I'm Quilting

Just stopping in to say I'm still here, just quilting. Hope to talk to you more soon. --Marilyn

Quilting Retreat Ruminations

The Frances Moore Machine Quilting Retreat is over and I believe all eighteen of us had a great time. Here is Frances with her white board, drawing "spines". I believe the spines turned into gorgeous feathers.

Here are some of the students with their heads to the grindstone, or sewing machines at least.

And some more of those busy quilters, so deeply concentrating they don't even realize I am taking their picture. You know how busy they must have been.

Here shows a couple of patterns. On the right is an all over quilting pattern referred to as "dwirling". On the left shows baby step to quilting feathers.

But, just take a look at those grown-up steps in quilting feathers. Wonderful wouldn't you say? This is really a very fun and intense few days of quilting. However, tired as we all are, everyone went home feeling more confident with that quilt top sitting there begging to be quilted.

Happy quilting.

Marilyn

Random Acts of Kindness Week

This is Random Acts of Kindness week. I always liked the idea of Random Acts of Kindness, especially those acts of kindness where one does not take the credit. For instance, leaving a small gift on your neighbor's door without your name, or paying for the toll for the person in the car behind you, or taking in the neighbor's trash can while they are still at work. This might be a good time to revisit those acts that make the world a little better place in which to live. And, for a few ideas I've found keep reading. And, then leave me any ideas that you may have.

Random Ideas include:

Every now and then, buy some pet food or supplies for your local food pantry.

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Bake goodies and take them to the police station, fire station, emergency room, etc... anyone that spends their life helping others, really deserves all you can do for them.

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Pay a local teenager to mow someones yard, who is elderly, sick or their spouse is away.

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Quilt, knit or crochet a babys blanket and take it to the Nurses station, in the hospital, for the next baby that is born.

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Buy a bouquet of flowers or balloons at the florist and have it delivered to the hospital. The nurses will know who needs it the most.

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Send a nice card to 2 people you picked from the phone book.

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Send your children to offer to wash cars for your neighbors for free, when they come home you pay them.

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Drop coins in someones garden, so when they are weeding they get a suprise.

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Another random act is to write to places where you get especially good service and commend them (specific names if you know them) for their exceptional service.

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Send a 'Thank you' card or note 'from a local citizen' to the officers at your local police station. Rarely are these people ever thanked for the protection they give or the risks they take.

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Plant a tree.

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Volunteer at a local shelter.

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Clean up your neighbor's yard/garden for free.
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Call an old friend.

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Leave that parking space up front, for someone else.

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Save your magazines to give to a friend after they've been read.
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Smile! Laugh! Be Happy! Be Wacky! And for goodness sakes, Be Kind!

Hemet Quilt Show

Two Wacky Women were vendors this past Friday and Saturday (Feb. 12-13, 2010) in Hemet. We love this quilt show because the guild ladies and gentlemen are so very gracious (they even feed us breakfast and lunch). The first two pictures are of our booth (see our logo quilt?). This is what we see most of the time. We do manage to get out at least once or twice to see our vendor friends and the quilts.

A few guild members.

Here is Monica of Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations.

Here is Linda from County in the Woods. Her husband is the wood guy. He must also be out wandering.

Here is Donna from Fabulous Fabrics.

These are the sisters who own Oraejess. They sew purses, tags, wallets, you get the picture. (I got a very cute purse from them this time; it has doggies on it)

No explanation required.

I hope you get a chance to visit the quilt shows in your area this year. They really have a lot to offer.

Frances Moore

One of my favorite quilters is Frances Moore. She has a blog you can visit frantastic-stitch witchery . Frances quilts. Frances teaches quilting. In fact, Two Wacky Women have been involved with four quilting retreats with her. Frances has one coming up on February 19, 2010. It is a Machine Quilting retreat and you learn to quilt using your regular sewing machine. I'm telling you she has you quilting with your darning foot within a half an hour. Truly she does. I posted a while ago that I was told to listen to my quilt top tell me what to do. It was Frances who told me that. In fact, here is a small piece of her work she gave me called Listen. Perfect isn't it? If anyone is interested in a great weekend learning to listen and quilt, there are still a few openings. Information can be found at TwoWackyWomen . Happy quilting.

Molly's Quilt is Finished

Remember the quilt my daughter, Jolene was working on at the Two Wacky Women Retreat? She finished it. Isn't is great! Love the red binding.

And here is Molly clearly laying claim to it. After all, it is her quilt. Doesn't she look smug?

New Tote

Couldn't resist this cute fabric and had to make a simple tote out of it. It is a combination of several patterns and the pockets are on the outside. What do you think? A good book bag?

Preview of Things to Come

Just a preview of what's on the horizon. Stay tuned. This is going to be a fun one.