do you EQ?

If not, why not? I'm a huge fan -- I started with EQ5 and upgraded to EQ6 when it came out a couple of years ago. Now EQ7 is about to be released and it looks like it has a LOT of new features... can't wait!

Also exciting: Electric Quilt is offering to sponsor a giveaway on 10 blogs, starting May 3. If I get chosen as one of the bloggers, I'll be able to give away a copy of the new software and get a copy for myself. That's a win-win, right?

So check out their blog for details, and watch this space!

The last of Boston?

Well, maybe not...

I had the opportunity to preview a copy of Cherri House's new book "City Quilts" which comes out in June (look for her blog) and it's gotten me thinking more about what I walk by every day and taking more photos. So this is a little courtyard I walked by the other day in my wanderings around the North End of Boston. I think I see a quilt in here!

The book is terrific -- more about that later.

Sitting at the airport waiting for yet another 100% full flight...
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Boston update

Today's photo is from the aquarium -- I was there for a party last night. I have no idea what this fish is, but doesn't it have character?
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Juxtaposition

I'm not sure if it's possible to post more than one photo at a time from the blackberry, so you'll just get short bursts from me...

This is what I see out my hotel window -- I love the idea of combing textiles and kickboxing!

Currently hanging out on a park bench in the commons, reading, watching birds, thinking that it's been a long time since I sat in a park...
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Welcome to Boston

Here I am at Mike's Pastry in the North End --- I couldn't face the chocolate cannoli, which is at least 3 times bigger than the cannoli in San Franciso. Instead I got a blueberry scone which was only twice as big as I needed! It came with the utensils embedded...
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something quilty

Remember the sampler I started playing with a couple of months ago, using Asian-inspired fabrics and Susan Briscoe's book of Japanese quilt blocks? Well, I finally pulled it out and made a few more blocks last weekend, and it might be almost ready to assemble... or maybe I'll just keep going! (n.b. a few of the blocks are from the Friday Block Party, using Quilters' Cache patterns, but most are from the book)

Here are close-ups of a couple more blocks -- few pieces...
many pieces...

And a special spring treat -- Kim at True-up is featuring strawberries this week, so I thought I'd dig out the one piece of vintage fabric I own -- which happens to have strawberries! I bought this off Ebay about 10 years ago; each berry is about 7" tall including the leaves. I haven't been able to cut into it so far... what would you make with it if it was in your stash?


Now off to pack for Boston -- see you next week!

seeking travel suggestions...

I'm heading to Boston for a few days on Saturday. If you had ONE DAY free to play in Boston, what would you recommend? It will be a Sunday...

Quilty stuff to follow soon!

Crafting Update

Before I could get very involved with my new package of crafty stuff, someone else beat me to it...Is there something wrong?Where on earth did she get this mouse-flavored tape measure?
I had to wrestle it away from him so I could use part of it for some ATCs for the swap. These are called "50 is the new 30" and they will be mailed out for a couple of April birthdays as soon as I tidy them up and maybe add a little more bling!

a big mail day!

Every year I sign up for the UFO challenge on the yahoo Stashbusters group, mostly because it forces me to list all my outstanding projects at the beginning of the year. To participate you send in 2 fat quarters, and at the end of each quarter there's a drawing for a portion of them -- you get one entry for each UFO you've completed. I won a set a couple of years ago, and I just won the drawing again! Here's my loot:
There are some pieces that I would buy on my own, and a bunch I probably wouldn't -- but that's a good thing, right? Variety adds interest, I think. And, there are always those swaps that ask for types of fabric I don't own... and now I do!

Also, do you read Dollar Store Crafts? A couple of weeks ago Heather offered up a challenge where she would send a package of random craft stuff to 10 people, and you wouldn't know if you were one of the 10 until it arrived (or didn't) on your doorstep. The challenge part was to make a project or projects with the stuff. Always one for a silly project like this, I applied immediately.

Be careful what you wish for.

Of course when the package arrived I was completed confused because I had forgotten all about the challenge! Lucky for me there was an explanatory letter inside. And this is what else was in the package:

There's definitely a theme here. I think my favorite part is this mound of red woolly stuff --
I have just the beginnings of a couple of ideas but my goal is to have something done by Earth Day (April 22). Feel free to chime in if you have any flashes of inspiration.

edited to add..

I should have mentioned that hubby only needs to put on the gumby suit if conditions get rough -- like a big storm, or the boat being lifted out of the water on the back of a whale -- that kind of thing.

Also, about the Calico Cat's question... he says "if you have to put the survival suit on, you don't really have time to worry about things like that!" To which I replied "eeewww"

Quilty content soon, I promise!

quilt show and how to scare small children

First, the quilt show: The East Bay Heritage Quilters is having their biannual (is that right? every other year?) show at the Oakland Convention Center this weekend. If you're in northern California, be sure to stop by because it's usually a really good show. I'll be around there all day Saturday and probably part of Sunday, too -- so let me know if you're going.

I'm doing my "debut" teaching gig there -- a demo of New York Beauty blocks. Not nervous yet, but I might be by Saturday! I'm working on some samples and prepping things to have in various stages so that I don't have to spend the whole hour just paper-piecing one set of spikes...

Okay, now to scaring children. My dear crazy husband is planning to sail single-handed from San Francisco to Hawaii this summer on a 30-foot boat. That is at least 2 weeks on a boat, 24-7, by himself. In the Pacific Ocean. Personally, I think I'd rather just shoot myself, but hey -- differences are what make a relationship exciting, right? I just happen to prefer dry land.

Anyway, he is all about preparation and is taking personal safety pretty seriously considering that he's doing this at all. So a few days ago he came home with a large box and proceeded to turn himself into a lobster:
Or perhaps a red Gumby -- I'm not really sure. he also slightly resembled the Tin Man:
It's a survival suit. Heaven only knows how anyone can move around in something like that, but it clearly is reflective (!) and watertight up to the face, and very very well insulated.