Carry Along Projects 09-06-14

Most of my life I have been one of those women who carry along handwork to do while waiting; at the doctor's office, in an airport, on the plane, in a meeting, just about anywhere.  I've had many interesting conversations with people who want to know what I am doing, or tell me about their quilting/embroidering/knitting/etc. experiences.  And, eventually, I usually finish the project and look for a replacement.  When my husband was ill, 25 years ago, I started a couple projects that wouldn't have an ultimate end, but just go on and on until I was sick of whichever it was and switch to the other unending one.  This one is 3-1/2" Snail's Trail blocks (it has a number of names, among them Monkey Wrench, and Whirlwind).  The purpose of the blocks is to make small bags for jewelry or other things that need to be enclosed. 

I glued scraps of flannel to squares of cardboard so I could lay out the fabrics in the correct order (not possible to haul bags of triangles around) on the flannel and laid the muslin on top.  With a stack of these "design boards" I could hand sew for hours.   In the bottom right corner of the image below is a stack of completed blocks.

The muslin for these blocks is stamped with permanent ink.  The stamp belonged to my friend Betty Lou Lucas who moved to Grant's Pass and took her stamp with her!   When I was visiting her one time I was stamping more muslin and she said I should take it with me and mail it back when I had enough stamped.  Unfortunately, she died before I mailed it back.  So, now I stamp in her memory.  I did send her one of the little bags, so she was able to see what the "product" was.  You may notice the curved red lines on the muslin - when I was tired I would sew the values going the wrong way, so I marked the muslin with a red permanent marker to remind myself that the twist is clockwise.   

Although all the blocks are scrappy, some have a color scheme.  Here is a jewelry bag made in 1996 with red/white/blue blocks.   It has a double loop grosgrain ribbon tie that gathers and closes the top.

The scraps needed for each block are very small, so it is possible to have an enormous variety of combinations.  This bag requires six pieced blocks and two equal strips of fabric, plus a lining and the grosgrain ribbon for the tie.

One of these days I will dig out the basket blocks and post about them.  The arthritis in my hands somewhat impairs my hand sewing ability, but I can still do it most of the time. 

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Friday Flowers 09-05-14

These pictures are all from Kalispell, Wyoming, and were taken in June 2012.

 

Geranium

Horse Chestnut tree with "candles".

Horse Chestnut flowers

Mulberry Tree (the red variety, I believe)

Notice the lobed leaves, there can be differently shaped leaves on any one tree; some with one lobe, some with two, some with none.

Mulberry flowers

This lovely bearded iris was growing in a tiny patch of soil in an alley.  Gorgeous color. 

 

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Pictures from the past 09-04-14

I do love Road Trips and digital cameras have made them even more enjoyable.  Being able to edit the pictures and put them in albums to view on my computer screen is a continuing thrill.  Sometimes I pick an album of a trip and just live it all over again.  And sometimes I am looking for a picture and come across pictures that make me smile when I remember.  Here are a few....

 

One hot August Corky's parents wanted to go fishing and selected a fishing "camp" (read motel) in the area of Weaverville.  I went along in my own car with plans to drive on to Washington State for a visit with Mabel and other friends.  Of course I took sewing!  After all, I wasn't going to fish, I was just going to hang out with Corky while his parents fished.  I took a couple boxes of fabric and spent some time matching up selections to the focus fabric in the lower left.  This quilt had a deadline and I missed it and still haven't finished it.  Corky's parents never even saw a fish, but he and I had a good time just loafing around and walking on the grounds. 

This is a very large Russian olive tree.  Imported from Europe during the mid 1800s the trees have become a scourge in some places, but they are so beautiful against the blue sky or along the edge of a dark green forest.  This one was in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

I miss lilacs - they were abundant in Portland, Oregon, where I spent most of my childhood.  When I see them along the way I have to stop and steal a sprig to brighten my life for a few days.  This is the way I usually have them - in a bottle in the cup holder of my car.  The fragrance lingers but briefly, but I breath in as much as I can before I have to return them to the earth.   This sprig came from a backyard in Butte, Montana.  It was hanging over the fence into an alley - it only took a minute to jump out with my clippers and be back in the car.  The lady had a whole tree full of blooms left. 

 

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Wordless Wednesday 09-03-14

A Special Birthday Treat 09-02-14

My friends Carol and Dick Bednar decided we should go out to dinner for my birthday.  After much discussion we settled on Ruth's Chris Restaurant in Anaheim.  I had never eaten at a Ruth's Chris but Dick said I would love it.  He was right.

 

I told him to NOT tell them it was my birthday, but he didn't listen.  And I'm glad.

When we were seated, the waitress came and sprinkled a handful of confetti on the table.

An amazingly festive gesture - one I had never seen before.  It was a little celebration, but a bit of a thrill.  Just for ME?

There were "Happy Birthdays", stars, party hats, and candled cakes.  Cute.

While Carol sipped a perfect old fashioned champagne cocktail she checked the menu and ordered a steak.

Dick enjoyed a glass of champagne and also selected a steak.

While the birthday girl drank water and chose...

...the smoked salmon.  It was fabulous and so filling.

 We each chose a side - grilled tomatoes and steamed broccoli.

 

 But the best choice was the amazing sweet potato casserole.  Don't miss it - delicious.

 We passed on the standard birthday dessert and selected from the menu.  Carol had Ruth's Coffee with liqueurs and whipped cream piled on top, Dick had his favorite Crème Brulee, and I had "Duo Chocolate".  Oh, my Goodness, was it wonderful or what?

 

The little cup on the right is a cold chocolate soufflé topped with a pile of whipped cream.  On the left is a "volcano" cake served warm with a liquid chocolate center and topped with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.  It is decorated with a vanilla cream sauce and dots of raspberry sauce.  I had to bring half of it home.

On the edge of the plate "Happy Birthday" was freshly written with dark chocolate.

 

What a special evening and wonderful dinner!  Thank you, Carol and Dick. 

We'll have to do it again next year! 

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Monday Browsing 09-01-14

Happy Birthday to me, I am 76 today!  Del

Here is a Smilebox slide show of some of Ruth McDowell’s quilts:

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?
sendevent=4d7a63324f4467354d6a6b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link&partner=neverblue

 

Your dog will love this!  Corky did, but he would never lay on his back.
http://www.chonday.com/Videos/cormasdfg2

 

Nancy Ota's patterns are clever and well written.  Check them out at:   www.nancyota.com
She even offers a free tutorial for making her great tote bag:  http://www.nancyota.com/free_patterns__tutorial

Don’t like cutting out the applique pieces?  Try laser cuts from Quilter’s Paradise in Escondido. http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/index.php  The Hawaiian blocks are lovely and come in different colors.   And they have about a dozen McKenna Ryan cut outs.

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Another new Pamela Allen quilt in TCQC 08-31-14

As I said last Sunday, I do love Pamela's work.  It is so spontaneous, like a quick pencil sketch of a fleeting idea.  Of course, I know how many hours it takes to make even the smallest quilt and I appreciate her ability to make the finish product seem spontaneous. 

 

"Watching TV in Bed"  Pamela Allen  2014  9.5"W x 7.5"L

This quilt evokes sweet memories of my late husband.  Although we never had a TV in the bedroom, when he was ill we would snuggle in bed and talk about our life together. It is time that I now cherish.

Just look at all the hand embroidery Pamela has put into this small piece; French knots for curly hair and long straight stitches create elegant hands.
 

Her hair is detached chain stitch (what we called "lazy daisy" back in the day)  and the screen in the background looks like a couched filling stitch. 

This is the door on the TV set.  Just straight stitches going in different directions.  Forty years ago I might have gotten out my embroidery scissors and trimmed off all these loose ends, but now I see them as part of the charm of the composition - the "mark" of the artist.

The backing has no relation to the front, perhaps a small piece left from another project.  And her very informative and easy to read label finishes it off.

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Friday Flowers 08-29-14

Maybe it is too early in the morning for Picasa and Blogger to converse.  Last night (Friday) I couldn't get pictures to upload (or is it download?) and tonight I can't get any pictures at all!

So, here are the Friday night flowers for your enjoyment.  I'll have to show the jacaranda and asters some other time. 

 

Columbine in Montana

Lobelia in San Juan Bautista, CA.

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