Hardy Ridge Trail

In an attempt to maximize our Washington State Discovery Pass that expires soon, we chose a destination that we hadn’t hiked that required this pass.  In addition to the view of the Columbia River, we saw Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.  We finished with over nine miles.

Fairy Frost:  This is the first time we have ever seen this type of frost.

Looking back the trail we just hiked towards Mt. Hood.  The man climbing up behind us was the only person we saw until the junction a mile back.  Then it was later in the morning and there were lots of hikers out.
That is me in the distance hiking up the ridge.

30 Shades of Grey Table Runner

My niece turned 30 yesterday.  Since her room is shades of grey, my sister suggested that I make a runner for a dresser.  Getting the measurements from her sister and roommate proved to be a bit of a challenge. After hanging up from a conversation where she was heading into the house to measure, I waited quite a while.  Trying to jar her memory, I text, “Are you still looing for a ruler?”  She responded, “I had to download an app!  How sad is that?  It’s roughly 44 x 18.”

 

My process for making this was to cut 30 pieces of grey fabric at different lengths by 1.75″  I cut several strips of white WOF at 1.75″.  For each piece of grey, I cut whatever length would equal 20″ of the white and then split it unevenly.  I arranged them, added one extra 3″ x 20″ length at each side, sewed them together, then trimmed to 18″ x 43″.  I used my “go to” straight line quilting with grey thread.

Back from Quiltcon

Once again, Quiltcon was a lot of great energy in Austin!  I have been lucky to go twice for a day each time.  There are so many photos of the quilts on the Internet and Instagram, check here.

A highlight was meeting Alison Glass and getting a photo with her.  I sat in on one of her demos and enjoyed listening and practicing stitches.

Adam from Andover snagged me for a photo of my backpack for Instagram.  I was pretty happy!

Here is the Best of Show winner, Kathy York.  I didn’t take the photo, but think it’s fabulous!

Her attention to detail is impressive.  Check out the quilt back and the sleeve.  She added fabric so the sleeve didn’t take away from the back.  Wow!

Here is the Hillsboro carpool group (well, Jessica moved away) that made it to Austin.

After the number of gals that got tattoos in 2013, a booth was added this year.

My friend’s daughter was in a dance competition, so Jackie and I fooled around in between dances.

Since the competition was on the San Antonio River Walk, we did a little bridge hopping.

 has “farm to tray” with handmade buns.

Back at home in Portland, I noticed this large piece of art showcasing the famous PDX carpet.

Today, I began cutting and sewing my Pantone quilt.  Look how good that old, old Ginny Beyer fabric looks with the Marcala color.  Yuck!

And the maps Kevin ordered while I was gone came in ~~ with a free pen.  We have until March 15th to figure out a plan because that’s the first day we can request a permit.

 

 

 

 

“Flying Falcons Quilt” is off to Quiltcon

At NW Quilt Expo back in September, I purchased a kit from Violet Craft for her Flying Falcons quilt.  What a deal because there was enough to make two quilts other than about four fabrics that were duplicated and the background.  I wanted to use something other than white, so Violet suggested using Michael Miller’s Cotton Couture “Toffee” for the background and I did and like it.  They finish at 60″ square and the white one is a gift to my friend and former running partner who I’ll be staying with in Austin this weekend.

 

I also squeeked out nine potholders to give as gifts to my aunt and cousins who I’ll be visiting.

Valentine’s Day on Mt. Hood with “LOVE” Quilts

Hopworks Urban Brewery has a contest on Instagram (#Anywhereable) where they’ll choose a photo monthly for a prize.   We took this before reaching our camp spot because daylight was running out.  Kevin didn’t want a snowman, but I made one while he was setting the photo up and I think it totally made the photo!

This is my PMQG 2015 mini for February.  I finished binding it on the way to Mt. Hood and took it along in my backpack for a photoshoot in the snow.  It is 24″ square.

