27-17

SWEET VICTORY!!!!!!

And.....yikes Laura W. (regarding your comment on my 9/25/11 post).....no the Bears do not have better uniforms.....if it wasn't for the white pants, they'd look like over-ripe pumpkins.....on second thought....they do!

8 more are out of the Suicide Pool after picking NE Patriots to win yesterday.......though that certainly seemed like a safe bet. I'm golden (as in green and GOLD....beautiful colors).....the Titans won....though I got a scare in the 4th quarter and thought for awhile that I was toast too.

Week #4.....here I come......my pick?? Haven't decided yet......will start studying asap.

IT'S GAME DAY

I interrupt the return to quilt related posts for a loud GO PACKERS cheer this morning. Hate is a really strong word......but one that is used often by Packer fans in regard to the Chicago Bears.

This rivalry began in 1921.....and we Cheeseheads are hoping for another Packer victory today at Soldier's Field in Chicago.

Rodgers.....get your game face on!

This is what I hope to see..........green and gold everywhere!

One very annoying aspect of living in NC is the lack of TV coverage for our beloved Packers.....so we will be heading to a sports bar later today to see the game. Oh by the way....in case anyone cares.....I'm still in the Suicide Football pool.....well okay it's only week #3......but still, 9 others are already out. So, I'll also be keeping tabs on the earlier TN/Denver game. Fingers crossed for a Titans win!

PUSSY WILLOWS YIPPIE!!!

Finally!!! It's finished.......sitting and waiting for me at the craft store was the perfect light grey flecked mat board which complimented the design without over-powering it. I cut the mat licitly split and have been admiring it ever since.

Yes, it was worth all the aggravation.....really, it pays to keep at it until it's right, even if one does resort to sulking from time to time.

Pussy Willows 11" x 19"

Artist's hand dyed felted wool, machine stitched, beaded, and hand embroidered

$200

click on photo to enlarge

PUSSY WILLOWS SAGA

After my disappointment finding there wasn't enough brown woolfelt to edge this piece, I thought it'd be a simple matter to mat and frame it. Seems like this project continues to have a mind of its own!

The narrow long frame I had was too long.....requiring the matting to be quite wide at the top and bottom.....which may have been okay 'if' it wasn't white...which stuck out like a sore thumb.

So I decided to utilize the bottom edge of the piece which I had planned to cut off....adding embroidered roots to better incorporate it into the design.

DAH......after completely about half, I put it on the design wall.....drat.....they disappeared! Though the color was great at about 1 foot, it wasn't at a distance. Off it came.

Now, using lighter tones......this is better.

The addition of French Knots provided the necessary texture to go with the rest of the piece.

Which leaves me just where I was before......trying to finish the edges.....stay tuned....with coupon in hand, I'm off to the craft store to see if I can find a better mat color.....

PUSSY WILLOWS CONTINUED.....

It seems like forever since I've had a chance to do any stitching......yet there have been snippets of time here and there where progress continued on this pussy willow design. Click here to view my first post about this project......then read on.....

Here the beadwork has been completed. Note the basting lines that denote the 'planned' outer edges.

After studying the finished piece, I decided it was NOT finished. So....I added some machine stitching to provide more interest and texture to the background fabric.

It's better now, don't you think??

Next I decided to add a beaded dragonfly. Seriously, this shouldn't have become such a time consuming decision......but getting the wings just right certainly was. I tried about every transparent fabric I could find....fusing layers together, painting them.....in general experimenting again and again.

Until I put the piece back on my design wall, I was happy with this result. The wings were created by fusing two layers of the above leaf that a friend gave to me. I liked the motif...unfortunately it was way too small....sigh!

.....that error in judgement required removing the entire dragonfly and starting over. Oh well.....when it's not right.....ya gotta admit it and begin again. This one fit the space better.

.....and now I'm back to the same decision point I was before.....how to finish the edges. I had planned to use brown woolfelt to 'frame' it but.......you guessed it, I don't have enough.

I could pout....and okay....I did pout, but my motto is....change problems into a 'design opportunity'!! And I will....stay tuned.

AIR TRAVEL

Short getaways are such a great way to get renewed and refreshed.......and a perfect opportunity to bond with family.

Air travel has gotten more difficult.....I think everyone can agree about that! Because my teaching schedule has been so hectic over the last 23 years, justifying a membership to an airline club for the last 11 years was a given. Now that my retirement plans are almost upon me, I simply couldn't sign on that expensive dotted line this year. So....here I am at San Francisco's United terminal....like a puppy dog with my nose against the magic glass door to the oasis beyond.

At least I didn't throw myself down on the floor kicking and screaming......"I want my pass to get in!"

Instead, my time was spent wandering around. I enjoyed this exhibit featuring the evolution of television. Some of you youngn's may not even know what this is....but I can still recall the 'test' pictures displayed when a channel went off the air for the night. A far cry from today's 24-7 programing.

This artwork caught my eye.

I can barely remember TV's that look like this. Aren't we spoiled now with our 70" ones?

And who can forget Bonanza....

...or later Mash??

It was fun revisiting the birth of the TV and certainly helped pass the time between flight # 1 & #2. My layover in Chicago between # 2 & # 3 flights was longer. People watching kept me occupied there!

