Blogging Reflections

It's the new year, and I felt like redoing my blog. I don't know which is easier. Redoing a room, or the blog! :o) It's been difficult to decide on what color to paint the blog, just like it is difficult to pick a paint color for a room. Dark or light? Bright or subdued. Fonts, text size and color. right or left options, triple or double. I'm still testing all my options, and having fun looking at templates. Learning a lot in the process. So, maybe when you visit next time---who knows what it will be like here! :o)

Then there's the "widgets". Those areas on the right side of the blog screen. What text, what color, what to leave, what to remove. Move them up, down, delete them?

And now I really don't even know why I named the blog Timber Hill Threads ---years later why am I pondering that? It's sort of a done deal on blog-land once you give yourself a name.

I was looking for something that described where I live, and catchy sounding with what my hobby is, which is sewing, making quilting, machine quilting and I use a lot of "thread". And I have a ton of thread! But, now I think the name makes it look like I sell thread, which I don't. But, I meant it to mean the "threads of my life" in a nostalgic philosophical sort of way----Timber Hill Threads. (get it) oh, maybe not.

I've been looking at other peoples blogs and it dawned on me how much they advertise things and link after link to other things. Some for sale, some not. I tried the advertising for a few weeks. I think I was supposed to make money if you clicked on the ad. I don't know if you did. Don't tell me. I never got any money. I also felt like a commercial. So, scratch that Ad widget. If I like something, I'll just tell you. If you think you might like it, you can try it. O.K.

What about links to other blogs. How do you feel about those? I noticed how many bloggers don't have a widget or list or link to other bloggers blogs at all. They just blog, and if you find them on the internet or on another bloggers "favorite blogs" list, it's all chance that you get to read their blogs. I have noticed many visitors here use my blog as a jumping off point to explore other bloggers. Like I may be keeping my "favorite bloggers" list just for their use. I don't even know if they read what I write. Oh well, I'm serving a purpose of sorts.

I wanted to write something under my header about what my blog is about like many bloggers do. So far I have not succeeded. It's such a mish-mosh of things I do and write or reflect on. I don't post on any regular basis either. So, you can't rely on me to keep up with a daily blogging diary.

Just some thoughts on blogging.

Blog Revisions

I'm changing some things on my Blog. Work in progress.....

Happy New Year!

Here it is the first day of a New Year. One of my resolutions is to make 2012 more productive, and memorable so that I can look back on this year next January and say I accomplished something on this first day of 2012, instead of day dreaming about it.

2011 passed by so fast. Of course as the years have progressed I feel more and more like that. It must be my age. However, I also hear the younger generation remark about this same feeling, so perhaps it is the fast paced time we live in more than the actual ticking of our clocks and torn away calendar pages that make time pass so quickly.

Deny it or not, or if I should write it down here or in a journal, or else where---I still make a few new year resolutions. Not so much voiced or in print, but I know what they are. Even knowing full well many of them will not be completed or accomplished. It's more about the joyful feeling that on this day of the first of January 2012 with a clean slate and the new year stretching before me that I plan to fulfill some of those resolutions.

I don't know if I would these thoughts resolutions. I think they are more about hope---I hope to achieve this goal or finish that project. I hope to spend more time doing this or that. I'm hoping that this will happen and so forth..... The saying 'hope springs eternal' could apply to many of these resolutions.

With that philosophical thought in mind I celebrate the first day of January filled with hope, and I wish all my family and friends a new year filled good health, fulfilled hopes and dreams and a successful 2012 whatever your new year resolutions may be.

Merry Christmas

May the Christmas spirit of love, hope, peace and happiness be with you and your family.

The Eagle is Back

We haven't seen the American Bald Eagle for several months now. But yesterday he perched in one of the trees near our house. He flew off about dusk. This morning he is back. He is so magnificent looking. He hunts the Laguna near Timber Hill.

Sunset

Sassy and I sat out on the bench in the back yard and enjoyed a beautiful sunset this evening before dinner.

Busy Times

It has been so long since I've blogged. It's the season of busy around here just like I'm sure it is at your house. Here are some pictures of what I've been doing. Quilting of course----

These are five toddler quilts for my friend Joyce's great grandchildren.

