My first born bites the bullet

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My oldest son has found himself a good ol’Kansas gal. (I too am from Kansas)
Thought I would share some of the wonderful wedding pictures.
A special shout out to Camillle Roskelley for joining my whacky family in Vegas for this event and sharing her photography skills with us.

These two pictures are very iconic. The guys are making a toast, the girls are saying a prayer.

I have one daughter, now I have a daughter in law and guess what?
Her Grandmother is a quilter!
Thanks for letting me share a few of the pictures.

9-11 Peace Story Quilt

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Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of 9-11. We all remember exactly where we were when the first tower was hit. Barely time to catch our breath and the second tower was hit. We have all read the heart warming stories, dedications and remembrances for this solemn occasion. I came across an interesting story about an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, titled the 9-11 Peace Story Quilt. The exhibits runs from August 30th through January 22nd, 2012.
The 9-11 peace quilt was designed by Faith Ringhold, after receiving an e-mail from Grace Yun. Grace works with a nonprofit in New York helping children in under served neighborhoods. Grace and Faith met and went through all the posters drawn by children ages 11-19. The assignment was simple, create a poster for peace inspired by 9-11.

The 9/11 Peace Story Quilt contains three panels each measuring 72 by 50 inches. Some 50 NYC kids helped construct it with artist Faith Ringgold

No one knew how this simple project would soon take on a life of it’s own.
Here is an excerpt from an article written by Nicole Lyn Pesce for the NYDailyNews.com.

“They said to me, ‘Well, we went through the same thing, but that’s not really our story,” recalls Yun. So one afternoon in 2002, she handed out paper and markers to a roomful of kids ages 11 to 19, and asked them to create posters for peace inspired by 9/11.
Then they sat in a circle and shared their work.
“You could hear a feather drop,” Yun says. “Every one’s breath was held as you got to tell your story. Every story was different, yet every story was the same.”

To read the entire article, click here.
Faith put the art into a book. Book by Faith Ringhold, What will you do for Peace?

She pulled some of the images from the book to create 3 panels with 12 peace inspired quilt blocks. The children helped transfer the art on to cloth. Ringhold even invited many of the children to her home  and also meet at Lincoln Center to teach them to quilt.
“It is incredible to see these different stories motivated by one particular thing — in this case, peace — brought together forever in this work of art,” says Ringgold.

One of my sons birthday is on 9-11. He lives in New York. Maybe we can go see this exhibit together. Happy Birthday T-bone!

Finish a Project

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My friend Pat Sloan contacted me about ANOTHER ONE of her great projects.
She blogged about a challenge that is basically challenging everyone to finish a project. Well, we all know how great it feels to FINISH because a true sign of being a quilter is that you have more than one project started at any one time.
So can you do it?
Can you finish one of your projects?
IF so, what are you going to do with that project? 
Do you have a quilt just laying around?
Have you made something that may not fit your home decor anymore?
Well of course Pat has an answer for that also. She has teamed up with Victoria Findley Wolfe of Bumblebeans to collect 400 finished quilts for the Basics Shelter that Victoria supports in NYC.


Read about Victoria’s efforts from this past year and the generous people that contributed 300 quilts.
She has also created a flickr page so you can see all the quilts donated.
It continues to amaze me
with the
hearts and generosity
of quilters everywhere.

Thanks to Pat and Victoria for making this happen.
– lissa

Quilting improves your health

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The following is an excerpt from a June 13th article in the Daily Mail Reporter from the UK.

But quilters, it seems, have every right to celebrate their craft after researchers found that it is ‘uniquely’ good for you. A study found quilting improved well-being in ways that physical and outdoor activities could not, and offered a creativity that had been ‘stifled’ in the modern world.




They interviewed quilters and found the activity helped their cognitive, creative and emotional well-being, particularly among older people.


The use of bright colours was ‘uplifting’, the activity distracted from the stress of work, and quilting offered challenges such as maths and geometry. It also increased confidence and had an important social side.
Professor Jacqueline Atkinson, co-author of the study and a quilter herself for five decades, said: ‘Doing something that engages you and that you enjoy is key. As adults, we don’t often do enough that includes fun and play.
Graduate student Emily Burt interviewed 29 members of the group and the transcripts were analysed for the study, published in the Journal of Public Health.
Beneficial: The researchers said more consideration needed to be given to hobbies, from reading to train spotting, and their potential for enhancing well being.
It concluded that: ‘Whether it is growing vegetables, knitting a jumper or discovering a new scientific formula creativity may be fundamental for well being and has received little attention so far within public health.
‘Exploring creativity and what people do in their everyday lives, which they deem creative, may be an important avenue for well being promoters.
‘Additionally, more consideration needs to be given to all hobbies, from reading to train spotting, and their potential for enhancing well being.’


