Slow Sunday Stitching July 18

Slow Sunday Stitching--join in with Kathy's Quilts weekly linkup.  Lots of great stitching to enjoy there. 

The Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers Garden of Life project continues to occupy most of my stitching time--the sewing machine has remained untouched this week. But there has been some unsewing...

I noticed AFTER stitching the entire pathway that the bottom of the house was incomplete.  Luckily the area was one color and not very dense. 

Much better with the door full length as it should be.  I also finished off the last row of bricks on the house and added the ecru mortar. 

A bit of grass, the rest of the tree trunks, the zigzag border, and the pink flowers at the top border are all complete.  I got a little start on the bird's head there below the house and tree.  Smyrna crosses will fill the bird's body. I haven't done that stitch before but look forward to working those.  

Since I accidently turned my linen the wrong way when I first started stitching this design, I will have a very tiny top and lower edge to deal with.  I found this mistake after I had completely stitched the house and half of the upper left side of the pattern and alphabet. I'm thinking of adding a fabric border but will decide when all the stitching is done.  

I did also notice that in late night stitching--without great lighting--that the A and B of the alphabet are not the correct color--they are blue, not gray.  But I'm leaving them blue, as a nod to the designers, Alma Allen and Barb Adams--some may be aware that Barb Adams passed away recently and their happy design collaboration has ended after all these years. 

And now for some Baby Spam: 

Youngest grandson Dane feeling Papa's beard during a break in eating his oatmeal.  He is pretty much full time walking at not even 11 months old.  So happy to be able to pop over to visit and help out now that our son's little family lives close by. Mama was getting in a run at the beach while Daddy had to help with inventory at work on Saturday.

Design Wall Monday--10/19/2020 Vacay and Applique

Design Wall Monday is here again.  See more Design Walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts blog. 

We had a nice getaway for a few days to Del Mar.  Leaving midweek is so much better for getting through L.A. traffic, and we took full advantage of the HOV Diamond Lane for many many miles of the 170 mile trip--less than three hours from our house to the hotel, yay! 

It was lovely to sit on the beach below the bluffs one afternoon and watch the many surfers, kids playing, and families enjoying the day.  The fog was hanging off the coast when we arrived...

..but rolled in pretty thick after an hour or so.  It wasn't cold or windy so we stayed as long as we liked.

 

 

Nothing like Vitamin Sea to reset the stress level :)  These were the first vacation days Grant has taken from work all year and he really needed them.

I waded along the shoreline and looked at shells and rocks.  Lucky find of an intact sand dollar--about 2" in diameter, and many impossibly tiny shells. 

I took the Greenpiece BOM wool applique blocks for evening stitching time, which mostly occurred while the World Series played.  Yay Dodgers!

The apple got its seeds and the coneflower is lacking only the stitching on the leaves.  I spent a good amount of time prepping more blocks once we were home, including that bottom block with the thinnest stem ever.

I'm so glad Efficient Me labeled all the freezer paper templates and the wools with colors and numbers all those years ago!  I used up some more scraps for the tiny pieces, and even for some of the larger ones--just eked out the acorn cap from a black scrap. 

A few dots of Elmer's glue stuck them to the background.  Yesterday I also rechecked the final setting instructions for this old BOM, as I knew the blocks needed to be trimmed. 

I used Washi tape to make a "preview" window for centering.  It is very exciting to be getting these blocks to completion after all these years.  The wool blocks get corner triangles before they are set with the pieced blocks that I completed long ago.  There is a center appliqued tree and leaves yet to do as well, but I did make the pieced borders some time ago.  Maybe by the end of the year I'll have a finished top?  No matter, its waited all this time for completion, no rush necessary to the end!

Cambria Getaway--Lots of Words and Photos

Our short getaway to Cambria started off as any vacation for us usually does, leaving later than planned due to unexpected last minute errands and shopping, but traffic was fairly light as we made our way up the coastal route on Wednesday and we made good time.  Our hotel, booked the night before, was right on the cliffs in the most popular area of Cambria, Moonstone Drive. Off season pricing was very attractive.

The tide was going out and it was quite windy, but we luckily were very close to a beach access staircase from the boardwalk on the cliff.  This boardwalk goes for miles in either direction.

We had a nice view of the ocean from the hotel. Cambria holds a Scarecrow contest in October and this lady scarecrow posed outside the driveway.

Down on the sand, kids were climbing the rocks and there were a number of strollers enjoying the late afternoon on the packed sand.  Dogs were not allowed on the beach, which I appreciated.

