Chat – Page 26 – Thimbleanna

Happy Birthday Billy Collins!

19 Comments / March 22, 2011 March 22, 2011 / Chat, Holidays

Well . . . I had perfectly good intentions of posting a recipe for Randi’s Recipe Box Swap tonight, but this morning, The Writer’s Almanac arrived in my inbox and promptly announced that today is Billy Collin’s birthday. If you’ve been around here for awhile, you know what a huge Billy Collins fan I am, so, being that this is practically a national holiday and all, I just couldn’t let the day pass without a big Billy Collins Happy Birthday Wish. And I certainly couldn’t ask Dear Billy to share billing with my paltry pork chops, now could I?

No. that would NEVER do. So, the pork chops will have to wait a day or two, while we pause a moment or two to revel in all the beauty that is Billy Collins.

I’ve written about Billy Collins before, HERE and HERE. He’s written so many poems that I love that it’s hard to mention only a few. (My top two are noted on the previous posts). If you really want to reward yourself after a long, hard day, spend a few moments with a book of Billy Collins poetry. Preferably in a nice, hot, bubbly bath.

The Writer’s Almanac for today tells a bit about Billy Collin’s background. Here’s my favorite part: “He was an only child. Before he even knew how to read he would page through books and pretend that he was reading whenever his parents had company. He said, “I would say it was a fairly happy childhood. But they say he who says that is just better at repressing things.”” He has such a wonderful sense of humor, which is certainly why I love his poetry.

The Writer’s Almanac also included his poem Forgetfulness, which you can listen to him read here:

If you happen to live in or near Long Beach, you’re a lucky duck. The Carpenter Center will be hosting an evening with Billy Collins on May 21st, 2011. The cost is a meager $35 and based on past experience, it will be worth every. single. penny!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLY COLLINS!!! May we never forget your name!
XOXO,
Anna

P.S. If you’re interested in The Quilter’s Bible, don’t forget to sign up for the drawing HERE. I also forgot to mention that the book was originally published in the U.K., so, if you’re in the U.K., even though you’re not eligible for this drawing, you should easily be able to find the book.

Giving

16 Comments / March 17, 2011 March 17, 2011 / Chat

If you read many blogs, I’m sure you’ve seen the “For Japan With Love” disaster relief posts popping up all over. Like Gina , I’m not usually one for public displays of giving – or of grieving, for that matter. There’s enough sadness in the world, and I like to try to keep things light and happy around here. But, the events in Japan this week make it hard to remain peppy.

Tomorrow marks one week since the devastating earthquake and many bloggers will be “observing a moment of silence”. They will be silent, in hopes that we’ll all think about the disaster and be moved to donate to the relief efforts. The charity chosen for “For Japan With Love” is Shelter Box. They provide emergency shelters and lifesaving supplies for those in need. You can read more about this organization HERE. I also found an interesting, up-to-the-date article about Shelter Box HERE.

I’m not a charity expert, and don’t know the good ones from the bad ones. But, the shelter concept seems to target the greatest need for so many people who have lost their homes. Tomorrow (March 18th), I hope we can all take a moment to realize how fortunate we are and maybe do a little bit to help. If you choose Shelter Box, you can donate HERE.

XOXO,
Anna

P. S. If you have an embroidery machine, Embroidables is donating 100% of their sales tomorrow (March 18th) to the earthquake disaster relief.

March Hangover

43 Comments / March 14, 2011 March 14, 2011 / Chat, Quilting

Did you all have a nice weekend? I had a good one — I made the trek to visit TheSecondChild and check up on him. And cook and clean. And do what moms do. His freezer is now stocked to keep him happy for awhile. I was tempted to go down there and make him come home. He’s doing well, but I miss the little booger. Oh, and I forgot — I fixed the fly on the boxers that I sent him for Valentine’s Day. I’d accidentally sewn it shut. Oops!

The trip was only marred by the awful weekend news. It’s a six hour drive each way and I was glued to the BBC (love that satellite radio) the whole time. Then tonight, I’ve been watching a few of the videos online. I think we should just take March off of the calendar entirely — have a do-over and skip right to April, where there won’t be any natural disasters and spring will have sprung in the Northern Hemisphere. Garrison Keillor definitely nailed it when he said March is like a hangover. If March didn’t contain the first day of spring (TheSecondChild’s birthday), it would surely be my least favorite month.

Ah well, sorry it’s been so boring around here. Too many un-exciting things going on. I hate to leave you without a picture though, so here’s a peek at a new quilt I started a week or two ago. I’ve made about nine blocks out of I-can’t-remember-how-many-I-need. With the limited amount of time I have for quilting during the hangover, this project promises to take some time.

One other little picture. It was Pi Day today at work. Due to my weekend absence and the fact that TheManoftheHouse worked all weekend and didn’t get the groceries needed for the pie, we failed to take some pie goodness. We’ll have to have Pi Makeup Day. Anyway, the spread looked much like last year except for this guy who brought in these yummy salted peanut marshmallow bars and put them in the shape of the Pi symbol. He also brought Moon Pies which I thought was pretty funny.

Ok, I’ll stop talking now. Hope you have a good week!

XOXO,
Anna

Aurifil Blog Hop – The Letter I

608 Comments / February 23, 2011 February 27, 2011 / Chat

Welcome to The Letter I (well, the first letter I) in the Aurifil Blog Hop! I is one of my favorite words – thank you for giving me I, Pat!

Pat asked us to choose a word for our letter, so I choose I!

Ok, not really — that might be just a teeny bit self centered, don’t you think? Instead, I‘ve chosen the word

Ideal describes Aurifil to a T I, and it’s therefore the Ideal word to describe Aurifil thread! (You’re probably not allowed to construct a sentence like that in the English language, but you guys are all Invisible, so it’s ok.) Like Kathy, I have to confess that I‘ve never really paid much attention to the thread that I use for quilting. But, I‘ve heard a lot of buzz lately about Aurifil, so when Pat asked me to participate in the Aurifil blog hop, I jumped at the chance to try this new-to-me thread. And boy, oh boy, am I glad I did!

Inquisitive, I decided to go to the Aurifil web site and read what I could about the different thread weights. There’s lots of info on the site, and you can even watch some videos of Pat discussing the threads.

Immediately after I read about the threads, I pieced my Aurifil Spring block. Heaven! That thread is Amazing Incredible! No wait — it’s IDEAL! I used the 50 weight and it’s so nice and thin and smoooooth — pressing block seams is so easy. And the best thing is that the thread isn’t splitty or linty like some other threads that we all know and love … or not.

Ok, so, as a little reward for participating in this blog hop, at each website in the hop (locations below), you can pick up a quilt block pattern. Since winter is hanging on with a vengeance in our neck of the woods, I decided to create little block to give us some hope for warmer weather. I wish I could tell you that I stuck a few strands of Aurifil thread together for the embroidery, but I didn’t — I used DMC embroidery floss. You can pick up a copy of the pattern here.

But Wait! There’s More!!!
Leave a comment and I‘ll choose 2 winners to receive a sample pack of Aurifil thread (with a few little goodies thrown in from me.) PLUS, at the end of the week, Pat will draw a grand prize winner who will win a Pat Sloan Kit Art 50wt Amazing IDEAL Aurifil Thread Set. (Do you think it would look rigged if I won???) Look at all the pretty colors!

And, last but not least, be sure to visit the other blogs in the blog hop for your quilt block patterns and even more chances to win Aurifil thread. (Not to mention the fabulous posts — Pink Chalk Studio and Lizzie B Girls started things off with a BIG Bang!)

Monday Feb 21st

Pat Sloan Starter Block

Tuesday Feb 22

Pink Chalk Studio (Letter A)

Lizzie B Girls (Letter U)

Wednesday Feb 23

Erin Russek (Letter R)

Thimbleanna (Letter I) — That’s Me I!

Thursday Feb 24

Stitchin’ Heaven (Letter F)

Quilting Gallery (Letter I)

Friday Feb 25

Sew Cal Gal – (Letter L)
I Have a Notion (Letter T for Thread!)

Pat Sloan Final Quilt Layout

XOXO and Good Luck,
Anna

And btw, if I missed any I‘s please don’t tell me I!!!

Treasure Island

39 Comments / February 11, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Well, in spite of the big money offer, I’m back. I’ve had a few questions about that million dollar e-mail offer to buy my blog. You know it’s spam, right? I’ve read a few other blogs that have received the same spam. After I read the first line, offering the millions, I quit reading. I’m pretty sure that if there were any offer to buy this blog, it would only be to shut me up! Alas, you’re not getting off that easy!

So, it’s time for the annual visit to the big school fund-raising auction. As you can read here, here, and here, MeMum and I go early every year to sneak a peek at the decor (because we don’t actually go to the swanky, black tie affair). MeMum didn’t feel well enough to go this year, so I had to sneak around without my wingman, which was no easy feat. The theme was Treasure Island and the decor was pretty darn cool. As always, you enter through a “tunnel” that they create in the high school locker room (not that you’d ever know that you were in the locker room).

At every turn there were skeletons, treasure chests, booze bottles,and even a parrot or two!

Once inside the auditorium on the Island, there were beautiful tables for feasting everywhere. These pictures are a bit deceiving — the lighting was actually VERY low (which explains the dark pictures).

The waiters were working on the tables while I was there. These place settings aren’t complete — there are still more wine glasses and silverware to be properly positioned.

The centerpieces were beautiful too. Lots of flowers and fruits and treasure inside of the coconuts. I don’t remember really seeing any other flower arrangements this year, which is unusual. The centerpieces are usually just the beginning of all the beautiful flowers at these events. I guess they thought the extra skeletons would suffice.

One touch I loved were these light fixtures made from old rum bottles. Very clever!

One last (very dark) view of the tables with the big island map in the background.

I thought they did a beautiful job this year, as always. I always enjoy seeing all the clever touches that relate to the theme. And now, if I start a new traditional closing line, maybe one day it will come true … I hope they go back to having a children’s book theme next year.

XOXO,
Anna