floats - Part 2 (Deirdre's Summer SSL)

2006-07-03T10:20:00.000-04:00

This is the first go round of my SUMMER Simple Still Life - obviously tweaked in Photoshop - but I did it a few days ago, so I have no real clue how I got here (LOL). My current plan, which as we know could change at any moment) is to isolate a part of the design and size it for the Quilting Arts Abstract challenge. I'm lazy and if I can kill 2 birds with one stone - why not! So the final size is supposed to be 8.5 x11 portrait format. Is anyone else interested in that challenge - its in the magazine and also on their website. Everyone have a safe 4th of July! :-D eirdre OK - so I posted this on the wrong blog! LOL, stinks getting old - There is a link to Simple Still Life at the top of this post and at the right - anyone else want to join us?

Warning! Fiber Related Post

2006-07-01T21:49:00.000-04:00

I started playing with a new piece today - I'm not sure that I will continue it in the same color block-style that its started but I like the idea. Its hard working with oversized pieces of fabric that I am too cheap to cut up until I know what I want to do. And I'm not working on a design wall so taking photos blind with the camera held over my head is kind of strange.

I printed the Fire Island Lighthouse on fabric and have fused it to a printed background - The dark sky is a "sacred-saved piece" that I bought years ago from Skydyes. I want to get over the fear of using these Sacred Fabrics so I'm going to go for it! I also designed a home page for a new website. I'll share it soon.

O is for...

2006-07-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

O is for ... Continuing my version of Laume's personal WordPlay dictionary...

Oak - I love oak trees and plan to use their shape in a few quilts.
Oatmeal - I love all forms of oatmeal, hot and cold cereal and cookies, yum!
Observant - I do not consider myself to be the most observant person in the world, but I know people who are worse!
Obstinate - family trait that Tom's and my family possess!
Office - I work in an office, pretty comfortable place with nice people - I'm pretty lucky to have this job (and they are lucky to have me LOL)
Ocean - we live near the Atlantic - its right on the other side of the sound - but I am not an ocean kinda person, well my not really liking water might have something to do with it.
Oil - damn its getting expensive and I don't think it will be coming down anytime soon.
Once is never enough.
Okra - I've never had it and just from the description (which usually includes the word sticky and/or slimy) I NEVER WILL
Old - yup that describes me
Orange - Great COLOR
Orchid - I wish I didn't have a black thumb, but I do.
Orchard - we have great Apple Orchards nearby, but the best ones that I've been to are in upstate New York.
Original - I'd like to do more artwork that is original. I have enough ideas just need to do them.
Owl - we have a few different ones here but I've never gotten a good enough look to see what kind they are.
Oyster - Not a food I like but I do like Oyster Crackers if that counts.

N is for ...

2006-07-01T10:02:00.000-04:00

Continuing my version of Laume's personal WordPlay dictionary...

Nail - Mine are thin and short, never polished. My youngest sister Ardath's used to be long, acrylic and diamond-studded. She has a part-time business doing nails and her clients love her Air-Brushed works of art.
Nature - I'm not much of a "Nature Girl" - unless it is watching Nature through a window.
Navy - A place Tom (an several other of his family members) spent their early manhood years.
Nearsighted - I've worn glasses or contacts since I was around 10 - as I reached my mid-40's my eyesight has improved and for the first time in my life since wearing them, I am now able to take them off and wander around without needing them! The eye doctor said my eyes have improved quite a bit in the last few years!
Neat - not a trait I possess
Needle - Mostly I use machine needles but sometimes I use hand needles - especially for beading or sewing on the dreaded binding!
Neighbor - we don't have too many at our current house. I wish sometimes that we lived in a neighborhood where there were kids around for Morgan to play with.
New England - A great place to live. Also its in the Northeast, in North America in the Northern Hemisphere. I live in CT the Nutmeg State.
Niece - I have 4 and one grandniece - Samantha, Addie, Felicia (with my grandniece, Vanessa) and the newest member, Gianna.
Nephews - Thomas, Tyler, Justin, Zachary and a Grand Nephew Steve
Nose - recently operated on and working almost perfectly - its a great feeling to be able to breathe!
Nuzzle a great word and a nice concept
Nuts, nectarine, Nestle (chocolate), Noodles - good "N" foods
NO a word we use too often!

M is for ...

2006-06-27T16:42:00.000-04:00

Another word play list - 1/2 way through the alphabet!

Mother – I aM fortunate that My Mother is still here – Many of My friends lost theirs preMaturely.
Morgan – My darling daughter – who I aM still stunned to realize is going into High School next year!
Maiden NaMe – Mine is Murphy
Murphy’s Law – a law Many of us live by, a TV series that was based on a series of book My father Warren Murphy wrote.
Magic – The power to Make iMpossible things happen.
Magpie – I believe there is Magpie in My lineage - I love shiny things
Magnolia – a sure sign that Spring is alMost here – This year for My birthday ToM planted 2 Magnolia’s one for Me and one for Morgan. Usually these blooM near our birthdays
Mail – I used to get a lot of junk Mail and bills in My Mailbox, but since I’ve been online there are all kinds of surprises which Might be in the box – fiber postcards, online fabric orders, new books – Mail is a good thing…
Makeup – I don’t really wear any these days, I did once. But Morgan wears enough for both of us. She looks Much better in it than I do
Marbles – My grandMother collected old toys her husband had owned a toy distributorship, several years before she died, she sold all of her toys at auction. The iteM we were Most surprised at was a bag of Marbles, originally it sold for 15 cents – I think it went for $700!
Maze – I have been dreaMing about Mazes lately. Not a bad scary dreaM but one where I aM planting a Maze.
Mercury – I wish I could figure out why when I was a child there was a building which got deliveries of Mercury – soMetiMes the little silver drops would be in the gutter. What the hell would they have had Mercury for?
MinuteMan – we have a statue of a MinuteMan in Westport. He is always at the ready for the English.
Milk – I love iced cold Milk and could never understand how people on a farM could drink it warM – ick ick ick
Model – when I was a child I was a Model, I worked Mostly for Sears but also did work for Magazines and other catalogs
Mosquito – Disgusting insect which have no use and never will. I grew up in NJ and I think the Mosquito was the state bird. In CT they aren’t quite as bad, except for the fact that they now carry West Nile Virus
Motorcycle – ToM’s love of Harley’s has been rekindled.
Music – I coMe froM a pretty Musical faMily – Most can carry a tune and/or play an instruMent – I don’t! My children are also very Musical – I’M so glad they don’t take after Me!

Congratulations Morgan

2006-06-21T11:35:00.000-04:00

Last night Morgan had her Moving Up Ceremony at Bedford.

I can't believe she is going into High School.

Here she is with her Dad!

