28 year old UFO is FINISHED

I probably have the oldest UFO of anyone out there. This is the very first quilt that I ever made. 28 years ago I took a quilting class at Lee Wards, now Michaels on quilting. I had no idea what I was getting into but my Mom and I were going to take this together. We met for twelve weeks once a week and made our blocks. These were made back in the day when you made templates for cutting out your pieces. Then each block was layered and I hand quilted each one as I went along. This is where my dislike for hand quilting came from. The way it was constructed was odd since we put borders on some of the sides and not the others. They were to be added later. OK so advance 28 years and enough was enough. I was never going to add the other borders so I decided to cut off the borders that were on the quilt and simply bind it and call it done. I tossed it in the wash first and it came out great with the exception of the quilting thread on the back of some of the blocks where the color bled. Some of the blocks were done in a burgondy quilting thread and on the back since it's all white there is a little discoloration along the quilting. Who cares it's finally finished and for a while it's going to take the place of honor on one of my quilting racks.

Christmas is over

The Christmas season is over and again we all survived it. I had a great Christmas Eve spent with my two best friends. We started this tradition the first year that I was alone and have done it most of the years since. We get together and have dinner, exchange gifts and in general have a great time together. This year was no different. I had made my two friends each what is called a Stitch N Chicks bag. Both were loved and that always makes me feel good. We even sat for a couple of hours and played Yahtzee which I hadn't done in probably 30 years.

Christmas Day was spent with my daughter, Jen. My girl is so good to me. For Christmas this year she took some of my quilt tops I had made and quilted them for me. Then all I had to do was put the binding on them. I had decided to give my Mom the BOM quilt that I had been working on and Jen kindly quilted that one for me too. She brought it along on Christmas and I put the binding on so I could give it to my Mom. Needless to say Mom loved her new quilt. Jen had made Grandma a wallhanging and a table runner that she also loved. We ended up tracking her down at my sisters and spent an enjoyable afternoon with her family. I just love Christmas's that aren't stressful and this was one of them.

Mad rush is over with for now

I just wanted to take a minute or two to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanaka, Happy Kwanza or whatever it is that you celebrate oh and I can't forget Happy Festivus.

Things here aren't done but that's OK I'm not stressing over them. I'll just finish the gifts after Christmas.

10 year old UFO is finally done

Ten years ago I went to my first quilt retreat. This was with a great bunch of ladies that I had met on line and they were getting together for one week to sew. I could only take a long weekend but I went. We were told there would be a mystery quilt if we wanted to make it and how much fabric to buy. I'd never done one before so didn't know what to expect. We were also only to buy 4 fabrics that went together. I gathered up everything and off I went. I had a great time. We laughed and talked more than we actually sewed. In the end this is what my mystery quilt turned out to be. I hated it. I have no idea what the pattern was called and if I had known what it was going to look like I would have chosen different fabrics.
All of these years it sat as a finished top in my sewing cabinet. Every now and then I'd pull it out and look at it and say to Jen how much I hated it. I think a couple of times I tried to toss it out and she kept putting it back. So, this year for Christmas she is quilting a bunch of my UFO's for me. Three things came back to me last night and this is the first one. After 10 years I still had one of the fabrics so I could use it for a binding. Today I put on the binding and I absolutely love it now. When I first gave it to her to quilt I told her dog Holly that it would be her quilt. Now, no way I'll make Holly a different quilt. Would I do a mystery quilt again, NO. If I'm going to put the time and money into a quilt I want to know what it's going to look like before I start it. I think it is going to be used as a table quilt for my dining room table.

So far I think I'm the winner ! ! ! ! ! !

In my family we have a yearly Amarillis growing competition this time of year. This started a few years back and it was a ton of fun. You've all probably seen the bulbs in the stores at this time of year. Around here you can usually pick up a bulb, dirt and a pot for around $4.99. So on a set date whoever wants to enter plants their bulbs and then we wait to see whose flowers open first, how many flowers you get and how tall your plant is. This year the set date to plant was Nov.22. I picked up my bulb at our Target and spent a little more this year because I wanted the heavy ceramic pot. I spent $9.99 instead of the $4.99 thinking then next year I can buy the cheaper one because I'll have the better pot. I waited for the day to come and planted my bulb. I watered my plant only to see that my pot was cracked in a couple of places and it leaked like a sieve. So much for the ceramic pot.

