The Quilting Slut

My husband and I have been married for over 25 years now.  During our quarter century together, he has called me many names of endearment...honey, babe, sugar, dear, #1 and the quilting slut. Yes, he has called me a quilting slut.  Now before you get all fired up and accuse me of degrading quilting by attaching it to the word slut, please let me explain.

 I have a wonderful little group of quilting friends called the Bodacious Fabric Goddesses (BFGs). Or as Rick calls us "The Clucking Quilt Hens."  He has even numbered us...1, 2, 3, 4.....  In our younger days we spent many weekends and summer days traveling all over the United States going to fabric stores and quilt shows.  We have traveled  to Charlestown, St. Louis, Peoria, Paducah, Grand Rapids, and beyond.  We have gone on more Shop Hops than you can imagine.  We all have the "Quilter's Bible".  It is a book that lists all of the quilt shops in the United States, Canada and Europe.  It was nothing to pick up the book, select some shops, map a route, load the swagger wagon...okay, so it was called a mini van back in the old days...and take off!

One day as the hens and I were sitting around my kitchen table planning a new adventure, Rick walked  in and asked what we were doing.  As if he had to ask!  Couldn't he see the book?!?!  Any ways, we told him what we were doing and he started to laugh.  He said, and I quote...."You are quilting sluts.  All you do is hop from shop to shop fondling fabric!"  We looked at each other and busted out laughing hysterically!   He was totally right!  It pretty much summed it up!

Well,  after school today  I found myself with nothing to do which is a rarity.  Very seldom to do I just have free time to do whatever I want.  So, I decided to head off to Michael's.  For those who aren't crafting aficionados, it is a craft supply store.  I perused the aisles looking for scrapbooking and card making materials.  I bought a paper pack and some stickers.  From there  I went to JoAnne Fabrics. I was fondling bolts of fabric and petting the pretty papers.  I bought a couple of quilting and cardmaking magazines.  Back in the car and on to Hobby Lobby.

It was while I was in the stamp aisle that it occurred to me that I am no longer a quilting slut.  My name is Denise Edmunds and I am a full-blown Crafting Slut.  That's right folks, I am acknowledging the fact that I have no control when it comes to any kind of crafting store.  I have no loyalty to any particular store.  I will do u-turns if I pass any kind of fabric store or crafting store.  I will pick up anything crafty and fondle it.  I will buy stuff just because I have to have and not for any practical purpose.  I have enough projects and gadgets in my quilting room that I couldn't possibility use it all in my life time!  Hell, how many people do you know that have a walk in fabric closet.  I am simply hopeless!

But before you judge me and perform an intervention, please remember one thing.  Most of you who are reading this blog have been benefited from  my addiction.  You have swaddled your babes in quilts.  You have wrapped yourself in wedding quilts on a cool fall night. You have snuggled under your quilt in your dorm rooms.  You have spent endless hours flipping through the scrapbooks.  You have opened endless envelopes to find handmade Christmas cards.  You have been a recipient of my love.  Nothing says I love you more than a Denise creation!

So the next time you see with a glazed look in my eyes, just get out of my way.  I am under the influence of the need to craft addiction.  Who knows, may be I making something for you!

Make Every Day Count...
Denise

Spooning!

Yesterday my friend Beth and I spent some quality time together at the Licking Valley Fall Festival.  As extra curricular advisors, we each had to cover a shift at the school store.  We decided to do it together.  It was more fun that way.  It's also helpful for shopping purposes!  We were able to tag team each other.  We took turns perusing the vendors.  One of us would stay with the students while the other shopped!  We reported back to one and another as to what we found! There were two booths that caught our eyes....the Simple Luxuries table and the spoon ring table.

As the day dwindled and the customers thinned, Beth and I decided it was time to make our purchases. We checked with the students to make sure they could handle the store and register so we could go around the corner to buy our spoon rings and chapstick.  They both said, "Don't worry; we have your numbers in our phones"!  So off we went.  The game plan was to go to the spoon rings booth first and work our way back.  The spoon rings were so cute!  As we were trying them on my phone rang.  Yep, the kids needed some help.  Apparently the one thing we didn't cover with them happened!  LOL!  So I asked Beth to hold the one ring I had picked out so far and headed back to the store.  

Upon my return to the ring booth, I found Beth admiring a beautiful ring on her finger. Apparently, she had selected the perfect piece of jewelry!  She was so excited to tell me that it was called Remembrance.  I wasn't sure what she meant.  The artist that makes the rings saw the look on my face and explained that she researches the patterns of the spoons before she makes them into rings.  The pattern of Beth's ring was called Remembrance and it dated back to 1949.  For Beth this was a blessing from God.  Her mother was born in 1949, and Beth felt it was a way to  honor her mom.  (Sorry to Momma A for letting the whole world know what year she was born!)  In fact, Beth bought one for her mom as well so they could have matching rings.

