HEADING FOR HOME

Our truck is finally fixed and we are heading for home.  We love Oregon, but will be glad to get home to Texas.

This statute would be at home in Texas as well as Oregon.

Hill in the morning sun - the view from our camper for the last 2 weeks

I finished hand quilting the center of this doll quilt yesterday and will do the border when I get home - I didn't bring any stencils with me.  I love the look of hand quilting, but unfortunately, I really don't enjoy the process, so I don't know if I'll do any hand quilting in the future (except for the border of this quilt). I really do enjoy machine quilting, however, and with practice I hope to improve those skills.

Since our stay has been extended, I completed the projects I brought with me as much as I thought I would and even finished most of the hand work that I brought along.  Some of the piecing projects, such as my log cabin quilt, will probably need more blocks, but I'm not sure how many more.  The last hand work project is this hexie quilt that I started at least 10 years ago,  I am now putting the red border on it and that will be the final size of this lap quilt.  I'll try to work on this some on our trip home - we'll see if I can manage it in the bouncy truck.  If I can't I can always knit.

When I get home, I have my secret project to finish as well as some string blocks to make as my first priorities.  

A GLITCH IN THE PLANS

Well, we are still in Oregon and we do love it here, but.....the engine light started to come on in the truck, so we are getting it fixed and the shop couldn't get to it right away, so we're camping and visiting my BIL/SIL a little longer.  We've been having a good time with them and I've been doing some sewing, though not too much.

I finished June's basket appliqué blocks - finally!  There are 12 of them, 6 more just like the ones in the picture below.

Yesterday we went to a few garage sales with my BIL/SIL.  One of them was selling some reproduction quilting fabric!!!  The FQs were $.50 each!!!!

There was some yardage as well for about $2/yd.!!!

The red floral border fabric is from Andover

I also made a sunsuit and a romper for Abby's 12" dolls.  The matching hats aren't finished yet.

I bought this 18" doll at a different garage sale for $.50 and thought I could use it to try on clothes that I might make for Abby's doll.  This one had all her hair cut off, so I decided to make a hat for her (I've been making hats for the children's hospital).  Then I thought she needed a hospital gown to go with the hat.  My DS (Abby's Daddy) is a registered nurse, so Abby can pretend her doll is sick.  The fabric for the gown is from a thrift shop.

We're making the best of our delay, but we want to go HOME!  Maybe I can get the quilting on the doll quilt finished after all!

SISTERS QUILT SHOW

It was a perfectly beautiful day yesterday and I went to the quilt show in Sisters, Oregon with my DH, BIL and SIL.  We went early so we could get there while it was still cool.  

The first picture I took was of this piano quilt and it is one of my favorites from the show.

I'm sorry this picture is so blurry, but I wanted to tell you that Katie's mother entered it in the show.  It was because of Katie showing this on her blog that I made the same quilt.

Of course, I loved the Dear Jane quilt.

There were too many amazing quilts to take pictures of them all, but here are some others.

It was a wonderful day!

ANOTHER HISTORIC HOUSE AND SISTERS, OR

I had the chance to visit the home in Newberg, OR where Herbert Hoover lived for a time during his childhood.

Happily, there were some quilts on the beds.

 This was his room and what a wonderful quilt he had!

We spent a couple days in Sisters, OR where there are lots of preparations going on for the quilt show on Saturday, which I will be going to.  It is a very cute town with lovely scenery to see.

Our camp site

Lori, from Humble Quilts, came for a short visit to our camper.  I showed her a few of my quilts and she brought one of her quilt tops that she finished while at her retreat.  I should have taken a picture of her with her quilt top, but you can see it if you click on the link.  It's the green and red one, but you'll have to scroll down to find it.

Three Sisters Mountains

I'm hand quilting this doll quilt as one of my travel projects.  I'm beginning to doubt that I will get it all quilted by the time we get home, which should be sometime next week.

Thanks for visiting!

A SPECIAL CONCERT

My DGS is in London right now with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music.  He was selected by his band teacher to be part of this group that gets to go to Europe for a 2 week tour where they will play 10 concerts in various cities.  The lucky guy is there now.  We were able to hear the band at Lewis and Clark College in Portland the night before they left.

On the way to the concert we could see Mt. Hood from a bridge in Portland!

Another view of Mt. Hood in the distance (about 50 Miles?) from Lewis & Clark College.

Statue of Sacagawea.

Mansion at Lewis and Clark College.

The campus is beautiful and it was such a pleasant evening (after a hot day) sitting amongst the tall trees and listening to the band.  It was amazing how professional they sounded after only three days of practicing together.  DGS plays the trumpet and he was sitting in the middle of the back row, so I couldn't really get a picture of him.  He & DGD do not want their pictures posted on the blog, however, so even if I did get a picture, I couldn't show it to you.  I wish I could.

My DGS is very musical and plays the piano and organ in addition to the trumpet.  He even has an organ job at a church.  We are very proud of him and happy he has this opportunity!

Oregon Ambassadors of Music Band

We're getting anxious to get home on one hand, but hate to leave on the other!  It has been a wonderful visit!

HAPPY 4TH!!

My DGD's Bricks and Stepping Stones designed by Bonnie Hunter top (minus border) is finished!  We love the way it looks!  Except for the black and white 4-patches, it is a charm quilt.  She plans to put a black border on it.  

Hoping you have a wonderful 4th of July celebration!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I have finished 24 Ohio Star blocks that I will use to make a donation quilt for children's hospital.  It will be for a teen-aged boy and is made out of men's shirt fabric.  I took pictures of two lay-outs and want your opinion.  The first one is must mixed up and the second one has diagonal rows of the same color blocks.  I'm leaning towards the second one.

The blocks measure 9" finished so without sashing, this part will measure 36" x 54".  I will be adding a border to bring the size up to the requested size, which is large enough to cover the bed but not hang over (because of the side rails).  Do you think I should add a narrow sashing also?  I kind of like the blocks right next to each other.

I don't know what fabric I will use for the border, but it would have to be darker.  I'll wait until I get home to see what I have on hand.  Out of sight - out of mind!

I hope there is a boy who won't mind the pink looking fabric.  It is actually kind of a coral color and white weave, but looks like pink at a distance.

This is our last week with DS/DIL and then we will spend a few days in Sisters and a few days with BIL/SIL - then return to Texas.  We're looking forward to going home, but have had a wonderful trip and good times with family.

I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July and that it isn't too hot!