Celebration Monday

I had decided that Pam and I should get together today since maybe she'd need some cheering up--it's the first Monday in I don't know how long that she hasn't been working in a quilt shop.
It was a lovely bright and brisk day and it turns out that the mood was celebratory--since Pam now has more time for fun!



We started out in Berkeley, since that's where our closest Anthropologie store is. I'm embarrassed to admit I'd never been--tho I've logged plenty of hours drooling over their website and catalog.
I had some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket (thanks Uncle John!) and the only thing that kept me from leaving with one of everything was (besides the $$ obvious) is that it's been many years since I was either age 20 or size 3.

But wow. I could not get over the incredibleness of the clothes...the accessories...the shower curtains, even! And please don't get me started on the sweaters. The most freaking amazing sweaters I've ever seen.

Obviously my photos STINK, but here's a bit of what I found--like I'm ever gonna actually USE this dishtowel...



I also found a couple of wonderful metal brackets that will hold up a shelf in my studio. (That's my new favorite word and I use it as often as I can...studio...)

Then we went on to Tail of the Yak, since you can't go to Berkeley without stopping there. When I saw that this tin of glue comes with its own tiny brush...I had to get it.



This is the stuff that smells like almonds...it's Italian and absolutely divine. I have no idea if it's good as a glue, and I don't really care. I'm happy sniffing it.
Yes. Sniffing glue. A new pastime of mine.
I highly recommend it.

On our way back home we had to stop at The Quilter's Inn to congratulate Jane on being named one of the top quilt shops for Quilt Sampler magazine! I decided to treat myself to a couple of pieces of my all-time favorite American Folk and Fabric prints--I'll never get tired of these.



Doesn't it appear as if Pam prefers to be the one taking the pictures?



Got home in time to go to the post office before kid-pickup and I got a parking place close to the door and there were only 2 people in line!

Can't remember a better Monday...hope it's been as great for all of you!

Super special treat!

Aren't quilters just the greatest? Of course!

Awhile back I got an email from someone in Iceland who was interested in one of my patterns. On a side note, how cool is that? Iceland!

So I sent it off and to my amazement, she sent something back to me! It's this wonderful book full of darling bags to make. Apparently there are no published Icelandic quilt books--this is Danish--Iceland used to be a Danish colony.

All I know is the book is absolutely lovely and I am thoroughly enjoying looking at the photographs and trying to figure out some of the writing. It was also such a sweet, wonderful gesture and pretty much made my week!

Thank you so much, Halldora!

A fresh start

I sure hope 2008 is starting out well for all of you...it's been crazy-busy around here.
My room is coming along...I had paint chips tacked up before Eric actually left, so I was ready to dash to Lowe's to pick up the Martha color I'd decided on (French Ivory with Teacup trim!) and cleaning and painting commenced.

I'm positively GIDDY over having a room of my own...I still need to figure out just where to store all my crap and I really REALLY want to be rid of all plastic bins--at least in that room. I can't see a way to live without plastic storage bins, but I feel the need to try.



I have yet to hang any pictures, etc...still many things to figure out. I'll be keeping you posted.

Of course being at this end of the hall, I have a new neighbor, and that would be Nick. He's a rather noisy neighbor at times, but having a new room AND peace and quiet would probably be too big a shock to my system. He visits periodically, and has already managed to spill soda on the carpet. One of his friends was over last night and has declared that my new room "smells happy", so I guess I'm on the right track.



I had a wonderful treat Saturday evening...I was invited to go with Nick and his girlfriend Kari (pictured above playing Rock Band) to the Tech Museum in San Jose to see the Body Worlds 2 exhibit which was the most amazing thing I've seen in years...Photography was not allowed, and I imagine some of you are grateful for that fact! But it was an incredible combination of science and art...with a bit of philosophy thrown in. I'll probably go back--if I can snag another family member to go with me. It was also a kick to be back in downtown San Jose...I grew up in that city and my first real job was downtown, and that was back in the days when downtown SJ was not a very nice place to be. It seemed surreal to be walking the same streets I'd walked as an 18 year old now with MY 18 year old...

Anyway...a fresh start always feels so good, doesn't it...it's time to get working on new projects for 2008!

Time to start catching up...

Yes, the day did finally arrive and Eldest Son Eric (the car guy) moved westward to his new digs. "Digs" would in fact be the appropriate word to use since the kid is living practically underground, but when you're first starting out you can't be too picky.

Here's Middle son Nick helping to load the truck with what used to be our kitchen chairs.

