Quilt now, work later

We the people...

Oh, I'm in a patiotic mood today.  Yankee Doodle all the day.  Wish I'd used more red in that blue and white kimono quilt.  As it is, there is some, so I hung it to celebrate the 4th.  I'll have to make something else in those colors for patiotic holidays. 

Riet, my kid is 10.  She's a tall 10, though, so she can handle large pieces of fabric and doesn't need a special table to be able to sit at the machine and reach the pedal anymore.  When she first came to live with us, we had to put the pedal on a large book for her to reach it.  She still has pudgy kid fingers that lack strong muscle coordination, so I haven't let her use the rotary cutter or my sharp scissors, but am going to try to find a way that she can safely cut her own fabrics this time.  But, it will have to be a quick method as she loses interest fast and wants to finish NOW.  She has a small Singer she named Princess that she'll use to make her quilt.  I doubt it has enough power to penetrate her fingernail, but I've taught her to be very careful of the needle (my own terror of sewing through my finger means that's the first thing I teach).  And, she is chomping at the bit to dig into my stash to pick fabrics.  She knows exactly what she wants and what size, so I'm hoping she will stick with it this time and that it's not just a passing fancy. 

The other day in the quilt store was the first time anyone introduced me as her dad.  It really took me back and made me think that this is really happening.  So many people, including me, stumble around describing our relationship (is she my daughter, is she my niece (she is da man's niece), is she a foster child)?  We're in process of an adoption, but that's going to take more than a year, so for now, I'm technically her guardian.  But that sounds so official and doesn't really fit with the way we interact.  She calls me Lane unless she wants to annoy me; then she calls me mom (thank goodness never in public).  She tells kids at school and camp that we're both her uncles.  Glad our relationship isn't as complicated as describing it is.  This morning I told her something she was doing annoyed me and she launched into the long list of things I do that annoy her.  Wow, I had no idea.  She's all girl and I'm basically as goofy as all three stooges, so I do a lot that annoys her. 

We have big cookout and pool plans with da man's best friend and his family tomorrow, so I won't get as much quilting done as I had hoped.  Guess I'll stay up late tonight and nap in a chaise in the shade tomorrow...hey, all I'm supposed to do is show up.  They didn't say I had to stay awake.  Be careful what you ask for cause analysts live on technicalities. 

And, Hey Everybody that's reading this blog!  I've had 715 hits in just three weeks.  Who knew I was so interesting.  Thanks for reading my ramblings on quilting and parenting.

Take care and have a great holiday.  I'll log in from home this weekend and maybe I'll get that big bin of fabric out of the floor and can post a picture of my sewing room while it's clean. 

Lane

Untitled Comment

02:46 AM, Friday, July 4, 2008 .. Posted by Riet

Yes, girls are definitely different from boys Lane.LOL I found that out when we got our granddaughters. We were used to a house with boys (4) and girls is a totally other story.Had to get used to that. I am going to ask if the little girls want to learn sewing . Their mother can't teach them as she doesn't sew and somebody has to give it a try at least.
Happy 4th and enjoy your nap. :))