PINK ELEPHANT |
I forgot I was going to use this for the a2z letter P!
for more wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes for Mom
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
PINK ELEPHANT |
I forgot I was going to use this for the a2z letter P!
for more wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes for Mom
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
I often wonder why everyone isn’t excited about piecing a lot of small pieces of fabric into a quilt. It’s much like life-something happens and you pick up the scattered hurts and patch them into something a bit different and useful.
And then I spend a few hours on a Saturday ripping out what I put together the night before and realize this is why everyone isn’t piecing! It’s often painful and no fun at all.
Spiral Tree Skirt someday |
This tree skirt may not get finished in time for Christmas. I’ve had to take it apart at least 20 times.
Lutheran World Relief Quilt |
This one will get finished. I belong to a small but might group of quilters at my church. We piece together quilts that are collected and used during disaster relief and for the homeless. The idea is to use the fabric donated and just sew the blocks together. I can’t. I must try and make them someone pretty. This is the one I’m working on now. It will get finished soon, but I did make it a diagonal pattern so I might be ripping it out too.
I have a great ripper. Surgical sharp. I know. I’ve caught my finger with it a few times.
I like piecing and I got my love of it from my grandmother Pauline! Yep, she’s a “P” and her photo is on my shelf. When I get discouraged about ripping and starting over I see her smiling face and know I’m not the first to rip, but I have a feeling she was more patient than I.
Pauline |
And because I enjoy torturing myself with small pieces of fabric my next project is going to be a Dear Jane quilt. The finished blocks are 5″ and the entire quilt has over 5000 pieces.
Dear Jane Block |
I may need another seam ripper.
*Laury–I visit your posts, but can’t seem to get my comments to work.
for more a2z posts visit Patty Wysong!
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
I’m so very sad to see that this series has been canceled.
I haven’t had any problem releasing reality and feeling that there is a Eureka filled with genius minds planning, researching and messing up–all secretly supported by the government.
Jack Carter, the sheriff is a normal person trying to keep chaos under control in this town and without his common sense there wouldn’t be a Eureka. I want to live in his smarthouse, where Sarah fixes breakfasts, controls ambiance of the house and offers motherly advice.
The other character I will be sad to see no more is Jo Lupo– so much in love with Zane and until last nights episode determined to beat every challenge presented to her. Watching her character change and grow has shown me how to grow a character in my writing.
What canceled show do you miss?
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Relief for my tortured writing soul has been found thanks to a quick quiz. The quiz was sent in the News You Can Use from the Steve Laube Agency.
The quiz is called, I Write Like
Even if you aren’t a writer it could be a bit of fun and distraction for you as well. It’s easy to take the quiz, you copy and paste a sample of your writing in the square, and then press the analyze button.
I posted in a few paragraphs from A Bride’s Dilemma In Friendship, Tennessee –my book that is coming out next May. I took several sample from different places and discovered my writing style is like Margret Mitchell and Steven King.
Then I tried a few blog posts and now I write like J.D. Salinger.
I tried sections from We’re Not Blended-We’re Pureed–still Steven King.
Just for fun I put in this blog post and it came up as Cory Doctorow–a science fiction author!
So what did I learn from this?
I’m multi-facetted?
I have many personalities?
Maybe all of those things.
Will I ever use this tool again? Yes! I’m thinking it would be helpful to check on my individual characters–they shouldn’t all sound the same. Which is why A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee has the style of both Margaret Mitchell and Steven King.
So are you going to play along? See who you write like? Please take the quiz, come back and let me know who you write like.
Photos are from Freedigitalphotos.net
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Ducks on the lake |
Can you see them?
Ducks, lots of them, they are so still waiting for the brightness of day to arrive.
There is a park with a walking trail across from my house. Several times a week I drag myself out of bed and walk. This is the first day I found out what it was like to walk before the sun rose.
Once you go up a slight hill and turn the curve there is a lake. Usually the ducks are active, momma ducks chasing little ones back to the shoreline or dipping their heads underwater for something to eat.
The stillness this morning, the patience of the ducks made caused me to pause and snap a shot with my phone. Looking at them I realized I start my day wrong. I start with an agenda of what must be done and how fast can I accomplish marking things off my list. Perhaps, if I met the dawn in stillness, praising God, my day would be much better.
I think I’ll try that–tomorrow.
How do you start your day?
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
N is for Needles
I love to sew, stitch pieces of fabric into quilts or shirts. To do that I have to use a needle. What many nonsewers are unaware of is–how many kinds of needles there are!
For hand sewing there are betweens, sharps, applique, darning, short, long and even curved ones used to repair a special stuffed animal or a rip in your couch.
And the choices don’t stop there.
There are so many types of needles for my sewing machine that I need an organizer.
Physical hurts are fixed with needles. Sorry no photos of that! I’m squeamish. Some needles are used to give us healing medicine or to check out blood levels.
I have learned the easiest way to get thread through fabric is to use some Thread Heaven.
This stuff coats the thread helping it glide through tightly woven fabric making it easier to join edges together.
The one thing I dislike about all needles is that they hurt when they stick in your finger. Too bad the Thread Heaven doesn’t help with that.
for more a2z check out Patty Wysong.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Moments in Michigan
It’s been a while since we were able to get away–just the two of us. We’ve been away with others, or for conferences, or Josh’s wedding last year.
The past 2 years have been stressful for me, writing two books back to back, and for Ed constructing many large paver projects. We needed some time to relax, put the phones and computers away.
Off we went to St. Joesph, Michigan to capture what felt like stolen moments out of a too busy life.
The first thing to great us in the small town were lots of fun farm animals. This one caught my attention. I happen to love goats and this one has pages of books written by teen mothers learning to read to their children. I think, books, children and moms reading to them are one of God’s special moments.
Lucy in St. Joesph, MI |
We spent the days walking the beach, piers to three light houses and watching lots of little children who made us laugh. One small boy licked a window by a chair at the coffee shop so his sister wouldn’t want to sit in the chair he watned!
A moment of happiness |
One night we walked the beach and waited for the sunset. It was hidden by a cloud. It didn’t matter. The night was special. The lake lapping on the shore, holding my Ed’s hand, toes squishing in the sand. Later the stars came out and we stood there gazing in awe. We can’t see the stars where we live, too many lights keep the sky bright.
Sunset in St. Joesph, MI |
The trip was too short, but we are thankful for the time we had to relax, the moments when the phone didn’t ring interrupting a conversation, perfect weather and a slower pace. It’s good to get away even if only for a moment.
for more a2z visit Patty Wysong.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Oscar Wilde said it best.My own business bores me to death. I prefer other people’s.
I’ll admit it. I listen. I can’t help. The stories coming from other diner tables are interesting.
Last night I overheard the sweetest child’s voice telling her daddy what she liked about him the most.
Sometimes I only get snippets and those connect like magnets with a solid click and a character will grow in my mind.
The sad thing is I’ve taught Ed how to listen too.
The frustrating thing is, he won’t always share what he hears. Like last night, what was making him smile? What girly girl language did he try and translate into man speak?
So here is my defense:
I’m a writer, listening gives me a feel of how people interact with each other in social settings. And if you’re at Wal Mart on your cell phone I will follow you and you just might end up in a book.
for more a2z post check out Patty Wysong.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer