Late Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great late Thanksgiving here with my family. The cousins got along well, as you can see on this sunny afternoon on the deck. Now I have a week ahead of Guild Christmas parties--two major holidays in less than a week.



For quilting, I am trying to finish some service quilts to hand off to the guilds in time to give away. I am concentrating on ufos, which are plentiful. In moving things around to clean out the guest room, I was forced to open a container that just happened to have some old small Christmas tops. Now is the time to finish these. One favorite is the old Garden Path table topper here. I raided Grandma Pam's stash for the back and some old Kona Bay for the binding.










Today's best....the pretty little Garden path and another sunny lunch outside.

Arbor Day

Because we don't have enough trees, the gardener is planting his first of many more trees. See the fall color on this red oak?






On this stunningly warm and sunny late November day, we also had another critter sighting--the great spotted sun squirrel.




The light and shadows have been so wonderful to watch around here, after a single dreary day Sunday, I can't seem to take myself away from simply watching out my windows or sitting on the sun on the deck. I've also felt the need to make a dent in the cleaning up and finding places for the heaps of stuff I have around here. I succeeded in getting rid of some piles and organizing some others, and feel I like a weight has been lifted. Plus, we can now at least accommodate one guest in the guest room.

As always, I still find time to quilt and sew. First, another variation on Patty Cakes using scraps of a decorator chintz and scrappy lights. This takes about an hour to sew--makes you feel like you really accomplished something.





Then, the Hawaiian Take 5, Scrap 5--where I subbed for my 5"squares and 5"x9 1/2" and 9 1/2" squares. While looking for something else, I came across a collection of Hawaiian print squares that I bought cheap online, and have used for other quilts. I added anything else I had that looked Hawaiian, African or just leafy to the mix. It came out busy and kooky--my kind of quilt.











Today's best....almost hot sunshine.

Clear Day

I spent yesterday afternoon in Roseville, mostly working on the antique mall booth. I have given notice there--it isn't working for me as I had hoped, though it is a great place. I'll have a sale these last couple weeks, so I had to pull out what I don't want to sell cheap and add things that I do want gone at any cost. It was a long afternoon in the rain to start with, but I did get to do some personal/Christmas shopping when I got done.

Today I had to run more quilts over to Crafters Cottage--Julie keeps selling my little quilts.

I quilted and added more remnants and quilts to the website.

I finished this quilt that has been sitting with a back ready. It's the Take 5 done completely scrappy, instead of the 5 fabrics the pattern calls for. And I realized that I converted it to my favorite sizes--5" squares, 5"x 9 1/2" rectangles, and 9 1/2" squares. So the block finishes 13 1/2" instead of 12", and I made just 12 blocks. With borders it finished 58"x 70".
Now I want to hit the scrap bag and precut drawers and make another. (You all know of course that scrap bag is never a singular term).






Today's best....a beautiful clear day after the rain, perfect for sunning, sewing, and selling quilts.

Little Quilts

My little quilts are selling well at Crafter's Cottage in PV. I needed to make another neutral baby quilt out of the Riley circus fabric. So I did--this afternoon, start to finish, quilted and bound.This time I did it in my Only One pattern, with the middle 2 blocks replaced with a little circus panel or medallion, as it were. This block is simply made up of one each, 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", 3 1/2"x 6 1/2", 6 1/2"x4 1/2" and 6 1/2"x 5 1/2" . The whole top is made only from a little bloom pack of 10 11"x 22".

Today's best....having to replace a quilt that sold.

Service Quilting

Most of the day was spent finishing community service quilts. I quilted the top I made yesterday from the 5x9 cake slices. This one is all of the homespun plaids in the drawers, alternated with blues in the middle, all plaid for the outside row. The plan was to give a denim and plaid look. The contrasts didn't show up well for the intended effect, but it is still another quilt done, another batch of fabric used up. Grandma Pam's stash supplied back and binding--2 more pieces used up. The 88 pieces--11 wide by 8 tall--made a nice 51"x68" size.










This second one was an orphan quilt top--unclaimed quilting work. A little quick quilting, some perky red binding from the 2 1/2" strip drawer, and another quilt is done and on the shelf ready to give.











I had fun with this last one. I pulled all of the 30's reproductions from the 5x9 and 5x9 1/2 drawers. I had plenty to make this charm quilt of 48 5"x9" slices, with 1 1/2" strips between.
I even had some 9" strips left from something--perfect to cut for the spacers. This one just worked all the way around, including how I envisioned it.Here are the numbers for this little Thirties quilt--it finished 42"x51"
48 5"x9" (or 5 x 9 1/2")
48 1 1/2"x 9" (or 1 1/2"x 9 1/2")
Add the little spacer strip to the right of each of the slices
Lay out the rows 8 across by 6 down
Sew the rows
To get the jog--cut 2 3/4" off the right side of rows 1,3,5--cut 2 3/4" off the left side of rows 2,4,6
Sew the rows together

Today's best....the charming little 30's quilt.

