The Versatile Log Cabin

Several years ago I acquired a paper pieced pattern from someone...can't even remember who!  And when I decided to follow the Scrappy Challenge, last month being red, I chose to make up these squares...each being a 2" square and a total of 36.  While deciding which layout to use, I remembered why I love the log cabin!  It is such a versatile block...these are just a few of the layouts you can use.  I know Flavin Glover

uses the log cabin in many of her quilts. If you are not familiar with her (and who isn't) check out her website...fascinating!!!

The layout I chose..adding a black border..total size w/ border 18" square.

Now I just need to decide how to quilt it...I am a little late for the Scrappy Challenge by a couple of weeks...this month is green.  Maybe I can get green done in time for St. Pat's Day in March!!!

Challenge #58-Diamonds

Challenge #58- Diamonds

"It's Valentine's Day..

An occasion to show love.

Should be every day!"

     This week, the Diva gave us the challenge of Diamonds to bring awareness to The Four Diamond Fund.  If you click on the link, you will find the meaning of the fund...very touching cause!!  I had started my ZIA yesterday with the idea of using it for a Valentine....I had done the heart shape and the Sanibelles (last week's challenge which I really like doing) then this morning got on line to see what the Diva had cooked up for us!!  That is when I added the Diamonds.  The Diva got the subject for her challenge from Diana Hirsch who has been involved in the Four Diamonds for quite some time.

     This is the earliest I have ever posted a zentangle challenge tile, so time permitting, I may get another one in of this chosen design!!

Challenge #57-UMT -Sanibelle

Challenge #57 Sanibelle

The Diva's zentangle challenge for this week is created by Tricia Faraone and is named "Sanibelle". The feathery, leafy design is the zentangle chosen. The rest is just what happened as I doodled. And the UMT stands for Use My Tangle.
       My haiku to accompany this design is:

"Tricia's Sanibelle

An unplanned evolution.

Leaves, twigs and a nest!"

block for january

block for january, a photo by arts1plus on Flickr.

Here is one thing I finished this week....my Internet BOM...using the Moda fabric I won a couple years ago from Quilting Arts at the International Quilt Show in Houston.

It Came in the Mail!

A Book from Julie Waldmann

A couple of weeks ago, i was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Julie Waldmann who was notifying me that I was the winner of her latest giveaway. And today, this beautiful book came in the mail!  Now, I do not usually work in reproduction fabrics, but this year, my guild has chosen the theme for our annual quilt show "Memories" and the focus is on '30's fabrics.  I volunteered to be in charge of the Members Challenge Quilt so I think this book will come in very handy!!!  There is also going to be an apron challenge and this book just happens to have an apron pattern!

Although I did not do the "15 Minute Challenge" this week, I did actually get quite a bit of time to spend in my studio.  So I guess I will repost the logo for this challenge and at least post what I can, when I can....starting next week!  And I will have a zentangle challenge to post this week also..I missed last week's from the Diva.

Zentangle-HH (Harris Hospital-6th floor)

Zentangle-HH (Harris Hospital-6th floor), a photo by arts1plus on Flickr.

Last week, I spent several days in a hospital room, watching my husband improve from surgery. We are home now and he is almost back to normal. While there, I kept from going stir crazy by working on a zentangle...this is my creative representation of the hospital, 6th floor...tubes and all...by way of a ZIA!
     Another product that helped my sanity was my Kindle Fire.  I just got it for Christmas and I love it.  I'm not big on cell phones except in emergencies; and I don't have a fancy phone or plan whereby I can take pictures or instantly post on Facebook, but I discovered I can do a great deal on my Kindle if I am in an area with WiFi.  The hospital (which I imagine is pretty common any more) has a guest connection.  So I could surf, check my emails, send emails, etc....and I had a book at hand and could down load some tv shows!! What  a world we live in!!!  I love most of the technology....my mom who has been gone nearly 18 years would also have loved it all...my dad, gone fourteen years, would have hated it!!!!!

New Color Palette Challenge

The New Color Palette Challenge for February

     Vicki Welsh has a beautiful website and is the host of the monthly Color Palette Challenge.  Here are the colors for the month of February.  Aren't they luscious!!!

