Napa Valley Museum

I was lucky enough to get juried into the Quilt For All Seasons show at the Napa Valley Museum.  I didn't have time to go down to the show but my sister who lives in Napa went and took a few photographs of the other quilts and I wanted to share them with you.

This was my quilt which I showed you back in December.  I thought that my sister might like to have this quilt and when I asked she was all about it, lol!  My dream is someday she will get bitten by the quilting bug but in the meantime I keep her and her family in quilts.

There were more quilts in the show which hung for a month but these are the ones she chose to photograph.  I especially love the last one...everyone in Napa will see rows of grapes but for this Salinas Valley girl, I see rows of lettuce, lol.

Keep checking on the Flicker 2013 UFO site by clicking on the button at the top of the blog...lots of inspiration being logged in and you can join us at any time!

Progress: Moving Forward

We went out to the construction site yesterday and the guys been busy!  All the cabinets have been delivered, walls painted and the trim work was in full swing! The guy doing the trim was so nice and told us that he comes out while it's still dark in the morning with his cup of coffee so he can see the sun rise over the mountains from the house...so sweet. This is our tiny kitchen area in the great room.  Behind that door is a big pantry and we are going to need the space it will provide.

Here I am stepping out the sewing room, ahhhh am I ever going to be a happy camper!  If I could fit a fridge up there I would never have to come downstairs, lol

This is a view from the kitchen area of the the great room.  

I love these full sized metal horses and every time we travel from Bend to Sister and back I try to capture a shot.  This one turned out pretty good but I keep missing the cow dogs at the end of the pack...maybe next time.

In our new subdivision the deer poop right on the sidewalk...they are above average deer, lol

Since I was in Sisters I decided to check out the Stitchin' Post and Twigs.  The Checkers Rep for fabric and patterns told me that I had to go and check it out...beautiful. They just finished a remodel. Although both The Stitchin' Post and Twigs are in the same space it looks entirely different.  With new paint, new lights and painted shelving it was so wonderfully bright.  It actually looked roomier and did I say bright!  you could see the fabric tones and hues with out carrying them to a nearby window.  Enjoy the slide show and if you see anything you like you can contact them directly!

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A Day of Your Life

This poster is a mantra for me.  This week I have had several pieces of news that challenge one's understanding of life and you only can ask WHY???  Each day I wake up and strive to live the day as the most important of my life.  Walk forward in kindness, more listening...less talking, less whining more quilting, less shopping more girlfriend time...I want to "EMBRACE" 2013 (my word for the year).

I am so blessed because I am a quilter.  It not only immediately puts me in  relationship with wonderful people but, it gives me an outlet for quieting the mind when I am stressed.  Each stitch is a moment of control.  And so I am going to share with you Jerry's quilt.  Great guy...his wife is a quilter...all great guys are married to quilters, lol.  He and his wife have been married 50 years!  Since October he has had a series of health issues and yesterday was faced with surgery.  Please put some good energy out there for a full recovery.  Between October and January his wife started working on some basket blocks.  She got the pattern in Montana a few years ago and it is adorable.  As she has been in numerous waiting area through procedures and recoveries she has been stitching these blocks.  Each stitch, a moment of control. Each stitch...a stitch to the future.  Each block, part of a whole quilt...as in life we create our moments, don't waste them!

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This Girl Is On Fire!!! & The Give Away Winner

First, the winner of the give away on the "In Your Words" blog hop....Joyce!!! who said, "What a beautiful job, Anna.  Love the fabric!"  Email me your address and I'll get the package out to you!

The last two days this girl has been on fire...and I have to admit I think it is because of the Flicker UFO 2013 group.  I realize that I post what I am up to but never really see what you all are up too and with the photos that are being posted on the site I get all excited about my own stuff.  I really want to finish up projects.  Not, because I just want them out of my hair but I really love them and want to make them!  Even if you don't join us on the Flicker site at least check out the photos...it is so invigorating to see those projects!