I followed along in my car since bouncing around in the 2 seater uhaul didn't hold much appeal.

Here's the first conversation after we arrived:
Nick: Where's Eric's bedroom?
Me: You're standing in it.
Nick: Uh...then where's his living room?
Me: You're standing in it.


But...here's the gourmet kitchen!

And the awe-inspiring view...



The first neighbor he met seems friendly...



But the important thing is that he loves his new home! He's been trying to cook actual meals and has already learned how to clog his sink.



Turbo Pig moved in the following day and supposedly is doing fine. But I know he misses his Grammie.

Meanwhile, back at home...time to get my STUDIO set up!!
Wait. I'm just not sure I can give you a "before" shot of the room...it's SO BAD. A room I've avoided stepping into for a loooong time...this isn't what blogs are supposed to show...we're all friends here, right?? Ok, deep breath...this is what I was left with.





But I arrived armed with a shop vac, paint chips, and a burning desire to have a space of my own...so more on that to come!

What a week!!

Could someone please explain just how it is that after my son moved out (taking quite a few of "our" things with him) we seem to have ended up with more crap in our house than we had before? I still haven't plowed through all of it yet. BUT, it's true, Santa is bringing me a room of my own!


Needless to say, that room has required a lot of cleaning...and painting...and so forth.

So yes, it's been quite chaotic here...but that's not why I've been away (and WOW do I miss visiting blogs!)...on Monday afternoon my laptop died. Again. So that meant taking a trip to the Apple store, at the Dreaded Mall, in a major rainstorm. Where the "genius" at the "genius bar" confirmed that it is indeed dead and will be headed off to Memphis for the holidays. So my wonderful dad decides to give me an early Christmas present--a new computer!! Yay!! So I end up going to pick it up later in the day, you know, in the afternoon at a major mall the week before Christmas. So I had to park pretty much out in Siberia--and did I mention the rainstorm?

But hey, it was so festive being one of what seemed like 500 other people at the Apple store...and they had my new computer all ready...in a giant box. With a handle that broke when I was about at the parking lot. Did I mention the rainstorm? Sigh.



Anyhoo, there are still some issues to be worked out, which is probably true with any new computer, but slowly it's learning how to do what I tell it to. If I ask really politely.



I've had lots to blog about but just haven't been able to do it.

So the easiest, and probably best thing for me to do is to share some more pics of our holiday decorations...



and to wish all of you a safe and wonderful Christmas!

Thank goodness for photo editing

It's not easy to photograph the Late Bloomer house these days...on a good day there are plenty of things to avoid capturing with the camera, but with getting Eric ready to move out there's barely a place to walk. The guy owns minimal furniture, about 50,000 CDs and an equal number of tshirts. And Turbo the pig, of course. Turbo's moving out and I'm awfully sad about that...

Anyway, so we've had to purchase MANY MANY items so he'll have the bare minimum to get started. And all of those essentials are piled up in the living room. In big boxes or Target bags, which most decidedly do NOT coordinate with my pink and aqua wonderland scheme.

So here are some snippets of what it's supposed to look like around here...

I'll try to get some pics of the tree in next time...it is quite pretty, when you can get close enough to actually see it!

December in California

How are we supposed to be thinking Christmas when the roses are still blooming?

It has been so crazy around here--much as I'd love to just sit and crochet...er, I mean QUILT. Yes. QUILT--that's the thing I do--I haven't had a chance.

It appears that (shhh...I don't want to jinx it) that Santa may be bringing me a sewing room for Christmas!! Yes, eldest son Eric (the car guy) may well be leaving the nest. Which means lots of stuff has been dumped all over the Late Bloomer Quilts domain in preparation for the Big Move West. I'd show you all a "before" shot of the room, but I can't bear to even go in it yet. It's that bad.

Anyhoo, here's a couple of shots of my bedroom semi-decked out for the season. Don't you just love Target? I love pretty much everything Rachel Ashwell has ever done and this stocking that just happens to coordinate with my bedding is no exception. I'm just a bit sad 'cause I learned way back when in design school that once something hits the discount stores it's OUT OF STYLE. Oh well, I've been called worse!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week--I'll update with bits as I can!

Again with the crochet!

It's true...I just can't stop.
Pam loaned me this neat Leisure Arts book thinking the edgings might be doable. Now I don't know who this Terry Kimbrough is, but I can tell you this much--she's been taking up way too much of my time lately. I wanted to make ALL of the little blankets--but I don't have anyone to make a little blanket for, so figured why not make a tree skirt instead.
Now promise not to look too closely, ok?


