Traveling South (Mount Vernon, WA)

Today, we say good-bye to Washington State.  We have enjoyed our stay.  I know we have been here since May, but it feels a lot shorter.  However, we need to start our trek south to Arizona if we are going to enjoy the views along the way.  By the next post, we will be settled on the Oregon Coast.  Another area that we can easily spend all summer exploring.

Here are some photos from our drive on Chuckanut Drive.

Framed views from a pullover area

Tree hugging a rock

 Views of Larrabee State Park:

Larrabee State Park

And a few from the RV park at the Oak Harbor NAS:

Great views of the ocean

See the RV up on the hill?

Driftwood sculptures are scattered throughout the park

There were a couple of JOY driftwood signs

It has been such a joy and I hope we return soon.  Well, I don't have a thing to show you for On The Cutting Board, but I will be working on some projects during our next two days on the road.

Happy Trails!

Disappearing Ink? (Mount Vernon, WA)

We went to Mount Vernon Farmer's Market a couple of weekends ago.  I am rarely in the right place at the right time to visit one, so this was a lot of fun for me.  It was so festive with balloon makers....

displays of fruits.... 

and flowers.

Dogs making friends - four legged and two legged - no discrimination here.

Including a little Shakespeare for entertainment. 

After buying some delicious 9-grain bread, fruit, and veggies, we walked a couple of blocks to the downtown area.  Right on the first corner was a quilt shop called Calico Creations!  No website, but they are on Facebook.

Of course, I had to stop in.  I found a backing for my last quilt top on the sales shelf.  It is not quite what I was looking for, but the price was right and the colors are almost a perfect match.  This quilt is wider than 42 inches, so I need to piece the backing to make it bigger.  Maybe, I'll use some of the leftover squares.  Piecing a backing will be a first for me.

We strolled along South 1st Street and came to the conclusion that the locals in this area are very productive.  There were two yarn shops and the quilt shop on one street.  So I guess when they are not growing delicious foods for us to eat, they are making beautiful items to enjoy.

On The Cutting Board

Have you heard about the new gel pen by Pilot called Frixion?  It is an erasable ink pen.  There is an eraser, well sort of, on one end.  Not quite like the pencil erasers we are use to, but it does erase the ink from paper.  I found a pack of three in Office Depot.  Some quilt shops are starting to carry them, but the price is a little too high for my budget.

I wish I could remember this quilter's name.  I read in her blog about how she used the Frixion to mark her fabric and then ironed away the ink when she was done.  I thought that is perfect for marking a quilt top that will sit in my hoop - as long as I don't put any heat on the markings.

***Thank you Suzie for letting me know it was your blog!   Excellent!  So here's a link to Suzie's post about the pens in "Trying to Bloom Where I am Planted...Are You?".  Enjoy!***

Of course, I had to test this for myself.  I found a small scrap and wrote my name in red.

The iron is set on wool.  Add a little heat....

and Ta!Da! half my name is gone.  I even looked at the back to see if there was any ink left.  None!

I did it again in black and I went over it several times.  Not a problem.  Gone with a little heat from the iron.  I just love new technology.  What will they think of next?

Happy Quilting!