Get It Done 2013

I'm not sure if it's that I'm so behind or if others are also behind, but I tried searching for the Get It Done link-up post at Patchwork Times and couldn't find it, though I see that Judy does have her August goals set on her sidebar. Maybe she doesn't do a separate post for that and I've just forgotten. update - Found It!


So with that said, I'm going ahead and posting my goals for August here as well as in the tabbed page I've set up for my goals.  I've also updated some of my prior months' goals info.

• Catch up from vacation!
• As Marty has started my quilt room 'makeover', it needs to be finished and then moved back into with greater organization, so the goal: Get back into my quilt room
• Quilt one, any one, UFO project

I hope you've all been able to make great progress on your July goals.  I clearly need to go back through January-July and work on some of those that ended up not met!

Stash Report Week #31

While on vacation, I visited several quilt stores.  One cannot (usually) enter a fabric store and come away empty-handed.  I certainly could not.  I resisted at first, at least with fabric, and purchased some books and other tools, but ultimately, caved to pressure of fabric that was saying, "you need me".  Thereby, I added 17.5 yards of fabric to my stash.  All but a half yard of that was purchased with that half yard being a 'freebie' in attending the quilt camp.

Used This Week: 0 yards 
Used Year to Date: 10.25 yards  
Added This Week: 17.5 yards  
Added Year to Date: 46.375 yards  
Net Used for 2013: -36.125 yards 

Here are some photos of the fabric that was added:

The red & black stripe will be for a backing on a UFO; the solid black is Kona Jet, the light green is a pretty mint, the black background just wanted to come home with me and the dotted lime green - so not my usual fabric choice, just kept shouting very loudly to me, so it came home with me too.

The top two are FQs, the freebies from camp, the red & white diagonal replaces a previously chosen R&W fabric for the Christmas quilt wall-hanging from the class I took back in March, the other three are 1800-era repros that were on sale at at shop at the coast.

It would appear my stash numbers took a big jump in the wrong direction.  Well, guess that just means I need to get busy making even more quilts!  

Linking up to Patchwork Times in attempt to be accountable, hehe.

Vacation Moments II

In my previous Vacation Moments post, I showed how my car's mileage reached the 100,000 mile point.  This year on our trip, I managed to put 3,061.4 miles on the car.  I think that's a new vacation record, at least for travel to the north.  And wouldn't you know, Nick and I both hoped for some rain while in the wet land, but all 26 days were clear, except for a sprinkle when we drove to the coast.  This morning a friend posted on the social network that she woke up to wet pavement, it's all in the timing of God's hands.

I'll let photos with comments reflect this Vacation Moments II edition.

The formation and position of the clouds rather makes this look like a volcano erupting.  Assuredly it was not, but some time in its past it has and likely in its future it will again.

Our only real road construction delay.  Thankfully it was brief, only about 10 minutes of stop plus subsequent slowness as the truckers up and beyond what is shown in the photo got started again, uphill at that.

Prior to a road construction stoppage, we had seen other ribbons of this beautiful lavender highway.  At a stop, it became evident that it was the rebar set in place prior to being covered with concrete roadway.

My dad with the gladioli that grew in front of their window this year.  They said they did no special treatment of the soil, just dug the bulbs from where they were the year before and replanted at this location, without letting them sit out and rest during the time they normally would have.  This particular glad rose above my dad's head by about another 6" and he's about 5'8" these days.

Prior to quilt camp, my aunt Irene had been gifted this unique (I want one!) ironing table that clamps to the long folding tables and that leg you see, folded down.  The first night we placed it between us with one iron and it was great!  After that, she moved it over to her left so she could have room to get out a little easier and I used her folding Omnigrid cutting mat/ironing pad (she bought me one of my own for my birthday after quilt camp).  Both items are wonderful in a class setting.

At Black Butte Ranch there was a small outdoor show the day before the Sisters show.  I took several pix of the scenery including these geese hanging out at the edge of the lake and only one of a feathered star quilt.

This is my cousin-in-law's niece displaying what I believe she said to be her third quilt.  Should I mention that she's only 14?  It's lovely and I really like the pink, black and white combo.

Now we'll see a few quilts from the Sisters show.  I didn't do very well at getting the details on the makers, so if anyone sees something of theirs, shout out your info.  Same goes if you don't want it displayed here, let me know and I'll remove it.  I've always loved horses and we owned horses when I still lived at home and can remember our horses doing this.  In fact, somewhere I have a picture of Prince and Kate in a similar pose.  It just dawned on me, our horses names back in the late '60s reflect the current British #1 couple: "Prince" and Kate  :)  I loved those horses!

