I found this sweet stripe up in the mountains near Lake Gregory in Crestline.  I loved it and immediately knew I wanted to make something for Lorna.  Does that ever happen to you?  You see a fabric, know that you love it and you know the perfect person for it... you just don't know quite what it'll look like.

That was this fabric.  I spent all morning thinking about it.  I looked at every pattern I own, every website I could think of, and then I pulled out the big guns.  I closed my eyes, and tried to imagine Lorna spinning around talking to the imaginary friend of the day.  What was she wearing? 

Immediately this dress came to mind.  I took an old pair of Kevin's jeans and cut out a "jumper top."  I have a skirt, pants, top... the works planned.  It's going to be adorkable.  So, today I cut out the appliques and did the embroidery.  Isn't it darling?

The entire leaf hopper is beaded. It took forever! Then I sewed vertical lines with some slightly shiny silvery thread that made it look like rain, and then for the raindrops I sewed some clear faceted beads with an AB finish on the leaves and flowers, and along the top of the green vertical inner border. It looked so cool. Sort of like looking into a jungle through an open window.

I didn't want to send it off, but I did. It will be auctioned off (along with 49 others) to benefit the guild's operating budget. I hope it makes mucho mulah! It is beautiful.

I am also making a quilt that I designed called "Tea is for the Birds" which I will be entering into their 2008 quilt show in Seattle. This quilt show has previously taken place biennially, but this year will be the first of the now annual event. It's a great show. I've been to many of the large shows: Houston, Pacific International, Road to California, etc. and none can begin to compare with the class act that the APNQ
(Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters) manages to put together for the Northwest to enjoy.

Here is a picture of the quilt I hope to be entering:

Here is a detail of the center block:

It took me forever to piece the backgrounds for the applique and the borders. I must be crazy, because I HATE piecing! I'm trying really hard to embrace it. I'm even taking a class to make a quilt that is entirely pieced. We'll see how long I last!

i got the first two mini's sent off to the san jose quilt museum - and she liked them.  yea!  i have now completed two more.  did the same design twice cause when i did the first one i realized it was a really easy and quick one to do.  am trying to get a few to her right away, so that seemed a good idea.  turns out they are similar in color as well.  i like them both.

         well, the last time i tried to do left and right it didn't work like this.  i never know quite what to expect with inserting the pictures.  must be something i'm doing.  

guess we will go to the fairgrounds for the fireworks later.  haven't talked to anybody up there.  we usually go just a little before.  it's the getting back home part that takes forever.  it's all of about 5 min away - 1min, if i were a crow!  but getting home can take 30 min if you make the wrong choice - which we (I?) did last year.  i think i will keep my mouth shut this time. ^_^

did finally get up to those tubs and do that kit count.  have a little better idea what i really really need before bend.  sooo, will be getting to that now.  i need some of the iris, and they have beads included, so will at least get those counted and bagged.  ok, don't actually count them (used to), just try to put the same amount in each bag.  i think i still have 8 kits cut and ready, so will probably just fold those, for now.  sure wish i knew what to 'expect'.  but, even if i could count on a gazillion people buying - still don't know which ones will be the most popular.  it changes every show.  best i can do, if i run out, is offer to ship.  that usually works.  not like she's gonna rush home and start on it tomorrow!  more like i'll see her next year somewhere and hear how it's not even started, yet! ^_^

happy 4th to you and yours.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

Since last year's 3rd Annual BBQ was a hit, we're doing it again!

This year's Menu includes:

• Filet Mignon Skewers (BBQ and Teriyaki)
• Mussels and Clams in White Wine
• Italian Cocktail and Ring Sausage
• Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
• Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
• Sirloin Cheeseburgers
• Hot Dogs
• Roasted Peppers with Capers
• Variety of Chilled Salads

Treats:

• Villabate Cakes and Pastries
• Homemade Italian Ice
• Seasonal Fruits
• Cotton Candy Machine
• Popcorn Machine
• Homemade Caramel Apples
• Candy Cart

Entertainment: for All Ages:

• Magician and Card Shark
• Pirate Ship Amusement Ride
• Giant Moon Bounce
• Face Painting, Balloons and Temporary Tattoos
• Child Entertainer
• Babysitters

And of course...Lots of Booze!

Just 20 minutes from Manhattan, so if you'd like to come and/or need directions, my phone number, etc., send me an email at domesticdiva@si.rr.com.  Hope to see you there!  Bring your family!  I guarantee it will be a party to remember!

