Now then, what was I saying?

First a job change (not voluntary), then a move, then various life and family events, plus Mom needing just a little more daily care and, woosh!  Massive amounts of time goes by!
But the constants (loving hubby, great kids, sweet sisters and, of course, quilting) keep life humming along.
I have made some favorite quilts in the last couple of years,

 

been to Asilomar and Empty Spools seminar, where I enjoyed a week-long workshop wit Pam Holland,

 

and had the most amazing trip to England with my daughter, the English Prof, and her class.  There I was inspired by so much beauty, especially Kew Gardens.  This is the quilt I made from one of my water lily photos.

 

 

I have seen many stunning water lily quilts, but this has special meaning for me as it reminds me of that time in London with my daughter.  I have not done a lot of traveling in my life, so it was just a joy for me the whole time!
And now I have new projects to keep me busy.  I took part (for some insane reason!) in a block of the month program that featured 5" blocks.  Some with many, many pieces!  The blocks - 63 of them - were from Lori Smith's book, Road to Freedom, and used civil war reproduction fabric.  The program was through The Temecula Quilt Company.  It was a lot of fun, and I finally finished all the blocks, but decided to design my own setting instead of the original pattern.  That took some time, but I am happy with it and am now quilting it.  It is really too large to do on my home machine, but that has never stopped me before!!  Believe me, it is like trying to wrestle an uncooperative giant squid through the machine to get the center area quilted.  But quilt it, I will!
I am also participating in an Facebook quilt-along, but that is another story!