Funny for the Day that I MUST Share

Ok, so this job gets in the way of my TV watching. If it didn't, I know I would be watching Ellen because she cracks me up!!!

Here are 2 clips that had me close to wetting my pants (OK not really, but they are DARN funny). Everyone needs a grandma like Gladys. Life would be so much more interesting.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83JDXXKzOXg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2H5EtG9pQ

CPSIA - Stay for 1 Year

I saw this article today on Etsy. It appears that there will be a 1 year stay on the new law to help lawmakers review and plan for enforcement. That is great news.

Read more here. (Etsy site) Or here. (CPSC)

Moda Bake Shop

Have you been to the bake shop? I just found via a blog I stumbled upon. Thank goodness the calories are only fabric. Otherwise I would be in EVEN more trouble. Check it out.

Moda Bake Shop

Tuesday's Guild Meeting

Tuesday's meeting featured Marg Higgins, who is a member of the guild. What a great trunk show. Marg gave us permission not to follow the rules we all have learned as quilters. She taught us that it's OK if the quilt police like your "art quilts". They are yours and if you like them, that's all that matters. Below are some of the pictures I took of her quilts.

This quilt made me smile. When she held it up all I could think was WOW that's a true Velvet Elvis. Sure enough, Marg found a velvet picture at a garage sale and turned it into a TOTALLY cool wall hanging. She added glitter to the picture and spiced up the flowers. The quilting was great because it enhanced, not distracted.

Marg's coat of many colors. She said she only wears it when she has time to talk to people. Definitely one of those items that makes you stop and want to talk to the person that's wearing it.
This wall hanging really intrigued me. Marg used left over pieces from a quilt that hands on it. The green that makes the leaves or stems for the flowers is actually her hand turned upside down. What a great idea. Instead of wasting something that was wonder undered to beautiful fabric, she re purposed it. The color on the bottom is a south American belt that she attached to the wall hanging and then embellished like mad.
This picture is of a wall hanging that was very embellished. It was very interesting to all of the things she had attached - yarn that was couched, beads, fringe, etc.
I don't know why, but I love this piece. It really caught my eye (HA HA HA). In all seriousness, I do really like it.
Have a great night.

Do You Know??? CPSIA

(you can get this cute design here)

Did I get your attention? If not, please read on.

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another has been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you and people like me? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:

Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:

Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all. Article from the American Library Association

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:

Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand made baby quilt you bought your baby this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Supporters of Project Linus and other Charities that Donate Handmade Items:

Project Linus is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that donates handmade blankets as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children and provides a tremendous service opportunity for members of our community for the benefit of children. Why would ANY act of government want to stop the good work that we are doing? Unfortunately the way the Act is worded, the term "distribute" is used, which could include any item made and GIVEN or SOLD to a child under 12 years old. At this time, it is not known how or if it will impact Project Linus and other charitable organizations but the CPSIA needs clarification with regard to charities. The reality is that if the law is not clarified to exclude charitable organizations, or to define certain terms regarding “distribution” and remove the potential liability to organizations such as Project Linus, we will have no choice but to dissolve our beloved organization.

To the Environmentalist:

Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:

Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:

Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

My Shop

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.”

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.


If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html


And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law.
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

To locate the contact information for your congress person go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

To locate the contact information for your US Senator go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here are some additional contacts:

Contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - (301)-504-7923

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 4330 East West HighwayBethesda, MD 20814

Contact the House Energy and Commerce Committee - (202)-225-29272125
Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515

You are welcome to contact the personal offices of anyone on the following list, who are the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. There is not room here to post addresses, but a google search will give you their snail mail addresses.

