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Archive for December, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, December 31st, 2014

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Checking In Before Checking Out

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

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Can’t believe that tomorrow is Christmas eve. I am rather organized this year, trying to keep things simple. It is easier here in The Congdo. Not much entertaining going on or decorating. We didn’t have room for a Christmas tree so I have divested myself of all the ornaments and tree skirt. Instead, we have this lovely bare limbed tree which is covered with little lights. We also have two smaller ones on the buffet with some of my creches.

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Up at the top is a beautiful felted scarf gifted to me by one of the SDA reps that I work with. Ellen is the rep for Connecticut and is a new Rep. She puts together really newsy e-mails for the CT members which I format in Constant Contact and send out for her. She gave the scarf to me for my help this year. It was not necessary, but I sure do love it. She said when she saw a photo of me with my red hair, she knew that this one had been made for me.

Today, I made peppermint stick ice cream to go with Christmas cookies for Christmas eve. The Portland peeps will come over for supper and gift opening with us. We are going to have Dungeness crab and salad and bread. Very simple. On Christmas morning, Mr C and I are leaving on a jet plane to spend a week in San Francisco with the California contingent of the family. I was excited to see this weather forecast.

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While walking Scooter in the neighborhood yesterday, I found a new store that sells beads and a large variety of wood printing blocks in different sizes. That was exciting.

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Wishing you all a lovely holiday with your favorite peeps. I will probably check in from San Francisco with some Paige cuteness.

Crazy Busy and Shooting Quilts

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

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Today, I did something I have not done before, I had two quilts professionally photographed. All I can say is, I should have done it long ago. My problem is, I rarely have work done early enough to get it photographed before I need to enter it so I had my own set up. Now, I don’t have the space to do it myself so I am going to have to get my act together. Here are detail shots of Taking Leaf of My Seasons.

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Looks so good. Here is Flying Through Sky Blue Pink.

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Details:

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A better camera and knowing how to set it makes a big difference. I get it now.

I have been incredibly busy. SDA is having an important and huge fundraiser. The organization may have to disband if we don’t get an infusion of cash by the end of the year. It has added a great deal to my work load. If you read this blog and are an SDA member, I would appreciate it if you could make a pledge. The money does not have to be paid until next hear and can be spread out in payments. Click here to check it out.

Then, to add to the craziness – it is December! Managed to get cards out, finished shopping, shipped some packages, attended to Christmas concerts and several holiday festivities. And this lovely girl turned 15, yesterday. We met the family for Thai street food, one of Mia’s favorites, followed by cheesecake back at their house.

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At Miles’ school they get to chose a short class for the last week before they are off for the holidays. He chose metal working and one of the things he has made is this unicorn. Isn’t it fantastic?

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So, today, I finally had some breathing room and did some more sewing on the two kid quilts which are not going to get done by Christmas. Tomorrow, I am getting a much needed haircut and hope to work on the kid quilts.

The Barnes family is coming over for Christmas eve; I am keeping it simple – fresh dungeness crab, salad, sourdough bread, Christmas cookies and homemade peppermint candy ice cream. On Christmas morning, we are heading to California to see the rest of the family. I love this photo that Jayme’s mom e-mailed me.

M,J,P

There is a new store down on NW 23rd called Arcteryx. They sell high end outdoor wear. We were in there with Scooter and they took his photo for their Instagram site, Barcteryx. He was the first dog photographed. Now, when we go in, they say “It’s Scooter!”

scooteresixI hope to be back in the next week, really!

What’s Blue to You

Friday, December 5th, 2014

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Today, a few of us who have art quilts hanging at the Portland Airport, Concourse B, were escorted through a side door to view the exhibit. I must say that having the quilts all the same size made a big impact as you come upon it.

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Here I am standing next to Blue Picasso Woman to give you an idea of the size.

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Here is a view looking at the quilts from the other end.

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Here are some of my favorite quilts.

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This is by Carol Heist, titled Schooling Around. The bit of red she used is a wonderful accent and she has a wonderful s curve going on in the overall design. She has a talent for incorporating unusual fabrics.

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This is Kimberly Connelly with her piece. I always love blues and oranges together. This has a pleasing design and great use of value as an important design element. Kimberly was on her way to Palm Springs and just happened to show up when we were there!

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This is Terry Grant’s quilt titled First Day of School based on a memory of a new blue dress for the first day. So charming and evoking of a memory many of us have.

 

Across the hall from our exhibit are a group of art quilts representing Portland Bridges made by the Modern Quilt Guild.

 

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This was one of my favorites.

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So, there you have it. A report from my fun field trip for the day.

The Printed Fabric Bee Sunflower Collection

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

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There are some very fun fabrics in this collection. You can have a chance to win the collection  by going to The Printed Fabric Bee blog or Susan Purney Mark’s blog and leaving a comment.

Short and sweet tonight. I had a busy day.