Ponderings

Amy brought up some questions about blogging and quilting, so I decided to respond to her topics.

1) How many quilts should be shown on the blog?
I use my blog as a journal of my crafts, with a big helping of Baby K's development on the side. When I visit other blogs, I like to see what people are working on, so the bottom line is SHOW ME MORE! I think the question came up after visiting a quilt show, and how much to show of other people's work. Again, I think more is better, especially with comments about what appeals to you...it helps readers get to know you through this anonymous online venue.

2) Alot of quilts "make the rounds" at national shows, so am I missing anything by not going to the big ones like Paducah or Houston?
Since there are a few nationally known quilters from Arizona (Gina Perkes and Sharon Schamber), I get to see a few quilts in person before they become big winners at the national shows. I'd go to the major shows more for the festive atmosphere and excitement...speaking as a one-time-only attendee at Houston! If you can see the artists you want to see in a smaller venue, I think that's more enjoyable.

3) What to do about my own quilting slump?
I chalk this one up to the seasons and cycles of life. Amy's not quilting because she just found out she's pregnant and is not feeling well. I'm not quilting because Baby K is almost 2! If you can find a few peaceful minutes to enjoy your craft, that's great! If it makes you feel guilty, re-evaluate and say no to some of the extra deadlines that are usually self-imposed.

4) What to do about all my UFOs, WIPs, and stash?
Ahh, the eternal question. I try to balance the amount of fabric coming in with the amount of quilting I get done. I don't have a humongous stash, but it's larger than the space available, so I try to keep it under control. I figure that once the slump is over (see above) then I will be able to finish things. Luckily, I haven't abandoned many projects completely, I just get hit with start-itis and a new project seems more appealing that something I'm in the middle of.

5) It would be nice if charities accpeted fabric, but they all seem to want finished quilts!
Isn't that the truth! There are some sewing guilds that like donations, so if you are seriously trying to cull the stash, that might be an option. My problem is that I love all my quilts and I can't bear to give them away! But is it a good thing to let them sit in the corner? Another eternal dilemma.

New Arrival

Meet our new Kitty Cat, cleverly named K.C. She's a big girl! KC is more social than our other cat Gidget, which is fun for Baby K. There was the typical sibling rivalry - much hissing and growling between the two sister-kitties, but they seem to be working it out. After a three month sock interlude, I've picked up the miter obsession again.
These squares still need to be blocked so they lay flat, but I don't want to leave them out overnight since I don't know if KC is enamored of straight pins like some previous four-legged residents of this house! It's supposed to be warm tomorrow (in the 90s) so I can block them and let them dry on the patio for an hour or so.

Growth

Baby K was sitting so nicely on the couch this afternoon while I was taking pictures of socks...I thought, I haven't done a bunny picture in a while! So here she is at 20 months:

(the mark on her cheek is a daycare mishap) And just for fun, I went back to the bunny picture from this time last year...

It's such a cliche, but she is growing up SO FAST!

I finished a Jaywalker out of STR January One...the grey background is covering up the couch and Baby K's arm, but I suppose I should have centered the sock. Oh well, my photoshop skills definitely leave room for improvement! I thought it was so interesting how the 2-stitch difference between the leg and the foot of the sock really changed how the colors lined up.

Now I have to get busy because I have 2 socks without mates! This Jaywalker and the Winterberry Tofutsies...and one of these days I'll quilt again too!

Pop Quiz

This meme is floating around, so I thought I'd hop on the train. Deb and Amy played along too!

1. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, as what or whom would you go?
I love a good pun, so I would put on my fanciest dress, and wear a sign around my neck that says "I'm Sorry." Then I'd be a FORMAL APOLOGY...get it?!?

2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger? And do you prefer gas or charcoal grilling? I don't have a preference for gas or charcoal, and I'm pretty traditional. Lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mustard.

3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask?

Hmmm, that's a tough one. I guess I'd ask GW what he plans on doing next...will he try to be a crusader like Jimmy Carter or lay low like his father?

4. It’s your first day of vacation, what are you doing?
Since there are 21 school days left, I've been thinking about this alot :-) I think I will get some light reading (Earlene Fowler and Jennifer Chavierinni) and spend the day on the couch.

5. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?
Soda. I've gone through no-popcorn phases, but I always get something to drink!

6. How long was it from ‘the first date’ until the proposal of marriage? How long until the wedding?
My first date with B. was on January 20th, and there was a pseudo-proposal on Valentine's Day. The actual question came up at Easter, and we got married July 4th.

7. What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person?
Thoughtful opinions. With so much hot air coming from all directions, it's refreshing to talk with people that put some thought into their words.

8. Everyone hears discussions that they consider boring. What topic can put you to sleep quicker than any other?
Rocket science, I guess. One of my Libra traits is seeing all sides of an issue, so I can discuss pretty much anything!

9. If you had to have the same topping on your vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what topping would you choose?
Hot fudge!

10. What food item would need to be removed from the market altogether in order for you to live a healthier, longer life?
I'd hate to take anything away completely. I'd like to see the healthy stuff be more convenient... like veggie packs in vending machines instead of M-n-Ms!

WIP Wednesday

(for the non-quilters/knitters WIP = work in progress)

I am home this afternoon because Baby K threw up twice last night. Poor baby! She seems to be fine now, hopefully it's a 24-hour kind of thing.

While she napped, I got my sewing machine out - what a thrill! I put borders on some kaleidoscope blocks. Here is a sampling with the original fabric for comparison on the right. (Alexander Henry "xanadu")

The ordination stole I've been knitting is no longer a deadline project. My friend in seminary was recently told that the Diocesan Altar Guild is providing the vestments for her ordination service. It was a blow to my pride that she won't be using it for that special service, but she definitely will use it in the future. I can't give you a progress photo of that one because I took it to school to work on during our state standards testing. Plus, I can usually get a few rows done during my prep hour and lunch each day. I'm about halfway done with it.

My main focus has been socks. I turned the heel on the first Jaywalker, and I'm trying to speed through the foot. Baby K has learned to say "knitting," but the t's aren't very clear, so it's more like "nee-ning." Her other new trick is to put her fingers to her cheeks and grin like a little Shirley Temple. I don't know where she learned it, but it's adorable!

Random Wednesday

I am posting from school (shhhh...it's a half-day, so the kids are doing review. The education buzzwords for today are "writing across the curriculum" and "independent practice.") So, no pictures but some fun links.

Baby K talks a lot. Yesterday we were playing in the backyard and she kept calling for "Eli! Emma!" - two of her friends from school. And this morning we were eating breakfast, the cat walked by and Baby K pointed to my cereal and said "Gidget eat." Clearly we have a genius brewing ;-) - complete sentences at 20 months!! Mommy explained that the cat has her own food and doesn't like Frosted Mini Wheats.

Yesterday, knitters took over Toronto! The Yarn Harlot has launched her latest book tour, and she set up a photo scavenger hunt to confound the locals with inexplicable knitter behaviour.

We aren't sure if it was an April Fool's hoax, but there was a rumor that Julia Roberts (yes, the movie star and documented knitter) has joined Ravelry. There is no way to confirm her membership, but it may be a publicity stunt for her upcoming movie version of the popular book The Friday Night Knitting Club.

If you are looking for an amusing way to waste an inordinate amount of time, browse through the t-shirts on Cafe Press. I especially love geek humor. Today, Baby K is wearing a pink t-shirt that says "My Mommy is a Math Teacher," and mine has a math diagram with the instructions to "Find x." X is circled and the caption says "Here it is." Cracks me up every time!!! (I need to get the one about pi and i...go look, it's funnier that way)