Skip to content
Archive of entries posted on June 2009
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Out My Window

14 June 2009, 8:25 pm

We had a couple of visitors this evening.  I love it when guests stop by at dinnertime, and then they feed themselves!

First there was a black-capped chickadee:

chickadee1

chickadee2

Then a sparrow came and chased the chickadee away, although I suspect the chickadee already had his fill:

sparrow2

 

sparrow

And it looks like he had some choice words for me too!  I’m thinking this is an immature chipping sparrow, rather than a song sparrow, but I’m absolutely, positively not sure. 

Any day I get to see the birds up close and personal is a good day.  Can you see the crab apples coming along?  They were just blossoms a very short time ago. 

(I keep finding my photos on other photo sites, so bear with me as I experiment, trying to figure out how I want to “label” my pictures.  I know they will still pop up on other sites anyway.)

Sue

Filed under Out My Window.
7 Comments

Sunday’s Stash Report

14 June 2009, 12:18 pm

(Warning:  Long post, lots of photos.)  Well, there’s no other way to say it:  I’ve been BAD BAD BAD and, boy, has it been FUN FUN FUN!!! 

I purchased 6 yards of flannel for my design wall (mostly due to encouragement from Judy Laquidara who hosts Design Wall Mondays as well as Stash-Busting Sundays).  I love my new design wall!  Thank you, Judy!

Then the fat quarters I ordered from Vicki Welsh’s new Etsy shop arrived.  I was almost drooling over her color combinations available in her store, but this blue and brown combination really caught my eye!  I clicked on it, and when I saw it was it was titled Bluebird Fabric Palette, I laughed out loud!  Of course I loved it — it’s from one of her bird photos (and it’s even more gorgeous in person as I don’t quilte have the colors as rich as they really are)!   8 FQs = 2 yummy yards.

duluth-vickis-bluebird

Then there’s the SIX fat quarters I won on Teresa’s blog.  SIX!  I think her site said five, and I got a bonus!  Thank you again, Teresa.  They are lovely.  6 FQs = 1.5 gifty yards.

 duluth-teresas-gift

Now I’ll show you what I bought at the Minnesota Quilters Show in Duluth this past week.  I’ll start with a pair of hand-dyed socks.  I LOVE socks, and I’ve admired Vicki’s from afar.  I just couldn’t resist these — and ZERO yards added!

 duluth-socks

This next purchase is Betty’s fault.  Good friend that she is, she knows what I like and isn’t afraid to point it out to me!  This is a set of 18 FQs, all marbled and of a nice quality.  18 FQs = 4.5 delicious yards added.  In case you’re interested, they have a web store:  www.jerisquiltpatch.com.

duluth-marbles 

Next year’s challenge fabric:  I decided to buy two “kits” as I heard this fabric colorway has been discontinued.  (Click here for a look at my entry for this year.)  I love the new feature fabric.  It reminds me of a Persian Carpet.  I have a whole year to think about it, then do it at the last minute like I did this year!  (High school all over again…)  2.5 yards of challenging fabric added.

 duluth-challenge-fabric

Other than a little pair of scissors (and I figure you’ve all seen scissors before), that was it for shopping at the show.  Betty and I really pushed to see the whole show to our satisfaction (meaning we saw several areas more than once) on Thursday.  We stayed overnight in Duluth, which is such a unique and charming city.  We were then free to take our time going home on Friday.  So naturally we started driving further north instead of heading south towards home!  Who could resist a bit of a North Shore drive on a gorgeous summer day? 

The sights were beautiful and, of course, we had an ulterior motive.  An hour or so past Duluth along the North Shore is a charming township called Castle Danger.  How cool is that?  It gets better. Castle Danger has a quilt shop called Quilter’s Cabin in what once was a cabin right across the road from the north shore of Lake Superior. 

duluth-quilters-cabin

You often see chairs or a bench for the quilter’s spouse’s relaxation while the quilter is shopping.  This shop has the most fabulous bench I’ve ever seen.  Check out these guys and the view they were enjoying:

duluth-benchduluth-bench-view

I suspect this quilt shop has been enlarged a couple of times to accomodate a generous number of bolts, plus the best selection I’ve ever seen of pre-cuts (fat quarter sets, charm packs, jelly rolls, etc., etc.).  First I fell in love with this Moda Simplicity charm pack.  So sweet and pastel, I can picture it in a baby quilt (50 squares, so I can do 7 x 7).  And I actually had my thinking cap on, and I bought 1.25 yards of one of the fabrics in the line for a border.  I usually forget to do that, then by the time I want to use the charm pack, there’s nothing left that coordinates.  Approx. 2.25 baby-soft yards.

