Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Lots of Loose Ends!


Just so you know... my life this past week has been nothing like the "calm seas" you see from my front deck in this photo! ;-)  I was busy ... don't worry ... it was a good busy!  The dillydally winds were blowing ... there were several loose ends that I wanted to tie up before I left on my annual trip to Minnesota!

007 Projects
Yes!!!  I accomplished all five projects!  I can reveal one...
This was a joint project that QBee Val and I worked on together.  It is to be auctioned at a local charity event.  A woman here in Cordova used local plants to dye several silk scarves, then asked our quilt guild members to make pillows from them.  The scarves were and are beautiful ... stunning in fact ... but they were ... light weight ... 100% silk scarves.  You can use your rotary cutter and ruler ... and cut an accurate square ... but once you lift that ruler ... the fabric has a will of its own and it will never be square again!  ;-)  We wanted to retain the properties of the fabric, so chose not to adhere any stabilizing measures ... yep ... we're nuts ... but you already knew that!  It was a challenge, but we ended up very happy with the results ... and to touch it is fiber heaven!  It was worth the effort!

Here is a hint of another 007 project...
... now, you know the routine ... if I tell you, I'll have to .... ;-)!  The reveal will just have to wait!

Mitten Design Class
Over the past few weeks I have been teaching a knitting class on mitten design...
...teaching design is so rewarding for me.  Watching them create...
... witnessing their growth in ability...
... catching their anticipation as they near completion...
... being present the moment they put their mitten on ... it is hard to capture the emotions I feel in words.  When we work with our head and our hands to create useful, yet beautiful things it empowers us.  Watching others empower themselves is such an honor ... I am grateful.
Treasured moments ... a glimpse of heaven ... here on earth.

The Home Front
 Yes ... it is near the end of July and Kysa is still shedding buckets of fur!  By the end of August ... she'll begin growing a new coat! ;-)

In anticipation of the upcoming berry season, I used what was left in the freezer to make the Wild Blueberry Jalapeno Sauce I've been developing over the past year.  Mr. DillyDally and I are very happy with it ... we've had fun trying it out in different ways.  Preserving food really satisfies some primal urge I have ... plus it brings back warm memories of my mother, her garden and helping her fill our family pantry.

Minnesota Shop Hop - Here We Come!
Here is the line up for our grand quilt adventure!  We met for lunch and to go over the final itinerary!  I am so excited ... it is all I can think about ... and I almost squeal out loud with delight when I talk about it!  Poor Mr. DillyDally ... he has had to listen to my silliness over this trip for a year, he'll probably celebrate when it is over! ;-)

I finally got around to making my Shop Hop Bag last Saturday...

Yep...the dillydally frenzy continued right up until I boarded the plane on Sunday!  ;-) I took the red eye, flew all night...and arrived in Minneapolis early Monday morning.  Spent precious hours with Sister DillyDally before she left on a business trip that afternoon.  Then regained my urban driving skills ... ;-) ... did a little shopping and saw the Harry Potter movie!  Yesterday I drove up to northern Minnesota to visit family for a few days.

The QBees arrive Friday evening ... then the funsense will really begin!  Listen carefully ... can you hear me squealing? ;-) I'll be sure to share the silliness as it unfolds!
Good bye my sweet little remote corner of the planet! 

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