Empty Nest? Time to Party!

Signs of summer ending are beginning to show themselves...

... Brother DillyDally left yesterday to return to college.  It is always a tough transition ... Teacup and Kysa are sad ... so are Mr. and Mrs. DillyDally ... even though we have all been through this multiple times with both Sister and Brother ... their comings and goings the past 8 years ... it is still hard on the four of us who are left behind.  

We all deal with the absence in our own way ... Teacup and Kysa mope ... Mr. DillyDally gets busy doing small projects, he usually cleans or organizes something ... I chose to divert myself by partying!  Yes ... you heard me ... no moping, cleaning, or organizing for me ... it is time to host a party!  A Happy UnBirthday Party for my QBees!

The theme of the party is Minnesota Shop Hop!  Each party participant will receive a kit that includes the materials necessary to complete a project ... the project was created by a Minnesota quilt designer ... of course!  Here are the kits ... all assembled and ready for this afternoon!

I had help in organizing this party ... from Minnesota quilt shop owners of course!  Roseann Kermes of Rosebud's Cottage sent a goody box filled with fun for us!

This years Minnesota Shop Hop fabric came from Emily Hardwig of Emily's Country Cottage in Bemidji, Minnesota.  The 2010 fabric was designed by Holly Taylor for Moda, they are a design team of two women ... yes ... they are Minnesotans.

 While in Minnesota this summer I collected door prizes to represent the Minnesota theme ... there are some quilty ones as well ... each party participant will receive at least one door prize!  Some of you might wonder ... why a QBee UnBirthday party?  Many reasons, but this blog post might help explain.  When you read it you'll agree that my QBees are very generous, wonderful women.  With this party we celebrate everyone's birthday ... together ... all at once!

Now you may be asking ... why the Minnesota Shop Hop theme?  I stumbled across it accidentally in 2007 while visiting a few quilt shops I always frequent when visiting family in Minnesota.  In 2008, I deliberately traveled to Minnesota during the shop hop and went on a one day bus tour of some metro area shops...after that I was hooked!  Last year, I took the hop a bit more seriously ... in fact ... the shop hop is the reason I began this very humble blog!  I wanted to share it with my QBees back here in Alaska!  

Tour Bus - 2009 Minnesota Shop Hop

If you read my blog posts dated the first two weeks in August 2009 you will see that I visited 24 shops ... and what a wonderful experience it was!  This year I chose to travel to Minnesota in June so that I could attend my nephews graduation, so am unable to attend this year's hop.  Today is the last day of the 2010 Minnesota Shop Hop and we're celebrating it here ... thousands of miles away ... in Cordova, Alaska!  Every party participant will leave the UnBirthday party with a door prize or two ... their gift of a quilting project ... a tummy full of potluck goodies ...memories of an afternoon filled with giggles and dillydallying ... and an invitation to attend the 2011 Minnesota Shop Hop with me!  What could be more fun?  Sharing the Minnesota Shop Hop with QBees ... now that would be a fun packed vacation!

 Cordova, Alaska in the summer

The worst part about the empty nest ... is the empty.  What works for me is filling that emptiness with dillydally experiences.  Well my dear dillydalliers ... I can't host a Minnesota themed party with out a Wild Rice Hotdish and Jello Salad ... so I had better get busy dillydallying in the kitchen!  Party on!

Cake Party with KBees!

Look at this cake...

... chocolate with a caramel frosting.  No ... the truth is that unless you were there ... you have no idea how good it was!  Seriously ... Paula Deen, Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay ... any of those cooking celebrities would give their best mixing spoon to have their name on this recipe!  It is, oops I mean, was (we ate it) to "die for delicious"!  I have renamed KBee Krista the "Cake Empress" ... we will fall to our knees begging her to make us another ... soon!  That is the Cake Empress in the background ... not only is she a talent in the kitchen ... look what she can do with knitting needles ...