Okay, here's where I need your help:

Remember these?  I had bought them last year in hopes of using them for little favors for the BBQ.  I have 240 of them...LOL!  So, tell me...what can I put inside as a reminder of the party?  Don't say M & Ms or Almonds...remember, it's going to be hot outside, so it needs to hold up to the heat.

Here's my ideas so far:

• Old-Fashion Candy Necklaces 
• Deck of Cards
• Swedish Candy Fishies
• Margarita Mix
• Colored Chalk
• Candy Buttons

Got any clever ideas for these little pink boxes?  First 10 suggestions will get the winning favor mailed to them after the BBQ (just remind me...LOL)!

On the subject of sewing, check this out...

Threads' Industry Insider Techniques CD

Well, time to get back to work (I have 17 tote bags to machine applique/embroider...)

Doesn't look like me, huh?  Simplistic, retro, high style, funky.  I'm digging the bird silhouettes - they will be appliquéd onto a white background.  I've been seeing birds pop up in art & decor recently: at the Des Moines Art Festival, on HGTV over the weekend.  Must be in... not that I'm paying attention. :)

The quilt fabrics won't be entirely solids like are shown in the quilt draft (created using my new EQ6 software), but some will be.  The cross-hatching in the center square will be quilting lines in red thread. 

I already have a title: Lovebirds (Circle gets a Square).

      i am planning to stick to the simpler ones for now - hoping to be able to get more done that way.  while they all go pretty fast, some of them do have a lot of pieces and can take longer.

my plan is to sew for most of the day and then to do some fabric folding while vegging in front of hgtv this evening.  tomorrow i will once again attempt to do an inventory of the kits that will allow me to really know what the heck i have!  for some reason i just haven't gotten myself organized enough in that area.  it is because there are 3 different stages to consider.  there are the show tubs, which (obviously) need to be kept 'stocked'.  and there are actually 2 different ones - well, 4, no 5, really.  for each of the two main series (ancient art & nearly nouveau) there is a tub that contains both kits and patterns.  then, there is a single tub that holds the 'extra' kits for both.  in addition, there's also a tub for the simply flowers line - that has both patterns and kits in it.  oh, and then there is the tub with the mini's.  PLUS, there are additional extra kits stored in the garage.

ok, all of that is for 'finished' kits.  then there is the new filing system in here that contains all the kits that i've cut and not yet folded and stuffed into bags along with their patterns (and, thus, 'finished').  it's very good to know what i have so i don't spend time cutting what i don't really need! (just did that for one!)

soooo, i have now decided that my old brain really needs the 'at home' inventory (both cut and finished) on a separate sheet from the 'show' inventory!!  i am hoping that will allow me to keep better track of where the heck i am - inventory wise! ( i think the hard drive between my ears is getting overfull. ^_^  )

so, tomorrow i will first reorganize those show tubs - again.  and refill as i can.  then, i will once again count what's (left) in the garage and also record at least a rough number of what has been cut.

sounds like a plan to me!

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

I made 15 of these blocks to alternate with the Stack 'N' Whack blocks.  I hadn't intended to do the applique by hand. However,  since I've spent so much time in the last three weeks with my leg propped, it was easier to do it by hand.  You already saw how I made the yo-yos.  I made the stems with a Clover bias tape maker and the leaves I drew on freezer paper and used for a pattern.

I finished the quilt top at about 11:45 last night.  So did my plan work to calm down the blocks?

I think so.  I think it shifted the focal point from those busy blocks to the cherries.  The Stack 'N' Whack blocks now play second fiddle to the applique blocks.

Usually it is my kids who scour the free boxes at the garage sale.  This past weekend I actually looked at the free box.  My husband had bought a washing machine and dryer at a moving sale (we have rentals) and the whole family went along.  While we were waiting for him to load the appliances, we browsed the sale. 

Inside the free box was fabric paint.  Since I was working on a painted fabric project at home the box caught my eye.  By the time I found the box my husband was ready to go, so I just grabbed the whole box including the fabric paint.  I realized later that the box also contained fabric with appliques and heat bond.

Yesterday I pulled out the box.  My daughter wanted to embellish some t-shirts.  She picked out the appliques for each t-shirt.  I did the cutting and bonding.  She did some of the painting around the edges of the appliques. 

After I finished the first 3 projects, I thought "Wow! What a great thrifty project for kids!".  She already had a bunch of blank t-shirts.  All the applique material was free.  The t-shirts look great and we had a great time making them.

