To My Followers

And non admitted followers alike:

Follow DGQC Here

I am trying hard to move quilt content to the website keeping GDG more personal. Business, more business.  Please oh please visit above link and click on the follow me button over there. Then you can keep up with
A. My soap Opera here ( affectionatly known as SUDS.)
B. Follow my quilt goings ons over at DGQC
C. Make me very happy

Thank you Dear Blog readers, I`ll do my very best to give ya lots of inspiration in both areas!
And ya know theres Ginger`s site, but she doesnt talk so much? LOL
Love yer guts!
G

Ms. Wizard Says........

Morning. I have been doing homework all week and I gotta tell ya, I am quite perplexed about the New Ms. Wizard.Do you peoples remember when the "click" theory of mine was born? A way to change the channel in my brain and NOT WRITE about dancing with the demons in my mind. Therefore not to go down the road from hell all the time? Brilliant right????   Ok... So listen up.
Four years later I am told that this could be construed as avoidance rather than healing!!!! WTH? Wait! That bares repeating. WTH!!!???!!!
I explained how the theory works. I told her how it helps. I re iterated how I DO NOT like bummer blogs in any way. Or bummer thoughts, talks, writes.. I dont like it!
She remains steadfast in that I wasn't completely walking through the fire. Alone or otherwise. She has me working on the book. Without the clicks. Frankly, I'm having a good deal of trouble doing it. You should see my nightstand! I feel like a writer! LMAO!
Wish me luck Dear Blog Readers! HOED ON!
PS: I do not agree with said observation. I contend that changing ones "state" as quickly as possibly allows them a quick recovery, therfore thwarting off Mountainous Meltdowns!
But I will comply, for awhile.

I nearly forgot my gratitudes for this week! SEE!!!!!

MM's include:

Anonomous gifts
This new lil juicy pen for my jotting
those boots! DAMN WHAT A RUSH!
Aviana calls from the bathroom
Pen Pals
NOT dead treadmills
dreams of Hobbit holes to nap in

What to do with Jeans!

"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."— Publilius Syrus

I bet James is having a whole hefer up there on heavens landing when he sees what Imma doing with some of his jeans! LOLOL Poor Baby.

Well, hey, in my defense, I find that Jeans quilts feel too much like a dentist X ray blankie! And he hated the dentist!

There ya go, I justified it.

Nuff said.

I think a few pocket pillows are in order as well. I can snuggle up to him this way.

<---sicko I know

<---wounded Mama perhaps.

Happy Thursday ! I am outa here for a few hours today!

Love yer guts!

G



James Tee Shirt Quilt # Two

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."– Plutarch

KareBears turn... Nearly four years later. My bad. It is what it is... I'm still on it. After it. I cant beat myself up over the time or motivation eh? I miss him, and with the Tee's, I smell him. Bittersweet, good and bad. Healing and hurting. I haven't sent Jake's off to him because I am STILL hugging it!

Its comfy.

 CLIC



Changes A Foot: Maybe

"Ya got to take care of business if you want your business to take care of you."

K. Dee

Well, the words rang true enough today. I am trying to hold on to my passion of my quilting business. With my entire S.O.U.L.
I wonder if its even possible now? A supplemental business as I know, but I .... I....

I'm NOT getting any younger! I shoulda been rich by now! ( sorry, momentary loss in emotion there).

I saw these words on the screen from a friend, and it nearly threw me over the desk. Do I take care of it? Really?
 Must I REALLY put on heels and have power lunches and smile a phoney smile again? Come on... I dont want to:(    I love my jeans and sneakers, lunch with colleagues that consist of wine and laughter. Dancing and singing in my studio as if no one is listening/watching! Oh wait! No one is!!!!
 Hey, any market for a web cam quilter with a half ass good voice?
(white girls cant dance) Just saying~
 My Sensi.... in the beginning of this journey said to me. "All quilters have three lean months and they all begin with J."  I personally have never had this problem, until now. Its January. Chit. I dont see golfers backing off, why should quilters?
I printed my resume. Its Stellar. I was a good girl eh.... shoot. I will go ONLY if I MUST, but I will go kicking and screaming back to the corporate world. GRUNT.
Do you all remember the couple years spent as a superstar B & B Innkeeper? Yeah, it nearly killed me. Serious money made though right??? lol So not worth it. I dont even have the car I paid off anymore!!! WTF???    I never worked so hard in my life! I think back on that now and swoon over the tales told of all of my guests. The places they travel, the things they witnessed. Then I get pissed, because it should be me...lol
<---brat
 I have a sweet challenge this month! Dont mean to change the subject, but of course it did.
I have been comissioned to do a nice photo memory quilt with dogs! Its going to be fun! I am nearly certain that I will do it all in hand dyes. I love the natural elegance. But you knew that. Dont forget that NY goal of a poodle quilt!! I'll get to it.
Progress on the James Tee shirt quilt. Another mountain to climb. Its halfway through now. I take many breaks to change the channel in my mind. Jake will adore it. Today I wrote on one shirt James favorite farewell. " I'll see ya when I see ya".

OUCH.

The block I stitched it on was Jakes duffle bag that he gave to James upon his return from his tour of duty in Iraq. They were so close that I smiled about the young years when I thought that they would kill each other over Legos and transformers. I did something right. Or, it may have been the beer. GRUNT.
CLIC
Today is my favorite day of the week! Stitch and Bitch night! Who's swinging by? I have some fresh hummous and pita chips. Okay, and wine.
Love yer guts! G

Tee Shirt Number One

Jake... I used flannel, not Minkee. sorry?

But its loaded! call channel 3!!!! I think I need more pressure to perform well. NOT.

why yes i am there in the background, on my butt watching tv. I seriously need a treadmill. I look on craigslist everyday but nothing in tne category of FREE yet. grunt. I am working from the tablet here, is extremely frustrating too..I' learn it. Fear not dear blog readers..

Whats new with you? me, I am still struggling. Still positive. Still faithful. Yeah, call chanel 3 about that too.

Quilty Resolutions Only,Thanks

"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's."

Henry Moore

I believe in the above statement. Whole heartedly. However, I am considering amending this slightly to accomodate a few quilting goals.

 *I really would like to not just attend, but to be a vender in Art In The Park Festivities here. I did the Lodi Street fair quite a few times and had great fun. So many tourists here just desire to take home a quilt! So I'm all over it. It will require many many quilts, and a few friends. :::wink to da sistas::::

*I swear to Budha that this will be the year I actually make an applique quilt!!!. I think it should be poodles. If I cant have my standard yet, I may as well make a quilt while I wait! ( shoot, now its in print)

*I wish to expand my quiltmaking for SLO Womens Shelter, and the SLO warming shelter. What awesome programs, amazing people. I may even join the Womans Aide Society:)

*I will take a class to learn a new technique. Yes I will.

* Learn EQ 7 and make one!

*I WILL finish Jamie's Tee Shirt quilts. When is enough really enough? The six million dollar question? You will know. Yep, you will.

* Oh! I need a new baby boy quilt for a Christmas 2011 arrival!

As far as the other kind of resolutions? One day at a time. Baby steps. Healing.

You peoples going to tell me of your quilty resolutions? Or other kinds?

Happy 2012 Dear Blog Readers. LYG!

www.deargina.com



Messenger Bag Obsession Now

I guess its keeping my mind sane right? Of course right. Im so sorry that Im not writing. Life is really rough right now. I will be fine, no worries. ( Never let em see ya sweat?)

This cheetah is for my neice. I have a bunch going in different varieties. I will post when I can. This one has the coolest glide verigated thread that doesnt show up. I am also hanging out with my crystal bejeweler!  A stitch in time, saves my mind!!!

Love Yer guts!

Week Ends Still Stink!

Bored! What happens when I'm bored? I do crazy things like Bling my butt! I have had these jeans for awhile now. Nice, boot cut, except that the back looks like a mens slacks back! So... I blinged it. Then I looked around for other things to bling. Nothing is safe when I'm in this mood. I had to hide the tool box from myself! Then, I decided to make a messenger bag. I got as far as a nice hand dye and a leather, quilted it, and lost focus. I really must finish up Christmas gifts, but my poor brain is scattered. WAY too much on my plate. Its disturbing my artistic harmony for sure!! And its so cold I cant think!!
( no, I'm not bitchy am I?) Love yer guts!

DearGina Up!

It's Official!

www.deargina.com

Lives again!!!

Go see!

Hurry!

Leave me love notes!

Ideas!

Suggestions for more content!

Pretend I have a white board and we are doodling a million ideas and see which ones stick!

Market Me!!

Ya want me to keep going with this?

Okay then! Go See!!

A much appreciated thanks to Heather for all of the many hats that you wear, including a G Hat:)

Love YOU!