The young woman on the left is modeling the sweater Krista recently finished for her twenty-something  daughter.  The pattern comes from the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine and is called the "Yoke Detail Pullover".  She knit it with Jo Sharp's DK yarn ... very yummy to touch ... and really shows off the details in the knitting.  See those bobbles near the top of the sweater's yoke?  There are 80 of them and each bobble involves 19 stitches!  OMGosh ... that would make me lose my mind ... I know what you're thinking, how could I lose something that is already missing.  ;-)  The good news is that Krista was able to maintain her marbles, knit a beautiful sweater and celebrate her success by baking us the world's best cake!

KBee Mae recently finished this gorgeous vest from the Folk Knit Book.  I wish I were better at taking pictures ... the detail in this vest is stunning!

The back of this vest is amazing as well ... I just love that kind of detail.  She used Dale's Freestyle yarn.  Mae is a very accomplished knitter and a great resource for our knitting community ... her knitting really inspires us!

KBee Gail spent her free time (how she finds any free time with all she does?) this summer knitting an Alice Starmore vest for herself ... I know ... over the top wonderful!  It was a kit she ordered directly from Alice!  Those of you who know me, know that color pattern knitting is my favorite type of knitting to do...so I was especially impressed with her work!  Quite simply ... this vest is lovely.  Great work Gail!

KBee Neva shared this children's sweater ... perfect for our Alaskan climate!  Some lucky child will be running around our community wearing this beautiful Lopi inspired sweater.  She knit it with kid-friendly Encore yarn and the pattern is a meld between a couple different published patterns that Neva tweaked to meet her expectations ... the results of her efforts have really paid off.  She even started another one at the party!  Go Neva!

KBee and next door neighbor Darleen finished this baby sweater and started another one during the cake party!  She is expecting her first grandchild this winter, so her enthusiasm for baby sweaters makes complete sense!  I am so excited for her and the entire family ... babies are such a wonderful influence in our lives!

 

Talk about "Knitter's Eye Candy"... wish you had a chance to touch it ... ecstasy!  OK ... let me see if I can explain this in a way that makes sense ... it is a mouthful.  These hand-dyed Three Irish Girls yarns are commissioned by The Net Loft's owner, Dottie.  The colorways are exclusive to our local shop and are inspired by our environment.  

This sweater was knit with their Elenya Alpaca yarn that is 50% alpaca and 50% merino.  The color was inspired by ...

the Sheridan Glacier.  The pattern comes from Chic Knits and is called the Mondo Cable Cardi.  The yarn was wonderful to knit with and the pattern was well written.  A great knitting experience in every way.  

Can you guess the theme of this impromptu party?  Yep... it gave those of us who recently finished sweaters a chance to celebrate together!  Now, I know myself very well ... it will be quite awhile before I finish another sweater ... and I know I can't wait that long for another cake from the Empress.  I suggested that we have a weekly party ... no response.  I then recommended a bimonthly party ... no commitment.  Hmmm ... I suddenly realized the problem ... we celebrated finishing sweaters with cake.  Dillydally tactics are in order ... we need to redefine our intent.  We need to celebrate cake by knitting ... cake becomes the motive for knitting ... we will finish our sweaters faster if we have multiple cake parties!  Cake Empress!  I know you're reading this ... I'm begging ...please plan another Cake Party soon!  

My dear dillydalliers ... I hope you are having cake too! 

Dillydally Moments

Dillydalliers are busy people ... one of my Q/KBees (both a quilting and knitting buddy who shall remain nameless) is very confused about the dillydally lifestyle ... she seems to think that dillydallying means doing nothing!  When the truth is ... we are very productive!  I have tried to explain the dillydally philosophy to her in multiple ways ... but she hasn't had that "ahhh haaa" moment yet.  The word, dillydally is a verb ... an action word ... it is something you do.  I guess I might define dillydallying as doing something that brings you a moment(s) of joy ... content ... fulfillment ... peace ... wholeness.  The result being that while dillydallying our minds clear and our senses are sharpened.  OK ... now you're all beginning to wonder what I had for lunch today ... but the truth is I find dillydally moments everywhere ...well, that's not quite true ... I have never had a dillydally moment when cleaning the bathroom ... but I have when doing dishes ... when writing a thank you card ... while folding my daughter's laundry ... preparing my son's favorite meal ... teasing Mr. DillyDally ... little snip-its of time that are a "dillydally moment"!  I have learned to watch for them ... they're every where ... and gosh they feel wonderful. 

