Hello from Des Moines, Iowa

Terry and I arrived at our hotel about 4:30 this afternoon.  We left my house at 7:40 AM.  It was a loooooong drive and a lot of it in very overcast skies and rain.  Thank God, Terry still sees real good and she drove the rainy part.

About five miles away from here my car started flashing the "Low Air in Tires" signal.  My car had just been serviced and the tires had been checked -- supposedly.  When we got to a gas station where we could check, each tire was 10 pounds low.  It is quite a bit colder here, so I don't know if that is what caused it or not.

Anyway, Terry knew exactly what to do.

Terry parked under the entryway and stayed with my car while I went into the hotel to check in.  A young man (I think) who had a shaggy beard and a mustache that grew only on the sides of his upper lip and then curled down inside his mouth waited on me.  I couldn't see his mouth much, but his mustache moved when he talked.

I asked him if there was a restaurant close by.

He said, "You just passed one!"

Terry and I drove past a place that said Farmer's Tools or Farmer's Mercantile -- Farmer's something.  It looked like you might be able to buy a tractor or a rake there.

I asked him what the name of it was.  He said it was "The Machine Shed".

I said, "The WHAT?"

His mustache moved rather nervously as he murmured something about it being a good restaurant, and he reached under the counter and pulled out a large tri-fold menu and shoved it across the counter toward me.  Sure enough.  It was "The Machine Shed".

Since it was quite dark and still rainy outside, we decided to try the place for dinner.  We entered through the side door which led us into a mostly vacant bar.  I thought, "This is a weird restaurant."

We asked someone inside if it was a restaurant, and some person took pity on us and directed us through the bar and  to the counter that was inside the FRONT door that we should have come in.  We still didn't see a restaurant.  It turned out to be down the hall and around the corner.

Hardly anyone was there except for a party of about 8 or 10 at a big round table in the corner.  It was someone's birthday at that table, and the people at it started singing "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, ...." but they sang it sooooooo slooooooooooow and so loooooooooow it sounded like a funeral dirge.  It was the somberest birthday party I ever saw.

Our table was large.  We noticed that on the end of every table there were two small upside down mason jars.  We thought they were decorations to go along with the farmer theme.  A young girl dressed like a farmer in a red and white checked shirt and dark blue overalls came to our table.  She put down a metal pitcher full of ice and water, and then she left.  Terry and I decided the pitcher MUST be to fill the two little jars with, so we did.

And we kept filling them, over and over and over.  The water was really good though.  The funny thing is, we decided everything was going to be tiny, because of the tiny cups, but THEN....

We got our dinner.  Check this out!

The little waitress kept bringing us extra stuff.  She brought coleslaw and homemade applesauce that had sliced apples (YUM!) and some kind of spice cake and rolls.  Terry and I honestly could have ordered one dish and shared it.  I left most of mine there.  WAAAAAAAAAAY too much!  I decided they HAD to give us tiny glasses or they wouldn't be able to fit the food on the table!

Now, we are each in our separate beds in the hotel room and each of us have our laptops on our laps.  Life is good, and we are happy.  Tomorrow at 9:30 our classes start.  We are excited.  Unless it is against the APQS law for me to take pics, I certainly will take some.  It is only five minutes away, but we will probably give ourselves 30 minutes to be sure we find it.

Have a great week, my friends, and I'll be back soon.

Hugs, Joy

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Hi everyone,

Don't faint!!!

Two posts in two days.

WHAT is going on???

Well, I wish I knew.

My usually very chatty friends have suddenly disappeared from my messages and Marco Polo.  Why is it that when that happens, I feel like I've done something wrong?

Oh, wait!

I know!

It is because most of my family has disowned me for some infraction they think occurred; so I automatically think I've done something wrong when my friends go silent, if only for a day.

I did see Terry and two of her grand dolls today.  McKinley and Riley were visiting and having a wonderful time.  Reminds me of the days when my grandchildren actually loved being with us.  I thought it would always be that way, but the world is a cruel master and it pulls the hearts of our loved ones away from us.  Kids are selfish and they forget all you did for them when they were growing up.  

I know a lot of my readers are in the same boat. Sad and hurtful, isn't it?

We were invited to our friends' home in Ozark, MO for Thanksgiving, but because of our sudden, unexpected trip to Des Moines and new construction at our OKC store, we had to cancel that.  We will go to Terry's for Thanksgiving.  We are taking the turkey.

Then Terry and I leave Sunday morning for the 7 1/2 hour drive to Des Moines for two days of Quilt Path classes at APQS (the company that made my longarm and the Quilt Path software).

So, that is what I'll be doing this coming week.  Would love to make some new tops for winter, but I can't seem to find the time with me working at the store and practicing Quilt Path every spare moment I get.  Someday soon though.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I always am excited to watch the service live from Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX.  It is a highlight in my week for sure.

God bless you all!   
Hugs, Joy

Quilt Path Success!

FINALLY!

A day spent with my new Quilt Path computer when the computer didn't QUIT for some reason.

It is really a lot of fun, and I think it would be very easy to learn with a good teacher.  Hence, Terry and I are driving to Des Moines right after Thanksgiving for two days of lessons.  I dread the long drive, but I haven't figured out to move Des Moines closer to us.

