Tabled

My Uncle helped me make this table top and send it here from Anchorage.  My house has one we also made that has an orange design on it.  Brandi, Kevin, Paula's family is growing... Thane has a new baby sister... so I thought they could use a bigger table.  I blocked out the design with painter's tape and contact paper, then Kim dropped by and helped me paint the design.  Over the weekend I painted layers of polyurethane to protect it from daily wear and tear.  This table has the oil-based polyurethane and seems like a lot tougher finish than the water based polyurethane I used on my my table.   Kevin and Kim took the legs off the old table and voila... a new table is born.  The bottom picture is of Kim setting up a tent in our living room... you can see a little of our table in the foreground.  You can tell the same person designed both.  :)  The new table top is great and everyone is happy with it, so a job well done.

Weathered

Chloe's Quilt

This is a light quilt with no batting (for the summer in Louisiana)

The houses were sewn when I did the other house quilt... didn't take long to make two houses instead of one when I was cutting fabric for it.  These are for my mom and dad... still deciding on the border.

Last weekend I supposed to be in Anchorage at a conference, then have a personal day (free day) in town before heading back to Newtok.  Weather didn't permit.  So I was a little depressed... and sewed my frustration away.

I love living here... I just missed having a break in my routine.

Island League Quilts

Aurora... one of the embroiderers.

 Newtok hosted the Island League Tournament this year (hosting duty rotates between sites).  As something a little different the students embroidered blocks and we made mini quilts as the trophies for the games.  It was fun to hear the students get into the embroidering job and the winners looked happy with their spoils.  Districts are this week and we are hopeful that the Newtok Jaegers can earn a seat in the state games this year.

Sportsmanship, Boys (We won this.)

Sportsmanship, Girls (Chefornak won this.)

 The initial plan had a somewhat complicated sort of Mariner's Compass extending from the central block... the pieces of that headache are still showing on the sportsmanship awards.  It was close to the tournament and the design was simplified to have them done in time.

3rd Place Boys (Chefornak won this.)

2nd Place Boys (We won this.)

2nd Place Girls (Toksook won this.)

1st place Boys (Toksook won this.)

1st place Girls (Chefornak won this.)

Cold

Felt like camping this weekend... the heat was out at home.  Last night I could see my breath in the livingroom.  Somehow the pipes didn't freeze.  I snuggled down under a pile of quilts and thanked my lucky stars I had an electric mattress pad.  My roommate abandon the house and slept on our neighbor's couch.

Qaspeq for Gina

This is the qaspeq I made for Gina in Kipnuk.  She was named for a former student and friend of mine who always was ready to share a smile.  I never heard her speak a harsh word about anyone... and now she is gone much too soon.  Her sister welcomed new baby Gina into the world in January... and I hope she is blessed with the kind heart of her namesake and a full wonderful life.

Wii Play With Scraps

the side... pinned with interfacing fabric between two layers

I like to play Super Mario Brothers III... I can finally run and with the help of my roommate we have finished the game (every level all the star coins...) and are about to do that again.  So there is this cardboard box in the living-room with all this Wii junk (me trying to find another game as awesome as Super Mario III) and I had just finished Kim's quilt.  There wasn't much fabric left over so I made a pen case to see if I could remember the one time I ever sewed a zipper... then I made a bag for the Wii stuff.  I have a pile of pictures but it is kind of hard to see my process... there is an inner wall (a loop of a wall sewed into the seam) to separate things and a pocket on the outside for remotes.  It is a bit too small, but it works and looks a lot better than the cardboard box.

my laughable planning process

inner pocket with side

base with outside

box that has to go

my bag

I should have made it a little bigger :)

pen/pencil case for Kim

Buffalo Chips (not what you think)

Buffalo Jump

 First off let me say the song "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley and the Wailers is near impossible to extricate from your head once lodged there by the mere mention of buffalo.  Having grown up in Yellowstone National Park I am fully aware these are bison, but I am not going to get all Monk about it and just let it go.  This is that quilt I found cut and well on its way in my fabric bins.  I don't remember starting it either... but I like how it turned out.  It is off on the larger picture... the closer one gets the colors better... I am still contemplating what border to put on this.  If I can find some of the Kenti cloth looking fabric I am leaning that way.  I think it is a Kaffe Fasset fabric so I'll be off the Glorious Color and investigate.  Bingo!  It is called "Shirt Stripes" and I think I'll use the blue colorway to contrast with the red I used in the quilt (I did use blues so it will work.  I am totally plugging for Glorious Color because I have used it for fabric orders for years and years and they are always super quick and the fabric pictured is as expected (though sometimes prettier). They don't pay me so take it for what it is.

I already blogged about this quilt but only had one crappy picture so I guess that is all I have to say until it is done.  :)

Buffalo Jump (17 squares by 17 squares each about 5 inches... you do the math)

... and finally for the chips.  I meant electronic chips since this is a quick note about about my awesome FIRST FTC robotics teams.  One won an award for perseverance and the other was part of a winning alliance that earns them a ticket to the state meet in Fairbanks next month.  Woot!  I couldn't be prouder of the teams' behavior and extraordinary work they put into their bot this season.  I am looking forward to seeing their robot change by March and zoom about at the state competition.  What a great experience it will be.

Twice a Day (but not by perscription)

Kim's Quilt Complete?

 As promised some pictures of Kim's quilt in its ready to be be quilted state.  It really fits Kim who isn't fruffy (even though there are pinks and purples) and a lover of plaids.  Yes, I know there are no plaids here, but the plaids I had just didn't inspire me at all.  What do you do with plaids?  They apparently gather dust in my fabric bins. 

Closer...

Closest.

Photos Found - Start with the Farmer's Wife Blocks

I found a way to download my photos - but not the cord yet.  I thought I would start by posting pictures of my latest Farmer's Wife Quilt-A-Long blocks.

Broken Dishes... my favorite :)

This was made thrice but I really like the block... the fabrics sing together.

The points aren't perfect but they are pretty nice anyway.  I made the next block too.... but it is 2 inches too big so I guess it will be a pot-holder or mug rug.  That is what I get for not getting the templates printed and just trying to figure them out on my own.

Imagine That

Still no pictures... picture this.  I am using a souvenir napkin, a la 50's I think, of Alaska as a center panel for a quilt.  I have done this before with a table cloth and gave it to my Aunt and Uncle (or as my students tease me... my Aunt Knuckle).  The print is in primary colors and so far I have a scrappy row of reds around the center.  I am thinking almost a sampler of different blocks setting off the panel.  The next row is going to have a navy blue and white Hawaiian print with yellow star print playing off it.  Anyone else play with table clothes in their quilts?