What's up at my house

Trimming the forest

I love living in a space between the city and the country. Maintenance is a necessary on going process. Recently it was outside stuff.

Fixing the drive.

The American Art Company’s Twelfth Northwest Contemporary Quilt - Invitational

Cloud Forest

I am excited to announce I'll have 2 pieces in The American Art Company’s Twelfth Northwest Contemporary Quilt - Invitational. August 16 – October 4, 2014

The Reception for the Artists is Saturday, August 16, 2 - 4 PM.

American Art Company
1126 Broadway Plaza
Tacoma WA 98402
253-272-4327

Waiting for the Sun

A Vintage Fashion Show

Note the slip detail.

 There were lots of garments from the 1880's to about 1950's. I took hundreds of pictures, and I'll post all the good ones eventually. But I thought I would start with a dress from the 1930's. Not the most impressive dress from the distance, but wait until you get a look at the details. It is really true, the details make the difference!

The scalloped edge.

I know I love the beading, but really?

More beading..

Check out this beaded purse.

Women's love of shoes certainly didn't start with our generation.

International Quilt Festival here I come!

Sign ups have begun! For those of you that will be attending Quilt Festival in Houston this Fall, class

Fun and Fancy – Make a Purse

registration opened on July 23!  I will be teaching 9 classes during the week and giving a lecture. They range from Fun & Fancy – Make a Purse to Stitching Through the Layers; Straight Line Quilting Design and include the NEW lecture - So Many Ideas-Sew Little Time.

WARNING! Classes not only fill quickly but the waiting lists are long also so REGISTER IMMEDIATELY so you won't miss out on a fabulous class with the me! Here is the link to the catalog:
class catalog
Here is the whole list:
Monday:
For the Love of Color
Stitching Through the Layers; Straight Line Quilting Design  
Super Fast Binding & Piping

Tuesday
A Fine Line; Creating the Quilting Design

Wednesday
Borders: The Final Chapter

Thursday

Lecture - So Many Ideas; So Little Time  
This lecture is a humorous look at how Melody designed and made her latest contemporary quilts including some from her books. Hear from her own lips how she recovered from quilt disasters and made "silk purses" from "sows ears". You can relate to these true confessions of the struggles and foibles of a prolific quilter. Lecture includes projected images and showing of many of my quilts.
Friday 
Fantastic Fabric Foiling
Thread Toppings
Joining the blocks: Quilt-As-You-Go Style
Saturday
Fun & Fancy - Make a Purse

Stitching Through the Layers; Straight Line Quilting Design

A Garden Party

Went to a garden party. It was advertized as brunch and a vintage fashion show in the garden. And what a party! Over the next few weeks I'll share lots of pictures. But let's start at the beginning.
The setting:

The garden was the perfect backdrop for everything.

Even the fruit on the tree was beautiful.

Brunch

The Pasco Trip

Our trip to Pasco was all about a class reunion. Here are the happy graduates. My husband is the third from the left in the last row.

Any Excuse for Straight Line Stitching

I love straight line quilting, it works so well on so many quilts, and it’s so easy! The possible combinations of straight lines are endless. 

These pieces started with postcards of Chinese cigarette advertising posters from the 1930's. I love them so much, that there is a very large framed one hanging in the guest bathroom. (Talk about getting off the subject!)

I printed these on Printed Treasures fabric that comes pretreated with stuff that I can run through my ink jet printer. The purpose was to get them done so I could bead. (I bead after the pieces are quilted and bound). So straight line quilting was just the thing. I wanted nothing fussy, nothing to distract from the beading. I really like both of these pieces. 

What a difference, to see the before beading and after beading pictures.

It's Tuesday - Time for the Duck Dodge

In this case, maybe it should be called the Dog Dodge!

Actually, the original name was the "Tenas Chuck Duck Dodge". Tenas Chuck is the native American name for Lake Union (Chuck means "water", as in the Pilchuck, Skookumchuck, Chuckanut, Saltchuck, etc.) Duck Dodge one would assume means that in order to navigate the course one must either duck Dodges or dodge ducks. Since there are probably more ducks on Lake Union than Dodges, it is safe to assume the latter.

The original handbill announcing the first (technically second) Duck Dodge in 1974 actually has a sub-title of "Lake Union Beer Can Regatta". This was included because there was some concern that people wouldn't "get it" if it was just called it the Duck Dodge.

It is an informal sail boat race on Seattle's Lake Union Tuesdays all summer long! On warm days we love to take our lawn chairs and a picnic, and watch.

Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado

To celebrate their 60 year, the Society is raffling a tee shirt quilt

We saw The Mikado over the weekend. What a delight! It is Seattle's Gilbert & Sullivan Society 60th year. Take a trip to Japan as they present The Mikado or "The Town of Titipu." This Gilbert & Sullivan opera is a masterful screwball comedy overflowing with song, dance and hilarity, and contains all the classic elements required for a superior Gilbert & Sullivan operetta; a member of the upper class pretending to be of the lower class, forbidden love, villains, giggling maidens, romance and a happy ending.