By the way she has 6 more t-shirts lined up to embellish.

i don't have a picture of the whole quilt that shows all 3 of these little babies - am just giving you a peek.  truth is, i think the quilt might even look better with them - so, all is well.

these are not the two that hide the small tear.  they are the ones added for balance and integrity - so to speak.  i think they look just perfect flitting about in the bamboo. ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

ok, i just had to take some pictures of this plant.  i mean, have you ever seen a thistle plant this large?  not sure i have.  and i didn't think the wild ones had such colorful flowers.  guess i just missed them before.  the goldfinches are really going to love it when it  goes to seed. 

   ok, let's see if i can get the other two pictures in right.  program giving me fits, here.

        ok, that one is good. 

and there you have them.  sure would like to figure out a way to do one in applique.  probably have to embroider that bloom.  we shall see.

now it's time to get  back to it here.  have spent the day doing paperworkd so far.  now it's time to get up to the garage and get those tubs back in order.  i really threw things in at last teardown.  i was just so ready to be out of there.  plus, i had some help and i wanted to make the most of it!   was able to get it all put away, so we could take down the walls and get everything hauled out to the rv.  still took me awhile to get it all into the rv after he left. ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

So I'm finally finished appliqueing the Washington Cherry Wreath quilt.  Actually, I finished the applique a couple of weeks ago, I'm just behind on putting up these pictures.  It was a big job.  I think I picked something a little challenging for my very first applique.  But, it's done.  I appliqued for about 4-6 hours a day for about 3-4 days straight.  It was crazy.  I think I'll take a break before I start a new applique.  :)  I used variegated green on the leaves and wreath, and really like the way it turned out with all the different shades of green.  Once I get it quilted, I'll put up some finished pictures. 

so, here is the first one i am sending - for the 'audition', if you will.  first picture is just the applique and the second is it in the frame.  that one i had to take from the side a bit in order to avoid the flash reflecting in the 'glass' (plexi).

pardon the wrinkled towel around it, just had to  cover the stuff on my table.  am in the middle of lots of stuff and didn't have time to be a professional photographer. ^_^

so, now i just have to get busy and do many more asap.  and keep your fingers crossed that 'the boss' likes it well enough to use as the gift.  wouldn't that be fun! ^_^

ok, off to my friend carla's house to deal with the opportunity quilt.  yep, have some additional 'work' to do due to someone being just a tad careless.  however, i think it will end up being 'even better'.  that's MY story and i'm stickin to it!

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

George Krause did this beauty, entitled "Fountainhead" in 1970. I suspect that in some parts of the west, such a delightful experience would be most welcome.

Well, the garden is officially planted for the second time. I couldn't get any more tomato plants or any sweet peppers but I did manage to get four Anaheim peppers which are mildly hot and good for a lot of dishes. The garden doesn't look too bad, and the corn seems to be going a bit. Some of the tomato plants look rather spindly, but who knows, they may take off. I'm wondering if I should get some fertilizer out on it. Perhaps the heavy rains have washed away nutrients. The little pepper plants, no more than about 7 inches tall are trying to set fruit. That concerns me, since I'm thinking they are not going to produce much. Nothing can be done.

It seems the story is the same everywhere. The Contrariansstep brother has sprayed his fields for weeds so apparently he thinks the corn will come along. Since we planted at nearly the same time, that gives us some hope. Surely he wouldn't spend the money for nothing. He must feel that the chances are still worth it.

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A huge congrats to Deborah over at (Mis)Adventures of a Crafty Wifey. Seems they are pregnant. Stop by and give her and hubby a nice high five.

William Penn is of course the reason Pennsylvania is called, well PENNsylvania. Yesterday marked the anniversary of his penning ( no pun intended of course) a treaty between his white folks and the native tribe there, the Lenni Lenape. King Charles II had given Penn the land, but of course it was never his to give. Read more at Martin's American History Blog.

Hannibal won a significant battle against the Romans on this date in 217 B.C.E. Of course in the end he lost. N.S. Gill's Ancient/Classic History Bloghas the details. The Contrarian and I seldom hear of Hannibal when we don't recall a funny incident. We were watching "Millionaire" back in its beginnings when Regis Philbinwas still hosting at night. The first question to a contestant was "What animal did Hannibal use to cross the Alps in his war against Rome?" Without batting an eye, the young man confidently exclaimed with obvious superiority, "Llamas!" ROFL. Now there is so much wrong with that that well it never fails to get us laughing like crazy.

