Lady Jane

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."

My Stashbuster Lady Jane arrived today, quilted with a luscious feel and classic, simply classic. Quilted with a delicate flow that gives it an instant feminine touch. I have loved this quilt. Oh I just have!!! It's the scraps and stash and the simplicity. I think she's precious and the quilting - the way it shows up in the border - well I just find that sheer delight. Thank you, Mary!



...and a close up a corner. This quit is my first quilt all for me.

Scenes from:


The Corrugated Cat Park

Above. Vacuum cleaner delivered by "Brown" (aka: UPS) and is now in use. The box was donated to the makings of a new corrugated cat park. Cheap toys are the best and Kanga is certain she's out of site.




Below. Kanga thinks: "Cattress Powers Kingston - stay back. I know you're coming. I know you're slinking up on me. You're not going to get me. I'm here. See me See You! I'm a scary Jack-in-the-Box and I will get you in your sleep!!! I'm now giving you the evil eye..."





In other news from LeeHaven, the IV went just fine. The team in the hospital infusion center loved my bag. It attracted quite the attention. Today the water heater was installed and the day was hectic with no real rest however I do have plans tomorrow. A secret project is in the works for a celebration this month. I've had to put the Dresden Plates up so I can work on this one but it wont be for long.


Yours Quilted in Love, *karendianne.

Healing Visualization

Chinese Symbol of Health

Not all the time but some of the time my life makes me crazy! When you think a problem is MS, sometimes it's not. Other times when you think its not MS it just might be. What-ev-er! There's no dental problem causing this pain and I'm rockin'. All systems are go for Health today.



What is the pain then? Well I don't flippin' know! I'm getting old, it's The Crazymaker (aka: MS) or make up something. What-ev-er! You'd be hard pressed to hear me ever use the "H" word that ends with an "E" whens peaking of my relation to The Crazymaker. But it damn sure pisses me right off!



Okay, enough of that. Just had to get it out and let it go. Time to head out and this attitude wont do. I'm actually looking forward to taking myself and going alone. I watched a video a while back about how the disease works and I'd like to use that visualize while getting the IV.



Watch It Love, *karendianne.

Burning Thru the Cash!

There was a peaceful feel to the morning. Thankful, grateful, grounded. Something was released. There was rain, the sun was just rising and I was quiet with myself. There was no tension ~ it was all peace. A nice period of well-being after the harried days that started the week.

Getting ready for IV day means ensuring the house is stocked. That worked out fine since it just so happens that I needed everything anyway. Dog food, cat food, human food. Plus paper products, cleaning things and just stuff you're completely out of that you don't normally buy. $$$ So, okay this is a slim pay-period. I can hang. Truth be told, I am thankful I could take care of these errands on my own!

Then the vacuum cleaner died. $ Long haired dogs and cats. One simply cannot live without a vacuum cleaner. Had to make that purchase. I vacuum daily. What did I buy? I'm a girl that goes for the basics and buys cheap when it comes to this item. It works for me. This one is also a Bissell. Not pricey and works great. Lasted for 4 years. Fine by me.

So okay, we're starting to burn through some money but it's a tight pay-period and that happens. I just figured I'd roll with it since this isn't anything new and really, come on, we all deal with it. Could be much worse. So I get back to my chores, somewhat distracted grabbing my pile of laundry only to come upon a leaky Water Heater. $$$ Drats!!!


The Water Heater has been working great for 13 years - a lot of work out of it, really. I did have this money earmarked for a generator. During Hurricane Season I'd like to be able to stay home and "well" out of the heat. Power outages dontcha know. Unfortunately, the money for the generator just went to the Water Heater.

Who was it that was talking about things growing on Trees? Huh!

(ps: ...and the dentist is a fairly emergent appointment today. That came up, too and could impact my ability to get my infusion tomorrow. But maybe it's not so big a deal and we'll be able to roll with it. I'm thinkin' that...)

Block Interpretation: A First

Masculinity. Do you see it?

Most everyone that glances at my plates sees Ties. Delightful! How delightful to see yourself interpreted ~ in some way, any particular way. I just loved the fabrics, I didn't plan that business about the ties. This is the coolest quilty creative thing that's happened to me in a long time! The interpretation just happened. Trippy. Completely cosmic.



Above is my first finished machine appliqued block. Cotton thread in the bobbin and monofilament on the top. I really felt like I accomplished something yesterday! (besides the laundry list) This is truly "head down" work!


Below is another Dresden Plate that Susan is working on and/or almost finished with. She's my friend that works at the Olde Green Cupboard. Susan really should have her own Blog but she's a busy woman and not into it. She told me. I shamelessly asked! She did give me permission to share and I absolutely love this one. I like the size and I love the fabrics.



The Kanga-Roni-Bucket-o-cute is running to track down a sound in the other room. Very much in "huntress" mode and I'm lucky I caught it. Truth be told, I'm lucky I remembered what was going on. The thought of "little huntress" is what makes it cute to me.


Hope you had a joyful, patriotic weekend. I enjoyed the Blogs with the Patriotic displays. That was truly delightful!

Coaxing Out New Skills

Do you have Blog Posting Syndrome? I do. That's when you are so riddled with guilt for putting up a post when you haven't completed visiting primary Blogs not to mention caring for the replies which represent the circle of support, friendship, good quilting vibes and a strong uplift. When I don't tend to all this, when I don't follow my own rigid guidelines, the guilt sets in and the Blog Posting Syndrome sets in.


Seriously, I have this rigid rule with myself. (1) Visit everyone else, (2) reply to the replies and only THEN can I feel free to post something.



Today I'm just going to have to get over it because I'm working on something new to me and I wanted to share. Here 'er goes...

Design Wall mostly showing the WIP of Dresden Plates that I've pulled out during the scrappy making process. I also have a Bounce Dryer Sheet pinned to the wall which comes in later...

Little Dresden Plates in the process along with my test piece and notes in permanent ink. Oh, and my 4 year old gingher snippers. (note to self: get a new pair) These Dresden's are a breeze to chain sew by the way. So addictive.

Machine Applique Testing with monofilament thread. My Mom gave me quite a few tips last night about this thread. It does in fact like to unravel. Here's where the Bounce Dryer Sheet came in handy. I wrapped it around the thread and pinned it. Nothing permanent and it worked! You know, this could be my very own cool tip to submit to a magazine. What do you think?

I never once claimed my circles were circular. I'm practicing sewing here. Machine Applique on circles. I started off pretty good. A few little hiccups and I need to change my bobbin thread but that'll be after nap time or tomorrow.

In my finished piece I was looking for comfort working with the circles and "no see 'ums" in my Machine Applique work I played with my stitches and it looks like this will be the one I'm going to go with. Again, I will be changing the Bobbin thread as that's coming through a bit. Ultimately it wont show because I'm going with a different color/tone of fabric for the delightful centers on my Dresden Plates.

So that's why I had to overcome my Blog Posting Syndrome. The Dresden Plates continue to be "the thing" and I've been dying to share and plus, I wanted my Mom to see what I did since she did give so much of her time over to me, imparting her 40+ years of sewing experience which probably made her late for a poolside rendezvous with my cousin Debra. Hopefully Susan is around and will see this work, too. She certainly deserves the credit for getting me into this and I definitely want her to see what she thinks. Are you out there Susan or are you out riding the Harley with Rob?



Breaking all my own Rules with Love, *karendianne.


ps: Happy 4th of July!