FINALLY!!! I am starting to settle into my new PERMANENT home! With Mom's passing, and then COVID, life went into a whirl. I moved 3 times in one year... UGH! But it is over and now I am unpacking, Yay!
It was a long story. The State of Michigan decided to force the sale of Mom's house to repay the food stamps she used. I tried to buy it, but they wanted market price for a house that needed more money tossed in for repairs. I couldn't afford what they wanted. I found a house in Cheboygan, MI that wasn't perfect, but in my price-range. THEN COVID happened and house prices skyrocketed. Thankfully the family selling the Cheboygan house agreed to not raise the cost. They were stuck in probate and I moved into an apartment temporarily in Petoskey, MI....twice....
I had hoped the move from the house would be over in a few days, but it didn't work out that way. I fell and dislocated my shoulder, tore my rotator cuff and bicep! This cut my move in half! I finally got the second half of the house moved 4 months later.
Finally probate was finished with the Cheboygan house, but I was in a lease for a few more months yet. I decided to have a building inspection done. Best thing I ever did!! Sadly, the house had foundation and mold issues that made its cost beyond what I could afford. The day I lost the Cheboygan house I knew my cousin (waiting to be my new roommate) and I would soon be homeless!!
I started praying. Then I prayed. Then I prayed again!! Knowing that with the current market I wouldn't find what I needed in my price range I looked at Zillow to see what might possibly be available, knowing there wasn't anything! I had been looking at Zillow just for 'fun' each week. I put in the exact same search info in and a house popped up!! It said it had been posted for 3 months but I had never seen it! It was a 3 bedroom 2 bath with a large garage and shed!! AND in my price range!! We saw it that week, placed a bid and got accepted immediately!
We finally moved in last October! We have plans to turn the garage into my new quilting studio! My cousin is a seamstress and we are making the living room a sewing area. I have a space for my cardmaking and a split space for the jewelry supplies. It is truly an answer to our prayers!! Now we continue to unpack.
With that all happening my next joy will be attending and teaching at the next Mackinaw Quilters Retreat in Mackinaw City, MI. I HIGHLY recommend this retreat!! It is organized by June and Mike Davis. June is a longarm quilter from the Upper Peninsula. They do everything possible to ensure we have a nice retreat at a great price. It is a UFO retreat that not only has a Quilt Shop in the lobby but several other vendors as well. You can stick to your projects or take one of the classes that the shop and other teachers offer. If you want more information on the MQR retreat you can find it at www.mackinawquiltersretreat.com .

Lots of changes and now we shall settle in for new adventures! I have a head full of new pattern ideas!! Here I come!

Honestly, it isn't always that easy in life! As an update, still at the old house. I will be here until the powers that be put me out, or I find a house that fits our needs. Notice I said 'our', in that last sentence. My cousin, Becky, is moving in!! I'm excited that I will have daily conversations that will be answered in English instead of meows.

With this will come change, again! I'm learning to thrive on change. Truthfully I really haven't minded change throughout my life. Even though I sometimes go kicking and screaming. This change will not have kicks or screams. I offered for her to move in a year ago and her situation has finally changed in which she can do so. She is a few years older than me, so I will be the kid in the house again! I'm super excited that she is a seamstress and I look forward to learning from her and also teaching her some of my favorite quilting techniques.

I'm still packing little by little and purging items I realize I don't need. And trying to tell myself that some things I TRULY don't need lol! I just KNOW I will find time to make miniatures again, so I can't get rid of my woodworking tools, right? I actually envy those that can simplify their lives. I wonder if I would have fewer anxieties if I COULD simplify.

For me, the hardest part of simplifying is to NOT buy new pretties! OOOHHHH that new paper pack is so gorgeous! The beads, look at the sale price! SURE I would love to buy a new bolt of fabric! It's an illness, I'm sick, I admit it! Oh, but what a nice sickness. I sat the other night caressing a stack of fabric that found it's way here. Then I admired the beads that just came in, my mind reeling with new designs for beautiful jewelry. Then it is time to organize the new papers that came in the mail, from overseas nonetheless! I'm sure I'm not the only one with this illness.