     I have had to kind of drop out of a couple of challenges you might remember from my side bar, but this is one that I hope to continue.  A few others that I am going to try to continue with are the Sketchbook Challenge, the Diva's zentangle challenge, the Bloggers BOM, and the Scrappy monthly color challenge.  On the last one, I had almost finished my "red" challenge scrappy, but ran out of time (or month) to publish so I  will continue to work on it as an UFO.  This month's color is "green" so maybe I can get it done during this month.  Most of these are just fun to do for me and keep me mentally and creatively challenged.  The final products will probably end up in my guild's silent auction at our annual Quilt Show.
     
      I have been keeping up with all the todo with the Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle!  My kids and I have done the Race for the Cure for about 15 years now.  I had a bit of a dilemma whether to continue this year or not, but as the Komen organization changed their stance on the withdrawal of funds to PP, my dilemma is solved and I will be joining them this spring!

     

      

I Feel Like a Winner!!!

Lucky me!!!

     I received this lovely little quilt about three weeks ago from a fellow blogger, Pat West. This generous lady randomly gives away her creations to those who follow her blog. And this time I was the lucky one!! She had emailed me to ask what were some of my favorites and then she sent this to me! If you link to her blog you will see what else she is up to...I was also lucky enough to receive a few of her snowflakes!!  I am sure they will be a beautiful accent to a future art quilt of mine!!
     Also in the past week, I have received the center block for me to add a border to from the Cotton Robin Challenge which I am doing.  I wish I could show the block because it is really neat, but the project is a secret to the original maker until they get their finished quilt back!
      And after a very rough week of hospital stays with my husband (who is now home and doing great!) I had a stellar day Sunday!!  My husband took the upward turn that got him dismissed........As I was leaving the hospital parking garage, the attendant at the toll booth waved me through, telling me that the guy in front of me had paid my fee (a Random Act of Kindness!).....and when I got home, I had an email from Floribunda Quilts that I am the winner of her book giveaway!!!  She is the person who is monitoring the Cotton Robin Challenge.

Challenge #55- Moebius Trip

Challenge #55- Moebius Trip, a photo by arts1plus on Flickr.

I didn't get this posted last week because I have been rather busy with some health issues with my husband...but we are on the road to recovery now so I am back in action.

This challenge by the Diva is Moebius Trip in honor of the Moebius Awareness Day which was January 24, I think. One of the Diva's adorable boys has Moebius Syndrome so I wanted to help her with the awareness.  This link will take you to her blog when she explains about the syndrome and how it affects her little guy...very touching!

Zentangle challenge #54-Purple Haze

Zentangle Challenge # 54-Purple Haze (and my haiku)
"The color Purple
Stands for creativity,
Royalty, magic!"
      The Diva is back...I somehow missed #53, but for Challenge # 54, the topic is using the color Purple. This is one of my favorite colors so I would like to share the color meaning with everyone by clicking on the link.

     I am still working on this Picture thing with Flickr so bare with me.  I haven't figured out how put more than one picture at a time on my blog but I'll keep plugging along!

Sketchbook Challenge Jan.2012

Sketchbook Challenge "Doodle" January, 2012

The Sketchbook Challenge "Doodle" was certainly right up my alley!!  Doodling is what I do a lot of!!

I had started this in a new sketchbook I bought myself for Christmas...I was in a doctor's office waiting for my husband to get through with some testing...and it just grew from there.  Looking forward to the next month's challenge.  Another Zentange challenge is in the works.  The Diva who challenges us, took a few weeks off but came back on line this week with a challenge..."Purple Haze"...I have it finished and will post it tomorrow.

     Today was my guild's monthly meeting... We had a huge crowd...the weather is really nice now...was 81 today!  Hard to believe it is January....this is really warm even for Texas!  Anyway, Susan Cleveland was our speaker...very entertaining and talented.  She is from Minnesota so we loved her accent and she said she loved ours!  Check out her website .....she has lots of really beautiful quilts to show us and many interesting techniques to share.  Those who took her workshop yesterday said it was one of the best they have ever had!  Sorry I missed it.

     I can't remember if I have mentioned that I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas....I LOVE it!!  I am becoming kind of APPS crazy!  Fortunately for my pocketbook, there are a lot of free ones out there.  Having the Kindle for reading is pretty nice too, but I like it every bit as much for the access to the Internet.

