Wow, I can't believe that it has been a month since I last posted here on our blog. So, I decided to share a few projects that I have been working on in the last month.

This is the Strata Star that I did recently at our Q-FAC Retreat. It will be a wall hanging above our bed. They are fun to make and easy to quilt. Love those kinds of projects.

These two photos are of the wool applique that I am now hooked on. The top is not quite done, I still have to finish the small penny mats and then trim the black wook and buttonhole stitch around the entire piece. It is a centerpiece candle mat for my dining room table.

This is my strawberry candle mat that will be my centerpiece for summertime. Makes me want to get some strawberries. I am also working on a wool flower and basket wall hanging, and something for our future grandchild. All that inbetween doing my Ikebana piece for EGA, some surprises for next year as well as other stuff. Ah, I love to keep busy with these kinds of projects.

First Clam Dig in 2009-2010 Season

This weekend was the first time we could go clamming. Even though the weather was predicted as being wintry and stormy, almost nothing can keep us off the beach to get our dig in. So we set out on Friday morning, meeting the Doels for breakfast in Woodland, WA. Then on to Clatskanie for a stop at the Quilt Garden. Finally our destination of Jack's to pick up licenses and a clam gun.
While we waited for the Johnsons to arrive and the trek to the clamming fields (aka "the Beach"), we set up our projects of wool applique. I was teaching Donna and Becky my technique of making a candle mat. The mittens are another project that Becky had to get ready as well - we were prepared in case the weather was too bad to go out. While we set up our table with our projects, Phil and Bill practiced on the Wii - archery, bowling, and frisbee.

Check out that form of archer Phil.

It was finally time to get ready to go out. We all wore rain gear not only for the obvious rain coming down but also so the waves wouldn't get into our boots. A fashion statement -- well, maybe not - after all, I didn't have on my pink/black/gray polka dot boots on yet. :-)

When we got to the beach area, there were hardly any people out (we found out the next day that they had actually closed clamming due to strong waves) and with the rain and wind, it was too hard to figure out what to do with the camera, so there were no pictures of the clamming itself. But we trekked out there, braving the weather to get some clams. Unfortunately, I got just a little too anxious so I waited in the car for them to finish. This next pic is the clams that we dug on Friday night.

Phil asked for part of his Christmas presents early and he purchased a lantern and a clam gun. Well, the mantle fell off about three times, somehow we found it twice, but it is still out in the ocean somewhere. Because of instability, Phil's lantern tipped over and so he had to get new socks to put in it and a new base so that, hopefully, it wouldn't fall over again. This is where duct tape came to the rescue. All three men taped their bases to the lantern. Worked well.

While the men were doing their projects in the garage, we were busy with our projects in the house.

Before we went out to clam on Saturday night, we had a seafood feast. We had oysters and shrimp cooked on the grill, cole slaw, clam fritters and rosemary flavored baked potatoes. Yummy!!!

The weather was more cooperative on Saturday night and the clamming was good. Well for some of us. I had a flash light that the battery was ok in the beginning but kept getting dimmer and dimmer. The waves came in occasionally and chased us back - they were still a bit scary but we could predict them a little better. Well, I moved out further toward the water and saw a clam squirting at me, just daring me to get him. Well, I did - just before the next wave came in. I am happy to report, he was my only one and is now minced meat!!! I also picked up a sand dollar (special project need) but that was it for me. However, as you can see the rest of them did well and we had about 60 clams between us.

We rinsed them and then placed them in water for cleaning on Sunday - it was 10:30 when we got back in so a little too late to begin that part of the process.

But we - well, Phil, Bill and Dan - cleaned up the gear and rinsed the sand and salt water from our boots, rain pants, etc., before going in to play a game of 10,000. Donna won - again!!!

This is the guys having a great time cleaning clams. Bill wanted me to help but I told him that Phil had already cleaned the clam with the "T" on it for me. :-)

Look at all the clam meat we got on the second dig. Oh that was hard work!!!

Thanks, Bill and Becky for having us up to your home for a great time. Thanks to Donna and Dan for sharing that weekend with us as well. Looking forward to another dig soon.

Next Project - Drapes for Living Room

We love the open feel of our living room area. You can sit on the couch or chair and look outside to the green area behind our deck and catch a glimpse of wildlife and the change in the weather. With the sun shining brightly in the summer and the windy rainy weather of the winter, we wanted to put up drapes to help keep the weather out when we wanted.
So, while Phil measured and figured out the height and width of the area, I was sewing the drapes. I had gotten heavy duty material from a quilter's garage sale and then purchased drapery backing to make them up. We then had a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond (I think I mentioned that in my last blog of the Bark party) to pick up the rod and clips.

