Indecisive

I dislike that I am so indecisive.

I have no less than 5 patterns picked out for the Birds and the Bees block.  I bought a couple more tonight.  Ugh!  The only thing I decided on, I think...., is using a couple of charm bees for the Bees.

C's team lost their game badly and ended up in 2nd Place to finish the tournament.  They got beat up, literally, by a Nebraska team of questionable....integrity?  The tournament was only supposed to be a Rec-based tournament and Competitive teams weren't supposed to be able to play.  The rumor is that this team, who has attended for years, is a Competitive team.  Apparently they have different rules in Nebraska for how their teams and leagues are classified.  This same team is traveling to Montana next weekend--sounds competitive to me.

It also didn't help that the 16-year old ref sucked.  Our girls got beat-up physically.  At one point, he told a couple of parents from our team that they would be watching the game from their cars if they didn't shut up.  The one goal the girls scored was disallowed because supposedly the scorer was offsides.  Huh?  She had a fast break and ran around the defender by herself and she was still called offsides.

It was a crap day.  I forgot my sunscreen and didn't ask to use anyone else's, thinking that I would be okay since it was so early.  Wrong!  My arms are bright red and my face got more sunburned.  The Colorado sun is fierce!!!!

Eclipse Quilt: Howling Wolf

Twilight Quilters Coven

Always With the Drama

You lose there is drama.

S lost all of her soccer tourney games this weekend.  They were shut out all three games.  I thought they might have a chance the third game as the score was 0-0 at half and the girls looked like they were playing well before I headed over to C's game.  They ended up losing 0-5.  After a week of soccer drama and a head coach-less team, I'm not surprised.

C's team ended up in 1st place in their draw after this morning's game.  They won 3-0.  (They lost their first game yesterday on a flukey play.  An opposing player went down hard and C's team stopped in their tracks, but the ref didn't blow his whistle.  The other team scored.  The girls learned a valuable lesson.)

The day wasn't without drama for C's team, though.  C's coach ended up crying and some heated words were exchanged at the end of their last game.

The 2nd game, in the semi-final round, was hard fought.  C's team scored first quickly.  Scoring was back and forth until the game ended up tied at 4-4 late.  C's team scored a goal in the last seconds of the game--seriously--to win the game.  They should play the championship game tomorrow unless something really strange happens with the points system.  However......

Because the game was so hardly fought and was so close in skill with the other team being pretty beastly in SIZE and skill, not all the girls got to play and some girls didn't play many minutes.  A couple of these girls AND their parents took offense.  (C played almost every single minute of all four games.)

To be fair, the team had many meetings at their practices for this tournament where they discussed as a team certain potential issues such as this and how they would handle them if they came up.  I guess it's different when they come up and how you feel about them then.  The team voted at the half that they were going to play the players that Katrina thought would give them the best chance of winning.

They won, but the win ended up being very bittersweet.

Eclipse Quilt: Imprinting

I kept the block.  I did as suggested by my Twilight group and M.  I went with the paw.

I used the really neat Upside Down Applique method for this block that I've been wanting to try for months.  It wasn't necessary for this block, but I can see how it could be very helpful for more difficult blocks with a lot of detail and little pieces and for which it was developed.  By the fourth pad, I knew what I was doing for my satin stitch.  I think all of the paw looks okay, though.  The black parts are supposed to be nails and I did them in black batik fabric, but I didn't satin stitch them.  They are only straight stitched.

The pads are in the softest brown flannel, I've ever felt.  Another interactive detail......  I couldn't stop touching the fabric.

Don't forget my Twilight quilt blog.  This block isn't there yet, nor is Graduation.

I was out all day in the heat at the soccer tournament.  I was wiped out.  I finished the Imprinting block, but that was it.  The computer was tied up, too, or I might have done my write-ups.

Eclipse Quilt: Graduation

I finished the Graduation block tonight.

If you will remember this is where I left it:

M told me I needed to jazz it up.  He's very good at getting me do to things that I'm already thinking about doing already.

I got a button kit a JoAnn's today so I could make a fabric covered button..  I found a tutorial for tassel making on YouTube.

I'm liking it enough!  Eight blocks and counting (Nine with Imprinting.  A howling wolf for the Preface block and Birds and the Bees block)

Less than Thrilled

I am less than thrilled with the latest Eclipse block.

I loved my concept.  I've had the pattern for months and decided to use it for the Imprinting block.  The heart has two strands that twist together and the heart also is a spiral.  It was meant to portray the intertwining of destinies and the ties that the wolves and their mates had to each other.  The pattern is a Piece by Number pattern which is one of my favorite paper piecing designers.

My first mistake was enlarging the pattern too much and not realizing it until I'd already made half of the block.  It finished at 7.5" and I had to square it up to 7" which means I lost 1/2" of the top because I wanted to keep the point of the heart.  I don't really want to make it again despite the block peicing pretty quickly.

My second mistake is not LOVING my fabric choices.  I like the paw print fabric that I used okay, but I struggled choosing the other heart strand and the background.  I really didn't want to use red fabric and I liked the pink, but....I don't know.  M insisted I use the background fabric that I did and I'm not in LOVE with that either.  I wanted the fabric to be earthy and I've used a lot of batiks so I wanted to continue with that.  The other gals were no help!

I also am struggling with my need to applique a large paw print on the block somewhere.  I'm afraid it won't look right or just be unneeded.

Help!

It Gets Better

Yesterday I wrote about the soccer tournament that my girls are participating in this weekend, specifically that S's coach insisted that the team participate and then told us this week that he wasn't going to be able to coach because he was going out of town.

Let me tell you where I sit before I stand:  nothing less than a death in the family would be a good enough excuse for him to not coach this tournament.  I don't particularly care for the coach's personality, but S doesn't seem to mind.  I feel like he coaches with only his daughter's interests in mind.  I also don't like the guy he brought in as assistant coach this year.  (More than one parent had suggested that he needed help and that they would be willing to help coach, but he rebuffed them all.  This new guy is goofy and immature.  Most of the girls do not like him!)

He insisted that the girls participate because even though they would probably get killed by all the competitive teams, it would be good experience for them.  He didn't come out and say these other things, but this is the impression I got.  1) He really wanted to do a tournament and we should reward him for coaching by doing the tournament.  2) It would be a good opportunity for his daughter, the soccer goddess, to play.  3) He wanted to extend the soccer season as long as he could.

We felt guilted into the tournament.  I was less than thrilled about it being on the holiday weekend.  I gave in because S wanted to play with her team--INCLUDING her coach.

When I found out on Monday night by EMAIL that he wasn't going to coach, I had a fit.  I did wonder if I was the only one, but then I talked to some of the other parents and they were as upset as I was.  A group of us talked about it more yesterday at practice.  Everyone was pissed....  We all were in agreement that we wouldn't pull the girls because it wouldn't be fair to the team or the other teams in the tournament.  The coach knew we were talking and came over and confronted us.

What a dickhead!!!!

He didn't understand what our problem was with him not coaching.  He refused to acknowledge a reason why anyone would be annoyed or disappointed in him for him not coaching.  He suggested we were being selfish.  It made no difference if he coached or not.  He went on and on.  ....He said he didn't care if the girls played.

My point is that he shouldn't have insisted we do this tournament if he wasn't going to coach it.  Team is Team, including the coach.  If there was any chance he wasn't going to be there, barring emergency, he should have at least let us know.  He was very cavalier about the whole thing, refused to apologize, and refused to understand why we had issues.

As it turns out, one of the other moms not involved in this discussion and not understanding why we chose to have the discussion with Scott then, told us she's known for over two weeks that he wasn't going to coach.  She was surprised to learn many of us didn't know until this week.  He knew from the very beginning that he wasn't going to coach. 
I don't want S to play on this team anymore if he's going to coach!

Summer Vacation

Today is the kids first day of summer vacation.  So far, so good on Day #1.

Our weekend plans include a soccer tournament for both girls.  This is not what I had in mind for a holiday weekend, but I was trying to make the best of it.  I was positive about the whole thing until S's soccer coach emailed this week to say that he won't be coaching for the tournament.  What?!!!!!  He forced us to sign up for this damn thing and then makes other plans for the weekend.  There are some pretty annoyed parents besides me.  I haven't replied back to his email, but you know I'd like to.  I need to get my emotions in check first.  Fortunately for him, we have to be up there anyway for C.  If we were just going because of S, I may have pulled her out.

On that note, I'm itching for a fight......

I think I'm going to do a "I Just Punched a Werewolf in the Face" block as one of the next quilt blocks.

Graduation x2

C's Continuation Ceremony was this evening.  I was confused by the term, but I learned that it's the term that is used in this district for 5th graders "graduating" to 6th grade and middle school and 8th graders graduating and moving on to high school.

I took today off because I knew the afternoon would be too hectic with the ceremony at 5:00.  S also wanted me to come to her class party at a local park for her last day of school.  We shared a Subway sandwich for lunch which was the only real highlight of the day.  She was fighting with her BFF again and was in tears and hovering most of our time at the park.  Long story short, she refused to apologize to and with her friend on the count of 3 as suggested by both moms.  I had no sympathy for her after that and was kind of embarrassed by her behavior.  Long story short, they came out holding hands an hour later and S spent the evening at the BFF's house.  LOL.....

I hot rollered C's hair and helped her get ready.  She looked beautiful in her dress.  She was visibly nervous about the ceremony when I dropped her off early to meet up with her class.  M was late getting home and we barely made the ceremony.  My mom and dad came, too.  They saved us seats so we were all good.

C was awarded a Citizenship Award (an award for attendance, participation in extra-cirricular activities, and .... good behavior at school) and the Presidential Award of Excellence for carrying at least a 3.5 the entire year.  We are very proud of her!!!!  (not bad for a curfew breaker....LOL)

In my spare time today, I worked on a very simple Eclipse block.  I picked out the fabrics last night and got the pattern ready.  (I begrudingly used the blue background fabric--bad Coven memories--because it was just too perfect not to.)

The block isn't done.  M is insisting I use a real tassel so I will be making one of those after I find instructions and I want to make a fabric-covered button so I will need to buy the kit.  I don't want to make the block too busy, but I need to make the block my own and I want to figure out a way to add an invitation to Alice's graduation party at the Cullens.

Twilight Book Addicts

I continue to find it hilarious about the back and forth that continues to go on regarding who is allowed or has a right to make Twilight quilts, block designs and permissions, etc.  (as if I really would want to use 99% of the....cr...) I believe this to be true:  all block ideas must be directly credited to the creative genius that is Stephenie Meyer. We cannot in good faith take credit for any quilt block as an original idea because without the Twilight series they would not be and groups would not be. We only have the benefit of taking her work and channeling her writing through our creativity.  As far as a graduation block goes....An Eclipse graduation block is what it is:  and, for one, inspired directly by events in Eclipse.  A cap and diploma are a generic and natural representation of graduation.  Why am I even trying to explain myself?!  I'm not really as bothered as it may seem.

Fire and Ice

Wow!

Getting this block was really important.  I've seen other people's ideas for Fire and Ice and they didn't impress me.  I wanted to find a block that really brought fire and ice to mind.  I hesitated to use a fire fabric because I wasn't sure I would like the use of a novelty-type fabric in the block.  I found all the oranges in my stash!

I found the snowflake/ice crystal block pattern when I was looking for my graduation block pattern.  The idea hit me over the head!  I only had to find the right fabrics....

I'm pretty tickled about this block.  I'm drinking too much of my own kool-aid these days.  For someone whose life begins and ends over whether or not people like me and my work, I don't care this time.  I like this block!  I was that way with a couple of my Twilight Quilt blocks and it feels great to get a little bit of my mojo back....

Thank you for everyone that helped me make up my mind.

You'll notice I went with a totally different fabric.  I wanted "ice" for the outside.  I guess I kind of let that be known earlier.  I had planned on making a quick trip to the lqs on the way home from work today before I was reminded that C's Exit Interview/Presentation was today.  Then, I remembered I had another icey fabric in my stash--one of my discards for the Keeping the Faith Quilt I started a couple of months ago.

I was freaking out earlier because the block had some discoloration in the center.  I picked up something from my iron or over ironing and I took a Q-Tip to it last night.  I think the yellow batik may have bled a little or something.  I took some Oxyclean to the block tonight, rinsed it, and then dried it.  I think it's okay now.  phew

I'll be writing up an office Eclipse Quilt entry at The Twilight Quilters Coven blog soon with quotes and everything.

It's Getting Interesting...

I'm not blinking!

Growing Up

Even my kids growing up is all about me.....

I'm not one of those moms that is bemoaning their kids growing up or that wants them to be babies forever.  I'm eager to see them grown and on their way.  If only one of them comes back, I know I'll be doing great.

The only time I get hit hard emotionally by one of the kids showing signs of growing up is when I think about me getting older with them.  I'm shuddering at being old enough to have a high schooler next year.  I'm happy for her, but sighing a lot for me.

I had another moment this morning.

S is having a fun day today.  (The last days of school is all about fun!)  She was able to bring a blanket and stuffed animal along with some reading books today.  She wanted me to buy her a new blanket.  I told her no and asked her why she couldn't use her quilt.  I figured as much....

I made a Strawberry Shortcake quilt for her when she was three or four.  She still sleeps with it.  She is too old now to take it to school because Strawberry Shortcake is for little girls and she didn't want to be made fun of at school.

I know she will probably always keep her quilt.  I'm hoping she does.  It's not like it could be a hand me down because the quilt border has her name in lettered blocks.  It's S's quilt and no one else's.

Looks like I need to get busy and make her another quilt as she's outgrown that one!

Fire and Ice

need help.....

I made this block at 6" because I was too impatient to wait to enlarge it since I really wanted to start it last night.  I had picked out my fabric and I couldn't wait to start it!

I think it turned out great.  It's a good representation of Fire and Ice from Eclipse.  JMHO  But, I need the block to be 7" so I need to add fabric to all four sides and then I will square it up on-point.

I'm torn between these two options.  Before you think the blue is strange.... it kind of shakes the block up a bit and adds to the "Ice".  The flames stick out more, too.  (fabric on the "outside")  It may be too much of a shock adding the color to the block, though.

There is also this option:

Help!!

Artistry

In my best and most confident moods, I like to think of myself as a quilt artist....maybe on the lower end of the scales.  I like to challenge myself by coming up with creative ideas and sewing my best.

I'm happy with my work of late.  I've felt liberated.  The friends I have in blogville have been supportive and helped me immensely in the past months.  I know I've said Thank You often, but it never hurts to say it again.

Eclipse is just around the corner.  I'm in a mad rush to make blocks, but not to just throw things together.  I'm not one to do this anyway even when pressed for time like other people.  (People seem to do that even if they have a lot of time to get things done because that's just the way they are.  To each his own!!!)  I have so many ideas pulsing in my head that's it hard to keep track of them all.  I'm not an organized person either which really is a challenge.  (I spent an hour looking for a pattern and book this weekend when it was right under my nose.)

After what has seemed like months of no new info about Eclipse, stories are pouring out about the movie.

It's stuff like the video below that have inspired me and kept me motivated.  I've also loved the new pics and scenes because they have helped me in my design process.  Wow!

Sunday Sewing

I feel like I should be watching Twilight or New Moon, but I watched the last half of Scream 3.   I hear that there is going to be a Scream 4 and it's rumored that Ashley Greene (Alice in the Twilight movies) is up for a part.

I sewed all the New Moon letters together.  I would have started to quilt it, but the batting I have on hand wasn't long enough.  Darn it!

It's going to be one big quilt!  75" wide right now.  I really should plan better....

Fixer Upper

I couldn't leave well enough alone.  I wasn't totally happy with my Wuthering Heights block pages so I did a little bit of sewing engineering.  I reprinted the two pages, cut the other two out of the book so I didn't have unsew the whole thing, and sewed the new pages into the book.  It looks....better.

**edited....I noticed typos on 2 pages!!!  ugh  They are fixed now.....

The text is also more centered and I did a better job of rotary pinking the edges. I can't live without my Hera Marker. I wish I had thought to use it last night!

Off to The Twilight Quilters Coven blog to write about the block. After that it's back to New Moon....

Another First

Twilight gets me to do all kinds of stuff....

I've had my machine for over 10 years.  It's a Pfaff 7530 and I've always loved it, but never used all of it's functions.  I've embroidered only a bit with it.  After my frustrations today with my hand embroidery, I decided what the hell.  I got my manual out and messed around with how to do some lettering.

I used this picture as my inspiration.  Wuthering Heights is one of the books that got a special "Twilight" cover.

The block features a cover that can be opened and pages inside of the paragraphs that contain the quotes from Wuthering Heights that are featured in Eclipse.

I had to pink the edges which I'm not crazy about because they got messy, but they were starting to ravel already so I had to do something.  This block really tested me.  I learned a lot and I wouldn't mind making it again just to see if I could make it better using what I learned along the way.

Wuthering Heights is important to B&E's story in Eclipse.  I'm glad that "I" gave it it's proper due for our quilt.  Much better!

Heat Wave

Summer is here or at least on its way if today's temp is any indication.  M has been hustling around getting the swamp cooler going.  I am in my element, but I admit to feeling lazy and wanting to take a nap all afternoon.  The younger kids have been out in the sprinkler for the first time this season.  C has been doing penance by doing chores, namely trying to get the top of my stove clean all day--so much for cleaning it and keeping it clean after every time we use it.

I'm taking a break from a frustrating day of sewing.  My Wuthering Heights block is driving me crazy.  I wanted to get the embroidery started so I could have some handwork available.  The size of my lettering an placement has ended up being TOO difficult for me.  I've tried two differents stitches and even tried my machine.  I moving the title and using a bigger font.  I hate it when I can't make my brilliant ideas work.  I dislike failure.....

Off to the store to buy some stuff for dinner.  I can't believe I'm going to turn on the oven to cook meatloaf, but we've got hamburger to be had and that's about it!

Disappointment

I was hoping I'd never have to worry about stuff like this.

I was dead asleep when the phone-----home phone and the one we never answer-----rang a little after 12 a.m. this morning.  It's true what they say that not much good happens after midnight.  M was still up.  We didn't get to the phone in time, but it rang right back within seconds.

C, 14, spent the night at a friend's last night.  They spent the earlier part of the evening at the rec center for teen night.  I had no worries because I've not had to worry before......as far as we knew.  I'm not stupid to think that nothing goes on, but until now we've never gotten the call before.

M was told to come get her by the local police force at the intersection of so and so.

She was with at least seven other kids.  There were five police officers there with lights going and the entire street blocked off according to my husband.  The official charge/ticket was for breaking curfew.  Yes, a ticket was issued and we have a court date.

I have numerous questions as you can imagine!

Eclipse Charity Quilt: I am Switzerland

Juliet did it!

The Twilight Quilters Coven

Clean-a-thon AND Quilt-a-thon

Enough is enough!

I am going to spend some time on housework this weekend.  I figure if I can clean one day then I can quilt the other.....  Sounds like a good trade-off to me.

M finished one of the walls in our bedroom.  I am going to try to get him back at it this weekend.  Wish me luck.  I don't know what the next step is for the wall.  I think it's to sand it?

My kitchen needs some serious attention so that's where I think I will be.

For the Quilt-a-thon, I will be working on New Moon.  I can't wait to get back to it now that I have a plan.

I plan on hitting Goodwill for some tourist T-shirts for Bella's T-Shirt Quilt.  I have put the word out at my Twilight Yahoo Group so I'll see if I get any donations.  If anyone has a T-Shirt they'd like to donate to the cause, let me know.  I could even trade a FQ or two if you'd like!

I Was Waiting for THIS!!!!

Muse - New Music - More Music Videos

This song is so amazing.  Muse has nailed it.  I'm looking so forward to this soundtrack...

Doing many happy dances today!

The Twilight Quilters....Club is official!!!  If you'd like to join me even if it's in support, please let me know.....

Neglected

I used to be able to say that if nothing else got done around my at least the laundry did..

My house is a disaster right now.  I'm feeling pretty guilty about it....to a point.

I go through spurts where I have to have everything picked up and the laundry done.  I'm not particularly caring right now.  I could say that it's been because I'm sick, but that's not totally true.  I could say that it was because I'm not in nag mode, which we all now has to happen or nothing gets done on it's own, but that's not totally true.  My interest in working on quilt stuff has some to do with it.

Add everything up and you get someone who is fine with piles of dirty clothes, a sink full of dishes, and hair balls on the floor.

I did play Trouble with S and Z last night.  I sewed a little.  I watched T.V.  Tomorrow is another day.

Eclipse Charity Quilt: Wuthering Heights (WIP)

The block isn't square on purpose.  It's going to be the book cover.  I will make the book pattern from the paper piece pattern I drafted in EQ5, including text from Wuthering Heights printed on photo fabric, and then attach the book cover so that it can actually be opened.  I'm going to embroider Wuthering Heights, etc on the cover. 

My New Moon Problem

I was working like gangbusters on the New Moon Quilt and then I hit a brick wall and...., okay, I got busy with the Eclipse blocks.  I ran out of fabric, which I still haven't replenished, and got discouraged because I couldn't figure out how to make things work.

I routinely overlook the obvious solutions.

Even though I stop working on a quilt, it doesn't mean that I stop thinking about it.  I've been thinking about New Moon a lot!

I'm kicking myself for how dumb I've been.

I will piece the letters together, including a strip of fabric between new and moon, so that I can sandwich this strip with batting and backing.  I think I'm going to outline quilt the letter or something and then I will bind it.  This section should still be able do what I want it to do in relation to the moons as long as I add enough black fabric, probably by a strips added to the top and bottom, and use my ribbon idea.

I'm still trying to figure out how to use the pattern I bought and incorporate the tulips.

I'm serious when I say that if I can overcome this problem, the rest of the quilt will be so much easier?!

In Plain Sight and, Yes, Twilight

LMAO....


Watching In Plain Sight tonight, one of my favorite shows, and there was a Twilight reference of all things.

something to the effect after trying to get a teenage suspect to talk without any success, Marshall's old school dad.....

Seth Mann to Marshall: Why don't you go buy her a Frappucino and one of those Twilight books

Kicked Around

I'm feeling sorry for myself today more than ever and you all get to hear about it if you choose to read on.....

I'm still sick for one.  My cold is hanging with me.  I'm feeling a tad better, but know I'm blowing my nose every five minutes and coughing more.  My lips are chapped from mouth breathing because I can't seem to keep enough lip balm on them.  I didn't sleep well at all last night.  I also have developed a irritating female issue that I finally got medicine for today only to open the box and discover that the topical medicine somehow got left out.  (My delay was the result of me refusing to use my own money to pay for it.  We have a medical reimbursement type account with a credit card and I kept forgetting to get it from M.)  I am such a fool sometimes.

I finished S's shrug last night so she could wear her new dress with her friend today.  I made it out of a T-shirt for $6 and my time instead of paying $20.00 for one at the store.  It turned out.......okay.  I don't like sewing clothes period and never knit.  I could tell S didn't think it was up to snuff.  I thought it looked fine.  I am not such a perfectionist when it comes to stuff like this or anything other than quilting.  She made it look worse but continually tugging on it this morning and I was ready to slap her.

Needless, to say I didn't sew any more quilt blocks last night after soccer, making dinner, and the shrug.  I almost started a new block at 10 p.m before I thought better of it.  I had left my patterns out in the car and, frankly, was too lazy and tired to go out and get them.

The only thing I did manage to accomplish was to work on the Twilight blog a little more.  I did that while watching some T.V.  I love The Good Wife.

Our Domain Remains the Same

I'll continue to be cryptic for a little while longer.

I've done a lot of research about blogs in the past.  I must have close to a 100 links saved in my favorites of tips and tutorials.  It never occurred to me that I could have a domain name and still set up shop on Blogger.  I feel so dumb sometimes.  I purchased our Domain this morning.

We were trying to be smart and design everything on our own, but none of us are up to speed on all that would be required.  It's a good thing that there are so many templates out there to be had.

We hope to be up and running officially by Friday!  I've not helped our situation by being ill all last weekend and still.  I'd also rather be sewing.  We considered all chipping in and having something made, but that would mean less money for fabric.  I'm about tapped after the April/May b'days. 

I'm back at work today at least.  Hey, I had to go in to use the copy machine.  LOL

I got an awesome sample of organic apple juice from a company that is renting space in our freezer.  I may never be able to drink regular apple juice ever again.  The wonton makers were in today, too, so I got lunch.

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights has been on my list of reads even before realizing it was featured in Eclipse.  I picked it up more than once, but haven't managed to get through the first chapter.  It may be time for audio.

In working on the new The Twilight Quilters... blog, we've discussed content and features quite a bit.  Perhaps Wuthering Heights should be a feature?  I could be motivated to read.

I actually am feeling too sick to sew tonight.  If I'd of had a block ready to go, I would have probably been okay.  My brain is too muddled to make changes to a pattern or pick out fabric.

Wuthering Heights will be a block in the Eclipse Charity Quilt.

I will use this cover as a basis for the design:

Hunter or the Prey?

I couldn't bring myself to use monofilament thread for the block.  I've yet to master using it and I don't really like the way it looks anyway.  I scanned the block and you can see all my errors, but just chalk them up to the thread painting effect, will ya....  I added more feathers in the center section for an added touch.  I didn't sew the feet or beak.  I may leave it that way, but the reason it's not now is because I forgot to get thread.  The block has been squared up to its 7.5" unfinished size and I haven't added the frame yet.

I'm toying with the idea of a Birds and the Bees block.  I have a cool pattern that I found.  I was going to do Imprinting, but I'm undecided on the design of the block.  As far as I know, by Eclipse three wolves have imprinted and I'd like to incorportate that into the block.  I also have all the stuff for my college pennants.

I still feel like crap, but I'm rarely too sick to sew.....

Immune

My immune system must not be what it used to be.  It seems like I get sick at the drop of a hat anymore.  I'm home sick today and it really bites.  My attendance has been bad of late.  I don't have time to be sick!

It's a beautiful day in Denver at least.  I hope to get outside and soak in some rays as form of medicine.  The weather was so bad last week that it was depressing me more.  LOL

I hope everyone is looking forward to their week..... 

1 Job=10

I admit to be annoyed by the low amount of completed chores by the boys when I got home yesterday.   (I'm sure you couldn't tell.)

I spent the day out again.  We tried out a new-to-us breakfast place called the Breakfast Palace.  It's one of the divey places that you fear going into a little, but the food turns out tasting great.  The restaurant has been open since 1982 and we've lived in our neighborhood for 14+ years, but never ate there.  I probably wouldn't have gone, but my parents recommended it.  The food is good and is very reasonably priced.

After breakfast, I took S and her friend for the long delayed b'day out.  We went to the mall.  Gah!  I detest the mall.  We went to Park Meadows this time.  C tagged along so we could look for a grad ceremony dress.  She wants to be an adult size, but she's still really just a 12 or 14 Children's (14 because of height--she's almost as tall as me now--not that great since I'm only 5').  We found an outfit for the girls at 'Penneys which we ended up returning after finding a couple of ridiculously impractical dresses at Dilliard's on the clearance rack.  (They were still $$.)  I didn't realize that they wanted to wear them to school, duh mom, until they started talking about needing sweaters to cover up their shoulders and the thin straps because of the school dress code.  I refused to put out another $20/each for such item.  So, now, I have to make the T-shirts we bought at Target work.  (I will be searching online for tips on sewing with knit....tonight...so they can wear them tomorrow!)  double GAH!  C also found a very cute dress there.  We put it on hold for g-ma to buy since, by then, I was out of money.  (C had to have body spritzer and lotion from Bath and Body Works before all this.  We both smell good now, but I could have survived on Jergens.)

I am so tired and still....SICK!  All I want to do is go to bed!!  Shopping is so tiring!!!

Now, to the subject of my post.

M is picking up poop in the backyard.  I got to thinking about how uppity I was yesterday and felt bad.  I apologized to him when I saw what he was doing.  I told him that ONE job equals 10 jobs anywhere else in the house with the exclusion of cleaning the bathroom.  He also disposed of all the science experiments from the fridge while I was gone.  I totally give him that because he is always the one to say that he has a poor sense of smell so I figure I should take advantage of it.

I would like to finish the block tonight, but I don't think I will have the energy.  I'm so bummered that the background fabric I picked out isn't going to work.  It's too distracting.  Twice, now, I've tried to use it and it hasn't worked out.  I'm not sure if I'm sold on the blue we settled on, but I can't change my mind because the eagle has landed or is fused.  It does contrast well with the background.  I'm undecided on thread.  I'm not a fan of invisible thread, but I may have to this time.  A lot of the background will be lost when I square up after sewing.  I gave myself plenty extra fabric for shrink.

Eclipse Charity Quilt: Hunter and Prey

The next block on the design board is "Hunter and Prey".

I will be using the Pine Needles/McKenna Ryan On Upward Wing pattern from the At Home in the Woods BOM.

Look at that, Jacob interrupted me, pointing to an eagle in the act of plummeting down toward the ocean from an incredible height.  It checked itself at the last minute, only its talons breaking the surface of the waves, just for an instant.  Then it flapped away, its wings straining against the load of the huge fish it had snagged. 

You see it everywhere, Jacob said, his voice suddenly distant.  Nature taking its course -- hunter and prey, the endless cycle of life and death. .... (Eclipse, p 109)

Here are the fabrics:

Eclipse Charity Quilt: Trip to Jacksonville

Eclipse Charity Quilt:  Trip to Jacksonville

Edward manipulates Bella into a fight with Charlie in order to get her to get out of town after one of Alice's visions.  He spirits her away to visit her mom in Jacksonville, Florida, using the airplane tickets that Esme and Carlisle gave her as a present for her ill-fated 18th birthday.

On the plane trip back home Bella thinks back to a moment during the visit.  Bella and Renee escape for a walk and drift into a mother daughter conversation....

...This morning we'd gone for a walk along the beach....

Renee and I ambled along the sidewalk, trying to stay in the range of the infrequent palm tree shadows.....

There's something .... strange about the way you two are together, she murmured, her forehead creasing her troubled eyes.  The way he watches you -- it's so ... protective.  Like he's about to throw himself in front of a bullet to save you or something. ... (Eclipse, p 66-67)

Block details:

7" block, 8" with white frame

I used the free Paper Panache airplane pattern and combined it with a pattern from the Linda Causee's 24 Tropical Quilt Blocks.  (I previously purchased this book with Breaking Dawn quilt blocks in mind.)

I hand embroidered the "Visit Jacksonville" in the upper right corner for a postcard effect and added personal touch.

I especially like the green fabric I used for the palm tree leaves.  I also like the "striped" water.

A Day Out

S and I spent the day out.  We're going to go out tomorrow, too, with her friend like I promised.  C was spent the night at a friend's house last night and spent the day out, too.  The boys stayed home.  (I was hoping some work would get done, but you know how that goes....)  I had a nice day out and I tried to not to be anxious thinking about all I needed to get done at home.

We took advantage of the FB free bagel coupons at Einstein's.  They've brought the mango orange bagel back for summer!!  S got the usual--cinnamon sugar, toasted and buttered.  Free is good.....

I said I was going to hit the quilt shops and I did!  I finished my incentive card at Holly's with some FQs for "Hunter and Prey", a pattern for the New Moon Quilt, and a nice pink that I think I'm going to use for "Imprint."  I'm bummered that they were already out of the fabric I'm using for my white frames so I've got to figure out what to do about that.  M says I should just use another fabric--and I have a ton of white sparkly fabric because I buy it every time I see some.  He jests, especially when he knows about my matchy-matchy affliction.  I also got some nice red since I also can't seem to resist buying reds.  I was hoping to get up to Harriet's for more black for New Moon since they're closed on Sundays, but I couldn't justify going across town so I'll hit them next week since the store is actually closer to my work and it makes more sense.  I also visited GAQF, but not much was going on there.  I bought some of the softest brown flannel that I'm tempted to use for my paw prints.  They have a new employee there who doesn't know me and she hovered entirely too much.  She kept reminding me that I could put my fabric down.  I finally told her, politely I promise, that I had shopping there for about 15 years and knew the routine.  The last of my visits was to Fabric Expressions so I could get some felted wool for my pennants.  S and her friend have been bugging me to make them Twilight bags and I splurged on a pattern book that has pattern for a messenger bag.  I think it may be too big so I'll probably have to adjust the pattern.

I have my eye on a quilt story book for teacher gifts.  Just a Quilt by Dalen Keys.  The author will be in town next week and will be signing books at both Holly's and GAQF.  I'm really considering buying a book for the family and probably A's teacher.

We fit a trip into Walmart,  I went to the Supercenter on my mom's side of town because we needed groceries.  My kids will only eat Thomas brand bagels and I refuse to pay $4 for six at Kings when I can get them for $2 at Walmart.  C and Z like them for their lunches so we really go through them!  S saw some shorts and a top that she wanted.  I reminded her that we were going shopping tomorrow, but she didn't want to wait.  She is SO my daughter.

We finished our day with lunch at Panda Express.  I taught S how to use chopsticks.  She finally got the hang of it, sort of, before her food got cold.

I wasn't feeling my best today.  I'm sick again, but this time it's a cold.  It set in quick yesterday afternoon.  I keep getting sick!

I vacuumed the whole house, did two loads of laundry, made dinner, and traced my eagle for the next Eclipse block.  Why is it that I can get all this done in two hours, when the boys got nothing done in the six hours I was gone?  Because I'm a motivated mom, that's why.....

The Irony of it All

I have a lot of time on my hands to sit and think.  This could be a good or a bad thing.....  I'm going to sound ungrateful, rude, crude, too honest, and probably resentful.  Read on at your own risk!

Things of late:

I want to have friends, but I rarely enjoy the entanglements that come as a result.  I become weary too fast.  The dynamics of most relationships and drama make me withdraw very quickly.  I also recognize that I'm too difficult in large or extended doses.  (The day that someone will take me as I am will be the day I have a BFF.)

I'm honestly having more fun doing my own thing now.  I don't have to answer to anyone.  I don't have to play nice.  I'm united with a couple of people at the moment because of a will to survive and not surrender.  We desire not to be bullied away from two loves and that is our common purpose.  But, I'm still pretty much on my own.

What is it that I'm really missing?  The interaction probably more than anything.  I only miss a couple of people because I enjoyed their ideas and their work.  I can honestly say that I probably wouldn't have been friends with even these people in real life because our points of view and lifestyles were just too different.  (I've never said, but even with difficulties with online interactions it became much more apparent during my visit to Utah last fall.  I wanted to see a quilt and hang with friends, but got dragged around town to religious sites and witnessed a wild spending spree instead.  Even then people were talking behind other people's backs and making judgments about family, religion, and quilting skills.)

Quilting Twilight is just not that big of a deal to the rest of the fandom or the world.  From the millions of people in the fandom, only a handful of people participate despite national and local publicity, etc.  I'm not saying that there aren't more people out there doing their own thing or that don't admire the quilts, but really how popular and influential is a Twilight quilting group going to be in the fandom?  How many people really want to be quilt Twilight?  How many people will voice their opinions with their wallets for handmade goods?

It's almost just another interesting novelty to the fandom.

Most of the world doesn't understand the work and love that goes into making a quilt.  We've all got stories of how we made a quilt for a family member or friend and they turned their noses up at the gift in one way or another.  I propose that most of us quilt for ourselves.  We want people to appreciate the art, but most people don't and won't ever truly understand or appreciate quilting.  How selfish am I when I give a quilt as a gift?  I want people to be in awe and I like hearing the compliments.  How many people would rather get something else, though?  It's not that quilts don't make nice gifts, but most people just see them as a blanket.

I will still quilt Twilight because I love seeing the books come to life in quilts.  I enjoy finding ways to make this happen.  I love to quilt.  I love Twilight.  No one has exclusive rights to combining both passions.  No one.....not even me.......or them.  I can honestly say that I am trying to prove a point, but my main purpose will always be for the LOVE.

Embroidery, Moi?

not so much!

***edited 5/14/10

It's amazing how things look differently in the light of day.  I finished the embroidery on this block at one this morning and it looked....fine.  Honestly, I just wanted to finish it last night....  Today I need to fix the sun--not liking the french knots and will go with lines for the rays--and the "t" needs a better cross.  I can't wait to get home from work to add the white frame strips and my the photo corners.

Up next?.....  I don't know!  I've got the pattern prepped for "Hunter and Prey" and it's the most ready to go.  I still need to tweak Rosalie's pattern and figure out the sizing on the pp paw and heart for "Imprinting".  I need to draft a book pattern for Wuthering Heights because I can't find one I like online.  I want to have the cover actually able to be opened with the quote from the book as printed in Eclipse.  Wuthering Heights is important to Bella and Edward's story in Eclipse so I wanted to incorportate it's significance in a meaningful way into the quilt.

I found some red satin ribbon last night.  I'm toying with using it as my ribbon in the quilt top.  That is, if I don't scare myself off in the end....

I can't wait to hit the quilt stores this weekend to replenish supplies.  I need more white sparkly fabric for my frames.  I also need more of the black fabric I'm using for the New Moon Quilt so I can get back to that.  If I can't find it locally, I'll have to order it online.

Reap What You Sew

I spent the evening working on a palm tree and even attached it to the block.

I love it when M reinforces what I think even when I don't want to admit to something or say it out loud.  I showed him and I told him that I knew it didn't look great, but that he needed to like it.  He squirmed and told me it didn't look right, voicing what I already knew.  I wasn't annoyed with him.  I was mega annoyed with myself!

My addition was total crap and I am crazed trying to come up with a solution.  I will NOT make this block over.

****Edited

I tend to make things very difficult on myself by trying to be too smart.  I didn't want to do it this way, adding a strip of fabric and piecing more water, but I think it's the only thing that looks halfway decent.

I searched the 'Net today for Jacksonville travel info, etc.  I found a page with the logo I drew in the upper right.  I'm going to embroider that as soon as I get some perle cotton.  Oh, and I'm out of thread.  I don't believe it.  I ran out making this block and had to root around for thread to use in my bobbin to finish it.  I may have to wait until Friday for payday.  grrrrrr  M says we can't buy anything that's not edible until I get paid because he still needs to pay the mortgage.

Humbled

Quilting is the best medicine.

I am humbled every day by quilting.  I usually take something with me for next time every time I make something--usually it's:  if I ever do this again, I will not do it this way...

Quilting is about the only time I get to be creative or the only time I allow myself to be creative.

Quilting isn't easy for me.  I really have to put in the effort for things to come out the right way.  I am challenged every time I sew.

It's not enough for me to be good.  I want to be great even if THAT never happens.

I see quilts all the time and I am in AWE.

I worked on the latest Eclipse Charity Quilt block last night, Trip to Jacksonville.  I was up until after 2 a.m., because I refused to give up and I wanted to finish it.  I didn't finish it.....  It's almost done, but I have to add one more section, a palm tree, because I didn't plan very well and the block is .75" smaller in width than it needs to be.  (I also need to decide if I'm going to add any hand embroidered words, like "Welcome to Jacksonville" for my postcard effect.)  I'm actually surprised it turned out as well as it did considering I knew what I wanted to accomplish, but I didn't know how to do it.  I really should have drafted my own pattern even if it was to use the elements from the existing patterns I had instead of trying to force two blocks together.....after they were sewed.  As a result, my plane is coming in for a landing--maybe a crash landing--instead of taking off and I lost most the bottom of the block in order to get the planes wings in the block.

.....this is also one of those times when I would have benefited from group advice because I really DON'T know it all, but when advised I usually can sew it well!

More Eclipse Quilt Blocks Ideas

The new Twilight Quilters..... blog is almost done. We're hoping to launch it next week. We've even secured a YahooGroups account. The "first" Breaking Dawn isn't to be released until November 2011 so there is plenty of time left for Twilight quilting. We hope to be able to complete many of the ideas I had originally before everything exploded.