We are SO excited!  I'm hoping that I can help people myself someday so they don't have to wait hours for an answer when they are in the middle of a project.

I took a day off Wednesday so Terry and I could finally get together to learn the Quilt Path.  I was teaching her the few little things I know so far.  I was using the stylus that comes with it because I thought I was supposed to use it.  The installer told me to hang it on the side of the Quilt Path because I needed to use it, so I assumed I was supposed to use it. So I told Terry that she needed to use it.  We were right in the middle of putting a pantograph together when the Quilt Path FROZE.  We pushed all over the place with the stylus and NOTHING.

Since it had done this three times in the past (as I blogged about earlier), I assumed it was the "reinstall the drivers" thing again.

Terry suggested we turn off everything and even unplug it from the wall.  We did that a couple of times.  Still, nothing.  I don't have much time to make quilts these days and neither does Terry, and that is the ONLY reason I bought this expensive device to start with!  So when the Quilt Path decided to freeze, we were both quite unhappy.

I posted on the Quilt Path Group, but nobody knew the answer.  I called the only person I knew to call, but she was busy teaching classes.  That was very frustrating because when you are in the middle of a project, you need help RIGHT THEN.  

About two hours later, I received a phone call from the amazing Angela Clark.  She really is good at figuring out what is wrong.  She came to the conclusion that it was a DEAD BATTERY in the stylus.  Who would ever have thought of that?  NOT ME!  It is less than a month old.

She told me I didn't need it anyway.  I could use my finger.  Duh!  That was nice to know.  Evidently, the stylus really is needed but it is for more advanced areas of Quilt Path.  Terry had to leave, so she wasn't able to do the quilt she had ready.

So today came.  This is Friday.  I was able to stay home today.  I decided to try again to complete a quilt top with my new Quilt Path.  I called Terry first, and she said she had time to come over and do a baby quilt.  Quilt Path was friendly and cooperated -- YAY!  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take pics of her quilt.  It was really cute too.  She left, and I put on the second Dinosaur quilt top.

I did take some pics of it.  Remember, I make the tops and cut the bindings and send them to Diana.  She LIKES to do bindings, so she sews the bindings on.  Then they are delivered to the Casa House to be given to the kids.

This is the top without a binding:

Here is the back.

Diana has already bound the turtle quilts and the alien quilt.  She finished the binding on the back by hand.  She really does a great job.  Her son, Nick, is holding up the aliens to show me the binding.

 

Time for bed, so I better turn out the lights.  Jerry is pretending to watch TV, but his eyes are closed.

Be back soon with more charity quilts and more information about the Quilt Path.

Hugs, Joy

New Computer and Quilts Being Made

Hey Everyone!

I don't know how so much time goes by between my blog posts.  I think I'm spending a lot more time making videos these days, so I feel like I have blogged, but I really haven't.

So here is the video made just this morning talking about the Dinosaur quilts I'm making for charity.

In that video I promised you a picture of Princess Di at the Country Kitchen here in Kingston, OK where we ate on Saturday after she did my hair.

She was so adorable sitting there with all those animals above her head!

We went to our store after we ate because I wanted to show Di all of my quilts there.

(For my reader that asked me what kind of store we have, it is a medical equipment store.)

She had a fit over the quilts hanging on the walls there.  She said she couldn't believe I had not shown them all TO YOU.  I guess I didn't realize I hadn't shown them all to you.  So hard to get good lighting once they are hung in a permanent spot.  One of these days, maybe I'll take some lights in and photograph them.

And here is the video I made a few days ago in case you haven't seen it yet.  It is the one where I decided I am going to LOVE my new Quilt Path computer, so I'm changing her name from Godzilla to Gracie.

And have you seen this one yet?  I show you the first quilt I made all by myself with the new computer.  This is so cute and colorful.

So those three videos are UPSIDE DOWN in the order I made them, so you can start at the bottom if you don't want to get all mixed up, lol.

Time for me to study Quilt Path some more.  Terry is FINALLY coming over Wednesday so I can show her what I know SO FAR!

We are going to take classes in Des Moines, IA in a few weeks, and we are SO, SO, SO EXCITED!

We will be SO SMART when we get back home.  I hope to be able to draw my own designs and have Quilt Path sew them out.

Have a fabulous week.

Hugs, Joy

Friday Night VLOG - Jamie Wallen - Lots of Videos

Hello my sweet internet family!

I seem to find it easier to make short videos (VLOG's) these days, so let me show you the one I made last night.

Here it is:

I seem to still have several Blog followers that don't follow my Youtube channel, so just in case you haven't seen these already, here are links to all the videos I haven't shown you here on my Blog.

I'm not sure these are in the proper order, but I tried.  If you have already seen them, just come back next time and see how I do a binding.

Also going to make some Sure-fit Design tops!  I miss doing that.

If you are only seeing my videos here -- and you CARE -- you can simply push the "Youtube" link at the bottom of any video and choose to "subscribe" when you get there.  Then you will always get an email when I make a new video.