Protest SOPA

     I have been looking into this bill before Congress and offer this  link to anyone reading this for information on who is for and who is against the bill - S. 98:The Protect IP Act (PIPA).  I have mixed feelings, of course, because I don't want the entertainment world to get ripped off, but I don't want censoring to become a problem with internet use.  From what I have read, this bill could create censorship problems for all.  I am traditionally a fence sitter on most political issues but I decided to take a stand on this topic.

 And I was going to post my Sketchbook Challenge pic that I had posted to the Challenge Flickr group, but remembered that in protest today, I am blacking out some of my Flickr pictures!  So later on that!


   

15 Minute Challenge Report!

Last week I was able to get in sewing at least for 15 minutes almost every day:

• Finished Color Challenge Block
• Finished background for Misty Fuse
• Finished and mailed off my Round Robin quilt
• Working on my Misty Fuse quilt.
• Cleaned out my scrap bins....gave away/threw away and kept to use
• Started on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Block for January

Final Block for Color Palette Challenge

Color Challenge Block 24" x 24"

After trying a few pattens, I settled on this block from a design by Bonnie K. Browning-"Color My World". There are many ways to move the blocks around to create different patterns and this is my final decision on which to use.
     I still cannot download from my photos on my computer, but did discover that I can down load pictures off of my Flicker account.  It is a little more time consuming but at least I can show some things this way!!
     We attended our granddaughter's High School Swimmeet this morning...she, of course, did wonderfully!!!  And we got to see the grandson while he was practicing at the same pool...such talented young people!!!  All the kids....not just my grands!  A real pleasure to see them in action.
     I am working on a fusible landscape using Misty Fuse.  I am thinking of entering it in the Misty Fuse contest.  I had picked up a little flyer about the contest at their table at the Houston International Quilt Show last November.  Of course the deadline is tomorrow so I may not quite get it finished in time....Queen of the Last Minute Projects, that's Me!!!!

Finally, A Little Winter....and Rain!!!!

Fabric for the Color Challenge-January 2012

      I am working on a pattern by Bonnie K Browning "Color My World" for my Color Palette Challenge.  

     Today was the first meeting of the Trinity Valley Quilters' Guild board of which, as librarian, I am a member...new officers, new budget, lots of new ideas!!  Way to start the new year!

     Tomorrow, back to sewing....I have a couple of challenges just about ready to post!!  If I can get my pictures to work on my blog, that is!!!  I still need help with that!!

      One of my fellow guild members, Donna Keating, has two months on the about.com calendar for 2012.  All the quilts are very nice, and Donna should be complemented for having hers chosen....and TWO at that!!

     The weather finally took a wintery turn today...and with rain!!!  Much needed so I won't complain too much!

   

Help!!!

This is what is happening when I try to download pictures from my IPhoto on my computer.  I have asked "blogger" for help but didn't get any thing from them.  Can anyone tell me what I need to do to get photos downloaded?????  I used to be able to get them on my blog easily and I can still get them on other documents, etc. 

And One More Challenge!

     If you look to my sidebar, you will see a Challenge...15 Minute Challenge...button.  I think this is a good idea...gives me focus and credibility to what I have accomplished in a week...I noticed that, although it says "15 minutes of sewing", those participating did much more than just sew.  I plan to use the Challenge as a means of a weekly summary...on all art work that I do...from the preparing to the finished project!

     This week I have:

• finished and mailed my Cotton Robin (internet round robin) block
• picked out my fabric for the Color Palette Challenge...and the block I plan to do with the fabrics chosen
• downloaded a software program with which I can keep track of my quilts, projects, etc....a virtual record called Quilt Album.  I got the information from Vicki's website and if you order it by January 12, you can get a code from her January 4 blog for $10.00 off the cost
• added pictures from trips to my Kindle Fire (a Christmas gift I just LOVE)
• made a small scrap quilt from the fabric left over from my round robin

Some of these were more than one day, but all in all I did do something everyday!!!  Probably more than 15 minutes!!!

   And...I had the nicest email from Pat of 501 Quilt Blocks who has chosen me to be a recipient of a gift from her!!!  How exciting is that?  Check out her blog to see how this came to be!

New Addictions

     I think I am addicted to Internet Challenges!!  I have discovered so many very cool ones that I think would be fun to do...actually I am challenging myself...there is no competition involved. A couple of them have "prizes" for posting, but the prizes albeit some pretty nice ones, are selected at random...so not a competition.

