Blogging

I have found something new to occupy my time on the computer and keep me away from my many projects around the house and sewing room...Blogging. Blogs and more blogs Oh My! They’re everywhere about everything or nothing. I used to be one of those Farmville addicts on Facebook but now I'd rather blog. Be it reading or writing. My blog reading list keeps growing. There doesn’t seem to be enough time to read all the social, interesting, fun filled, and informing blogs out there and I can't seem to stop reading when I start.  I set my blog up on my own thru trial and error. I'm still in learning mode and each time I log in I figure out something new .

 Like many bloggers when I sign in it goes to my dashboard that shows my 2 blogs that I created and then it shows a snippet of the most recent posts of blogsI follow.  Before I figured this out I was going to each blog and to see if they had posted anything new. Can you say time consuming?

Two Blogs caught my attention recently.

• Sew
  Many Ways
  blog author, Karen provided step by step instructions on how to be a reader and follower. Like how to post comments, and how to not be anonoymus when you post a comment. I mean if you make a comment on a blog it's nice to get a reply back from the author sometimes and that can't happen if your settings aren't set up right. It made me go back and look at some of my settings.  Here's the link from Sew Many Ways that gives you step by step instructions if you're interested.  http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/05/dont-be-lurker-anonymous-or-no-reply.html
• The second site that caught my attention was about Blog Envy by Shabby Blogs. I thought wow that’s how I feel when I read all the blogs in Blogger land.  I’ll be reading a blog and think WOW this blog is so much better than mine. I’m always worrying if what I write is interesting or who gives a flip what I write about but then it hits me, I'm blogging for Me. Shabby Blogs says that we need to drop those feelings of envy and write for ourselves but that evil little bugger creeps into my mind often while reading a really good blog.  Go here if you want to read more about Blog Envy…. http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/just-say-no-to-blog-envy.html

This is me and this is what I want to write about, A Little of This and A Little of That. You just never know what I may write about but hopefully I share something about myself you never knew or I can entertain you in some way or form but if not oh well I tried.

So Until Next Blog  ………. “Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” (Brian Clark) 

Or just great for yourself.

   .•*´¨ ) ¸.•*¨) -:¦:-
(¸.•´(¸ ;.•Carla.♥

I'm a Busy Bee

http://nancybdickey.com/Postcards.html

In 2009 I took a work shop on how to make mailable quilted postcards from Nancy B Dickey.

I've listed her website under my card I created in her workshop. She is a great artist and person.  

Finally something even I can finish in a couple of hours depending on the embellishments and detail. I got Immediate gratification seeing it come together!  

Meet Henriette

From this workshop a Bee was formed. One of the girls asked if maybe we'd want to get together and work on postcards. This way we could bounce ideas off each other and share. We're known as the "Made to Be Canceled Bee" Our Queen Bee Susi opened up her home to about 12 of us. We have a lot of fun being creative and social. Seams Seems like we're always laughing. Some of us can produce 1 or 2 cards in the time we meet while some others can mass produce the cards. We meet once a month but have moved our meetings to Quilters Crossing in Tomball so Susi could have her home back. 

I made this card for my boss for her birthday. She loves golf. Sometimes I have to push myself to make these little post cards because there’s no pattern. The only thing that limits your creativity is Your imagination. Sometimes I can come up with an idea but sometimes I have to look at other work to get an idea. The golf course idea I got from a Yahoo group member named Barbara from Postcard Pizazz or Art For Mail.

Now I did have a problem at first with postcards ..."Where in the heck was I going to hide a check or money for birthdays or whatever? What was I to do?" Mail the postcard and then turn around and mail the check. That doesn't sound cost effective. So It was time to put on my creative cap. First I had to find that cap. ;o)

Then a light bulb came on... Leave one side open to slide my check or money in. 

All Dressed Up

Here I left  the skirt hem open and put the check up the skirt. Ooo la la

In this example of a graduation cap I left the check hanging out for the picture so you could see where the opening was. I fold the check and put it in its hiding place, go to the post office to have them hand stamp and cancel the postcard, slide my card in the clear envelope, seal it, and send it on its way.
The postal Clerk never saw me put the check in the cap and all is good.  

                Made this card for the Hoyt newlyweds. This card is a shaker card. Meaning when you shake it the rings and hearts move around.

