A Few More "Finishes"

A long time ago, perhaps as long ago as 2013, I bought two chairs for $5 a piece at a yard sale.  The grand plan was to strip them, stain them, seal them, and reupholster them with quilted seats.  I then thought maybe I should paint them, instead of stain them.  Yesterday, I finished one.  Here's how it looks.  I think I will paint the other one, just because.

 I also made a little quiltlet, for a friend, and a second one (that I forgot to snap a photo of) for my sister.  They went out in yesterday's mail.

 I think I mentioned that I've been busy, with this n that.  One of the things I've been doing is trying to clean up the clutter in the studio.  I just finished washing these buttons, which I bought in Missouri.  They filled a Mason jar, and the cost was $5.  Such a deal, such a deal!  Look at all of that color!  :)

 I also washed buttons from an estate sale in Visalia.  No wonder they've been pushed aside for months (like since before Christmas!)  There's no color to be seen, compared to what Missouri had to offer.  Then again, I think these were somewhere in the neighborhood of $3, so I don't know what I'm complaining about.

And, hmmm.  I guess that's it on the creative front for today.  I'm working on it, definitely working on it.  I'm trying to do one major household task - yesterday was to finish reassembling the shower - and then reward myself with sewing. So far, sew good.  And now, it's time to get back at it.  Happy creating, y'all!  :)

This n That

wow.  Where has the time gone?  It seems like I blink, and I lose another week!  If this is the way 2016 is going to be, maybe I should start writing my Christmas letter.  Seems like before I turn around, it will be December!

I've been busy doing a lot of things other than sewing.  Like working on the hall bathroom shower.  My sons took the glass doors off when I broke my leg, to make for easier access.  They are still off, and I haven't been broken for months now.

Hubby thought we should replace the caulk, so he peeled some off and never got back to it.  On Saturday, I peeled out all of the old.  Yesterday, I replaced it.  On Sunday, I asked him to take the doors outside for me, so that I could really scrub them down.  oops.  One of them broke, so finishing that project has now been delayed for another 2 weeks, as we wait for a new door to be delivered.

We have house guests arriving next week.  Good thing we still have that shower curtain, eh?!

Yesterday, I made more postcards for our Postmark'd Art exchange.  The theme for this batch was "Crazy Quilt."  I had a lot of fun doing the embroidery.  I really should do more of it.  I really love it!

 Each one is slightly different.

 I made this one second, thinking I would use different trims around each, but I disliked this one so much, I went back to the first trim for the last card.

And then there are the backs.  On the first one, I used commercial fabric.  But then, I was moving the mess on my tabletop, and noticed an old, well-used handkerchief, that had wear marks and a cigarette burn.  The embroidery was too worn to use for the top, but for the back of the postcard?  It was perfect!

I'm not sure why the pics got tipped, but oh well.  You get the idea, right?

This coming week I have plans for a bit of a sewing getaway.  We'll see if I get anything done, but plans are useful, and goals are good!!

Today's Production

I went to bed last night with a runny nose.  This morning, I was dragging and tired and not motivated to do much of anything other than laundry.  But there is work to be done, and deadlines to meet, doncha know?!

One of the most rapidly approaching deadlines is for our Postmark'd Art postcard exchange.  All cards must be in the mail before May 31, if we want to participate in the next round of trading.  Because I'm one of the three oh, what do we call ourselves?  moderators?  coordinators?  Because I am one of those, I really do need to set an example by meeting the deadline.  Goals are good!

Today I made my cards for the "Lines" exchange.

 After making three of them, I looked for my trade paper, to see how many were in our trade group.  Well, will you look at that?!  There are only three of us, so that means that only two cards need to be mailed.  I'm ahead one postcard!  Woohoo!

These are the two that are headed out in tomorrow's mail.

Next up:  Crazy Quilt postcards.  They'll probably take me longer than a single day, but then again, maybe not.  Goals are good!

A Day of Sewing

Wow.  I can't believe it's been 10 days since my last post!  I don't know where the time goes, but it's definitely flying by!  We had an amazing week in Sisters, though I did not finish my project.  It currently hangs in pieces on my design wall.

