DK Quilt Guild: Fusing

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Sunday July 15, 2012 · 2:16 PM PDT

2012/07/15 · 14:16

When I first started quilting I assumed I would be a traditional purist. Who knows why, I just assumed I would be a hand quilter and if I knew what applique was I would demand that be done by hand too. Fortunately or unfortunately the universe had other ideas. The first few years it was all hand work but after the year I spent hand quilting a king size log cabin quilt my body made it clear that I would never be able to hand quilt again. My sewing machine would not allow me to do free motion quilting and it took me a while to figure out it was the machine and not me. For the next few years after that I sort of languished. Then about four years ago I bought a new machine, the Janome 6600 changed my world. Now the only thing holding me back was skill. The next big change in my world was stumbling onto the QuiltArt email group. All of the sudden I had between 10 and 40 emails per day in my inbox, many from professional quilters, talking about everything from dying to the best printer for printing on fabric. The first 6 months I just read and looked at pictures. Slowly I ventured out and began trying some of the techniques these crazy quilter ladies were discussing. My first projects were laughable but I keep trying.

Chinton for DK Quilt Guild

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Sunday April 01, 2012 · 3:10 PM PDT

2012/04/01 · 15:10

Yep you read that right, I'm going to use an inkjet printer to make the label for the NFTT quilt "Better Together." My goal is use a picture of the finished top crediting each block marker and Beadlady for the quilting.

I'm using is the Epson Artisan 1430. There are a number of reason for this printer choice. First and foremost is the ink. Epson uses a pigment based ink versus a dye based ink. The pigment based ink will actually stay on fabric even through the washing machine. The second reason I chose this printer is because it is a wide format printer accommodating up to 13"x19" media. The third and final reason for choosing this printer is that it has a straight paper (or fabric) path. When you're trying to stuff unusual material through a printer it's important to have as few turns as possible.

This printer is brand new and I've never attempted to do anything like this before fortunately the printer came with Adobe Expressions software making the $200+ price tag a bit easier to swallow.

Chinton for DK Quilt Guild

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Sunday March 11, 2012 · 3:00 PM PDT

2012/03/11 · 15:00

DK Quilt Guild: A place for quilters to gather, share ideas, projects, and to make the world a better place, one quilt at a time. Join us and share your thoughts, projects, questions, and tips. Quilters here are at many different levels of skill. Beginners and non-quilters are welcome, too!

This has been a tough week for me meaning that I haven't gotten much done. Last weekend I broke my don't go out rule and spent 8 glorious hours at the Sew & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup with a friend. I had a wonderful time but now I'm paying the price. Until I can get some body work done, scheduled for the end the week, I won't be able to think clearly enough to tackle the fundraising details. Read More

DK Quilt Guild and NFTT: Community Quilt - Show and Tell

Chinton for DK Quilt Guild

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Sunday February 26, 2012 · 3:00 PM PST

2012/02/26 · 15:00

DK Quilt Guild: A place for quilters to gather, share ideas, projects, and to make the world a better place, one quilt at a time. Join us and share your thoughts, projects, questions, and tips. Quilters here are at many different levels of skill. Beginners and non-quilters are welcome, too!

Today is the day that everyone get to see the color explosion that has taken over my design wall. Before we get to the pictures I want to offer a big virtual hug to everyone who has contributed to this project. I wish I were a better writer so I could convey the sheer delight of having my husband walk in with another package from the mail. Even the boys who work for my husband are constantly checking to see the newest arrival. We have blocks from all over the country and even one quilter in Canada.

As some of you may know my health is not great. I've written a number of diary's going into detail for the KosAbility series. My current best understanding of the problem is that it results in a my nerves being hyperexcitable. It means that going out into the world overloads me, fast. I stopped doing any volunteer work after being the exhibits coordinator for the first Netroots Nation convention (YearlyKos) while helping my husband start a new business. Doing two full time jobs concurrently was the final straw, it forced me to accept my body was broken. I've learned that I can't participate in meetings of any sort. There are a number of great quilt groups in my area but if I go, even for a simple fun hour long meeting where I just sit and listen, the stimulus stops me from sleeping which quickly sends me into a tailspin of muscle contraction that can take weeks to undo.

What I'm trying to say is thank you all for giving me an opportunity to contribute in a way that doesn't break my body. I get a little bit flaky at times. If I don't respond for a few days don't worry I'm just overloaded, I'll be back.

Chinton for DK Quilt Guild

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Sunday February 12, 2012 · 3:00 PM PST

2012/02/12 · 15:00

Welcome to the DK Quilt Guild weekly diary.

What a week. I offer to manage a volunteer project and wham…the IRS helps themselves to my bank account and the Social Security Administrations is supposed to put way more back hasn't yet. Then a huge project for my husband’s business that has been in the works for over 2 years is finally a go requiring a flurry of neurosis and activity. And last but worst, a personal tragedy in the life of a very good friend who was already down on his luck.

Consequently I’m a little behind…on everything.

Chinton

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Thursday February 02, 2012 · 5:00 PM PST

2012/02/02 · 17:00

I love how this idea started, a bunch of people hanging out packing boxes for the troops overseas. These people, while contributing their energy and love spend a fair bit of the time while there thinking up new ways to contribute more, to do more. What could be better?

