Blogger's Quilt Festival (Spokane, WA)

It's time for Blogger's Quilt Festival!  This is my second time participating in this wonderful event hosted by Amy's Creative Side.  Thank you Amy!  I love visiting quilters from around the world it is so inspiring to see their beautiful creations.  

This is my Delightfully Dizzy quilt.  I won a gift certificate from Amy's last Blogger's Quilt Festival.  The gift certificate was for The Quilted Fish.  The shop had some great designer fabric that I have never used before, but decided to try something new.   

I have to admit that when the Delighted! fabric by Riley Blake arrived, I was feeling outside my comfort zone.  The more I arranged and re-arranged the two packages of 10" squares, the more I like them.  I decided to use Cake Mix pattern from Layer Cake Recipe.  

I found matching green fabric for the border and backing.   The blocks had to be made smaller than the pattern's original block size.  I had just enough for five blocks across and seven blocks down.  Perfect for a small lap-size quilt.

36 x 48 inches

As the quilt came together, the fabric took on a life of its own.  I not only found it delightful, but cheerfully dizzy as the colors and patterns swirled together.  Hence the name Delightfully Dizzy!

I had to add some kind of appliqué before I sandwiched the layers.  I knew I wanted to mimic the flowers without actually duplicating them.  I was quite happy when I found an old appliqué design from one of my Baltimore Album pattern books.  Funny how something from an older design can fit so well with a new design fabric.

This quilt started out as a challenge and ended up being so much fun.  I have a feeling I will be challenging myself again with fabric outside my comfort zone.

Thanks for stopping by!   I hope you found my quilt delightful, but not too dizzy!

Happy Quilting!

Freebie Friday and More Delighted! Blocks Done

It's My Memories Freebie Friday

Please note that all of these are .png files only, not MyMemories Suite Templates. They are usable in any software so these freebies are for everyone!! These freebies include 2 Quick Pages, and all of the papers and elements used in creating them. The elements and QuickPages are .png and the papers are .jpg format.

This Digital Kit Includes:

• 2 Digital Papers
• 3 Page Elements
• 2 Quick Pages

This Digital Kit Includes:

• 2 Digital Papers
• 7 Page Elements
• 2 Quick Pages

Here's a tip from My Memories - Liz:

Creating many different layouts using a single Quick Page is fast and easy, and your pages will all coordinate! Many Quick Pages work when turned 90* and then turned again!! So you can use and reuse them!

Let's look at this Quick Page:

And see that you can make it into this:

Now take the same Quick Page and turn it 90*

And look how you can use it again!!

And look how coordinated the pages look!! Perfect for a 2 page layout in a photobook!!

     Go here to learn about Loading Up Your Albums for Print
If you are interested in getting the software, please go to My Memories website and don't forget!

  Copy and Paste the code below before clicking on the above link: STMMMS75192

Check out MyMemories Suite,
the #1 Rated Scrapbook Software

Use the DISCOUNT CODE
(provided above) during your checkout and receive:
$10 off the software purchase
and a $10 gift certificate to the online store

Go here to learn about Loading Up Your Albums for Print

And Now - Back to My Project...

Delighted! Fabric is now 9 blocks.  This is as far as I have gotten on this project.  I'm still using up the first pack.  So what do you think?  This should make a perfect Spring time quilt with these bright colors.  I know one thing - I'm not adding any applique to this quilt top.  It is busy enough.

Another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Mother Nature dressed up this morning with dew drops

Mr. Hawk flew by....

....to say Hello

Even the dry weeds glowed

Crispy air....Clear blue sky.....Perfect!

Happy Quilting!

Working On the Delighted! Fabric (Patagonia, AZ)

And the Final Decision is.....

I made a decision to use the Cake Mix pattern from Layer Cake Recipe.  I'm making the blocks half the size so I will have more of the quilt pattern shown below.  Instead of 10 inch blocks.  I will make 5 1/2 inch blocks for a lap-size quilt.

I took a chance and cut some blocks up and did a quick test to see how the blocks would look.  So far, so good.

Sewed one together.  There are 3 color variations of each pattern, so I am going to have 3 different blocks to give it a more uniformed look.  I'm still a little worried that this quilt will be too busy.

Now that I have made that decision, my mission at the Squirrel's Nest quilt shop was to find a matching border and backing.  I was having a very hard time.  They did not carry a lot of this kind of design fabric and I certainly could not find any Riley Blake fabric.  They are more of a Thimbleberries quilt shop which I like...a lot. I did find 3 shades of green that was not too busy, but I could not decide.  I was about ready to give up when Dan came in.  I asked for his opinion and he thought this fabric would work without making it too busy.

What do you think?  I think I should get hubby's opinion more often, don't you?

