busy as a one-legged man in a room full of long tailed cats

Mixing metaphors is a fun little thing I do, but the past few weeks have been crazy.

My husband is 4 1/2 weeks post hip-replacement and doing well. My new boss is settling quite nicely into her mad travel schedule, but is making a welcome difference at work. My new co-worker is into her second week and is also a welcome addition in the office! Amazing what a change in personnel can do for the morale of an office.

Anyway, the whirlwind of December is upon me, and I am just going with it. Tonight was our Christmas party in the Triad Modern Quilt Guild. We enjoyed a Secret Santa gift-exchange and a zipper pouch swap. We also ate delightful treats and enjoyed each others company.

me with my pouch goodies!

The delightful, amazing and talented Lee, had my name in our pouch swap. I adore my pouch!!!! Check out her blog, she is a great designer and shares fantastic tutorials!

In my limited spare time, I have been working on a new quilt, using a 2 1/2" strip roll of Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt. This collection wormed its way into my brain, the cool color combos really sparkle and it inspired me to really stretch myself. Thus, I am working on this:

Can't wait for my winter vacation to be able to finish!

Anyway, as the Christmas season arrives, I feel very blessed with my guild and quilty friends. They add such a delight to my life!

My view, or R&R on the intercoastal

June 15,2010, originally uploaded by kheli.

My sweet hubby and I are staying in the awesome condo of our friends, Steve & Sherri. It sits right on the intercoastal waterway between Swansboro and Camp Lejuene on the beautiful NC coast. Steve and Sherri were planning to be here as well, but a family emergency arose and they couldn't make it. I was disappointed as we always have so much fun with them. But, I brought my sewing machine, a project to quilt and a couple of books. The heat has been tremendous, more than usual for this time of year. Hubby has been attending a conference and I do not have transportation, so I am here, alone. And what a rare and beautiful treat!


I sat on the dock yestrday afternoon. Pure natural silence broken only by the gulls and the splash of a school of mullet playing. They sparkeld in the light as they swam around and jumped out of the water. The gentle motion of the water and the light breeze are really relaxing.


I have been quilting a little, reading a lot. And soaking up the good vibes.

Not enough time.....

This is when there is just not enough time to do all I want to do. I really want to be sewing, but I have a full-time job (thank God!). I have so many quilt ideas, I have to write them down and check them off as I go. I need to sew every day, but until this coming weekend, I really do not have the focus to start a big quilt, so I have been string-piecing. My scrap stash has blossomed (I have finished 21 quilts, 6 table runners and 6 handbags this year!), so last night I began. I am stringing 12.5" blocks, with a white/off-white/light neutral strip in the center. I am just going to piece until I use up all my scraps! No pressure, no deadline, just something to do that is quite relaxing. Need help getting started "stringing"? Here's Bonnie's tutorial, she uses muslin as her foundation (that's what I am doing), for a paper foundation tutorial, here's Filminthefridge's link.

And since I always like to include a photo with a post, here's one:

Pepper in Daddy's chair. She looks so sweet and sleepy!