Told you it was windy! We wandered on the beach and then rested a bit before thinking about dinner.  Luckily an internet search showed a good option 100 feet away--a dinner house called the Sea Chest.

We sat outside at the firepit with our drinks while we waited for a table--it was a very popular place at peak dinner hour. I popped across the road to get another shot of the ocean and setting sun.

Terrible lighting for photos but I wanted to show the business cards people have stuck up on the ceiling for decades, so many brown with age.  They were also stuck in the lampshades over the tables.  We had a lovely dinner including dessert.

I caught the sunset with a crescent moon and a gull before the light went.   

We enjoyed the free breakfast the next morning before heading into Cambria proper--the town is not large and we parked and poked around some of the little shops, had lunch in a Mexican Restaurant and then drove around the area a bit, revisiting the Cambria Pines Inn, where we had stayed 30 years before!  In the afternoon we drove further north--I had wanted to tour the Las Piedras Lighthouse, but we were too late for the guided tour.  We passed by Hearst Castle and saw the zebra herds, and the great house on the hill, which we had toured before.  We turned off the road to stretch our legs and see the elephant seals north of San Simeon. 

These were all juveniles, according the the Park Ranger,who for whatever reason had all crowded onto this smaller beach.  Beyond the rocks seen at the upper left there was a much larger and wider stretch of beach. 

There were some animals in the water at the surfline and nearby in the kelp beds, but most were lying about on the sand, using their flippers to throw sand over themselves as they lounged.  There were some who became irritated with other seals getting too close and some posturing and barking by the larger males, but no fighting.   Fortunately the seals were many feet below the boardwalk on the cliff so we were not in danger.  However, in the parking lot we did observe some clueless tourists who were feeding the squirrels and gulls and allowing their toddlers to pet the squirrels!  Incredible luck no one was bitten.  We returned to our hotel and I had a long nap before we found a local grill for dinner and watched the Dodgers on the big screens.  On our last morning, we went back into town for breakfast.   I chose the Creekside Restraurant.  While there was no actual creek visible, we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed a good meal.  

These Dias de la Muertas scarecrows saw us out.

Grant had to do some computer work before we finished packing up and I took another stroll down the boardwalk, heading south.

 The tide was in and there were a couple of surfers out.

I walked far enough to come to an estuary.  Lots of different birds were visible.  A flash of white caught my eye...

A long-legged heron or crane was busy hunting breakfast. As I made my way back toward the hotel, I got a shot of the typical rolling hills of the central California. coast, covered in dry brush and Oak trees.  Cambria has stayed a small town/resort area due to the lack of fresh water resources in this isolated area. 

 Grant joined me for one last selfie before we checked out.

It was a lot less windy!  On the way back home, we stopped in Pismo Beach to visit my best friend Toni and her husband Dan and give them the housewarming present I made, a little quilted tablemat made from four patches (which I have shown before but share again). 

They said they loved it.  Dan always expressed amazement at how I come up with the colors and arrangement.  Experience and good designers to learn from, I'll always say!   These were leftover four patch square in squares from the Go Four It quilt.  It was a wonderful getaway and coming home on Friday meant two more days to enjoy before the real world called again.  I'm hoping more short breaks like this are in our future.

Design Wall Monday--2/25/19

Design Wall Monday is here.  See more Design Walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts. 

The rest of February will fly by this week, but I have been stitching and my Design Floor has seen a number of projects in progress.

I managed to get the label done for the just-turned-1-year old of a family friend--the pieced backing was all from stash.  The plaid has the same green as the Kona Tarragon solid on the front and binding.  I delivered the quilt to DD Erica on Friday and she'll take it to her friend. Can't wait to see little Sid on the quilt. 

Another backing was cobbled from leftover flannels for the baby quilt version of Falling Charms. It's folded in this pic but really is big enough.

Here's a pic of the finished top.  This is to be packaged up with batting for my sister to quilt, then I'll bind it before handing in to Guild for donation.  I kitted up a couple more charm square groupings to sew in the near future.

More Log Cabin Loonie blocks have been forming, my version of Julie's block are 7.5" unfinished.  Lots of 1.5" strips are getting cut from the scrap bins.

There are now 41 finished blocks and another dozen in progress--80 are required for my setting plan.

I spent some time organizing and culling the scrapbooking drawers I use for precut strips from scraps, separating solids by neutrals and colors to their own drawers.  I really must keep up on the scrap management--my cutting table regularly gets out of control!    

We celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary Sunday--well, we were going to have dinner out but then my husband called with a dead car battery, from the mall where he had been on an errand. The jump from my car didn't work so we had to call my mechanic brother for help, then went to his shop and he put in a new battery.  By that time it was  nearly 7:30 pm, our reservation had been canceled, and I voted for staying home for leftover homemade soup and cookies.  We'll reschedule the nice dinner out :)  Our grandsons have their shared birthday this week and then our youngest daughter has her birthday the following week.  It's a busy time of the year for celebrating--five weeks in a row for our family. 

Next up, I will revisit my Three For September challenge beginning March 1.  I've made my list of quilts and will work on one project every three days for the month of March.  The self-challenge I did in September was very energizing and I'm looking forward to more progress on WIPS, perhaps even a couple of finishes.

Home Improvement On The Sly

While DH Grant was away on a weekend with his buddies earlier this month, I secretly planned a painting project, and corralled DD Erica into giving me a hand.   Friday I spent doing all of the boring prep--the cleaning, washing of walls, and patching.  Naturally, it was a hot and sticky weather period and I was thoroughly sweaty and tired after all that.   Luckily I had the paint and all other supplies on hand.  I set up a banquet table in the garage with all the supplies we needed.  Erica joined me on Saturday-- she is the best at taping.

Counter surfing prone...

..and supine.  Look at those hipbones!

Low, behind the refrigerator...

..and high above the doorway.  We got the first coat on, took a late lunch break, and fairly quickly the second coat followed. 

Waiting for paint to dry is really dull.  Erica helped me pull off all the tape and clean up the edges of the cabinets. 

After a couple of hours I had the room reassembled and restaged. I also climbed into the garden window to clean the inside and then on a stepladder to clean the outside. Isn't the hardest part the final clean up and putting away all the supplies and paint?   That got done late on Sunday before I collapsed.  Grant came home Monday while I was at work and was happily surprised to see the Terracotta paint gone at last.  We are enjoying the lighter, brighter look in our East facing kitchen.  Next room to conquer is my adjoining sewing room (former family room),for  which Erica and I mapped out a paint plan.  I'm hoping to get that done in September and have a carpenter add new baseboard trim in October.  Best laid plans!

Ventura County Fair Wrap Up

My husband and I went down to the Fair on Friday night, it was about 15 degrees warmer that evening than when I went with my sister the week before!  We were roasting in 76 degree temps with no wind, long after sunset, but enjoyed our date night.  After eating our favorite fish tacos and taking in a Led Zepplin tribute band performance, we wandered through the garden displays. 

I liked this planted wheelbarrow, and have wanted to do this with a vintage one we inherited from Grant's dad some years ago.   Grant gave it a thumbs up.

This one was pretty too, in this old pushcart.

The horse barn Percherons supervised a buggy being removed after a performance, on this side of the barn...

..while on the other side of the barn a Stairway to Clydesdale was required to undress the huge  horses.

This chicken named Squirrel had laid an egg but wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

Chanel had a pretty name but wouldn't turn around. She matched her nesting material.  

Grant wasn't particularly interested in taking a turn through the Home Arts building, so I left him to enjoy another band while I spent more time looking at some favorites. 

A very fun flamingo by one of our guild members.  This must also have been a class, as another guild member also made one, with a much wilder background. I liked the quilting on this one. 

Another prize winner by a guild member.  She favors batiks in all her quilts.  Lots of precise paper-piecing in this pretty one.  

I got a closeup of this quilt which was a special prize winning entry, to show the quilting better.  I also went back to the Tomato Pincushion quilt to get a closeup. 

Love all the pieces in the background.  Still can't tell if the flower and leaves in the lower left are painted or appliqued.  Lots of work in this one too. 

The Halloween themed booth was weirdly lighted--I cannot get it corrected.  The cat quilt was a lot of fun, one of the Buggy Barn Ladies pattern?  Check out the Nimbus 2000 broomstick that someone made!  Great cross-stitch projects there too. 

Loved this darling cross stitch, another sort of mid-century style work.

Gourds decorated many different ways were displayed.  The snake was very intricately painted, and deserved that blue ribbon.  The owl is pretty cute too.  I took a quick run through the photography building before meeting Grant at his favorite fair food dessert booth: Cinnamon Buns.  We wandered back towards the fairgrounds entrance so I could choose my dessert before we left.  I settled on a caramel apple covered with English Toffee.  They sliced the apple still on the stick and gave it to me in a paper boat.  Oh. my. gosh. It was delicious!  I was covered in chocolate by the time we rode the bus back to our car, but sure enjoyed it.   Today was the last day of the Fair, and I'll pick up my entries (and winnings!) tomorrow.