Now that's sexy...

A man putting up shelving.  Be still my heart!  I just mentioned that I feel crowded when I'm in the quilting room.  He comes home with shelves and tubs and mulch.  I might have mentioned I need some mulch.  What a man!  

First he came in with tubs- nice clear ones so that I can see the contents.  I chase him back outside whining that I don't have a place for more tubs.  He pulled the shelving off his truck.  But I don't have room for shelves... apparently, I do.  Aren't they great?  I'm working on weeding through things and organizing it all into the bins.  I only have about half of them filled and I feel like I can maintain that for a while.  My quilting room is a very happy space again. Thank you William!

My girls...

They've always been artists.  When they were little, William bought a van that was primer grey.  He couldn't have that, so he bought a lot of paint and let the kids, with their cousins, paint away.  I like a guy who doesn't take himself too seriously. We had everything from Star Wars to butterflies. People would actually pull out their phones and snap pictures of it.  I miss that van. This second picture is on their birthday standing in front of the art supplies.  They were a little giddy.  I know I've said it a hundred times, but I love them so much!  But then again, what mother doesn't love her children?  Don't say it.  I shudder to think.

They really are best friends.  They laugh and cry together- though I'm happy to say that when one is crying the other usually has a level head and talks the her down. They are very different in all the little details- one likes bold colors the other likes earth tones.  One likes to draw edgy pictures, the other sweet homey pictures.  Their tastes in music is different, but they tolerate the other's. They are closer than any sisters I know.  And I'd like to say, it isn't by accident.  I cultivated it and my relationship with my own sister was a cautionary tale. 

I wanted them to have what I've never had. I've always idolized the sister relationship.  I do have a sister, but we just never got along.  I've always felt she kept me at arms length. Not sure why.  The kind of relationship my daughters have has always been a dream of mine.  A friend who calls you when they have news to share.  Who you call when you need encouragement, advice or a kick in the pants.  Some one who you know you can count on no matter what. Some one who loves you no matter your differences. Two people who are involved in each other's lives.  They share.  But, alas, that didn't happen.  I have full confidence that my sister is a good person.  But I don't think she can offer me what I want.  And it's not really fair of me to expect that. And I don't think she needs anything from me. I don't have any ill will towards her- and that took years to cultivate.  I used to be so mad at her.  I'm not any more. I've just accepted that what I want and what she wants are two different things.  Unfortunately, that leaves us with no relationship at all.  I haven't a clue what she likes or doesn't like.  What's going on in her life.  She's a stranger to me.  Sad, isn't it?

 I see her once every two years. In one and a half weeks, our family reunion takes place.  It lasts a week. I guess that's why I'm thinking about this.  It's always a mystery to me about what to say to her, this stranger.  Two people who are expected to know each other.  At the least, it's awkward. I easily offend her without meaning to.  I tend to tease a lot, but she doesn't get that.  I do have a sister in law and a dear family friend who I am very close to.  We're sisters and I have with them what I really need.  I tease them.  They tease me.  We lean on each other when the times are rough.  I know what's going on with them and we talk a lot whether we see each other or not.  We laugh. So I don't feel sorry for myself because I have what I've always wanted- just not with the person I wanted. I ask myself if it matters? 

(If you've read this far... Maybe you realize that this blog is really just a journal.  Me, making a record of quilts I've made.  Life I've lived.  Working through problems and successes.  Pictures of things I don't want to forget.  I don't expect an audience and perhaps that's a very good thing.  What must you think of me?  I'm just like everyone else, living a complicated life- yep, like everyone else.)

Red and White...

I've been working on and off on this quilt for... at least 7 years.  My friend, Sandy, made the little redwork dolls on her embroidery machine.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them but I loved them.  There is a little boy and a little girl for each month of the year. (This one is June bride.)  I love anything that is reminiscent of the 30-40's.  The blocks are relatively small so I sashed them in a solid red. Then began the search for white and red fabrics- and red and white fabrics. Don't you like fabric shopping with a project in mind?  I collected fat quarters from all over the country- as far away as Oregon. Then I decided on a stack the deck design and started in on those scrappy crazy quilt looking blocks.  Put them together with the dolls... something was missing.  With me, it tends to be busy is better.  Up to a point.  It seems a lot of modern quilts have mixtures of same scale fabrics and they look really muddy.  I can't figure out what's the point to all that cutting and sewing if it's just going to look like a single fabric. I used to make quite a few "word" quilts and when I found this little poem by George Ellis representing all 12 months, I knew I had to incorporate it into the quilt. That process took a while.  I'd put them away and drag them out periodically, but it definitely was the longest part of the quilt.  Overall, I'm very happy with it.  It was taking me so long to make that I told Eva(20y) that she could have it as a wedding quilt.  But it looks like I got it done ahead of schedule.

I'm a couple days behind on the Mother's Day wagon.  But I love looking at old pictures of my crew.  Seeing how they have grown and the changes that have taken place.  The oldest four are married and between them they have 10 children. The three youngest are wonderful people.  None of them are children any more. But they will always be my "little ones." Could this mother be more blessed?   

Baby Samuel...

He arrived on his due date.  They plan on coming home, today.  Gabriel will be glad to have his Mommy and Daddy back where they belong. He's been teething and is pretty miserable besides them being gone.  Poor little thing.  

I've not gotten much quilting done- no surprise there.  Hopefully things will settle down in the next week or so.  I do have a quilt on the frame... just waiting. 

Evabeth's quilt...

It seemed fitting to quilt this one in something fast and easy.  The Turning Twenty quilt went together very quickly. I wanted to try out a different color combination- orange, black and then brown just for the fun of it. I like it.

We're baby sitting Gabriel while Laurie and her Mom are at a doctor's appointment.  Just routine- no baby yet.  

My friend's boyfriend called this morning to let me know that Kathy had passed away unexpectedly.  Such a shock.  She was the most amazing seamstress I ever knew.  She taught home economics for high school.  She was an excellent teacher.  She taught me how to paint on silk and I loved it. Paul asked if I could come and help him sort through her things as he is needing to move almost right away.  He can't afford to keep their house without her income.  How awful to have to grieve while dealing with mundane- essentially insignificant- things.  She, like most quilters, had a huge stash and numerous machines.  If he had more time he could sell everything, but he doesn't have the time.  We'll call a couple of her other friends and see if there is anything they would want.  Kathy was so happy- they we're planning to get married. Sad.   

Finished quilting this one for my mom.  (It belongs to my brother and I'm hoping to remember to take it to him when I see him in June.) I have several of the quilts she pieced- all needing to be quilted.  She emptied out her "quilt vault."  It sat at the foot of her bed and honestly, you could bury at least three people in it. She was doing a fair bit of piecing there for a while.  They've down-sized and now she quilts with paper.  She makes the most beautiful greeting cards.  I'll try to get a picture of some of them for my next post.

Still no baby.  Poor Laurie has a head cold.  9 months pregnant and then a head cold.  Just doesn't seem fair, does it?