October Material Girls Quilt Retreat Projects

 Last weekend was my first quilt outing since last February's, Material Girls retreat.

 It was so much fun. 

Here’s a look at the projects I worked on this last weekend.

At our last retreat in February, I made these butterfly blocks so I started this retreat by finishing the top!

 This was a charm pattern, "Madame Butterfly," from the book, "Charm School," by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique. My scrappy border was the only change I made to the quilt pattern. I used layer cakes so there were enough scraps to make the 3 1/2-inch long strips for the border.

I started two new quilts from patterns and fabrics that have been aging in my stash.

 I had a Hoffman Bali layer cake, Parrot, and the pattern, "Birthday Cake," from the book, "Perfect 10 Quilts," by It's Sew Emma. 

I am adding another row to the pattern so I added some layer cakes from my stash.

The additional row will add 12 more blocks for a total of 48. I finished 23 blocks....just one shy of the  halfway point.

And on the third day I started a third project.

I finished all the center blocks for the pattern, "Royal Gardens," from Cozy Quilt Designs. This pattern was designed as a block-of-the-month. It comes with instructions for two sizes based on 2-inch or 2 1/2-inch strips. I am doing the smaller version with 2-inch strips.

And at every retreat there is a bit of retail therapy.

I picked up a few more fabrics for my stash...

and a panel I just couldn't resist.

I even continued with my weekend productivity when I got home by completing the last Santa on Sunday night from the Antarctica Santa series, Albatross Santa.

Monthly Update - October 2020

 Looks like I am monthly blogger!

Lots of fun stuff to share since my last post. 

Hot off the quilting frame and promptly bound, "Fall Frolic."

This pattern is from Quilter's World magazine, Autumn 2016. It was a Breakfast Club project. I didn't change anything with this design which is pretty unusual for me...loved as it was originally designed. 

I probably say this all the time...but this is one of my favorites. I used only batiks in my stash and most of the batiks were ones I purchased when I first discovered how much I loved them. I remember buying the border batik at the Houston quilt show...at least 20 years ago...WOW! Finally found the perfect pattern for it!

Not enough sunlight to show the quilting design...the sun is teasing my as I write...just hanging below the mountain tops of our valley.

A little slice of the quilting before it was pulled off the frame.

I started another Halloween ornament kit from Bucilla.

I'm so proud of myself to think of using design boards when working with Bucilla kits. It was fabulous to have all the tiny pieces stick to the quilt batting...and I even had some black batting leftovers just right for the size of design boards.

I finished a stocking for my daughter-in-law. It was so cute when I tried to get her to pick a stocking kit for me to make...she was completely overwhelmed by my stash.  I have hundreds of kits and then I showed her the catalogue with the new designs...too much information! So finally I suggested this one and she approved. She likes to bake so it works. 

This is, "Snack Time," Bucilla kit # 86655, from 2015

I had finished my son's stocking over a year ago but he still needed his name tag.

And another quilting technique was tried this month on a Bucilla felt project...using a Frixion pen to write the names on felt for personalizing. Perfection! I tapped the felt with a hot iron when done stitching and the marking line disappeared...though most of the ink wasn't visible after stitching. I guess I was most surprised at how well the marker worked on the felt. Several years ago I tried the purple marker that disappears with time and it never worked on the rough felt surface.

A little more detailed look...

I still have baby Kate's stocking to make but I don't have that kit in my stash. It's on backorder and I'm hoping it will be ship in November. It is a Christmas llama stocking. Looks like a pretty simple design so I am confident it will get made in time for Christmas. I definitely have one or two in my stash as a backup plan.

Two more Santa ornaments finished.

 

A vintage design from Sandra Cozzolino, Sante Klaas.

And Seal Leopard Santa from the 2020 series, Antarctic Santas.

And I finally found a Christmas fabric to line this tree skirt/table topper.

A vintage Bucilla kit that I cannot find a date anywhere in the packaging so a pre-1990s kit. 

Looks like this snow family has found it's home. 

It's funny to see the green leaves outside in this picture since all the leaves changed colors and have fallen to the ground. Ready for winter to arrive.

Starting September with Several Finishes

 I’m start with the biggie finish which I am labeling a “Trifecta.” The only reason I know what that word means is I have actually been to a horse race and won betting on the top three horses in a race. 

I made two oversized twin quilts and a mini wall hanging from the scraps.

This quilt saga started with the deal I got on the purchase of two Spumoni Bali Pops.

 In 2011, I decided I needed a “back-up plan” to work on at Breakfast Club meetings when I didn’t have time to prep the latest project or just wasn’t inspired to make it.

When Breakfast Club started we focused on making patterns with 2 1/2-inch strips. I picked the pattern, “State of Grace.” I failed to find a border fabric that worked for me so I came up with my border. I wanted to emphasize the deep teal blue pinwheels in the design.

And of course there were hundreds of scrap HSTs leftover from two twin quilts.