Like all girls we have to have a designer purse right? So I made a CK Original for My Godchild where I left the top open to put the check actually in the purse. 

The only problem with this hiding method is you'll have to let the recipient know there is a check hiding in their card. Otherwise they look and read your note on the back and toss it aside or worst they throw it away.

To date I have only had two cards lost via the postal service.

Here's a card being made by one of the bee members.  Anything goes when making your own mailable postcard. some of the girls add candy wrappers, paper or embroidery.                 

Here I typed up 4 recipes and made a little cookbook that I pasted on a kitchen motif fabric. I found a plate and spoon in the doll house section at Hobby Lobby and pasted them on there too. Not only did my recipient get a quilted card but they also got 4 recipes that my family enjoys.

I found bees to be so much fun and productive I actually I ended up being a member of 4. Three of the bees are guild sponsored and the 4th is a group of friends. Of course that's what all bee's really are. "A gathering of friends"

1. Made to Bee Canceled  -Here's a picture of some of the group. As you notice a few hid in the back of the line. Camera shy I'm told.

2. EQ Be'ers -is for those of us who have a quilting software called EQ7. In this bee we don't use anything but our laptops and we learn on to use the latest software EQ7 on how to create/design blocks or the whole quilt via software verse graph paper and pencils.
    

   

   Lt to Rt Charmaine trying to ignore the camera and Deb is pretending to work. Charmaine learned EQ from Diane so she fills in if Diane can't make it. Deb is the shop owner.

   Here's the EQ software description for inquiring minds: "quilt designing software program that helps you create your very own quilt designs using virtual fabrics, blocks and borders, turning your computer screen to a design wall. You can print quilt labels, draw original block designs, even import scanned fabric and photos. And no math is needed – EQ7 calculates yardage and all pattern sizes & seam allowances."           The gal in green smiling yet saying "I'm gonna hurt you and that camera" is our resident expert Diane. Our group meets once a month at Quilter's Crossing.   Oh yeah I forgot to mention I'm the Queen Bee of this group. But I'm a Baddd Queen Bee since I can't make it to my own bee it seams seems.
3. Evening Stars meets 2 times a month at one of the members church. Now I was always under the impression that a Quilting Bee was where the women gathered around a guilt and quilted on the same quilt. Oh contraire. Each member works on whatever project they want. I sometimes work on postcards and other times I work other quilting projects I've got started. One day maybe I'll finish a quilt project to take pictures of. Some of the girls are into Red Work and do a lot of hand embroidery.  

1. JV Gals - this bee doesn't really have a name but because I've given them a nick name so my husband can keep up with where I'm at and which bee. I ought to Nick name them "The Church Lady" from Saturday Nite Live. Am I dating myself. Most of the girls in this group belong to the church where we meet but don't currently belong to Tri County Quilt Guild. This group meets every other Thursday and I got invited by a couple of former co-workers to join them. I don't always get to join in because of other obligations but they welcome me whenever I show up. Another Fun and talented group of women. I've even been able to entice a few of them to join the Quilt Guild.

Well I've probably talked wrote enough about Bee's for now soooooo

Until Next Blog...... 

Quilting with a friend  or friends will keep you in stitches

╔════ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ═══╗
♥  Carla ! ♥
╚════ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ═══╝

