3/25/18

Blessings of Home

We're less than a week away from heading north for home. The closer it gets, the more ready I am, and the more I allow myself to miss my kiddos. It seems entirely appropriate that I finished up the latest Heart & Home block yesterday with the message it contains.


Now I've traced out the fourth dress block for the Sundress quilt, and I'll get started on that one. These are small and fit entirely in one hoop. They stitch up fast, but this one will take a little longer. Those flowers have some fancy stitching in them.


Certainly I've had lots of time for hand stitching on our trip, and I'm pleased with how much I've gotten done. I have two sets of quilt blocks ready to sew together for the Wine Country quilt and the Bag Ladies of the Fat Quarter Club. (That one was finished in December, and so it feels like ages ago.) Also, I'm more than halfway finished with Heart & Home now.

Speaking of home, Matthew sent me these pictures from the other day. He said it rained the same day, and so the snow is gone now. Nevertheless, it's unusual for us to see this much snowfall in March.


Seeing the greenhouse there makes me think about all the work we'll have to do once we get there, and cleaning out the greenhouse will be one of the first tasks.


Usually, I would have started my tomato seeds in the laundry room on February 1st. None this year, of course, and so I'll be working from nursery-purchased starts this year. Already, I've scheduled a trip to the Farmer's Market with Erik and Mae for April 7th. I should be able to pick up some nice tomato starts there.

But to get back to the goings on here in Southern California, we visited a fiber arts show going on through the end of April at the Diamond Valley Arts Center.


It was a small show and just donations were requested. Even as a small show, it was a very good one, and every quilt was fabulous. I took pictures of my favorites, and I'll share them a few at a time over the next couple of days. I'll put the name of the artist ahead of the quilt. This first one was a third place winner.



This next one incorporated a lot of three dimensional folded fabric...kind of origami style. Very cute.



Check out the details in this next one. Simply fabulous work.





And I loved this next one and how the artist used yo-yos for the suckers on the tentacles. Very clever.




I'm paying more close attention to fabric choices these days, and I like that blue with the little jellyfish design on it. At least, I think they're jellyfish. In any case, it's easy to see why the artist chose that fabric.


Here's one for woofie lovers.



I'll show you some more in tomorrow's post and over the next couple of days. For now...please...somebody call 911. We're almost out of the tomato jam I brought from home. And, I'm sorry, but I can't eat my eggs without it.


Fortunately, I think we have more at home. Phew...because it's a long dry spell until tomato season when I'll be able to make some more. In the meantime, I'll get to work on that tomato wall hanging I purchased at the quilt shop the other day.

16 comments:

Judy H said...

Glad you are going home to family, but at the same time very sad. You have inspired me to take more time to visit the U.S. and take advantage of the parks out there. I will miss your journey around the country.

Kate said...

I can imagine that home is looking pretty good about now. I hate not seeing my kiddo monthly, it's been a lot longer than that for you. Enjoy your last week on the road. Safe travels as you head that direction later this week.

Vicki W said...

It's been so kuch fun to read about your travels! I can imagine that you are ready to be home.

The Cozy Quilter said...

Thanks for showing us the quilts! I love the reading dog one! You’ve got lots of stitching done on your trip.

QuiltShopGal said...

You guys have had such an amazing trip, but I'm sure you are all looking forward to being home. Your Heart & Home block is a perfect touch for a finish, towards the end of your trip. Love it, as your other stitchery projects. Thank you for sharing photos of the fibre art exhibit. Looks amazing. Love that dog reading books!

Quilter Kathy said...

How fun to come across a wonderful show!
Enjoy slowing down with your stitches!

Lyndsey said...

It's been a funny old month for snow. We don't usually get anything much in March here in London but this year we've had a lot. Your trip has been fabulous and so interesting to follow. There are some bits I'm sure I've missed so will go back and check since I'm on holiday. You must be more than ready for home and your family.

Thanks for showing the fibre art, I like the reading dog but the iguana is amazing.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

How quickly your journey is coming to an end, but home must have a real appeal now. Love the reading dog; wonderful exhibit! Your handwork has gotten a lot of attention and all such lovely pieces.

Quilting Babcia said...

I love Mortie learns to read! I think our tomatoes are going to be starts from a local greenhouse, can't work up any enthusiasm for starting seeds when we keep waking up to 9 degree mornings. Your tomato jam jar looks just like the one in our frig, though I've checked the basement storage shelves and ours really is the last one, sadly.

Sally Trude said...

Fascinating. Here in Portland, the camelias are blooming their hearts out. And the azaleas. Meanwhile, I am having second thoughts about putting Buddy the pony out to pasture at Three Cat Ranch given the weird white fungus that apparently covered everything while you were gone...

CathieJ said...

I am sure that after such a long trip you will be well and truly glad to be home despite the work that awaits you. I really love the Blessings of Home block and I enjoyed seeing those art quilts.

quiltzyx said...

Thanks for the photos of the fiber arts show! Mortie Learns to Read is by my friend (& our former guild president) Ann Turley! Woohoo! I learned how to dye fabric & how to paper piece from Ann too. She is amazing! Also love the Iquanamealeon - great details.
So sorry we didn't manage to meet this trip. But am happy to keep my germs to myself! I do try to be stingy that way.
Enjoy this last week until your trip home. Hard to believe all that snow Matthew shared with you only lasted one day!

Jill said...

Neat and tidy stitches on Blessings of Home. Thanks for sharing Fiber Show photos. Definitely works of art. They all are very nice, however, if I was to pick a favorite, it would be dog reading as our family had a bassett.

Dorothy said...

Oh no !! Does Smitty know you took a picture of a woofie ?? And that you posted it on the blog ??? Have safe travels home

piecefulwendy said...

What a fun little show for you to find; thanks for sharing the pictures. The zen quilt is my favorite. I'm so excited for you to be home! You're going to have to eke out that jam between now and then!

Brown Family said...

Very pretty exibits