Missing Minnesota

Mississippi Headwaters - 2011

I've been thinking about Minnesota lately ...

... with Sister and Peder no longer living in Minneapolis, I won't be traveling there every summer.  I would usually travel to visit her about this time ... late July and early August.  Change is welcome, but comes with mixed emotions. 

It all began last weekend while I was cutting out a new quilt ...

... for a family member ...

 ... who is a northern Minnesota boy through and through!  I miss that yearly visit with extended family members.

 I miss the Metro QBees, Randi and Mary Ellen.  Oh ... and how I miss visiting with Quilt Rock Star Roseann Kermes in her amazing studio.

Those Sassy Stitchin' Sisters ... I miss them too.

One of the Sassy Sisters sent me a card and antique needle package ... I received it earlier this week.  

It was lovely to hear from her ... to receive an update on her life ... a hand written note that is filled with heartfelt words that I can read again ... and again.  Don't misunderstand me ... I love the computer and all the digital ways we can communicate with one another ... but none of that compares to the power of a personal hand written note.  

Mississippi River Cruise - St. Paul 2011

Missing places ... reliving memories ...

... missing family in Paul's territory...

... and missing friends.  Missing places and faces can leave us with a sense of loss ... but that is the result of attachment.  Feeling attached to people and places is a good thing ... if anything, the world could use everyone feeling more attached to all that we share.  Those relationships and places increase in value when we miss them ... and we protect those that are valuable to us.  It is ok to accept change with mixed emotions ... that is as it should be!

Do what you love.  Send a hand written note to someone.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Basket Building!

Remember this silliness?  ;-)

It all began with the Metro QBees and my first trip to Millie P's Quilt Shop in downtown Anoka, Minnesota last summer!

While at the shop I was inspired by the samples they had made of the Britta Hoopster Basket by Hemma Design ... so bought the pattern and used a Bali Pop from my stash that I had purchased ... who knows when?  Hey ... collecting fabric is the dillydally way!

It was during this project that I discovered Flicka's ability to sabotage my success in the sewing room!  She loves to unpin my projects when I'm not looking!  Such a silly kitty! 

Even with all my "Supervisor's" assistance, I finally got it done!  Whew!  It has been on display since March at Cordova Quilter's Hideout.  The stars finally aligned themselves ... life is extremely busy in my remote corner of the planet ... and a class was scheduled!

Last Saturday, we began by piecing and machine quilting the fabrics for both the basket and lining!

Last night we cut out our pieces, marked darts and learned how to sew them.   After finishing all 16 darts, everyone was an expert!  ;-)

Next we applied the boning!  I love how boning enables this basket to maintain its shape!

The final class is in two weeks!  We will be assembling the basket and applying the handles!  Women of all ages and levels of experience are in this class ... I love those conditions best!  Such fun and more to come!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Cranky Cure!

Even here in DillyDallydom ...

... the Cranky Bug bites!  Flicka and I both woke yesterday morning with a case of Crankitis!  She was not going to share the chair or the quilt.  And I was too cranky to reason with her.

Google Images

First in line to cure crankitis is caffeine ... of course!  The usual routine is ... grind beans, fill coffee maker with water, leave it to brew while I turn on the laptop.  Everything was functioning normally until I noticed ... it was not brewing!!!!

Google Images

At this point, my crankiness reached new heights!  I won't go into detail ... believe me, it wasn't pretty! ;-)  I tried all kinds of things to make it work ... with no luck!  Fortunately, I dug deep into the recesses of my cabinets and found our French Press coffee pot.  Whew!  I quickly drank two cups!  Family members were now safe from harm! ;-)

I am a very pragmatic and proactive person.  I knew what I needed to do to cure this case of the cranks!  First ... spend time with the family member who is never cranky ... Kysa!

Next ... get outside ... and get moving!

We picked up some caffeinated reinforcements on our way ... just to be sure the healing would be complete! ;-)

When Mother Nature cooperates ... she is the best medicine!

I had only planned to spend an hour ...

... two and a half hours later ...

... we came upon this ... YIKES ... fresh brown bear scat!!!  We quickly hurried back to the truck ... and made a hurried exit for home!  All the crankiness was left somewhere along the road!

And then ... there is the healing power of dillydallying with friends.  This sweet face, my berry picking partner Barb C. stopped by in the afternoon for tea!

She brought over her latest table mats ... blueberry themed, of course!

She shared how she modified the technique ... gosh, how great it is to have highly intelligent friends!  She is such a blessing in my life ... more good medicine!

And the day just kept getting better!  Quilters' Hideout hosts a monthly hand appliqué event.  Last night, QBee Barb H. shared a recent finish!  It is so cute ... I love celebrating the success of others!   Beautiful work!

7.18.13 - 10:00 pm

What a great dillydally day!  A day that began badly (don't know and don't care why I had crankitis) but ended wonderfully!  All is well in DillyDallydom!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Dillydally Bits

Good Morning from DillyDallydom!  We are having such beautiful weather this summer ... it has been wonderful!

 For the past two weeks, I have been working full-time on a sample for Cordova Quilters' Hideout!

Cannot do a reveal yet, but with Flicka's assistance, I finished it yesterday!  Yep ... we were doing back flips on the front deck!  Well ... not really, but in my mind we were! ;-)  I love the results ... look forward to sharing it later!

Mr. DD insisted I leave the sewing room and spend some time with him this weekend.  Imagine?  It was great to get a bit of fresh air!  The fireweed is in full bloom.

We found a few more wild strawberries!  A little taste of heaven here on earth!

The salmon berries are beginning to ripen!  With our late spring, the flowers and berries seem to be about two weeks later than usual.  Oh how I love berry picking ... it is therapy for me!

Sunset - 7.17.13

My summer break is half over ... still many things on my list to accomplish ... feeling pressure like this  IS NOT the dillydally way!  I need to regroup ... treat myself to a latte' ... and take Kysa on a long walk!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally