This is what I would get if I took the QOV that I'm currently working on, cut it into identical 60 degree triangles and then sewed those together.

It could be ice pellets and puddles, but I think it may be the candy "good and plenty."

I finally got in a sewing groove and got all the blocks put together for the quilt of valor. And this one will get a soak BEFORE it's quilted. Except first I need to get into town to get some Dawn Free and Clear. Well, let me amend that. First, the paved part of the driveway needs to be free and clear of ice, and then I can go into town.

Hi, it's Tommy, your guest blogger showing you a new box that came in the mail for me a few days ago. This box is obviously too small for me. Staff offered to order a larger box, but I think she's only interested in the padding that comes with the box to protect the insides.

You're welcome!

Tommy

Vicki W. has a must read blog post today on how to remove excess dyes from quilts. Although I have made quilts for a long time, I have only recently had a problem with bleeding quilts. I think most of my problems stem from changing to a small front loader that uses very little water.

Being thoughtful and organized, Vicki suggested that before experimenting with my finished quilt, I should test possible results with strip sets left over from making the quilt. I soaked these in a large basin with hot water and synthrapol. And while the red wood grain fabric bled, it was the white fabric with swirls that soaked up any dye it could in any strip set it was part of.

So your goal is not only to protect against bleeders but prevent dye catching as well. And now I have to ask that you stop reading this blog and go read Vicki's instead.

 

The MASSIVE cleanup has morphed into an archeological dig. I found bear remnants in a bag from over 20 years ago. I have run across this bag of bear parts on many occasions but finally decided that it would be better to have a bear than bear parts. He's fully jointed and stands about 6 inches. There were many things I had forgotten about making jointed bears, so it was not an easy surgery. And he looks a bit scared because this was his first time outside. But I think he will be ready for full release sometime in the spring.

Meanwhile, Tommy called me to attend quite a few staff award banquets yesterday. But with neither food nor awards, I'm going to continue to call them staff meetings.

Welcome to 2014. I'm celebrating the New Year with the beautiful suncatcher I won as part of the Real Studio Tour sponsored by Vicki W.

And what would a new year be without resolutions? It's so much fun to chart a new course and develop new strategies for improvement. And I have simplified everything down to three resolutions.

1. Buy no new fabric in 2014.
2. Improve staff meeting attendance and participate with a better attitude.
3. Before acting, ask myself "What could possibly go right?"

This last one may need some explanation. When I was young, my grandfather passed away from complications of a pogo stick accident. Recently, at about 11pm one evening, I found myself dangling from the attic opening over a tipped ladder. This suggested a common inherited trait that might benefit from first asking "What could possibly go right?" Although I didn't wait to adopt this new strategy, I think I will benefit from carrying it forward into the new year.

 

And, of course, it is probably quite obvious that Tommy sees no need for New Year's resolutions. However, he is quite busy this morning developing and implementing more staff performance metrics which I am sure to hear all about at the next staff meeting.