Quilt Idea Double Wedding Ring

This is an idea I saw for a Double Wedding Ring quilt on YouTube. I have done many quilts in my time however this for me is the Holy Grail of quilting and a quilt that I have attempted many times and had no luck until now. The video is so easy to follow a long and once my sewing machine is all unpacked from this move I certainly plan on giving it a go! 

Here are some fabrics that I am thinking would go very nicely with this pattern to give it more of a modern look. (Oh and hahahaha yes I did notice that her name was Kaye too!) 

                    (Riley Blake Chevron Small Green)

                                            (Moda Wishes Doilies Cream/Multi) 

                     (Kona Cotton Grass Green)

Lava Stone Table Top With Wine Rack

    So this table is my last acquisition before I leave Sicily. The woman who made this table (Josie) did a marvelous job! To contact her and have a table made or to see some more of her work:

Euro Lavic
Via Roccove, 13
95044 Mineo (CT)
www.eurolavic.com
E-mail: eurolavic@tiscali.it

  I was allowed to pick the design I wanted on top (Poppies, which symbolizes imagination)I chose Famiglia Warren, as that is my maiden name and will be once again when my divorce goes through). I also added three words that that are very dear to my heart:  

~Faith. To remind myself to keep faith and believe that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to (Em....no matter how much I worry about it.)

~Hope.  Don't ever lose sight of my dreams. Don't listen to small minded individuals. I can achieve my goals. 

~Love. Give a little bit. Give a little bit of your love to me. I'll give a little bit. I'll give a little bit of my love to you. There's so much that we need to share, so send a smile and show you care. 

Marcella Jean Haggerty

 Surreal. Six years to the day (January 21, 2008) that my Aunt Marcie passed. She played a great role in my love of music. Her CD collection, spilling out of dresser drawers numbered around 10,000. Marcie introduced me to such off kilter ballads as 'Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road' when I was about six; which thoroughly enjoyed belting at the top of my lungs. 

 I remember when Marcie still lived in Redwing, MN. My Grandma; who at the time worked as a Home Health Aid would have Marcie watch up for a few hours during summer break. This consisted of such contraband as chips and Ren & Stimpy, rounded out with ice cream and a trip to the YMCA to go swimming.

 "Mousedog" was her nickname. Recently I have come to wonder just how strange it will be to go home to Minnesota and not see her and not mentioning her so much for fear of upsetting my Grandma. When my Grandma was packing up Marcie's things, she came across a pair of her shoes and decided to keep them. Periodically she would hug them because they smelled like my Aunt. I was talking to her six months later and she seemed so sad. Grandma said that the shoes no longer smelled like Marcie. I can't even imagine loosing a child. I cried, my heart hurt so much for my Grandma.

 I will always remember the day that I got the call from my Mother telling me my aunt had died. I was walking to the mall for job applications (which was about a 4 mile walk and I didn't have a car at the time). The roads were fairly busy, a lot of busy intersections; but I told myself that there was nothing to it, Marcie did it all the time. I was almost to the mall when my Mother called me and gave me the news. My walk home was scary and I felt very hollow. I was not where I should have been. My ex was off in Navy C school and I an 18 year old was all by myself.


 It is strange that Marcie and Jordan not longer have their 'Fireside Chats'. Equally as strange will be not seeing Jordan and Marcie (The Family Guy Disciples) camped out in the furthest corner of the basement (we also called them cellar dwellers) with faces glued to their gameboys. My heart hurts for Jordan as well, because he lost his best friend. He seems to lost and doesn't come to too many family gatherings anymore. I can't blame him because in the past that is when he and Marcie would hang out the most. 

These songs always reminds me of Marcie. I miss her just as much as ever, and I can't keep back the tears when I remember her. Please keep Marcie in your prayers.

Chicago Travel Playlist

Playlist for my move to Chicago. Put this playlist into your ipod and you can listen with me :) (I will be adding more) 

