There's Been Some Swapping Going On



 Hello, my name is Andrea and  I have a confession to make...uhhh, yeah, ummm it seems that I have found a new addiction, as if  my love of fabric wasn't bad enough...but now swapping mini quilts on Instagram is on my radar and I just can't seem to resist!

Currently, I am signed up for no less than three, ahem, make that four swaps...the Ana Maria Horner Mini quilt swap, the Cotton & Steel Mini quilt swap, Around the World Craft Swap and the Hand Pieced Mini Swap.  There is just something about the idea of surprises coming to me in the mail from Instagrammers that I admire from as close as a few states away to as far away as Europe and further abroad that just piques my interest.

It's that and the fact that I am more prone to push my quilting comfort zone in giving new techniques a try on something small, yet not having to commit myself to a whole quilt that is just well, appealing to me.  The hard part, as you can imagine, is giving the new creation away AND praying that my partner loves it! There is also the added benefit where a part of me feels like I am part of a secret club...okay well not secret or exclusive, but... you get the drift!

It all started when I took the leap and joined the Schnitzelandboo mini swap and I created this...

ch.

I have learned a few things along the way: 1. Paper piecing isn't that scary, 2. When you can't find the right pattern (that's free), altering one that is (free) really is liberating, 3. Curved seams are do-able with the right glue stick, youtube video and a little patience, 4. I apparently work well under pressure and on a deadline and...5. There is inspiration EVERYWHERE and it can keep you up at night trying to decide which one to try.

Next, came the Bitches get Stitches swap and the Spring Fling mini swap (pictured above).  My partner for Bitches get Stitches wanted a journal cover, so I gave it a go, the end product, however, could have used a little more tweeking.  The nice thing about swaps though, is that they are open to all skill levels and while, my cover wasn't the best thing that ever came out from under my presser feet...it wasn't horrible either! I had a GREAT time improving the flowers, leaves and the free motion quilting.

 With all that being said, now I have the added bonus of having an entry in the mini category and the modern category of the Blogger's Quilt Festival...go on over and take a look and vote for your favorites in all categories!

 

In Review Since We Last Met

 Hey! Howya doing?! I know it's been a REALLY long time since I last blogged and quite frankly, I would be quite surprised to find that I had any followers left...but here I am, making a bloggy post about my newest project.  I am biting the bullet and joining Bonnie's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt! This is a first for me, I've never done a mystery, but I love anything Quiltville related, so here I go!

 

The first clue was posted on the 28th...280 hst each of two colors and 100 2.5" squares each of black and yellow.  That makes 100 of the units pictured above and 80 tourquoise and orange hst joined.  Each new clue is posted on Friday, so I have my work cut out for me. I am plugging right along now that I have formed a decision on fabric colors.  Hopefully I will be done by the time the next clue comes out...if not, well then I will just muddle through (I do have a few other things on my plate to keep me busy, you know)

There has been a whole lot of this going on since late August...



And since it is my DS#2's last season of hockey, we are making the most of the season. He graduates in June and is off to Navy boot camp in July, which will make us empty nesters...not quite sure how to feel about that, beyond being excited for him and his future and sad to see him go, happy to spend time with the Hubster and intrigued to see where life takes us!

Here is what has been happening since I last posted...

 

 

DHS#1 Got married in February....



We reconnected with Hubby's family at SilverWood and Triple Play in June after DH#2 dep'd into the Navy...

 

Visited the Washington Coast  at Westport with work friends on the Fourth of July...

 

Did flowers for my friend's oldest daughter's wedding SeaFair weekend on Mercer Island...

Went back to the ocean in August with my Oldest brother and his family...

Finished something quilty...