It turned out alright--it was supposed to have another row, but it was time to get the tree up. I'm already planning on making another one. With finer yarn probably. And better yarn...the really cheap stuff is too frustrating to deal with.

But what fun! And Presley loves it, too.

We have a winner!

As usual, the time got away from me so the drawing didn't actually take place until this morning.
I so enjoyed reading all your comments--you're all the greatest! I'll have to find some more stuff to give away...


I briefly considered drawing a name myself, but that just wouldn't have been right. It was Turbo's turn, after all.



I had hoped to have him set up neatly on the fabric...and that he'd give me a chance to figure out a better camera angle so my ugly 1950's ironing board wouldn't show...but the appropriately named turbo-charged pig did not want to wait!





So Jan, please send your address to latebloomerquilts@yahoo.com and your little purse will be on its way!

A teeny bit of holiday help

If anyone out there has a friend to find a Christmas gift for...who might like
"A Little Purse", I'm giving one away.
This one, in fact.

It was designed by Pam which means it's super fun, and it was made by me, which means 2 things:
1. It was made with love
2. The buttons are likely to fall off

I'll be having a drawing on Friday, so if you wish to be included, you know what to do!

You know you've been doing too much quilting...

When you come across a quilt top you do not remember actually making.

But based on some of the fabrics (yikes!) it was a looong time ago.

Yes, it's time for my biannual Organize All My Stuff Fest. Which could possibly take the entire weekend. But it's necessary so that I'll feel all fresh and ready to get busy on whatever quilts will be coming next.


Of course it's important to not work too hard...so this morning Compton and I took a break to read an awesome article written by none other than Holly Holderman on quilt blogs! Hopefully you won't have to scour the entire northern half of the state of California to find the magazine like Pam did...but definitely keep your eyes peeled for the Feb. issue of McCall's Quilting!

And when you've finished checking out all the blogs mentioned, also hop on over to Jackie Clark's NEW blog and say "hi". I can guarantee it's gonna be filled with loveliness.

I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours...

It's OK! Really...there will be some less than beautiful photos coming up on this post, but nothing you should have to shield your eyes from.

As an applique person, I'm regularly hearing from people who would just love to try applique, but they can't. Too hard. Can't do it. Tried it once and hated it. And so on.

I feel the same way about crochet. Was raised by Knitters--yup, my dad is an amazing knitter, as was my mom. For some reason, crochet was simply not done in our house. Never knew why. I can remember asking if someone could teach me how--the answer was "no" and it was clear the subject was taboo. Right up there with sex and politics.

When I was around 12 I snuck one of those little Coats and Clark Learn to Crochet booklets into my room...you know the one, with the smiling, poncho-clad girl on the cover...never could get beyond the chain stitch so figured it was impossible. And it's highly likely I threw the book across the room. That was a signature move for me for more years than I'd like to admit. But ANYWAY...

Fast forward to Quilt Market. Specifically Jackie Clark's amazing booth--and part of what makes it so amazing is the crochet artistry of her sister Tamara. Jackie gave me a copy of her new book


--and just look at the darling crochet edge on that receiving blanket! I can't remember the last time I've wanted to make something so much. Pam and Tamara made plans to get together so Pam could learn how to crochet little trimmings around old button cards--something Tamara does and they're so adorable you could cry. I WAS BEYOND JEALOUS. But Pam promised she'd teach me once we got home.

Fast forward a little more. I was in a hurry the morning Pam was coming over so when my scan of a vintage button card turned out all wonky I figured that was fine. Not knowing what I was doing, I punched huge, crooked holes all around my card. Again, figured that would be fine. And it was. So here's the beginning of my very first beyond-chain-stitch crochet. I know. Overwhelming, isn't it. But it really does kinda sorta look scallopy! And it was loads of fun.


I decided to try some more! Picked up this pretty yarn figuring perhaps "Grace" was what I was lacking.


Pam pointed out this spiffy light-up crochet hook--sort of the Fisher-Price of crochet hooks. Time for a granny square!! Well, not quite yet, apparently, but may I present my very first Granny-Blob.



Not much like a square, I know, but it's a blast to do. And the yarn is almost as much fun to play with as pretty fabric.
I'll probably always be better at applique than I'll ever be at crochet, but seriously--this has been much more fun than I ever would have imagined. So try something you just know you can't do, and let me know how great it turns out, ok?