The rod is dark pewter and the ends are similar to our hanging light in the dining area.

This is the look of them open - before we hemmed them.

We then pulled them closed to measure for the hem. Problem ----- if you look closely, the pattern is off by about 1 1/2 inches. That is ok when opened but when shut - does not work at all. So off they came again and I took the tops apart and fixed so that they were the same.

Ta Da!!! They are done. They look great and gives you a nice cozy feel when the wind is blowing out there. Phil was a great help - especially when I had to hang them to measure and then take down - a number of times. Thanks, Honey. I appreciate all your help.

Our Bark Party

We have a sloped back yard and it was in need of something to hold the soil in place besides the weeds. So, we decided to go to "Boring Bark", pick out bark (aka wood chips) and have our own little bark party before the rain started. They had a colorful display as you entered the shop, and the leaves were just starting to turn - a great fall day to do our project.
After we paid for the 1 1/2 yards of bark, we went to load the trailer on to the Escape. There were only three there, but we took the best one.

Great engineering to hook it up to the vehicle.

There were many different kinds of bark to choose from. Some had dirt in them, some were colored dark, etc. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

So, we decided this kind would work and the man loaded us up. Three scoops made a yard and a half. We hope we only need two loads. Before pictures of the yard. This is the slope that actually goes to the neighbors and just before the wall begins.

A picture of the entire slope. Our work is cut out for us.

The day got better weather wise and the sun came out. Phil did the unloading into the wheel barrow and then took it to the hill.

I then spread it out two - three inches deep so that it will hold the soil in.

Getting in and around the ivy was not easy so I abandoned the rake and just moved it with my hands. Worked much better.

Three loads later, we are done. It looks so nice.

Those are our garden boxes in the background. The tomatoes were still up and trying to ripen. We have since taken them all out and prepared it for winter.

Team work got this job done in an a day. After cleaning up, we went to Old Chicago for dinner and then to Bed, Bath and Beyond for our next project. Blog to follow.

Q-FAC Retreat

Yesterday I went on a quilting retreat with my Q-FAC (Quilting and Fiber Arts) friends. We met at the Historical Society Museum, which has wonderful lighting and just enough room for all 17 of us. This is our teacher, Dennis, who owns Paradise Quilts in Sandy with his wife. He did a great job keeping all of us on track.
We were all busy with our project, Strata Star. They almost look like tumbling blocks with attitude.

Our lunch buffet was wonderful with quite the variety of foods. I didn't take a picture of the two chocolate cakes, pumpkin pie and apple cake - didn't want you to get hungry looking at it. We learned that not only can we sew, we can all cook wonderfully.

I finished my Strata Star and will be putting it in our bedroom on the wall above our bed. I am very pleased with how mine turned out.

Linda, our retreat coordinator poses with Darlene and Tammy, who worked on different projects.

Here we all are with our Strata Stars - all in various stages of completion. All with different looks and just wonderfully done. Thanks for sharing your day with me - I had a great time.

Down Under Update

It has been a while since I updated you on the Down Under Project. Well, it is done!!! Well, the shelves aren't done and the light in but Phil is very happy with the outcome of the whole thing. So, here are the recent pics. Phil was finishing up the first row of floor joists. He took time out to pose as the architect and main carpenter as well as with his work thus far.
We can walk on one board but that is all at this stage.

The first row is finished. Yeah.

Putting the second row on was faster but still too slow for Phil. As you can he had to add some reinforcements in some areas. Of course , he put enough nails and liquid nails in it so it will be really stable. It won't go anywhere.

Progress. Ah, it is nice to see it. Oh yeah, watch your head. Yes, that door is a little short but we will just have to duck down entering and leaving. Hitting it once will be all one needs - trust us - we know. :-)

The flooring is done. This is from the farthest corner looking south.

This is from the farthest corner looking toward the door. Wow, it looks great.

This is from the south side looking north toward the street.

Pretty good job - if Phil says so himself.

Phil says: "All cleaned up. Tools ready to put in their proper place. Relaxing with my brew admiring my work. I love finished projects. "

Shelving will be next. Then I will put a light in and change a little of the wiring that they put in. Look for future updates.