Watch and Listen. . .and learn

Sounds like good advice, no?

First of all, I have to send a heartfelt and HUGE thanks to my buddy, Heather, for pointing me in the direction of finetune. To the right, you can see a music player. On this, I have programmed (very easily) 45 of my favorite songs. . . which reminds me that I want to do a post about my favorite songs, sometime. But I'll do that another day.

Anyway, you will see that I am a sucker for the 70s. It's when music meant the most to me (or so it seemed). Music means way more to me today than it did in 1974, but at the time (4th grade) it seemed so much more monumental.

And no, there are NO Christian songs on my playlist. Call it a guilty pleasure. Call it a sign of weakness. Call it me....being authentic. When I want to kick back and listen to music that feeds the creative side of my soul, this is where I go.

Steely Dan. . . Boz Scaggs. . . the Eagles. . . Elton John. . . Carly Simon. . . America. . .Billy Joel. . . the Doobie Brothers. . .Michael McDonald. . . the list could go on and on. But, I was limited to 45 selections. As I type, I have my blog open in another window, and "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan is playing. This is, by far, one of my favorite all-time songs.

I had to hold Caroline while Boz Scaggs crooned out "Heart of Mine." Wow, that one took me back. (I didn't remember the melody on the verse, but I crooned along anyway). Now, I'm hearing Kevin Cronin sing, "I Can't Fight this Feeling" (REO Speedwagon). Totally a step back in time. Thanks, Heather!!!

The "Watch and Learn" part comes from my sewing experience this afternoon. I believe there's ad old expression, "Measure Twice, Cut Once." Well, I should have listened to that sage advice. Because I didn't, I am re-sewing true 5/8" seams.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I had the (false) notion (so to speak - it's a sewing term) that aligning the fabric with the right edge of a standard presser foot would give you a 5/8"seam. WRONG.

Now that I have my 5/8" guide mark clearly pointed out, I can accurately sew this quilt. It's what's called a "Rag Quilt," and it has been in the process for at least 4 years. I began it well before Caroline came along. My problem will come when I finish it, and have to decide whether to give it away, or keep it. I suspect that I'll give it away - and make another. We'll see.

Example of a Rag Quilt:

Well, that's it. I'm sewing and ripping. . . and hopefully, this will be the last of the roadblocks on this little quilt.

Oh. . .and the final song for this blog entry. . ."Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel. This one's for you, Mark. . .he played it in Show Band in high school.