Stitching Sunday

Another week has whipped by...another glorious week! I definitely have not been spending time in my sewing room...the view from the top of our driveway this  morning.

We've had perfect weather for days...we are even supposed to get into the eighties this week. We get those temperatures about once every ten years.

I should work on my landscaping...but I still have so much to get done inside the house I just don't have enough brain bytes left to tackle that design issue.

No bears seen lately but moose are always close by. Here's the mama one morning...saw her from our stairway window so the focus is a little soft.

Haven't seen the babies lately but I'm not worried. With all the vegetation filling in they could be pretty close but camouflaged. 

I'm working on the label for Batiki Argyle. I decided to stitch it by hand. This quilt is going to someone pretty special to one of my sons so I'm taking the extra steps to make it that much more special.

This is the first summer I haven't planted any container flowers but I'm only here a few more weeks...and how was I supposed to know this was going to be one of those, "once every ten years," kind of summers! The municipality of Anchorage does a fabulous job of covering the area in flowers...and they always do such interesting combinations. 

I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday. Check out what some other ladies are stitching by hand.

Working with My Hands

My hands have been busy and they look like it! I have had some relaxing time at the end of the day to work on my Dresdan plate blocks. I appliqued 8 of the 12 blocks.

I've also started stitching the binding on my Batiki Argyle quilt.

I've discovered some tucks in the backing...they occurred when I turned the quilt to finish the border quilting. I knew there was a problem with getting my quilt lined up properly on the frame and the culprit is...

my leaders and enders on my frame are not consistent in their size...apparently they shrunk on the end that got drenched with the waterfall from the kitchen above last fall. SIGH...

I have ordered new leaders and enders to install on my frame before I quilt anything else. Another delay in my short window of time I have my Alaska studio to quilt.

I have spent a lot of time working out quilt designs...more handwork.

Trying to get some ideas for the next top to go on my frame...Fruit Loops.

And more "handwork" projects...staining...this time the stairway railing.

I haven't seen the babies but I have seen mama moose getting her calories. Lots of time very young calves rest in the brush somewhere while mom fills her belly. 

I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. 

Breakfast Club Recap

I almost forgot about Show and Tell from Breakfast Club!

April's Breakfast Club Pattern? Several did kits in these pretty blue and yellow colors.

Erin's version had fishing themed fabrics.

Dots and Dashes done in a Cotton Candy Bali Pop.

Les Jarden in Kaffe prints.

Megan did some snow dying...this was just one of several pieces...so pretty!

I think everyone must have a moose quilt who lives in Alaska!

Carol played with her Kaffe stash.

Jane had this gorgeous table runner. I have made this but can't remember the name of the pattern. I think it's a Cozy Strip Club pattern.

Erin found the instructions for this runner on the internet, Missouri Quilt Company.

And here is the pattern on the schedule for June's Breakfast Club.

Since I don't have a dining room table right now and I am not tackling finding one this summer, I think I will pass on this project. I will still attend but I'll probably just work on what I started for May's class. Here are the six blocks I finished in class. 

I'm hoping to finish quilting my Batiki Argyle quit top today! I detest straight-lined quilting which requires "ruler work." But...it is the design I thought worked best since this quilt is being gifted to a man.  I  worked on it for 7 hours yesterday. A curvy free-hand design would have been done by now...sigh.

Just in case you are wondering...I saw both baby moose yesterday morning. And just because I can...I am going to visit a quilt shop in Wasilla, Sylvia's Quilt Depot. Despite the small size it has a great selection of everything! So many great quilt shops within an hour of my house and now those Alaska prices look cheap compared to Paris.

SSSH...Babies in the Backyard

I stepped out the back door today and spied this cow with  her two new babies...see them hiding?

I went back inside and they moved closer.

Moose babies usually come in pairs...but they don't usually stay together too long. Bears really like to eat babies.

Actual Sewing in the Studio

A deadline always helps. Tomorrow is "Breakfast Club." The last Thursday of the month I join a group of ladies in Anchorage to sew all day. My favorite part is show and tell...and I had to get some stuff done to bring. I got the borders done on this quilt today. 

This is a kit I bought at the Houston Quilt Show last fall called, "Irish Mist." 

No bear sited yet today but I did see a moose on my way to Jazzercise this morning...not the best pics but she was hiding.

Moose are huge but they blend in well.

Now I need to get my fabrics ready for tomorrow's extreme sewing session. We are making "Reveille," which is the cover quilt on Carrie Nelson's, "Another Bite of Schnibbles."

Bearly Awake

I think we are getting used to each other! He came for a visit this morning. He's been eating the wild grass in my yard. I guess I don't look too tasty. So far he leaves when he hears my clicking camera...not very quickly though. 

My sons and I have been discussing names for him...or maybe her.

It is finally summer in Alaska. We are having weather our tourist bureau would be proud of. Temps in the low seventies and tons of sunshine. Perfection. We are all trying to catch up on our vitamin D deficiency.

President Reagan's Words

This Memorial Day, take a few minutes to watch this video.