Salvage, soccer and snow

Strange weather we are having!  Saturday was a warm, sunny 60 degrees and I participated in a charity soccer tournament (http://www.conwaycup.com/) with my co-workers to help support an office mate who was recently diagnosed with ALS.  What fun!!!  I played soccer in high school, but the last time I used my shin guards was Fall 1988.  I'm glad to say that I still knew what to do, but I must unhappily report that my body was about 3 steps behind my mind.  Also, I figured, since we were playing in the 30 years old and over bracket that we'd be playing against other hodge podge groups like us.  NOT SO!  Every team we played against had UNIFORMS.  With NUMBERS on them.  Because they were actual TEAMS!  That practice 2 times a week YEAR ROUND!  Needless to say, my team of has-beens, some of whom had never played soccer before got CRUSHED, but what fun!  Well, except for the pain.  By the end of our 4th match (short 25 minute games), both of my knees were bleeding and I had caught a ball with my face, somehow dislodging my nose piercing.  Luckily, I have spare studs at home.  I also found some lovely bruises in the shower yesterday.  Battle scars!

Then yesterday, Sunday, it snowed EIGHT INCHES!  I wasn't planning to leave the house anyway, since I could barely walk from my soccer escapades.  Know what that means?  Time to sew!

I worked on my hand quilting a bit on the Charm Quilt, and then remembered that my mother's birthday is in about 2 weeks.  Down to the sewing room I went. (Mom, if you are reading, this is your cue to STOP READING!)

Do you remember the summer coverlet I inherited this spring, made by my Great Aunt (or someone - I should make an effort to find out who made it), that was falling apart and needing to be repurposed? 

Summer bedspread made by my Great Aunt Somebody or other. Flowers are made from french knots on muslin.

I pulled out two of the embroidered blocks and some coordinating fabric to make a pair of throw pillows for my mom for her birthday.  The back has an envelope closure for easy removal and laundering.

I liked them so much and I had a tiny bit of the fabric left over that I made one more to be the first item in my new ETSY shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/mypatchworklife. 

Yup, that's right, I've taken the plunge.  I make more stuff than I have intended recipients.  And besides, at the Old Middlebrook Village Day last year where I had a booth, many people asked for a business card.  So now, I have a shop, business cards and labels to sew into my stuff.  Cool, huh?  Now, if I can just finish some actual QUILTS to put in there!

Anyway, today is a snow day for the kids, so I am working from home.  I just finished reading a bunch of files, and now my bed is calling to me to come take a little nap.  My bedroom is perfectly situated in the house, warm and sunny throughout the day, perfect for napping.  YAWN!  Happy Monday, everyone!

In need of color!

I'm trying to not let all this snow get me down. I'm trying to not envy my children who are relaxing at home while I am (supposedly) toiling away at work. All this white is starting to depress me - I need some color! Although Donald and I did marvel at these cute little frozen trees by the creek yesterday - "Look Mom! The trees are sparkly!"

I've been keeping my Bright Ideas Quilt close at hand. I "finished" quilting it this weekend, and I'm now sewing down this yellow binding that I pulled from my stash and which seemed perfect to accent both the back and the front.

I say "finished" because I'm pretty sure I'm going to add more quilting. It is hard for me to set something aside and finally say it is done.

Jason and I are on a 5-day "diet" to earn our SELF-DISCIPLINE patches in karate. Our version of the diet is "only fruit for breakfast" and "at least 8 glasses of water a day". Fruit salad is colorful, right? So that's what I made the kids for breakfast this morning, in colorful bowls to boot.

That cheered me for a few moments.

But now I'm at work, my fruit is long gone, I'm sick of drinking water, and here's the kicker - I added the challenge for me to not drink coffee or tea (except herbal) or hot chocolate for those 5 days. Someone just brewed a fresh pot of coffee, and the aroma is wafting up the stairs to taunt me.

Please, I implore you, leave a comment sending warm, colorful love my way!