 duluth-simplicity

Then I found this little stack of 12 FQs by Thimbleberries.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Thimbleberries has brightened its palette up a bit recently, and this set is a good example.  LOVE these!  I couldn’t find any of the fabrics in yardage, so I found another one that will work, and purchased 1.5 yards of the coordinating fabric.  Oh, the math gets harder.  4.5 yards of Thimbleberries Goodness added to my stash.  Week’s Total:  23.25 yards IN

duluth-thimbleberries

On the OUT side of the ledger, I used the 6 yards of flannel on my new design wall, I put 10 yards into a backing of a very large quilt (which I will show after it has been gifted), and another 6 yards into backing for SIL Marilyn’s birthday quilt (which I will be starting to quilt today).  

Week’s Total:  22 yards OUT.  *whew*  Thank goodness for backings!  I love having pieces big enough for backings in my stash!

  • YTD 123.5 yards out
  • YTD 139.00 yards in
  • YTD Net:  15.5 yards IN  
  • YTD Goal:  75 yards out (now I’m 90.5 yards away from my goal!)

    • I still need to tell you about another quilt shop and adorable restaurant we stopped at in Rush City, Minnesota, on our way home, but I will save that for another day as I didn’t purchase any fabric there.

    Wow!  What a great trip this was, and I hope you enjoyed it a little bit too,

    Sue

    Filed under Miscellaneous, Stash Busting Sunday.
    6 Comments

    Lucky Me, Lucky Me!

    13 June 2009, 5:58 pm

     I’ve had a little streak of luck lately in give-aways, and I’d like to give big thank yous to Teresa and Sherry:

    I entered Teresa’s give-away, and I won five fat quarters of batiks!  Thank you so much!  They arrived in the mail while I was at the Duluth quilt show.  How fun to have a little package waiting for me at home.  Drop by and visit Teresa.

    Sherry had a give-away also, and I won a kit that uses a new technique: Inklingo. The kit is for a candle mat. The fabric is overprinted with the outline of the blocks, and this kit even includes the batting. I am going to take this cute kit on vacation with me this summer and do a little hand piecing. I entered the contest at this site, and my prize was given by Sherry Woyczik.  Thank you, Sherry!!!

    Gratefully yours,

    Sue

    Filed under Miscellaneous.
    4 Comments

    Photo Friday — Timer

    13 June 2009, 7:30 am

    Another button that’s on most cameras, whether digital or film, is a self-timer.  This feature is easy to use, and it’s a way to put yourself into the picture. 

    Find the icon on your camera that looks somewhat like a clock — it’s a circle with one “hand” on it.  Each camera model is going to be a little different, so go ahead and experiment with your camera.  On my Canon, when I press that button, I get a choice of a 10-second timer, a 2-second timer or “custom”, where I can choose the number of seconds.  Cameras will typically beep during that ten seconds (or whatever time you choose for the timer), and will beep faster as it gets closer to taking the picture.

    You may not use this feature often, but if you play around with it and get more comfortable with it, you will be ready to use it when the occasion arises.  If you have a tripod, this is a great time to pull out the tripod, securely attach your camera to it, and practice setting the timer and taking a picture of yourself. 

    You don’t need a tripod, however; try setting the camera on the shelf of a bookcase or some other safe, level surface that is about face height.  Another option is to sit in a chair for your photo, then the camera can be stationed perhaps on a countertop.  If you are using flash, be sure to allow maybe 5-6 feet between you and the camera so the camera doesn’t wash out your skin color.

    Take a little time to take a few pictures of yourself (alone or with someone).  Pay attention to how the beeps sound so you are relaxed, ready, and smiling for your protrait! 

    With family reunion season approaching, this can be a great feature to use.  Line everybody up, save a spot for yourself, and you can all be in the picture together. 

    Feel free to add photos to our Photo Friday album.  Good luck, and if you have any problems or questions, send me a message through the “contact me” button at the top of this page.

    Sue

    Filed under Photo Fridays.
    3 Comments

    Quilt Show in Duluth . . .

