Tuesday, April 16, 2013

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 

Friday, April 5, 2013

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