Puppy Love

We officially only own one house. I left my old home in beautiful condition but it took a toll everywhere else in my life to make that happen. I am really struggling with all the mess of the new house. I still have that feeling of my chest being crushed and not able to breath properly. Sleep has been rather elusive, too. I am hopeful I will make great headway now that I can concentrate on one place.

In the meantime...dog walks continue. I live about a third of the way up on a mountainside. My new routine is to walk up the mountain. The road goes about two-thirds up the mountain and then it's trailblazing to get to the top. I've only made it to the end of the road. It gets the heart pumping.

Does it look a little dreary? Yep...those are clouds obscuring the top of the mountain. A fresh layer of snow is just visible. Sigh...most of it melted quickly...it's summer...really!

Perfect dog walking weather.

Tonka was on litter patrol...found a discarded Starbucks cup.

We have a beautiful waterfall to visit...here's the bottom half.

And the top on the other side of the road.

I don't stand right here often...I can just imagine a boulder flying down with that water and taking me out with it! All this water comes from the snow-pack on the top of the mountain...probably a little glacier or two along the way. I might find out first hand someday. I'll just get a little site seeing trip in my husband's floatplane...much easier than hiking.

Everyday this week...several times a day...we have seen our new neighbor...I call him Great Scott...cuz he is really big! His antlers are growing like crazy.

And now an incredibly adorable photo. I was picking up dog food at the feed store and ran into this little fellow, Hugo.

12 weeks old! Gosh I had so much fun...he is absolutely the definition of "adorable." I want one! Oh yeah...I've got two already. But they are like potato chips...can't have just one.

Design Wall Monday

Thursday is Breakfast Club so there is at least one day on this week's schedule to quilt. We are making the pattern, 3-6-9 Quilt. 

In all of the moving mess...I did find my sewing machine and class project bag...I think the lime green color was a smart choice.

I bought a kit at May's gathering in anticipation of June's class. Here's the panel I'll using in the quilt.

Usually I buy panels and nothing happens after that...but this time will be different.

Here's the matching fabric for the border. 

And here's the progress I've made in setting up the studio. The batiks are out and breathing.

Mini Break

The moving saga continues. I was forced to stay home at the new house today to meet the cable installer. I had two hours in my studio and I actually feel like I got somewhere...but as I sit here and look around...it's hard to tell there's been any improvement. But I have a plan.

I  also spent some time on the computer...and maybe you heard me squeal...there are four newly released Bucilla stocking designs. Of course I like them all so I will share.

Blue stockings are pretty popular...I have a few kits from previous years that would look great with this one!

Chickadees!!! Perfect for Alaska!

This is just plain fun...parachuting Santa and friends. 

And this stocking has a companion kit of ornaments. I just love them!

But here is my absolute favorite of the four...Marianette Santa.

Love the three-dimensional puppets!!! Where is my charge card? I see three of the stockings are already in stock at Supply Craft...the absolute best prices I've found for these kits on the internet. If you find them cheaper...let me know!

Hoarders - Episode 1

Maybe you saw the preview...new season of  "Hoarders," should feature me...the Quilting Hoarder. This is the current view of my studio. The sad part is most of the house looks this way...so this room will be last to get any attention...sigh...

Just before our move the new set of 2012 Mill Hill Santa ornament kits were released. I ordered mine right away. Aren't they just adorable? I really do love them and can't wait to crack them open.

So Much To Tell...

Ten days ago we started moving into our new house. Downsizing is great but it is painful...I have so much stuff. There just aren't enough hours in a day.

And as if a new house isn't exciting enough...my husband just got a promotion to a job based in Paris. I have no idea how it is all going to work out but I know that it will be fabulous...someday!

We are keeping our new home in Alaska. I'm not taking the dogs to Paris so I think I will still be spending a good amount of time in Alaska...but I'm going to have some frequent and wonderful vacations.

I can't post without a picture. Here's one of my new neighbors.

He needs a rest...he's growing some big antlers! Tonka came nose-to-nose with him a few nights ago...I'm back to using dog leashes regularly.

First Visitor of the Summer

About 9:45 p.m...our last night in the house and our little friend decided to stop by and see if we are leaving anything behind that is tasty. Just a tiny bear...a yearling. Can't help but wonder if this is one of the cubs that was at our house last summer.

Saxony Santa

Adding one more Santa ornament to the completed column.

Upcoming Breakfast Club Pattern

We always conclude Show and Tell at Breakfast Club with a preview of the next month's pattern. June's will be...

I've made this pattern before!

Here is Marcia's class sample. This uses a new line of fabric with sea creatures in a panel print with matching fabric perfect for the borders.

And  Erin had coincidentally just finished a top from this pattern too.

I could have been ahead of the game on this one and just brought my completed quilt in to share and work on another project...like a UFO. That would be practical. But our group leader, Marcia, can sell ice cream to an Eskimo. Her specialty at the quilt shop is putting together kits. She showed us the second kit...the wildlife version...which I neglected to get a picture of but...trust me...gorgeous. I just happened to have my paint chip palette for the new house with me and when I held it up to the kit...well...it was clear...the kit had to come home with me.

More Show and Tell

Now it's time to see the fun projects the ladies of Breakfast Club brought in to share. First is a quilt pattern from a magazine that Jane did as an exchange with some of her quilting pals, an asterisk quilt. Her border was made by piecing 1-inch strips. Beautifully done!

I apologize ahead of time...don't know the name of this pattern but I believe it is an Eleanor Burns one that utilizes a template to use with strips. The maker, Bobbie, assured us this was a pretty simple quilt to put together...it sure doesn't look simple. I really like this pattern and did try to find it on Eleanor Burns website. 

Next up are three quilts from Kathy. First, this sweet little bear paw.

A simple charm square quilt top.

And the last one from Kathy is another fun and simple quilt. A friend had signed up for a quilt class and was unable to attend at the last minute so Kathy grabbed her spot.

It was great to see this quilt from Von. It was a Breakfast Club pattern from a couple of years ago. I missed that Breakfast Club and never made this pattern...it's a charm square pattern. Adorable. And Von is my kind of quilter...she goes big! I think the pattern was more of a wall hanging size. This would look so cute with the stack of 1930's fabric I've had for 15 years!

And last, Carol's scrap quilt that she threw together. Very pretty!

But wait...I have one more treat from Breakfast Club to show you.

Von is leaving Alaska...and this is her tattoo. Look carefully. The roots of the tree create the shape of the state of Alaska. She won't be forgetting her Alaska roots. Sew perfect.

Show and Tell

Show and Tell at Breakfast Club was great...in fact I want you to enjoy it as much as I did so I am going to break it up a little bit. I'll start with the quilts made from April's block, Disappearing Four Patch. First a quick recap. This is the quilt made by our group leader, Marcia.

Check out Marie's batik beauty. I had to buy some of this border fabric...love it!

This is Erin's version she made as a gift for a young urban couple. Perfect. I have a connection to this quilt...Erin bought some of my stash and gave it a wonder home.

Her is Von's version...a king size beauty...and her's was already quilted.

And just so you can see them all together. Here's mine again.

More photos from Show and Tell are on the way.

Extremely Quick

This is the first time I ever completed the blocks for a quilt top of any size in one day. I came home from Breakfast Club (which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus) and finished sewing the second half of blocks and had this on the design wall right before bedtime. This top takes 40 strips (I used a bali pop) and 32 layer cakes. I stayed pretty true to the pattern's photo. Here is a photo of one of my Club buddies quilt, Carol got her's made before class. 

Carol's version was made with one background fabric in place of  the layer cakes. She made a smaller version and centered the design. Next is a very similar quilt but done completely in strips. This is Bobbie's quilt she made entirely from her scraps....she claims she didn't even make a dent in her scrap pile.

I wasn't quite ready to call to my blocks done and start sewing rows together...there were two blocks in my version that were really bugging me...the ones with the palest blue triangles. Instead of giving the quilt a little pop...they just screamed "not right." Sew...out came the seam ripper after a trip through my all important stash. It's sew necessary to have an extensive stash for just these kinds of situations. 

Much better. This will finish to a 70" square. I don't have any idea what I will do after this...borders? You know I will have to think about it for a while.