Wedding flowers
I severely underestimated the time it would take to get back to some kind of routine after the wedding trip. Once we got a few nights' sleep and I finally emptied the suitcases, I was a little surprised to realize how much I had let go around here as I planned & packed and filled most available hours with countdown quilting. The place was a mess!
When I ventured into the sewing room to putter around, that, too, looked somewhat wrecked, so I took a whole afternoon to straighten up, reintegrating the wedding quilt fabric and sorting my fabric shelves. I love doing that. I get some big idea about a better way to sort and start making piles according to the new plan. This time, I decided to segregate my Kaffe Fassett fabrics and make separate piles of my favorite categories...stripes, polka dots, reproductions. Well, you know what happened next. In what pile do the Kaffe polka dots go? There is no perfect system.
I had accumulated quite a bit of new fabric over the last few months, mostly from several fabulous sales. These were stacked, unwashed, in a corner so while workmen were at the house last week and I wanted to stay on the first floor, I took the opportunity to wash and iron them all.
I hate ironing, but somehow perversely enjoy tackling a big, colorful pile of fabric and taming it into a neat pile of possibilities.
I admit that I have lost big chunks of days phone chatting with family about how much fun we had at the wedding. And an inordinate amount of time has been spent at the computer, looking at wedding photos and enjoying albums that friends and family have been uploading to share with us. One group of photos is particularly wonderful, except for the date stamp that is imprinted on each shot. Not only is it visually distracting, it makes cropping almost impossible. After some internet research, it seems that these are a permanent digital imprint on the photo file, though I did find this software, which might be a solution. A free trial download is available, but I'm pretty careful about putting anything on our computer without some recommendation from a current user. Has anyone ever tried this?
I finally got back into the sewing room yesterday and am working on two projects, something old and something new. (That wedding theme again!) The *something new* was inspired by all of the red & green talk over at Kathie's and Janet's. More on that next time.
Welcome back! I love how your first fabric picture goes so nicely with the wedding flowers. :)
Posted by: Chris | July 15, 2009 at 10:27 AM
The juxtoposition of the first two photos is fabulous - makes you want to just go play with fabric!!
Posted by: Linda Moran | July 15, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I was in training several years ago with a wedding photographer. He gave me the task of removing certain people from a picture without cropping. It works if you use a "cloning" tool (perhaps called something else depending on the software). Looking at the picture you posted, it would be very easy to do.
Glad you had so much fun.
Posted by: Joansie | July 15, 2009 at 11:53 AM
beautiful colors in these pics. glad you had such a marvelous time, but even better to have you home playing with fabric!
Posted by: Lazy Gal Tonya R | July 15, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Oh I love to play in my fabrics!! And yes, the only way I iron is when it has to do with pretty fabrics.
Posted by: Lynn | July 15, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Thanks for sharing the wedding photo. You both look so happy! I have no idea about the date stamp...the software might be worth a try, though.
Posted by: Leslie | July 15, 2009 at 01:20 PM
If you are serious about making the Mary Mannakee quilt, I own the set of patterns you may have.
Posted by: diane | July 15, 2009 at 02:00 PM
oh my can't wait to see what your up too....
LOL
I always feel I need a vacation (by myself) after a vacation!
hope your really starting to settle in again
great picture of you and your son
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | July 15, 2009 at 03:17 PM
You are killing me with the nine patch. Thought you you could just sneak it in there? Upon seeing it I instantly wanted to make it! So much so that I drove over to the fabric store, whipped out my phone and asked (rather forcefully, I'm afraid) about the pattern (while waving the picture around wildly). No help. Could you help a maniac out and tell us about it?
Posted by: KT | July 15, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Jan, we use plain ole' Coral Draw to remove things from pictures, it's easy,I am even able to do it! :-)It's the tool another mentioned,the clone tool.Always make a copy of your photo first, work on the copy.This saves the orginal,then enlarge it, take that tool and just click on where you want to change the colors.It reminds me of a bunch of quilt squares that you are swapping out!Very easy, email me if you need help.
Posted by: Wendy | July 15, 2009 at 06:33 PM
How many dated photos are there?
I could certainly remove the date, fairly seamlessly, with Photoshop...
Posted by: blackbird | July 15, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Hi there! First, let me apologize for never replying to your lovely email. Things have been a tad hectic here (but are settling down?).
It was so nice to see the "finished" product! I never would have thought to quilt it in that pattern (I'm not very good at thinking outside the box... and am very inexperienced - only one quilt under my belt) - it looks really awesome! The quilting really made the whole thing just "pop"!
Isn't it fun to "play" in your stash? I don't have much of one, but I do love to go through what I do have and get everthing re-organized.
Posted by: Robin | July 15, 2009 at 09:45 PM
Oh! Duh... and CONGRATS on your son's marriage! That is a really nice shot (yes, except for the date stamp - I hate those things!) of the two of you together!!
Posted by: Robin | July 15, 2009 at 09:46 PM
You are a woman of many talents. I loved seeing the sewing, creating area you work in. Gosh the red and green looks gorgeous. I wish you hadn't reminded me about all the fabric I have to wash and iron.
Posted by: Janet | July 16, 2009 at 01:55 AM
Your son will be sharing his anniversary with my husband and I. We celebrated 28 this year.
I use Adobe Photoshop Elements to take out or repair photos... very easy. Almost any photo editing software can do it.
Posted by: Cindra | July 16, 2009 at 07:22 AM
you two look smashing!! great shots of your projects.....looking forward to more as usual!
Posted by: Schnoobie | July 16, 2009 at 04:02 PM
It's good to see you back Jan! I know how hard that re-entry is. That photo of you and your son is just wonderful. I can't believe that date stamp is permanent. I don't have experience with that program, but I sure hope you find some way to use that photo. I also find your sewing room to be very interesting. I can't wait to see what becomes of those projects.
Posted by: Kristin | July 17, 2009 at 12:27 AM
I hate to wish my summer away, but I'm already hugely looking forward to my own "re-entry" after my daughter's wedding in mid-September. I miss quilting!
Posted by: KathieB | July 17, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Isn't it funny how we can search high and low for clothing that doesn't need ironing...but yet, I never am bothered to iron a big stack of freshly washed fat quarters!
Posted by: Lorraine | July 18, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Fun to see all your photos and fabric adventures. Definitely a milestone year! I use Memory Manager by Creative Memories for both sorting, storing and covering up those dates, using the depixel brush. Let me know if you need more information.
Posted by: quilt crazy | July 18, 2009 at 11:48 PM
So where do those Kaffe polka dots go? I have the same problems when I try to sort...
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I love that rounded 9patch. I am sure it has a real name, but I don't know it. So cheerful. Thanks for sharing.
I see those blocks in one of the pics - the square with the sawtooth edge. I love the wonkiness of them.
Posted by: Jaye | July 30, 2009 at 10:50 PM