I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last post. I’m a bad blogger!
I tried, yes I did, in 2009 to get totally organized. I did get some done, but still have a long way to go. Life keeps getting in the way. So the organizing will continue in 2010. However, 2010 will also be the “year of learning” for me. There are so many things I do not know how to do with computers in general that I must start learning how to do them. Time gets shorter every year and it’s too frustrating not knowing that which I should know by now.
Have you numbered any white socks lately? I just sorted mine out again and it sure saves time.
Until next week and an announcement just for you people who love to do fusible applique.
Florine
Bad Blogger!
February 27th, 2010Time Sure Flies!
September 18th, 2009Being busy is good, and bad. Thinking of saying something here but then deciding maybe no one would be interested keeps me from blogging. Anyone out there with the same problem?
Anyway, I have been working frantically on a new design for my BON APPLIQUE! division.
The project has turned out so well that 2 of the 3 people who’ve seen it said, “WOW.” The 3rd one just couldn’t get over how beautiful it turned out. Hopefully, everything will be ready for Quilt Market in Houston (Oct. 10-12, and Quilt Festival Oct. 15-18.) I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Until then, no one else knows what it is.
I will try to keep posts lots more current. See you soon.
Florine
Deadlines Met!
April 5th, 2009Deadlines. Stress! More deadlines, more stress. Relief when a deadline is met.
I’ve had several deadlines lately and have been working frantically on them. My first deadline (self imposed) was getting a new rooster design finished and printed. RICKY is now on the market and on my web site.
Second deadline was to get the mother of all those Radical Roosters finished in time for Spring Market in Pittsburgh in May. She is ready for her close-up now and her name is HILDA. People have been asking for a hen and she will be it.
When I start working on a design, I make up samples on applique pressing sheets. If I don’t like them, I just peel them off and start another. It’s a lot of work, but that’s how I have to process it. After 2 failed attempts on Hilda, the 3rd looked good to me. I have completely finished a wall hanging of her and now the real work begins! She needs to be photographed, a cover designed for her, directions have to be written and a back cover devised and checked. Then everything needs to go to the printers. When all components are back, we start assembling the patterns, send samples off to distributors (keeping our fingers crossed) and work up a suitable ad for magazines, etc. It’s a lot of work with a lot of steps.
The 3rd deadline was when I was asked to make a project for a book Dilys Fronks is working on. I thought I had plenty of time, but was surprised when, on Friday evening, I was told they needed a photograph on Monday of the completed project. Everything else in my life was stopped and I was able to complete it enough to be photographed and sent via email to Wales on deadline day. The book won’t be out for at least 9 months.
I feel like I’m off to the races!
BTW, we were recently in Aiken, SC, and met lots of wonderful quilters there. If you ever get a chance, visit Aiken. We’d like to go back and explore.
Florine
That Radical Rooster, Ricky, the dancer
January 31st, 2009As some of you know, I’ve tried and tried to get Ricky (the dancer) right. Two or three times I worked on and changed his design. Twice I worked on his colors and he just didn’t like them. Getting him out of the coop has been hard for me! You know, trying something over and over gets discouraging but I read something the other day that inspired me. It was “do what you love and the rest will come easy.” I decided to not overly think his colors but to go to my fabric room and started pulling fabrics. I had finally gotten his design where I wanted it a month ago.
Today, I started to assemble him. Yesterday I traced each piece on fusible. Today I started deciding which fabric to use where. He is starting to look really good to me. He’s a bit flamboyant but that’s what he wanted for his act on the stage.
Yes, each of these roosters have talked to me every time I’ve worked on them. They tell me their stories and I pass them on to you. One of these days, I’m going to write a book about their adventures. Oh gosh, now that I’ve said that, I’m going to have to sit down and finish that book I started a year ago. I’ll have to self publish, I’m sure!
Watch for Ricky to show up on the web site. After that, keep watching, because there are several more patterns coming up.
Tally ho!
Florine
Florence, SC
January 20th, 2009I had a great time in Florence with the Swamp Fox Guild. Their name tags are so good looking, and the fox is really cute. Thanks ladies. You now have a bunch of roosters, so don’t let the fox get at ‘em!
Still organizing. It’s good to see areas that are getting much better. “Getting Things Done,” by David Allen has a very good system if you’ve got a million little things to do and keep track of.
I’m going to Aiken, SC, in March for a program and class. I’m looking forward to that. I’m hoping things will be humming along around here by then.
There are some new patterns in our future. Some are already drawn just waiting for the time to finish them.
Keep your stitches hidden,
Florine
Colds, remedies, coughing, organizing
January 6th, 2009Late night here in Georgia as I’m working on getting organized. It will take weeks I’m afraid, but I look forward to being done with it all.
SLEEPING DESPITE A COUGH: Here’s something to try if you, or someone in your family, has a cold with a bad cough. I read that if you put Vick’s Vapor Rub on the soles of your feet (or kids feet) and put on socks immediately before bedtime, your coughing will stop in 30 minutes and you’ll sleep well. I tried it and it works! Amazing. (I also read that if you take a garlic bud, cut it and rubbed it onto the soles of your feet, you’ll taste garlic in your mouth in about 20 minutes. Haven’t tried that one yet. Let me know if it works.)
COUGHING WHILE FLYING HINT: We had to get on a plane when we both had horrible coughs. I knew I hated being around someone coughing constantly in a plane so before we got on in Minneapolis to come back to Georgia, we purchased 2 thick washcloths. We folded them twice to get a nice sized square pad. Every time we needed to cough, we coughed into these washcloth pads. It muffled the sound of the cough and kept germs from flying everywhere. I don’t think anyone noticed that we had bad colds. Try it. Your fellow passengers will appreciate it.