This especially caught my eye.  I love the basic 2-color aspect and of course the 3-D appearance of the 'blocks'.

I also found this to be very appealing and well-done though it's not something I would be inclined to do.  Loved it just the same.  The photo doesn't do it justice, at least not on my monitor.  the colors were quite vivid  against the solid black background.

This is only two of somewhere around 18-20 quilts of the same pattern.  It was a challenge by a group from I believe Prineville, and also, if I remember right it was a mystery but I could be confusing it with another group.  I'm always amazed at how different the same pattern can look just by changing fabric colors and value placements.

Oh, and didn't I say I loved horses?

And this is just oh so sweet, love, love, love.

My cousin-in-law in with one of her quilt camp projects.  A machine-appliqued quail table runner for her grandma.

My aunt Irene with a block from a kit that her son and wife (cousin-in-law in previous pic) gave to her after housing them for several weeks while some work was being done at their own home.  My aunt had not done triangles like this before even though she's been quilting for years/decades.  She was quite frustrated for awhile but finally got the hang of it and was happy.

We visited the Suttle Lake lodge (we stayed at the Methodist church camp nearby) prior to leaving the area.  In a word "Wow"!  It has some beautiful wood carving inside all around as well.  This picture shows the massive wooden entry doors that are stunningly beautiful.  Apologies for the slightly fuzzy picture.

And that does it for Vacation Moments II.  I'll compose another set or two in the days ahead.  Thank you for joining me as I review my memories from the past month.

Home !! and Sewing Room Status

Nick and I made it home at 9:20 p.m. Monday after 14.5 hours on the road.  When we got to our exit, it was closed!  That was a bummer because the next off-ramp isn't for many miles and I had to really think as to what would be the best way to go and after 14 hours of highway time, my brain wasn't thinking, so I think I probably took a slightly longer route than needed, but had I taken the shorter route, there was the likelihood that an additional detour would have been needed.  It would have been really nice had they used one of those movable, lit-up highway signs giving warning that the exit was closed...especially since the next off-ramp was so far away.  Despite this last minute irritating inconvenience, I am thankful we had an otherwise safe and uneventful trip from 7/3 through 7/29.

The last couple of days have been spent doing laundry and home clean-up.  I have this weird OCD need to re-wash every piece of clothing from our suitcases even if the item is clean.  I think it goes back to my camping/backpacking days because things just get dusty during traveling.  And when the hubs batches it for 26 days, well, his idea of clean and mine are completely different, so the kitchen got a pretty good cleaning as did one bathroom so far.  

There's still lots to do as Marty was working on that sewing room of mine.  He scraped off the ceiling texture, replaced drywall on the ceiling; he removed drywall on the two exterior walls and added fiberglass insulation and re-applied drywall; he also sprayed the ceiling for a knock-down texture effect and a light spray on the walls.  All of this generated a ton of dust throughout the house as he didn't (seemingly so) put up a plastic barrier at the door.

The stash closet; notice the dust that filtered in - I will have to vacuum with the hose attachment to get the dust out of here, there's way too much fabric in there to rewash it all.

The re-sprayed ceiling.  As a novice, Marty did a fairly good job, but this picture doesn't show the flaws that are very obvious after dark using just the ceiling light...it needs to be remedied so Marty will talk with a construction neighbor to see what can be done.  He gets an "A" for his willing attempt.

This is the wall that normally is my design wall.

This is one of the the two walls where the drywall was replaced after installing insulation.  Window is still taped.

This is the other exterior wall.  Cabinets and a small desk will cover this wall.

And the fourth wall showing the entry doorway and the stash closet door.  I had asked that he tape plastic to the closet doorway before closing it and doing all the work.  I guess he missed that request ;/

The flooring that was under the carpet, and after all the ceiling and wall spraying which splotched it all over.  I had suggested we just clean it well, paint and seal over the paint and I'd be happy, and at such time we sell, we could re-carpet it.

A closeup of one of the 1966 era tiles, they only measure about 9"x 9".  Not bad really, neutral coloration with a bit of striation.  I'd have even been happy with that with just a good sealant / varnish? over it.

This why Marty nixed my idea, there were a number of these spots where the tiles had broken up, so his plan is to remove all the tiles, waiting until all the ceiling and wall issues are done including painting because he doesn't want any of that stuff on the bare wood beneath the tile.  I don't see what difference it would make, it'll be covered with whatever new flooring we choose. 