Henry A. Waxman, CA , Chair
John Dingell, MI, Chair Emeritus
Joe Barton, TX Ranking Member
Edward Markey, MA
Rick Boucher, VA
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Bart Gordon, TN
Bobby Rush, IL
Anna Eshoo, CA
Bart Stupak, MI
Eliot Engel, NY
Gene Green, TX
Diana DeGette, CO
Lois Capps, CA
Michael Doyle, PA
Jane Harman, CA
Janice Schakowsky, IL
Charles Gonzales, TX
Jay Inslee, WA
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Mike Ross, AR
Anthony Weiner, NY
Jim Matheson, UT
G.K. Butterfield, NC
Charlie Melancon, LA
John Barrow, GA
Baron Hill, IN
Doris Matsui, CA
Donna Christensen, VA
Kathy Castor, FL
John Sarbanes, MD
Christopher Murphy, CT
Zachary Space, OH
Jerry McNerney, CA
Betty Sutton, OH
Bruce Braley, IA
Peter Welch, VT
Ralph Hall, TX
Fred Upton, MI
Cliff Stearns, FL
Nathan Deal, GA
Ed Whitfield, KY
John Shimkus, IL
John Shadegg, AZ
Roy Blunt, MO
Steve Buyer, IN
George Radanovich, CA
Joseph Pitts, PA
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Lee Terry, NE
Mike Rogers, MI
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
John Sullivan, OK
Tim Murphy, PA
Michael Burgess, TX
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Phil Gingrey, GA

Where Did the Weekend Go?

I did manage to get a few things done today. I have no idea where the weekend went though. Work tomorrow - BOOOO. YIKES, in my thoughts of going to work tomorrow, it just dawned on me that this is the last week of January. Where has the month gone??? I had big plans of getting all sorts of things accomplished. I'm going to have to work like mad this week then.

Here are couple shows for today. This is a baby quilt that I just did a big meander on. I love the dragons that look like Princesses and Knights.


This is a top that I showed before. It was my first attempted at a disappearing 9 patch. Didn't turn out at all like I thought it should. Oh well, it's done now.

And of course, there must be some sort of embroidery to share now. I made 6 blocks with bears on them. I think I'm going to set the blocks with a 9 patch block.

One sick (not good) applique lamb. I really need to work on my applique on the embroidery machine. The colors for this guy are HORRIBLE. Need to work on that too.

Last but not least, one tired Buddy to share. I think he will be happy to have the house quiet tomorrow. That way he can catch up on his sleep. He's exactly like a little kid, no napping because he just might miss something. He did catch the cat by the tail today. Poor Shiner really didn't want to be pulled in the direction that Buddy was trying to pull him.


Goals for this week:

1. Quilt 2 baby quilts.
2. Get binding on the quilts that have been finished.
3. Embroider some more clothes for my walking bill board (aka Grace).
4. Practice on applique with embroidery machine.
   

Have a great week!!

Festivites and Sewing

I decided to take today off work to stay home and watch the inaugural coverage. My real motive is to get some serious sewing done too. The embroidery machine will be running at a constant pace today as I try to get a quilt quilted.

The TV is on already and I'm ready for all the coverage. I talked to the guy I work with yesterday about the inauguration. We both decided that we don't remember excitement and coverage like there will be today. It's a very important day in history and if I can't be there to see it in person, I just want to see it on TV.

EDIT - 7:30PM:

I just came up for air. The TV was on the entire day. I completely teared up during the speech that President Obama gave. He said so many things that really hit home for me. It's so exciting to be an American and to be part of this country. This definitely is a time of change.

So onto the things I got done today. I sewed like a woman possessed. The cats helped me. Buddy didn't like all the machine noise and started pacing so he spent some time in his crate.

Finish #1 - this baby quilt for a lady that contacted me via ETSY. She is having a baby and has not found out if it's a boy or girl.

I think I did a pretty good job keeping the colors neutral. The back is a pale green and so is the binding. All I have left is to finish hand sewing the binding.

Finish #2 was the Dresden Plate quilt that I showed a couple days back. I had to figure out how to finish the top of it. So that's now done and ready to be handed off. The cats LOVE that quilt, so it's in the dryer right now being fluffed to remove some of the cat hair it accumulated while visiting my house.

Finish #3 was the back for a quilt top that I finished around November. The back is loaded on the quilt frame and waiting for me to get busy. I need to get the batting and top centered and I'm ready to get it quilted. I even cut the binding out and it's ready to be sewed on once the quilt is together.

Finish #4 was a panel quilt that I added some borders too. It was partially done so I finished it and got the back ready. The binding is also cut and ready to go.

In between the mad frenzy of machine quilting and sewing, I fired up the embroidery machine and made some Bluework blocks. After looking at the picture, I can see I need to pick some more of the stabilizer from the back.

I love the new machine. Not a single thread break. The machine just starts and runs until it's done. Gotta love it. If I can find some material for bags, I will get started on those again.

Well, I must retire and get one small child ready for bed. Have a great night!!