Carla Hamm's Blog

Off Track!

Carla H. — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:48:00 GMT

I have been away far to long. Life has been blowing me around like a feather in a tornado and I just now got my feet back on the ground. It never ceases to surprise me that without warning one little thing happens that can take me off track for months. Now here is is May, school will soon be out and we will start summer once again. The months have passed so fast that I am almost dizzy. Why do I let that happen? I cannot find an answer. So now I have cracked the door on my sewing room, dusted everything off and have once again started to enjoy what I love most. Someone asked me last week what I was going to do for Mother's Day and I told them just exactly what I wanted to. I am going to sew and sew and sew. I have several projects that have been waiting on me and I am going to quilt until I can't! I am going to listen to good music, while my cats and dogs sleep quietly in the beds provided for them in my sewing room, drink mint ice tea and get lost in my own little world. I may even turn off my phone. My advise is at least try to stay on track so that if today were the last day you had you could say I was doing what I loved!

Until next time go out and start something :)

Carla

Accidental Success

Carla H. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:56:00 GMT

Do you ever wonder if people are successful accidentally? More times than not, people are not successful by accident, but by persistance and determination. When a person has a dream or goal their act of learning and practice as well as persistance is what eventually gets them to the successful place they want to be. Much like the beginning quilter who at first knows little but after much trial and error learns the basics needed to become accomplished in their endevors. Some go on to other things, but many go on to become great quilt artist. That most often does not happen by accident. Everyone has to pay his or her dues (so to speak) and with that comes the knowledge to teach others. I am amazed at how far I have come. I keep learning and stretching outside my comfort zone to become my personal best. So, have a plan, a goal....don't just skate thru life. There is so much out there to enrich your lives. Start today and decide to get outside your comfort zone and reach for a dream....something to fill you up on the inside. Look at where you are and where you want to go. Research your dream and then go out and make it a reality. Don't wait for accidental success it is never as rewarding as it would be if you had really earned it.

Until next time, go out and start something!

Carla :)

Rainy days

Carla H. — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Unlike the song.....rainy days never get me down. I am watching it rain today and it always seems to be a good excuse to qulit. If the weather was really nice I would be out weeding in the garden, or running errands but since it is rainy and grey I don't have to make excuses I can just quilt. Days like this make me feel cozy and determined to stay at home warm and dry inside and not feeling guilty about just sitting behind the machine and doing what I love the most. Crock pots are a great invention for days like today.....just put something on early in the morning and by dinner it looks like you have cooked all day. Instead of looking at a rainy day and thinking what a bummer it is that you can't get out....(the glass half empty) look at it as the glass is half full and use it to your advantage like I do. Get lost behind your sewing machine with some good music or a favorite tv show and do what you love, just remember to put the crock pot on early so you will have dinner ready when you lose track of time.

Until next time, go out and start something !

Carla :)

A gift of good friends

Carla H. — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:03:00 GMT

I was honored when I was asked to join a group of ladies, some of whom had been in this quilting bee for awhile. I came into the group not knowing what to expect and found that I have now been honored by their friendship. This group of girls are my Friday afternoon therapy...we laugh, talk, share life stories, fill each other in on members illnesses or one of our children getting married or becoming a new grandmother, cry over deaths of love ones and share opinions on how to get along with husbands we have been married to for some time. The time always passes too quickly and sometimes we don't even know how late it is until one of our husbands calls to say "where are you and are you going to cook tonight?" Each day of the week passes and I look forward to Friday afternoons when I can go and meet up with my quilting bee and visit with the girls..Yes, we do quilt,...occasionally! but a lot of the time is spent sharing our lives with one another and enjoying the special gift of good friends.

Until next time, go out and start something!

Carla :)

Waiting on Fall

Carla H. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:58:00 GMT

I have always loved the fall and all the things that come with it. I guess I got it from my mother and every afternoon starting in August we have our daily dose of coffee and wait on its arrival. Those of you that are fall people know about this. Non fall people think we are a half a bubble off when we say that we felt fall today and it is a hot August afternoon....but fall people know. It is the way the sun shines down around 4 in the afternoon, and cast a shadow a different way than it did the day before, or a slight breeze that causes the trees to make a certain sound, or a squirrel hiding a nut in the flowerpot....it is a subtle changes....maybe just one leaf on a tree changing color and when it happens mom and I know it and we know that fall is not far away and soon we can get ready to cozy up, change the decorations in the house, hang out the fall wreath on the front door, bring out the quilts and get ready to cuddle with love ones and sit by the fireplace with our cats and dogs nearby. We will be able to have coffee wrapped in sweaters on the back porch and sit in our favorite rockers and make decisions on Sunday dinners. Start watching for fall, it is like a well kept secret, one day it will just sneak up and surprise you. For all the non-fall people, the next time you hear someone say on a hot summer afternoon that they felt fall coming....believe them...mom and I have been forecasting fall for most all of my 50 something years and we have not missed one yet!

Until next time, go out and start something,

Carla :)

Just never enough time

Carla H. — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:12:00 GMT

Why is it that there is just never enough time? I was under the mistaken impression that summer time was supposed to be slow and lazy and that you would have time to finish UFO's and ponder your next quilting project, not to mention start on Christmas projects but alas my summer is turning out to be busier than my regular year...and my UFO's are piling up! I know people say that you make time for the things you want to make time for however, I must have lots of things I want to make time for because I can't find enough time to do it all. I have yet to figure out how to make more time but, I seem fairly good at making more projects!!! So I am making plans to take my quilting with me to the beach house this summer and set my machine up at the window that faces the oceanview and spend my much valued time doing some quilting. I guess what I am trying to say is find what time you can to work on your projects. I am sure just like me it makes you a happier person... sort of like that first cup of coffee.... so get your daily fix when you can.

