Spooky

Here's a scary thought.... I'm planning to make my own Halloween costume this year!

It's even more frightening to think about how much all of this cost!  Even with everything on sale, my debit card let out an eerie shriek when I paid for it.  However the most terrifying aspect of all is how many Halloween costumes are just excuses for women to dress like a frat boy's fantasy.

Although being a foot shorter and about 50lbs heavier than the models in these pictures will probably help me look more like I'm bringing baked goods to Grandma and less like I'm out flirting with wolves.

A whirlwind of progress!

I'm breezing right along through Moulins Rouge.  i pin-basted it last weekend and have been quilting a few lines every night. 

I'm quilting with wavy diagonal lines which (in addition to being super easy & fast) give it a nice effect of motion, spinning pinwheels in the wind and all.  Well.... that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

I should be able to finish up quilting the center today, but then I need to figure out what to do with the
borders.  Then... gah, time to do the binding.  I hate binding. =/

Or... I could just start a new project. ;)

The Big Day

I'm going!

 

On Saturday, July 9th, I'll be hopping on the Fabric Depot bus with a passel of other quilters to go to the 2011 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  I've done this a few times and it's always a blast.  It's cheaper than paying for gas, and you can get your fabric freak on with a bunch of other fiber lovers along the way.  It's the ultimate quilt show pre-funk.

But not only will I be enjoying the day in a city completely overrun with quilts & quilters... I'll be showing a quilt for the very first time!  Yup.  I managed to get my registration packet turned in on time and my Happy Batiks quilt has been accepted.  This isn't exactly an exclusive event, but nevertheless, I'm excited to be a contributor rather than just an observer.

So the next time you see this quilt, it will be hanging out with a bunch of other quilts on the side of a building somewhere in Sisters.

I can't wait!

Moulins Rouge

I finally thought of a cute name for my latest quilt in progress.... Les Moulins Rouge!

I was, quite frankly, too lazy to make up some pinwheels for the corners, but I didn't want to leave the border completely white either, so just used the little pink blocks.  I'll be using that fabric for the backing too.  It was a bit tricky to get the borders measured just right.  I'm not a big fan of measuring anything once its too big to fit on the cutting mat.  I think it matched up pretty good though.

So here's the finished top.  Not the best lighting, but you get the idea.

Welcome!

Well, hello there. Welcome to my new blog! 

It's going to be a lot of this:

 

At home I'll be quilting, knitting, baking, and generally playing with stuff.  

and a little bit of this:

As often as I can, I intend to travel and explore this big, crazy, beautiful world we live in.

While I still consider myself very much a work in progress, over the past few years I have really solidified a plan for what I want my life to be.  I want to balance the domestic comforts of home with the challenges and adventures of traveling.  I want to learn as much as I can about other cultures, geography, natural wonders, and history.  And I want to express myself creatively in many different ways.  I'm on a path to (someday, hopefully, please) become a teacher of English to speakers of other languages, which I think will be a great career to blend both of these passions.  Above all, I want to follow my bliss... at home and abroad.  And I want to encourage you to do the same!