I am doing some constructive things lol. Every 2 weeks I have a group on Zoom that makes greeting cards with me. It has been fun to see some of them take off into their own illness of collecting! I guess I am also an enabler. Isn't that the whole point of making patterns? Causing others to have joy in their enabled illness of the love of crafting! I'm ok with that!
I have tons of patterns on the worktable but have been lazy in making them into patterns. I have to be in the right frame of mind. And recently my mind has been wandering in other directions. I am making some advancements in designing. BUT it is a secret! Only for a short time longer! I can't wait to share with you what I have been collaborating on for the last month!! Soon my friends....very soon! Stay tuned!!
Wendy

As many of you know, Mom has been surviving her Pancreatic Cancer for 5 years past her predicted 6 months of life left. The waiting has been difficult. As soon as I returned home from this last Mackinaw Quilter's Retreat she got sick and took a nosedive. She went from walking and fixing her own snacks to bedridden and being spoon-fed. It was as if the 'waiting' for it to get worse was over. For a month she was ready to leave us, then she again got back on her feet! She was slower and a little frailer, but up and around!

After several weeks she started to slow down farther. More waiting, she was still ready to go... Finally, she was down to eating only a few spoonfuls of any meal and then declaring she was full. On Saturday morning (December 21st) I got up and asked her, “Are you hungry? What would you like for breakfast”? “Yes, I am Hungry! I would like some Cream of wheat!,” Mom replied. I then decided to surprise her with her favorite chocolate milk as well. Mom finished all of her cereal AND 2 glasses of chocolate milk! She napped but was alert and so happy to see friends that stopped by while out in the door-to-door ministry. At lunch, she was asked again if she was hungry and what would she like for lunch. Yes, I am! It was decided to have tomato soup and grilled cheese, a few bites at least... OH! What else? Mega Stuffed Oreo's too! She ate the Oreo's first, life is uncertain – always eat dessert first! She finished the entire bowl of soup, practically licking the bowl clean, her grilled cheese (and the Oreo's!) I was surprised but pleased.

At supper time I expected to hear the same response but there was none. Figuring she had stuffed herself through the day, no biggie. That night Mom's kidneys shut down. On Sunday morning she was unresponsive. We kept her out of pain and at 2:45 pm she took her final breath and left us peacefully.

I am relieved to say that she is now safe in Jehovah God's memory waiting for her resurrection into a paradise!

Waiting stinks, royally. I am glad the waiting is over. For now, I am 'spring cleaning' in the house and getting ready for new changes in arranging the house to become a learning area. I have always wanted to be able to host and teach small groups to quilt, make jewelry or cards. mom and I would discuss the needed changes. Removing carpeting and setting up a smooth floor for pins, needles and jewelry bits that wouldn't be easy to pick up with carpet. Moving in new tables and bookcases for storage. Placing better lighting. Using Mom's room as a spare guest(s) room or finding a roommate. We even entertained the idea of knocking down the wall to make a large learning space! I'm glad we talked about these things together. As I make changes now, she will be a part of it!

I was so excited to have a few new things at the retreat. With taking care of Mom I wasn't able to offer my expanded pattern with the Triskeles. No worries, they work for all sorts of neat uses! I will be working again on setting up some PDF patterns and more. It will just take me a few weeks for legal stuff and renovations and I will be running with scissors!

I want to thank all that have been so kind to us over the years! You have all made such a difference in my life, I am so grateful to have you! 

I hope you find future additions and changes a good move for me. Now is the time for healing, savored memories and moving forward.

I know, it has been ages since my last post! It hasn't been a kind year so far and each time I sat down to post I found myself complaining. I did NOT want this to be an outlet for my complaints so I waited it out for better days.

I missed the first half of my bi-annual quilt retreat, Mackinaw Quilter's Retreat, but enjoyed the second half. I met many new faces and embraced many old friends! And I so badly missed many from the first half. I can't wait to see everyone again at the October retreat.

