Thursday, August 30, 2012

WIP (AKA WORK IN PROGRESS)


 
It’s a tease, I know.  But, I’ve been playing around with this and I think I am going to like it. 

 

 

 

 

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, August 26, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS


 
The first picture this week is of“Today”.  As luck would have it I was watching the “Today” show.
 

It has cooled down a bit; but, the first part of the week we were still finding ways to stay “Cool”.
 
This is still my go-to cookbook when I need just a simple “Home” cooked meal.

 

How about a “Pair” of pears?  My green salad tasted extra special that night.

 
Just a little “Path”  to a part of my world.

 
I so enjoy the “Fresh” fruits and vegetables of summer.

 
I have so many quilts that need to be quilted.  I even found some more since taking this picture.  I can only “Dream” about getting them done by the end of the year.  Maybe the quilting elves will visit me while I’m dreaming about them in my sleep. 



Hope you had a good week. 


Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

POODLES


Most of my friends know that I collect all things poodle.  At last week’s quilting retreat one of my friends told me that she knew of someone who was selling “Poodle Plates”, and would I be interested.  The answer was, but of course I would.  By Sunday, Mary had delivered eight poodle plates to my door.  Seriously happy here.  J
 
They are called dessert plates; but I don't know.... I think salad would work just as well. Maybe breakfast, or quiche... what do you think?

 

 

 
I just have the best friends.  Thank you so much for thinking of me Mary.  You are the best! 

 Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, August 19, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS


SUNDAY SNAPS  

Quilters by the Sea held their annual quilt retreat this week.  It was held at Vina De Lestonnac Convent  in Temecula.  This is our view from the retreat center.  Ah what a “Simple” life.





Getting “Ready” for such a retreat takes a little up-front planning.  But it is soooo worth it.

  
The retreat includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.  But this is just a partial bit of the “Food”  hanging out in the kitchen to tempt us quilters.  I doubt we would ever go hungry.



Besides quilting, we were entertained by some of the gals.    Not the best pictures; but, I hope you can tell how much fun we had. 

The first pictures are of The Swimettes.  This has been going on for a few years now.  This year we had 8 brave quilters doing Synchronized Swimming.






Here are our pop singers and ice cream servers, Kasey, Brandi & Carol.  I know it is a blurry picture; but, look at those “Faces” enjoying themselves.



We also had the Ukulele Ladies, led by Vicki Allred; but, alas, I failed to get pictures.  L





Now that I'm home, here “Inside” this basket are a few of the projects waiting to be turned from flimsies into quilts.  Oh my, more UFOs.  But, again, so worth it.  I can’t wait for next year’s retreat.  It really is a happy place to be.


Quilt happy,

Marilyn


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A COUPLE OF COOL FINISHES


It has turned hot and my only air-conditioned room is my quilt room.  That means I am getting some things finished. 
Back in June I took a workshop at my quilt guild.  The class was taught by a good friend, Carol Logue, who is a certified “Quilt in a Day” instructor.  The quilt she was teaching was Silent Star, an Eleanor Burns pattern.   I just knew, no matter how much I liked it, that I had better make a table runner instead.  So, that is just what I did.  I like it.  It’s a good summer runner.


In my quest to stay cool, I also finished a little gift.  But, I’m only giving you a peek until….


Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, August 12, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS


I recently took possession of a wonderful book that belonged to my grandfather.  Grandpa Riddle was a Merchant Marine and this was his “International Signal and Code Book.  It is his “Writing” or penmanship he put on the first page showing his name, date, and place. 

Quilters, take labeling to heart.  This is very precious to me.  And your labels will be precious to future generations.


I think this is a most appropriate “8 O’clock” for me.


Yes, I have those other kind of glasses; but, I seem to collect these one-of-a-kind “Glasses”. 



When I walked into my quilt room the other day this was facing me:  a “Messy” room.

 So I stopped and neatened it before I started in to quilt.


This is a “Ring” those glasses make when left on my wood counters.  I can usually rub most of it out with some good mineral oil.


I love my storage containers of many colors.  Here are some shades of “Purple”.


The word is “Spoon”.  I found these great spoons a few years ago at Cost Plus World Market.  They have some fun styles.



Hope you had a good week.


Quilt happy,
Marilyn

Thursday, August 9, 2012

IQF (LONG BEACH, 2012)


I promised a few people that I would take pictures at the International Quilt Festival, Long Beach that was July 27 thru July 29, 2012.  Turns out I didn’t get too many and I was there two days.  But, many had signs reading “No Photography” and I get caught up in looking and forget to get the picture.  But, I do have a few.

This is Karen Neary's gorgeous quilt, "Farrago".  Karen lives in Canada and it is part of the O Canada exhibit. 




I really liked this snippet quilt, "Florishes", by Pat Kroth.  You just have to admire all the tiny pieces that went into it.  I found myself stepping back and forward to get the entire feeling of her dream garden.  Lovely.


 



 This one is called "Road to Home", by Cheryl Sleboda.  Isn’t it inviting?



 There was an entire section of Black and White quilts.  Most of them had a touch of color.  I was very drawn to this one named “The Red Shoes”, by Linda Stone.


My last photos are of one of the Hoffman Challenge quilts.  It just put a smile on my face.  It is called “Kiku”, by Heather Miles.  A great way to showcase the fabric. 



 
It was a great show, as usual, with so many wonderful quilts. Well done quilters!


Quilt happy,

Marilyn



SUNDAY SNAPS  

Monday, August 6, 2012

MESSENGER BAG FOR JANET


Back in April I picked up this great fabric at a local quilt shop at Sewing Party in Laguna Hills.  It was the perfect fabric for my step daughter Janet.  You see she is a serious bicyclist.  I asked her if she might like a messenger bag.  Then I remembered that I love bags, I just don’t like making them.  As it got closer to her birthday, I realized she probably wouldn’t get it.  But, then I remembered Pam over at Versana.  She loves making bags. And, she is good at it.  I commissioned her to make this one for Janet.  Just look at what she came up with.



I know.  It is really perfect.  She did an excellent job.  Inside zippered pocket, another pocket large enough to fit her iPad when traveling.  It is so worth it when you find the right person to do the job, don’t you think?  Janet really, really likes it and wears it well. 

 Look how her iPad fits in the specially made pocket. 


So, if you think you may want to hire Pam to make the perfect bag for you, go visit her here.  Or just visit her blog.


Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, August 5, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS


I had another very busy week with an out-of-town guest.  Gosh we had fun touring around and sewing.  More on that another day.  Today is Sunday Snaps.

My first word is “Calm”.  Seems that it is the calmest in the cool of the evening.



“Toothbrush” is the next word.  Kinda boring so I sat it next to one of my favorite dustables.

Gosh “Outside” is such a hard one.  So, I put in two outside photos.  And, by the way, that is a very old sign.  Dogs in various numbers have been around since I first had it.  Currently, it should read Two Spoiled Rotten Dogs Live Here.



1 is “One” is 1.


 
I looked around for some foreign “Coins”; but, alas this was what I found.

Where else but my quilt room is “Somewhere I Sat”.

My most favorite “Logo” of all.  Just sayin……

Hope you had a good week.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn