Around the World Blog Hop

Moira tagged me to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop.

Does anyone know who started this?  Or why there isn't a nice long list somewhere of everyone who has blogged an Around the World Blog Hop post?

Like Kate, I found the hardest part of saying yes was to find quilters to tag who haven't already been tagged ... so I suggest, especially since there's no master list anywhere, if you'd like to play along and answer the questions, just do it. 

Here are the questions and my answers: 

What are you currently working on?

As usual, I am working on next month's block pattern for the Block Lotto.  I can't share it with you, yet, but the sneak peek will go out later oday to those who have made September lotto blocks. 

I'm also very behind on finishing this quilt ... my September goal for a lovely finish and one I plan to enter in the local guild show early next month. 

How does my work differ from others?

I'm not at all sure it does except in the way that each of us creates quilts that represent our unique way of seeing color, fabric, shape and design.

I almost never use a quilt pattern, I often come up with my own patterns for the individual elements (blocks, borders), and I think as much about value as color when choosing fabrics and placing elements in the quilt. I often include traditional blocks. I prefer asymmetry over symmetry and I like mixing blocks, styles and techniques within a single quilt design. 

I think my quilt Cock-a-Doodle Tea Towel is a good example of my approach to quilt design. 

Why do I write/create what I do?

I am fascinated by understanding how thing are made and creating has been part of my life as long as I can remember. It is my therapy, my unstructured outlet to a structured job, the 'high touch' that balances what has been a mostly 'high tech' career. 

Quilting is a path to creating something that is both beautiful and functional. 

Creating the Block Lotto is a way to share the joy of quilting and help others try new things. 

What is my creative process?

This question is almost like trying to describe, how do you think? 

My quilts start with something and once that fixed something is decided, build upon it by pushing the boundaries of what is not fixed.   

That something might be a tea towel, like the one in the challenge quilt above that defined the theme and the color palette for the quilt, or the one below which a friend from the Block Lotto recently sent because she knew I'd love it. 

That something could come in the form of a challenge, like the word challenge on the 15 Minutes blog that specified choosing a word and using made fabric.

That something might be an idea for blocks, like this year's lotto blocks (and the Mod-Mod sampler quilt I designed from them) where I designed blocks and created patterns that I thought would lend themselves to Modern Quilting design. Here's my quilt-in-progress at the half-way point

I know it sounds kind of simplistic, but that's me ... I start with one fixed something, push the bounds of what's not fixed, and see where it takes me.

Tag–they're IT

I've tagged these three quilters.  Look for Bridget's and Cathy's posts next week.

Bridget at Nickel and Dime Ranch - Bridget is a New Mexico quilter that found me and invited me to go meet the Chicken River Modern Quilt Guild--a great group in Las Vegas (New Mexico). 

Renee at Quilts of a Feather - Renee is a New Mexico quilter that I found in the blogiverse.  I love her quilting! She's already posted her Around the World questionnaire (in response to being asked multiple times and finally saying yes.)

Cathy at Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting - Cathy is one of the wonderful quilters I have come to know from the Block Lotto. I love the way she works with saturated colors.  Here's a peek at Wild Thing, her Mod-mod quilt in progress.  I think our two quilts may represent the two ends of the spectrum in terms of color and feeling.

Fun Dialect Quiz

A tumbleweed like me couldn't resist taking this dialect quiz–would it show where I was from and/or the influences of other places I have lived?

How Y'all Youse and You Guys Talk

My results weren't completely wrong. Of the three cities with which had the closest dialect match, I have visited one of them, which happens to be in the state where I grew up :-)

I can see the influences of where I have lived, too, around the Bay Area, the Southwest and New England.

I think I really need to visit Alaska now, to see if I actually do sound like a native there.

Beautiful Blogger, Beautiful Blogs

 

A couple weeks ago, Julie honored me on her Floribunda blog with this award and I have been remiss in thanking her, following the rules and humbly accepting the lovely compliment. Thank you, Julie. I am honored.

To accept this award, here are the rules: 

1. Thank the person who gave you the award. Check.
2. Paste the award on your blog. Check.
3. Link to the person who nominated you. Check.
4. Tell 7 interesting things about yourself. At the bottom of this post. 
5. Nominate 7 or 8 blogs.  Coming right up. 
6. Post links to those 7 blogs. Ditto.

