Another picture I wanted to add. This is a quilt I started last spring at a quilt retreat. It is an Atkinson design, Antique Album from here "Spring Cleaning" book. It had a LOT of small squares that had to be put together for stars, and just about every other lady up at the retreat came by and looked over my shoulder and said, "Oh, what a lot of tiny squares!" like it was a bad thing. I got very annoyed.
But, I kept working on it. I had collected fat quarters for a couple of years from each quilt shop I visited in my travels, all with a purple theme to go in my lilac colored bedroom. (Don't laugh, it is a beautiful calming color for a bedroom.)
Through the months I kept slowly working on it, and finished the top this winter. I handed it off to my dear friend who has her own long arm, who quilted it for me in a loopy, variegated thread.
I finished the binding last weekend, and it now is in the proper place on my bed.
It is the largest quilt I have ever made. I may not work on a large on like this again, or at least not for a long time, but I am proud of this one. I always wanted to make one for our bedroom. I love it.
Now, I have to make pillow shames to match. That's OK, I still have a lot of tiny squares for the stars! Viewed from the pansy pots.

My PVC quilt frame

I am very proud of my frame, and it has been very helpful to use. At first I followed the plans posted earlier and it turned out too big to fit in my sewing room, or to use comfortably in my living room. I use it there when watching TV with the family. I want to watch with them and quilt, and not be stuck in my sewing room all the time.

Anyway, I sawed off some inches from the poles and made it smaller. If you can't reach across 40 inches with your arms, and sew, why make the frame that big?

So, the smaller size is working out very well. Here are some pictures.

Mother's Day Rant

I don't consider myself overly political. I'm sort of middle conservative. But Mother's Day really gets my hackles up, so here is my rant....

I want to start a campaign to end the take over of Mother's Day by the Pink Brigade, (aka Breast Cancer awareness media machine.)

The Pink Brigade has the whole month of October for making us all ware pink. The Fourth Monday of that month is "Breast Cancer Awareness Day". Do they need to hijack Mother's day too?

I might feel differently if my mother died from this awful disease, or anyone else close to me. I have some cousins who are survivors, and a very close friend who also is a survivor. I was happy to support them and pray for them during their illness. And I think if I asked any of my friends over 25 if they know someone who battled this disease, they would all say yes. So, we are aware all ready!

And, how much is gained by professional baseball players using pink gloves and bats on that day? I just think it looks silly.

I would direct you to the website: Mindful Mothers - www.mindful-mama.com, under thrive, archive; look at the post of April 30, 2009, Making Mother's Day Meaningful. It gives a short history of Mother's day, and how it was founded by a proclamation by the woman who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic, to inspire mothers for peace between the States after the Civil War.

Now, marching for Peace, supporting struggling mothers in our country or around the world I can get behind on Mother's Day! Let's think of the children, and help women be better Moms. The world needs this more than grown men swinging a bright pink bat to the outfielder and his neon pink mit. Or any other of the pink foolishness surrounding this coming Sunday.

And so I begin my campaign with this post. Send cards, have a picnic, do something you really love doing, even take a nap. Kiss your Mom, Kiss your kids, make a donation to a charity for kids and Mom's in your area, if you are so inclined. Sit back with a good book, your favorite beverage and enjoy the day. You deserve it.

Next year I will spread the word wider. This year I will be enjoying my view of the pansy pots.