Sandi's Crochet Blog offers a pattern for an afghan, and she offers you three different sizes. The pattern is called shell triangles and it's very lovely I thought. I have a couple of afghans in progress already, but of course I seldom work on them during the summer months. Just to hot and the yarn drags horribly and your hands sweat. (We don't use air-conditioning) I have tried to leave comments on her site but they never open up. If any of you have any luck, let me know.

You can find a very interesting discourse on George Washington at American Revolution Blogtoday. He discusses at length Washington's faith, and how he interpreted that in light of his responsibilitiesboth as Revolutionary General and later as President. A very impressive overview.

I've been on a cilantro kick for a while. The fajitas we had yesterday were so much enhanced by fresh cilantro in the salsa. So it should come as no surprise that I found this recipe from  Baking Delights enticing. It's called Cilantro Chickenand is a quickie. I'm rather certain I shall make it before the end of the week, though I will be significantly cutting it down for two.

Today Civil War Women features Judith Carter Henry. The story is about the first battle of Bull Run and an unlikely victim of that battle. Mrs. Henry, 85 years old, was one of casualties and, and as Maggie points out, the romanticism of war soon faded.

My intestines have caught up with me so I've had to put on the breaks with my love affair with fruit for a bit. But that doesn't mean that I want to deprive you of a great recipe. Mango Blueberry Fool is sure to please your family any day, but especially on the hot summer days when fruit tastes just so darn good. Thanks to Epicurious for another fine one.

I thought I would include this fromFeeling Stitchy today, in honor of our friend Vicki at Knitting Dragonflies. A plethora of dragonflies for your inspiration! Patterns, tutorials and links to other great dragonfly-inspired projects for embroidery and quilting. One is also beaded, so lots of different craft ideas are available.

Okay, have you tried planting an avocado seed? I have, and have actually grown one to a real plant, but then it just died. I think I may try again with the expert advice I found at Gardening Tips 'n Ideas. Take a peek and don't send that poor old avocado seed off to the compost heap again. Grow your own! Of course it takes years to produce fruit, so either grow as a houseplant or transplant to a movable container and eventually you will get fruit. We can't plant outside here in Iowa, it's too cold in the winter.

Alice Parker is another of those unfortunate women who was tried as a witch. While many try to play down this time in our history, especially the religious right who never want to admit that Christianity can get out of hand, History of American Womenmakes it very clear by her essays that it was indeed prevalent for a time. It is important that these poor women not be forgotten. Her conviction was later reversed and her family received 8 pounds in recompense. How very nice. :(

Inspired by Antique Quilts has another one she is getting ready to finish. A lovely applique that is colorful and looks quite quick. The pattern is large as you can see if you follow the link and take a look yourself.

Science purely shocks me sometimes. It tells me things that frankly I never thought about before.  Most know of Homer's Odyssey, if they haven't read it, or seen some representation of it in film. Of course we know it is part fiction but also part fact, since Troy has long been known to exist, featured so prominently in the Iliad. In the Odyssey, an eclipse is mentioned in the 20th book. Astronomers have pinpointed the date of that eclipse as April 16, 1178 B.C.E. some months after Odysseus return, near in time to when he slayed the many suitors vying for his wife's hand. Read all the fascinating details of how this was done at Live Science.

The new Pew Report is really fascinating as it looks at American views on religion. Some of the results are simply astounding in my view. Some of this I saw last night on the news. Apparently most of us, even most evangelicals don't believe that their faith (Christianity) is necessarily the only way to salvation. A huge majority of Catholics (79%) feel this way, topped only by Buddhists at around 83%. That suggests I think, major room for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. The Politico has the story. Here is a link to the forum itself where you can spend a long time reading through this very detailed work.

Pesto! I love the stuff, and have about 8 basil plants doing just fine in a container by the front door. I plan on making pestowhen they are as big as i can get them. It's very easy to make, just basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Whiz it in a food processor, spoon into ice cube trays and freeze, pop out and put in a freezer bag. You can add it to pasta, soups, well just about anything you wish. Once Upon A Feast has some great new and different ways to make it. Cilantro is a favorite substitute. Just looking at the photos are enough to make a person swoon.

