Oh my! Am I ready to jump back in?

I had no idea that I'd be writing y'all today. First, let me say thank you to all that have been such an encouragement to me over the past 3-1/2 years. It's no easy thing having a spouse of 40 years pass away. Y'know, you never get over a loved one dying but you do get through it. Life is so different now; I'm not part of a couple anymore, activities are different, trips are not shared with him, etc., etc.

BUT, don't you just love buts? I quilted non-stop for about 1-1/2 years after Art and decided I'm not a hermit, never have been. So, I upgraded my camera to a DSLR and have a bag of clothes packed and am ready to roll on a phone call. No make-up required, quite liberating if you ask me. My daughter takes me on three day photo shoots and life is good. I love shooting sunsets and live within walking distance of Puget Sound. Mickey Dog is my companion and sometimes photo-bombs a shot. We're out almost every evening and it was a little windy. You can tell by Mick's ears. Mine are covered.

My parents gave me my first camera when I was about 10, then my sweet aunt and uncle gave me a Kodak 35mm camera for my 21's birthday and I won't tell you how long ago that was. After I put my son on a plane to fly to Indiana to attend Purdue U,  I stopped by the nearest camera shop and bought a Pentax 1000 with TWO lens. I was living high and mighty. We were living on an island surrounded by water (as most islands are, ha) and no bridges. I was in heaven. We had sunsets over the Olympic mountains, eagles flying and seeing whales swim by our home. Oh, don't forget beautiful Mt. Rainier. Do you see where we're going here? I've been shooting well over 60 years and have always had some sort of camera on me or in a bag. I've slept on top of mountains, beaches, lakes, in cars, trucks and wherever the "bug" takes me.

Photography was my first passion but not the only one. I loved playing the piano but only one year because my teacher used to stab my fingers when I made a mistake. Played the clarinet, in high school and college. Learned the guitar as an adult and always had to sing in school, church choirs, etc. My favorite song as a kid growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of WV was "Don't fence Me In." Still is folks and also "How Great Thou Art."

 A little lady in our Church in California made hundreds of quilts for orphans, etc. The year was 1975 and I started my first quilt. She told me, "honey just cut some squares and sew them together." I did just that. Quite pathetic. Of course I still have it.

Several (ok, lots) of my friends are quilters and some of us met and shared and how fun to hear the oohs and aaws. I cut some binding for a quilt, and we ate, laughed and played (quilting is playing, y'know). I'm so ready to jump back in and smell the fabric once again. I only have to go into my "Quilty Haven."

I would be thrilled if you'd share your latest creation. Who knows? It may be an inspiration to someone.

Carpe Quiltiem y'all,
Woodie

Some of my favorite quilts hanging on the walls.

Fewer quilts but thousands of photos taken this year. The sunsets have been glorious, the water never bluer and the sky, a big WOW. Getting out almost every evening has helped. I am excited to finish a couple of quilts before the end of July. No, they're not the only UFO's (unfinished objects) but all in due time.

Wall Hanging

Machine Embroidery Designs  

Love the border fabric so much. Should have bought the whole bolt.

Stack and Whack

All 80 Blocks

I couldn't stop stitching because it was so much fun.

Hangs in the Living Room.

This is "Our Moonbean Quilt." Art would wake me in the middle of the night and catch a moonbeam bouncing off the quilt hanging on the wall. One of the last times he was in his bed (not the hospital bed) he caught a moonbeam and we held it together. That, my friends, is a very special memory. The quilt is machine stitched and I quilted it on a long arm quilting machine at my LQS. I did, however, hand stitch the sashiko designs. It still hangs on my bedroom wall.

Bow Ties in Motion

Hangs in one of our favorite rooms, the Garden Room. You got it, four windows with a view of the garden. The ties are not stitched down. We thought it needed a little more motion and decided on the dancers in the black squares. I machine embroidered with gold metallic thread. Not one breakage which was a miracle.

OK, you talked me into one of my almost favorite 

After sunsets, June 17, 2015.

