Plain Obsession

When I was in Portland last week, my sister and I walked into a posh little boutique on Alder St. to have a look around.  It was the kind of shop that would drain the pocketbook in minutes.  The wares however, were quite beautiful.  Table tops displayed fine gauge cotton tee shirts, soft wool sweaters, wide legged pants, linen napkins, carved wooden candlesticks and large coffee table books.   Most of the clothing they carried were in shades of navy, black, cream and tan.  If you wanted a few nice basic pieces to start a minimalist wardrobe, this was the place to get them.  I fell in love with this little creamer by a local artist and brought it home with me.

I  also spied a quilt on sale for just over $300. It was a color block quilt in cream, black and gray that fit in with the shop's aesthetic. I kept looking at it.  Thinking about it long after we left.  Obsessing about it's plain simple design.  In fact on the train ride home, an Amish (or maybe Mennonite) family joined us in the dining car and their starched white caps, and dark somber clothes reminded me of the quilt again. I couldn't wait to get home and make my own version.

It only took a few days to put together as I already had everything I needed.  And thank goodness.  A trip to the fabric store would have ruined my momentum.  The Lotta Jansdotter fabric I used for the backing has been in my stash for about 2 years. I never wanted to use it because I loved it so much.  Really that makes no sense.  I need to start incorporating these pieces into my projects instead of hoarding it.  It's not doing any good folded up in the cupboard.

Anyway, now I can get back to my WIPs and relax a bit.  Obsession over.

Going Coastal

On Thursday I'm getting on the Amtrak Coast Starlight train and heading up to Portland Oregon. I took the train once before, from Philadelphia to Washington DC, but I was by myself and think I napped most of the way.  I barely remember it. This time I'll be sharing a sleeper car with my youngest sister in a space the size of Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs, and I imagine there will be lots of giggling and snorting into the wee hours.  Portland, bless that beautiful city, will only be about 75 degrees when I get there.  I will be leaving 100 degrees behind at home. I might have to dig my jeans out of the "winter" side of the closet.
I finished 5 squares on my popcorn stitch blanket so far.  I know the picture is only showing 4, but it was hard to photograph an odd number, so you get the idea. I'm hoping to make a few more on the train.
 I had some help from the dog going through my scrap bin to make several nine patch blocks.  I want to set them on point but I'm having a difficult time deciding on a background color.  Usually I reach for a cream color (safe), but I feel like all my quilts are starting to look the same. I might need to take a chance on this one and branch out of my comfort zone.
Lastly I'm making a linen project bag to take on the train, and I decided to work a cross stitch motif on the front, found in Alicia Paulson's Embroidery Companion book.  Since she lives in Portland, I thought it would be a fun reminder of my upcoming trip.  Have a great week wherever you are!

Hillside Houses and Tulips

There's a new QAL over at Pretty Little Quilts, and I just jumped right in, because I had all the stuff,  the pdf's were right there for free, it was something different because I hardly ever work with solids and the blocks kind of go together like a fabric jigsaw puzzle.  And besides, I saw that Carla was making one and her blocks were calling out to me as they always do, inspiring me to try something new.

I'm making the wall hanging size using a combination of Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, American Made, and a sprinkle of Liberty scraps for the doors and windows.  Christina has the first 5 blocks posted, and it's not too late (never too late) to join in.

Now, do you remember my tulips?

Finally finished the applique, and decided on a layout.  I have to square up all those little hst's and hand piece more drunkards path blocks.  This is a slow one, and I don't mind. I like to think it's simmering in the background while I'm working away on other projects.

I heard from my son in Australia last night.  He hasn't had a shower in about a week (bathing in the river when they get a chance).  He is learning a lot and enjoying every minute.  He did say everything there bites or is poisonous. Why would you tell your mother that!  I have visions and a wild imagination. I wanted to ask him how the girls in his group are doing on the trip.  Of course I'm focusing on shaving legs, washing hair and having your period.  Ugh. They should be back at the youth hostel (showers and beds!) next week. Then at least I will feel better :)

Baseball and Yarn

At Scottsdale stadium

Buster Posey (catcher) and Tim Hudson (pitcher)

Brandon Belt signing autographs before the game

We're back from Spring Training in Arizona.  The weather was beautiful, the hot dogs plentiful and we had a great time (even though the Giants lost all 3 games. Pooh).
The hotel was amazing too!

