Visiting Dad

Visiting Florida is like spending a week at the spa,  especially when you live in Arizona. The balmy air and humidity does wonderful things for my skin and my curls. The lush greenery and swampy landscape are refreshing.

Dad and I had time for great conversation, which I treasure. You’ll see him here, looking sharp in his new birthday shirt.

I also found a really great quilt shop. I spent hours in here. http://www.rainbowsendquiltshoppe.com If you’re in the area it is worth a visit. You know they
had something I couldn’t resist. I was so tickled with this find that I snapped a photo as soon as I got to the car to share with my daughter. We love to shop together even when we’re miles apart; we chat on the phone while we shop, and swap pictures. It holds us together until we get a chance to do it in person.

Now that I’m home and unpacked I’ll get back to the sewing room. Oh, one more small confession before I go…. I just wasn’t loving the background I had for this project in flannel…

So, since it was on sale…I got a little of this:

Which really makes me happy with this project. My daughter reminded me that having fabrics that really appeal make you much more enthusiastic to finish a project.

There is no change in the closet as this weeks purchases are still on the cutting table. This could be cheating.

Things I Learned his Week

1. Big Lots has fabric. Who knew?

2. Pre-cut strips make things go fast! This is the first time I’ve used them; I’m a fan. (Sneak preview)

3. When altering patterns, one should consider actually measuring rather than just eyeing and saying “that should do it!”

4. It’s just as easy to make two as one.

5. Tracing your favorite old shorts onto an actual shorts pattern makes it easier to use, store, and most importantly, find again for future use. Same old shorts can then be humanely sent to live a future life as a rug. (As can the new short scraps.)

6. When you are strictly trying to use what you have there comes a time when what you have doesn’t work as well as what might be purchased. A solid background for this upcoming quilt would be better, this is what I have. Please help me with this dilemma: 1. Purchase fabric to make the most beautiful combination. 2. Use what I have because it’s ok, and the goal is to use what you have.

6. Procrastination will catch up with you. I did finish. Yesterday.  I leave tomorrow. Tons of time left! I did have weeks to complete what took me half a day to do. Sigh. Here’s a sneak peak, more after the gift is received.

7. File boxes probably contain mostly junk that can be shredded. One $7 thrift store file cabinet. One emptied bin. One organized space.

Satisfaction

Labor Day Holiday meant extra time for me to work on projects. The completion of these projects has resulted in great satisfaction.

First a simple panel baby quilt. I mentioned to my daughter that I had made such a simple quilt, because these are intended for everyday use, not as heirlooms. She informed me that the simple quilt I made her, and that she used daily is still in her possesion.  She said it didn’t matter how simple, she loved it. This was very inspiring to hear.

Of course this is for one of my co-workers who is a dog lover as well as a pilot and expecting her first.

Florida is next up on my adventure list, where I will be visiting my Dad and his wife. I love to bring a little something when I visit, especially since they have birthdays in September and October respectively. Even in Florida it gets cool enough to enjoy a lap quilt. I spend so much time looking out of an airplane window at the earth that I see quilt designs in everything. I quilted this freehand to give the look of plowed fall fields.

And finally, after having languished for many months on my quilting frame… I finished my queen sized quilt, the last of the series I call “Tiff’s Bright Idea.” (See the complete set here) My sister Tiff gave me a fat quarter bundle of Kaffe Fassett brights that inspired some quilts and color theory. Thanks Tiff.

 

Now, let’s see what we can make next…