Speaking of dillydally moments ... gosh ... I'm completely finished with this sweater for Sister DillyDally .... my dillydally moment has lasted for days!

I won't be able to see Sister in it until next spring, so I had QBee Emma model it for me on Sunday.  Isn't she beautiful?  With or without this sweater!

Here is a peek at some undercover 007 work I've been up to ... will reveal them on Sunday at the QBee's Happy UnBirthday Party!  Stay tuned!

Look for those dillydally moments ... enjoy them ... they're addicting!  Now...go dillydally! 

Welcome to Dillydallydom!

A couple of my former students called recently and wanted to have a "Sew Day" before they left for college! As you know ... I jump at any chance to dillydally ... but am especially excited when young women invite me to dillydally!  We spent all afternoon together yesterday ...

... Emma graduated in 2009 and will be attending her second year of college in Idaho this fall.  She learned to crochet this summer and has made multiple hats.  Yesterday she shared with us a sweater that she recently started ... she made terrific choices in yarn and color ... her gauge is very consistent ... it will be beautiful, and she will look gorgeous wearing it!

She came with her Popsicle Sticks units pieced and spent the afternoon putting the blocks together and laying out the entire top.  She used three Bali Pops to make it twin sized.  It is for her younger brother who is a junior in high school ... what a sweet sister!

Kayleen graduated this spring and will be attending college in Washington state this fall.  We have not had any summer weather ... it has been unusually cold and extremely wet ... yes, we have been wearing polar fleece all summer.  She is looking forward to the late August summer sun she'll have on campus ... so she spent the afternoon working on a summer inspired skirt!   

I affectionately call my female students "Girly Q's" while they're in junior and senior high school.  I explained to Emma and Kayleen that because they have graduated and adopted the dillydally lifestyle, they had now officially transitioned into QBees!  What a fun afternoon ... filled with giggles ... talk ... dreams ... energy ... and chocolate! 

I have known these two their entire lives.  I have watched them grow and evolve into the powerful, self-assured, and confident young women they are today.  I was so touched that they chose to spend their short and valuable leisure time dillydallying with me.  These two represent everything that is good in the world ... they are an inspiration ... lucky me to have them in my life!  You go girls!  Welcome to Dillydallydom! 

Oh My Gosh Good Golly!

OMGGG!  I'm so excited I can't speak!  Late last night I was checking out a few of my favorite blogs ... got to Green Fairy Quilts ....and OH MY GOSH GOOD GOLLY ... Judy posted about the quilting she had recently completed on my Alaskan Wildflower quilt!

I looked in my photo files and I didn't have any pictures of this quilt.  I pieced it spring of 2009, before I started blogging.  This is a picture I took from her blog entry ... here she shows the overall quilt.  In her blog post (dated 8/6) she has other photos that show close ups of the actual quilting she did. Prepare to be overwhelmed by her talent ... check it out here.

The Alaskan Wildflower blocks are stenciled.  They were designed and made by a friend's sister who is a botanist.  She would sell them individually or as a collection.  I bought the set of them in the 80's ... unfortunately they are no longer available.  They are stenciled on ecru colored muslin.  The beige background fabric I purchased in Kenai a couple of years ago ... thought that I might be able to use it with these blocks.  It is a very small print ... it has flower petals scattered all over it.

The alternating blocks are from Terry Atkinson's book, Confetti in the Corner.  I used scrap batik fabrics from my stash to make them.  The border print is from a McKenna Ryan collection ... filled with the wildflower called Fireweed.  

I can't recall how I came across the Green Fairy Quilts blog ... it was about a year ago ... initially I was drawn in by her talent.  As I read her blog ... met her family ... her life as a young mother ... her passion for quilts ... her role as a business woman ... the service project she and her husband support ... she is so much more than a talented long arm quilter.  Yes, her talent is a gift ... a blessing ... and I'm thrilled with the work she has done on my quilt ... but I'm most impressed that she serves as a blessing in the other areas of her life.  She is an inspiration in many ways!  I'm so grateful to have met her through cyberspace ... isn't life wonderful?  Love it!         

Back to Rain!

I took this picture from my front deck Tuesday night ... yes ... the clouds moved in and it has been raining ever since.  Living in coastal Alaska means that the weather can change in minutes ... we learned quickly to take advantage of good weather ... it rarely stays for long. 

The weather was soooo bad yesterday ... I never left the house!  But I did get a lot of dillydallying done! ;-)

School is just around the corner ... that means back to work for me!  I actually love my job, so I get excited about the beginning of the school year.  Of course teaching is very time consuming, and my dillydally time becomes limited ... so yesterday I made a "Do dillydally list" ... a list of dillydally projects I want to complete before I return to work.  I love lists!  I enjoy being able to cross things off the list ... it gives me a sense of accomplishment!

When I turned 50, the QBees hosted an amazing birthday party for me ... it was wonderful.  To return their kindness ... I host a quilting party for them.  I'm horrible at remembering everyone's birthday during the year, so I hold an "UnBirthday" Party ... you know, from Alice in Wonderland ... celebrating your birthday not on the actual day.  So ... yesterday I made the invitations.  That is all the details I'm sharing for now ... stay tuned!  ;-)

I finished piecing my Popsicle Sticks units!  I think I'm going to like the Bali Pop combination I chose ... I'll know for sure when I lay it out.  I could not believe how quickly the units went together.  Terry Atkinson has another hit on her hands ... this is by far the most pleasant jellyroll pattern I've used!  Be sure to check out our guild's blog to see photos of other Popsicle tops.

I recently gave this 007 project to QBee Valerie ... as a housewarming gift.  It is an original pattern designed by Emily Hardwig, of Emily's Country Cottage in Bemidji, Minnesota. I purchased this kit from her in June while visiting there.  I have admired wool applique' for years ... even bought some kits ... but avoided doing them because of the needlework involved ... it just seemed too overwhelming and I was intimidated.  While in Minnesota this summer I spoke to both Emily and Roseann Kermes about their wool applique' techniques as I really admire their wool work.  Needless to say ... I had been over thinking wool applique' ... making it much more complicated than necessary ... remember, I'm a recovering perfectionist!  While doing this ... I felt so silly for avoiding it for so long ... sometimes I can be such a wing nut! 

Well dear ones ... my taskmaster, Teacup says that it is time to get back to my list. ;-)  It is still raining ... perfect for dillydallying! 

A Day of Sun...Finally!

Blue skies...Brother DillyDally, Kysa and I hit the road.  Yes ... we only have one road ... and yes ... it is only about 50 miles long ... and yes ... we drove to the end of the road.  But look at what is at the end of that road!

Child's Glacier

This is one of Alaska's best kept secrets.  Cordova is off the beaten tourist path ... it takes effort to visit this side of Prince William Sound ... so even though many people do travel here ... there are not the huge crowds found in other communities.  

The glacier calves directly into the Copper River.  It is relaxing to watch the forces of nature ... better than any DVD!

We refer to the calving as "fireworks, Alaska style".  The glacier makes very loud cracking and popping noises ... when the ice hits the water, the sprays/splashes are huge ... they create large waves that are fun to watch!  Yep ... nature was putting on quite a show for us!

A perfect dillydally day with my son.