Springtime and Onions?

Thoughts of spring are in my head, even though I know winter isn't really over yet. I had the wee boy yesterday morning, and after we had a nice little lunch, we went for a walk in the fresh air. He rode the stroller, all bundled up in a little quilt, and wearing Oma's gloves on his little hands. Before we even got out to the street, he was sound asleep, so I took a nice leisurely walk through the neighborhood.

The sun was shining, the sky is blue, and I can hear some of the birds calling to each other, and a wittle boy to love on. What more could a person ask?





With these thoughts, I've pulled out Wabi Sabi again. This piece of work has been in my head for the last two, maybe three years. I won't show the enitire piece yet, since I am still stewing on it. I've tried a couple different things but I still don't have it where I want it to go, yet. It's on the design wall now, giving me a chance to study it as I get ready for a birthday stitch day with the Amazing Quilt Babes here on Saturday.

But I will share the humble onion from whence beauty springs.

I Can See Clearly Now!

Sing along, if you'd like with Bob Marley (or Johnny Nash)

I can see clearly now, the tree is gone!
I can see all the projects, so I can play
Gone are the decorations that had me blind
It'’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the decorations have disappeared
Here is the project I'veve been searchin' for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there'’s nothin' but quilted things
Look straight ahead, nothin' but quilted things

I can see clearly now, the tree is gone,
I can see all the projects, so I can play
Gone are the decorations that had me blind
It'’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

2 parts: Convergence sighting and "What was I Thinking!?!"

Part One: Convergence Sighting

When we go to Anguilla, we like to stop at some of the local galleries. We usually find interesting things made by local artists to either gift our friends or ourselves. This year's treasure were mahogany "touch form" hearts. We love the 8 different hearts we purchased.

Each year at this gallery, there have been wall hanging sized quilts made of mixed types of materials. Interesting ideas for using different weights of fabrics, but I always wondered how well the artist sold, since I really don't think "quilt" on an island that is always warm.

Our friend, Kris from the northeast, was bubbling about "her" find since she knows I am a quilter, and took me to her room to share it with me. I knew right away it was a Ricky Timms Convergence quilt, and I was pleased to see that the artist had written it's "history" on a card that came with the purchase. The artist has a common last name for the island, but I was surprised to read that she made several convergence "style" quilts - a technique which she discovered when she was in Baltimore. So you just never know where or how different ideas and techniques travel around the world.



PART TWO: What Was I Thinking?

So now we're home and Christmas is almost put away (still a naked tree in the corner), and I am starting on cleaning out my fabric stash - or resource center as my dear hubby likes to say - a little bit each night. I pulled a couple of banker's boxes out of the garage downstairs when I got the Christmas tree boxes out, wondering "what the heck are these?" And what did I find? Fabric and fabric pieces and fabric strips AND.....

Crammed in tightly! " Jam packed" as my mother would say!

Now, tell me what I was thinking when I saved all these shreds of fabric crumbs? Even Bonnie wouldn't save these, would she?

Well, I do have to admit that I even had friends saving their shreds for me so I could use them to create textured fabric using a Solvy sandwich for embellishments on some of my "far out" quilts (like Phenomenal Woman's hair). But come on! Did I really need this much? And I have a sinking feeling that there is going to be more - lots more somewhere!

I included a picture of the side of the bag to show that it is a larger bag, just jammed full of crumbs/shreds. I actually picked the crumbs out of a box with strips that I had saved to be sorted later. I'm afraid that there will be more as I clean through some boxes that just got put "out of sight" out of mind a few years ago. Am I nuts or what?

This bag is trash destined. I really don't need it!

Christmas isn't over!

Gosh! Has it actually been 7 days since I last posted? It's been a whirlwind of getting the Christmas stuff put away - and that's not all done yet! The Christmas tree stands naked in the corner waiting to be cozily boxed up. It's so heavy I need to have someone help me take it down, so it will have to wait until then. And of course, another wait until then thing is to get the stewdio back together so it can be effectively used. In the meantime, you'll probably still see some Christmas posts here. Like today.


How's this for a tree skirt? It's 48" in diameter (for that big tree you know). It's all wool and nicely appliqued. The backing is wool, too! I was in a store that my mom likes to shop at, and while she was getting her things, I wandered to the clearance section, and there it was! It originally was priced at $69.99! I took it home with me for $4.99! I couldn't even buy the wool fabric for that! So now, I have a new tree skirt that I love for next year!




And how about some gift bags? BIG'UNS????? For a $1.00?

