Well sort of – but only a day trip.  Since our camper was totaled last December, cancelling our winter trip, we haven’t done much traveling.  But now that the warmer weather is just around the corner, we’re planning on taking more day trips in Central New York.

Today was a perfect excuse for the first one this year.  We picked up my new car, a Ford Fusion, and just had to take it on a road trip.

We decided on a drive to the Finger Lakes, specifically Seneca Lake wine country.  We’ll be hosting a nature photo tour of Finger Lakes Wineries this summer and needed to line up some of the photo shoots.

So of course I packed up my current applique project to take along. Any hand work, especially needle turn applique is so portable and easy to bring along on any kind of car trip.  I like to work on projects while riding or whenever my photographer husband ‘finds’ the perfect picture and just has to stop.

Everything neatly fits into a small satchel that can easily fit in my purse.

The weather could have been a little warmer.  The temperature seems to be stuck in the 20′s lately(should be in the 40′s this time of year).  It was a mostly sunny day with only had a few snow flurries to accompany us; not the multiple ‘inches’ of snow that we’ve had to contend with lately.

Yes I did drive the car off the lot but turned over the driving to my husband after our stop for lunch.  I needed to make sure that I could comfortably quilt in the car.  I was pleased that the passenger door has two decent receptacles to hold my quilting notions.  What luck!

I thought when I took this car for a test drive that  it was perfect for me as a driver and now I’ve found that is also fits my needs as a passenger whose passion is ‘quilting’!

What a great day Monday was – we were able to spend the whole day at our favorite pastime -  quilting.

The Gang

We started off with an all day class with Linda Hunter on Redwork.  We’ll be putting the embroidery in this cute wall hanging.  She shared tips on making easy half square triangles using  Thangles, a grid and the Easy Angle ruler (I’ve had one of these rulers for some time, but have never used it);  as well as tips to addsetting triangles to finish the quilt and discussed some border options.  At the end of the class she challenged us to finish our quilts within the next couple of weeks – Sure -  right!   We all enjoyed her laid-back teaching style.

As the  guest speaker at our monthly Guild meeting Monday evening, Linda treated us to a Trunk Show of some of her beautiful quilts along with a lecture on the History of Redwork.

In addition, we  showcased our 2011 raffle quilt at the meeting.   The Thumbstall membership has been working on the applique borders and pieced blocks for the quilt over the past few months.   The pieced blocks are from the pattern, Granny Stars by Nancy Mahoney.  The border pattern was designed by one of our Guild members, Sandi Holland.  She based it on the  fabric we’ll be using in the center of the block.

Elegence

Center Block Fabric

I’m now working on the second, on-line class for an Celtic applique table runner.

The ‘stained glass’ inserts are basted in place.

'Stained Glass' Inserts

Now to begin the actual applique.

The bias stems are easily sewn into place with invisible needle-turn applique.

Insert needle into background fabric, next to the thread in the fold of the bias strip.  Bring up needle about 1/8″ from the last stitch.  (As in needle-turn applique, catch just one or two threads of applique fabric.)

Whenever I take a class I’m hoping that I’ll pick up one or two new tips in addition to learning or improving on a technique.  I really like the tip in this lesson to insert  pin with a red head where one  strip will cross over another.  By placing the pin a few stitches before the intersection, it is a reminder that space has to be left to insert a bias strip underneath.

Intersection marked with red-headed pin

I finally was able to get some quilting done last night.  Tom and I are preparing for two one-man photo shows at the Crawl Space, Little York NY this month, so the better part of the week has been researching the list for news releases and invitations.  I finally finished it up yesterday and the mailing and emails are now all done.

But – I did find time to work on the next ‘fat quarter’ quilt project.  It’s done with needle-turn applique.  – One of my favorite techniques.  It’s really easy (contrary to popular opinion) as long as you use the right tools.

I’m thinking that this piece will be prefect for the silent auction for the quilt show.  Then I will have an excuse to use the new fabric I found on our shopping trip after the last

Fat quarters on left; Border fabric on right

Consortium meeting. I just fell in love with the background fabric – then of course had to have some new fat quarters to complete the project.  Barb and I got together at the library sewing day and shared fabric for the border.  Its made up of various half square triangles – so you only need a small piece

of fabric for each block.

Now another wrinkle – I just went out to the mailbox and the smells of spring hit me like a ton of bricks.  – It’s supposed to be in the 70′s today – A perfect day to play hooky!  It will definite cut down on my quilting time.

However it’s still in the 40′s – so I’ll probably have time to make the quilt sandwiches for the two quilts I plan on machine quilting next.  I’m thinking that I will use a meander pattern on the ALS quilt, but the quilting on my Seasons quilt will be a little more challenging.

Quilt patterns for Seasons border

I’ve found some patterns that depict the four seasons – just perfect for this quilt.

Well the “worst” of the storm is over.  Officially we received 18″ of snow.  That measurement was taken at the airport (about 20 miles from our home).  I think we actually received closer to 2′  here.  I can hardly my deck.

The sun came out on Friday – there’s nothing more beautiful than a blue sky with the sun shinning on newly fallen snow.  The snow  “crunches” as you walk on it and is definitely perfect snowman snow.  It makes me wish my grandchildren lived closer so that I’d have an excuse to be outside playing in it.

Instead I spent the day working on my Simply Charming miniature.

The applique pieces are all cut as well as the circles.

My favorite tool for making circles:  Circleese

To make prefect circles every time:

• Place template on wrong side of fabric:

• Spray fabric on front and back.  Iron both sides until dry.  Let set before removing circle from template.

• Trim.
• Remove circle template.  Press on both sides using additional spray starch as necessary so that circle holds it shape.
• My other must have for preparing applique pieces is the Clover Mini-Iron. The multi-attachment version has two mini-irons, which are prefect for pressing applique pieces.
• The applique pieces are ready to be attached to the background by needle-turn applique, using an invisible applique stitch.

We ended a perfect winter day with a dinner in Skaneateles.  Skaneateles Lake is one of the beautiful lakes that make up the scenic Fingerlakes of Central New York.  The main street consists of buildings dating back to 1796 that house boutique type shops, restaurants, an inn, and bed and breakfast.

We love walking around the lakeside community – no matter what the weather.  Last night we were treated to lightly falling snow and mild temperatures as we window shopped after dinner.  Driving home we ran into a whiteout about 3 miles from our house.  The only reference we had to make sure we were on the road was the piled up snow along the highway.  Winter can be a challenge here  – but we’re Central New Yorkers – we can handle it.