Click here for more photos

Family Tree

2006-06-18T21:36:00.000-04:00

I finished everything except the binding and am very happy with the way it came out - The sky is quilted with 7 shades of PolyNeon thread, the grass and leaves are quilted in Green Rayon and the Tree is quilted in Brown Rayon. If you click on the images I think you can get a pretty good idea of what it looks like. I hadn't shown Tom until tonight - he looked and immediately wanted to know why he wasn't on it - I asked if he saw any of the other spouses - nope - I said this was just my mother's kids and our children. I've thought of another way to quilt this - so when I do one for Tom's mother - I can try doing the full background before adding the tree and leaves.

Family Roses

2006-06-13T14:12:00.000-04:00

These photos are from a rose bush, originally started from one planted by Tom's great-Grandfather - approximately 100 years ago. Unfortunately we have had a bit of rain (like everyone else) so a lot of the flowers have fallen. From what I remember they flower for a long time. Tom's grandfather calls this "7-Sisters", but I don't know if that is the name or not.

L is for...

2006-06-11T15:14:00.000-04:00

My Wordplay list - L is for ...

Laume - the woman who started this Wordplay list
Ladybug - I find it hard to believe that I work with a woman who HATES ladybugs - she said that is because she is from Washington STATE and they bite there - Personally I think she is nuts
Ladder - When I first decided to use the loft as my studio there was a short ladder to get up here - a SHAKY SHORT ladder - with the platform about 3 feet from the edge of the loft. you had to stand on top of this shaky ladder and pull yourself up. Getting down wasn't any easier - I painted a half-circle so that you had a place to "Aim your body towards", as you swing your legs around hoping to find the top of the ladder! This ladder sucked! It has been replaced with a rolling ladder/staircase like home Depot uses that I bought when Caldor's went out of business.
Lament - Deirdre's Lament is the one I am most familiar with.
Lake - Love looking at a lake - My mother lives in The Finger Lakes (top of the middle finger), We go to Lake George for vacation in the summer and in general I love the tranquility of a lake - I still don't want to GO INTO the lake but looking at it is fine. Tom is at Lake George this week for Americade 2006.
Laptop - I am thrilled that my laptop has made everything so convenient - nice to look up facts during a movie to prove I'm right or to try and figure out a name or location.
Leaves - Autumn in New England has wonderful colored leaves
Lemonade - A great summertime drink
Library - I spend less time visiting the library now that they are a member of Netlibrary so I can download books to
Lilac one of my favorite spring flowers and a scent I like too
Lime - very necessary ingredient of a margarita
Linguini - my favorite style of pasta
Loft - where my studio is
Lottery - haven't won it yet
Lyme disease - a terrible disease that affects my family
Love - life if much better with it
Lucky - the way I feel (most times) about marrying my husband
Late - one of my common states - not in getting to things, but more with waiting until the LAST possible moment to finish something.
Lazy - you say this like its a bad thing?

K is for

2006-06-10T18:41:00.000-04:00

Time for another letter of the Alphabet

K is for

Karaoke - something that you will never ever ever hear from me.
Katydid - I hate these things, when they shed their skin - my own skin crawls
Kayak - Morgan loves using a kayak, I think it might be fun to try but... that would require me getting near the water!
Kiln - I have one in my garage - one day it might be wired again
Kite - when I was little I remember my father out in a field next to my house, running and running trying to get the kite into the air. Didn't happen - sort of like a Charlie Brown's kite. So Dad being the kind and understanding father - showed me how to burn the kite.
Kitten - we were adopted by 2 teeny tiny kittens a few years ago. Shadow and Hunter. Shadow unfortunately has passed on but Hunter is a very good cat - I'm glad they picked out house.
Kneel - I spent way too much time praying as a child - I think the Jews have a better idea - No Kneelers
Key West - I have only been there one time but loved it - Tom's cousin is living there now - so maybe Morgan and I could sneak a visit for Winter Break.
Knit - I taught myself to knit to spite someone who told me it was too difficult. I went out, bought that little green Teach Yourself to Knit book and bought some yarn and a pattern for an Icelandic sweater. I finished the sweater the next week - the bitch who wouldn't show me was still working on the body of her sweater - I left NH a year later and she still wasn't done. Might not be done now for all I know.
Knuckle - Morgan cracks hers all the time - I hate that noise
Knight - Tom was my Knight of Wands for The Tarot Quilt I made.
Kosher - I kept a Kosher kitchen for a while - even did a stint as a Kosher Caterer! Knowledge - we never have enough!
Kiwi - Strange fuzzy fruit - tastes pretty good though

Names added to the Tree

2006-06-09T22:53:00.000-04:00

I had company today - my friend Timi came for some studio work and lunch. I had Chinese and Timi has Japanese. Pretty good stuff. I wanted to put the names on my Family tree - after many false starts - I realized I had to put the names on before it was quilted - thank god the names were the first part I put on - so it was pretty easy to take the sandwich apart. Anyway - here is a quick peek I'm happy with the say it looks so far. This will be a present for my Mom (Dawn - see the sky fabric) and the names are her children and grandchildren. I think if you click on the photo you should be able to read the names.

Family Tree

2006-06-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

I started a quilt yesterday - it really shouldn't take too long, because I know what I want to do and the fabrics I'm using are mostly perfect the way they are. This is 18" wide and just over 4 feet tall. But, true to form, I have to wait a little because the DAMN WONDERUNDER will not release. I decided to try and wait overnight like I've heard suggested and IT WORKS - Takes way too long this way but... It is better than screaming. So while I wait for it to gently decide to release from the release paper, I'm off to take Morgan to get a Graduation Dress.

eBay or Religious Retreat Dilemma?

2006-06-03T13:35:00.000-04:00

I am having a "Religious Dilemma" Maybe you can help. I was taking images off my camera this morning and realized that Christ was looking at me. Yup, you heard me right - Jesus has placed himself right in front of me - in my yard. I was focusing on the sprig of grass in front of the rock and he just jumped out! I've added lines for those of you who are not as enlightened as I am. This image is clickable.

So my problem is - Should I open my yard as a stop for Pilgrims who I am sure would be willing to pay a fee - all for the upkeep of the image (of course), or should I attempt to sell Jesus on eBay - after all maybe the Vatican would like to keep him close to them. This is a pretty good size rock, so we might need a crane to get it out of the yard.

Until I hear from you, maybe I'll pray for guidance!

Whoops - I also forgot... J is for JESUS!

