Step 5, Let The Blocks Begin!

It's up and ready folks. I've tried to keep things as simple as possible in this step, even fewer photos because the more photos I seem to put the more confused people get.

You can find step 5 HERE!
It is also linked at the bottom of part 4.

I am leaving in the morning to go visit family in AZ! I'm returning Sunday, the 13th....so you will have almost a week to finish step 5 before we move on to the layouts in step 6.

I will be unavailable to answer questions this coming week. There is however, a world wide wealth of knowledge on the quiltvillechat list so if you have any questions, instead of asking me personally, please direct them to the list! I'll check in when I can. There is a link to joining the list in my right sidebar! ---->

And here I am, hard hat and all....this afternoon my son Jeff and I went to go choose the granite slab that will be my new counter tops come Dec 15th! It's been a long time coming. The color is called Sapphire Jolie...nice, eh? I'm excited about the kitchen re-do, even if we have to do it just a little bit at a time, this step is a BIG one for me...

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Part 4, Up and Ready!

I know some of you are ready for more sewing, and quite a lot of you are NOT! But remember, it's not a race. Part 4 is ready to roll! You can get to it HERE. It is also linked at the bottom of part 3 :c)

I'm feeling really tired today. No gym today. Just can't do it. I was going to do a yoga class, but after yesterday, I'm so sore I can't move! It wouldn't be a pretty sight.

I am excited! My friend Karen and I are going to go to the "First Friday" Art Gallery tour this evening! I'm meeting her down town at 4:30. Since moving here (almost 2 years ago, can you believe it?) I really haven't had the time to discover all the wonders of Winston Salem. At dinner the other night at the Thai place downtown, she mentioned all that was going on, and I jumped right on it! I don't have to be anywhere else....this sounds like fun!

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Perched on the edge.....of 700!!!

I just peeked at my followers link in the side bar below...it's hidden pretty far down there, because having it higher up in the bar was causing some issues with people's IE.

Oh. My. GoOdNeSs!! You guys have put me at 699 followers!!! I am sitting here holding my breath until there are 700 of you...*turning various shades of blue...* (No not really)

I'm just thrilled! Thank you so much for reading my drivel, really. It's a treat to know you are there when there are most likely better more productive things you could (should?!) be doing! HA!

699 followers AND Susan Boyle in one day? Awesome!

I'm just about to do some sewing, getting the columns together. It's been a busy day. I met with my trainer at 8am, we are revising my workouts because I still can't run, jump, jar or otherwise POUND on my right ankle. We are heading to 3 months injured right now, and it is a bummer, but I have found that power walking does wonders...walking I'm fine. I can do the elliptical trainer, and increased my time on it from 15 minutes when I first started back, to 45 minutes yesterday..just adding 5 to 10 minutes additional each time. So that's my cardio.

After that, it was errand-girl! Sam's club for prescription drop off, another place for oil change and tire rotation...while that was being done I walked to the plaza up the street to get my hair trimmed, and by the time I was done, the car was ready (This is multitasking at it's best!) From there, I went to the car wash for a super deluxe in and out job to get rid of this year's road grunge from the travel. It sorely needed it! And nothing lifts my spirits more than a hair trim and a clean car all in the same day! A couple other errands rounded out my day, and I've been home since working on book stuff.

Several of you have commented that the Orphan Backing I've been working on for Carolina Christmas really could be a quilt in it's own right. I agree..it could!! But there are reasons I want it to be a back, for instance....it will get a photo op in the NEXT book as a cool backing. You know, some times I like to do things that have no pattern to them, just for eye inspiration. The backs in the Scraps & Shirttails book photographed really well, and people loved seeing them as I travel around with the quilts.

So this one, this crazy orphan backing, would be great to show as the quilts travel, without having to have TWO quilts to lug around, you know? Using this orphan collage as a backing gives it a tie in and extra added interest to more quilts made with recycled fabrics. I can also use recycled blocks!

So those are my reasons....inclusion as an "extra" in the next book, and less weight to travel, and good show-ability for trunk shows.

So what do you think now? Should it still be it's own quilt, or are you seeing my reasoning? :cD

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Bawling My Eyes Out....

I just picked up Susan Boyle's album. The first track, Wild Horses, just opened flood gates!

I love this woman! She embodies everything I believe in and stand for. What a fabulous voice, what a wonderful story!

For those of us who have "Dreamed a Dream" and worked hard to get there, it's worth a listen!

I'm planning on getting step 4 for the mystery done tomorrow. That is if everything works out, I'm doing last go-through book edits at the same time trying to pull everything together there with my editor, the tech editor, myself, the graphic artist guy. Yes, I'm home....but I'm still working!

I leave Tues for AZ, so I hope step 5 will be ready on Monday before I go to bed. I return on Sunday, so there will likely be a week between step 5 and 6...

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