Speeding across quilt shops on the East Coast

 I have just returned from a week long- whirl wind drive across some of the prettiest sights on the East Coast.

My husband loves his car- and we joined up with other enthusiasts for a 5 day group touring adventure. 

Fully prepaid & organizer planned- 
they surprise you with each days itinerary & planned activities after arrival!

Along the way, we were able to make a few stops for me to visit quilt shops and pick up some row-by-row quilt experience!

They make it so easy to find the shops through the state by state shopping guide I accessed on my i-phone.
Hopefully, I will use them in a quilt to celebrate our adventure!

Our first quilt store was One Stitch, Two Stitch in Littleton, New Hampshire. It was a lovely shop & I loved meeting the ladies that morning!

We only had one half of an unplanned free day and my DH actually drove a full hour out of our way to get me to Keepsake Quilting! 

I have shopped the catalogue & website for years! 

I am not sure I have ever had to race through a quilt store so rapidly... but the important thing was we made it to Central Harbor, New Hampshire! 

Alas... in spite of our best attempts... and the store telling us their closing time when I called to confirm location- I was not so lucky at the next stop... 

(Perhaps they had an emergency? We arrived just after 4PM, they said they would be there until 4:30PM)

Disappointed... it was time to join the rest of our group... so no row from Maine.  :(

The next day our group drove stunning roads to climb Mt Washington in New Hampshire!

The views were breathe taking!

Day after, we hit the road again. 

Our days drive landed us in Stowe, Vermont. 

That is where the Van Trappe family landed when they sought out the Sound of Music with Ben & Jerry!

After some group driving- we had an hour on our own before dinner.

We made a determined dash to town and visited the Stowe Fabric & Yarn Shoppe.

The week SPEEDED by VERY QUICKLY!!!

It was a wonderful adventure. 

And while I wish there had been time for more quilt shoppes a long the way... it was fun to make it to the ones we did!

We flew back home last night- exhausted... 

So... as far as my goal setting for 

August 2015: Lovely Year of Finishes... 

my goal is to get unpacked... 

and get started on some Rows!!!

The Riley Blake Fabric Challenge

MODERN QUILTING: 

the final frontier. 

These are the EXPLORATIONs of this MODERN QUILTER. 

THE RILEY BLAKE SPRING FABRIC CHALLENGEs Mission : 

to explore strange new TECHNIQUES, 

to seek out new CHALLENGES 

and new SKILLS, 

to boldly go 

where THIS QUILTER 

has 

NOT QUILTED 

before.

 the Riley Blake Fabric Challenge, March to July 2015

I not only signed on for this years spring Riley Blake Fabric Challenge:
I actually completed it!
(with a week to spare!)

I made a pillow using the quilt-as-you-go technique on my Babylock home sewing & embroidery machine. 
I used an AnitaGooddesign.

Dying in the Texas Heat...

Yesterday, I participated in my first shibori fabric dying workshop- taught by Tana Cook Doss.

Now, I am not sure any of us would EVER sign on for a day dipping and dying in the summer heat again... but in the cooler weather--- SIGN ME UP!

First, we manipulated our PFD Kona fat quarters with folds, tucks, wraps, clips, and anything else we might think of to create a variation in the dye.

Then we braved the sweltering summer heat- and stepped outside to let the dying process begin. 

Are we sexy or what?

We took turns NOT INHALING the toxic fumes mixing the dyes... 

and finally allowing the fabrics to soak for an hour or so.

I wish they could have soaked longer for richer colors... but it was a one day workshop... and any longer would have meant no wash out and shared reveals!

After I returned home,  I needed to once again rinse, wash in hot water with a color catcher by machine, and then dry.

These are my results!

close-ups:

for this effect, I carefully created triangle folds and placed the fq tightly between 2 pieces of glass held together with rubber bands 

This fq was created with a fan fold and clothes pin seals

This fq was created with a fan fold, folded over, and wedged between 2 large glass plates 

This fq was created with a twist and roll secured with rubber bands

Thanks to AnnieMcHugs for hosting & for posting the workshop pics

Kitchen Renovation: Week 13: The Finale'

Our final week of intensive kitchen renovation had finally arrived! 
As excited as I was about the renovation, 
as grateful as I am to have this opportunity...
And- as much as I loved the new kitchen... 
I was desperate for calm & quiet!

