PACKERS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

PACKERS WIN......PACKERS WIN......PACKERS WIN.......

WHEW!!!!!

GO PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S GAME DAY........I know from my years living there.......not a soul will be out on the streets during the game.....everyone will be glued to TV. As you can see......there no such thing as being too loyal to the Packers!!

My palms will be sweating, fingers crossed, heart beating.........we are pulling for the Green and Gold......as they face the Eagles in the NFL Wildcard game this afternoon.

And.....here's a snow report.....it's finally stopped. The sun is out but the temperature was ZERO this morning.......really rare here. We are bracing ourselves for the next storm which will be arriving sometime after midnight tonight - Tues morning. We are hearing totals could range from 4" - 12".......plus as it winds down....freezing rain could make matters worse. Hopefully our power will stay on.......it won't be pretty in this household if it doesn't!!

Now.....I need to go pray to St. Vincent:

Aaron Rodgers, who art in Lambeau, Hallowed be thine arm.

Thy bowl will come, it will be won, in Dallas as it was in Lambeau.

Give us this Sunday our weekly win and forgive the less-passers

as you will not let them pass against us.

Lead us not into frustration, but deliver us from Eagles.

For thine is the MVP, the best of the NFC,

and the glory of the Cheeseheads, now and forever.

Go get'em. Amen

WEATHER REPORT

I'm risking sounding like a broken record......but this winter is looking as bad....maybe worse then last year! WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS when we moved from Wisconsin to NC.

Yup, we are getting grumpy...... It's been difficult to even keep count of the number of snowfalls because these storms are now lasting for days at a time. It started snowing overnight Thurs. and by last night we already had 6+" inches on the ground.......it hasn't stopped so now we probably have a foot in some places. What's even more mind blowing is the prediction of a BIG storm on Sunday/Monday.....big??? We already have BIG....

But.......we can't control Mother Nature so working off our frustration seems to be a better approach then complaining. Several weeks ago we purchased Yaktrax to fit over our waterproof shoes. They were quite pricey so I boldly predicted to 'the husband' that since we did buy them.....it would assure we wouldn't have any more snow. I was so wrong! They work really well by providing traction when walking/running on snow or ice.

No running was taking place here......'the husband' forged ahead while I lagged behind....even using Yaktrax and walking sticks....it was difficult going in this deep snow.

I guess I didn't get a good view of the mountain stream that I was aiming for....beyond the clump of branches. It was a challenge to pull out the camera from my pocket, remove my gloves, and take a picture.......wind gusts almost blew me over at times.

But....gosh.....isn't this beautiful. And.....we haven't lost our electric power so we are warm, with internet and DISH services in place. We have plenty of food (I worked off a lot of calories so dessert is on my agenda tonight).

Now I'm going to SEW......

LAKE OCONEE QUILTERS

Cheers for the Lake Oconee Quilters.......25 hard working students working diligently in my beading basics workshop!!

HOTELS

I'm fearful of repeating the same old song........but you all know my feelings......the better the hotel room, the happier I am. Surprisingly, that doesn't always relate to how much the accommodations cost.

Basically.....for this stay I'm very comfortable in my favorite moderately priced hotel chain....but......

......Here's the weirdness that I know already will drive me nuts during my stay. As is typical.....ya turn on the hall light when you enter the room....usually that controls another light......often a wall light opposite the bed. This is ON....

Hall light is ON....

AND.....so is the bedside light.......

But...the only way to Turn OFF the hall light......is by this switch.....way toooooo far from the BED. I have AWFUL sleeping problems....simply reaching up and turning off the bedside light will wake me up if I'm about to fall asleep reading or watching TV......so to walk across the room to turn the hall light off will keep me awake all night.

Yes, the hall light is off now at it should be......

But, drat.....that means my bedside light is off too.......

I know I'm sounding totally mental. Seriously, I've stayed hundreds of nights at hotels, I've played the light switch roulette game and know how it works...this one doesn't.

So, I will turn off ALL the lights.......and with my 4 bed pillows will recline and watch 'Housewives of Atlanta'..........ya....I admit to following all the housewives in every city......anyone want to do a 'girlfriend contract' with me??

nite, nite.....I must sleep so I can shine for my lecture tomorrow.....

