Cruise!

I'm not sure it is quite the same going on a Caribbean cruise when you live in Florida.

San Juan...

I mean we see water, beaches and palm trees all the time!  (and why does that sound like I am complaining...hummm)  Anyway, we spent 7 days going from Amber Cove in the DR, to St. Thomas, San Juan, and then Grand Turks.

St. Thomas

All good...not a lot of sewing or quilting but then again no cooking or cleaning!

Now back to reality...my design wall...a zipper Christmas table runner, some grey free pieced background blocks for applique and a couple of random blocks found while folding fabric! The zipper table runner is a good way to use some of the charm packs that seem to be multiplying in the fabric baskets...they are like candy in the checkout lane!

I also have Bonnie Hunter's leader and ender for this year under the needle.  I'm using a controlled scrappy fabric selection since my niece asked for a purple and orange quilt.  I was surprised just how much of those colors I had in my stash!  I now have a very large box of 4-patches and another large box of hst's.  I think it may be time to start making more blocks...

Victorian photo shoot

I used my week's allotment of energy to do a photo shoot of a fellow quilter's daughter.

A couple year's ago Amy made this dress as part of her Senior Project.  The dress was part of her discussion on why Home Economics should be brought back to the curriculum.

We took the photos out at the Aiken Visitor Center which is designed to look like an old train station.  It is next to railway track at the edge of downtown.

Amy did a great job modeling.

At some point I'm going to figure out a way to incorporate an antique quilt in one of these sessions!

Heggies Rock Photos

Three times a year a local photographer gives a "photo tour/workshop" at a local Nature Conservancy spot called Heggies Rock.  I got on the list and not matter how I felt I was going on this!

It is sort of a magical place.  There are plants that only live there.  Very hostile conditions.  It is a large outcropping of granite that basically is untouched.  Plants grow in the shallow "dishes" or moss-beds.

Reindeer Moss...

The limit the number of people who have access and require visitors to walk only in certain areas.

Water runs off the granite quickly.  This is called the "ephemeral stream."

There are a few areas with shrub and some lillies...

This species of mounding Quillwort is only found at Heggies Rock

The plants have wonderful names like Mounding Quillwort, Pool Sprite, Merlin Grass, and Granite Elf Orpine.  (I have to admit Hogworts came to mind!)

So today I am sore and tired but very happy went on the photo shoot!

Sedum which is what most photographers go to Heggies to shoot...

I spent  good part of the day just folding fabric, cleaning the cutting table, with one quick trip to the April sale at the LQS!  More on that later!

Quilts and photos...

This year I signed up for an online photo class with Ricki Tims (yes, the quilter Tims!.)  It helps keep me focused on learning and trying new things with my camera.  Most of all it gets me out taking photos!

My week 5 photo - Shape

We are in week 5 of the class.  It sort of alternates with a technical lesson and then an "art" lesson.  We then take and post a photo using what we learn.  So far so good!

Last week it was a technical photo...long distance "tack-sharp."  Almost got it.  These are the "love locks" at the Savannah Lock and Dam.  I was trying to get the locks and both the smooth and rough waters behind them in focus.

The 2017 guild donation quilt is finished!  (except for a sleeve and label...)  The quilt was inspired by a quilt in Indigo Quilts by Kate and Lori Lee Triplet.  It is an Irish Chain with a Birds and Flight border.  I drew the 6 applique blocks.  The quilt is queen size.  We used a lot of different Indigo fabrics in this quilt!

This week I am trying to finish up the quilt for my friends silent auction.  Also working on a quilt inspired by one that came out of the $5 bag of quilts!  And when I have a minute I'm cleaning the sewing room...ya, it will be a busy week!

Catawba Spider Lily

Yesterday I took a road trip with my photography club to upstate South Carolina to view the Rocky Shoal Spider Lillies in bloom.

It is a really pretty park.  Would like to go back in the late afternoon so the sun may be better positioned to photograph the flowers.  Not happy with my shots...

however there was a lot of fun things to photograph...like frogs (toad?)

spiders...real spiders

and this good sized rat snake that surprised me on the trail (lets just say snakes should not be in trees...my rule!)

So how does this fit with quilting?  I loved the shape of the spider lilly!  I have drafted a string block based on the flower and plant to stitch one up tonight!

It is fun when I can merge the two hobbies...like knowing how to remove stains from quilts and from the slacks after a photo shoot!

Baby Quilt finished!

I did it...finished a baby quilt before the baby was born!  Trust me this has only happened once before...usually I think I do well if it is finished before their first birthday (oh ya, I wanted to know the gender first...that excuse just doesn't work anymore!)

