No Camera

My camera is in surgery!  I won't get it back for 3 weeks.  So no pictures for a little bit.  I'm looking at new ones ....

Eyeglasses 101

Getting old is the pits.  I had to get some glasses (not contacts - just glasses).  So yesterday, I bit the bullet and went to one of those retail stores that sell designer frames, you know, glasses.

Well, after filling out all the forms and a FAST - express like fast - eye exam.  I was ready to begin!

I walked into the sea of frames displayed on the three huge walls before me and an hour later...I tried on a lot of frames...the fun begins!

I needed bifocals ... they call them "multifocal lenses".  Extra
I needed no-line, I'm too young to look old they said... they call them "progressive lenses".  Extra
They suggested thinner lenses...they call them "verithin".  Extra
I asked for non-glare...they call it "never glare advantage".  Extra

When they start to have their own languare, my red flag goes up.  Be very very careful.

Total....$306.

What happened to the 2 pair offer for $69 with free eye exam???
Those are for single-vision, coke bottle lenses with the "nutty professor" frames.  Oh, I didn't know.

Bifocals, no multifocal lenses with no lines are $192 A PAIR.  Non-glare add $35.  Exam fee $45 - they wavied it, oh goodie for me!  So I paid for my designer frames with "Polycarbonate lenses", which means plastic lenses, and a one year warranty for $306.  Pick up in 5 to 7 days.  Oh boy, I can't wait!

By the time I drove home, I felt I'd been had, roped, duped, conned!  I called my optomestrist of 20 years who takes care of my contacts.  He has a small office with a very small selection of frames, but a whopper of an exam fee; that's why I went to the retail eyeglass store.  I spoke to one of the technicians and she tried to give me an "apples to apples" price comparison.  The same lenses would have been around $300 plus my exam fee and the frames.  So she said it sounded like I got a good deal.

I still don't think so.  I am hoping the "Progressive", no-line lenses work for me.   Some people have a hard time getting adjusted to wearing them.  We'll see....I hope.

Riverwalk Raffle Quilt

To answer some questions.... The raffle quilt was designed by Ute Murrin on EQ.  Isn't it beautiful?  She also hand-dyed all the fabric specifically for this quilt.  It was pieced by Riverwalk Quilters guild members.  I choose the quilting designs and quilted it for the guild.  All quilting was done free-hand.  It took me about one week to quilt it.

Riverwalk Raffle Quilt Revealed

I can finally show you some pictures of the Riverwalk Raffle Quilt!  It was revealed to the guild - so it's no longer under cover!

Here are some close-up shots of the stars and feather border. All the quilting was done freehand.

Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show

Just got back from a week's worth of classes and quilt inspiration. I attended the first Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show. The week was filled with design ideas - my head is bursting with new things to try out!

My friend Donna Poquette won first place in the Machine Embroidery category!