Mother's Day came and went, accompanied by a lovely bouquet of flowers from my middle son and his wife.  They're looking a bit worn, but I still find them bright and cheery.

I adore Shutterfly.  I am especially fond of their photo books, and put together another one.  This one features images from my garden, along with some of my garden-inspired quilts.  It's my favorite Shutterfly book so far.

I can't wait to do the next one.  I'm just waiting for inspiration to strike.  It will probably be something featuring more quilts, and the photos that inspired them.  I like this one better than the ocean book I made.  The words ruined that one.  Maybe I should just do it over, without the words, and let the images speak for themselves?  Now there's an idea.

Over the weekend, my husband and I hosted a thank you party for the quilt show committee and their spouses.  Then, yesterday, I hosted a sew-in, to really thank the ladies. Only about half of them were able to attend, but we had a grand time.

 I even found the time to sew together not just the blocks,

 but an entire baby quilt top.  woohoo!  LOTS of babies have arrived or are on their way.  I am quite behind.

And with that, I guess I'll sign off.  I am hopeful that the remainder of May might hold at least one finish.  The goal is more than that.  Goals are good!

SO Inspired!

I am having an amazing week, here in Sisters.  We just finished Day 4 of our 5-day seminar.  I can't believe it's almost over.  The group of women in our class are fantastic.  Each could easily become a dear friend, if they didn't live in Oregon, Ohio, Montana, Utah, etc.  Yes, we've come from across the country, to congregate in Sisters and learn from Jean Wells Keenan.

This is what my work area looked like this morning:

 Here it is, 8 hours later.  I remembered to take the photo about 10 minutes after I began straightening the mess.  Believe me, it was much more organic than the photo indicates.

I'm pretty excited with my piece, though at this point, it feels chaotic.

By the time I left, I had the bottom right corner filled in as well.  I forgot to snap a shot before we headed to dinner.

Sisters is BEAUTIFUL.  I've heard about Oregon, but all I'd seen before was the Portland airport, and Hood.  I'm captivated by the art galleries and antique malls, and could spend several days just poking in and out of shops.  Instead, I work in the studio from 8:30am - 5-ish, only window shopping from about 12:30-1pm each day.  Despite my dedication to my craft - typed tongue in cheek - I have managed to spend at least as much as the workshop cost, if not the cost of lodging as well.  If I thought I was getting away for less than Asilomar, I was mistaken.  Shopping is a LOT of fun here.  Be forewarned, if you're headed to Sisters.  Art is available for sale EVERYWHERE.

And with that, we're early to bed, early to rise.  That way we might actually finish something before we hit the road and head home.

I think I could grow to love the mountain environment as much as I love the sea.  Sisters is delightful. 

And with that, I'll rest, so that I can sew more in the morning.  Happy Creating!  :)

Inspiration to the Max

Had a great time in Missouri last week, stopped in California for less than 24 hours, and am now in Oregon.  wow.  Where in Oregon?  Sisters, to be exact.  What am I doing here?  Charlotte asked if I wanted to take a class with her, from Jean Wells.  Did I?  You betcha!

 Behind the door of the Textile Education Center, the 5 day seminar is underway.

 I brought my equipment with me, which consists mostly of fabric, fabric, and more fabric.

 By the end of the day, I had my first strata, sliced and hung to my satisfaction.

 I also did a color study, from one of my inspiration photographs.  Can you tell that my inspiration for this week comes from this year's incredible Spring?

And if I get tired of greenery or flowers, I can always look out the window.

Stay tuned, because there's definitely more to come!

Inspiration

Nothing like a change of location to catch one's attention and inspiration!

 I don't think my husband could handle a backyard overgrown with violets, dandelions, rabbits and more.

 Then again, the color is spectacular!

 And evensong is beautiful.

We're to head home tomorrow, but now the airline warns of "inclement weather."  What does it mean?  I have no idea.  oh.  Where are we?  Here's a helpful hint...

