Words of wisdom

 I can't say that I've done much sewing since we got back from California.  Our daughter who is living with us decided the time was right for her to get a dog (mind you, in her real life, she's in a tiny studio apartment in SF... this will no doubt change once she returns to her life in SF whenever that will be).  

Let me tell you that finding a dog is quite a challenge these days.  I'll explain how I personally know this later this week.

But she found a tiny golden doodle and got him on Saturday! Meet Cooper!  He's very sweet, adorable and keeps us busy too.

The words of wisdom I want to share with you follows.  This was from Jenna Wolfe:

" This year tried its very best to beat us all, at every turn, in every which way imaginable....To those who have lost, my heart goes out to you.  To those who haven't, cherish what's important...because life is short.  So be grateful, be generous, be the bigger person, don't compare, don't stress the insignificant , pick up the phone, write a letter, surprise someone, surprise yourself... and say yes."

Much love to you all.

Am I twisted?

 It’s that time of year in our house where we celebrate Chanukah by lighting a candle each night in our menorah for 8 nights.  We have made it a tradition with our grandkids (who are celebrating Christmas instead) to light candles with us. We make sure to have a menorah for each child. This year we had 4 of the staying overnight and we enjoyed our tradition with them!

Our tradition has always been to give our kids a small gift each night.  I’m a huge reader so I always buy the kids books!  It was really exciting to cuddle on the couch while each one read to us from their new books!  

What I have done of a sewing nature?  Not much 

My daughter gave me a mask she got from work and I decided it needed embellishing, a la RBG!

A bit chilly

 I wish I could explain where the time is going but it's whizzing by and I can't account for it.  UGH.  I know others are feeling the Covid Buzz as well.

I did get another sprig block finished and changed it up a bit by adding little circles at the bottom of the stems.  I thought they looked weird just being there.  I used the Karen Buckley little plastic circles to make them.  I would even call them almost perfect!

I also worked on something I found online that's supposed to be a table topper.  I am almost done with the piecing but am honestly thinking of using the blocks in a placemat instead!  Or something else.

I've also been thinking about replacing my very cheap (and not very comfortable) Target office chair I've been using for 10 years.  I'd read recommendations and when I was in the Bay Area a couple of weeks ago, I went into The Container Store and decided I liked their bungee chair so I ordered one.  And, of course, blue is the perfect color!

It also affords you a peak at my mess of a sewing area.  HEHEHE

My dh liked the chair so much, I ordered another one (with arms this time) and I'll give him my blue one.

I did go out snow shoeing again this week and here's an idea of the vastness of the forest, snow and open feeling.  It hadn't snowed in over a week so no snow on the trees but still amazing nevertheless.

In another example of how things are so upside down this year, we decided to put up outside lights.  Mind you, we are Jewish and we have NEVER had outside lights.  But I figured this year is so messed up anyway, why not go all out?  I'm not sure a video will work but I'm going to give it a try.

Much to appreciate

 Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I hope you had a lovely day regardless of what you did or ate.  Even if you spent it by yourself.  We have our middle daughter (who's been living with us since June) but our other two kids and 5 grandkids were together in SF.  I have to admit I was quite sad not to be there with them -- hopefully this year will not be repeated.  But we are extremely grateful that our middle daughter has been staying with us!  What a gift that's been.

With the world in such turmoil, just being able to breathe normally, not wear a mask (indoors our own houses) and relax is a gift.

We spent the morning going snow shoeing since it snowed a little bit two days ago.  What an absolutely glorious time we had.  It was chilly when we started but there was no wind and we got warm very quickly! To me, walking in the woods that look like this is absolutely magical!!

I know I post a lot of pictures of where I am living;  I admit I love Central Oregon.

Lest you think I don't sew, I did finish another block for my sprigs and springs.  This one was made while catching up with The Crown.  I love watching a show while I sew and then I can remember what I watched when I sewed one particular block (at least for a little while--then I will have no memory whatsoever!! vbg)

I am still using the back basting method, although there is lots of room for improvement! I will admit I don't miss having to mess with those tiny pieces of freezer paper for the leaves.  So the jury is still out on that.

The WINNERS of my giveaways are:

Janine and Heather.

Please send me your snail mail addresses so I can zip those out to you.

have a great weekend.  Stay safe everyone!!

