Sunrise on The Strip, and the winner was...

 

Over the weekend, the winner was chosen at random from comments left on my New2me Juki celebration giveaway post. Congratulations to M-R at Quilt Matters, who we all know from TGIFF! I was excited to pack the little Henna fabric bundle to a real Web-Celeb:-)

 

On my mind for some time now is a Vegas skyline quilt. Photos I have taken from my house are just a bit too far away to work with, so I drove in 4 or 5 miles this morning and caught a few pics. This is about 15mi SE of the Strip. (I know, I really have no business posting photos taken from my little point and shoot, but this is quilt-related!) I find it challenging to capture desert beauty in photos (without driving to some destination, like Red Rock Canyon).  I live slightly higher up from this vantage point, and I love to see the buildings shimmer in the morning. But from 20mi away, my photos just don't capture it.

 

I will draw a simple sketch from this photo, so for its purpose it is good, good enough.

 

On a sad note, I hit a jackrabbit on my way out this morning.

The poor little guy ran right out in front of me.

 

On a happy note, the book I reserved at the library is in. I thought it may be lost since it was listed in stock, but weeks have gone by. Hopefully it will show me what I did wrong on my donut applique patch:-)

TGIFF & Last Day of Fabric Giveaway

My little Henna Bundle Giveaway ends Saturday at Noon, PST. Link to Wednesday's post to enter

I completed the binding for Madeleine's Baby Quilt this morning!
Even though it was only 9AM, I rushed to the park to photograph it, to beat the heat you know, and get back to show off for TGIFF.
I felt like I was being watched..

This guy was out enjoying the heat. I followed him around, trying to get a photo. He seemed to enjoy running around the rocks, teasing me,

Then he stopped to show me his blue belly. I guess we know whose rock that is...

I used batting for the first time, called Quilter's Dream, and I do really like working with it, and the drape is nice after blocking etc..  I went with Bone binding, which may not be the most practical color for edges, but just so pretty and it feels good too:-)

I noticed a beautiful pillow finish at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, so I decided to add both of these finishes to her Whoop Whoop Party to share. The large one is backed with Chenille. I lined the back and put in a zipper so it would fit snuggly. For smaller pillows, I like to use the easier envelope style. My thoughts are racing with ideas for these for my Etsy shop:-)

For a sneak preview, I will share a new WIP. Actually, it is an old UFO. I took this photo when trying to figure a layout, about 10 or so yrs ago.

I did not care for the contrast of the sails, and I'd made a lot of these blocks, but ended up setting it all aside. For 10 years. This week, I pulled one out and started playing with it. Good grief, that blue batik is a nightgown from Nordstrom's, that was too big, but 100% cotton batik that I hoarded since who knows when. But it sure looks good with my little sails.

 So that's what I am up to you! Time to link around and see what other's are doing:-)

Appreciation for Dad

My father recently put some slides into photo format, and I thought I would post a few that evoke great memories for me, and remind me of the really great things he did for us growing up :-)

Here he is with his father near Carnation, Wa at a property we called Beaver Valley. My memories here are very young, they are of lots of family, and lots of mud.

 

They always worked hard, and definitely the Make-and-Repair-it-Yourself kinda men:-) This is the cabin at Beaver Valley. I am pretty sure I never saw it like this!

 



We spent a lot of time at Grandpa's cabin in Canada as well. The lake is TaWheel (honk if you heard of it!), N of Clearwater, BC. I am the short one, next to dad.

 

I am amazed when I think back on it, the work that must have been involved for the many family holidays we enjoyed as kids.

Here we are at the trailhead to Domke Lake, in Washington State. We arrived there by ferryboat, called The Lady of the Lake, travelling up Lake Chelan (in the background), one of the country's longest and deepest lakes. Huge Kokanee (landlocked salmon) can be caught there. From there, we hiked in up to Domke.

 

Am I the only one who looks happy about arriving at our campsite? I probably have a pack full of foam..., everyone else looks pretty tuckered.

 

Thanks Dad, for ALL the great childhood memories!