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Doll Quilt Swap Sneak Peek, originally uploaded by Cathi O'Neill.

I have been getting things done in the past week, just haven't stopped to blog them. I work from home doing freelance design, and got busy the last few weeks, and find my nights taken up with that work, rather than my crafting...

I have joined a few swaps and knit-alongs this summer and have started working on a few of them. My doll quilt swap partner likes Civil War reproductions....hmmm...wonder if I have any of those!! I poured out my repro collection on the floor to start cutting out some more squares for my Ocean Waves quilt, and to get a few bits of fabric for to send along for Lucy, who is going through a rough time now, and also  to choose fabrics for my mini DJ doll quilt I will try to hand piece and quilt in the next few weeks... I will use the machine in the end if I need to...but will try to get it done by hand!

I have gotten three blocks quilted on my big Dear Jane quilt. I will put thumbnails here, but you can click on them if you want to see the quilting. I'm still a beginner, so don't look too closely.

I've also been working on some commissioned name pillowcases for my SIL. I had thought about selling these, but they take a lot longer than is cost effective for a sales item... will continue them for gifts though, from time to time...

I've started on a sock for the Socks of Summer 2007 knitalong. I had tried to do swatch and calculate exact measurements to fit my large calves, lol, and for all the math and extra work I did, they were too big! So... I decided to go for pretty instead. I'm doing a pattern called Pomatomus (say that 3 times fast!) with a gorgeous clamshell pattern. I've done one pattern repeat, and really like the way the yarn looks in this pattern! I hope to do a couple of pairs of socks over the summer and learn how to make some that fit properly. This is only my second pair, but it is my first pair using tiny tiny 2.5mm needles!

 I've also made myself a little logo for the blog, one I can use for labels of things I might sell or for the swaps, maybe even some notecards... Do you like it? (check the banner!)

Have you heard about this story?

UPDATE: The court overturned earlier custody rulings in Heather's favor and gave her husband full custody of the children. They denied her right to an appeal of the decision. There is nothing left for her to do right now, and her deportation hearing is coming up soon. She won't be able to see her children until they can travel when they turn 18. I am beside myself with sadness for her. If the U.S. government can't intervene on her behalf, I don't know that she has any hope of changing this outcome.

This is my cousin Heather Jones. Her story was picked up by Associated Press in the States, so I think it has gotten some nationwide exposure there, but we don't hear about it here in Ireland. You can read an article about it here.

 I don't know my cousin really well, I grew up on the east coast in DC area, and she and most of my mom's family live in St. Louis, Missouri in the midwest. I remember her as the pretty cousin who was tanned and worked as a lifeguard during school vacations. When she went to college she converted to Islam and met and married her Omani husband. She has lived happily there up until a few years ago when he divorced her. She has fought and won custody of her gorgeous children, but her work visa will soon be ended, and her husband has cancelled the childrens US passports. She will be deported without the children, and I think will have very little chance of getting to see them again if that happens.

I'm not sure if anything political can be done at this point. Her plight has been sent to many politicians, but nothing really seems to be happening. If you can just say a little prayer or send a bit of good karma her way in Oman. This month a lot of her legal battles are being fought and we are still holding out some hope that she won't be separated from the kids.

 Thanks for listening!

What do you think?

We are heading back to Bend (Oregon) next summer to visit my parents. We are hoping to be there for the 4th of July and several weeks after that. Sisters and its great Outdoor Quilt Festival are just down the road from Bend. Do you think I could finish hand quilting this baby and finish her up in a year? It would be great to be a part of that festival!!

 Is it doable? Especially for a novice hand quilter??

Virtual Vacation Swap Questionnaire

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why? I would love to see Alaska, for its natural beauty, and because I've never been there before!!


2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why? I would love to see Macchu Pichu, in Peru, or Angkor Wat in Cambodia, both amazing ancient sites.


