Happy Birthday, Martin

"They say it's your birthday."

 Martin and Jessica

"We're going to have a good time."

I am so lucky to have Martin as a son-in-law.

He is so passionate and creative about so many things in his life.

He's a chef, a musician, a BMW aficionado, photographer,

a fitness enthusiast, and beer brewer.

He's an exciting guy to know.

He is the perfect husband for Jessica and they

make a perfect couple.

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Martin!

I tried to find Bob Dylan singing Happy Birthday, but

I thought maybe the Beatles would be next best.

Until Next Time-Kyle

Fabulous Friday

For today:

Looking Out My Window: It is going to be a perfectly lovely Colorado weekend.

My Weekend Plans Include: Friends, Food, and Fun
 

I’m Reading: Time to start a couple of new audio books, something lighthearted, Fairies and the Quest for Never Land, and The Coffee Trader by David Liss, a historical suspense thriller.
 

Movie Marquee: Ed has never seen The Full Monty and in contrast Harvey, with James Stewart, 1950.

Something Quiltie: I love the feel of the Kyoto bamboo batting made by Moda. It is soft, breathable, won't bunch or clump, made with 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton, little shrinkage, and quilting can be up to 8" apart.  I have used the batt a couple times.  The quilts did feel just a bit heavier.
 

I’m Thinking About: My mom.  She passed away 25 years ago.  It's hard to believe, but I think of her almost everyday.

One of My Favorite Things: Is turning on the computer in the morning and seeing who has posted something new on their blog.

What I’m Planning: To try and stay on top of things next week.  This week just got away from me.

What’s For Dinner:  Ahi tuna, grilled, of course.

A Favorite Photo:  

"A Change is Coming"

Easliy Sidetracked

I hate to admit it, but I can easily be distracted.

If I'm doing a bit of house cleaning, and walk past something more interesting,

I can easily be distracted. 

Who wouldn't.

If I'm working on the computer, it doesn't take much 

for me to suddenly be playing on the computer, visiting new blogs and old friends.

If I'm quilting and have a specific project to work on, 

my attention can be easily directed to something completely new.

Even writing this, I have wandered off a couple of times.

I needed breakfast.

I got sidetracked a couple of weeks ago

while I was working on my stashbuster's quilt.

I had some 1 1/2" strips of 30's fabrics in a very tiny pile.

Let me emphasize tiny pile.

I should do something with those.

Using a pattern idea from 

Miss Rosie's Spice of Life Quilts

as a springboard, I made some 3" baby nine patches

 

and set them together in a diagonal set with white rectangles

Of course, I didn't have enough 1 1/2" strips in that original pile,

so I had to get out my collection of 30's fabrics, cut more strips, sew more

baby nine patches...

My quick little project was suddenly 

taking priority and time.

I added a 1 1/2" white border.

When you're creating as you go, it's important to stop,step back,

and think what the next design element should be.

I still had strips

I sewed them together, thinking a piano key border, but

that didn't fit into the rest of the design... too big and heavy.

So I cut a little more.

and made a single row of squares as the next border.

 That worked.

It needed one more border to contain the pattern.

Using the same width as the white rectangles, I cut a 3"

border to finish the design.

It's certainly nothing elaborate or breathtaking.

But it did get rid of the tiny pile of 30's fabrics that had 

diverted my attention.

 

Today I'll baste it and practice 

machine quilting feathers on it.

That is, if I don't get sidetracked.

Until Next Time-Kyle