Where has the time gone???

I can't believe my last post was at the beginning of May. Well, I finally got through the end of the school year. The room is packed up, my paperwork is all done and I am HOME!!! The end of the year always has so many things to do, report cards, supply lists, ordering supplies for next year, collecting books, assessing fines for damaged or lost books, etc..........
Now I have a few weeks before I have to focus on next year. Yes, for all of you who think teachers get the summer off, you are wrong. We may not be in the classroom, but we are working on curriculum, taking classes and planning for the next year most of the summer. Some teachers add tutoring and summer school to that list also. I will be mentoring a student this summer who is taking a class through Duke University. I will meet with her once a week to help her stay on target and with any problems she may encounter. I absolutely love this young lady, she is gifted, beautiful, classy and just an all around lovely young lady, so this will be a joy for me. If I had had a daughter, I would have wanted her to be just like this young lady. It is not often you have students like this, maybe one or two in your whole career, so I feel blessed to have had her in my class.
I have several sewing projects on my list also. They will have to come in spurts though, because I am still battling the back pain. I have it down to about a 4 most of the time, but I don't want to push it and end up with it at the unmanageable level again. The drs. still haven't figured out what it is and why it is occurring, so it is still a bit frustrating for me.
I will post pictures of my in progress work as I move along. Thanks to all of you who still check out my blog. I promise to be better about posting this summer.
Happy June to all!!

I Can't Believe It's May!

I haven't been very good at keeping up with my blog. The end of ths school year takes up a lot of time and on top of that, not feeling well, makes it hard to want to do anything.
I had the injection in my spine and they warned me I would feel worse before I felt better and they were right. I think because the injection is so close to the spine that it gave me this horrendous headache. I was up from 2:30 on last night just trying to get comfortable. I am surprised I haven't fallen flat on my face by now!

I am beginning an anti inflammatory diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit and cold water fish (I didn't even know there was such a thing) and am realizing that I have to learn how to cook differenly. It isn't enough that I have spent the last year learning how to cook gluten free, now I have a whole nother curve to add. Did you know there were nightshade vegetables? I didn't. I can't have them. Potatoes, eggplant and tomatoes fall into that category. Ooh wee! It is a good thing that my husband will eat anything or we'd be in trouble. Because I am not cooking two meals. I hate cooking anyway because I am always so tired when I get home I don't even care if I eat, and now I have to figure out how to eat without my regular standbys. Well, if it will make me feel better, I am willing to give it a try. If they told me to rub bear grease on my body and run up and down the street naked I'd do it just to get out of all of this pain.

Maybe if my husband can find a job I won't have to work much longer and that will help with some of the stress I am feeling. I am sure that adds to the pain.

Oh well, enough of that. I haven't been sewing or crafting at all lately. I am hoping to get back to it once school is out and I can rest. If anybody is still reading this, thanks for hanging in there with me.

International Quilt Festival - Chicago

Well, it has been a little while since I have posted. My "real" job seems to get in the way!! That and I am still battling back pain that is driving me crazy. Hard to sit for long so I never get much done!!! I am done with P.T. and will most likely have to have the spinal injections in order to get this to all settle down. P.T. and the drugs and yoga and the chiropractor just aren't cutting it!!!

Anyway, on to bigger and better things! I went to the Quilt Festival at the Donald E. Stephens convention center (better known to long time locals as the Rosemont)near Chicago. It was great. So many wonderful quilts on display and some marvelous exhibitors too. Of course I forgot my camera so I only have pictures of the things I bought!!! I had so much fun!
My first purchase of the day was from a cute little shop called Fabric on a Whim. I bought a book, some Lutrador, Golden gel, a little needle pack to make and some $1.25
fat quarters. The young lady that owns the shop, Kristin Rodriguez was a delight to talk to. She was demonstrating some snippets landscapes and was very eager to talk to everyone and answer all our questions.




I also bought some beautiful fabric from BaBa Blankets. This is actually a wonderful organization that helps women in Africa. It is called a social enterprise. Their mission is to create inspiring cultural works that provide sustainable income and well-deserved development opportunities for African women and girls. Their website is www.babablanket.com if you are interested in checking them out.