I thought this was the coolest thing ever, and I couldn't wait to select my ring so I could hear my story.  So after 5 minutes of careful consideration, I decided on my spoon ring.  I gave it to the artist so she could polish it up, look at the pattern, and tell my story.  Guess what?  I had no story! My inner child is throwing a hissy hit.  I want a story!!!!  I picked one of the few that she didn't know the pattern names or history behind it.  I was so deflated!  Well, I liked the ring so I bought it any ways and we headed to the candle/soap/chapstick/lip balm table.

When we returned to the school store, we showed the kids our purchases and told them our spoon ring story.  Caleb wasn't as interested as Mara!  My inner child was still pouting about my lack of history when a thought came to my mind.  I would just create my story.  I said to the group that the design of my ring reminded me of Victorian Europe which reminded me of our trip to London/Paris this Spring Break.  And that reminded me of a conversion I had with Beth.  When we discussed my agreement to go on the trip I told her I would only if I could room with her.  She replied, "You got it!  There is no one else I'd rather spoon with!"  We laughed our butts off and it was a running joke throughout the year.  SO, I reminded Beth of our conversation.  She laughed along with the kids.  Mara was on the trip with us, so she thought it was a great way to remember the trip.

So, there you have it.  My spoon ring story.  This $7 ring will always remind me of the life changing trip I took to Europe with my dear friend Beth.  It will be a symbol of new experiences, great memories and a endearing friendship.  We will always be spoon sisters!

Make Every Day Count...

Denise

The Urbanator VS. TBDBITL

What a day at the Shoe!  First and foremost, it was Toni and Denise Day!  My friend and I always try to spend one day together in the summer.  We do what ever we want without any regard to responsibilities.  Usually we spend the day on the boat at Buckeye Lake.  We have been known to take the boat to Millersport to get our hair done!  We have also anchored the boat in a canal and read all day long.  This year we didn't get our day out on the boat.  Instead, we decided the best way to spend T & D day was at the  OSU Buckeye opener.  After all it was a big day with the debut of Urban Meyer as the new head coach.  Let's just stop right here and make something perfectly clear.  As most of you know, I am not an Urban fan and prayed hard that he wouldn't be our next coach.  But as we all know, my prayers were not answered.  So I found myself with a decision to make.  I could change my allegiance to another team or join the bandwagon.  Scarlett and gray runs deep in my veins, and I chose the Urbanator.

So the excitement in the crowd was electrifying!  There had been so much speculation in the media for the last year as to how our team would adjust to a new coach and a whole new philosophy.  The Urbanator had been very vocal about his displeasure of how the team was progressing. According to him this was going to be an iffy year.   And after last year's season, the crowd wouldn't be happy with anything less than a grubbing of Miami University.  The day started out ominous!  There was thunder, lightening and torrential rains!  Was this a foreshadowing of bad things to come?  All I could think was I hope I just didn't spend $70 to sit in the pouring  rain and watch my beloved Buckeyes get beat by the Redhawks of Miami.  As soon as we hit the Franklin County line, the sun came out and the humidity went up.  It was going to be a good day after all.  The first quarter was pitiful!  The Buckeyes couldn't do a damn thing right.  But with the second quarter came a turning of the tide.  The team showed us what they are made of.  It was one touchdown followed by another. One great catch after another.  The Urbanator was in control!  He lead his team and the Buckeye Nation to its first of many wins to come.

But the Urbantor wasn't the only person making a debut today.   The Best Damn Band In The Land was also ringing in a new era.  After 28 years as the band director, Dr. Jon Woods retired and a new regime was taking over.   What would the band be like?  The answer:  freaking awesome!   The band did a tribute to 50 years of the Beach Boys.  I have to say it was one of the best shows ever!  The band made the field come alive!  They formed a Thunderbird equipped with smoke coming out of the tail pipe.  There were palm trees swaying in the breeze under a full sun.  The band told the story of young love complete with a girl and boy finding each other at the 50 yard line.  Then there was  a girl on a surf board surfing across the field complete with waves.  It ended with a script Beach Boys!  The entire stadium was rocking!  We didn't even care that it was raining and we were getting wet!

So who won the battle of the debuts:  The Urbanator or TBDBITL?  In my humble opinion the winner is The Best Damn Band In The Land.  Let's face it, Miami was just a blip on the screen.  I will reserve my opinion on Urban when the team meets with a true test of fortitude.  Either way it was a great day at the Shoe.  I was a witness to the beginning of the Urban era and the new era of  TBDBITL.  The best part:  spending it with my buddy Toni!  What a great Toni and Denise Day!

Make Every Day Count........
Denise

PS:  Thanks to my cousin Dr. Brad for letting two old ladies park at his house!  Our old bones appreciated the short walk!!!