Wasabi art quilts, Stacks of Coins Quilt Along and coffee.

'Wasabi #2' made with left over pieces from 'Wasabi #1, see below.

'Wasabi #1' small art quilt, my design.

Stacks of 'coins' for coin challenge.

My sewing station here in Rancho Palo Verdes.

Checking progress on my 'design' wall.

Happy Weekend!!!

What do you have planned for fun?

A trip to the fabric store? A walk in the park or on the beach?

Taking the kids to gymnastics class?

Endless possibilities!

I've been sewing on a Jem Platinum 760 Jenome Machine. It does everything I need it to.

I've put together a small art quilt, 'Wasabi #2' from pieces left over from 'Wasabi #1. I like to name my quilts. It reminds of the thinking behind the plan and design.

I've also started my new 'coin' quilt, yes, it's going to be small too. Kaja @ SewSlowly
and Ann @ Fret not Yourself ,

have started a Chinese Coin Quilt challenge. Another reason to play with color. 

And talking about small quilts I've been inspired by reading through Sew Charming by M. Etherington & C. Tesene.

It's a book full of great small quilt ideas. It's published by That Patchwork Place .

Have a great day, I'll be by to visit and enjoy your projects.

I'll stop by Starbucks, what kind of coffee would you like?

Sewing by Hand Alabama Chanin, Sew Slowly Hand Quilting

A break from the storm.

Rancho Palos Verdes coast at sunset.

The storm has past over Rancho Palos Verdes for now. 

There was a lot of wind and rain here, some trees down, some power outages.

I've heard another storm might roll in soon; it is still winter, just sayin'.

There's not much to show as far as projects or progress around here, but I have been reading and researching and I've found some inspiring people doing some great work.

First, you have to see Kaja's new project and hand quilting work. She is working on a 'new piece' from Alabama Chanin . They have kits there! 

What is Alabama Chanin? They are a 'lifestyle company producing thoughtful designs and well made goods for the person and home.' They are based in Florence, Alabama. Amazing innovation is going on there, spend some time and read about their products and process.

Second, Emily has a superb tutorial on 'Wonky Log Cabin' blocks, 'down and dirty', fast and furious.

I love to see these kind of tutorials, this is the 'liberated' way to roll! This is another example of great innovation.

Take time to refuel your creative juices!

I'll be to visit, I'll bring donuts and an umbrella.

Adventures of the Sewing Machine Kind in Long Beach, CA, a small look back.

This is one of my first 'art quilts' read fun quilt, made in Santa Clara, CA.

Bird of Paradise bloom right after a rain.

Fun with log cabin blocks, 2016

Butterfly blocks, pattern by Fig Tree Quilts, 2016

Improvising, love orange and turquoise, 2016

String blocks, rail fence style, 2016

Me over the American River, Folsom, CA.

Wonky, Liberated log cabin, by me, 2016.

Greetings from foggy Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

It has been rainy and foggy here off and on lately.

We're here for a while, no plans, just to explore. 

Will I get back to Folsom, I don't know.

I'm going into Long Beach today for sewing machine parts to get the resident sewing machine here up and running. That's east of here, up and over the coastal hills. The sewing machine shop is supposed to be a big one with fabric and classes etc. Long Beach SewVac .

I decided to look through my photos of projects made in Folsom, Ca.  The top art quilt, 'Morning Song' I made while we were living in Santa Clara.

It's fun to look back, inspiring. 

I ask myself, Why do you make quilts? Is it a hobby or what?

Maybe I need to get a job at this sewing store selling sewing machines.

Change of pace?

Have a great day. I'll be by to visit and see your projects.

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton, Pink Flamingo, Color of the Year 2017

http://www.robertkaufman.com/release/2017/konacoty/

Kona Cotton Color of the year, Pink Flamingo!
Am I going to have fun with this color or what??
If you love pink like I do, this is reason to celebrate.

I bought the class from iquilt  'Abstract Quilts in Solids' by Gwen Marston. Pink Flamingo
will make great contrast in my projects I'm working on for this course.
I highly recommend this and Gwen's other class offered by iquilt,, 'Liberated Quilt Making II'.

Have a relaxing weekend!! I'll be by to visit!

Islands and Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

We drove to Balboa Island, City of Newport Beach, with my son and his wife.

Balboa Island has a beautiful town center, it was a windy evening.

Walking out on Balboa Pier, looking northwest.

Further out on the pier.

Sunset over Catalina Island, taken on the Balboa Pier.

Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier.

Butterfly for February, Western Tiger Swallowtail .

This is the moon and Venus, picture taken right after sunset.

Hello, from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

It's been mild here in the 70's.

I've been sight seeing and touristing around with my family. We drove to New Port Beach, Balboa Island last week. Great scenery and views everywhere. There are ferry's there that will take you to Catalina Island if that's what you want. We didn't do that as there was enough right there to keep us busy. We looked, walked and snacked around. It was enough to make me want to wear sandals and tie-dye, of course with a sweater, the wind kept it chilly.

Back in Rancho Palos Verdes a couple of days later, the sunset view of the moon and Venus was fabulous. That photo was taken right out the front door.

This months' butterfly is the Western Tiger Swallowtail. They are a common butterfly in North America. The females can lay up to 100 eggs. The males often congregate by pools and streams.
Now that would be beautiful to see. I've seen one or two of them in the park on my walks here in Rancho Palo Verdes. I've also seen a couple of Orange Sulphur butterlies fluttering around. It's early spring here.

I hope you have a good creative week and I'll be by to enjoy seeing what you've done on your projects. Thanks for sharing, that's the fun and inspiration!

I'm linking up with Ann's and Cathy's  Kaleidoscope of Butterflies #13 , stop in to share butterfly appreciation!