Fun in the Sun

A working barge

I live in the suburbs of Seattle. I love to spend what little summer we have, out there enjoying it. One of my favorite place to visit is The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Built in 1911 and often nicknamed the Ballard Locks, provides a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which connects eastward to Lake Union and Lake Washington. You never know what you will see.

Seafair is Seattle's big summer fair. The final highlight are the hydroplane races. This hydroplane was on display.

Sole Obsession: 100 Years of Women’s Shoes from Kitten Heels to Power Pumps

Now through November 9, 2014

Step into the White River Valley Museum’s newest exhibit, Sole Obsession: 100 Years of Women’s Shoes from Kitten Heels to Power Pumps, opening June 18th. Sole Obsession presents a range of dressy footwear, spanning from 1910 to 2010, and reflects upon the dramatic changes experienced by the women who wore them. Over one hundred pairs of shoes from regional museums and private collections will be displayed with examples of women’s cocktail and party apparel from the Museum’s collection.
Historic clothing aficionado Christine Palmer curated the exhibit, calling upon her connections to vintage fashion collectors throughout the region. “Shoes have been a particular passion of mine, as their styles can be powerful, seductive or fanciful, depending upon the era, materials and designer.” 

White River Valley Museum
918 H Street SE
Auburn Community Campus
Auburn, WA 98002
  253-288-7433
Wednesday - Sunday   Noon to 4:00 pm, and every First Thursday from 6 - 8pm.

Historical Quilts

 

The Quilts

The idea for a quilt to honor the pioneers who were in the County before the year 1920 was conceived by Mrs. Walter Oberst and approved by Mrs. Abby Kidwell, president of the Historical Society. The interest was so great that we soon realized that we would have to make two quilts. The first quilt is now finished and is on display in the historical display case in the Franklin County court house, Pasco.

Those who contributed materials are:

Mrs. Abby Kidwell and Mrs. Catherine Harder Peot - material for the white and blue blocks. Mrs. Sadie Mc/Fadden Ziegler the batting tor both quilts. Mrs. Rowena Ingram - lining material.

The quilting was done by Mrs. Don Cox and Mrs.
Rowena Ingram assisted by Mrs. Beulah Dunston, Mrs. Helen Hummel, Mrs Loraine Quinn and Mrs. Julie Reider.

The second quilt top 1s nearing completion, with ten blocks still out to he finished. When the top is completed quilters will be needed.

Our special thanks go to Mrs. Lloyd Cochrane and those who helped dietribute the blocks in the outer areas.

The interest and cooperation during this project has been

a pleasure - thanks to all. Rowena Ingram

The Historical Museum

A 1910 crazy quilt on a 1925 fainting couch.

Small history museums have interesting stuff. Often of local interest. The high ceilings and dark wood trim, of this 1910 Carnegie,  library create a period atmosphere for this collection of historic artifacts and information. As a quilter there were a number of things of interest.

Love those neutrals

Embroidered tea towel

Franklin County Historical Society and Museum

Franklin County Historical Society and Museum captures the spirit and history of Franklin County. The Museum was originally constructed in 1910 as part of Andrew Carnegie's worldwide library construction program. The high ceilings and dark wood trim create a period atmosphere for this collection of historic artifacts and information. A new library was built in 1962, after which the building served several different business concerns, ending in a period of abandonment and neglect. In 1980 the Society was offered the opportunity to use the building as its museum. Between 1980 and 1982, the building was beautifully refurbished by volunteers. It opened to the public as the Franklin County Historical Museum on January 3, 1983.

Crazy Quilt, 1912

Loved this old neutral quilt.

Franklin County Court house

On November 28th, 1883, Franklin County was created by territory legislative action.

this building was created in January, 1912,when  the bid of Misho & Grant of $74,215 was accepted for a new courthouse to be built on North 4th Avenue in Pasco. The architect was C. Lewis Wilson and Co. of Seattle, Washington. In May the bid of C.C. Belknap Glass Co. of $3000 was accepted to furnish and install the art glass dome and two art glass skylights.

In 1978 the Franklin County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In November lights were installed to illuminate the silver dome of the courthouse at a cost of $20,000, the final project of the 1984 Pasco Centennial Commission.

In September, 2002 voters approved a bond of $10.2 million for restoration of the courthouse.

In December, 2005 Franklin County received a grant from the state of Washington for $2.7 million for the historical restoration aspect of the courthouse renovation.

Island Fabric and Sewing Center

Island Fabric and Sewing Center is a bright, light, happy store. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Located in downtown Freeland on Whidbey Island just a short drive from the ferry, they carry the most popular designers and books, as well as hard-to-find notions and patterns. The store is located at 1592 Main Street #220, Freeland, WA 98249. Phone Number: 360-331-7313.

Happy 4th of July

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.

There are lots of firework displays here. My husband and I talk about going to them. What usually happens we discuss the pros and cons of many and end up staying home watching the neighbors' display!

Happy 4th

Quilters On The Rock

Lining up for show and tell.

Quilters On The Rock, a not for profit quilt guild, started in 1981. Twenty two ladies showed up at that first meeting held at Skagit Valley College. By the second meeting, there were still more. Today, there are upwards of 100 paid members who gather monthly at St Mary's Catholic Church in Coupeville.