Until next time, go out and start something!

Carla :)

Look for every opportunity!

Carla H. — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Today I attended a class on basic hand embroidery. I had of course done this type of handwork before....years ago. Back then most girls were taught this art and I was not the exception. I had a wonderful and patient Godmother (her name was Marie) and I loved to spend time with her. She taught me all the basic stitches and later in the 70's when I was in high school I used them on my jeans and tops....just about everywhere. I still have many of her pillowcases, scarves for dresser tops and tablecloths that she had spent time decorating with embroidery. It was fun reviewing the stitches I had learned as a young girl. I sat next to a really nice lady that was about my age and we reminisced about learning to embroidery as children and growing up in the 70's. During our conversation she mentioned that she belonged to a quilting bee and when I ask about it she invited me to go. It just so happened it was that afternoon and so when I left class I went directly there. I was greeted by a group of wonderful ladies. They were working on a quilt for the fall fair at the church. I really don't know when I have had so much fun. We talked and laughed and sewed and pressed and laughed some more. They have invited me to join their group and I must say I am honored. They are a wonderful group of women. I am looking forward to the meetings and the friendship. I felt great when I left late yesterday afternoon I think the laughter did me a world of good. Look for every opportunity to become a part of the quilting community...you will be glad you did.

Until next time....go out and start something

Carla :)

You just never know...

Carla H. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:40:00 GMT

It always amazes me...like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get. I was in the office building where my family owns a business and was walking down the hall today when I saw the lady from the office next door. We had spoke often in passing and I stopped to speak with her in detail today because our family business is moving into their space the first of next month. I needed to see the inside of their space and she invited me in. We were busy talking about the move and deciding where our desk and so forth would go and when I entered her office I stopped dead in my tracks, there on the wall of her office hung the most beautiful quilt. Suddenly the subject changed and we were both caught up in our most favorite subject....quilts. Not only had Jan been right beside me (literally next door), someone I see day in and day out but she is an avid quilter, she even teaches quilting. Like I said it always amazes me...life that is, and how something like quilting can bring you a new found friend....we were surprised at how many people we both knew and she has even offered to show me some great techniques... I am glad to say that the company she works for is staying in the building, just moving to another floor and we can stay intouch. Look for those little moments to share your passion, quilting is like chocolate, it is always good.

Until next time, go out and start something...

Carla :)

Life lessons

Carla H. — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:33:00 GMT

Life just keep teaching me lessons...you know the ones like time flies when your having fun or so many quilts so little time! My great grandmother (we called her Nonnie) was a quilter. She was in her ninety's when she died, I was just in my early twenty's then and it does not seem like almost 30 years has passed. Where does the time go? I have the only quilt left now...a sunbonnet sue quilt. It contains the fabric she used to make my mothers little dresses back in the 1930's and it is well worn. We used it for making pallets on the floor when more sleeping space was needed, drug it to the park, made a tent over chairs with it and filled it with hours of imagination , in general just loved it. I treat it with the respect it deserves now and it has a place of honor in my home. I wish she could have lived to see the quilting industry of today , she would truly be in awe. I look at the stitches in that quilt she so lovingly made and feel close to her each time. I am sure she is with me in my quilt room as I sew. I was her " favorite", that is what she told me . It took me growing up to realize she told us all that but, had the gift of making us each feel as if we were. Her favorite lesson of life was "Live and learn,die and forget it all". Learn all you can while you live and teach others so nothing is forgotten...that is what she did...she taught me to love sewing and I am so thankful she did.

Until next time, go out and start something!

Carla Hamm :)

Life moves on...

Carla H. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:37:00 GMT

It is funny how life is in a constant change....We had an unexpected death in the family. He was in his mid fifties and it took us by surprise. Even though he had not been well and had health issues , you are still never really prepared. It took the better part of a week to prepare and travel. It seems a shame that family does not get together on happier occasions or for no reason at all. We enjoyed each others company and spent time catching up. I have been thinking about a quilt to honor his Indian heritage. If anyone knows of a good pattern let me know. I hope you will consider calling a relative that you have not seen or talked with lately and just say hi or tell them you love them. Life moves on and passes by quicker than you think.

Until next time, go out and start something.

Carla

Time flys!

Carla H. — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:56:00 GMT

Wow! I can't believe that I have not posted anything since last week. My husband works overseas and I had to help him get ready to leave yesterday . Soooooooooo needless to say, I have been busy helping him do just that. I did manage to get a quilt started and have made good progress! Now that the house is quite and things have settled I can get down to some real sewing. Why is it that I always seem to start 12 things at once? Well, not really 12 but you know what I mean. I have the quilt I have started for strip club, fabric bought for my Aunt and Mother to make them a quilt, a wall hanging for my daughter that needs the back put on it, a "Bunnyhill Design" block of the month started and last but not least a quilt that needs binding! That should keep me busy until he returns (in about 3 months!) I am going to try to post more and on a more regular basis but until then I guess I better get busy sewing.

Until next time go out and start something!

Carla :)

Everyone has to start somewhere

Carla H. — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Everyone has to start somewhere. I admit I started a little late but none the less I did start. I did not take my mothers advise more than 20 some odd years ago when she told me to try quilting. No, I thought I knew best and that there was no way I would like quilting....well now I guess I will have to eat my words and say publicly MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT! Ok, there I said it ...I should have tried quilting 20 years ago and I would be way down the road now. Nevertheless, I did start and I do love it and I cannot seem to get enough of it. I am taking classes as often as I can and can spend hours choosing fabrics and patterns. So for those who say I don't think I would like quilting....you will never know until you give it a try. Maybe you won't but just maybe you will. Nothing ventured nothing gained I say. You just might fall in love all over again.

Until next time, go out and start something!

Carla :)