It grew like wild. Last night I took it's picture and posted it for the family to see. Mine is 23.5 inches tall and I have 4 big flowers on it. It's white with pink running through it. This is much better than last years that had great greenery but not a single flower. I haven't seen pictures of anyone elses yet. It's a fun thing to do with family and friends, think about giving it a try next year.

The weather outside is frightful

I don't understand how we could go from warm breezes and melting snow yesterday to barley above 0 today. It is so cold out there it hurts to be out. When I went to bed lastnight it had to be near 40. Sure it had rained most of the day but the snow was melting. I saw patches of grass again. Then it happened, I went to sleep and everything changed. I got up at 5 to let Murphy out and what a shock when I opened the door, Cold and wind hit me. The only good thing was we didn't get any snow out of it. First my apartment was so warm over the weekend and tonight no matter what I do I can't warm it up any.

After work tonight I had a haircut appointment and the woman who cuts my hair told me to bring Murphy along. I wasn't going to take him because it was so cold oute but I really think dogs remember what you tell them because before I left for work this morning I told him after I got home and he ate his dinner we were going for a hair cut. There was no getting out of the house without him. The car heated up quick and I had a blanket on the back seat for him. So off the two of us went. He usually knows where he is going but this really confused him. Then when we got out of the car and went inside he was so excited. He was so good while we were there. Of course he laid right on the mat by the chair and Kathy kept having to step over him but a good time was had by all. There were two little children there and all he wanted to do was be pet by them. He even got hugs when it was time for them to leave. Fun was had by all and it helped lift up his spirits.

I've done a little sewing tonight and now I discovered I did some things wrong so it's rip rip rip. To be continued tomorrow night. Once my project is done I can show a picture or two. Time to go and curl up with a few good quilts and drift off to sleep.

Asthma, Bah Humbug

Well I've been down and out due to my asthma since Tuesday. I had two unreal attacks between Tuesday and Wednesday. I've been doing nothing but sleeping moving from my bed to the couch trying to build my strength back up again. In the process of the second attack I pulled some muscles in my lower back from all the hard coughing. A while back I had gone to the DR for a back problem and got some muscle relaxers and pain killers and didn't use that many of them. Today or actually last night I started taking them faithfully Since I'm taking them that means I'm not doing much and still not back to work. This is a bummer because I hate to let others down. I thought I'd try a little sewing today but enough is enough. Besides I don't think it's such a great idea to sew with those drugs in me who knows what I'll produce. Christmas is getting closer and I'm so far behind I don't know if I'll make it or not.

Someone I know is having a birthday

Someone very special to me is having a birthday today. If you guessed Jen my daughter you're right. Why not hop on over to her blog and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. www.cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com

Christmas is close

I had one of those moments tonight when all of a sudden I was in a panick because Christmas is really really close. The moment passed and I got down to business. First off it was time to rearrange the furniture in the livingroom. That's done and Idug out a few more Christmas decorations. Tomorrow night I think I'll see about adding another string of lights to my little tree and then maybe some ornaments and of course my yo yo garland if it's easy to find.

Now it's time to clean up the mess that I made trying to straighten up things. That always seems to happen.

Hopefully sewing can be next on my agenda. My thought to myself is what gets done gets done and I'm not going to go crazy over undone projects.

Murphy Update

Most of you who have read my blog on a regular basis know that my fur child is Murphy. Murphy was diagnosed as a diabetic almost two years ago and this has been quite a learning experience. Once we got him initially stabalized things have gone along smoothly. OK until this past Sunday. All was well early in the morning and then all of a sudden he wobbled and down he went. I reacted very quickly and called the ER clinic. I told them his history and they told me to bring him in ASAP. Next call was to Jen and Mike for help. They came a running and we got him up and in the car thanks to Mike and then Jen and I took him to the ER. Let me just talk a little about the pet ER. What a fantastic place. There are times when I wish I had doctors who were as nice as the ones for our pets. The girls came out with the guerney and got him out of the car for us and in he went. Jen and I had to wait in the waiting room for a little while but they kept us updated. His glucose level was down to 38. That is dangerously low. I'm just greatful that I was home and able to take him in right away or I don't think I'd still have my fur child with me. They decided that they needed to keep him to monitor him and they would keep me informed. They did everything they said they would and then more. I got a phone call from the vet every couple of hours with his updates. It was then decided that they would keep him overnight to monitor him more. Everyone knows that Murphy suffers from severe seperation anxiety so this wasn't going to be an easy thing. Later we found out they sedated him so he wouldn't hurt himself and so that he'd be able to get some rest. I sure wish I was sedated I was worried sick about him and didn't sleep at all that night. By 5 the next morning I was on the phone with them for an update. He was doing much better and they had removed the glucose IV around midnight and he has slept. Oh sure he got some sleep. Later while I was getting ready for work the vet called me with her update. He was stable and ready to be discharged. Being that it was the first day back to work after the holiday I had to go to work or loose two days holiday pay. I hate that it always comes down to money in this world. It was a very long day at work until I could leave and pick up Jen so she could go with me. He was so happy to be home but was really mad at me. He has since forgiven me and we've made up. My next problem was he didn't want to eat and that for a diabetic isn't good. So today I took off of work early and took him to his own vet. I'm happy to anounce that this is just a little glitch in life and all is well. His glucose is now at 58 and we're going to experiment with food and insulin. This dog already can't make a move without me knowing it and now I'll have him under a microscope.

