April 5th, 2009
Deadlines. 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
Tags: Aiken SC, Deadlines, Hilda the Hen
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January 31st, 2009
As 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
Tags: Ricky the Radical Rooster
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January 20th, 2009
I 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
Tags: David Allen, Swamp Fox, traveling
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January 6th, 2009
Late 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
Tags: Colds, coughing, Organizing, remedies
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December 29th, 2008
Have 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!
Tags: Organizing
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December 8th, 2008
I’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
Tags: Bulls Gap, Olde Towne Quilt Shoppe., Orvus, TN
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September 29th, 2008
Teaching 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
Tags: dual needles
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July 7th, 2008
I have a new pattern titled “Sailing to Nod.” It’s an easy pattern of a crib quilt and/or wall hanging. There are only two fabrics needed and 3 pieces for this silhouette of an old sailing ship. The directions are written for a beginner at fusible applique and include directions for hand applique also. I’ve even included cutting layouts just like you see in fashion patterns to make the best use of your fabrics.
There are options such as adding rigging using embroidery. But wouldn’t it be fun to make that rigging out of beads? How about adding some sparklers on the waves and the sails? I can see this ship with different fabrics on the sails. Each sail might be cut out separately as I’ve included implied lines of each edge where they overlap on the silhouette and there is a small drawing in the directions showing which sail should be sewn or fused down first, second, etc.
Of course, the pattern can be done as shown on the cover, minus the rigging, for a contemporary graphic look. Do you have a sailer in the family, or a little boy or girl who might like to dream of sailing away to nod?
Go to the website and look at the pattern. I hope you like it.
Florine
Tags: sailing, ship, waves
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July 2nd, 2008
Hi, this is my first blog. I’m learning as I go. I won’t be doing this every day, but will try to do it as often as I can or have something to say. Florine
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