Shirley Anne’s Heart

I recently visited some of my family-of-origin in Kansas City, MO.  One of the things that I did on the trip was to bring back one of our family’s FAVORITE PHOTOS of my brother Fred, and his date, prior to attending their High School Prom.  Oh my, have we ever giggled and teased my poor brother about his tux - which in 1973 must have been HIGHLY FASHIONABLE - but by today’s norms, his tux resembles what one might find at a RENT-A-CLOWN facility.  I just HAD to give it a place of honor on my blog.  (Click on the picture to get a LARGER VIEW!)

And of course, we have to wonder if Fred got his sense of fashion from his Dad - check out our daddy’s jacket - he was all dressed up for a Caribbean Cruise..also taken in the 70’s.  Now this black checked jacket doesn’t compare with my brother’s plaid pants, ginormous bow tie and those “clown shoes” - but somewhere we have a picture of my dad wearing yellow pants - and by the way,  those plaid shorts of yesteryear are making a comeback!

Our mother also has a famous photo - yes, we are a “COLORFUL FAMILY” - and here she is, my mother with her two Great-Grandangels, Leanna and Sarah in 2006!

Tags: SAO's Family by drsao
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Here is a close up of the Center and the completed top (without borders) of my Carolina Crossroads Mystery Quilt - all sewn together - I love how it looks - and it was all made with stash on hand, and that is pretty wonderful.  It is a REALLY GREAT FEELING.

Not only did Bonnie Hunter, of Quiltville.com, design a wonderful quilt pattern, but many of us (from all over the U.S. and the world) made this quilt  from stash on hand and some of us managed to CHAT ONLINE  and encourage one another throughout the process.  It was really interesting to see the colors that everyone used.

I am so pleased that my Carolina Crossroads Mystery Quilt top is all put together, complete with two borders…..the inner border is cut 2 1/2 inches wide and the outer border is cut 5 1/2 inches wide.  The quilt measures 80″ x 80″ just like the designer, Bonnie Hunter, predicted.

Since I have only been doing this “QUILTING THING” since March, 2007, I still get pretty excited when things work out as expected.  I am even MORE THRILLED to know that I have used 2,650 VERY SMALL PIECES in this quilt.  It didn’t seem difficult when each step was revealed to us over the course of two months.

Our little kitten, Cuddles TinkerBELLE and our cat, Midnight Jr., both just love this quilt.  Afterall, they did help me put it together (using “HELP” loosely!)

I will have MY long arm quilter, Valerie of A NEEDLE RUNS THROUGH IT (Goochland, VA) quilt it - and then it will go to its new home  (I can’t say who it is going to - because that is a SURPRISE!  I am also getting very very attached to this quilt!) 

Tags: Quilts in Progress by drsao
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Swift Creek Middle School is participating in this year’s St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Math-a-Thon. St. Jude is one of the premier centers for research into catastrophic diseases in children. They are a leader in childhood cancer research. The Math-a-Thon is a great way for school-age children to get involved in helping to raise money for the hospital to treat children with cancer, HIV, sickle cell, and other childhood diseases.

My 6th grade grandangel, Leanna Epps, is raising money for St. Jude with her very own Math-a-Thon Wired Web Page.  You can help her reach her goal by going to her page and donating through the secure link. 

https://www.mathathonwired.org/Mathathon/Public/Student/Page/Get.jsp?eventId=58602&userId=109684

The money you raise will help St. Jude help kids from all over the world who have cancer, AIDS, sickle cell and other catastrophic diseases. At St. Jude, no family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. Thanks to millions of kids like you, we are also able to pay for transportation for our patients and their families and give them a place to live while they are at St Jude. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated patients from all 50 states and more than 70 foreign countries. Your participation in Math-A-Thon makes you a part of our mission to find cures and save children.

If you can, please consider visiting her site and make a donation to this very worthy cause!

Did I mention that MATH is her BEST SUBJECT? 

Tags: Worthy Causes by drsao
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I have a recommendation for a light hearted book - great for reading in an airport.  It is SUZANNE’S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS by James Patterson.  It is a love story - and, in my opinion, it is wonderful LIGHT mind candy.  I understand that James Patterson wrote this book based on his own moving life experiences.  If you are susceptible to being moved to tears, this will do it for you!  Along with the tears, I also experienced suspense and joy.  James Patterson has a website….www.jamespatterson.com.  Happy reading.

Tags: Book Recommendation by drsao
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Now this probably isn’t going to seem very exciting - but it is only the SECOND thing that I have ever embroidered on my sewing machine.  I put these cute little pumpkins (see the picture below) on the back of my denim jacket.   I did it today in a Machine Embroidery class taught by Trude (at the QUILTER’S CORNER in Midlothian, VA.)  It is amazing to sit back and watch the machine just do its thing. 

The pumpkins were taken from a REDWORK Embroidery Card - and I learned how to insert the card in my Duetta today!  Every NEW step is cause for celebration.  (If any folks EXPERIENCED in the art of machine embroidery happen upon my blog they are going to be groaning and rolling their eyes about now, no doubt.)

Two projects down and many more to go - HOPEFULLY! 

My friend, Ginger, is going to help US learn to do more so that we can make WONDERFUL quilt labels!  At the rate that I am going, I doubt that there will be much more in the way of machine embroidery (other than quilt labels) on my blog……although I once had visions of embroidery turning up on everything in sight - including  but not limited to family member’s underclothing.   My daughter would have LOVED THAT (she will probably recall the year 2005 when I drew little flowers and happy faces - and her initials - with a black permanent pen on her unmentionables!)  It HELPED me when sorting the laundry - that is all that I have to say for myself!  And by the way, I am NOT doing the laundry anymore either! 

Here it is - my pumpkins on the back of my jacket!  Now, I am asking myself - “SELF, why did you put these pumpkins on the BOTTOM of the BACK of your jacket…….?”  Who knows, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Tags: Machine Embroidery by drsao
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