Update

It's been a busy week. It seems like there was something to do every day and it took all day to do. I thought Sunday would be a down day for me and I even slept in, but then friends called and asked if we wanted to go for a hike around Puddingstone - so my lazy day was gone.

Of course I want to go for the hike, I'm trying to lose weight. By the way I hit the 30 pound mark yesterday! Yeah for me!!


We have plans to go to the lake, however the weather may change our plans. It's supposed to rain and some weather reports show that it will snow for about 4 days. That is not our first choice - so we need to decide how brave we are. And if we want to get snowed in. We do have a few appointments to get back to.

Will let you know later how that works out.

Hiking & Sewing

HIKING

The other day we went for a hike at Irvine Regional Park. I hadn't been there in years and I must admit it has changed a bit. We looked at the trails around the back of the park and since it was such a nice warm day, we thought it would be a great practice for the 14.5 mile hike that we want to make this spring.

Of course when this sign is near the beginning of the of a hike it makes you stop and think about being out in nature. It didn't help that there were lots of dog tracks that make you stop and take a closer look.

This is what the first trail looked like, nice and wide and not something a mountain lion would like at all.

The second one is a bit smaller and a little more like a hiking trail (or an old road). 

Sorry it's sideways. But as you can see the third trail looks a bit more like what a mountain would hang out on.

Here are a few more pictures. It was a great day for a hike and we've decided that we will go back and spend more time there to work up to the Whiskey Flats Trail that we want to hike in the spring.

And we didn't see any mountain lions - only rabbits - which I'm sure are tastier than we.

SEWING

Today is Superbowl Sunday and all quilters know that it's a great day to sit and sew. I have my new sewing machine back from the shop so it's time to get the borders on this quilt. This part is all sewn together now and it has been decided that a small (1/2") blue inner border is needed before adding the outer border, which is the same fabric as the sashing. I know that it kinda looks like several different fabrics were used, but it's just a nice multi-colored batik.

It's leftover from Skylers quilt for her 1st birthday.

I've also been playing with my quilting machine and I think the QBot (computer thingy) the guy finally put on it is helping me get the hang of the free-motion quilting. With the QBot the thread isn't breaking all the time - which is great! I have been trying to get the tension adjusted. Once the tension is right I'm going to put a real quilt top (not a crummy piece of practice fabric) on it and get it done!

Wish me luck! 

Working on my Batik Jane

I've been working on finishing this "Dear Jane" quilt. It's made with Batik (& hand dyed) fabrics and several white-on-white fabrics for the background. With a couple of exceptions the fabrics for these blocks and the finished quilt top have been from fabrics I already have.

This is a goal of mine for 2011 - to use what I already have and to only purchase those fabrics that are really 'special' or if I need a fabric to finish something

These blocks were made throughout 2010, inspired by a class that I take at the 'Muck' (The Muckenthaler Cultural Center - and you think your last name is bad) taught by Lyn Brown.
This year she will be doing this technique in her class and online at her website. It's called 'Bridges' and it's a technique for machine applique. You can follow her and get the patterns for the Bridges Quilt at: http://lynbrown.com/ 
This year they are 8" blocks and blocks 1 & 2 are already up. Be sure to go back to the beginning instructions to understand how to do this.


Here's a picture of the original quilt made by Jane Stickle in 1863. These blocks are 4" and done by hand. My Batik quilt blocks are 6" an done by machine.

In this class we had a fabric exchange of Civil War reproduction fabrics to use to make this quilt. But I'm already making a copy of the original quilt that was made in 1863 in the reproduction fabrics and in the 4" size (I know, I must be crazy) so I decided that I needed to make it with something different. That's when I got the idea to use Batik fabrics. I'm loving how it turned out.

I'll post pictures when I'm done!

What a week!

I'm still tired from the convention and this week has been really hectic. It seems that I haven't had a minute to catch up. Except tonight - Ray is at a retirement party. So why don't I want to get sewing or cutting on one of my projects??
Cuz I'm tired.

I think I'll get my hand sewing and sit back and watch TV for a while. Or maybe read a book in the peace and quiet. If I cut or sew I might need to calculate the sizes or something and I really think I just need to chill out for a while.

