New year--and you know what that means~

 

No, not resolutions. I don't bother with 'em. But you may have read before that most times I finish big projects or start a new year, I have a compulsive urge to re-arrange and clean out the cave*. This time the clean out was quite extensive. I got rid of fabric and ribbon, some that I've had for 20+ years. I remodeled the shelving inside the storage closet. The biggest change is probably that I moved my clothing into the dresser in the closet that was holding notions and patterns. I did this so I could move out the dresser by my bed that serves as a cutting table/clutter catcher and install a design wall/cutting board. It's not totally done so no pictures yet but hopefully I'll finish by next week.

 

Also updated: here's the new logo for Drop and Give Me Twenty 2013. I am going to get SO much done this year. Wait--- that almost sounds like a resolution. It's not. It's a... uh... ... promise. Yeah, that's it. A promise. To me. Not connected with the new year. Just because.

 

This year, Beth has many, MANY, great sponsors and prizes--- be sure to check it out and join in!


*For the uninitiated, the cave is my side of the bedroom with has more to do with sewing than anything else. My bed is the worktable; I have a large board I lay on top if the dresser is too small for the job. Often, my foot end is covered with piles of fabric. It's okay with me--- I'm 4'10. I don't need much foot room to sleep!

Yay! DaGMT! It's happening again!

 

Remember DaGMT?

 

 

 

Drop and Give me Twenty is the brainchild of the very talented and often funny Beth Helfter at EvaPaige Quilt Designs. I'm not going to say I adore this lady because that's creepy but I really enjoy her humor and quilt-because-you-love-it approach to quilting. More importantly, DaGMT 2012 helped me SO MUCH with my procrastination issues. No, I did not complete everything I wanted to for 2012, but pledging those twenty minutes a day for the month of February helped me establish a pattern to sew something every day possible. I got so much done-- and so many new UFO's started-- I consider 2012 my most successful quilting year ever. Now Beth is hosting a DaGMT for 2013 and this time there are so many awesome prizes on board it's even more exciting! If you have procrastination issues, need a kick in the starter, or just want an excuse to tell your family why you have to have that time to yourself---here's an incentive for you!

And if you read me much, get used to hearing about it. I love DaGMT so much I will talk about it. 

A lot.

 *pause*

Please don't hate me.

Join in.

You'll thank me.

Okay, you won't thank me. It has nothing to do with me.

You'll thank YOU. You will amaze yourself at how much you can get done.

Merry Christmas.

 

Christmas is a headache.

  Okay, not really. This isn't an "I hate Christmas" post. I'm just going to remember this year as 'the year of the headache'.  Headaches are nothing new; I get stress headaches across my forehead and behind my eyes often enough to know to just take a couple of Tylenol and sleep it off. But, after 'Aida' closed on Dec. 2, that night I started a peculiar headache that was more like shooting, stabbing pains that would come every few minutes or seconds. They were behind my ear, near the base of my skull and no amount of Tylenol would stop them for more than an hour or two. There was even tenderness from the outside of my head. Heat packs helped a little. It was most difficult to deal with because we were finalizing the church Christmas show that week and this time I wasn't just directing, I was a performer too, and the pain was interfering with my speaking and memorizing. After 5 days I finally gave in to the 'contractions in my head' and saw a doctor who gave me stronger Tylenol and told me to come back if it didn't improve. The drugs at least made me functional and the show went on. My first pain-free day was this past Saturday and I finally feel like me again. The real unfortunate part was I was simply unable to sew (or do much of anything) during those almost two weeks and now I am horribly behind on Christmas. Of course, that's really not new either. I'm just disappointed because this year I made good progress in my war against procrastination and it's like I ran into a cement wall just when the progress would have been most helpful. I guess I should just accept that last-minute is my mantra and embrace it as a part of me. But not the headaches. That part of me, I hope, never happens again!

My Doll Quilter's Monthly quilt is on it's way; all my sewing now is devoted to Christmas so pictures after the holiday!

Friday, in addition to being the end of the world as we know it, is Kal-El's third birthday.  THREE. Yes. *smh*

Love you, Tractor-Boy!