J is for

2006-06-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

Jacket – I have a lot of Jackets, but I tend to wear one or 2 until they are ragged. Lately I’ve received a few from Chico’s which I adore. One that I must replace soon is my 30 year old Jean Jacket – which is so worn the collar is barely attached!
Jeans – Tom’s favorite clothing items
Jaguar – if I could have a large wild animal I would love a Jaguar – I love the way they look. Of course if I had the option of the car or the animal I would go with the car!
January – I love the month, mostly because of its symbol of being a fresh start – that anything and everything is possible.
Jellyfish – I love watching Jellyfish at an aquarium – I took some photos of them that I really loved in California. Click here for more photos apparently Blogger is being a Jerk again and won't let photos post.
Jade – a color and stone that I like
Job – a necessary evil
Julie - my best friend and a very talented woman
Joint – I was recently told that Morgan’s Joints are hyper-something (very flexible), so she needs to go to a trainer to see if she needs special exercises to keep them healthy. Tom’s Joints are afflicted with Lyme Disease – a terrible disease.
Journal Quilts – A proJect that I was thrilled to participate in and even had a few images accepted in the soon to be published Journal Quilt Book!
Journey – they way I am starting to view my life – it seems that the older I get the more I enJoy the Journey.
Jump rope – I sucked at double Dutch – and could seldom figure out when to Jump in!
Jumper Cables – a necessary tool every motorist in New England should carry
Junior High School – Morgan will be saying goodbye soon to hers
Junk Food – who me? Eat and actually like the stuff – YUP!
Juxtapose – I spend a lot of time doing this to everything – comparing, weighing, evaluating.
June – We are starting the month Today
July – A month I am very glad to have Central Air

Which X-Men Are You?

2006-06-01T10:38:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Deb at Red Shoe Ramblings - I got to "See" which X-man I am

You Are Cyclops

Dedicated and responsible, you will always remain loyal to your cause.You are a commanding leader - after all, you can kill someone just by looking at them. Power: force beams from your eyes

Which of the X-Men Are You?

Phoenix - Version 3 (Big Bird)

2006-05-29T18:06:00.000-04:00

Its been a long time since I was up in the studio actually WORKING on a project - I've had the large version of the Phoenix started for several months, this was the version I was going to use and cut up into 4 slices. Before I decided that it would be better to make 4 complete smaller birds, for a group I'm in. I really wanted to use a hand-dyed red silk velvet scarf I have but truth is - I love the scarf and really want to keep it - not enough time to order from dharma, so I decided to use some other materials. Then of course there is the issue of using Wonder Under - I HATE PELLON - this must be the 5th time I've purchased Wonder Under - from 5 different places and its still the bad stuff! Why can't they recall the crap that doesn't work. Anyway - I've used several layers of a red/bronze/gold sheer and put it on yellow for the feathers and red for the body. I'm trying to decide if I will stitch the leaves first or sew and quilt - I hope I can get the metallic threads to feed smoothly. I also plan on using a lot of sequins and beads and adding some real sparkle. Its nice to be sewing even with the frustration of crappy glue, lets see how quickly I can progress on this bird.

Glass Insulators

2006-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last month when Morgan and I were driving home from my mother's, I finally decided to stop and take photos of the glass insulators which are still used and line the side of the road. .

Capt'n Morgan

2006-05-21T18:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, after I finished being thought of as the most evil mother of the world, for forcing Morgan to spend 8 (YES EIGHT) non-stop hours studying for her Safe Boater's Certificate, she changed her mind. Of course she could have spent 14 hours in bed, or doing her nails... But Tom and I made a decision that THIS YEAR, is the year that Morgan learns how sail a sailboat and drive a power boat. First step was getting her Certificate. She was beaming with Pride as I picked her up - she had even called from class to tell me "I've PASSED!!!" I'm really proud of her and so is Tom! Morgan The Future Capt'n

I is for...

2006-05-21T11:06:00.000-04:00

Idol - AmerIcan Idol fever whIch hopefully wIll end next week
Idea - my head Is fIlled wIth far more then I wIll ever fInIsh
Igloo - how could people lIve In Ice cubes?
IllogIcal - everythIng needs to be thought out logIcally - I don't understand IllogIcal
IllumInated - the beautIful manuscrIpts of the Monks
ImagIne - one of my favorIte songs
ImpressIon - more Important than It used to be
IndIgo - a beautIful color
InformatIon - we can never have enough InformatIon
InfomercIal - how often have you bought somethIng at 3am?
Ink - Do you have a tattoo? I do
Instrument - I play a few poorly, my chIldren are much more musIcal than I wIll ever be
Interstate - I95 runs yards from our house
Iron - I love the metal and must have a dozen Irons for pressIng
Ivy - I love the way Ivy works It way up a buIldIng

H is for...

2006-05-20T16:19:00.000-04:00

Hair – Mine is desperately in need of a cut, blonde witH streaks of grey.
Handwriting – WHen I was in 3rd grade tHe nuns at Sacred Heart ScHool tHougHt my Handwriting was so bad tHey Had me copy tHe penmansHip papers, tHey sent tHat in to someone and I got some kind of an award – do tHey even teacH tHis anymore?
Hawk – We Have several wHo live near our House, but never wHen I Have a camera available.
Hazel – My eye color
HealtH - Improving daily!
HeartH – SometHing I miss
Home – ours was lovingly built by Tom, and will be under construction for tHe rest of our lives
HollyHock – and old fasHioned plant tHat I’ve Had no luck growing
Honeysuckle – A scent I actually like
Housekeeping – Don’t come to my House if clutter and dust botHer you
Husband – I’ve married tHe man of my dreams and Heart
HypHen – one of my favorite forms of punctuation
Hopelessly beHind - my current state

Ellis Island photos

2006-05-09T23:00:00.000-04:00

All images are "Clickable"

You can get an idea of what a wonderful space it was the vaulted ceiling was incredible.

This is The Great Hall

William

Rusty outside light

Shadows - Lines, Stars, Rectangles

Decay on back of building

Full view with shadows & reflections (and Laume) More Photos Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero http://tinyurl.com/g4rwb

Photo Collage

2006-05-09T22:46:00.000-04:00

I have been playing a little bit with PhotoShop and finally learned how to use the merge feature - it saves hours of time! LOL.

Here are a few of my favorite photo-collages from this past week. Wall of butterflies in

The Museum of Natural History

Waiting to board the Circle Line boat to take us to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Looking up the Hudson River NJ on left/NY on right in the distance you can see Empire State Building

Sneaking up on The Statue of Liberty

2006-05-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

None of the photos in these albums have been edited yet, but if you want to see the bluest sky go and look in The Statue of Liberty album, it was incredible ! Just to tempt you - here is a photo that looks like she is walking in the trees - or maybe something out of Ghostbusters!
Grand Central, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center http://tinyurl.com/ebqlz
Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero http://tinyurl.com/g4rwb
Central Park http://tinyurl.com/ene9u
Mystic Seaport http://tinyurl.com/jz7zs
Laume and William's plane should be taking off right NOW! I hope they can sleep on the trip across the pond. I know that I am exhausted and can't wait to spend a day at the office RELAXING! LOL

G is for...

