I must be bored!

Greece

Yesterdays mail included a wonderful full color catalog, with wonderful pictures, from a cruise company. I have no idea why I received it, I don't plan on going anywhere soon. The front of the catalog includes the Ultimate Sale- Major price reductions up to $14,000 

Istanbul

Trips include world wide north, east, south and west.

I could be interested in the one from Athens to Istanbul or maybe Barcelona to Athens. Guess I'll just dream on!

 

Athens

Barcelona

It's Been Over a Year Since My Last Airplane Trip

How can I travel without traveling? I finally realized the best way for me is to look back at some of my favorite places. Hands down that would be China!

At the major tourist sights there are often traditional costumes for rent.

Small boy all dressed up!

Other places most of the women still wear their native clothes

 

Still Having Technical Difficulties

 I really though that I had solved all my photo problems, but NO! I can download just fine, but the quilt looks not very square. Trust me when I say it's perfectly square!

The story behind this piece is easy, my neighbors just had a baby boy. Now I know I can find a lovely traditional blue and white scrap quilt from my finished quilts. But their place is very modern. 

Fun to make from my stash. Easy to quilt with lots of straight stitching.

A New Find: The Quilt Index

I spend too much time surfing the internet these days. One of the most interesting sites I've found is the The Quilt Index. It's open to all (no membership required), is a wonderful place to get lost in quilts, and it is easy to browse. The site contains thousands of quilts (52,000+ at last count) from a huge variety of documentation projects, museums, and special collections, as well as essays about quilts and stories from quiltmakers. The array of quilts is overwhelming, so if you want to justify a little screen time, I would recommend that you start with Meg Cox's Guide to Getting the Most from the Quilt Index.

The Quilt Index is a joint project of MATRIX: Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online at Michigan State University and the Quilt Alliance. The project has been supported in part by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. 

Purging Fabric

My way of purging fabric is all my own. I sew something with fabric I bought in another life. This quilt is made from 2 1/2" strips from cut from my strips. I am surprise by how much I like it. I'll quilt it and I'm sure I can find it a home.

It's that time of the year for me to organize the stuff that doesn't work for me anymore. My 'pretties' (appliques, ribbon, trims, etc.) I must have been out of my mind when I placed them the first time. Everything else is arranged by color. So the fact that these things are with like objects I have no idea. Needless to say I must have slipped a cog, and it's time to fix this!

My method is simple:

SORT
Pick up one thing. Ask yourself what category it is. Place it in a box, with the category clearly marked with a piece of paper. Pick up the next item and repeat. Clear out your space while sorting, one item at a time, everything into categories.

PURGE
Now that all your items are sorted into categories it is easier to decide what you want to keep or donate. Go through each pile and try to get rid of as much as possible.  I must admit I didn't get rid of much!

TIDY
Now that you have the things you love, use and want to keep you have to decide where everything will live.Mine live in the closet.

LABEL

I print two labels for each box. Labeling both sides makes finding the right thing so much easier.

 

 

There's a Birthday in My Family Today

 Covid-19 means that I haven't actually seen my family in months. We do get together once a month to video chat. But I just couldn't let this birthday go by without some sort of celebration! 40 balloons in the house did the trick!

Please share what you do to make birthdays special.

Quilting Mayhem

Not going out much is getting harder all the time. Every once in a while I MUST go someplace. What's better that a quilt shop? Quilting Mayhem is about the closest one. They take extra precautions to keep customers safe, so I'm comfortable there. They have the rules clearly shown on their website.

Quilting Mayhem is a family owned and operated company committed to providing a generous selection of high quality fabrics and quilting supplies to meet all your sewing needs. They’re always updating the inventory to make room for the industry’s latest product releases and accommodate the creative needs of  customers.

It's a friendly shop where stitchers of all skill levels should feel comfortable learning and creative. The why we offer a wide range of classes, clubs, and social events that are informative, but low-key, to encourage fun...and success.

They're always happy to assist you however they can!

(425) 533-2566

1011 Second Street
Snohomish, WA 98290
www.quiltingmayhem.com

Mon - Sun: 10am - 4pm
State restrictions in place of only 5 persons at one time and limited to 30 minutes of shopping each.
Online ordering and shipping 24/7
 

I'm Sewing

My friends sometimes gift me with something they don't want or can't figure out what to do with. This was a kit with its pattern, was a real challenge. As usual I looked at the pattern and threw it away. I know that I don't follow directions well. 

The kit included strips and a couple pieces of yardage. I started sewing the strips together but that got boring fast. So I used some of the strips and yardage to make all the blocks possible with the fabric I had available. I don't usually work in this color pallette so adding from my stash wasn't likely.

I love strippy quilts and since the largest piece of yardage was stripes, I used that to my advantage. 

 

Seattle's Where I Live

About Seattle: Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. According to U.S. Census data released in 2019, the Seattle metropolitan area's population stands at 3.98 million, making it the 15th-largest in the United States.

 Where to Eat & Drink in Seattle

These are all places on my list for the New Year, as soon as it's healthy!

Mighty O Donuts

The very best Donut shop in Seattle. Possibly the world. Vegan and made entirely from certified organic ingredients. Thoughtful and interesting flavors and creations. Can’t go wrong here!

Plum Bistro

This incredible restaurant smack dab in the middle of Capital Hill is one of the best vegan restaurants we’ve ever experienced. Preparing and presenting vegan food in a way that makes anyone salivate, including non vegans is no easy task! The awesome team at Plum pulls this off every time. You can expect super creative and well balanced dishes that won’t leave you feeling heavy or gross.

The London Plane

The London Plane is a beautiful market, cafe, bakery, and floral shop in downtown Seattle. The outdoor seating is an awesome way to enjoy incredible Seattle weather in the sunny months. The staff is super friendly and knowledgable and anything your order will be made to perfection.

Thai Tom

This is the last place you’d expect to find the most legitimate Thai food in Seattle. It’s tucked in right off of bustling University Way in UW district. When you walk in you’lll no doubt ask yourself, “wait, is this it?” There are only maybe 10 seats total and they are very close to the always busy kitchen. The staff works fast and they work determined. The food is always delicious. Just a warning, flames will be shooting out of the kitchen 90% of the time. There isn’t really a website so click the button for directions.

What to do in Seattle

I've been to these places many times, and can't wait until I can again. 

Pike Place Market

Probably the most famous market in the world. Home of the first Starbucks and the flying fish market. Truly a special place but there are a few things you may not know of… The best mac and cheese you’ll
ever eat at Beecher’s. The most incredible mini donuts on the planet. The widest selection of teas and spices. Incredible deals on beautiful floral arrangements. Just to name a few. There are tons of hidden gems here that must be discovered by you.

Seattle Public Library

This architectural marvel must be seen while you’re in Seattle. It must be experienced from the inside looking out. The seemingly never ending twisting glass is mesmerizing. You would think it’d be distracting but it makes for the perfect place to sit and read. It has a certain warmth, a comforting aura.

Gas Works Park

This crazy, abandoned, rusted over monstrosity oddly makes for a beautiful backdrop to Gas Works Park. It’s right on the water and has a few soothing rolling hills to climb and relax on. The wind hits the park just right making it ideal for flying kites. It’s the perfect place to grab some food and drink and just chill for the evening.

Happy New Year!

 

Here's to a year of laughing without reason and making beautiful memories. Happy New Year 2021!