Halloween Project!

Ever since last year's Halloween quilt (and matching pillows) I’ve had leftover fabric in my stash that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. I thought maybe a table runner, but I had awkward amounts left. After talking to a friend I decided a tote bag. That would use up most of my scraps and some leftovers from other projects, plus the inside would be lined with what I had a lot of- the Jack-o-lanterns! I didn’t want another year to pass with Halloween material haunting me!

I’d text my sister feeling like I should get on to another project when she sent me a link to the free pattern for this skull block by Bonjour Quilts. I got to it and made the whole tote in a day- a VERY long day.

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The quilt whose leftovers I was using:

Bonneville Dam

A trip to the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam is always worth the time. If you aren’t familiar with the idea of a fish ladder, it’s the way fish pass through dams to continue their journey up river.

The Bonneville Dam is the last dam on the Columbia River before the ocean and is an Army Corp’s of Engineers site. They have people who are fish counters that count how many fish and of what type are passing through each day. They also have large windows that are open to the public for viewing along with information about what fish are being seen, when to see different kinds of fish, historical and current counts. There is a small museum about the area when you walk into the visitor's center and some floors below a movie you can watch about lamprey and their importance to local tribes. The fish windows are what drives myself and my family to visit and I would recommend anyone go if they have the chance.

My dad for scale, ha!

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After the fish window, I recommend driving to the fish hatchery and watching the enormous sturgeon swimming around. They are like living fossils and are native to our river!

This was my parents’ second trip to the dam and on their request. So I’d say they recommend you go too!

Recent Makes

In getting back to normal I’ve made a mission to get some planned sewing projects done to thin out my fabric stash while I map out my next paintings (think animals!).

While I can’t share EVERYTHING, as some are gifts that have to wait a while to be given before I can share, these should be OK.

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This snake pillow is for my friend Karin for her 50th bday. She is the only friend of mine who has snakes, and had two of her five die of old age fairly recently. I thought a pillow with Tula Pink's “Hissy Fit” snake print fabric would be perfect for her. I’ve been calling this Luna in honor of her one snake that died. No pattern, just cut to suit the material and show it best.

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I made this table runner after buying this Tula Pink material (center) and not wanting to compromise the ombre effect. I measured a table runner I had already to base the size off of and then used leftover backing material from my Barbie quilt for the reverse side (sunflowers!). It’s fully reversible which I like as it takes up less space but I get my choice of two totally different designs.

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I’ve been on a bit of a totebag kick as I think they are both fun to make and fun gifts to give. The material from this is leftover from quilts I have made and is mine. I wish I could put that speckled batik EVERYWHERE!!!

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When I bought the snake print fabric I intentionally bought more than I would need for the pillow as I thought my niece would like the snakes also. I had leftover green from some other projects I’ve done and it perfectly matches the leaves in the pattern. I’m sending this to my niece ASAP, so even if she sees this post, I’m not too concerned. (Hi Skye!)

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I made these a while ago but haven’t shared. They are just a large bear paw block as a pillow front, mirror imaged to go on either end of the couch. I used holographic thread to quilt them, which I have been experimenting with a bit. I love the effect!

I am Back! -Post Surgery Update

I've been terrified about surgery my whole life and thus far my oral surgeries have given me enough reason to have kept this fear. My hysterectomy the end of July was, however, a great experience! (Easy recovery, great doctor, etc)

I wanted to let the people following me know why I’ve been absent for a bit, and know it won’t be much longer until I am regularly posting- hoping this is the beginning of normal! I just truly haven’t had much to talk about as I was hanging with my parents for a couple weeks after surgery and taking the occasional nap as my energy level was down for a bit. Then, when feeling more myself have had more work to catch up to where I was. I’m in that now.

If you’re curious about what led to my having this surgery, I had a lot going on. I had adenomyosis causing me a lot of troubles, endometriosis, and a large ovarian cyst that had atleast a liter of fluid in it- impressive, ha! (And uncomfortable, sometimes painful, bloaty, and generally not feeling well- all the time)

I am never too sure what counts as an over-share. Women's health has been so stigmatized and kept secret, and when shared it's seen as making a statement. I guess if I am making a statement it’s to take care of yourself and have doctors that really listen. Also, that women's bodies are bodies- they can fail and do weird things and have problems, and being half the population those problems should get more study.

Anywho. I usually post on Mondays, but my goal of catching up is a bit behind and Cory was off yesterday for a work holiday. We went hiking on my favorite trail on my favorite mountain- a first for the year and a first since I have had surgery. It was so great to be there! The weather was perfect, some twenty plus degrees cooler than town, 55 degrees, and clear skies with great views to Mt Adams. We not only heard pikas, but were rewarded with seeing one! I love those furry little guys.

There was a variety of fungi on the way up, with some especially interesting ones sighted.

Ok, seriously, how CUTE are these tiny mushrooms?!

Mushrooms everywhere!

Mt Hood was really showing off.

It’s funny how this always seems the case- Mt Adams was so clear, but just far enough away that photos don’t do it justice.

My Barbie-Themed Quilt!

When I found out Barbie fabric existed I had to make myself a throw quilt. My sister suggested the Perfect Picnic pattern by Moda, and though I haven’t done a quilt from a pattern it looked easy and cute so I went with it. I bought four of the charm packs by Riley Blake, yardage in a purple and a white by Kona and backing and binding material from JoAnn.

After cutting the purple and white to five inch squares to match the charm packs I bought, I laid out the material accordingly. It took some swapping around to come to an order I liked.

In progress sewing.

Quilt top finished.

Basted and quilted! I like to long stitch quilt by hand. I think the threads are pretty and add visual texture.

Edges squared and clipped. I next zigzagged the edges to compress them for binding.

Front!

Back!

My sister gave me some cute labels so I had to use them!

Making this was a lot of fun, and (I think) a great way to incorporate a little more Barbie into my home. I credit Barbie with sparking my interest in art as when I was playing with my dolls my mom would teach us how to sew simple swim suits for them. This got me into drawing clothes and thinking up elaborate fashions, then drawing portraits to go with. It all started with my dolls, so keeping some Barbie around the house feels right 😊.