Exercise and Mother's Day

Where do I begin...mmmm. Wednesday (5/4)after work I decided to start walking again with a friend. Made it around the track twice - 1 1/4 mile with not much trouble. I was happy with myself. Now my friend had her 2 beautiful German shepherds with her. Well the young one was getting real rowdy because other dogs were showing up at the track. So I looked at my friend Barbara and said "There's no way you can get back around the track to your car with both dogs" So I took the calm dog(Katie) and off went. I'm doing good another 1/4 mile won't hurt right? Well it wouldn't have hurt if I hadn't decided to walk off the track to let other walkers by.
As I step off the track and walked along the worn area I start telling myself "Watch your step you don' want to................OH SH#$. Down I go with my right ankle rolling and touching the ground.
As I lay on the ground I hear a man saying "Are you okay, see what happens when you go all sexy and sash-shaying around this track" Then a woman asks "are you okay, you were doing great". And Next I hear my friend "Oh My God Carla are you okay?" Now during this I haven't opened my eyes but I have broken into a cold sweat and have repeated my favorite word several times. I apologized to those around me if I've offended them but the word comes out again as another pain shoots from my ankle up my leg.
When I finally open my eyes I see 2 women and one man in a marine T-shirt asking me where I hurt and do I want help sitting up. I was able to get the words out that it was my right ankle as the man removes my shoe and sock. Oh boy I'm seeing spots and stars so I close my eyes and my favorite word comes out again and NO I don't want to sit up. Nauseous and dizzy I lay in pain in the dirt. About this time the one woman sitting on the ground next to me jumps up thinking an ant has crawled up her shorts. I wanted to up too but the pain overruled that idea. I probably laid there for about 20 minutes. It seemed like an hour, but Barbara would have to confirm the timing. ;o) Who cares right?
My friend Barbara walked on to her car, loaded the dogs and then drove her car over the curb to get to me. I'm gaining some composure now so they help me sit up and finally get me off the ground and into her car. She drives me to my car that I do manage to drive home in pain. Did I mention I turned the AC to 60 to keep me semi cool. Barbara follows me and helps me inside the house and becomes my nurse and slave. She's so great but after much help I send her on her way. Oh I forgot to mention that I called David on my way home. "Honey you might want to stop and get something easy like hot dogs for supper I just fell and hurt my ankle." Silence then some choice words from my Honey. When he got home more choice words none of which I had used, then the nurturing side of him kicks in. I can be accident prone sometimes.

Starting to bruise and no ankle



It's even more colorful

I did go to work the next day. I couldn't get into the orthopedic so I went to the Texas Urgent Care Center to get xrays last Thursday. They put me in an aircast and on crutches. Now I'm an accident waiting to happen. Good note here is.. it's not broken.
So today the orthopaedic put me in a walking boot for at least 4 weeks for 24/7. Only take off for showers. Oh goody. I'm having fun now. What a way to start the weekend.


 

My foot is turning the color of the shirt I wore for Mother's Day

Moral of Story: EXERCISE is DETRIMENTAL to MY HEALTH.

At least this time any way.

Managed to salvage my weekend and went to the annual crawfish boil at David's ole Boss's house. The hubby cooked some brisket and beer can chicken for the non- mudbug eaters. Had planned on swinging by another friends house for her annual Cinco De Mayo party too but was at the mercy of my family. Once we got to the crawfish boil I found a spot to sit and my sweet daughter who came in for the weekend waited on me hand and foot. I smiled sweetly and asked for mud bugs and rum punch.

The rum punch made me sleepy and took the pain away for a while. All the food was yummy and the hospitality was great. Just wish I could have been up and moving so I could have supplied some pictures of the night. It was a great night for being outside!

On Sunday we woke up and met my Mom and Joe in Tomball for breakfast at Harris County BBQ. They have a great breakfast selection and it's always tasty.



For the rest of the day ... I sat in the recliner with my foot up and iced. May have taken a nap or two while I was at it.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day in spite of my ankle and I hope everyone else did too.

So Until next blog....... Just call me Klutz

╔════ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ═══╗
♥  Carla ! ♥
╚════ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ═══╝

Joining a Quilt Guild

 A guild is nothing more than a group of men and women, young and old who come together to share their love of quilting at all levels but I didn't know that in the beginning. I was afraid of the commitment and not knowing what to expect. So when I started asking a friend of mine questions about quilting she told me I ought to come to a quilt guild with her. I thought no way those people will intimidate me and I haven't a clue how to quilt. (To be honest I still don't have a clue but don't tell anyone)  My friend Denise assured me that it was okay.  A guild is what you make it, be it a social thing, a community thing, education, or a way of gathering inspiration. I broke down and joined a guild in 2003 but I never was able to figure out where I fit in, plus the fact it was approximately 25 miles from the house so I wasn't getting home until 10:30pm or later. During the year I was a member I never really got involved, my error.  But in 2007 I tried a different guild I had heard about and it was much closer to home and after 2 visits I felt comfy. Even if I had to just sit in the crowd by myself.  Tri County Quilt Guild  has this Motto: "We're one of the friendliest guilds around"  so guess what I didn't have to sit alone.

Now these men and women tend put me to shame by a long shot but that's okay I'm watching, learning and by all means admiring. There's this one member who's around 90 something and she hand pieces and hand quilts her quilts. Her quilts are intricate and oh so beautiful!