    12 June 2009, 10:00 pm

    What a fun time!  Betty and I drove north to Duluth for the Minnesota Quilters Show on Thursday.  We had so much fun.  Here are a few highlights:

    I had a 10:30 appointment to get a quilt appraised, so we made the three-block (or so) walk over to the convention center from the hotel and found the knowledgeable ladies doing the appraisals.  Oh, my goodness, if you have never had a quilt appraised, you should do it!  What validation. 

    Next, I found my quilt entered in the fabric challenge category, and it had a ribbon on it – Honorable Mention!  I’ll take it!  I was expecting nothing and so I was thrilled with this ribbon, and size-wise, this is physically the biggest ribbon I’ve ever won (plus it’s lavender), so I figure I’ll probably wear it in my hair for a few days. 

    duluthsue

    Next we found Friend Pam’s quilt in the same category – 1st Place!!!  Yea, Pam!  She deserves it for all the time and talent she put into this quilt — hand appliqued and hand quilted.  Plus it’s gorgeous.

    duluthpam

    (We selected different colorways of the challenge fabric:  I selected the brights and Pam used the darks.  You were also free to add any other fabrics you so desired.)

    I have lots more to share about the trip:  photos of some fabulous quilts, a trip further north along the north shore of Lake Superior to Castle Danger (don’t you love that name?), and a stop at a quilt shop that had the MOST interesting bathroom, and of course I took pictures.  That’s only a little weird, isn’t it?  Then there are the purchases.  Oooh, I feel a bad stash report coming on Sunday.

    Sue

    Filed under Quilting.
    9 Comments

    Friday Update

    12 June 2009, 7:03 am

    Photo Friday post will be later today or tomorrow, as I’m still in Duluth.  Having a wonderful time; wish you were here!

    designwall-003-800x600

    This is Betty out by Lake Superior enjoying breakfast!

    Fab trip — more later when I can type on a full-sized keyboard!

    Sue

    Filed under Miscellaneous.
    2 Comments

    It’s Puzzle Time!

    10 June 2009, 6:00 am

    cinnamonteal

    I know I’ve mentioned it before, but Port Aransas, TX, is my favorite place to visit.  It’s a small town on Mustang Island, which is a barrier island north of the Padre Islands (close to Corpus Christi). 

    We’ve been there different times of the year, but mostly in the winter months.  The Gulf coast is a major migratory path for all kinds of birds, and so the bird watching is pretty fabulous.  Every time we go, we see something different, but we pretty regularly see Cinnamon Teal.  Let’s make this guy the puzzle of the week:

    Click to Mix and Solve

    Sue

    Filed under Wednesday's Puzzles.
    3 Comments

    Monday’s “What’s On My Design Wall?”

    8 June 2009, 9:07 am

    Four BIG thank yous to Judy Laquidara in this posting.  The first is for hosting “What’s On Your Design Wall?” on Mondays.  This is a great accountability idea, and a chance to take stock on a weekly basis (not weakly basis as was my previous practice) of my progress.

    The second thank you, because I didn’t have a design wall before yesterday (I had a design floor and design table), and now I do have a design wall!

     designwall-002-800x600

     I borrowed a little wall space from the family room, which happens to be right outside my sewing room.  I followed Judy’s lead and put up flannel with some poly batting underneath it, and secured the top to the wall board by push pins.  I can easily take it down in case the Queen of England comes for tea and wants to see the house.  (I can just picture her navigating the stairs to the lower level in sensible heels, clutching her handbag. . .-)

     The nine-patches on the left are for CrazyMomQuilts’ quilt-along.  50 done, 40 to go, but they are all cut and waiting.  I’m making mine just a little bigger than the original — 9 blocks x 10 blocks, with navy blue sashing / no border.

    The signature blocks in the middle are a start of a throw-sized quilt.  I have a total of 100 signature blocks, and this needs to be done for the reunion on the 27th of June.  2009.

    The five Asian blocks on the right are for my guild’s block of the month, continuing through November.  I need to have the next one done a week from now.  I have all these blocks pre-cut so I don’t have too many decisions to make.  This quilt will be for my lovely DIL.

    Progress made this week:

    Altered three shirts for my DIL, changing a shirt-tail hem to a straight hem.