Went elk hunting in October...what absolute bliss...we came home empty handed, but it was bliss just the same...
So, it has been a busy time and I hope I have used my time wisely...here's to posting more in the future!! Thanks for stopping by  : )

EPP Obsession

Curse you Pinterest!!!  It's not like I have any less than 3 quilting projects in the works as it is, but now I've decided that with the advent of hockey season quickly approaching, that  I need some traveling handiwork to keep me busy while waiting for DS#2... Tanner made the elite team, which means more practices, more games, more travel and more waiting for him to get out of his gear...oh and he has to be at the rink an hour before game time or practice for dryland workouts...LOTS of waiting time for Mom (Jr doesn't have his license yet...who can afford driving school AND hockey?!) My dilemma lies in just which epp project I want to start?  Random hexies?  Rose Star? Lone Star? Aaaannnddd if that weren't enough, I REALLY want to start some applique...though I've found through (wasting an entire day) surfing Pinterest that I could actually combine the two! Time to put it in gear, quit dreaming and start creating!

What I did on Summer Vacation

Upon reflecting the end of summer, it doesn't seem that I accomplished much, but now that I look at the photos I snapped, it seems that I have actually been fairly active (yes, I am a little surprised at that). I did a little wine tasting at Maryhill and Naked Wineries and hiking Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge early in June.

 

My husband and I sold our trailer and bought a tent trailer, the theory being that we might get out more often...considering that we have only been camping twice in the last two years, I hope he is right.

We went desperation camping in July with a group of friends from work, to La Wis Wins which is just outside Mt Rainier National Park.  I call it desperation camping because we tented for two nights and we NEVER tent anymore! I have to say though, it was the most relaxing trip the DH and I have been on in a very long time...just what we needed!

Which brings me to August...

Camping at Bumping Lake ...peaceful, awesome food, perfect weather almost boring even we brought the generator but forgot the tv and dvd player...but again, very much needed! I did, however,  bring along some hand stitching to keep me busy, not sure what I have in mind for them, but it occupied my mind when I wasn't reading, walking the dogs or napping.

On the quilting front, I have have two new projects started...I won't even go on about how, I need another quilting project like I need a hole in the head...that point is just moot for most anyone who collects fabric. There is the scrappy trip along in which I participated in a fabric swap on Flickr and the Impromptu along, all the squares are ready to be put together into a top, but then life happened as it often does and so they sit...

 

Yesterday, my good friend Lana and I road-tripped to Reardon, WA for the Buggy Barn's annual quilt show.  She had never been but lived on a farm and loves all things country and quilts as well, so I knew she would love it...I was right (I knew I would be)

From there, we ventured into Spokane in search of a winery...the only one I knew of was Latah Creek, not being real familiar with the town and its viticulture, so off we went...and were pleasantly surprised! I went home with a Chardonnay and a blush, but would have loved to purchase the late harvest Sirah, Natalie's Nectar, it was beyond yummy and just begged to be eaten with some good quality chocolate...(sigh) next time...Pam and Penny (twin sisters interestingly enough) they were very intriguing and more than fun to chat with, unfortunately being from Ceour d' Alene, didn't have any suggestions for a winery that also served tapas...they did provide a most helpful winery map that directed us to the Cougar Crest tasting room downtown...it was our sommelier there that told us about the Steelhead Bar and Grille.

 

 Mmmmm...yummy smoked salmon artichoke dip to start us off, Radius Red for sipping with dinner and halibut & chips, ohhhh I was stuffed, but happy!!! To end our day, a trip to Manito Park was in order before hitting the road home...

So very glad we stopped...the light was perfect for picture-taking and the grounds were gorgeous!  What a perfect day and all these lovely pictures to remember it by!!! Hope you had a wonderful summer, school starts on Wednesday, hockey begins in October and we will be back on the run every weekend with games and tournaments...







Blogger's Quilt Festival time again!

