The Sport of Quilting...

I am thinking of petitioning the IOC ( International Olympic Committee, that is!) to have Quilting made a competitive sport at the next Olympics!!!!

I mean, haven't you ever thought of Quilting as a sport?!!

I don't know about you but I am always in a

race against time?

Some quilting activities even include a marathon!!!!!

Most sports have a dangerous edge to them...

the possibility of injury...

There is no doubt in my mind that
Quilting can be hazardous!!!!

There are colorful characters...

and colorful quilts...

Travel opportunities!!!!

Sometimes, you may even win an award...

And if you do a really great job,
 You might even be on the front of a Wheaties cereal box!!!

(Eat your heart out, Lindsey Vonn!!!)

Sloooowly getting my Mojo back...

It has been a ridiculously crazy couple of weeks around here!!!!

I think I am finally cold-free. I don't have any allergies per se, but how can one not be affected by all the pollen flying around here!?? Geez!

Still, my energy is back and in the past 2 days, I have actually managed to have 2 really fast 4 mile runs!

Our guild quilt show was a real success, fun to be a part of, and a real learning experience (if you ever have a chance to sit in on the judging, I recommend it!)....



but I am glad to be moving on to new projects as summer nears...



I met a Ilena from Blogland at the show yesterday which was a real treat! Hope to bump into you again soon!

And I did a teeny bit of shopping at the show....



Thanks to all of you for your kind comments over the past few weeks ... it does feel good to have my work recognized!


Now, I will look for spots around my house to display these loved quilts...



and... it's time to move onto the many projects swirling around in my head!

Nature Boy has been keeping an eye on the robin's nest and thinks he spots a bulge in one of the eggs!


He will keep us posted!


In the meantime,

Have a great week!!!!

And now for the show...

I don't have much time for idle chit chat!!! I am off to hear Harriet Hargrave at guild tonight (no rest for the weary!!!)

I did want to share some of my photos of many of the quilts displayed at the Lancaster Quilt Show.

Here is a sampling.....

The colors were fantastic. There was a special challenge called Living Color (and many of them are above)!!!! Hard to pick a favorite!!!!

This one is by Karen Kay Buckley...

This one is fun and even has little toy cars on it...


This one is by Sue Nickels...

I love the color and the 3 D effect of these blocks...

How about the workmanship in this quilt....


and the wonderful flying geese here....

There are plenty more photos on my flickr album, so check them out if you have some time!

Gotta run!!!



Upstatelisa

Another day in Paradise....

Yup, sure is! A snow day... kids are home from school, snow is falling fast and furiously, the shoveled driveway is probably all ready covered....

Oh joy!

Nature Boy had trouble finding his paper he needs to get into a site on the computer for studying for his math quiz. Where is that paper?!!!!

Gee... do you think it could be in here???

Somehow.. it surfaced in there!

Oh boy!

And Sugarbaby decided to make a dessert for tonight and Teenager was trying to help but there was a minor skirmish that had to be stopped...

Just plain ol..... OY!

So, let's light a fire in the woodstove...

Fire up my trusty sewing machine...
and go into hiding....

Yup... just another day in Paradise!!!!

Last week, a bloggy friend, Pat, bestowed an award upon me that I have neglected to acknowledge until now. Thanks so much Pat!!!!

This, I believe, is a blogging award that originated in Portugal and this is what it says about the blogs who are given this award.....

"This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

It would be hard for me to choose just eight special bloggers, so bloggy friends.... you all deserve this award!!!

I was also presented with this award...

by Sara, a fellow New Yorker (of the Central NY type). This award asks that I list 5 addictions (me???? I don't have any! okay, maybe just one or...) and pass on this award to 5 other bloggers. Again, it would be hard for me to choose just 5 (I mean 5 bloggers, not addictions), so let me know if you decide to try this out!

My addictions, as of this moment, are...

1. Fabric...okay that goes without saying! Can never have enough of it!!! Lancaster PA here I come (save some fabric for me!!! I will be there in early April!)

2. Quilting... a day without quilting/sewing is a very sad day!!!

3. Snacking...I love to nibble throughout the day and it takes a lot of restraint lately to curb those in between meal munchies but I am trying!!!

