Quick Picnic Quilt

It's Finish It Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts, and boy, do I have a finish for you!

This was originally a Quilt for Sarah. Sarah passed away this last Memorial Day. She is sorely missed! But this isn't a post about missing and sadness. This is a post about celebration and remembrance. A sharing among friends. Friends near and far, here and gone, but never absent.
This last week, I attended a retreat with my quilting ladies, the Gold Stitchers. It is always so lovely to get together for a long spell of stories and sharing. So come on in and join us!

Check out this splendid runner that Donna is making! Precious!! She's inventing it as she goes along. I mean really, people are amazing!!

Do you think she will adopt me?? I would really like that!

And Susan just has such a way with color!!! Everything, I mean EVERYTHING she makes is just wonderful! 

And Cleary has organized a drive for small quilts to go to hospice and pediatrics at our local hospital in honor of one of our ladies whose husband just passed away very suddenly and wrenchingly. The hospital staff were wonderful and the ladies just feel that anything they can do to make someone's day just a little bit better is the least we can do to thank them, and the world. Isn't Cleary something else?!! She has also arranged artisan days at the library wherein the library show a movie, and have a demonstration or display involving local artists. One of Susan's quilts is on display right now, and the Bee-Inspired Quilt and one from Rebecca Cleaver (@Cleaverr) will be on display soon. How cool is that?! You go, Cleary!

Whenever we go on retreat there are always visits to local quilt shops...

And little gifts left surreptitiously in the night

And a visit from Julia (said with your worst French accent and a pinkie in the air!)

And discussion about when we are going to make our own Calendar Girls calendar... and exactly what we are going to wear...

And fabulous Eats. Oh the EATS!!!

And Stories!! Stories of this and that, travels and triumphs, good times and bad... and stories you never knew about such as this one about the Northern Lights...

No S**t, there she was...! So, Ally is a Kiwi. There are lots of Kiwis in Alaska, I think it must be the splendor and the wanderlust. I love hearing Ally's stories of the Alaska that was here when she first arrived some 30-odd years ago... 

So Ally and her mate were driving up the AlCan (unpaved), and approaching Dawson City. Now, Ally tells me that a Kiwi just cannot resist a road less travelled or a secret byway beckoning (handy to know if you ever want to catch one!), so she and her bud turned off the highway and onto a narrow track leading out into the back of beyond. Several miles later, they came upon a large creek, a lone gold miner, and a dog. The creek was Eureka Creek, the miner is still a friend, and the dog, well, that's another story. So there are Ally and her mate, and the dog and the miner and a whole lotta nothing around, and he asks them if they would stay to help him protect the gold claim, and watch the sluice. A sluice is used to wash down the tailings from that day's digging in the creek. A section of the creek is dammed off, filled with water and let sit. And if you're the guard, you do some sitting too! And some mosquito swatting, and some long hours of thinking and just being, all whilst holding a rifle in case someone decides they need your gold more than you do. You have to watch the sluice and let water out every now and again, or it will overflow and wash your gold right on down the creek to the next guy. And trust me, he does not deserve it. 

So here's Ally, at 3 am or so, sitting out in the Night by herself, fresh from New Zealand and the surf, listening to the wolves and wondering about Bear, when over her head these Massive green and white and red shapes appear and reach down at her, shifting and squirming and growing.... What would you do?? Well, I can tell you, she ran like wildfire, hair streaming behind, to the bunkhouse to wake the guys to save her from the skies!! And so would I! 

Isn't it grand how big the world is, and how many things there are out there that you just don't know exist, or haven't thought of in real life? 

Ally is thinking of making a quilt from this gorgeous selection of indigos and white on white swirls. I think she should, don't you?

And this is the view from out the back door,

And Celebration! A quilt to celebrate friendship, and Sarah, and women in a group, and all that is good and right with the world so long as you have love,

And although we miss our friends when they are not with us, just the thought of them brings us joy,

And when we're together, there is so much laughter and love that you cannot even sew a straight seam!!

So, Cheers!!!

I'm so glad you stopped by! 

XX!

Lori

Here is the Pattern PDF, share it with friends and Enjoy!!

Linking up with:

 

http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=250661&m=29190&u=947713&afftrack=

Web Quilt

Today, I bring you Fall-ing in Love, my quilt celebrating Late Summer turning to Early Autumn and all of the joys of the Fall Season.

I'm timely like that!! 

Here she is!

A quilt to celebrate the gloriousness of long warm summer days, that melt into velvet star spangled darkness. Just right for a bonfire with family and friends.

Oops! I still have some trimming, and then quilting to do...

Now that early Winter has arrived, she is particularly apt. 

Because her dark Navy ground entices you with comfort and snuggly thoughts, just as our Winter evenings in front of a newly laid fire, do. 