BOM #4-December

     The BOM challenge is a challenge in which a new pattern by a different quilter is given out each month.  The quilters are using fabric by Kaffe Fassett which is really lovely, but I have this Moda fabric I had won a couple of years ago I am using...have done 4 so far.

     The Color Palette Challenge is a new one whereby a palette is chosen each month and Vicki offers a class each Friday using the palette.  Here is the palette for January:

     And I think I am going to participate in the Free Motion Quilting Challenge as it is a learning experience too, and the Sketchbook Challenge for 2012, and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2012....also continuing with the Diva's Zentangle challenge.  None of these are too time consuming and yet should keep me challenged to grow in my creative endeavors!!!!

Day Two

     Today I made my block for the  Internet Round Robin I have signed up for.  I need to get it mailed off tomorrow to be "official".  Then in a few weeks, I will get someone else's block...add a border....then send it off to someone else for another border...I will receive another one...etc. until I get mine back!  We are not to post pictures of what we are working on it its entirety so it will be a surprise.
      The Diva is taking a few weeks off from the Zentangle challenges so I have improvised my own challenge!   I am doing the Alphabet with the zentangle designs inside each letter with patterns starting with that letter.
     This year I have decided to join a class called "One Little Word". It is sponsored by a website Ali has established for many creative classes and ideas.  I didn't realize that the main focus on the site is scrapbooking which I am not into in a big way, but I do like journaling and that seems to be a secondary emphasis...and I love words so the title of this workshop is what caught my eye.
      My word for the year is NATURE!  I don't know for sure what we are going to do with one word all year..."lessons"/ideas will be forth coming.  But until that happens, I am going out on a limb on my own and begin:
  Definition:  (a noun)
  Origin: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin-natura                                                                   from natus, past participle of nasci-to be born
 First use:  14th Century
                       1. The inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing .
                       2. a. A creative and controlling force in the universe.
                           b. An inner force or the sum of such forces in an individual.
                       3. a kind or class usually distinguished by fundamental or essential      
                           characteristics.
                       4. The physical constitution or drives of an organism.
                       5. A spontaneous attitude (as of generosity)
                       6. The external world in its entirety.
                       7. a. Humankind's original natural condition.
                           b. A simplified mode of life resembling this condition.
                       8. The genetically controlled qualities of an organism.
                       9. Natural scenery.

Nature...at its best!!!

Day One

    We had a wonderful New Year's Eve with almost all our family....our McKinney daughter had plans with friends, but the other daughter, grands, inlaws, etc came out to our house for a casual dinner and fun and games.   They had all just gotten back from a cruise in the Carribean...celebrating the 50th anniversary of the in laws so we got to see their beautiful and funny pictures!!  They all had a great time....we stayed home and took care of their dog...(see Christmas blog!)

   Today..a quiet day...a day to contemplate the coming year...goals to set..accomplishments to be made...new things to  attempt...here are a few goals I am going to strive for:

• Dye fabric this spring (I have had the materials to do so for about three years!)
• Do silk painting (again, have the needed materials...just the ol' 'roundtoit!)
• Finish about five UFO's
• Continue with the Round Robin Challenge
• Keep doing the Internet BOM
• Make the Scotties for all the Dodds'-side children
• Make the quilt for our bed
• Make the quilt with my mom's embroidered birds
• Get items ready for the Senior Fall Fair

      And I am sure there are more...but that looks like a doable list...IF I get busy!!!!!

     And today, I worked on the block to send off to the Round Robin...I really like my pattern and fabric that I have chosen.  Then I measured what the final size will be and discovered it will be about three inches too big!!!  The center block to send out is to be no more than 9" and mine measures a little over 12"!!!  I still have the same fabric and another idea that I think will work well...so tomorrow...back to the drawing board!!  And I can always use the first block for something!

Happy New Year!!!

     My first blog of the new year....family just left...did  a partial cleanup/ will finish tomorrow!!!  It is 1:03 AM...I am finishing my glass of sparkly and am heading to  bed.  Later today...after I get up.....I will write more of my goals and aspirations for the new year!!

Almost a New Year

     Today, the 30th of December is New Year's Eve Eve...we are having some family and friends in tomorrow night so I was doing some cooking today...We are having a casual meal..soup and sandwiches, chips/queso, veggie platter, and cookie tray.  I decided to make a few bar cookies...blonde brownies, magic bars, and lemon bars....oh, and I have the kids decorated sugar cookies that I had frozen at Christmas to have for New Year's.

     So I am just a cooking fool...got all my stuff together...got one batch in the oven, start on my lemon bars.  Got the first layer done and on the pan...I start to beat the eggs, cream cheese, and powdered sugar...going good...but my filling layer is just a little too thick..Now I haven't made lemon bars for quite awhile  but the directions say, after the ingredients are mixed POUR onto the bottom layer!  Well, there is no way this filling will POUR so I decide to add another egg...still just getting thicker and stickier...okay, let's try another egg...hm-m-m-m, not much difference....let's add some lemon juice..after all, these are LEMON Bars!   Okay, that is a little better..still pretty thick..I can't POUR but I may be able to SPREAD the filling on...Just as I start to dump the filling on the bottom layer, a really loud bell goes off in my head!!!  Mystery solved!!  Do you know how much alike white flour and powdered sugar look when in the same type of clear plastic containers?  

      I just so happened to have enough ingredients to make a new filling for the lemon bars.  Baked them and then made the magic bars...all is well that ends well!!!  Then I look at that mass of cream cheese, 4 eggs, and two cups of flour...another light bulb...I hate to waste all that....so I add other stuff like sugar, baking powder, vanilla etc...spread some coconut on top and baked those suckers!!!  Who knows, I may have created a whole new wonderful cookie bar...worthy of the local paper's Christmas cookie contest...or not!!!!

Happy Anniversary to Me and Mine!

     Forty-eight years ago today my husband and I were married in the Catholic church which I attended from  birth to age 23.  We had a modest but formal wedding...a lovely reception at the local Country Club (a remodeled farm house at the edge of an apple orchard/nine hole golf course)...and a very short honeymoon in the big city of St. Louis.   We were both from rural communities...one in Illinois (mine) and his in Missouri, so St. Louis was  a big deal for us then!!!  I had taught for one year in the Kansas City, Missouri area and he was in the Air Force so had seen a little bit of the "world"....San Antonio, Texas and Reno, Nevada so we weren't just total greenhorns!!

     After our wedding, we headed to Nevada where he was stationed...within six months we were on our way to Anchorage, Alaska for two years...stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base.  And within another seven months we were proud parents of our first daughter...It is a good thing the young and dumb have no idea what they are getting into!!!  But...now, 48 years, several moves, another daughter, a terrific son-in-law and two perfect grandchildren later....we would not change one thing!!!!

We are looking forward to the next....well, probably not 48, but maybe another 28!!!!

The Day After Christmas and all thru the House....

We spent a wonderful weekend with our daughter at her house...she cooked for us..entertained us..and treated us quite royally!!!!  We had taken our other daughter's dog with us as they were out of town for Christmas...the D. we visited has a young (not quite a year old) very lively puppy and the dog we are taking care of is getting pretty old!  So it was an adventure to see how they reacted to each other...one very exuberant and the other quite grouchy!!!  In fact the older one was pretty traumatized for the first day and a half!!  But they finally somewhat tolerated each other...and made for a few funny moments!

Our daughter is a wonderful cook...albeit new at the whole thing...She fixed a delicious pork roast and all the fixin's for our Christmas dinner.  And I had already told her and my husband they would have to play games with me...that is how we spend Christmas when all together!!  So Christmas Day evening, the D. hooked up her Wii..and we discovered that I am a digital super athlete!!!  We played bowling, frisbee, and basketball and I kicked butt...beat both of them to pieces!!!!

So now we are home...the old dog is very happy to have her quiet space...we are 'way too stuffed...and looking forward to our own bed..I guess we are like the old dog in that respect!!!!  Great to go but also great to get home!!!

Still having trouble downloading pics!!!!

Challenge # 52: The Gift

This week the Diva's challenge is to make a Zentangle tile and then to give it away.  My tile will be mailed to one of my blog friends, a lady whose blog I follow and enjoy very much!  Because I want my tile to be a surprise to her, I am not going to tell who I am sending it to until next week.

"Giving is Pleasure.

No matter how large or small,

The thought is the gift.

Merry Christmas to all...I hope everyone enjoys the holiday in anyway you choose...be it with family and friends, at home or far away, I wish you happiness!!

Been away too long!!!

Our modem went out last Thursday, a week ago tomorrow....I didn't realize how much I missed being on line until I was without!!!  I admit it..I am a total Internet addict and that is OK!!!  As long as I still have the "strength" to walk away or not even get on until evening, I am still "in control"!!!

