What a Concept

spotted in New Ulm, MN
May 2012

I spotted this sign on a bar across the street from a quilt shop in New Ulm, MN. I wonder how many women took advantage of the "service."

A Pleasant Surprise

"Let Your Sparkle Out!"
2012 Biennial Quilt Show
Lincoln Quilter's Guild
May 18 - 20, 2012
Lincoln, NE

Last week, Marilyn and I stopped at the 2012 Biennial Quilt Show in Lincoln, NE. On display were 350 quilts made by Lincoln Quilter's Guild members.

 A separate area featured an exhibit of 102 Quilts of Valor.

Sara K (QOV coordinator), Nancy S., and Julia S. (co-QOV coordinator)

At the Quilt of Valor information table, Marilyn and I added a note of thanks and our names on some prepared, signature quilt blocks. It was at this table, I unexpectedly met two women with whom I'd never met before that day but with whom I shared a prior connection.

More about our chance meeting is posted on the QOV blog.

Julia S. (shown at right in the photo above) was the volunteer machine-quilter for Controlled Spin (QOV #7), and Sara K. is a Wyoming Breezes follower who used to live in Sheridan, WY. It was great fun to meet these two dynamic ladies and to marvel at our chance meeting.

Julia S. bids us farewell and safe travel.

Up and Running

Nothing is worse than a battery that does not hold a charge, especially if it is the lifeblood of a laptop computer. Over the last few months, my MacBook has delivered less and less battery-operation time, and eventually, a warning flashed on the desktop that the battery needed replaced.

My MacBook is nearly three years old and does not have an exterior-removable battery and required a trip to the Apple store and an extended stay: the battery had to be ordered since my MacBook is an "older" model.

When I picked up the computer yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised the repair didn't cost me anything.

Foreign Friday

Bangkok, Thailand
December 1979

Unplugged

My computer is in the hospital, so it may be awhile before I can post. I hope to be back up to speed soon.

Foreign Friday

Misawa, Japan
Spring 1980

I drove by this Holiday Inn, which was near one of the base gates, often; however, I never did go to check it out. Despite being a familiar business, it was the two misspellings on the sign - desco and tenpra - that caught my eye.

No matter how it is spelled, tempura or tenpura is definitely delicious, and I am sure those who went to the disco didn't care how it was spelled on the sign.

Sky Scarf

Sky Scarf in progress
started Easter Sunday - April 8, 2012
Alpaca lace-weight yarn - size 3 needles

I was intrigued when Grace (Lovin Comfort Knits) posted about about the Sky Scarf in January. It sounded like a lot of fun.

My friend, Cheryl started the project on the first day of Spring, but I didn't get into the game until Easter Sunday. Since yarn shops are few and far between in this area, Cheryl and I both ordered the kit available from Leaf Cutter Designs. The price of the yarn is reasonable, and it arrived quickly. The kit includes the pattern, but "the pattern" (it is all garter stitch) is also available here free. 

Since only two rows are knit each day, I write the color of the sky on my desk calendar for each day. When I change the calendar the next day, the sheet goes in the Sky Scarf basket, and once a week I sit down to knit.

One fiber guild member is weaving a Sky Scarf, and another is knitting a Sunset Scarf, using the colors of each day's sunset.

Please note that Leaf Cutter has another scarf project which sounds fun if you belong to some social networking sites. Details are on the Leaf Cutter Designs link, given above.