Stashbuster continues...

I am attaching another snapshot of pieces of my latest stashbuster! Any ideas about what the project is yet?

An exciting email came yesterday from the co-author of the book I have coming out this summer (Reading, Writing, and Inquiry in the Science Classroom - Grades 6-12). She got a flyer from the publisher about the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) 2008 Conference. The book was advertised in the flyer! Great feeling!!!

Inspiration

What a busy week I have had. Our 2 1/2 year old grandson was with us from Friday night until Sunday. We enjoy having him here so much. My family is such an inspiration for everything I do! Here are some pictures....note how he is helping Pop-pop!

Monday, I went to my quilting guild. This was the annual "Treasures" auction. Members donate quilting/sewing/fabric related items for the rest of us to bid on. I got some real bargains...some templates for diagonal set triangles and square in square blocks and some great fabric. The fabric was just what I was looking for. I had been searching some catalogs for fabric to make a quilt for our bedroom and the colors at the auction were just right! Of course, that quilt is one of many on my to-do list!! Then we finished the auction off with a great luncheon...what a wonderful day to spend with friends.

Today, I spent time with my writing group...a sub-group of the guild. It is so inspiring to see the work of others in progress (some are writing novels and short stories) and to get feedback on my creative efforts. I think one thing I have learned from working with this group is that we all struggle with our writing and no matter where you are in your writing development, there are others who have "been there, done that, agonized over that" and have survived!

Now to put that inspiration to work....what should I do first?

I need a wizard!!

I've been working on the wizard quilt the last couple of days. I originally planned to use only fabric from the wizard line but I thought it was making the quilt too dark - even the pink in the line didn't help so I decided to add some white (I always keep yards of white on hand!). The white is helping. Since the quilt will be a sampler type quilt I have been trying different blocks related to the wizard theme. So far I have Friendship Star, Homeward Bound, and Heart blocks. The other blocks done so far have fussy cut panels from the fabric. The quilt is taking a longer time than usual because all of the blocks are different and I have to modify some patterns to make the blocks similar in size and I design as I go.

I took a break today from sewing and taught in a third grade. I didn't think the schools would need so much subbing so late in the year ---school is out around here on June 9. The sub coordinator called last night and booked me for seven days. I could have done more but wanted some time for myself. It is nice to get out and work with the children, see what they are doing, read them some stories, and the like. It was a good day!

I need to work on my writing this weekend. My assignment for my writing group is due and I need to get it emailed to the others in the group by Monday. It is good to have deadlines...keeps me focused and energized.

Week with Little One

I just returned from Newark where I spent Monday through Friday babysitting for my 2 year old grandson while his mom and dad went to the Poconos for their anniversary. It was tiring but I enjoyed it tremendously! The best part was when he climbed into my lap and wanted me to read him books...Thomas the Train of course.

I returned to a bunch of emails about my upcoming book...from the editor and publisher...more details to take care of but it should be in print by the end of July!

I am spending this evening washing the yards of fabric that was delivered last Friday from my online order. I will definitely start a project tomorrow...I'm going into quilt withdrawl. I think it will be based upon a pattern from the book. Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift. The block is called Children's Delight. If you haven't seen the children's book The Quiltmaker's Gift, you should check it out. The story and illustrations are beautiful. I first saw the book when my friend, Rachael, who teaches children's literature showed it to me. I fell in love with it. She gave me a copy of the book as a present. I have quite a collection of children's books with quilts as themes and the book is one of my prized possessions.

Creative Weekend

I just spent the weekend with about 200 writers from all genres at the Writers at the Beach Annual Conference. The conference benefits mitrochondrial disease research....you should check out the website...just type in "Writers at the Beach" on your search engine. My head is still spinning from all the inspiration.... I ate dinner next to Carolyn Parkhurst, the author of Lost and Found. If you watch reality shows, you may like this book! Her characters are interesting. I aslo met Jacquelyn Minchard, the first author whose book was chosen for an Oprah's Book Club selection...she is as charming as she is talented. I'm reading her latest one now. What made the weekend special was that four friends from PA spent the weekend at our house so they could go to the conference...72 hours of creativity!!!

To top it off, Friday a big package of fabric that I ordered came by FEDEX....I put in an order because I was having trouble getting the new Wizard of Oz fabric locally...but it was backordered anyway. The local quilt shop is small and does have lovely fabric but their selection of solid colors is limited, thus the on-line ordering.

I can't wait to get busy on a new project!

At our next guild meeting we are going to have instruction on the Lonestar pattern. I had been hesitant to try it because of the biases....I am going to take the quilts that I posted here for show and tell....I like that part of the meeting because I get so inspired by the beautiful work some of the members bring to show.

Also, this weekend was special because the first daffodils in my garden bloomed!!! Spring is really coming.