As you can see, there's still a lot to do and it's likely going to take weeks or months.  In part because there isn't much I can do until the ceiling issue is resolved, I could then paint the ceiling and walls after dusting them. Then I need to decide what to put on the floor.  I don't want ceramic or clay tile, and I don't want carpet.  We may go with just a linoleum and use some throw rugs if needed.  The room is only 9.5 x 10.  What would you put on your floors?  I'm patiently (?) awaiting the finish of this room, not only for quilting, but for genealogy too, and to just get things organized and back into the room that are now taking up space elsewhere throughout the upstairs.

Flying Decades!

Today was a milestone for me.  I have officially completed six decades on this planet!  It doesn't seem possible.  I remember as a little girl, thinking forward to the year 2000 and how that was SO far away and wondering if I'd live to be "that old"!  I was sure I wouldn't, but here I am and thinking it's impossible that I've reached that old age.  Frankly, I'd be doing fine with this age if it wasn't for the extra poundage, I call it being "fluffy", hehe, and all those ridiculous aches and pains that seemingly came out of nowhere when I reached the half-century mark a decade ago.  

Lord willing, I'll reach beyond another decade or two and get a lot more quilts quilted and done.  When I get home from vacation and get 're-settled' I'll get caught up on my blogging.  As it is, Nick and I managed to wipe out my aunt's allotted internet time so I'm at my mom's for a few hours and using her internet.  I didn't know there were caps on internet time, but now we know.  You need to understand that Nick brought his monster-computer with us and has spent far too much time on it while my aunt and I were out doing some other things.  He could have stayed home in the dry land for that! but he was, and still is, quite sure he wanted to be here in the wet land, which by the way, has been perfectly dry the entire 24 days we've been here - boo, hiss, we wanted at least some clouds with a few sprinkles here and there, didn't happen!

On Monday, I'll be headed home to see if I can even get into my 'new' quilt room, it may take time, but there's always the dining room to work in.

Leaders and Enders

Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville is having a link-up for those who've participated in the Spools Challenge.  I won't say I started that challenge at the beginning, as I didn't really follow her blog much until more recently, but I am now, and have been making spool blocks prior to vacation.  My photo is a couple months old, maybe even older, but is representative of most of what I've been able to make using this method, though I do have quite a few more done. 

Visit Quiltville, linked above, to see what others have accomplished.

Vacation Moments

Quilt camp has come and gone.  Had a nice time sewing and sewing and eating...three squares a day! The camp fed us quite well.  And it's already the 13th day of our vacation, the time is flying by.

This is what my car did enroute to Suttle Lake Methodist Quilt Camp (no, I'm not Methodist, but that's where the quilt camp was because most others in the group are Methodists):

photos taken pulled over at side of road :)

My Highlander reached 100,000 miles.  It's a 2006.  I really like this vehicle.

Mt. Washington.  Viewed on the way to the camp.

Aunt Irene in front of White Rabbit on Sisters Quilt Show Day, we were very blessed to have found a great parking space right in town (shhhh, don't tell anyone we weren't "locals only" following traffic directions)

I took a lot of pictures at the Sisters Quilt Show on Saturday (7/13) but will wait to post any until I return home in a couple weeks.

This is the early morning sea of people at the quilt show, I haven't names - it's in a public setting.  The main street through town is blocked off from automobile traffic.  There were more people by the time we left in the early afternoon.

A view of Suttle Lake, we drove here and it's probably 1/2 - 1 mile from the group camp building we stayed in.

Nick at Boiler Bay

Today, Nick and I and my parents took a drive to the coast.  We stopped at Boiler Bay briefly.  It was chilly, a little windy though not as bad as it could have been, the ocean had motion with spray coming off some of the waves along the shoreline (not seen in the above pic).  We drove on down and over the bridge in Newport before turning around and heading back.  We stopped in Lincoln City and had a late lunch with a to go order from J's Fish & Chips, coated cod, slaw, curly fries and beverage, and drove to a parking overlook at D-Lake (aka Devil's Lake) where we ate our lunch.  It was nice to visit the coast again.  Nick wanted to stop at PigNPancake, but my dad doesn't do any sit down restaurant action so we'll plan another trip for next week perhaps when my parents won't be with us.  When we were kids, we'd stop at the Pronto Pup stand.  Back then of course, it truly was just a 'stand' no bigger than an outhouse, and didn't look much different from one quite frankly, but the rare occasion we'd stop, we enjoyed them.  For those who don't know, Pronto Pups are like corn dogs on a stick. Panake-like batter dipped wiener that's deep-fried.

The next few days will be visiting family & friends, and transitioning from my parents to my aunts where I'll have internet but it's not as speedy as here, and here isn't as good as home, but all are better than what was at quilt camp, where all I had was 3 yellow bars and lonngg upload times.  Of course, who wants to be on the internet when you have hours and days to sew?