Material Girl - but no Madonna

When I was young I knew I was in no way materialistic. It was a known fact that objects meant little to me. I made the best with what I had and didn't worry about the Jones'. I did value the things I did have, especially the sentimental things. I was very ambitious but not in a material way.

Now I have a dark secret to reveal. I am now a "Material Girl"! As my daughter's friend Jen says, "I love me some fabric". I can't go into the fabric store without some design or color catching my eye. It talks to me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. It begs me to touch and caress it and take it home with me.

In my twenties I had quite a collection of fabric scraps. This was due to the fact I made so many of Tonya and Chris' clothes. I also did alternations for people and I would keep the scraps from hems and sleeves if they caught my fancy. I saved those scraps from the time I was 19 until I was 27. I had a great desire to make quilts. I had only made one by this time but I had a passion to make more. After I met the man who was to become my second husband (I use the term husband, lightly), we moved from Texas to Nebraska and he insisted that it was silly to keep all those scraps and lug them with us. Years later when I talked about quilting he admitted it was stupid of him to insist I throw all that beautiful fabric away. A lot of good it did me then.

In 2004, when I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was determined to stop working such long hours and began to dream of quilting again. Now a real quilter would laugh because I know nothing about quilting and it would take years to be of the caliber of the women I know who quilt but that's okay. Everyone has to start somewhere. Desire has to count for something. I figured if I could just get started I could, over time, learn all the tricks and techniques a "true" quilter uses. That year I began spending part of my vacation money (I rarely took a vacation but got paid for it) on fabric. Well, okay, I confess, I spent some of it on eBay for pink depression glass (another love). Well, I cut down on my hours, just a little, for a very short time. The other lady in the office got sick again and now I was back to doing my work, the work of a second employee who was never replaced and the work of the sick Office Manager. All the fabric has been sitting and waiting for me. Some of this fabric is what I bought to make the rag quilts for Jessica and Chris. Can you believe I finally got those done? There's still plenty of fabric. Fabric for a quilt for everyone I love. I would like to paint some fabric and embellish with buttons, ribbons and anything else I can find that catches my eye. I have fabric to make a quilt of a farm in the four seasons. I want to make at least one Spirit Flag. In the meantime, I will be happy to complete even some of the ideas I have in my brain. Now those ideas might have grown in design and grandeur over the years or they may turn out to be moldy and impossible to accomplish. Only time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

To prove I know nothing about quilting.....When Tonya was a toddler I made her a quilt that was passed down through each of my kids. Jessica still has it but it is about a rag (it's probably 35 years old and Jessica was still sleeping with it not many years ago). The fabric is frayed and worn and even has holes in it. The last time I saw it every hand stitched seam was still intact. In high school Jessica was taking Home Economics and they were going to make a quilt. She took mom's quilt to school. When her teacher saw it she told her that she had never seen one like it. She had no idea how her mother had designed it but she said "it worked out". Heck I didn't know I was doing anything wrong. I knew what I wanted it to look like and I made it in sections because it was easier to handle that way. I didn't know how to use a quilt rack and of course I didn't have one. I was consoled that "it worked". I like the idea of the early American women who made quilts out of necessity and used old clothing and flour sacks. Now that's my kind of quilting. Stitching together memories that will last from one lifetime to the next. These quilts actually got used and weren't just stored away for safe keeping. Someone used them to stay warm, to feel safe and secure and to feel loved by the person who took the time to stitch them. I know it was out of necessity but I like to think all the rest went along with it.

So goodnight from the Material Girl...Living in a Fabric World!

In case you are wondering, yes, I am aware that I am not a girl.

Stitching With Love

Finished my second rag quilt today. This one is for Chris. It'll be an early birthday present. I love making these quilts because they are so easy and fast and I love the way they look. The picture doesn't do it justice (lighting you know) . I was worried about the fabric. I really wanted this to be pretty but manly. I had to forgo the flowers that I like so much and of course the lovely colors that I like to use (especially "pink"). It turned out very nice. I was afraid it would be drab but it has it's own beauty. Happy "early" Birthday Chris (Rich). I love you more than you may ever know. Be looking for a blog on your birthday. Don't be scared...I'll be gentle.