More Goodies

I did a bit more stitching yesterday, and put together two more little quilted cards.

 I had a lot of fun going through my scrap box, pulling out the shell button and the trim strip from Oceanside Sunset.  The first is a birthday card, the second a "thinking of you" card.

 Last week I finished up my donation quilt for the SAQA online auction.  I didn't think I was finished, until I'd looked at it every day for a week.  I can't think of a thing to add that would make it better.  Anything else would just be too much.

  "Big Fish"

Suzanne Kistler 2016

12"x12"

Soon I will be in the midst of a week of sewing/quilting.  I can hardly wait.  But first things first, and right now it's family.  ooh!  And speaking of which, the youngest got engaged over the weekend, so we've got a wedding in our future.  Life is good.

As Promised...

Fiber!

 I finished my first two quiltlets of the year.  I am SO behind!  But I've begun the game of catch-up.

Two quiltlets in two days?  Not bad.  Not bad at all.  Goals are good!  Or, as a friend suggested this morning, GAG!  (Goals Are Good)  oh my!  :)

Still So Busy!

As I'm wrapping up the quilt show, I still have several days' work ahead of me.  But since we're post-show, I've taken a few days off as well.  Last week, guild met.  One of the quilts from show and tell caught my eye.  I really want to see if I can draft this one, because I can envision it in a way that would be REALLY pleasing.

 This was a 40's quilt top, but with updated fabrics?  It could be really fun!  :)

I need some handwork, as I've got a plane flight coming up in my future.  I don't want to sit idle, especially if we get stuck in the airport yet again.  I need some handwork.  I don't have all that long to get it together.

On Saturday, we headed up to Jamestown, to my husband's family's cattle ranch.  We were trading cars with my daughter - long story - and the branding was just the event during which to do it.  I thought we'd be there for an hour or so, instead we stayed for four hours.  I got about two hours too much sun, but now I look "healthy" rather than "ashen."  :)

 The name of the ranch is K Arrow, and one of the barns is over 100 years old.  My husband just told me that it was a stage coach stop, and has been in operation since it was built for such a purpose.  Apparently the original house on the property functioned as a "hotel" for passengers to rest up while they were changing out the horses.

 It was branding day, and there were around 120 calves waiting for attention.

 Some of them spent a lot of time bawling before hand.  They wanted their mommies.

The time in the branding pen was short and sweet.  It sounds like it's harsh treatment, but the calves truly do not even seem to notice what's been done to them.

 This is the reunion pen, with the mamas and their babies finding each other without much difficulty.

 And here is little PennyPie, who was also there.  Can you tell she's a city girl?  I hear she dressed herself.  Good thing she spent most of the time indoors, and wearing sunscreen.  I wouldn't want her to be a crispy critter like her grandma.

And that's about it for now.  The iris blooms are winding down, and the creeping temperatures are killing the color in the yard.  oh well.  We've had the most glorious Spring within memory, and I took LOTS of pictures. 

Next on tap?  To actually sew something to blog about.  Goals are good!

Take Time

The roses are beautiful this year, too.  Everything in the garden is beautiful.  I'm still buried under quilt show paperwork.  Hopefully, I'll be able to come up for air sometime soon.  Goals are good!  :)

WOW

I hadn't realized I hadn't posted in weeks.  Sorry about that.  I've been busy.  Best of the Valley Quilt Show 2016 has come and gone, and I'm now in the week of wrap up.  It is possible that I will get back to regular posting in the near future.  Goals are good!

Penny and her Mama came to the quilt show.  Here is Penny with Grandpa.  They had a nice visit, albeit a short one.

I entered six quilts, and came away with three ribbons:  2HM and a blue.  Blackeyed Beauty did well, and was happy to preside over the MiniQuilts, Illustrated category.

And now I am home again, catching the last of the blooming iris.  They seem to peak when I'm at the show, but there are enough of them this year, that I'm getting my fill.

 I felt like Georgia O'Keefe, as I zoomed in for a close-up.

Next week, I'm aiming for needle and thread.  Goals are good!  :)