**I would have asked one of the employees, but no one even bothered to say hello when I walked into the store or ask if I needed help.  Why ask an opinion from someone who can't be bothered to say hello?  Despite the unwelcome feeling, I still enjoyed looking through the fabrics and notions.

A Surprise Visitor

This photo is from the wildlife camera taken on 11 Nov 11 - the same day we arrived.  This Mountain Lion crossed the creek a couple of hundred yards behind our motorhome.  Our manager, Matt has found signs of the cat in the area recently so now I carry Pepper Spray....just in case.  Considering he has been here all month, I'm hoping he likes to stay hidden during the day and does his hunting at night.  I would not mind seeing him at a distance...a very long distance or from the car.

Some more photos from the Preserve...

My favorite Gnarly Tree

Red-tail Hawk

Red-tail Hawk

Female Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinal Family) hiding

Happy Quilting!

55 years! (Patagonia, AZ)

Yesterday, I turned 55 years old.   Yep, I have been around for awhile now...well, not as long as some people, but longer than most of the people I know.  Do I sound senile?  I hope not!

I took assessment of how I feel about turning 55.  Except for quite a few extra pounds that I would like to get rid of and lots of grey hair which I am happy to keep, I think I am doing pretty good.  Not too many aches in the morning although my knees are starting to creak and my shoulders are popping more often which makes my Sun Salutes a lot slower.  I am very thankful for my health.  I walk two to three miles every day and I am trying to stay limber with my yoga practice.

For me, celebrating 55 years isn't about "so far so good".  I worked hard at being here today to celebrate being 55 years old and feeling good about what I have done and where I am today.  No regrets.  I feel great about practicing good eating habits and exercise routines.  I don't deprive myself of sweets.  I do eat them quite often. My weight can certainly testify to that! I am enjoying life my way by being as healthy as possible.  My overall goal is to grow old and still be aware of my surroundings.  In other words - to have a better quality of life as I get older.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

I do have my Senior moments.  Exercising my brain can be quite a challenge at times, but it is very important to keep the brain cells active.   There are days when I think my poor brain is about to shut down for good from information overload.  It gets back at me by forgetting why I went to the closet.....umm, I know I was going to get something...well, I'll remember later....maybe....probably in the middle of the night....

Yesterday was wonderful.  We woke to a frosty low 20s morning.  Dan & I took an early walk around the Preserve (closed Monday & Tuesday).

We visited Mr. Owl, saw one or more hawks, and one deer.  I got some great photos of the hawk(s).  We are not sure we were seeing the same hawk or different ones.

Always stretch and warm up before flying

Fluff once a day

It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Excellent view!

What a great way to start a day!

Good Morning!

The rest of the day was spent hanging around the motorhome just catching up on different items, watching birds, quilting...just relaxing and enjoying the moment.

Hey you! Yea You!  Got any birdseed?

Today, we are going out for lunch at the German Cafe in Sierra Vista for a second day of celebrating.  

I also plan to stop by the Squirrel's Nest for a little fabric shopping.  I'm hoping to find some matching fabric for my prize of 10-inch squares - Delighted!  I have been to this quilt shop before - many years ago.  I was amazed to see that they also carry supplies for spinning, weaving, and knitting.   There were the large weaving looms and yarns hanging from the walls.  Oh my!  The colors were amazing!  Just what I need - temptations to start a new hobby...It's a good thing I don't have any extra storage space.   Oh, and I love their url address:  fibernuts.com.  LOL!

I also did a little cyber shopping on Etsy.  I see so many wonderful things that I like, but of course, I have no room for more stuff.  So here is my Happy Birthday to Me - Tuesday Treasury:

Did you noticed that I slipped some fabric into my shopping?  ;0)

I Can't Believe I Won!

And the winner is......ME?

Remember in October, I entered one of my quilts in the Blogger's Quilt Festival?

Well, I won a prize!  With over 600 entries, I really did not think I would win any of the giveaways. (and I'm still visiting the other quilt sites) So, now I have a new project.  This isn't the kind of fabric I would pick out for myself.  I'm more into the novelty, hand-dyed Batiks, or southwest, but I'm starting to like this design fabric.

2 packs of 10-inch "Delighted!" squares by Riley Blake 

21 squares in each pack

What to do with these 10-inch squares....hmmm, I'll have to get back to you on this project.  This is a good challenge for me and I do have a couple of ideas.

Wet Feather Woes

It rained most of Thursday night and part of Friday.  We could use more, but we will take what we can get, right?

I never gave much thought to the wild birds until I started watching this little one trying to clean and dry its feathers.

Boy! Am I wet!

Let's see if fluffing out the feathers will dry me out..

Okay, maybe cleaning them will work...

Not fast enough - let's shake some feathers........

and don't forget the tail...

Oops! forgot to air out this wing

Wait!  was that a raindrop?

Well, I guess I'll wait until the sun comes out.....