Several of the Woolies decided to do the Buttermilk Basin mini quilts this year.  It is a small project with a monthly theme.  The little theme quilts hang on a crazy patch background.  First step is to get the base quilt done.  Here is a photo of my crazy patch base.  I decided to make it a little monochromatic, gray, black and dark blue.  I am stitching the crazy patch embroidery stitches with black Valdani. The mini quilts will hang over the center square by little hooks. (yes this is the piece I threw the tantrum over the other day)

I was looking at the calender and realized that January is on the downhill side...which means February!!!  How in the world does that happen so fast????  February is big in our house.  HH is a ground hog baby and there is Valentines Day.  Every year in June I tell myself I need to make a Valentine table runner or quilt...but do I? NO!  As it turned out I did complete a Valentine table runner top last year in a fun little class in Sisters...but, I never quilted it.  I have a love hate relationship with quilting.  I used to have a long arm  but sold it in our last move...let me tell you, it is hard to go back to quilting on a small machine after a long arm.  I am not whining here.  I mean it is really difficult because when you long arm your brain, eye and hand coordination are completely different than quilting on a sewing machine.  The outcome of this is I usually send my large quilts out and TRY to quilt the small stuff.  I have been trying to practice on these table runner...with moderate success.

The feather heart turned out ok in the photo but close up hummm wonder how much a long arm quilter charges to do table runners...and would I have to sneak in so no other quilter would see me...weenie.

I do have a variety of templates and this chalk pen is my favorite.  It is refillable and you actually can get different color chalk to use.  I think this year I may have a Valentine table runner ready for February!!!  So tell me...do you decorate for Valentines Day?

What Can She Possibly Have To Say????

I have been asked that several times.  How can you write a daily blog...what can you possibly have to talk about?  What I can say is that, I find the world and everything in it fascinating!  The clever, the weird, the wonderful and sad...all of what goes on in my world is interesting.  It doesn't matter if no one else is interested I would still be writing this blog, LOL.  But, I am very glad for those who decide to stop by and take a peek at what is soooo darn interesting here.

I spend about 15-20 minutes each morning viewing Pinterest...it is my magazine addiction and I only collect the idea, recipes or photos that really interest me.  Yesterday I found this craft project.  Now I think it is adorable.  I can see making wool holders instead of the towels...anyhoo, it is going to be on my gift list for myself and someone else.  For this year every time I make something for myself I am going to make something for my gift box and by Christmas I will have lots to chose from!

The weirdest thing happened to me yesterday.  On Monday afternoon I was feeling "shopping deprived" and decided I would just take a peek at quilt stuff on the internet.  I had never been on the Heart to Hand website but had heard that the website was to die for...and I heard right.  I immediately enlarged a wool Christmas quilt and drooled, almost shorting out my lap top.  I was good though and closed it up and didn't spend a penny.  Then Tuesday morning when I got up and opened the lap top there was an email from a blog reader who said she had just finished with a pattern by Heart to Hand...their Christmas wool pattern and if I wanted it she would send it to me!!!!!!!!  OMG...isn't the world an amazing place and we are all connected in ways we don't even realize...blessings.

I put together a little slide show of embroidery group at Sew Many Quilts...I am making headway on my Halloween witches boot stitchery and think...I just might get this done before Halloween!!!

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Jibber Jabber Wednesday

There has never been a line that I have not crossed...well...I can't say that because I won't eat bugs...no matter how much protein I need or what Island I am stuck on!  But, I am genetically programmed to take the risk, balls to the walls...and all that gung ho stuff. I think this comes from the fact that failure doesn't exist in my world.  It isn't because bad things don't happen to me or big mistakes never enter my circle...but I never look at things as failures, just learning experiences.  

After spending a good 2 hours making freezer paper templates of a crazy patch back ground and drawing said background on the backside of SF101 (fusible interfacing) I peeled all the freezer paper off the pieces of wool one by one, laying them carefully on the interfacing...then I iron them down...on the WRONG side.  After a cursing fit and stomping on the piece of interfacing on the ground I started all over again...figuring out the puzzle I had created.  See, no failure and it did feel good to shove my heel into the piece of interfacing!

Even though that little project was a challenge I am making headway on my quest to master cross stitch on linen!  Isn't my little woolie cute!

I promised a few show 'n tell photos from the Mt. Bachelor Guild meeting.  Although I am not a guild member I was honored to be asked along with Anne of Cottons 'n Wool to give a presentation on quilting and wool.  The group was very receptive and the bonus for us was to hear all that this very active group was up too!  the newly elected President had just taken a bag class from Jean Wells over in Sisters...I need to do that!

This pattern and quilt went together really quickly and both pattern and fabric was purchased at the Stitchin' Post

Here is a wonderful fabric bowl.  I have had the instructions and the supplies to make one of these for at least 10 years!  Someone is going to get one of these this Christmas!!!!

All I can say about this one is WOW!

Well, a  lot of us know what this is about...a new grand baby!!!

Marilyn from QuiltWorks was showing off a new sample using a 60 degree ruler...looks complicated but she swears it's not...and it's a lot of fun!

Well, I am hoping today will be filled with more lines to cross, less tantrums and a nice success would be just fine!  What are you hoping for today?

Last Day of "In Your Words"  check out the fabulous creations by clicking on the button at the left side of the blog.  Give away for my day (Last Monday) will be announced on Friday!

Quilting Mojo

Oh, there are so many beautiful projects in the quilting world.  I thought long and hard...if and what projects I would add to my quilting life 2013.  Although I have many beautiful projects I can't help it...I like an occasional piece of candy!  Last November when I first saw this BOM by Kathy Schmitz I knew it was going on my project list.  A cute stitchery of the month with little fusibles for each month.  Linda at Sew Many Quilt will be the moderator and the first meeting is on the last Sunday of this month. 

This next project was shared by Pam, one of the Sew Many Quilt Woolies and we...as in Anne, Sandy and I are also doing this project.  A Buttermilk basin little quilt of the month.  First you make this base crazy patch quilt and then a monthly mini quilt is made and attached.  Amazingly, we are doing this out off our wool stashes!!!  It has been on the radar since last fall.  I saw that Primitive Gatherings has the patterns available on their site if you want to join us.

Aren't the little quilts that attach so cute!  A different one for each month and it hangs on one of those 12 inch wire frames.

Or, look at what Marla decided to do!  Instead of making quilts for a wire hanger she made a pillow and the front changes each month!

We are so happy that Marla moved to Central Oregon because she brings a wealth of inspiration!  (sorry Ginger)  Here is a HAND PIECED...yes, I said hand pieced spool quilt that she has made using a stamp pad for the pieces.  I had never heard of this but she said it was very popular back in Virginia.  The shapes are stamped on the wrong side of the fabric and cut out then hand stitched together.  Isn't it beautiful!

I was so glad I went to the Woolie group at Sew Many Quilts.  It meets the second Sunday of the month from noon to 3 or 4.  Not only do they provide support with your projects, the show and tell is inspiring.  I loved that Pat brought her linen cross stitch to share...because you know I am trying to tackle this skill.  

Last night Anne from Cottons 'n Wool and I were the guest speakers at the Mt. Bachelor Quilt Guild. The room was filled with energetic quilters and I took some photos of their show 'n tell which I will share with you later this week.  If you are local don't forget that Keith (manager of Hancock) has his quilts displayed at Sterling Bank on Greenwood.  I am going to head over there and share those photos this week also!  

I really am feeling my quilting mojo ramping up and hope I keep you excited about the quilting world in 2013!  Remember no pressure but we'd love you to join the Flicker 2013 UFO group to help inspire us and yourself to keep on keeping on...Please go check out the photos posted already!!!  Here is a photo of one of my UFO's for 2013...finished stitching the motif and now for the layering and quilting!  A Primitive Quilts by Lynda pattern and is going to be perfect in my new sewing room hanging above my coffee station...cause you know what quilters do when together, stitch, sip and gossip...I mean talk, lol.

Woolie Day on The Blog Hop!!! & A Give Away

It's my day to share my project for the In Your Words Blog Hop!  A big thank you to Linda from Buzzing and Bumbling and Mdm Samm from Sew We Quilt for supporting us in this wonderful blog hop!!!  Be sure and visit all my compatriots today.  I have a give away to go along with my reveal and hope you will leave me a comment and register to be a follower!  On Friday I will see who the dog dish coughs up as the WINNER! 

Gracie Oliver Arts (Jeanie)

Clothes and Crafts (Maria K.)

Cherrys Prairie Primitives (Cherry E.)

Simple Sew (Shirley T.)

I'M RIGHT HERE!!!

RocknQuilts (Mary Ann)

Celynn's Sunflower Patch (Celynn)

A Quilting Sheep (Amy)

Sane and Crazy Quilting (Cathy L.)

Quiltsmiles (Jane E.)

Feathered Nest Studio(Jennet)

Those who have been followers of the Woolie Blog for any length of time know how chaotic and busy my life is...so, it was a huge commitment for me to even join the blog hop.  But, I couldn't pass it up because it was WORDS!  I love words on fabric, words in books, words, words, words.  What to do, what to make, how to express myself???  I had brought a little bundle of fabric back with me from France and decided to use some of it for my project.  Then I found a little as in tiny piece of a beautiful tree fabric in my stash.  You have those pieces I am sure.  The ones you cherish down to the last thread and grieve when they are gone.

I pieced a star (because, it is my favorite block) and then made a pillow.  What to say on my pillow???  I wanted my girlfriends when they come visit my sewing room to know how I see them.  And so I decided to say, "Vous etes beaux."  "You Are Beautiful!"  Which is how I feel about them inside and out!

The plaid fabric is what I brought back from France and the yummy trees is the last bit in my stash of this gorgeous piece.

The letters were free hand drawn and the fabric I used was also from France.  It was the first time I had ever sewn piping and was very scared.  I used a pre-made satin piping and had a tutorial via phone from Robin of the Woolie Robin ornaments which are still Free for another couple of weeks on the right hand side of the blog.

Enzo says, Vous Etes Beaux to you!  Great color pallet huh! lol

Now for the Give Away!  Thank you for joining us on this wordy blog hop and I hope you will join the Woolie as a follower.  Be sure to check back on Friday because if you are a "no reply" person I have no way of contacting you about the win!  Best wishes on winning this really cute sewing case!

Oh The Memories...

It doesn't matter how good a time one is having...coming home is wonderful.  The Nines was fabulous, the bed comfortable, the food and location perfect but...there is nothing like your own bed and the cadence of your own life.  So today is about the memories that I can hold in my heart.  Of course, it is about the loved ones first!  We missed my grandson Byron who was in school and got braces this week!  And dad had the flu, darn...but we are going to head back up in Feb. cause we need to have the traditional Korean birthday, outfit and all!

Since I am a bagel person and a doughnuts...well, they are donuts...for some reason the VooDoo doughnut place is a huge draw.  People literally walk out with a big pink box, stand around on the street and eat them all.  I was shocked because normally all you see is a line snaking out the door and when we arrived I was the 3rd person in line...within seconds 30 people behind me!!!.  They must have thought I was nuts because I got a plain buttermilk bar and an apple fritter for HH.  But, no matter it is what Portland is about, weird.

Enzo, like I said before was a rock star.  We never took more than 3 steps without people wanting to talk about him.  6:00 in the morning when I was out walking him a business man parked his car and came over to talk all about him...if he were a human he would have a cult!!!

The ride home was cold!  This photo was taken through the front windshield as we were going over the mountain!

...and this one through the passenger side window...burrrrrrr

Finally a little slide show of Portland, including Acorns & Threads!  Today I head to the Wool group at Sew Many Quilts.  Lets see what kind of trouble everyone is up too!

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