Back From Denver...

Had a great time in Denver with my Dad, Joe, Katie and her boyfriend, Drew.  The weather was PERFECT!  In the upper 70's to low 80's and no humidity.  We arrived at noon time on Saturday and asked Dad what he wanted to do while in Denver.  Without pausing he said "I want to see the Air Force Academy!"  He served in the Navy but wanted to check out the competition!  It was VERY impressive!  Most of it is closed to the general public but he really wanted to see the chapel.  I didn't want to push him too hard because of the change in altitude and the fact he's 90!

 Notice how blue the sky is! 

 Joe, me, my dad and Rew.

 

Inside the chapel.

 Dad, Joe and me inside the chapel.

The next day we got up early and went to Dinosaur Ridge.  Again, a beautiful day!

Katie, Dad, Joe and I

After the Dino tour we went over to Red Rocks.  Dad was blown away!  It's so beautiful and big in the natural setting!

 

Katie, Rew and I at the back of Red Rocks.

 

Looking down at the stage from the top.  What a great setting!

We then drove to Evergreen for lunch.  It was a great drive-so many beautiful vistas!  We had lunch at a great place called "Creekside"

 Joe, Katie and I outside the restaurant.

Monday we went to spend the morning with Katie's 2nd grade class.  I didn't take pictures but the kids were SO cute and well behaved!  My dad loved being there and reading with the kids.

Tuesday Dad and I relaxed by the pool until it was time for us to leave for the airport.  He kept saying  "This trip is like a dream!"  The last time he was in Denver was in 1936 when his family drove there from southeast Kansas!  I'm so glad I had this opportunity to spoil him!

Wednesday was back to workout, grocery shopping, laundry and general getting back to reality.

Thursday was designed to be my "Get Back on Track With My Quilting" Day.  I got down to the "Studio" (it sounds so pretentious- I think I'll call it "My Quilting Lair"!)  So I went down to my Lair and got back to working on my nephew's quilt.  As I was trimming up the blocks I realized it was just plain boring.  Mostly white tee shirts with just a few colors.

I also remembered that one of the local churches was having their rummage sale!  Perfect timing!  So I took inventory and went over and got 10 tee shirts and turtlenecks to "harvest" the colored fabric! 

While I was out I thought I'd stop at Joanne's to get a snap to replace a defective one on a new jacket and picked up some more red Kona for the Spider Web quilt I'm dying to get back to work on.  Then on to Costco to gas up Pretty Pony and pick up a few items and over to Target for a few staples.  Got back home for lunch and to get back to Brenden's Quilt.   I needed to call my hair dresser-gosh, doesn't that sound old?  Needed my highlights done and a trim before Bryn's graduation next week.  Of course she had no time available except yesterday at 2:30- in just over an hour!  Had to take it!  Then needed to pick up some bobby pins and personal grooming products.  Went home and completed some beauty necessities.  Before I knew it, it was 6:30 and I had gotten no more than 3 blocks squared up all day!  After dinner I just worked on hand quilting my feathered star.  For a day that was supposed to be a nothing but quilt day life just happened! 

I wanted to get this posted before too much more time passed.  Off to quilt!

Happy Stitching!

It's Tuesday...All Day!

I have been fighting some bug for about a week now.  I completely lost my voice for 5 days.  It's now moved down to my chest.  I really feel wiped out today.  I started coughing up "greenies".  I was supposed to have a dental appointment today but realized yesterday when a cough developed that I could not go though a crown prep with a cough so I cancelled it.  I still had a nail appointment scheduled.  I called the doctor's office and was able to get in today.  And it's a good thing I did.  I have been feeling worse as the day wears on.  I digress.  I started stabilizing my nephew, Brendan's, tee shirts this morning.  I got a good start and did about 6 shirts.  I got the basic lay out done and had to leave for my nail appointment.  I got home in time to grab my knitting and headed to the doctor's.  Sure enough, I have an upper respiratory infection.  I started on a Z pack but I'm still feeling terrible.  In fact, I'm feeling worse as the day goes on.  I don't feel like doing anything.  In fact, I think I'm going to go back up to bed for an hour.  I'm sure I'll be feeling better after 24 hours.

Off to bed!

Happy Stitching!

Monday...

I didn't get much accomplished this weekend.  I'm still not feeling great.  I got my voice back but have developed a cough.  I'm not one to run off to the doctor at the first sign of being sick but it's been almost a week now.  And I don't want to be ill when we go out to Denver this weekend.

As I've written about before, I've been working on my Lotus Temple top which I started in Ursula Kern's class.  I started with 2 shoe boxes organizing my palate.  It's now grown to 4 overflowing boxes!  I have quite a few "ish" colors  (yellow'ish', pink 'ish', etc).  For being a quilt "outside my box", I sure have a lot of boxes!

Below is the original picture of the Lotus Temple in Delhi, India.  I was there during the day with LOTS of people.  We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, which was absolutely stunning!  I was looking for a picture of the inside, of which I found none, but came across this picture.

