Celebrating is good for the soul....

Celebrating is good for the soul....this is my reflection on my May birthday trip!  I turned 59 ...... (sigh)  next year is another milestone,  my thoughts have been on what is most important and what values and goals I would like to achieve.   It has been a very enlightening and meaningful experience.   Life can pull us along like a strong current but a choosen path with a purpose brings peace and direction!

My birthday trip turned into a tri-fecta event::   First up was to scoot over to Eugene and pick up my mother have a delicious dinner and head up to Seattle the next morning.   We talked about all the places we could stop along the way,  girls talking about choices, well maybe this should have been done the night before.  We finally decided to stop in Des Moines, WA,  at Carriage Country Quilts!!!   Yes that is basically in Seattle!!

We always love this Quilt Shop,  I muse the Jo fabrics looking for old and new alike for my stash!!  We found some fun items but alas no pictures!!

The next morning we drove to Leavenworth, WA for a much anticipated class with Gail Pan offered by Lynn Reppas, proprietor of  Leavenworth Quilt Company.   This is a delightful store.  We enjoyed the selections of fabrics, wool, kits and a very friendly staff!  

Our class with Gail Pan  was so much fun, it started with an evening event where Gail shared many of her wonderful embroidered and quilted projects.  She is a delight to listen too and such a fun sense of humor!  Her story and journey into an international quilt designer, author and teacher was entertaining and left you admiring a special lady who loves sharing her "darling" embroidery style!    If you have an opportunity to attend a class with Gail do and enjoy!

We started off embroidering a journal,  Gail had the pattern printed on our fabric so we could just get into the fun stuff....

  

All printed and ready to go, she brought lollies.....yum!!  Gail loves sharing her love for embroidery,  so helpful with tips....

  

Thanks Gail we loved our time with you!!  You can fin Gail's designs  here!

The city of Leavenworth is set close to the mountains and celebrates Bavarian culture,  we enjoyed there May celebrations and wonderful shops and restaurants.  It is a very friendly and charming town, which was so appreciated!  We will visit again!

We drove back to Seattle Sunday for Mother's Day!  We enjoyed a special dinner with my sisters family with mom!  It was a special day.

Monday was spent in Seattle touring the Pacific Science Center, Pompeii Exhibit.  The exhibit was fascinating!!  

Then a lighthearted tour of  Theo Chocolate factory!    Yummy samples and hot!!!  I would find it a huge challenge working in the heat inside the factory!!  But I enjoyed the one hour tour,  and was impressed to see their efforts to be non-GMO and eco-friendly!!    Seattle has so much to offer and it was enjoyable seeing new places this visit!  Thanks Christie for a very fun celebration.

I will share my Oregon Coast retreats next......and some cute toes!

Heartfelt Blessings,

Carrie

Seattle Graduation, Sharing Old n' First Quilt

Last weekend DH and I took a quick trip to Seattle to celebrate our niece's graduation from Seattle University School of Nursing. She is the one with the drink in her hand, didn't notice that when I took the picture. Pictured with her are classmates that are graduating with her. A very nice group of "young" people. Visiting with them I found myself asking questions about their views on our aging society, lol...... us boomers need to be thinking about these people who will be our caregivers........ I was very impressed with their openness and intelligence. They were all full energy and excitement for their new careers. They also had a sincere sense of compassion, I really liked that. Then I asked who was making those yummy bloody mary's, cause I would really love on too!! LOl........ after all it was a party and it was a long drive, I needed to relax!

Sarah in her little hat that she would wear during the cap and gown ceremony. We all wanted to know if the guys were going to wear the same one!!.. lOl.....no mercy!
After the party my sister and I went out for a little shopping time together to my favorite place , Country Village. It is a very quaint set of shops in Bothell. They have beautiful flowers on the grounds and even some feathered friends. This pink peony was just beautiful.

