Looky what I got this week! My Grace handquilting frame for quilting my Dear Jane, my Christmas present to myself. It was supposed to arrive while we were in the States so I could bring it home as part of my baggage allowance, but arrived the day after I left, and dad had to post it...but it was still worth the cost, very reasonable for such a "nicely engineered, well made" (DH quote!) frame! I can't actually load up my quilt at the moment, as I have apparently caused a stir in the Irish quilting community by showing my quilt in November at the Limerick Patchwork Quilt Guild! A few ladies have been asking to talk to me about displaying the unfinished quilt, what a nice compliment!!! I will probably take it to a couple of classes to show students what anyone can do...I am not an amazing quilter, my precision leaves something to be desired when doing rotary cutting and machine piecing, but block by block with freezer paper templates, anyone could make a Dear Jane quilt...really!!
I have never decorated for holidays, except Christmas, and will never be an over the top decorator, but this year I am going to try to have a few themed wallhangings...this is the start of a small Valentines day hanging. I will applique some hearts in the 4 plain squares and put a border on, and maybe practice some more hand quilting.
My mom also sent a smaller package this week also left behind at their house...some more yarn for socks and some Sugar and Cream cotton yarn for making some dishclothes I've been reading about...will try to use them instead of sponges for dishwashing...

We're off to Dublin for the weekend where I hope to finish my latest round robin crazy quilt block, and continue working on a baby aran hat for a friends little boy before the weather gets too warm!

Finished...

...and it fits!!! Woo hoo!!

Fun Finds and Sock Update

I got this fun gingerbread wallhanging at a Sisters, Oregon antique shop.

The wonky houses I got at a Goodwill for $2, couldn't pass that one up!

I am moving along with the sock! I had to rip back a few times during the heel turning, but in the end I made it! Will try that long tail cast on with sock 2, sounds highly recommended.

My next crazy quilt round robin is due on January 31, I better get a move on! I also have a valentines wallhanging in progress, so hopefully some quilting news soon!

A Thrift Store Score and A Sock

Here is a cool thrift store find...the push pins are actually spools, very cute...and there is room behind for storage of papers or something. Cost: $10 a bit pricey for thrift store but it is heavy and cute.
I finally started a sock and got somewhere with it! This yarn is called Lorna's Laces and is very yummy!! I'm not very happy with my casting on. Anyone have a favorite way of casting on for a nice finish?

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Can you believe this view from my parent's deck (brought a bit closer by my new camera's telephoto lens!) They can see 5 mountain peaks from there. We had a great time visiting Nana and Pappa in Bend, Oregon. I shopped every quilt shop and one excellent knitting shop there, tons of thrift stores and ate way too much and drank just a few, lol, margaritas, a drink I cannot get here in the Emerald Isle without importing (and with liquid restrictions these days, ugh...not worth it!).



We played dominoes, the current family game craze for our extended family in Maryland and Oregon, every night, the kids loved days of playing pretend with nana while mommy had a few shopping excursions and Daddy got to ski a few times. Dave and I went to Sisters for the day, check out this cool quilt mural on the side of the public bathrooms, lol!! Can't wait to make it to Sisters for the Outdoor Quilt Festival one year. We had a great time!




Look at this beautiful waterfall, Multnomah Falls, just outside of Portland, beautiful!!

















I did a little shopping, lol! I got some great knitting project goodies (socks and moebius baskets!) at a great knitting shop. I got Lorna's Laces for some nice socks, Manos de Uruguay for a felted basket. And some silk Noro for a shawl, yummy yarny goodness! I also got a set of Denise interchangeable needles, which are very cool!













Since I am a scrappy quilter, I didn't go crazy on fabric, but picked up a lot of scraps and FQs (lots of pink ones for Aine, lol!) I got some cool retro Amy Butler prints, but those will be for bags. I still love my repros for quilts, and check out the left part of the photo, all those were part of a 1 dollar scrap bag of repros and some osnaburg, very nice!






I've got lots of tales of thrift store scores, are you interested in hearing some? I'll save my next post for some photos of cool quilts I got while thrifting! I wish I had been more organized to blog while on holidays, but the days just flew by!!

This is my year of family quilting, and I feel my aunt needs to be added to this list after the beautiful gift she gave me and Dave for Christmas. She is from Pendleton, Oregon and gifted us with this beautiful native american wool blanket from the Pendleton Woolen Mills. This is my aunt whose daughter, my cousin Chrissy, is still slowly recovering from her accident where she received a severe brain stem injury in May. We were told that Chrissy smiled at her little baby over Christmas, what a great sign!!