Mystery Class, Shopping, Audrey's Big 5-0

I went to my Mystery Class this morning and......... I was 5 minutes late......:(( darn, missed some peeks at block show and tell....... I am lucky I woke up at all....LOL..... I'm not a late night person, but I stayed up much later than usual. Enjoying the quiet of an empty house, sewing, enjoying an old movie on TV (Sabrina) , a fire in the fireplace..... doesn't happen often but it is fun...... Actually doing some power sewing Anne!!! LOL....
Otis likes it too.... the wirehairs are off hunting bigger game and he gets to move around without the nosey pests........Thats how I looked at 6:50 this morning, but I needed to be out of the house by 7:40....... LOL

A few posts ago I showed a mystery quilt I made, well this quilt came for show & tell from the same class.....I love the setting, it is soooo different from mine, I love the way her trees are offset and the pieced border goes around the trees........the striped fabric has great movement, busy up close, it is the fabric that directed the setting process, I love the way it turned out.....

I did some fun shopping, how can I help myself, I missed the sale last weekend, I just waved as we drove by the store.......The Stitchin Post is good eye candy....so I took a few pictures...

I can spend alot of time in the yarn section,

Over the top of the yarn on the upper right is a log cabin that calls my name everytime I go in this store....It has a kit and is made from vintage pieces that I love.....I am hanging in there because I have a nice selection of those fabrics in my stash.....but not all their choices......Argh...gets me everytime....boy that 35% discount last weekend would have put me over the top...Lordy Lordy ......LOL.......

The quilt in the middle is new to me, I loved it, such a happy picture!!!!

A trip to Sisters is not complete without going to Sisters Coffee Co. located conveniently on the block behind the quilt shop. It started in a little house, which a short time ago was moved off the property and a new store was built. It is our favorite coffee place anywhere, and what is served at home too.....Winfield, Joy and family are the nicest people too.....This is a picture of the original building hanging inside the new building.....

This is the new building, where the old building sat is a landscaped garden and seating area.
The sun made it difficult for a good pic.....

Inside there is a fabulous fireplace and sitting area, internet hook-ups and just a cozy place to visit with a good friend. One of my twisted sisters, Linda, lives in Sisters and have had good visits on their couch.

Here is what I purchased, I did get the class discount :)) , a few items for my Christmas gift baskets. Twigs is a part of the quilt shop and full of great gift items, some for me, like the rug and Caldrea dish soap, some tea, dish towels, cute dishes, soaps, glasses with pine cones ( love pine cones) new birthday cards.

Just some things I love and love to give to others......

Some Moda flannel for Christmas pillows, Kiddie Christmas by Chloe's Closet. I got enough to make two but wouldn't three little pillows be cute.......for you know who......

I just couldn't resist these little plates.....6 different patterns and the box they come in....love it. I could have bought 2 sets and kept one......someone I know will be tickled about them in her basket.

I am off to Eugene today to celebrate Audrey's big 5-0 birthday, I will get some pictures for sure and it is going to be fun. You just have to know Audrey and her oldest darling daughter Mandy, who made this invitation. It says alot about what fun this party is going to be...........

It is so cute and I know you stampers will appreciate it, isn't she a cute baby, well she is a beautiful person.... Love ya Audrey!!!! Here is her gift package, I just can't get someone one thing, gift baskets, in this case Treenware Amish Scoop, are so much more fun. With some Mountain Woman Coffee, she loves Sisters Coffee too, and I think she will get a hoot out of it, Cinnamon Cider Potpourri, scented shea butter soap and a message card picked with her in mind. Its a milestone to be celebrated........

Hope you are ready Audrey......were coming ready or not.

Now it is Over the River and Through the Woods....there really is a sign on the pass like that and this time I am going to get a good picture to share with you!!!! I will stop and take it instead of the drive by shots I always try to get with my DH driving.....LOL....

Fall Blessings, Carrie

Quilting time and Ethan Smiles

Oh my it has been along time since I posted.....and what a gorgeous day it has turned out to be in Central Oregon. Blue skies, the mountains with fresh fallen snow......hmm...good thing my window looks east instead of west. Cause I do not need one more thing to distract me, does anyone else have a big problem with distractions. And the worst part is I have created them all myself, I have no one to blame but me......lol....

My favorite distraction this week has been my new BOM from Farmhouse Woolens. It is a wool project with the cutest baskets of purple violets, yummy wool, I know I repeated it but it is yummy. The basket is made with a plaid that has nice texture, one of my favorite things about wool is the texture. I am going to really enjoy making this little quilt. If you haven't been over to Karen's new site take some time to do so, she has put together a very nice assortment of goods.

Yes, I opened it up that afternoon and got it all ready for the button-hole stitch. I may do a more primitive stitch on the smaller pieces. I like that because I have never been great at the tinier stitches. I used steam a seam for the flowers and flower centers and leaves but just pinned, with small applique pins, the basket. I really like the small applique pins, they don't poke me like the longer silk pins do. Blood is not an easy liquid to get off your piece.

Do you ever buy the border prints you see at the quilt store. I have been making kitchen towels for myself and gifts. My grandson and I made them together one year, he gave them as gifts. The local quilt shops have woven towels by Dunroven, they are woven and some are homespun.
I really like this first border print, I took one to my mother when I visited her, she will take it to Yuma.

This is a cute Christmas print with snowmen and birdhouses.

This fabric is a Moda print by Jennifer Sampou, from a few years ago. I love chickens and especially this print. It is not a border but I will use it for a towel too. I really like this chicken fabric on the black and white check.

The towels are nice to give as hostess gifts too. My friends who don't sew think I do magic, lol...well I do like giving useful gifts and they love them.

I showed you this project last time, I am almost ready for class this saturday, I just have to finish up the dark blocks. I am liking it more everyday, more nubby texture with these fabrics. I can see alot of possibilities too for settings.

My light blocks:

The traditional log cabin blocks with dark blocks in progress:

My sewing area never looks this organized, I did straighten it up for the pictures..lol....had to behonest and clarify.........

See the little light on my sewing machine, it has a flexible arm. Well this light is fabulous. A bit spendy but worth every dime.......$49, but if you have JoAnns or Hancock Fabrics and use the 50% coupon, that would be a great deal. It has made such a difference for my eyes. It is a true color spectrum like the Ott lights. It is removeable too. Would make a perfect gift for Christmas.

I love Blackbird Designs, and this project has been ignored for a few months, sad but true! LOL... and not because I don't like it. I love it, but I didn't like the way my machine applique looked. I am changing to smaller needles, maybe some embroidery thread. And I am trying a new technique suggested. It will take a bit more time at first but I am really going to like the end result better. It will look more like traditional applique to. I don't necessarily like changing in the middle of a project but in this case I will. Gee, I don't plan on ever entering any contest, I wouldn't put any judge through that....LOl...but this quilt may make someone scratch their head in about 50 years. What was she thinking........ this brings to mind, maybe if I put it on the label they will know what I was thinking.... This winter this project is going to take shape, it's turn is coming....

Last but not least is our little Ethan. This picture just makes my heart flutter, Ethan Smiles!!!!! ALL THE TIME!!! I am writing a little story about Ethan, goodness sakes writing stories for me is like going back to school........ LOL......but I want to tell this one so check back and I will not be a whiner, I promise......

I have really enjoyed all the "Thankful Posts" in blogging land...thank you all sharing......we do live in a country where we have been so blessed..... we have such good lives, even so we know people who are having hard times with the economy and other issues, so it is going to be our blessing to reach out in friendship whenever we can.

Fall Blessings,

Carrie