I just want to thank my daughter Jen and my son in law Mike for all of their help and support. They were going to host a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday for friends and they called it off because of him. I spent most of the day with them cuddling with my granddogter Holly. It didn't dawn on me until the next day that Sunday was the anniversary of the day we had to put our special Sherman down. No wonder my daughter was so weepy. I think Sherman was definetly watching over Murphy, Thanks Sherman.

Murphy and I want to send out our thanks to all of you who care.

What I'm Thankful for

In our family Thanksgiving happens to be the all time favorite holiday. Being that it is Thanksgiving Eve I'd like to say what I'm thankful for.

First off I'd like to thank Heather who just got back from deployment for keeping us safe. She is a great young woman who has devoted her life to the Navy. Thank you Heather for keeping my freedom free.

I'd also like to say that I'm thankful that I have the best daughter, Jen. She's the light of my life and always has been and always will be.

I have great family and wonderful friends. So to all of you Happy Turkey Day.

Black Ice

Tonights ride home took forever. We experienced our first "black ice" of the season right at rush hour tonight. My ride home started out normal until I got about half way home. I came up to one of the large intersections and noticed up ahead a ton of red lights flashing. Well, I sat at that light for 4 lights and we never moved. I had the chance to switch lanes and thought what the heck I'll just turn right and go a little further and then I'll be on my path home again WRONG. Oh I turned right only to find another sea of red flashing lights in front of me again. The over passes were so iced over that traffic was be taken off the roads before the bridges. I ended up going in the direction that I had just come from. At one point I was on a bridge and had to stop for traffic. When I went to go again there was this awful sensation, my tires were spinning and I was going no where fast. Thank goodness for 4 wheel drive. I popped that on and it gave me just enough extra traction that I could move. In all my 20 minute peaceful trip home took me about an hour and 15 minutes. Now I live at the top of a pretty steep hill so of course at the bottom I stopped to pick up my mail and sure enough it was time for 4 wheel drive again just to get up my hill. I'd rather drive in a foot of snow any day rather than "BLACK ICE". I just woke up and it's time for bed. I was so exhausted, mentally, from my drive I just missed the entire night.
This just reminds me that we never know what our weather is going to be like and best of luck this winter driving wherever you are.

My tree is up

Last week one night when I was with Jen at the J store I came across this really cute little Christmas tree and fell in love with it. I've wanted one in a pot for a few years now but never bought it until the other night. The tree was on sale for 30% off plus Jen had another coupon for an additional 10% off. That good of a deal I just couldn't pass up. Then on top of that I had a gift card that I'd gotton for my birthday so I was in really grate shape. Home I came with my little tree. My plans this year were to put up the tree on Thanksgiving weekend. I'm headed into some really busy weeks ahead at work and there won't be much time to do these kinds of things. I either would have had to store the tree or I figured what the heck and I put it up. Now all I need to do is swap out the table it's sitting on for a lower one and then after Thanksgiving hang some ornaments, the lights were already on it complete with pine comes and groups of red berries. This is the perfect size for my livingroom. The days of the big tree are over for me, small and simple is the way to go. Anyway I just had to share that my tree was up. I haven't given a thought to shopping for Christmas but Hey I've got a tree already.

