Been a Long Time

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted. Back in June we still had a kid in the house, and life was a bit different. Now with both of our kids out on their own, we are adjusting to a different life-style!

What is nice is that it gives me more time to make art or craft or whatever it is at the moment. I've been working on several art quilts, along with some quilts with my own patterns. I will post when they are done, or when I get around to doing the photography. That really seems to be the problem some days.

I did finally finish the Double Wedding Ring quilt. The first time I've done such a traditional pattern. And the first time I hand-pieced a quilt top, well, at least 95% of it is hand pieced. I did machine piece the border as I felt it needed some stability at that point. And even though the tradition is to hand-quilt, sorry, I sent it out to my friend, Mike, the golfing, surfing, quilter! I LOVE his work. He is just such a fabulous quilter, and a really great person on top of it all. If you ever want him to quilt something for you, let me know and I'll send his info out to you.

The wedding for which the Wedding Ring quilt was made was also a great experience. A beautiful day on the Monterey Bay, at one of our lighthouses, with the sea mist hanging over us all and mother nature all around us. The reception was fabulous, danced way too much for this old body, but had so much fun with my husband, kids, and their friends!

So, in between watching the SF Giants games, hand quilting some art pieces, and creating in the studio and doing actual work for money, life is good. Actually life is Great! The paralegal work I do is just enough to keep my right brain engaged so that my left brain can breathe. Or is it vice-versa? Whichever, both sides of the old brain are engaged and chugging on. Now back to quilting my latest piece.

Peace to all.

Fall on the Coast

This time of year in our area is always beautiful. Not in the same way as it is back East where there is so much fall color in the leaves. Our fall is filled with warm days, cool nights, the occasional big surf, and just a feeling in the air that change is coming. I love it!

What I don't love is this: our incessant desire to be "plugged in" at all times! I was in the shower this morning when it hit me. My husband was doing his morning exercises on the bike and listening to his iPod. He was laughing at some comedy routine and it got to me. He is experiencing something funny and unable to share it because he is "plugged in". He is alone in his merriment.

It also hits me at my book club gatherings when many of the ladies are "plugged in" to their iPhones or Blackberries while we are suppose to be discussing the book or our lives or politics, whatever. But they are on their little carry-along computers, doing something obviously more important than what is going on right in front of them. Who is that important? And why do they think that it isn't rude to exclude all who are there to attend to something else that is not an emergency? Are the rest of us really that boring? Do we all need to know, at every step of the way, who is winning the game, the next American Idol, what the score is???

Don't you see the drones walking through the parking lot, ear-pods in, unaware of where they are and what they are doing which should be paying attention to the moving cars? Or walking down the street unaware of any sound around them because their iPod volumn is turned up too high? Or hiking through the woods, unable to hear the sounds of nature? Will they even miss them when they are gone?

Yes, power up your iPods. Upload nature sounds and comedy acts and all the music in the world. This is why Facebook and Twitter came about. We are lacking in communication. We are too plugged in. So then let's go on-line and post brief quips about our lives so the whole world can see. Doesn't that make it better?

And, you say, what are you doing blogging then...

Well, I really don't know if anyone reads this blog anyway. It seems to be more for me to vent or share. I don't have an iPod. I'm not plugged in all the time. I do listen to nature. And, more importantly, I listen to those around me. I do practice the mantra "be here now". Yes, I am an old hippie. I believe. I live. I tune in to what is going on around me. Won't you join me?

Taking Life as it Comes

Who would have known that the day following my last post my life would change? It comes that fast and without warning!

I was up in my sewing room, taking a break from cleaning house for our Father's Day Dinner, listening to my husband singing at the top of his lungs as he mopped the kitchen floor when his singing stopped and all I could hear were what sounded like the whimperings of an injured animal. I ran downstairs (well, run isn't exactly what I did, but I was fast) and found my husband sprawled out on the back steps, trying to catch his breath. He had missed a step and wrenched his knee.

After a trip to the local Urgent Care medical facility, he was put in a leg brace, followed two weeks later by major surgery to his knee. So now I am nurse, care provider, entertainer, cook, driver, and handywoman, most of which I do willingly. But my term of employment in these tasks will last up to 6 months!!! Golly. Will I survive?

I did buy a new sewing machine, to compensate for my home-bound life, and am really enjoying it. Well, it only got here yesterday so I haven't had much time on it, but so far all is great! I do get sewing and quilting done in-between my chores. We shall see what this life changing event brings.

I know that I am never given more than I can handle, and that this all happened for some reason. I keep an open mind. But boy oh boy. Life can give us challenges. This is minor compared to those challenges that many of you have had.

And I will keep an open mind.

And keep stitching up a storm!

A New World for Me!

Well, the shop is closed but not empty. There is still some fabric and some display boxes and a few patterns, and just a bit of other things. The closing sale really cleaned me out, in more ways than one. If you have ever had to close a business you know what I mean. It takes time to get over it, to close it, to mourn it, to wonder what is next. And I am still in process.

The wonderful words from all of you have been saved in my heart. Thank you again so much for all your support over the years.

Now, on to the next adventure. As I told many of you, the first thing I was going to do after closing, besides getting my paperwork in order and doing the taxes, was to open an etsy shop. What is an etsy shop you may ask! Well, it is a wonderful way to sell and shop online! Around the World! With many talented artisans!

So, my etsy shop is now open and I am stocking it on a daily basis. I'd love it if you would stop by. You can get there by going to RoundRobinFabrics.etsy.com. Visit often. It is often very intriguing.

Also, I've added some options for this blog. You can subscribe and follow. And once I figure out how to do the same with my website, I will add a blog feature.

Keep stitching my friends. 

And celebrate today.

For all that it is, besides Obama's 100th day in office...ok. No more politics!

And in case you don't know, I do miss seeing, being with you at the shop. It was always a pleasure!