2006-05-02T15:53:00.000-04:00

Girlfriends - I couldn't survive without mine!
GadGet – I love GadGets – do you?
GooGle – how did we live without it?
Geodesic dome – I’d love to have my studio inside one but then I think I’d still have an issue with wall space!
Gravity – We all need to defy Gravity
Garnet - I used to have a Garnet rinG, I’d love to replace it.
GarGoyle - Always a little scary
Gelato - Italian taste of heaven
Ghost - I believe in Ghosts, but haven't seen any yet
GiGGle - RefreshinG to listen to younG Girls who can't stop GiGGlinG Gilt & Glitz - Sparkly shiny - so pretty
Glaze - In my other life when I was a painter, I used a lot of Glazes
Glass - especially Stained Glass - we saw beautiful Glass windows at the Winchester Mystery house
Goddess – She has been placed on a hiGher pedestal in recent years
God has stepped down a step or 2 - at least the orGanized reliGion part
Glutton - One of the 7 deadly sins - I suffer from
Grindstone - I've only seen one in action in Nantucket - it was powered by the wind (inside the windmill) – do you know what 3-Sheets to the Wind means?
Guacamole - Almost time for Cinco De Mayo
Gravy – not enouGh “G” foods
Games - I hate playinG Games
Grumpy - Don't bother me when I'm tired!
Grouch – Oscar was my favorite sesame street character
Gotta GO!!!! BYE

