Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on October 10, 2011

I actually have one of my Patchwork Times UFO  Challenge Quilts on my Design Floor (along with lots of laundry…..LOL)

 

……it is HOPSCOTCH BUTTERSCOTCH – a Bonnie K. Hunter design.  I know it will be chosen either for November or December – so I am getting a headstart!!!

Hopscotch Butterscotch

 

Go to Judy Laquidara’s blog at Patchworktimes to see what quilters all over the country are doing!!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/10/10/design-wall-monday-october-10-2011/

Category: Design Wall, Hopscotch Butterscotch, Quilts in Progress | 2 Comments »
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Posted By drsao on October 10, 2011

I spent the weekend camping in Virginia Beach with my family and it was SOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!  I know a lot of people do not think camping is fun – but I think it is better than fun – absolutely WONDERFUL.    In fact, it is on my list of FAVORITE THINGS!  Why do I like camping?  The outdoors….the adventure….getting dusty……well, let me tell you about it!

HERE ARE ELEVEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT CAMPING

#1  I love sleeping in a tent.

 

I especially like sleeping in a tent when it is COLD and there are LOTS of blankets – six of us filled this tent with wall-to-wall blankets, stuffed animals, sleeping bags and pillows!   There are PEOPLE SLEEPING in this picture but it was so cold that heads were hidden – tucked under pillows.  🙂

#2  I always have unique scientific experiences while camping

Camping is educational….for example, you can learn firsthand about CONDENSATION…..our tent was covered with it when we woke up in the mornings!

 

I am not complaining at all about all of that CONDENSATION because we had lots of creature comforts – like LIGHTS IN OUR TENT! That lantern lit up the entire tent!

 

#3 The Games

We took a BAG of games – like UNO, DOMINOES, BATTLE SHIP, and RING TOSS!

I think ring toss was my favorite.  See that little opening in the tent above the lantern?    We tossed our little LIGHT UP RINGS back and forth across this opening…..WHY?  Because….just because.    It was fun to see those little circles of light flying around the tent.  Grandangels Sarah and Leanna were on one side with me – DD Christi and DSIL Greg with Grandangel Cooper were on the other side.     There were no winners or losers – just flying lit-up rings and lots of laughter!  I can hear the giggles in my mind and heart right now!

#4 The Food ALWAYS TASTES BETTER cooked over a fire

The food was memorable on our camping trip.

I LOVED SIPPING STARBUCKS COFFEE IN THE MORNING WHILE SITTING AROUND A BLAZING FIRE!

 

Breakfast was an adventure……we had pancakes, eggs, sausage, cereal, OJ …….and even hotdogs!!  My DDSIL, Greg, made breakfast and it was delightful.  The FIRST PANCAKES are never as pretty as the subsequent ones….:)

One of the RULES of camping is TO HAVE FUN and if you want a HOT DOG FOR BREAKFAST – why not?  Grandangel Sarah did just that!

Speaking of food – there is nothing quite so dreamy as a SMORES with a little blackened marshmallow.  YUM

 

#5  The Campfires

I don’t know what my FAVORITE PART of camping is but I sure do like the evening fireside times….can’t you just smell the fresh air and the aroma of burning wood?

 

#6  Roughing it

I really enjoy imagining what it was like for the early pioneers – they really had to rough it.  No electric coffee pots either.  I actually smiled when I climbed out of my tent and looked at the row of WET SANDY SHOES waiting to be worn!

I even wore socks with my Birkenstocks – but I think I was the ONLY one who thought it looked cool!  LOL

#7  I Loved Walking the Trails

There were lots of trails to explore.

 

#8  I LOVE the people who were with me on the trails!

My DD and Grandangels, Sarah, Leanna and Cooper

Cute deer on the trails!

Don't we look like seasoned hikers?

Three happy grandangels!

 

#9 The Beach in VIRGINIA BEACH

Our campsite was  a  one-minute 20-second walk to the beach path! 

The Beach Path

Grandangel Leanna loved hunting for sand crab

Flying a kite was one of the highlight of our two beach days!

We loved flying the kite!

Sand - blue skies - good wind - grandangel = happiness

#10 Sunset

I don’t know what it is about a sunset, but it is simply exhilarating.  I think it is even better AT THE BEACH!

Beautiful sky!

Playing NETLESS Badminton at sunset

#11 Tree Climbing

I love to take photos of the grandangels climbing trees!  They have such wonderful trees at the Virginia Beach Campsite!

Cooper and Leanna in one of the trees

 

HIGH UP IN THE TREE!

 

I wanted to climb those trees – but I didn’t have tree-climbing shoes!  But, I couldn’t fight the urge – so I climbed up on a not so high branch in my trusty Birkenstocks!  It was really fun!

I did climb on a low branch - just couldn't resist! 🙂

 

So there you have it – just a few of the reasons why I love camping!  It is a tradition and I want to repeat this fun at least once a year for my birthday celebration! 