The Quilter Ten Commandments

1.Thou shall not buy another piece of fabric until thou has used two pieces from thy stash. 2.Thou shall not pre-wash RED fabrics with your family members WHITE underwear. If you neglect to pre wash the aforementioned RED fabric and it bleeds all over your completed quilt,thou shall not whine. You may, however drink some. 3. Thou shalt name all beloved machines as if they belong in your family. 4.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's stash, but you may try to weasel your way into their last will and testament through kindness. 5.Thou shall not work so much on your Grandmother's Flower Garden that you neglect the one outside.There is a reason why you are developing quilter's butt! 6.Thou shalt remember to bestow upon your dog much attention or else she will leave you a poopy present under your sewing machine while you are out running errands! 7.Thou shall not feel obligated to wash any dishes while you are developing a new technique. Or cook stuff. 8. Thou shall not neglect the lint under the bobbin case,otherwise your beloved machine may spit it out at an inopportune time! 9. Thou shalt not sew fabric strips at Mach One with your hair on fire, without occasionally checking for a bobbin thread. 10.Thou shall not pin baste your quilt to the carpet. Or a waterbed.

Ole' Elna Meets New Janome!

"I just kept on doing what everyone starts out doing. 

 The real question is, why did other people stop?"
– William Stafford

Out with the old and in with the new?
NOPE. I now have a tool that I can enjoy going Mach one with my hair on fire!!!It really doesnt do much else, but it does that Extremely well! Backwards, forwards,  FAST
 HOWEVER..... Ole Ellie has some stitches I cannot do without! Next I think I'll get a new serger, and an Embroidery machine!

I'm A HOARDER!!!!

<---keeps her off the streets.

I think I should REALLY clean the shop after looking around here..lol I'm over the moon for this new machine. Man can she go fast! Oh I already told ya that,didnt I?  I damn near stitched my finger nail mending a shirt this morning! I didnt tell you peoples THAT!

Purr? Purrrrrrfect! The speed and extra throat space will allow me to bind more efficeintly. It can take heavy flat fell seams too. Bring on the denim now Baby!

Heres a thought. What if each machine had a remote on them and they could all purr in unison? WOW what a thrill!

<---needs a life

She needs a name.. A thunderous name... like THOR or something...lol. Ellie has a name..Greta has a name, the car has a name! No machine shall be nameless... There are rules. commandments!

Hmmmmmmm

Pacific International Quilt Fest Winner

Not me, but close! A friend and colleauge here in the area , along with her client took a first in the Brother Amatuer catagory for Grandmas flower basket.

 Heres a pic:)

 Congrats to June and Margaret!

This quilt has actually inspired me to finish Ma's hand embroidery and enter it in her honor next year... Maybe.......

In other news, I am doing my personal best to be on the mend. I think............The older I get, the harder it seems to KICK an illness. Also, trying to keep my blood sugar levels in check is absolutley mind wrenching! I hit highs, I hit lows, I do a little fit throwing dance upstairs with sore fingers and aching ribs daily! grunt. I will win, because I said so!

I finaly finished the DWR last evening. Its ready for its photo shoot as we speak. Next!

Sorry that I missed M & M's yesterday. I am not myself these days. I'm not even Sybil these days. Hey... speaking of that. I understand that everyone talks to themselves once in awhile, but do you peoples ever have entire conversations with yourselves? Complete with arguments? Whats wrong with me????? I just shake my head when I notice this going on. I better stop thinking and move it, move it, move it. My FITBIT misses me:)

LYG!

Sick Or Not, To Begin Again

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be!"

It's as if I do it daily! lol( begin again that is)  Good morning. I'm off to a late but determined start.

I need to finish this DWR quick like a bunny! I am praying that the batting holds out! I had a mini crisis when my arc ruler hit the ceiling and pushed my needle bar out of alignment. Thank God Mufasa was able to fix it!

He also recovered my Big Board ironing board for me and now its HAPPY looking! I truly love it when he does studio projects for me:) I sure miss my big studio, but this little one is shaping up little by little.

I'm feeling better today and my trip seems like such a blurr to me. I certainly hope it all comes back when I recall it! Right now theres way too much on my plate to worry about it.CLIC

So....how ya been? Whats for dinner in your world? I will be making Pozole to sooth my tender throat. Come on over:)

I will try to walk again today too. Yesterday I went and I felt so dizzy and short choppy breathes... Scared me a bit! Oh and BTW, I gained weight on the trip too! DAMN IT!. I really wasnt bad? and I walked all over!! WTH??? Anyway, its 5 lbs and I begin again today to get rid of the mini sack a spuds I gained back. DAMN IT

*Mental note: I have to stop swearing like that.