Her velvety texture beckons like our dark evening skies... Come out! Explore! 

Our drifted powdery snows reflect all of the moonlight, sparkling and twinkling in their own merry dances. Impossible to resist their call! 

What's worse, snow or sand, to get off of a quilt you're trying to get a picture of
 in the only 3 minutes of sun that day? Lol!!

Go out into the sweet night, light and clear blue, and chortle and sing and roll in the snow. There'll be hot chocolate or hot tea and snuggles under a quilt, waiting for you. 

And the next morning, A morning for Giving Thanks, 

A surprise will be waiting...

A little furry, delicious cannot resist wanting to touch its velvety, droopy nose, Mooseling. 

Mom is around somewhere... Look both ways before you go out the back door!

I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate Family and Friends and all of the wonder that the world has to offer, this Thanksgiving. 

I know that I am so very glad that you stop by :))

XX!

Lori

Linking up with:

And Fresh Sewing Day and the Small Blog Meet at Lily's Quilts! 

AND

Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday!

And

The best place to find and see Scrap-Tastic inspiration, on the Web!!!

Woot!!

Alison Glass Handcrafted Stash Sunday

It's Sunday Stash time over at the ineffable Molli Sparkles! 

And here are my purchases for this week. Well, those that have arrived, anyway!

Shh! Don't rat me out to Santa. Cause a little Naughty, makes a Girl rather Nice, don't you think??!

 Alison Glass!! 

Now, Alison's work is always stunning. And I am, admittedly, a collector of her astounding work. I like the way she uses colors that are unlike others you see everywhere else. And yet, her fabrics go so very well with everything! Wouldn't these beauties look great snuggled up with a litta Tula Pink?  Why, yes they would! Don't you think I should go make that happen?!

Now, you all know what a huge fan I am of shot cotton. I would literally sew everything from them, including a dog. But Kaffe Fasset shot cottons, although glorious in color and sheen, are on the light side, weave wise. In contrast, there are pepper cottons, by Pepper Cory, which are thick and luxurious, but generally lack that luxurious sheen a girl yearns for. So, when I received these AG prints, I was worried that they would be very course fiber or sheer. But no! They have a very nice hand! I could absolutely see everything made from these, from blouses, to skirts and dresses, to quilted items, to lamp shades and decor loveliness. So GOOD!!

 I am sorry that you can't see these in person. The colors are rich and actually glow!! I am not kidding you!! I like to buy directly from artists if I can. You can purchase AG products, including embroidery templates that will knock your socks off, at Alison Glass.

And how do you like my other purchase? From Angelina McKenna (@weenchaweena on IG where I am a member of the Bitches Get Stitches Swap; A bawdy swap for the inner broad in all of us).

Every girl needs a super hero alter ego to help her take over the world!! 

Now get out and Show us your Shine!

What have you purchased this week, or what do you have your eye on??

XX!

Lori

Finish Along 4: The Next Generation!!

It's time for Finish Along 4 at The Littlest Thistle with Katy Cameron!

Now, I know that you noticed that I didn't post my finishes for the FAL3. And I would like to say that I didn't post because I have been winning alot of things lately and I felt selfish asking for more, which is true. 

But, the real reason that I didn't post is because ever since The Kid moved out, and we've had the house to ourselves, The Hubster and I have been having too much fun together, and the time just slipped by. 

So shoot me;) Lol! 

Here are my projected projects to be finished by December 31st.

I hear you laughing, Smarty Pants. You'll see, this is a completely realistic list...

I am loving how the Golden Yellows of Late Summer are blending and melding with the Plaids and deeper, richer Values of Fall.

Item 1: Fall-ing in Love web string quilt

I am thinking a 'totem' or slashed column improv quilt! Woo!

Item 2: The Chick-a-Dee-Dee-Dee Lap Quilt

I say 'Holiday' Quilt because I tend to leave my decorations

up from Thanksgiving until, say, ... March!! This quilt will

be inspired by Amanda Jean's Sunday Morning Quilts, and 

Jera Brandvig's Quilt as You Go Made Modern. I've been 

Wanting to learn this technique, and now I'm going to! So it's a 

two-fer, and who doesn't love that??! I am joining a 

Quilt Along for this quilt at Quilting in the Rain. Come join us!!
Item 3:  Red and White Holiday Quilt

Item 4: Pillows, Mug Rugs and Table Runners

Have you seen my sewing room??!!! It is filled to over flowing with bins of scraps, sorted by

size, waiting to be used. But instead, I think I am going to use the scraps from these projects

(above) and make pillows, mug rugs and/or table runners to go along with them. The scraps can wait. I'm pretty sure they don't mind, because I am also pretty sure they multiply when I'm not looking...