Craft Scotland said interest in quilting amongst younger Scots was increasing but there was no measure for how many people take up the hobby individually or in clubs.
She said: ‘We’ve definitely seen an increase in groups doing quilting socially but also individuals.
‘Historically older groups of women did quilting but women in their early 20s are getting together and children’s groups are also taking it up.
‘People are investing in quality pieces of quilting, but also looking to make items themselves and re-use materials they have in their homes.
‘I can only see the popularity increasing.’
The craft industry contributes around £3 billion a year to the UK economy.

photo courtesy Barbara Brackman

Now we didn’t need a study to prove that to us, did we?
Several years ago there was a therapist in our area. She was also a quilter. She would hold monthly “Therapy” sessions where everyone would gather around a quilt frame, hand quilt and  talk. Maybe this is why our grandmothers didn’t need  a therapist. I  have another word for a therapist, A LIFE COACH and we could all use one. Or maybe we should just pull out our grandmothers quilting frame
and invite a few friends over!
One more funny story – I hope my husband doesnt read this. When the kids were younger I told my husband I needed therapy. Now of course he assumed this meant a therapist and I didn’t tell him any different. So I took some $$ and went to lunch with a friend, spent time at the boookstore, or any other theraputic thing I wanted 1 day a week. It really did help! and I think my husband probably helped a little more around the house because he thought I was loosing it!!
Maybe it is time for more therapy!!

Challenge

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In our area it is back to school time. Setting the alarm, packing lunches, signing forms, carpool, speed zones are just a few of the things that many people are busy with this week.

I saw this old sign for a school zone  and thought it was quite a symbol for us all. Not only for school zones but also just a good symbol for life.
SLOW
A few more weeks and it will be Labor day, the official end to summer.
2011 is almost over.
I know that is so depressing.
Where does the time go? What happened to SLOW
So I thought I would throw out a challenge for Labor Day to the end of 2011.
I have listed several 25 things.
Feel free to leave a comment and add some things we should all do in this 30 week challenge.
I challenge you to choose one thing each week to slow down and enjoy for yourself!
Walk barefoot in the grass
Spend a day doing nothing except relaxing
Pack your lunch and eat at a park
Get a massage
Go technology free for one day
Get a makeover at a makeup counter
Have Champagne for no reason at all except to celebrate life
Call a friend for lunch
Compliment a stranger
Buy fresh flowers for your home
Ask more questions and talk less
Light Candles
Brag on yourself at least 5 times
Say hello to a stranger
Pretend for one day that you don’t know your age
Smile a lot. Best beauty tip on the market
Random Act of Kindness- possibly to a teacher
Write a note to someone that impresses you. don’t sign it
Donate to a charity
Eat your favorite chocolate
Bubble bath and a good book
Doodle and fill the whole page
Look through old photos
Leave compliments on your bathroom mirror with dry erase pens- for yourself
Skip!

