Versatile Blogger Award update

One of my nominees, Valentina from Valentina's Corner, had decided her blog would be "award-free" from the time she first began blogging.  So she caressed the Versatile Blogger Award and asked me to pass it along to yet another deserving recipient.  It's a win-win for me because Valentina now knows how much I appreciate her blog, and yet I get to pass it along to someone else who is also deserving that I'd left out.  I tend to be a rule-follower and the directions said 15 recipients not 16.  What a dilemma!

Okay, so I'm awarding Wendy at Ivory Spring.  A talented quilter and a new mom.  Personally, I think anyone who has children deserves an award for versatility.  That's the name of the game, isn't it? 

Such a Sweet Surprise

This afternoon, I found a note in my inbox from P. over at The Way I Sew It.  She had awarded me The Versatile Blogger award!  I was totally surprised and honored.  Thanks P.!  I'm not sure I've reached the level of versatility implied by the award, but I am working on it.  This is certainly encouraging.

The award comes with a few easy rules, and I am more than pleased to adhere to them.

• Thank the person who gave you the award.  (Yep, got that one covered.)
• Tell 7 things about yourself.
• Award 15 other bloggers that you enjoy reading.

7 Things About Me:

1. I'm an only child (and I did learn to share).
2. I love to read science fiction and mysteries, and all genres in between.  
3. I am both a liberal and a conservative--it depends on the issue.  Consequently, I have no representatives in the Congress or the Senate since they are so polarized.
4. I have no phobias about insects or spiders in general, but maggots really give me the willies.
5. I loved watching B movies with my dad.  He gave a running commentary that was just hysterical.
6. My favorite subject in college was chemistry.
7. My favorite TV show at the moment is Memphis Beat.

15 Bloggers who are receiving the Versatile Blogger Award from me (in no particular order):

1. Astrid at Grandma's Red Needle
2. Elaazan at Huisvlyt
3. ThreeUnderTwo at Lit and Laundry
4. Eric at The Empirical Manifesto
5. Valentina at Valentina's Corner
6. Marg at Sunshine? Paradise?
7. Roslyn at Ros-the-Quilter
8. Suzanne at Coloradolady
9. Cynthia at Home Matters 1st
10. Rita at Quiltpiecer
11. Andrea at Lush Stuff
12. Liz at Brambleberry Cottage
13. Nima at Made to Treasure
14. Carrie at A Passion for Applique
15. Erica at Scrappy Threads

Now if P. hadn't just given the award to Mrs. Pyjamas at Quilting in My Pyjamas, Joy at Taradiddle and Malarky, Carla at Sew It Up Baby, Kristen at So Happy, Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Elizabeth at Such a Sew and Sew, I would have given them the Versatile Blogger award too.  But I didn't want any of them to get too full of themselves.  ;-)  (Just kidding Ladies!).  Seriously, this way, I get to spread the admiration a bit further.  There are so many wonderful bloggers, and I feel blessed to be part of a really special group in the blogging community.

Fluorescent lighting

My mom and I are very fortunate to have overhead fluorescent lighting in our sewing room. You really can't beat it for being able to see well.

However, I've come to the realization that if I spend a big chunk of time in under the lights in one sitting, I get to feeling a little depressed. Initially, I thought it was because I usually do my quilting toward the end of the day and so I am likely to be tired. However, this seems like more than just tiredness. In looking back, I realize that any time fluorescent lighting has been the only light source in a room, I feel that way. Now, if there is a window with sunshine in addition to the fluorescent lights, I'm good; if there is another type of light in the room too, well that helps. My mother is wondering if she's being similarly affected, although her feelings have been more subtle.

Have any of you experienced anything like this?

Embroidered Summer Bed Spread

I was rummaging through the linen closet this past week and came across this summer bed spread made by great grandmother. I'm not sure of its age, but I remember seeing it on her bed when we visited her in 1978. I was fourteen years old. 

It appears to be made from a high thread count sheet, that she divided into on-point squares using a fancy stitch on her sewing machine. Then she embroidered the names of the states with the state flower that she had visited. The "states" include "Old Mexico", "Canada", and "Santa Catalina".

It is a perfect weight for a humid, summer Kansas night.  She slept with her windows open.  

Here are close-ups of some of the blocks:

My great grandmother was an incredibly talented woman. She quilted, knitted, crocheted, and embroidered. It is she who inspired me to quilt. I've shown her work on Vintage Thingy Thursday before~a Dresden Plate quilt.

I'm linking up at Suzanne's site, The Colorado Lady, for Vintage Thingy Thursday. Go check out the other cool vintage items people are sharing this week.

A Week Ago Today

It was a week ago today that my dad died.  It is impossible to explain just how much that sucks.  I know some of you already know, and for those who don't, I hope you don't have to find out for a long time.

My dad's death was sudden and unexpected.  However, having also witnessed the slow, lingering, die-by-inches type of death, I can honestly say that for the person who must leave us, the quick death is better.  I am thankful he did not suffer long.  The sense of disbelief and surreality that the unexpected death leaves in its wake takes some time to fade, but after a week's time it is mostly gone.

My dad would want my mother and me to get back on life's horse and ride, so that is what we will try to do.  I will return to blogging on my topic theme--quilting--as soon as I can, and I'm already finding times I can concentrate enough to comment on my fellow bloggers blogs.  If I fail to comment on someone's blog, it's not because I'm not interested; I just don't always have my act together.  Please bear with me.