Mary replies to comments.......yes, I too thought of unscrewing the light bulb.....but after rolling the desk chair beneath the offending bulb.......and carefully trying to stand on it....I realized I was risking my life......I could just imagine that chair flying across the carpet dumping me firmly on the floor. Ah......if that's the worst I have to cope with....I'm a lucky gal........it will build character!

PACKERS WIN!!!!!!!

Whoooo wheeee..... Packers 10 - Bears 3 We are heading for Philadelphia next Sunday.......

I'm not sure how I'll be able to accomplish anything this week with my fingers crossed....hey it worked today!! Yeah....yeah....yeah......

"MAKE IT WORK"

Sure enough......I followed Tim Gunn's advice......"Make it Work" and I did. It took years for me to learn the valuable lesson: to allow enough time for experimenting and to listen to your inner voice as you view your work with a critical eye. If the design looks 'off', it probably is. Some projects just need to 'percolate' before the appropriate fix is discovered. No...for me, that doesn't come in a dream. I have to work at it....which is the point. Sometimes we get too focused on the 'end' rather than the process of creating a successful end.

After numerous false starts for finishing ideas....I decided to pursue framing the star by repeating the bead and button theme. Once several segments were added, I realized it look a bit puny.

So......before going any further (in case I changed my mind about this direction and had to rip it out), I went back and began embellishing the straight bead line. The fringy look on the far right was the first I tried. Nope....not quite right......so I played around for (honestly) about another 30 mins. adding and removing beads....until I came up with the treatment in the two segments on the left.

Now I was happy......this techniques isn't in any of my books.....it's just one I created by necessity......along with a happy dance! I hope to work on it later today....though that may be difficult since my fingers will be crossed in hopes of a BIG win for the PACKERS against the Chicago Bears (we HATE the Bears!!).

After framing the center motif with this bead/button sequence.....the piece will require additional finishing; squaring, backing, and finishing the edges. I'm sure that will be another "Make It Work" kinda process since I haven't made those decisions just yet.

Detail

The continuing construction details will be posted as they occur.....which may have to wait till later in the week. Starting tomorrow, I'll be visiting with the Lake Oconee Quilt Guild, near Madison, GA for a few days. If you are nearby......please join the fun.

WELCOME TO 2011 & NEW WORK!

Like most of us......we approach the New Year with all sorts of resolve.....my resolve began about a week ago. I'm determined to get more stitching done in 2011. As my blog teaching schedule indicates.....I'll be doing less and less travel teaching this year, which should leave a bit more time for designing and sewing time. (Though having a retired husband at home takes up more time than one might imagine!) *I'm happy to have him though!!

In a rare cleaning frenzy, I came across a box from C & T Publishing that I barely glanced at when it was returned to me about 2 years ago. It contained the miscellaneous supplies and step-by-step samples from my book "Embellishing With Felted Wool". Ta-da......in it was a small stabilized and marked woolfelt piece which was a perfect jump-start project to tackle during this busy time of year.

The square design area is 11" x 11" and features a star motif.

So, I grabbed my white button collection.....sorting out the small ones to keep the proportions of my design in scale with the overall size of the wall hanging. Next, the buttons were positioned to fill in the shape of the star. They were secured with one pass of Nymo beading thread just to hold them in place in preparation for beading.

Stitching through only 2 holes of a 4 hole button is adequate for this step. Notice at the top of the photo.....where I've come back and added beads to cover the holes and thread path on each bead.

This extra step of bead embellishing the buttons provides an attractive and more polished finished piece.
Next, I decided to add some hand embroidery.....basically just chicken scratches....although I'm sure there is a proper name for that stitch. Working on a stabilized piece of woolfelt (in a QSnap frame) will avoid distortion of the fabric. Notice how nice and flat this is, even after all the stitching.

I didn't want to duplicate the pattern that is featured in my book.....so now it's time for patience as I begin auditioning various finishing ideas. Though I like the scale and shape of this rick rack, it had a bit too much Christmas look for me at the moment. (Maybe two weeks ago I'd have liked it!)