The Mackinaw Quilter's Retreat is the highlight of my year! And often as I sit at my vending area I am asked how nice it is to sit and see the great lakes and it's beauty. Honestly, it's ok. You see, I kind of grew up there and it's beautiful, but nothing new. We seem to do that, don't we? We take everyday surroundings for granted. I try not to, but time gets in my way. I am trying to slow down enough to see my surroundings and their beauty. I am, sadly, beginning to reach the place in my life that I am forced to slow down, physically at least!! My mind still whirls with new thoughts, patterns, and songs that are sure to be remembered later but are lost almost as quickly as they are formed. I am learning to use my cell phone as a memory keeper of sorts...that is when I'm not leaving it behind at home or work!

I think about quilt designs being that way too. Some are new and exciting (you HAVE to try Serenity!!) and some are old patterns we have forgotten or gotten used to, so they seem to be forgotten. My next pattern/kit, yes I am going to start cutting again, is a simple stand-by but can be laid out in so many ways. I should have it up and ready soon. I will be traveling next month but will be here all of July. I hope to get more accomplished this summer than this year has been so far. We shall see!

Momma update: She is doing well and says hello! It is now over five years since her diagnosis of fourth stage Pancreatic Cancer. Her Dr. says that if she makes it another year she will be the oldest survivor he has ever met! She didn't do traditional medicine, so no surgery or Chemo. She found an old Ojibwe cancer cure and has been using that. If anyone wants to know it is Essiac Tea. I'm just happy that we keep her pain in check mostly and she is on no higher dose of pain medication than what she had two years ago. We thank our creator, Jehovah, every day and are happy to be still together making cards! Thank you to all who buy Mom's cards! She is putting the money to good use on flowers and Welch's grape jelly for her large group of Orioles that come each year. They are so cheeky!! One fella comes to the shepherd pole close to the front window and calls to her to come and feed him. Once his bowl is filled, he eats to his heart's content and then comes back to the shepherd pole and sings to her. He has been doing this for four years now! I'm so glad he remembers Mom's kindness and repays her with his beauty and song!

​Well, it is almost 8pm here and it is time to wake Mom from her nap so we can make cards this evening. I may be getting older and slower, but life is still pretty great!
​
Until we meet again, may you all have many beautiful days to enjoy!

Wendy

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As many know, we have had some troublesome weather of late! For the most part, I annoy all my friends as I LOVE snow. And I mean LOTS of snow!! BUT, sadly this winter has me seeing the blues a bit. During my last "run away to quilt" at my friends in Rochester, MI, I hurt my knee. I am happy to say that up to this point I have never had knee issues.

It was sore and stiff but I found that the more I exercised, the better it felt. A week later I was shopping at Sam's Club. Due to back/hip issues I always use the motorized carts for shopping. Unfortunately that day they had several down for repair and the rest were busy. I reasoned that if I went slow and rested if I got tired or sore that I would be ok. I was so happy!! I made it completely around the store with minimal pain and wasn't tired in the least! I waited up front on the outdoor furniture until my shopping buddy was ready. All was good and I walked to the van and loaded up fine. I got into the van and stretched to buckle up and my knee snapped.

I have honestly never felt that kind of pain before, and I don't really want to ever again! By evening I couldn't put weight on it at all and had my first ever ambulance ride to the ER. I ended up tearing a couple of muscles in my thigh and calf. All they could offer was pain medication and crutches. I took the crutches but passed on the meds lol. I learned a long time ago that pain meds don't take my pain away, they just simply make me not care. Id rather be lucid and in pain than mentally dimwitted and so called out of pain.

Now Im not telling this for pity or concern!! I am doing well, just a little slower and sore. This is where the weather has really been hitting me. The cold has been a bear on my sore knee, leg and hip. Im also finding that the arthritis is making itself know due to the cold.

