My Blocks in the Bee Exchange

These are the 8 blocks that have been made for me by the SMQ Guild members of Thursday Bee. My theme request was "spirals" with no limitation for size. Another requirement for all of us, other than making one a month, was that the blocks be layered and quilted.

by Tone - 9"x 9"

by Patty - 11"x 11"

by Jane - 12" x 9"
(the black things are cut up spiral binding for notebooks and the blue background is an "eyelash" fabric)

by Sheila - 11" x 11"
(she designed the b&W fabric)

by J.C. - 12"x 11"

by Sandy - 12"x 12"

One of our members, Christine, moved away. She is selectively contributing blocks to the themes that tempt her to play. She likes spirals and I'm the happy recipient of two blocks from her.

by Christine - 11"x 11"

by Christine - 5"x 5"

WooHoo! I Make Someone's Day

WooHoo! Judy of "in the Dyes" has bestowed the "You Make My Day" award upon me. Her blog, plus about seventy-five others, makes mine. I can't say that I read all of them everyday, but I do keep up with everyone's projects and activities on a fairly regular basis. Of all those bloggers who make my days, I find it impossible to select only ten to pass this award onto. Soooo, if you've gotten a comment or an email from me please know that "you make my day" and you deserve this award.

Thank you, Judy, and thanks to all of you who share your creations and lives with me.

Now, to share with you what I've been up to. The making of these two pieces gets me caught up in the block exchange I'm participating in with my SMQ Guild bee. Each of us makes a block in a theme and size of the recipients choice. There's one recipient every month.

Aurora Borealis - 10"x 7"

Castle Wall - 11"x 8 1/2"

Both are constructed in my "ortwork" technique. However, the top one has only silk roving under tulle ... no scraps or orts. Yarns create vines on the wall. These became the quilting lines across the face of the stones. Otherwise, I free-motion quilted around each one.

I was the first recipient and will post photos of the blocks I received tomorrow.

My Very Own Elvis Tribute Artist

Today is Elvis's 73rd birthday. Elvis and my husband were born the same year. I don't know where Elvis is on this day, but Lee is still a rock'n'rollin'



... or is that a movin' and a groovin'?

He made the video during a visit to Graceland to pay homage to the king this past Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday, Elvis, wherever you are!

Note: If the above video doesn't work for you, go here to download it in a Quicktime movie format (best and largest picture) or here to view it on YouTube.

To see more of Lee's and my tributes to the king click on the "Elvis" label below this post.

Birthday

Today I celebrate my 66th birthday.
I believe you're never too old to play. Here's the result of my playing with "photo booth".

Now, you've seen another side of me.

Sledding in Oak Park

It's winter wonderland here in the Chicago area. Our younger son's family has gotten me out and about in it ... and boy do my fingers and toes get cold.
My extreme digits turned almost as white as the snow at the sled hill.
This is a gentle hill for young children in a city park.
For the most part, parents stand at the top to get the kids situated on their sleds and off to a good start with a gentle push.
My hands warmed up around a mug of hot chocolate with marsh mellows when we got home. Now if there were only something comparable to have warmed my toes.