What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 Patrick went golfing and I got a few things done before Sandy came over. We decided to get together today even though the others couldn't make it. I didn't want to drive to the grange, so I asked her over. 

We sat and worked on our Goldwork. 

I was surprised at how pretty this is coming. I worked on the beads in the first berry and then the goldwork on the second berry. Once those were done, Sandy and I liked the idea of using the goldwork in green for the stems.  I think it looks a lot ...

 Over the last several months I have been stitching away, and had accumulated a bag of donations for Foster Hope charity.  The nearest drop off point was on the way to where we were heading for lunch, so that worked out well.  I collected the bag, and we were ready to go.

 This morning, I was up and out the door. I had a couple things I needed to do. I even went to get some pen refills at Staples to find out I got the wrong one. PLUS, one of my favorite pens couldn't be opened to put a replacement in it. So, that didn't help. I may need to get another one tomorrow or wait till the next time I go. 

Went to moms and there were 6 of us. Ethel didn't make it. She's been going through a few things lately, and since she's ...

Out with the snowmen, it's February; love and hearts have replaced them on the tabletops and kitchen windowsill! And yet, while all of that is true, here is the greater question:Thank you so much, blogger friends and those in real life who've reached out to inquire about my whereabouts and well-being. I'm fine, just as busy as I've ever been. I had taken on quite a few outside longarm

Out with the snowmen, it's February; love and hearts have replaced them on the tabletops and kitchen windowsill! And yet, while all of that is true, here is the greater question:Thank you so much, blogger friends and those in real life who've reached out to inquire about my whereabouts and well-being. I'm fine, just as busy as I've ever been. I had taken on quite a few outside longarm

 This morning was embroidery day. I do enjoy going to embroidery to be around good friends. Cindy and Sandy were already there. It was odd today though. Cindy didn't talk much so we were wondering what was going on with her. Sandy and I worked on our class embroidery pieces. Cindy left and Sandy and I chatted for another hour. 

Sandy started out with the thicker thread. I believe that was Lola. I started with Lola yesterday and when I took everything out, I started with the Iris that was supposed to be for that. I like the Lola ...

 I know I'm a slow knitter, and  I finally finished this pair of socks some time ago.  But I was even slower getting around to stitching up the side seam.  There they sat, and sat, waiting patiently for that single inside seam on each to be sewn.  At last they were completed, a nice pair of 4ply socks.  I wanted to use up the remaining white and coloured sock yarn from a previous pair, so had to go and purchase the blue wool to go with it.  Now I've got left over blue sock yarn - that's the ...

This morning was Brazilian embroidery. Everyone made it there before me. I had to stop a couple of times. Once at the bank and then Dutch Brothers. 

I arrived about 5 mins late. No worries. We had a good visit. Gerilyn was there but had to leave. Her husband is going to have surgery on his knee. So, we won't see her for a couple weeks. Sandy V came from Ocean Shores. She won't be back for about a month. So, it looks like Sandy, Cindy and I are by ourselves again. Sandy V was talking about having ...

 This morning Gerilyn came over so I could take her to embroidery. They were leaving for Seattle today and it would be easier on her husband if she came with me. We were early - it was 9:30 am when we arrived. Funny thing was that both Cindy and Sandy were there that early as well. 

We waited on Sandy V. She was scheduled to work on her class she's teaching. She's making changes to her Seminar class to go virtual. It's the mandala patterns that she is doing with embroidery. So, we talked about what she ...

 Patrick had his MRI and CAT scan this morning. We were up and out the door by 7:45 am. We arrived at Kaiser where they took him in the first time - which was a good half hour wait. When he came out they gave him the "barium" for the next one. We had to wait an hour and a half before they would take him back in. So, after about an hour, I went and walked around Kaiser. Then when I came back in, he hadn't gone back in yet. It was long after though. 

We came home ...

And it was fun!

Remember when I recently posted about my ruler collection? And I mentioned that when I was last in Houston for the quilt show Cindy and I invested in the Robin Ruth Mariner’s Compass rulers?  And we were going to work together to learn how to use them?  And it didn’t happen? 

Lucky for us, last August a LQS offered a one-day class, and we signed up.  It was a great class taught by Stacie, and I got a good grasp on the technique.  We made an 8” mariner’s compass block and appliquéd it ...

 This one was fun from start to finish.

A couple of years ago I made a baby quilt for my neighbors at the apartment complex—their little girl Charlee is adorable.  It was a version of “eat sleep play repeat” that I made for Max several years ago.  

Now they have Waylon—and I wanted to do something different.  I saw the Moda fabric line “ABC…xyz” by Stacie Hsu and thought it was perfect for a little boy.  I ordered the panel and some yardage.

When it arrived, I put the panel on the design wall and stewed over ...

The lazy, sunny days at Napier were coming to a close.  There really is nothing nicer than sitting under the awning, doing a little knitting or stitching, and chatting away with our friends.  Gemma discovered one of the locker doors open, and wasted no time jumping in to see what she could find.  Sorry Gemma, there’s nothing very interesting in there at all, just a cozy place to curl up.

Gemma in the locker

On our last day in camp we arranged to go out to lunch with Helen and Owen – where to but the Silky Oak Chocolate café ...

My knitting and stitching bags have come  away with me on our caravan trip.  I like to do easy knitting on car trips and I’m working on my blue socks.  Once past those tricky heels, the foot portion is all straight knitting till I reach the toes so doesn't need too much concentration.

Sock knitting in the car

Summer holidays means sitting outside under the shady awning working on my stitchery.  I’ve spent several pleasant hours working on one of my Christmas Kiwi blocks, and have now completed the kiwi and the BBQ.  That’s two finished ...

All the things in one jam-packed year.

Sunrise on the ridge

All the stuff we experienced this year may not seem like much to many, but the sensory overload after 2.5 years of isolation was a lot…for us.  

Because it wasn’t just about building a house — it was a lot about family. 

In our extended family, we lost 4 members; two expected, two completely unexpected.  The unexpected always hurts the most, doesn’t it?  You don’t see it coming and WHAM, it hits you.  My Godbrother and my cousin died; I’ve known both their entire ...

Happy 2024 to you!  Today I celebrate 31 wonderful years of quilting.  Onward and upward!

 One of my oldest UFOs is ready for gifting!

I mentioned to someone recently that I am a great starter, but finishing this quilt makes me feel like I can tackle all those projects waiting in The Bins. 

I talked about this quilt in a post a year ago.  I got the top assembled, pieced the backing, and packed it up in anticipation of The Move.  

More about the quilt—when I owned a quilt shop, we were contacted by Rhonda Dieker, the author of and designer of the quilts in the book “Wacky Rails.”  She was doing a book ...

In August I had the privilege of two Girlfriends volunteering to get my studios in shape.   Katrina and Cindy came over and weeded through the studio paraphernalia and got me to a state of Nirvana.  I don’t have much in the way of before photos, but here are a few from the first 4 months in our new home:

Front Studio

Front Studio

Back Studio

Front Studio

Back Studio

We had no plan of attack other than to get it done.  Katrina arrived that Friday afternoon and we started emptying all of ...