Later,

Home from Road to California

Well, I had a wonderful time. The show was really nice this year and there were lots of people there - maybe even more than last year. But I'm glad to be home; mostly because I really love my own bed and my easy chair.

Later I'll post some of my findings and purchases from the show. I was sad that Lori's Little Quilt Hangers didn't have a booth because I was ready to buy a couple more quilt hangers. They really are wonderful. http://www.lorieslittlequilts.com/


Here's my (green) blocks from the 'Blue Ridge Beauty' class up on the design wall. There are a few more pictures of them in other layouts up on Bonnie's blog, plus some in other colors. Fun!

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/01/blue-ridge-beauty-workshop.html

We had so much fun in her classes. I only took one, but my friend Kay took three and we sat in on each others classes. I know it's not really allowed, but Kay is 88 years old so I sat in and sewed for her yesterday to give her a break. Our other friend Helen and her granddaughter Trish are in today's class. Trish also took the Blue Ridge Beauty class with me.

(Makes me think ahead - maybe Skyler &/or Shea will want to go with me someday.)

The good thing about these classes is that we did all our fabric shopping at home. It's all from our 'stash' and they have about 100 different fabrics in them (maybe more).

It was so nice to meet Bonnie in person, but it's like we already know each other. She will be back out here next January and will give a lecture & workshop at my quilt guild. (A trip to M & L will be scheduled.) Plus she is the teacher hosting the Quilting Cruise that I will be going on at the end of August. I also have a room mate for that cruise - her name is Gail Yawn and I know we'll have a great time even though I just met her. Quilters are the greatest!

Also, I took Bonnie for her first In 'n Out burger. We had it 'Animal Style'. That was Thursday; then I took her for her second one on Saturday. She can't get that in North Carolina!

More later!

Packing for Road

Today I'm packing for Road to California. I always enjoy myself and I plan to have fun this year too. I'll be taking a class with Bonnie Hunter called Blue Ridge Beauty (see picture on Jan 4 blog). This is a good class because I didn't need to buy fabric for it - I just shopped at home.
I will also catch Bonnie's  'Scrap User's' lecture. I pretty much know her system, but you never know when you get some new ideas. 
Plus I'm going to the party on Thursday night. It's a fun time with games and prizes - I should be due to win something this year.

If you want to get an idea of the show take a look at this time-lapse video of last years show. I know you won't be able to see me, but I was there.

This year will be a challenge for me because I'm trying to curb my 'fabric' spending in 2011. I really do have lots of fabric to work from so I'll only purchase some of the really new (and very cute) stuff and only if it really grabs me. Plus I'll only buy a small amount because I've decided that everything I make doesn't have to be a full sized quilt. I can make little things - things that make me happy.

So I'll shop through all vendors first, on Thursday, making sure I see everything before I decide what to buy. (Not like the year I spent $80 on the first aisle, before I checked out what else was available.)

Do you think my plan will work?

I'll let you know how it goes.

:)

Projects

Here is something I've been working on. It's called a 'Lawn Chair Quilt' because it kind of looks like those woven lawn chairs.

This picture is a bit washed out but I think you get the idea. Mine is made with a linen green and five light colored prints.
It really does look much better in person.


If you look at the original by Monica Solorio-Snow you will see that it really looks like those chairs. You can find the pattern here at Moda Bake Shop:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/09/lawn-chair-quilts.html



Here is another project that I'm working on - it's for a row quilt.
My newest friendship group, Stitchin' Time, is making a row quilt in 2011.

Every month we make a block for each member (there are nine of us) plus one for a charity quilt. So every month I have to make ten 6" blocks. They are machine appliqued so it is easier than it looks, but it is still a very big project.

So far I have completed the Snowman for January and the Heart for February. I'm going to try to keep ahead of the months so I'll be ready for the busy times of the year. Of course it's easy to say I'm going to keep ahead in January - we'll see how that goes.

I am having fun with this so I look forward to more fun as I work on the coming months. But as you can see I have given myself a difficult block for March - the Kite block. Those little pieces will be harder to machine applique, but it is so cute that I have to try.


Most of the patterns I will be using for these blocks are by Nancy Halvorsen. You can see her stuff here:
http://www.arttoheart.com/

I just love her designs and I have most of her books which gives me lots of patterns to choose from.