So, it has come to this...

For the second time in my life, I was fingerprinted this morning. The first time was in 1975 when I was applying for a city of Milwaukee bartender's license. Something about wanting to keep the criminal element of Chicago out of Milwaukee taverns. Today's was also employment related. In order to renew my nursing license in July, the state of Texas has to have my fingerprints on file. I guess this is a good idea, making sure that we nurses are not hardened criminals. This time was different than the last...no ink was used, just some sort of digital scanner. I did ask for a copy, just as a souvenir.

My latest quilt

The day after Christmas I took my sister Jan and niece Emma to Cabbage Rose Quilting. It is absolutely my favorite quilt shop...too bad it is 250+ miles away! Emma fell in love with this quilt made from Amy Butler fabrics. I decided that I would make it for her high school graduation present. They told me that a kit would be available soon. I went back when we were in Fort Worth in March, but alas, no kit. No pattern either. They were kind enough to help me figure out how many fabrics I would need and I sketched out the pattern. I quickly got it pieced before my surgery, not knowing how long I would be unable to use my sewing machine, and sent it off to be quilted. (My friend Sue has hooked me up with a quilter in Arkansas who machine quilts in half the time and for half the price of what I have found locally...just have to pay postage.) I hadn't anticipated that Emma's graduation would be so early. It was last Thursday evening, in Lawton, Oklahoma. I was getting ready to drive up to my mom's (near Fort Worth) on Wednesday, and then to drive her up to Lawton on Thursday. I was literally packing up the car, when the mail arrived, and there was Emma's quilt. I had the binding ready to go, so machine sewed it on at home and took it with me. I hand sewed the binding on Wednesday night...I always have functioned best under pressure! I even remembered to take a photo of it.

Emma had been told by her mother that because of my surgery I wouldn't be making her a graduation quilt. I'm not sure she bought that line, but she did seem happy and surprised with her gift.

Where does the time go?

I just realized that my last post was almost two weeks ago...what a bad blogger I am! I am at my mom's for the weekend, but just wanted to share my two latest mystery blocks of the month. This is the fabric for one of the blocks...

And for the other one...

I think these two are actually my favorite so far. Maybe I am just getting used to the garish Kaffe Fassett colors.

And just to refresh your memory, these are the first six. Only four more to go until we find out how wild this quilt is actually going to be! Stay tuned...

Happy Mother's Day...

...to you all!

Catching up

Ironically, the tomato plant I planted last September before Hurricane Ike has yielded me the most tomatoes of any I've had since we moved to Houston almost seven years ago. I guess it's true that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." We have been enjoying these lovelies all week. There was another ripe one, but a snail got to it first :-( I have my eye on several green ones, which I'm guessing will ripen quickly in this 90º weather...trying to look on the bright side.

The warm weather has also yielded some lovely garden blooms. My orchid has bloomed for the fourth year in a row. Only two flowers this year compared to four last year, but still pretty. Maybe if actually fed it or something it would be more productive.

Same goes for my gardenia. It has been the same pot for several years and might get a very occasional application of Miracle-Gro when the mood strikes me. It it a very scrawny looking plant, but has managed to produce many very fragrant blossoms.




I got my latest quilt back from the quilter and am in the process of sewing on the binding. It is so warm here that even with the A/C on I can only stand having on my lap for short periods of time. Here it is hanging outside...looks a bit washed out by the bright sunshine.


I wanted to see what it would look like on the bed...

...with a cat under it.


After I took those pictures, I realized that I had a shot of Mike's nightstand. Just to be fair, here is what is on mine. The squirt bottle is used for cat behavior modification (keeping Graycie off the dresser).


Next up I have two mystery BOTM which I haven't even looked at yet. I am trying to be disciplined and finish up one thing before starting another!

Sewn blog launch party

I read about the launch of the Sewn blog on Library Gal Quilts and decided to play along. I have never participated in one of these giveaways, but thought it would be fun and a good way to liven up my blog, which I have been shamefully neglecting as of late. I will be giving away a copy of this book, which is full of cute apron patterns. To enter, just leave a comment and on June 8th I will draw a winner.