Spool School

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I played with the fabric combos like paint. Festoonerie! I came up with the brown that I wanted. Wish Lisa were here to share that with. Anyway, click to see up close. I enjoy brown when paired just right. I can't explain it, I only know what I like when I see it. The top two rows - farthest to the right are the blocks I like in the brown colorway. The middle block has that bold stroke of red and white (not redwork) that's become associated with LeeHaven. All that analysis and I still have no idea what the heck kind of life these specific blocks are going to take on. One thing we know for sure - Karen's learning and I totally dig seeing that in action.

And I'm thinking I have some really fun-bright-bold-mosaic vibe fabrics I've used before. With a black background that might be excellent with this spool. Have to play with those ideas a bit.




In other news - today was fasting blood work day. This means I had to bring along my slightly numb foot and leg. Well, I couldn't very well leave them at home! Fortunately it isn't so bad as all that and the foot and leg were quite accommodating. I'm glad for the early time of my appointment because no one was around. I think. I mean, no one was around to see me test out my bum leg walking down the hall with my walker. It wasn't until I started typing this that I realize - that probably looked weird. They don't know that I'm trying to evaluate if this numbness is a problem or not. You know, if I can walk down the hall a certain distance and turn this way or that - I'd say we're doing good. So I was kinda doing that. Testing it. I passed. :)

Weird Love, *karendianne.

The Writing Life

Chapter 10


The morning air was a bit chilly, just perfect for the quick ride down the road to market. The dogs were sopping from running amuck, excited as we walked down to barn. They greeted Samuel. Yes, sopping and muddy. Samuel was soaked from hugging the pack. We exchanged morning words meant to start the day softly until I again asked my Groom why he insisted on allowing the Dogs to maul him. Shrugging his shoulders, smiling, eyes relaxed like its no big deal. That's how he communicated his response. I gave up.

I received the usual replies with just the right balance of yes ma'am tossed in to let me know he wouldn't listen. I thought maybe we might hire a new Groom but that'll never happen. He's too good with the stock. And perhaps I might take stock of the request. My pack is smart enough to never attend me as they do Samuel. This must be a ridiculous request to his mind. Oh, no wonder men often don't listen!

All this thought occurred in the split second after he helped me on my horse and I said my goodbye's. The dogs bounding along happy to be out just to pick up fruit; hearts hoping for more. It was almost like teasing the poor things saddling up when a walk would have been sufficient. Right now I have no choice. Dr. Farthercap still cannot determine why it is I've lost my ability to walk any distance but he says other than this odd decline in mobility I seem healthy enough. So I saddle up and we ride to the market and the dogs think this is a lot of hullabaloo to take an outing on horseback which normally can be done on foot. You can tell they think its odd. They see the horse and they're ready for a ride over to Winspiration Farm. This is when I again feel I'm teasing them. Until I realize they're coming to early morning market with me and that surely means some fresh baked tasty treats.

Perhaps I'm the fooled yet!

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An extremely rare share from LeeHaven.

Spoolish

{Update: Civil War Tribute Large Half Square Triangle Blocks. Connie mentioned the Layer Cakes would be perfect for those. The size is exact, too. GREAT idea I had to share. Its a good foundation and financially a good budget way of bringing new, updated fabric in then using your stash for the pieced blocks.)

Intro to my spools. I haven't decided where I'm going or what I'm doing here. Just thought I'd share.

Do you have a history with Spool quilts? My friend at my favorite Quilt Shop where I'm known to loiter showed me one in plaids. That's my intro to Spools and I've mostly enjoyed them ever since although I have to admit plaids are hard to beat. I dont have plaids so I'm going to try and do my own thing. This piecing is a bit different from what you normally see and I totally dig that. If I could just get the fabric combo's right. I might be onto something but not quite yet.

Spools are tools that rule. Peter O'Toole used spools to throw at the fools as he sat by the pool but he looked the fool awaiting a duel. {and no I couldn't do any better than that!}

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Stupid Rhyme of Love, *karendianne.

The Pugilist

I should have freakin' known dammit!

I dig a woman with fight but gee wiz.

I kinda didn't want to pay attention for a while. I kinda wanted this primary over. I kinda didn't want to think hard about where we are with this election again. Ahh hell. I just don't want to freakin' believe this is happening. Crap.

