Thursday, September 30, 2021

Really Random Thursday, 9/30/21

Mark loves to buy me flowers, usually from Trader Joe's. He looks for bouquets that have lilies. Aren't these orange lilies beautiful? 

 As a side note, this combination of orange, purple and bright pink is one of my favorite fabric combos currently as well.

I'm not sure what this orange and yellow flower is, but I sure think it's beautiful.

I don't have much to write about this week--still resting and reading, and yesterday for the first time in weeks I felt so much better. So I think I'm on the mend, but will continue to be very cautious.

Mark spends so many afternoons reffing football. I'm not sure where he found this but it seems true enough.

Levi put his picture on Mark's iPhone home screen, kind of as a joke. But if Mark ever changes it, he just puts it back on. Silly boy. He is so handsome.
A few months ago I purchased a book called Modern Crochet by Teresa Carter. I just finished a set of coasters and plan on making another set. What I love about these is the simple crochet pattern that mimics the look of knitting.




Need a new tote bag?

If you live with legos...


 
I've mentioned before that Gabe is very artistic. He came up with a project to raise a little spending money. He made several original pieces of art, chose his favorites and then Christa had them printed into notecards. Each set contains two of each design. The quality is very nice.

It makes this grandma's artist heart so proud. And there is a little bio on the back of each card.


And yes to this...

Have a happy weekend.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Really Random Thursday, 9/23/21

 There has not been much going on around here lately. I have done a little bit of sewing. 


I took the Ruler-Free Finger Paints class from Laura Loewen, thinking I would go outside my box and try some more improv. I think it's become clear to me that improv is not my thing. So I will improv these four blocks together with sashing and move on to the more precision version of the quilt.

In fact, I spent an entire day cutting out the blocks for the complete quilt top. And have paid the price for it with a very sore back. Note to self: don't attempt that again. So rather than sewing things together, I'm spending time on the couch with either a heating pad or an ice pack, crocheting and binge watching TV or reading.

The "littles" were over for a few hours on Monday because there was no school. Mark made popcorn and they watched a movie. Ella added a friend...This is Sammy, her favorite stuffed animal who lives at our house. He has the best seat in the house.

I've collected memes here and there...


Gabriel drew the logo for the Kids Connection program at church--he's such a great little artist.

Christa sent me this picture of my dad, along with Ella and Gabe. I think this was from about five years ago. My parents still lived in their home, before my father lost his memory. Now my mother has been gone for three years and my father would no longer recognize these precious great grandchildren.





If I still had my piano, I would do this:

Do you remember when phone numbers began with words? When I lived in Oklahoma (until 4th grade), our number began with Adams, which was shortened to AD...and then the number, although I can't remember the actual number.

So I'm off to rest, along with the heating pad and ice pack. But I'm confident it will be worth it and that...



Thursday, September 2, 2021

Really Random Thursday, 9/2/21

Hello, September. I always look forward to this time of year. And every single year I'm surprised at how warm the days are. Fall in the central valley doesn't arrive until some time in November. I miss the crisp fall days of the Midwest.

Last Saturday I took a great class from Laura Loewen (@quiltfortco). It was the improv version of her Finger Paints quilt. So improv and I are considered more frenemies than friends, although I'm willing to become friends. :) The improv version of this quilt requires total free cutting--you cut your squares 4"-ish and 4 1/2"-ish. It really requires some discipline to get past the idea of using a razor sharp rotary cutter without the safety of a ruler. 

I was able to complete one quadrant of one block, and initially thought: "Great. I took the class. I learned something. Moving on. I will make the precision version of this quilt." 



But the more I looked at my block, and realized how much I like the slight wonkiness, and the filler strip that was required to make my block 11"-ish, the more I wanted to continue the process. So I am now in the process of cutting more blocks without the aid of a ruler, and combining what I learned with the color concepts I learned from classes with Tara Faughnan. I hope I like the end product. Maybe I will; maybe I won't. But I think I'll enjoy the process.

Haha.

I just finished crocheting a set of coasters. It was a new-to-me stitch that resembles knitting rather than traditional crochet. I like it--I already began another set. 

I've read that learning new skills is good for your brain so that's my goal this fall-winter--exercising my brain. Fingers crossed.

Good advice from Minki Kim.

I know there are more of you out there than just me...

When your Quilts and Classics calendar and the Kona calendar coordinate. I'll enjoy looking at them together all month long.

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in a year and a half. The weather was SO nice in the morning, a welcome break from the heat. I do not enjoy shopping, but I headed over to my favorite shopping center, bought some coffee, sat outside for awhile and did some window shopping. Sheer bliss.

A friend sent this yesterday. I sent it on to Aaron and Christa, and Aaron replied: "Perfect. That text seems legal and binding in probate court." Maybe. I'll never know.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Quilts and Classics: Cumbrey Crossing/1955 Chevy 210

Cumbrey Crossing had an interesting beginning. I was in church one Sunday morning. A man in front of me was wearing this beautiful plaid shirt in shades of purple. At the end of the service, when we stood up for the final prayer, I took out my iPhone. Mark nudged me and whispered, "Are you seriously going to take a picture during prayer??" I whispered back, "Nope. I'm going to take a picture as soon as prayer is over."

At about the same time (2017), I was part of Mad for Solids, a fun event sponsored by Paintbrush Studios using their Painter's Palette line of solid fabrics. It's a March Madness type competition where participants choose eight colors, give the collection a name and then compete in brackets, much like the basketball counterpart. 

I have participated three times. For this version I chose these beautiful purples and named my collection Magenta Madness.



Until I saw the beautiful shirt in church, I didn't really have a plan for this collection of fabrics. But of course, I realized I just needed to add some more fabrics and could create a quilted version of the shirt.

I based all the colors off the picture of the shirt. But then by chance, the guy in question was over for dinner. By that time, I was already working on the quilt. I was hoping to not even mention the surreptitious photo, but of course Mark couldn't let things go, and announced it to everyone at the dinner table. Awkward. The guy in question seemed quite taken aback. But then I showed him my sketch and my stack of fabrics and my progress so far. He was then totally on board. He offered to let me borrow the shirt if I needed it. And even asked if he could have the quilt when it was done. 

When it was finally quilted, a beautiful jacaranda tree was in full bloom not too far from our house. I have always loved this photo, especially with all the blossoms on the ground. 

Then I decided to make the calendar. I initially had not considered including this quilt. I mean, what are the chances that I would find a car that would coordinate with it?

And then one day I was picking Gabe up from school; I think he was probably in first grade. I heard a very loud car arriving, obviously someone also doing a school pickup. It was this absolutely gorgeous purple and white Chevy. But it was drizzling and I didn't have the nerve to actually go up to the driver in the rain. By the time Gabe and I got back to my car, the Chevy was gone. Would I ever see it again?

I didn't pick Gabe up for another two weeks. I couldn't get the car out of my head. Lo and behold, I heard that loud car again. This time I vowed to approach the driver and tell him about my calendar idea. Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there. It turns out that he lives just down the street from Aaron and Christa. He was completely on board with having his pristine car photographed for the calendar. 
Fortunately I remembered to edit out my bumper reflection for the calendar!

I learned so much from photographing cars and quilts. The biggest lesson learned was to take lots of photos in landscape mode. Unfortunately I photographed this car mostly in portrait mode. So in the calendar one of the best parts of the car is missing--the fun flame painting on the front end of the car.




There were so many fun details.

Purple fuzzy dice!
This is my favorite.

The crape myrtle trees were also very cooperative, blooming at just the right time.
 
I love revisiting the photos I took of this car. Hope you enjoy the back story as well.