temperance, swallows, trees, strawberries, and lightning

Strawberry Basket

 My first thought with the strawberry (dude says hi) basket was to go with red, but in digging through the stash I couldn't help but think these pinks were better. I think they are.

Streak of Lightning 

 I've been saving this fabric for this blocks for months, well, maybe a year.  I knew this would be perfect to represent a streak of lightening.  Bright and almost neon, a perfect portrayal of lightning.

Tall Pine Tree

 Pine trees around here are rich, deep green.  This is not. I did think, however, that this was a pretty shade of green and I wanted to use it.

Swallow

 We had swallows nesting on our house when we were kids.  They were beautiful and they annoyed the cat. What more could you want from a bird?  At any rate, my swallow block is grey to bring home the neutral colored swallow.

Temperance Tree

I'm not going to lie.  I'm drinking an old fashioned as I type this.  This block is my way of honoring the old fashioned which is made with bourbon (a manly brown liquor), bitters, ginger ale, cherry, and an orange.  A pretty, pretty orange.  And, probably, an improper way to honor the temperance tree.  But, then, I'm not one to really honor the temperance movement.

Hi!

Storm Signal

Red skies at night, sailors delight.  Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.  This is a signal to get you through the storm.

Star of Hope

It was fun to use this star patterned fabric for this block.  I won about an eighth of this pattern at the Sewing Summit a couple of years ago and was happy to see it in my stash. I believe this was a gift from Fabricworm, so props to them!

Squash Blossom

Speaking of Sewing Summit, this patterned fabric is what was left over from fabric I took there for a fabric exchange.  One of the lovely ladies there organized a color wheel exchange and each participant was assigned two colors to bring a stack of 5 inch squares to switch out with the others.  I was assigned yellow and yellow-orange.  I thought the seeded pattern would be fun for a color wheel and, in this case, fun for yellow colored squash blossoms.

Next up, strawberries, lightening, and a sparrow.

A surprise and a night at the ball

Have you ever done a surprise quilt for someone you spend the majority of your free time with?  It is slightly difficult but fun in a sneaky sort of way.  I found this Washington State University fabric at my local quilt store last November.  I decided that it would be the best gift possible for my favorite Cougar fan.  I also decided that it had to be a surprise and would require sneaking and stealthy behavior.  It took me a couple of months, but I was able to do it.  I also managed to surprise my very happy Cougar on Christmas Day.  It was awesome.  The front and the pieced back are documented below. 

But, wait, there's more.  Have you ever wanted to attend a ball on your birthday?  Me too!  My city hosts an inaugural ball every four years for the incoming Governor.  It is held at my workplace and usually I don't feel the need to go because, well, it's held where I work.  This year, I had a Cougar fan to come with me and a birthday, which occurred the day of the ball, to celebrate.  It was too perfect and I bought a pretty dress, accessories, and shoes that should only be worn by women who need to earn money while standing on street corners. Unfortunately, I didn't get good pictures of my dress and hooker shoes.  But be assured the outfit was awesome.  The evening was memorable, filled with pomp and circumstance and I got to see my coworkers looking all fancy and pretty. (For Olympia, this is a very big deal, us west coasters don't go for fancy dress parties.) I even managed to get a few pictures of me and the Cougar.  Much fun.

Ice sculptures!  

Look at me and the happy Cougar who is still thinking about his awesome quilt. 

Getting ready to introduce the new Governor. 

The rotunda, which I usually just run through during legislative session. 

The chandelier, big enough to hold a VW beetle. 

Where did those come from?

Greetings, long neglected blog friends!

Hello again, everyone!  I'm sorry about the long delay between postings.  I thought I hadn't done a lot, but when I loaded the pictures off my camera I realized that while I have been goofing off for a month enjoying life and the cat army, I actually have been productive on the quilt front. I know you can't wait a moment longer, so without further ado, here is what I've been doing for the last month....

Steps to the Altar

The Spinster quilt lives!  Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.  These steps to the altar are strewn with beautiful little flowers.

Random Baby Girl Quilt

Well, drat.  I decided to use left over blocks from an earlier quilt to make a lap quilt for a friend of a friend who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.  I thought this would be cheerful and give her something to curl up in to relax between doses of chemotherapy.  Unfortunately, I didn't have as many blocks left over as I thought I did and didn't get it to lap size.  I'm going to quilt this and have it on hand for when someone, anyone, I know becomes pregnant with a little girl.  Want this? Get some wine into you and head down to the local bar.  I kid, I kid, you can buy wine when you get there. 

