Thank You Dear Readers

Over 500 of you answered the survey I posted last month. Thank you so much for answering my questions. I will admit, that there were some surprises in the answers. At least to me. But that's why I did it, to get a better handle on who actually reads here. I've got no plans to go anywhere, but I want to make sure my readers get what they hope for - at least most of the time.

There were all the stats - where you live, how long you've been quilting - but then there were your comments. And the comments were wonderful. I had an awful week last week and was feeling quite down in the dumps. Then I read the survey results and all your comments about finding your way to my little Dining Room Empire. You guys... you made me cry. And you fortified me for the next steps forward.

Thank-you, thank you so much. Not just for your comments, but for continuing to come back here to read these little bits of my life. I really do hope to inspire as many people as I can, whether that's with a fancy finished quilt or the reality of sewing with three little kids at my feet. And I get to do this while fuelling my own creative passions for sewing and writing. And you like it. (Pardon my Sally Field moment.)

So here are some of the fun stats about you, my awesome readers.

It is good to know that the overwhelming majority of your are sewers and quilters. I know you'll never get bored with my quilts. Well, unless I start showing nothing but plain patchwork.

I must admit, you are an older audience than I expected. Considering that I, myself, am nearly 40, I shouldn't be surprised. It' a good thing my propensity for swearing doesn't come out in my writing.

I guess this means you like when I post about sewing and creating with my kids? Actually, there were a number of comments that you do. But if so many of you have kids in your life, then this is good content that I will continue to add.

Half of you have blogs! That's awesome. I try to get around and visit my readers when I get through comments. If I've not been to visit you before, know that I'm not being rude. Just busy. (Oh, and I will tell you that this blog will likely never be on Facebook. I keep that for family and close friends only.) But I do love Instagram and Twitter, so if you are on there, please find me. I try not to duplicate content between here and there, so it is another snippet of my life. Possibly, just maybe, a more sarcastic one. My handle on both is @cheryl_arkison (with capitals on Twitter, without on Instagram).

Thank you faithful readers. And thank-you to the more recent arrivals. It seems many of you came from the Just One Slab project and that makes me so excited that you stayed after lending your support and blocks.

Okay, so statistically this is a mess of information, but I dislike ranking in surveys. I wanted to see it all! The great thing about this info is that you seem to like the parts best that I like doing. How wonderfully convenient.

Again, thank you for participating. I really appreciate it. I promised a giveaway thank you treat or two. I will be drawing names from all the comments and contacting folks in the next few days.

And let me be clear: I am not going anywhere. I love this space and I love sharing with you. But a redesign and freshen up is in order. Consider it a makeover, I've had the same haircut for years and it is time for an upgrade. Your information bolstered my spirit and is informing the makeover. And I promise, nothing too crazy!

Alturas Update

So, I may have mentioned my new addiction before. At the time I said I would make at least nine blocks. Well, I've made nine and I'm already on to the next round. Maybe seven more? Maybe seventy?

It's slow going project, there is no doubt about that. It takes me about an hour and a half to make a block, sometimes 2 hours. It depends on how many interruptions I get from small children asking for food or cuddles, or how engrossing the conversation or movie is on TV. At that rate it is going to take me a very long time to make this a big quilt.

Just like improv quilting, appliqué seems to be so much more about the process than the finished project. Of course it will be gorgeous when it is done. Right now, however, I am just enjoying the process, with no real goal in mind. One block at a time.

Friday Favourites - The London Fog

I LOVE tea. Really love tea. Especially Earl Grey.

My tea ritual starts before I go to bed. I make sure the tea pot is rinsed out and the kettle full. That way all I have to do is hit the button on my electric kettle as soon as I get out of bed. While the kettle boils I usually check Instagram for the overnight feed and try not to munch on any cookies that might be leftover from the previous day's baking. When my tea is ready I settle in to catch up on the world and start my day's work on the computer. If I have writing to do I like to jump right in. Otherwise I sip and browse the world from my laptop.

All of this, implies that I am getting a quiet, lonely start to the morning. If I sleep in or have to get up and do things with the kids right away I do not make my tea. I love the ritual almost more than the caffeine so I wait. And if that moment never comes I do the next best thing at some point in the afternoon - I make a London Fog.

I discovered London Fogs years ago at some random coffee shop. Seeing as I don't drink coffee I am always aware of my other options. When the barista suggested a London Fog after I hesitated on the default hot chocolate, I nearly turned him down. But then he used the words vanilla and Earl Grey in the same sentence. And done.

That being said, I don't often order them when I'm out. The vast majority of places - chain or independent - make a London Fog with vanilla syrup. This results in a drink that is too sweet for my liking. Instead, I save my London Fogs for afternoons spent stitching or painting with the kids. For the random moments I get alone in the winter sun. For my leftover Earl Grey (sacrilege, I know).

Cheryl's London Fog

Equal parts Earl Grey and Milk
Vanilla Extract
Honey

Heat together the tea and milk. If you are using fresh tea, brew it like you want to drink it and combine with hot - never cold - milk. (I do not have a microwave, so I simply heat mine on the stovetop.)

For every cup you make add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a teaspoon of honey.

Sip and Enjoy.

Embroidery - Properly

It took four years. Four years to get from this to that there.

Their first efforts have hung on their art wall, surviving every single purge of art at their request, for the past four years. Then one night a few weeks ago The Monster asked if we could do it again.

"Mama, can we do more of that up down sewing with thick thread? Except, can we do it properly?"

Of course sweetie. And I panic. Because I have no clue how to actually do it properly. Thankfully I have a rather extensive book library for sewing. A few resources to the rescue and we teach ourselves a running stitch and a back stitch. We stock up on a few bits of floss (all in pinks and purples except for one lonely skein of yellow. We buy hoops. And we put their little brother down for a long winter's nap so he stays out of our way.

They each drew a picture on a piece of scrap osnaburg, lightly and with a pencil, selected their floss, tightened it up in the hoop and we sat down to stitch. And we stayed there for two hours! This activity kept my 7 and 5 year old girls still for two hours. I'm still in shock about that. I was on cutting, floss separating, and knot tying duty.

We've got some skills to learn - sometimes they don't always pull the thread all the way through and we get tangles, and their back stitch and running stitch look kind of the same. But this first effort is not any better than I probably could have done.

And the best part? They want to do more.