Breath



Mr Bone's on Bass
Quilt top design by B. Sparrow
Skeleton all Mine.



Afternoon , Well I did it I took the plunge. Today I bought my Millennium Long arm machine. Breath. Wow okay you may not understand why I am so over whelmed. When I bought my first car I spent $8,000.00 dollars, was okay with that. Next car 22,000.00 dollars , went into the washroom and got sick. At that point in time I hated thinking I owed so much money. Today well I spent more than that in my Pj's,  but am doing a small happy dance.

You see I am taking a step forward. I have ran a day home for almost 15 yrs. For the most part it's been great but as with every job you have good days and bad days. It's time to look forward and have the conversation with ones self. Is this what I want to be doing in five years. Well easy answer NO it's not. Next question  -  what do you want to be doing? Again easy answer, although five years ago I could not answer that question.

Since I started quilting I found my voice . And yes as with everything in my life went for it with all my heart and soul. When each day is a gift use it well cause it could all be gone tomorrow. (Life scare when my son was five). Now discovered that I enjoy the quilting as much as the piecing maybe more so. Piecing is fine , following a pattern is wonderful but I have never been one to stay in the lines so where does this leave me? Simple answer do the work that makes the quilt a quilt.

Now for the next four months I will be travelling all over the country taking classes from some amazing Long arm Art's. Yes they are artist when they can make a flower come to life or a feather float in the corners of a quilt. These teachers have been doing this form of art for years and I can hardly wait to soak up what they have to offer. Next week it's classes with Sue Patten whom is amazing.

Found a name - Loopy D's quilting & Long arm studio. It makes me smile a combination of my favorite companion ( Luna ) we call her loopy cause she runs in circles and does these silly little loops when we are heading out. And a long arm artist makes many Loops.  D is for me and the rest is  what we do. Plus those that know me know that I am a  little bit loopy for the most part.

So for the next year will be working on improving my skills, building a clientele , designing more so Loopy D's can offer a little more crazy to ones quilts.

Long term plan be able to make this addiction pay for it's self and be able to take two weeks off a year. So yes today I spent money but in the long run it will pay for it's self and I can work when I want. Plus I can go for a coffee with a friend or have lunch with the girls.

Scary to be moving into the unknown but I think life needs to have risks and one should at least try. I can always be a Wal Mart greeter . Okay evil laugh I am not that old.

Our Past our legacy

Morning,


Purple monstrosity



As I look outside into my garden resting under a coat of snow it makes one reflect on the past and whats to come next. Spring is just around the corner and all those buds waiting to pop up from under the cold blank of winter. I am not one that reflects on my genealogy but I love history and the artifacts that have survived . In my teens I worked for the Cranbrook Railway museum  restoring  the train cars. Peeling away the paint, dirt and grim of so many years. It was a dirty job but wow looking at the end results and knowing you saved something for the future made my heart sing. Now many years later looking at my life makes me wonder about what one will leave behind for the next generation to restore , preserve or just enjoy. Spent morning reading a couple of

history research papers hence the reflection.

Last month I made a Baby Jane quilt , it was nice but nothing special in my eyes. Not like Jane A Stickler's quilt from 1863 or Harriet Powers bible quilts from the 1800's. Mrs. Powers sold her quilt back then for five dollars so she could feed her family, Ms. Stickle made the quilt while she waited for the men in her life to return from war. Did these women know that a hundred years later women would be making their quilts in ah of what they had made with the tools and fabric of the day.

While my family was in New york we went to many museums, and yes we enjoyed it but the one item that stuck in my head was a piece of fabric that was painted and stitched from the 1700's. Fabric and working with it is part of a women's DNA . Thinking this is why I took to quilting like a duck to water , it's in my DNA.



Mermaids song
Made it into National Juried Show 2010



We all have a creative side somewhere, will someone be holding one of my quilts or my mothers painting and wondering what  where we thinking while making it. After the trip back from New York I came to the conclusion that yes I was an artist like my mother and grandmother. These ladies paint and draw cause it's part of them. Are they famous no will their works survive who knows. Put they loved doing it. As for myself my quilting friends can spot one of my pieces without being told who made it. Do I love what I do silly question and the answer is yes. Am I an artist yes because I am creating something to express how I am feeling. So while my mother thinks its just sewing ( She has one of my quilts & she has it on her bed with the back side showing not the front with all the work)  I think yes some pieces are functional  but others are works of Art.

Now here is the question of the day, do you think of your work as art, or just functional ? And in a hundred years when someone is holding it what will they think about it? I am thinking they will think it's Art what do you think?


Nana's Parlor
Just made after my grandmother pasted.



Do you have a goal or Plan?



My life is full of fun, color, & will always
take time to party & have a glass of wine
Sexy Shoes a must.



If you had asked me four years ago what would I be doing I could not answer you. Well I could , I would be working, maybe taking some classes and dealing with my day to day life. Did I have a plan for the future no just work, save for my retirement and pray that my family was happy and healthy. Those people that say do what you love well I never understood that as for me I liked different things but never loved anything.  Wow has things changed .

Who would have known that walking into a quilt store would change my life so much in such a short time. Found my passion, discovered color, discovered that it was okay to play & explore my creative side and met amazing people. This journey I am on has changed due to teachers that have opened doors to my imagination. My first instructor whom I love is Linda Ward she called me out and challenged me along the way. She has given of her time and let me fly. Others have taught and I have soaked up everything they had to offer. But as in life it's never a straight road, my journey changed when I took a class from Matt Sparrow . I love making my quilts but it was the quilting that always seemed to fall short. Sending them out was fine but for the most part when they came back my vision and the quilters vision where  different. I bought a long arm frame and put a regular sewing machine on it. For me this has worked well but has it's short comings . So as in all that I do I booked a class with Matt to see how to improve my quilting. Had him do a quilt for me and he got me!  The quilt is a work of Art due to Matt's skills. Hence why I took a class from him.  One day with him caused an explosion in my world.

All of a sudden I knew what I wanted to be doing and needed a plan of attack to reach my goal. Came home sat down with my husband and explained my crazy plan. So now I am saving for a proper long arm machine and frame. In March taking time off to head to Edmonton to take Classes with Sue Patten, then in June taking more time off to go to Long arm University and taking classes with Cathy Roth. A couple of weeks ago took a workshop with Lorraine Stangness. All these classes before I even own a machine (way to funny)
Reason behind this is to be able to play on a number of different machines and test drive them. So when it comes time to buy I will buy the machine that will work the best for my needs. Hate to spend that kind of money and not love it or make it pay for it's self.

Now all this is great but would not happen or could not happen if I did not have the support of my family. My Husband has kept me on track and helped me keep on track when obstacles have come my way.

So look around you,  people come into your life for a reason. I know My Husband is my anchor, and all the people that are around me are here to teach me life lessons and I value all of them.

Now here is the question of the day , who inspires you ? What are your future goals, have you set any? What are you going to do to reach these goals? If you don't have a goal in mind maybe it's time to look around your world and view it differently.  Hope I make you think. :)

And for those teachers and people that have inspired me know that I value you , respect you and am grateful you came into my crazy world. Hugs and kisses coming your way.

