A Little Bit of Rosie’s!

On our run-around afternoon, Sandi said “There is somewhere you need to go, it’s not very far – and your trip won’t be complete without it!”

I’m game for ANYTHING, doesn’t matter what it is.  I’m happy to be along for the ride, taking in the sights –This is only my second trip to this area, and most of it is new to me! ((Let’s face it, as I get older, the memory goes, and pretty much stuff I’ve seen before is STILL new to me!))

She pulled into the parking lot of a strip mall…..and there it was!  Rosie’s Calico Cupboard!

I have a “previous” connection to Rosie ---I was a guest on one of her radio shows a couple years ago. We talked and talked like wild fire!  I was so excited to finally get to meet her in person.  Unfortunately she wasn’t in this day --- they had a recent death in the family and she was busy with family things.  But I left her a verbal note with the staff, and I hope get get to catch up to her another time.

This is a WONDERFUL shop!  Those who get to visit regularly, or live the area and have easy access --- do NOT take this for granted! Oh my heavens….the class room space alone is more than fabulous!

Of course, my Quilter’s Radar was powered to HIGH, and I found the Sale Room right off!  Uhoh --- guess who is going to have to ship some boxes home…LOL!  ((PPPsssstt –if I put the fabric in the empty book boxes and fed-ex it home – will anyone be the wiser?!))  I found some great pieces for backing. I’ve gone through a LOT of backing this year, and just wanted some larger pieces to work with. Got them.  And Then some!

A real highlight was this neat lady who came up and introduced herself to me while I was talking to the gal at the counter ----she said “Excuse me, are you Bonnie Hunter ---The Leaders & Enders gal?”  I said yes ----and she said “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Jan Krentz!”  OMGoodness!! I was face to face with a real Quilt Rock Star!  How fun to talk to her and cross paths in a wonderful place like Rosie’s!

It was just a wonderful afternoon…if you are ever in the area, don’t pass this one up.  There is something --- LOTS OF SOMETHING – for everyone here! I think Sandi wins the prize for showing the most restraint – she left carrying ONE piece of orange ---I’m not saying how many yards I left with!

Yeah --- don’t think I didn’t notice those sale tables right out front right off the bat too --- I picked some of THOSE for backings as well! LOL!

Yesterday was a BUSY BUSY day. We had a Scrappy Trips workshop in El Cajon, then drove to Chula Vista for a lecture there --- and then back to San Diego after that.  Today we are planning a power walk on the beach --- and then we are off to Mission Viejo for my guild meeting with the Beach Cities Quilt Guild tonight – I’ll be there a couple days before I move on again. My time in California is moving so fast!
When I get a chance, I have workshop pics to upload so stay tuned for that ---

Enjoy your Thursday, Everyone!

For The Birds!

I took so many pictures at Balboa park that the only way to get this all down, all this COOL stuff – is to break it into smaller chunks! 

Those poor folks on slow connections and dial up --- I’ve gotten complains that my long posts take too long to load. I hear you!  I know my posts can be picture heavy, but I love the photos so much….

On our exit through the park we stopped near an area where the San Diego Bird Rescue folks had set up bird perches….all kinds of birds!

The volunteers were so pleasant and so informative – and I was captivated by these sweet creatures, and horrified at how they ended up in the bird rescue in the first place.

One sweet cockatoo, named Sugar –was given to the rescue by a family that could no longer keep her or care for her –and it turns out that Sugar was in pretty bad shape.  She had completely plucked her self bald from too much stress. The story went that her previous owners fought with each other bitterly and loudly --- and the tension in the home distressed Sugar so much that she pulled out all her own feathers because she was so unhappy.

Here’s Sugar, who took a great liking to Sandi, and would even say her name when Sandi said “Hey, Sugar!” --- and she’d reply…”Sugar” in a sweet and soft timid little cockatoo voice!  What a sweet girl!  She is currently up for adoption. Did you know these birds can live 50 to 85 years? At this rate, they are going to out-live ME!