The original idea comes from Oke offering up a NFTT shirt signed by Dan Choi as the center of a round robbing quilt. While this is an excellent idea there isn’t time to get a round robin project completed in time for Netroots Nation 2012. I also have concerns with using the tee shirt. Jersey cotton can make an excellent quilt but not combined with quilters’ cotton. I believe the goal is to have a usable quilt that can be snuggled under and washed. I suspect that the signature is in Sharpe which will not stand the test of time, unless of course you are trying to get the Sharpe out of your favorite shirt then it will never come out.

Chinton for KosAbility

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Sunday December 18, 2011 · 2:00 PM PST

2011/12/18 · 14:00

This diary will focus on hypothyroid because it's the most common thyroid problem. I was originally diagnosed with Graves disease which causes hyperactive thyroid so I know about that end too. This diary is rather long but there is nothing I can leave out.

KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday and Wednesday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.

All the women in my family have thyroid problems. My grandmother on my mother’s side also has Parkinson’s, I’m not sure if there is a connection but Parkinson’s is a side effect of low parathyroid which is a complication of thyroid removal especially in the past when it was considered best practice to pull out each of the four little parathyroid glands and look at them during a thyroidectomy. My mother had her thyroid removed, my oldest sister had hers removed when she was 16. The second oldest went on meds when she was in her early 20 same with the next sister in line. I started having problems in my early 20’s. I was a bit unique because I went to the overactive side of thyroid problems where everyone else went low. My mother spent most of my youth locked in her room only coming out every few days to stock up on food. I used to blame her. Everyone whispered that it was all in her head. Now I think she had bad medical advice and I wonder if she has exactly the same problem I have, hypoparathyroid, a complication from a thyroidectomy. Granted she had five babies and that can certainly take a toll.

Chinton for KosAbility

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Sunday October 09, 2011 · 2:00 PM PDT

2011/10/09 · 14:00

KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday and Wednesday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.

I have a disease called hypoparathyroidism. There are four little parathyroid gland in the neck their only job is to regulate calcium levels in the blood. Three of mine were damaged in a botched thyroid surgery in the early 90’s. I was very sick and did not have insurance. No job, no insurance. I found a program that utilized interns. Unfortunately it did not really include the follow up that I needed. When my parathyroids failed after the surgery they wouldn’t let me out of the hospital for 5 days. They told me that this was a temporary problem and I would be fine. I was much better, not having an extremely hyperactive thyroid, so I thought I was better.

After the surgery, not being too healthy, I started doing temp work and just kept doing it for the next 15 years. In each position I quickly became the person that could solve any software problem and implement any system. If I needed to know something I picked up the manual and found the solution. I remembered everything especially numbers, they just stuck in my brain. I learned anything and everything quickly.

I realized that my body broke before I realized that my head was broken too. I stopped sleeping and started having serious problems with carpel tunnel about the same time. My solution was to try strengthening my body so I could do more, isn’t’ that what you are supposed to do?

I tried swimming; instead of getting stronger I injured my right shoulder. I figured it was a fluke a then my left shoulder started to hurt. I let the injuries heal and tried slowly building back up a number of times. Each time the pain came back a little faster. With the advice of my wonderful chiropractor I gave up swimming. I tried yoga, a gentle 20 minute routine, with an emphasis on proper form and core development. Figured I would start slowly and build up to more. It didn’t work that way. Instead of getting stronger one by one poses were eliminated due to various muscle injuries until I was forced to realize I could not do yoga.

Chinton for KosAbility

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Sunday June 26, 2011 · 2:00 PM PDT

2011/06/26 · 14:00

Everyone knows calcium - good for the bones. Turns out that is a very small part of calcium’s role in our health. Calcium is so important to our bodies that it actually has its own dedicated regulatory system, the parathyroid glands which do nothing except make sure there is the right amount of calcium available in your blood.

KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday and Wednesday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.

Chinton

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday May 15, 2006 · 9:42 AM PDT

2006/05/15 · 09:42

Yes, the rumors are true, the YearlyKos conference is the hottest ticket this side of the White House Correspondence dinner.

The list of speakers and presenters just keeps growing: Representative Nancy Pelosi, Senator Barbara Boxer, Ambassador Joe Wilson, Governor Tom Vilsack, Governor Mark Warner, Michael Schiavo, etc, etc, etc.

And as the excitement builds you've been telling yourself you've got to get your company or organization involved.

Now the agenda is set, but there are other ways you can get your company or organization out in front of active and motivated progressives. And where else can you get direct access to 1,500 people like us: big talkers who like to share information, thoughts, opinions, and the occasional recipe for margaritas?

RSS

DK Quilt Guild: Fusing

DK Quilt Guild: Printing on Fabric...with an Inkjet Printer

DK Quilt Guild: NFTT Community Quilt - We Need a Name for Our Quilt

DK Quilt Guild and NFTT: Community Quilt - Show and Tell

DK Quilt Guild: NFTT Community Quilt Progress Report

DK Quilt Guild and NFTT: Community Quilt Fundraiser. Calling all quilters!

KosAbility: Thyroid 101

KosAbility: From Data Nerd to Artist

KosAbility: Calcium, Who Knew?

YearlyKos: My Kingdom for a Booth