My Hollis Rant - feel free to ignore~

2006-05-01T22:41:00.000-04:00

I guess if you want to take a class first you have to have a teacher. That didn't happen. Our class with Hollis Chatelain was disappointing and IMHO a total waste of money. I have spent several weeks being totally angry and pissed off when I think of how her class at Asilomar was. I wrote a very long letter which follows to the lovely women who run Empty Spools Seminars and I hope that they take some of my rant to heart. I have edited the original letter and this blog entry to try and keep it semi-civil and without needing a XXX rating. Short note - I admire Hollis work and still think she is a genius in her skill as an artist. I felt lucky to find out that she had a 5 day class at Asilomar starting just days after my 50th birthday, and I had just been given my Holiday bonus, so the timing was perfect. Asilomar is not cheap the 5 days cost just under $1200. In addition we had to get to California, and we did do a little visiting and sightseeing before classes started, so I would guess that my cost for the class and travel only was around $1800. If you don’t want to read the long version – the short version is that if you want to learn dye-painting take the 3-day class if you want to learn threadwork – don’t bother taking this class, as you will get about 2 hours total out of it. If you want to learn about copyright – then this is the class for you! Oh and for added fun (assuming you stayed awake until the end) there are some special notes from friends who wrote me, most of them had also taken classes. I've stripped most of the identifying features from them. So here we go :-D eirdre Dear Gentlewomen: I have been trying to figure out a way to let you know how disappointed I am with the class I took from Hollis, while still expressing the fact that I think that The Empty Spools Seminar is a very nice venue. I enjoyed both the location and the people. Including, the pleasure of the wonderful drive that Suzanne took us on Monday afternoon. For several days after the end of the workshop – I could barely contain my anger, and then I remembered more incidents and was beside myself. My workshop with Hollis was my 50th birthday present to myself. I was able to convince my friend, Timi that we would have a wonderful time, and we made arrangements to come. Of course, it wasn’t hard to convince her! I would like to say that I am not a workshop novice, and would even call myself a workshop junkie – I am fortunate to belong to 2 guilds that get top-named teachers, as well as traveling to shows and taking classes in Chicago, Houston, VT, etc. I’ve taken fabric painting classes from Bonnie McCaffrey and Mickey Lawler as well as taking private painting classes. Quilting classes have included teachers such as: Caryl Fallert, Carol Doak, Ellen Anne Eddy, John Flynn, Cynthia England and Christine Fries – just to start the list. That being said – I will apologize in advance for the length of this complaint. I want you to know that this is not sent just to complain, but because I think you need to be made aware of a real Hollis experience. I also feel duped because I spent a lot of money to learn techniques described in her class description, which she was not interested in teaching. I have also enclosed several notes from others as confirmation of her teaching method. First the class description from her website: Class Description: In this workshop, you will first learn how to paint images with Procion dyes on cotton. Learning to control the dyes will be emphasized. Among other things, we will cover blending, layering, special effects and painting without bleeding. All of these techniques can be used to create images as complex as portraits or as simple as a line on a scarf. Each student is asked to bring two or three 18"x 20" designs or drawings that they will transfer onto cloth and then paint. These drawings can be fruits or rounded objects, still lifes, animals or faces. Any image can be used as long as it has been made into an 18" X 20" black and white line drawing. It would also help to have an example or an idea of your color choices. In the second part of the workshop, we will explore new ideas about how to use quilting to enhance the look of your painted cloth. The main objective is to use quilting lines to create depth, texture, tension, or shadowing which will give a new dimension to your quilt. Lines can be inspired by an endless variety of things (nature, architecture, technology, etc.) to add visual interest and reinforce your overall design. Even straight lines can become a design in themselves. You will be working with the images you have painted during the first part of the workshop. We had 23 people in our great big, bright room and we each had a nice size space. There were 2 women who had taken other classes with Hollis and IMHO I would call them groupies at the very least. There were 3 women over 80 who had all lost their husbands in the last few years and they were doing things that they normally wouldn't be doing, and the rest was a mix of talented regular people – and surprisingly there were no whiners. After the introductions, Hollis had lots to say about copyright and borrowing her patterns and not tracing her patterns unless we paid for a new $8 drawing. No photographs, etc. All things I knew and expected. Hollis explained that we would start by picking out 3 colors - we would leave one print powder clear, and would use it as a white and also a blender. She showed us samples of designs that she had available for us to use. One of the supplies listed included large line drawings. I had learned that there would be drawings available for our use, and as I was interested in learning technique and not having this be award-winning quality – I decided to use her designs. My goal was to learn the techniques listed in the class description. I was primarily interested in learning the thread-work technique. I didn’t really have a desire to learn dye-painting, but I did know this was part of the class, so I figured I'd learn as much as I could. If dye-painting was the only part of the class, I would have taken another class. Hollis described how some of these designs were harder to dye-paint than others. Sharp points and edges where ones she said were difficult to do. Other designs she brought included a flower and a large hand. She said that basically we would have a demonstration of how to safely mix our colors on Monday morning and then we would each mix our set of 3 - she also suggested that sharing was good. On Monday around 11:00a, Hollis concluded her demonstration of how to safely mix the dyes and we got started mixing our own. Hollis mentioned that she isn't a warm cuddly person. She said she would offer help but not coddle or lie, she would be truthful. One of the older women said, “You are like that Simon guy on American Idol.” Hollis said – “Oh NO!” But I think inwardly she was thrilled with the comparison. After lunch the rest of us mixed our dyes and we got started painting. (She had shown us a demonstration earlier). Now imagine a thickened dye - thickness of heavy cream, putting it on dry treated fabric with a dry brush. You paint and blend what you assume are the colors you picked. Most dyes don't look anything like they will end up - so you just trust yours will look ok. The schedule was supposed to be that we complete 3 paintings by the end of Wednesday and Thursday morning we wash them out, iron dry and start sewing. I did the sharp pointed painting on Monday, the Hand on Tuesday and on Wednesday, I did an abstract using up the table's dyes. We had mixed up 2 additional dyes on Tuesday, the rest were basically shared and borrowed. Each of us had mixed 5 dyes and that was enough for the whole class to share. We were at the same table with Hollis at lunch on Monday and she was talking to some of the women about her problem child and how things were, just normal kind of stuff. We went back after lunch and painted, we covered our work as we went to keep it wet, so that the chemical reaction could take place. I have to say that Hollis appeared to be very giving in her instruction for this part - of course there were a lot of variables, including how wet we were able to keep the painting (you cover your finished pieces right away with plastic) and continue in another place. She told how she does her big pieces, and how long they take, etc. Everything was fine. On Tuesday we started in by mixing dyes and painting - we were not really getting any additional help but it wasn't overtly obvious, because she was coming around and checking or offering suggestions. I decided to do the hand because most of my work is of larger people and I figured that this might actually show me how to do some of the skin threadwork. I signed up for this class specifically because this is what she is famous for. One other person did the hand. Several people did figures but all of them featured small sized heads and bodies. Hollis was good with explaining how to do skin color and I am very happy with the way the colors came out on the hand, it was very lifelike. We saw slides of her work and also had her work hanging in the classroom, she answered any questions she felt like answering, but more often than not, the answer was; “It’s magic”, or “I'll talk about that during another part of the class” (which never happened), or “It just takes practice.” You always had a feeling you were going to be bit if you asked a question. Painting continued on Wednesday, we all pretty much knew what we thought we should be doing but because we hadn't rinsed anything out - it was hard to tell. We broke on Wednesday night with directions and handouts telling us how to rinse things out. We all rinsed out, in our rooms on Thursday morning and ironed dry, then headed to class and we all looked around. Nothing looked like we expected - but most of the pieces were actually pretty good. Even Hollis with years of experience doing this seemed surprised to see how many of them washed out - I still think that it is the nature of the technique, and that with trial, experimentation and luck you can get what you hope for. We started Thursday out showing our 3 pieces and discussing what we thought of them in the classroom - this took all morning. We all told her what piece we wanted to work on - everyone who had done a figure said that they wanted to work on their person, Hollis offered every one of them this suggestion, “Oh just outline the lips, nose and eyes” - this was her answer 100% of the time with reference to doing a person. So when I said I was doing the hand because I often made large figurative quilts she didn't comment. Then she said, she wanted to tell us something that was really important to every quilter - she told us about the Hilton carpet and how it was a design which was stolen from Paula Nadlestern - I think this probably took 1/2 hour, she was going to get us copies of the form we could all sign - if we really saw the carpet and then we could all chip in to fax it to Paula's attorney. Then it was time for lunch. After lunch Hollis came back from her Massage at 1:15 ready to show us how she does her design work. She took one woman's piece and placed a piece of tracing paper over it - she showed us how she worked out her designs. She did a great job and it gook about 20-30 minutes - then she picked up the paper and showed everyone the difference adding the design makes - then she crumbled up the paper - and when someone said they would iron it out and use it -she stuck it under her dress - after a few minutes she took it out and tore it up! Finally it was time for her to start showing us her quilting - she took a painted sample of fabric she had and thread painted a shape like this ) ( Then someone asked her to do the nose which was painted on the same sample - she explained that it would take too much time and that maybe if she had time later she would get to it - it was never mentioned again. Everyone started back to their spot and I said in a loud voice, “Hollis could you come over and get me started on the HAND?” She said sure - then after a few seconds said – “Hum, I'll be back in a while I have to go to the bathroom”, instead of using the restroom that was outside our classroom, she went back to her room for 20 minutes. She did come over when she came back and looked at it a few minutes and said, “You know, in my 3-ring binder is a hand, just use that as an example and see what you can do, oh and btw start with the little fingers its easiest that way.” Ok, the hand I had was shaped like it had a shot put in it - the fingers were curled up and the wrist was bent backward. Your view was as if you were looking from the wrist at "shortened" fingers. The example in her binder was a flat hand with the fingers splayed. I started with the small fingers as best I could - but it was wrong. I decided to try and ‘figure out’ what I really needed to do - which was start in the middle of the hand (the triangle of the palm), and do long sweeping strokes. This worked - then I did the other large portions and finished by filling in the highlights and shadows. Everything looked pretty good except the first 2 little fingers. I asked her to come back and look - she said “It looked good.” I asked what she would do differently on the 2 fingers - she took a pencil and drew 4 or 5 tiny light, light lines on the fingers and said – “something like this.” Some of us sewed - unfortunately the rental machines were terrible, which of course was not her fault. After doing just the palm I decided to wait until I got home to do the rest. Most people in our class could not sew with the rental machines! This is a separate issue, and one I think should be addressed with the Quilt shop – My suggestion would be to offer a higher quality rental for a little more money, even buying Wal-Mart sewing machines for $99 would have eliminated problems for ½ the people. The rentals jammed, broke needles and generally were the worst things I’d ever used. On Thursday afternoon for the ‘Open House’ we chipped in to buy cheese/crackers and wine for our ‘guests’. Hollis sat around - and when people came in and said, “Oh how do you do that?” She usually indicated that it was something way beyond their knowledge-base even to understand the idea behind her technique; the other answer was that it was just magic. She was smug and arrogant to everyone. In the meanwhile, kiss kiss kiss was being handled by the groupies who were pushing her $900 prints! Believe it or not I think that 2 or 3 were sold, so good for Hollis, I guess she must use Thomas Kinkade as her role model. Her groupies also put signs around the entire place and entrance saying NO PHOTOGRAPHY - we went to a few classrooms and guess what - none of them did that! Some of them even said Photography OK. Its fine that she would prefer not to have photographs taken, but the way it was presented was totally obnoxious, and I heard her telling one of the other teachers that it was all the student’s idea to put them up – I don’t think so! Before we left for dinner, Hollis spent some more time (this is in addition to the 2 talks we already had which I am estimating to have taken over 1 hour), talking to the class to review her 3 minutes that she was going to be given to speak about copyright issues - she had asked other teachers to come up on stage with her to show their solidarity. We decided to pass on her presentation. Instead we packed up - after all we had already spent approximately 1 hour working on quilting and maybe another hour on the design - and apparently this was really all she was going to show us, so I guess that it qualified as our design and sewing portion of the class. 1.5 possible hours from us and less than 1.5 hours from her qualified as our sewing portion of the class – out of 5 days! On Friday it was pouring and we got to class around 9 - we stayed for a while but nothing was happening except 2 people were sewing and everyone else was just sitting. Apparently Hollis was done teaching - she did however ask if anyone noticed if one of the teachers who had said she supported THE CAUSE was up on stage with her - she received a negative reply and I'm sure she hunted the villain down to shoot her in the knees later that day. We decided to try and get an earlier shuttle out of Asilomar and went to get our suitcases. My opinion is if you want to learn dye painting take her 3-day class, if you want to learn how to do her sewing technique - go to her website and look at her quilts - make sure you don't copy them or she will come hunt you down and beat you up. If you want to kiss kiss - she has a few spots open. Make sure that you bring spare change as you will be asked to chip in for anything that she thinks the class should have. She is fair, so don't worry if you didn't share in the wine you only have to pay $1 instead of $6. Truth is I don't have any problem paying $6 for the wine - it was good. What I don't understand is her asking for donations to pay for a fax - she made plenty on the class, on the supplies she sold and on the fee paid to the teacher. We each bought our brushes from her ($45 to $100) and many bought threads for $100 . For our $45 class fee, we got three 20 x 22 pieces of soda-ash treated fabric, the plastic muffin tin, in addition we each used approximately 2 tablespoons of print paste mix and 5 half-teaspoons of dye. That was it. She could spend the $5 for the damn fax! I think that if I ever went back to Asilomar - I would make sure it was a class that would be fun - I knew Hollis wouldn't be fun but I did think she would teach what she had listed in her class description. My suggestion to you would be to plant a person in one of her next classes – have that person see what the class is really like. When you are handed the class review, you are told they will be anonymous, but it doesn’t really seem like it is, since Hollis is the one who collects the reviews. Maybe this was because her “helper” was ill for the last 2 days of class. I know that several of the people I spoke to were very put off by her condescending attitude. In my opinion – her work is genius. Maybe she should make art and leave the teaching to someone who is interested in actually teaching what they have contracted to teach. Thank you for taking the time to read this long letter – I sent it because I resent spending a considerable amount of money on a class with a woman who didn’t feel the need to teach the class. I sent a note to several of my friends regarding this class, and many of them replied with emails speaking of the same experience with Hollis. I’m including excerpts from these emails page. Regards, Deirdre Abbotts Your reports of the class squares 100% with what I've gotten from three other very different students of her classes. (Not that any of them lacked credibility or creativity in the ways they described The Aforementioned.) I'm sorry I didn't warn you (given enough attention, I should have heard you were making plans for THAT class and said something), I didn't want to color your experience such that you created a reality based on my reports. I agree with all of what Deirdre had to say. For the money, I was very disappointed with the class. I've been to a lot of classes with a lot of well known quilt artists and have never come away feeling so disappointed as I did with this class. Even the crappy two day design class my sister and I took at VT Quilt Festival didn't leave me feeling this disappointed. At least that guy tried to teach. Although I went wanting to learn more of the dye painting technique than the quilting technique I found the "teacher" to be less than sharing when it came to actually "teaching" her techniques. Now if you wanted to listen to how good she is, she was quite willing to share with you what she thought of herself. I will say that I think she is quite talented, and is supporting her family with her art, and has had a lot of acclaim for her work so I do suppose she has a lot to be proud of. But being proud and humble is a lot different than being proud and haughty, egotistical, condescending and self-important. If an artist does not want to share their knowledge and their techniques, then don't sign on to teach them! I won't be taking another class from her anytime soon, and Asilomar is not on my list of "great experiences can't wait to do it again." OK...that about covers what went on in our two day class too. Lotsa dye painting and a little threadwork advice, but our class wasn't about threadwork....sounds like you got about as much threadwork advice as we did and it WAS supposed to be in your class! Sounds like the dye painting part of her class is what she plans for and nothing else matters. I'm sure “C” will agree with everything you wrote...she's the one that wrote to me after Asilomar last year and said "she wasn't very giving of herself and her techniques