Here are some beautiful group authored blogs that I especially enjoy, that might not already be on your list: 

1. ColourLovers - a place to find color palettes inspired by just about anything and other interesting discussions about color.  The blog is part of a larger site which is a great resource.
   
   
2. Fast Friday Fabric Challenge - monthly themes are interpreted by quilters with interesting results. The latest theme was landscape + manipulated fabric.
    
3. Illustration Friday - while there is a blog associated with this site, it is the weekly topic and response by artists in many media on the site (which is linked) that inspires me.
   
   
4. Sew Retro - sewer/authors share a love of vintage patterns, vintage fabric, vintage style.
   
   
5. The Civil War Bride Quilt - quilty eye candy provided by authors who are making this incredible appliqué quilt.
   
   
6. Twelve By Twelve - a collaborative art quilt project  wherein 12 quilters create 12" square quilts in response to a series of themes.  This year's effort is based on color.
   
   
7. Wardrobe Refashion - designer/authors take a pledge to refashion, renovate and recycle instead of purchasing clothing for the length of their commitment. 

Here are the required seven things that you probably don't know about me:

1. For the past two months, the states of Michigan and Texas have been playing a shell game with me, assuring me of one thing, telling me to "wait at least a month" before following up and to ignore the automatically generated US Mail I have received, and mostly telling me to contact the other one . . .  with no regard to what they are doing to me.  After patiently waiting and then following up, two different people in two different states have told me today exactly the opposite regarding unemployment benefits than I've been told for the past two months.
    
2. I have yet to receive any of the benefit to which both Michigan and Texas have assured me for months I am entitled.  I have spent hours and hours just trying to get through on the phone (before the long wait in the queue to reach an actual person) at both Michigan UIA and the Texas Workforce Commission. In the meantime, the deadline for applying for extended unemployment benefits is fast approaching.  I fear that by the time Texas and Michigan sort it out, it will be too late to apply.
    
3. I have begun to dream about becoming homeless, even though I know it's completely irrational.
   
   
4. My fears about the future have me stopped in my tracks creatively and in other ways, too.
   
   
5. I have never felt so alone and unwanted in my life.
   
   
6. I resisted responding to this award because I just couldn't put on a happy face for my friends in blogland and create a funny list of interesting things about me. Maybe it's just time to come clean about just how bad things are.
   
   
7. I know that certain malicious people follow this blog and will delight in my circumstances, immediately e-mailing their friends, with their added nasty commentary.  I never understood women who treat other women so viciously or those that delight in another's hardship  . . . and probably never will.

Maybe I should have just blogged about the dresses at the Oscars today, huh?

What Type are You?

I am, apparently, Cooper Black Italic.


Working on the letter blocks for the Block Lotto Banner (which is now all bound and just needs a trip through the wash) and some other word blocks (which I'll share in about a week) has made me more aware of rules for typefaces and during my wanderings though things font-related, I found a fun little quiz which answers the question . . .

What type are you? (the password is character)

Mad Men Yourself

C'mon, you know you want to . . .

If you're a fan of Mad Men–or maybe even if you're not– go to MadMenYourself.com and create a mid-century version of yourself, complete with accessories and props like the martini that the MadMenMe is holding . . .

You can also put yourself in a scene with other cast members and create wallpaper for your PC.

(You all know how easily amused I am, right?)

I am the Star (What Tarot Card are You?)

You know I can't resist these silly-but-fun tests . . . here is my result from this one:

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Fireworks

And for fun ... here's a Blogthings test to find out if you're Red, White or Blue. My result:

You Are Blue

You are a highly tolerant and peaceful person. You have a lot of compassion and respect for people. You love that the USA is a country with many different people. You may not agree with what everyone believes, but you agree with their right to believe it. You look for the common bonds that Americans share. You rather unite than divide people. You'd like to see more understanding and less fighting. You find it hard to stomach politics.

Are You Red, White, or Blue?

What is in a Name?

I'm still working on a couple of doll quilts that I cannot share . . . yet, so how about this? (the last line–at least–really has me pegged ;-)

What Jean-sophie Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

The Flickr Game

1. Facial tattoo, 2. Bacon Guacamole Burger, 3. Belleville Ontario Sunset, 4. Miss Lemon + Miss Lime + Miss Sprite = Bubbletastic shoot!!!, 5. James Stewart, 6. LEMONADE, 7. The Road Less Traveled By, 8. Cinnamon Ice Cream & Raspberry Sorbet, 9. Don't Worry Be Happy, 10. My friends........ROCK, 11. Tenacious, 12. Doll Swap Quilt for Ela

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

How to Play:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

Be amused. Share the results ;-)

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name

I saw it on Amy's blog and had to play.

