Latest quilt

My quilt is back from my long arm quilter Russ and I'm over the moon in love with it.






Late last summer I designed some fabric and had it printed at Spoonflower. I've decided that every quilt I make in 2009 will have a bit of it on the back. Then each year I'll design a new fabric so as to identify the year I made it. Know what I'm sayin'?



I've got a series of fabric in my head to design . . . if I could only figure out how to make the seamless repeat on it. Unfortunately, that is at the way, way bottom of my to-do list.

-dana

Block

Block [blok] -noun an obstacle, obstruction, or hindrance.


I seem to have blogger's block. I think it is caused by my recent discovery of Facebook. I am not too proud to admit I've lost countless hours in the mind numbing abyss of the social networking phenomemon. I've reconnected with people I never thought I ever would. I've remembered things I had long since forgotten. And I've endured seemingly endless fits of giggling.

But now I have a small case of blogger's block. Because now there are people that I knew in high school that read this. And people from college. And people from law school. And even people from the Kansas City Bar Association.

::Gulp::

That is alot of people from my real world taking a glimpse into my daily life. And I certainly don't mind that they do. I wouldn't have a blog if I did. It is just a new thing for me. And the fact that I don't get the same glimpse into their life leaves me feeling a little exposed.






Block [blok] -noun a small section of a city, town, etc., enclosed by neighboring and intersecting streets.


Last week, just a few blocks from my house, my girls were involved in a traffic accident. Thankfully they are fine. And, thankfully, all 7 passengers in the van are fine. Totally and completely fine. No ambulance. No hospital. Nothing like that. Just a little fender-bender really.

It was the first time either had ever ridden with someone else driving besides my parents, Razor or myself.

First time ever.

I'm doing my best to block that little fact out of my mind.






Block [blok] -noun a term used in quilting meaning a measurable portion of the quilt comprised of a certain number of these same measurable parts.


Before Thanksgiving I began embroidering little images of things that relate to Razor. I knew I was going to put them together in a quilt just for him. Well, never one to have much of a grand plan when I start quilting, I embroidered them all on white. The fabric that I've choosen that is most Razor-like are deep forest colors. Outdoorsy colors. Colors without even a speck of white in them. I've made a few blocks and think that the white embroidered sections are just so stark. Razor loves it and wants me to continue. I've made 29 of the total 36 blocks. And now I'm blocked.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to incorporate some white into this to make it better? My only real option is in the outer border. I said before that Razor loves it so I feel I should continue. I just don't want to forever look at the quilt with regret wishing I had done it better or differently.




Block [blok] -verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

Finally, this blasted game is hindering AND preventing my progress AND accomplishment of anything worthwhile lately.

-dana

Triangle love (I didn't say love triangle!)

I briefly mentioned sometime last week my love for Triangles on a Roll. What are they? Only the coolest invention ever for quick and precise piecing of half square triangles.

Still don't know what I'm talking about?

Dude. You can make this accurately and precisely. And pretty quickly too.




Make a bunch.




Then play around with the arrangement.




I went with this pinwheel design for the quilt I'm working on now. Made with Pop Garden.





It might be my most favoritest quilt ever. And just because I say that about each and every quilt I'm working on doesn't mean it isn't true.





This quilt is off to the long arm quilter today. And I'm keeping it for sure. But, Jen Duncan happens to be giving away a quilt made with the same fabric over on her blog. It is a real beauty and anyone would be lucky to win it.

Now where is my roll of Triangles?

-dana

Hope

Finally.

-dana

Latest projects

My January block for Amy for our virtual quilt bee A Notion or Two. She specifically requested wonky greens and whites with a red, orange or pink bird appliqued to the block.




My bird is a little funkier than the others so far but I happen to love him. I think he has pizazz and flair. Maybe a little sass. Panache.

Or maybe that is just what I'm telling myself since I couldn't hand applique a realistic looking bird.




I forgot to share this quilt that I made before Christmas. It is a cheater cloth from Denyse Schmidt called Country Fair. It lays across the back of a chair in our living room. That is unless I'm using it.

-dana

Book winner

The winner of the book The Fabrics of Fairytale is comment number 34 . . . which let me count down and see who that was.

::Tapping fingers patiently::

Congratulations Allyn! Your comment number 34. Allyn happens to be a member of one of the quilting bees I'm participating in. Mr. Random Number Generator loves you Allyn. Email me at dana@oldredbarnco.com to claim your prize.

Thanks to all of you for the lovely birthday wishes. They all gave me a little extra spring in my step. Razor started calling me Dana-Go-Lightly. Ok. Not really. But I so did appreciate the nice comments.

-dana

Ya say it's your birthday . . .

Well it's my birthday too! So I'm giving away one of my most favoritest books. I love it for the illustrations.






Dude! Check it!





It's a book for fabric lovers. It could be YOUR book. Leave a comment telling me what fabric you are trying to justify buying and you'll be entered for a chance to win. I'll pick a winner Saturday, January 17.

Good luck!

-dana

Motherhood. Not for the weak.

Straight up, motherhood is not for the weak.

As babies, my children needed me. They adored me and truly thought that I hung the moon. As they grew and learned and explored they realized other people existed. And they learned that they can do things by themselves.

And when they got into school . . . whew . . . well, school invites all new things, relationships and challenges. Like when my first daughter started kindergarten and started telling me how her teacher can do this and her teacher can do that. I'm pretty sure that teacher became the official hanger of the moon.