I found this fabulous fabric from a designer named Terrie Hancock Mangat. Her website is TerrieStudio.com The fabric line I bought from is called Los Santos. I absolutely loved it. It is very southwestern. She also had a fabric line with Buddha's but I couldn't afford both. I think I will save some money and order some of that next.
I plan on making a quilt for the pastor at the parish where I teach. He is really into Mary and our parish is very hispanic and does quite a celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.













I also bought these neat rubber rubbing mats to be used with the Shiva Paintstiks. I bought the stiks back at Christmas and I haven't really known what to do with them. I saw this and was intrigued by the star designs so I thought I would give them a try. They are designed by a Laura Murray.


I also met a wonderful lady named Kelli Perkins who does mixed media designs. She was also very willing to answer questions and encourage you to try new things. I did not buy her book at the show, but I later came home and went to Joann Fabrics and bought the book there with my half price coupon. The name of the book is Stitch Alchemy. I can't wait to try some of her techniques!!



I also got to meet Judy Coates Perez. She is actually from the Chicago area but I have never had the opportunity to meet her. She was very interesting to talk with. After I left the show, I stopped at Joann Fabrics and picked up her DVD on Mixed-media painted fabric.



I also got two books to use as tracing books for designs. They are in the picture with the Fabric on a Whim description. I got one on Mexican Folk Art and one on Traditional African designs. These are not copyrighted so I can use them in any of my designs.

I also participated in a workshop with Kritin Rodriguez and made a mixed media canvas.




To end this incredibly long post I will show you a picture of the first thing I have ever bought on ebay! I actually bidded for it and won. My son's girlfriend loves all things Harry Potter. (she is a junior in college so you are never too old!) I want to make her a Harry Potter quilt but there is no fabric to be found. So I looked on ebay and found this piece. I got it for $10. I truly believe it was a bargain. I love it and I am sure she will love the quilt when I get it done. This piece of course will be the centerpiece of the quilt!



Well, I do believe that is it for now. I am hoping that once school gets out in the beginning of June I will get lots of time to create and post!! Please bear with me till then. Until next time, I hope everyone has a great week!!!

Mixed Medium Musings: Middle aged woman

This is the most hysterical thing I have heard in a long time. And it so fits me!!! You all have got to go listen to this!


Mixed Medium Musings: Middle aged woman

Spring Break!

You would think that I could get so much done during spring break, but not to happen. I still can't sit very long, so I can't sew for any length of time. I have managed to get the binding on the monster quilt so it is ready for delivery. And just in time as my friend is getting bigger by the minute. I want to get a label put on it before the week is out but I haven't even gotten that done yet. I cleaned my family room and bedroom really well, you know, windows and all and washed the curtains and switched winter clothes for spring/summer clothes. I have had every intention of cleaning and organizing my sewing room, but it just hasn't happened yet. Every time I come in here I get distracted by something and don't get to what I intended to do. I did get the windows in here cleaned today since it was so lovely outside and I opened them!!! I also cleaned the living room windows but that is about it for accomplishments. I have several in progress things I want to get to but I just seem to be spinning my wheels! I really don't know what is wrong with me. No pictures to post, maybe next time. I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely spring weather. It is so nice after a long, cold, snowy winter!!!

Check out this give away!

Artist Lani Kent from Healing Expressions is giving away a Vintage Journey Acrylic Cube. Check out her blog for all the details. She is choosing a winner on Monday, so don't delay!

Jelly roll sampler block 2

Well, here I am at the end of another weekend with not a whole lot to show! I had to get report cards done this weekend and my back is still bothering me so sitting for any length of time is still difficult. I did manage to get the binding sewed on the elephant quilt. I like it because I didn't just sew on a black binding, but I found some multi-colored fabric in my stash and it seemed like it was just made for the quilt. I am still looking for elephant beads. I am not sure how I want to embellish it yet. I am still looking for the right beads.
I also sewed the second block in the jelly roll sampler quilt. I like this block much better. I am noticing that my quilt will be much darker than many of the others. I usually use lots of brights but for some reason this quilt is calling me to use the darker colors. I may remake this block in lighter colors, I really liked the pattern. I can't wait to see what comes next!