Rhymes & Reasons --

This Traveling Quilter thing is so weird and sometimes I have to make decisions that impact other people.

But this blog belongs to me, I lay it out the way I want, I write the content that I want, I choose the background that I want --- It is mine.

In the last few months I've been questioned by people who are "upset" or “disappointed” that they are not in my blog links anymore, or people asking if I would PUT them in my side bar to drive up their traffic. And then if I remove them ---they get upset.

My links in my own side bar were put there for my own use, and ease of finding who I was reading.  They have always rotated --- nothing stays the same.

If someone up the street painted their house blue and you didn’t like it --- would you send them an email, or write in a public forum demanding they “PUT IT BACK!” the way it was?  I’m amazed at what some people will send out by email. 

Just because we have the freedom TO say it --- does that mean we SHOULD send it?

I once got a complaint from a reader who was upset that my feed in google reader was a partial feed ---and she said she wanted me to put it back, explaining to me in kindergarten terms so I would understand – how to reset it.  Turns out she was following 200 quilt blogs and wanted them ALL in full format in google reader so that she didn’t have to click a link to open a new window.

200 quilt blogs --- who has time to quilt if you are reading 200 quilt blogs daily in full format?  This is all fine for her, but what is not fine is telling ME what I should do with my own blog feed.

Who I follow is my business.  Being included in my side bar, added or removed from my side bar does not mean that I don’t like you, or like someone better. Since yesterday I’ve gotten emails DEMANDING that I put things back “THE WAY THEY WERE”.

It's WEIRD!!  And creepy ---and so I made a decision to put all the people that I follow into my personal google reader and not have a "daily reads" section anymore. I can’t add EVERYONE, and I don’t like hurting people if I remove someone.

It is unreasonable for me to be the keeper of your bookmarks. That isn’t a job I signed up for.  Things change. Please be responsible for your own bookmarks.  It is better that way.

I have a lady who just un-enrolled from a class I am teaching in Florida because I couldn't give her the count number of pieces for each shape and which accuquilt die she needed to cut them. I told her that was not the focus of the class, that she was to come to class with 2.5" strips, and the rulers ---- and she lambasted me and said she is no longer a fan because I wouldn't give her what she wanted when she wanted it -- (I don't have that info for the quilt with me in my head?...I"m in California and was replying to her as quickly as I could by cell phone during class-- HELLO!??)

So that's what's going on here.If I decide to clean house and rearrange my blog, it’s for my own reasons.  If you didn’t bookmark things for yourself – I can’t be responsible for that. I need less stress not more. If there is someone you are looking for – google them. They are easy to find.

The only thing keeping me calm is being far enough away ---- and experiencing such beauty as this, walking Laguna Beach at Sunset ----

Texas Braid at The Sewing Party!

Our first workshop with the Beach Cities Quilt Guild was a fun day spent sewing rows and rows of rectangles into Texas Braids ----

Our host for the classroom space?  The Sewing Party in Laguna Hills.  If you are looking for modern, bright, whimsical and wonderful, this shop is a must stop on any quilter’s destination fascination!

The shop is light and airy, fabrics from many manufacturers and samples galore.

 The classroom space is large, and we had a full class raring to go!

Everywhere you turn there are more wonderful things to see…do you se that shelf on the lower right?  Oh..I spotted that one right away!

Black and whites have sure been on my radar a lot lately!

Beautiful color!  Doesn’t it make you smile?

The staff is friendly, willing and able to help with any of your quilting needs!

Charm packs, Fat Quarter packs, and other pre-cuts make a brilliant display---

Fat Quarters all in a row!

If you find yourself in the Laguna Hills, California area, you won’t want to miss this shop!

The class room space is loaded with fun quilts to inspire too ----

Let’s take a look at some braid progress!

		Texas Braid, Beach Cities, Jan 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I am so glad I had the chance to come meet these ladies, get to know them, and I hope I’ll be coming this way again!

Hexie Progress!

I about did the happy dance of joy in the aisle of first class on my flight to San Diego ---- but thought better of it. The last thing I want is for a US Marshall to detain me for inappropriate behavior and scissor wielding!

I finished the second background area surrounding the center medallion – WOW!  I’ve been working on this since the first trip to Alaska in August! So when people say “OH, look ---you are almost done….” I laugh and beg to differ.  There is a LOT of background area yet to fill.  We are early into 2012 – will I finish it this year?  Hmmmm….I’m not counting on it, but I’ll keep plugging along!

