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Jeanie Sullivan, who worked as Vendor Coordinator for the AQS show in Paducah, KY has regretfully stepped down from that position upon the advice of her doctors. She has gone from a full-time worker bee back to being a stay at home homemaker. Yes, on top of my many other monikers, today I will be therapist. Jeanie will be the comedian. This was her email to me today. Read on!

Dear Ricky

Emergency advice needed, I am not prepared for this... decided to clean the oven... which was okay, as it is self cleaning, I opened a double pack of Clorox magic eraser, note to self ... will write to them later that these need to be larger, as I progressed around the room I noticed things moving in the corner of the room, not knowing for sure what it was, I wore protective gear (grandsons hard hat and hair coloring gloves (as I evidently have not cleaned since working at Schroeders) working for me has been deciding what color of hair I wanted not scrubbing the walls and we won't even talk about the bathroom. I also put on as my protective gear my camo pajamas as I thought if it could not see me it would not fall on me. .... ....after looking through my grandson's binoculars it turned out to be a massive cobweb an had obviously been busy knitting this web for years, one sweep of the only cleaning supply I have (a ruler from Jean Lyle) did not move it, after the second sweep and many attempts of jumping forward and backwards really fast - well as fast as fat can move - in my head it was ninja fast... it fell right at me, my screaming and stomping, jumping onto a chair that moved when I tried to land on it, so the chair rolling, around the floor moving other objects aligned neatly until today, awoke my sleeping husband who just worked off a 16 hour midnight shift.
My instructions are to sit on the couch and knit quietly for the rest of the afternoon and not even look at him for any reason.
I think we are going to have to go through therapy together. But the web is gone, and I only have one blister, two bruises and my pride.
I will read and study a little more or maybe even buy a subscription to How to clean after 50..

Jeanie


Dear Jeanie,

This is a riot - now, for your next assignment as you will find this worthwhile, entertaining, and also provide a great connection to over 22,000 quilters.
1. Join The Quilt Show, if you have not done so. This modest subscription fee will do more for you than the therapist.
2. Create your personal profile - it's easy, but even if you find it a challenge, you'll learn something new.
3. Click on Member Blog and create your own Member Blog - call it My Life After AQS
4. Post your email to me as your first blog - you'll get several responses.
5. Continue your blog diary right there online for the world to see - post frequently.
6. Explore other site features such at the 7000+ quilts and Ricky's Rhapsody Reality Blog (but start with Blog 1 on that)
7. Report back to me on how this quilt therapy has helped you make the transition from working to homemaking again.


Ricky

Look for Jeanie's profile - she's promises to become one of us! Is that a blessing or curse?

Update - Jeanie has joined - she is MyLifeAfterAQS 

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Some of you may remember that I started a courhouse steps log cabin variation on the Rhapsody Reality Blog while I was sewing on the treadle machine at the Bertie Marie cabin. I didn't know what would become of that, but I had some ideas spinning around in my head. We'll here it is. Mi Cabina is finished! I sent it off to JWD Publishing (Joen Wolfrom) today.

I designed this for the beginner, those who are looking for a fairly fast/fun project, and to make as a snuggle quilt. It measures about 71 x 82 - not huge, but not small either. While I put bears on the top of mine (are you surprised?) you could put any motif such cats, dolphins, trees, etc. - on yours. The pattern for this quilt - which is amazingly easy - but more planned that it looks - will be released at Fall Market. Maybe we'll all make one together? What do you think? Thanks to Marian Pierce who pieced the cabin blocks for me while I was teaching/performing in Nashville last month. I did the final assembly, applique and quilting.

Visit JWD Publishing to see the other patterns they have which include patterns by both Alex and myself.

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Sometimes life comes at you hard. I've been there. There are times when life can dish out overwhelming obstacles and sometimes the will to overcome hardships or discouragement dwindles to almost nothing. The things we enjoy doing - quilting for example - can start off with excitement, but obstacles often douse the flame of passion and before long, a once inspiring project will be put aside for a less challenging, more exciting endeavor. Sometimes the passion for life and living can also diminish and discouragement takes root to begin the long spiral downward to despair.

As I walked up the steps to the gallery this morning I looked left and saw the potted rose bush that never got planted. I thought, "This has got to get transplanted." Then I noticed the geranium in the crack at the foot of the steps.

On the gallery porch we have lovely potted geraniums. They are watered frequently and we do our best to keep them looking good for the visitors who come our way. It appears that sometime this summer the wind must have broken off a sprig of the geranium and it blew behind the bench at the bottom of the steps out of sight and in a grungy unattended area. I suppose this geranium, rootless, broken, and separated from its 'mother' could have withered and died. However in this unattended, barren area, enough sand and debris collected, enough rain fell from the heavens to allow this orphan sprig to take root and scream, I'm alive! I will survive! I will not give up and I will find a way to inspire others to suck it up, be brave, tackle adversity, thrive, live, and celebrate life."

This abandoned, isolated sprig of a geranium, living in the most difficult of conditions, will have done more today than all the pampered blossoms on the porch. It enourages me. It makes me realize that there is always hope. Nothing is too difficult to overcome, and when I experience adversity, discouragment, depression - perhaps, instead of giving up, I too can dig in, survive, find a strong determination to overcome the situation and ultimately be an inspiration and encouragement to those around me.

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Greetings TQS World Quilt Community members!

So you ask - is Ricky ill? Is he mad? What's up with Ricky? Well, the truth of the matter is that since July 5 I have been going non-stop. I have only had three personal days away from work since then. We have completed three seminars (these are really MAJOR events) and the travel time, set up time, seminar time, break down, and travel home takes a toll.

Besides that I really did have the Rhapsody quilt deadline - so I stopped the Rhapsody Reality Blog so I could do nothing but concentrate on that quilt and get it to the photographer in time for the deadline - which I did, but I could not possibly shoot and edit video on top of that insanity. We'll get back to it, I promise. You have to have the patience of a Jedi warrior. I will unveil that quilt in time. Patience, Luke, Patience!

I returned home from the Knoxville seminar Tuesday night. The last three days I have had another quilt to finish for a pattern that is coming out with JWD Publishing at Fall Market. So, once again, I'm in overdrive. This photo gives you a sneak peek at that quilt.

Of course then there is the matter of finalizing all the edits, exports and imports associated with show 110 which posts on Monday.

As you can tell, I lolligag a lot, eat bon bons and watch re-runs of Lucy. Life is grand. LOL. The most imporant message is that I am in this for the long-haul so I have to manage my time, meet the deadlines that pay the bills, and find a balance to keep TQS strong. Thanks for understanding that my time is overloaded. I'll be heading to NY for a field shoot then off to Wichita Falls, TX for a concert en route to market and festival in Houston. I fly directly from Houston to Japan for two weeks. My next real breather is two days before Thanksgiving - late November.

Oh yes, then there is the painting and designing on the new fabric for Red Rooster.

Can you say, "Neck Deep in Aligators?"

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As reported earlier this week, high school photograps of both Alex and Ricky are circulating the globe in a new edgy quilting magazine called Quilter's Home . Since Lilo (TQSWizard) has so bravely posted her high school pic, and many of you can not locate the images from the magazine, I have posted them here for your amusement. How about being brave enough to post your high school photo in YOUR profile? What's next, our baby photos?

Oh yeah, I am the one on the right!

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The Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar in Omaha was described as a "Wow!" Alex, Libby, Bob the Thread Guy and myself, all enjoyed a tremdous number of positive comments. Thank you Omaha Quilters Guild and everyone who came from far and wide to spend your weekend with us! If you attended, maybe joined The Quilt Show as a result, or hope to go someday, we'd love for you to post a comment.

On Friday evening, I always do a concert. My shadow, Clara, snapped this photo and I think it speaks for itself. The volunteers stayed to the bitter end and they are pictured in the loading dock after we were packed and ready to leave. It really takes a village to make this happen. The event raised $7,701.00 for the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Our Ricky Tims Super Quilt Sermiar got underway last night to a record crowd at the new Holland Center of the Performing Arts in Omaha, NE. The seminar covers about 20 topics in 15 hours of lecture. In addition, I do a concert. This time I get to perform on a new Steinway D concert grand piano -yipee. Mostly I'm just letting you all know that Alex and I are here along with Libby Lehman and Bob Purcell, the thread guy having a great time sharing our favorite topics with quilters from far and wide -even several Canadians have made it here!

One really great thing is that the host guild, the Omaha Quilt Guild, will be donating their proceeds to the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, NE. The center is near completion and as I understand it, will have a grand opening in March 2009.

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Hey everyone – good news – if you’ve not been able to catch Alex, Libby and me at my super seminar because it’s not yet come to your area, or you missed the one that did, we are bringing it to the Houston Quilt Festival on Thursday & Friday, Nov 1-2, 2007.

Registrations are being handled by Quilt Festival, and the seminar is listed on page 41 of the Festival class catalog (or course #400 if you’re registering on their website, www.quilts.com ). Seminar details (topics taught, student feedback, etc) can be found on my website, www.rickytims.com but you have to register with the folks in Houston. Read the great feedback from the San Diego and Richmond participants here. Alex, Libby and I really hope you’ll join us.

And, more good news….we need volunteers to help us set up, break down and work a little bit in between. Our volunteers must be paid registrants to the seminar but receive a $60 gift certificate to use in my vendor booth. You won’t miss a moment of the teaching sessions, and you’ll have a blast.

For details, contact Pat Greenberg (pat@rickytims.com) or 303-252-0579 MWF.

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The Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar is now in the record book. Quilters from several states converged at the Richmond Convention Center for two and a half days of instruction from myself, Libby Lehman, and Alex Anderson. Included in the line up was also Bob Purcell, The Thread Guy, who provided each attendee with a Doctoral of Threadology diploma following his presentation.

There is no way for me to accurately depict the seminar so we'll let the blog comments speak for themselves. If you attended the Richmond event - or any past seminar event - please tell the World Quilt Community about your experience. What was memorable? What did you learn? What was fun?

We were privileged to have accommodations at The Jefferson, a 111 year old gem. Pictured above is one of the two atrium areas. The other had a statue of Thomas Jefferson and a Tiffany glass dome ceiling. Quilting designs and motifs were everywhere. Richmond is a very historic city in America and the quilters poured out their hospitality in true Southern style!