 I took the pictue and blew it up.  We then "gridded" it to make individual blocks.  I've marked off the blocks I've done

 I then isolate the block I am going to do-in this case F3-and make a muslin foundation on which I will sew fabric that loosely mimics the box.

 I want the block to finish at 6" so it will be 6.5 unfinished.  I use a 7" square piece of muslin as  it will "shrink" as I sew on it.  It's easier to cut it off than to add it on.  Believe me, I've done it both ways and would rather trim! 

 I made the angled line which is part of the roof line and broke the sky up into 4 (later 5) separate areas.

 The pencil lines don't show through the fabric and if I used a Sharpie the black may show through when I use light fabric.  I had one of those "Brilliant" moments (Oprah calls them "Ah ha Moments") and used a new water soluble pen.  The ink is a lighter color and if it shows through all I have to do is wet it and it disappears!

 Here's the line on the front of the muslin
 

 

Here's all the lines marked.

 

How the line looks on the back!  I'll be able to see it when it's time to sew on it.

 It's kind of difficult to see in the picture but the lines are pretty clear in real life.  If they were too light I could always go over them again with the soluble marker.

 This is where it will be with some of the completed blocks.

 The next step is picking out the fabrics to use on the block.  I want a light fabric for the roof and fabrics a bit darker for the sky to give the impression of the building glowing in the setting sun.

 To keep track of where each fabric goes I have numbered the flower pins (this Brilliant Idea comes from my friend, Ricki Selva) and stick numbered pins in the fabrics indicating where they go on the foundation.

 The numbered foundation with the first fabric.  I have changed my mind (I'm blonde and I'm a woman.  It's allowed!) and now have a 1 and a 1a.  I layed fabric 1 approximately 1/4" over the marked line making sure it covered the marked area with plenty to spare.

 I then pinned (!) 1a with PLENTY OF OVERLAP and making sure it covered the required area when flipped over.  I can't tell you the number of times I didn't pin and the fabric folded itself over and I had to tear and swear and do it all over again.

 Both ends pinned down.

 Flip it over and start sewing AT LEAST 1/4" beyond the foundation.

 After the seam is sewn I set the seam (press it just as it came out from under the needle).

 I then press it open making sure there are no little creases.

 Next, I flip it over and take my Handy Dandy Tool (I got this one from Deb Karasik) and line it up along the NEXT STITCHING LINE!!!

 Sure enough, I didn't measure correctly when I drew the line, but it's not that critical with this project so we'll just fudge it.  Anyway, I hold the foundation back over the Handy Dandy Tool so I don't cut the muslin...

 ...and I take my 1/4" ruler (it has a 1/4" lip) and butt it up firmly against the foundation wrapped Handy Dandy Tool (HDT).  (The HDT gives extra firm bulk so the ruler won't slip when you cut).  OOPS!  I didn't take a picture of me cutting!  But then again, I've heard so many horror stories of people getting cut with their rotary cutters I don't want to take a chance of getting cut!

 I'm a firm believer that there is always more fabric that needs to be bought so I tend to cut pieces larger than needed.  That and I've been caught with cut pieces being too short and having to tear and swear and reposition too many times.  I can buy more fabric but have yet to find somewhere to buy more time!  To measure my next piece I start by giving myself a generous 1/2" to 3/4" from the previously cut edge. 

 I didn't show it but I give myself at least 1/2" extension off the end and measure the widest part-here it's almost 3".  I call it 3.5"  I then look at the longest measurement and give myself at least an extra 1/2".  Here I cut the fabric 9" x 3.5".

 I repeat the pinning, checking that it will cover the section, sewing, setting the stitches and pressing.

 The next piece I want to fragment.  I cut a small piece to give me a little triangle next to the roofline.

 I sew it at an angle and trim the seam.

 After I press it I cut the edge so it will line up with the previous piece that has already been trimmed to the 1/4" seam allowance.  Pin and stirch.

 I haven't mentioned yet that I use the thinnest pins I have since I will be sewing over them occasionally.  I also sew pretty slowly so the needle can slide over the pin if they come in contact with one another.

 At this point in the block I am coming to an eventual seam intersection.  I will eventually need to turn the foundation along this line so I don't want to stitch too far over it.  I try to stitch right up to the line and fix my stitch and cut it at this point.

 Here is the completed untrimmed block. I'll now trim it to 6.5"

 I'm such a blonde I put Post-it notes next to the 6.5" lines on my square!  I note where I want the roof line to fall and make sure that the entire 6.5" area has fabric-no "open" places!  I trim the right side and top.

 I then flip the block and line up my lines with the cut edges.  Trim the last 2 sides and Voile La!

The block in it's new home!

I then started going through my nephews' tee shirts.  I really should get started on those quilts.  I'd like to finish both of those quilts and Sara (my trainer)'s baby quilt before the pool opens.  I do love going to the pool and reading.  It's really the only time I dedicate a lot of time to reading.  I am a sun worshiper.  I know it's not good for me and I do put on sun screen.  I have wicked Seasonal Affective Disorder and probably feel the best in the summer absorbing all the sunlight!  I do have one of those simulated sunlight lamps that sits in front of my sewing machine to help with my moods in the winter but there's nothing like warming my bones, reading and visiting with friends by the pool!

I really should get some hand sewing done.  I WILL finish hand quilting my feathered star quilt by the end of the year!

Happy Stitching!

MISTAKE!!!!

I started fiddling with my site after my last post and now I can't get it back to what it was!  I can't figure out how to change the title of the post.  The only color option I'm given is cream!  Obviously, Computer is not my first language!

I've had laryngitis the past few days.  Just a bit of a sore throat but it's frustrating!  The phone has been ringing off the hook and I dare not return phone calls yet because they would think they are getting an obscene phone call!  "What are you wearing?"  Tee Hee!

As promised, here's a picture of my new toy!


After driving station wagons, minivans and SUV's over the past 30 years it's fun to have a sporty car!  I need to come up with a good name for her! 










Did a little work on my Lotus temple.  I came up with a new method for marking and sewing on my foundation.  I'll take pictures and post them tomorrow.  I'm doing a complicated block right now that I had to cut into 3 pieces to assemble it.  It's supposed to be rainy this weekend so I should get a lot done.  I'd like to get this top done soon as I have 2 tee shirt quilts for my nephews who are graduating this year and a baby quilt for my trainer to complete all before we go to the Cape in July.  Not to mention all the other UFO's I've told myself I'm going to finish before year end!  And golf starts.  And taking my Dad to Denver.  And Bryn graduating from college in Boston.  And Joe's brother's wedding reception in Cali in June.  I need a glass of wine just thinking about all of this.

After all, "It's Friday somewhere!"

Happy Stitching!

....While I Was Gone....

So I'll give you the Reader's Digest version:

Left on March 18th for Albany, New York where I met up with my buddy, Ricki, for 2 weeks of creativity!  After I went to the wrong hotel to pick her up (she flew in from Hawaii the day before) we drove down to Greenville, NY to the Hudson River Valley Art Workshop.  We spent 5 glorious days taking classes from Paula Nadelstern!  She is such a lovely woman, phenomenal artist and inspiring teacher!  The first project we did was the Nadelstar.  It gave us the opportunity to grasp the idea of making a kaleidoscope using fabric.

Mine is second row center.

We then went on to make a full kaleidoscope block.  Took me 3 days to get this done!  I did start another and have yet to finish.  Another UFO!!!

My kaleidoscope block.

I didn't take a lot of pictures of the inn, which was charming but here is a picture of the little cottage Ricki and I stayed in.  It has 2 rooms-Ricki and I were in the room on the right.  It was cozy-had a fireplace, big bathroom and just the perfect sized room for the 2 of us.  The food was OUTSTANDING!  I know I gained weight-something I was trying to keep under control while traveling.  Dinners were unbelievable AND there were fresh baked cookies every afternoon at 2:30!

 Over the river and through the woods to our cottage!

After 5 days of fun with Paula, Ricki and I packed up, drove back up to Albany, boarded separate planes and met up in San Francisco for round 2 of quilting and creating at Empty Spools!  We drove down to Pacific Grove and spent the first night in a little inn across the street from Asilomar, where the next class was to be held.  We lucked out in that they had a washer and dryer we could use to wash our clothes!  I was not looking forward to spending quality time in a laundry mat!  After the laundry was done we drove down the coast to the Big Sur area!  HOW GORGEOUS!!!  We had lunch at Kaffe Fassett's family restaurant.  The BEST sandwich I've ever had!

Sandwich + View = Wonderful

We drove back up to check into our rooms and get organized before class began with Ursula Kern at 4pm.

Fireplace in room!

Ursula's class war INCREDIBLE!  I've never had "art" classes, except in grade school and jr. high so I was blown away by Ursula, who was a professor of textile color and design at University of Basel in Switzerland.  It was a creative blur for the first 2 days as I absorbed the information.  I had brought a picture of the Lotus Temple in Delhi as my inspiration piece, not really understanding what we were doing.  I worked on that for the first 3 days until I had my "Color Dream".  It's difficult to explain but it was of a woman I had seen in Pushkar, India.  There was no picture taken of her but I have "seen" her in my head since my return.  I have put those colors on a page using Ursula's "Chop Suey" method and will make it in the near future.

My Board for the Thursday Walk About.  The Lotus Temple work is the upper left side, my first "Get Acquainted with the Process" piece is mid-way down on the right and my Pushkar Dream piece is the center bottom.

One of the views from Asilomar to the ocean.

Ricki and I on the boardwalk.

We went into Carmel after Empty Spools and this was a view down one of the little alleyways.

We then drove up the coast back to San Francisco.  The waves were crashing and it was SO AWESOME!  (Thanks, Ricki)

The adventure came to an end on the 31st as I boarded a plane back to Michigan.  It's been difficult getting back into the groove.  I want to stay in my creative bubble!  I made an overnight trip to Grand Rapids to visit Colleen and deliver her dog, Guapo, to live with her.  She has a great apartment and seems to really enjoy GR.

On a brighter note, I got my Mustang convertible on Monday!  More on that tomorrow!  (I have a sore throat and not feeling so wonderful today)

Happy Stitching!