The HOSTAGE quilt

Wow - there are MANY days when I feel like I have ran a marathon - some times even an ultra marathon.

Yesterday was no exception. I had a giant of a quilt to do and for some reason, I really really really wanted to do this particular pattern on it. At first, I thought this quilt (which was done by a student in a class I taught and one of the few quilts of my own that was quilted by me) - anyway - I thought this quilt was the same size as my own. When I opened it up - OH NO - it was a giant quilt, but I still really wanted to do the same pattern. It is just a bit more involved than some of the others that I do.

I loaded the quilt - then I quilted a row. Oh YIKES - this is going to take a long time. Take a break. Back to the quilt - two rows - take a break. But it is looking awesome.

Then time for a couple of phone calls. Two more rows.
Have lunch. Two more rows.
Off to see the surgeon (more on that in a bit). Two more rows.
Prepare some class notes for today. Two more rows.
Drop M at the gym (AWESOME POOL). Two more rows.
Prepare MORE class notes for today. Two more rows.
Pick M up at the gym. Two more rows.
Prepare last of the class notes. Two more rows.

HEY - I am done!!!!!

Anyway - it is done done done and I get yet another high from finishing something else. Have a look............

Customer quilt

Detail of quilting

It was one of those days when pretty much everything went as planned!!!!


Yes - I was bustling around yesterday to get all my class notes ready for today. No wonder I don't have time to sew the blocks. I go over the patterns to hopefully offer USEFUL tips to the students. And besides Dear Jane, there is Farmer's Wife, Hobo Quilt, Spring has Sprung and Grandma's Country Album.  Yeah - WHAT WAS I THINKING when I agreed to that!!!!!!


And I say - oh next month - I will catch up my blocks next month. Well NEXT month is almost here and I have TWO big quilts to piece and quilt, and the customer stuff just keeps rolling in. Just when I think - ah - I am almost caught up - then more comes in. Now I don't do a lot of customer quilts in a month - who has time. But enough to keep me busy.

BUT there will be NO quilting in July or August - (I hope). I will be trying to catch up - NO - not in July cause I have TWO quilts scheduled to be made in July. Oh well - I am NOT really starting too much new and the new stuff is getting DONE. Let's just say that I am NOT adding to the UFO pile. That is why I am feeling good about this whole thing!!!!    Great sense of accomplishment.


You will NOT believe this. I have been carrying my camera the last couple of days on the morning walk. This morning I did NOT. And GUESS WHAT - yep - there was the coyote again.

Sparky after chasing the coyote

Miss Sparky was huffing and puffing a lot when she got done chasing the coyote. Shoot - guess I will have to take the camera EVERY DAY. Silly dog - the coyote just wants to eat and there seem to be less rabbits so that is a good thing. And hopefully the coyote can catch the squirrels too.


Yes - I decided to go see the surgeon even though I knew what the answer would be. I go to the patient registration and then take the elevator and VOILA - I am in the right spot. It makes sense when you know what you are doing. But if you don't - it is chaotic. But the paperwork - holy crap. They go through your file - ask questions. Then you get a bracelet for being an outpatient and because I have an allergy - another bracelet. Seems like a LOT of work for an appointment.

Not one, but TWO bracelets for an appointment

Let's just say - that I would not want to have any appointments on a regular basis at the hospital. Give me a doctor's office or clinic any day.

Bottom line - no swelling, quality of life is acceptable - NO SURGERY. That is great - nice doctor. BUT when I asked why this happened - I did NOT like the answer. It is AGE RELATED. Age related - I hate getting old, but even though my body may not be aging gracefully, my spirit will forever remain YOUNG!!!!! And why are they so interested in my drug allergy - even the doctor - I am NOT having surgery.


Now let me tell you the story of the hostage quilt since I am in another "hostage" situation with a quilt project.

The HOSTAGE quilt

When I first started quilting way back in 1998, I found an online quilt guild - Canadian Quilt Swappers. I learned so much from this group and met some great people and did tons of swaps and exchanges. One of the FIRST projects (hey - why not start BIG - but I was NERVOUS) was a row robin. Each person made the center block - then it was sent to the next person. The people who worked on this quilt lived all over Canada. There were 10 of us in the group.

The quilts were going merrily around the country when near the end (second to last row) mine ended up in Saskatchewan. My native province - go figure. Anyway - we lost all contact with the person who had my quilt. She would not respond to e-mails, phone calls  - nothing. And funny thing - I actually met this lady the previous year as she lives not far from my parents - well relatively speaking - it is Saskatchewan after all. I left threatening voice mails and e-mails, threatened to drop in and get it while on vacation, threatened to get a lawyer - all that good stuff.

Even said she didn't have to do the row - just send it on. Nothing. Finally one day - the quilt arrived in Manitoba at the next person on the list. WHAT????????    I was ecstatic to say the least. (Yes - the last two people only had to add to the top and bottom in case you are wondering). Wow - all that frustration and then I got the quilt. I was thrilled and even though the quilt would be better without the last two rows - I left them on. It is all part of the story and that is how the others saw the project.

So I plan to do the same diligence to get my Halloween tin back!!!!!    It is MINE MINE MINE. I just hope the lady who has it is OK.

Oh yes - a sad note to the Hostage quilt story. The lady in Saskatchewan ended up with TWO quilts that she held hostage - mine and the lady in Manitoba. The lady in Manitoba never got her quilt back. I meant to call and do the same as with mine, but well - I never did. The lady in Manitoba could have done the same as I did!!!!!


Well - I have everything prepared for today - it is packed and I have still have ONE HOUR before I have to leave. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - nice.


I even got all the pieces laid out and all the fabric chosen for my President's challenge (due Monday). Oh yeah - don't ask. But it shouldn't take too long to get it done. Small projects are GREAT!!!!!!!!


On that note - I am going to spend the next hour working on that quilt.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!