I am thankful for you

 In honor of Thanksgiving and to demonstrate how much I appreciate my followers, I'd like to offer you some free pattern --truth is I bought them TWICE.

All you'll need to do is share your favorite Thanksgiving side dish.  Winners will need to share a recipe!  I'll chose the winners Thursday morning

Lady's Scrap Basket from Bits n Pieces Pattern Company,

a 51x64 beautiful appliqué and pieced quilt.

Honoring Our Quilting Heritage by Lori Smith

a 59x79 beautiful scrap pieced quilt made from 6" pieced blocks on point.

Gobble gobble gobble

🦃🦃🦃

A low volume kind of day

 This will be the first Thanksgiving we will be spending apart from all of our kids  so it's just not the same.  We decided to follow the protocols and are not traveling back to the Bay Area this week.  Fortunately we saw our grandkids last weekend.  We will have a small dinner with just 3 of us; we feel lucky to have our middle daughter staying with us!!

Anyway, it's putting me into a strange kind of funk I'm calling "low volume"!! :-)

I did do a little fabric shopping recently and found what might be called "low volume".  Well maybe the definition is a little murky.

No idea what I'll do with these fabrics but they bring a smile to my face just looking at them.  So what the heck, right??

Last weekend, Barb Vedder (funwithbarb) and I took a zoom class on back basting appliqué   Now you know that Barb could've taught the class, along with Wendy Reed (constantquilter) but I've never learned how to do it.  So I have tried a block of my sprigs and stars using this technique.  

Fortunately I have a decent light box.  But my [latest] problem was the marking pencil I was using to trace the design.  UGH!  I've been using a purple "pen" that washes away but that seems to be drying up.  I tried a pencil for this one.  We'll see how it turns out.  So far it seems less labor intensive than the freezer paper method I was using, especially with the smaller pieces.

So my question is which method do you like to appliqué and why.  Now I know some people absolutely never do the "A" word... but I rather enjoy it.  

You've no doubt noticed I changed my header (thanks again to Janet O for the lesson!!) to reflect the latest weather here in Central Oregon. BRRRR.  That was one early morning last week.  Very picturesque.  And we went to check out the snow parks yesterday and I am ready to pull my snow shoes out of the garage and get my gear ready for that activity!!

We are still missing Max terribly and I've been searching and searching for a new golden doodle (smaller and less shedding than a golden retriever).  Getting a puppy these days is NOTHING like it was when we got Max 12 yrs ago.  It's all online, of course;  and there are scammers out there who take your deposit and disappear.  So I'm really struggling. Many places are asking for deposits for litters that might be born in 6-12 months!!   I would be quite content if someone showed up at my door with a puppy in hand!  If you happen to know anyone who breeds golden doodles, please let me know!! 

I wish you all a wonderful week.  Even though we will most probably not be with the usual family gatherings, we still have so much to be thankful for.  I certainly feel that way.  I can't see my mom again (everything has shut down again in Oregon) so I am grateful I did see her a few times last month.  We are healthy;  my children and grandkids are healthy.  I have a good life and feel very fortunate.

So I am sending you warm, loving hugs (virtual of course) at this time!  And thanks for being there for me via blog-land! 

Too quick on the publish button

 I had a bunch of pictures to post with my last post but I was too quick (or just incompetent...) and the pictures didn't make it.

So here I will share with you my latest block that I finished from the Primitive Gatherings Twilight Garden.  I have TWO more blocks to make before I start on the center and borders, which will probably take me forever.  I am loving this project and quilt but no matter how hard I try, I always seem to have parts off-center.  Being perfect is just not in my make-up!

I made more sprigs and stars as well.

I have been getting some great ideas from comments and have changed my methodology somewhat.

I'm trying to be a little less random so am staying with a certain fabric for groupings.  I'm not sure it'll be noticeable but it's fun to try something different.

I say why not have some fun.  Scooters and roosters?  Heck YES!

We went back to California for the weekend to see the grandkids and had a wonderful time.  I started my 11 yr old grandson on a jelly roll quilt.  Here is where he sews!~

He can reach the foot pedal as long as it's on a foot-stool! ;-)

Popsicles on our front porch steps has been a tradition since they were very small.  On Saturday the weather was beautiful and they helped me wash the snow residue off my car from our drive!

What a fun time we had!  No water fights, though! Air was too cool. ;-(

Hope you're having a great week!  Stay safe!