Busy Week

John and I at Galena Duathlon

    Well it was a very busy week for us.  A week and a half ago, on a Friday we left the hotel where we had been staying for the week (floors getting refinished at home) and drove to Galena.  We checked into our hotel, and then drove to the first transition area to rack our bikes and pick up our race packets.  We drove the bike route to get an idea of the hills.  Wow, these are some hills here.  After dinner we got some sleep and then drove to the parking area where we got a bus to transition two area where we left our second pair of running shoes and then boarded a bus to the start of the race.

     There we made sure our bikes were ready and then stood under cover while watching it pour.  I was ready to call it quits right then, no way did I want to find those hills in a driving rainstorm.  Eventually it let up and by the time our wave went off it had finally stopped.

     The hills were hard but I did them all without having to walk my bike.  Even the two runs were hilly.  I did have to walk a little on the second run when going uphill.

     My husband and I both took 3rd place in our age groups :-)

     Then it was back to our hotel to clean up and have a nice dinner to celebrate before getting a good night's sleep.  Then back to our first hotel to check out and get all the stuff we left there while traveling to Galena.  We were able to go home and unpack.  Started trying to put the house back together after having everything moved out from the first floor to get the floors done.

Me on the bike at the Cooney Duathlon

 

     The following Friday we drove to Oconomowoc , WI to do another race.  We did our packet pickup, drove the bike route (nice flat course), had dinner, checked into our hotel and got some sleep. Woke early the next morning, checked out of the hotel and drove to the race start.  We got our bikes all set up and then raced.  I came in 4th in my age group just missing 3rd but less than a minute and a half.  Drove home to find our kitchen island was done and the powder room just needed to be finished.  Finally a working kitchen and powder room again.

      Spent the evening and next morning cleaning and setting up at least the living room and dining room so we could host our granddaughter's Christening that afternoon.  We made it to the church on time and the party went off just fine.  She wore the Christening gown that I had been baptized in that my grandmother made from my mom's wedding dress.  My daughter also wore it for her Christening. Such a special memory.

John and I with Maggie at her Christening

     So glad to have had Memorial Day to clean up from the party and get a little rest, after my 40 mile bike ride.  Thankful we have no race this weekend and can prepare for Nationals which is the following weekend.  It is going to be a busy summer getting ready for Worlds in October.

             

Maggie's Quilt

Finished quilt

     Finished putting on the binding for Maggie's first quilt.  I used a three yard quilt pattern that makes a great size blanket for a little one.  I bought the fabrics at Quilt Play.  The backing is flannel from JoAnn's.  I like using flannel for the back of these quilts because they make them great for snuggling.

Detail of quilting

     I chose a ballet slipper quilting pattern as the fabric has ballet shoes in the print.  The lavender fabric is a small dot while the lime green is a swirl print.

Label

     As always I include a label with the name of the quilt and info about who made it and who quilted it.  If the recipient is known I include their name and a date.  Who knows where this quilt may wind up.  I maybe should have used a more contrasting thread for the stitching as it is hard to read.

Recreating Valances

Old large valance

     I was asked to recreate some valances for a client's kitchen and eating area.  The designer brought me the old valances to deconstruct and use as a pattern.  The only change was she needed the large valance to be longer so it could be mounted higher on the wall to cover something on the wall that was no longer being used.

Old medium valance

Old small valance

     As I was taking apart the valances I took multiple pictures so I could make them as close as possible to the original.

New fabric with large repeat

          The new fabric was much lighter and I'm sure was going to be quite a difference in the room.

New large valance with added length

       The designer also chose not to do trim on the valances giving them lighter appearance.

Detail of center 

Detail of corner

     I do think the longer large valance is going to be quite a statement over the short one that was hanging there previously.

New medium valance

New small valances

     I was pretty happy that the new ones very closely mimicked the old ones.  The only thing I would have done different next time is draft my own swag pattern.  I'm not happy with the folds and I'm not really sure how the previous fabricator made her pattern because I was having a hard time getting it even and the folds to hang nicely.

     The designer did say the client was happy with the 'new' treatments so that is good.