A few "Aida" costumes~

I have posted before about how busy I am and I never have time to do everything I want to in the sewing room because I never say 'no'.  Well, this fall I learned that it's not going to matter (sometimes) if I do say no. Apparently, I'm not allowed to! So, this year, instead of the usual 'dramady' for the church's Christmas program,  we will present a variety show, which is a lot easier to put together and far less stressful for my co-director and I to pull together. Yikes. Lightboard for  'Ruthless' in September, costuming/production for 'Portrait...' in October, costuming for 'Aida' in November---- Jacie has worked every show with me and we figured out we've had one weekend off since the end of August.
Any way...

I don't normally take pictures during the show runs because:
1. I know someone else always does and they're usually better than any I take and
2. I rarely think to bring a camera.
But I did this weekend and grabbed a few shots backstage of the main characters, except Aida. I'll get her next week. I hope.  But here is Radames:

(Jonathan)

Amneris:

(Genevieve)

One of her MANY costumes!

Mereb and Nehebka:
(A.J.)(Charity)

Zozer:

(Jason)

 

Jacie managed to sneak out front and tried to snap a few non-flash pictures during the show, from the side. Not great, but here's lovely Aida with my sweet Nubians during 'Dance of the Robe':

 

I must get better pictures-- although it's not everything I designed/wanted due to time constraints and quick changes, I am really pleased with this show and want to 'book' this one!

Do You Love a Mystery... Quilt?

I've never tried a 'mystery quilt'-- one where you gather your fabrics and follow direction to piece the blocks or top with no idea of what it is supposed to look like. Oh heck, I have enough trouble creating stuff when I know what it's supposed to look like. But the ever-clever Beth over at Quilting Hottie Haven has twisted my arm into trying my first mystery project. Oh heck-- she didn't twist anything. I'm just attempting to justify why I jumped on this when I am already working on two shows, UFO's, Christmas gifts, Doll Quilter's Monthly and the usual house and schoolwork. Want to play along? Details here !

On the show front, "Portrait of a Nude" opens today (Break a Leg, Jacie!) so at least the bulk work on that one is done. Now it's just maintenance for the run of the show. This is a good show-- sometimes I'm sick of them by the time they open but I am enjoying this one. Makes you think about art, what is art and what role censorship should play.  The big fall project, "Aida" is coming along. I'm not where I hoped to be but that's why you shouldn't schedule two shows together! Expect me to be loopy in the spring when "Avenue Q", Summer Shakespeare and "Rent" all come back-to-back!

My August Doll Quilter's Monthly quilt to Leonie, pictured here , has apparently been lost on it's way to her in Germany. I think I messed up when I wrote her address and is sitting in some dark corner of a German post office because of this dumb American. So I'll be sending her something new this week-- I just can't re-make that particular one. :(   I also sent off these lil' fall quilts~~

To Loretta for September (theme 'fall') :

(I actually made two of these and sent the other one in to a Sewing Mamas doll quilt exchange.)

To Judee for October (theme 'spooky'):

I called that one "I Want My Mummy"~ can you find the strip I put on backwards? ;) I also did a  quilt-as-you-go technique and added a spider web when it was done for more quilting. I'm slowly tiptoeing into free motion quilting on my machine. Still don't trust myself with big areas, though.

I received these beauties this week too! From Judee, for October. She very thoughtfully remembered my family doesn't "do" the spooky side of Halloween (but we sure do the candy!) I love the colors and 16 y/o Philip, who only has eyes for comic books, remarked "Hey! It looks like a wonky pinwheel!" Gives a mother hope. *wipes tear*

 

And this one arrived from Loretta for September--just beautiful! It is now residing proudly on the homeschool/dining room table.

 

Thank you, Ladies! I am so loving this group!

Riddle me this~

Blogging time has been nil since it's the fall theater season. "Portrait of a Nude" opens Wednesday with Jacie in her first 'real'; role. She's doing a great job and mama is (obviously) proud of her little thespian. "Aida" is huge but coming along. I spent some time this sleepless AM catching up on some of my favorite blogs~~ so much great stuff out there!
Here is my 'riddle'--- I tried to leave comments on a few blogs that have the 'prove you're not a robot' code on them. Despite careful typing, making sure I was copying exactly, it would say it was wrong and give me a new code. I'd try several times but eventually gave up. What am I doing wrong? Is it something I have to enable or turn on/off? I really wanted to take time to compliment some wonderful quilts!

One year~

 Seems not too long ago I was writing about Kal-El's first birthday...

Today it's Leia Elise's turn~

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. Can't remember what life was like without you!

Nannie loves you!