Saturday, January 11, 2020

Beta as far as the eyes can see

It's time to catch up. I've been away at Beta Convention. My last one, so it was a little bittersweet. I celebrated my 20th year on Friday morning at the sponsors' meeting. 

Maybe it was bittersweet, but there was definitely lots of frosting! Bunkie High (my old school) brought home all sorts of honors. Since I didn't get to Pin It Weekly, I thought I'd pull some BHS photos from Facebook (there are lots!) and show you how awesome this group is. There are, I believe, around 70 students from tenth through twelfth grades. 



They competed in academic, artistic, STEM, and just-for-fun competitions. These are the winners. All of them can now go on to Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas, in June to complete with students from other states. 


Grace won La. State Secretary

Mia placed third in
Special Talent for her song.

Isabelle placed
fifth in Jewelry Design
The school received an award for increasing membership by 10% or better. And finally, they placed first in Group Talent with their modern adaptation of 
The Wizard of Oz / The Wiz.
(This link will take you to the video on Facebook.) 

That, my friends, is pretty awesome! Imagine the preparation it takes to build backdrops (yes, plural), props, record lines and music, and costumes. (Remember the monkey costumes?) Add about 70 teenagers to the mix, teach them your vision of the adaptation, teach them to dance--together and in sync--with the mix recording that, yes! they put together. 



I'm proud of Bunkie High, not because I played my part (however small) but because it will always be in my heart. I have strong ties to BHS and will always love the school, the people, the students and wish them well.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: 1960

Here are some coincidences for you: just this week Richard and I were noting that we turn 60 this year and we were born in 1960. Tonight I opened blogger to discover (I still don't know how it happened) that I have published--you guessed it--1960 posts. Odd, sure. Gonna let it roll on by? No way!




Immediately I took a screenshot so I could prove it. Ha! But the screenshot was pretty sad as far as being able to see anything. So, I did the unthinkable and enhanced it just a little--enlarged it and turned it into gray scale. Then to make it even easier, I added this big red circle. Cause, you know I don't want you to miss this.



Anyway. 1960 is an important number and not because it's my pin number. (Get that pun.) So, I thought I'd celebrate it. Here's what I found on Pinterest.


John F. Kennedy 1960. - #history #politics



Flinstone Characters and the People who were the Voices


ILLUSTRATED HISTORY: RELIVE THE TIMES: Images Of War, History , WW2: Vietnam War An Impartial View: As Seen By ISHIKAWA BUNYO: Part 2

MLK Quote-- want to make sure I have my kids read this when we talk about the Civil Rights Movement

Image result for 1960 corvette


The Twist ~ Our elders thought all morality was lost when teens began dancing The Twist,,,Chubby Checker on American Bandstand,,,Do you remember?

21 Top Toys of the 1960s - vintagetopia


vintage everyday: Pictures of Cost of Living Sheets in the Past Show How Our Life Have ChangedSears CATALOG - Christmas, 1960 ~~ toys, toy | eBay

Take a look! Vintage View-Master reels and viewers - #vintage #retro #viewmaster #view-master #vintagetoys #toys #oldtoys #classictoys #1970s #1960s #1950s #sightseeing #collectibles #clickamericana

Mini Skirts | Short skirts from the sixties How The Invention Of The Mini Skirt Shook Up The 1960s | Groovy History

TIROS 1, World's 1st Weather Sat. — This Week in Goddard History | NASA

Psycho 1960 PosterThe genius of Alfred Hitchcock






 Thanks for revisiting 1960 with me. Not that I remember it--I was an infant, after all. Here's hoping that you had fun and are inspired to create something 1960-related. Or just anything at all!


Saturday, January 4, 2020

Looking back, preparing to look forward

To See Such Fun

We're in a new year it seems, so it's time to look back. I'll look forward in a day or so, but I need time to process last year. So much has happened, two new babies in the family, the loss of Richard's dad, my hospital stay and surgery. 


Another Red Feather from Red Is a Neutral challenge

Still, as it turns out, I've been quite busy in my little world. 


Dora and Diego 

Busy with what, you might be asking yourself (because I did set myself up for that question). My sassy answer is finish reading the post. But I'm not particularly sassy. 


Mr. Stripey made by Marley

I made or finished several quilts, taught a grandie to sew as she made her own quilt. All of these are quite small--lap or baby quilts, and a few are some tops that I simply quilted. That basket of tops waiting to be quilted is just a little lighter.


Pink Pieces
A Touch of Teal

We finally finished our bedroom and bathroom remodel, which ended the procrastinating to make (or buy?) a cover for the bed.


The Biggest Finish

The Biggest Finish required a great deal of time and effort to complete because, well, it's the biggest finish. It's bigger than a normal king so that it has a nice, long drape to hide that huge mattress. I don't remember the crazy measurements, but it may be the reason I'm going to therapy for this shoulder.


Dresden Teaching Quilt
So those are the quilts I made: from cutting to binding, even if they've been languishing for a year or four. 

Apparently I did some things that are not on my normal Things To Do list.
A quick rundown:

  • made monkey costumes for Beta 
  • learned to use the Silhouette machine and completed several projects
  • chaired the silent auction (and donated items) for the annual church fair
  • turned Daddy's old wooden ladder into two quilt ladders (thanks to Richard)
  • and I organized this thread cabinet he made for me (It's crazy how much time that took.)

I also ended my presidency for the Cotton Quilters' Guild, managed the CQG quilt show and managed a (first time) CQG sewing room tour, including my room.

Finally, I tackled Doctor Zhivago Yes, reading is generally on my list, but this book!

Retirement is paying off, and I started some new things that I'd like to pursue, such as
  1. GSQA meeting (circuit teacher)
  2. GSQA Pursuit of Excellence class
  3. BRMQG retreat (three finished tops)
  4. CFAL show (Baton Rouge)
  5. Quilters' Guild Acadienne show (Lafayette)
  6. Houston 2019

Reese's Quilt

And then there were a couple of customer quilts. This first one is for my sister, so it didn't pay much. :) But the ones below did and 
have a special meaning for me, as well. There's a fourth that I didn't get a picture of.







If you know anything about my world, you know there is always an art project going,either sitting near my chair, ready to put needle and thread to, or on the studio worktable. I'm still into art quilts. 


Bayou Des Glaises at Bordino Crossing
Cotton on Green 2

Cotton on Green 1

We have our aches and pains. Richard has some health issues, pain in his neck and back, plantar fasciitis, and an annoying frozen elbow. I fall apart, temporarily, then pull it together again--thank you, Bipolar Disorder. 


Cave in Yellowstone

But all of those are simply the result of living a longer life and we are grateful that it's not worse--there are, after all, so many, many illnesses and horrors in the world. 


Indigo Dusk

We feel blessed to be turning 60 (soon). To know that we are loved by God. To have healthy children, grand children, and great-grandchildren. To be able to help others. To be able to live the life we love.


Big Sky in Montana

Happy New Year! 

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Pin It Weekly #301

 Geez, I'm struggling. This bout of depression is really sticking to me, but I'm determined to just wait it out until it gets out. In the meantime, I have managed two minutes in the studio, some babysitting, and some pinning. Yes, I know, but there's been quite a bit of waiting in doctors' offices, so ....




 What have I been pinning you ask? Well, I'm not quite over Christmas. I know others have put away their trees and packed up their pretties, but I'm just not ready. I want to wait and enjoy them when the blues are a little more rosy. Take that, depression!

I'm kind of interested in these salt dough ornaments. They look cute and easy.





I'm really into all of these little baubles and bags and beauties. Isn't that little coin purse above fabulous? And the birds!