My first stroller quilt

About a week or so ago I received the best email ever. It was from my great nephew Ethan written with help by his Grandma Karen, my sister. Let me just say Ethan is a very smart little guy and knew just how to get to me and I went willingly. They live in Arizona and it's the time of year when they say it's getting cold out. Now Ethan's problem was an easy one to help with. He needed a quilt smaller than a regular crib quilt so that when he's out in his stroller it's not as big and bulky. I went right into action. First I picked out a great charm pack at the quilt store and some even better backing. I'm terrible at remembering fabric lines I just know that I loved it and made a quilt from it. At first the blocks made the quilt to small so I added so sashing and a few borders. Then I layered it up and tonight I quilted it on my machine and added the binding. I think it turned out pretty darn cute. I might have to make a few more of them for him. I just washed it and it's in the dryer and one night this week I can send out the package that I have that will go to Ethan with all kinds of goodies in it.

I can't believe it

I can't believe it but I've become a fabric snob. I would have never thought it possible but it's happened. I went through life buying fabric from Joann's. I bought fabric from WalMart and now I'm a fabric snob.

Tonight for the first time in ages I went into a Joann's. I haven't bought fabric there since way before I started working at the quilt store. I think the last fabric I bought from there was probably a year or more ago. While I was shopping with Jen we went into the store looking for styrofoam trees but that's a whole different post. I can't believe how small the quilting department has become in our store. We looked around and I realized that I'm a snob an out and out fabric snob. I don't buy alot of fabric but what I did purchase comes from quilt stores. I love the feel of the fabrics, the colors, the quality. When did all this happen to me? Thinking about it I haven't even purchased thread there in a very long time. Now it's not that I have tons of money. It's just the opposite I have to really watch my spending so I buy fabric for specific projects. I lusted over a fabric kit for about two months while I saved up to buy it. Now I look at it and it's so pretty I'm afraid to cut into it but I will.

Now before anyone gets their feathers ruffled I'm not cutting anyone who purchases fabric in places other than quilt stores. But since I've been using better fabrics I really do notice the difference. It's unreal how times change a person. I've made so many quilts with fabrics from other places. They are still holding up great.

Has anyone else had this revalation? Oh and while we were looking around we came across some great fleece that would have made great lounge pants but then I started thinking the huge candy canes just wouldn't look that great across my butt. The fleece stayed in the store. Wow what a night it's been.

Another Halloween Finish

Last night I finally finished my Charm Party Tote Bag. This was a two weekend project for me. I don't think I was in the right frame of mind last weekend to do the bag. I got to the pocket last weekend and I was lost. In the end I discovered that I was thinking of a totally different tote bag with way different pocket on the front. With some help from Maureen last night, thank you Maureen I was able to finish the tote and now I know I can go on and make more for different holidays. I think this would make a great " Christmas" gift for someone so I'd better take out fabric and get started.

The charm pack I used for this tote was on that my secret sister gave to me at our last BOM. The inside lining is the bright orange that the handles are made out of.

I also have a new look to my blog compliments of my daughter Jen, thanks Jen. Today the two of us are going to a quilt show and then to her house for trick or treat. In the complex that I live in I never have any kids so I get to go there and help hand out candy and of course sew.

JJ the fun begins

Last night around 5:30 I got a call from Jen and Jill had arrived safely and I needed to get my butt over there. So my machine and I went. It was so nice to finally meet Jill and her fur kids. I just have to say I feel so TALL next to Jill. Now I'm only 5'2" but this is so cool. We hung out for a little while and then off to IHop to eat we went. Great food as always and then off to the Lang Store. We have a great Lang outlet store by us and we each found some great things. Then back to Jen's to start our sewing.
I promised pictures so here they are.

Jen was the first one who started to sew. She's finishing up her Halloween Quilt and let me just say it's beautiful and really LARGE. Oh we decided to sew in her kitchen for more space.
Jill was tired from the drive so she took out her lap top and started playing with that.
Max and Maisy are both just adorable and here are two very tired pups from their long day of traveling. Maisy is on the right and Max on the left sleeping away.
Holly is trying out her Mom's Halloween Quilt a bit early.

All of the fur kids are playing and having a great time together.

I'm off to work at my quilt shop today but I'll join up with the sewers tonight after they get back from their ROAD TRIP today.

The Invasion is almost upon us

I'm so excited. In just less than an hour I'll be at Jen's house and so will Jill and Max and Maisy. We'll be talking away and I just can't wait. It's time to pack up my machine, feed my dog and head on over to the BIG QUILTING WEEKEND.

I'll post pictures I promise.

