December 17th Saturday

Hi,
I cannot believe how fast time goes by. My last post was December 6th, I had planned on getting alot of sewing done. However, I have been busy doing things at the building I manage, getting Christmas Decorations up for the holiday, and getting the house ready for the Knee operation, I have been waiting for.
I remember in the past if you were scheduled for a non- emergency surgery, you as a patient would do a few basic lab test and show up on the appointed time. Times really have changed.
Yesterday I had to go have a MRSA infectious disease swab, various other ones, and wait for the results. Sign way too many forms, take a tour....................and on and on.

Well finally I am ready for the hospital. I called this morning to check to see if the hospital was fixed for wireless so I could bring my computer..............YES.
Today I am going to clean up some more and then go to lunch with Marilyn.

Hopefully this afternoon I will be able to sew a bit.

Have a great day.
Nancy

December 6th 2011

OH MY GOSH, this year is almost over and not a thing to show for it, but bad times. The Midway post office in San Diego is closing, after 40years. That has been a land mark in San Diego since I was in high school.
No one uses the post office anymore, everyone just uses the internet. 845 people will lose their jobs. When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter to someone you know? I have not done that for years.
However now I am going to send out Christmas cards, and so off to the post office I go for stamps.
My cards are going to say Merry Christmas... in big letters.
I shop for presents all year long, and then at the last minute do a little extra.
My brother waits until Christmas eve to go shopping.

I have to run around town today, so have a great day, it is got to be better than yesterday.
Nancy

the Quilting Board.com

I read the quilting Board.com message board every morning, it takes me a while however there is a lot of information and really good quilt ideas from other quilters. This morning I got really inspired by one of Ruth Powers quilts : http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/store-detail.php?ID=47
The name of the is Third Weekend in October ~ #97310

I showed it to 2 of my quilting friends and they want to come right over and start.
i just cannot start another quilt until I finish some of the things that I am doing now.
I have so many quilt that need binding, and a cat sitting on my desk that want to help me do everything.
Some of these post are rather small, but I have to get going, I have to meet Bea Morris today,
She is going to finish a quilt for me that I just cannot stand anymore. then it is going to charity.

Nancy

The Day Before.. Thanksgiving....

Oh my gosh, it is the day before Thanksgiving and everyone is running around like ducks.. with their wings clipped. ---- Crazy, there are a bunch of accidents, the freeways are jammed, I already got a list of instructions from family members, I have to be sitting in Costco parking lot at 9:45 am to get into the store bright and early, then I have a bunch of other appointments today.
I have not sewn a stitch all week, my chores are loading up, tomorrow I have to get dressed up in my very best sunday stuff.
I have a headache already, and the day is young.
I'll report back later.....
Have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Nancy

Saturday November 12, 2011

Hi,
It is Saturday the day after Veterans day, I am getting all my UFO'S ( that quilting unfinished projects) all cleaned up That way my slate will be clear for the next Bonnie Hunter Mystery starting a week from Friday. Woohoo! I can't wait. If you do the mystery, make sure to print out the directions, as she takes them down after the mystery is finished. I printed my instructions last year, as I did not get around to it until after it was over.
I have even cleaned off the top of my office desk and put everything away, so I will have room to organized in the office. That is amazing in it self.
I have been working on a drunkards path quilt for weeks, and now have 125 parts finished, it take 4 parts to make one square. I have been trying to make 20 -30 parts a day, that does not seem like a lot, but when you have to
1. match up the colors you like,
2. then pin them up
3. then sew then on the machine,
4. then iron it out to see if it will lay flat,
5. then square the part up..... ok, now back to the beginning with the next piece.
6. try to keep the cats out of the way they always want to sit right on the sewing machine.


I have to still pick out Fabric and colors for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery.

She has 4 colors picked out, so today while it is raining and I am stuck in the house with the cats and dogs, who do not want to venture out, I start looking at my stash and see what look good.
Well it is almost 10:00 am here so I have better get on the way,
Have a great day. If you live in A rainy area, remember to put out fertilizer on all the plants and that way it will all get worked in today.
Nancy

November 10, 2011

Hi,
It is cold in San Diego, only 63 Degrees at 9:00 am. Well it is cold for me. I have a big fire going in the living room fire, but it only keeps me warm if I am sitting next to the fireplace. The wind is blowing outside, and all the animals are snuggled up inside, most under blankets in their favorite places.

