Tuesday Meanderings -- 5 - 17 - 2016

Monday went zooming by -- I never even thought about posting my normal Monday post.  We are down at the beach house with friends from college.  Bob and Pat rowed for University of Southern California together.  When Bob married Barb it turned out that we all became great friends. We go for too many years without seeing each other but we pick up our friendship without missing a beat.  

Here we are after finishing a great meal at Blue Moon Brewery in Manteo, NC.  We had spent the morning at the Fort Raleigh National Park on Roanoke Island.  This was the site of the first European settlement in America.  If you remember Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I, and the Lost Colony form American history, Fort Raleigh is where it took place.  Walter Raleigh organized the trip from England with the approval of Elizabeth I, the Virgin queen.  Raleigh was hoping to start a settlement of English and gather resources and wealth from the land. That's not what happened.  The governor of the land went back to England and couldn't get back to Roanoke Island for 3 years.  All English ships were being used to fight the Spanish Armada. Not good for the settlers.  They were gone when Governor White was able to return.  It's still a mystery of what happened to them, including the White's granddaughter who was the first European child born in the New World. 

Monday we spent exploring lighthouses in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.   I wasn't willing to go up the first one -- I'm slightly claustrophobic and the whole idea freaked me out. At the second lighthouse I decided to give it a try with everyone else. I got up two flights of spiral steps but -- nope -- not for me!  I've included a picture of the Bodie (pronounced like body) Light Station. Despite me chickening out we all had a great time.  (You should be able to click on the photos to see a larger pic.)

Bob and Barb go back to California tomorrow and we're headed home.  I leave the next day for Sharon's in MD and then on to retreat on Friday.  I have a little bit more cutting to do for the two main projects I'm bringing with me to work on.  And, of course, I need to clear out the suitcase and refill it with clean clothes.  I'll probably have less than 20 hour turn around.  

Here's Dorothy's quilt that I finished quilting last week.  She was happy to pick it up last Friday. The fabrics were so busy you really couldn't see the quilting, even close up.  It is a beautiful quilt -- I always like blue and yellow quilts. 

Here are my goals from last week.  Most got done.

May 9, 2016

Quilt customer quilt√

Finish piecing CP orphan blocks √ only 1 seam left

Cut two quilt kits to sew up at retreat √ need to add some units to these

Make samples for flippy star presentation√

And this week: 

May 16, 2016

View a couple of lighthouses in the Outer Banks of NC

Enjoy fun times and good food with Bob and Barb

Add a few pieces to each kit

Enjoy the FCQ retreat in Maryland

Sew like a fiend and get whatever I can done!

Today I'm linking up with Monday Makings, Main Crush Monday, Freemotion by the River. Grab a cup of joe and surf the internet a bit to see what's happening with quilty blogs! 

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Tuesday 10-28-2014

I missed Monday so here I am late on Tuesday evening.  I'm going to link up with Show and Tell Tuesday at I Have to Say and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts.  

I "had planned" to post again last week but honestly, 4 days out of the seven I had things going on that took up nearly the full day.  Monday I enjoyed a day of embroidery with Kay, Dorothy, and Janet.  I worked on the grand's Halloween shirts.  Usually I've gotten black t shirts (generally purchased from the boy's department at Target.) This time I shopped a bit earlier and got some light colored waffle shirts. 

The color is off but you get the idea.  Here are closeups of each shirt. Ellie's shirt has a dog that looks like Cassie. 

Natalie's features a cat -- kind of like Max, the cat in her family. This is a really peachy colored shirt and I had a heck of a time finding anything that would go with that color until I decided to do everything with contrasting color! 

And here's Sophia's shirt. She got a little monster.  This shirt is really a nice turquoise but sure looks light green on my computer! All of these designs are from Designs by Juju in the set Too Cute to Spook.  OOOH they still have them on sale -- 12 designs for $4.00.  I think I need to look over the new designs as I've already bought several design sets from here. 

Friday the same group of ladies plus Carolyn, a non-quilter,  got together in my studio to make pillowcases for the hospice that Kay's sister works for.  We got 25 pillow cases done.  Kay had them cut and color coordinated before she got to my house.  We all had jobs to do from pinning, ironing, stitching the cuffs on, serging the edges and the final turning, ironing and folding.  Needless to say I forgot to take any pictures.  I was a very tired camper that night.  I tend to work a bit, rest a bit, work a bit until I'm totally worn out.  

Saturday I drove back up to Kevin and Aimee's to help celebrate Ellie's first birthday while Pat was in New Jersey with competing in the regional Barbershop competition. I'll try to post pictures from the birthday celebration later this week. Pat's chorus was pleased with their placement. Both of us were tired of driving. 