    Last week I gave a What’s on My Gammill report.  It was a challenge quilt for Minnesota Quilters’ show in Duluth later this week.  The challenge part is we could purchase a bag of four Ricky Tims fabrics, and we could add any other fabrics we desired, as long as we used recognizable amounts of the original four.  No size restriction.  Here is the finished product, The Great Origami Goose Chase (the center looks like stacked origami boxes to me, and probably to me alone; at least people will recognize the geese):

    challenge0000resized

    Here is the center with and without flash.  With flash, the colors are more accurate.  Without flash, you can see the quilting better:

    challenge0005resizedchallenge0006resized

     

    And my third thank you to Judy is for inspiring me to get the EQ upgrade and do some designing of my own.  This is my own design, for better or for worse, and it was a lot of fun to create something that’s totally my own.  I think I’m hooked!

    Okay, let’s go for four thank yous because Judy mentioned Patsy Thompson’s feather CDs on her post, I ordered them, watched as much as I had time for, and did these feathers in the stars.  Can’t wait to sit down and watch both videos, beginning to end!  I also decided the geese needed quilting:

    challenge0010resizedchallenge0016resized

    I was so glad to have this quilt finished!  I spent a lot more time on it than I had planned for, including enlarging it to make it twin-bed sized.  It won’t be a winner (although I always have a chance for the randomly drawn prize), but it’s a lot of fun to look for something of your own at the show.  And it’s amazing to see what different directions people take when given the same little bag of inspiration.

    Wondering what the required fabrics were?

    challenge0000arrows

    The lightest green flying geese, the purple in the center, the orange in the upper right, and the fourth fabric was a very multi-colored fabric from which I cut all five star centers (I did purchase extra).

    Sue

    Filed under Monday's Design Wall, Quilting.
    5 Comments

    Stash-Busting Report — Week 23

    7 June 2009, 6:30 am

    Short and sweet:  nothing in / nothing out.  I remain at:

  • YTD 101.5 yards out
  • YTD 115.75 yards in
  • YTD Net:  14.25  yards IN  

    • I literally spent the week at the longarm, and I finished my Minnesota Quilter’s challenge quilt in time to get it submitted Friday.  I will show pictures on my What’s on Your Design Wall posting tomorrow.

    The Minnesota Quilt Show is in Duluth this week and I will be there Thursday and Friday, and I am sooo looking forward to it!  The workmanship and creativity is just amazing, and it’s fun to have something of my own to look for — even if it is a challenge entry, it’s in the show!

    I guess I better get some stash busted this week because I made a little purchase in Vicki Welsh’s Etsy store and that will arrive in the mail probably sometime this week.  Plus, what are the odds that I can spend two days at a quilt show and not buy anything?  Slim to none.

    This stash reporting has been a real eye-opener for me.  I am only slightly disappointed that I’m nowhere near my goal of busting 75 yards of stash this year, and we’re almost half-way through 2009.  What is amazing to me is how many yards I’ve used — 101.5 yards!  I would NEVER have guessed that I would go through that much fabric!

    Another bonus, as I’ve mentioned before, is the huge enjoyment my DH gets whenever I buy fabric.  You’re going to have to report that on your stash report!   hahahahahahahaha! 

    Sue

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday.
    3 Comments

    Wanna Go Shopping?

    6 June 2009, 11:50 am

    It’s a drizzly day here in the Twin Cities area, and I’m not complaining; our rainfall totals for May and the first week of June totaled something like half an inch.  It has been DRY, and worse yet, this is the time of year we should have lots of rain, because the REAL dry season is yet to come.  I don’t think today’s rainfall is amounting to much, but at least everything is wet, and it should help keep down the grass fires around the state. 

    And doesn’t a dreary, rainy day just make you want to go to the mall?  Well, keep your jammies/sweats on, and stay in the comfort of your own home cuz Web Pal Vicki Welsh has opened an Etsy store!  I have long admired (and lusted for) her hand-dyed fabrics.  She also does custom-dyed tees in your team colors (or whatever colors make you smile) as well as some hand-painted fabrics.   Also, take the time to leave a comment to enter in her give-away (before the drawing next Saturday, June 13th) for a piece of her fabric!

    You must check her store out, and make sure you bookmark it so you can stop back and visit again.  I will be fessing up on my purchase in an upcoming stash-busting report…

    Sue

    Filed under Quilting.
    4 Comments
    « Older Entries
    Newer Entries »