I finally finished our neighbor Al's quilt. He is a Vietnam Vet. I still have the label to embroider. I'm excited to present this to him.

Finished quilting this for Linda. It's a Christmas gift she hoped I could squeeze in. Circle Lord Swirls template boards to the rescue. Done in a flash! Love the colors Linda used in this bed quilt.

These are two large pillow panels Cora asked me to do months ago. I was looking for some fabric yesterday and found them.

Cora was probably wondering what happened to them and too polite to ask---anyway, I decided spur of the moment to complete them just in case she wants them for the holidays. The thread painting was so much fun and a nice break from regular quilting.

I noticed on our morning walk along Timber Hill that the Fiddlehead ferns are starting to sprout. They are such a beautiful shade of green this time of the year. I hope you are almost finished with your Christmas projects, and find some time to simply enjoy the season. We have had beautiful weather for this time of the year here in Sonoma county.

Thanksgiving

Doris Lee~Thanksgiving painting. Oil on canvas c.1935

Thanksgiving brings so many nostalgic feelings. I'm thankful for the many blessings in my life. My family, my home, my health, my freedom and so much that I can't even put into words. Today, I also think of Thanksgivings past. This painting by Doris Lee reminds of those Thanksgivings of when as a child.---Thanksgiving was a huge family event. Aunts, uncles, Nonna, cousins, friends all together preparing the Thanksgiving feast.

My Uncles who made their own wine would arrive with their bottles of wine and conduct their annual wine tasting. Debating who had made the best wine that year.... My mother and her sisters made homemade ravioli downstairs on my aunts big basement kitchen table the day before. Layers of homemade pasta and fillings covered the huge long table. Several wooden ravioli rollers compressed the sections. I would get to use the little rolling cutter to separate each little ravioli. Sauces simmered on the stove. Cheese was grated. The turkey was the side dish. The ravioli was the main dish! Wonderful assorted antipasto dishes all arranged on the side board of the formal dining room table. The best china, glassware and linens.

Memories. Wonderful memories---I'm so thankful for those too.

I hope you are making many happy memories with your families today. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

How Do You Primarily Buy Fabric?

While browsing around other bloggers sites, or peeking into their sewing space I notice many quilters have large stashes of fabric. That was not too surprising!---but, what surprised me is that their stashes primarily consist of large Bolts of Fabric! I'm not noticing they are in a business, they are hobby quilters like myself.
I have bought my share of fabric through the years, but I don't recall buying bolts and bolts of fabric. Occasionally I splurge on six or seven yards, or a wide quilt backing fabric.

Am I missing some unknown advantage to buying fabric by the bolt?

How do you buy fabric? Yards, fat quarters, precuts---bolts of fabric?

If you buy bolts of fabric, is it cost cutting to buy fabric this way?

Do you ever get tired of having so much of the same fabric on hand. A bolt is 15 yards. That seems like a lot of one print or color.

Storage issues?

I would love comments about this, and I've also set up a poll here on the side bar.

Quilts of Valor

Perhaps it is coincidental that I finished quilting several quilts for our soldiers this past week which makes me feel useful in some small way this Veterans Day.

This wonderful quilt top was made by Linda who lives north of me in California. I loved quilting this top for many reasons, but looking at the various patriotic fabrics Linda had collected to make this top made it interesting and fun to quilt. I don't believe I've ever seen so many wonderful patriotic prints combined in one quilt.


One of my quilting friends, Pam made this quilt top, wonderful earthy African animal prints! I love the name Pam gave this quilt. "Peaceful Warriors". I'm sure it will bring much needed peace and comfort to one of our wounded warriors---

Peggy sent me this beautiful quilt top several weeks ago. I just finished the quilting today as I had been waiting for the Milky Way template boards to arrive from Circle Lord that I especially wanted to use on this quilt. Swirls & stars on "For Which It Stands" It will be off in the mail this coming week to one of our brave soldiers. (click on any pic. to enlarge)

A special thank you to all the soldiers who have served our country. We appreciate all the sacrifices you have made.

11-11-2011