I'm not sure you have seen the "elephant shirt" video either.  Here it is:

It is Saturday, and I have the whole day to play by myself in my quilt room.  I am finishing the LAST block of my Edyta Sitar seasons quilt right now.  (First video up above.)

THEN, I will cut the sashings.

THEN, I will cut the borders.

THEN, I will do a tutorial on how I do bindings for those of you who have asked me to do that.

Have a FABULOUS Fall weekend, and I will do the same.

Hugs, Joy

Quilt Computer Install and Love Lit Diamonds

Hi everyone!

You say you want to know about my Quilt Path installation yesterday.

Well, the truth is, I have had better days.  The lady came without some of the tools she needed.  I had to go over to Jerry's barn to get some for her.  She told me we had just made things too tight, or she wouldn't NEED those tools.  With the proper wrench, the task was very simple and quick.

I asked questions she didn't know the answer to, and she had trouble with the software.  I was nearly in tears because it was a long time wasted, but fought them back.

Then she guffawed at the way I was loading my quilt, and informed me that SHE did it VERY different.  I was nice and asked her to show me HER way.  I thought HER way was fast and sloppy.  I wanted to fix it so my quilt/batting/back were straight and even and the pins were end-to-end the way I like them, but she seemed to be in a huge hurry to leave.  She didn't think it was necessary to even center any of the layers.  I wanted to be sure I got that quilt done because she had promised me we would do it, so I didn't argue with her.

She arrived at 10:30 in the morning, and she left at 3:30.  I sure wouldn't call that a whole day.  Plus, we took a break for lunch that I fixed.  That is LESS than five hours for $500.  She had to drive 4 hours to and from my house, but I can't help where she lives and that she is the ONLY Oklahoma sales rep.  She chooses to do that.  I told her before she came that she was welcome to spend the night.

Maybe all installs are like that.  I can only talk about this one.

She did say I could call her as she was driving, but I could have done that anyway.  Customer service is supposed to be the big PLUS with APQS.

OTHER THAN ALL OF THAT, I am happy with the Quilt Path, and I intend to learn EVERYTHING it does.  I still have to arrange all the cords and wires because she thought I should do that myself.  I'll get Jerry to help me as he excels at massive wire confusion.

The good news is Love Lit Diamonds is all done except for binding, and it was done using the Quilt Path.  The panto on it is called Damask, and the installer actually told me about it.  I do appreciate the time she took to tell me about that and how to get it.

Here is a picture of it:

So the Cuatro Quilters adventure is OVER!

Sadly, it was a journey without a perfect ending.

I have found all through my life that the ONLY way any two people can remain friends -- as in marriage -- is to FORGIVE, FORGIVE, FORGIVE.

Get over the bad stuff, and dwell on the good stuff.

Tell the truth.

Believe in each other.

Trust each other.

Defend each other.

And ALWAYS be willing to say "I'm sorry".

Love Lit Diamonds will forever be a quilt with the hearts of four friends intertwined -- if only for a few short months.  I truly love each of them, and I will cherish this quilt until it is thread bare.

Hubby is home!

Be back soon with Quilt Path stuff.  Have to work tomorrow though.

Hugs, Joy

No Lunch at Applebee's, New Outfit and SFD Blouse

My lightning fast mind realized this morning that I am in "Fast Internet Land", and I can actually upload a video in just a few minutes.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much to tell you.  I wanted to show you my cute new outfit from JC Penney's and my latest cotton blouse, which is no big deal.  Just new.  Sure-fit Designs, of course.

Here it is:

I WAS going to go back to JCP to get the turquoise version of this outfit, BUT Applebee's decided to starve us today.  FIRST -- and this should have been a big clue -- the front door was locked!  We had to walk around to the other door to get in.  We told a guy inside that the door was locked, and he told some girl "the door is STILL locked", as though he had already told her once.

Then we sat in our assigned booth and Mike came over to wait on us.  I ordered from the picture of a yummy-looking pork chop, green beans and sweet potatoes.  Margaret ordered a salad.  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, we still had no dinner.

I decided to motion to Mike and ask him if he might know the whereabouts of our dinner.  He told me it would be right out, and the Manager would bring it.  TEN MORE MINUTES later, Mike came back to our table to inquire as to whether or not our meals had arrived -- which OBVIOUSLY, had not!

Mike went somewhere and returned again.  He told us he was terribly sorry, but he had NEGLECTED to put our orders in.  He wanted to know if we STILL wanted to eat!  Of course, we still wanted to eat, but we didn't have enough time.  We decided it shouldn't take too long for them to bring us a salad.  Evidently, it would take too long, because the manager came back and wanted to know if she could bring us some soup.  Margaret told them to FORGET the salads and just bring us some soup.  The soup eventually arrived, but it was in a tiny bowl.  I could have eaten three times as much!  There was no charge, so we just ate it and left.  I came back home to fix myself some more lunch, so I never made it to JCP.

We certainly won't be going back to Applebee's!  I hate that because it used to be our favorite place to go.

I am now going to go back to my sewing room and finish the blue blouse you saw in the video.  I decided on the blue buttons.

Be back soon.

Hugs, Joy