In the past this would have really depressed me. I have dealt with depression for many years. Truthfully, as far back as I can remember. I know it is a chemical imbalance in the brain and most of my family suffers from this brain disease! I choose a natural source for my depression other than medicines that have been offered. It works 90% of the time and I enjoy "it" immensely. No, it isn't quilting, though I wish!!

I have had many makes and models, ages and colors of my magic cure. Thankfully I am not allergic to it, but it does get expensive occasionally. I'd like you to meet my current prescription for the blues!

One of Mom's antidepressants is being able to watch her birds in the yard. We have a great collection of chickadees, doves, nuthatches, orioles, finches, ravens, hummingbirds, cardinals, pileated woodpeckers and even eagles occasionally. As usual there are feral cats that come and try to feast on these delectable treats with wings. We get so irritated that people can't be responsible for their cats and take care of them instead of dumping them or allowing them to have numerous batches of unwanted kittens. 

One stray was very good at catching its prey. It scored 3 birds one day! Much to Mom's sadness, it caught one of our cardinals. We have 2 regular mating pair and it took a long time to lure them in and get them to stay. Mom is famous for her specially mixed peanut butter cakes in the winter and her oriole juice in the summer. She announced that I needed to do something! NOW! This was the first cat, since we moved in 14 years ago, that was not only very successful but diligent to come every day for its feast.

At first I refused. I WILL NOT be the crazy cat lady that feeds the neighborhood strays!! But after the cardinal was eaten Mom was so upset that I gave in. It was winter and I did feel for the little thing. I took a small bowl of dry food and placed it under the bird feeder. The cat was happy to find it and ate every drop and left without its normal hunt. Each morning Mom reminded me to fill the bowl.

By the third day she saw it arrive and I was a little late in getting out there. I finally got out there as it was half way across the yard. It saw me and started yelling at me and ran to me. As it wrapped itself around my ankles, my heart melted. I had lost my previous cat 6 months earlier and had decided I didn't need another. I was ok with feeding this one outside, but well....

I decided to name the little guy Stanley. Don't know why, he just looked like a Stanley! After a week of feeding him I noticed that he had gotten into a fight and was a little tattered. I wanted to take him in BUT, that would require a little more expense than I could handle. Mom called the local shelter and they said they would take him, clean him up and let me adopt him! We agreed! One of Mom's caregivers caught him and put him in a carrier and my best friend took him to the shelter while I was at work. Then I got a phone call...

It was Raina, my best friend and sister from another mother. She said that she had just come from the shelter and there was an issue. Stanley was a Stella, and pregnant! Oh no! I didn't really want a female and couldn't take kittens too! I called the shelter and they said they would be glad to let me adopt Stanley once she had her kittens and could be separated from them. They kept the name Stanley so we would know who she was lol. I COULDN'T call her Stella--that is my bosses name lol! Stella is a great boss, but I couldn't picture myself calling for my cat by her name lol!

Long story short (which as you see, is hard for me) it wasn't kittens, just a belly full of worms. I was able to adopt Stanley after a couple of weeks. And she received her real name - Sunny! She is truly the sunshine in my life. She talks, a lot!! She wakes me up in the morning with excitement and love, lots of love. She is a big cuddle buddy and loves to play soccer with her jingle balls. She is still a bit of an alley cat. She loves trash and enjoys dumping the small trashcan in my bedroom to root through it for something to play with. Sometimes she drives me nuts, but at least she keeps me smiling and laughing! And did you notice? She wears her love for all to see under her chin!

For those of you that enjoy the company of cats, you know what the wonderful and crazy little creatures can do to make things look a little brighter! I am so thankful for my little furry antidepressant! I may have to hobble through this winter, but at least it will be on the Sunny side up!

Hello all! I have now owned Truly Materialistic (TM) for well over 15 years! Truly a milestone for me. I will say that I love what I do with TM, but I hate what I don't do with it!!

