HSTeria Challenge

So this week's project is from the Tiny Treasures class (again).  It seems we work a lot with HST's.

This is the pattern by Kathleen Tracy-finishes 17x17

These are my fabrics-the baskets will be the bright batik

I took a blowup of the fabric pattern and hope to do something in the border with it.  My goal was to take the rather homely gray flowered fabric found at a yard sale and make something attractive out of it using fabrics from my stash and a couple newly bought (salmon and turquoise).  The fun part of this class is that I can experiment and do things that I never would do with a big quilt.  Click the HSTeria button on my sidebar to see what others are doing.

My Home Away From Home

Last week I went to Julian which is a little mountain town 20 miles away from my home.  I pray, read and sew for 3 days, meet with my 2 friends at 4pm when we visit and then go out to dinner and then visit a little more.  I get back to my motorhome about 8 and sew a little before settling in with a good book (which is "Paris" by Rutherford).

 The kitchen becomes my cutting and ironing station

 The dining room my sewing station

And the couch my design wall

This trip I finished a fall table runner and worked on Harley Cow! and a nickle quilt top.  Got a lot done-along with a study in 1st Peter that was so good for me at this particular time.  I should go up every couple of months:)  Hoping to make another pilgrimage  in October as it is too hot in the summer.

Here Kitty Kitty!

If you live near or plan to visit San Diego-you must visit the kitties at Safari Park located in San Pasqual valley between Escondido and Ramona.  We have year passes and go quite frequently as it is a short 20 minute drive.  A great place to walk!  The new Tiger exhibit opened on Memorial day:

And then there were the baby lions:

A great morning!

Collectibles and Camping

We sold at the La Mesa Antique Fair 2 weeks ago. We  had a great time, got rid of quite a bit of stuff and made some money-not bad for a day of people watching.  Before we can move we have to get rid of lots of stuff-Greg especially.  He has a 30x30 foot steel building of "stuff" and it is anchoring us to this 1/2 acre like a 3 ton weight.  he is trying.  He just listed quite a few things on Craig's List but I haven't heard the phone ringing.  Anyway, I am cleaning and researching more "stuff" to go to the next vintage market. 

A sampling of our "stuff"

I am leaving tomorrow for a retreat I look forward to each year.  My 2 friends and I go camping in Julian; one in a little cabin and 2 of us in RV's.  We don't visit until 4pm when we gather to talk about our day and decide where we want to go to dinner.  I get so much done.  I read, sew, and study God's word.  I should do this every other month.  I come back renewed, refreshed and revived.  If we move (remember the "stuff"), this will be my last time after 15 years of camping with my friends.

I come back Friday when I have to take a quick shower and repack for a Fri-Sun. women's retreat with our church. A good week coming but no posts as I will have no internet and I don't own a smartphone.

Christmas Table Topper

I finished the top last night at the Tiny Treasure class at the 9 Patch.  I love that group of ladies!

The flowered green fabric will be the binding.  I only had a little left of the dark green floral and I love it!

I was able to collect quite a few HST's by using Bonnie Hunter's trick of sewing snowballs or flying geese 2x and cutting trough the middle and receiving the gift of an extra triangle.

I have anothe HST project that I started last night and will post my progress in a couple of days.  If you would like to see what everyone else is doing, click the HSTeria button.

"Your Love is Moosic to My Ears" is heading to Tennessee!!

I am so excited! Mel McFarland author (with Mary Lou Weidman) of "Out of the Box With Easy Blocks" asked if I could send "My Love" in early Sept. for the AQS quilt show in Tennessee.  My cow is going to a quilt show and I am pretty excited.  This quilt has been so much fun.

I need to add the last letter to the banner and the little red plane that is pulling the banner and attach the zipper and paint the lamb's face and add silk to the corn ears and fix the notes in the air. Whewww.

Too Busy!

I finished 1/2 of the double snowballs  that go with the Stars and that will be it for this week!  My first time doing double snowballs.  This project is part of Vicki Welsh's HSTeria quilt along (button on my sidebar to see what everyone else is doing).

Bonus HST's when you trim the snowballs

All those bonus triangles sewn into bonus squares-lovely

We are preparing for selling vintage stuff at the La Mesa Antique Faire next Sunday-I have the linens washed, ironed and priced and now need to go through about 10 boxes of "stuff" that has been stored in a seatrain for multiple years. We ran an antique booth in the local mall for years.  I also have an Exploring Color workshop I am doing on Saturday to prep for.  If that weren't enough, I am proctoring AP tests this week and am responsible for signing up guild members for 2014-15 classes tonight-yikes! Also the painters will be here in 15 minutes to paint the outside of our house.  I am retired-don't like this kind of busy-where will I squeeze in my naps!

13 squares done!

These will be close to the last of these amazing blooms:

More amazing blooms-what a blessing!

all 13 star squares done!

Since joining the HSTeria quilt along run by Vicki Welsh, I have made more progress than if I hadn't.  This next week I will work on the snow ball blocks.

HSTeria

Vicki Welsh is hosting a Half Square Triangle quilt along.  Since I just started a project for the Tiny Treasure class that fits the HST criteria-I thought I would quilt along with the group.  Click on the HSTeria button in the right column if you would like to join.  I love her dyed fabric and there are giveaways each Friday so why not?

This shows 6"blocks-Mine are 4 1/2"  finished blocks

I bought a pack of fat quarters at the guild table for 5.00 and added the check, holly and greens-and voila, a star is born!

Back Yard Beauty

I have had this plant for over 20 years and every year it blesses us with amazing beauty.

It is called Epiphyllum ochid cactus, "Pure of Heart".  It has duplicated itself from the pot to the soil next to the pot and the little epi is blooming as well.  It must love the repotting last fall as it has about 20 buds on it.