Tag: quilting

Quilting and Football

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Mama

Who says quilting and football don’t go together? It was Second Saturday Sewing at church this weekend, so I dragged out my quilt, on hiatus throughout the holidays, and began again the laborious task of quilting by hand. It’s slow going, but I’m doing it as tribute to my grandmother, Nannie, with whom I was lucky enough to quilt on occasion. I’m even using her quilting hoop for the task — somehow I just feel a bit closer to my grandma with every little (some smaller than others) stitch.

So I’m sure you’re wondering where football comes into all of this. . . Shortly after returning home from quilting, the Wildcard playoff games began, with my Kansas City Chiefs (notice I’m wearing red) kicking off the first of several weekend games. I do love me some football, especially when the home team is playing, but that can be three hours of accomplishing little else while the pigskin gets tossed about. So I decided to set up my quilting rack, now at hand, right in front of the TV and knock out two kinds of fun at the same time.

My husband gave me a hard time and called me granny more than once (maybe it was the reading glasses), but the Chiefs won (breaking a 22-year playoff win drought), so he better hope I’m up for quilting again next weekend.

My Perfectly Not-So-Romantic Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Mama

Well, I can’t say it was the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever, but it definitely was a good one because I got a little boy time, a little girl time and even a little just-me time.

I woke to Valentine wishes from my husband and son and the aroma of blooming paper whites and tulips before I barely wiped the sleep from my eyes. I received two pots of flowers, two wonderful cards and one mega-fast portable phone charger. Utilitarian? Yes. Needed? Definitely! After all, I only gave my husband two mini boxes of candy and a folded slip of paper tucked inside a card. Okay, the paper had a big ol’ bass on it and a promissory note for an out-of-state fishing license. Romantic? Not really, but he thought it was pretty cool.

Since this was the second weekend of the month, which means Second Saturday Sewing at the church, my boys took me to breakfast at IHOP (which we now call Pancake City for some strange reason lost on me) before dropping me off for a morning of quilting and girl talk with the church ladies. It was a small group, but it’s always fun. Thankfully, I finally finished piecing the quilt started over three years ago (no thanks to a Jo-Ann’s quilting class) and I started the border.

After my boys picked me up, we had a quick lunch and both of them went down for a nap. I weighed my options and decided to set up shop in the basement and continue sewing. By the time the boys awoke two hours later, I was sewing the last of my border pieces and was thrilled (and I do mean, very excited) to finally complete my quilt top! Next step? Pull out The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Quilting. Yes, I own it.

The day was capped off with a botched attempt to eat at Dave & Buster’s by a really large crowd and a very rude patron, but dinner was salvaged by Chick-Fil-A, which is always a winner for our son.

Chicken nuggets + Indoor playground = A good time.

photo credit: Catrin Austin via photopin (license) and altered by Small Talk Mama

A Fine Thursday in Topeka

Posted on April 25, 2013February 3, 2015 by Mama

It was “Take Your Toddler to School Day” for my niece’s parenting class, so I dropped off my son at Topeka West High School this morning and found myself with two hours to kill in a town where I know nothing. With my handy GPS (more fondly know as Lola) in search mode, I started looking for a quaint resale shop or antique market, but what I found was something entirely different. . . in a good way.

In the spot where the antique store was suppose to be, I found a strip mall and a fabric store. I thought that might be a good way to pass the time, and as I drove closer I noticed a large crowd gathering outside said store and signs on the window reading “Huge Sale” and “Fabulous Prizes.” Then I thought, “This really is going to be good.” So like a lemming, I piled into the back of crowd and waited for the doors to open.

As I looked around, I noticed lots of folks holding letters, so I eyeball dropped over someone’s shoulder and read that this was a special invitation event. Hmmmmm. . . I began talking to folks and told them how I came to be there and discovered I had to have a letter, or be the friend of a letter holder, to get through the doors. Well of course, I quickly adopted a new friend, Melanie, and she immediately vouched for me as we entered the store.

I bought material, I bought quilt patterns, I bought basting, and I could have bought more. Thanks Fabric Corner, thanks New Friend Melanie, thanks to the girl cutting my material just helping her mother on her “day off” and thanks to the interesting people in all the lines. You made a little lemming from out-of-town feel very welcomed on a fine Thursday morning in Topeka.