These next ones are for Tonya. I stood there and looked at them a long time before I decided to bring them home. They are BIG bags made of a heavy felt sort of material - they're about 36" long. I got enough for all the kids for next year, but I do think they need to be embellished, don't you?

Home again, home again!

We are back, well rested and raring to start a healthy New Year.

I haven't downloaded any of the pictures. Why? Well, we got a new camera while on St. Marten, shopping for produce, and I still haven't been brave enough yet to see how it functions in a download. I only had two pictures on the old camera, and this is one of them. And then - I also got a new iMac for Christmas!!! A new 20" screen iMac G5! So, I've been getting it set up, along with the wireless mouse and keyboard. Then I had to move my little iMac to K's office, so now he is officially a Mac-ite too! On top of that, he wanted me to set up a wireless hub so he could use his laptop upstairs or in the hearthroom.

I started on that stupid escapade about 1:00 PM today, and finally pushed it all back to the starting point at 6:30 PM. That is to say, after two hours with Rashid who was in southern India, or at least, that's what I think I understood. After the last time he had me do the same thing again for the 10th time, I suggested that I just stop and call someone locally. This is NetGear. Blecchhh! The time it said on the package was that it would only take about 20 minutes. Yeah, right!

And then, I backed out everything, redid my Lynksys router, and voila! NOTHING! NADA! No web connection at all! So then it was another 2 hours on the phone with our local ISP, Time Warner, Roadrunner. At least this time, it was Michelle from Canada who could laugh with me as I crawled along the floor with Clyde sitting on my back, and Bonnie meowing at my knees, wondering why mom was in "their" territory. Turns out that the Netgear had totally eliminated all my settings, and reset them with gibberish. So much so, I had to reset the cable modem, reset the Lynksys modem, and they had to reset everything at their end like I was a new customer. Of course, all this time, we were without telephone service too.

Now, ask me if we are going to have a wireless hub or not? Hmmmmm?

OK, enough whining about that!

I weighed myself this am, and I see that I haven't gained any weight on the trip. Yahoo! Tomorrow, I start back at the gym, and today I was back on my 1300 cal meal plan. Our little Stephen came over this afternoon before his nap, bursting through the door on his own two feet! Little booger started walking while we were gone. Did he want his Oma? Nope...just went straight to Pa with his arms out and laughing all the way. So cute to see.

So tomorrow after the gym, I am going to tackle the new camera for pictures to download, and start putting Christmas decorations away. I guess I missed the "nice weather" window yesterday and today to put away the outside wreaths, as they are calling for snow, starting sometime in the o'dark hours of the morning. I also want to get my thank you cards written and in the mail. When ALL that stuff is done, I am going to SEW SEW SEW!!!!

Star Sightings

I wasn't really going to blog today, but I just had to post about the star sightings we saw yesterday and this morning!

Mariah Carey is staying at the other end of the island in a $75,000 per week villa with her dog. We had heard she was here, and we finally saw her at lunch yesterday! Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro are also here on the same side of the island as we are. We've only seen them coming and going - no mingling with the stars for us. LOL!

Anyway, we've had a nice relaxing breakfast and now, we are going out to the poolside to read. I've started Amy Tan's new book "Saving Fish from Drowning" and I can't put it down. I'll probably finish it this afternoon, then have nothing but embroidery to keep my hands busy until tomorrow morning when we leave the island bright and early before breakfast.

I must say that we are well relaxed, and ready to start the new year right!

Paradise End

Well, we all knew that someday these wonderful days had to come to an end, right?

Tomorrow is our last full day, and today we've re-visited parts of the island we hadn't seen for years and years.

The villa where we always stay (La Sirena Resort) has been sold, and even though next year will probably be the same, nothing else seems to be standing still. There is a huge Greg Norman development (Tenemos) with golf course, and million $+ houses; another huge development next door to La Sirena by Viceroy (of Palm Springs). I think overall, the island still offers the tranquility we crave, and the people are still just wonderful. It's just getting to be a bit more commercialism than what we enjoy.

The last two days have found us eating more fish (Red Hind, lobster and crayfish). Tonight will be another quiet night in the villa, probably with tuna fish. I've been working a bit on my redwork alphabet - having gotten to L, Lion makes me feel like I've made some good progress.

I've started a list of things I want to finish when we get home, too. I've made a promise to myself that when I have the things finished that are on my list, I get to make a pineapple blossom quilt, too! I can hardly wait!

Oh yes. I also called Empty Spools Seminars and switched my class from Laura Wasilowski to Gwen Marston. I think that should make Tonya happy!