It's All About MEme

Sara, of Odd Dotty Dollmaker, tagged me with the 7 random things meme.

1. I gave up eating meat with feet over a year ago and have never looked back. These days, it's veggies or meat without feet.
   
   
   
   
2. I start most days with a glass of freshly juiced green lemonade. Yes, that green lemonade.
3. I've never really had a favorite color for more than a season . . . there are just too many great colors in the world, you know? Lately, it's bright lime green . . . do you suppose it's because I am yearning for the bright green shoots of Spring?
   
   
   
   
4. I am fascinated by how things work and how they are designed and made. My undergraduate degree is in Physiology–the study of how we work–and, for fun, I have made hats and boots, stained glass, paper . . . and sewn lots of things.
5. I have always been an accessories girl. Currently, I am infatuated with the shoes with the funny-looking soles by BMT . . . because when I wear them, they make me (and my back and hips) feel so good.
   
   
   
6. I've lived on both coasts, Northern (Michigan) and Southern (Texas) borders of the US and in France. Now I don't live close to mountains or ocean . . . sometimes I miss them.
   
   
   
   
7. I enjoy the meme-thing, but I never tag anyone. If you haven't yet shared 7 random things about yourself on your blog and feel like playing, please add a comment to this post and link it.
   

Walking in This World, the Meme

This is my check-in for week 7 of Walking in the World.

I thought the Geography task looked a lot like the memes that bounce around blogland and the questions are interesting to consider (and share). Whether you are reading and working the book or not, you might consider your answers to these questions. Here are mine.

1. What culture other than your own speaks to you? Navajo
2. What age other than the one we’re in resonates with your sensibilities? Arts & Crafts period
3. What foreign cuisine feels like home on your palate? French
4. What exotic smells give you a sense of expansion and wellbeing? Indian curry and spices
5. What spiritual tradition intrigues you? Buddhism
6. What music from another culture plucks your heartstrings? Navajo flute
7. In another age, what physical age do you see yourself being? 30
8. In another culture and time, what is your sex? Female
9. Do you enjoy period movies or movies, period? Yes ;-)
10. If you were to write a film, what age and time, what place and predicament, would you choose to explore? The present, the reality of what our tax dollars at work looks like.

Morning Pages: every day

Walk: between snowstorms, I parked off campus and walked to the MSU Museum. The trip there was quite pretty; but when I left about an hour later, the sky had turned gray, it was snowing and the wind was blowing . . . I pulled up the hood on my coat and was pulling it close around my face. I thought about how, when I was an undergraduate there, we referred to walks across the open areas on campus as trips across the tundra.

Artist Date: I went to see the quilts in the Quilts & Human Rights exhibit at the MSU museum. The exhibit explores the role that quiltmakers have played in raising awareness of human rights issues around the world and the power of textiles to communicate important ideas and information. The quilts were inspiring and provocative, made to document and express transgressions of human rights, to educate others about human rights issues, and to pay tribute to leaders of human rights movements.

I will share more photos later, but here is a detail photo from 9/11, made by an unidentified artist or artists in South Africa in 2002.

One Word at a Time

Everybody's doing it . . . I copied this list from Amy.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? insignificant
3. Your hair? straight
4. Your mother? creative
5. Your father? missed
6. Your favorite thing? learning
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? latté
9. Your dream/goal? heath
10. The room you’re in? living
11. Your ex? tall
12. Your fear? illness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? warmer
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? thin
16. Muffins? pass
17. One of your wish list items? skiing
18. Where you grew up? Michigan
19. The last thing you did? laundry
20. What are you wearing? fleece
21. Your TV? analog
22. Your pet? kitties
23. Your computer? mac
24. Your life? interesting
25. Your mood? calm
26. Missing someone? no
27 Your car? practical
28. Something you’re not wearing? lipstick
29. Favorite Store? ikea
30. Your summer? hiking
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? lime
33. When is the last time you laughed? now
34. Last time you cried? yesterday

The Pause that Inspires?

You are a Comma

You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything. You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time. Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, your friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.) You excel in: Inspiring people You get along best with: The Question Mark

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Kitchen Window Meme

Lulu's Bay asked bloggers to share the view from their kitchen window.