Sugar is a lot happier now, and her new feathers are growing in.  And they ITCH – so she was constantly preening…I hope she leaves it alone long enough that those feathers get a chance to grow in. There is nothing sadder than a bald Cockatoo!

The other birds enjoyed their perches in the sunshine and just watched on. I loved the coloring of this one!

The conures were quite friendly and look at their coloring too!  They love to preen people’s hair…and will walk right up your arm, onto your shoulder, and start right in on giving you a new “do!”

They gave kisses too!

They even got into MY hair!  This little guy is growing new feathers too.  He was so cute I would have loved to take him home ---but don’t worry.  I didn’t.  My bags are already at weight limits!

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. A walk in the park on a beautiful sunny day --- and time spent playing with birds.  Simple things in life!  And a good friend to do it all with!  Memories ---

Do you see the blue and green on this one…beautiful!!  And yes, that’s MY finger!

I think the bird rescue is doing a wonderful job of caring for these magnificent birds and finding them homes where they will be loved and cared for!

A Walk Through Balboa Park!

We had most of yesterday as “free” time ---and Sandi had suggested that we go over to Balboa park –knowing that I love museums and great architecture, gardens, flowers and best of all --- people watching!

It was a glorious January morning…one of those where you find yourself peeling off your sweater when you are in the sun, but as soon as you hit shade --- on it goes again. Just perfect!

I’d never been to Balboa park before so this was a treat for me. from the time we parked the car and got out and started exploring…I was completely and totally enthralled with this place!

I love these buildings with so much display of artwork on the outside! They are art in themselves --- and you have to take time to look carefully amidst the texture of stucco and texture, to see what is al in there.it’s like a full fruit bowl, with so much to see!

Take a look at this building!  It’s now a theater I think…but those pillars are wound around with grape vines --- there are faces in amidst al the froo-froo plaster work….This looks like it could have stepped right out of Italy or Spain, doesn’t it?

Did you catch the green/white checkerboard pattern at the top of the domes? Cool!

Get a load at the size of them grapes!  This was a “sweater off” moment..we were in the sun!

More façade art work..this one was full of statues and things going on.  I could look at this stuff forever and always find something new.  The expressions on the faces of the statues were so interesting to speculate abot too! And of course….PALM TREES!! I love palm trees --- I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, living in San Jose from the time I was 7 until I left at 19.  Palm trees are one of the things I really miss!  ((And a nice warm January, that goes without saying!))

Botanical gardens building.  I love reflecting pools!  Do you see the building mirrored in the water?  There was a mommy-yoga class going on, and after we left…all the mommies and kids were looking in the water to try to spot the turtle.  Precious!

Love the feel of the botanical building!  There are orchids and other flowers in wild abundance in here.  There was also a school photography class on field trip --- so it was fun watching them snapping pictures of various plants and “still life”.  You could tell the ones who were really into it, and then there were those who were typical  “could care less, but it seemed like an easy class” kids!

OH, I love orchids!!  So beautiful! And so many varieties!  Look at these colors!

Just beautiful!

Doesn’t color just make your heart sing?  I know it does mine.  And these were all we caught INSIDE --- there was more blooming everywhere OUTSIDE!!

Everywhere you turn there are wonderful buildings and more outdoor gardens to walk through.  It really is worth planning a lot of time to spend here.  One of the art museums was free entry, and we marveled at the beautiful paintings from the 1500’s on forward. Incredible!

There are more pics to post, but this is my long day.  Today I have a Scrappy Trips workshop in El Cajon, and then we are off to Chula Vista for my guild meeting with them tonight.  Last night was my guild meeting in El Cajon, so it’s a bit of running back and forth.

I’ll post more pics as I can!

We Have A Winner!

Ding ding ding ding!

Miss Jamee of Miss Jamee Quilts guessed the correct number of Leader/Ender Bow-Ties!

She guessed 232, right on the money! 