We rented one of those cabanas for the day and hung out by the pool...

Every evening between 6 and 7 the bagpipes were played on the golf course.

There was shopping and restaurants all within walking distance, and if you ever find yourself in Scottsdale, I highly recommend you splurge on a dinner at Mastro's Ocean Club. At first I thought how can you dare call yourself "Ocean Club" in the middle of Arizona?  I should not have doubted.
 I had a delicious piece of blackened Halibut and they serve a decadent side dish of lobster mashed potatoes that will make you weep, it's that good. I wish I had some right now.
On the way out of town, the family was kind enough to indulge me in a brief stop at Jessica Knits, where I picked up some souvenirs.

These two skeins are produced by local Arizona artist Mary Gavan.  On the top is a lace weight raw silk, in the color Pewter and was made up in the store into this shawl.  The drape was beautiful. The bottom skein, which is actually more of a pink than it looks here, is a sport weight rayon/cotton in Sandcastle.
I'm also in a Ravelry group which is making a scarf using the colors of your favorite baseball team. The pattern is called Crackerjack, and these are the colors I bought for the San Francisco Giants.
The idea is to knit 2 rows using the color assigned to wins or losses.  For example a home win could be orange, and a road loss, white. There are 4 possibilities, therefore 4 colors are chosen.  The striping would be determined by the wins/losses of the season and you never know how it's going to turn out. Sounds like a fun project to work on all year long doesn't it?
I'm unpacking, washing clothes, grocery shopping, and cutting the grass this week.  Next time around I'll show you the hand pieced quilt blocks that are making me jump out of bed in the morning.
Until then, here's a little crochet and Charlie.  The dogs were very happy to see us come home.

 

Heirloom Needle Case

This is one of those items you don't realize you need until you actually get one and start using it.  I've been doing a lot of hand sewing lately, and it seems like I'm always looking for a needle.  I usually have to paw through the half dozen pin cushions laying around my sewing room, but this, this keeps everything contained in one spot.
The tutorial is from the Purl Bee, the rock star of beautiful handmades, and was easily sewn together in half and hour.  I had everything in my stash, which is always a bonus, and picked out my favorite piece of blue hand dyed wool( don't remember where I bought it, but I have a nice little stash of felted wool just waiting around for a project like this, so I was happy to use it).  I kind of wish I would have added an embroidered monogram or something to the outside, but I thought their example was beautiful in its simplicity and plainness.  Here are the directions if you want to make one.

We are headed out to watch the San Francisco Giants at Spring Training in Arizona.  I'm looking forward to getting away for a few days and enjoying some sun, baseball, hot dogs and a cold beer.
Of course I'm bringing some crochet for the plane, and I hear there is a good yarn shop in Scottsdale.
I hope to return tired but happy, with yarn and a sunburn.
Have a great weekend everybody.

A no-stitch weekend

I haven't opened the door to my sewing room in about a week.  I don't want to feel like I have to work on something, so I'm not.  I guess I need a break.  All my unfinished projects are behind that door and I don't want to face them.  I know most of you would say "then start something new!"  Yeah.  I feel a shawl coming on. But first, a mini vacation.
 Tim and I headed out to San Francisco to attend a surprise birthday party for an old friend.  We left Friday morning and stopped in Napa at the beautiful Auberge du Soleil.
We ate a leisurely lunch on the terrace and the views were just lovely.

One of the other guests was nice enough to snap a picture of us.  I was as drowsy as a fat bumblebee at this point, full of great food, a cold Rose wine and warm sun.  I want to go back.

Back in the car we headed just north of San Francisco to San Anselmo.  We moseyed around town for a bit, checked into the San Anselmo Inn, then walked across the street to the birthday bash at Insalata's.  Our party took up over half the restaurant, the guest of honor was quite surprised, and despite my big lunch, I managed to devour a plate of salmon.  I don't think I need to eat for another week.
Saturday we drove south over the Golden Gate bridge, and into San Francisco.  It was cool and foggy, as most summer mornings can be in the city, but still beautiful.  First stop, Pier 39.

sea lions posing for pictures

submarine and ship tours

Alcatraz

 Despite the fact that we've been here many times before, it is always fun to play the tourist.  Finally the sun came out as we headed over to A T and T park to watch the SF Giants take on the Philadelphia Phillies..  This is a beautiful new stadium, built right on the water.  The views are amazing and we had great seats down behind the Giants dugout.  Nothing says summer like a baseball game, hot dogs, garlic fries and a cold beer.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!
I'm now headed over to the Weight Watchers site :)

Changes

Hello everyone!  Lots going on around here the last couple of weeks. There was a birthday.  (I'm 55 now. Not sure how I feel about that, but there is no stopping this train.)

I started another blanket.  A big chunky one this time, with ribbing, the kind you see in catalogs. The kind that cost too much and you think "I can make that", but 1/3 of the way through, there is a moment when you realize it may end up costing more than if you just ordered the darn thing.

We drove down to Santa Barbara to drop the boy off at University.  I brought lots of tissue.  The girls came too and we made a mini vacation out of it, so there was plenty of family drama, laughing, arguing, eating out, and generally enjoying each others company.   However, I'm not sure my son enjoyed the moment when there were 4 other adults crammed in his dorm room helping him unload his stuff, make his bed and telling him where things should go.  I bet he wanted to tell us where we could go, but hey, that's how we roll, and memories are made. The view from his dorm is a lovely little lagoon.  How lucky is that?  At the last minute he added a volleyball class.  When in Rome....

Back at home, I'm wandering around the house like a lost puppy. There is now less laundry, less grocery shopping, no sports on TV, no teenage boys in the pool and in my pantry.  More quiet time. Weird. (Also my little cat died 2 weeks ago, right after we lost the dog, so we are down to one pet).  It's going to take some getting used to, this calm, quiet house.
I know what you're thinking.  More time for quilting and playing with yarn!
Yeah.  Change is good.

Napa without wine

Yesterday I took off with my daughter Renee and headed over to the Napa Valley.  We live about an hour and a half away, so it's an easy trip.  It was her birthday and she usually requests a shopping trip with  mommy, and I'm always happy to oblige.  Now, we didn't go wine tasting (I used to live in Napa, and was even married there, so wine tasting is kind of a "been there, done that" thing.  I know.  I'm spoiled rotten), but we had a particular store we wanted to visit.

Yep.  All the way to beautiful Napa Valley, close to harvest time, when the grapes are hanging in big globs just waiting to be plucked, and we go to Dean and Deluca.  I don't know who had more fun though, me or her, and after she got a few things for her birthday, I came away with some olive oil from Greece, black truffle sea salt, (had it on my eggs this morning, just OMG), and some great coffee.  I even bought a few Christmas presents.
Then we headed to one of our favorite places for lunch called Mustards

We didn't have lunch reservations and had to wait 30 minutes for a table. It's still just as popular and delicious as it was 20 years ago when I lived there.   While waiting, we walked around the kitchen garden and took a few pictures.

Good lord, I would love to move back there.  Anyway, after an amazing lunch we drove another half hour to Sonoma.  Iced tea in hand, we strolled around the old town square and window shopped.  Plenty of nice little shops ring around a lovely park complete with duck pond, roses and big shady trees.  It was a great day!

Inspired by the sunflowers in the Mustards garden, I made a doily out of Simply Crochet (UK) magazine, issue number four.   The pattern is by Nicki Trench and can also be found in the book Crochet Living by Debbie Bliss.

I used Paton's DK wool and an F hook.  A little Fall for y'all.