April Simple Still Life

2006-04-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

Here is my April Simple Still Life - I started with a photo of some Birthday flowers for Morgan. You can see the flowers and how they looked out when I played with them in Photoshop, if you look down a few days. I almost stopped after just putting the couch down - I kind of like the way it looks - I even used both sides of the fabric! You can see the chalk lines which I still need to add with stitching. Maybe tomorrow I will get a chance to quilt it - if not - at least I've been playing with fabric!

Asilomar Beach Photo

2006-04-28T14:40:00.000-04:00

If you click on the photo - you will be able to see a landscape view of the beautiful beach in front of Asilomar - Fortunately it was not raining when we went down there - one of only 2 afternoons without heavy rain!

I will post about our class with Hollis this weekend - it was one of the most disappointing workshops I have ever experienced.

Altered Art -Trees Vaginas & Landscapes

2006-04-26T20:00:00.000-04:00

When Timi and I went to California - Cindy took us sightseeing to see the Redwoods. I took a ton of photos of the trees - there was one which looked like a vagina - see it really does - Laume thinks it looks like a spine, but if you tell someone you took a photo of a tree vagina - you will get their attention. Right now Morgan is sitting on the couch laughing hysterically and Tom is stammering that I shouldn't talk like this in front of OUR Daughter!

I took the photos and played with it in Photoshop - I'm not sure what I will end up doing to this one but - it was fun playing.

Landscape at Twilight

F is for...

2006-04-26T19:01:00.000-04:00

My Wordplay list continues... if you want to play or would like to see others who are playing, go To Laume's WordPlay blog...

Face - I've enjoyed learning to paint Faces, and seem to spend more time now looking at "interesting" ones.
Factory – I work in an old turn oF the century Hat Factory. I even worked in this building 25 years ago. Now I work For a public relations company, then I worked For a Chinese Importing company.
Fair – LiFe isn’t Fair – get over it!
Fall – I love Fall – I love the colors, the crispness and the Food!
Fashion – Not something that I worry too much about – I oFten Find out I am back in style by the time I think to change.
Father – Very important part oF my liFe.
Fawn – I’m expecting to soon see a bunch oF them, adding to our herd.
Feathers – SoFt, Floating
Female – I enjoy being a ‘girl”
Fettuccini – How can this have 93 WW points?
Fiber - ICK
Friends – Can’t live without them
Fingerprint – I’m Fascinated by them
Flamingo - PINK
FluFFy – Cotton candy
Flowers – I preFer them in the garden, but the deer eat everything here – so I’m FORCED to have cut Flowers!
Fog – Driving into the mountains the wisps mesmerize me
Folk music – Always present in my childhood home
Forever – I do not want to live Forever
Forget – I Forget more than I remember these days.
Forgive – its its not liFe threatening – its not worth getting upset.
Fractals – I wish I could learn how to make these
Frisbee – I suck throwing one but still try - occasionally
Fudge – Chocolate or Marble
Fruit – Can’t think oF a single one that I don’t like – ok I don’t like cantalope and honeydew
Future – I’m looking Forward to mine
Fuck - such a great expressive wonderful word! I use it too oFten - oh well!

E is for....