Here’s the quilt parts laid out in on the floor!  The bottom left corner is ready to attach.

Here it is just laid into position.  Anyone want to count the hexies in this section for me?  I ran out of time! I just wanted to stitch them together, not know how many there actually were!

On Thursday, I had some time to sit and stitch and got it about half way sewn on before it was time to leave to drive up to Misson Viejo.

Here I am at half way….see that big gap still left to do?  I finished it in the car on the way up to the Beach Cities Quilt Guild meeting! YEAH!!

So where are we now?  We start the next section:

It’s a small start, but it will become something big. Just what AM I going to do when this hexie thing is done? 

Afternoon Edition! Free Kindle SERIES!

I’ve moved from San Diego up to Mission Viejo ---and even got up early enough this morning to throw in a brisk morning walk, following wherever the sidewalk lead.

Life is like that you know --- we might not even know where the sidewalk leads, but that is not what is important.  What is important is that we are ON the sidewalk, making our way forward…not just standing on the side lines not going anywhere!  ((Gosh, I love analogies and life lessons and little things like this!))

I found this free SERIES on Amazon --- I have been too busy to follow a lot of links, but this one looks good, and so I downloaded it right away. I love a good drama that I can sink my teeth into, one that spans decades and generations.  Rememnber to double check the price before clicking as I don't know how long this will be available for free.  I don't have control over that...all I know is it was free when I downloaded it.

The Callahans: The Complete Series by Gordon Ryan is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 25 customer reviews. 
Category: Drama

Book Description: ((Remember these are all included in ONE download))
Vol. I – Destiny: Fleeing an abusive father and a hopeless life in Ireland in 1895, nineteen-year-old Tom Callahan takes passage on a ship bound for America. On board, he meets Katrina Hansen, a young Norwegian woman traveling to Utah. It’s not a likely match. The brash Irishman is a Catholic, a brawler and a young man without prospects. Katrina is a refined young woman, yet naive in the ways of the world. Lured into a polygamous marriage, she finds herself abandoned on a remote Mexican beach as the man she loves, unaware of her status, seeks his fortune in Alaska. Destiny is a sprawling historical novel set at the turn of the 19th century, played out in such far-flung places as New York City, the gold fields of Alaska and Old Mexico.

Vol.II – Conflict: Tom Callahan strikes it rich in the Alaska goldfield while Katrina struggles to remain alive in Mexico. Demonstrating her determination and faith, the reader is shown the resilience of this young woman who has grown beyond her years. Continuing through 1912 and the disastrous voyage of HMS Titanic, Conflict will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Vol. III – Reunion: It’s 1917 and American has entered World War I. Tom and Katie’s son, in an effort to prove his worth to his father, has joined what President Woodrow Wilson is calling – the fight to make the world safe for democracy-. As the war ends, Tommy is selected for appointment to the Naval Academy, while his father is arrested and imprisoned in Ireland for gun running in the great Irish Civil War. Set against turbulent events in world history and filled with vivid scenes as well as tender emotions, Reunion takes the reader around the world.

Vol. IV – Prelude: Tom and Katrina Callahan continue their story in the years between the two world wars. Their three children have grown up and are making their way in a world that is propelling itself toward World War II. Tess has her heart set on a Hollywood movie career; PJ is a successful sheep rancher in New Zealand and Tommy is pursuing his career in the Marine Corps and learning not only about war, but about the perils of romance. When Tommy finds himself in England prior to WWII, Winston Churchill calls on him to examine the economic growth of the German nation as they secretly prepare for war.

Vol. V – Reprisal – Continuing the series into WWII as Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Callahan III faces personal tragedy during the Blitz in London as the war presents a very personal face. As he leaves his Embassy post to return to the United States, America joins Europe in the worldwide conflagration. For the second time in his young life, the son of Thomas and Katrina Callahan finds himself immersed in front-line battle, torn between his duty and the love of a beautiful woman who desires only his safety.

The conclusion of The Callahans will leave you enthralled as the children and grandchildren of a once-young Irish immigrant and his Norwegian bride leave their mark upon the world.

And just because it won’t fit anywhere else --- Here is a funny pic beside a cute LITTLE car from Balboa Park….HOW the heck is anyone supposed to fit in this thing? And just where does all the quilt stuff go??