Spring Break

In Anchorage, our yard is still knee deep in snow, but down below the roads are dusty, & muddy. We call it spring break-up.

This is what the driveway looks like in the morning, before the sun melts the ice for the rest of the day. Below is how my car looks, one day after it was washed!
Here is part of Wendy’s quilt , I left it about 1/2 quilted. We also got Warren’s counter top installed in the bar. The sink & faucets still need to be hooked up.
The top is Onyx, we will put lights inside, & it will glow.
Now we are in Blaine, Washington, at a Worldmark condo, at Birch Bay. We were exhausted after our over night flight, then spent the morning in Seattle with Michelle & Darian. They will be coming up to the condo, along with Jon, on Monday. Warren is doing his exercises for his new knee.

Yesterday was gray & windy. We went to LaConner, where they are getting ready for their tulip festival.

The field of Daffodils was a welcome sight.
  
The red tulips were beautiful too. We were told it’s been cold, & most of the tulips haven’t blossomed yet, but what were there were beautiful.

Wee were there for the Quilt Museum. It was funny when we went in, a lady named Ruth greeted us. She asked if I was a quilter. I gave her my card, & she got very excited. She remembered my quilt, acted like I was a celebrity. My “Oh! to Dance with a Dolphin!” was the cover quilt for their festival a couple of years ago.


I loved this beaded purse.
 

These were just a couple of several tulip quilts that were hanging for sale on the first floor.

The exhibit on the second floor was my favorite, but of course no photos were allowed there.

The top floor was Sharon Baker & Elaine Bowles.

These icons made me think of Debra & Barbara. They were framed in vintage wood pieces.


I loved the little squares, they reminded me of jewelry.
 
I liked the colors & quilting in this simple piece.

This log cabin quilt was fun, done with hand-dyed hankie edges, just over lapped. I liked how dimensional it made it.

I bought some yarn at the Yarn shop. & as a reward for my DH taking me to LaConner, we stopped at the Brewing Co. & got a glass & a growler to take home.

Playing with Mckenna Ryan

 

I have started quilting on a customer quilt, Wendy Trasky’s “Coming Home” by Mckenna Ryan.

I love Mckenna’s patterns, they are such works of art. This quilt is going to belong to Wendy’s son, so I am going to try & keep the quilting masculine, & in keeping with the pattern. In the first border, I am doing bushy leaves, & a few bear footprints.

On the right hand corner, near the big fish I’ve put a little river in the quilting.

 

This is going to be a fun quilt. It will also be interesting to see how I end up doing the next quilt, that Wendy’s daughter Tracy made. It’s the same pattern, but a little different colors. I’ll talk to Tracy to find out more, but I think she made hers for herself, so I will likely do the border completely differently for her, than for her brother. Something a little more feminine. I have ideas swirling in my brain……

Spring time

 
Today I taught “Threadplay #3~With Wire”. I was in a springy mood, & decided to try & make a Daffodil.
Today is my baby boy’s 33rd birthday! Happy birthday Corey!
Kathy Murray picked up her quilt & was very happy with how it turned out.
After the class, I stopped by my friend Josetta’s house to see some of the projects she has been working on. She is making a Dragon costume for her very easy going, & well trained dog Tippy. This is only the beginning.

I also got to see some of the dolls & quilts she has been working on. This doll was supposed to be a pin-cushion, but she’s too cute to stick pins in!

Warren is making good progress. Walking with a cane, taking only Ibuprofen, & driving himself now. Thanks to all of your well wishes!!!

PS. Check out our Thursday at ALCQ. We had a  good meeting, & a great lecture from Paula Nadelstern.

Kathy Murray’s Quilt Finished

 
I have finished the quilting on this customer quilt. I used most of Carla Barrett’s quilting design from the on-line class. I don’t think I did as well as Carla would have, but I did the best I could. I need to continue to practice, practice, practice!
 

Catching up

Most of my time since my last post has been spent in the caring & feeding of my DH. Even Broc helped me hold him down. Below is a yummy Caprese salad that I made the other day. Little tomatoes, fresh basil & mozzarella, with a good balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It’s like a taste of summer on a plate.

With much trepidation, on Friday I left him to his own devices, while I flew to Delta Junction (via Fairbanks) to teach for an evening & a day. Paula picked me up in FBX, & took me to her spectacular home, on the way to DJ.
 
The first evening we did “Quilted Clocks”. The group was very creative, & we had a great time.


The next day we did “Threadplay” All day.  The students were great.

We also ate well.

Lonnie Miller (center) organized the whole weekend, & I stayed at her house. Her daughter in the apron & her friend made a great lunch for us all.

 
This was the view from the class room of the river valley & Alaska Range.

The last few pictures are details of my latest quilt, made for the Fiberactions Challenge. You can read about the story behind it here.
 
The ravens are made entirely from thread.

New Knee for DH

Just a quick note to say Warren had his total knee replacement done today & is doing well.