This N That #30

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First, some bloggy housekeeping issues:  I’m planning to do my “Back to Basics” posts on Tuesdays.  I really hope you enjoy them.  They are my tips on how I bust through slumps and creative blocks.
I’m also doing a few more “Technique of the Week” posts through July.  
I’m not forgetting my own weekly quilts for 2011, and have some major catch up to do on that front, so you will not only see bunches of those, but you will see some posts on why I do them, how to start your own, etc.  These are notes from a lecture that I offer called “What will you do with it?“.  I don’t have a schedule for those posts just yet, but they are coming! 
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A few upcoming deadlines means I’m working hard getting things ready to go out the door.  The “PowerSuit” challenge is coming up and I dutifully emptied my challenge packet and have been working hard to incorporate them into my piece. I’m nearly done executing the design and quilting is next. Can’t wait!  They don’t want to have them revealed until the show in August, so I’m being good about that, but I can’t wait for you to see it.
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I am a SAQA member and our local chapter has a show coming called “Art and Science: Stitched Together”.  I hurried to finish my piece and sent off my photos and entry form and now am waiting patiently to hear.  Notifications are Sept 15th.  There is no issue on disclosing the piece, so I plan to do so on a different post to give it it’s due spotlight! 
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There’s been a momma and daddy duck outside all summer, and these babies are all grown, but I could not resist posting them for you to see.  She had nine little ducklings and they all made it to adulthood.  I called the momma and daddy duck “George and Gracie”.  

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This N That #28

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Wahoo!  Here’s an update from my crazy-busy world!
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Are you ready for the long holiday weekend?  I’m so excited I’m not going anywhere and can spend it in my studio working on a challenge piece that will eventually travel.  Oh if the quilts could travel instead of me for a while, that would be something! 
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I flew to Baltimore for business right in the middle of my hectic quilt schedule!  While no quilting was done I way overpacked on the projects on the off chance I was stuck somewhere.  It’s no surprise that I didn’t even touch the projects.
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One of my top secret projects is in the “can” and should be able to be announced shortly!
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At the beginning of June, I attended the Professional Art Quilt Alliance‘s meeting, since it was moved closer to my house.  I joined after one meeting.  While there, I was asked to run demos and make-it-take-its by Lois Jarvis (the RustTex lady!).  I had a good time showing folks at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fest how to make Mixed Media Artist Trading Cards!
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I finished up my last meeting as President of the Riverwalk Quilter’s Guild last night.  I’m still on the board, just not leading the group.  Two years went by fast!
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I’m going on a ATC retreat with friends in Rochester at the end of July which should be a lot of fun.  The gang I will be hanging out with are all part of a new website called WonderStrange.  You should check them out, they are a riot.
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Don’t forget I’m running challenges over on Quilting Arts’ website!  Our latest challenge is called “It’s Elemental”!  Come on over and play!  
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That’s all for now, but I will have more soon. I promise!

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This N That #27

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Oh boy, so much is going on!  Here goes….
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Imagine my surprise to see this in the latest issue of Quilting Arts!  It also mentions that QATV’s Season 8 will be out sometime in July!  Woot!!
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My quilt “Road to Home” was selected to be part of Tactile Architecture 2011!  That means I will have a quilt in HOUSTON!  And that self same quilt will travel to all 3 IQA shows next year!  I’m thrilled!!!
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I’m also working on something that I have to keep quiet for now, but you’ll know soon.  Sorry for the tease!
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My DH is editing my latest video for YouTube and we will have it up soon, I hope!
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I’m winding up my 2 year term as president of the Riverwalk Quilter’s Guild this month, and I’m handing the reigns over to my good quiltie friend, Catherine Redford!  It was a lot of fun.
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My beautiful “new” peony plants I put in last year came up with a bud or two each this year (these heirloom types take at least 3 years to establish).  Check out these gorgeous “bombe” type peonies!  My other peony is doing fabulous and the heads weigh so much they touch the ground.  I have to remember to stake them next year. 

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This N That #25

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Oh boy.  Did you know that I skipped over This N That #25 and went right to #26?  So here’s a little make-up post about what’s going on with me.
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Since I got back from Cincinnati’s IQF show, things have been off the deep end.  I had to prep my e-textiles lecture for the 25th of April, and also clean my studio because I was like a whirlwind in there trying to get my steps outs done and literally threw stuff on the floor while trying to get those finished. 
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On the home front, I have been living with a bedroom with a folding tray table as a night stand for 4 years.  Just before the IQF show, my DH and I ordered new furniture.  We expected it would take it’s leisurely time getting here.  There was no rush to have the room painted until after I got back from Cincinnati.  OOPS.  The week I got back, the furniture people called to say it had arrived.  4 weeks early.  OMG.  Now I had to paint the room. Or I should say “have it painted” since the room has cathedral ceilings.  So I had to hurry up and find a good painter.  But all of that is done now, and the furniture is coming this weekend.  I plan to do a nice separate post about the redecorating project.

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Outside, my garden is crying.  It’s calling me every day from my office window (since I work at home) and stares back at me pitifully to come clean it up and fix it.  The lilac I planted that I thought I killed may not be dead yet!  I think it’s budding!   So that’s some good news. We have had days of rain and cold weather here, and it’s not very spring like yet, and it’s the end of April!  I hope it warms up soon!
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My lecture at the Fiber Art Divas went very well!  I was very happy with it and they seemed to like it.  I’m going to update my website soon with the lecture and info on how to book me!  I also ran out of business cards (my favorites from Moo.com) and need to work on some brochures to mail to local guilds. 
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In May, I’ll be going back to weekly quilts, so stay tuned for that!
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This N That # 26- Can’t seem to catch up…

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Well, since I am going to Cincinnati for the International Quilt Festival, and taping a segment for QATV there, things have ramped up to over 1000 here.  It feels like every deadline is fast approaching and are all jam packed into the next 30 days. (Did I mention I work full time? And that I’m in the beginning stages of a major redecorating project at the house?)
So, let’s begin with what’s going on with me…
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At the end of last year a coworker of mine passed away.  At our recent comic book retailer event we had a silent auction to benefit his daughters’ college fund. The cool thing about this auction was that it was drawn from employees’ private collections, which I thought was a great idea. I donated this piece to the auction. 
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Next up, I’m part of a doll exchange over at ATCsforall.com.  Of course, I could not just design ANY doll, but dolls that light up.  I had a ton of fun making them.
My talented videographer husband helped me make 3 more videos so you can see all of my latest e-textile projects in a better way.  So as soon as those are edited, they will be posted on my Youtube channel.
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The piece that was supposed to be done in time for the gallery show in Naperville is finally finished, including the LilyPad Arduino board and programming it needed to be complete.  This was a huge monkey off my back, seeing as that I knew I missed the deadline but needed to get this work finished. I am pleased with the results and there may be a future destination for this work including going on TV with me.  I can’t get a good picture of the lights in this piece, so I will rely on my upcoming YouTube video to capture it.  My husband is editing that video now.
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Lastly, the Fiber Art Divas is having me at their April 25th meeting give a lecture about the latest in E-textiles.  I’ll be putting my hour long presentation together soon, with some amazing examples of work from around the globe and then a mini trunk show of my own work.  I’m excited that I will be getting this finished so I can add it to my Lectures available to be booked from me.
What does all of this mean?  Well, my weekly series for March has been put on hold so I can catch up with these more pressing works.  And I will catch up on the weekly series after April with a couple days of much needed vacation. 
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Thanks for your patience with me while this part of my life takes off!

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