Lots of Dillydallying Going On

After a weekend filled with a quilt retreat and watching Star Wars on the big screen, we've enjoyed keeping things simple so far this week!  Early morning knitting is a great way to begin the day ... especially with the fur babies near by.   

As shown in my last post ... this is what I packed for retreat!  The new book by Kim Brackett is filled with fantastic designs using precuts!  I am a big fan and love her work ... sew ... I was excited to make one from her new book!

I began the process of "sew, press, cut" and repeated it until all units necessary had been made.  Simple and fun!

On Sunday morning I was happy to finally lay out the first section ...

...the seams on this quilt do not line up and lock together, and need to be centered.  It forced me to pay close attention when pinning the rows together ... yep, I had to think!

I finished the second unit just as the retreat was coming to a close!  I am halfway to the finish line!  Honestly, I do more sewcializing than actual sewing at retreats!  I always look so forward to these events ... you can see the progress our QBees made here!

On Monday, Nissa and I took my knitting out the road.  She ran around and played while I knit ... the perfect way to spend a couple of hours.

Tuesday found us at Cabin Lake doing more of the same!

I love that this pup of mine requires time outdoors everyday ... rain or shine, it forces me outside as well!  Good for us both!

I feel so fortunate ... doing what I love ... with those who share my passions and my home!  Love this dillydally life!

Do what you love.  Love your life.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Longer Days = More Dillydallying

4.14.2016

I love that here in my remote corner of the planet, our days are getting progressively longer ... today the sun rose at 6:22 am ...

4.13.2016

... and it will set at 9:06 pm!

All the hours of daylight give me more energy ... lots of dillydallying has taken place this week!  I even splurged and bought fresh tulips and have kept them in the sewing room ... it IS my happy place after all!

This fun pack of fat quarters was rotary cut to create a new tablemat!

It is a 007 undercover project, so cannot share much!

But I did chuckle when I discovered that my nail color matched the fabric!  Oh, this silly dillydally life!

Because an eleven month old puppy requires a lot of exercise, I spend at least a couple of hours outside with her every day!  When weather permits, I dillydally while we're enjoying the outdoors.  Brother DD's sweater is progressing quite well!

Tonight marks the beginning of our guild's spring retreat!  No ... we won't be quilting while in the hot tub ... dang it!  I came across this photo and just had to share it ... plus, it would be fun to try quilting in a hot tub!

I plan to spend the weekend working on a couple of baby quilts!  I purchased a new jelly roll and yardage to create a new pattern found in the new quilting book I  recently purchased!  Sew fun!  Sew exciting!

Snap, Crackle and Pop are going to help me make some treats, and then I'm off to sew like crazy with the QBees!  Have a great dillydally weekend!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Happy Siblings Day!

1965

We enter this world as children ...

1978

... we grow with the love and assistance of those who surround us.

1989 

One day we begin again and welcome additional children into our world ...

2015

... and they grow ... with our love and assistance.

Then ... we open our hearts to the children of others and claim them as our own.

Once again ... we are reminded ... love knows no boundaries ...

Family IS everything!

Do what you love!  Love one another!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Seeking Blue!

Everyone who knows me ...

... also knows that blue is my favorite color.  I tried blue nail color this week for the first time ... and it matches the wool yarn I'm knitting with perfectly!  Too funny ... I giggled out loud at that discovery!  Love when my unintentional dillydally silliness shines through here in DillyDallydom!

Lately our remote corner of the planet has been mostly grey.  We have had a lot of rain ... I know we live in a temperate rain forest ... but lately the rain has felt excessive!  Friday morning Nissa and I decided to head out in search of a bit of blue sky!

We drove out to 27 mile and there it was!

Before long the amount of blue began to multiply!

I love how blue sky doubles when reflected in bodies of water!

Even a spring shade of green revealed itself!  Only a hint of green, but very appreciated!  Fresh shoots of green always bring hope with them as they grow strong!

Our enthusiasm paid off ... we had a picnic snack ...

... I knit ...

... Nissa played in the river!  We were a bit over enthusiastic ... 

... it was a chilly 44 degrees and the clouds returned, so we cut our picnic short!  But our hearts were happy ... our mission was successful!

I am so grateful for the brief bit of blue we enjoyed yesterday!  Grey has returned ... and there aren't any hopes for blue to return in the near forecast!  On the upside ... this weather makes choosing to dillydally indoors easy!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Flicka Turns Four!

Today is a big day here in DillyDallydom!  We adopted Flicka four years ago ... gosh, time has passed so quickly!

Looking through the photos from her kittyhood ... leaves me weak in the knees!

Complete kitty cuteness overload!

She has grown, but remains attached to our snuggle quilt, and still considers herself my blogging partner!

This is my all-time favorite picture of Flicka ... when she met "Your Majesty" for the first time!  The wonder in her expression just kills me!

From the very beginning ... she was a quilt kitty!

She didn't waste any time and developed her quilting supervisory skills very quickly!

And ... four years later ... her personality and habits are much the same.  Like all cats, she is in charge of the entire family and household!  Yep ... that includes her puppy sister!

The sewing room remains her favorite place and quilting is still her favorite activity!

I am so grateful we have this very silly nilly willy dillydally kitty in our family ... she adds just the right amount of kitty silliness to our lives!

Happy Birthday Flicka!

Do what you love!  Celebrate your fur babies!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Farewell March! Hello April!

Time passes so quickly ... March arrived ... Easter happened ...

... and suddenly it is the final week of March!

Earlier this week I spent a few days in Anchorage ... hadn't been in the real world since October.  I had a lot of errands to run!

Of course I snuck in some dillydally purchases as well!  A few fabrics for stash enhancement purposes, a magazine not available in Cordova, and a new book by Kim Brackett!

The makings of a new wool applique' project!

Sock yarn and inspiring knitting books!

This sweater sample in the shop just screamed Sister DillyDally ... so I purchased the pattern and yarn to knit her one!  A few days in the real world is always fun, but it always feels great to come home!

Even though the weather has been wet and dreary, signs of spring reveal themselves.  Skunk cabbage is in full bloom.

And the wet weather is great for knitting ... I began the teddy bear in a beautiful "robin egg blue" color! Such fun!

Speaking of blue ... Thursday, the last day of March, dawned in multiple versions of blue ... my favorite color!

When you live in a northern coastal climate, you never take nice weather for granted!

Morning plans were scratched ... Nissa and I headed out the road in search of adventure!

We took our time and soaked up the unusual warmth of the sun for this time of year!  Temperatures were in the high 50's!  Very unusual.

Lots of puppy play ... Nissa continues to enjoy her version of hide n' seek!  Little does she know that her red tongue gives her away!  She loves it when I act surprised as she explodes from hiding!  So fun!

We relaxed ... I knit ... Nissa explored ... I knit ... Nissa napped ... it was a glorious morning.

Love this 10 month old fur baby .... such a happy girl!  I am so glad we got out and embraced the day ...

.... because this morning the rain returned!  With gusto!  I'm not really complaining .... I love where I live ... and it is a temperate rainforest!

My ever present blogging partner ... love having this fur baby involved in all my indoor tasks!  Here in DillyDallydom, we look forward to all that April brings!  Spring is happening!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally