Growth as a quilter

It is an interesting thing to start a new hobby.  I remember asking my mother to help me make a quilt when I was about 13.  She told me maybe and then we went and bought the material.  I think that we got as far as cutting out the squares.  However, we never actually sewed anything together.  That my first experience with quilting. 

I have always admired the Amish quilts with bold colors and beautiful appliques.  The simplicity of these quilts have always created images in my mind.  As a young girl, I had ideas of making these, but alas my Mom was not a person who sewed. My Grandmother could sew anything and I have fond memories  of her making my doll clothes. She died when I was 11 and my mentor was gone and my voyage began on my own.

Jump ahead some 30 years and my children wanted to have Indian Halloween costumes.  I had no sewing machine  and could not find a Native American costume in all of Southern California.  We had just returned from a Route 66 trip and bought mocchasins for all three..... but no costume.  I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest sewing machine($65) and some material, ribbons, fringe, thread and off I went.  I made 2 dresses , vest, leggings , and apron.  I rememberd that I liked sewing and being creative.  

You might ask, "How does this apply to quilting?"  Well, after this my 12 year old daughter wanted to make a quilt and learn to sew.  I told her let's make a quilt for your birthday and I was hooked.  With minimal sewing experience, but good math skills and research skills, I took to the internet and found the easiest free pattern I could.  The Chain rail...

Applique quilt

This is the quilt that I was making.  For no apparent reason other than I wanted to try flowers.  Kind of a whimsical flower.

I like the flower with the purple pedals

when it rains....

Well, today is another one of those days when there is too much planned.  I just cannot do it all and stay mentally sane.  Apart from all I have to do on a normal day the kids have  a minimum day and parent conferences.  That means that they have to be picked up at 12:35 and given lunch. only to be back at schoolat 2:20 for a conference.   Somewhere in ther I have exercise, visiting the round robin for tennis of which I am captain, make dinner, prepare for softball game....etc. I am tired just thinking about it and I haven't even done it yet.

Wednesday Mayhem

It seems to me that every hump day is too full.  I have three children and each one of them has something on that day.  It starts off with the fact that they have a minimum day and get off at 12:30.  Since I am the only one that picks them up, that means that my Wednesday is cut in half too and I must be ready to pick them up at that time.  Bob and Kat  need lunch so it is a mad dash to the house to put food in them before heading out the door to pick Lisa up at 2.   Now each of the girls have softball practice at 4. Usually today I also have Ad in tennis at 8:45AM and my tennis lesson at 6PM.  

  Today Lisa has a game.  I am an assistant coach.  I will explain how that grates on me later.  I don't mind the fact that I am helping her team because I really like to help kids, but I swore I was not going to coach again.  Here I am, coaching, more than assisting.  My experience before was that in these types of team sports, parents live vicariously through their children.  Parents are coaches who give their children unfair advantages.  It always seems like the coaches kid is the pitcher?  why? Because they are the best player?  probably not, but in order to get any time on the mound you need to coach or find a team who doesn't  have a pitcher child.    Trust me, my child is hardly the best, and farthest from the best behaved.  I will say she is getting better in disposition and talent, but I am biased.  I have never pushed for her to to be the only pitcher, but I have wanted her to get the experience.

First Entry

Here are some pictures of the quilt that I have made for donation to La Jolla Elementary:

Well, this is the first time that I have blogged anything.  I have been making a quilt for the Gala at my kid's school. I saw this in a magazine and then I made it and a pillow.