Chubby II

Sorry, I absolutely could not resist posting this little update from yesterday's blog. Tonya had this little stuffed dog in storage with all her other "valuables". I remember the little dog but did not remember I gave this to her when her little Chubby died. She remembered and has saved it all these years. We know that all our best efforts can't replace something we have lost but I think this is proof that a "friend" can have an important place in our hearts and help us get through the pain. She has had this since she was five.

Tonya had a little confession after reading my blog. She told me that she use to sneak Chubby into the house and hide under my bed with him and watch the Mickey Mouse Club.

Chubby the Puppy

When Tonya was in elementary school she had to write an essay (if memory serves me right) on who she most admired. One of the most memorable times in my life was when I read her essay (years later) and discovered she had written about her mother. Can you even imagine that. I child who most admires their mother? I was both proud and honored. I will warn you that the story involved her mother breaking the law. Yes, her honest (well most of the time), law abiding, trying to set a good example mother broke the law. Okay, so it was just a little tiny law, probably a misdemeanor not a felony but the law none the less.

We lived in Houston for many years when the kids were little. Houston has (or at least had) a law about pets that die. You can't bury them in your yard. You have to call a certain department of the city and they come and remove the pet from the side of the road where you are instructed to leave it. They don't always make it the same day. It could be several days before your beloved pet is picked up. I use the term picked up very liberally. We had lived in Houston about four years and we moved to a house on a very busy road. In a very short time several pets (and, I guess, one big wheel) met their demise on that road.

My brother worked for a dog kennel that raised speciality hunting dog. When the dogs would get old or sick and be of no use, someone was responsible for putting them out of "their" misery. We inherited more then one dog when my brother had a favorite dog that he could not "put down". One of these dogs was a Brittany Spaniel that was hit on the highway in front of our house. Our neighbor saw what happened and told me I had to call the city because I was not allowed to bury that dog in my yard. I totally would have buried him but I was afraid the neighbor would turn me in. Out of fear, not good citizenship, I called the city and was instructed to put the dog on the curb in front of the house and someone would come and pick him up and he would be properly disposed of. Several days later a city truck pulled up and a man got out of the truck and picked up a pitch fork and walked over, picked up our dog "on a pitch fork" and threw him into the back of the truck. It all seemed so heartless and cruel. I am all about the cycle of life and this is the way it is and accepting what needs to happen but at that moment I couldn't believe how indignant I was. The kids and I watched this through the living room window. If I had any idea what was going to transpire I would not have had allowed them to watch. Don't ask me what I thought. I'm sure I wasn't expecting them to drive up in a hearse and put him into some little doggy casket. I vowed never again. Of course my idea of never again was we wouldn't have anymore dogs and that would solve the problem. Tonya's heart was broken and it wasn't too long before her dad came home with some puppy that he picked up God knows where. I was livid. I absolutely did not want the kids having to deal with losing another pet. I relented, after all, the kids had already seen the new puppy and were ecstatic. This little brown puppy was a little round ball. He could have been one of those little soft Nerf balls. Of course, Tonya named him Chubby. Tonya never let that puppy leave her side. I'm pretty sure she put him in her bed at night and needless to say, that was never allowed. Not good for the puppy, the child or the linens. We had never even had a "house" dog. It was just a matter of time before the little guy got away and it was time for another doggy funeral. Under the cover of night we buried this puppy under the biggest prettiest tree in our backyard. Actually, it was the only tree that wasn't a pecan tree. He had a respectable ceremony and we never owned another dog for many years.

So Tonya most admired me because I broke the law and buried that dog with a proper funeral in our backyard. I guess if I were teaching by example, at least it involved some compassion and not total lawlessness. Aren't I a lucky mom?

A Stitch In Time......