To be honest I don't consider myself a quilter, I'm more of a FABRIC JUNKIE. I have plenty of fabric tucked away in a closet or two and in my custom fit cabinets for the dormer windows. The fabric stash far out does the book closet I talked about in an earlier blog.               

I plan on making a sign to put on the main closet stash that will say:  

"Fabricologist  Resource Center"   ... sounds more impressive than "fabric stash don't you think?
It used to be neater but I've been digging. I'll go back and restore order one day soon just so I can destroy again. I have more in other hiding spaces but the rest of the year my goal to use some of this stash up.

I'm only semi creative but I'm very messy. This was scary showing you a couple of stashes.

The best way to really meet members up close and personal at any guild is by getting involved. Join a Bee, volunteer to help a chair person or better yet be a chair person, or take classes that are offered.  I've managed to do a little of it all. 

Everyone has a reason for joining a guild and mine was purely selfish because I wanted to be surrounded by talented and creative people with quilting knowledge. I've found I'm very insecure in my ability to be creative. Practice Practice Practice.

Our program chair Nina did the coolest thing recently.... She put on a program where instead of a guest speaker, we as members could sign up to show a problem quilt or block and ask the entire guild membership for ideas on how to arrange the blocks, how sash or just how to complete. We can all use a fresh set of eyes or the guidance of another experienced quilter. Sometimes even the inexperienced have a fresh idea or two to share.



The card I passed out at quilt shops

The guild had a chair position open and after being a member for maybe 3 months I got stupid I mean brave and volunteered for the Publicity Chair Person. I had the really hard job of going to the quilt shops (oh darn I really hated going to the shops, NOT), introduce myself on behalf of the guild and ask if I can leave post cards about our guild for customers to pick up.
 Of course while there I would ask if they'd like to donate a door prize item  and get a free plug for their  shop and I'd ask if they'd like to advertise in the guild newsletter and website for a low yearly price.
Now at first the idea of me going in asking for a door prize or asking about advertising was very scary but after a while it got easier and fun. 
Of course I couldn't ask for a handout without buying something, could I?  Of  Course NOT. I usually walked out with at least a Fat Quarter or two or three or ... well you get the idea ;o). Now for you none quilters I'm not talking body parts okay. A fat quarter is 18"x22" cut of fabric. 
There's this saying amongst quilters that "the one who dies with the biggest stash wins". I have entered Fabric-aholic's Anonymous and I'm on a 12 step program but I've been so busy buying fabric so I haven't attended a meeting to know what the 12 steps are. hmmmm

 
In 2009 I lost my mind and volunteered to be the co-vendor chair for the Quilt Guild's first Quilt show in February 2010. I had to find vendors and rent them a booth at our show.  Now when I go to other Guild Quilt Shows the vendors recognize me which is fun. 

2008 June
A Stack n Whack quilt

 I entered a quilt in our 2010 show in the non-Judged section.. My first attempt at freestyle quilting.  

Joining the guild was the best thing for me. It gives me plenty of talented quilters to ask questions of and find inspiration. Then of course finding inspiration is the easy part in this guild but the idea of me implementing and completing what I start is another thing. 

We have our 2nd Quilt show coming up 2010 on March 2 &3. I volunteered at first but when I learned of the dates I had to resign before I even got started because of other obligations. But that's not to say I won't be involved when the show gets here.

At one of the meetings I noticed that the President was trying to jockey several jobs and was beginning to look like Gumby being pulled in so many directions. So I asked if she'd like me to take pictures to relieve her of at least one small task. She didn't seem to hesitate now that I think about. hmmm... so I now take pictures at the meetings, at some of the bees and workshops whenever I can. Photography will be my one contribution to the 2012 Quilt show. Diane probably takes better pictures but I do my best and I love doing it.
Funny thing, Quilters are no different than most, they don't always like their picture taken. I just don't understand they're all beautiful right? Hence I get threatened, glared at and I get these funny hand signs. LOL.     (Doesn't stop me though) If I have a camera I will take a picture at some point

Until next blog................................ 

Warning: This Toyota Highlander Stops at all Fabric Shops

.•*´¨ ) ¸.•*¨) -:¦:-
(¸.•´(¸ ;.•Carla.♥

PS: Please forgive any typos. I usually try to proof but something always tends to slip by me.