2006-04-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

Continuing the WordPlay Personal Dictionary

Email – thE way thE world communicatEs, today EmErald – I lovE this stonE and thE shapE of thE cut EnchantEd – wouldn’t it bE fun to livE an EnchantEd lifE? EntanglEd – A long ovErduE projEct which I havE bEEn unablE to find thE timE for – high on my list of To Do’s EscapE – onE of thE bEst things wE can do for oursElvEs. ExcEllEnt – Much closEr to thE way I’vE bEEn fEEling sincE my surgEry. EyE – my EyEs arE hazEl and I lovE thE color – somEtimEs grEEn, somEtimEs bluE(ish), or EvEn goldEn. Hard to dEscribE EtiquEttE – What has happEnEd to simplE EtiquEttE? WE arE in nEEd of this common simplE courtEsy and it takEs so littlE to actually givE it – yEt wE arE all too involvEd and too busy to usE it – onE of thE things I think is rEally wrong in thE world EnErgy – I NEED MORE – what can I say? ElopE – thE EasiEst way to gEt marriEd , Tom and I mostly ElopEd. EmbErs – I lovE looking at thE EmbErs of a dying firE – thErE is somEthing warm and comforting in thEm. Emu – I’vE bEEn trying to find a local placE to buy Emu oil – I hEard it might bE good for Tom’s LymE disEasE. East = I livE on thE East Coast and in NEw England, both placEs I lovE.

D is for...

2006-04-19T12:16:00.000-04:00

Dawn - My mother's name & a beautiful time of Day that I see often Daughter Morgan is my Darling Daughter
DiamonD - My birthstone
Dark - Often my mooD anD certainly my humor
DayDream - Something I Don't Do nearly often enough - some of my best frienDs spenD hours DayDreaming
Dessert - the perfect way to start a meal
Destroyer - A book series that my DaD, Warren Murphy is the author of. MaDe into a very campy movie with Joel Grey.
Dye - I useD a lot of Dyes in my class recently - I was DisappointeD with the results. But Dyeing my velvet scarves earlier this year proviDeD intense saturateD color more beautiful than I imagineD
Diet - I DiD pretty well last year on my WW Diet, but it is now time to get back on the program - these pounDs slip back on much too easily - DAMN IT
DooDle - I Do this much less than I useD to, DooDling was fun
Dream - I Dream in Black anD white, although sometimes there are bursts of color which cause Dizzy squeals of Delight!
Different - Something to strive to be
Digital - the way of the worlD
Dog - I can't forget Button
DONE!!!

Simple Still Life

2006-04-19T11:21:00.000-04:00

I've joined the Simple Still Life group.

This month's theme is Floral.

I had some photos that I took 2 weeks ago of Morgan's birthday flowers. Here are a few ways I screwed around with them.

But then I also had some images of last year's iris' that I loved, so I'm not quite sure which ones I'll end up working with - maybe both!

C is for .....

2006-04-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

Continuing Catch UP

Here is my WordPlay List

California - where I just visited after taking Class with Hollis Chatelain's - what Can I say. Caffeine - Makes the entire world better Cursing - got a problem - too fuCking bad Cheating - Totally unaCCeptable, unless you are playing Cards with my family CharaCter! When some says she is a CharaCter - I think of my Grandmother Cake - Not as good as PIE Camera - Something I've been using a lot Cat - Currently we have Hunter - he is a sweetheart Casket - Did you know you Can buy these at... CostCo? CostCo - Did you know you Can return anything (exCept pC's) forever, with their open ended return poliCy? Cauldron - Every good witCh needs one - maybe I'll find one this year at a flea market Cemetery - I love the old ones with monuments and family plots Champagne - One of my favorite things ChoColate - Another favorite (Is there a limit?) Clouds - Morgan’s room is painted in Clouds Color - I LOVE COLOR Crayon - Crayola or nothing Creative - Something I strive to be Crystal - I love Crystals, espeCially double terminated ones CyniCal - WHO ME?

Catching Up!

2006-04-17T20:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a quick synopsis (I tried to keep it short - LOL) of what I've been up to since my birthday. Hope to get all caught up this week. There is a Laume

Winchester Mystery House

Lunch with Laume's friend Kathy

Hotel In Santa Cruz

Julie and her son come over to the hotel to pick us up, Julie brings great Birthday Presents!

Owen's play Inherit the Wind

SLEEP

Saturday (The only rainless day)

Check out of hotel

Make arrangements to meet Cindy

Timi, Laume, Cindy and I go to see the Redwoods

Drive to Capitola

Have Lunch at Zelda's with Jaye, Owen, Red Deer, Cindy, Julie, Timi and Laume - This was the most beautiful day and I felt wonderful sitting in the sun!

Walk around the town - buy a huge gift for morgan - which is being shipped

Head off to Hotel in Marina - check in

Drive to a couple of beaches and take photos

Go to Cannery Row and wander around, eat dinner and take more photos.

Back to the hotel

SLEEP

Sunday

Check out of Hotel
Squish into Laume's over packed car (Filled with Timi and my suitcases)
Drive back to Monterey and meet Cindy and her 2 kids at the Aquarium.
We spent several wonderful hours getting a personal tour by Alex and Megan, took a ton of photos.
Force Laume to leave the Otters
Take a picturesque drive to Asilomar
Check in - find our room
Show up 2 hours late and find out that Hollis has been talking for over an hour
Dinner - and then
SLEEP

Monday - Thursday

Rain
Classes
Meals
Rain
Did I mention Rain
SLEEP

Friday

Go to class - we had already packed up
Switch our shuttle reservation to an earlier one
take the shuttle to San Jose airport
Get picked up my my SIL, Lisa
Drive and get Gianna (my Niece)
See their new home in Fremont
Have dinner
Back to Airport for 9:30 flight
Incoming plane had rain delay - then a medical emergency
Left California after 11
SLEEP ON PLANE (Kinda)

Saturday

Arrive in NYC at 7:00
Tom actually got there before us! Yeah Tom!
Drive back to CT
Have coffee
Timi leaves
I take a nap
Go to Costco
Mom offers to meet me part way, so I don't have to do a round trip to upstate New York - we decide to do it Sunday
Dinner
SLEEP

Sunday

SLEPT LATE!
Left at 8:30 for drive to Owego NY
Swap Morgan to the other car
Return home
Work in Studio
SLEEP

Monday

WORK - damn!
LAUNDRY - Damn
DISHES - DAMN!

I'll post more about the entire trip - and show some photos of my pieces later this week. You can see 4 albums of trip photos (all start with April 06) at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dabbotts/my_photos . None of these photos has been edited yet. If you are on a high speed the slideshow is the easiest way to watch. One post done - about a dozen more to do!!

