Traveling to Shenandoah National Park

Travel Days!

We traveled yesterday from Camp Lejeune to Gasburg, VA.  Today, we are heading for northern Virginia's mountains.  We plan to stay at the Shenandoah National Park.  We will drive the whole length of Skyline from one end to the other.  I hear the panoramic views are breath-taking!  I can't wait.

I hope to see Virginia's Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg.  I have waited a long time to see this museum and the one in Paducah, KY.

While Dan was driving, I was edging one of the pumpkins with button hole stitches.  I might try to get another one done today.

**There's a good chance that I won't have internet while we are in the national park from 13 - 18 July.**

Our Hitch - Hiker

Hitch riding on his scratch post over my right shoulder.

I posted this photo in my Day 6 for 365 Project.  I thought I would share it with my blogging friends.  If you look over my right shoulder, you will see Hitch in his favorite spot on his scratch post looking out the window as we travel down the highway.  He is quite a traveler!

Many of you know Hitch's story, so I'll keep it brief.

We first saw 6 month old Hitch hanging around a campground in South Dakota.  He was wandering from one rig to the next and finally ended up under our motorhome.  With a friendly purr, he managed to move into our hearts.  After spending a couple of days looking for his owner, we came to the conclusion that he had been left behind. 

The first time we started the motor, Hitch became excited.  He ran up and down the aisle!  Jumped up on the dash and did head bobbles!  He even helped Dan to navigate by standing on the steering wheel!  And that is how Hitch Hiker joined our family.

Every once in a while, we will hear stories from other cat staff about how their cats love to travel.  Does anyone have a travel-loving cat?

Seashells by the Seashore (Camp LeJeune, NC)

Seashells

On the Camp LeJeune beach map, the above picnic shelters are labeled as "Seashells".  Perfect!  I love the seashell colors.  I like them so much that I dug through my little stash and found some similar colors to make a new quilt.  I wish I had more pastel yellow, but this will just have to do.  I know I have too many projects on the sewing machine already, but what's one more?

Mmmm, I can't wait to start this quilt project!

Monday! Monday! Monday!


I can't wait for this evening!  Both Eureka and Warehouse 13 will be on SyFy and I will be able to watch them!  WhooHoo!  Yea, I'm a geek at times.  We rarely have cable in the campgrounds so this is an extra treat to have cable and be in the right place at the right time.

Seasonal Potholders or Mug Rugs

Summer has barely started and I am ready for some cooler weather. Well, I certainly don’t want to rush Father Time so I will be patient. While I am waiting, I will start working on some seasonal items.   In-between my quilt projects, of course.

I have been fusing fabric together with Steam-A-Seam2, but I’m find this fusible hard to get the needle through. It’s a little hard on the fingers and hands. Especially when there are 3 layers!  I think I’m going to try a lighter weighted fusible. Any suggestions? What do you use to fuse fabrics for appliqué work? 

Pumkin parts are ready to be cut out.



Tracing the pattern onto Steam-A-Seam2



I find using a pin to score the paper in the center works the best.

Peel towards edge.

Appliqué Pressing Sheet

I like using the appliqué pressing sheet.  The pressing sheet goes over the design. I can see the design for placement and iron on the sheet.  The fusible webbing does not stick to the sheet.  I start ironing the smaller pieces together.  I go backwards as I add the larger pieces.  This makes it easier to place each piece in its proper spot.  

3 more ready for embroidery

Working on Snowman.

Button Hole Stitch

I finished the Snowman and I am thinking of selling these as decorative mug rugs instead of potholders.  The reason for this?  I have been embellishing the 'potholders' with buttons and they might melt if a hot pot is put on them.  I think they will make a very festive mug rug, don't you?

Mug Rug?

Happy Quilting!

Sweetgrass Hand-Woven Baskets, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Yesterday travel day to Camp LeJeune, NC.  We moved from Charleston, SC to Camp LeJeune, NC.  We took Hwy. 17 for most of the journey.  North of Charleston while passing through Mt. Pleasant, I started seeing old flimsy looking side stands.  Most were empty, but a few had some unusually beautiful baskets on display.  The signs said "Sweetgrass Baskets".  I had to Google!  I'm so glad I did.

Photo from Charleston Sweetgrass
Handmade Sweetgrass Baskets

According to the Charleston Sweetgrass website:  Slaves from West Africa have been weaving Sweetgrass baskets for over 400 years and there is little information or written instructions on how to make them.  I borrowed a photo from this website so you can see why I like their baskets so much.  The website also gives a little history about the makers and the baskets.

My wrist has finally healed!  I am back to quilting and I feel a lot more relaxed.  sigh! what a relief!  I have some extra wide fabric on order from Equilter.  I ordered 4 yards (108"wide) of black for the SouthWest Kokopeli top.  I need backing, borders, binding.......and a little left over for some applique work.
Back to Happy Quilting!

Sketch of applique

Silly Me!

I forgot to tell you about Savannah, GA.  I loved walking the downtown area.  The historic homes are so lovely.  I kept thinking I would see gentlemen and ladies dressed in 1800's attire among tree lined sidewalks and streets.  The people were friendly and helpful.  The food was great.  I hope we go back someday.

Forsyth Park

We walked through Forsythe Park where they filmed John Cusack in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".   Very nice and very big with a water park for little ones to cool off.  Large grassy common areas with lots of big old trees filled with spanish moss.  Seeing so much water everywhere is so different from most citys now.  The effect was very relaxing.

Here are the links to two albums:  Sights of Savannah and Historic Liberty Trail/Ft. Stewart

I Need My Therapy! (Charleston, SC)

My Quilt Therapy that is….ha! I had you going, didn't I?

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

I had to take a break from quilting this week.  It has been a rough week without my quilting therapy….sigh…. I had to go to Urgent Care on Monday after accidentally wounding my wrist.  I bled a little and thought no big deal until the next morning when the wound was swollen and red.  I knew the infection was moving into my muscles when my fingers started twitching.  There’s nothing like having my own fingers waving back at me as if they have a mind of their own. 

Hmm….anyway, I ended up on antibiotics, got a lecture on NO sewing for at least a week, and I had to keep my wrist elevated above my heart.  Yep, I got real good with surfing the TV and websites with my left hand, but I really missed relaxing with one of my projects.  The rhythmic motion of the needle going in and out of fabric, the wonderful feeling of accomplishment as the blocks come together and even ripping out stitches can be therapeutic at times.  Groan!

 Isn’t it amazing how one hobby can keep a person feeling sane and relaxed?

Kokopeli SW Lap Quilt

Well, before I got put on rest detail, I was working on a SW Kokopeli lap quilt and I was just starting on another lap quilt using Laura Burch’s Cats fabric.  I love the cat fabric so much that I have decided to keep this one for myself.  This will be the first quilt I have made just  for me.  I have made one large quilt for Dan and I, but never one for me.

Kokopeli

Cat Quilt

Happy 4^th of July Everyone!  I hope all is well with your family and your hometown.