More 2017 Memories As We Leave The Year Behind

When our high school friends Lee and Mollie Edmonston visited Florida we got together at Pat and Ron Brodsko’s for pizza. Of course the conversation included where we got the best pizza when we were all in high school.

April was also our last activity day with our fiber art quartet before Robbie headed north.

It took several visits from my great hometown friend Carol Gordhamer for me to remember to take her picture in front of the quilt!

April brought the family Easter celebration at Andy’s house. It was my first time to meet baby Andy with Grandpa Andy. I wonder what he was teaching him here?

May is the BIG Kentucky Derby party at Andy’s with family and friends.

He looked gorgeous!!!!

Nicholas graduated from the University of Wisconsin in May.

June found me back in my Wisconsin studio organizing and working.

June also marked Jared’s high school graduation.
I always enjoy looking back and see how full each year is.

Anticipating New Years Eve And Remembering Others

Sharing “Glamour shots” of our New Years Eve's from the past…not necessarily in order.

Our group grew as time went on. We celebrated with overnights at some fine hotels.
Many happy times spent with great friends.

As 2017 Comes To A Close

I think back and remember what a great year it was.

January marked the opening of my solo show at The Anderson Art Center. The opening was an overwhelming success followed by the rest of the show that was equally well attended.

February marked Caleb’s adoption into Jeff and Heathers already large family.

MARCH....a bittersweet month as the show closed without me there to see it out.

My Way

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
It’s Magic
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway

Iris Spring

But more, much more than this
I did it my way

Garden Party
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention

Glory Aura
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

Good Vibrations
To think I did all that
And may I say - not in a shy way

Mystic
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

Chasing Rainbows 1,3,4,5

I planned each special work
Each careful step along the byway

Ice On Fire
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Sacred Spirits
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew

Chasing Rainbows 7
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out

Perfect Harmony
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

Karma
It’s time to shed a tear or two….
But I’ll be back and so will you…

I DID IT MY WAY!
For what is a woman, what has she got
If not herself, then she has naught
To say the things she truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
YES IT WAS MY WAY
P.S. This is the longest blog post I have ever done but it deserved it so I could include some of your favorites and mine from the show.
March marked the close of my show.
….to be continued in later posts today………….

My View This Morning

This was what I saw when I opened the blinds this morning.

We had snow. Looks like I might not be able to get our of here until March with this pile of snow.

Do you see anything similar here to the last photo?

Santa Stopped Here For His Annual R & R!

He sure looks like he’s had a busy crazy time and needs some R & R! Wonder what he has been through to make his glasses slide off his nose and down his face?

Santa from around the world and across time also needs some R & R.

Santa has also come from the North and South Poles dressed for the weather and hopes the warmer temperatures here will allow him some R & R.

Wishing You A Wonderful Christmas Day

All of these Christmas cards were made by my sister in law Sue Sorensen. I feel so privileged to receive one from her every year and treasure them all.
I can only imagine how long it takes her to create each one. Each one is so beautifully done and each is unique.
Thank you Sue for this chance to help me share this Merry Christmas wish with everyone.

I keep all the photo cards and some other special ones I have received from day one. What I found works best is to keep them on notebook rings. I now have 3 full rings.
I recently organized each ring. One has family, one has friends and one has hand made cards. I also tried to put all of them from each sender in chronological order.
The notebook you see on the table is where I keep all those Christmas letters you have sent me. I love to get those letters too.

Merry Christmas Eve

Nothing like a flickering fire to relax and enjoy the eve of our Savior's birth.

Super Bowl III….Today’s BONUS Blog Post

This post is a response to a friends comment on Face Book yesterday that took place when I shared my new GREEN shoes I was and still am) wearing, while watching the Green Bay Packer vs Minnesota Vikings football game.
Here is the comment:
Nancy Herman Dunnavan Kay, did you know that my brother, Dave, played for the New York Jets and played in Super Bowl III!!??
Yes, Nancy I certainly remember that game. Many people will remember Joe Namath from that game.
For us, it was Dave Herman from the small town of Edon, Ohio where we lived for two years.

We watched that game at the house of friends as they had a COLOR television, something we didn’t have yet.
I also remember Dave played a key role in helping the Jets win the game.
I never met Dave as he was away at college when we lived in Edon. But, I remember well our friend and the new Edon High school football coach Vern Thomsen talking about Dave and hanging out at your house.

Trees Of Christmas Past

Can you tell  I coordinated this tree to our great room and the quilt?