:-D eirdre

Last day before I'm OFFICIALLY over the hill

2006-04-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow - I am official OLD - really really old... (but not as old as my Mom, who turns 70 tomorrow). But I do think I qualify for an AARP card, and can be listed as an antique. I know I have already lost most of my memory - Just ask my nephews who's birthdays I always forget - Sorry Thomas & Tyler! Here is a little Blog-filler plugging in my birthdate - try it with yours - its fun. Birthday calculator You entered: 4/6/1956 Your date of conception was on or about 15 July 1955 which was a Friday. You were born on a Friday, under the astrological sign Aries. Your Life path number is 4. Life Path Compatibility:You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 8, 11 & 22. You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 6 & 7. You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 3, 5 & 9. The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2435569.5. The golden number for 1956 is 19. The epact number for 1956 is 17. The year 1956 was a leap year. Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 2/12/1956 and ending 1/30/1957. You were born in the Chinese year of the Monkey. The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 1 April 1956. The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 6 May 1956. The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 15 February 1956. The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 20 May 1956. The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 27 May 1956. The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Thursday, 6 September 1956. The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Tuesday, 27 March 1956. The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 14 February 1956. As of 4/5/2006 11:36:16 AM EDT (a few minutes ago) You are 49 years old. You are 600 months old. You are 2,609 weeks old. You are 18,261 days old. You are 438,275 hours old. You are 26,296,536 minutes old. You are 1,577,792,176 seconds old. Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 7.14716242661448 years old. (You're still chasing cats!) There are 1 days till your next birthdayon which your cake will have 50 candles. Those 50 candles produce 50 BTUs,or 12,600 calories of heat (that's only 12.6000 food Calories!) . You can boil 5.71 US ounces of water with that many candles. In 1956 there were approximately 4.0 million births in the US. In 1956 the US population was approximately 150,697,361 people, 50.7 persons per square mile. In 1956 in the US there were approximately 1,667,231 marriages (11.1%) and 385,144 divorces (2.6%) In 1956 in the US there were approximately 1,452,000 deaths (9.6 per 1000) In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds. In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds. Your birthstone is Diamond The Mystical properties of Diamond Diamonds are said to increase personal clarity to help one see things clearly as well as be straight-forward and honest. Supposedly, the higher quality the diamond, the better it is supports these qualities. Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources) Opal, Quartz, White Sapphire Your birth tree is Rowan, the Sensitivity Full of charm, cheerful, gifted, without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive. There are 264 days till Christmas 2006! There are 277 days till Orthodox Christmas! The moon's phase on the day you wereborn was waning crescent. Footnotes: Golden Number: A number showing the year of the lunar or Metonic cycle. It is reckoned from 1 to 19, and is so called from having formerly been written in the calendar in gold. Epact Number: The moon's age at the beginning of the calendar year, or the number of days by which the last new moon has preceded the beginning of the year. The Life Path Number The Life Path is the sum of the birth date. This number represents who you are at birth and the native traits that you will carry with you through life. The most important number that will be discussed here is your Life Path number. The Life Path describes the nature of this journey through life. Julian date: The number of days since noon 4713 BC January 1.

Happy Birthday Morgan

2006-04-03T09:28:00.000-04:00

Today my darling daughter turned 14 - she is all grown up but I remember her in the wooden cradle that her Great Grandfather built for her! She looked like she came out of a Fairy Tale. Still looking innocent as she sits on the front porch - but I think this last photo (my personal favorite), is a glimpse of things to come! She was planting seeds and plants in my mother's garden and her hair kept blowing in her face - she kept wiping the stray locks away. Her shirt stayed pretty clean!

Happy Happy Birthday, MORGAN!

Metallic

2006-04-02T12:44:00.000-04:00

This week's Photo Friday challenge is Metallic.

Here is an photo I took almost 20 years ago!

"B"-hind

2006-04-01T14:55:00.000-05:00

BEHIND - yes I'm always running just a little behind! And no this does not mean you can comment on the size of my ass! BLUE - Pretty isn't it Brothers & Brian - one of my 2 brothers Beautiful - The way I wish I saw more things. Backhoe - One of Tom's favorite toys! Balance - Hard to achieve always too much to do! Batik - ohhh so pretty! Black Birds - I love the Red-Winged variety Berries - Strawberries, Blueberries or Blackberries hard to pick a favorite Bifocals - I'm way past needing them! Birthday - Morgan's birthday is Monday BIG Birthday's - Mom turns 70 and I turn 50 on Thursday!- Blonde - Does she or doesn't she? I've been holding off making this decision. Grey is good - don't you think? Breath - A total pleasure to be able to take - thank you Doctor, I give the operation Thumbs UP! Bubbles - I loved looking at bubbles when I was a kid - and when Adam was little I remember him chasing them all over the yard. Morgan was too Busy for Bubbles! Button - A very good dog, even if he will go with anyone who will pet him!

Happy Birthday Adam

2006-03-19T14:18:00.000-05:00

This blue-boy photo is my favorite photo of Adam. The other was taken at Christmas with his sister Morgan! Happy Birthday!

A is for .....

2006-03-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

(OK - BLOGGER is being a PITA), I'll upload the photos later

Adam - Apple of my eye turns 22 today! This is my favorite photo of him!
Age - Old which is what I feel when I look at him then and... NOW
Anchorage - The Town I was born in
Alaska - The Territory I was born in (it was a long time ago pre-statehood)
Ardath - My youngest sister.
Abbotts - Our last name - first on the list for Telemarketers to call to change our phone service.
Argyle - Don't really like the pattern but love the word.
Air - a refreshing breath, now that my sinus issues are over (Knock WOOD)!
Artist - something I strive to be.
Azure - one of my favorite colors
Audible.com - A spoken word (books on mp3) that I love - one of the reasons I actually get so many books read. If you decide to try it my user name is dabbotts (hey I get free books for referrals) but I really love the service.
Accumulate - Look at my studio - it needs no explanation.
Attitude - Hey I grew up in Jersey!
Angel - An idea for a new quilt.
Amethyst - One of my favorite stones.
Amnesia - Something which only happens on Soap Operas - has anyone ever met anyone with total amnesia in real life?
Asilomar - The next place I'm planning on traveling to!

Happy Happy Birthday Adam, I Love You!

Happy Dance and back in the studio

2006-03-18T09:54:00.000-05:00

2 weeks ago I got an email asking me the techniques I used for my June 2005 Journal quilt - this was Pandora's head with Angelina, printed from my original painting.

Yesterday I got the email that my Journal Quilt was going to be used in the Journal Quilt Book - very exciting news. A little later I got an email from Pamela Allen, sending congratulations to me on having 2 quilts in the book - so I went back and reread the letter - They are using June (Pandora) and Feb 2005 (Snowy Gates). This makes me very happy! DANCE, DANCE ~ TWIRL!!!! Pandora has been a really long project - she was started May of 2004 and was finally finished being beaded, bound and sleeved in March 2006! She is huge which was part of the time-thing but more importantly I wasn't totally healthy during this time. Tomorrow, I'll post the rest of my update . Having Snowy Gates accepted really excited me - this quilt was printed from a photograph I took of The Gates, in February right after the first snowfall. I was with Karen Cote and we walked through Central Park taking lots of photos, trying not to fall on the not yet shoveled walkways, loving the bright orange Gates against the grey snowy backdrop of the park. My quilt has the Gates thread-painted in Bright PolyNeon threads so they stand out - just as they did on our walk. The Bethesda Angel is called "Angel of the Waters Fountain". Congratulations to everyone who got their quilts accepted into the book~ Let's Happy Dance Together!