The electrician was here Saturday from 8AM- 6:30PM! 
And by days end… after much determination- we had lighting 
& most importantly:
a usable kitchen… almost.

(Now we just needed to buy stuff to eat and find what was packed away to cook it in.

The electrician installed the Fandelier!

We spent all day Sunday unpacking and organizing drawers and cabinets. 

It took me months to pack up the kitchen. Stuff has sat in boxes and bags even more months… so I don’t know why I thought we could tackle it all in one day! Ha…

organizing, planning, unpacking

NO MORE PAPER PLATES!!!

That night we cooked our very first meal in “the kitchen”.

The plan was to keep it simple.

Eventually, (after much searching)- I unpacked a baking dish and we were able to make macaroni and cheese in the new convection steamer oven.

Also,

We tried out the stoves grill making burgers… it is perfect for cold and rainy days… tasted just like we had grilled it outdoors.

Our first meal

Convection-steamer oven baking fresh mac & cheese

My hubby at the grill

Monday morning we got up early & decided to start the day with pancakes on the stoves griddle. yum :)

chocolate chip pancakes!

After he headed off to work, I resumed my unpacking and spent most of day cleaning, sorting, & organizing.

Tuesday, among other things was the final city electric inspection. WE PASSED! All's good!

There are still some things lagging behind… BUT- the kitchen was now ready to share!

The decorator stopped by from Bassett and we discussed ordering rugs, cushions for window seating, and had fun showing things off.

Antique welsh cabinet beside new table

Wednesday was the calmest since the construction began. 

I organized my baking areas and welsh cabinet. It was a very relaxing day and I felt like “Suzy Homemaker”.

Then came Thursday…

Loving my kitchen and finally calm enough to relax, I slept in 

and wandered to the kitchen a bit past 8AM in my bathrobe for a cup of coffee… 

and 

discovered a room of men. 

They had not been here all week & I thought they had mostly moved on. 

(So… I guess I shall resume being fully dressed before heading to the front of the house a while longer)

They were there to tweek lights.Try & figure out why our faucet turns itself on…but, eventually they gave up & plan to call in the plumber who installed it.

lighting above desk

lighting for "glass cabinets"

Midday, I got visitors! My niece stopped by to see the kitchen. 

So much shine... so much new to share.

So much still empty... awaiting storage

& then-

we had an explorer

Marriah, Age 4, found every empty drawer & cabinet she could fit in!

So...

That

Was

INSIDE…

Now outside, 

that’s where the days real activity was.

We have lovely property. 

But, Texas has had a rough time this year with storms. The floods, hail, wind... it has been worse than I ever remember.  

Near the pool we have a lovely arbor. 

It had a rough winter & we asked them to check on it, figuring it had some damage, perhaps from hail.

TERMITES!!! nuff said… (to be continued)

They created supports to prop up arbor until it could be torn down and replaced

TERMITES!

Today meant more cleaning 

& organizing.

 We also drove up to a local vineyard for some wine tastings 

and to start stocking the new fridge.

This will be my last day to day- 

week to week post of the “kitchen remodel".

TY for sticking it out with me while I journaled it start to finish...

We are awaiting glass shelves & cabinet doors, a few more lights and the faucet still needs a fix. 

But the majority of the renovations are behind us and it is time to move on to the next space. 

Stay tuned for next renovation:

The dining room! 

A look back:

Week 1: demolition

Week 2: mudroom wall removal

Week 3: the empty space echo

Week 4: plaster by men on stilts & ladders

Week 5: cabinet delivery

beginning installation

Week 6: Time for paint

Week 7: new wood floors

Week 10: walls & woodwork paint

Week 11: the granite arrives

the prep

the granite install and artistry

                                        
                                                                     Week 12: subway tile

lighting

Week 12: We've got water!

Week 12: the furnishings arrive

Week 13