April 30

Just more squares....  Mary

April 29

Just love, love, love my new sewing machine....  Mary

April 28

The pink paisley looks amazing....  Mary

April 27

All of the fabric is cut.  Monster, of course, had to lay on top of the strips so he could help.  Needless to say, all of the squares are now safely inside a lidded, cat proof box....  Mary

April 26

Two of the three fabrics are cut.  I covered the rows with a another cloth so that Monster doesn't rearrange them for me while I'm sleeping tonight....  Mary

April 25

We usually buy a new appliance with our tax return.  One year it was a refrigerator and washing machine since both were on their last legs at the same time.  Another year it was a new garage door opener.  Last year it was a new hot water heater.  This year it is a new sewing machine.

My old Janome is still a work horse but just not robust enough for the amount of sewing I am doing.  Got a super deal on this new Janome 7700 from Jerry's Sewing and Vacuum here in Madison.  Monster is jealous because the motor on this new machine purrs almost as sweetly as he does....  Mary

April 24

First design pass....  Mary

April 23

Setting up to begin pressing and cutting....  Mary

April 22

No time like the present to begin the next project....  Mary

April 21

This is my favorite of all the blocks in the quilt top, so I put it in the center....  Mary

April 20

Not sure there is enough lint roller sticky paper in the world to keep up with Monster's fuzz.  I may never work with navy blue ever again....  Mary

April 19

It's only because Monster loves me and wants to help, but quilting with his help takes twice as long as it does without his assistance....  Mary

April 18

For all the gorgeous, amazing origami papers out there, I am still really drawn to this plain brown wrapper paper with its beautiful texture....  Mary

April 17

After remembering last night's origami pattern, this one was a snap....  Mary

April 16

Okay, it's actually only been 3-1/2 months, but this pattern took some serious thinking and staring at a piece of paper for awhile.  But it did come back to me....  Mary

April 15

It's been 4-1/2 months since I did any origami, but I do remember how to fold a balloon and a crane apparently....  Mary

April 14

It snowed overnight.  The low tonight will be 18 degrees.  A faculty member yelled at me not once but twice this morning, and I am working on a three day headache.  It will be early to bed tonight while applying a snuggly Monster....  Mary

April 13

Last night was very hard on poor Monster.  There was thunder, lightening, and ice bullets of death (hail) falling from the sky to kill him.  Never mind that he was warm and safe and protected in the house sleeping next to Duvy and I.  He is still exhausted after a day of recovery napping....  Mary

April 12

No extra help from Monster tonight....  Mary

April 11

The little squiggly extra line was Monster's contribution when he jumped on the back of my chair....  Mary

April 10

Six and half hours just responding to enrollment emails today.  This is all the creativity I can muster.... Mary

April 9

Monster continues to help....  Mary

April 8

Monster helps piece the quilt top....  Mary

April 7

Working with navy blue in a house full of cats is a treacherous undertaking.  There is fuzz and fur everywhere....  Mary

April 6

All of the rows are sewn together.  Next is cutting the setting triangles, then sewing all the rows into a finished top....  Mary

April 5

Finished.... Mary

April 4

It's the weekend....  Mary

April 3

Don't want to overdue the pen work so I am taking it slowly on this piece.  It does seem though that the stippling uses the muscles in my hand differently than the mousing.  It seems to loosen up the tightness at the end of the day.  Tomorrow should be my last day of major permission giving.  After that it is just endless email responses to students.  Lots of typing but not the repetitive motion I've been doing....  Mary

April 2

Enrollment deadlines loom.  One hundred thirty-seven nursing student permissions today, and a hundred seven kinesiology permissions tomorrow.  My mousing hand is worn out....  Mary

April 1

No jokes, just tired....  Mary