Linda and I have been friends for 26 yerars and business partners for nearly 20 years. Amazing, don't you think?

When I was in Grand Junction, we were asked by the fine folks at Handi Quilter if we would like to be featured in their upcoming ad campaign celebrating friendship and quilting. Of course we wanted to! Not only are we friend and quilters (see 1st paragraph) but we both love our Sweet Sixteens.

The photographer came (on my birthday) to Linda's house. Linda had set the stage, I got to tweak at the last minute. Here is my photo of the 'stage':

Here's the ad you will be seeing in many magazines:

And, even better, here is the truck you might see us on! I'm not showing the other side, but it's good too (however, we're not on it, sigh).

Does this not crack you up?! It does me. If you happen to see the Handi Quilter truck out and about and have time to take a photo, please do send it to me. I am imagining us looking good at 70 mph on the highway :-).

In all seriousness, I can say two things. Quilting does bring friends together and the Sweet Sixteen is an amazing machine.

Or, rather, weighing Bear. Lorna, Chris, and I were curious to know whether Bear had gained or lost weight. I have a very accurate scale that we use when we package your orders. The question was how to get Bear onto the postal scale. This may be the most creative way I have used a Moda box yet…

He looks uncomfortable but in fact he did not seem to mind being in the box, on the scale. He likes being all bunched up so this posture is his default position.

He's not quite back up to his birth weight, which is normal for breast-fed babies. I'm guessing he is going to outgrow this box very soon. 

I think you will like this TED Talk from Jarrett J Krosocza. He's a children's book author and illustrator and his story is not what you think it will be.

As is true with so many TED Talks, I was reminded of things I already know – but these insights came at a good time for me. 

• All children need encouragement – especially the ones who tend to follow their own drumbeat. I wish I could say I had been better at this as a parent.
• Words of encouragement are always appreciated – whether to children or adults. You never know how what you say will impact the person you say it to. 
• It takes work to be successful. Even if you are talented.
• Be open to new ideas but also be true to your own style.

I am not yet meditating, but I am spending small bits of time each day focusing on something that is not work. Today, it was this.

And, for those of you who know I had surgery, I'm doing fine. I'm mostly back to normal. My eye is sore but he did drill a new lacrimal duct. I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be. I'm not supposed to exercise for a week and I am enjoying that part – I slept in this morning and plan to again tomorrow. 

I have a part in the Vagina Monologues Wednesday night. Rehearsals started last night, there's one tonight and then the performance. If you've never seen this play, you might look to see if there is a performance in your area. It would be this week. Let's face it, men have no problem identifying with their 'parts', their manhood so to speak. This is about women embracing the female experience. The stories are moving. 

There is an exhibit of my quilts hanging in the Dennis Gallery at Austin College. This is a lovely space, part of the new art building (the Betsy Dennis Forster Art Studio Complex) on the north side of the campus. Click here to read the official press release. The exhibit is open M-F from 9:00-4:30 and it ends March 15. If you find yourself in north Texas, I hope you can come see it.

It is interesting for me to see so many of my quilts hanging together. In fact, it is a new experience for me. When they are home, my quilts are rolled up and stored on high shelves. I mostly see the ones that travel with me and the few that hang in the house.

I've made a lot of quilts in the last 25 years and many of them are in this exhibit. Simply Delicious is in the show:

And so is Stars in the Garden:

And so are newer quilts like Lorna's Vine, Tree O' Life, and Picasso's Garden:

I find it rewarding to see these quilts that are the result of years of work hanging there, for all to see. It makes me smile! And then it makes me want to get back to work. Isn't that the way of it for all of us? Making quilts is the best part!

A friend (thank you, Kate!) forwarded the link to this video from Rethink Breast Cancer. There are other videos here which I have not yet watched. I gotta say that it does make me think of my breast self-checks in a different light. Less of a chore – maybe more of a grin.

If you are offended by bare-chested, muscled men and some covered-but-wiggling tushies, don't click to play. If, on the other hand, that sounds OK – enjoy!

In other news, 24 hours after surgery, I am feeling good! I am following orders and staying down for 3 days. That means I get to watch Steve clean house tomorrow. I will have some guilt that I will try to get over :-). I am thankful today for my laptop and for my handwork. And netflix. Enjoy your weekend. If you are snowed in, I hope you stay warm and have power.

The phone was ringing as I clicked to post my most recent post. It was Elanor saying to come quick, Bear was coming. In the 8 minutes it took for us to drive over to Chris and Lorna's, Bear was born. No midwife, just Chris and Judy, who caught the baby – and Lorna! Judy is now an old hand at this AND her name will be on another birth certificate! Way to go Judy!

I have to say that using a midwife was absolutely the best thing for Lorna – even if the midwife was late to the actual show. The prenatal care was excellent. Judy, Lorna and Chris handled the actual birth very well. Once the doula and midwife arrived they took over. It was calm and normal and very, very nice – better than my experiences in a hospital. And Lorna tells me that the follow-up care is also very good.

Using a midwife is not for everyone and if there had been an emergency, it could have been bad. But it was all normal and knowing how fast Lorna goes from not much going on to having a baby – this was great for her.

We all got to hold the baby. There may be a photo of me with him later.

Here's Steve:

Chris pointed out that Bear has his Uncle Jeff's toes! He can not only curl and grab with his toes – he can spread them way wide. 

So, here he is, all 8 lbs 13 oz, Moses Beren Goldsmith!