1. Just Like Heaven-Cure

2. Get Me Golden-Terraplane Sun

3. Feels Like I Only Go Backwards-Tame Impala 

4. Midnight on the Interstate-Trampled by Turtles 

5. Alone-Trampled by Turtles 

6. Wait So Long-Trampled by Turtles 

7. Walking in Memphis-Marc Cohn 

8. Bastille-Pompeii 

9. City of Blinding Lights-U2

10. Where the Streets Have No Name-U2

11. Walk On-U2

12. Be OK-Ingrid Michaelson 

13. Vienna-Billy Joel

14. The Dreamer-The Tallest Man On Earth 

15. Night Bus-Lucy Rose

16. The Funeral-Band of Horses 

17. Minnesota/Wisconsin-Bon Iver 

18. Towers-Bon Iver

19. For Emma-Bon Iver

20. Holocene-Bon Iver

21. Hoppipolla-Sigur Ros

22. Once Upon Another Time-Sara Bareilles 

23. Cha Cha Cha-Little Ones 

24. Ramona-Night Beds 

25. Even If We Try-Night Beds

26. Next Stop-Bleached

27. Wish You Were Red-Trailer Trash Tracys

28. One More Time-Psychic Illis

29. Song For Zula-Phosphorescent 

30. Wolves-Phosphorescent 

31. Ride On/Right On-Phosphorescent 

32. Beta Love-Ra Ra Riot 

33. Step-Vampire Weekend

34. A-Punk-Vampire Weekend 

35. Diane Young-Vampire Weekend

36. Unbelievers-Vampire Weekend 

37. Campus-Vampire Weekend

38. The Girl-City and Colour 

39. Hopeless Wanderer-Mumford & Sons 

40. I Will Wait-Mumford & Sons

41. Sigh No More-Mumford & Sons

42. Babel-Mumford & Sons

43. Winter Winds-Mumford & Sons 

44. Lover of the Light-Mumford & Sons

45. The Fear-Ben Howard

46. Old Pine-Ben Howard 

47. Only Love-Ben Howard 

48. Switzerland-Daughter

49. Youth-Daughter

50. King of the World-First Aid Kit

51. To A Poet-First Aid Kit

52. Waking Life-Schuyler Fisk 

53. French Navy- Camera Obscura 

54. Sweetest Thing-Camera Obscura 

55. Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken-Camera Obscura 

56. Naked As We Came-Iron & Wine

57. Up Over The Mountain-Iron & Wine

58. Such Great Heights-Iron & Wine

59. Flightless Bird America Mouth-Iron & Wine 

60. Lions In Cages-Wolfgang 

61. 1901-Phoenix 

62. Lisztomania-Phoenix 

63. Oh My Stars-Andrew Belle 

64. Us-Regina Spektor 

65. Samson-Regina Spektor 

66. Fidelity-Regina Spektor 

67. Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)-Regina Spektor 

68. Shake It Out-Florence & The Machine 

69. Dog Days Are Over-Florence & The Machine 

70. What The Water Gave Me-Florence & The Machine 

71. No Light, No Light-Florence & The Machine 

72. Cups-Anna Kendrick 

73. The Wire-HAIM 

74. Home-Philip Philips 

75. Don't You Worry Child-Swedish House Mafia 

76. My Way-Frank Sinatra 

77. Come Fly With Me-Frank Sinatra 

78. Fly Me To The Moon-Frank Sinatra 

79. The Lady Is A Tramp-Frank Sinatra 

80. New York, New York-Frank Sinatra 

81. Tequila-The Champs 

82. Chantilly Lace-The Big Bopper

83. Oh, What A Night-The Dells 

84. Sh-Boom-The Chords 

85. Mr. Sandman-The Chordettes 

86. At The Hop-Danny & The Juniors 

87. Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis 

88. Ooby Dooby-Roy Orbinson 

89. All I Have To Do Is Dream-The Everly Brothers 

90. In The Still of the Night-The Five Satins 

91. Let The Good Times Roll-Shirley & Lee 

92. Big Girls Don't Cry-Frank Vallie & The Four Seasons

93. Walk Like A Man-Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

94. Peggy Sue-Buddy Holly 

95. She's Not There-The Zombies 

96. Heart of Gold-Neil Young

97. Long May You Run-Neil Young

98. Only Love Can Break Your Heart-Neal Young 

99. Harvest Moon-Neil Young 

100. Hey Hey, My My-Neil Young 

101. Green Onions-Booker T. & The M.G.'s

102. On The Road Again-Canned Heat

103. Going Up Country-Canned Heat 

104. What a Wonderful World-Louis Armstrong 

105. In My Life-The Beatles 

106. Here Comes The Sun-The Beatles  

107. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-The Beatles 

108. Love Me Do-the Beatles 

109. Strawberry Fields Forever-The Beatles 

110. A Hard Day's Night-The Beatles 

111. Yesterday-The Beatles 

112. Come Together-The Beatles 

113. Octopus's Garden-The Beatles  

114. Nowhere Man-The Beatles  

115. I Am The Walrus-The Beatles 

116. White Rabbit-Jefferson Airplane

117. Time of the Season-The Zombies 

118. Stand By Me-Ben E. King 

119. Louie Louie-The Kingsmen 

120. These Boots Are Made For Walking-Nancy Sinatra 

121. Paint It Black-The Rolling Stones 

122. Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin 

123. Tangled In Blue-Bob Dylan

124. Blowing in the Wind-Bob Dylan 

125. Like A Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan 

126. The Times They Are A Changin'-Bob Dylan 

127. Leader of the Pack-The Shangri-Las 

128. Good Vibrations-The Beach Boys

129. Kokomo-The Beach Boys 

130. I Get Around-The Beach Boys 

131. Wouldn't It Be Nice-Beach Boys

132. Barbara Ann-The Beach Boys 

133. Walk of Life-Dire Straits 

134. Bad Moon Rising-CCR

135. Born on the Bayou-CCR

136. Lookin' Out My Back Door-CCR

137. Down on the Corner-CCR

138. Have You Ever Seen The Rain?-CCR

139. Heaven-Led Zeppelin 

140. D'yer Mak'er-Led Zeppelin 

141. Kashmir-Led Zeppelin 

142. Hong Kong Garden-Siouxsie & The Banshees 

143. The Long and Winding Road-The Beatles 

144. Lola-The Kinks 

145. Big Yellow Taxi-Joni Mitchell 

146. My Sweet Lord-George Harrison 

147. Tiny Dancer-Elton John 

148. Lust For Life-Iggy Pop 

149. Dreams-Fleetwood Mac

150. Smoke on the Water-Deep Purple

151. Get It On-T.Rex

152. My Sharona-The Knack 

153. Maggie May-Rod Stewart 

154. Let's Stay Together-Al Green 

155. Band on the Run-Wings 

156. Born to Run-Bruce Sprinsteen 

157. Blitzkrieg Bop-The Ramones 

158. Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac

159. Magic Dance-David Bowie 

160. Should I Stay Or Should I Go?-The Clash 

161. INXS-Need You Tonight 

162. Jump-Van Halen 

163. Don't You Forget About Me-Simple Minds 

164. Rock the Casbah-The Clash  

165. I Got My Mind Set On You-George Harrison 

166. Blue Monday-New Order

167. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out-The Smiths 

168. Push it-Salt'N'Pepa 

169. When Doves Cry-Prince 

170. Once In a Lifetime-Talking Heads 

171. Africa-Toto 

172. Karma Chameleon-Culture Club 

173.

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Chicago 2014, Two Months Until the Big Move

It is 2014, and in the merry making of the holidays I didn’t really fully appreciate just how fast the date to move was approaching. As it is right now I have less than two months. I was trying to describe how I felt to my sister Beth. I feel as if I have to move backwards (moving from Sicily to Chicago) to go forwards (England). I have grown comfortable in calling Sicily home for the last four years even though I have not particularly liked the way they do things over here, I do enjoy the sense of culture.

There is a very short list of friends I will leave behind, which is fine. I don’t make friends very easily (and I don’t have the social grace to deal with acquaintances) however the friends I do make are lifelong.  When I think about it, I get a slight twinge in my heart even if I can keep a straight face. This lets me know that I more than likely feel more emotional about leaving Sicily than I care to openly admit. In my life I have never felt more welcomed, than in the homes of different ethnicities and different walks of life. Americans in general seem more closed off, more removed and less friendly.

I am scared. Which is an odd thing, because I should look at it like I am going home and I don’t.  I am scared that the time I spent growing over here and the knowledge that I have gained will be lost. I don’t want to be “Americanized.” I feel like being in Europe I have been at the epicenter of knowledge, change and free/open thinking. I want to bottle the essence of Europe and take it with me. It is a very bitter sweet moment and the only think for it is to walk forward, hoping for the best. 

Song/Quote/Poem/Picture/Book of the Day 1/1/2014

Song of the Day

Quote of the Day

Poem of the Day

Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town by E.E. Cummings  

anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn’t he danced his did.

Women and men(both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few

and down they forgot as up they grew

autumn winter spring summer)

that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf

she laughed his joy she cried his grief

bird by snow and stir by still

anyone’s any was all to her

someones married their everyones

laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake up and then)they

said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon (and only the snow can begin to explain how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess

(and noone stooped to kiss his face)

busy folk buried them side by side

little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep

and more by more they dream their sleep

noone and anyone earth by april

wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)

summer autumn winter spring

reaped their sowing and went their came

sun moon stars rain

– e. e. cummings

Picture of the Day

Book of the Day

Part time Interior Decorator/Car Technician

Last weekend Nona, Josie and me got into a minor car accident. Some crazy Italian was not paying attention and almost ran us off the road. Nona needed her car fixed so I......I mean NONA fixed her car the filipino way :)