Tied up in knots

This evening, my friend K and I worked on our collaboration for a quilt contest that I want to enter. Actually, we are working on two quilts; one with her artwork, and one with her fiance's art. This is what you see here.

I decided to fill in some of the border space with Celtic knotwork. There won't be gaps in it, that's just where I dropped the repeats to see how they would fit. Adjustments will be made to fit the space. I haven't completely decided if I will do it with bias tape woven in and out, or if I will do it with quilting stitches to be less competitive with the interior art, which is rather elaborate on its own. I think I will have to get the center done first, then figure that out.

All I know is that I must get cracking on it. The jury slides have to be in by May 2.

Shock

One of my best friends just told me that her longtime boyfriend had a massive stroke early this morning, and he has been declared brain dead. I missed her phone call because I forgot to stick my cell phone in my pocket on the way out the door to the post office. I had a few groceries to put up, and didn't look at the phone right away.

I had powered up the computer and was checking email when I saw her come online in a messenger service. I had just been thinking about calling her, because we are collaborating on a project right now. I casually asked her what's up, as is normal, and got one of the great shocks of my life. She first said she didn't know what to do, and I had no idea what had happened. So I learned of K's tragedy on an IM. As things go, I am glad I had left the phone, because if I had been driving when she told me, I think I might have had a wreck.

I picked up the cell and called her immediately, and they were on the way to the hospital to meet with the chaplain and make arrangements for organ donation. I don't want to be in the way right now, and my best intentions feel very feeble to me. God help me to be there for her.

My own father died in the same way. I was barely fifteen and remember it like yesterday. One moment your loved one is there, then suddenly, they are not. Words are failing me...

It takes so little to make me happy...

This has been an outstanding week so far. My sister visited, her kids didn't tear up my house, and she brought me the Elektra Barbie that I wanted so badly. (I think that I have mentioned here before about her barely beating a fanboy to the last one on the shelf.)

Then I get a package in the post from R in the UK who kindly sent me one of the UK exclusive lead figures of Daredevil, along with a great magazine-style book with the highlights of forty years of the comics. It's an awesome sculpt for a figure only about three and a half inches tall.

Today was quite a surprise, though. I was lazily perusing the Bendis messageboards, and clicked on Michael Lark's board. There was a preview to some art for DD issue #85, and beside it, a note to me. Now, just how cool is that? It's the art you see here above.

I need to scrape myself off the ceiling and go get busy. Heh.

Hail! Hail! The Bang's all here...

This just in...some really big hail out here. I am afraid to go look at my car. I know with hail this big, it's bound to have beat it up somewhat. Oh, well, that's why I buy insurance, eh?

There were tornados in the area, and we still have watches until 9 PM. There have been no deaths, but a lot of damage. I really hate that part of living in this area, the middle of Tornado Alley.