JUST STUFF

'The husband' is holding down the fort at home while I took a few days to head to the West coast to visit my brother and his family. It's one of those things that is so easily postponed. It's so easy to blame the lack of time for not keeping better in touch with our loved ones.

I'm determined to be more proactive about spending time with family!

So....here I am in the state of OR.....and my sweet sister-in-law surprised me with this terrific coffee mug. Of course you all may know I'm a proud Cheesehead.....even if I now live in NC.....Wisconsin will always be home for me. What's even more perfect about this mug is the addition of the mouse.

.......not that this matters to anyone.......but in case you are interested...... no one in my family calls me Mary. I have always been known by the nickname "Mouse". This was such a thoughtful gift.....purchased at the airport in Green Bay, WI.....

So...what is this all about?? Well.....it's a reminder to all you hoarders out there......someday your kids will be cleaning out your homes/condos/apartments. And.....your kids may feel so sentimental....they too will find themselves paying a shipping bill of $900 to move 'stuff' from one part of the country to another.....

Only to have your spouse get grumpy about where on earth all this useless stuff will be stored in your own home.

Yes, I'm tattling on my tender hearted sister-in-law who found so many memories in her parents home while it was being emptied that they filled all these boxes. I've been laughing like crazy over the 'debate' my brother has been having with her about the practicality of her decision to ship all this stuff to OR. It should be real fun watching as the unpacking occurs and more 'debates' are sure to come.

So......remember everyone.......declutter now so you kids don't have to!!!

WORLD RECORD

Thanks to the 'perfect child' for sharing this......here's one more for your...."I can't believe it" file...... click here.

ATTENTION DOG LOVERS

During my growing up years (hummm is that over??), we never had pets......well we did have 2 (outside) rabbits for awhile which disappeared one day in early winter. Later we found out my Mom gave them to someone....the pets became dinner. So sad..... But now that I think about it....what a practical thing to do when caring for a pet becomes impossible in frigid Wisconsin.

The first dog I ever shared my life with after I got married was a bulldog. "Chopper" was the sweetest thing.....well, that is once I got over being afraid of her! So....our heartstrings are always pulled a little bit when we see this breed of dog.

Rarely do I spent time watching online videos....heck, I don't have enough time in the day for the things I need to get done! However.....I encourage you to watch this one....you won't believe it. The last section is my favorite part (as I watched trying to pick my jaw up off the floor). Click here.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the closed door during quilt show judging? I've had the pleasure of judging both large and small quilt shows all across the country. Though exact procedures may differ slightly from show to show, overall, much of the process is the same.

The Asheville Quilt Guild is preparing for their upcoming annual show and today was the first of two days for judging. Members are not permitted to judge the show, so because I don't hold any other position in the guild....which of course is run by volunteers, I offered to be a helper so I can give back a little bit to the guild. There are lots of tasks that need doing.

I thought I'd share a little bit about our day.

Each category is arranged on cloth covered tables.....with another cloth protecting them while they await their turn in the judging rotation. The Asheville show is a large one.... over 200 quilts....

The judge or judges will judge all quilts in each category at one time. Volunteers 'fan' the quilts by folding each one back to give the judges a quick overview. Then the quilts are 'fanned' back to the original position. Next, each single quilt is held up for a closer view to observe impact, color, design etc. while another volunteer reads the description provided by the quiltmaker.

Next the judge/s examine the piece closer to access the construction. Scribes are standing by to record comments from the judge. Often the organizers have a specific form with breakdowns of areas they wish the the judge to respond to. That can mean a numeral rating or plus and minuses, or even such wording as 'satisfactory' or 'needs improvement.'

The most time consuming portion of this critique process is the comment section. We judges always like to provide both constructive and positive comments. For instance, the quilting stitches may be well executed, but the markings remain on the quilt (a big no, no.)

Whether working as a single judge or in a team, the next step is the decision to 'release' or 'hold' each piece. Holding means the quilt will be considered for an award. This is a way of narrowing down the group, often more quilts are 'held' then there are awards. After the entire category has been reviewed, the judges return to the hold table to make the final decisions.

Releasing means the quilt is no longer in contention for an award and is relocated to another table....after which it will ultimately be hung in the show with all the rest of the quilts.

Here, our two judges, Charlotte War Anderson (left) and Linda Fielder (right) examine a quilt as they confer with each other regarding the critiques they will be giving to the scribes.

Each quilt that is awarded a First Place ribbon is separated and will be reviewed again when all the quilts have been judged. It's from these quilts that the Best of Show quilt is chosen. All ribbon winners from whatever category that final quilt came from move up one position.....for instance, the second place winner now becomes a Blue Ribbon Winner.

Many shows have special awards as well. These generally recognize excellence in hand or machine workmanship, theme categories, judges choices. Most shows prefer that a quilt receive only one ribbon, rather than for instance, a First Place and Excellence in Color. This has the advantage of being able to recognize more quilts.

It's gratifying that so many quilters are willing to share their work for all of us to enjoy......I hope your fall will find you at a quilt show!

The Asheville show will be held Sept. 30 - Oct. 2nd. Click here for more details.