But we've been at this school thing for awhile. After all, that one is in 4th grade now and my youngest is in 1st.

I've long since forgiven the teachers for taking over my lunar responsibility.

But there are other challenges as well. Like when little Billy wants to tease my girls. And they cry. It takes everything I've got to not seek little Billy out at the playground and show him a thing or two.



Or when one doesn't get nominated for the Valentine's Day Sweetheart Court. And the other gets nominated for the second year in a row. The sibling rivalry. The joy. The disappointment.

The teaching of grace.

The teaching of graciousness.




This whole motherhood thing is not easy. I'm giving it all I've got.

And sometimes I'm reminded that giving it all I've got is good enough.




Like when I see my 1st grader has set up her own craft area. With her special things. Made all pretty. And right near mine.

-dana

Are ya with me?

I'm a little scattered today. Light, fresh and renewed. But, nonetheless, a little all over the place. I've got thoughts and ideas bouncing around my head like a ping pong ball. Or maybe a pin ball. I love pin ball. Don't you? When I play it I get all tense and nervous and twitchy.

So anyway, I'm a little scattered today.



This is my December block for the Busy Little Bee virtual quilting bee. It is for Stephanie and she specifically wanted red crosses on a field of white. Can't wait to see her finished quilt.

Laundry is about to be the death of me. I might institute a new rule in my house. Each item of clothing must be worn twice before it can go in the hamper. No exceptions.

And really. Aren't clean sheets overrated?


Ummmmmm. I'm in another quilting bee called A Notion or Two. It is just getting started this month so not much to share on that front. But you can always click on the button over on the left sidebar here to see what we are up to. The people participating are all so very inspiring so I know it will be a great way to stretch my creativity.






I found these wool sweaters at a thrift shop while in Savannah over Christmas. I paid $1 each. I plan on felting them and using them in some future project.

It's Girl Scout cookie time again and guess who got suckered into being "Cookie Mom" this year?

::breathe:: ::breathe::





These are the buttons from one of the aforementioned sweaters. I would've paid more than $1 just for the buttons.

Have you ever used Triangles on a Roll before? Dude! They rock my world. Like totally. For sure.

And finally, am I the only one in the whole wide world that feels compelled to pluck my eyebrows daily?

-dana

Small snippets

I've spent the last couple of days getting my new sewing area in order. But I have also had to get a personal matter in order as well.




I'm shouting from the roof tops . . . MY PARENTS ARE THE BEST!! Thank you for teaching me the difference between right and wrong. Thank you for supporting me unconditionally. Thank you for encouraging and believing in me.



And, thank you for loving me no matter what.

-dana

Primed and in the process

It's been primed and painted with one coat of this lovely light aqua color.




I'm gonna have the construction manager (aka Razor) check it out tonight and help me decide if it needs more paint.




Recognize that at all? It's my craft cabinet from before only cut in half. Well, almost half. A little more than half actually.


I hope to be sewing by this weekend.

-dana

Crafty space

Up until now I've done all of my quilting and assorted crafting from this cabinet.



This large portion opens and a table drops down.




Like so . . .





But Razor is building me a new and improved area that will include the correct height for my machine, work surfaces and even a large cutting table. Oh and lamps. Actual light to work by People!


As I cleaned out the cabinet and sorted through my stash of fabric and all, I ran across lots of stuff that I'll never use. Quilt patterns. A Sigma Kappa needlepoint kit. (!!?? I've been carrying that thing around since college!!??) Even a random 9 patch quilt kit. I'll photograph those and give them to whomever (or is is whoever? I've never really understood that grammatical rule.) wants them.

That is once I get off my giddy, hands-shaking, eyes twitching, quilty, crafty high that I'm on right now. I'm guessing that will end when I have to prime and paint that sucker.

-dana

Need a lift?

We all need a lift now and then.




I'm glad they have each other.

-dana

Heard around these parts

Razor's has had some doozies in the last 24 hours. Are you ready?

#1 He has been watching football nonstop for what feels like days. College bowl games. NFL. I even saw him watching some high school East/West game. Yesterday I asked him, "Aren't you sick of football?" His reply was, "Surprisingly no. I feel impaled to watch it!"

::Blink:: ::Blink:: I'm pretty sure he meant COMPELLED.

#2 This morning as we talked about our plan for the day Boo asked if she could ride her scooter in the barn. Razor replied that she could ride he scooter until her heart was dissent.

::Ahhhhhhhh:: ::Deep cleansing breathe:: Surely he meant CONTENT.

-dana

Our traditions in the making

Seems every culture or geographic region has it's own traditional foods for New Year's Day. In the South it is black eyed peas and collard greens. Sometimes even Hopppin' John. In the North some folks eat pork roast and sauerkraut. While others prefer corn beef and cabbage. The traditional Hungarian New Year's Eve meal is a roast suckling pig. Ummm . . . yeah.






This year we decided to start our own tradition. Boo and Licious requested salad. Licious wanted red cabbage and carrots in it. Boo wanted croutons and honey mustard dressing.






Razor and I suggested homemade minestrone soup in a bread bowl. Wide-eyed and unbelieving of the whole soup-in-a-bread-bowl bit, Boo and Licious enthusiastically agreed.





Little hands washed, peeled and chopped for what seemed like hours. And though I could have gotten it prepared in less than half the time, I was thrilled to have the help . . . for we've decided this is our New Year's Eve family tradition.




And, I will look forward to it for many, many years to come.

Happy New Year.

-dana