Can it possibly be?

Around 15 years ago our dear friends Steve and Naomi gifted us with a wisteria plant from their garden in Virginia. David built a trellis and it grew happily around and through it. Patiently we have waited for flowers, tried to coax it to bloom by pruning, chanting ( not really ) you get the idea. The birds love the foliage to camouflage their nests and we hang a thistle feeder on the trellis for the goldfinches and a bird bath beneath. We watch the trellis from our kitchen window, season by season, year by year and nary a bud or blossom.
So last night around twilight, David says" LOOK! NO, it can't be" What? I say, wondering what kind of bird was visiting. No, he says, look, BUDS!


Well, I am hoping these are buds, having never seen them on the vines before I am assuming so. Now we wait and see if we are graced with flowers. I will be amazed!

Monday a lady?

I always find it hard to drag myself out of bed on rainy mornings, especially Mondays. But I have a full day, full week ahead so I am up and at 'em. David used to wake me saying "up and at 'em Mrs. Adams" lol.
Yesterday's Meet the Teachers, was very nice. I always enjoy spending time with my comrades and with out this scheduled day I probably would not see many of them. My Machine Quilting 101 class in June filled right up, ten students and a waiting list, so I have added a second class. I am amazed at how popular this class continues to be. This is my fourth year teaching this series and the classes are still full. Good thing I love to teach!

Sunday morning

This morning is a lazy, rainy, sleep late Sunday. Could even qualify as a jammie day except I have to attend a "meet the teachers" event at a local quilt shop this afternoon. Bonus is that I can stop by Wegman's (grocery store) on the way home and pick up dinner. Now I know that going to a grocery store is not much of a bonus to most, but Wegman's is not your everyday grocery store. It is a foodies delight!

Finished wholecloth desidn

I have finished my online class designing a wholecloth. It was great, I will definitely look for more classes to take that way. Here is my final design. I need to get to to Staples and have it enlarged 250% so it is 40x40" Then mark it. I have chosen grey hand dyed fabric from Cherrywoods and lavender silk thread. Still not sure what to put in the circles.... hopefully it will speak with me as I mark.

Saturday

Today is the last day of MQX, The Machine Quilters Expo. For the past six years ihave spent my birthday week there among my peers and quilting idols. This year David's work schedule would not allow us to go together and since I was not working for APQS this time I opted not to attend by myself. But it has not been easy, I missed it more than I thought I would. Most of all I missed seeing my Internet friends. I also missed seeing one of my own quilts hanging at the show. No ribbon but I am looking forward to the judges comments. The quality of the quilts entered is so amazing I never had any expectation of a ribbon. In fact every year I look at the quilts and some of them make me wonder why I even bother. Yet, I must, it is who I am and what I do. So, today I will quilt.

Making New Friends

I am always so thankful to be able to do what I love for a job. I meet the most wonderful people and every once in awhile someone comes along that really touches my heart. Laurie came to me a month ago to take a beginner class to rent the longarm. She and I just hit it off. Fast forward to Friday, Laurie is scheduled for rental time. She arrives bearing a birthday month gift for me. Not just any gift but a witch and one she made just for me! Here she is..... aren't I lucky?

Drawing a wholecloth quilt

I've been taking an online class at Mqresource.com, taught by Adam Chenenivert (I know I spelled that wrong, sorry Adam!) This is my first time taking a class in this format. It is interesting, not as enjoyable as taking one in person but quilt useful.
Here is what I have drawn to date.