Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Hand work


I haven't posted in awhile. Been busy during the holidays and under the weather. I have just been doing some hand work lately, not getting into any big jobs. This logcabin star has been a long project. I quilted it a few months ago and just now finishing the binding, but now it is finished except for washing it. It will go in the next load to wash today. That is part of the quilt for me is the feel and crinkle look after washing.

This is a wool wallhanging I did for Halloween but didn't get the hand stitching around it. I took a class at camp this year making Christmas Ornaments from wool and I love working with it. I didn't have the right color of embroidery thread for it and had to wait till I went to Ashland to get it, which is about an hour drive. We have nothing in our town that sells embroidery thread, yarn, etc. I just noticed I still have to make the cats eyes. Don't know if I can find small buttons or will I just do a french knot with white thread.

I didn't get to go to last Quilt Guild Meeting cause I had a Dr. appointment that morning. Martha brought me a pair of the mittens they did at our Christmas party. Thanks to Sandy and Virginia for preparing these for the members. I enjoy sitting and doing the buttonhole stitch around these things.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Pincushions

You can see what I been doing lately. I have been making some pincushions and quilting. This summer when our homemaker group visited Neff's Country Loft I saw some Pincushions made from wool. Of course, it has been in the back of my mind to make some and I finally got around to starting them on Sunday. I have worked on them for a few days now and really enjoy working with wool. These are made from wool jackets bought from Goodwill stores. It is time consuming but I enjoy doing it. First, cut the jackets in pieces. I take them apart at the seams and wash them in very hot water and dry at very hot temperature. Next step is the applique and embroidery stitching. Which one is your favortie? Red or Cream?

And today I quilted a quilt for Barbara. I just love quilting these quilts and seeing ways each person puts them together. I've been told this lady always designs her own, so I don't know the name of this one.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Quilting Again


Martha made this top last year but just now getting it quilted. Also quilted a mystery quilt for Teresa.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Monica's Home Safely from NYC

Monica arrived home safely Friday night. Just a few pictures of her trip. Some were taken as she toured the city.



Some are beside the float.


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

EMT to take ride on float


EMT to take ride on float
By TIM PRESTON - The Independent


NEW YORK CITY November 25, 2009 08:42 pm

Monica Young will be one of the dozens of people who help guide a massive Ronald McDonald balloon through the streets of New York City during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade today.
Young, who was born and raised in Louisa and now works as an EMT for Boyd County EMS, says the task fits perfectly with her “Dream big and fly high” philosophy. Her role as a balloon escort actually began with a spontaneous decision to travel to New York City to experience New Year’s in Times Square.
“I had always wanted to experience the ball drop. I got off work at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and was debating a spontaneous journey,” she recalled, explaining she didn’t want to look back at the opportunity with regret in 10 years. “I only had $25 to my name when I made the decision.”
A friend donated $100 for the trip and Young said she was thrilled to discover a co-worker had deposited her paycheck for her before she even arrived in the Big Apple. Friends in the city had invited her to visit and provided a place to stay, she said, explaining she was guided toward a parking spot in New Jersey and traveled into the city on the subway, emerging on 42nd Street with a view of the illuminated New Year’s ball.
While there, Young attended an open house hosted by a longtime balloon team handler, and asked what qualifications would be required to help handle a balloon in the famous parade. She was advised to apply and soon received a training DVD.
“Right now I’m in Queens and heading into Manhattan,” she said, explaining she wasn’t able to attend any of the preliminary events featuring the parade’s balloons and will be making her debut as a handler during the big event.
Her assignment is to help guide the clown made famous by McDonald’s advertising, and she will be wearing a costume with several layers of insulative clothing beneath as part of the show. Each rope ends with “the bone,” she said, explaining a “dog bone-shaped” handle is attached to the end of each security strand.
Each balloon requires 75 to 125 handlers in addition to two or three vehicles to make it through the 2.5 mile parade route, Young said. While the job is relatively straight-forward, Young said handlers must be aware of their environment.
“Weather, of course, is the main thing,” she said, noting wind is the enemy of every balloon in the parade.
“For no reason whatsoever do we stop at intersections due to the crosswinds,” she said, noting the city’s intersections tend to be a bit like valleys in the mountains, channeling strong air currents between each.
The experience will be one of many Young is pleased to have enjoyed.
“I am an adventure seeker,” she said. “I love to experience life. Even if I face adversity I say ‘Truck on.’ Doing this, I hope to make more friends and connections that could lead to something else. I mean, I came to New York to watch the ball drop and now I’m going to be in the parade. Who knows what might come from this?”

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Daily Independent Ashland, Ky

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Monica's in NYC


Took my daughter to the airport today. She is in NYC tonight preparing for the Macy's Day Parade. Well tonight and tomorrow she will be spending with some friends. Thanksgiving she will be in parade. Watch for her. She will be a balloon handler for Ronald McDonald.