Flower Power

I have another tumbler quilt off the rails, this will be a donation quilt.  I used a new (to me) Pantograph (thanks, Santa!) for this scrappy quilt;  "Flower Child".
It worked out perfectly for this project and is super easy and FAST! Like my old FAST favorite: Loop de Loop, this one is forward motion all the way, no points or starts and stops until one gets to the edge (or runs out of bobbin thread!). Its speedy and fun to do.

Scrappy Charm Tumbler quilt ~ 56" X 64"

The flowers were just the antidote for the lousy, rainy weather we've been inundated with here in North Carolina. We've had ran, rain, and more rain (at least it's not SNOW!) with a rainy forecast for this week to come too. Sadly, this is really impacting the progress on our screened in porch project. 

Raindrops seemed like the natural choice for the backing fabric, "showers and flowers" go together. 

I stitch the tumblers together Leader-Ender style while stitching on other things; they sit in two small baskets beside my machine one for lights, one for darks. I precut the tumblers with the die cutter from a huge scrap basket- leftovers from projects past.  Nothing gets wasted. This system leads to more being sewn together at the same time. SEW-- while that Scrappy Sixteen* comes together (on the design wall) so do more tumbler tops (on chair, under Hannes); we (he shares the sewing chair with me) almost have another one done and ready to quilt! 

* Interesting side-story explaining the delay on SS: I used leftover Essex Linen (from the background of "Dogs in Sweaters", photo below) for the light background fabric in this scrap quilt. I didn't have quite enough. I mail-ordered an additional yard to complete this project after carefully consulting my color-swatch card. Apparently I didn't consult the card carefully enough! The fabric came and it was too creamy, a whiter substitute has been ordered to replace that and the creamy non-match has been shelved. So much for using what's on hand, I feel a little defeated by this blunder but am moving on!

My sweet sewing companion and every day-brightener. 

The power of flowers to cheer on cold, dark and rainy day. 

What's brightening up your space at home today?

Life is Good!

Up next: "In the Loop"

The Great American Road Trip, Part 8

This is it, the final installment!  You thought this was the trip that wouldn't end, didn't you?  We spent the end of one day and half of the next in Glacier National Park, during most of our time there it was raining; we pressed on, undaunted. The scenery was spectacular, even through the raindrops and thick cloud cover. It was cool there, in the 50's; we weren't able to cross through the park on the "Going-To-The-Sun" road as it wasn't opened due to both snow and construction.

Along the drive to Pole Bridge, SW in the park, down a long and bumpy dirt road.

View from the general store porch at Two Medicine.

Lower St. Mary Lake

The above photos were all taken along the road to Many Glacier, the NE (US) entrance. 

Leaving Glacier NP

Heading back to Kalispell we drove for many miles alongside this railroad track. 
This Norfolk and Western-built line has been in existence for 100 years+ 
when it first carried passengers through Marias Pass and into Glacier 
for relaxation and recreation; Glacier is the 10th official National Park, 
being established as such in 1910. 

We stopped to taste some huckleberries, you can't visit Montana without doing so! We had a broad choice... this place had huckleberry everything! We settled on a slice of pie. I am assuming that the huckleberry filling was canned, as we were told it's not huckleberry season until later in the summer. The pie was wonderful, but as far as my tastebuds could discern it was indistinguishable from blueberry pie; equally sweet and delicious. After leaving Kalispell the next day we were headed in the direction of Utah and spent that next full day on the road getting as far as Idaho Falls; then onto Moab (and, ultimately, Arches National Park) from there.

Utahns lead life in the fast lane!

We arrived in Moab, UT in the late afternoon; the temperature was 92 degrees and the parking lots were all full.  We planned to hike out to Delicate Arch the next morning and decided then and there to go early, very early, and avoid the crowds and the heat.

Arches National Park at sun up.

Arches is replete with incredible (and seemingly impossible)
 sandstone formations at every turn.

This is a Pinyon Pine, it was at the beginning of the hike out to Delicate Arch, just as the sun was cresting the slick rock in the background. I love this photo and how it captures not only the rugged beauty of the landscape but how it also defines perseverance.

The 1.5 mile hike across slick rock out to Delicate Arch at daybreak.

The final red rock rim out to Delicate Arch, a hike worth every single step!

There are no words that can describe the majesty of experiencing Delicate Arch in person.

THIS is what it feels like to stand there; exhilerating!

These wind-formed caves and bowls epitomize the land formations below Delicate Arch.

One of the many rock cairns that marked the trail out and back.

Arches incredible landscape!

Two tired, yet happy, hikers!

Sand Dunes Arch.

A few last glimpses before leaving Arches and beginning the long drive home.

Leaving Arches and looking down in Moab, UT.

Fast forward a few days and look where we ended up... at a fabric store in St. Louis, MO! Jackman's was one of the quilt shops featured in this spring's Quilt Sampler magazine. This shop was large and all-encompassing; there were gorgeous quilts, patterns and plenty of quilting fabric; as you might imagine, but the abundant supply of top quality trims, buttons and ribbon went on forever... I was in heaven.  They also had numerous models of precious little girls' sundresses, it was hard to leave that store without purchasing everything to make each one of those! I did find some great supplies for making up some cute Christmas gifts, which I hope to get a head-start on this summer.  This concludes my travelogue, for those of you who've stayed with me for this entire series, I hope you haven't been too bored and have enjoyed the scenery. I will now return to life at home and more things quilt related. It was one terrific adventure; but, to quote Dorothy, "there's no place like home!" She sure was right about that.

Life is Good!

The Great American Road Trip... Part 3

We entered Yellowstone National Park at the NE entrance on a picture perfect day! I didn't really know what to expect, other than geysers, of course.  We were  delighted to experience a wide variety of wildlife, picturesque scenery , unusual geothermal features and roaring, rushing rivers and waterfalls overflowing their boundaries due to warming days and an ever-increasing amount of snowmelt.  This post will be long on photos and short on words. C'mon along and enjoy the park!

"I'm sorry I am late... there was a Bison blocking my car."

"Nevermore"

We hiked down to this top-of-the-falls vantage point of the Lower Yellowstone Falls, it was one fantastic experience!  Not a lengthy hike, but a strenuous one back up and out. As we ended the steep climb and were headed back to our car we bumped into a family from back home, from our own church as a matter of fact! What are the odds?

Mud Volcano  -  gurgling, bubbling mud pit.

You can add your own caption here... be kind!

This geyser erupted while we were waiting on Old Faithful, 
it is located just adjacent to the more famous one and was, 
actually, much more impressive in plume height.

Old Faithful
The hardy watchers and waiters were rewarded for their patience,
it was pouring  down rain when the eruption occured... on time!

Life is Good!

Tomorrow: Yellowstone day #2 and Grand Teton National Park.