We Are Stardust

Sooo, back in February I volunteered to coordinate my quilt guild’s annual member’s Challenge. 

I haven’t been a member long; I’ve only seen/participated in two challenges (one in person and one virtual); and I was going it alone although everyone said it was easier with a group; but hey, why not? Right?

“Sisterhood” paper-pieced pattern

The fun part was setting the theme - based on the poem “Circles of Life” by Suzy Kassem - and the rules - 3 types or circles, use the color orange, and more or less than 4 sides on the finished entry. 

The harder part was coming up with my own entry. I started with “Sisterhood” by Happy Sew Lucky and a gradient starry sky fabric.

Add a rainbow of bodies,

the Goldilocks of flying geese - too big!

too small!

ahhhh, that’s better -

some circle quilting,

planets heads,

sparkles

and voilá, “We Are Stardust.”

When we went to set up the show last Thursday, the key to the storage closet - where the show racks were stored - didn’t work because some idiot had stuffed paper in the lock and the emergency locksmith wouldn’t be there until too late. 

So we set up the show on pews, chairs and tables. Not perfect but not too bad for a Plan B.

And we’ll have one of the guild’s best ever “remember when?” stories. A link to the slide show with all the “Circles Of Life” entries is here. 

Monster Doll

Jac and I finished the doll kit I bought on the Run - done in less than a week, whoo!

Jaclyn cut out the felt circles and triangles and did part of the stuffing, while I sewed the pieces together. I offered to let her sew - which Leia and Leanne enjoyed at her age - but she’s taken the “sewing machine can hurt you” warning to heart. Maybe I put a bit too much emphasis on that?

She also swiped the SuperBuzzy bee button from my stash, deciding it was the perfect finishing touch. She’s not wrong - such a sweet little beauty mark. 

Jac calls this her monster and named it EE-Lisa and I’m still wondering if I should be offended … 😂

Christmas in June

Whoo! I won a prize for free long-arm quilting in the Shimmer and Shine SAL.

Since I’d already quilted my S&S wall hanging, I sent Danni this Christmas piece I didn’t get finished last year. 

Really pleased with how cute it turned out with the holly berries and light thread. Danni sent me pictures of several potential designs and I let Leanne and Jac make the choice. Good thing they agreed - and picked the one I wanted too. Hooray, that’s one holiday project done!

Graduation Day

Happy middle school graduation day to this newly minted high schooler!

So proud of Leia!

This n That

My new craft room chair was delivered this morning and Jac was sooooo proud that she beat everyone and was the first to sit in it. 

And no, she didn’t plan on moving anytime soon, thank you very much. 

Fortunately, Jac had vacated before Leia got out of school. Remember when Leia was Jac’s size?? Doesn’t seem that long ago. 

Speaking of which, Leia graduates from middle school tomorrow; she’ll be doing a high school/college combo school starting next year. Today was her awards ceremony for honor society and junior scholastic achievement. So proud of her and her 4.0 (again).

Jac hanging out, waiting patiently for Pop and I to finish our project and play with her. Glad to see that rowing bench being put to good use. . .

Went out to investigate what sounded like a soccer match on our roof and found a bunch of crows tossing rocks so they rolled down the roof, then running after them. So much fun until the human showed up. Glad they are nesting in the neighbor’s tree and just visiting with us. 

Fun Sun Run

Sunday was supposed to be a me-and-he day of visiting the last 3 quilt shops, then a nice lunch on the beach somewhere. 

But Donovan needed a place to hang out for a few hours, so we borrowed Jac to keep him company and took them along. 

I’d been to SuperBuzzy earlier in the week to get Tula Pink’s latest collection, Tiny Beasts, since I was afraid it would sell out before the Run and I WANTED IT badly. Probably didn’t need to worry but why take a chance, right??

At newly remodeled Grant House I picked up a bunch of fat quarters to go with stash fabric for year-long FPP BOM project Reyna and I are planning. It’s going to be BRIGHT!

Then a leisurely lunch on the beach - 

wait time for a table on the sand was 45 minutes 

but there was an area with beach chairs 

 “This is my good smile, Grandma!”

where the kids could play while we waited so everyone was happy.

Then more playing while we ate . . . 

Such a fun, peaceful time. 

We made it to Roxanne’s, our last stop, 

where I picked up some clearance frogs for pillowcases 

and got my prize for successfully finishing the Run. I loved the excitement of Saturday’s trip with friends but I loved Sunday’s relaxed, family vibe even more. Can’t wait for next year!

Day 1 Quilt Run

1 car, 3 quilters, 6 7* shops, 11 hours, 386 miles, $$ well spent. 

Whoo! Day 1 of the first quilt run since 2019 was a success. 

We started at 7:30 am, going north to Buellton, 

Orcutt, Atascadero, Paso Robles and Morro Bay before heading home again.

Tomorrow we’ll hit the remaining 3 shops - SuperBuzzy, Roxanne’s and Grant House - on our own to complete the circuit and have a chance to win the big prizes.

 This was too cute to pass up for Jackie

Most of the shops were busy but not to the level of prior Runs.

 Fat quarter bonanza 

Sure hope we just happened to miss the crowds and the shops all had a successful day - 

 Apron kit for me

we’re down to only 9 quilt shops remaining from a high of 15 

 My haul from Orange Dot Quilts

and I’d really hate to lose any more. 

 $7 sale fabric - so pretty!

Best find of the day? That dark blue batik, which perfectly matches a project I’m working on from 2012. I bought allllllll they had!

* Although technically not on the Run, my favorite shop was the year-old Orange Dot Quilts in Paso Robles. I was staying well within my budget until we got there - so much beautiful fabric!