For those of you who only know me here, and online elsewhere, I am a professional Graphic Specialist in a full-time position with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs, MI. I work on graphic elements for fliers, ads and other materials the different departments need. I work with my editor to put out a newsletter that ranges from 24 to 32 pages for the tribal members each month. Non-tribal persons may see it at www.odawatrails.com or pick up one in person when visiting the Governmental Center in Harbor Springs.

When I am not at work, or traveling to and fro, I am home with my Mom working on other endeavors. My Mom, Mary, was diagnosed with fourth stage Pancreatic Cancer over 4 years ago. They gave her 6 months to live... She wouldn't listen! She decided not to go with traditional medical treatment and has chosen a natural path and to live the rest of life to the fullest. I am very thankful that I am able to work enough to keep her home so she can enjoy life as much as possible. 

When she was first diagnosed she had decided to send a card to each of her friends before she died. I went shopping for cards, but couldn't find any that were "her" or that seemed affordable (she has a very long list of friends!) at the time. I found a Sizzix die cutter on clearance at a shop and figured it would be cheaper to make our own. Let's just say that I had NO idea of what we would end up with lol! We have enough card making supplies, dies and paper to open a shop!! I will say that it was the best decision I ever made. On good evenings, and sometimes on the weekends I'm home, we sit across from each other making cards and enjoying the chance to chat just about everything! This is huge for me. I love her more than anything or anyone on this earth. It wasn't always like that. It is why I cherish it so much now. I wouldn't change anything, other than the dieing part... That said, we live, laugh and love. We both have a strong faith in our creator, Jehovah, and look forward to a bright future together. For now we go day by day and take the time to make cards for friends and for residents at local nursing homes.

When I'm not card-making, there is the jewelry. Oh I do so love crystals!! As with much in my life, there is an abundance of jewelry making supplies here. I occasionally sell my creations on Instagram as Truly Crystals, at local local craft shows and to friends that pop in to take a look at what is new!

When Im not card-making or working on new jewelry creations, there is the fabric! It has its own room. A room bigger than my own!! Of course! I do admit though, I sew more out of the house than in it! I have the Mackinaw Quilters Retreat twice a year (2 retreats back to back in May and October each year), visit Caroline at Caroline's Sewing Room (West Branch, MI) as often as possible and stay with 2 absolutely wonderful friends in Rochester, MI whenever possible. Those are the places I sew lol! I do a lot of collecting at home!!

AND all that said, when Im not card-making, jewelry creating or quilting, I work on new designs and patterns that I dream up. Don't worry, I get plenty of down time. As a matter of fact, I am currently watching the 13th season of ER while vegging. I like the old shows. Especially the fact that I can skip scenes or episodes I find I really do not wish to watch. I tried to crochet while watching, but my hands have been unkind and don't want to! It's been chilly in our neck of the woods and at my ripe old age (I'm kissing 50) I feel it in my joints frequently.

And now, back to why I hate what I don't do... I want to take my designing/teaching quilting more seriously. I have the tendency of going 200 miles an hour or at a dead stop. It makes it difficult to be productive in my own business. I do realize that is very common. I just don't want to let TM go to the wayside in my life. I am so thankful that I can teach in Mackinaw at the retreats! I try to come up with something new each season. I'm hoping that by setting up a blog and keeping it going, it will encourage me not to let TM be the last thing on my to-do list! Mind you, Mom will always come first, but I think you gathered that already lol!

I do want to say how thankful I am for all those that have encouraged me through the last 15 years to keep TM alive! A special shout out to Mike and Sue Miller, owners of Hearts to Holly quilt shop in Charlevoix, MI. Many years ago I had decided to stop trying to make new patterns. I was going to school full time and working and, and, and... Sue and Mike were such an encouragement to keep me creating and designing! If they hadn't been there I might not have the ability to say it's been over 15 years! I thank all of my friends, fellow fabric lovers, customers, students and loving family members who have believed in me all these years. My life is full thanks to all of you!

With that said, I have to go... I thought of a new pattern I want to try! Soooo... I am going to spend my evening on Photoshop previewing and playing!!

​Wendy - A Thankful Quilter!