Rain

We got some rain this evening at last. Thank you Washington for sending some our way. Daytime it was nice and warm and sunny--how great was our timing.

Another great idea from Washington is another quilt using the panel squares in the Yellow Brick Road. This one is Christie's.









I got my green quilt finished. Don't know why this one intrigued me so, but I love how the fabrics worked.






Also I finished the binding on this service quilt. It's made from some orphan blocks that I surrounded with little blocks, borders, and binding made from binding scraps. I pulled mostly tone on tone blues to try to give the denim look. I felt very accomplished for making use of stuff from the scrap boxes. I even found a very cool back in Grandma Pam's old fabric--and it was 60" wide--perfect score.











Today's best....finishing my new favorite green quilt.

Greenery

We've been marveling at how green our grass looks, even with just the least bit of rain. Plus we've got a bit of fall all around.

Meanwhile, inside the house, I am totally jazzed about my little green number here. It's my original Rosette pattern number 1, (to be renamed later) done with scrappy spacers. I started with a little Bloom pack of 10 green Kaffe Fassett and friends. My first thought was to use batik spacers, but my batiks were just a little too quiet. But wait---I have these wonderful bundles of light limey greens in Amy Butler's Midwest Modern and Daisy Chain! One nearly leaped onto the cutting table to go with the green Kaffes.Now to get it quilted and properly photographed.











Today's best....my little green quilt top to go with my green landscape.

Edlos

What are The EDLOS? Talent, training and showmanship. I just saw this quartet's A Capella Broadway performance at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. What a thoroughly entertaining show. I love voices, so it was a joy to listen to, but they also made it fun. I wouldn't miss them if they are your area.








I checked out a couple craft fairs on this sunny, crisp afternoon. I am afraid that I am not helping these folks out much--not feeling very spendy, and we don't need anymore stuff! We're in a panic now with all that we have left to sort out and get rid of after the move. We can only have the bravest of guests, because the guest room is a junk room.

I looked at some housing, fun but not quite right. I squeezed in a little quilting, posted some great new 6 fat quarter packs of Kaffe Fassett and friends (more to come tomorrow), and worked on a couple quilt tops. I guess I got more done than I thought.

Today's best....The Edlos--A Cappella Broadway, bound to be a great show when started with the opening song from Cabaret.

Tall Stack

I made this little Patty Cakes from a pack of Savon Bouquet. This time I cut them 5" x 10", to use every inch of the fabric and make the quilt a bit longer. I can't decide if I like it as well as the 5"x9". Maybe it is because I have made so many of the original 5x9, but this 10" feels just a little too long. Well, it is completely finished, along the with peaches and cream scrappy one and I do like it.











Today's best....an easy, quiet day.

Catching Up

Taking trips always means prep and pack before, then regroup and unpack after. Last weekend was mostly making last minute packets of some favorite fabrics to take to King City. I took a little break with the gardener husband to consult on some plant buying, not that he needs my help to buy plants. I have accused him of acting like a quilter. We have 6 acres of trees, and what are we out buying? Trees--because he wants some different colors. So here we are, using the Utility function of our SUV. Oh, and I had to sit in the back seat, to make room for the tall trees.

This is the gardener's stash...our marshaling yard while he plans and grades the landscape for planting.






I had an easy drive down the King City--glad to find that it doesn't take too long to get down to the central coast area. Guild member Suzi offered her wonderful hospitality and lovely home. She has a fabulous sewing room added on to her house--a great place for her and the 8 grandkids to create and enjoy each other's company. Suzi, I enjoyed getting to know you. Thanks again, and I am looking forward to seeing you at some future event.

The Valley Heritage Guild gave me a very warm reception, with loads of help hauling my show and shop to and from the car. They were very generous with their thanks the ideas and patterns I passed along. What a wonderful community they have in King City.

Tuesday was my day to play in Monterey Peninsula. After lunch at my favorite Monterey restaurant, Rosine's, I had to walk it off by shopping. Pacific Grove is home to one of the best quilt shops, Back Porch Fabrics. I even bumped into customers from the valley there. It is such a great place to go, both Back Porch and the Monterey area in general, running into people I know has happened more than once.

The best thing about shopping this time of year, is that you can use Christmas shopping as an excuse. And I did. I honestly did get a great start on Christmas in all of my stops. It is so much better to shop for fun and just happen upon something perfect for somebody, rather than have to shop with a specific goal or item in mind. Is that the treasure hunter in us or just the love of discovery?

