What's next? The quilt needs a name

This is a brief review of the last week's efforts. I was productive in writing and in quilting :) These activities go together well.First a close up view of the FINISHED (except for label) quilt by request. The original posted pics were not detailed. Next I need help to name this guy so I can get it labeled and really finished :)...Well not counting it having a home yet.

Second, is a brief view of the back of the Charming Baby quilt (Later known as Krista's Baby Boy Quilt.

Third are cut pieces for a grandmother's quilt for my good friend who is a grandma! This goes with the tradition of the Outlaws to make a quilt for any person in the group who becomes a grandma. The quilt goes to the grandma for the little one to use when at grandma's house!

My friend in Spokane is not a quilter, but a dear long time friend (since 5th grade) who I think deserves a grandma quilt too! It is fun to work with some of my color palate too!
Happy Quilting to All!

YIKES! a new version of blog software?? Where is button to add photos? :(
(UPDATE: that was a mess...but all back to normal now :)

Update: And the Winner is ...ME (tied for 2nd) YIPEE..... plus Help Name This Quilt!

Thanks everyone for your votes for Aaron's Storybook! WOW! there was an amazing last minute campaign on my behalf that catapulted me from about 5th place to tied for second place (Thanks cousin Brenda!)I wonder how that will work now...I let you know!

In the meantime, I need help with naming this quilt...which was finished in a recent posting ...all except for a label it seems. But for that a name is required. It's hard to see in the photo, but the light squares have cartoon animals driving vehicles. I hope to hear your ideas soon!

Here also is a little glimpse into what a deluge of 5.96 inches of rain in about 8 hours can do to a basement in just a few minutes...YIKES 3 feet deep!! But all dry and clean again now just one week later, even the window wells in the outside :)

Thanks!

Surprize!....

I just entered a little quilt contest. The first of many (2 or 3) that I hope to submit this quilt to. Go and see for yourself..... at Quilting Gallery Beginning on Friday morning until Sunday (June 18-20th) you can vote on your favorite quilt. The quilt with the most votes wins! Maybe it will be mine :) Or maybe you would like to submit something too? This is a weekly - international online (that sounds special!) contest that changes themes from week to week. This week fit perfectly with what I was working on!

More details later...Enjoy!

Quilting again! (Update)

Front and back views (size 40"x52")...Quilting again means writing again too (at least a littlel bit)! Both of these are good! I put all home repairs including painting on hold until July 1st. I just have to take a break, step back for awhile, and get my bearings. It really gets overwhelming to have your house such a mess and people in and out that need " supervision" and money. It is nerve racking and does not allow for focused study /writing/ thinking and relaxing time that I desperately need.

On another note, sweety niece from San Diego is visiting this week and the girls have lots of Oklahoma cultural events planned (including bonfire, swimming, Frontier city, new release of Toy Story 3 on Friday and indulging in yummy local cuisine. We already have hit Sonic, Zios, made so'mores, chicken quesadillas and fresh corn both on the grill, and homemade pizza. The best! They have snow cone stands, Pops and Hamburger King (local old-fashioned diner- scroll the right side of the link to see fab. pics!) on the list too. Dh decided to take the week off. I hope that means he will be participating in the entertainment of the girls :) so I can stay focused. So far, so good with, especially with the food part and everyone is sleeping right now enjoying the best of Oklahoma thunderstorms (a true novelty for the Southern California visitor) to cool off the day. This means time for me to write.

On the quilting front, I finished - yes, 100% done, finished, complete - this quilt pictured. One of the amazing things is that I did it all! (Well, now that I think about it I guess I mostly did it all - dear sis-in-law did some machine quilting on it for me to get it stabilized.) But, I designed it, cut it all, hand quilted, and cut and sewed the binding all by myself! This is a major accomplishment! First because it is actually finished something in only 1 year and second due to the binding which I always feel I need major moral and technical support to do. But, I wasn't even scared! Yea! I machine stitched it on and machine sewed it down in the ditch- just catching the back of the binding. It turned out so good! (for the first time doing it successfully). It might not win a prize but I am proud to have done it and like the results. I must admit I did have to re-do a few spots that did not catch on the back or were too deep - but overall - SUCCESS!