By Sunday, Pat and I were packing up both cars to drive to OBX for beach week.  (Pat is doing a lot of work while I'm doing just a little work on the house.) We also did a day of shopping on Monday -- got a couple of new beds for the house.  But I also found a small quilt shop Shoreline Handwerks in Manteo. (It's pronounced as if it were spelled Maneo,  man e o with the accent on the O.) They do a big online business but also have a shop with Bernina sales and service.  And, should I mention I went to the outlet stores and bought a couple pairs of shoes?  I only brought one pair of leather athletic shoes and my feet have been way too hot.  It's been beautiful here so far this week.

I'm also spending my time doing this: 

Sewing at the beach. It's a nice view out although no ocean is visible. That probably helps me to keep focused. 

Once again, I'm working on Easy Street, the Bonnie Hunter Mystery from 2012.  I've almost gotten all of the units prepped so I can start sewing the blocks together.  I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to make a queen size quilt! Who knows where I'll put this quilt when it is finished.  I love these bright colors -- lime green, turquoise, grey and black and whites.   I had to replenish my black and whites hence the trip to Shoreline Handwerks. 

Sunset was great Sunday night.  I use my cell phone for most of the pictures I post here.  The color isn't quite right but it is pretty none the less. October has been beautiful in the Outer Banks. 

And, I'll leave you with the view out our window during dinner tonight.  We ate at Lone Cedar Cafe.  Pat had Blackened Tuna Tacos and I had broiled shrimp.  Yummy food and a nice view. This restaurant is about 10 minutes from our house with views of the sound from both sides of the restaurant.  Never did see who uses this big nest.  

Pat and I were hoping to see the rocket launch from Wallup Island, Virginia pass over our area.  But, yikes, the rocket blew up shortly after launch.  We were standing in the restaurant parking lot keeping an eye on the sky.  As it got past the time we thought we should have seen it Pat had the web site up on his cell phone and we saw the rocket blow up.  YIKES.  Not a good out come.  

We aren't doing a lot of beachy things this week but we're both enjoying our selves.  I've got a few rugs to scrub and wash to try to get some stains out.  A few cabinets will be getting shelf paper.  The dining room chairs need to be scrubbed to get some dirt off.  But really, I'd rather sew.  

Happy Quilting All! 

It's Official!

Pat and I are proud to announce that we (and the bank) are proud owners of a house in the Village of Nags Head as of yesterday evening.  Within a couple hours of closing the lock box and the for sale sign were gone!  It's been cloudy and windy the last two days -- this was taken when we were first looking at it.   We're doing some minor repairs and clearing out stuff that was left by the previous owner that we don't want.  We'll be putting it into a rental program beginning in the spring.

I'm getting ready for my fall quilting retreat.  During the June retreat my friend Nancy shared her "always ready" box.  I took some pictures and thought I would share what's in her box that she just grabs and goes. 

I'll let you know what's still in the box after I tell you what she has spread out so we can see it. 

From left to right -- a paper bag for trash, excess threads etc; rotary cutter in a case; needle threader, the silver instrument with a slight hook is a seam ripper; pins; small ruler especially useful for determining 1/4"; plastic straw which she puts over the spindle of her featherweight to hold bigger spools of thread upright; a pointed stick; a Purple Thang; a small ruler; an emery board; a brush for cleaning the bobbin area of your sewing machine; mechanical pencil or possibly a pen; two different pairs of scissors -- one is probably just for snipping thread and the other is for close cutting of appliqué piece; a magnet and a turning stick.

And inside the box from the back left around clockwise to the front left.   A screw driver; something in the silver pouch that I remember being pretty cool but I can't remember what it was; a chalk marking pencil, finger nail file, loose chalk marking pen, emery strawberry, extra sewing machine needles; pencil sharpener, hand sewing needles (in the wooden case); a door peep hole to check your design from a distance when you don't have much room; thread net; a measuring gauge; a rubber needle puller and again, I have no idea what was in the white square plastic case.

I take many of the same things that Nancy does but mine are not grab and go.  I do have a case I can grab and go for my featherweight but not for the Bernina.  What I do have is a list in Excel that I have worked on over the years that helps me remember things I might not remember.  I print it out a week or so before any sewing trip and add and subtract from the list based on what I am planning on working on.  

Thanks Nancy for sharing your box of goodies ready for any sewing trip! Wish you were going with me next week. What are your favorite tools to take on a retreat or quilting class?  While I'm retreating next week Pat and the dogs will be here at the beach.  We've had gloomy weather so far but the sun has just come out with blue skies. It's time to sit on the front porch! 


I'm looking forward to some quilting retreats to the beach house over the next months.  I need to get myself organized and set up some dates!  Of course there is so much here to distract a person from quilting.  I'm proud to say I have gotten stuff done on my wild dog appliqué blocks along with some general house cleaning and figuring out what is where.  It is interesting to buy a furnished house to say the least!  

Happy Quilting All!