Miss Jamee, please email me and give me your snail mail address! I’ll mail the Summer Breeze charm pack out to you as soon as I get back to North Carolina from California! 

Congrats to Jamee, and thanks everyone for playing along!

If you haven’t checked yet, you need to visit the Cheddar Bow -Tie Link-Up Post and see al the great collections of ties coming together! There are more submissions coming every day, and you have until Friday at midnight to enter yours! It’s really fun to see what you’ve been up to!

And just because I want to post them, and they don’t seem to fit anywhere else…these are some other pics I took during my flight to San Diego.  Sometimes when flying the pilot will come on and tell you “Folks we are now flying over ____” but they didn’t..so I was guessing!

Colorado?  Just guessing!  It was so beautiful that I stopped my sewing and just gazed out the window in awe ----

Isn’t it incredible?  I wonder if pilots ever start taking these views for granted?  I just can’t. It’s so amazing!

This has GOT to be Arizona.  but I don’t know if it’s a lesser canyon to the grand canyon, or if this is it or what? I’ve never been there, but for this canyon to be this visibly deep from this far up in the sky --- wow!

Just --- WOW!!
Sometimes that is all I can say!  And you know what? I hope that life never ceases to take my breath away.  I hope these things never become ordinary.  Let me not ever stop seeing the beauty and wonder in the things that cross my path daily.

Early Morning, San Diego Bound!

It was SO SO SO early when I had to get up to head to San Diego!

3:30am and I do NOT get along!  The only time I come face to face with 3:30am is when I don’t want to.

I either wake up with a bout of insomnia when I don’t want it, and can’t get back to sleep no matter how hard I try,  or I have purposely set my alarm to go of at 3:30am because I am heading to the airport, and that makes me not sleep so well because I am afraid I am going to sleep right through it and miss my flight – so I roll over about every hour, check the clock…..and eventually 3:30am rolls around just when I am finally getting into deep sleep.

3:30am Monday morning was no different. But I drug myself out of bed, hopped  CRAWLED into the shower, packed the last of my toiletry stuff  into my suitcase and off we went.

DANG that’s early! Leave the house by 4:15 am so I can get to the airport by 4:45 to catch a flight that boards at 5:45 OY!

The picture above is the sun coming up as our small express jet flight headed toward Chicago. What is WITH this weather, EVERYWHERE?! I mean I’m glad Chicago is quite balmy, and not wet or snowed in –that is my big worry about winter travel, but it’s unsettling to have it be so unseasonably warm!

I had enough time to get to my gate for my flight to San Diego, and when I went through the check point to board, my boarding pass beeped!  Turns out I was upgraded – first class again!  But before you think it’s so wonderful, look at this photo…LOL!

757 Bulkhead! Those are my feet up against the wall….that pocket is almost in my lap! LOL!!  There was a movie, but I couldn’t see it from where I was sitting, the tv thing came down in the aisle, and I was directly sideways from it. No matter! I did get a breakfast, and even better….I finished the hexie background section I have been working on since the August Alaska Adventure and it is now ready to join to the “Mother Ship!” I’ll get pictures of this later ---

I arrived in San Diego, Sandi met me at the baggage claim and we were off!

Let me tell you, this girl knows how to show me a good time, knows just what I need!  We dropped my bags off, and then out we went – for manicures and pedicures….girly time!

It was only 11 am after all ….((4pm NC time, and I’d been up since 12:30am California time, my body clock is completely screwed up so just go with the flow!)) Here’s Sandi enjoying her pamper time to!

This was SO relaxing and so much appreciated! What a great idea to unwind before doing some sight-seeing!

I’m being double timed!  I had one gal working on my hands, and one working on my feet…I said – “just wake me when you are all done!”

Pretty toes in January!  Nothing better! And of course, with toes comes the need to walk around in flip flops in the beautiful California sunshine.  Sandi even let me borrow a pair of hers ((I didn’t even think to pack sandals….silly me!)) and off we went with our new pedicures and feet open to the soft January breezes to find some lunch.