My second cuppa is so good this morning. My taste buds MUST be coming back right? Are you peoples watching the Conrad Murray trial? I am once again hooked. After yesterday I am edumacated on Propofol like no other Woman is, I'm sure.While I certainly understand that MJ and his money can be quite demanding of his help, I do not understand how a DOCTOR WHO TOOK AN OATH TO FIRST DO NO HARM, could have been so wreckless with his so called "friend". Lord may I never have such a friend or doctor around me.

On that humble opinion note, I better get busy! I'll leave ya with the pictures of above chat! Have a great day!

Home From MQX West

"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn."
Mary Catherine Bateson

I had a wonderful learning experience.

I loved seeing my friends and colleagues.

I was thrilled with so many stunning quilts.

I got SO SICK.

yep yep yep... It began with a sore throat and turned into a chest cold to beat all! pain I tell you! On my Birthday no less!!! I slept away the last 24 hours of my stay, and stayed AWAY from everyone I could. I came home to find Walt sicker than I am!

Needless to say that today he is at the doctor and I am Lysol-ing the house while trudging around with tissues up my nostrils. ( got a visual didnt ya?) I really must push on because of deadlines on quilts, just like last week with techniques to be learned! Did I learn? Dear Lord I hope so.

Okay, so...Portland. Twice now I've been and never saw the sun either trip. I would say now that the Pacific Northwest is not home for me. Nice to visit, but damn......

News from PIQF: We didnt win a ribbon:( Damn.... I'm entering Blue into the next one! I'm so not taking NO for an answer! Beautiful wins there were, including a local first entry, Junes client, Margaret. Congratulations to the two of them! I wish that I could have made it to Santa Clara, but then again, I was too sick for that one too! Next time.

So my Monday has to MOVE... Hope you have a productive one too!

LYG!

G

M & M's include:

Quilt trips! Sick or not!

New tools!!! All over!!!

Safe flights across four dang states! WTH?

That new Pandora charm:)

Stamina. grunt.

Portland, Day One, I made it!

Not with any help from airlines! Remember when I went to MQS and they lost my luggage? THIS time they nearly lost ME! I was re routed to Phoenix! WHAT?? Ahuh... Bad weather in San Francisco... AHUH... how bad could it be in SF? I finally arrived long after midnight and hailed a cab instead of the light rail. Because I'm a chicken, thats why. Forty bucks and an hour later, I fell into my room. Slept in late on my birthday, cause I could!!! I met up with June and we got our walk on......and on, and on, and on. No need for treadmill today for sure!We walked the mall here and watched ice skaters dance. I also found .....wait for it........ A Pandora dealer!!! My bff Linda slipped me a very cool birthday card and she KNEW what I would get! Wanna see?

Its two of the above looking bubbles... in honor of our impending win at PIQF Bubbling Beauty:) The swirls you see is just my safety catch, Its not easy taking a pic of your wrist with a cell phone!

Ok, So I have early classes tomorrow, so I will leave you with a few shots of Portland. I'll try to blog this week, or least pst pics right!!!

Love yer guts! G

the view from my home for the week,

MQX West Longarm Show

Mornin! I woke up excited and scatter brained! In 24 hours I'll be on my way to a weeks worth of learning and loving up my passion of machine quilting! ( OK, and my Peeps too)

I'm not so thrilled about my air travel plans. They pretty much stink, but who cares! I'm going! I get scared on turbo props, and for the life of me I dont understand why Phoenix is a layover to Portland!

GRUNT

I need an umbrella and about a dozen other things. I have to go do my laundry. Ok, and clean the house. And I cant THINK with all this hair!

LYG!

Woohoo!

Design Wall Up! ::::CHECK::::

It is good to act as if. It is even better to grow to the point where it is no longer an act."
– Charles Caleb Colton

Mornin`!Its been a long time coming, but the new design wall is up and its fabulous! It measures five foot x seven foot, with a nice wood trim with a quilt design of vining leaves travelling! Ms artsy fartsy and bob the builder spent our Sunday hard at work:) This, much like the IQ will make my work life easier and increase, read: improve production! Thanks Mufasa!
This one is made from Insulation foam, one inch thick. It was adhered by that far out nail gun of his with nail brads. Covered in marbled flannel, and trimmed out with the pretty wood. It too was nailed in with skinny brads right in the spot s as not to show.  I oil paint sticked the leaves in meadow green for a natural pop of color. I L.O.V.E. to bring the outside in!
The flannel was put on with Loctite spray adhesive, lightly, and allowed to dry. This wall is considerably smaller than the others, but it works!
Check this one off the list, and onto the next!

