French Friday

Bonjour!

I want to devote Fridays' to concentrating on my French. I have never taken French...I took three years of Spanish in high school and that is what I found myself trying to speak when we were in Paris last month. Then my brain would freeze up.

Somewhere in all of our moving boxes is a nice, expensive French program for the computer. I didn't give up today because I couldn't find that program. Instead I found several places to visit on the web for brief French lessons. 

I must learn the phrase, "Are there any quilt shops or fabric shops nearby?

Au revior.

Tourist Tuesday

I have an idea...maybe you'd like to learn about my adventures as a tourist in Paris. So to get ready I thought I'd start with familiar territory and create a video of our Super Cub flight on Saturday. I plan to talk on the videos I make from Paris but the Super Cub is too noisy to narrate during flight. I'm learning!

An afterthought. I wanted to mention the music I picked. It is from the movie, "Out of Africa," This particular music piece is where Robert Redford takes Meryl Streep up in his new airplane. Perfect! The movie came out in 1985...the year I met my husband. I remember going to see it with him. I heard the music as we were flying in the Super Cub. So perfectly romantic. We needed some caribou herds to fly over but we weren't far enough north for that.

Incidentally, the soundtrack from, "Out of Africa," is ranked 15th on the American Film Institute's top 25 American film soundtracks. I thought about the Superman movie too...when he takes Lois Lane flying. Lots of great music.

Design Wall Monday

I  finished a flimsy! This is a free pattern from Anthology Fabrics called "Ripples." It requires a jelly roll and a layer cake (10" squares).

I need to add borders to this quilt...

So much to do today...gotta go. Join Judy at Patchwork Times to see all the other great projects

Stitching Sunday

Frosty has arrived in Alaska.

Frosty's snowflakes are dusting our mountain tops.

I love these two lone birch trees that stand together in death...there must be a tale about a pair of lovers wrapped in their bark.

I'm working one of Santa's reindeer. I think he will be a quick ornament and I may get another ornament started by next Sunday.

Fall has arrived. The leaves are starting to change color. My husband was home for two days so we did what many Alaskans do on pretty days...go flying. My husband has a new toy, a Super Cub. It seats two. 

Here's a full view of the plane.

Nice big tires for landing on gravel. I'll share a little bit more about our flight on Tuesday.

A Bear of a Week

I am making progress unpacking...just so I can pack up and move to Paris. It is crazy! Lets check out the most important room in the house...my studio.

This week's big chore in the studio was putting two more sets of chrome shelves together. This set has wheels. I filled them up pretty quickly. I have two treadle machines that need work and I just don't know where to put them...no room in the studio for them. 

At some point I will get those huge sheets of Styrofoam-looking insulation for design wall panels but for now I am going to clip a sheet of flannel to the shelf and use it.

Here's a little panoramic view of the studio.

You found the spot where I dumped a few items.

I think I need to get a helmet video camera...how else can I catch my exciting wildlife encounters? Last night I had my closest bear encounter with the dogs. We were taking a quick walk. We were almost to our driveway when all of the sudden a pretty good sized black bear jumped out of the brush. He was very surprised to see us and quickly turned around and darted back into the woods. Luckily I had both dogs on leashes because they seemed to think it was a good idea to try and chase it. It was quite struggle for me to gain control of them...they pulled me to the ground in their excitement...but we are all okay. I took two Advil as soon as we got home.

 It's funny how much bigger a black bear looks when it's right in front of you!

It's Instinctive

I just can't fight my nature sometimes...I am a gatherer. I was just going to grab some milk at Walmart...when I remembered I needed some gel for my hair. That meant leaving the grocery area. Before I knew it, I was walking down the craft aisle. I spied this adorable case. I have a continental move coming up...suitcases interest me...even itty bitty ones.

The circular shape is adorable...hmmm...lets see what's inside.

A case for the cool little plastic disks I store my sequins and beads from Bucilla felt stocking kits! SWEET!!!!

I found my storage disks in a sporting goods store in the fishing tackle section at least five years ago. These are just like those only instead of a "Plano" logo they have a "Creative Options" logo. I did show restrain...there was a larger case that held six disks. I only use four. 

While I'm in a divulgitory (new word) mood, let me share another great sewing room gadget I picked up at Breakfast Club last week.

It's a little ironing board that clamps onto any table. Alaskan made. Perfect for taking to classes. Perfect for a Paris sewing room. 

Now I will justify my purchases...I have been working like crazy on our house...that still isn't moved into or completely finished despite our upcoming move to Paris. The bids came back for the railing and closet shelves...well within our budget. Work begins next week on those areas of the house. So it has given me a boost of energy to continue to unpack what I can now...and clean. I still had a few lights and windows that had "construction grime" on them. I have a huge load for the Salvation Army...mostly empty containers of every size...they just don't work in the new house.

Clearing the garage is the next major hurdle. We need to park cars in it...winter is coming! I bought two chrome shelf units from Costco today to get started. They look so little in the garage. Guess I should have bought some more. They are really heavy and one of my son's was with me today. Too bad Bernese Mountain Dogs can't load and unload for me! At least they are very supportive...they always think I am great at everything.

Time to fill the new "suitcase."

Stitching Sunday

On my trip to Colorado I finished two more Santa ornaments, " First Mate Santa," and "Captain Santa."

I'm also working on another felt ornament for Christmas.

I'm joining Kathy's link for stitching projects. One of these days I will get to my handwork on quilting projects.