Outer Banks Vacation

 A few months ago we planned a short trip to the Outer Banks.  We are staying in the First Colony Inn, a historic inn in Nags Head.  The weather is perfect, the crowds are thin, and we are seeing a few sights. 

After checking in, we drove across to the beach access. Made a few selfies as the sun was going down.

We went to a water front restaurant and walked out on the dock to wait on our table. A stranger was kind enough to snap a picture of us.

The sunset was gorgeous.

Today we went to the Wright Brothers memorial and museum. That was interesting. The stone is the marker of the take off point of the four short flights the brothers did in December 1903.

This was the back side of the massive marker on Kill Devil Hill where the brothers did lots of practicing with their kite/plane designs. In 2003 there were over 120,000 people here to celebrate 100 years of flight.

This is the front side of the marker that shows the long walk to it.

A replica of the plane. I think this was sculpted from copper.

A life size replica of the actual plan used.

Then back for a little beach walk, for me, and nap for Jim. 

After cleaning up, and a snack at the reception area of our Inn, we rode down towards Hatteras, and caught some sights and another beautiful sunset.

Scrap Showcase

 I've had a stack of Kaffe Fassett scraps leftover from my two Little Miss Sawtooth quilts I made a few months ago, and they have been calling me to make a new scrap quilt.  I found this pattern from Marti Mitchell that I've always liked and decided to try it.

I think if I'd read carefully and seen that the pattern used Y-seams and templates I probably would not have bought it.  But....I am glad I did.  I was able to figure out rotary cutting for all the pieces but one. I made a cardboard template for it.  The Y-seams are not as difficult as they were on the ring cycles quilt I made last year.

Mine won't look a lot like hers because I chose to do all lights and colors, and no mediums as she did on the big squares and stars.  I hope it turns out pretty, and I think it will.  Hopefully when sewn the circular shape will be more apparent.

I had a wonderful day of sewing, exercising and cleaning.  I managed to get most of the pieces cut so I could eliminate some of the fabric mess.  The star blocks are all cut and ready to sew, the others not quite. I ended up cutting all the triangles rather than using HST, because of all the 'half'.

This one is challenging, for sure, and my points are not all lining up exactly but.....it will be fine when finished, and I think will be one of my prettiest.

So yay!  for challenges.

Quilts, cabinets and other musings - the end of summer 2021

 I almost forgot to post my finished cabinet with the quilts.  It was a good project although a very hot one to do in a garage a 92 degrees.  I need to remember wood refinishing is best done in a season other than summer.

I tried bleaching the wood first but it didn't bleach well.  Later I read that cherry doesn't bleach well.  I ended up using tongue oil product on the sanded finish. It brought out the natural variations of the wood. I used it before when refinishing the twin beds and have always been pleased with the final look.

Very happy with the final product. Finishing wood is always a rough job but always worth it.

I've been patiently waiting to get a tablet computer connected to my Gammill long arm machine.  We've had one difficulty after another.  Hopefully by next weekend I'll be sewing on it.  Today's issue was the cable connected through the handlebars wasn't working properly.  First the tablet was bad.  Oh well, just gotta "roll with it" as my granddaughter says. I'm sure we will get it all working fine before long.  In the meantime, I am continuing to sew, so now have six, yes SIX, quilts ready to quilt.

I made two of the Songbook fabric line quilts.  Love these so much.  One for us, and one for a gift.

Then I made this patriotic quilt, designed by Erica Arndt. She has these truck patterns for every season.

I designed and made two baby quilts.  One in pinks and one with these teal and green fabrics.  I love the design but haven't heard from the magazines in several weeks so I don't think they are going to choose it for the issue. It is easy and cute so if they don't choose it I'll be posting it as a free pattern.

Then just this week I finished the Grace quilt from Thimbleblossoms.  I purchased the kit last spring.

In other news, this handsome, sweet, precious little boy turned five!!  He is the absolute best. He has this Mamaw (and Papaw) wrapped around his little finger.  How does that happen??  That little smiling face just melts my heart.  He is always smiling.

His momma made the cutest birthday cake, complete with diggers and tractors.  It was so great for ALL the family to get together to celebrate this boy.  When I say all, I mean, my ex-husband, his wife and his three sisters (and two husbands) all came to our house.  Something I've prayed would happen -- all of us could be together, forgiving the past, to celebrate our joint grandchildren. We all get along great. Such a blessing.

              

               His great aunt made this great chocolate piñata that he got to bust with a little hammer.

The only rock painting I've done lately is this one for my retiring Ob/GYN.  This doctor is the best and I will miss my annual visits.  I've been seeing him for over 30 years. He is kind and wonderful, and dealt with my uterine cancer a few years ago with such compassion and patience.

So there you have it -- an end of summer update!