The story behind my entry in this round of the Blogger's Quilt Festival is a dedication to Abi, a local teen who was diagnosed with leukemia more than 2 years ago after she came home from a volleyball game, not feeling well. She went to bed early and began to have difficulty breathing. Her parents loaded her up for a trip to the ER where blood tests and x-rays were ordered and then the devastating news was delivered. She was promptly whisked away to Children's Hospital in Seattle to immediately begin treatment.
Treatment seemed to be working and hopes were high when it was announced that she was in remission. Unfortunately, that was short-lived and another stronger round of treatment began again with a vegance.  All the while Abi and her family maintained a sunny disposition in the face of all that comes with chemotherapy and its side-effects. She lost her hair, but still she smiled, her kidneys shutdown and still she smiled. She was even a part of a YouTube video set to the tune Stronger, that went viral amongst locals here (The first young lady featured in the beginning of the video is Abi, she is also seen dancing later on).  When all was said and done, it finally boiled down to the realization that Miss Abi needed a bonemarrow transplant. A donor was located and after a couple of setbacks, was performed and it was recently announced that the donor cells have taken and she is cancer free! I so admire this young lady and her family and all that they have endured on this long, arduous journey. The local community, classmates and faculty have rallied around Abi, many, many prayers have been offered up for healing on her behalf.  I work with the Student Resource Officer that maintains the peace amongst the students of Riverview High School, his name is Joe and the kids adore him.  He has a heart of gold, cares deeply and often speaks fondly of "his kids".  Deputy Joe (as he's known to his kids) not only once, but twice, organized a benefit golf tournament and auction to raise funds to help Abi and her family while they lived four hours away in Seattle during her treatment. I was honored to play paparazzi for both tournaments, snapping photos of all the teams and various activities, a fun bunch of folks turned out to participate and I had a great time documenting the event!
That's where my quilt comes into the story...it's inspiration and creation were soley to add to the list of items needed for the silent auction for this year's golf tournament. I chose dresdens, because I love them and enjoy the hand-sewing that's involved in attaching them to the background.  The (predominant) color orange is the ribbon color that represents leukemia, the fabrics are a mix of what I had on hand and a few that I purchased for the project. It measures 56x60, so it's lap-sized and was machine pieced and quilted by myself with the binding being hand sewn the night before the tournament!
I hope you all enjoy reading the stories about the entry quilts for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I know that I am constantly in awe of the talent and love that goes into everyone's quilts, of the work and dedication that Amy who hosts the festival twice a year puts in and of those who donate prizes for those lucky enough to be drawn.

I'd Say It Was a Productive Weekend

Phew but it's been a whirlwind  couple of days, this girl had some serious stitch going on! DH had to work Saturday so after (ahem) sleeping in until 10:30 (yikes, haven't done that in forever!) I spent the last two days camped in front of my machine stitching away...except for the time spent sitting in bed finishing off the last of the applique catching a little tv and trying to stay warm...my heck but it was chilly enough to wear a sweatshirt in the house yesterday (and yes, I refused to turn on the heat!)  But enough about our streak of nasty weather, as non-typical for June as it has been...my dresden top is finished and I love it! It finished up to be lap-sized, measuring 66x68" and a bit smaller, I'm sure once it's washed and dried...Now, if the quilting fairy would just show up to finish up  this lovely little gem I would be a happy girl. Unfortunately, being the realist that I am (sigh) I'll just resign myself to a few more days of work to get this quilted, bound, washed, dried and ready to donate on Friday (cringe...as usual, I'm cutting it close)...tomorrow  my mission is to venture off to JoAnn's for backing, a solid flannel I think and I'm not even sure what for the binding, I just haven't thought that far ahead yet. For now though, I have an early morning ahead of me, so I'll be signing off and heading to bed...goodnight all!

I"m Loving It!!

Oh, the excitement is building, well at least for me it is! I am really loving the way this quilt is evolving...in fact I can't stop gazing at it...not sure if that is a good thing or not, but I can't stop just the same!   The inspiration originally came from this quilt, I adore  the rick rack that separates the quadrants...the concept is brilliant...and I was going to do the same...but now I'm thinking not. I like the effect of the sunbursts dividing up the space instead, which works out well in that it won't totally match the inspiration quilt and will make this one unique to me. The next challenge lies in the borders and the quilting, not to mention the deadline that looms ahead.  My goal is to finish this up with time to spare, BEFORE the evening of June 14th preferably!