The Communique Layout

Popularized by Rhonda Dort, who uses the layout in her classes, the Communique Quilt Layout works for both featuring large fabric and panel pieces, as well as a basis for multiple block designs.

About Me

Welcome to Mouse in My Pocket! I'm Andrea, a web developer living in rural America with her husband and daughter. I'm excited to share my life with you as I explore some of the great things about living in the middle of nowhere.  Be sure to check out the blog below to see a few of the things that are speaking to me right now.

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On the Blog

New Look

By Andrea | December 18, 2014

You may have noticed that I’ve been playing around with some updates around the site over the last few days.  I’ve changed up some of the artwork in an attempt to create a look that I feel reflects me a little better than the previous design did. Not that I didn’t love the old design.…

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The Art of Robert Millard-Mendez

By Andrea | December 17, 2014

I was going through files on my computer recently, and came across photos from Robert Millard-Mendez‘s show at Oakland City University in November of 2008. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this southern Indiana sculptor.

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Things That Make Me Unhappy

By Andrea | December 16, 2014

I love to complain, but there aren’t many things in life that make me truly unhappy.  Unfortunately, I discovered a new one last night.  It is not OK to be woken from a dead sleep at 2:30 in the morning by the fire alarm when nothing is actually on fire. I have a hard enough…

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Whining is the Opposite of Giving Thanks

By Andrea | December 15, 2014

… and other things I learned at the 2014 Indiana Farm Bureau Conference My husband and I recently spent the weekend at the 2014 Indiana Farm Bureau Conference at French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick Indiana. We had a wonderful time. The Farm Bureau conferences are always fun and very…

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5 Years and Counting

By Andrea | December 12, 2014

Happy Anniversary to my husband! It’s been 5 years today.  There are times when I can’t believe it’s been so long, and there are times when it feels like we’ve been married for centuries – but I wouldn’t trade a minute. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of our lifetime together.

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Anna’s Crazy Christmas Blocks – A Progress Post

By Andrea | December 10, 2014

It looks like I am a bad influence on Anna. I’ve convinced her to try her hand an making crazy patch blocks, and I have to say that I am impressed with her progress so far. Her blocks remind me a lot of the ones in my first crazy quilt. She told me that I…

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The Art of Joe Smith

By Andrea | December 10, 2014

I work at a small liberal arts university that has recently decided to close their ceramics program. The program was never a full fledged degree, but courses were available to students in the studio art program and as electives. I’m sad to see the program go, especially the ceramics art professor, who recently retired. However…

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Winter Mini Quilt

By Andrea | December 8, 2014

I really thought I was done making Christmas projects, but, last week I ran across the Dresden Forest Mini Quilt by Leigh Laurel Studios. It inspired me to make my own version of a forest for our wall, and knew I had to make my own version. I love that it will also make a…

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Rabbit Medallion Quilt – 3rd Border

By Andrea | December 3, 2014

It has taken me forever to get around to making the 3rd border on my rabbit medallion quilt. Not that the blocks for this border were terribly difficult – they were just churn dash blocks. But, in my defense, I did have to make 36 of them, and I was getting rather tired of making…

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Raku Monk Assemblage Wreath

By Andrea | December 1, 2014

The University I work for recently closed it’s ceramics program. As part of the process, we are going through all of the items left in the pottery building. When going through the building, I collected all of the Raku “Monks” which are small ceramic objects that have a monk-like sculpture the department created to test…

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Holiday Shopping Recommendations

By Andrea | November 28, 2014

Today is Black Friday, so I’m sure that many of you were out and about early this morning (or even late last night) doing some of your holiday shopping. Of course, you might have already considered (and bought) some custom gifts to give your loved ones like personalized Photo Keychains or other small memorabilia. But,…

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Giving Thanks

By Andrea | November 24, 2014

With thanksgiving this week, I wanted to share a few things I am thankful for right now. Matt, who has been married to me for almost 5 years, but who has been part of my life for a dozen years now. Friends that you haven’t seen for ages, but who still manage to be there…

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