Quiltcon Block

In June the PMQG asked if any of us would like to participate in the Quiltcon Block challenge.  We had to find a fabric that matched one of the colors in the Quiltcon logo, and then we all got a piece of each others fabric.  It was fun!

I decided to do a gradiated effect with my fabrics.  I enjoyed making the block, now off to mail it.  Here is a link to the Flickr group.

5 years in the making

This log cabin quilt was one of those quilts.  I started making it on a whim, made a million blocks, pieced the top, the top was like a California King Sized quilt, it sat and sat for years in a bin, never getting finished.  I started this quilt in 2007, here is the post!  I love blogging, it's like a diary.

When I was visiting my Aunt Karen in Wyoming in 2010, I asked her what colors she'd like in a quilt.  She said blue and yellow.  Guess what quilt popped into my head?  This lovely log cabin top I've had hidden away for years.

I finally took two entire rows off of it, to make it more suitable for a queen size bed.  My friend Charissa quilted it for me.  I then packed it up and took it to Wyoming with me this summer.  My Aunt was thrilled!

I was thrilled to have it out of a bin and being loved.  5 years later...

Pouch Swap with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild

Last month at the Portland Modern Quilt Guild we all turned in handmade pouches for a swap with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild!  I was given a name, and she basically gave me free reign to make what I wanted, but she asked if it could be used to hold her sewing supplies.  I thought about it for a few days and finally pulled out this stack of fabrics from my stash.

Aquas, dark blue, green and black and white prints.  I think these would make a great quilt don't you?  It was fun to make something small out of them though.  I cut a lot of 1-1/2" squares and laid out the rows to sew together.  It was pretty fun.

I hand stitched the lettering using DMC floss that matched the fabrics.  Stitch, Stitch, Stitch seemed appropriate for a sewing bag.  I tried taking "progress" pictures... it makes things a bit more real.  I am a messy sewer.  When I am in the middle of a project stuff is everywhere!

I love how it turned out, I see more of these in the future.  It ended up being 10" across x 9" deep.

These pouches got shipped off to Vancouver, I can't wait to see what my partner made for me!  Swaps are SEW fun :)

Vacation!

My family and I went on a fantastic vacation for 2-1/2 weeks.  It was a sort of celebration.  After 11 years of being an Office Manager, I resigned to be a stay at home mom.  I am thrilled about this huge change that has happened for me and my family.  My coworkers were sad to see me go, but they all supported me too, which was quite nice!  We left for a long vacation after my final day at work.  First we went to Idaho to spend a few days with Mark's family in the Rexburg area.  We rode horses, ate yummy food and visited with everybody.  It was fabulous!

Jessie and her Uncle's horse Trigger, they are twins with their blonde hair!

Craters of the Moon National Park was a trip!  It was out in the middle of nowhere, and really strange....

After Idaho, we drove to Yellowstone and camped in the Canyon campground.  We went on several hikes, saw lots of wildlife, and amazing scenery.  Yellowstone is always amazing isn't it??

Uncle Tom's Trail hike in Yellowstone, gives you a great view of Yellowstone Falls.

All of the Hot Pots made Curren a bit steamy LOL!

Jessie found a baby buffalo ;-)

Heading out of Yellowstone, we drove through Cody, Wyoming.  I spotted a quilt shop and got some goodies :-)  My husband is regretting getting me an iPhone, because whenever we were in a new town, I'd Google local quilt shops and mention we were a few blocks from one, LOL!

We stayed in Powell, Wyoming with my Aunt and Uncle, and my brother was able to visit us while we were there.  My Grandma is doing well.  My kids hadn't seen her for years, so it was a long overdue visit.  We saw wild horses in the Pryor Mountains, caught a lot of rainbow trout, and enjoyed the Cody 4th of July parade.

Fishing in Wyoming

One of the many wild horses we saw in the Pryor Mountains in Montana, that was so cool!  

My family

We sadly had to say goodbye to my family and headed back through Yellowstone, to camp in the Grand Teton National Park.  If I could have just planted myself in that park for the rest of the summer, I would have been the happiest girl in the world.  The mountains there are mind-blowing.  Absolutely beautiful!!

Mt. Moran, Jessie and Mark

The Grand Teton Mountain Range, on the drive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Moose!

Our last destination was Midway, Utah where we stayed with our long time friends, the Jarvis family.  We played, swam, hiked, sewed, shopped and stayed up late talking.  You have gotta love good friends!

When we finally headed back towards Portland, we were tired, but completely blissed out.  I am so thankful for this new change in my life, my supportive husband, my awesome kids and good friends.  Here is to a new beginning!  Lots of posts to come, thanks for letting me share my vacation.