my BFF

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the kay mayor story
Don’t really know where to begin. My BFF has packed up 30 years of memories
 and headed to Florida. I guess she has retired.
Kay and her 3 kids, Katie, Jason and Bubba
As we packed up her treasures, we came across many pictures of the past 30 years.
Believe me she has many more pictures but here are just a few of the ones that
are a small part of the mayor /alexander history.
Doesn’t take much to make these kids happy.
Jillian is tempting the boys with the box of vanilla wafers.
Kay loves the water and the outdoors so Florida will be a perfect home for her.
We drug the kids to many fishing adventures.
kay would bait the hook and I would feed the kids.
How did the two girls put up with these boys? I will never know. Since then I added two more boys for jillian and katie to  tolerate.
Watermelon at the park! Great times!
Running around the park!
Picnics!
Potty breaks- didn’t matter whose kid it was. We all know the look.
Grant and Katie together at a football halftime.
She was grossed out and I don’t think he would get too close.
Travis believed he was a real elf because the other kids convinced him he had pointed ears.
We made all their costumes for one of many Christmas parades.
Bubba, Katie and Jason
Kay and my baby , Bo.
Bubba and Jillian in a fashion show. Thanks Bubba for being such a good sport. I doubt any of your Air Forces buddies read my blog.
Travis’ 1st birthday!
Travis’ second mother, Katie. Katie is grown, married and expecting her first child in April. She will be a wonderful mother.
Happy New Year 2000.
Jarrod
Many summer these hunks took over South Padre Island!- scary!We would let them take the jeep out to cruise the strip. Then we would follow them and laugh at how cool they thought they were.
Lots of high school graduations together.
Jason and Jarrod
Jason headed off to the Air Force Academy. When we were packing Kay’s stuff to move, we actually found all of the hair that is on Jason’s head in this picture. He had shaved his head before leaving. We thought we had found a dead animal.
Jason and Grant share the same birthday so many celebrations happened on September 1st.
Snuffers birthday party
We marked time, events, birthdays and graduations at our favorite restaurant, Snuffers. We tried to line everyone up for each photo op. Sometimes it was successful, sometimes not!
I decided to leave this picture upside down, because I thought when Kay moved my life would be turned upside down. I am so proud of her and I have adjusted with little or no medication.
I started this post on New Years eve 2011as therapy. Kay pulled out of her driveway on Christmas day on a new adventure.
 I am actually posting this now because I am headed to Florida to see………………..
Katie and Danny’s baby. Kay’s grand baby.
And the Alexander Mayor/Zell adventure continues!

Cabbage and Roses Lone Star

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This has been one of my favorite quilts ever ever. The collection was chocolat by 3 sisters.
Yummy, rich fabrics that were good enough to eat. Get it the name of the group-Chocolat
The quilt pattern was named, Truffles.
Debbi Duckworth made the quilt and no picture can do it justice. 
I got to thinking
about this quilt
 and this fabric.

This line has yummy linen/cotton solids in it. I wish blogs would let you touch the fabric but until then you will just have to believe me.So I set forth to use the denim linen as my background. I love how it turned out!
Did I tell you that I don’t do the “A” word? Applique.
So here is my version of the quilt above.

I have included a link to the chocolat pattern if you want to give this project a try.

Northcote Range by Cabbages and Roses will be in stores September.

FWQAL week 2

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Oh my, What fabrics would a Farmer’s Wife use? I thought this collection looks like overalls and dirt.
Not really! Here is a sneak peek of the new Blueberry Crumb Cake line by Blackbird Designs
 (in stores November)
 along with some Little Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings.
 ( in stores any second)
Then I had to start mixing it up, right? Are you supposed to use your scraps. No time to get off the farm and go into town to get new fabric. So I added some bunny hill greys, barbara brackman red and deep dark purples. Then I was ready to start week 2 of the FWQAL class.

This week we talked about Marti Michell templates and showed how you combined different templates to get additional shapes. I MUST ADMIT I am a strip piece kind of girl. I don’t use many templates. BUT, I am a convert. I will show you the entire process after Week 3 of classes. Just wait until you see what Marti has done for us all to make this so easy!

These gals in class are such troopers by letting me take their pictures and post them on the www.

I may have spoken to soon. Can you say paparazzi?
Yes she is a real farmers wife of United Notions
The funnest part of the class is the show n tell.
Sometimes it is the excuses why they didn’t get all 2 of their blocks done in a week. But that is okay. These are busy farmers wives with cows to mill and chicks to feed.
Kelli is using batiks and prints
Eladia- Shabby Chic
Outlaw- red white and blue
Mariza-earth colors
Holly- Aqua, orange and green, grey
Jamie- Bright modern
Michelle- civil war
Sarah- vintage modern
Nancy- classic blues and aquas
Ducky- Blackbird
This is just a few of the people. It is so interesting to see all the different looks all in one place.
DISCLAIMER: This is quite a competitve group of gals. They are already trying to one up each other. Anything from making more blocks than assigned, bringing their fabric in the latest and greatest storage systems to branding their notebook like chelair pictured below.
Of course the inside of the notebook is even more impressive than the outside full of
marti michell templates and who know what all else.

no class is complete without a sonic cup in the background

eladia and mariza

And look what someone did for me!!
Took my book and had it wire bound. Ask at staples, office maxx, office depot
or kinko’s. The price varies but well worth the $5.00 to $7.00. Thank you Outlaw and Stiff!
Tune in weekly for our progress. We have a few surprises in store for you.