In reality, I totally credit this success to two of my lovely friends!

1st: Most recently (in March) observing my friend Coral sewing on a binding lickety-split with no fear and then letting me finish hand sewing it down in the car on the way to the quilt show. She won a ribbon too!
2nd: To the ongoing and LONG history of technical and moral support by my long time quilting sister "Dot." She always believes in me and is ready to add her support whenever it is needed. Part of her contribution this time probably includes being hundreds of miles away so I could not have her rescue me and sew the binding on for me LOL!
3rd: : I think that my "new" (January) sewing machine really helped with sewing the binding. Nice wide space to work, good walking foot, and foot-down option to help me stay on track. YIPEE! Now I think I am ready to tackle sewing the binding on Paintbrush with some more confidence. It does need to be beautiful enough to go in a show. That's the plan- to give it some local exposure and see what response I get. However, after sewing the binding on, I will be hand sewing it down. No problem, I have confidence in hand sewing skills :)

Another amazing fact, I began this quilt last summer. That means it is done in only one year! Originally planned for donation to TPH fundraiser, now I am told they have enough baby quilts for a while. So, I may hang onto it a little longer to determine the best home for it.

Well, gotta go on this positive note....the flowers in bloom in the front yard...
Happy Quilting Everyone!

Whaaa...I'm sick of the house repairs

Don't read another word unless you are ready to hear an out-and-out grip session.
I know there are a lot worse problems in the world than this, but right now, I am exasperated and will no doubt feel better posting this, sparing my household from any more complaining and myself from headaches and frustration. I've had enough - so I'm going to get it off my chest lest I burst into tears or a tirade that no one should have to hear unless they want to....hence the warning at the beginning of this post.
I'm tired of the mess, the exasperating process of repairs (which have been anticipated for years and are finally getting done), and the unending mounds of dust on every surface in the entire house!(which most recently should have been contained or limited by plastic and has been in the past by others instead of spread with a high power fan to the entire house!! Plus, we just cleaned up from this last week with the ceiling tear out and at least had the forethought to close off areas and limit the spread of it).

This week....Horrors...the last straw for awhile...I can't even be gone to work for 2 hours and come back to the mess yesterday. The lack of consideration in clean up and high quality workmanship is disappointing but also makes me appreciate the other work I had done when they did a great job. Paying by the hour is one thing, I can choose to clean up to save $. But, when getting the job bid, I do not expect to have ceiling drywall mud splattered on the floor and walls and not be cleaned up. Granted the entire room is not finished, but I expected each to clean up their their own mess at the end of the job and have it done right! I am too exhausted to "fight" about it anymore. I need to just get over it and move on.

One of the difficulties for me is when I see something early on that is bothersome about the work and discuss it and get told "It'll be fine," "You won't even notice it when it's finished" HELLO - I am noticing it now and that won't change in a day or two. Please fix it. Telling me why it was not done correctly/well...that does not help either! I DO notice it and I want to hear idea on how to fix it or to discuss it in advance when a potential problem is recognized. It is exhausting to try and deal with it after they just go on and do something, and then "argue" that this is the best that can be done. Technically the contract does not say that it will be flat- just smooth - Grrrrr.

Now what? How do I live with the droopy ceiling that is supposed to be just "fine", that "no one will notice" and is what to expect when dealing with an old house, blah, blah, blah" or do I start saving up the $$, rip it out and have a previously satisfactory/quality drywaller re-do it in the fall (earliest) if he becomes available. I keep saying that I'd rather have it unfinished than not done well because it bugs me a lot more knowing I have to live with it this way. My feelings have not changed. And no photo...I have to look at it everyday, I don't want it to ugly up my blog too!

On a brighter note, my son and his good friend did some much needed work in the yard in the past 2 days. Daughter dear also helped tremendously with the clean up and general house-hold duties. Neither complained. Snow cones and ice cream all around! It was sooo hot. Thanks you guys! You have no idea how much your contributions help around here. Keep it up :)