More Updates - 02/27/2017

It’s been a rollercoaster of weather here today…snow, sleet, hail, snow, hail, snow, sleet….all day long.  I made it out long enough to get my hair cut today.  But now I’ve heard that girls’ night has been canceled, so I’ll take the time to write another blog post and keep everyone updated as to where my projects are at. 

I’ve completed the second set of blocks for the Tinkerbell quilt.  I’ve switched some things up from my original plan.  I am still enjoying working on this one, but I just wish I had more time to work on it.  I know the next few weeks will be crazy busy, but I’ll be working on it whenever I get the chance.  You can see the next set of blocks below. 

Last night I spent some time designing some quilt patterns for my next quilt…the Captain America quilt.  I’ve got three designs so far that I am leaning towards.  They’re in 12-inch blocks with the center of the blocks being 6 inches.  The centers will be the Captain America fabric.  It’s a medium-sized print, so I wanted to be sure it would be large enough to show off Captain America. 

I’ve also finished another section of my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  This piece makes me smile every time I look at it.  You can see the latest update below. 

Yesterday, I got to have brunch with my niece.  She’ll be joining us midway through our upcoming trip to Florida.  She and I collaborated and made vacation plans while I savored my strawberry-rhubarb French toast.  I’m counting down the days and feeling like a little kid right before Christmas. 

My husband went to the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade show on Sunday and spent the evening telling me about the things he saw and the people he met and talked to.  I think he had a bit of fun.  He said this is a picture of him and his next toy.  

Since I was catching up with the hubby last night, I didn’t watch the Oscars.  But I did see this morning that Disney won two Oscars last night.  Congratulations to Zootopia for Best Animated Picture and Jungle Book for Best Visual Effects.  

New Quilt Start and Matching T-Shirts - 02/23/2017

Quilt Updates

So far this week I haven’t had as much sewing time as I would like.  I did, however, finish the first set of blocks for my Tinkerbell quilt.  Like the last quilt I finished, this one will have a fair share of greens, blues, and purples.  The first set of blocks that I finished was a strip set of two green fabrics and one white.  You can see the first set of blocks below. 

The odds are pretty good that this quilt will be another quilt for charity…most likely going to a sick child.  I know the children love the colors as they brighten their day and often their hospital rooms.  The original palette of fabrics I chose can be seen below. 

I felt that this was actually too much color, which is why I put the white in the first set of blocks.  In addition, the first border that I add will also be white…unless, of course, I change my mind, which I am known to do.  

Cross Stitch Update

Next is the latest update on my Tinkerbell cross stitch piece.  I have finished one more small section since my last update.  I am very excited as I am getting closer to the end on this piece.  I have been working on it for well over a year now. 

I have begun trying to decide what I am going to do next.  I have several patterns I’ve got my eyes on right now.  I also have several pieces of digital art I’d like to convert to a cross stitch pattern.  I will need to get permission from the artist first if I decide to convert a piece of digital artwork.  I have had good luck with this in the past, although I’ve never really stitched one up before.  Either way, I need to be sure I’ve got all the aida and floss I’ll need on hand so I can get started on it as soon as I finish Tink.  

Disney Odds & Ends

Last, but not least, is my little Disney update.  I ordered these matching shirts for my niece and myself.  My shirt came the other day.  She recently moved, so hers will take a little longer to get to her.  She is as much of a Disney nut as I am.  Unfortunately, she now lives all the way in Texas, which is a far cry from here in the Pacific Northwest.  I miss her dearly.  Anywhoooooo....

Here is the T-shirt.  It's a v-neck and says:  "I'm not just a Disney girl, I'm a big cup of wonderful covered in awesome sauce with a splash of sassy and a dash of crazy."  I think I know a few more ladies who would love one of these.  I don't know how I got so lucky to have so many Disney lovers among my friends and family.  

Updates and Anticipating Food at the Flower & Garden Festival

Quilt Update

I finished the last step of the quilt I’ve been working on which basically entailed attaching the last border.  I really, really, really like how it turned out…especially the way the colors all worked together.  You can find a picture of that quilt below. 

My husband and I delivered four quilts to Project Linus on Saturday.  It was a nice way to kick off our date night.  The ladies oohed and awed over it while hubby and I checked out the sewing cabinets with the drop-in space for the sewing machine.  We’ve taken down the measurements for the cabinet, and I’m just not sure it would leave enough space in my sewing room for things like the ironing and cutting areas.  Maybe in our next house??? 

I’ve begun the planning process for the next two quilts.  I’ve had a hard time deciding on which to do next.  I’ve got a lot of stash to use up.  I really liked the colors of the last quilt, so I’ve got this Tinkerbell fabric in my stash.  I found a pattern I like that will use up some 2-1/2” strips from my stash.  Am I the only one that cuts up their remaining fabric after they finish a quilt into 10”, 5”, and 2-1/2” strips?  The quilt will be…get this…greens, blues, and maybe some purples…does that sound familiar? 

Below is a small picture of the Tinkerbell fabric. 

Stitching Update

I finished up two small sections on my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  I had taken a picture of the first update, but somehow my camera “lost” the picture.  I’m sure it couldn’t have been operator error.  Right?  You can see that update below. 

Disney Update

Hubby and I are getting excited for our next trip to Disney World.  People often associate Disney World with all the theme parks and rides.  While we do enjoy the rides, our vacations are much more relaxed these days.  We like to enjoy all the extra activities and entertainment.  Many of these things are free with your entrance ticket.  The one we’ll be enjoying this next trip is the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. 

I noticed that they’ve got the menus published for their “outdoor kitchens” (aka food kiosks) at the festival this year.  They’ve got a lot of new menu items that look tempting.  The following have caught my eye...

New this year is “The Berry Basket” outdoor kitchen.  Items of interest and making my mouth water are: 

• ·         Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique
• ·         Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Strawberry Vinaigrette, Spiced Pecans
• ·         Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepperberry Sorbet/Ice Cream

Also a new this year is the “Northern Bloom” kiosk located in Canada.  Also things that caught my eye: 

• ·         Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes, Garden Vegetables
• ·         Naomi Bar Trifle

I’ll take one for the team and try them and report back to you.  Hoping to get lots and lots of pictures of my favorite things this year (of course that includes hubby).  Have I told you yet that Disney World is just as much for adults as children?  Just take some time away from the rides and enjoy all the extras the “World” has to offer.  

Opening Pandora...

DISNEY AND PANDORA UPDATES – I Promise Quilt and Stitch Updates Below

This past week Disney’s CEO Bob Iger announced the opening date for Pandora – The World of Avatar.  The opening date is currently slated to be May 27, 2017.  Although my husband and I are excited to finally see this open (who wouldn’t with James Cameron and James Rohde overseeing it), we are disappointed that our trip this year will be before the opening.  We’ve got our fingers crossed for one of two things to happen:  1)  Husband gets sent to a conference in Orlando again this coming December; or 2)  We make an extra trip this year.  At this point the first seems much more likely to happen than the second as most our vacation time is already spoken for this year with family reunions and family weddings. 

The design artwork I’ve seen so far makes this Pandora look like it will be an incredibly immersive place to visit.  Anyone who has been to the Carsland area at Disneyland Resort knows what Disney is capable of.  I am really hoping that Pandora won’t disappoint.  When we were at Disney’s Animal Kingdom a year ago, here is a picture we took from the parking lot of what appears to be a floating rock.  You can see that picture below. 

Disney has announced two new attractions to be located here.  The first attraction will be some sort of river journey on a boat through a bioluminescent rainforest.  What isn’t clear yet is whether this will be a thrill ride or a more family friendly ride.  If this is a thrill ride, I hope I won’t get wet.  The second attraction has been announced entails exploring Pandora while riding on the back of a Banshee.  I have to imagine that this will definitely have some sort of thrill ride aspect to it.  I promise when I do finally get to see it, I will take lots and lots of pictures to share.  

QUILT UPDATE

I have finished Steps 5 and 6 on my current quilt project.  This is essentially the first two borders on the quilt.  As I have noted before, this quilt has been adapted from the October/November 2016 McCalls Quick Quilts magazine. 

Since I just have two steps left before I finish this quilt, it’s time to begin thinking about my next quilt.  I’ve got a couple of quilt ideas rolling around in the back of my head.  The first is a Captain America quilt.  I’ve picked out a pattern and some fabric to make a queen-sized quilt for our bed.  Captain America is hubby’s favorite Marvel character—oh, and he also says Ant Man is his favorite Marvel character, so I may sneak in some Ant Man fabric, too.  We really are overdue for a new quilt on our bed.  Several of the quilts we use on our bed during the winter were wedding gifts that we received over 28 years ago and are beginning to show their age. 

My second idea is to keep with the Tinkerbell theme as I finish up my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  I picked up some Tinkerbell fabric several years ago.  Who knows, maybe I can give a Tinkerbell quilt to my friend at the same time I give her the finished stitched piece.  

STITCHING UPDATE

Speaking of my Tinkerbell stitched piece, below you can find the latest updates from my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  I have completed two more small sections since my last update.  You can see them below.  

Thank you for reading along with the updates.  I hope you and yours have a nice week.   

Super Bowl, Pirates, and Quilts

So yesterday was the Super Bowl.  I have to admit, I watched very little of the game.  Had our Seahawks been playing, that might have been another story.  It would have been great had our Seahawks made it further in the playoffs.

During the Super Bowl, Disney debuted a few new movie trailers.  Among them was the trailer for "Pirates of the Caribbean:  Dead Men Tell No Tales".  I am a huge fan of the Pirates franchise.  I have been waiting to see a trailer for some time now.  In honor of the Pirates trailer, I have themed my update pictures with a pirate theme.  A big thanks to FranB Designs for her fun digital artwork that she allows me to use on my blog.  (Hint:  If you missed the trailer, you can find a link to it on the bottom of this post.)

The above picture represents a finish of Step 4 of my current quilt.  It is the completed center of the quilt.  I think I mentioned before that this was a "scrap" quilt.  I did try to coordinate the colors of the scraps and really like how it turned out.  I just have the borders to pop on.

Above is my Australian Square Dance quilt which has been tied and bound and is now completed and ready for donation.  You can see the cute Australian critters that were on the fabrics.

Now for the updates on my Tinkerbell cross stitch.  I actually finished stitching two more little sections on my piece.  Below are pictures of each of those updates.

If you happened to miss the "Pirates" trailer (or you just want to see it again), you can follow the link below to the official trailer on YouTube.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer