Sigh ---- what a wonderful experience!!!

Yesterday, we attended a six hour 'thread play' class with Libby Lehman. She was absolutely fantastic. I learned a lot about drawing and playing with thread (and other helpful hints). I was so 'up' all day and then came home and literally crashed. Oh yeah and guess what - I forgot to take the camera. Can you believe I could go to that class and not have the camera with me.

There were 31 one of us in there and she managed to give each of us all the unlimited attention we needed. She is an absolutely lovely, marvelous person and is exactly what I want to be when I grow up. She also had a wonderful trunk show with her - oh wait - I didn't have the camera so I can't share that part with you.

The kitchen fan is still up and I'm beginning to feel a little easier about walking underneath it. I mean, if it were going to fall down it would have done so be now - wouldn't it? It sure makes a huge differences in the temperature (and atmosphere) of our kitchen. This is one we should have done last year when we had the others installed.

The current storm is finally on the way out (4 - 6 inches in 3 hours) so I may go to the studio and play for a few hours. I want to practice while things are still fresh in my mind.

Hugs - Marie

OK - so I'm hiding in the office at the computer to stay as far away from the kitchen as I can get. Big T and a neighbor are replacing the kitchen chandelier and installing a fan with a light over my kitchen table. The sounds coming from in there are not always favorable - so here I am with the door closed. Last I could hear, they had decided to 'read the directions' - that doesn't sound too bad, does it? There will be no photos with this posting because I would have to go through the kitchen to get the camera.

After my last posting, I had such positive comments from my friends - thank you all! You made me feel that 'blogging life' is so worthwhile. You are all wonderful and I never would have met you if not for 'blogging'. I feel like my world is expanding when I have friends from all over the world.

I am working on a new wall hanging to go over the fireplace (to cover the 'ugly hole' where I refuse to have a tv). I had just enough of the contrasting fabric to do just what I had planned. Sewed the first four strips together and was so proud of myself. It looked exactly like what I had in mind; went back to the cutting table to cut the next strip when it happened. I picked up the fabric, folded it, picked up the rotary cutter and cut my strip (the wrong direction). Now instead of a 42" strip I had an 18" strip. AND to make matters worse, I no longer had any fabric left to cut the 42" strips (it was all now the shorter pieces). After a few (a lot of) 'bad words' and tears, I did a lot of 'unsewing' and went back to the drawing board.

How many times do you have to learn the same lessons over and over? I can hear my mother saying 'measure twice, cut once'. But this time, I was so sure I had it right that I didn't take the time to check and recheck.

Oh no!! - "what do you think this wire goes to? I don't think we need it." I wish the office were soundproof. This is killing me. A few minutes ago I heard a sound like 'broken glass' . . . I should have gone grocery shopping or something. I think I will pull up one of those addicting computer games and 'zone out' for a few hours. If you need me, you know where to find me.

Hugs - Marie

OK -

Have you missed me? Well, let it be known that I am back and raring to go. My two month hiatus (is that really a word) is at an end.

Did you notice the new 'do'? I thought it was time for a change - I was getting to be pretty boring and regular. I needed a complete make-over to go with my new approach to blogging, quilting and life itself.

So what happened to me?

Blogging had ceased to be fun and had become a chore but even more than that, I am tired of ready about all the perfectionism and 'snobbishness' that become more and more prevalent in blogland. It seems that quilting is more about who is using which designer fabric and who is going to market than quilting. And quilts weren't finished until they have all been perfectly finished by the long-arm quilters trying to sell their business by telling the world how good they are.

This was not the blogland and quilting that I love. But I was getting trapped into feeling guilty that I chose my fabric by what I like rather than who designed it. My wonderful art quilts (wonderful to me anyway) will never compare to the pro's who produce a major piece every day. It was becoming a chore to go into my studio because it wasn't a 'designer studio' where everything is perfect and 'cute'. The final straw was all the 'perfect photos' coming from the $1,000 dollar cameras.

Am I the only one who was bothered by all this? (Or maybe it was because I also didn't fell well for a couple of months.) But regardless, I have decided several things that I want to share with my loyal friends (I don't care about followers - you are all my friends.

1. I am going to weed through my blog reading list and eliminate all but those blogs that I really enjoy.

2. I am going to write about things that interest me and my friends (old word was 'followers').

3. I am not going to waste my time on those blogs that seem to be ads to attract business.

4. I am going to continue my exploration into the world of art quilting (per my definition - not anyone else's).

5. I will continue to select fabric that I like regardless of the designer or origin.

6. Friends will come first (and always).

7. Blogging is about sharing and friendship not competition or rules.

And so my dear friends, I am back after spending a long time thinking about what was bothering me. And I look forward to further enriching our friendship in this wonderful world of blogging. I have found some wonderful friends in blogland and they are as dear to me as if we lived in close proximity. I cherish each of you.

Many, many hugs - Marie