Nearing the End... Hand Quilting Time!

     So I am very excited, and I just had to share, so that you may all enjoy my happiness. I have finally finished the top of my current quilt project! My previous post explained that it's my adaptation of an Originellie's pattern. It's a folk art quilt, as many of her patterns are, but I think I've pulled very far away from anything remotely folk-art-inspired, and modded it up with my modern tastes. I love it, and I think it's gorgeous. But still, no picture until it's finished!

     I just started to hand quilt (yes, I'm going to hand quilt the whole thing, that's just what I do ... and I love hand work!) I couldn't help myself, I had to start before I could tear myself away to blog. Or eat; suddenly I just realized that I'm starving.

     Stitch in Time

Back To My Love (Quilting!)

     Has it ever been a long time since I've posted! Unfortunately my classes, job search and other blog (Reading In Love it's the one I update most often) has kept me very busy. Last night, however, I sat down on the couch with one of my current projects, and my list of TV shows to catch up on, and had a really wonderful evening.

     The quilt I'm working on at the moment is largely based on Originellie's pattern Garden Club. I have featured my three cats, added some butterflies, and of course used fabric that is so my taste. Here's the original pattern as a little teaser, but I won't post pictures of my quilt until it's at least mostly finished.

     I do have to spend a lot of the day putting my kitchen back together after the work we had done. Mostly just a fix-up/clean-up, but we had to empty the room just the same. I refuse to let this take too much time, as I have quilting to do! Obviously, that's way more important!

In Stitches

Don't Steal in California!

     Last night in Crim class, we watched a movie about the prisons in Susanville CA. The idea is that they're taking over the county, supposedly providing jobs, but actually taking away business (which loses jobs) and imports products instead of buying locally. The film followed a few peoples' stories, and one in particular I found quite amazing.

     This couple (Lonnie and Jennifer) and their two sons were living in their car, and Lonnie had a job interview somewhere near Susanville. They literally had just enough money to fill the gas tank to get there. The kids were sitting in the back screaming and crying out of starvation because they hadn't been able to afford food for a few days. So they stopped in Susanville, and Lonnie went in to a depanneur (aka: variety store for all you crazy non-Quebeckers) and stole a loaf of bread, some noodles and juice, basically just a bit of food for his kids, and the groceries were worth only $28. He was caught and sent to prison for sixteen months! That's almost a year and a half. For feeding his kids by stealing $30. I feel like I have that much money in change in my couch cushions; it's basically nothing! What the crap is the big deal?! It was so depressing to hear him talk about how useless he felt when he couldn't feed his kids, and of course he was on probation for a year, and couldn't leave Susanville. Catch-22 here: all the jobs in Susanville have been wiped out because of the prison, so you're limited to prison guard or unemployed. Being an "ex-con" he isn't allowed to work in the prison. And he needs a job to support his family and be eligible for release from parole. What bullshit.

     I have a quilter's workshop on Saturday to make a Celtic table runner. I'm so excited! It's going to be my first workshop, and I am actually a little worried how I'm supposed to get all my stuff there: machine, rotary mat, fabric, iron, accessories and supplies...and I have to take the bus. I'll post a picture when I get home on Saturday. The fabric I picked is gorgeous, but so not me! I'm so excited to see how it will turn out!

Ahh, Freedom

     My first day of relaxation has been magnificent so far. I did wake up rather early, but it's the first day back here, and I usually wake up pretty early. I had some coffee and breakfast (I made sticky buns again) and did quilting figuring on the computer with my mom. She is sending a friend pictures of some panels of her quilt "Tucson Splendour" and I helped her size them all. I have no cleaning to do, no dishes (thank Josephine Cochrane for that!), no cooking, no anything really, and I am loving the freedom!!

     Fabricville is having a sale this weekend, so Maman and I decided to go. I needed some border and backing fabric for my currently unnamed Christmas project. Mom and Dad went to Mexico at the beginning of the month, and brought me back a really nice sun dress that actually fits perfectly. So of course we must replicate it; we found some really gorgeous fabric for that. Maman also bought some Mexican rayon (which is pretty shitty quality) to make some skirts and beach cover-ups. We found some similar and nicer fabric so we got that too. It was a nice outing :) I love fabric!

     I have a cat to rescue. Dublin ventured into the very dark recesses of our basement, and is being snotty and won't come out.

     Steak for dinner (yum!) and then who knows what? Probabaly more relaxing! Ahhhhhh...

Change of Plans...

So, folks, get ready for a change in the lineup.

Instead of going to Personality class (yeah yeah, leave me alone) I am going to watch Monday's episode of The Bachelor, and resume my Celtic quilt block.

Morriset dungeon can fare fine without me for a few more hours.