Many emails later... we have a quilt that I am going to sew. It is called Upwards and it is a modern quilt design based upon a log cabin pieced block. The pattern only goes up to a full sized quilt but I am able to do the math to increase it to a queen sized quilt. The background will stay white as will the gold/brown sections. The gray will be replaced with a heather (blue/gray) and the black will be replaced with a navy blue.

I am thinking that I want the 3 colors (gold, heather, blue) from a single color collection that way they "go together" with tone and pattern(s). The white may or may not come from the collection because some collections don't have a white but a cream and that is not what is wanted. 

I now have to find those fabrics. Yes, I could go on line and get them but I am always afraid that the colors are off due to photography issues as well as the monitor's color balance being off.   BUT I am browsing the big online quilt shops for ideas. Then in about 2 weeks I will start going to quilt shops between Austin and San Antonio to see what fabric collections they have and with luck I will find what I want. IF a shop does not have enough, then I will google an online shop and see if I can get the balance that way.  

As for the back, I will get extra fabric and do a a pieced back, with large panels so it co-ordinates with the front, if not give them another "front" to use. What fabric color for the binding has yet to be decided.

Let the fabric hunt begin!! 

Last month I received a text message from my niece; who I refer to as "The Wonder Baby", but that is another story. She texted to tell me that she is following in the family tradition of "ELOPING". My cousin Amy eloped, I eloped, my sister eloped for her second marriage, and now my neice is!

Yes, technically telling her mother and I that she is eloping, is not really eloping but since she is not having a formal wedding and they are going to another state; well it qualifies in our family's books.

So what does one give your only niece as a wedding present?  It has to be something special that can also become a family heirloom and in my opinion that present should be unique and thus one of a kind.  One of a kind items can be bought and even commissioned but why not actually MAKE the present. So that's what I am going to do.

Through out her life, I have made her quilts; I made her first one when she was about 4. I let her know what I wanted to do and that I needed some input from her so they would like it. We have now traded almost a dozen emails and have settled on a pattern and "colors" as well as the size; I will pick the final fabrics and then sew it and get it professionally quilted.  I will go visit them when it is time to give them the quilt. 

Here is picture of The Wonder Baby with her mom (my sister) back in 2002! Below this picture of my niece is a picture of one of the many quilts I have made her. This quilt, made in 2000, used the satin from my mother's wedding dress, in the some of the stars.

 happened - the move is done
Three weekends ago the moving van arrived from and I spent the day directing the placement of boxes and furniture. It was a very hot and very long day but it appears, so far, that only one item broke; it was an old cheap table that I bought for my first apartment so it is no big deal.  Here are pictures of that..

  Three days after the moving van unloaded, Erich arrived from California in his car crammed full of the last items that he needed while still there, to close up the house and turn the keys over to the realtor.  He was exhausted from packing for 4 months, getting the house ready to sell, and driving 3 days to get here. He took the week off to recover which meant, NO unpacking, sleeping in, taking naps, and just sitting around with Boots. 

To celebrate us being together, again/finally, we went out to dinner at the Clear Springs Restaurant for dinner of scrimp, cat fish, hush puppies and the best onion rings.  And just as we were finishing, a couple came up to use and introduced themselves as they saw my California Blacksmith Association T-shirt, that I was wearing; they were from Arizona but had been members of the CBA, in the past and they now lived in the area and he makes small forges.  Here's a picture of Erich at dinner. ​ We also spent Saturday unpacking the kitchen.

This week was the 30th anniversary of the day we me so to celebrate, we went to a small private concert at the Blue Rock Studio in Wimberly where we saw Matt The Electrician.  It was a nice evening consisting of some refreshments, 2 - 45 minute sets, a 3 song encore. We arrived left to drive to the studio at 6 pm, arrived at 6:50 pm, the doors opened at 7 pm, the concert started at 7:30 pm, and it all ended at 10 pm and we were back home just before 11 pm.   Here are just a few pictures that I took (no pictures during the concert). Now to go unpack the pantry 

... Running the Nazi gauntlet.

Most times when we (Erich and I) send care packages across the pond, we are sending it to Mike & Elisa who, if you don't know already, live in the northern end of Scotland.   

What do I usually send them?
Well items like: 

• Japanese cooking ingredients
  
• Electronics that cost twice as much over there even before VAT
  
• Certain herbals that she can't get or require a prescription such as melatonin which requires one in the U.K., go figure
  

But this time the care package is going to Albania, for my sister Suzie. BTW, She now goes by Sue but to me she is and always will be Suzie!.  Why is she there? Well she is following a long held dream of working with the Peace Corp and so almost two years ago she started the application process and she is now in Albania. 

What is in this care package?

• Walnuts
  
• Dried Cranberries, Blueberries and Apricots
  
• Peanut Butter
• Some silicone baking items
• Ranch Dressing mix
• Herbal Fruit Teas
• some family baking recipes
• and a few other bonus items

She does not write on her blog every week but so far the posts have been really informative and in some ways funny. Here is a link if you want to read about it.