Forest Fantasy 

The beautiful back

Very cute little girl cat picture.

Folded and ready to go to its new house.

I did finish and give away the Forest Fantasy quilt last month.  I was so happy with how the quilting turned out and how it looks put together.  Scout agrees and had to be forcibly removed so I could put it away and keep some of the cat hair off it.  CF came over one evening and picked it up. I love giving these little projects away.  The cats are opposed to that practice, but I've told them that adversity builds character.

Next up, more Spinster action!  (And, hopefully, not another month between postings.  Sorry about that!)

Spider Web, Dancing in the Garden

Every once in awhile I get a little giddy at all the blocks I've made for my Spinster Quilt.  I've finished nearly 90 of them and am a little sad that this process will be over soon.  (Soon, as within a year.)  I finished three blocks this week and have a treat from the garden to share as well.  

Square Dance

Too literal?  Squares for the square dance? They kind of look like they are dancing don't they?

I know, this has very little to do with the Spinster quilt other than I can see it as I work at my sewing machine.  I just had to share this because it is a very confused rhododendron and needs to go back to sleep.  Of course, it never actually blooms when it is supposed to so I'm enjoying this while it lasts.

Spider Web

 Just in time for Halloween, a Spider Web.  I thought these ovals looked like little spider eggs which is probably not what the fabric artist had in mind when creating this pattern.  Also, I've got tons of these types of webs all over the exterior of my house and in the garage.  At some point in time, battle must be done with my trusty broom.

Star Gardener

Through absolutely no fault of my own, I managed to have 3 wild orchids come up in my yard this summer.  I'd like to take credit, but we all know nature takes it all in this case.  At any rate, they were purple and beautiful.  Had I actually planted them and got them to grow on my own, I would have been quite the Star Gardener.  (See what I did there?)

Next up, Squash Blossoms, Steps to the Altar, and a Star of Hope.

Forest Fantasy - Fully Pieced

We are having an incredible fall, here in the Pacific Northwest.  I honestly can't remember the last time it rained.  Things are so dry that I actually had to water yesterday to keep my rhododendrons alive.  I'm not complaining, however.  I really like taking my walk at lunchtime when it isn't raining and when I don't have to worry about a change of clothes for the way back.  I also enjoy standing outside with my morning cup of coffee and breathing in the smells of the pine trees.  These are the moments that remind me why I live here and I enjoy them all so very much.  

Having finished my yard work, and what I think might be the last time I mow the lawn this year, I turned by attention to finishing up piecing the Forest Fantasy quilt.  I think that it is fitting that the weather cooperated and I was able to take its picture outside with the woods shading part of it.  My next step it putting together the back and then getting long-arm time.  Maybe I will be lucky enough to get that taken care of this Friday. Next up, my long neglected Spinster quilt.  But, Spinsters are patient so I know that she's fine.  

You know what's awesome?

Getting a new sewing machine. That's what's awesome.  So, when we last talked, I mentioned gently beating my old sewing machine to death for being difficult.  I would clearly have to get another one, but which one and can it take a punch?  A friend of mine mentioned that she got a Pfaff and loves it because it has a walking foot attached which means that your top fabric will be held in place against your bottom fabric (I may be paraphrasing the awesomeness of the attached walking foot). She also mentioned that I should go check out the vendors at the Puyallup Fair (pronounced "fair") because lots of vendors come to the fair and they bring with them fabulous deals.  I asked the handsome and brave AH to come with me and we (I) played with sewing machines and fell in love with the Pfaff.  It was on sale and I had the handsome and clever AH with me to carry it to the parking lot. How could I resist this perfect storm of excellence in sewing machine buying?  I couldn't.  Since then, I've been playing with the Pfaff and I have to say that I love it.  It sews like butter - not that margarine crap, actual butter.  I've been cranking through the blocks for the Forest Fantasy quilt and loving every minute of it.  

 

First, I sewed the blocks I've made earlier together. 

 Then, I sewed those blocks together to make a lovely square and now get to sew these into strips.

Much progress has been made and did I mention that I love my new sewing machine?  Because I do love my new sewing machine.  Oh, and the old one was given away to a good home where she miraculously started working again.  Probably because it feels as if it is in a safe place and no longer subject to righteous beatings.