Weekend Doings

Posted on May 18, 2012 by KellyV (Kelly the Fifth)

Get ready. Set. Start your engines Grandma.

The toddler in my life will be with us this weekend. New, age-appropriate toys have been procured. May I say B. toys at Target make my eyes happy and come with not too many beeps and whistles. Some. That is the way of it. (I am hoping Colin dusts off his scroll saw this summer and gets moving on some wooden toys we keep talking about that have none of the mentioned beeps. I don’t have a lot of problems with the beeps but they train a short attention span. There are times when I feel like beeping to get my students to look at me and focus.)

San Diego shows excellent weather on Sunday. My daughter-in-law told me this when she first moved to San Diego with my son so that he could attend law school: “The first day after we moved to San Diego I walked outside and it was a beautiful day. The next morning I walked outside and it was a beautiful day.” By the third day, she decided that was how life rolled in her new town. We are looking forward to toasting our new graduate – my niece. And blessed be, she has a job.

I have sewed some in the mornings this week – a bit. So far, I am happy.

Lots more to go but this is the fun part – watching a quilt take on an inner vision. Sewing this quilt also brings back all the memories of that amazing trip with Colin and the fun we had exploring his Mom’s country.

Have a good, good weekend.

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The Fun Part Begins: WIP

Posted on May 15, 2012 by KellyV (Kelly the Fifth)

For me, the fun part of quilting has begun. I love thread. I don’t know why but I do. Since my hands cannot tolerate hand applique I am first gluing and then sewing together the pieces with a tight but not satin zigzag. I love finding the thread that makes my eyes happy. My teacher at Asilomar talked a lot about hard lines and soft lines and to be careful to use thread purposefully. Most of the thread lines are soft lines but I couldn’t resist one hard line because I love variegated thread.

I don’t care what thread I use on the quilt top – it just needs to do what I want. I am mostly using #100 Kimono silk but the variegated thread was King Tut. I am still pulling more thread as there are lots of greens and browns in this quilt. I use a #50 cotton in the bobbin because it doesn’t slip on me. Most quilters I know use something like Bottom Line but it always slips on me and my threads undo. It is probably because of the way I start and stop.

Lots more sewing ahead. We have another wonderful graduation this weekend in San Diego. San Diego is such a great city and there is a niece there ready to start non-school life. Imagine that – out of academia after being in school for 20+ years. I remember when her dad used to take her to preschool mid-week and spend the morning with her there. It paid off as she is a grand young woman.

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Of Graduations, Mother’s Day, & A Little Bit of Quilting

Posted on May 13, 2012 by KellyV (Kelly the Fifth)

Mom & Dad are feeling the joy. My graduate may be thinking, “Bar review starts Monday. See you all in a few months.” But what a fine, grand day it was yesterday.

We are going to my other son’s house for a Mother’s Day swim party. It shows to be in the 80s – so it is going to be fabulous. Mothers and grandmothers take a bow. We are awesome – at least that is what Catherine’s card to me said.

I sewed just a little bit on The Just Because Quilt. I need to stipple the lower side in this picture and then begin the teeny tiny lines between the leaves and the outer edge. Next week is going to be filled with IEPs so we will see how much progress I make.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom. I love you.

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A Very Small WIP Update: The Ring of Brodgar Quilt

Posted on May 10, 2012 by KellyV (Kelly the Fifth)

As the crazy time continues at work – not quite the Silly Season – but close, I have been working on the Just Because Quilt before school starts for about 30 minutes. After all the chores are done at the end of the day I have been watching BBC on Netflix on my iMac and making applique pieces for the Ring of Brodgar. Man oh man, this takes longer than fusing but I am liking the depth it gives to the quilt so far.

I actually have most of the pieces ready and when I have time will need to get a background prepared. I have been thinking about techniques. I need a technique that makes my eyes happy to attach these pieces. It may involve more Roxanne’s temporary glue baste-it. I will just need to use my #90 needles. Glue makes the needle clunk a bit.

It is graduation season, yes? My family has two big ones this year. My son graduates from law school and has a job waiting.  My niece graduates from San Diego State. And she has a job, too! Now if only my daughter can find a teaching job…not looking good California.

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Happy Birthday To You Little Sister

Posted on May 7, 2012 by KellyV (Kelly the Fifth)

Happy Birthday To You! (in a store bought dress no less!)

Happy Birthday To You (at the Grand Canyon)!

Happy Birthday Dear Sister (at Grandpa’s house),

Happy Birthday To You (cool high school kid!)

And Many, Many More! (Thanksgiving – back in the other century.)

Love,

Kelly

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