Yesterday I spent the day working on a new Batik quit, made out of my stash, Drunkard Path,
2 pieces with curves. I worked all day and sewed up about 30 blocks. That does not seem like
a lot, but with the curves it does take a bit of time.

Thank goodness for The Quilted Rose quilting store here in San Diego. I can get thread there and the prices are the best in the United states. I know as I check all the time. They also stock all wide variety of extra wide backing for the back of my quilts.

Well have a great sewing day, I am off to the quilting room.

Life is too short to spend time with those who suck the happiness out of you!.

Move on!.

Have a great day.


Nancy

November 10, 2011

October 4, 2011

Hi,
I cannot believe it has been almost a month since I have had a chance to sit down and blog. I really admire people who can blog everyday. I have had one of the most worst cold, coughs, and sickness I have ever had. Finally after almost a month I am starting to feel a little better. However every night when it get cooler and moist I start caughing and cannot sleep.

It is going to rain here in San Diego, so I have to get up and go to Harbor Fright in El Cajon to get a drop cloth to cover my wood pill or I will not have any dry wood.
Where did this year go? What happened to the people that you through would always be your friends, but have not disappeared? Time goes by and things change.

I will try to sew this afternoon.
Nancy

Sept 6, 2011 The day after Labor Day

Hi,
It is Tuesday, the day after labor day, it has been hot and muggy and rainy all day.
The first thing I did on labor day was head to Rosie's Quilt Store for her annual employees scrap sale. I got there right at 9:00 am, which is the time she said they would open, but some other quilters were all ready looking through the stuff. Anyway I got a package of batik fabric all cut out into Drunkard path pieces. I did not know that there were so many ways to put together that quilt pattern.

I spent alot of Monday sewing the parts together. Now how to lay then out with so many choices.
My new motto, : "Sew and quilt now, House clean when ever" well that is what I did with my labor day.
However I also planted more veggies in the garden, put more fertilizer around the yard, washed the dogs, and cleaned cat litter boxes. Then made dinner and watch a DVD while I took paper off the back of squares. Also, drank alot of coffee, played with the kittens, sweep the front porch.... did more sewing, and answered emails.
Today Tuesday I have to go work at the quilted rose longarm quilting gammill center.
My cloths are in the dryer and still have to be ironed, so I better get going.
Have a great day.
Nancy

Those UFO - Unfinished Projects Sept 1, 2011

I have been trying as always to finish the UFO's
My Friend Bea Morris, from Stitch and Bitch, taught me how to make Eleanor Burn's Whirligig ,
here is the link to her video demos, so last night I made two of them in put them into the Purple UFO stash quilts. Today I plan on doing a few more in different sizes and also getting out some more purple and making more purple squares.

But before I do that I have to: go swim for an hour, my friend Gretchen is coming over to look at why I have so much Spasm on the computer... Feed the 2 dogs, and 6- yes, 6 cats, 2 of them are young kittens. Also, water the vegetable garden, Wash cloths, go to Kaiser and get my meds...Wash the 4 Runner, by that time it will probably be 6:00 p.m. and it will be time to make dinner and go back to sleep. OH, yes I also need to make more Lemon curd... I made some the other day, but it is now gone into tummies of friends and neighbors.
I need a personal assistant, and also need to win the Lottery so I can afford a personal assistant.
In fact while I am at it, I need an assistant to just come over and sew my quilts for me, and I can just draw pictures of what I want.... my dream also includes.... : > ) ....
OH, well I better get started or it will be noon and I'll still be sitting here, I have been up since 5:30 a.m. San Diego Ca. time, and all I have done is computer work.