The view from the window in the kitchen in my townhouse at this time of year is usually one of snow plows and snow blowers and neighbors scraping ice from the windows of their cars in the parking lot. But, between here and the parking lot, the snow is deep and crisp and quite pretty. It has been so cold that there are ice crystals in the snow that sparkle like diamonds when the sun is shining.

To be honest, my "view" more often looks more like the one below. Yesterday, there were birds singing and hopping in the bushes under the window. Johnny and Grace Hopper heard them, too, and came to investigate and frightened the birds before I could take a photo of them.)



For more kitchen views, check out the list in the side bar of Lulu's Bay. Almost everyone on the list has a much more beautiful view than mine ;-)

What's Your Recipe?

The Recipe For sophie

3 parts Style 2 parts Mischief 1 part Rebellion Splash of Fascination Limit yourself to one serving. This cocktail is strong!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Call me Clueless

You know I can't resist these things:

Take the Quiz here!

What Holiday are YOU?

You know I can't resist these blogthings . . . here's my result and the link so you can take the test, too ;-)

You Are Christmas

More than most people, you are able to find magic in life's small moments. Traditions mean a lot to you, and you tend to be quite nostalgic. You are a giving, kind person who really understands the true meaning of holidays. You inspire others to be as altruistic and caring as you are. What makes you celebrate: Tradition and a generous spirit At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The storyteller. You like to recount memories with everyone. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Give a gift to everyone you know

What Holiday Are You?

Food Q & A

Some say that you are what you eat. This meme, found on one of the foodie blogs I enjoy, Potlikker, caught my eye. Let's see what it says about me. If you want to play along, copy-and-paste the questions and add your own answers.

How do you like your eggs? Poached and served on top of toast or something interesting (and usually left over).

How do you take your coffee/tea? steamed milk with my coffee/honey in my tea.

Favorite breakfast food: French toast topped with fresh fruit and powdered sugar

Peanut butter: I can't remember the last time I had any.

What kind of dressing on your salad? Bleu cheese

Coke or Pepsi? No soda for me, thanks.

You’re feeling lazy. What do you make? An omelet.

You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? Veggie with extra cheese.

You feel like cooking. What do you make? Something that involves a lot of preparation so I can enjoy the process.

Is there a food you refuse to eat? Veal.

What was your favorite food as a child? Grilled cheese sandwich (with a cup of cream of tomato soup, please).

Is there a food that you hated as a child but now love? Black-eyed peas.

Is there a food that you loved as a child but now hate? Peanut butter (I don't hate it, but I just realized a few questions back that I don't choose it anymore).

Favorite fruit & vegetable: Peach & swiss chard.

Favorite junk food: Blue corn tortilla chips with salsa.

Favorite between meal snack: Coffee.

Do you have any weird food habits? Probably; some of my friends think fish tacos are weird, but I love them.

You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? salad.

You’re off your diet. Now what would you like? Ice cream.

How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Medium-to-hot.

Can I get you a drink? Maybe a margarita (on ice with salt).

Red wine or white? Lately, usually red.

Favorite dessert? Key lime pie. Or maybe a fruit tart.

Image Meme

Kate and Amy made it look like fun, so here goes . . .

1. How old will you be on your next birthday?


(I'm not even used to being 53 yet. . .)

2. A place you'd like to visit


(Antibes, France - I loved living there and would love to go home.)

3. One of your favourite places to visit


(Mountains are good for my soul.)

4. Your favorite object



5. Your favourite food



6. Your favourite animal(s)


(Admittedly a little bit of a cheat, but Johnny and Gracie wouldn't have it any other way.)

7. Favorite color



8. Name of a past pet


(Merlin, in case you don't recognise him.)

9. Where you live


(I feel like a move is in my future, but I'm not sure where.)

10. First grade teacher's last name



11. Your middle name


(I dont' have one.)

12. A bad habit of yours



13. Your college major



14. Favorite holiday



If you would like to play along, here's how:

1. Answer each of the questions and then type each response into the Google image search.
   
2. Choose an image from the first page of results for each answer and post it on your blog.

Sixth Sentence Meme

Take the book you are currently reading and turn to page 161, then read the 6th sentence and share it. Here's mine:

"I browsed."

From Don't Make Me Think. A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug.

I'm not tagging anyone, but it's so easy, why wouldn'tcha want to play? Your sixth sentence has to be more entertaining than mine ;-)