Family Tree Quilt

In May I attended HMQS in Salt Lake City. HMQS is a great place to take machine quilting classes and they have a wonderful quilt show and merchant mall. During my trip, my friend Stephanie and I just had to check out the local quilt shops. At one of the shops I saw this quilt. I bet I spent a half and hour looking at it. It  is truly amazing! I've started my own version of this quilt. It is done using needle turn applique and some embroidery. Embroidery is something my mother used to do and I swore it was not going to be something I would never do. I tried it as a child and hated it.  Well never say never! I liked this quilt so much that I have taken the plunge. I've discovered that embroidery is not as bad as I thought is was. I wish now that I had learned a few stitiches from my mother.  The pattern was designed by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet Company. This quilt has been so fun to work on. I'm sure it is going to take me a few years to complete but when it is done it will be so worth it.  Check out Lori's blog to see close ups of the blocks.

I never thought I'd ever say this

Like so many women these days, I have a really busy life! I work full time, plus run a machine quilting business in my spare time. I am active in my church, I volunter and  I teach quilting. I  belong to several quilting groups. I take care of our home, garden (not very well however), and  do the shopping. I keep saying I am going to slow down but then I add another thing to my to do list. I think I'm a little like my mother. She was the same way. At times my father used to say "Annie you are running yourself ragged! Slow down!" So why is it that many of us keep ourselves so busy?

For me, I just like to be involved. I think life is really short and I'd better get busy if I'm going to get all that I want to do accomplished. I don't like to be bored. I like to learn new things. I'm pretty social and I like people and I like to learn from them. Sometimes I do things because it is the right thing to do. Sometimes I do things because I feel I am obliged to. Sometimes I just want to.

My dear husband doesn't understand this at all. He says I make him tired just watching me. However, he is very supportive.

My usual day starts at 5:00 am. I shower, dress and then work in my quilting studio until I leave for my day job. You really get a lot done at that time of the morning when nobody is bugging you and the phone is not ringing. I listen to books on my MP3 player as I quilt. I also use this quiet time to think and work out problems.

Over the last several weeks, I've been a little out of commission. A small injury has not allowed me to spend time in my quilt studio. I've slept in. And I've only left the house to go to my doctors appointments and to attend a couple of meetings. I thought I hated getting up at 5:00 am. I only did it to make extra time for quilting.  However, I discovered these last few weeks that I really do love getting up that early. I miss seeing the sun rise and hearing the early morning birds. I miss the quiet conversations I have with my husband as he gets ready for work. I miss the hum of my quilting machine and the beautiful quilts that I get to work on. I miss listening to my MP3 player.

I never thought I'd every say this but I love the morning!   I can hardly wait to get back into my busy routine.