New life

It takes time to build new routines when you change your life drastically. I haven't yet figured out how to work in time for hobbies or time for myself.  I still need to feel good and take care of myself.  

I finally live somewhere where I can actually trail run yet I can't seem to figure out when to run!  

Today we stayed home which was good because I needed to catch up on chores.  It also gave me time to pull out some old projects to work on between loads of laundry.

I have missed sewing, stitching and got a quick reminder to get back to it if I want to enter anything into the tri-county fair! Entries are due August 15.

Yes or No?

I think they are just too bright.  The orange really needs a good pressing to look good.  The yellow is my favorite of the two.

Gingham style

Here is a sneak peak to my aprons.  One for me and one for a friend!

Got another great nephew on the way

So I've been playing around with quilt ideas.  This is the start of one quilt following a Moda Bake Shop pattern called Candy Circles.  

My niece is doing green and black colors and then cute turtles.

Kind of a hard combination to work out.  I have plans of an big appliqué turtle in the center. Or I may just start all over too.

I took Heidi out for a ride today

Heidi is my new Bernina Swiss Ediyion 530.

Made some table runners for the guest room.  First time doing quilt as you go and I liked it!

Free Time!

I'm not working at the moment.  I had to come to town for a meeting and an appointment at the DMV and found some extra time between meetings to stop and get a library card.

I am checking out my two books- one is book 5 in the Outlander series "The Fiery Cross" by Diana Gabaldon and the other is "Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey" by Lillian Schlissel.

So I'm spending a few minutes reading the Diaries and I see this sentence that, to me, clearly levels out what is lacking in today's young people. (Not all mind you but sadly the majority)

"They were young and consumed with boundless confidence, believing the better life tomorrow could be won by the hard work of today."

Cookbooks

Do you ever write notes in your cook books?  I bought Hugh Acheson's book 'A New Turn in the South" while at his restaurant Empire State South last week.

Came home and made the braised short ribs with hominy stew for Sunday dinner.

As a kind of post mortem, I write my notes in the book about what I did to save time or ingredient subs, etc. in pencil of course. 

Quick 15 minute project

I needed a door stop for the front door. Was starting to be embarrassed by the bottle of Whiskey I'd been using.  Found a picture in Pinterest that didn't link back to anywhere but looked simple enough. Luckily, I have a lifetime supply of ground walnut shells to stuff him with for weight.

So much change in a short amount of time.

We've sold our house, moved into a rental in the mountains, survived a forest fire, got our first snow, two quilt tops finished, and 5 more weeks of work left.

Here is a photo tour of the last 8 weeks.


move in day.


wine on the upper deck


sunrise


the outline of the Round Fire




our front yard - a little too close for comfort




my lineman and his crew were working in the neighborhood and came by for lunch



after all the fire clean up, this was a requirement - sewing and wine


My Irish Chain Quilt Top is done!


if it is a bit big for the bed :(


first snow - dogs have taken to it very well considering.


a fun to sew and quick quilt kit.  Orange Gingham of course! it's been pressed since this photo and looks very sharp! it's almost ready to quilt.

A finish!

Took longer to do the binding in the car than I expected. Probably not my best binding job, but it turned out pretty. Most importantly, the recipients loved it! Note - Pattern is Square in a Square from a Missouri Star Quilt Tutorial.  MSQC also did the quilting on this. I was very happy with their service for quilting!

Merry Christmas!

Nothing like the last minute

If it wasn't for deadlines, I don't think I'd get anything done.  

We are doing a little road trip and I am working on the binding of a quilt that I need to have ready to give to its recipient on Sunday.  

Airplane sewing

Hexies - On a flight to Paris and this is what I do.

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

I got a few projects done for Christmas and made some progress on my primitive pennies Irish chain.

A candle mat

Three rows of the 16 I have to make of the primitive pennies quilt.

And my first attempt at this kind of wool appliqué.

Sunday Funday!

Worked on my Primitive Pennies, trying to turn the six patches into nine patches. Pretty much only ironed them. 

Then I decided to give hand quilting a try.  I had bought this preprinted square at a quilt show.  So today I hooped it up am trying to learn that whole hand quilting rocking needle technique.  Any advice is appreciated!

Primitive pennies Irish chain

Hoping I can do this.  It's a king size.  It's taking forever.  My nine patches are still only six patches.  

And I want to do Bonnie Hunters mystery  quilt next month.  Started pulling fabric you the MQ, but I don't love it.  Off to buy more fabric! Here are two ideas that I have in my stash.

Or this?

Playing around with a few new projects

I have a friend who is expecting this month...Yes, this month and I am still working on the baby quilt.  Here is what I so far.  It's a bit of stretch for me, not only in the color scheme as she picked jewel tones, but also the pattern. I hope she likes it in the end.



Then my BFF gave me these gorgeous fat quarters, that I so need to decide what to with them.  Any suggestions?



We took a little trip to Seattle and I spied this quilt in a quilt shop in La Conner that I just loved the simplicity of it.


I remembered that my juicer doubles as a pasta maker, so I wiped up some noodles on Sunday!



Last spring a dear friend, Becky, sold me her Singer Featherweight.  I had it serviced and tuned up but hadn't sewn on it at all until this week. I know I suck.  Well, I set it up on the coffee table and played around with her and made a few things.   This is becoming my new favorite thing to do.  Thank you Becky!

A Christmas table runner


Six Charm Packs paired up and now doubled


Then I also threw together a table runner on my Bernina too.



I am also working on a Missouri Star Quilt Shop Irish Chain pattern.  It will be king size with matching shams and pillowcase - one day that is.  Here is my slow progress.


What are you working on?

In honor of my wonderful hubs!

Sorry for the delay in blog updates.  I had a little procedure back in March that I have been focused on healing and recuperating from - all is well.

Back in May we took a wonderful trip to Boston, Cape Code and Boothbay Harbor.  What a beautiful part of our country.





















And now some quilt inspiration







Then we went to the Orange County State Fair for some fun and games!





And then I started my garden project...





It's been a good summer and I promise to be back soon with more quilty, sewing, stitching goodness soon and more frequent!