Thursday, June 27, 2013

Really Random Thursday, 6/27/13

My mother had back surgery and is in a rehab hospital for a few days learning new body mechanics. She had a visitor the other night. Think he was the best medicine she could have had?
I know two kids who will enjoy these new camping pillow cases (I'm keeping the super cute selvages and adding them to my Laurie Wisbrun collection--yep, I have a separate bag just for her selvages).
So last weekend in the mountains when we were sewing, and unplugged, we kept thinking of things that we needed to Google. We had to make a list. What if....
That's it. Your turn.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

WIP Wednesday, 6/26/13

I was unplugged from Thursday afternoon of last week until Monday afternoon. You know what I missed the most? Instagram. I have found that I really enjoy documenting my sewing progress by posting pictures to Instagram. But...no iPhone, no iPad, no internet. No Google. We made a list of Google-able items, questions we needed answers to once we were in contact with the outside world again.

There were four of us sewing at our friend's cabin in Yosemite West. It was wonderful. But noisy. New cabin construction is going on. Apparently seven days a week. We thought Saturday would be a quiet day--no heavy equipment noises from across the road. Wrong.

Then we thought Sunday would be a quiet day. Wrong again. They worked until 6 p.m.!

We tried to cover up with the noise with four sewing machines. It was quite successful. When the sun wasn't too bright, we went outside and took pictures. I managed to complete my monstrous MCC quilt for next April, Swooning with Oakshotts, although that is probably just a temporary name...
I made some really cute drawstring bags  (with Jeni's pattern) using kitchen hand towels from Target. I'm going to stock up--these things are super cute.
 
 

As we complete things, we hang them over the circular stair railing. It's a tradition.
And I played with the fish eye lens on my iPhone. Because it's fun.
Still waiting to get pictures of everyone else's projects...

In the meantime, I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday this week.


Monday, June 24, 2013

The Name Game: PatchworknPlay

Susan is here today from PatchworknPlay, all the way from Australia! I think I discovered Susan through Mary, better known as Molly Flanders. They are great friends, and I kept discovering all the wonderful things Susan was working on. As a bonus, she is now a member of the Mid Century Modern bee; I was just thrilled when she accepted the invitation to join!
(this inspires me to complete my Farmer's Wife quilt top!)

How did you choose the name for your blog? Were there any other names you considered and can you share any of them with us?

I thought for weeks about the name for my blog.  I was already blogging (I'm too embarrassed to tell you what that name was!), had been for about five months and had nine followers!  I was still finding my niche, but was loving the contact I was establishing with other quilters around the world, so I wanted a name which would attract like minded people.
 
I am a school teacher by profession and believe  words are very powerful.  So for weeks I played around with words associated with "patchwork".  (In Australia, patchwork is a word that fits all types of piecing, not just, as it is in other parts of the world,  simple square piecing.) So I thought about the 'work' part and somehow it's opposite 'play' fitted together so well. Occasionally on my blog I talk about more playful aspects of my life- my cycling or what I see when I'm out walking.
Now that you are recognized by PatchworknPlay, are you happy with it, or do you wish you could change it to something else?
I love my blog name! I would never consider changing it.  I think it still sums up my life so well- work gets in the way sometimes and I don't always have time for fabric play..... Besides, what else would I call my husband- Mr PnP suits him perfectly!
Susan, thank you SO much for playing the Name Game today. I hope you get a lot of visitors because there is much to see!
 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Really Random Thursday: Unplugged...

And by "unplugged" I merely meant that I'm leaving this morning to spend the weekend quilting with friends in a cabin near Yosemite. There is no cell phone reception at the cabin. No computer, no iPad, no iPhone. Just the sound of nature, sewing machines, laughter. Sounds heavenly.
A picture from last year--whenever something is completed, it gets hung on the circular stair railing
Then my computer decided to have problems. So while I'm sewing, my hard drive will be at the computer hospital.Gives another meaning to "unplugged."

So before I go to the mountains, here are a few snapshots from the past week or so.

Our 40th anniversary--we went to Kings Canyon for the afternoon with friends from Minnesota.
As a frame of reference, here is a picture from forty years ago:
Here is a quotation I read the other day. This is how I feel about being married to the same man for this long. "The best couples, I think, work like the red and white of a candy cane, swirling beside each other as one, but never becoming pink."

San Francisco the next day:
Even some "quilty" sightings:
In our hotel lobby--but impossible to get a good picture because of all the reflection--silk tie dresdens on kimono-style silk
I saw this in a magazine. Our son, who is an optometrist, has to have sharp diagnostic skills--he does so much more than simply prescribe a new prescription for your glasses.
I love this picture of my 85-year-old mother, with her 20-month-old great grandson. Gabe loves to sit on Nana's lap.
  My summer challenge--I'm determined to learn to knit socks.
Father's Day, a simply scrumptious brunch before church.
Three generations of wonderful fathers:
 My favorite rose. Ever. Double Delight.
Until next week...

I don't know if you noticed last week, but we have an official name, thanks to Hadley. Now all we need is for someone to make an official blog button for us: Cindy and the Randomeers. It makes me smile...

So all you Randomeers, it's your turn!




Monday, June 17, 2013

The Name Game: Citric Sugar


Carly is here this week from Citric Sugar.
 I had to show this amazing quilt first--you can read about it here. Really--take the time to read this post!

I just adore Carly. She is so creative and very funny. And she does something that would totally freak me out. She is a member in an improv comedy troupe!  Last year, I suggested that maybe she and I could do a private swap, making something special for each other. I had never done a swap before. As is typical when I suggest something, the other person nearly always finishes first. (Terri, are you reading this? I am working on that CD playlist swap. Really, I am.)

Anyway, this is what I received in the mail from Carly.
Those pieces are teeny tiny, like 1/2" squares! Orange zipper, orange lining--Carly pays attention to all the little details. (Oh, and we both share a love of orange.) It is gorgeous and I just love it so much!

You want to know more about her, right?

Carly, how did you choose the name for your blog?



I wanted a name that reflected me and my style. I'm a bit of a softie but I tend to disguise that with humour, therefore: Citric for the zing, Sugar for my inner marshmallow. I wanted something that would make a good "brand" name, too, if I suddenly developed ambition but didn't tie me down to a particular theme if I later changed my mind about the direction of my blog.  I kept having this image of a sliced ruby red grapefruit stuck in my head but thought, hmmm.. Slice of Grapefruit sounds more like an overly food-conscious diet blog.  (Most definitely not me - bring on the cheesecake!)  Instead, I liked the idea of something not too sweet but not too edgy, either.  Simple. Fresh and clean. 
Were there other names you considered, and can you share any of them with us? 
Bittersweet was a word I tossed around a bit but it sounded too chocolatey and brown, kinda fussy, and potentially maudlin. I wanted the name to somehow keep me on a sunnier path with what I chose to share, to remind me of positive things, and refresh my optimism, as well as my creativity. Plus, orange is my favourite colour and it just wasn't going to blend with 'bittersweet'... So I nixed that word.  I'll save maudlin and wistful for another blog - haha!
Now that you are recognized by Citric Sugar, are you happy with it, or do you wish you could change it to something else? 
I'm not going to lie - I kinda love it.  I am really comfortable as "Citric Sugar", and it's evolved into a bit of a nickname in real life, so that's pretty cool.  I don't think I'd change it if I could. I'd have to start an entirely new blog in a totally new direction and that sounds like an incredible amount of work. I'd prefer to save that energy for all my other creative endeavours...
Thanks for inviting me to play The Name Game!!
Thanks for playing along this week, Carly!
 
I hope all of you will hop over to Carly's blog and say hi.