Finished Pool Wall

Here's the final wall . . now on to the landscaping....

Our Pool's Quilt Wall

If you live in Bakersfield, CA life is easier in the summer if you have a pool. Our temps frequently reach over 100 degrees for several days in a row, so staying cool can be a challege. Oliver and I had a pool in our old house, but when we built out new house the pool decision was one decision too many. Then after a couple of years we just decided we could live without the pool. Well, toward the end of this past very hot summer we changed our minds. it was time for a pool, but we didn't want it to look like just a hole in the ground. Plus, I wanted to do something a little different, something colorful, and something a little quilty. A tile wall was in order. Hope you enjoy the pics of our wall construction. The tile guys were fabulous and had some fun too.

New Block of the Month Quilt

It's time for the new block of the month quilt, Galactic Explosion, to grace my website. I agonized over a colorway for this quilt. I had about four or five diffferent versions, then finally narrowed it down to two: a cool blue/green/aqua/ colorway and and a warm red/orange/coral/yellow colorway. Which one would people like more? I pondered. Red, Blue? Then, it came to me--duh! Why couldn't I just show both and leave it up to quilters to decide what they wanted to do. Heck, it's a free BOM quilt--quilters can make it in an autumn palette, Christmas themed fabrics, or muted taupes. What was I thinking--and why do I think so much? What's that old saying . . .keep it simple. To get the free monthly patterns visit my website http://www.nancyrinkdesigns.com Then YOU can decide what fabrics you want to use for you Galactic Explosion. By the way, if you want to buy the fabrics for the blocks each month, the kits are only $5 each!

Try Something New

I am the first to admit that I can get very stuck in my ways. If I find a method of doing something, and am comfortable with it, I tend not to be very receptive to trying a new or different method. Take half-square triangles for example. I am still making them the way I first learned: layer two squarees together, draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4" on either side of the line, then cut on the drawn line. Voila! I can make these guys all day long this way. I've seen demos for various triangle papers but I couldn't figure out how that method could be any faster, cheaper, or more accurate than my old tried and true method. I've sewn together strips of fabric, then cut them into the squares. This actually is a fairly good method, but the few times I've used it, I've had to find the book with the directions and virtually re-teach myself.

So, now I am in the process of preparing the applique pieces for a vine border to go on a reproduction quilt I'm in the process of designing & making. And my friend would be proud, I'm trying a new method. It's a method demonstrated in a book by a very famous quilter in one of her books on applique. She has very detailed instructions in her book, so I'm not having a problem executing the method. Although, right about now I'd like to execute myself! My normal applique method involves freezer paper and occasionally starch. Famous quilter X's method requires a heavy foundation material. Then you trace your shapes on the foundation. Cut out the shapes. Glue your shapes to your fabric. Turn the edges and glue them in place. Do the edges of my shapes look cleaner and crisper than my freezer paper method? Is the method cheaper? Is it quicker? Will I use this method again? Am I inflexible? Do I have a problem trying new methods? Can I honestly answer all of these questions. Hmmm. . . . back to the glue!

Life is a Series of Dogs

Comedian George Carlin had a routine I loved called "Life Is A Series of Dogs". My first dog, Punky, was a character who lived to be 15 years old. He survived being hit by a Suburban, but had to have his front left leg amputated and steel pins held his pelvis together. His vet, who did his surgery, said he was a miracle dog and, in fact, wrote an article for a veterinary medicine journal about Punky's cutting-edge surgery. After Punky, I thought I would never get another dog. But I am adept at eating my words, and less than a year after Punky went to dog heaven, we brought home a ditsy Shepherd mix named Daisy. She's a rescue dog--the best kind--and she's a love. The other day I took her to the groomers and when I picked her up the girl at the front counter said. "Oh Daisy--sigh--she's a sweetie. She's been talking to everyone all day and giving everyone kisses." That's Daisy! She doesn't bark, but she's a talker. Trust me--I've had entire conversations with her. Plus I get a thousand kisses a day from her.

Long Beach Show

Oliver and I are back from the Long Beach Quilt Festival. We've finally managed to get everything unpacked and in its place. In fact, I'm feeling pretty good because our inventory is the most organized it's ever been. Naturally, I over-prepared for the show. I brought too many kits, too much fabric, too many patterns, etc. My dear husband loaded and unloaded all of my stuff, helped me set up our booth, and served as cashier. I could not have done it without him and his unending support. He remembered the camera and took several photos of our booth. I managed to snap one of him though--he's the handsome man in the third photo!

I've been "flocked"

Okay, when my son David who's in town for his ten year class reunion came home late last night from hanging out with some of his old high school buddies, he woke his dad and I up saying, "You've got to see this." Across our front lawn and down our driveway was one plastic flamingo after another. They were in the shrubbery too and one was even hanging from a tree. One flamingo perched by the front door sported a sign danging from his neck which read, "You've been flocked by Frontier volleyball." I couldn't help but laugh. I'd had a major number of these talented and beautiful high school young women in my AP Comp course this past academic year at Frontier High. In my mind's eye I could see them stealthily creeping around my front yard, placing every flamingo so it was in just the right pose, all the while trying to suppress laughter.Of course my question now is, what do I have to do to get rid of these flamingos?