July 14, 2009

Kayak Cruise'n Adventure

Ever been to Adventure Pursuit ? What fun. St. Xavier Parish , our Church, rented Adventure Pursuit last Sunday ...... we had so much fun. They have a pool, inside rock climbing, large play area for volleyball, cornhole and other games, giant covered shelter and KAYAKing (which is a really big fun time).

GS and GD#2 plus their mom (DD#1) did the Kayaking. GS went crazy for it ... took to it just like a fish to water. He couldn't stop talking about how much he loved it and can't wait to go again. Of course, he says he's going to be a "professional fisherman" when he grows up ... you should see his tackle box (photo at bottom). DD#1 is on the hunt for kayak places.

Here's a few photos ....... ENJOY !!!!!!

GS
ryan1

055

DSC03354

ryan2

DSC03368

DSC03365

GD#2
brianna1

DD#1
shanon1

Pappy
doug3

GS's tackle box
CIMG4845

July 6, 2009

Bias Binding Tutorial

I love using bias binding on my quilts. I "only" use bias no matter what. I started out using Shelley's instructions and to this day still do. So everything here is from Shelley's instructions, only the photos are mine.

Photo 1: Your piece of fabric and no it doesn't have to square, retangle .... whatever size you have. This piece is approximately 1/2 yard.
Photo 2: Fold piece over in order to get a true bias. Now I press mine to get the fold.

Photo 3: Cut on the fold using a ruler and rotary cutter.
Photo 4: Take the right piece you cut off above and placed it next to the left edge. You're going to sew the two pieces together.


Photo 5: Sew the two edges together. I like to use a 3/8" seam but use whatever you like.

Photo 6: Press the seam open.

Photo 7: Now on each edge (top/bottom) draw a 1/4" line.

Photo 8: I like for my bias to be 2 1/2". I draw using my ruler from the edge 2 1/2" across the fabric.

Photo 9:

Photo 10: When I get to the right edge of the piece I cut away the excess.

Photo 11: At the top left edge I number the 2 1/2" markings starting with ZERO .... number all the way across. Now the bottom left edge I start the number with ONE ... number all the way across.

Photo 12: Matching the numbers of the top edge and the bottom edge (one to one, two to two) I pin.

Photo 13: The sew on the original line you mark in photo #7. You now have a tube.

Photo 14: Press that seam open ...

Photo 15:

Photo 16: Place the tube over your arm, using scissors cut on the lines you drew in photo 8.

Photo 17

Photo 18: You have a bunch of bias binding done in the round.

Photo 19: Take your binding to the ironing board and press

Photo 20: My almost 1/2 yard fabric yielded 15 1/2 yard of bias binding. YIPPEEEEEEE Feel free to ask questions. I suggest that you print out Shelley's instructions


DISCLAIMER: The photos are mine BUT the instructions I used belong to a friend, Shelley. Check out her website.

July 5, 2009

More 17th Birthday Fun

CIMG6511

CIMG6519



CIMG6523.AVI



HB#17

Happy Birthday

Happy 17th Birthday

CIMG6489

CIMG6488 CIMG6490

More 4th of July

Yummy dinner from the grill

4thJuly 008

and the dessert ........ heaven

4thJuly 016

check out this jewel .... GS made it at Home Depot ... yep we used it at dinner
4thJuly 010 4thJuly 013

GS and Pappy made the decorations ... see that faux firecracker cord ... well if you're wondering they cut a portion of the sun blinds cord ... creative thinking.
4thJuly 006 4thJuly 002

lastly a little video of GS making confetti and the like


4thJuly 022

Hope all had a GREAT holiday .... we did.

July 3, 2009

July 4th

She will forever WAVE and DEFEND




4th july

Thank You ................

June 28, 2009

Trapunto

WOW check out Geta's easy trapunto. She has a NEW e-book too.

June 21, 2009

NQA Show 2009

DH and I headed to the NQA Show on Friday. Oh my ... the vendors, the quilts, the people and ugh the rain.

CIMG6284

We did stop at my most favorite place, The Waffle House, I adore their pecan waffles.

It was the BEST show ever (I think). I bought a few things like thread, pantographs, fabric for Christmas Lights Mystery (Bonnie Hunter) and just one kit.

The quilts were wonderful, terrific and THE BEST. DH helped me take photos so they are not in order per the guide. I can't wait for NQA 2010 Show in Columbus again.

Slideshow, enjoy


2009June NQA

NOTE: Photos were allowed to be taken by ordinary folks, like us. No notice was displayed about not posting them anywhere. If you see your quilt and prefer that no photo display, please email me giving my photo number and I'll be happy to delete it.

June 15, 2009

Guess Who Is In the News

My GD#2 (blonde) ........... oh she's too adorable


Ballet students in the Mid-Ohio Valley had a chance Sunday to learn a little something from a world-renowned dancer.

Valery Lantratov, Artistic Director for the Russian National Ballet Foundation of Moscow, conducted a Master Ballet Class at the Schrader Youth Ballet Company.


Lantratov, who has had a distinguished career as a dancer in the companies of Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plitsetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova and international tours with Rudolf Nureyev, showed local students a number of moves, worked with them on their techniques and instructed them in other aspects of the dance. The 90-minute session occurred at the Schrader studio in downtown.

A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. He is known for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.

In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the U.S.

With the help of Luba, a woman originally from Russia now living in the area acting as an interpreter, Lantratov said Russian dance shows more expression and emotion.
"It is technical, emotional and that is what it is famous for," he said. "It is art. It teaches culture. It teaches the beauty of the art."

While here Sunday, Lantratov went over coordination, physical endurance, strength and more with the local students. "The young girls tried some new jumps," he said.

The students were eager to learn from someone with Lantratov's experience.
"It was really cool to be able to work with some outside people,'" said Mallory, of Meigs County. "I had a really great time."

Esther, of Marietta, said she was amazed by Lantratov's ability and insights.
"He is very knowledgeable about ballet," she said. "He is very inspirational.
"He said to dance with your heart every time and we all needed to be reminded of that."
Lantratov commended the work the local instructors have done with the students.
"I really liked and enjoyed the level and the quality of the education of the Schrader's ballet studio and I would like to congratulate the teachers," he said. "They are attentive students. That is very good." Lantratov said he liked to teach ballet to young students.

"I like to give them my experience, show them my experience and give them all the best I have," he said. "I would like them to remember and to catch that idea of style and manner of movement. I want them to hear the music first then apply their physical body to the music so it would be a symbiosis of both and then they would get the best result."

June 14, 2009

Lucy, we will miss you

One of our beloved members, Lucy, is moving to the Northeast. We will miss Lucy .... she is one lovely, generous woman.

CIMG6013

CIMG6016

SLIDESHOW


stitchrsgrp


We are The Stitchers Group meeting in the Parish Hall of St. Margaret Mary. We are from all walks of life, faiths and varied interest .... some also knit, crochet, cross stitch and more. We definitely enjoy our time together. All are WELCOME.

Check out our blog at Stitchers Group.

June 7, 2009

School Is Out ... YIPPPPPEEEE

School is out mini celebration

Bike riding is FUN
CIMG6019

Collecting things left by high schoolers is fun too
CIMG6023

One man's trash is anothers treasure
CIMG6024

Jumping action
Cimg6038

Cimg6039

Cimg6048



CIMG6043

Cimg6040

Cimg6049