Purse of the month

Okay, so I joined a purse of the month club. Like I don’t already have too many projects going. Anyway, I missed the class for the first month, so just picked up the pattern and made it at home. I just finished it and here is the finished product.

I am really pleased with it – especially since I really closely followed all the instructions. Well, except for…. Yes, I did make minor adjustments – but nothing that changed the end product. It will be perfect for all the junk I carry – my Bible, notebook, camera, Nemnays for Jadyn (M & M’s for the uninformed), and whatever else I may need for that day.

I can also carry a small project to do by hand during waiting times. I have found if I always have something to do, I don’t mind waiting at all. In fact, I anticipate a wait so I can do a bit more on a “hand project.”

Tomorrow is Thimbleberries day. Two ladies will be coming over to work on our Thimbleberries, BOM. I do enjoy our times together – last time, it netted me the embroidery machine (notice the initials on the purse).

And since this is a rambling post – thought I would share a bit from the anger management class I taught last night. Last week’s lesson was on Trust. Trust is the foundation upon which any relationship is built. Love, on the other hand, is what holds or binds it together. We often think of love as a feely emotion, but actually when we have loving ACTIONS, the feeling of love follows. This is not always the case in the reverse.

Not feeling much love for someone? Try acting or showing your love. It is amazing how the feelings change.

Next week’s lesson is on forgiveness. This is what maintains the relationship. All three are much needed: Trust – Love – Forgiveness.

Time for dinner, so I will chat later.

10 Random facts, habits, or goals about myself

1)    Suracha is a made up name from my teen years.

2)   My husband and I sit each night in front of the fire in the fireplace and read our Bible following the BREAD chart.

3)   I place a glass of ice water beside my bed each night, winter and summer.

4)   I have become obsessive about quilting.

5)   Someday I will lose weight.

6)   I am very content and happy with my life.

7)   I am in love with my husband.

8)   I often wear one or two pairs of glasses on the top of my head.

9)   I am a gadget queen – doesn’t matter what kind – cooking or sewing.

10)                      I cannot seem to keep my desk cleared off.

Best laid plans of mice and men, often go astray. Alas as we near the end of January, I am not seeing a whole lot of the good ol' resolutions in progress. Well sort of. It seems I have been eating better (healthier) and consequently have lost five pounds.

Of course fasting will do that every time. So what about the fast? Well we started a 30-day prayer and fasting focus. The fast has been different than in the past as it has been a progressive fast. The first week started with fasting the 3-C's - caffeine, carbonated beverages, and chocolate. Thie first week, we received 3 gifts of chocolate! It figures.

So my main focus this month has been more spiritual. Trying to keep things in perspective. Our "Ladies Day" is this Saturday and I so want it to be an inspiration and encouragement to those ladies who attend. It has been powerful the past two years and I desire that again. Things seem t be falling nicely into place. Will write about it afterwords.

Other than that - I am taking an Angel Block of the Month class at Spring Creek Quilt Shop. It is so enjoyable, just being around lots of ladies working towards a common goal. But we are doing fusible applique then securing it with a blanket stitch. The class was on the 11th and I finished the block yesterday. it really looks nice and I will post a picture soon.

At our guild meetings this month we had workshops both days. So I took my bargello quilt (Sarah's) and received advise on how to fix it. Then I worked on the Angel block. On Monday, I worked on my Thimbleberries quilt from last year. I was able to get another border on. Two more to go.

Here are some pictures of some of the other quilts I did for Christmas gifts. This first one is the potato chip pattern and was for my mother-in-law.

This is the twisted bargello I made for Sarah. I had some problems with it, however, so it is not quilted yet. Right now, the borders are removed also. Once I get them re-attached, I will take it to the quilter.

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Finally, this is one of the placemats I made for my best friend, Gail. When she was here in October, she saw this applique pattern (I had made a block for a swap) and fell in love with it. so I made her placemats for Christmas. I did the piecing and quilting myself.

Only a Quilter

Only a Quilter …
by Tom and Madge Powis
June 2003

We've all heard the classic line that only a quilter would take yards and yards of material, cut it into little pieces and then sew
them back together again. While this statement is true and a little funny to think about, it doesn't even scratch the surface of the
things that only a quilter would do.

Only a Quilter would spend more hours sewing several hundreds of buttons on a quilt to embellish it, but wouldn't take five minutes
to replace a button on a pair of pants.

Only a Quilter would give the gift of a wedding quilt two months after the birth of the couple's second child.

Only a Quilter would put hundreds of dollars worth of fabric into her fabric stash because she might find a use for it sometime, but
wouldn't replace a 50-cent needle on her sewing machine.

Only a Quilter would let three later-arriving patients go ahead of her at the doctor's office because she is on the verge of completing
a block.

Only a Quilter would rush to finish a gift quilt. Not so it's done in time for the recipient's birthday, but so it's done in time for
Show and Tell.

Only a Quilter would make a special quilt to give to her son, who would then have to attend quilt shows just to see it.

Only a Quilter would use freezer paper in the production of something to keep someone warm.

Only a Quilter has a welcome mat at the door to her home and an "Enter at Your Own Risk" sign on the door of her sewing room.

Only a Quilter invites everyone to see her sewing room, then says, "Don't look at the mess."

Only a Quilter says, "I really don't need another project," then offers to make a quilt for a friend.

Only a Quilter will buy more than she'll ever need of one fabric for her stash, but slightly less than is needed of another fabric to
complete a project.

Only a Quilter would give a quilt book to the guild auction then bid on it to get it back.

Only a Quilter would drive 40 miles in a hurricane to attend a quilt show, but call out to have her dinner delivered because it is
drizzling.

Only a Quilter's family would put up with, understand and love a quilter.