Gosh, it's been a long time!

It has been three years since the last time I posted anything on this blog! Three years and five days, to be precise. Don't know where the time has gone but it sure has flown. So much has changed since then, too.

I now have a wonderful daughter-in-law and the cutest two grandchildren in the entire world! When I figure out how to do it, I will post pictures of them.

Since the last time I wrote - actually, about the time I started this blog, I think - I took up silversmithing, if one can besmirch that term with what I do. At least, I have been taking a metalsmithing class at the local community-turned-real college. That means it has now become a four year college instead of two. It would be nice if I had pictures of my projects to post but I have not as yet taken any. Currently I am in the middle of a multi-piece chatelaine project I have orders to finish by February to put in a show in the President's (of the college, that is) office. Wednesday I did the last of the casting and I think I am down to things I can work on at home until the studio opens again with the new semester.

Yes, amazingly enough, the Fall 2oo9 semester is now a thing of the past as graduation is happening even as I write (unless it is over already). Speaking of college and graduation reminds me that I now have a new job, too. Well, sort of a new job. I still work for the University of Florida but I no longer work at the University of Florida. Instead, I now work at the aforementioned local community-turned-real college. They have an outpost of the University infirmary on the Santa Fe campus and I am now the front desk person there, greeting the little dears when they come in with their sniffles . . . . . and various other complaints. The staff consists of two part-time nurse practitioners, a full-time RN, and yours truly, full-time secretary. I was there for the first half of the summer semester, then was out having surgery for the second half. In August, I was back just in time for the fall semester, and am assigned there permanently - whatever permanently means. It has been interesting, adapting to a position so completely different from what I was doing at the UF infirmary, but it's coming along. They seem to be quite happy with me, which is always a good thing. We are having a changing of the RN guard - Jane is retiring the end of the year but her last day is next Friday, the 18th. Bruce is taking her place and it is an interesting change. He is totally different than she, I can tell you that! I was a wee bit nervous about it since it has been 10 years since I have worked in close quarters with someone of the male persuasion - and never ever in such tight quarters as this. But Bruce and I are very much on a wave length in our views and thoughts so I think it will be good thing. The students seem to like him, which is a very good thing.

Also since the last time I wrote, I have become the "mom" of the quilt block swap I belong to. It has been a lot of fun getting to know the gals from a different perspective and becoming friend with some of them. They are a fun group and are making some beautiful blocks. When I figure out how to post pictures without having them wander all over the place, I will post some of the blocks, too.

Must run along. Supper is about ready and it is Shabbat, for which I am ready!

80th birthday signature quilt

My parents will both turn 80 on their upcoming birthdays, Dad in November and Mom in January. In honor of the occasions, my brothers and I are having a celebration the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the Village where they live.

For reasons unknown, I decided we needed to make a signature quilt for them--a quilt the guests can sign or write something (short) to them. Ideally, the quilt would be made ahead of time, people would sign it at the party, and Mom and Dad could take it home with them. However, ideal seldom happens and this, instead, is a work in progress. Pieces of fabric have been sent to out-of-town guests who have requested them, to be included in the quilt, and there will be pieces at the party for those present to sign. The blocks will, unfortunately, have to be completed after the fact.

This is not quite the correct overall diagram of the quilt top--I made it larger and need to re-scan the diagram, but this one will give you the general idea. I will change the picture once I have a chance to do that. The quilt will be 11 blocks wide and 12 blocks long, making it large enough for their king-size bed. The large block in the center I will explain a bit further along.


This diagram is of the border layout.

















The solid black lines between the blocks and in the border will be black-on-black rose fabric. It is difficult to see but I hope the design will show because it really is beautiful fabric.









There will be three different seven-inch square blocks used in the quilt, a butterfly, a fan, and a flower. The fabrics used for the background of the blocks are those three prints, each with a black background.

These are the fabrics and the paper-pieced pattern for the butterfly blocks. The solid blue at the top is the one guests will write on. The gold and the darker blue will be used for the other parts of the wings. The body, of course will be black. This is my working pattern and the numbers are the order in which the pieces are sewn together. The pieces numbered "1" are the signature area.



















Here are the pattern and fabrics for the flowers.



















And these are for the fan blocks. Several of the colors in the fan fabric are the same as ones in the flower fabric, but I did not want to use the same solid colors. Therefore, I have picked up different colors for the signature areas—a darker raspberry pink and gold so far, though I am hoping to find the slightly darker green and perhaps off-white. I would like to put the purple in but I am afraid it would be too hard to read. Actually, after I posted this, I found another fan pattern which is quite similar but will be easier to make. :o)) One of these days (after the party!), I will post the new pattern.



















The large block in the center will be the equivalent of 6 blocks. This is my original drawing, which has since been revised. I enlarged the quilt to 11 X 12 blocks, which is what made the center block 6 blocks in size, but the overall idea is still the same--someday I will post that revised picture, too. The center block will be one solid piece of fabric, which I am hoping my older brother and his wife will send me from China, where they are living for the next two years. If they are able to send more fabric than that, I will find other ways to incorporate it. There will be, either written or embroidered in the center, “Happy 80th Birthday” or something to that effect, with Dad’s name and birth date on one side and Mom’s on the other.

As blocks are finished, I will also add pictures of them to this story, so please be sure to check back, though it may take a while for that. I also need to finish a quilt I am making for Dad, and it is the priority at the moment.

If you are interested in seeing Dad's quilt, there also is a posting for it on another blog I am a member of, which I invite you to peruse. The quilt is finished now except for tying it (yea!!!), although the pictures are not yet posted.

I hope you enjoy my quilt project. As always, your comments, suggestions, etc., are welcome.