Off to Florence, SC, Wednesday to give a program Thursday and teach Friday. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone there at the Fox Swamp Guild. ‘Till then.
Florine
Organizing
December 29th, 2008Have you ever been so disorganized that you are paralyzed when it comes to getting things done? Don’t know where you are and what to do next?
I’ve been through 3 house moves and become unglued. Now I’ve begun a massive reorganization of my business office, home office and sewing room. It’s an exhausting process, but also an exhilarating feeling to get a handle on all that paperwork and those projects. I can’t wait to get to the stage of maintaining only when the creating patterns can began again.
Here’s my new rule: If it take less than 2 minutes, do it now!
Teaching & hints
December 8th, 2008I’ve decided I need to blog more often and, after thinking about it, I would like to add a hint as often as I can.
Today’s hint: Orvus soap.
Did you know you can purchase Orvus W A Paste (soap) at a business that sells horse supplies? It is actually a horse shampoo but is the same soap sold for quilts. A (120 oz.), 7.5 lb plastic jug costs around $20.00 +/- plus tax. I have been using it for gently soiled clothing/sheets, etc. for years in my washing machine. I only use one (1) Tablespoon of it per load. At 120 ounces, if you divide it by the 8 oz. in a cup, you have 15 cups of the soap. As there are 16 Tablespoons in a cup, you have a total of 240 wash loads per jug. The paste can be liquid if warm or like a soft fluffy consistency when cold. Sometimes you’ll use more or less than a Tablespoon. But, if you could do 240 loads of clothes per jug, it would cost you approximately $.09 per load. Compare that to your detergent cost!
I met some really good people up in Bulls Gap, Tennessee, this weekend. If you are ever in the area, go visit Olde Towne Quilt Shoppe, and Gail Wise, at 153 S. Main Street. It’s a great shop with friendly people. Tell them I said, “Hey!” (If you’re not a southerner, Hey is the same as Hi.) Until next time, Florine
Teaching and Learning
September 29th, 2008Teaching is fun. Learning is more fun. Tonight I learned how to shorten my T-shirts. I just completed my first one. I’ve never used a dual needle before and, at my age, it’s about time. The type of needle is long lost, so I’m not sure if it’s a sharp or ball point. Seemed pretty sharp to me. However, it worked fine with my Janome 6600 P with the Dual Feed system in play. Now I only have a dozen more to do. Why are t-shirts so long for me and my husband’s too short for his liking? Hey, could be because I’m 5′2″ and he’s 6′ 3″, ya think?
I haven’t done much posting but hope to do it on a fairly regular schedule. I’d like to pass along tips and information I think would benefit anyone, quilter or not, and maybe make a comment about the world in general together with any quilting, designing, etc. I’m doing.
Now all I have to do is learn more about how to blog. There’s so much to learn.
Bon Applique!
Florine
Traveling
August 7th, 2008We did some traveling in July for 10 days. First we flew from Atlanta to Minneapolis via Delta. We left on time and arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule! Great service. On arrival in Minneapolis the cabin attendant advised everyone to pick up all personal items around their seats. Then she announced that any personal items left behind would be for sale the next morning on EBay. You should have seen the passengers scramble to collect their stuff.
We collected our baggage and rental car (it cost a month’s mortgage payment and it wasn’t even a luxury car) and headed into the middle of Minnesota. Next day we had brunch with a cousin from mom’s side of the family in Motley, MN, then on to another cousin’s farm for a reunion of my generation of cousins from my dad’s family. We had a wonderful lunch there, then took a 5 car caravan to our grandparents former farm (no longer occupied basically) and then on to their retirement house in Staples, MN. That house is now for sale. The neighbors became concerned when our 5 cars pulled up in front, all these people jumped out and started walking around the house, peeking in windows and pointing out where the garage, garden and cellar door used to be. Good thing we’re all over 55 or the cops might have been called. One neighbor came out and asked what we were doing. We also visited several cemeteries to take pictures of our ancestors’ graves.
One of my sisters married a man with our same last name. She never had the problems/pleasures of changing her last name. Her husband ’s family had a reunion in Alexandria, MN, the next day so my husband, Ed, and I went to that also. It was our first opportunity to meet our brother-in-law’s sister and brothers. We knew his parents from other visits. Once the reunion was over, we headed for Watertown, South Dakota, where we were to stay for 3 days.
There’s a brand new quilt shop in Watertown called Dakota Quilt Shop. When you pass through Watertown, stop and say hello to Dorothy Speiker, the owner. As she knew I was going to be in the area, she arranged a class for me to teach. There were 12 pupils and they all had a good time learning my precision method of fusing using that Radical Rooster, Ralph.
From Watertown we drove to Valley City, North Dakota, for an All 50’s class reunion. Everyone from 3 high schools in a town of about 8,000, graduating from 1950-1959 were invited. It was quite a group, although we have lost a number of classmates. Only one school survives. St. Catherine’s and College High (practice teaching school) no longer exist and now all the kids go to Valley City High School. It was a wonderful place to grow up in those years, despite the sometimes very cold and snowy weather. I prefer going back in the summer! When you pass through Valley City (and I know you will, won’t you?), check out the bridges. It’s known as the city of bridges.
Now I’m back in Georgia and trying to catch up with life and work. I hope to pass along hints and information and even learn how to post pictures and such. My web master needs to teach me how!
Florine