I cover a lot of ground when I am by myself. In total for the day, I went to downtown Monterey and Pacific Grove, drove along the ocean, shopped in Carmel, and stopped at the Gilroy outlets on the way home to Grandma Pam's in Turlock where I spent the night.



The best new find for me was Findings--a Sewing Emporium in Carmel. Nancy King-Monk has been there with this treasure of a shop for 8 years. I was there with my shop during half of that time--how shop-bound I was. This little shop is a wonder of a French-style sewing shop--a little of this, a little of that--trims, buttons, fabric, patterns, handmades--something new at every turn around the store.So I'm back home again, posting some new items on the web site, quilting and sewing. I made a Patty Cakes from the scrap drawer. This one alternates a common background fabric--I like this variation and I need to have a nice sample of it.I do think a couple new trees have been added to the staging area, but I can't be sure. He did admit to planting some wildflower seeds.

Today's best....recollecting my terrific trip.

Happy Anniversary Evan and Michelle

Rain, with Chance Sunflowers

We had wonderful misty weather today--it made everything so fresh and lush in the hills. I spent the day driving around looking at housing, dodging deer.

After pulling together more colorful packets, I felt the need for speed. I pulled a quick Pam Cakes from drawers of precut 5x9 drawers. The bird/sunflower print jumped out first, so along came anything sunflowery, yellow, green or black. It worked--I think it's fun for a one hour top.










Today's best....running around in our wet forest.

Space Station 2.0

Space Station Fryer has a second satellite connection. We finally got TV--with long nights ahead, we thought it time. Now to figure out how to program the darned thing. (Oh and note to self--close that open door on the right--that's where the last snake came into the house!)

We did some running around this afternoon, which included buying 15 oleanders to create a barrier between us and a neighbor's guest house.

I got one quilt finished, and I wrapped bundles of 6 Kaffe Fassett fat quarters. I had so many just sitting, doing nothing on my shelves. Six is a fun size to make--pretty easy to get 6 Kaffe fabrics to go together. They are all ready to take to King City next week. I can't do a color presentation without Kaffe Fassett fabrics.Today's best....with 6 you get Kaffe rolls.

Driving away

The front yard had a little different look this morning. It became the staging area for the driveway paving crew. The first half of the driveway slopes up quite a bit, so the civil engineer decided it needed to be paved. He got to supervise the action from his office window and hold the anxious dog at bay.Meanwhile, I got to stay out of the way by quilting Eileen's 3rd great quilt, this from Quilts in the Sun again. I think this is my favorite. I'm afraid the sunny room washed out the colors in this photo--they are especially rich. Actually, the enlargement looks pretty good. And Eileen, it really looks great on my cherrywood bed--hint, hint.


The rest of the day was spent in the great senior housing search. I saw some 70's mobile homes with fixtures to make some of you shabby/retro chic fans swoon.

Today's best....cruising up the smooth driveway and not spitting gravel.

One of those days

It was one of those days when nothing went quite right--not bad, just not quite right.

At least it ended on a nice note. I went to my first meeting of the Pine Tree Quilt Guild in Grass Valley. Another great group like Valley Quilt Guild, it's been around a long time, with lots of activities and a strong program of speakers and workshops.

Tonight's speaker was a hoot. Nancy Brown does fabulous animal applique, especially penguins. She has a great program of her quilts and she had us all laughing with her tales. It was a wonderfully enjoyable evening that I would recommend to any guild program chair looking for a speaker. For info on her and pictures of some of her best quilts, see nancybrownquilts.com

Today's best....joining the Pine Tree Quilt guild.

Happy Birthday Grandma Pam

This rose bouquet is for you.

I really need a photography wall. I am handling some very pretty things, and would love to be able to show better pictures of them all. Time to put in an official request with the resident fix-it guy.

This quilt from Eileen in Bremerton is that wonderful, but simple medallion that Grandma Pam has also done from the Quilts in the Sun book. You can't really see the design, but Eileen's lovely fabric choices are evident--the butterfly print frames are a perfect choice.






I also love this fun black and white and red quilt from Elsie in Port Orchard.From me, I just dug out an old class sample--a 9 patch tabletopper. I thought it a good idea to finish up for the holiday buying season.









Today's best....Grandma Pam has another birthday.

Dead Iron

Another perfect weather day, another 3 quilted, another 3 bound, another iron dead, another rattlesnake dead. Just another routine day in the country. And someday I am going to find the perfect iron.

We tested out the new barbecue--success--the beef was delicious. And there is enough lighting on the deck to cook by, since we had no daylight at dinnertime.

I finished the cat quilt to put out for sale at Crafters Cottage. And finished the blue Naptime service quilt.












Today's best....summer barbecue.