Sometimes I Wonder....

Sometimes I wonder if I have the soul of a flake or an artist.

I started expressing myself in artistic, crafty ways when I was a small child and my mother taught me how to embroider. I was 6 or I may have been even younger. I dabbled over the years, making necklaces from Goodwill finds and loop loom potholders and pillows made from washcloths and yarn. I even remember making a jewelry box from a book. My mother was horrified over that one. The next thing I remember learning was decoupage. I taught myself by reading about it. Probably around 10 or so. I tried to learn to sew in Home Ec class, but I was truly horrible at making clothing. I don't remember learning any other crafts until I got married and moved from Dallas, TX to Biloxi, MS to be with my Air Force husband at the ripe old age of 18. I explored some and came across cross stitch at that point. I cross stitched for a long time. Then I found quilting. I love quilting. I made traditional quilts for years. Now, I'm branching out into art quilting and my own original designs. I've taken photography classes and done some scrap booking. I also started to make jewelry that doesn't fall apart because I use the proper stringing wire instead of thread (like I did on my Goodwill necklace).

There is still so much more out there that I want to learn to do. I want to learn to paint with both watercolor and acrylic. I want to knit scarves and dish cloths for everyone I know. I want to work with stained glass. I want to learn to make more expressive, nontraditional jewelry. I want to take better photographs.

As it is now, I have so many options, that I am often slowed down by just trying to figure out what I want to do on any given day when it comes to creativity. Still I add more ideas and plans for others types of expression. Does this make me a flake or an artist at heart?

A New Quilt Shop in Tool, Texas!!!

Mom came by this morning. We sat visiting, laughing and talking for a while. It is always so good to see my Momma! I know I'm very lucky. Not every woman can see her mom often and not every woman even wants to. In this area, I'm very blessed. I want to see her more often than I get to, but I'm happy I get to see her as often as I do.

As we talked, mom asked if I had seen the new quilt shop down the road. What? A quilt shop? Where? When did it open? Are you sure? She told me where she had seen the sign. I knew exactly where that was (about 5 miles from my house!). We ran a few errands later and as we passed the store, we stopped in. I think I squealed like a little kid on Christmas morning when I first saw the sign! Unfortunately, at the time, they were closed to go to lunch. (Don't worry, they don't do this on a daily basis.) So we noted the time they'd be back and headed back to the house to visit more until they reopened. At 2 PM we hit the road to go back.

We met the owner, Charlotte Scrimshire and her friend Judy. We talked, we visited, we shopped! I bought a craft sized Warm & Natural batting, to try in the next quilt from the fabric I bought from Marcia Derse while in Houston this October. I'm still wanting to try kantha stitching on that fabric and this batting may give me the option. I don't think it will beard as badly on Warm & Natural as it did on the other stuff I used.

This is a brand spanking new shop! Gone Quiltin' at the Lake opened last week. She doesn't have a large inventory yet, but it usually takes a little while for a quilt shop to build up. If you're in the area, please stop by and see if she has anything you need. The way I think of it, is that everything we buy will mean more Charlotte can stock later for her shop! She's has quilt classes, fabric, notions, patterns and she has a long arm machine for quilting for the public. She even has some completed quilts and other sewn items for sale on consignment. Remember, it will only get better as time passes! I'm so excited! Can you see me doing a happy dance around the room from where you are?

Finished one of my Minis

Spoiler Alert! If you're in my Quilting Friends group, you shouldn't read this post until Sunday 12/13. In fact, if you've read this far, it may be too late. Sorry.





I'm totally finished with the Thou Shalt Not Steal Pecans quilt. My right thumb looks a little like hamburger meat. I was trying to hurry my hand quilting yesterday and I kept poking myself. It was truly difficult to continue to work on it today. Thankfully, I had very little quilting left. Then all I had to do was put the binding, label and the hanging sleeve on. And it only took me until 11:30 PM to do it all.



I have to admit that I love this quilt. I don't know if anyone else really does, but I really do. This is my second totally original quilt. Black Cat was the first. Black Cat was donated to my quilt guild's live miniature auction last year. Pecans will be given as a gift in our Quilting Friends Christmas party. It's going to be difficult to give up Pecans. I'll miss it.

Art Every Day Month -- Day 29

Today, I've been hand quilting for my AEDM fun. I'm working on the pecan quilt. I'll post a photo of it tomorrow. I just want to get a little more done before I share it with you all.