Have a great day.
Nancy

Kitty cat disappearing nine patch quilt

Sunday August 21th After Worship at Skyline Church in Rancho San Diego, I went to the Spring Valley Swat meet, I came away with a lot of new plants, 1 avocado tree, 1 green grape bush, 1 six pack of sweet white onions, a six pack of cilantro, and a flat of flowers to plant around the apartment building. The swap meet is located in a drive in move theater, except they have not used it for a drive in 10 years. The meet happens every Friday, Saturday and all day Sunday.
there is 1095 vendors, more than I could ever see or go to. My neighbor goes every other Sunday.
He always gets great bargains. Only thing is, it gets really hot, I forgot to take my sun hat and around 1:30 I have had enough!.

Sunday is usually what I call my holly day, I come home and sew up a storm. Planting the plants took over and then it was late and time for rest.

Today, my gardener is coming over to do the Monday clean the year routine, he will be here all day. As I get older I wish I had a large condo so that the garden would just be taken care of.
Then I could just sit and sew all the time, and go do things and not have to work around the house.

Today is the first day of Cuyamaca College and paralegal classes start again.
I have been reading the book ahead of time, I always get my text book early and get a few chapters ahead, that way I look smart....Ha.

Well I have to go.
Have a great day.
Nancy

Tuesday August 16, 2011

Hi,
I have been so busy i just cannot stand it.
Sunday I met my friend Bea Morris, a great quilter at Rosie's Quilt Shop, on the 2nd Sunday of the month Rosie has a group of wonderful woman who sew for kids with cancer called "Camp Reach for the Sky" They make quilts for kids in the Hospitals and kids who are sick, Those woman put out some pretty amazing quilts. Most of the fabric they use is donated and the woman make up their own patterns.
Well the bottom line is I got so inspired I came home and started sewing and have not stopped.
I have a bunch of quilts, like we all do that are only partly finished. So I started working on them.
I worked until almost 9:00 at night. What fun.
Monday I have the tree trimmers here and got so inspired I started planting my winter garden.

Andersen's Nursery in San Diego has the best plants, they grow big, do not die, and are just better plants.
Lately that is the only place I have been buying plants. The other place that has a name that starts with H and the second part of the name starts with a D.... you know the place... lately all the plants I have brought home from there have died.
I have planted: tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, onions, string peas, chilies, garlic, lots of new herbs, and today I am going to the airport to pick up a friend so, So I will stop again and pick up some more veges to plant.

School starts August 23th Paralegal classes, at Cuyamaca College, that means head in the books and time in the law library again until the end of December.... No time for fun. So I have got to get more things done this week.
well have a great day. Go plant a winter garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Nancy

Long beach International Quilt Show returned home safe

Hi,
I have returned from the Long Beach International Quilt show safe. The dogs have had a vacation at the Bark Park kennels, They cannot wait to go back. I was told they played all day until they finally dropped at night and went to sleep. So now I know I can go away and not worry about Freddie and Ginger. They cats were also well looked after by my neighbor...
I know everyone is hot to know how much I spent... not much. I bought a new ruler called The Binding tool . It makes binding the two ends together perfectly easy.
I also invested in some chicken fabric, I cannot resist a good chicken fabric.
There were so many vendors there with so much to see and look at, it is a bit overwhelming.

Top 10 Reasons To Try A BOM (Block-of-the-Month) Project:

If you've never tried a block-of-the-month quilting project, this is a great time to consider one! BOM's, as they're called, are popular for lots of reasons, and I have them here for those who need a little extra encouragement! The project is broken down into smaller, more attainable goals, so you'll enjoy a feeling of accomplishment each month. Some shops offer pay-as-you-go pricing, so you can more easily budget for a major creative project. You'll enjoy the camaraderie of those with similar quilting interests. You can avoid the stress of last-minute marathons sessions at your machine. It's another fun excuse to visit your favorite quilt shop on a regular basis! Many BOM quilts are designed with a variety of block styles, so you can master different ones and expand your overall quilting knowledge. By working gradually, you'll be able to control the usual sewing room clutter when working on a project all at once. Blocks & cut pieces can be stored in clean pizza boxes, plastic zipper bags, or other methods. The month-to-month pace of the project allows you to immerse yourself in each section and focus on it differently than you would when you make an entire quilt at once. The chances of ending up with yet another UFO are lessened because you can see your progress - a BOM quilt project has a beginning, a middle and foreseeable end! Marcus has lots more BOM's in the works for 2010 - at least one is sure to suit your style and your schedule! So who is ready to start a block of the month project with me? Nancy

July 24th Sunday

Hello,
It is early Sunday, I spent a heavenly day yesterday with Diane, we went to see a movie "Super 8 " at the El Cajon Parkway Plaza. It was actually fun sitting in a cool theater watching the movie.

