The Stars Align

The end of my vacation is coming up way too fast and at 13:30 I came across my vehicle registration renewal notice. Ever the procrastinator I had put it aside and then promptly forgotten. During a clean-up, the notice resurfaced.
I took the car to its emission testing and then to the local DMV where wonders over wonder I was the only one in line for renewals despite the waiting room being full. No seats available. In and out in 5 minutes on a Friday afternoon. The guard high fived me on the way out.
It felt as if all the stars aligned just right and the world was in perfect harmony for me just for that short time. I was floating on cloud nine.

A380 Flight

Yesterday, January 29, 2016, was my first flight on Lufthansa's new flagship aircraft.
 It certainly was the quietest flight I ever had. Together with LH's Signature Service it made for a most pleasant travel experience.
To commemorate the event I took a few movies.

Here is take-off in Frankfurt

Flying by Houston ...

... before landing there

Thinlet Dies Organization

In addition to my love of cooking and quilting I enjoy making cards and small albums using stamps and thinlet dies.
Thinlet dies are a great invention as far as I am concerned and I have given away most if not all my punches. Punches are great, but use up way too much storage space.
Thinlet dies however can be stored flat and that is a huge advantage.

I used to store them in an Artbin which I bought at Joann's awhile back. It is a clear plastic bin with a handle for which matching magnetic sheets can be purchased. The thin let dies are being placed on these sheets and stored in the bin.
After making some purchases from the Stampin' Up Holiday catalog I was in need of a few more magnetic sheets. However my local Joann's does not seem to carry Artbin any longer.
Searching the internet I came upon katsretirementjourney.blogspot.com and her suggestion of an alternate and cheaper method. Kat in turn got the idea fro Connie Stewart at Simply Simple Stamping.

I followed their example and purchased magnetic vent cover sheets from Home Depot. A package of 3 sheets costs just under $5.00 which is a great deal less expensive than the Artbin sheets.
At home I cut each sheet in half horizontally.

I now store each magnetic sheet in a plastic protector in a 3-ring folder which I lay flat on a table. The sheets are a bit heavy and I don't want to tear the plastic folders.

So the moral of the story is: when one door closes another opens

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason immediately apparent, other times it may take awhile until we understand.

Trip Around The World

If I would not write down information on my quilts in my little quilting journal from www.journalsunlimited.com I would not have known that I started this scrappy version of A trip Around the World quilt back in February 2013. I finished it yesterday.

It's not a true TatW, because I wanted to use up all my fabric and not buy more. The block on the bottom left is how the all are supposed to look like. I do love symmetry and it pained my to not have it, except for the dark pieces. It is however a good lesson in letting go and relax. Life is not symmetrical either, so it's not all that important.
The bottom left block represents how I wish my life would be like, the others represent what it is like.
Beautiful, but a bit more shall we say free-flow.

I love the colors and the subtle nuances of the tone on tone pattern of this Dimples fabric by Gail Kessler and Andover Fabrics. Generally, I prefer tone on tone fabrics over solids.

Here it is:

More Quilts

My quest to use up my stash and previously purchased kits, etc is moving along nicely.
I finished a few more projects and the next quilt sandwich is stacked and waiting to be quilted.
And yet, there are more than 10 still to go. Hard to believe.

Once I am through with all of them , I will need to change my tactic and only buy what I need.
If I need to move to a smaller space now, I'll be in trouble finding space for all my crafting supplies.

I have purged myself of so much already and yet there is so much more.

I need to adopt more (a lot more) of a tiny living philosophy. Less possessions. More freedom.

 This is a tumbler quilt whose fabrics came from a fabric swap at FRMQG a few years ago.
The fabrics were pre-cut in tumblers and sitting in a drawer for quite awhile. then I did sew it together and kept the quilt top around just as long.
Now it is finished and my designated camping quilt.

This is a very floral quilt. I had to subsides some red and brown fabrics, but it all came together nicely, I think. Its crowning glory is the wool batting which makes it so soft and warm and light.

This fabric I bought in NYC knowing I would never cut it up. It's just the right size for a child and one of my nephews will be it's new owner.

Sewing Adventures

My first try at Cathedral Windows

 A doggie quilt for charity

Using up leftover fabric from a previous project. Despite all the pink, I really like it.

Charity pillow cover

My new power house of a sewing machine. So far I am very happy with its purchase.

Another charity baby quilt.

This is my niece's NYC quilt. We bought the fabric last year in NYC and I finally put it together.
I gave it to her for her confirmation this year.

22 July 2015

So far this year is shaping up to be an interesting one. Luckily, I have good friends who are beside me  and other blessings to keep me strong and determined to make it through with grace and dignity.

Over the 4th of July weekend I had my first real camping experience. Together with two friends and a total of five dogs it was a fun experience. I had wanted to get Moby away from the fireworks and accomplished that mission successfully.

Lost Park camp ground, in the Lost Creek Wilderness, was our base camp and a really beautiful one, too. Located about 20 miles SE (?) of Jefferson on route 285 it was a wonderful site. Lost Park road dead ends at the camp ground from which several trails can be accessed by foot.

This is our fabulous set up. The tarp came in handy and kept us comfortable and dry during afternoon showers. Our site had space for three tents which is just what we needed. Most sites were rather private along a loop.

Friday morning hike along Lost Creek on the Wigwam Trail.

Our dogs having a ball along the Brookside McCurdy trail.

You can hardly see him, but Moby is down in that valley, "a dog runs through it"

Satchmo having a wonderful time.

Some of the beautiful scenery including Lost Creek viewed from close to our site.

I had such a fun time that I want to take the boys for another camping adventure or more before snow will close the season.