SOME PROJECTS AND MILLER WOODS

Where does the time go?  I decided that I was going to finish a Christmas project that I had wanted to get finished for last Christmas.  But since we weren't going to be home for Christmas last year, I decided on other priorities.  This year, however, we plan to be home for Christmas, so I am going to finish this wall hanging.  I found it in the November/December 2015 issue of Quiltmania magazine and since we used to do a lot of RVing, I knew that I HAD to make it.  It is now ready for the borders and then quilting.  I decided to do raw edge appliqué, so I have all the pieces ironed on and when I quilt it I will do straight stitching around the appliquéd pieces.  I've never done that before, but I figure that since it's a wall hanging it won't be handled or washed very much.  Plus being on the wall it will be viewed from a distance (not a huge distance, but not super close up either), so it won't be too noticeable.  It will finish at about 54" x 37".

Another wall hanging below, but this one will be for sale at a craft show.  I saw a tutorial from Jordan Fabrics in Grants Pass, Oregon.  A friend from my guild in Texas had some across some YouTube videos from there and asked if I had ever been to the shop.  I hadn't, but did check out their videos and came across the one for Secret Window Panel Wall Hanging (you can find it on YouTube if you are interested).  Anyway, I thought it was interesting and tucked it away in my memory.

While on our trip to Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois in April, I stopped at a quilt shop in Des Moines, Iowa and saw this panel.  It was perfect for the Secret Window, so I bought it.  Then last week while on a shop hop I was looking for some fabric to make the Secret Window out of and the gal in the shop (Grandma's Attic in Dallas, OR) showed me this green batik.  It looked perfect, so I bought some and I'm very happy with how it looks.  It was very easy to do, which is nice.  It is ready to baste and quilt - don't know how I will quilt it yet.

I walk 5 days a week with my neighbor (she is also my quilting buddy and craft show vendor partner) and we decided to check out Miller Woods for a hike.  Usually we just walk around the neighborhood, but we keep saying we need to get out to more interesting places.  This place is wonderful!  It's about a 12 min. drive, so not very far and it's a wonderful conservation park.

They make bird houses and had them nailed to lots of trees and on posts.

 
Two deer were on the path and just stood there looking at us and we looked at them for a while till they walked into the ferns and the ferns were so large that we couldn't see them at all!  We could hear the bull frogs in the pond croaking (if that's what you call it), but couldn't get close enough to see them.

We'll definitely be going back there.

Thanks for visiting - Happy Quilting!!

ESTATE SALE, UFO AND POT HOLDERS

Yesterday I went to an estate sale,  saw this quilt top and decided to buy it!  It is hand pieced with teeny tiny stitches!

Here's a close-up so you can see the fabric better.

 I decided I needed to get busy on some UFOs and picked this one as all the blocks have been finished for a while.  I am almost finished putting it together.  The pattern is American Crossroads and it was published in Quilt Sampler fall/winter edition in 2005.

I needed a new pot holder "handle" for my cast iron frying pan and decided to make several to sell as well.  I'm keeping 2 for myself.  The green ones are broccoli fabric and then there is corn fabric and chicken fabric.  They are a necessity if you cook with cast iron!

We are getting some much needed rain here.  Have a lovely Sunday!

IT'S JUNE ALREADY?!?!

 I have been very lax about posting lately and it's been over a week!  I meant to post this a couple days ago, but I've been busy.  Can't believe it's June already!!!

In my last post, I showed you the "cheater" panel by Kim Diehl, and now it is finished!  It sure goes a lot faster when you don't have to actually do the appliqué!!!  This was a fun project for me.  I decided to make the medallion similarly to the "Faithful" quilt-a-long that Lori had a few years ago.  I do love that and you can see it here.  My finished panel below is a little wonky and I'm thinking about blocking it.

This is the table runner.  I have placed it on my coffee table.

When I was digging through some baskets, I came across some 4-patches already done and decided to make a small quilt (doll quilt) out of them.  Here it is hanging on my clothesline.

Can I brag about my grandson?  He just graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.  We are very proud of him and can't wait till he gets back home in Oregon.  He should be arriving this week!

Today I'm going on a shop hop with my quilting buddy!  We plan to hit about 5 or 6 shops in the Salem area!  I hope I can avoid spending much money.