Stepping Outside the Box

When we were young(er), my husband and I used to love to perform. He had his music and I loved to act. In high school I was in all the plays. Then when we got married, we did a few dinner theater performances together. So it wasn't so surprising when an old friend called and asked him if he'd like to play a part in Arsenic & Old Lace. The surprising part was having my hubby play the evil serial killer in the plot . . .

So, if you're going to be in Portland in August (17-18 or 24-25) come and see a dark but humorous story about a family of serial killers in Arsenic & Old Lace

Role Models for Young Girls

I was watching a tennis match on Saturday and said to my husband, "Those girls are beautiful." He said, "Who cares?" I told him, "I do. And, I wish people would focus more on healthy looking beautiful young women as role models rather than . . . the girls/women the media focuses so much of their time on."

Serena Williams is a model beautiful, strong, athletic woman who swings with everything she's got and is not afraid of competing out on the court. And her opponent was just as striking :D: Nicole Gibbs.

I would love to hear more and see more women who inspire girls to get out there and be fit, fabulous and ferocious without being cruel, condescending or sleazy.

Quilt Show in Sisters Oregon

I thought I'd share a few photos from the Sisters Quilt Show. There were over 1400 quilts on display and they were hanging from every building, nook and cranny anyone could find a spot to pin up a blanket. It was awe...mazing. Here are a few that caught my eye.

These were from the Peter Pan Challenge:

But there were quilts of every shape, size and design that you could imagine. Some were appliqued, some were hand-sewn, others were machine quilted.

 Some had appliques popping out of the picture.

Others just popped with color

Some represented origami or different cultures

 And this one - above - had puppies hidden in the design.

Some just reminded me of my childhood. I did a needlepoint of these houses when I was little.

 Some were just full of pretty colors

Some had 3-Dimensional designs

Others focused on animals

 Still others reminded me of my Grandma and Christmas

Others were patriotic

Some had amazing quilting done in the borders. You might not even notice if you didn't look closely.

Some buildings had so many hanging on them and in them, you could barely catch sight of them all.

 Some had quilting that actually made the design look like fur.

 Some just had fun designs

There were wild, wild west themes with cowboys and horses

And some with interesting stories behind them. 

 Some were just fun, with googly eyes and fun borders that matched the design.

 Some were dark but beautiful - like this one that talked about forest fires

Some featured flowers

Some had the moons and stars or sun

 Some birds or music or both

 Quilts had embroidery, appliques and fancy stitching.

 These flowers were embroidered

 There were quilts with pictures of the beach

And everywhere people milled about peeking at the handiwork

 There were boats and baby blankets

Crazy quilts

 Show themed fun

 And nature inspired stories

Some were made of wool, felt, and flannel

Others used recycled fabric, cotton and even hankies. I couldn't begin to show all of the quilts

 Some had cats

 And luckily the streets were closed to cars

 There were fall inspired quilts

Nursery Rhyme blocks

 Holiday inspired patchwork - with Christmas and Easter and even the Mexican Day of the Dead

 Halloween and witches

Even aliens were hanging around

 Some had really cute appliques

Others were just really cute

 People sat wherever they could find a perch, porch or patio seat

 And of course I had to buy a quilting kit. Mine should be done in time for Christmas - I hope

It will help us all have a Merry Grinchmas!

My gfriend Cristy (who went to the quilt show with me) said she would help me if I happen to get stuck

And she's a fabulous quiltress so hopefully mine will turn out.

Plus, while we were at the quilt show, Cristi got to drive a $17k sewing machine

And we took a peek at the Men Behind the Quilt Show.

Sew that's how I spent my Saturday. How 'bout you - what did you do?