Happy Monday dear blog readers! i gotta move my butt right now if I Will get through this list!

M 7 M's include:

IQ Arrival!

Design wall up!

A partner in projects

Date night

A really cool birthday month, yeh!!! October!!!

Talking to Shawn and Jamie after they received their pillowcases and sleepy time books!

 Airfare to classes! ::::Phew:::

It's An IQ Official Announcment!

"If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."
– Michelangelo Buonarroti

Good morning! So I have waited this long to tell ya that Dear Gina is going digital! IQ  Yep yep yep... I am now not ONLY hand guided, but digitized too! I am still a bit deer in the headlights about it all, however I am so excited to add this to the mix! It will relieve physical ailments, increase production, and you wouldnt believe the boost in the brain to go with it!

Now... lets discuss the learning curve. OMGoodness.. I just did 8 hours of training and I feel pretty stupid trying to remember it all. So... that brings me to this... I am going to MQX West for a weeks worth of training!!! :::Happy Birthday to me::::singin:::::

Hopefully by the weeks end, I will be Proficient ( on the outside eh) on my new lil computer!

The beauty so far for me is that I can not only work better, faster... but still indulge my artful side and hand guide my custom quilts:) I am just THRILLED! ( and a bit nervous, but more thrilled, so I will concur the nerves,...)

I have a week to get my self together because I'M REALLY GOING!!! Colleagues, and teachers, and vendors, OH MY! :::::: I did not mention hot tubs, no I did not:::::Nor wine:::::

I havent been to a teaching convention since MQS 07!!! Well... I suppose life pretty much came to a screeching halt after that eh? CLIC

Ok, second cuppa... Shoot.. I have no Foodie Friday for you people! Thanks be to my BFF Linda, I'm walking much more than cooking! Last night I just threw chicken on the grill and tossed a salad! I'm a bit bored with foods, but its ok cause Im working on the weight loss. and the cirrculation, and the sugar levels... Just working on me.

I miss my kids. I wish to go see some of them, tell them the news, and love up on them for a day, then come back and stick my nose back in quilts... maybe I will go for a day.. We shall see. I missed Justin's birthday yesterday due to much training craziness here. He liked his gift, however its just not the same for Nonni.

I better move it.. I slept in and man I'm gonna pay for that one!

LYG!!



It's Raining Pillow Cases!

Throw Your Hands In The Air ------And Wave `Em like You Just Dont Care!

And make a bunch of pillow cases for no particular reason!

So I'm obsessed with them.. I admit it.. Its super fun, quick, and I think I'll just use them for gift wrapping! lol

Anyway, heres the directions if you peoples want to become hooked with me. Or... maybe youve moved on to postcards, hand dyes, etc... Remember when I couldnt move away from the Swarvarski crystals? Wow.. I have an addictive personality me thinks. Thank God I dont live in Vegas! Whoa!

Standard pillow cases:

Cuts are selvedge to selvedge approx 42 -44  inches

Sleeve: 9” x 42ish

Accent  2” x 42ish ( fold and press lengthwise)

Body     27” x 42ish

Lay sleeve face up

Lay body on top of that… face up

Lay accent piece on top of that raw edges on top, folded edge on bottom

When all pieces are lined up straight, Pick up end of body and fan fold it on top of all creating a tube.

Now pick up sleeve and cover all. All raw edges should be even at top. Pin, do not grab the fan fold. You should be pinning 5 layers of fabric total.

Stitch ¼ inch across top, where pinned.

Now pull the center fan fold out, keep pulling until all out. Press.

Square up getting rid of selvedges.

With wrong sides together, pin and stitch down long side and pivot and stitch across the bottom in ¼ seam. (Make sure your accent seams match up)

Poke corners after turns to have a nice square edge.

Turn pillow case right sides together and stitch again ½ “ seam on top of under seam.

Turn pillow case again.  This has created a flat fell, or French seam. (No raw edges)

* Be mindful to back tack your opening when you begin to stitch.

Great Grand gift Ideas! 

 I'm sending Shawn a little sleepytime book,and a car, inside a pillowcase! Funnily enough the car says excedrin pm     LMAO!!!!!