You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2008.
The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art. Founded by Ami Simms in January 2006 because her mother has Alzheimer’s disease. All profit is donated to Alzheimer’s research. Since the AAQI began they have raised more than $157,000 for Alzheimer’s research.
The first quilts are ready for purchase right now in the AAQI’s “You Snooze, You Lose” Reverse Auction . See a quilt you like? Buy it on the spot. Wait a day and the price goes DOWN! But if you wait too long, somebody else might buy it first! It’s lots of fun and all the profit will fund Alzheimer’s research! Come back often — the page will be updated with new quilts all the time! Details here!
I try to exercise 5 to 6 days a week. Most mornings, you will find me walking 2-3 miles before 8am. When it is rainy or snowy, I ride our exercise bike or use our mini tramp. (On that note, why I don’t weight 98 pounds is beyond me, but that is a topic for another day!)
To pass the time, I listen to my iPod Nano.
So now to the question, what’s on my iPod?
I have a workout playlist, featuring high octane performances by Christine Aguilera ( Fighter ), Kelly Clarkson ( Since U Been Gone ), Chris Daughtry ( ”Over You“, “It’s Not Over” )
Lately, however, I’ve been listening to Podcasts. 45 minutes passes in an flash. I just love multi-tasking!
My current fav Podcasts:
And The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack
Some lingering Lost questions (and why I keep watching!)
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Where is the island?
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What is the smoke monster?
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What is the healing force of the island?
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Who is Darma. . .really?
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Who build the four-toed monument?
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How did the Black Rock end up in the jungle?
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Who is Jacob?
I have tons of songs on my iPod as well. Some of favorites. . .
SONGS ON MY IPOD
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k.d. lang (Hallelujah is amazing)
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Michael Buble (Anything he sings!)
I’ve enjoyed my few weeks at home, but it’s time to get back on the road. In April, I have 4 trips scheduled.
The first one is to the Colonial Piecemaker’s in Williamsburg, Virginia. (One of my favorite places!) I’m looking forward to my visit with them.
Next is the Araphoe County Quilters and the Columbine Quilt Guild in the Denver, Colorado area. Can’t wait to visit them!
The final trip for April is to the Somewhere Quilting quilt shop in Johnson City, Tennessee. Love eastern Tennessee and looking forward to this visit as well.
As with any trip, there is always lots of planning. This week, I spent several days printing and packaging handouts, sorting quilts for my classes and lectures and packing class supplies.
For each trip, I unusually plan on 2 or 3 days of concentrated prep time, not to mention the months of planning with the program chairs of each guild. Kudos to these hard working people who plan workshops and lectures!
As you can see, Cocoa is helping as I sort quilts in to “workshop” and “lecture” piles for each guild.
Whew! The first round is printed, collated, sorted, packed and ready for shipping. Round two will be next week!
I’ve just gotten my sample cuts from my new fabric collection, Nami. For Spring Market, I’ve also added new colors to my Gilded Greenery collection. These sample cuts have also just arrived.
I’m so pleased with both collections! In the past few days, I’ve been working on quilts and samples for Spring Market and my Schoolhouse presentations.
Here’s a look into my sewing studio. You can see the infamous “fabric closet” on the back wall of the studio. This is the one I cleaned out this weekend.
I usually spread out when I work. I have two different cutting stations. This one is on my Koala sewing cabinet. I have the Koala Quilt Mate III. I’ve had it for about four years, don’t know what I did before I had it!
I’m working on the blocks for one of the Market quilts. If you look closely, you will see my constant companion, Cocoa in his bed, under the table.
Several weeks ago, he enjoyed playing in the snow!
I have some of my favorite notions out while I’m working.
I LOVE the new .07mm mechanical pencil by Clover. It is a fine tailor’s chalk and is perfect for marking.
I also love my wool Ewesful pincushion. The lanolin in the wool keeps my pins sharp and I never have to worry about the pins rusting.
Here’s a look at my other cutting station and my Block Butler design wall. The quilt on the wall is in progress and uses two textures from the new Nami collection and two new colors from Gilded Greenery.
Another sneak peek at two textures in my new Nami line as well as two new colors in my Gilded Greenery collection. Gilded Greenery Saffron and Cinnamon – I LOVE the rich colors of these new colorways. (There are more colors, but I’ll show those later.)
A close-up of the Gilded Greenery texture.
If you look in the corner of the photo above, you will see a basket with work in progress. Here another sneak peak at a 3-D cube in a 4th dimension. I’m playing around with this and hope to have more time to dedicate to this concept later.
All the warm weather has put me in the mood for some spring cleaning! My fabric closet in my sewing studio was a mess! I could not find anything and I was getting pretty cranky about it.
This weekend, I decided to tackel my sewing studio. After about 15 hours of cleaning, sorting and weeding out, I finally finished! What a beautiful sight!
Here is the closet, all sorted and beautiful!
This shelf holds my Gilded Greenery and Essence collections. Now, I can find the colors I need, as I design quilts for these collection.
Gilded Greenery – color Danube
Essence – Arctic
The next shelf holds my blue, green, black and white fabrics. (Hmm, looks like I need a few more blacks and whites!)
The third shelf holds my teal, yellow and orange fabrics.
On the top shelf, I have my hand painted, sun screen and hand dyed fabrics. I decided to store these fabrics in these see through bins. It makes the fabrics easy to find and keeps them neat.
On the side of the closet, I’ve stored my previous fabric collections. I try to keep some of each fabric, so I always have a reference. I also have batting at the top of the closet.
Notice the “sewing fairy”, she is guarding the fabric. Don’t mess with her!
I also sorted my Koala notions cabinet. I can finally find all my stuff!
The thread drawer.
Notions drawer – all organized!
The rest of my closet has also been cleaned out. I love to use baskets to keep things sorted. The stuffed animals are for fun!
Another sewing fairy guards this side of the closet!
I’ve also been working on quilts for my new fabric collection, NAMI.
Here is a sneak peak. We will be debuting this collection at Spring Market. As we get closer to the release, I’ll show more of the textures and colors.
Be sure to ask your local quilt shop for Nami, designed by Karen Combs.
Nami is a oriental inspired collection. This is the wave design, inspired by an antique Japanese texture. This is the indigo and white colorway.
Nami in the black and white colorway.
Nami in the red and black colorway.