The last stitch went into the binding about noon and it was at the post office by 2:00!  I stopped for an ice-cream on the way home to celebrate!

I have another baby quilt waiting for binding so I can't stop and party too long...

I'm continuing to work on Photoshop...a little bit each day...and it gets a bit easier each day.  Not a lot but a little bit!  Yesterday I too photos on different manual setting of my camellia bush.  First year it has bloomed!

Also worked on our guild's next donation quilt.  We got permission to base it on this quilt in Kay Triplett's book on Indigo.  We are adding some applique in the open areas. The applique will be in the fabrics below...a bit challenging but fun on the less!

Photo Shop Class

I started this year out with finally getting to one of those long term items on my bucket list...I'm taking a class on Photo Shop.

Beach in Honduras...homework last weekend

I love it...I hate it...and I love it.  Some times my head feels like it will explode!

In the class I am the only "real" beginner.  Heck one woman used to teach the class!  The instructor is excellent...it is just a tad fast!

Also, I find myself wishing I could go back and take photos again knowing what I do now about my digital camera!

Reminds me of when I took a year long applique class where we made one block a month.  At the end of the year I looked at my first month's block and decided to remake it...in the end I had 16 blocks but only used 12!  We are hard on ourselves aren't we?!

I also see the photos creeping into the quilting room...this is yesterday's block for the Splendid Sampler over on Facebook!

I'm back again...

2016 has started out as a crazy year...but I'm back and will try to do better!

My Carnival Corn quilt on display this month in GA!

To start with I am working hard to finish up two baby quilts.  Two of my nephews who married just a couple weeks apart 4 years ago now are having babies only a couple months apart!

Mommy and me...now quilted and just waiting on binding!

All good...I just need to start working on baby quilts again.  Think I may need several in the years ahead!

Beach in Honduras....

In January my guild had its retreat, my small wool stitching group put up a show in Millidgeville, GA called "stitching with friends."  (photo of Carnival Corn is from that show,) and my husband and I went on a cruise.

I've spent February recovering!

Post Thanksgiving Notes

I successfully avoided shopping on Thanksgiving...I only succumbed to a quick visit to a Hancocks on Friday to pick up a new large cutting mat (50% off.)  I even stayed away from shopping on Saturday...

However today, Cyber Monday, I admit to buying some of my favorite hand lotion on line, got some deals at Missouri Quilts (3 Aurifil threads for less than $10!) and a Sinatra book for my husband.

I did get out to do a bit of walking around the Canal this weekend.  My goal is to walk there three times a week.  It has a half mile loop...

There are three projects that I have deadlines on...

first this small wool and button project.  My woolie group is having an exhibit in January.  This is tough for me as I give away most of my finished items.

second is this little Christmas pillow (mine is the large one in the back with borders.)  It would be nice to be able to put it out on the couch before the 25th of this year!  My Wednesday stitching group did this as a day project.

and finally, the Elephant and me baby quilt for my nephew and his wife who are expecting in January.  The piecing on this quilt went quickly...the applique not so much.  Large applique pieces are tougher for me than small ones!

When I finish these I have another baby quilt for another nephew and his wife who are due in March!  Maybe I should start making some to keep on hand...

Happy Thanksgiving...a bit late!

Sorry I missed sending a Happy Thanksgiving post...seem the flu got to me early this year!

So we spend a quiet one this year.  I did get up long enough to make a pecan pie, some dressing, and a new recipe that combined butternut squash, kale, onion, cranberries and pecans...sounds bizarre but it was really good!

Wish it photographed better...

Speaking of photographs...one of my photos (the one a the top of this post) is going to hang at an exhibit at the McCormick Arts Council building in December!  Don't you just love the quilt "block" hanging on the front of the building.  The exhibit starts on the 4th of December.  The photos will be from the Chicks that click group.  Looking forward to it.  McCormick has a lot going on for a small town!

Anyway, Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and survived the Black Friday craziness!

October! My favorite month!

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” 

― Albert Camus

I love fall...and October is my favorite fall month!  So I am excited this morning!

I already have done some of my favorite fall things...picked apples, bought a pumpkin, put Mums by the front door, and changed out the door decorations to include a grapevine wreath and leaves!

The weather is cooler so I can work out in the garden and throw the windows open to air out the house.  Purge all that processed air-conditioned air!

This quilt is getting a woodgrain fabric binding...

And no surprise I my love of autumn also shows up in my quilting!  The two quilts I am binding right now (ok one I am making the binding for and the other I am auditioning fabric to decide on binding...) are both autumn themed.

dark green gingham option

striped option....

I always struggle with binding decisions...maybe that is why it takes me so long to do that final step in a quilt.

Both of these quilts are going to be in my guild's show...so really need to get a move on!