Shelba

The Almost Square

I just cut out the templates for the four pieces that make one of the squares for the Confetti quilt and I'm a freaking out because these pieces don't make a square, they almost make a square, but not quite.  I lined them back up with the templates in the book and they match perfectly, so I'm guessing and hoping that this is part of the plan.  That once I sew one of these almost squares together that it will make sense and form a real square.  Ughh. 

Modern Quilt-Along

I've been quilting a lot since Z came home even though itt has to be done while she is napping or when she goes to bed at night.  I tried quilting while she is up, but doing anything on the sewing machine is impossible with Z around because she wants to be involved.  And since I don't want to sew her fingers into a quilt I have to wait until she goes down.  Once she does, I turn my Ipod up, and place her baby monitor close by so I can see if she cries, and the quilting begins. Since she has been home, I've made a quilt for a friend's daughter, and am fixin' to finish a quilt for my Z.  When I finish Z's quilt, I'll post a pic and tell you about it.

Even though I've not yet finished Z's quilt, I'm starting on another one.  This one is for Kim's Modern Quilt-Along.  I feel kind of nervous about participating because if my quilt sucks butt then it will publicly suck butt.  And it is not like any quilt I've ever made.  I always make quilts made up only of squares.  This one does not.  I should have taken a picture of the picture of the quilt that I'm making, which is called "Confetti."  I'll stick one up later.  For now, here is the fabric I've selected for my Confetti quilt. 

Half the Sky Foundation has its annual online auction coming up and I'm submitting a baby quilt to be auctioned. 100% of the profits from the quilt will go to Half the Sky.  Here's a sneak peek.  I think the auction starts on October 15th. 

Not So Easy

Dresses

Z has a closet full of dresses that she has never worn.  Since I've known her, she has maybe worn a dress 5 times, seriously.  I always have her in pants because it is easier for her to get around that way.  However, now that homegirl is walking like a champ she can wear dresses.  This didn't occur to me until this morning when I glanced into her closet.  Today she wore a dress and it was so much fun to see her fly around the house in her sweet frock.  So much fun!  I'm easily amused lately. 

Do you ever find yourself talking to grown strangers like they are children?  For example, a woman in the grocery store dropped something and I said, "Uh Oh, look what you dropped!" 

Then today when Z handed some gum (for me) to the cashier and the cashier asked Z if she was getting a special candy treat, I said to the cashier , "No, no, the candy is for mama."  Yuck. 

Must stop this. 

Tootie and Z in Pictures

Tootie and Z have something in common. 

They both do this for the camera. 

It's Hot in Texas

I am so ready for the cool weather.  I'm sick of the heat, I tell you, sick of it.  Z and I met our playgroup at a neat waterscape that Z is quite fond of, so I guess the Texas heat isn't all bad, but damn, I'm tired of being hot.  I see pictures on other blogs where they are wearing sweaters and I think, "Ahhhh, yes, that looks nice." 

After a major computer crash as well as a can of coke spilling on my laptop I am now the owner of a pretty new laptop.  I'm not going to allow Z to bang on this one like I did my old one.  In fact, my old one is now Z's laptop.  She likes to look at her blog and dance along to the Paul McCartney song that her blog is named for.  When I'm on the computer she always comes over to me and looks at the screen and starts dancing.  That is how she lets me that she wants to see her blog.  She loves looking at pictures of herself, which is not surprising as she kisses herself in the mirror all of the time, and frequently kisses her referral pictures stuck on our fridge.  Wouldn't it be great if she always feels so good about herself? 

Ohh and Z is walking!  And she can stand up without using something/someone to pull her into standing position.  Everyone keeps telling me that I'm really in for it now, but it hasn't made much of a difference.  She could crawl everywhere she is walking, so I keep waiting for all hell to break loose now that she is walking.  Is all hell going to break loose or can I let my guard down?

On A Personal Level

I have been in contact with my friend, M, who lost all to Katrina.  She and the kids are in Texas staying with family.  The kids are in a new/temporary school and my friend is wading through insurance paperwork, etc. Her husband had to stay behind to work. 

I'm sure it is difficult for all them not being able to be together, but hopefully, in a month that will change.  Once schools open up back in their area, she and the kids can go back to the Coast.  This family has been through through a lot.  They are blessed that they will be able to rebuild their home and that they are able to replace their cars, and buy new clothes.  However, they lost items that are impossible to replace.  Wedding albums, family heirlooms, etc.

If you'd like to do something on a personal level for a family affected by Katrina, there are two things.   All of their Christmas ornaments (they managed to save two) were lost to Katrina.  Like a lot of us, my friend, M collected an ornament/s to celebrate each year and now they are gone.  It would certainly lift their spirits to receive ornaments to replace those that they lost. 

Also, if you'd like to send fabric, my mom and I are going to make quilts for their two older children, ages 13 and 8. We'd love to include fabric from all of you in the quilts.  I made a quilt for M's youngest daughter (She and Z were together for the first 10 months of their lives) and she still has her quilt.  So we'd like to make quilts for her big brother and sister too.

If you'd like to send a Christmas ornament and/or fabric for the kid's quilts, then please leave a comment here (make sure you fill in the email portion) or send me an email at and I will give you the information you need.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you know.  The more the merrier.

Hello!

Updates

My parents are heading back to the MS Gulf Coast as I write this.  They bought a trailer, a ton of water, a lot of gas, a generator, and chainsaw.  I hope to hear from them in the next couple of hours. 

I'm now in contact with my friend's sister.  She is staying with a neighbor just a couple of doors down from where their home used to be.  They had to flee in their house in the dark with their three children and two dogs when a storm surge took out the first floor of their home.  Their house is gone, their cars are gone. 

They are trying to get out of there, so keep your fingers crossed for them that they can get the hell out of  Biloxi this weekend.