Vegas Baby

The traditional  non-traditional crafters approach.

We tried something new this year. We (Valerie and I) got together our Aunt, Mother in Laws, and two of our cousins for a FABULOUS crafting weekend in Las Vegas. We had originally planned for quilting but realized we might have less time that we thought, so it morphed into a time to visit shops and sit and relax and work on portable projects.

I love that so many facets of our family can get together and have such a great time! 

 My sister's in-laws Cindy and Charlie were our hosts! On our outings we all fit into their car!

We went to Sin City Knits,

and Quiltique!

We hit some of the outlets, and even had a bra fitting....because well...the girls needed it.

Doesn't this look like an uplifting weekend?

Valerie and Neola were our beginner knitters this weekend. They're doing great!

We did some patio sitting and knitting, and enjoyed some tasty team prepared food! Val made me this sandwich. She is the BEST sandwich maker.

We even enjoyed some yummy drinks!

To top it all off we were forced to enjoy this view of the strip all weekend. Rough life eh?

Really Random Thursday- 3/21/2013

I tried a new eye doctor today. I'm not thrilled. I miss my old one. Seriously. Pass the word on to Dr. Aaron Wiens of Fogg, Maxwell, Lanier & Remington EyeCare.

 First she went to put drops in my eye without saying ANYthing. Then, they BURNED! NO warning. Then right after she goes "Oh yah, this burns." Scowl.  I know my contacts are the "old generation" so she had me try a couple "new generation" contacts. She's having me try two different styles. One in each eye. One felt funky right off the bat. She gave me a back up of the other style. After all that the contacts tech guy asked "did she put eye drops in your eye that burn?" Yeeeeeess. "Well that could last a while and affect the way they feel." Gee thanks. My eyes are not happy today. D'you think it would be weird if I head back to Fresno for an eye appointment?
It's March and every year for Luke's birthday I get him a BIG basketball tournament called March Madness. I know, that joke is going to get old soon yesterday. Anyway, the Nickodemus Fam always fills out brackets. So here's mine. I'm really not feeling that passionate about this one. Basketball fever is strong here and I maaaaay have immunity.

 I do not however have immunity to fabric fever, so I'm participating in the Fat Quarterly Modern Madness bracket. The best part of it: I discovered a whole bunch of new fabric I just need  really want.

I'm linking up with Cindy @ Live a Colorful Life with Really Random Thursday

My First Quilt Along

I was blog browsing and came across this beauty! It's the first quilt along that has jumped out and grabbed me!

It looks a lot bit tricky. But I'm game! It's called the Summer Sampler Quilt Along. Hopefully mine looks as pretty as the digital version!
These are the fabrics I'm using:


I've joined the Flickr group as well! Wow folks....this must be "fer reals!" I better get going since it started today! I'm already one block behind!!!

I'm A Genius

Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it. -Harper Lee

The verdict is in folks. I'm a genius!  (Or wise.) Harper Lee said it. I took your advice and went from this:
 

 To this:

I feel much better about this one. I confess, my new addition is not even as good as a thrift store shirt, it's shirt-like fabric I found on sale at Quilter's Paradise. I had to fussy cut it to get the lines going the right direction, but I like it. Added bonus? It's now long enough.

Unfinished

Mom is home and in order to fit the hopital bed in my parents' room, Dad had to take their big bed apart. The plan has been that he'll sleep on the floor and I work dilgently to get my room packed up and organised so that the stuff thats getting moved to Colorado with Luke and Myself can be stored in the garage, and I will keep the things I need with me for the next two monts sort of accesable but portable. Well, I've been in this tiny room for almost two years now and have figured out how to put things in every nook and cranny. Not to mention we've got lots of sewing stuff of my moms.
Mom is in hospice care , and it is clear that she isnt going to be getting better. As the only other sewer/qiulter I am realising these things are now in the "Jess's Stuff" category as well. Whew. Are you as overwhelmed as I am yet? I thought it would be a while before I aquired all of moms great tools of the trade and fabric stash. Im pulling out boxes and files knowing that many of these things are projects that she intended to get to but didnt. This has become a lesson in finnishing projects I've started. There are many of my mothers projects that I dont know what they were intended for, or what the final goal was. Others that I have no idea what phase theyre even in. It's daunting. There are some special fabrics I KNOW are special, but I'm not quite sure what meaning they hold, as they are unmarked/labled. I'm having to decide what to keep and what not to keep. Am I really going to get this project that A.) Wasnt originally mine and B.) I have no idea what phase its in?
I confess, I'm purging a lot. I'm finding good homes for pattern books, and fabric I don't quite care for. I'm tossing some projects I know are over a decade old and have no "hope" on my list of things to do and create. There's still a lot. It sort of scares me to think about being a frequently moving golf pro's wife with all this "stuff." It seems to be that gone are the days of packing everything I own into the back of a VW bug and taking off. :)

French.

For many reasons, the primary one being that she was in the hospital, my mother was unable to attend the Quilter's Paradise Quilting in the Pines retreat at Bass Lake. I was very lucky and spoiled as my  father encouraged me to go in my mothers place. The quilting retreat is a very special time as you are in a room surrounded by other women, their sewing machines, their chatter, laughter and love. Woah my goodness. I never truly realised until this year just how much love is in that room. Quilters are somehow joined by binding threads and when one is having a rough time they will hold you together much like the quilting that holds together the layers of blanket. All of these women share stories, tell jokes, reminisce, and throw in a bit of sarcasm and mischief to provide some of the best therapy on earth. I'm telling you people pay BIG bucks for therapy this good. As Shakespeare the great writer says "Listen to many, speak to a few." Sure I did a lot of answering questions about Luke, and the wedding and my mom, but the things I heard left me full of that love, including encouragement, advice, stories of experiences, and support that would not and has not been only at the lake.

Speaking of Shakespeare, he has more to say that applies to this weekend....

“Teach not thy lip such scorn, for it was made For kissing, lady, not for such contempt.” Yep...I'm hearing bells and screeching brakes going off in your brain but keep going! The quilt I was working on this weekend was called French Kiss! Not quite your traditional Mennonite Quilt pattern! haha.

I had seen the Amy Butler's Daisy Chain Wildflowers fabric and pretty much gone gaga over it.

 I resisted buying the fabric for a while and then I just couldn't take it anymore. I was thinking about it ALL the time! Well except when I was day dreaming about Luke. Anyway I bought a yard, then began collecting more fabrics I thought would "really go" with it. What I was going to do with it? I really didn't know.

Some time later I went with Jennifer and her girls to see Mark and Cindy at a Quilts in the Trees show in Livermore. It was there that I saw this phenomenal diamond quilt pattern.

Then I found out that it was called French Kiss. THIS made me think of how Jenny and I called Luke Loooooooke because that's how the guy in that movie says it. Should you not recall this see the Video clip here. The pronunciation is about 5min 58 seconds in. Please note that the movie is NOT G rated. So the fact that Looooke would be brought into this quilt as well pretty much sealed the deal. The fact that the quilt concept included kissing? Icing on the cake.

Long story shorter, I worked on this quilt at Huntington in the Fall, and for most of this retreat and its finally finished!! Wooo! Not to say that this quilt wasn't given it's fair share of innuendos, potentially raunchy jokes, and quite a bit of air tongue action. (Every time some one mentioned it I'd stick my tongue way out and wave it around.) This did, however, lighten the mood quite a bit, and turned out rather well if I do say so myself. It was NOT an easy quilt. Diamonds are a pain to pin, but I'm pleased to say that almost all my corners match and I love it! Love it and love Loooooooke! (For those of you who were there....now all I'm gonna need is some sugar cubes...)

Also on the note of French, I made some ooober cool pillow cases that had French Seams which are self encased and don't unravel as much. (See here for directions.)

One In Every Color- Fabric

Yah yah, I KNOW fabric comes in every color but Quilters Corner (HERE) in Grand Junction, Colorado had it displayed so wonderfully. I think THATS why it's unique and as a result, loved by me.

They also had some fun girl scout fabric. Is it cookie time yet?

One Of Us

The other night I was babysitting C. We walked her dogs, went to CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) and just to check her interest level in "the crafting world" we stopped by JoAnns to "pick up some black yarn." Ladies and Gentlemen, she's hooked! She ooohed and ahhed at all the colors and fabrics and textures! When we got to this aisle she said "look at all the colors!" Then she hugged the fabric. Kindred spirit? I think so.

Pondering Production- Butler Busts Budgets

First I'm going to share these profound thoughts of the Yarn Harlot from her Never Not Knitting! Page-A-Day Calendar. Then I'm going to show you some pictures and I ask you to apply these thoughts to fabric.



1.) Life's too short to knit bad yarn. buy the best you can afford. -Yarn Harlot



2.)I am surprised all the time when I hear that knitters are saving their good yarn for when they are better knitters, since my experience is that using good yarn makes you a better knitter. It's inspiring, and it gives you something to live up to.



3.) Every once in a while when you are in a yarn shop, something bizarre happens. you're walking along, minding your own business, totally in charge of your purchases, when whammo! -- a yarn stops you dead in your tracks. You screech to a halt, pick up a skein, and whether you know it or not, it's game over. You are going to buy that yarn. you can play the game all you want, checking the yardage, taking it to the window to look at it in the light, multiplying the price by how many skeins you need and thinking about your budget, telling the shop owner that you can't really afford it and that you don't need it...but we all know by the look in your eye that you're done for. That yarn knew your secret knitter name, and when that happens, there's just no point in resisting.



Amy Butler fabric does this to me.
First her Daisy Chain Wildflowers Navy broadsided me. I purchased some. I stared at it.
Then I couldn't resist the others and more that complimented...but I wouldn't buy any that didn't speak to me. Then I had to find a pattern deserving of such glorious fabric. A pattern that screamed I'M THE ONE! (More on why THIS pattern was deserving later.)
Then the quilt begins to come together like painstaking magic. I have to raise my skill to the caliber of the fabric. I cannot dishonor such fabric with poor craftsmanship. I have utilize the best of my abilities.
It is such a work of love. A model for our personal relationships I think. I don't need pre-marriage counseling. I have quilting. (Joke)
Anyway, Amy Butler has done it again. Cindy was just checking Fabric Worm's website and right there, front and center was THE NEW AMY BUTLER FABRIC!!! and it's HEAVENLY! It swept me off my feet, I was done for. (Granted I haven't purchased it-take note of the budget geared title.)
Anyway, how beautiful are these!?

and some of them come in flannel, laminated, and home decor. Melt in my mouth. Sigh. And get this...it doesn't stop there. I send Luke this text:

"Why do I love color, fabric, textiles? I cant resist them. Amy Butler has a new line. I'm in trouble." and he writes back

"You love those things because it is part of your personality. You are naturally happy, those things are naturally happy. I think they are good for you. Just don't spend TOO much. "

Isn't he dreamy?

This just in:

"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." -Oscar Wilde

Now I'm not saying I always agree...but maybe in this case?

Fraternal Twins

My mom just finnished her 1930's quilt! So now we have two completed quilt tops, coordinating but not exactly the same! My mom took all of our primary colored blocks, and I took all of the pastel blocks, but we used the same pattern I made up for the sashing and put the same measurements on for borders. They're fraternal twins!

Just in case you forgot what mine looks like, here it is!