How about THIS for a place to sit? We had lunch at a place called “The Beach House” and it was wonderful!  We sat in the open air on the back patio and enjoyed watching people walk their dogs….there were people surfing and kayaking just within view.  Of course, WE were being watched too! Look at this guy!

I haven’t posted food pics in a while…but how can you beat Jamaican Jerk Mahi Mahi tacos for lunch on the beach?  YOU CAN’T! These were yummy, and healty too..not breaded and deep fried, just seasoned and grilled and oh, so good!

We drove down to La Jolla and took a walk to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.  Daisies in January!  SO beautiful!  This is my favorite picture from yesterday…it was so pretty out!

There were all kinds of birds and seals along the cove….fun to hear the seals barking!  They love to sunbathe, and they just laid there….occasionally they would stretch and roll over..I knew exactly how they felt. By this time I was needing a nap too!

Seals sunbathing….they know how to make the best of a good day --- just enjoy it!

What a super day!  And today we are doing it again.  Sandi has plans to take me around ---Balboa Park was on the list, some other things too.  We are meeting up with the guild Ladies at 4:30pm and I have a lecture tonight and the rest of the week will be a blur. I’m glad we had a bit of extra time to enjoy the sun!
((Look closely --- I’m wearing FLIP-FLOPS!  In January, Y’all!!))

Free Pattern! Story-Time Stars

Quilt size: 46" X 46"

Block size: 8"

Click HERE for Printer-Friendly Version!

So many have written and asked when I was going to get around to uploading the direction for the little star quilt!

I WAS going to do it last weekend, but I got busy with going to retreat ---

I started wondering if I had taken enough pictures of the process to write the directions without having to make another block to show each step.  My Bernina is with Lisa getting a tune-up and as I write this, I don’t have another machine set up, so I grabbed my featherweight, set it up and set to making a sample with the novelty square that Laura had given me at retreat.

It’s a simple block --- a traditional Evening Star made with squares and flying geese units.  When it comes to the flying geese, my favorite method is using my 2.5” strips and my easy angle ruler and my companion angle ruler.  I get BOTH shapes out of one width of strip this way….

Of course, there are many methods for making flying geese, some using bricks and squares which give you cut off bonus units, or some using a larger square, and smaller squares to make two identical units – in which case, you’d have to make two sets to get the four geese that you need.

I don’t keep 5-1/4” squares or 2-7/8” squares on hand, which is what I would NEED to cut to make these geese with the square method.  Or larger, if you are using a ruler that has you cut extra big so you can sew haphazardly and then use the ruler to trim everything down to some perfect size later ---

But cutting from scrap strips already cut to size waiting for me in my Scrap User’s System drawers is what works for me.  So let’s get started on some stars shall we?  This quilt has 16 star blocks, each with a center square cut from a fun novelty fabric.

From Novelty fabrics cut 16 4.5” squares.

Choose three  different 2.5” scrap fabric strips in colors to go with each novelty square.

From one strip, use the Companion Angle Ruler, and the 2.5” marking down the center of the ruler to cut 4 quarter square triangles. If you are NOT using the Companion Angle Ruler, cut a 5-1/4” Square, and slice it twice on the diagonal with an X to give you the 4 triangles needed.

Using the Easy Angle and another colored strip --- Fold the strip in half with right sides together and cut 4 PAIRS of triangles, giving you 8 wing triangles with 4 in mirror image.

 

You can see how the dog ear is cut off on these mirror image pairs, and this helps to line things up neatly when sewing the triangles on.  If you are NOT using the Easy Angle Ruler, cut 4 2 7/8” Squares.  Slice these once from corner to corner on the diagonal to give you the 8 wing triangles needed.

Can you see how the right hand wing triangle lines up with the blunt tip at the top of the goose triangle?

Chain these through the machine…the outer corner tip of the green triangle will be OFF the edge of the purple triangle.  You can see it in both pictures above.  This is okay.  Press seam out toward the wing triangle and clip the dog ears.