This is the Timberline Loop that circles Mt. Hood.  It is not the best time to follow it, but we’ve done it enough that Kevin navigates without a problem.  ~~ well one whack in the face for him with a branch.  The trail is really as steep as it appears.Here I am cooking dinner.  It is pretty nice with low snow levels to find a tree to sit on rather than shoveling out a kitchen.

Another of Kevin’s pantos.

The groomer at Timberline had his light on for a very long time, but you can see climbers ascending the mountain early Sunday morning.

Heading out yesterday morning, the snow was so frozen, and we were walking on top of it.

Purse Tutorial

I was asked to do a tutorial on my purses.

The pieces:  zipper, “O” ring, 3/4″ “D” ring, clam clip, craft weight fusible interfacing 1.25″ x 25″ for strap, 1″ X 4″ for each side of zipper tag, 2.5″ x 25″ fabric for strap.  The purse front and back are already pieced just like a quilt with front, batting and back. I offset my ptchwork towards the top because the corners on the bottom will create a bottom.Fold the interfaced fabric (1″ x 4″) in half and sew to zipper.  I fold the strap in half to find a seam line and sew along that line the entire 25″.

Turn strap inside out and top stitch both sides.  I fold it and sew it closed around the “O” ring.  Cut a 4″ section for the strap part that is attached to the purse, adding the “D” ring.

Sew the zipper onto the front and back quilted pieces, zig zag the back seam and top stitch on both sides of the zipper.

Close up of straps.

When you sew the sides and bottom, leave the zipper open.  I miter the corners.  This is what the inside of my purse looks like.

This is the back.

And, this, my friends, is why I am NOT a pattern writer.

 

Big Love by Dear Stella and Flash Gordon

Tomorrow is Elizabeth’s birthday and I typically make her Valentine quilted items.  This year is no different.  We took this photo back in January on one of our backpacking trips.

Details:  54″ x 62″

Fabric:  Reds/Pinks that I had on hand including our own PMQG member’s line, Hothouse Flowers.

Pattern:  “Big Love” by Dear Stella

Quilting:  Straight lines with two close together, space, two close together, repeat over and over

While I was at Elizabeth’s today, she gave me this great comfy quilt she rescued from a thrift store.  I’ll be borrowing it for a while, then return it to her.  The same Flash Gordon fabric sold, but information can be found here and is dated to the 1950’s.

Some details of the fabric, back and binding.

Tula Pink Quilt Finished

This is the second quilt I’ve made using patterns from John Q. Adams book, “Beyond Neutral“.  And, Cathie, please note that there is NO straight line quilting involved!

Details:  62″ x 72″

Fabric:  Tula Pink “Bumble” that my sister gave me augmented by a bit more I picked up.

Pattern:  “Glimmerglass” from Beyond Neutral

Backing:  Flannel from Joann’s that I got a few years back on a Black Friday mega sale.

Quiltcon Backpack is Finished

Late last night, I finished my backpack and am super happy with it.

Details:  10.5″ wide, 5″ deep, 20.5″ tall   (1076 cu. in.)  (17.5 liters)  Almost exactly like the REI Flash that I used at Quiltcon 2013 and would use again this year.

Fabrics:  Studio e Peppered Cotton (char-gold I think) and a lot of Alison Glass’ various lines.

The Green Pepper Inc. “Pioneer Rucksack” pattern (straps duplicated from North Face backpack rather than pattern)

Top four inches uses Jeni’s “Lined Drawstring Bag”

Front patchwork uses Susan’s crosses in a miniature version

Double Bar Buckle repurposed from old North Face backpack

Inside zipper on pouch repurposed from old North Face Backpack (three left for future projects)

I had my son wipe the street grime off my jacket after a bike ride so I could get this photo between rain today.

I added a small zippered pouch inside the front.

Quiltcon Project

I’ve been working on something I can bring to Quiltcon.  Last night I finished quilting most of it and today I’m working on other parts.