4. Talking...once I get going, it is sometimes hard to get me to stop! Just tell me!

5. Exercise...okay, I don't know if this is quite an addiction but I do have a routine and I know it makes me feel so much better when I stick with it!

Well, it may almost be time to head out to shovel but I had better make a quick stop in my sewing room!

Feeling......

I am feeling kinda cold this morning.....

(that is -13 degrees Celsius!)

Feeling energetic this morning!!!

(that's 426 calories, 4 miles in 36.38 minutes ... didn't fiddle with the incline... ended up at 6.8 mph)

I am feeling sweaty after that but it is even colder after the visit to the gym...

I am feeling stupid...

can you see the problem??? (sewed a border onto the other border!)

I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now with all the handmade gifts I told myself that I would make but here is one done!!!

and more to get started...

and finish up...

I am feeling very busy on the landlording front too...

(Wish it looked so green out today) We are working on a deal to acquire some more investment properties and that is keeping me hopping too!!!

I am feeling bad and probably deserve one of these trophies (that I made for myself LOL)...

Not only have I been slacking off on my blogging posts but I have not been a regular visitor to all of your blogs. Working on changing that!!!

Off into the world!!!!

Have a good week!

Do you hear that???

Do you hear that???

THUMP!!!...................THUMP!!!

That is the sound of the IPod, that I listen to, being knocked to the floor by me not once but twice today while I ran on the treadmill!!! Sorry, Mr. U!!! After the second time, I just left it and ran without!


Do you hear that??







....yeah, neither do I! Cuz that is the sound of no kids at home and no Bernina!!!!

Yesterday, after the dust settled and I had a chance to breathe, I started sewing. First, I made a little head band...

and then, I set to work to modify the pump pouch that I made for Sloppy (who would prefer to be called Sugarbaby, by the way.... but I asked her, "when aren't you Sloppy?" to which she sweetly growled!). Anyway, as I worked on the pouch...

the thread broke a few times, and then I heard some noise in the bobbin case!! Well, some black piece that holds the bobbin in place BROKE OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Bernie is back in the hospital and I asked to have the knee lift fixed while they are at it!!!



Do you hear that???

Oh, WOWEEEE...I can't believeI won!!!! That is Pat, who won the giveaway tote/gym bag...

and coordinating make up bag!
Thanks to all who entered and I promise to give away more (though I will need my Bernina back for that).

Do you hear that???

Thump, thump, thump... that is my heart beating a little faster. Kellie, one of my bloggy friends, sweetly bestowed upon me this award...

Kellie and I met somehow when I visited her gorgeous blog and we have been chatting ever since. We have much in common and it would be so fun to meet in person... except that she lives on the other side of the world!!!!! She is such a source of inspiration to me and her style of creating and quilting is so awe-inspiring, mind boggling!!!!!

Sarah popped by a photo that I had posted in my then small flickr album of one of my wonky houses. I started looking at her creations which are so fun, whimsical, and magical!!!! She got me hooked on flickr and a few swaps!!! I love reading her blog and looking at her albums and I have met many people through her!

I have been reading Hope's blog for some time, and anxiously await her new post when she takes time off. I even won this darn cute apron in a giveaway she had! But now she has announced that she will be opening an etsy shop! That is just too cool for words. She makes some of the cutest clothing and other little items and some day, I would like to find my niche in the etsy world or somewhere in the world anyway! Good luck, Hope!!!

LauraJ is one of those peeps that I met through the world of flickr and Sarah! She makes such cute stuff and having met and worked with many families in my past life in early intervention, I admire the strength she has in raising her son with special needs as a single mom (and still finding time to sew...love your new machine!!!). LauraJ, you always have such a happy disposition!!!!!

I wish I could bestow this award upon each of you individually... to all my bloggy friends. So, to all of YOU, my bloggy readers, I give this award. I marvel each day as I look at the information in sitemeter that tells me that people are reading my blog from Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, all over Canada and the USA. Who woulda thunk it possible??? Stop by and say hi!!! Tell me where you blog or flickr!!!! I love 'talking' to you all! You all are inspiring!!!

Do you hear that???


The sound of fall approaching at my door!

Have a soundful weekend!!!!