Scary Story

OMG  I thought I was eating cooked ladybugs! That would be the worst thing, and not because of the taste. They are my sweet little garden helpers. Jeez, I was wolfing down some steamed swiss chard and purselane, with tuna and diet dressing on top, feeling so dietishly virtuous, and glanced down, noticing some little red flecks. OMG I almost spit! Abby was right there, waiting for a crumb to drop. Ah it was pimientos from the sweet pickles, NOT ladybugs. I am not really a Jainist, and would eat a crunchy bug, especially after dieting for several days, but not my sweety pies.

I am meeting a bunch of gals I worked with 32 years ago. I have only stayed in touch with one, by best friend Joan, and probably don't even remember let alone recognize the others. So why do I even care if I am a little bit softer and fuller than I used to be? I have a phobia of appearing fat. It is true. I have the cognitive distortion, the secretive eating thing, the trick with the scale thing... it is a sad story. Almost as scary as eating a ladybug.

Camping in the House

   We moved into the house July 10th. It was simple to unload the tiniest RV in the world. One tote of food, one tote of dishes and pans. One arm load of clothes to hang up for each of us.
   Moving my fabric from the trailer to the loft was tricky, because each (big, heavy) tote had to be carried up the tall orange ladder (in the last photo.) I have also carried my sewing machine, chair, and table up the ladder. Now I am spending lots of time up there, and it is my sanctuary. I am using the floor for my design wall, and really need an upright wall. I am going to buy a folding screen and cover it with flannel.
   We now have the two sinks installed. The bathroom sink is huge and doubles as a utility sink. It is a lovely enamel sink with a high arched faucet. The kitchen sink is composite granite, acorn brown, and also huge and complete with an arched faucet. We have running water to do dishes in the kitchen! Going from heating water and washing dishes in a tub in the yard, to then using the bathtub since it was plumbed first, then using the bathroom sink, wow I appreciate the convenience so much. I guess I could use the redneck dishwasher, place everything in the toilet, add soap, and flush.
   One adjustment is the heat. When it is 105 outside, it is the same in here.Wind comes up every afternoon. At night it cools down. Mike plans to get a swamp cooler next summer. Seriously. He bought a box fan but doesn't like the noise it makes, so I get to have it upstairs in my loft.
   I am excited to go visit Boise in mid August. I am spending a week or so just getting my daughter and friends fix, going to meetings, thrift store shopping, fabric shopping, biking, library visiting.... eating out, it will be a nice change. Can't wait to see my pal Joan. It has been WAY too long. Our time together will be brief, but wonderful. She is the reason for the visit, and it is so nice to have the flexibility to go.

Too Salmon Riverish

   Discussing a commission with a potential client. She contacted me through my etsy shop and gushed aobut my custom pet quilt. Wants one for her little doggie. Sent lots of photos of the doggie and her California Cliff May house. Said last year 1000 people toured her home and next year my quilt would make me famous!!!  I chose these colors after digging through the back of the locked travel trailer, feeling inspired and pleased,  hauling a big armload into the RV, setting up a table in the under construction house, taking photos, uploading them, sending, sitting in the HOT RV at the appointed time with no phone call, sweating. Finally an email back, these look too Hawaiian. Bah! They look Salmon Riverish to me, but not overly, just right. The big green zinnia turned into a splash by the lavender batik salmon.
   This is another case of clashing tastes. She wants soft, muted, pastoral pastels. ok.
   The photo above will be a quilt for me. I see embellishments, and maybe a driftwood hanging rod.

Developing my Style

    I wrote my "About" section for my etsy shop, and had to describe what makes my style unique. These two projects came to mind, both gifts for Ainsley. Her partner, TJ bought her the painting at Art in the Park. I designed the table runner and pillow to coordinate. I used Gwen Marsden's book for inspiration.
   The quilt below was a combination of talents. The trout was painted by my mother-in-law, Melva on the back of a shirt for her first husband, Jay. The waterfall background was rescued scraps from Sue Pilarski, a quilter who only does trip around the world quilts. Diane gave me the wooly bugger dry fly for the trout to jump at. There is a tiny pine tree fairy up in the bough of the tree branch. The border is gunny sack, to represent a creel. This was one of my first machine quilting efforts.

Garden Gate

The garden is planted. After my trip to Chesterfield over Memorial Day Weekend, I'll plant the basil and lettuces. I want to be around to baby the seeds, water them twice a day, and give them pep talks. I am excited about how big my garden is, and how well it is growing.
   The raspberries and strawberries are getting flower buds. The peas are tall enough to need their second string, but not flowering yet. The elephant garlic is 2 1/2 feet tall. All of the feral rhubarb from French Creek is sprouting leaves.
   I finished the flannel lap quilt for Chesterfield. It is soft and cuddly, and very folksy. I am working at not being self-critical. It isn't top of the line as far as blue ribbon technique, but that isn't because of lack of effort. I measured and measured! The border/binding is just not perfect. But that little quilt has character. Old Reliable.

Chesterfield Foundation Auction Quilt

Tops made by Nancy Miller, from all top quality flannels. Size 45" x 60".  I pin basted it with a flannel back and cotton batting. Yesterday I machine sewed vintage white buttons all over it. Today I'll machine quilt it. One week till road trip time!

   Living in an RV is cozy. Very cozy. It makes the new home look huge when in fact it is small by new American home standards. (1000 sq ft main floor, and 450 sq ft loft.) This morning I am meditating on the things for which I am grateful. I have a warm, safe cozy place to live. The new home will have a sewing loft about 4 times the size of my current abode! I will be set up in it within 2 months.  It will be spacious, full of natural light, and away from sleeping men and dogs, who should be left alone.
   At the moment I am perched on the edge of the couch/bed typing into the laptop on a folding TV tray. Mike and Abby(the dog) are asleep in the bed on which I perch. Mike has had a bad GI flu with aches, fever, and diarrhea for 7 days, and I am being quiet so he can sleep. I'd love to be sewing right now, I have 2 quilts that need to be finished on the machine. They will have to wait until maybe later today if Mike is outside or at least awake, and the bed folded up. I have hand sewing to do (always!) and can work on that for now. BUT! When I can go to my sewing loft at any hour of the day or night and not bother Mike, I hope I remember how lucky I am and how much I want to sew!! And I intend to get a lot done with the new space. By then I intend to have the rocks dug out of the garden so I'll have more sewing time, too.
   Many, many women I meet say they don't have time to sew/quilt because they work, have kids, no space, etc.. I have always asserted that I made time despite work and kids, because it is a priority and it is my sanity saver. I will have more time later this year, but I find time now... while we watch a movie at night, on drives..  and now it is time to get to it!