So that's the latest and greatest report from Anguilla, our jewel in the Caribbean. Pictures will be posted when we return home. And then let the quilting begin!

Goals and aspirations

I haven't had much time near the computer due to the technoglib teenagers I described the day before.

We've just had a nice breakfast by the pool, and now we are planning on taking a walk on the beach and then sitting by the pool for a while. The day I got a bit too much sun from the beach blast caused a few blisters on my forehead, so I am declining the stay on the beach for long. The Caribbean sun is quite fierce and as fair as I am, even the 70 rated sunblock isn't really enough.

Yesterday's meal was lobster at Shoal Bay East. This island is only 16 miles long, and we stay on the West End where it is pretty quiet. Small hotels and only a couple of larger establishments, that are mostly self contained. Shoal Bay East is where the day trippers from St. Marteen come. A favorite place of ours, Elodia's, has changed completely to catering to them - with buffets and water sports etc. After we discovered that, we walked a bit further down the beach and had a lovely sit at the Sandpipers, a covered patio restaurant/bar type affair. Lunch was a Caribbean lobster (much sweeter and tender) with carrot slaw and a full 2 liters of cold, cold water. Kevin had a slighter smaller meal of just a club sandwich, but enjoyed it heartily. We stayed in last night, reading and having tuna salad sandwiches. A nice quiet evening, where the breezes blew quietly through the villa.

I finished Patricia Cornwell's "Trace", and now I am in the middle of Michael Connelly's "Blood Work". He personally autographed it for Kevin when he was last in Seattle at a book store of a friend of ours. The book's main character is a retired detective who has just recently had a heart transplant, so he was happy to write "This one's from the heart, for Kevin". But I am happy to say that nothing is wrong with Kevin's heart, so we won't even think about that kind of transplant.

I am slowly catching up on our small community of blogs. Contemplating the year ahead, I am slowly formulating how I would like to see the year unfold. This morning's read was Jean's goal - so similar to mine, but so aptly expressed. I am keeping my thoughts on the back of a laundry list, and will refine it over the next few days. I must say I am somewhat excited about the prospect of a year with no illnesses - of course, we never know what will happen, but I think this year might be a good healthy one.

Tonight is dinner at Top of the Palms with the owners of La Sirena. They've sold the property, so this may be our goodbye dinner with them before they return to Switzerland. We'll find out the scoop then.

Dreaming of the all the quilts in 2006 that might contain turquoise blue waters, various shades of green palms and white kernels of sand.....

Ahhh, another book, another art gallery

In my haste yesterday, I forgot to mention that I had finished another book, which was quite good. It is Lizzie's War by Tim Farrington.

We also visited Devonish Gallery to take a look around. The Haitian art was delightful on the eyes - so bright and full of movement. You could almost hear the waves in the paintings, and the chatter of people shown in market places. Nothing but canvas art, however.

There also is a quilter on the island by the name of Richardson. Richardson is a common island name, more or less like Smith at home. I was surprised to see her work as wallhangings being sold for anywhere between $200.00 and $500.00. Some were whole cloth batiks that had been sandwiched and then handquilted (about 6 stitches per inch). The one that my friend purchased was a Ricky Timms convergence quilt made with mostly African fabrics, with some shiny Hoffman fabrics that I think at one time were called "Fairy". At any rate, nothing organically inspired, and nothing Maverick about any of them. They were nice, but somewhat disappointing in an environment that inspires with color, shapes and tons of variety. I already have several sketches of things I want to try at home.

I probably won't be back at the computer for several days. Tomorrow we are going to try to take a catamaran to a small island nearby for the day. There are day trips for lunch, and sun. I don't need any more sun, so I'll have to be sure there is a lot of shade off the beach (beach blast is BAD!!) if we go. There's also been a batch of teenagers arrived today and they've been one with the computer, their Ipods and their telephones !!

And today, the book of choice is Patricia Cornwell's "Trace".

Happy New Year from Anguilla

Happy New Year to everyone from the island. Our friends, Kris and Bill have been kibbutzing with the blog as they've had their coffees after a nice dinner. I must say it's the first New Year dinner here that we've had an actual dinner on the table before midnight!

Sea Bass with a nice rice paper finish, Italian pasta for starters and some sort of unidentifiable (therefore uneatable)soup. A nice tart passion fruit pie for Kevin and I was a good (dieting) girl and watched.

Tomorrow is another sleep in day, with a walk on the beach in the afternoon.

What a way to start the new year!