This wonderful dogwood tree is at my sister's home, they are just beautiful this year.I participated in a Primitive Porch Swap and I made a very fun flag for my partner. It is a Country Threads pattern. I have been wanting to make this up for some time and the swap just seemed the perfect opportunity. I did some machine quilting on it and I just need to do a lot more or give it up. It has been awhile and I was so tense, I really had to dig to find my quilting gloves and when I did it was so much better. They really do help.

I found the birdhouse at a vendor mall in Sisters and thought it was perfect. It was made of old wood. The book is blank pages for drawing or making notes. I like doodle pads and journaling. Not pictured are the flags I purchased at the last minute and then proceded to close up the box, I had set the camera on top of the box when I loaded the car and didn't notice it slipped inside. LOL......

I had to put the quilt in my little garden area for a memory shot.

So now I am quilting up another small project which I will show soon.

The next quilt is one I purchased on a trip a couple years ago to Seattle. We were with my Sister and her husband, there is a wonderful shop at Pike's Market and we both found an antique quilt.

I love tree quilts and late 1800's this quilt fit both. I feel in love, it has some wonderful fabrics and it really sparkles. I took it off the quilt ladder this week and gave it a tumble in a warm dryer and its resting on the spare bedroom for awhile.

A close up showing some of the fabrics.
This wallhanging is the project I made when I learned to quilt. It is hand pieced and quilted.

The instructor picked the four blocks specifically for the techniques. We started by picking a border piece and fabrics that coordinated with it. I learned so much in that first class and still use some of the tips for machine piecing. That first border took some time, there were alot of set in pieces in it. I think it was a good thing to learn early on, it wasn't difficult I just needed to be precise.

I wished I had picked the red and green border and had a christmas quilt, but it is fun to go back and look at your first projects.

Many of my first projects were given as gifts, and I wish I kept better photo records of them. I do try to sign and make labels for them now, I didn't do that earlier. I really love the new digital cameras, not having to wait for film to be developed is wonderful.

I am painting my adirondak chairs this weekend, they have really needed it. I may be working in the garage since the weather is questionable for tomorrow. Hope your having a wonderful weekend!

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

Holiday Shopping in Seattle

Last week I went to my sisters in Bothell, WA, better known as "Fake Seattle". My mother came up too, we shopped and browsed for three fun days. There are some good outlets in the area, they did have some very good deals. 2 days we sent packages off the Omaha for the triplets. So hard to resist buying cute stuff for those boys. Talbots Kids is closing so there was some good deals. Osh-Kosh has always been a favorite for me, there outlet had good deals too.
Shopping together was so fun, I find shopping alone boring and don't go much.
Mobalks, in Woodinville is one of our favorite stops. They have a large variety of Poinsettia's, and we took this little picture in front of the Poinsettia tree.

We looked at all their wonderful decorations and had a yummy lunch. We went to the Army Surplus in the area and found 4 wool blankets. We were pretty surprised at the selection and they will felt up nicely for wool creations.
My sister took them home and washed them, one of them has a white cross and metal button, we think it may be a salvation army blanket so we wont be cutting it up until we get more information. Does anyone out there know about these markings?
I just love this Santa. It was made by a gal in Sacramento, CA, there is so much detail, definitely a talented crafter. I put a close up of his face on my header, his eyes have such expression.

My sister lived in Texas for a few years and learned to toll paint. Her family room mantle is adorned with painted gourds. Her penguins have their own personality, and the reindeer has wonderful eyes and shading.

I was asked recently what I did with my quilts after I make them. Some have gone to family and my sister has a few. I will show quilts in her home that I have made next time, My BIL loves working with wood, the candle stands on the mantel were made by him. He also makes quilt racks and shelves for her quilts.

We are having a bluebird day in Central Oregon today, but tomorrow 7-20 inches of snow is being projected. I like snow but the timing of this storm will keep us from traveling the pass and enjoying our Family Christmas dinner..... time will tell, the weather has a mind of it own.

Safe travels to all of you and have a Merry Christmas with your loved ones..

Carrie