I have been stung by wasps twice this week! I surrendered to Mother Nature and spent two pretty days inside quilting instead of working in my yard. I was able to start the last bear stocking pattern in my stash. I figured out what was holding me back from starting this project...I didn’t like my initial fabric selection. The new colors remind me of Alaska and our state flag that is a solid blue with gold stars in the Big Dipper layout.

The next step for the stocking is to hand quilt the front and back sections.

I have finished one of the Antarctic Santas, Penguin Santa.

And I have some finishes on Bucilla kits to share!

The first is a 3D kit, “Frosty Flight.” I need to figure out a permanent stand for the plane.

I did not follow the directions on this kit at all.

It was a nice challenge...I made plenty of mistakes!

As a reward, I decided a simple kit should be the next project. I still have four more ornaments to complete in this kit which was given to me by Plaid as part of their ambassador program.

And of course, I had some unexpected visitors...neighbors who live behind me. They didn’t stay long and headed home after traipsing through my yard to include one of my perennial flower beds. At least they didn’t leave me any presents.

Happy Fall to Y'all.

 It is my favorite season.

 Love the intense colors of the changing leaves against brilliant blue skies.

August 2020 in Review

 I know there is still a week left in August...lets just say I expect that week to get past me and whammy...it will be September.

The forecast is rain so I have high expectations of getting lots of quilting done...it might happen.

First...a little travelogue. Hubby said it was time for a flight excursion so we did a 50 minute flight to Talkeetna for lunch. I had forgotten someone mentioning there was a quilt shop in Talkeetna until we had finished lunch and were strolling the main street...there is only one street...but it does make a turn and just past the turn was a quilt shop! Oh Yeah! 

It is so adorable! Lots of Alaskan themed kits. 

I usually restrain myself with panels but had to get this set of Santa's Siberians. And of course the strips that have Santa dog mushing.

Looks like I have my first project for the Material Girls October quilt retreat.

It has been months since my last shopping trip to a quilt shop...probably in late March. (Trying to keep politics out of this post.) Anchorage and Eagle River have lots of rules for quilt shops about number of shoppers, time spent in shops, one shop even required appointments for shopping...didn't work with my spontaneous nature when it comes to shopping. Meanwhile the only restriction for shopping in a big box store is wearing a mask. It really doesn't make any sense to me how these rules are applied. 

And really...I have so much fabric in my stash I had no trouble just shopping from my shelves and not messing with pissing someone off if I took too long or got too close. 

Rules take the fun out of shopping.

The quilt retreat is in Wasilla where there are no restrictions...fully open...so our retreat schedule isn't threatened. Not sure how many of the ladies will feel comfortable attending but I am looking forward to it. I have dates reserved to board all the critters. I was planning to attend the Houston Quilt Show this year but it got cancelled several weeks ago.

A few rainy days have been regularly sprinkled throughout our summer. I am getting closer to finishing this scrappy wall hanging. 

Landscaping projects always take priority on the summer schedule. I found a great deal on mulch at Home Depot and decided to try it to outline my rock borders with it.

 

I am also using the mulch on my front beds where my border mimics a stream...I have lots of rock in the soil of my yard. Every time I place a shovel in the ground I come up with all sizes of rocks...mostly rounded. I really did find most of these rocks in my yard that I am using in my front yard to make the "stream!" The super small round rocks that sit on top of my "stream," are leftovers from rock my septic installer left a pile of by my front door. 

Garden soil was also marked down at Lowe's so I stocked up on it for a raised bed in my front yard. I would like to help camouflage my neighbor's chicken coop.  Love my neighbors but a little more privacy with some great landscaping is needed. And you can really see my yard got decimated by the installation of a new septic tank last fall. I won't touch this area until next summer so I've laid down heavy sheets of black plastic to retard unwanted weeds or grass growth.

Gee...I really hope I get this part of my yard tackled next year...it really needs some spiffing up! My perennials in the backyard have hit that phase where they need to be split so I need a place to move those off shoots. 

I feel like my landscaping progress has been slow this season but it really has been overwhelming just to figure out where to start...where the next step is...and what I can realistically accomplish. And for some crazy reason...I like to do all the work myself. I cleared a lot of wooded area that borders our lot...I was beating back the wild! Even got my husband to drag out his chainsaw for a couple of days and rented a wood chipper. We cleared so much brush that shrank to a little pile of mulch. 

But with all the bears that visit I feel like I now have a better chance to see them coming.

 I found lots of treasures...like many huge ostrich ferns. Hopefully I can get some great photos of them next year. Some of them are almost as tall as me. There were boulders hiding behind overgrown brush...you know I like big rocks! There were icky plants to kill like Devil's Club and Cow Parsnip. I hate those plants so much even though they have the most gorgeous huge leaves...prehistoric huge.

This was also a summer I was deterred by wasps and hornets. A bad sting on the 3rd of July had me visiting an ER on the 4th of July because no urgent care clinics were open. The wasps and hornets were making their nests in the ground this year...all in the roots at the base of the trees in our yard. Very different. Usually the nests are up in the branches of the trees, in wood piles or underneath the deck. That radically changed my plans for landscaping my front yard. I had a few wasps chase me away from areas I wanted to clear. 

I always wonder if my neighbors gets a good laugh now and then from my antics in the yard.

Kicking Off August

A few days of rain does a lot for a quilter's time in the studio. 

I completed the quilting on Spumoni Spin #2. I might not get the binding on until the next rainy day...because it is pretty outside. Don't even know why I am on my computer when the sun is shining!

It is because I have been a little obsessed with the scrappy Half Square Triangles (HSTs) that are left over from the two quilts I made from the Spumoni Bali Pops.

No matter how many HSTs I piece together...there are always more!

 

I can't seem to stop thinking about what to do with this little suckers.

In July I finished a set of Sandra Cozzolino Santas

I know you are wondering...how may of these Santas are there left to make from this designer? 

Every time I think I have that figured out the final tally...I find more vintage designs. Sandra Cozzolino has a Facebook page where even she admits she doesn't know the final count.

I am now starting her new designs for 2020.

No wild critter pics to share though I did see a lynx cross our street while working in the yard last week. The lynx was as tall as my dogs...who were very confused when they saw it. I'm sure they thought it was a dog. It made for a nice conversation piece that evening at dinner. 

My big cat, Eli, was safely tucked away inside. He is only allowed to go in the dog run for outside adventures since there are just too many wild animals that would like to eat him...lynx, foxes and coyotes are all in the area.

He would make a good-sized meal.

Time to get on with more gardening tasks.

All of the annuals are hitting peak performance.

July 2020

It has been a month since my last posting. 

So much for my goal of posting weekly.

Here is what has happened lately.

A mama bear with three cubs came to visit.

My neighbor, who was out of town, texted me that her security camera had just gotten a shot of a bear in her yard. Immediately, I looked out my window and there was a mama bear with a cub...

then two more cubs came running behind her and scurried to a tree where one cub hustled right up it. Later that day I did look at the tree and saw the claw marks from the cub's climb.

It was brief visit and I feel lucky to get any photos at all. 

Hubby dragged me on a halibut fishing charter out of Whittier...a very small town that sits on the shores of Prince William Sound. The water is pretty smooth in the sound so no problems with sea sickness for anyone on the boat. It appears my husband expects this to be an annual event. With both sons unavailable and no out of state visitors this summer...he only had me to take on the trip. 

I don't eat fish...have never liked it...this is what makes it even more unexpected as an activity for me. 

And just to be clear...I am not much of a fisherman...I am a "reeler." The fishing charter does everything...has their secret fishing holes, baits the hook, sets the fishing poles in a very sturdy metal support, and gets the fish onboard. I just go out on the deck when the boat anchors and stand behind a fishing pole until they tell me to start reeling.

I was one of the last to get my fish...some people know what they are doing and get their fish pretty quickly. I had to let my last one go...it was my biggest but there are rules about the size and number of halibut one can keep. I am a very good tipper so I'm sure the crew was glad they put so much effort into my day. There were 12 total passengers on the trip and all got one or two halibuts. I think two was the limit per person. 

In case you vacation in Alaska and want do a fishing charter out of Whittier...

go with Crazy Rays. My husband has been fishing with him for several years. He has a nice boat with a good bathroom...very important when one is out on the water for 12 hours...but you have to make sure to request to be on Ray's boat...he has another crew operating his first boat that is smaller.

Bonus sites on the trip...Orca whales...and lots of otters.

Plaid Bucilla kit production was shut down for Covid 19. They are now open and working hard on new kits. I did get a goodie box from them but it only had one felt kit...this adorable Halloween ornament set. I sent a  request for several of the new stocking kit designs but probably won't get any those until September. 

Since I spend most of my days outside working in the yard...and a good deal of time is spent weeding...I have been turning to cross stitch projects. My sore fingers prefer cross stitch over embroidery on felt fabric.

These are not Santas...but elves that were designed by Sandra Cozzolino. 

What's Santa without his elves?

We've had a pretty decent summer in terms of weather. 

There is not a typical summer...or winter...or fall...or spring...

But this summer has been decent.

 A few sunny days and then a few days of rain. 

Works for me.

I took part in a Facebook Quilt Challenge to post a photo of one of my quilts for 10 days. Love show and tell so I jumped right to it. I realized I lacked some good quilt photos so I did an afternoon in my backyard doing a quilt photo shoot.

I had my assistants....

Pretty fun!

The rain has returned...

March 26th was the last time I quilted with my Nolting.

 It's good to be back in front of the machine. 

McKinley was hogging the quilt shots so I had to share one of my mama's boy,

Logan.

I was trying to get them to smile.

McKinley was trying...Logan...just confused.