Better Get to Sewing!

Well, I have just spent the day thinking about sewing, and now I hope to start sewing for the rest of the day. Lizzie and I went up to Paradise, and it got me ready to hop on that pile of fabric! Picture me sewing if you will please, I pray it will help get me going!

On to Sequim!

For the final leg of our week long journey, Jane and I went to visit our friends Kathy and Dave, who live in Western Washington near Sequim, home of the Lavender Festival. Check out their wonderful home and then our trip to the Lavendar Festival. By the way, I never saw a gray day the entire trip.




This is my view on the plane ride home...directly over Mt. Rainer!

Sisters Quilt Show 2008

I wanted you to see some of the amazing examples of quilting from the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Here are some of our favorites from the early morning of the second Saturday of every July! Enjoy!

Across the Universe,,,Almost!

Since I last posted, I feel like I have been on a very extended vacation...and I have! I left Sisters and flew to Seattle to be with my dear friend Jane and her family for a week.


Jane picked me up and we managed to do an amazing array of outings and projects and visits during my stay. We have been friends for more than 30 years, having met in Chico in the late 70s. Woah. That is an amazing statistic! Here is what she had waiting for me for dinner that night a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie! So sweet and tart at the same time. I now have this recipe so I may make one this summer too.
Among the highlights of our time together were visits to Vancouver, BC (which is a huge place, let me tell you, I had no idea it was that huge or sophisticated!)


We also went to La Conner which is a darling town on the water in the Skagit Valley where the tulips grow. We were delighted to see the opening day of the Path to Edo show at the La Conner Quilt Museum.



Check out these images for mind blowing detail and silk kimono fabric quilts.

OMG, they were amazing. And then a whole floor of Sashiko.


At La Conner we also visited our favorite bakery the Calico Cupboard.

A zillion years ago, on July 4th, Jane and I drove calmly over to La Conner from Bellingham on the morning of her wedding to Michael Jansen. We picked up a beautiful carrot cake and delivered it to their home. A wonderful memory and fabulous cake!

Sweet Jane

Tuesday and Wednesday I took a class from Jane Sassaman. She is one of a kind, confident, creative, and articulate. Makes for a very intense experience! I was a bit out of my comfort zone, as drawing isn't my strong point. By the end of the first day, I was feeling the pressure of coming up with a design. I struggled, but by the second day I had a flower. Now I know any third grader can draw a flower, but I was trying to do something artsy. Not. It was a good experience! I was honored to be in Jane's company for two days. Here's a sample of her work and mine. Ha! I think I would like to buy a kit! Smile.

No Friend Like a Sister

Here I am sitting at the computer next to the Metolius River in Camp Sherman Oregon. This is really one of the nicest places I have ever been for a vacation! No kidding, the "cabin" is more of a home filled with the sweetest furniture and furnishings ever!

When we first arrived, we went to the Stitchin Post to make sure all was right with my class schedule. Sure enough it was! Take a look inside! The exterior shot quilt is the raffle quilt this year. It is truly vibrant and I hope you'll get to see it in person when I win it! The quilt with the deep reds above the fireplace in the store is one you may have seen by Valori Wells. The second quilt is by Kaffe Fasset and is remarkable in size! This is the beginning of a beautiful week! By the way, the folks at the Stitchin Post are among the nicest, most helpful quilters. A true pleasure!

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Here I Come!

Tuesday, I am leaving for a week of pure heaven at Sister's Oregon. My husband and I will stay at the Metolius River Resort nearby. I am going to be in Jane Sassaman's Pattern Play classes both Wed/Thursday. I can't believe how lucky I am to be doing this! It cracked me up on the class supply list where she listed "fabric, a good variety of colors both solids and prints". OMG I thought, I'll just get a trailer and hook it to my Prius...not... so I emailed Jane and she replied very cleverly, "A Rainbow of fat quarters will be perfect". So here are my supplies awaiting their vacation. The fabric "fat quarters" are stored in the middle case. A tad more than fat quarters. One must be prepared, right? Isn't that what "stash" is all about :) You will notice a sad little doggy under the cutting table...he knows when those suitcases come out that soon his mom will disappear. Sorry Ted Ted.

Work in Progress Diversity!

You may have wondered if you were ever going to see a quilt on my blog or maybe I just dream of quilting :) Well, I do quilt leisurely, but I collect fabric steadily! Here are three in progress pieces that I want to share. Funny that they are all so different..Japanese fabric, 30's Reproductions, and Civil War prints...now that's what I call diversity! One is a scrappy Bento Box made for the wonderful fabric scraps I bought at Purl Soho while in NYC in May. They have these wonderful scrapbooks (large scraps sewn together down one side of random fabrics) and I bought 10 of them! I took them all apart and realized they would make the most wonderful squares! Here is the very first one:
The Bento Box is such fun! 3 inch by 8 inch strips and your imagination is all you need for success. I have seen them in many colorways. Sometimes just two fabrics are just right. I am usually of the school of thought the more the merrier.

The second work in progress began when Lizzie began her Mimi Dietrich 4 patch. I was so thrilled with those tiny squares, I had to make one too! Mine sort of grew to a bigger piece because of my low wattage math skills...don't ask, just enjoy! I hope to put a border of prairie points on it soon. The third and final work in progress is a block of the month of civil war fabrics from a wonderful shop called Debbie's Quilt Shop in Paradise, California. Debbie specializes in civil war fabrics and 30's reproductions. She is also a fabulous piecer and longarm quilter. If ever in Paradise, you need to go by her shop!

Miso Pretty

Well, I just can't put Teddy on my new blog and not add Miso Pretty! Another day, I'll get a pix of "Oldlivia" our ancient cat who isn't too fond of being photographed! Miss Miso is just a dream cat. Friendly, loving, and cuddly. Can you imagine? Maybe she isn't really a cat!

Where I Sit

Well, Nicole asked and here it is, where I sit. Not too often it seems these days, but when I do I am really happy. Teddy, my sweet little pooch, always finds me and squirrels his way on my lap or side. I don't mind, but I think I like that better in the cooler weather! The painting above the chair is by Cinde Nelson--a local artist. Wonderful original watercolor and someday I will sew that painting!

String Quilts on the Mind

Okay, I haven't heard about String Quilts until lately. I think I have always loved them and just didn't know what to call them. My friend Lizzie has been talking about them. And thanks to Sandy, I now know more about this wonderful quilting concept! I think that is what I am destined to do with my selvages. I just can't throw away those edges. I love fabric collection names and love to know about who designed the fabric line. So this July 4th, I will make a big square and possibly have something to show by July 5th, but don't hold your breath!

Carmen is On Her Way

We took Carmen Cristina and Kenya to Sacramento to fly off to New York to catch their flight to Madrid last night...they look so cute! Carmen has been to Spain before with a small group in her junior year of high school. This time it is to study at the Colegio Mayor Mara in Ciudad Univeristria in Madrid, Spain. She will be there one month. During that time, they will also have a short trip over to Lisbon, Portugal. On the way home, they stay in Paris for 4 days! Wow...I am envious! Have fun sweetie girl! love, Momma