Yesterday I worked with my friend and boss Shelly Stokes. We are making plans for Spring Market in Portland, OR in May. Shelly is the distributor of Shiva Paintstiks into the quilting world. She has a web site which is listed on the right and there is now a blog. I have added her to my "Stitching Sisters" list so please go check it out. She is a very creative lady, using her talents in the business world, the quilting world and in the fiber arts world. She (as the president and chief bottle washer of Cedar Canyon Textile) is one of the sponsors of the new and great public TV series from Quilting Arts. Above I said that Paintstiks are in the quilting world but they can be used in so many other ways too, you can use them on any porous surface, like walls, floors, leather and any other surface your creative mind can think of. So if you work with scrapbooking as well as quilting this may be something you might want to look into. I plan on being creative tomorrow, after my journal class last week I have so many more new ideas to play with. We did foiling and were told how to dye with rust which sounds like an interesting project to try. These two photos are of foiling, the first is my class trial, and the second is one I did at home. I used the foiling medium, brushing it on a rubbing plate, pressed it onto the fabric, let it dry and then added the foil. It was easy and fun. I hope the next one turns out a little clearer. In the class sample the top left was foil on glue from a glue gun, the top right was the foiling medium, the bottom left was wonder under applied and then foiled and the bottom right is Bo Nash 077 which is the consistence of salt but when ironed under a teflon sheet becomes an adhesive, then we foiled on top of it. Anyway it's lot of fun to try these new things. So until another time, have a Blessed Day.

Well it's been a few days, but it tourney time and we have been away watching our grandson play basketball. It was lots of fun, we stayed in a hotel with a pool and the grandkids and grandpa did lots of swimming. We didn't get much sleep with extra little people in our room but it was fun anyway. I thought I'd share photos of two of my recent projects. This first one I started during our retreat a few weeks ago. Norma Riehm gave a little tutorial on how to do a collage. I started with the yellow form in the lower left corner and then added the flower petals, ribbons and yarn and a little angelina, put organza over the top then quilted it. At that point I added some buttons and crystals and presto, it's done. It is only 8x10 but I'm happy with it for my first attempt. I think I might do some more, it was fun and quick. This next item is called "The 3 Pocket Bag" and was a free pattern from a shop in Brainerd, MN. It measures about 6" x 8 1/2" and went together in about 2 hours. It takes 3 fat quarters, you quilt 2 of them together with thin batting and use the 3rd for binding. Then it's like doing origami, you fold and sew, adding velcro and you end up with this great little bag. It has 3 pockets, see the one in the middle with the velcro, and then one on each side. I have now figured out how to add a little handle and even an inside cell phone pocket. It is perfect to put your money, credit card and things into then carry in your project bag to class. I used one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine to do the quilting but you could do just straight stitches on the diagonal. If you then make a Lazy Girl Wonder Wallet you got it made. Have a Blessed Day.

Well I have been busy today, I made up a few of the Lazy Girl patterns, used a few Paintstiks and some torn paper and look, a matching set, Sassy Bag, Wonder Wallet and a Checkbook Cover. Joan's patterns are so fun and easy, I did all 3 pieces in less than a day. I also had a meeting with a fellow board member and we talked about strategic planning for MQ. I also promised pictures of my clients quilt, so I will add that here so you can see what I do on the days I am not blogging away. Ok this goofy thing doesn't want to let me add another photo. Not sure why but I guess it will have to wait. This evening I am going out to dinner with one of my sons and a granddaughter, the Rotary Club always has a fish fry this time of year and it is a tradition to go and eat fish. I can't believe it is daylight savings already on Sunday. It is also #2 sons birthday. I can't imagine him reading this so I guess it will just be a card in the mail. Hey I finally made it work. So here is her quilt, it is bright and scrappy. I have done many of this particular quilt, it is a favorite as it is easy and you can use up lots of fabric. One guild did it as a challenge and 4 of the ladies brought their quilts here, I did each one differently. It was fun and they loved it. They do one every year and then I get them and they all want them back in time for their retreat. I was over at Patchalotmore today and poor Marcie is fighting with squirrels and I can sympathize. I have some here that manage to get into my bird feeder even with a guard on the post. Well this is getting long so I will close for today. Have a Blessed Day.

Good morning, I am busy finishing up a customer quilt, I'll put up a photo soon since it is really a fun quilt. But a friend just sent me an email and I thought the message was just too appropriate for us quilting ladies that I had to share it, so here it is.

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter

what the lesson was about.

The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt."

Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed.

Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked

him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about.

He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."

Yesterday I rearranged my living room, in between quilting, and today my back is sore, this getting old is really getting old. I have not had time to be out in blog land and I really need to get my blog list over there on the side updated with more of the people I enjoy visiting. I promise I will soon. My DH will not be home this weekend so maybe that will give me time to catch up. I am not sure why my type size changed, it says it it the same but it is obvious that it is not. Today I decided I would add a photo of Lake Superior, it was taken during a walk along the shore during our retreat last week. It was so beautiful up there, so relaxing to sew as we looked out upon the lake. Have a blessed day everyone.