Transport Your Dreams

This past week due to CA Star Testing and being a student teacher, I had the luxury of time to sew.  I took advantage of those few mornings in which I didn't have to teach until 12:47pm (was that ever weird) and sewed....sewed something super fun and a first for me.  

I sewed up a baby/toddler quilt!  I say baby/toddler because I purposefully made this quilt top larger (54"x 47")  than the traditional baby quilt so that it could be used longer, if wanted.  Months ago I knew that a special friend from school was having a baby boy in the Spring, so I had picked out Vroom by Lesley Grainger fabric because of the colors and the theme it invoked - transport/movement/progress/travel.  After finding the perfect pattern, I began ironing and cutting fabric last weekend.  

By Thursday morning I had finished the quilt top and came up with a name:  Transport Your Dreams

"Transport Your Dreams" Quilt Top

The Helicopter is so whimsical....I love it.  

I'll be using the panel from the same line (Vroom) for the back of the quilt, although I'll need to add a border in the various solids I used on the front to bring it to the same size as the quilt top.  

Vroom panel for the back

I've had so much fun working on this quilt just imagining how this little boy might enjoy it someday.  

Enjoy your Sunday!

Susan 

Quilt Finish: The Sea Glass Quilt Story

This past Saturday I finished the Sea Glass Quilt which gave me tremendous satisfaction.  It's hard to describe the meaning this quilt has to me as it has been with me since just before my father passed in February 2012 and the evolution of it's creation, where it's going and the name has helped me through the past fifteen months.

Let me explain...

Sea Glass : Front View 60" x  80"

I began this quilt in December 2011 with no real intention of whom it was for or where it was going.  I saw Jenna's blogpost about her Sew.Happy.Quilt Along, loved the idea and immediately purchased a line of fabrics I liked from The Intrepid Thread.  When the first block instruction came out in January of 2012, I suddenly had to pull from those fabrics I had purchased to start....oh my gosh, which ones should I choose?

I had fun with the first five blocks or so, learning how to pick fabrics and deciding where in the block they should go.  It was a true learning experience for me.  

The Pinwheel Block  - my favorite.  

In February of 2012, my father passed away and for obvious reasons I stalled out on the progress on this quilt. For about four months the first five blocks and fabric lie tucked away in my closet until I finally had the inspiration to pull them out and begin working toward finishing the blocks.  

Can you see the detail in the quilting?  My quilter did an amazing job. 

Three different quilting designs all over the quilt.  

While visiting a favorite cousin and family on the coast of Oregon in late May of 2012 it occurred to me where this quilt belonged  - with that favorite cousin whom was always a big fan of my father (and he of her too!).  While enjoying the Oregon seashore with her in the early mornings we would look for shells and sea glass....never found any but the name stuck in my head.  

Sea Glass : Back View    Can you spy the label? 

While working on the remaining seven blocks, sewing on the sashing  making the binding and making decisions about the quilting, I thought of both my father and my cousin.  The final step of hand sewing on the binding felt almost cathartic as I knew this quilt which had I had cried tears onto but had also enjoyed many memories, was soon to leave me and go to its new home.  

I always like the rolled up shot...

The Details: 

The Sea Glass Quilt

Began January 2012 

Finished April 2013

Anthology Fabrics - Morrocan Mirage,  Kona Celery & Snow Solids.  

Quilted by - Karen Kimmel (Her work is stunning!)  

Who it's for:  My favorite Portland, OR Cousin.  I love her dearly.  

I'm linking up with Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story today.

Ciao~
Susan 

Spring Break!

10 Weeks of Student Teaching down, 10 weeks to go. 

I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated Spring Break 2013.  Although technically not over yet, most of the fun has been already had as I am now focused on a major school project due Monday evening.  

So what have I done with my Spring Break?  

The family and I went to Mammoth Mountain in the High Sierras of California to ski for three glorious days.  The following are photos I took with my iPhone.  I am a bit disappointed right now as it looks as the majority of the photos I took on my digital Cannon camera have vanished into thin air.....

This is how I ski...mask, goggles & helmet.  Most people these days wear helmets as they are required for kids in ski school or in lessons.  Added bonus - keeps the ears warm!  I wear a mask because my face gets so cold and keeps me from getting sunburned.  

Every time I come to Mammoth I look for Woolly the Mammoth mascot skiing around the mountain.  This was a great find as I had seen him a few times (on Easter he wore bunny ears!) but had not seen him up close.  Usually he is skiing down the mountain under me as I fly overhead on the chairlift. 

Woolly the Mammoth! 

In the three decades I've been skiing at Mammoth I've never gone up Chair 23 to Cornice Bowl.  I've never even thought about going up Chair 23...Cornice Bowl?  No way - I can't ski that crazy black diamond run.  Well this year I did.  It was exhilarating and a bit scary as I'm afraid of heights - once I skied over to the top of the run after this shot was taken, I focused on looking at only the first 5 feet or so of what was in front of me and not how steep the run was.  

10,836 Feet : Top of Cornice Bowl

Another triumph of the trip was my older son was back in action on a snowboard after tearing his PCL in his right knee seven months ago.  

Lastly here are a few shots that I took coming up Chair 14.  It was so beautiful that I couldn't resist taking a few shots with my iPhone while on the lift although I was paranoid of dropping my iPhone. I've seen many people drop gloves  hats, phones off of chairlifts.  

After we returned from Mammoth I pulled out my sewing machine and sewed up another Lucky Stars BOM from Don't Call Me Betsy.  This is the February block called Exploding Star.  I've truly enjoyed paper piecing these blocks - I just have to pay close attention to the first quadrant and the rest go well.  

Exploding Star - Lucky Stars BOM from Don't Call Me Betsy.  

I received a call while in Mammoth that the Sea Glass quilt I had dropped off with my longarmer six weeks or so ago was done.  She did an amazing job and after I finish putting on the binding I'll have a full reveal.  

Lastly for the Spring Break fun, my youngest turned 15. He's already talking about starting driver's education so he can get his permit when he's exactly 15 1/2.  Please....help me figure out how to slow down time! 

I'm off to finish that binding.  Hope you all are well!
Ciao~
Susan 

History Quilter Podcast Episode 37 Five Weeks

Hello Readers & Listeners,

Hope all is well out in blog land!  I'm five weeks in to the semester (fifteen to go) and am feeling pretty good about Student Teaching.  Actually I'm feeling pretty great - it's hard but I'm very happy.

I had a window of opportunity to record a new podcast episode yesterday so please one of the usual spots to take a listen.  Podbean, iTunes, or Stitcher Radio - or even directly here on my blog.

That's all for now - I must finish up a Power Point presentation about the global effects of World War 1 for today's lesson.  Just for fun here is one map that I will be showing my students.  Pretty colors eh?

Happy Monday!
Susan

T@tT: ad hoc at home Apple Fritters

Sorry for being absent from "the table" for so long.
It's a busy time for me but I still enjoy the time in the kitchen where I feel most comfortable and in command.  Hmm....maybe I should pretend my students are vegetables, fruits and everything else I cut, dice, chop, sear, saute, roast and bake.  That's it - pretend  my students are food!

HAHA....all kidding aside, these Apple Fritters were fun to make.
Tasty, fairly easy to make and not too messy.
Younger son helped prep and eat as he loves apples.

Cutting apples into matchsticks was unexpected

An easy batter of flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and milk.

Three or four apple matchsticks gently dropped into the hot oil. 

About two minutes later (after being turned over) they're done.

 Warm soft apple slices inside, crispy crunch dough on the outside. The touch of cinnamon worked perfectly with the apples.  Drizzling with Nutella would have made them perfect...lol.

Ready for dessert.  

One last thing - I actually sewed this past weekend and made the January Lucky Stars BOM block called Wonky Star.  I like Wonky - impossible to ruin a Wonky star.

Wonky Star:  Lucky Stars BOM

Gotta go...
Go visit Debbie at her Table!
Ciao~
Susan 

History Quilter Podcast Episode 36 Classroom Management

I recorded a new episode last Sunday but have not had a chance until now to publish this blogpost about it.  History Quilter Podcast Episode 36 where I talk about Classroom Management and is a recap of my first week of student teaching is now available on iTunes, Podbean and Stitcher Radio.

If there was anything in the podcast that you would like to know more about, please comment or send me an e-mail.  My apologies for not having the time to write up a detailed post about the episode with links, photos, etc.

Hope you've all had a good week. Right now I'm looking forward to the probability that with a three day weekend, I'll have some time to play with fabric - I am in definitely in need of it!

Have a great Saturday,
Susan

Road to California Quilt Show 2013

I had such a great Saturday that I'm going to share it all with you in photos.  By the way, does anybody else agree that the iPhone takes mediocre inside pictures?  I must find a tutorial to give me pointers...

My day began with breakfast with Debbie of A Quilter's Table.  What a major treat this was to meet her and hubby for breakfast and to share meal at the table. She was in town visiting family and when the opportunity to meet occurred we both jumped at the chance. Wonderful, just wonderful.  

After breakfast, Zina and I made our way to the Road to California 2013 Quilt Show to view the quilts, shop the vendor isles and do our usual talk, talk, talk.  Here are a few that stood out for me....

"Tropical Fantasia" by Michael Michalski from Brooklyn, NY.  

"Barnyard Boss" by Cindy D Burlingham from Calgary, AB Canada. Just love the little chicks!

"Chromatic Transitions" by Rachel Wetzler from St. Charles, IL.  This is just the center -  absolutely gorgeous applique.  

I hunted this one down especially for Becky from Solar Threads...well worth the search. This quilt was made by a friend/neighbor of Becky's.

"Spinner" by Marlene A Oddie from College Place, WA.  Absolutely striking  - the photo doesn't do it justice.  

"Grand Guard" by Linda C Anderson from La Mesa, CA.  Zina and I couldn't believe this was a quilt. 

"All Roads Lead to California" by Sharon Chaffino from Upland, CA.  This would be a perfect quilt for a 4th grade classroom which studies California History.  

"Sirena" by DeLoa Jones who is part of the faculty at RTC.  

Zina and I in front of a giant Route 66 Quilt exhibit.   

What could be more fun that meeting a fellow quilter who listens to my podcast and tweets with me on Twitter?  Zina and I had a fun meet up with Diane, otherwise known as @ddrquilter.  Super fun.  

Fun stuff I bought:  Hexagon Compass Quilt pattern, quilt themed note cards and inspiration for a boy baby quilt.  

Zina made me get on the Harley....

Lastly, I had to get a photo of the boys before my older son went to his first Winter Formal. Don't tell them I posted this....hehe. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, 

Susan