Cleaning and pain go figure

So tonight is my cleaning night. I like to do things like vacuuming and straightening and laundry on Thursday nights so I have my weekends free. I'm probably one of those crazy people who happens to love to vacuum. When I'm stressed there is nothing like taking on the apartment with my Oreck. There I was manned with a clean vacuum cleaner bag and I was ready to have a good time. Now keep in mind that my apartment isn't all that large so it really doesn't take all that long to do plus I happen to love it when you have those neat vacuum lines in the carpet. Yeah I know it's a sickness but what can I say? I start, I get the livingroom and the dining area done so far so good. I move in to do the bathroom floor and the throw rugs. I'm in pain, where is that pain coming from? I stop and I sit a minute. The pain is in my right butt cheek, yes world I said butt cheek in my blog. So why does it hurt? I vacuum all the time and anyone who knows me can testify to that. Not a little pain but a sharp knock the breath out of you, WOW, pain. I have two rooms to go and it's not like I have a heavy machine it's an Oreck, so it's a whole 8 pounds. Come on what did I do wrong? Does anyone else ever have this p roblem, am I so unusual that's it's only me? Are my days of relieving stress with this household chore over? No I say NO I'm going to buck it up and finish the other two rooms. Wish me luck.

Pumpkins Gone Wild

Last week we celebrated my Mom's 89th Birthday. Since there isn't a whole lot that she needs I decided to make her a wall hanging for her birthday. I picked up this panel at the Patched Works and had fun making it for her. I decided that it needed to be quilted and have binding on it. Over to Jen's I went and she put it on her frame and in a matter of 10 minutes she had it quilted. Then of course I forgot t0 take it home once it was done and had to wait a few days for it. Then it was time to make the binding and finish it off. In the end I used some crystals to "jazz and sparkle" it up a bit. I had thought it would hang on the outside of her door but when we got there she had a pumpkin hanging on the door. Anyway it ended up inside her apartment on the double doors that close off her washer and dryer. This way she gets to see it all the time. In the picture you don't get to see the crystals but they really added something to the panel.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

This is what I've been working on tonight. The pattern is called "Mirror Mirror" and I picked it up a while back when we went to the quilt show in Madison. It's a really great little kit and didn't take that long to assemble. Now all it needs is for me to button hole stitch around it and a few embellishments and it's ready for Halloween. So, the pattern calls for button hole stitching all around and it looks like it's all done in black stitching. I'm not sure which way I want to go so I need a few suggestions. Do I do it all one color or do I match my thread to the color of the piece? It's time for bed even though I'd really like to start the stitching it will have to wait until tomorrow night.
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A great weekend

I'm just finishing up a wonderful 4 day weekend. I'm going to be sad going back to work tomorrow. I did so many quilt related things in my 4 days it was wonderful. My weekend started with a sewing get together with the other ladies that work in the quilt shop with me. It was nice to be included since I'm so new to the shop. We had a great time and that's where I started this quilt. It's called Jellying around and I used a jelly roll from the Quilt Diva line. I just love the bright colors and how it turned out. In the end I had to piece together the borders but that's OK because I used every bit of fabric that I had.

Saturday was the Madison Quilt show and it was really good. I got the chance of a life time and that was to help Eleanor Burns out with her show. I got to be a quilt holder and that was so much fun. I went after the show and bought her latest book, The Victory Quilt. I can't wait to get started on it. The show was great and I picked up a total of 5 patterns and a kit to make a witch for Halloween. I also picked up 4 fat quarters of the sock monkey fabric. Sunday I worked at the quilt shop and then on Monday night I worked at the shop again for the end of the season tailgate from our QFL challenge. Lots of fun there. Today I've been washing and of course finishing up the top to the Diva quilt. I can't wait to load this one on Jen's frame and quilt it. Then it's time for my next project. Happy sewing everyone.

Baby Ethan's Quilt

I just had to take a picture and show you all what I did last week. First off my niece and her husband in Arizona had their first baby and I'm proud to say " It's a Boy" and they named him Ethan Richard. This is such a fun time for all of them but it's hard for us here being so far away and not being able to see and hold Ethan. So I did what a quilting Auntie does and made a quilt. Now I know it's very hot in Arizona but he's going to need a quilt when it gets cooler or when he's laying on the floor or on the bed or whereever. I found this really cute little animal panel at The Patched Works and just had to have it. I like bright quilts for kids. Then I needed something equally bright for the backing so I chose the polka dots for that and a different colored one for the border and binding.