More on the beach

Yesterday, we spent a long day, bathing in the sunblast on the beach under an umbrella. We watched kids playing in the surf, took a few walks along the beach, and napped a bit. With all the time there, I got a bit more sun than I intended, so today, I am just sitting by the pool, reading my book.

Speaking of reading books, so far since we've arrived, I've read:
Ann Rule, Worth More Than Dead
Paolo Coehlo, The Alchemist
Anita Shreve, All He Ever Wanted

and now I am reading Alice Munro's short story collection: Runaway.

Today, Kevin went on the ferry across to St. Maarten for his annual shopping trip. He always comes back from the day with a treasure for me. Last year, it was a beautiful Lalique purple heart on a silk cord, saying it was my reward for taking care of him so well during the last year. I wonder what this year's treasure will be?

Last night, we had dinner at our very special place, Cove Castles. The chef is from Lyons, France, and the staff always welcome us "home". We had lobster, infused with truffles. I skipped dessert, but Kevin had his traditional mango creme brulee.

Tomorrow, I think, we are are going to try to make it to a small art gallery for a showing of Haitian art. I've heard there is a quilter there, too. It will be intersting to see what's there.

If only I had a sewing machine.......

News and dinner menus from the Island

Wednesday
Lazy sleep in day while K went to breakfast. Then a slow walk on the beach, read about half a book, and snoozed under the beach umbrella. Back to the villa for another short nap and cleanup. Dinner at E's Oven. Entertainment The Happy Hits on their homemade banjos, base drum and steel drums.

Sharon
Starters - Trigger fish on a bed of roasted fennel in a phyllo cup
Main - Red Hind on a bed of sweet and sour coleslaw
Dessert - Neopoleon of Pumpkin Fritter
Kevin
Starters - Fish soup
Main - Grouper on a bed of rice and peas with plaintains
Dessert - Ginger creme brulee

Tuesday
Lazy sleep in day while K went to breakfast. Then we went to two grocery stores (actually little markets) looking for our staples for the next two weeks. Went in search of shorts that K forgot to pack, as well as some T-shirts. I found a new two piece swim suit (for an old lady!) so the day was well spent. A short nap, then clean up and out to dinner at the Top of the Palms. Entertainment was Dumpa and the Boys on the steel drums.

Top of the Palms
Sharon
Starters - mozarella and tomato salad
Main - Sashimi
Dessert - coffee
Kevin
Starters - Pumpkin soup
Main - Local Crayfish
Dessert - Banana creme brulee

Wishing you Peace and Happiness!

Wishing you all peace and happiness!

Christmas stars!

This is not actually a Christmas stars quilt, but I count it as one of our many blessings. My two best friends made this star quilt for my husband during his liver transplant in the summer of 2005. It is presently hanging on the design wall in my stewdio, which is now officially called the Christmas room. It's where the tree and all the trimmings are, and it's the room where we will all gather Saturday throughout the day to celebrate the special day together.

My mom's downstairs apartment is all ready. Clean sheets and towels, freshly vacuumed floors; refrigerator loaded with her favorite snacks. I'll pick her up Friday afternoon from her retirement community, and she'll stay with us until Christmas afternoon.

My daughter's family will be arriving Saturday morning after "The Boy's" nap, and having a light lunch before departing for the other side of town, and the other side of the family. Hubby's dad and significant other will be stopping by for a light early dinner Saturday afternoon - they don't like to drive after dark, so that means my mom, my hubby and I will be having a nice quiet contemplative Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day will find us on the road around noontime going across town to my niece's home for an early afternoon dinner. We'll leave mom there, and then Hubby and I will go straight to the airport!

I am so looking forward to our annual trip to Anguilla this year. To see the beach where we will be, click on "Beaches", and if you want to see the villa, click on "Accommodations". For the last three years, I've worried and fretted about my hubby's health - but it looks like this is the year we will enjoy it together! They have the most spectacular fire works on New Year's Eve, along with fantastic fresh fish for any and all meals you want it. We've been staying in the same villa for the last 20 years, so this is a celebration in itself!

Official Weigh In

YAY!!! YIPPEEE! HOORAY!!!
I can't say that I look less like Mrs. Jack Spratt, but I can say that I did lose three pounds! And that's even with going to Las Vegas and having that 8 course, French wine pairings dinner with foie gras (and yummy French bread)!

I went to the club this morning (early, early, early!) and after a little warmup, my wonderful trainer, Sarah, stretched me out, and the showed me some more machines. Yesterday's machines were for my arms; today's machines were for my legs. Yesterday, I had my time mixed up, so I actually got to work out a full hour before I worked with Sarah on my arms. It's tough for this old, fat lady, but I AM doing it!