Even a Grinch tree takes on a happy feeling when the flamingoes land on it.

Lots of trees in the master bedroom

Three trees on the table

Silver is always a good choice.
This is a small sampling of the trees I’ve done over many years. I love decorating Christmas trees.

How Does One Collect A Perfect Palette Of Fabric?

I shared my fabric Palette on my blog yesterday.
I got this comment from a reader:
Wow, I'm impressed, Kay. Not solely by the amount or organization, but the variety. I work hard to have the range you have achieved, yet some how I have an abundance of blues and greens and paucity of yellows and neutrals. Your neutral section is outstanding.
I sent her this explanation of how I amassed this perfect palette:
It has taken me a long time to collect this variety of fabrics. I DO remember the 80’s when I had my fabrics stored in Xerox paper boxes, not knowing what I had. When I moved to my studio I found I had 4 full boxes of blues…because that was what was available. I have carefully pared that down.
The secret is buying what is being produced at a particular time even if you don’t need it right then.
Never buy a fabric that does the same job as one you already have in your collection.
Not only do I have a ranges of different colors, but if you study this you will see I have a wide range of values, from light to dark.
I also have concentrated on having a value range of what are thought of as neutrals: black, gray, and brown.
This collection is not just prints. I have an extensive amount of solids as the solids produced at any one time are so similar. So I realized I had to purchase those also when they were available before next year when they all were shaded quite differently.
I even have a collection of novelty prints, border prints, stripes and designer prints.
I can not recall any time in the past 10- 15 or more years that I could not find what I needed to create a vision from the fabrics I own.
This has allowed me to save time as I don’t have to spend hours or days searching for a fabric in stores or online only to find out it is not available at this time.

I want everyone to realize that these ideas can be used with a much smaller collection of fabrics.

My Quilting Fabric Palette

I enjoy just looking at all my fabrics arranged in a color flow order.
They have been carefully arranged so that I can find a fabric that works when I am creating something.
Each fabric fills a need and they have been acquired with this in mind.
It is wonderful to be able to make something and have everything I need available.
I have pieces as small or smaller than 1/4 yards as well as lengths of fabric that are big enough to back a king size quilt.

A Scarf for Someone Special

I knit this scarf over a month ago. I couldn’t show it sooner since it took me a while to send it and for her to receive it. I started it with no idea who it was for, but as the beautiful colors began to ebb and flow I knew exactly who it was for. I thought about all her positive tributes as I knit it. She loved it.

My Newest Afghan Is Growing

I am just starting the 7th color on my afghan, This means I am close to half done.
I still love how soft it is and always have to hold it and experience the softness on my shoulders.

Three In A Row

I don’t think I have ever seen 3 consecutive

palindromic all time view on my blog stats.

December 16th     888,888 views as of 10:40 p.m.

December 19th     889,988 views at about 1 a.m.

December 19th     890,098  views as of 10:40 a.m.

You may or may not know I am a numbers person!

My Silver Trophies Are Polished

The Rest Of The Story
We made a spur of the moment decision to buy our house in Florida. The prices were too good (and low) to pass up. Yes, I was the one who didn’t like Florida and was never going to live there.
Never say never.
The community we chose billed itself as an Active Lifestyle Retirement community. Well I needed something to show off my “Active Lifestyle” and what better than silver trophies. I had only 10 months to win them. I won every single one of them plus many more in that short period of time.
There is more than one way to do anything.
For me the way was eBay! Of course I set a limit….no more than $5-$10 for any one. And I did it.
Originally they were going to reside in our great room, but the wall hung TV took away that space. Most have resided in the guest room. It has been interesting to see if the guests read the inscriptions on them. You name it, if it is a sport I have won a trophy in that sport.
After a while I got tired of polishing so many so I began to share. When I bring food to someone’s house I like to use a container I can leave there. When I give someone flowers they get to keep the vase. So at this time this is my “permanent collection”.

Christmas Memories

These Christmas pillows were fun to make. You can see some of the same fabrics I used in the Christmas Toys Quilt I showed on yesterday’s blog.

Cooper loves pandas. I think he was 4 years old in this picture. He is inspecting the Christopher Radko panda ornament. I had to hold my breath that he didn't crush it!

A picture of me with the grandchildren.

This year it was Greg and Julie’s turn to wear the Christmas shirts. I made these for Jerry and myself at least 30 years ago. They still look like new. Using good fabrics when you sew is really worth it.