So....a quick update on what's been going on in my life...Last Friday was Trinity Valley Quilters' Guild Christmas party...we don't have a speaker at the December meeting...just tons of great food; a fantastic show and tell; lots of laughs and fun!  I finished my Medallion quilt so I took it to show. I need to get a sleeve on it so I can hang it.  I did a bit different facing than I usually do and I really like it....I am sure I will use it many times at least on small quilts.

Tuesday: The grands came out to do our annual cookie decorating...they left most of them here for me to freeze and have for New Year's Eve when almost everyone will be here.  Then Tuesday night, Dick and I did a little early anniversary celebrating.  Our anniversary isn't until next week, but we wanted to see the Lyle Lovett concert which was last night.  So we ate out and went to the concert.  We had real "nose bleed" seats....we were in the top balcony in the top row of seats. But the acoustics at the Bass are so fantastic, and with out binoculars, it seemed like the much closer!!

Today, I finally caught up with the BOMs that I have been doing....this one for November.  But at least I got it out before the December pattern is issued.  Check out the BOM logo on my side bar.

I am trying to download pics of my quilts but something is not working for some reason.

Too many good eats!!!!!

This morning we went with our neighbor's to our favorite Brunch Place...Blue Mesa in Fort Worth!  Yummmy!!!!  The best salmon, salsa, eggs of any kind, ham...and mimosas!  I could go on but don't want to make you all too envious!

Then this afternoon Open House at a different neighbors...we all take turns hosting...everyone takes a goody to share and cookies for a cookie exchange...again..Yummmmmmy!  I was still so full from brunch though that I wasn't able to thoroughly enjoy all the open house offerings so I had to bring a "take home" bag with me!!

And another little Advent trivia to share....

The Lights of Christmas

The most obvious symbol of Christmas are lights – Christmas candles, window lights, luminaries, lights on the Advent Wreath and Christmas tree. All signifying that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Challenge # 51-"Fife"

The Diva's challenge for this week is "Fife".  It is a zentangle pattern by Molly Hollibaugh and while deciding what to do with it after I drew my string, I was looking through patterns on Linda Farmer's website to get some ideas and ended up using all "F" tangles!  So I included the names of all them in my Haiku.  Now for you non-tanglers out there...the names of patterns are kind of like abstract art...sometimes only the artist who created them knows for sure what the meaning of the title is!!  You just have to interpret the meaning for yourself!!

Challenge # 51-"Fife"

" The Challenge is "Fife".
Finery and Florz and Fluke
Fill my tangled tile!"

And while doing this challenge and looking at all the patterns out there...I have decided to challenge myself with doing each of them in Linda's list, alphabetically.  I am toying with a tile per letter...this is just my head talking...no decisions made yet!!

I also have joined a "round robin" quilt swap which I am excited about. It is under the direction of  Floribunda Quilts.  And I have a big "well...duh!" to my credit.  This morning I was cruising through her blog and was reading some of her older entries when I came upon an entry that told of a swap quilt she had sent to......ME!  I don't know why I did not make the connection before...chalk it up to senility, I guess!!

Swap Quilt from Floribunda....Isn't it great!!!!

And now I need to close and get busy on my Medallion Quilt...getting really close to the finished project!!

This is my completed medallion...working on getting it on a background and getting it all quilted!

Merry, merry!

Christmas is fast approaching and I am actually almost through with shopping!  I have my Christmas cards all addressed and ready to go..then realized I have no stamps!  And living out in the boonies, I can't (or won't) dash into town to get some!  So they will have to wait until Monday to go out but that is still much earlier than my usual Post Christmas mailing!

Decorating was a breeze as we didn't put up a tree since we are going to the daughters' for Christmas....and didn't put up my one thousand and one Santas (maybe a slight exaggeration)...and haven't decorated cookies with the grands yet..but that may still happen as they have one more week of school.  Just have to do the wrapping, get stocking stuffer things, and I'm good!!!

My granddaughter announced her college decision over Thanksgiving...she will be attending University of Texas at Austin.  She applied to and was accepted by three colleges...UT, A&M and Tech...and UT won her over.  Her paternal grandad is Delighted!!!  He is a BIG alum and football fan; this is his third grandchild to go to college and the first to pick UT!

Busy week coming up: Sunday: brunch with the neighbors; Neighborhood open house; Monday: finish shopping; Tuesday/Wednesday: wrap and do some cooking; Thursday: table to decorate for the guild Christmas party; Friday: the party itself....and we always have a big show and tell so I am trying to get my "Larkin Van Horn Medallion Quilt" finished to take...so better go get busy!

One more little Advent trivia:

ADVENT HOUSE

This is a popular rendition of the Jesse Tree and is usually purchased in a religious goods store. It has windows to be opened each day during Advent, each displaying a feature of the coming of the Christ Child. On December 24 the door is opened, revealing the Nativity scene.

Advent and More

JESSE TREE

During Advent, biblical persons representing the ancestors of Jesus, either in faith or bloodline, are gradually added onto a tree or branch, named after the father of David. The symbols such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesse, David, Solomon, Joseph and Mary can be drawn, cut out or purchased.

This Advent tradition is a new one to me.  But I think it is pretty neat so I am including it in my Advent Info.

One of the blogs I follow had a really neat 3D paper Christmas ornament. I think a lot of these patterns could be made from fabric also.  On the way to that site I found another one that has gobs of how to's.  Just click on the following and it should take you to that site.... paper 3D snowflake .

Challenge #50: Biggity

This week the Diva challenged us to draw BIGGER....to take tangle patterns that we liked  and to enlarge them..taking us out of our comfort zone, so to speak!  I decided to take a completed tile and crop off a corner, then replicate much larger!  I liked this challenge as it did make me use some techniques that I had not used for awhile.

The original tile

The enlarge drawing of a cropped corner..BIGGITY!!

"Is bigger better?

No, bigger is just different.

Big or small...your choice!"

Advent Adventure Continues

ADVENT WREATH

"Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may also be used” (Book of Blessings 1510).
The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted.

The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, His historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of time, and His special coming in every moment of grace.

During Advent, family and friends can gather around the Advent Wreath lighting the appropriate candle(s), read from the daily Advent meditation and sing songs. The Church's official Book of Blessings also provides a blessing ceremony for the advent wreath which can be used in the absence of a priest.

Advent

An Advent calendar is a special calendar that counts and celebrates the days of Advent in anticipation ofChristmas. Some calendars are strictly religious, while others contain more secular content. The tradition of the Advent calendar has existed in some form since the middle of the 19th century. For Christians all over the world, the Advent calendar has been used as a devotional tool to countdown the days of the Advent season that culminates with the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent calendars have commonly been used for the education and entertainment of children, with daily scriptural readings that sometimes come with a chocolate treat.

I was raised Catholic and although I am not as avidly religious as I was as a child, there are a few things about the Church I still like...one of the celebrations I like is the Season of Advent....Christmas should mean so much more than just shopping!!  So my next few blogs are going to be associated with Advent...history of, symbols of, etc...maybe even a Zentangle or two thrown in!!

ADVENT

The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.

Since the 900s Advent has been considered the beginning of the Church year. This does not mean that Advent is the most important time of the year. Easter has always had this honor.

The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit. Religious traditions associated with Advent express all these themes.

Challenge #49: Red Thread

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break." -Chinese proverb

The Diva has a guest challenger this week, Chris Letoumea and her challenge is to do a zentangle using black and white with a Red Thread in honor of the Red Thread Promise which is a charitable organization benefiting the children of the world....very interesting website...Chris's and the "Red Thread".  Check them out....

And because this week we here in the USA are celebrating Thanksgiving, my zentangle is of a turkey, using the good 'ol "trace the hand" technique, with the turkey's gobbler being my red thread!

Challenge # 49: Red Thread

"Annual traditions:
Families, feasting, football, fun!
Leftovers all week!!"

So HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!  COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!  I know mine are many!!!!!

Challenge #48: Tri-Shapes

This week's challenge is given by a guest host on the Diva's website...Sue Clark.  Her challenge is to use three basic shapes: a circle, a square, and a triangle for the strings and then create the zentangle....and an additional challenge is to use zentangle patterns that I have not used before.  So the tangles I chose are: zuan shi, wisket, popsicles, and Queen's crown.

Challenge # 48: Tri-Shapes

"Circles, triangles
...and squares, oh my...basic shapes...
Ovals, rectangles!"