Category: Camping, Life Comments, My Favorite Things, SAO's Family, SAO's Grandangels | No Comments »
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Posted By drsao on October 3, 2011

I have a couple of things on my design FLOOR this week.  First I am working on a t-shirt rug.  I can only work on it a little bit at a time because it is  sometimes hard to crochet with the thick cotton!!!  Those t-shirts are challenging to crochet with since I use the part that has printing on it!  (It is EASY if you don’t use the printed part!!!)

Here is what I have done so far.  I like these to use as bath mats or to put under large potted plants to protect hardwood floors!  (I like the fluffy side best!!)  In my future plan,  will make a large oval one to put under my ironing board……..that spray starch isn’t too friendly when it comes to hardwood floors!  🙂

T-Shirt Rug Braided Side

T-Shirt Rug - fluffy side

I have made some of my grandangels room size rugs made out of family members’ old cotton clothing.  It is a great way to recycle and preserve memories as well.  If you have a lot of cotton fabric and want to use some of your stash – this is a good way to do it!

 

I am also working on my Cheddar Challenge (issued by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com.)  I am making it with MODA CHEDDAR fabric plus shirts that belonged to my parents!  Here is what I have done so far.  *I am not sure how I will finally set the blocks together but right now I have the bow ties facing multiple directions!

I think these little blocks are adorable….made with 2 inch squares and the little tip peices are made with 1 1/4 inch squares.  They finish at 3 1/2 inch squares before sewing them together.

 

If you want to see what is on the Design Walls of other quilters around the country, go to Judy Laquidara’s website!  HAPPY SEWING!!!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/10/03/design-wall-monday-october-3-2011/

Category: Cheddar Challenge, Design Wall, Knitting Socks and Quilting, Quilts Finished in 2011, Quilts in Progress, T-shirt Rug | 4 Comments »
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Posted By drsao on October 2, 2011

Our October meeting of the Colonial Piecemaker’s Quilt Guild in Williamsburg, VA this Saturday was one of our best meetings EVER.  The SHOW AND TELLS WERE WONDERFUL.  Note the pictures of all of the BOWLS that members made in Ami’s class on Friday.  Ami also created a FRAME to sit on while wrapping clothesline with fabric. I didn’t get a picture of that, but it was pretty impressive.

Catherine – our product specialist was informative and entertaining.  I really think she should TAKE HER SHOW ON THE ROAD….she is such a natural.  This month she created a traveling DESIGN WALL and she discovered a handle that will serve as a HOLDER for multiple bags…..all dedicated shoppers need one!

Ami Simms entertained us – and taught us how to give away door prizes. HERS WERE HYSTERICAL and included no longer wanted yard signs, floppy discs, and various other unexpected “TREASURES!”

When you look at the photos you will see one that is unique.  It is a prototype of a human breast.  We all took turns practicing FINDING THE LUMPS that might predict breast cancer.   It was informative  for sure….and something that I have never done at a quilt guild meeting – or anywhere else for that matter!  GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS EVERYONE!

I hope you enjoy the photos – and I hope you go to Ami Simm’s website and sign up for her newsletter!  Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Quilt Show in Hampton – Ami will be there!

http://www.amisimms.com/

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXIII
February 23 – 26, 2012
Hampton, Virginia
Greater Chesapeake Bay /
Williamsburg Area

 

Category: Alzheimer's Quilts, Colonial Piecemakers, Quilt Guild, Quilts | 2 Comments »
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Posted By drsao on October 2, 2011

Some of you know  that LOL means LAUGHING OUT LOUD.  Some of you know that TTFN (which I sometimes include at the end of my e-mails) means Ta Ta For Now…..a happy little phrase borrowed from Tigger (Winnie the Pooh’s Friend.)  But do any of you know about TTTL?  It stands for TAKE TIME TO LAUGH and it is SO GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Catherine and I TTFL this weekend (TTFL can also be used in the past tense ALA TOOK TIME TO LAUGH.)

We attended Ami Simm’s lecture Friday night – the Colonial Piecemaker’s Quilt Guild meeting on Saturday *FEATURING AMI SIMMS – and that is not all.  We stayed with Sherry Whitford – found some really great yard sales – and discovered our NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT “FOOD FOR THOUGHT.”  Not only was the food GREAT, but the decor was fun.  There were philosophical offerings all over the walls!

How is that for opportunities to TTTL!  We even giggled through the car wash…..yes, no kidding!  Catherine is just one of the most WITTY people ever.  I can’t even recover from laughing about one thing before she is funny again!

And speaking of yard sales…..Catherine bought a grinder for $20.  It had only been used three times and was purchased for $70 and the stand for it was $100.  YES SHE BOUGHT IT ALL FOR $20.  Now I personally would never have even THOUGHT about buying a grinder – but then I am not a jewelry designer.  Do any of you use a grinder…..and I don’t mean a meat grinder…..take a look at the photos!

I thought you would enjoy some of our TTTL photos!

Category: CATHERINE, Life Comments, TTTL | 1 Comment »
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