There was no color at sunset but this happened afterwards. 

Lesson to be learned is the "afterglow" or "bluehour" comes later.

People were actually giddy and stopping their cars and talking to me. I was the only photographer on this street. Neighbors came out to talk and Mickey dog enjoyed all the attention. 

A glorious gift from God!

This was taken within walking distance and in "My Neck of the Woods."

I call in the "Sun Star."

Keep on Quilting y'all and take a few shots.

Would love to see them.

Quilts and Photography; a blend of two worlds

Perhaps an explanation is in order. The last five months have been very quiet in my quilty world. Yes, the passion is still there, however I needed to get out and explore. That doesn’t mean the whole world but my home territory. Isn’t it amazing how we live in an area and our day to day stuff keeps us from seeing the beauty that surrounds us? Well, no more! A decision was made that outside I must go at least once a day.

Let me back up. When I was about 10 years old my Christmas present was a Kodak (?) camera. Yes, a camera just for me. I grew up with that camera and it went away to college with me.  Then on my 21^st birthday a real live Kodak 35mm was given to me by my aunt and uncle. Can you imagine the world that was opened? I carried it to every beach, family and friends gathering, etc. I loaned it to someone and it was stolen on a beach in Mexico. I grieved over my camera because it was like a death in a foreign land.

A few years went by and the rectangle thingies hit the market. Convenient, yes, but not something on a daily basis.

Then the Pentax K1000 entered my life to ease the trauma of putting my son on a plane going to Purdue University in Indiana. A mother has to do what a mother has to do……perhaps more lens would help. It did. We lived on Vashon Island for 23 years and oh how I loved our water and mountain views of the west side passage. Of course Mt. Rainier felt the shutter almost daily until my daughter told me that we lived on the Rock and no more pictures were needed. We’re still talking about a camera that uses film. Did that stop me? Not on your life because that’s all I knew.

Life changed as we knew it when the digital point and shoots hit the market. Yes, of course I had several and still do but it didn’t calm the flutter of the shutter desire of my heart. There is no comparison over grieving over a camera stolen on a beach and a husband of 40 years. By the time I had been a widow for 14 months I purchased a Canon with a couple of lens. Not an easy decision. My son has shot with Nikon since he took a photography class in summer school in elementary school in California. (Oops, we’re transplants from CA, FL, NC, MI, WV. Should I go on?) Do you realize how many states I’ve had a driver license? Since I go on photo shoots with my daughter who has a Canon, I decided on a Canon also. Plus it fit my hand perfectly. I’m willing to go with my son but we’ll be blended shooters if we do. OK with me. Son, call or text your Mother.

What’s this got to do with my quilts? Absolutely everything! I’m constantly taking quilts to the mountains, beach and parts in between to take pictures of them. I have one quilt, “Summer at Woods Cove” that has been to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains and also to Nooksock Falls in the Cascade Mountains near Mt. Baker. One quilt has draped on the guard rail with a ferry boat docking. A quilt doesn’t always have to be on a quilt rack or a bed, at least in my neck of the Woods it doesn’t. Some of my Asian quilts will be taking a trip to the Japanese Gardens as soon as this wind stops. They love field trips.

Waiting for the Sunset at Chambers Bay

Temporary buildings up for the US Open in June.

 Sunsets never disappoint.

In the meantime, Mickey dog and I go out almost every night for sunset shots at Chambers Bay, a little over a mile from where I live. Each time I meet such interesting people and of course, their dogs. and sometimes their kiddos. Yes, and some are photographers too. We’ve been to Owen Beach, Ruston Way Pier, Titlow Park/Beach (all within a few minutes of home) and all points east, west, north and south. I am, however, this little lady with her tripod taller than she is and the pooch.  We are never too busy to say hi and arf.

Yes, I do have a few quilts almost finished.

Carpe Quiltiem friends and keep on shooting.

Woodie

17th or 18th Century

Greetings from my neck of the "Woods."

One day last week was a double special day. Now every day is wonderful but my cousin, Julia sent me a card that had this picture on it. 



