Tag - I'm It....

Mary from the blog Stitches and Ditches has tagged me to list seven random or weird facts about myself. It didn't take me long to think up seven facts, but my brothers have always complained that I was weird or different :)

Here are THE RULES:

Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.

Post THE RULES on your blog.

Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.

Tag 7 people and link to them.

Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Fact # 1: I don't have a sense of smell. I don't think that I ever had one. I do remember driving in the country at night as a child and my cousin holding her nose and saying there was a skunk. I didn't know how she knew since she couldn't see it. There are pros and cons about not having a sense of smell. I'm the person that you want to sit next to if you're hot, sweaty and smelly. I'm not the person that you want to raise the alarm if something is burning in the oven.

Fact # 2: My husband and I are both Cajuns from Southwest Louisiana. Our parents spoke Cajun French as their first language. Gumbo is a comfort food for us, not mac 'n cheese. We have lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for twenty years, but at heart we are still Cajuns. Lafayette, the heart of Cajun country is my hometown and where I met my husband.

Fact #3: My husband does all the cooking at our house. He even does the grocery shopping. I'm the one who picks up junk food and non-essentials at the grocery store. He is a fabulous cook. He specializes in grilling and smoking food. Don't tell, but he owns six bar-b-que pits. I can't complain. He uses all six of them. I guess I need to get more sewing machines to catch up him. I only have 4 machines :)

Fact # 4: My homelife is filled with males. My husband and I have two sons. We have a male dachshund Rusty. I have two brothers. I don't have any sisters or daughters. My Mom has passed, but my Dad is still living. I am very thankful for Sisters-in-laws, female cousins, and my sewing Sisters.

Fact # 5: I don't have a middle name. My real name is Rebecca. I asked my Mom one time why I was given only one name. She said that Rebecca was long enough. In the French Catholic world that I grew up in, everyone had middle names and they were usually Marie, Elizabeth or Ann. I didn't have three initials for a monogram until I got married.

Fact # 6: Reading is a natural part of my life. I can't imagine not having a book to read. It's been a long time since I didn't have several books on my night stand. I even have a drawer of books ready to read just in case I finish all the ones on my night stand. My cousin Peg who is like my sister told me one time, when we were growing up that not everyone like to read books and magazines like I did. It was pure revelation. It had never occured to me that other people didn't read for pleasure like I did.

Fact #7: This is the hard one to admit. Yes, I ran into a building coming home from the driver's license bureau. Is it no wonder that I don't have any patience to help with my son now that he has his learner's permit. You won't believe what building I ran into while trying to park. Yes, it was a Fabric Store. At fifteen, I was obsessed with Fabric Shopping or Retail Theraphy.

Ok. The hard part. Tagging seven other people. I only know a few bloggers even though I read lots of blogs. Let's try Gretchen, Karin, Cindy, Amanda, Catherine, Susan, and Vicky

Happy Quilting!

Shop Hop Confessions

Ok. It was just too much for me. I was not able to resist the Atlanta Shop Hop. Thursday afternoon on my way home from school, I stopped at my local shop, Stitch 'N Quilt. I got my passport stamped and looked at the neutral fabrics. Sandy was working that day. It was a treat to visit with her. Friday after a super day at school, I decided to travel to Sweet Home Quilt Company in Conyers. It took me almost an hour and a half driving from work to the shop. I forget that my new school is "out there". The shop was worth every minute of the drive. Melisa, the shop owner, has THE best taste in fabric. I could have purchased lots and lots of yardage. I did purchase only those things on my list. I bought 4 different one  yard and a fourth cuts of flannel for Sarah's rag quilt. I had them cut FQ's of four neutral fabrics for the neutral quilt that I am making for Janice, my sister-in-law for Christmas. So that was 5 yards for flannel and 1 yard of neutrals. I was also able to pick up the Stitchery block-of-the month that I am participating in. I have never done stitchery. This BOM will be new learning for me. It will also give me a hand project. Saturday since we were so close to Little Quilts, we took a quick detour after the workshop. There were lots of temptation waiting for us there. I found some brown textured fabric for the stars on Janice's neutral quilt. I've been looking for the right fabric and felt fortunate to find this. I picked up two neutral FQ's and black DMC floss for the stitchery kit. That's a total of 2 yards from Little Quilts.

I did bust some stash this week. The first grade teachers asked for fabric and batting donations for a project. I brought 6 yards from my stash. Gone!

Quiltathon

 Judy L. hosted a Quilathon this weekend. Yesterday was spent sewing crumb blocks and learning new techniques (thanks Bonnie) at the quild workshop.  I had hoped to sew last night, but  crashed and burned around 8:00. Because I went to bed so early, I did get up early. I had hoped to spend all day sewing, but had some issues to tend to. I did spend this afternoon in my sewing room. I worked some on my Christmas Toile blocks. I do need to finish sewing these blocks. I made a mistake cutting early on and hope that I have enough of the red fabric. I was lucky to find a Fat Quarter at Stitch 'N Quilt. I'm hoping that will take care of my error if not I'll have to go online and order a yard.  I need to pin more blocks together. I'll probably do that in a bit. I did get some flannel cut for rag quilts. I need to make a rag quilt for a graduation gift in mid June. I have 6 of the fabrics that I need. I went ahead and cut those blocks. I also sewed last weekend on my Crossed Path project. The strips were sewn and needed to be cut. I put a new blade in BIG rotary cutter and have those all nicely sliced. They are ready to be sewn into nine patches. After that, I just need to assemble the rows. I used Moda's Sunshine fabric line. Wow! That fabric talks to me! It was just what I needed as I'm longing for Springtime. Not as much time in the sewing room as I had hopes, but I was happpy the entire time that I was sewing. Thank you Judy for proposing this event!

Such Luck!

The past three days have just been awesome. Yesterday, I was fortunate to attend the Crumb Piecing Workshop with Bonnie Hunter in Marietta.  The East Cobb Quilt Guid had Bonnie in town for lectures and workshops. I just love using scraps and crumbs. Bonnie was an excellent teacher. She had wonderful hand-outs, great demos. and colorful quilts for us to drool over. Yesterday, I wasn't crazy about making Maverick Stars and letters, but I think I was just exhausted from our activities at school. Today, I like both techniques alot and think I will make those blocks in the future. I didn't take any pictures of Bonnie. I don't know where my head was. I did take pictures today of my blocks. Yesterday was also special because of spending the day with two of my favorite quilting friends, Debbie and Pat.  This is the third year that we spend the Saturday of the Atlanta Shop Hop Week together. Lots of sewing! Lots of laughter! Even some retail therapy, but more about that later! Missed our buddy Gretchen. Hopefully, she will join us next year.