Vacation

My vacation is almost over. I go back to work tomorrow.
Kara is now an official driver. We went up to Twin Mountain (up in the middle of no where) Monday and Tuesday. It was so busy Monday that all she was able to do was take the written test. We would have had to wait 4 hours for her to take the driving test. We decided to come back Monday morning with an appointment at 10. It didn't take too long for her to take the test and get her license.
Thursday we went to Fun Spot. This was Alex's day out. Fun Spot is an arcade and bowling alley. Afterwards we went out to eat.
I didn't get much quilting done. I just didn't feel like it and decided maybe I just needed to take a break and relax. I did get this page done for GeriAnn's "Art Paper Dolls" book. This was harder than the others. I don't do alot of stuff with people or dolls. I'll probably have a hard time with the next page I will be working on. I get Sue's "Personal Goddesses" book next.

Yesterday, I went to Canterbury to Jane Balshaw's studio for her Coloring Fabric Workshop. I had a nice relaxing day. This was my day out for vacation. It was interesting learning about her color theory and seeing her work in her studio.

Spring is FINALLY here! (I think)

It sure has been crazy since I last posted. I had last Monday off and that was when we had the 3rd big storm of April. This last storm was mosty wind and rain. I've never seen the wind blow as hard as it did then. We were lucky we didn't lose any trees or lose the power for very long. There were some who went without power for most of the week. The high school lost the roof on the north wing of the building so Kara didn't have school all week. Alex didn't think that was fair. This week is spring vacation so hopefully the high school will be open when vacation ends.



We also found out that our dog, Ginger, has heartworm. Most likely she picked it up in Arkansas before we adopted her. She tested negative last fall when we had her checked out after we got her and she's been on preventative since then. She spent a day and a half at the vets getting shots to kill the adult heartworms. Now the big thing is to keep her quiet for 4-6 weeks. Ginger doesn't know the meaning of the work quiet. I don't think she understands why we won't play with her. She keeps bringing her tennis ball to us to throw.



I wasn't able to make it to the art quilt group last Friday so I missed seeing all the round robin book pages. This is the one that I made for Carmen's "In the Woods" book. I used pictures of trillium that I have taken around our house. I have GeriAnn's Art Paper Doll book now. Just have to pick it up from Carmen. Will try to get it finished this week while I have the time. I'm also hoping to get alot done on my journal quilt. I hope that I can get some dyeing and other things done in between doing stuff with the kids.

I have to take Kara to take her driving test. It will be nice when she gets her drivers liscence. Alex wants to go to Fun Spot, a local arcade and bowling alley. I'm the one who has to take Alex to Fun Spot since the lights there can set off Gary's epilepsy.

Where's Spring?

It's hard to believe that it is the middle of April. We have had another foot of snow and we are supossed to get another storm on Monday. This was taken this morning.

Here's the last batch of postcards for my Art2Mail swap. I took the pictures at night so most of the cards appear darker than they really are.

This was one of my favorites. I really wanted to keep it for myself. The water really looks more interesting in person.

New Books

I've been telling myself that I need to stop buying so many books. I have enough! Well, look what I couldn't resist. The 1000 Artists Trading Cards I decided to buy after finding out that I have an ATC in it. I had no idea. It's really cool to have something in a book like this. So I just had to buy it! My mom also split the cost with me, so that was added incentive!

I didn't take any pictures of the card I sent in to the Quilting Arts office for the one on one swap but this card was made in the same batch and is very similar to it.

The second book, Landscape in Contemporary Quilts, caught my eye the first time I saw it but I kept telling myself that I didn't need it. I also really like to see a book in person before I buy it. After seeing a better description of it on Joggles web site and seeing it mentioned on 3-4 blogs, all with great reviews, I decided to go ahead and buy it. I'm really glad I did! Ineke Berlyn has done a really great job with this book. Ineke combines quilting and embroidery in the UK tradition. She also talks about using and keeping sketchbooks for developing your ideas. There are lots of great pictures for inspiration! I had to hold myself back from sarting a new landscape project. I have too many things to finish as it is.

Round Robins Pages

Yesterday our art quilt group met and exchanged round robin book pages. I don't remember what each piece is called but I think I remember who did each piece.
This is my page for Lynn's "Sky" book. I started a different one but Thursday, I messed it up and had to start over! Talk about frustrating! I like the way the ocean came out with cheesecloth over the blue fabric.

This is GeriAnn's page for my "Nature" book.

Susan's page for my book. The pictures don't do these pages justice!

This is Susan's page for Marilyn's "Techniques" book.

Marilyn's page for Carmen's "In the Woods" book. I have Carmen's book now to work on. I have an idea for it and hope I can actually do it.

This is the first of Susan's book that I've been able to post since it went directly from Susan to GeriAnn in Mass. Susan's theme is (if I remember right) "Personal Godesses". This is Susan's

and GeriAnn's. There are little doors that I had trouble getting to stay open so I could get a picture.

Carmen's biker goddess. I forget what the actual name is. Carmen and her husband like to go out on their motorcycles.
Lynn has her page for GeriAnn's book started but wasn't able to finish it up due to being sick.

GeriAnn, I hope you enjoyed this round of the books. I hope you will get to see all of these in person. They really look so much nicer since you can see all the little details!

New Hampshire Spring

Typical New Hampshire spring - you never know what to expect! This is what we woke up to this morning. We had over a foot of heavy wet snow. Good thing I didn't have to go to work at 5:30 this morning - I never would have made it out our driveway!

I just had to take a picture of the bird house. Looks like it is wearing a wig! I have no idea how the little bit of snow on the tiny perch is staying at that angle.

I love how the trees look with the snow outlining the limbs. The pictures I took really don't show the trees really well. There is no school today, so both kids are happy. Alex because he doesn't have to go to school and Kara because it gives her an extra day to get makeup work done from when she was home sick.

I won't be able to get all the stuff done that I had planned for the day. I do need to finish the book page for the round robin done since we are meeting tomorrow. I would have thought Lynn's "Sky" theme would have been easy but I had a lot of trouble coming up with something that I liked.

I have been working on my journal quilt project. Part of the problem is I want to be working on that and not work on other things I need to get done. Oh, well.