I have 2 quilts ready to go to get quilted, one is a cat quilt, Disappearing 9 patch, here is the picture of part of it.
For years and years now, more than I would like to tell, I have been collecting cat fabric and now I have every cat fabric ever made....That is how the disappearing nine patch quilt came about.
The other one is a star quilt, with no name, I just made up the pattern really just started making stars and put them all together.

Quite a while back I noticed that a large number of persons use their blog to complain about life in general, but i promised I would not do that, but in all blogs that i read some of it comes out.
I need a wife, well a good house keeper would do just fine. A cook, someone to run all my errands around town, pick up and drop off things.
Bath the dogs, comb the cats, water the yard... Oh well.
Here is a picture of my cat Lucie, she was a Ferrell cat, however now is the sweetest cat, who only wants neck rubs.

The Dogs in my house are going a bit crazy, there is a motor cycle group gathering up in Jamul area and the noise from the motor cycles going down Campo Road is making everyone in the house act strange.
The Blue Jays outside are chasing a cat around the yard. They probably have a nest out there up in one of the trees. It must be the motorcycles making so much noise on highway 94 going east....

Well I have had enough fun with notes for today. Have a wonderful day. If you are in The southern California area, go to The International Quilt Show in Long beach CA. It starts July 28th 2011.
There will be a bunch of vendors, wonderful quilts.... So many nice things to look at... But no cats or dogs to see and pet and play with. As my day goes on I may be back with more stores.

June 26, 2011

Today I feel like I have been beat up, then hammered. Yesterday my good friend Charlie came over and helped me cut down a palm tree in my upper yard. I used muscles that I never knew that I had. My shoulders hurt, my back hurts, my lower leg hurts. When I finally told him I had to stop I had done enough, he still wanted to work for another 2 hours. Thankfully to day is Sunday, After I return home from church I am going to go straight to my sewing room, and I am locking the door.
I have so many projects I just cannot be sure where I am going to start.

My little dogs had so much fun outside yesterday helping cut down the tree, they were both knocked out dead to the world by 7:30 pm....and today they are sleeping again.

Well I have to get going so this is just a short little blur on the way out the door.
Have a great day.

Monday, May 23, 2011

2 Days and Counting

I have been in Paralegal classes since last August 2010..The program at Cuyamaca College is very time consuming, There is always home work, reading and research to be done, in addition keeping up with the new laws and legal happenings both locally and national. 2 Days until finals are over. I can start blogging again, I can go into the quilting room again. I can start working in the yard again and clean the house. Only minor house keeping has been taking place recently. It will be in tune to to getting out of jail. Do not misunderstand me I have really enjoyed the experience.

I have about 30 quilts in my head that I want to work on, 25 quilts that are waiting to be quilted, and probably another 15 that are partly finished that need to be done. Any volunteers to come help. The newest fashion is for older quilters to have a stash sale, I have been thinking about that also. I have so much material I could open my own fabric store..
I have not taken any new pictures of quilts, as I had not been doing any quilts. So I'll say bye for now and go back to studying for finals.
Have a wonderful blessed day.
Nancy