I am finishing this TODAY. If it kills me. Which it might.

Item 5: Fall Granny Square Quilt

And Lastly,

THIS,
Because I think I'm gonna need it!

I hope you are having a wonder-filled Fall or Spring!!
XX!

Lori

PS, Yes, I am still going to finish the Bikini Quilt, Bind Sarah's Quilt, and maybe, hopefully, gratefully quilt and bind Kirsten's Quilt. Along with all of the sundries from my FAL3 list. But I won't enter them in the FAL. Unless they're completely fabulous... which is possible... you know!!

Fall-ing in Love

Here is Alaska, we spend July in a gluttony of strawberry face jamming, perennial flower cacophony, and salad green stuffage. 

As our Earth begins to tilt us away from our endless Summer Sun, August brings us our first dive into darkness and her star spangled wonders, in three months. Three long months filled quite literally to overflowing with sun, joy, friendship and bluegrass music. In other places, people mourn the loss of summer, but, here, we rejoice in the return of so many things unseen for so long.  

My Rudbeckia have really hit their stride and make excellent cut flowers, too :)

August brings Night back to us. Night with her silky darkness, her spangled gauze of stars, and the Aurora Borealis. Dark, Clear, crisp, colder nights in which to slow the pace, enjoy being together where you are, and look back with satisfaction upon a season well used, and not yet done. 

The Moon is met and happily followed in her phases. August is a time to stand in the back yard and look towards the Heavens and be content, and then be suddenly surprised and delighted by green flashes of brilliance that magically dance across the curtain of stars above you. We have Full-Moon lit nights in which to wander trails well known in daylight, and mystically silvered and mysterious, now. 

I live right below O'Malley Peak, the sharply pointed one! 

And August brings us a time of Plenty. A time of Harvest. The rivers and ocean are filled with five different species of salmon, each named for its fleshly delighted color, or its use: Red, Silver, Pink, Dog and Chum. Guess which your fourlegged friend gets to eat all winter? 

Blueberries and Crowberries and Nagoon berries flood the bushes, high and low. Cranberries and Currents tempt us to make jellies. Salmon eggs harvested from the fish as we catch them, are salted and put up in jars, or eaten in a delicately delicious omelette, but only for a week, before they’re gone. Beluga whales now routinely forage in and out of Turnagain Arm, the flash of their milky backs surprising and delighting tourists and locals alike; for they all stop to wonder that such a marvel still exists.

I like to take an early morning wander and see who has been there before me. Living their secret lives throughout the night. 

It is time to bring in the honey. Nectar sweet golden summer tinted delight, it represents all that has been, and holds promise for all that will come. Thoughts of Blueberry studded buckwheat pancakes, piled high, steaming under a drizzle of this nature’s delight, and a catch-up with the neighbor over a cuppa joe, warm the morning.

Carrots from the Farmer's Market. Next year I will put in raised beds and grow my own. Deelish!!!

August means a return to Quilting and the symphony and concerts; all abandoned for Summer’s pressing necessity to garden, entertain and travel.

September brings us yellow, gold and firey red tinted wonder, briefly, stunningly, startingly quickly. The mountains flush beginning with their fireweed laden toes, and proceed in a stately manner, after an initial maidenly blush, to adorn themselves with maroon, red, chartreuse and sun splashed yellows. The air begins to smell of fallen leaves. An apple-crisp wind brushes the seed heads of the shoulder high grasses, who then whisper sweet nothings into your golden sun drenched ear. We have Long, surprisingly warm, sunny days in which to wander our world and consider the grace and glory in which we live.

A Blessing of days. A Time to remember those who are not here, and be Grateful for all that we have, and rest before the busyness of Life returns.

I have been using my rest time to surf among the Stash, and ponder Fall inspired quilts. Do you think I can get them done in time for the end of the third quarter of the Finish Along? ;)

I don't seem to be done with Yellow and Blue, quite yet!!

A Quilt to celebrate the Fall return of the chickadees. Woohoo!

Happy Fall!! 
I hope you have a moment today that brings you Joy,

XX!

Lori

Ps, Craftsy is having a Halloween sale. I mean really, just too cute! Here's the link to the Jillibean Soup Halloween Kit...

Jillibean Soup Halloween Kit

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Halloween is just around the corner. Get ready for spooky fun with one of Craftsy’s NEW paper crafting kits! 

Work with your frightfully fun kit and learn how to create stylish Halloween decor projects with exclusive video lessons. Paper crafts expert Ronda Palazzari will show you how to use Jillibean Soup's paper pads, black glitter beanboard alphas and festive embellishments to create a witch’s hat, pumpkin centerpieces and even a spooky banner! 

Hee Hee! So much Fun!!

Linking up with 

 At Freshly Pieced. 

At SewFreshQuilts