New Display

This is part of my display that is set up at Jill's Junque in Rice Lake. Check it out if you're ever in town!

Beads Gone Wild!!!!!

I have been over-taken by beading. My quilting has really suffered and I need to find a way to reignite my passion for it again. But, the beads, the beads!!!!! I have been working at a bead store in Rice Lake, WI called Happy Beading Bead Gallery. I am so lucky to work with someone that I both admire and enjoy being with. Getting paid to bead and create is just amazing. I have several charity quilts that I need to get finished and out the door and I'm promising that come August I will get back to them. My beautiful niece, Haylee has been a frequent visitor and she is a beading bug too so we spend our weekends in the studio playing. She will be going back to North Carolina in August and then I will get back to the grindstone.

Tying Up Loose Ends

I am finally getting around to finishing an Anna VanDemark design from a class that I took about three years ago. It is her Heron pattern. I did this so that I could test threads that I plan to use on a quilt that will appear in a book by Claudi Clark-Myers. She has contracted me to quilt at least one quilt (hopefully more) for this book that will come out after the first of the year. The quilt is just stunning. It has several pineapple blocks with palm blocks interspersed. It is in teals, pinks, fuchsia's and greens. The piecer had no fear of color! I am excited but nervous about quilting it. I have never met the piecer so I have to hope that she likes whatever I do. I'm hoping to have it done before the middle of the month so that if she has more work I can help her out.

In addition to the Heron I recently quilted four Quilts of Valor from members of my Birchwood Blueguild Quilting Guild. I still have six to complete.

I recently attended a quilting retreat at Long Lake Conservation Camp in MN. The facility was beautiful, the food was great, and the companionship was priceless. I went with one of my best friends, Pat. We both completed Turning 20 quilts. Her was done in dark blues and dark greens for a granddaughter and was done in the original pattern. I completed a black, white and red Turning 20 4X4. This will be a graduation quilt for my son, now a junior. He doesn't know I'm working on it yet. I have to plan ahead as you can tell by how quickly I get my own projects done. I also completed the pillow case to go with this quilt. Now I just have to add a couple of borders to fit the skinny giant and then quilt it. Sounds easier than it will be.

I am hosting a retreat with Anna VanDemark teaching her Loons project. I have nine students plus myself coming. It will be the first retreat to be held at my new home and studio. I'm excited and anxious.

Well, time to get back to the grind! Thanks for reading!

First Official Blog

I need to first of all thank my friend, Lee, for helping me get this started. I have followed many other artists blogs and thought that they were brave for keeping a log of their works and endeavors and now I have the chance to do the same.

Yesterday, I underwent cataract removal from my left eye. I am 42 years old and am the youngesst person my eye surgeon has ever done this procedure on. Today when he removed the bandage I held my breath. I had worries about being blind in that eye and that would be a very large obstacle to overcome. But, my worries were for naught. The vision is wonderful and the colors are back to normal. It really makes me realize that the other (right) eye is on it's way out too. My dr. told me he would see me again for the next one in four to six months. Great! However, once the surgery is done it is over and cannot regrow. I have never worn glasses so this ordeal was a big wake-up call for me. I value my vision even more now. Yes, I will wear sunglasses from now on!

I finished two ring bearer's pillows the day before my surgery. They were made from one of my best friends' wedding dress. They are for her daughter's wedding. This will be her something old. I did a cross hatch over the dress and then placed a grey pearl bead at the intersection of each line. Then I backed it with a dark grey fabric, added an elastic hand hold and then stitched a dark grey ribbon in the center area to tie the ring to. I hope that her daughter likes them. I did them the day before surgery in case I wasn't able to do this afterwards for a while.

Well, now that I have droned on. Please remember to wear your sunglasses and do not take your vision for granted. It is truly a gift.

Thanks for reading!