Free Block of the Month

Isn't that a cute block?   It's part of a new block of the month offered by Bunny Hill Designs called "Snowbound".   I'm sharing this with you cuz Anne Sutton (the designer) just started this quilt in January....so it's not too late to get started if you're so inclined!    Click on "free patterns" on the left hand side of her welcome page.        Anne designs the cutest blocks!   And the best part is they are FREE for the year....after that she'll still have the patterns available but you'd have to purchase them.   

Kitsap Guild Quilt Show

Yesterday I went to the Kitsap Quilt Guilds annual show.  Haven't been to a show in quite a while so it was great to see so many wonderful creations and be inspired.  The day was all the more fun since I knew so many of the quilt makers....thank you job at a quilt shop!!!

Isn't this one spectacular?  It's called "Aurora" and was made by Darlene Calvert.

I really love how this gal took often made blocks and "pumped it up" with those wonderful borders.   I'm not positive about who made this....silly me didn't take notes....but after reading the catalog I think it's Lynn D. Green's "Misty Mountain Pond".   Someone correct me, if you know for sure.

This is a quilt that I saw several versions of.....this coloring was my favorite.   I don't know what the pattern is called but I'm trying to find out cuz I want to make one.   I'm currently enjoying making easy quilts that showcase fabrics rather than intricate piecing.    Oh, this one was made by Linda Moran.  (PS. I found the pattern. It's called The Big EZ from Bloom Creek)

Fabric Friday

This one's just for fun!  :)     

The theme for this weeks Yaya Photo Challenge is "Signs".   I was at a local quilt show today with a fellow Yaya and she pointed out this bolt and said it'd work for our challenge.  Yes, it would.  But I decided I'd post it here for Fabric Friday.   I also bought some French Fry & Pizza fabric to add to my Junk Food collection.  So excited that I found Pizza!!!

Design Wall Monday - Lemon Chiffon

I don't participate in Design Wall Monday very often cuz my design wall doesn't change frequently enough!   But I did put up some blocks from a very old project....determined to FINISH it this time.   I took a class from Sandy Bonsib years ago through our local quilt guild.  She was just starting her quilt series on color value (titles are dessert names).  She was teaching "Lemon Chiffon"...a value study on lights.  She was a good teacher but I didn't dig an entire quilt of lights, so I never finished the blocks.   I figure its time to just be done.  I can use the top as practice for the long arm machine and then it can be a baby quilt for some one.

Speaking of the long arm machine.  Tink and I were able to work together last week and she was my teacher for the day on the shops HQ Avante.   I am trying to learn the computerized part of it.   I loaded my Warm Wishes quilt and away we went.  Tink was a super duper teacher and I came away feeling much more confident.  Not ready to fly solo yet....but I feel closer to that time than ever before.  

Valentines fun in Picnik

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.  It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

- Judy Garland

Just cuz!    :)

Quilt Showing

Back in December I posted about my "Roosting Robin" challenge quilt.  Our small group was invited to show our challenge quilts in a local gallery for the month of February....of course, we said yes!    Last Friday was the reception. I have to admit it was exciting to see my quilt hanging some where other than a guild quilt show.   Not all of our group finished their quilts but were invited to bring a different small quilt to display.  Only Tink took advantage of that.

Here I am with my "Anchor of My Soul" quilt:

The display signs....the one of the right shows the rules we had for each round:

Gretchen is the gal who got us our gig.  Here she is with her challenge quilt:

Diane with her challenge quilt:

Trish with her challenge quilt:

Wanda with her challenge quilt:

I totally forgot to take a pic of Tinks display quilt (sorry girl!) but you can see it at her blog.

Our quilts will be hanging through the month of February.  So if you're in the area, stop by the Verksted Gallery in downtown Poulsbo and take a peek.

Beach Projects

Projects are always a part of my beach vacation.  I don't usually get much done for being gone 3 whole days but hey...productivity isn't the point of vacation!   :)

This is the little bag I made one day.  I'm not so patient with little things.....I get frustrated quickly and spend a lot of time sighing and sitting there wanting to quit but determined not to.  The girls would tell you I whine a bunch.   Not sure what I'll do with it.   It's called "Puffy Pouch".

I did a little sewing on some quilt blocks but didn't take any pics. 

But here is Tink sewing away on a lovely bag she made:

 Melis brought her watercolors this year and did some beautiful flowers:

Melis and Yvonne were my mentors on jewelry making.  Doing beadwork is another "little things" project....which means Cindy was whining.  I think I was complaining about my fingers feeling like they were the size of bratwurst and the girls were teasing me. 

Playing with Henna was a new thing this year.  It was fun!

This wasn't a project but it was a first in our 10 years of winter beach vacationing.   Tink and I put on our suits and went in the ocean.  It was all Tink's idea.......I went along for the dare.....we weren't even drinking at this point!  LOL!!  So this is the proof  that we actually went in.  I was a wimp and didn't get very far out in the water.....my poor feet were numb within a minute! 

One quick pic before we jumped in the fabulous hot tub to warm up!

Thanks girls for a fun filled 3 days.  Till next year!

Beach Memories

My three days at the beach were loads of fun.  Us girls continued many traditions from the past....good food, laughter, movie watching, projects to work on, beach walks, lots of talk....as well as adding some new ones.

One new thing was the house we stayed in.  Last year we had to find a new house that was cheaper than the one we'd been renting but we didn't like it enough to go back.  So this year the search was on and we succeeded!  This new place rocked!  I sure hope they don't raise the rent and we can continue to stay here.

Isn't it lovely?  

This is the view outside from the master suite upstairs:

We stayed on the Washington coast in the town of Moclips.  What I love about Moclips is how close the beach is to the houses.  No cliffs.....the dunes are small....its so dang close!  Even though we go in winter, we always have nice days for beach walking:

That's it for now.  Later I'll share some of the projects we worked on.  :)