It is a Skirt Cloth Patchwork from the Coromandel Coast, 17th or 18th century. It measures 223cm x 422cm. Now I did the conversion and that's 88" by 166". No, it isn't a quilt but if it were it would be huge. I've pieced and quilted king size quilts but not this big. Julia and her husband travel a lot and her cards are so interesting since they visit places I've never been. They just returned from a month in Indonesia, beginning in Singapore. She is not a quilter but loves textiles and museums. Yes, it runs in our blood.                                                                                                                      Now, lets go and Quiltify the World. Woodie                                                                                                                                                     

Oh, that 1/4" seam allowance. Yes, it does matter.

This link is such a good tutorial, short and simple. She explains is very well.

http://www.keepnuinstitchesquilting.com/see-why-it-matters-to-you-to-use-a-scant-14-inch-seam-allowance-2-videos/2/

Sometimes we struggle with getting that perfect seam allowance. There are presser feet for each machine and if not, there's always the masking tape trick. Well, why settle for just any tape. Color coordinate with your project or a color/pattern that makes you happy.

The happier we are, the prettier the quilts are. That's what I believe and I'm sticking to it.

Another thing that makes me happy is taking pictures of family, our beautiful Northwest and of course, quilts.

Mickey Dog and I love to walk at Chambers Bay and yes, I know that the US Open Golf tournament will be held there in June. I tell you the whole county and probably western WA is very excited. That means that Mickey Dog and I won't be walking there during that time in June.

This is Sunday night's sunset shot from the upper path at Chambers Bay.
No, I haven't forgotten about my quilts. I will cutting binding for one today.

In the meantime, let us Quiltify the world. I'll do my part here in my neck of the Woods.

January, looking back to 2014.

I will not whine about the fog, I will not....One redeeming thing about not being able to work outsie in the garden is that I can be inside by the fireplace and my project(s). Yes, of course, there's always more than one.

I belong to an on-line quilty group and they're always wanting to know how many UFO's., WIP's, etc., etc. Today I'm focusing on the finished quilts for 2014.

In January I started my first mystery quilt. It was only a mystery if you did one clue each week. I waited until all the clues were published before starting because I used two different fabrics for one clue and I wanted to make sure it was eye pleasing. Actually, not just any eye, had to be mine. You see I can be spontaneous, but I have to plan for it. (I hear you laughing.) I pieced the quilt and even quilted it on a longarm and it's gorgeous. Most of the fabric came from my collection. I miss it but know it's happy, happy being in a quilt.

Cat's Meow 

When batik fabrics hit the market I thought "who in the world would...." Well, me for one loved them. I made this quilt from"my collection" and didn't have to buy any fabric. The pattern is Fat Friday. Now you tell me, what quilter wants a quilt with that name. Since I finished it on a Wednesday its called.....drum roll please.

Wowsie Wednesday

Blue and yellow make me smile and especially if the fabric is in "my collection." This was a tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. and was so fun and easy. It hangs in the powder room.

The Big Yellow and Blue Star

The most favorite person in our family has to be my dear Aunt Sylvia. I believe most every kid in the family has lived with her and her husband. They were role models that anyone would want. She loves the quilty items I've made for her. This summer I made a table topper. I did a scalloped border and it was so easy with that nifty Eleanor Burn's tool that I got from Missouri Star (MSQC). No, I didn't have a pattern. Just took some five inch charms, added some fabric with glitz and made disappearing nine patch blocks. You sew a nine patch block, slice and dice it like a cross. It now is a four patch. That's why I call it a "Deranged 9 Patch." It's not easy living inside my head. I made enough blocks that looked just right, quilted it and packed it for my trip to Michigan. Since I would be gone for six weeks I sure didn't want to run out of projects.

My Just Right TableTopper that found a home on the back of the Sofa or Bench.