3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries? I took a train across America, from DC to Oregon, stopping at national parks in Montana and Wyoming. I met my brother in Oregon and we drove his car back to DC by a wide detour through Canada seeing BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan finally heading down into Michigan and home across US. Took a trip with DH from where we used to live in Atlanta, did an Elvis tour of Tupelo, MS and Memphis TN before heading to see relatives in St. Louis MO. I didn't drive, but I did backpack from the UK (got as far north as Shetland Islands) to Egypt, via Eastern Europe just after fall of communism (1993)... I love travelling!


4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it? I have worked in Uganda, went on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, visited Albania, and got to Fiji!


5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why? My favorite bit of travelling is still probably my backpacking trip, saw so many things and learned so much! Especially loved my time in Turkey, Israel and Egypt.


6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain. I grew up in suburbs of Washington, DC, so love playing tourist there, all the museums and sights! I live in Ireland now and was a tourist here years before I met my husband. We live in beautiful town on the Shannon river now, and have played tourist here, as we are new arrivals!


7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker? I am a museum and sights type visitor, but am not averse to laying around on a beach from time to time, esp. if I have some knitting or sewing project and a good book as well! I like amusements (roller coasters!) but am not the type to go mad crazy either...


8. What's your favorite type of yarn? Like natural fibers, getting into sock wool in a big way!


9. What's your least favorite type of yarn? Not a big fan of acrylic, but some mixes with acrylic are ok...not my favorites though...


10. What items do you like to knit/crochet? I am starting on a sock obsession, but have done a few sweaters and had fun doing moebius baskets. Also like doing wash and face cloths.


11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation? I have started taking my current projects, both hand piecing for quilts and a knitting project.


12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet? I am an avid quilter as well, love fabric as well as fiber! I would love to do some rug hooking at some point (have done a bit, ages ago and never finished)


13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise) Nope.


14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite? Not a big fan of bright colors, but love earthtones: browns, greens, oranges, beiges, etc...


15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)? Sweet.


16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know? Umm...I live in Ireland, far far away from all the choices of yarn in America!! No sock wool in our local yarn shop!!

7 Random Things...

I have been very bad these past few weeks about getting anything done craft-wise...lots of thinking about projects, joining swaps, and reading way too many quilting and knitting blogs. I'm currently working on a new sock, my first using tiny tiny yarn (Trekking Pro Natura wool/bamboo mix) and am sewing 4 patches for a Christmas tree skirt I started years ago now it seems!

 Ages ago, Katy tagged me with the 7 Random Things meme, so I thought I'd scare you all a bit with too much detail about me, lol!

1. I hate to fall asleep without some sort of background noise! This might be partly due to the fact that my DH snores, loudly, but when he is travelling I often sleep on the sofa so I can watch sci fi programs late at night!



2. I have a tattoo! After college I saved for a year and then travelled all over the UK, through France, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Israel and Egypt. I spent Christmas 1993 in Jerusalem, whereupon on Christmas Eve I got this tattoo, from a Coptic Christian woman who actually had an apartment IN the old walls of Jerusalem. Her business was called "Electric Tattoo" and the design is my own to commemorate my time in the Middle East: Hand of God was a symbol all religions used...so I used the Hand of God with Muslim evil eye motif, the Star of David and the Christian Fish symbol...there are dove heads there for peace...my little hope for peace in that region, and a physical memory of my 3 months spent in Turkey, Israel and in Egypt.


3. On same backpacking trip I travelled alone, meeting up with fellow travellers...most people think I was crazy, but you meet so many people that way!


4. I was still dating someone else when I started dating my husband, shame on me!


5. I have a bachelor's degree in French and German literature, but never used it for a job. I took a one day class on graphic design, and now charge quite a decent rate doing freelance graphic design.


6. I was an au pair for a well-known family in France (if you have ever been there and know the Centres Leclerc, I worked for the daughter of the founder of the company) I lived in a 14th century chateau for nearly a year, and my French became fluent there!


7. I've been very lucky with traveling for jobs I've had. Mostly secretarial jobs, but have gotten to travel to NYC, LA, and Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) for a great company working with the US Agency for International Development.

I have a fellow quilting friend coming over tonight to work on the Brian Boru wallhanging our group is doing. Will take a photo for you guys when it is done...the festival is in July, so we better get going!