And, while surfing around from other bloggers' lists, I came across the BEST site for Zentangle patterns!  TanglePatterns.com is a site that belongs to Linda Farmer.  It had access to every zentangel pattern imaginable!  And you can sign up for her newsletter to get new patterns as they are created.  You can get to the creators' of many of the patterns, see their websites, blogs, examples, etc.  Can you tell I am pretty enthused by Linda's site!!!!  (Now, I am sure that many of you are already aware of it, but it is new to me!)

On a sad note, one of my favorite sites, 3 Creative Studios, is disbanning at the end of the year!  I can understand their reason, but it is a site I have really enjoyed.  I am sure the gals will succeed in all they do! (If you have not checked them out, you can still reach them from my sidebar of blogs.)

11-11-11

   

Australian Poster

     When I was little, my mom would quote "In Flanders Fields" to us on Veteran's Day; then known as Armistice Day.  I really didn't give it much thought until this week's zentangle challenge by the Diva.  So I did a little more research and discovered the following information:

Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields”

Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. ⁽¹⁾

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2^nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

 I love the poem and I loved when the American Legion would give out paper poppies.  My dad was in WWII and we had a graveside military service for him when he passed away...gun salute and all.  I still think this day is one of our most special days...but I don't think it gets the recognition it deserves.  I will fly my flag and I will wear my flag T-shirt and I will re-read "In Flanders Field"...unlike my mom, I have not memorized it!

An Armistice Day poster

     What I didn't realize was that the poem was written by a Canadian, and that other countries also commemorate a similar day until the Diva gave us her weekly challenge: "Lest We Forget".  She writes some very interesting stuff on Canada's Remembrance Day.
  In Canada there is the Royal Canadian Legion which is similar to our American Legion. And Scotland has a Poppy Day.

A Scottish poster I saw on the Internet

     So with all that said and done...here is my Zentangle and accompanying haiku!

"Poppies in the fields.
All the crosses in a row.
Must NEVER forget!"

International Quilt Festival-Houston

      Well, I am recovered enough to do a little blogging!  Andrea (my daughter who came to spend the night) and I had a great time in Houston at the quilt show.  We did have a bit of a rocky start!!  We needed to be in Arlington at 5:30 AM to catch the tour bus...and Saturday night was the time change from daylight to standard time.  I changed my watch before I went to bed but left all the other clocks to deal with on Sunday (or let Dick mess with it while we were gone!)  So we set the alarm in our room to go off at nearly 5:00AM which would be 4:00 real time.  I knew we would need to leave by 4:45 to get where we needed to by 5:30.  I woke up several times and everytime I looked at the clock, I would mentally  subtract an hour.  Then about what I thought was 3:00, I heard Andrea up getting ready to go.  I thought "Oh, she has her time off!" and went back to sleep...When my alarm go off at ten til five (really ten til four) I got up...got ready to get in the shower, etc.  Andrea knocks on my door and says, "Mom, we need to be leaving right now!!"  I said, "Oh no, you have your time mixed up."  So to convince her, I checked my watch but sure enough she was right!!  Man, I cussed up a storm...brushed my teeth, threw on my clothes, grabbed my bag, jumped in the car, and drove like a bat out of Hell!!

     Fortunately, there were not vey many people out at that hour!  I tailed onto a pickup truck going well over the speed limit thinking the cops would stop them first!! And we arrived screeching into the bus lot right on time!!!!  I called Dick to let him know we were there...he realized what had gone wrong...the clock-radio we use is relatively new and we did not know that it was a smart clock that would reset itself!!!  I tell you..these new-fangled things will be the death of me!!!!!

Entering the George Brown Auditorium

One of the displays by the "12 x 12" gals

Wonderful thread art and dyeing

Love these cattails!!!

From the Nature group...such wonderful dimension!

Three dimensional houses by several artists

Created with white thread on black fabric

More thread painting

Gorgeous colors...great fabrics!

A closeup of a really neat quilt!

Isn't this just out of this world!!!

Taken from across the hall...The quilt in the center on the wall was done by a good friend of mine.  It appears in the newest Texas Legacy Quilt Book....the whole exhibit is fabulous!!

     It was a wonderful show....there were several exhibits that you couldn't take pictures of  so this is a sampling of some of my favorites that I could take.  I think this show had more of the "art quilt" variety that usual....maybe the genre is becoming more popular!!!  Sure hope so!!!