One of my most favorite places to go to is the Library. Art and I would go at least once a week and made friends with almost everyone there. One young librarian and her hubby had their first baby in December. When I found out about her expecting I ran home and gathered flannel from "my collection." Didn't have a pattern but made some four patch blocks and fussy cut some others. After the precious baby boy was born she and her husband and baby met me at the library and I gave them the quilt. It's bigger than a baby quilt and he'll be able to use it for years.

Sophie's Baby Boy's Quilt

I had the privilege of making quilt blocks for Quilt of Valor. I mailed my blocks to a quilter in Colorado and she sewed them together, someone quilted them and they are given to well deserved veterans. God bless them.

My heart aches for the sweet little ones in Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. I've only made one for them but will make more. I'm still making kimonos for Tandala Hospital in Africa. Our Helping Hands ladies  group at church has help support them for years. The ladies still roll bandages, make different items for the staff and of course the babies.

Well, dear ones, Have a Blessed 2015 and GO SEAHAWKS!!!

This picture was taken by Stephanie Sinclair Photography. You'll find her on Facebook.

Let's Quiltify the World.
Woodie

Where are the Quilts?

These two pictures were taken from the Chambers Bay Facebook page. Someday, I'll post some of mine.

Chambers Bay is a little over a mile from my home. The 2015 US Open will take place here in June, 2015. The whole area is so excited. No, I'm not turning my Quilty Haven into a B & B.

This is where Mickey-dog and I love to walk on the paved paths.

Waiting patiently to begin our walk.

One night a few weeks ago so many people stopped to see if Mickey would train their dog. Just kidding but that dog of mine (did I just say mine?) knows who the alpha is especially when I have my hand on the leash.

Anyway, that night I couldn't get more than 30 feet from the car because so many people stopped me. Let's see, one young woman had a Jack Russell Terrier with an attitude. I helped him to stop jumping on me. One snap of the fingers did it with my very firm voice. Doesn't he know he's a squirt next to 34 pound Mickey-dog? Yes, I spell d-o-g so you're not confusing him with m-o-u-s-e. I lived eight miles from Disneyland for 12 years but that is another story.

Another couple had two dogs and yes, I did make over them just to be kind. In my book, I walk the dog and not the dog walking me. When I stop, he sits. Sometimes I wish it were the other way around but it isn't.

One older (I use that word lightly since age-wise, I am one or getting very close) lady and I chatted for ever so long. I actually found out where she goes to church, etc. I knew that they were building a new church and meeting elsewhere. I love it when people open up. Two widows sharing that probably wouldn’t have shared with others.

Another person had a camera around her neck and had been taking pictures. I also learned that she was an educator in our school district, her best friend in CA had just lost her husband and this woman couldn’t go to the funeral. Yes, I did comfort her and told her she could be a good friend from a distance and listen to her friend and even cry with her. We talked for longer than I would have liked but you know what? I benefited from all these conversations and now we’re not strangers.

Mickey and I usually walk 2-3 miles. I think we did pretty well in the 30 feet that night.

Oh, did I tell you I had my camera ready for some night shots. Not one shot was taken that night but a few nights later I wanted to shoot the sunset. Ha, ha, ha.  Got a few shots in but the dark clouds settled in over the water.  I met a few more people. Mickey is quite the terrier, holy, that is.

When we walk on the pedestrian bridge over the RR tracks he gets excited because we're going down to the water. Also, if a train goes by and you're standing on the bridge, the engineer blows the whistle. Yes, of course, I wave. I grew up across the street from the railroad and I still get goosie-bumps when I hear a train whistle. In the middle of the night It’s comforting to hear the whistle as the train speeds on to the next destination.

Snow capped Cascade Mountains in the background and Locks of Love on the fence. 

By this time he's a tired pooch.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of beautiful Chambers Bay.

OK, one more picture relating to quilts, not really, but in my world everything is quilt related.

Picture this!!! An unforgettable quilt hanger.

Next time I'll share pictures from my six week trip to Michigan. Lots of quilt shops and two (2) beautiful quilt shows plus the Michigan Quilt Road Trip anda, anda....

Missed y'all.
Carpe Quiltiem.