I hope to finish Eclipse Charity Quilt: Trip to Jacksonville tonight. I've gathered opinions on the airplane and now I just need to make it work in the quilt block.

Linda Causee, 24 Tropical Quilt Blocks

The pattern from Paper Panache arrived yesterday that I'm going to use for Rosalie. I hope she doesn't end up looking too much like a zombie bride. I'll need to alter the pattern before I sew and I knew I would, but it's better than starting out from scratch and coming up with something lame. I wanted to represent Rosalie's actual story as featured in Eclipse. Let's hope that I can pull it off!

One of the next blocks is the Hunter and Prey block. (Bella spends time with Jacob while Edward is away hunting on the sly.) I have a couple of paper piece patterns for eagles, but I wasn't up to the challenge of working with a pattern that I would have to reduce more than 50% and the resulting need I would feel to go on about how bad a*s I was in completing it because it had a 1000 pieces like someone I know.  The pattern I selected will only have to be reduced to 70% and it's applique.  I'll just need to be sure I do some other appliqued blocks so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb among all the pp blocks.

Mckenna Ryan, On Upward Wing (At Home in the Woods)

So, basically, I have all the blocks planned out in my mind.  I just need the time to make them.  The only ones I'm still trying to work out are the block for Bella's college choices and the Volturi.  I've been scouring the 'Net for ideas in my free time....  I don't want to leave anything on the table!

Holding Down the Fort

I've started and discarded no less than five blog posts the past couple of days.  I guess I'm not in the mood to complain or maybe it's just that words fail me?  Anywho, I'm knee deep in quilt blocks and I've not been able to focus much on anything else.  In the back of my mind, I have the sneaking suspicion that it will all be a fool's folly but I'm having fun for now combining quilting and Twilight again.  I'm actually having fun working with a friend who is like minded in goals and purpose. 

I'm at work today holding down the fort.  Boss #1 is at a food show with our other employee.  Boss #2 is out of town making the rounds and attending another show.  I'm.....blogging.  I'm about to go stir crazy with inactivity.  I'm stretching an hour's worth of work into an all day job.  My next big event of the day will be when the mail gets here.  We've been taste testing a couple of new products.  I'm not in the know about much that goes on around here so it's always fun when suddenly I'm asked to try something.  I don't think I ever give the right answers, though.  I picked a competitor's product in a blind test yesterday as the one I liked better.  Oops!  LOL  (I actually didn't really like either one....it was a cream cheese/mexican cheese jalapeno concoction wrapped in a spring roll.  I don't like spicy things and my mouth was on fire after eating both samples.  I would have liked it just fine without the jalapenos.)  I was trying spinach cream cheese rangoons last week and they were yum-O.  I wanted more spinach, though.  What do I know?!  It's not always how good something tastes.  Sure, it's important that it tastes good but cost is always an important factor in addition to how something looks and will be eaten as an appetizer.

It's the same old same old at home.  By all rights soccer should be done, but I will be taking the kids to practices for a few weeks more.  A has got a couple of make up games that we're not sure if both will be played so he's still practicing with his team.  C and S are both doing a tournament on Memorial Day Weekend.  C's coach is pressuring her to play another position on offense.  C insists she prefers defense.  I keep telling her she should take it as a compliment since her coach must think she is skilled enough to learn and play a couple of positions.  I think her reluctance is just nerves.  Me, I'd probably prefer offense.  I think it would be easier on me to miss out on a scoring opportunity than it would to be on the field and scored against.  I never was athletic and never played team sports so I find it hard to give advice.  I'm not sure if Z is going to play baseball or not this season.  M and Z are at war over his grades.

M did a lot of yard work on Sunday.  He was SO mad at the kids.  Uh-hum.....  The boys raked leaves to play in last fall and left them.  They never got bagged.  The pile had turned into a nice goopy icky mess.  M is going to attempt again to grow grass on the other side of the side walk at the side of the house.  He's been trying for years, but the area has never amounted to more than dirt and some type of weedy coverage of some kind.  He's been wanting to put a watering system there for years, too, but something always comes up.  I stay out of his plans.  I've never been a gardener.  I've talked about having a small vegetable garden, but all it's been is Talk.

We've not completed any more work in the house.  We've not made the time.  I'm not fooling myself.  It's all about priorities.

How You Look at It: Airplane/Trip to Jacksonville

This pattern has always bugged me.  It doesn't look right no matter which way I turn it.....  The top photo bugs me less, but the bottom photo is how the plane finishes.  What do YOU think?

Eclipse Charity Quilt: Penguins. Lovely.

Eclipse Charity Quilt:  Penguins. Lovely.

We've been monitoring the situation for weeks.  All the signs are there--the unlikely disappearances, always in the night, the poorly disposed-of corpses, the lack of other evidence....  Yes, someone brand-new.... (Edward)

...It won't be the same for me, I whispered, half to myself.  You won't let me be like that.  We'll live in Antartica.  (Bella)

Edward snorted, breaking the tension.  Penguins.  Lovely.

(Eclipse, p. 26)

Block Details:

7" with .5" white frame and "photo corners" on all sides, 8" finished

Pattern:  Silver Linings Originals Ice Animals

I pulled all of the fabrics out of my Twilight stash of fabrics that I've accumulated with all my past projects.  M insisted on the orange sky and I almost always.....listen.

Eclipse Charity Quilt: Penguins

I worked on Penguins last night and finished the block today sans border.  I must be getting better at the Silver Linings Originals' patterns because I had little trouble piecing this one.  I wish that my darker ice fabrics had more contrast.  I don't know what I was thinking....  I wanted the sparkle of the one, but I should have used a darker fabric.  All in all, I think it turned out okay.  I'll work on Imprinting next...I think!  I guess I will work on whatever blocks strikes my mood best.

I'll write a more detailed entry later...   And, yes, since everyone always asks:  there are penguins in Eclipse!