The Power of a quilt

Okay go get a box of tissues cause by the end of this you will be shedding a few tears... Ready ...cause not sure if I am but here goes anyways. On Sunday we awake to a call at 4:30 am. Took a minute or two to figure out whom was on the phone . My friend has just had the police at her door telling the family that their youngest son was killed in a car accident. The grief is flowing threw the phone lines. We are up ! The  first thing my husband says is go see if our son is home safe and sound. You see he went out with friends that night and was not the driver . Relief sets in as we see the sneakers by the door way. Go down to his room and steal a hug. Coffee on shower and off Rod and I go in different directions as he had to move work around last week and could not stay in town this week. Me off to help where I can. As I walk into my friends home you can feel the sadness. Hugs, the tale unfolds tears are shed. Turns out my job is the official hugger. Each time a new person comes in D. (my friend) goes and greets the newest guest and the tears flow. The grief is palpable and no one knows how to comfort this family. My reaction is to hug, I don't have the words cause I don't know this loss and hope never to. So I wrap my arms around both D and her husband when it's needed. The pain is so real , and raw that one feels helpless. By the end of this day I have a headache from all the tears shed.
Before leaving I ask D if I can have some of her son's t-shirts so I can make her a quilt. You see all day long she is clutching his things with an iron grip afraid if she lets go it might be true. It's not real , I'm going to wake up she says under her breath a hundred times this day.  Into his room we go typical young man's room cloths everywhere , gym gear everywhere, the smell of hockey gear ahhhh but she looks we laugh and cry some more. In my arms the shirts go,  I know she is trusting that I will not harm the items she is giving me,  letting go of more. ( crying now  ? I sure am)
On the drive home make a call to two quilting friends explaining what has been going on and yes they will come and help. At nine Sandra arrives we open a bottle of wine she listens then to the studio we go. For the next couple of hours we talk , chat and sew. My soul is recharging . In the morning Sandra heads to work, I head to the sewing machine. All day long the machine sews and sews, the noise is like a hum that's soothing after lunch it's down stairs to the long arm. In my dreams I dreamt of angel wings but in the end I stitched hearts flowing threw the quilt landing here and there. In the corner quilt Love you Travis . Back upstairs square the quilt and machine sew the binding on.
Load quilt , Luna and myself into the truck and head to the other side of the city. Walk into the house where their was over fifty people. By the end of the night over 100 people will have came to show their respects. D. sees me and the quilt and is in my arms. The quilt is then scooped up and she has it on the floor inspecting, soaking up what I had done. Tears are flowing her oldest son is thanking me and crying , this family embraces me and this quilt. Now it's nothing special eight meters of fabric, nine t-shirts that are used but the power it holds words can't describe. When I left tonight my friend was on the coach curled up under it finally resting.
The power it holds is love. Travis is there giving them that last hug.
So thinking this is the nicest quilt I have ever done because it was done with the purest intent love.
Thinking your crying now.  Go hug you kids, call them , email them cause you never know when the Angels want them by there side. I know I have given JD more hugs in the last two day than he would like oh well. Now to bed I head not looking forward to the next couple of days but will  smile and let my spirtes flow.

It's a new year, we all make resolutions which one never really keeps but at least we give it our best effort for a month or so. A few years ago I got off this merry go round as I did not like setting myself up to fail. Now yes I do say this year I am going to do this or that but it is usually something that needs to get done. Last year was the year to purge, finish projects and clear out the clutter. This was done with the help of an organizer. Sometimes one needs to ask for help and that's okay. Also my quilting friends kept me in line to finish off my projects, although I keep adding to that pile. As for this year I have made goals not resolutions. This years goal is to have a Millennium and frame in the house .For those that don't sew it's a kick ass Long arm machine. Now the plan is to teach and put that income aside , get another part time job. Okay I know adding to my already crazy schedule but I sent out a resume to do census for Revenue Canada and that job one can set there own hours. You see to make my goal means I have to put about a thousand dollars aside each month for the whole year. We will also be making cutbacks in other areas so that I can bank more. So this year I will also try to sell some of my quilts, use more of my stash and spend less. Ambitious goal I know.


Friendship Quilt
Blocks made by friends quilt design mine

 You see I have a plan which has been set into place. This plan happened because Rod and I kept telling JD to do what he loved. A job is not a job if you love what you are doing. When giving advise one should follow ones own advise. So for the next year I shall be taking classes from some wonderful teachers from all over Canada and the United States. I will also be asking my friends if I can quilt their quilts so that one can practice what one is learning. Muscle memory is important. And the scariest thing is to start using my computer to design quilts so that one can start selling one's patterns and designs. Long term Plan make this crazy hobby or rather addiction  start paying for it's self. So giving JD advice also made me look at my life and ask was I living it to my fullest. Was I my best self and the answer was getting there, work in progress. Now step it up and live. Thinking I have been watching to much Oprah. So question of the day are you living your fullest life ? If the answer is no then what's your plan ?  Now to go see what the kids are doing, get JD out the door, pour myself a coffee and get on with my day. Hope your day is full of fun and laughs. I know mine will be cause kids can be so funny.

Christmas Crazy

Three days and counting down. The house is done, baking finished, gifts wrapped so now it's onto the house work. I swear we make more work for ourselves. The joy of the Holidays, spending way to much, eating, drinking and playing way to much. Everything in excess. As a quilter I make even more work for myself cause well you want to make that special gift for your family and friends. Sorry guys but I  did not go crazy. Okay let me rephrase that. 25 tea towels made and already given away, 50 little bags made and most have been given away, two quilts done and given, two table runners , two wall hangings have also been sent. And that is what I did in the last two months.

