That's all for now.
Enjoying the first few days of a nice long summer. Finished a book, bought a few more. Have quilts galore to work on.
This summer has promise.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Better than this place
Nowhere better than this place...
Anywhere better than this place...
My sister had these 2 sayings as posters in her room growing up. They were from an AIDS exhibit at a museum, I think. They were plain, just white background with black text.
Anyways, that's how I feel about Albuquerque.
Some days I can't get out of here fast enough. I daydream about how much better it is elsewhere. About all the cool people that live in Portland (if you live in or around Portland, you are one of those cool people).
Or anywhere on the East Coast. I dream about having a bungalow cottage and decorating it all country beachy.
And then there are days like today.
My classroom is mostly packed up and cleaned. 4 hours of school left. I went to Happy Hour with some of the girls from work and had a blast. I LOVE my school. I can't imagine ever working at a school that's as all around awesome. I can't imagine leaving there. It's breezy and cloudy with little drops of rain.
Today I am happy right where I am. Those days are few and far between, so I'm going to go soak up as much as I can.
Anywhere better than this place...
My sister had these 2 sayings as posters in her room growing up. They were from an AIDS exhibit at a museum, I think. They were plain, just white background with black text.
Anyways, that's how I feel about Albuquerque.
Some days I can't get out of here fast enough. I daydream about how much better it is elsewhere. About all the cool people that live in Portland (if you live in or around Portland, you are one of those cool people).
Columbia River Gorge
Or anywhere on the East Coast. I dream about having a bungalow cottage and decorating it all country beachy.
Pottery Barn, of course
And then there are days like today.
Outside my door right now
My classroom is mostly packed up and cleaned. 4 hours of school left. I went to Happy Hour with some of the girls from work and had a blast. I LOVE my school. I can't imagine ever working at a school that's as all around awesome. I can't imagine leaving there. It's breezy and cloudy with little drops of rain.
Today I am happy right where I am. Those days are few and far between, so I'm going to go soak up as much as I can.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Baby Farm
Unless you know the background, and baby farm sounds disturbing, I know. I'm not a creeper though, so here's the story.
A few years ago I told the boy that I wanted a farm. I wanted chicks, and lambs, and PUPPIES. Lots of cute little baby animals. Of course he had to rain on my parade and mention that all of these baby animals would grow up and not be cute and little anymore. Still, any time I see a baby animal, I'm reminded of my desire for a baby farm.
My dilemma isn't that I don't have a house, or a yard, or any baby animals. The real dilemma is that I'm into too many things. I like to travel. I like to sew. I like to cook. Where would I find the time to manage these baby animals?!
On a somewhat related topic. This weekend we went to the zoo. There were lots of babies (of the human kind). Chubby little babies. I told the boy that I wanted one. His response: "You're not feeling well. Let's go home." It's going to take me a few years to warm him up to the idea...
Zoo pictures for putting up with all this text!
A few years ago I told the boy that I wanted a farm. I wanted chicks, and lambs, and PUPPIES. Lots of cute little baby animals. Of course he had to rain on my parade and mention that all of these baby animals would grow up and not be cute and little anymore. Still, any time I see a baby animal, I'm reminded of my desire for a baby farm.
My dilemma isn't that I don't have a house, or a yard, or any baby animals. The real dilemma is that I'm into too many things. I like to travel. I like to sew. I like to cook. Where would I find the time to manage these baby animals?!
On a somewhat related topic. This weekend we went to the zoo. There were lots of babies (of the human kind). Chubby little babies. I told the boy that I wanted one. His response: "You're not feeling well. Let's go home." It's going to take me a few years to warm him up to the idea...
Zoo pictures for putting up with all this text!
Baby Hippo!
not a baby!
in case you were wondering what I look like
flowering cacti
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Scraps
I made this little pouch for a friend using my quilt scraps.
I have made PLENTY of zipper pouches. I have always found them to be easy. So I don't know what possessed me to try a new pattern. The Oh, Fransson! Bag pattern. I will not link to it because I don't want you to suffer. I love her quilts, but I think this pattern and I could not make friends. This is the tutorial I first used years ago. It's awesome.
(Also, my point & shoot pictures are kinda fuzzy. Any suggestions? It used to take really awesome pictures...Dirty lens?)
I have made PLENTY of zipper pouches. I have always found them to be easy. So I don't know what possessed me to try a new pattern. The Oh, Fransson! Bag pattern. I will not link to it because I don't want you to suffer. I love her quilts, but I think this pattern and I could not make friends. This is the tutorial I first used years ago. It's awesome.
(Also, my point & shoot pictures are kinda fuzzy. Any suggestions? It used to take really awesome pictures...Dirty lens?)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Pink Orange Quilts
Here's the finished quilt top for my Pink Orange Grey quilt. Measure about 60" square
Josh suggested backing it with a creamy orange. Maybe a grey corner. I'll have to play around this weekend.
I had so many 2.5" strips cut from my original design and the border, that I decided to cut them into 2.5" squares. I used my rotary PAPER cutter with a new blade. It was awesome.
So here's my design for Pink Orange V2.0 (because each square will the 2" finished!). Josh says the middle should be a cream color, so I'm thinking a natural muslin (I already have some). I've already made some changes in my mind (the cream should creep up like the colors fall down). I estimate that I'll need about 250 colored blocks, 125 pinks, 125 oranges. I'm just going to cut a few cream squares (maybe 15?), and leave the rest in strips and cut them once I figure out exactly where the pieces will go. I wish I had a design wall (no room :( ). Planned size is 40" x 42"
Josh suggested backing it with a creamy orange. Maybe a grey corner. I'll have to play around this weekend.
I had so many 2.5" strips cut from my original design and the border, that I decided to cut them into 2.5" squares. I used my rotary PAPER cutter with a new blade. It was awesome.
So here's my design for Pink Orange V2.0 (because each square will the 2" finished!). Josh says the middle should be a cream color, so I'm thinking a natural muslin (I already have some). I've already made some changes in my mind (the cream should creep up like the colors fall down). I estimate that I'll need about 250 colored blocks, 125 pinks, 125 oranges. I'm just going to cut a few cream squares (maybe 15?), and leave the rest in strips and cut them once I figure out exactly where the pieces will go. I wish I had a design wall (no room :( ). Planned size is 40" x 42"
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Process
I had a BRILLIANT idea for a quilt last Thursday night.
Friday I cut all the fabrics together and got to work.
Saturday it was going well.
Sunday I decided that I hated where it was going and I stuffed it in a box.
Wednesday is when I had an epiphany and things started coming together. I cut apart what I had already made and turned it into a border. Then I did what I should have done first: I drew a picture. I figured out what I needed, in which colors, and selected a few different fabrics.
Now things are coming together nicely. I have made a few more modifications as I sew, but I like it. It has the right amount of planned irregularity. Not wonky though.
Hopefully I'll finish the quilt top this weekend.
Friday I cut all the fabrics together and got to work.
Saturday it was going well.
Sunday I decided that I hated where it was going and I stuffed it in a box.
Wednesday is when I had an epiphany and things started coming together. I cut apart what I had already made and turned it into a border. Then I did what I should have done first: I drew a picture. I figured out what I needed, in which colors, and selected a few different fabrics.
Now things are coming together nicely. I have made a few more modifications as I sew, but I like it. It has the right amount of planned irregularity. Not wonky though.
Hopefully I'll finish the quilt top this weekend.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wedding Food
If there is one thing that I could do over, it would be the food.
I would go back for seconds and thirds and gorge myself. I might even ask for a to go box. I should get those recipes. Or maybe just hire the cook to be my personal chef.
Yes, it was that good. EVERYONE would agree with me. Josh wishes he had eaten more too.
I wanted it to be Southern, so I tried to pick classic Southern dishes for dinner and dessert (with a few personal favorites thrown in there too).
The menu:
* Fried Catfish. The outside was crispy, the inside was moist. It wasn't overly greasy. Best ever.
* Grilled Chicken. What was the sauce? Pure heaven. It was grilled, that's all I know. And that it was amazing.
* Fried Green Tomatoes. These were hard to come by, but they got them for us. It was a delightful cornmeal breading. Again fried to perfection. Oh, I wish I had eaten more...
* Shrimp 'n Grits. Hello wonderful. At our tasting they were a bit spicy. For the wedding they were perfect. Creamy, cheesy, comfort food.
* Mashed Potatoes. All I remember is that they were delicious. And I want more.
* Green Beans. The "healthy" vegetable. Covered in buttery goodness.
* Fruit. There was fruit. And it looked beautiful. But how could anyone eat fruit with foods like those around?!
The Desserts:
* Chocolate Flan. A Cuban classic. We had some technical difficulties with the baking, but it turned out divine. Creamy, custardy, yumminess.
* Red Velvet Cake. It doesn't get any more Southern, IMO. This is the cake we ended up cutting. Oh how I love cream cheese frosting.
* Orange Amaretto Cake. A favorite among many. How could you not like a cake soaked in Amaretto?
* Chocolate Cake. A classic. We had troubles with this cake in our test rounds, but it came through for us on baking day.
* Apple Pie. Josh's favorite. His mom made this. And luckily we had leftovers (that weren't left over for very long)
* Banana Pudding. Again, a Southern tradition.
* Bread Pudding. Josh's grandmother made it.
I would go back for seconds and thirds and gorge myself. I might even ask for a to go box. I should get those recipes. Or maybe just hire the cook to be my personal chef.
Yes, it was that good. EVERYONE would agree with me. Josh wishes he had eaten more too.
I wanted it to be Southern, so I tried to pick classic Southern dishes for dinner and dessert (with a few personal favorites thrown in there too).
The menu:
* Fried Catfish. The outside was crispy, the inside was moist. It wasn't overly greasy. Best ever.
* Grilled Chicken. What was the sauce? Pure heaven. It was grilled, that's all I know. And that it was amazing.
* Fried Green Tomatoes. These were hard to come by, but they got them for us. It was a delightful cornmeal breading. Again fried to perfection. Oh, I wish I had eaten more...
* Shrimp 'n Grits. Hello wonderful. At our tasting they were a bit spicy. For the wedding they were perfect. Creamy, cheesy, comfort food.
* Mashed Potatoes. All I remember is that they were delicious. And I want more.
* Green Beans. The "healthy" vegetable. Covered in buttery goodness.
* Fruit. There was fruit. And it looked beautiful. But how could anyone eat fruit with foods like those around?!
The signs Diane made were so CUTE!
You should get the guy on the left to cook for you if you have the chance
The Desserts:
* Chocolate Flan. A Cuban classic. We had some technical difficulties with the baking, but it turned out divine. Creamy, custardy, yumminess.
* Red Velvet Cake. It doesn't get any more Southern, IMO. This is the cake we ended up cutting. Oh how I love cream cheese frosting.
* Orange Amaretto Cake. A favorite among many. How could you not like a cake soaked in Amaretto?
* Chocolate Cake. A classic. We had troubles with this cake in our test rounds, but it came through for us on baking day.
* Apple Pie. Josh's favorite. His mom made this. And luckily we had leftovers (that weren't left over for very long)
* Banana Pudding. Again, a Southern tradition.
* Bread Pudding. Josh's grandmother made it.
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