Seattle

was fun as usual.  DH got his new eyeball--now before anyone freaks out, he has an ocular prosthesis that he has replaced periodically. So we have a collection of eyeballs!!

There is a store called All Saints downtown that features steam punk clothing and accessories that has an absolutely fabulous display of antique sewing machines.  I was in hog heaven!!  Look at this---an antique long arm??!!  Click on the photo to see this up close! (On the right you can see a couple of the machines in the window) Will post more photos tomorrow

TaDaaa

Here's what's happening at my house---fun,huh?!?  I'm staying as far away as possible, tho sometimes I am required to hand over a tool, or a paper towel!  Very different from my dated stenciled strawberries and sliding glass doors--this will look wonderful when finished.  Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect shower curtain!

Off again

Am leaving for the airport in 20 minutes--off to Seattle with DH.  Hoping the rain holds off!  I'll be back in a week, hopefully with fabulous photos to share.

Glass art

from found items.  A quilting friend and general crafty person made a few of these using various glass objects, and I had to have this GREEN one!  Besides a glass vase and glass candle plate, I think part of the top is a headlight, or it might be a light bulb?!?  Anyway, I love it!!

UFO done

This has  been languishing in my tops done pile for awhile, so thought I'd try a new panto out on it.  So, it is finished--finally!

Retreating

My quilting group is retreating in Homer--and I'm not there due to a scheduling misunderstanding with my DH.  So.....here's what I'm up to by myself.  Am planning on getting the blocks, rows and inset edges on this weekend so I can show it off to Barb, the designer and teacher of the class I took for this quilt. (She is at the retreat.)
That said, I'd better fill my water bottle and get out to the studio!

Sunflowers

Ginger Salmon--YUM!!!

This is one of DH's recipes for salmon--works great on fresh or frozen fillets.  This is using silver--red is best.  Right now the last batch of reds are in the brine--they will go in the smoker tomorrow; then this year's smoked salmon will be done--hooray!

Quilt class completion

I finally broke down and took a Cotton Theory class--the bath mat.  No way am I doing a quilt in this method!! (I DO have a longarm!!)  But I've wanted to try one, so this tiny project was perfect. (And it only took two classes plus a LOT of time at home to finish)  If curious, check it out at the website---very interesting!
By the way, it looks wonky in the photos cuz it's been washed and dried in the machines--after all, it IS for use, not decoration!!

Flamingos

were carefully transported in my purse.  These beauties were spotted by my sister in an antique shop and had to come home with me.  They reminded me of knick knacks either my mom or my neighbor had when I was 4 (that fact explains why I can't remember whose they were as I spent a lot of time at Mrs. Maltby's house!!) Does that make me an antique, too?!  Don't answer that--I prefer to think of myself as a "collectible"!

Baby quilt finished

Just put the last stitch in this last night.  DH came home from work 2 weeks ago and asked me if I had a baby quilt ready to give away . He wanted one for the grandson of a coworker .  I didn't--I know, I should, and I will be working on that!

Also spent a delightful day on Monday with Ron Paul and his wife, Laura Lee Fritz.  Ron did some maintainence work on Gertrude while giving me lessons on what he was doing, and Laura lee and I visited while she played in my threads, wrote down thread info for me, and hand stitched on a couple of her creations.  She is a quilting design author, so of course I bought her newest book!!

Dinner plate dahlia

DH just cut this beauty which measures 9 inches in diameter.  I floated it in this crystal bowl, which you can't see cuz the flower hogs the whole thing!!

Better late than never

I've had this photo on my desk top for ages--just forgot to post it here!!  This is my new ironing board in the usable position--it goes up flush on the wall, (in case I host square dancing or something similar in my studio!)  DH made this to my specs.  The blocks on it are the leftovers from Becca's mystery--they got turned into a small Christmas quilt (still in the top stage---a lot of mine are there---must get quilting so I'll have finishes!)

I'm back

and haven't gotten back into the swing of things yet.  Vacationing is hard work!!  The house boat on Rainy Lake was fabulous!  I got into Fargo after being up for 25 hours.  My sister and niece met me and we took my mother to lunch for her 80th birthday.  Then drove back to Bemidji, repacked, and drove to International Fall to spend 3 days on the houseboat.  So, of course, in the confusion, I forgot to repack my camera!!!  Sister dear is gonna send the ones she took.  Here is one of some of my family at a bar-b-q Kim had at her house.  My sister-in-law and 4 of her kids, my sis and her 3 and me.  We also took a couple of road trips and did some antiquing and quilt shop hopping!  Will take a photo of the best find later to share.

My bags are packed

I'm ready to go...well, almost!  I will be flying out tomorrow night to be with my twisted sister for 2 weeks.  We will be on a houseboat for the first 5 days I'm there, doing nothing but sunning, yakking and eating!    YES!!!  It is hot out there, complete with sun.  I can do sun and hot.  Can't really complain tho...we have had some lovely weather, but now it is raining.  I will check in while gone, but infrequently.Hope you all have as much fun as I'm planning on!