One two three I had the borders on and then it was off to Jen's house to load it on the frame that she's named after my Mom, "Arlene" and to use for the first time the quilting machine she's named " Bud" after my Dad. It was so much fun quilting this. I just did an overall I think you'd call it meandering. I got a little creative at one point and on the alligator I thought I'd write his name but yep you guessed it I spelled it wrong and then it was time to take out those stitches. One other little set back when I was left alone with the quilt, frame and machine and when I got to the bottom I sewed too close and sewed the quilt onto the leader. Oh well, I'm new at this. I had such a fun time doing it. I think next time my key to success with the quilting will be to put on some music that I like so I can get a rhythme going. Anyway I just wanted to share "Ethan's" quilt with all of you.

Time to catch up

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. All I can say is I'm slacking. So where do I start? First off we have a new family member. My niece Erin had a baby boy yesterday, Ethan Richard. I can't wait to see pictures of him. All I've seen so far are pictures from the ultra sound but on that one atleast we have an idea how cute he is.

Things here are pretty much the same. For excitement I've worked a few more times at the LQS and I love it. The time just flies by and everyone is so friendly. I've been doing a little sewing here and there. Got caught up on my Friday BOM and I'll have to take a picture and post it. I also took two Friday night classes and did the center for the quilt. We have three more blocks to go but all I need to do now is figure out what color I want to use for the sashing and then the borders. I'm really loving this quilt so I can't wait till it's done.

I survived my birthday last week and actually took off of work for a couple of days so I had a really nice long weekend. Now it's back to the old grind again. I went to a great wedding in Green Bay on Saturday and had lots of fun.

That pretty much sums it up until I get those pictures taken and can post a few things. Until later keep on sewing ladies.

Friendship Quilt Update

Last Wednesday was my good friend Marilyn's last day at work with me. I had decided when she gave her resignation that I would make her a quilt and I did just that. Anyway I was both sad and excited on Wednesday when I went to work with the quilt. Marilyn starts an hour after me and it turned out to be the longest hour ever. Finally she came in, looking a little sad herself. Before she started the day I gave her the quilt. I'm so glad I did that. Just to see the expre.ssions on her face. She carefully took the tissue paper off of the top of the bag and then just yanked the quilt out. That's when the tears started. She was so happy she just kept hugging her quilt and saying she couldn't believe that I made this for her. It ended up she was crying and I was crying .

All day long whoever came into the office she'd bring out her quilt to show them what I had made for her. It was such a good feeling to make a quilt for someone who I knew was going to appreciate it so much. I'm going to leave you with a few pictures I took in the office of her and her new quilt.

I had an email from her the other day and she's enjoying being home. She always wanted to take a cup of coffee and the paper out to the patio in the morning and just sit and she's doing that now and along goes the quilt if it's chilly. I'd YBR Friendship Quilt has found a great new home.
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Friendship quilt

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I was busy keeping Jen company during the Survivor Challenge by doing quite a bit of my own sewing. The last project I just finished . I'd like to share with all of you. There is also a little bit of history that I'd like to share. Around 7 years ago I started a new job going into a totally different environment for me. I was one of those people who always said I'd never sit in an office and work at a desk all day. Well that is exactly what I've been doing for the last years. When I started my new job I never realized it was the start of what was to become a great friendship. I was greeted that first day by our Administrative Assistant Marilyn. A warm and friendly woman. Through the years we've kept each other going even when we figured there was no way we could do another day. We got to know about each others families. We became family. We always said we'd retire together and hoped that someday we'd do just that. So, imagine my surprise two weeks ago when my dear friend put in her resignation. She has decided to move on and within a year and a half she'll be retired without me. I wanted to let her know how much her friendship has meant to me so of course I did what all quilters do and made a quilt. I was trying to figure out what kind to make and Jen and I were talking and I said how all Marilyn wanted to do was be able to sit on her patio and drink a cup of coffee and read the paper. Jen had a great bunch of coffee fabrics which she pulled out and I was off and running. I decided on the Yellow Brick Road pattern and in an evening I had the quilt top together. I had to wait until the quilt shop opened so I could pick up border and binding fabric. Again staying with the coffee theme. Over the weekend Jen loaded up the quilt for me and quilted it and tonight I finished it off with it's binding. Tomorrow it's headed to it's new home and it's new owner. I hope that when my friend sits out on the patio or in her family room with a cup of coffee and the paper she'll think of me. Good friend are sometimes hard to come by and I got very lucky with Marilyn.