Quilt News, A Finish, A Greek God and a Hike, More Cotton & Steel Spectrum Reds

Neptune with his trident, at Olmstead Place, Palos Verdes CA.

Neptune's consorts.

Italian influenced architecture at Palos Verdes city center.

Decommissioned Nike Missile site, White Point, San Pedro CA.

Catalina Island and Pacific Ocean view from the park trail.

'Accounted 4', small improv quilt, 20" x 37", hand quilted, finished.

I'm piecing more HSTs using Cotton & Steels' Spectrum Reds, for a couple of projects.

Happy Friday from the Pacific Coast!

Where we have cooler weather with clouds, still spring!

This week we hiked and did a little sight seeing around. We drove north along the coast to the city center of Palos Verdes. Palos Verdes was designed by the American architectural landscaper, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. . It's like a park, beautiful and relaxing with businesses and a cafe that makes a good chicken salad sandwich. 

Then driving south along the coast we drove to White Point, San Pedro. There is a beach park on one side of the road and the other side is a nature park where you can hike trails and one of the trails, the one we took, takes you up to the decommissioned Nike Missile site, quite a monument to the cold war. There are decommissioned Nike Missile sites all up and down the west coast, interesting bits of history.

Last week I finished my small improv quilt, and I call it 'Accounted 4'. The fabrics I used reminded me of the records that might be kept in a private small business. I hand quilted it to add more hands on personal detail, like you'd get doing business with people you knew.

And that my quilting friends, is the buzz around the rancho. Exploration is being carried out and projects are being worked on.

What have you been accomplishing this last week?

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt Improv Colorful, Two Finishes, Kona Cotton Wasabi Border, Flowers

Piecing small improv Log Cabin blocks here.

Apron finished and in the mail!

Wild Daisies and Mariposas along the beach cliff walk.

My Mother's Day flowers, note the yellow-greens and violet-blues!

Improv Log Cabin Blocks in border.

Borders and corners on.

Happy Friday from the coast!

We're having spring weather with showers, wind, clouds and sun.

Last Sunday was Mother's Day and I'm still enjoying my flowers, the color mix is lovely.

I got my apron project done and it's in the mail to DDIL. The ruffles add lots of fun.

The borders on my Improv Log Cabin quilt are sewn on and I think I'll name it 'Beach Cabins.'

I used Kona Cotton solids, batiks and prints in this quilt. This is another quilt inspired by Gwen Marston and her book, 'Liberated Medallion Quilts', publisher AQS. This top is finished.

And here's a tip, if you are or become a member of AQS you can buy some of Gwen's books from AQS at a good price. I think the membership is worth it just for that. I don't want to forget to mention you will also get a discount on the classes they offer.

That's the progress report from the rancho, where we're wearing sweaters and hats.

And remembering to be thankful.

I'll be by to visit.

'Ponies' Quilt Top Finish, Improv Piecing for my Medallion Style Log Cabin Quilt, American Quilter Magazine and a Rainbow.

Piecing improv border for my Log Cabin quilt below.

My Log Cabin improv/liberated quilt waiting for another border.

'Ponies' medallion style quilt top finished, my design.

I'm making HSTs for a new idea I have, inspired by Gwen Marston's book, 'Free Range Triangles.'

'Color Fade Quilt in Reds' piecing directions, this looks like another good idea.

We hiked after dinner and got showered on and then treated to this rainbow.

Happy May, another beautiful spring month!

I've been improv piecing a border this week, to add to my low volume Log Cabin Quilt.

Medallion style, a center with borders, has been my focus lately.

I should name this quilt something else, Like maybe 'Cabins on the 

Beach,' I'll give it some thought.

Then I finished the 'Ponies' quilt top, again, it's medallion style. I enjoy the fabric border with ponies in the print. It's by Cotton + Steel Rifle Paper Co. It will make a little girl smile.

HSTs are stacking up for a new design idea of mine, inspired by Gwen Marston and Carol Jones's book 'Free Range Triangles.'

Red in all it's glorious variations will star. The Color Fade Quilt directions came with the layer cake stack of Spectrum Reds by Cotton + Steel. That would make up a nice quilt too.

Then there's the beautiful rainbow we saw on our after dinner hike after being showered on. You can see the Pacific Ocean in the lower right with the Catalina Islands in the background. Living on the coast is an adventure.

Have you picked up and read the new American Quilter Magazine published by AQS? Or the newest Quilting Arts Magazine published by Interweave?

Both are packed with great design, ideas and quilters adding their exciting take on making quilts.

Lots of inspiration in those two publications!

That's the news from the rancho, where I'm remembering to be thankful, getting things done and enjoying the spring.

I'll be by to visit!