Now got smart and told a friend no I would not make her mother in law a quilt so she came and sewed for a night and then booked a long arm quilter as I said no again. Happy dance for me for standing up and realizing that I could not do everything. Sometimes we have to learn to take a look at our schedules and rethink what can be done and will be done.

Today I am working on a quilt that is due on the 8th of January. The blocks where all finished in the spring early summer. Scheduling issues NOT just like most of us left it to the last minute now in panic mode and look still not doing it cause I am Blogging. Evil laugh. Goal today is lay the blocks out and figure out the best way to showcase these amazing blocks. And well the ladies that graced me with such a gift I don't want to let them down so will try and showcase each block to its best. May be under the gun but will not let time get in the way.  

That is what I plan to be doing this week in my spare time. Now my wonderful husband also booked us a couple of days at the Banff Springs so we will be escaping between the Christmas holidays and New Years. He has been traveling so much he though it would be nice to recharge. Okay I know he has been staying in hotels most of this month but he wants to spend time with me. No distractions, kids or dog.  So today thinking will head to the Cat's Pajama's and buy something special after work.

Now that I have killed an hour guess I should get back to work. Wish me luck. Mind you in 15 minutes have to go and pick up kids as they only have half a day off. Got to love my schedule.

Being Thankfull.

Just got home from doing my shift for Inn out of the Cold it is 5:38 am in the morning yes still up and know once my head hits the pillow I will be out like a light. Now lots is going on in my head as to how the rest of my day is going to go. Sleep till ten, maybe make a piece of toast while the coffee is brewing. Head to the bank to pay my taxes ( Filed late this yr.) Not worrying about how I am paying this bill because the money is there. Then grocery store, liquor store then home, friend coming over to use the long arm so she can finish her Christmas gifts. My husband will arrive home around four then we will get ready to go to a Christmas party . This is what this day will involve. Well tonight I swear more people could not sleep , needed to have a smoke, or just wondering about. Very unusual since wake up is at six and they are on the bus heading out by seven.

Here is what these Homeless working poor have to look forward to. Wake up in 15 minutes, where if you want a shower you have to wait cause there are only two showers and 15 people that could want one. But you have only one hour to pack up your stuff shower and eat . On the menu is eggs, toast, bacon and fruit. Sounds good but this is the menu everyday if you are using the Inn. 7:00 am on the bus to head downtown. It's cold out, might not have the right cloths for this weather in need of a smoke. If your lucky you have work to go to if not your on the cold streets of Calgary . Lunch was given to you so no worries about filling that need but where does one get hot water to use for the instant soup? Next worry getting back to the Inn pick up point by 4:30 to catch a bus to the next church that is housing you for the night. Along with a million other worries about surviving on the streets.
Okay hope you have a mental  picture. My family was homeless when I was a child my parents did their best but moving, changing cities and jobs left cash flow short. First and Last months rent is hard to save for when you are just trying to get by in a day. Did not help that my mother had a mental condition . We also where on welfare for most of my younger days. So this is the reason I do the Inn Out of the Cold each month. It keeps our family grounded as to whats important . My husband never lived through such things but he has lived through my hording of canned food ( Not so bad for it now) My giving the shirt off my back if you needed it no questions asked , opening our home to anyone no matter what. Over feeding everyone cause god forbid anyone goes away hungry from our home.

I have a point to this story should get there ( lack of sleep ). All week I have been stressing about my silly Christmas tree and when was I going to get it up. Well tonight one man was stressing about the sizes of cigarette butts in this bag he had. I swear he must have gathered them up from all over the place . All he wanted was to enjoy one smoke. The bag made him feel like he could handle what ever the day held for him if he could gather enough to role one cigarette. Another lady that was up all night was stressing about the hole in her shoe cause next week it was going to get cold. Makes the tree look rather silly. These people where not worrying about stocking stuffers or that perfect gift.

As we head into this holiday season please take the time to enjoy what you have. My friend Darla and her son have been doing one good deed a day for someone if we all did this wow our world might not have so many stressed out people. So I hope today when you head into your day you might appreciate the little joys that are around you all the time. I know the people at the Inn gave me a gift tonight. I shall not stress over anything cause really we have it so much better than a lot of other people. Merry Christmas