March 21, 2011

I never can believe that time goes by so fast. It was just yesterday that I went to the Imperial Valley, Ca, desert quilters quilt show and had a great time looking at those quilts.
We also went over to calexico swap meet and walked around. That was very interesting.
To arrive in the Imperial desert you have to drive 8 east from San Diego over the top of the mountain. It was 65 when we left my house but up top of the hill it was 23 deg. that's right, cold as ice cubes.
Large 18 wheelers were parked up top waiting for it to warm up so they could be on the way. They were covered with snow, it was quit a site.
Here is a picture of Ginger the most wonderful dog out running in the desert which by the way was a blistering 72 degrees. If only you could see her smile. Dogs and cats do smile... I see it all the time on my animals.
After I got back I went to memory lane Quilt shop they have moved so contact them before you go see them.
My paralegal glasses are coming along-it is a lot of work, but I have learned so much.
Mr. man and I are back to talking to each other, life is easier with a pal, only 16 months since we have spoken. Way to long.
Well I have a date at the library, so I have to run along, Have a great day, go sew a quilt together and then donate it to the people in china that have lost everything.

Nancy

Feb 21, 2011 Imperial County Desert Quilters guild

Sunday a.m. it is 5:03 am I am up and all ready to head over the mountain towards El Centro California, otherwise known as Imperial County in the California desert. The sunrise over the mountains was beautiful. When you live in the city and often do not get up early you forget what a beautiful sunrise looks like. The roads were iced and we were driving slow so we got to see things.
The sky out in the desert was so big, I could see forever.
We also wondered over to Calexico near El Centro and went to a swap meet. No one spoke English, all Spanish speakers..I stopped at a gas station and asked directions and even the gas station person did not speak English.... well that is life near a boarder town.

The Quilt show was nice with some very well done quilts. Not very big but fun to go to.
The best part is going for the drive down to El Centro and seeing what you can see.
Now it is Monday and I have to get back to the books. The house needs a little cleaning.
Have a great day.
Nancy

February 30, 2011 Sunday

Hello,
I cannot believe time has passed so fast. The holidays have come and gone, The new year has come and gone also. School at Cuyamaca College has again started and I am not ready. there is so much to do. It is amazing that so many students remember you from the last semester.
Freddie the dog,

See that is him, he just escaped and decided to go to Faith Chapel Church fortunately there was a nice man who called and told me Freddie wanted to attend church, and asked me to come get him. A few months ago I bought all the animals name tags with my telephone number on them. If the screen door is not shut all the way out he goes.

One thing that did happen over the holidays is that I got alot of quilt projects finished. I got to spend alot of time with my friend Gretchen.
I did alot of house cleaning, yard cleaning, and mental cleaning. Mr. Man the swindler is totally gone. I have not seen him for months. It is very clear when someone has departed how the truth will come forward, at which point you can then see clearly what was really involved in that relationship.
I all most always have so many quilt ideas flying around in my head it is hard to think, but with school I now have to concentrate on the law. I am in a class with Judge sturgeon's from El Cajon, Ca. called Civil Litigation. We are required to draft a Complaint, an Answers and then a Interrogatory. That is alot of work for one semester.

Well Freddie is barking again at a cat, better go rescue the cat.
Have a great Sunday.
Nancy

El Paso - Marty Robbins

Marty Robbons, what a great singer and voice he had. I always enjoy sewing with him playing.

Judy Laquidara

I was reading Judy Laquidara's patchwork blog this morning about how the tote bags are multiplying.
I looked in my closet and in the quilt room and she is right, We have more tote bags than I could ever use. I used to keep a bunch in the back of the vehicle so when I go to the grocery store I would have bags, but then the back of the 4 runner always looked so messy and I returned then to the closet. I think that I could stand outside the grocery store for a week and hand out free tote bags and still have a bunch left over. Most of my friends are in the same position also.
Many cites are are now banning plastic bags, so I think it would be a great idea for all of us quilters to hand out all of our extra tote bags we have stored in the spaces around our homes.
We could call it the Quilters tote bag give away.
I have been sewing up a storm in between school semesters and have finished 5 UFO's that stand for unfinished objects. It is actually quilt squares that I started and never finished. I am going to try to sell those quilts at the San Diego Quilt show this august.

My bad cold is finally getting better. I have had it since 3 days before Christmas and have been
home now for 10 days with this bad cold. Oh Well everyone else has it also. Even one of my cats had to go to the Vet as she was sick. Nothing to do but keep her in the house and warm.
Well today is the first week of the new year and I really have to get something done today.
Have a great week.
Nancy