I also signed up for 31 more training sessions with Sarah, which should take me just about through to the 22 weeks projected for my initial weight loss goals. Because of the holidays, my trip to the Caribbean and hers to Colorado, I won't see her again until the first week of January. Then she's getting married Jan 14, and I'll be on my own until the end of the month. I am hoping to see at least a size come off between now and then.

Baby Quilt-NOT CHRISTMAS!

So here is how the baby quilt is coming out. Each of the sashings has a wide piece of pink rick-rack basted to it. This is still being worked on....don't worry if there are some places that seem to be missing sashing or rick-rack.

I took everyone's advice, and decided to let it all hang out. Now, if any of you are trying to decide if you want to do this to a baby quilt, it's just fine, BUT remember that my sashings are 6.5" long. And with all those blocks, it took a total of FIFTEEN yards of rick-rack! Gosh! What would I do without my JoAnn's 50% off coupons? LOL

Now, I am going to pack it away until next year. I MUST get the binding on my mother's quilt before Christmas, and this baby quilt wouldn't leave me alone. After the binding, I think I should probably fold down my machine, and get the last decorative quilt up in the sewing room. This is the room where we will be celebrating Christmas with my family on Saturday, so it needs to be a little more tidy, I think!

Home from Vegas!

We are home from a marvelous getaway trip to Las Vegas. We saw The Blue Man group for the umpteenth time, and also Ka, Cirque du Soleil's new show (or new to us anyway). Our dinner was at Le Cirque, a French style restaurant, and we had the 8 course dinner with wine tasting. That sort of blew my diet out of the water, but well worth it! I did leave SOME food on my plate for each course!

This picture was taken at dinner, and it's too bad you can't see the dancing water out the window behind us. I have another picture of us that shows it, but I didn't like the way I looked!!!

Now we are home, and I have to get cracking on the binding on my mother's quilt for Christmas. That's the last of it, I think. It's been snowing while we've been gone, and the house is just tooooo cold!

25th Wedding Anniversary at the Bellagio

We are off tomorrow morning to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary at the Bellagio in Las Vegas! After the last couple of years that we've had, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to see this special day, but here it is!

We'll be staying at the Bellagio with a special dinner Wednesday night, Ka (Cirque du Soleil) performance on Thursday, and The Blue Man group on Friday. I'm looking forward to some really quiet talks and fun time with dear hubby. His platinum and gold diamond wedding band was actually ready when promised, along with the engraving. I also have the special fortune cookie with a special fortune inside (25 years ago I followed my heart, and it found yours. Love always)

We return late Sunday night, so tonight will be my last entry until at least then!

TTFN!!!!

Tea for Three?

I thought I would share the stitching on these unique tea towels that I found at a quilt shop in Audubon, Iowa last summer. And yes, Tonya, the flowers Are rick-rack! Such a nice little idea, and I think it would be quick to do. But, since I always say *I* could do that, and then never do, I decided to buy the ones that were for sale!

These three towels will be going to my "hausfrau" niece for Christmas, who loves anything needlework!

On the quilting/sewing front, I am making a little progress on the baby quilt with the rick-rack. I've decided to go with my initial instinct (with your permission) to surround each little block with the large rick-rack. Someone asked if this was added or if it was fabric that showed rick-rack. Well, to be exact - it is TWENTY yards of giant pink rick-rack. I was the only person in Jo-Ann's who was not buying fleece! LOL!

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spratt

I've been joking for the last couple of years, that as my dear hubby has lost all his weight (because of serious illnesses), we have become Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spratt. The only real difference is that my hubby must eat about 7000 calories a day just to maintain his 138 pounds! Not fair at all!

I've been getting mentally prepared to do something about all my unhealthy weight, and I just made my move! I am not getting any younger, and now that I am not a caregiver for my hubby or my mom 100% of the time, I must take the opportunity to do something for me.

We don't really watch much TV, but I watched this last season's episodes of the Biggest Loser while I sewed. Talk about inspiration! So I asked for, and received a membership with a personal trainer at our local 24 hour Fitness. I've been twice now, and I'm getting ready to go another 3 times next week before we leave town. I have a special meal plan, customized just for me. I have my personal trainer customizing my workouts and working with me. I've signed up for the aqua classes, three times a week.

I think in about 22 weeks, you will see about 30% less of me!

I know that the holidays are coming up, and that we will be out of town about 3 weeks total between our Anniversary trip to Las Vegas, and then 2 weeks in the Caribbean. But you know what? There's always something special in any given month. I just have to start NOW!!!!