Well I found this next one a bit weird to say the least. It seems glass is not a proper solid at all. It's moving. Yeah, did I say weird? Atoms are prohibited from moving where they want to by being blocked by neighbors. All of this means (heck if I know why) that glass could be the new component in airplane construction. I'm not thinking I want to sit in a transparent plane anytime soon!

Canada can boast a new find archaeologically speaking, and we always like to speak archaeologically whenever possible. An ancient fort constructed by people before Europeans arrived in the area, has been located in Western Canada, near Cluny and east of Calgary. It is defined as a Siksika First Nation reservation and is around 250 years old. The site was long known to native peoples.

Wow, I sure missed a number of posts by Melisende at Women of History. There are several so I'll just give you the main site and you can scroll down and read what you like. The first is onMaria Comnena, Queen of Jerusalem, grandniece to Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnena of Constantinople. Second is Theodora Comnena, niece of the same Emperor. Next is Margaret Anjou, Queen to the King Henry VI of England, Artemesia of Hallicarnassus, Queen, and lastlyGalla Placidia, Empress and daughter of Theodosius the Great of Rome. They are all from June 22, so she's been quite prolific. A lovely run of important women

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More Sign Humor:

At a Music Store: Out to lunch. Bach at 12:30. Offenbach sooner.

At a tire shop in Milwaukee: Invite us to your next blowout. 

At the electric company: We would be delighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don't, you will be.

Church sign: To remove worry wrinkles, get your faith lifted

In a department store: Bargain Basement Upstairs.

In a Maine restaurant: Open seven days a week and weekends.

In a Pennsylvania cemetery: Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own graves.

Inside a bowling alley: Please be quiet. We need to hear a pin drop.

On a maternity room door: Push. Push. Push.

On a New York convalescent home: For the sick and tired of the Episcopal Church

Dans les faits, qu'est-ce que l'A-610, au juste? Pour ceux qui sont familiers avec les autoroutes de l'Estrie, mais qui ne passent pas souvent dans le coin, pensez au dernier tronçon de l'A-10, qui commençait à la sortie 143, et qui se rendait jusqu'à la route 112, à Fleurimont. C'est ce tronçon qui fut rebaptisé A-610. Je ne comprends toujours pas la logique derrière cette manoeuvre du MTQ. J'ai d'ailleurs écrit au ministère, afin que l'on m'explique, de façon claire, quel sera le réseau autoroutier du futur, selon leurs prévisions. À part un accusé réception, je n'ai pas eu d'autres nouvelles de cette requête.

Voyons donc voir quelques petits détails de l'A-610.

Voici le panneau indiquant le début de l'A-610, que l'on voit quand on arrive de Drummondville, via l'A-55 sud, dans un endroit situé plus ou moins à mi-chemin entre Bromptonville et le centre-ville de Sherbrooke. Comme on peut le voir, le changement de logo, sur le panneau, n'est pas des plus réussis.

L'A-610 file vers l'est, à travers la chaîne des Appalaches.

Un autre rapiéçage de panneau plutôt bâclé. Surtout que celui-ci indique qu'il n'y a plus de services, à la sortie 7, qui fut autrefois la sortie 150 de l'A-10.

Une autre preuve du rapiéçage passablement ordinaire des panneaux de l'A-610. Selon la logique actuellement appliquée par le MTQ, on devrait plutôt voir le logo de l'A-610, suivi du mot "ouest", puis des logos de l'A-10 et de l'A-55, le tout sur une même ligne, puisque c'est là que mène l'A-610. Mais bon, on s'est contenté de masquer le logo de l'A-10 avec un de l'A-610.

Dans l'autre sens, et un peu à contrejour, on voit au loin la séparation des chaussées, à environ un kilomètre à l'est de la sortie 7. Les trois derniers kilomètres de l'A-610 sont construits en super-2.

Ici, à deux kilomètres de la sortie 7, on peut voir qu'à quelques exceptions près, le terrain nécessaire à la construction de la deuxième chaussée est bien dégagé.

C'est la fin de l'A-610. Elle se termine bêtement, à la hauteur de la route 112, dans l'ancienne ville de Fleurimont, qui fait désormais partie de la ville de Sherbrooke.

Vous aimez les autoroutes aux fins toutes bêtes? À Sherbrooke, vous serez bien servis. Encore plus bête que celle de l'A-610, voici la fin de l'A-410, au boulevard de l'Université. Comme vous le voyez, on a construit une jolie courbe, plutôt accentuée, puis on a fait une belle pente, pas très longue, au bout de laquelle on a installé un feu de circulation. Tout ce qu'il faut pour se casser la gueule! On dit depuis des années que l'A-410 sera prolongée vers Lennoxville, mais il semble que les travaux pourraient débuter en 2009, pour une ouverture possible en 2013. Reste à voir si cet échéancier tiendra le coup.