Some bright yellow woolfelt strips were another consideration which I rejected. But now....looking at the photo....I like it better.

Next I tried the idea of alternating seed beads and buttons to frame the piece. Although I can get frustrated when a project is stalled.....this is actually the part of designing that gives me the most satisfaction once I get the right mix. So......as Tim Gunn would say....... Make it work!

So....watch what happens......

Happy New Year Everyone.....may all your wishes & resolutions come true!

A MEMORY TO CLOSE OUT THE YEAR

My friend Kay Sorensen, another Cheesehead.....shared this cute photo with me. Her almost 5 year old grandson Cooper decided he could cook.....and with a little help recently made coffee, hot chocolate, and tea to serve to Kay's family. (His older sister Heidi is in the background.)

So....why is this of any interest? Because he's holding a copy of my cookbook which was published in 1980. Cooking was my 2nd career (after working for TWA for years). Interestingly, one my favorite parts of cooking was the garnishing......and now that I've found my way to quilting.....my favorite activity is embellishing. All I've done is change mediums!

When I asked Kay if I could post this photo.....she remarked: We never know how far what we do, say and write goes and how it influences others. She couldn't be more insightful......because it was Kay who talked me into attending my first quilt guild meeting at the North West Suburban Quilters Guild (Chicago area). The guest that night was Ginny Beyer.....that meeting changed the course of my life. Thank you Kay!

It's with creative respect that I highly recommend her blog......Kay is one talented lady.

So....as we say goodbye to 2010......we can look back and smile at all the good times and look forward to new adventures in 2011! Happy New Year everyone....thanks for sharing this past year with me........

THANK YOU ELLEN FOR YOUR NICE COMMENTS.......

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE OPRY!

When we can't be with 'the perfect child' and 'the perfect daughter-in-law' for Christmas.....we've opted to head to Nashville to attend the Grand Ole' Opry which takes place during this time of the year at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The 'Opry' was held here from 1943-1974, in what was once a church. You'll have to excuse my photos.....my camera doesn't do a good job taking photos in very dim indoor lighting (or its operator doesn't)!! We prefer sitting in the balcony....and believe me....it's never this empty during the show.

On the left, in the light, you'll see an announcer. The Opry is preformed as a live radio show each week. We get a kick out of watching all the behind the scenes activity that goes on while the announcer presents the commercials and other chatter. In the foreground, in the dim light....the stage hands are preparing the microphones etc. for the next musical group who are standing around yacking to each other. Of course you can't hear what they are saying.....clearly there is no nervousness.....they are all just chatting it up......and then w/o any outward signals that we could see...they step up to their microphones and begin their set. Amazing!

The 4 artists to the right of the Christmas tree are background singers.....however they don't perform during every song. When they aren't singing you can see them wandering around on stage as well. Between acts, a stage hand puts sheet music on their stands....and then every so often they reappear to sing along with the artists. It's my understanding there are no rehearsals for the shows, so it's really remarkable how they can just chime in when needed with just the right vocals.

This is the view of the 'set' musicians.......they too play backup for the various acts.......and are considered some of the most talented musicians in town. When they aren't playing....you can see them hanging around the stage....gossiping, laughing, glad handing each other. It's really fun to watch all this activity while the live radio show is being broadcast.

Well, yet again....here's my favorite group, Dailey & Vincent.....the highlight of the show. Their bluegrass music is perfection!

Their current CD is an homage to the Statler Brothers....another famous bluegrass group. I always thought the Statler Brothers were brothers whose last name was Statler. Well......two of the members of the group ARE brothers but their last name is not Statler. In fact, the group took the name from a box of tissues! (which is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame.)

The Statler Brothers received the CMA's Vocal Group of the Year award six years in a row (1972-77) and again in 1979, 1980, and 1984.

I'm wearing out D & V's newest CD....which features this talented group preforming all Statler Brothers songs. Every single one will set your toes a tappin', such as "I'll Go To My Grave Loving You". What fun it was to see its original manuscript in the County Music Hall of Fame Museum.

Wouldn't it be fabulous to be able to write the words and music to a song? I'm in awe.....