Wrapping It Up

I'm down to quilting the last few rows of blocks in this quilt: "Jackstones". It's been on the rails for a very long time; so long, in fact, that I have removed it and replaced it three times already to quilt pantographs on other quilts while it languished! It really is way beyond time that this one gets wrapped up. I don't know about you but I feel a particular sense of urgency at this time of year, a push to get things done, wrap up loose ends and complete tasks. I believe it goes back to all those years of being a student. The month of May signals "end of year" like nothing else in my mind, that signal increases in frequency and volume with each passing day in the month. Just thinking about term papers being due, final exams and end-of-year this or that can still elicit a cold sweat, even after all these decades. With increased age I am keenly aware now, more than ever, of the all-too-swift pace of time passing; easily gauged through the rocket-like growth of my own grandchildren. There's no time like now; right now! "Wrap it up, finish the job, get it done" echoes in my head, "there are new challenges on the horizon". We were invited to a few "end of year" programs for Gregory and Lynnleigh at their respective schools (didn't school only just begin last week?).  They were both adorable, naturally.

Lynnleigh, age 4

Gregory, age 6

Back to the job at hand, only a few more rows. "Wrap it up, finish the job, get it done"... almost there!

None of us know how much time we have; but I, for one, know that I don't want to spend forever quilting on just one quilt! There's simply too many other things that I want to try and need to get done. I am thankful for this ingrained "end-of-year" urgency that not-too-gently propels me forward, presses me onward; yep, it's high time increase that final effort and wrap things up! Summer (and all the fun and adventure that one word implies) awaits; and beyond that there are newer, bigger, mountains to climb! I'm sure you remember that feeling too: the giddy excitement of what's to come.

Life is Good!

Up next: "Twirl, Girl, Twirl!"

Ami's Amazing Puzzle Ball

I was contacted a while back and asked if I would be willing to test out a brand-new pattern for Ami Simms. I agreed, quickly; as many of you know I love everything that Ami comes up with and her patterns are, hands-down, my most used! There were a number of affirmative responses to Ami's query, from all over the country, and a test-panel was composed. We each received a package including everything we needed to make a "puzzle ball" and an early-draft test pattern. The sewing began! E-mails flew back and forth, there was a constant flurry of activity among the panel! There were corrections, additions, deletions and, ultimately, there were puzzle balls! Lots of them!!  Ami is smart. She thinks and rethinks, she pushes and delves into each stitcher's brain. Her patterns don't go public until she is satisfied that each step is defined, explicit and well-illustrated... tried and true! You know how it feels when you purchase a pattern that is vague and short on directions, one that leaves you hanging; it's not any fun at all, you feel frustrated and cheated. I guarantee that won't be the case with this pattern; the Amazing Puzzle Ball was fun to make, each step is made abundantly clear, and it goes together very well.

Here's my completed "test" version. Isn't it amazing? It's every bit as much fun to hold as it was to make!

This is the amazing ball taken apart... that's the "puzzle" part! Isn't this genius? Fun for everyone!

You can watch Ami disassemble and reassemble one here; it's easy peasy!

You can pre-order the pattern here.

Roll with me on this; you know someone who would love one. 

But, I'm betting, you won't can't stop at just one!

Make one for a friend, a cat, a child you love; 

make one (in each size) to keep for yourself,

you can't let them have all the fun!

Life is Good!