J'avoue que je n'ai pas écrit beaucoup de billets depuis une dizaine de jours. À part le temps que je passe à répondre à vos commentaires (en passant, merci beaucoup à ceux qui m'écrivent, et ne vous gênez surtout pas!), j'ai procédé à quelques achats, dernièrement, dont un nouvel ordinateur, qui me fait royalement chier depuis une semaine, ainsi qu'un projet de "blogue-mobile", que je vais récupérer ce lundi, et qui prend les airs d'une vieille Jeep Cherokee Chief, de couleur bleue. Je vous tiendrai au courant des derniers développements dans les deux cas.

D'ici-là, suite à une question de Sam, je tenterai de savoir où se termine la route 155. Je vous montrerai aussi des travaux sur l'A-20, en Montérégie, sur l'A-10, dans les Cantons-de-l'Est, ainsi que d'autres bouts de routes intéressants, dont un lien inter-rives, où l'on roule sur rien de moins qu'un barrage d'Hydro-Québec! Alors n'allez pas trop loin, car les prochains jours risquent d'être captivants pour les amateurs de routes.

Here's a picture of the model:

As you can see, I have a bunch more applique to do.  I have the final four baskets done for the lower right corner.  I just need to assemble them to get the center flower block done and then I can put all four subpanels together and get the very center flower block done.  Then it's onto the borders.
Marianne has designed some wonderful things in the past, especially this quilt, and had closed her shop so that she could focus on designing.  However, she closed the shop back in 2006 and the website that was to host her designs has yet to go live and at this point, I don't think it will.  I hope her design business never left the ground for happy reasons and nothing bad has happened in her life.   Luckily I have purchased a few of her designs, two of them you can see on my WIPs page ("Lady Liberty" (redwork) and "Favorite Flowers - Tulips" (punch needle)) which were under her other design label "Needle Traditions".  Hope to see Marianne resurface and design again.

Here's where my inspiration led me:

I've obviously got mermaids on the mind, ever since I saw Heather Ross' new Mendicino fabric line for Free Spirit. I love love love this new fabric line, and have decided to make a quilt for Eleanor using this very line and decorate her big girl room in that theme :)

For those that are interested, here's what the applique looked like just before sewing it onto the cut of fabric to be sewn into a soaker

The charity I chose to represent was the National Children's Leukemia Foundation . Why? Recently, on Hyena Cart , there were two charity raffles that deeply affected me, one for the Samuel Backus Family, and one for the Ethan Powell Family. Both families were devastated because their children had Leukemia, and I thought this was a small thing I could do in their honor.

as for the show?  well, father's day is no better day for a quilt show than mother's day!!  big surprise.  hah!  those folks in monterey just need to get it together!  find a place, pick a date and stay with it long enough for people to find them! (and, thus 'us').  made a little money and got to be cool for 3 days, not all bad.  however, at this point i haven't figured out the 'saving grace', so to speak.  guess just the fact that i didn't lose money???

so, now, i am once again preparing for yet another show.  going to be as hot this weekend as i was cool last, i think.  carson city, nv.  not such a long drive anyway.  just not a quick one - up the winding mountain road.  am taking the rv, and sophie.  that means tomorrow is 'big switch' day.  ugh.  been busy cutting kits the past two days.  tomorrow i'll be hefting tubs and tables, etc.

today is tom's birthday - 45!!  how can your kid be older than you are?? ^_^  i used to cook birthday dinners for everyone - when the teens were not teens and still living here.  i offered, he declined.  he made cin'ti chili yesterday and we were going to just have that again.  then just a bit ago he said we were all going out for dinner.  he/we didn't do anything for any of the teens birthdays and they are all here, so it's to be a 4-birthday dinner.  guess i'll offer to foot half the bill, cause i didn't do anything either.

oops, just remembered i have a little something to give him.  also need to find out when we are leaving.  need to smear some makeup on my face and change clothes.  i guess.

stay cool!  love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

Two of the workshops are repeats and two are brand new!  I'm thinking that all of them will be a lot of fun!  This will be the last time that I'm hosting these events in Kingston so I hope I get registrations in all of them.

Here's a little more information on each of the classes: