Escape

So, I have been in San Francisco since Sunday and I think G is going to have a hard time getting me on the plane in four days.  This is one of the most beautiful cities I have been in.  And the weather....PLEASE!  To all my friends sitting in the Texas heat, I do NOT envy you.  It has not been over 70 degrees since I have been here.  I am wearing sweaters in July!

G is in a class all day every day, so I am on my own to entertain myself.  I have walked everywhere and this enables me to really take it all in.  I did catch a ride on a city bus yesterday, but still managed to walk several miles (uphill)!  But, this was my reward at the top of the hill

YUM!!  It is "Chicago Thin" from Paxtis Chicago Pizza and OMG if you are ever in San Fran, you must give this place a try.  The above photo is the lunch special.  That's a Veggie Slice.  It has a corn meal crust that is light and fluffy and very crispy on the bottom.  It has artichoke hearts, red peppers, onions, olives, cheese and wonderful tomato sauce.  The Greek Salad that came with was to die for as well.  Last night we ate at the Cliff House and I had a delicious Fruitti De Marre.  Mmmmm.....it was so yummy.  It was filled with scallops, rock shrimp, mussels, clams, and crab meat.  All in a wonderful broth with penne pasta.  And sourdough bread that was so fresh and soft with a crusty outside.   Good thing I am walking all those miles.  The view from the table was breathtaking.

And the sunset, well I can't find words.  This is G's photo (I know he is WAY better than I am at photography, but I'm learning!)

I've so much more to tell you about this trip, but that will come later.  I must go head out for more adventures in this fantastic city.  I have seen many sites that are inspiring more quilts.  I'll tell you all about it in the next few days. (and show you!)

Gathering of Quilters

This past Saturday was another "sew-in" for the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild.  I joined in on the fun for the fourth or fifth time.  I have trouble finding the words to describe how much fun this group of women has turned out to be.  It had been a long dry spell since I had a group of friends that shared my obsession passion for all things fabric.  Don't get me wrong, I have a wonderful "tribe" of women that enrich my life on a daily basis.  But, they just can't relate to my craft.  They tolerate it, they enjoy the fruits of it, but it's kind of like a foreign language to them.  We have many other things we share and I am glad for that.  The women I have met in the DMQG have filled a need.  I hope you will consider joining us for the next Saturday Sew.

It is a fantastic facility, it just has everything we need.  We generally order lunch in and just keep on sewing.  There is much sharing of information, tips, ideas

I attended a friend's birthday party Saturday night and then got up and sewed again all day on Sunday.  Now that's my kind of weekend!  I finished up sample quilt for a class I'm teaching at Bernina of Dallas next month.  (Pictures to be posted soon).  Tomorrow I teach the quilted pillow class there.  I'm very excited to be teaching at such a fantastic shop!  They have a great set up, and what a great bunch of women that work there!

I also finished my July block for the New Kid on the Block Bee.  This may be my favorite block yet for this bee.  I am seriously considering making a quilt like this for myself.  LOVE it!

She got the tutorial from The Sometimes Crafter.  I cannot wait to see her completed quilt.  She sent such fun fabrics it was a blast to work on.  And the tutorial is super easy.  I still haven't decided what block I will use when it's my month.  So many choices, I'm having trouble choosing.   Suggestions, anyone?

Photography Lesson

I just got a lesson in photography from my uber talented husband.  I'm so excited to think my photos might be a little more interesting on my blog!  And I'm so lucky to be married to someone so willing to share his talent with me.

Woo!  I just made it through the "busy season" at my office and I can't tell you how happy I am that it is over for another year.  I had the day off today, which was a welcome relief after two weeks of long days and working seven days a week.  I spent the day running some errands in preparation for a new adventure I'm getting ready to embark on!  More on that later.....

I finished a new sample for the "I Never Thought I'd be a Quilter" class that I am going to be teaching next Wednesday at Bernina of Dallas.  If you have ever thought you might like to learn to quilt, there's still a couple of spots in the class.  This is a sneak peak of the pillow that I'll teach the students to make.

Like what I learned in my photography lesson?  I think that I really like that focus in the foreground, out of focus in the background look.  A lot more interesting than the straight on shot I usually do.

I also finished the other Disappearing Nine Patch baby quilt I started.  So, another item complete on the challenge list.  Yeah!  Woo Hoo!

I just love that pattern.  It's so fun to do, quick and easy and looks different every time.  I have started another one that will be used as a sample at the Bernina Store for the class I will be teaching.  I'm going to be working on it tomorrow at the Saturday Sew.  It's being hosted by the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild, you have heard me talking about it before.  I am really ready for a day at my sewing machine, surrounded by friends with similar interests, chatting about our lives.  It is really amazing to me that I did not know any of these women six months ago and now I speak with them several times a week and hang out with them regularly.  I love that quilters are like that.

Off to bed so I'm rested for the sewing, talking, eating tomorrow....hopefully, now that things are not so busy at work, I'll be blogging a little more often.  I keep saying that, don't I?  Well, if I keep talking about it, eventually it will happen.

Two More Down

Well, almost two.  I have finished the little boys quilt that I made using the Disappearing Nine Patch pattern.  I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  And that pattern is my new favorite.  I love the transformation that occurs when I make those two cuts and flip the quadrants around!  And the finished quilt looks WAY more complicated than it is.

I backed it with the cutest black fabric with mulit-colored stars!  And.....drumroll.......I already owned each and every piece of fabric I used in this.  And you know what that means!  It qualifies as a challenge completion!  Yeah!

Would you love it if you were a little two year old boy?

The little girl quilt is almost done.  Here it is in process....

Well, I have two pieces of fun news....First, I won the Quilt Home blog of the week giveaway!  Can you BELIEVE it?  They picked me?  I get a $20 gift certificate to spend on their site.  I love the selection they have and their customer service is stellar.  You can check them out here.  Second piece of news, I am going to be teaching several classes coming up at Bernina of Dallas.  I am SO excited.  I met with them yesterday and will be teaching a class called "I Never Thought I'd Be a Quilter", a Sew Cute Clothing-Tunic, and the Disappearing Nine Patch as a baby quilt.  Check their site for the dates and class descriptions.  If you haven't been there, the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild will be hosting their monthly meeting there tomorrow night.  Hope to see you there if you are in the Dallas area.  They have lots of fun classes covering all areas of sewing.  Their website has the class schedules.