I have spent the last few weeks trying to keep myself busy. Idle hands are the work of the devil you know, so I try to keep them active. Last week I made a rag quilt for Jessica. I bought this material after I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and had surgery in 2004. I swore I was going to give up my work-a-holic ways and start relaxing a little and find time for the things I really enjoy. So I stopped working the minimum of 70 hours a week, seven days a week and I cut down to about 60+ hours and six to seven days a week. Never found the time to start quilting but accumulated lots of fabric getting ready for the event. Thank goodness I was smart enough to mail some of this fabric to myself in Arizona. Last week I finally decided it was time to pull myself up by the bootstraps and mend my lazy ways. When you have worked all your life and often two jobs, it's hard to believe there can be so many minutes in a day. Actually, this extra time is one of the things I thank cancer for. On the other hand goes the guilt of knowing your days may be numbered and you are wasting precious time. Of course all of us are living on borrowed time, healthy or not. I just feel an extra responsibility to not waste that time. It's like I know God gave me a wake up call and I better start paying attention.

So, to make a short story long, (which I am great at doing) I really enjoyed making this quilt. I made this quilt completely by hand (yes, every stitch). Rag quilts are so much fun to do because they are easy and they are quick. Quick and easy gets my attention every time. Not that I won't do complicated and hard but why bother if quick and easy is available. I think this quilt turned out so cute. It was supposed to be purple but it ended up with more red than the other colors. To give credit where credit is due: this pattern is from Jo-Ann fabric stores. No it's not my design. I plan on starting one soon for my son Chris. Yes I bought the fabric in 2004 when I bought the other. The next one will be in plaids. Manly colors of course and yes, without the flowers. I was trying to think of an easy way to applique bicycles on it. That might be too much work. Maybe seam tape for the frame and buttons for the wheels. We'll see how ambitious I feel when I'm into it.

After I was done with the rag quilt....I got very excited about sewing. When I came back to Arizona in October, Tonya and Steve surprised me with a beautiful gift for my house. It is a wonderful 1970's singer sewing machine in a cabinet. I think the cabinet may be from an earlier time period. It has been painted white and is very shabby chic and I love it. The bonus is it sews so beautifully. There is nothing like the old machines for the most beautiful even stitches. Stitching that is identical on both sides. It's also my first machine that isn't portable. I'm very excited.

I was in Hobby Lobby recently and saw some fabric that had little girls all over and expressions. It said BFF, girl talk, love to shop, you go girl and the like. Very cute fabric and I couldn't resist because when I was home for Christmas my 6 year old granddaughter, Serenity, was all about the BFF. It was perfect. I was going to make an apron for her and her BFF, Alianna, for Valentine's Day. Serenity's "favorite" holiday she says. They spend a lot of time at the easel drawing and painting pictures. I figured this was a good gift and it would help save their clothes from paint and marker spots.
Okay, so it snowballed. The two aprons for the little girls then became two more, one for Tonya and one for Jessica. Jessica picked this pattern out 3 or 4 years ago and I offered to make the apron for her. Decided Tonya might enjoy one also. We looked for fabric and it was Tonya's idea to use contrasting fabrics for the pockets and yoke. That was an excellent idea as they turned out much cuter than the one on the pattern. My kids are all so artistic and talented. No! They do not take after their fathers...they all take after their mother of course.

Chin up mate, it could be worse.....

oh, that's right.....it does get worse.....

When these tasks were done I realized that because I made an apron for Serenity to give to her BFF it would probably seem to her that her friend got the same gift as she did and grandma can't let her not know that she is extra special to me. This required the true Valentine apron with heart and all.

OMG! Serenity needs to start shaving those legs....

Is it a bullet?.......

Is it a plane?........

No, it's Super Steve.....

being a good sport and

modeling the Valentine

apron for his mother-in-law!

Thank you Steve!!!

It has to look cute on Serenity, right???

Picture This....

To go where no man has gone before....okay, it's just little olde me who hasn't gone there before. Not a big deal for those of you who are computer savvy, but for me this was a big step for mankind....okay, a big step for me! I have been saving photos on my computer now for several years. They have just sat there, warm and cozy. Today I finally decided to be adventurous and share some of these photos. I have sent some via email and I have copied some on CDs. Can you believe I'm so excited? It really doesn't take alot to make me happy!
Blessings