Now place the left hand wing triangles with right sides together on top of the goose triangle.  This time, sew from the bottom of the goose, toward where the triangles overlap.  Look at my finger…can you see how the flat edges of the “Missing” dog ears are lined up straight with each other?  This is important!  Match this spot!  If you do, you will get a goose unit that is nice and straight across the top when you open it up to press.

Here’s my needle heading right for that corner…..right out where it needs to be!

Voila!  Perfect goose!  You see how that is straight across the top of the whole unit with no “bi-level” thing going on?  This is as perfect as I can get it…easy cutting from strips I already have on hand in sizes ready to go, no drawing lines, no cutting sizes of stuff I don’t keep on hand, no sewing extra big and having to take hours to trim each unit down to size one at a time ----THIS is the method I like and why!  Repeat for all 4 goose units per block.

From 3rd 2.5" strip, cut 4 2.5" squares for block corners.

Lay out block pieces as shown.  I like to sew my blocks together in continuous rows.  This helps me keep everything together, and I don’t get pieces turned around in ways they don’t belong.

To start, place the top goose unit on top of the upper left corner square with right sides together, and stitch.  Fold the center square over the left hand side goose unit with right sides together and sew right onto it after the goose --- no breaking of thread here!

Continue stitching, and sew that bottom goose unit to the bottom left square…..see this picture?  The first two rows are chained together, and now I’m going to add the top right square, the right side goose, and the bottom square to the block all in one continuous chain as well:

Here I am getting ready to stitch that last square to the chained together block.

The block is now sewn in rows across, with the three rows simply being chained together by the threads between the rows.  From this point I can finger press, or iron press, the units in the way I want the seams to fall, and then flip the rows together and stitch the two remaining seams.

Story-Time Star block complete! Make 16!

Checkerboard Sashings:

I set my Story-Time Stars with a checkerboard sashing that really gave the quilt life! I used solid black, and black/white prints, all from 1.5” strips.

   

Because I was sewing from scrap strips in varying lengths, I can’t tell you how many “STRIPS” you need to make the 4 patches required, but I can tell you the number of 4 patches you need ---180!

Join a black strip to a light strip with right sides together and press fabric to the black.  Lay two strip sets with right sides together and fabrics opposing so that seams nest.  Cut the matched strip sets into matched pairs, with 1.5" sub-cuts, ready to be fed through the machine into 4 patches.

I do ALL my scrappy 4 patches this way, preferring to do all my matching up of pairs in the cutting process, rather than sit at the machine and pick “one of these…and one of these” matching up my units one at a time for each 4 patch.  That would take FOREVER! If you want more variety, match up shorter strip sets.  Do what you have to do to come up with the 180 4 patches required.

I spin the seams on the back of my 4 patches so they will nest each other easily.  Check out THIS TUTORIAL on how to feed your 4 patches through the machine, how to spin them, and why it is important that they all be fed and spun the same way!

Carefully study the picture above with the partial layout.  Notice that the sashings are each made of 4 4 patches sewn side by side.  Keep the 4 patches in the same orientation in ALL the sashing units.  All the sashing units are identical, do not rotate the 4 patches in any of them.  Make 40 sashings.  You will have 25 4 patches left over for border posts.

From scraps, cut 25 2.5” squares for cornerstones.

Lay out the quilt with the sashings and cornerstones the way you want them. Stitch the quilt center into rows, and join the rows to complete the quilt center.  Press.

Borders:

From Scrap 2.5” strips, cut 16 2.5” X 8.5” rectangles and 4 2.5” squares.

Here you can see for the border how I placed the rectangles, the extra 4 patches, and the 4 corner squares to complete the border around the quilt. A black binding finishes the edge!

Here’s the quilt as it came off the machine, ready for binding.

Close up of some of the fun blocks.  I’ll definitely be making this quilt, or a variation of it again! It’s the perfect baby quilt, or for any quilt requiring novelty fabrics!