Dammit Hillary. You're pissing me off with you're ass kickin' activity here. Because girlfriend, if I were in your shoes and I wanted it that bad, I'd push pretty damn hard myself. How hard? I dont know because I've never had that much on the line but I've damn sure kicked some ass to get where I am and didn't think twice about it either. Let me think: "First Woman President." Oh dear.

Crap.

Cats Have Eggs & Quilty: Civil War Learnings

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I woke up from my nap this afternoon to this. I checked his vibe and he seemed okay so I added a smile and snapped a shot. The culprit? Its hard to be certain. I've been burned by misjudgment enough times to know not to assume, especially when it comes to animals (or children I hear tell). When you aren't sure and assume eventually you'll be caught slap-ass wrong and boy will the guilt set in. So I avoid assuming and either laugh or apply "Fine! All y'all are busted!" Here I laughed 'cause this is just flat out funny.


These large half-square triangles were new to me. I took a photo so I could remember how neat they are and what a great, fun way to create my very own ideas.

When I found out this was another on-point setting I liked to have died. For real. But I've been doing enough lately I had a new idea. Proof we're learning.

• Count number of blocks of each color on hand. (something like 6-red, 5- lt blue, etc.,)
• Start on-point setting of blocks from the middle and work your way out.

This allowed me to see immediately which block was going to be at the top of the quilt and how the side what going to come together. This helped prioritize.

• Hang rows on hangers and compare.
• Sew rows 5 & 6 together first and lay out on porch since that's where I had the room.

This allowed me a really good base to work from (you can see 4 rows here) when it came to setting the rest of my blocks. It didn't completely work out to my eye but I feel like I have a little "trick" now for those dern on point settings when they have to be pulled together.

~*~*~*~*~

The stuff I learned about fabric, scale, working with florals and such is cooking in my brain and I'm not sure how to capture it. I don't know how to get it out. My eyes are opened. I feel a little more expansive. That's all I know for sure right now. I guess that's the point. d'oh!

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Learning to be On Point Love, *karendianne.

Three Stops Sashed

Sisters Choice Blocks. I don't know what came over me but I became intently focused on this and went for adding 1.5" sashing. After a "finish" I don't think this was necessarily what I needed but I got wild, something just flipped out I guess I don't know. I wanted to tackle more borders? ACK! No. Whatever happened I know this. At one point I fantasized. I saw myself standing over the whole thing and ripping it to shreds. I even imagined my hair standing on edge. I saw myself as if I'd stuck my finger in a light socket - cartoon style. I left "Karen's Quilt Shop" giggling at the image I'd conjured up and content that I was wise enough to get the hell out of there. I napped.




Then I got up and finished putting this hellacious sashing on. Turns out I kinda like how cuteamous it came together. The effort was worth it.

Next we're onto borders but I'm not sure I'm up for that. It might be a good time to call me a block head as I try some new blocks I've had my eye on. That doesn't mean I don't have an abundance of quilty tasks to complete. I do. But only one that needs immediate attention and I think I can knock that out pretty quickly. (binding for the Civil War Tribute - oops forgot that!)

Did you know...

(1) I've been known to loiter around Purple and Paisley? Well I have and it just so happens I magically was entered in a drawing. I love magic and it had to be magic because I won!!! Olfa purple rotary cutter, (5) fat quarters and (50) sheets of precut 8 1/2" x 11" freezer paper. There was a great freezer paper tutorial on Terri's blog a while back so I'm going to dive in when it arrives. My "near LeeHaven" friends will not believe I've done something new. I don't even sew circles!!!


(2) I also am really bad about loitering around Julie K Quilts. And again, a drawing and I won. Couldn't believe it. Julie made "Harlequin Squares" and its so adorable. The stippling (by hand no less) is out of this world. Actually, its in this world. Its at LeeHaven. It came with chocolate. That disappeared. Its not on display yet because the lighting in the living room where this treasure will rest is non-existent.

(3) And finally for today I'll share one last most very important place I can be found loitering about. PERFECT GRAVY - A City Girls Ranch Life! Some of my favorite things are the Cards & Scrapbooking stuff. Lots of critters (its a working ranch) but my favorite dogs can be seen here in the snow and really, Lefty is tops! You know I dig the dogs. Andi (Perfect Gravy) is my cousin. Today is her birthday. We share a history that's runs too deep to capture here so I honor her with a couple links. Stop by and enjoy Perfect Gravy. There's much more to see than what I've pointed out. Gosh, I think the picture of the kids on the Home Page is priceless.




Three Stops to Love,