Too busy to ...

These last couple of weeks have found me too busy to even keep my head on straight let alone making any noticeable headway on any project. I have managed a few stitches here and there on the 3xSantas and I made a list of the items needed to continue with my Christmas letters. My bag follows me everywhere in the car - sometimes a project comes out, but mostly not.

On our travels in St Charles, MO on Saturday I found a wonderful little quilting shop and a pattern to die for. Rats - they didn't have the fabrics in yet, only the pattern. Oh well, I my name on the list. I don't have time anyways to sew. In fact, I don't even have my sewing machine with me in the car to use in the hotels... and yes, I would if I could!

Oh yes, I got my invite for Peace Corps Response in Colombia last week. Now I am embroiled in the paper work that is needed to continue with this process. Tomorrow a phone call before I continue with any more as I need some more information. Danny, my husband, is scheduled out to Colombia on the 17th of August. I probably won't get there then - Maybe a week or two later, I expect.

And so life continues, new experiences every day and old ones rearing their beautiful memories. A visit tomorrow with my grandkids, son and DIL. A trip to Canada to visit my parents on Wednesday. What more can one want???

Molas, a new quilting endeavor

Today I received my mail that has been waiting for me. And yes, there were my two mola books that I had ordered from Amazon:

1. "Mola Making" by Charlotte Patera (Jul 1994)

2. "Mola Techniques for Today's Quilter" by Charlotte Patera (Apr 1995)

So now I can start to learn how to make molas. Oh I will never have the quality that I found on some of the molas in Panama, but I sure will have fun learning. I am going to make small 6"x6" "learner" molas as I want some to put into the corners of my Panama PC quilt that I am going to make someday. (I have the t-shirts and the photo that I want in the middle already, as well as a choice of molas)

For now, I have to decide on the patterns for my "learners", buy the fabrics, and start. Updates to follow.

iPad app ...

Minimalistic travel with needlework can be frustrating at times. You come across a new stitch and can't continue until you know how the stitch stitches. Well, you can go on and leave that part blank but in my blindered way of doing things, I stop right there and wait until we have internet access so that I can look up the stitch.

I remembered reading about Apple app needlework stitch apps in a Needlepoint Now magazine a while back. So off I went to look for one. I found "iStitch, Vols 1 & 2". Is this the one I read about? I can't remember a name so I opt to try it. I bought Volume 1 and put it on my iPad and now I have basic stitches at my fingertips. Not everything is theret, but then there are stitches that I have never heard of too. I will give it 2 canvas tries to see if I want Volume 2 as well. I will also write a review once I have used it.

Christmas blocks continue ...

As we continue to live out of our suitcases on the road, I am able to stitch in the car when I am not driving. This has allowed me to complete the "T", the "M" and start on the "A". This leaves me only the rest of the "A", the "S", the "Santa", and the "Merry" left to do. hmmm the photos seem a bit on the pinkish side. Will have to retake them I think.

As I said before, I am not enamored with this series and have already looked to another to get started with. I have a Christmas ornament that I am going to make 3 of - 1 each for my 2 sons and 1 for me. This canvas is a Squiggie canvas called "Canadian Santa" and is part of Monthly Club with What's the Point needlepoint.