I’m exhausted. And I’m happy we’re down to the last two days of our fundraising drive. My friend that visited late last summer, the one who helped me make my red Fractured quilt, is flying into town tomorrow night. She will spend ten days here. I’m taking next week off work and am soooo looking forward to it.
That means I’ve been busy this week getting my house in order and getting ready to be gone from work for a week… all during a stressful and demanding time at work. So I haven’t gotten too much done in my sewing room this week.
I did manage to finish up the last 18 color wash blocks over the last couple of days.
That makes 161 blocks done.
That stack is almost six inches tall.
I’ll put these aside while my friend is here. Our plan is to make a 16 patch quilt top for her while she’s here. She hates the idea of making one, but I’m going to show her how much fun they are and how easy they are to make, thanks to the tutorial by Wanda at the Exuberant Color Blog. We’re going to make it from Australian Aboriginal fabrics.
And tonight, to prepare for my friend’s visit, I finished cleaning my living room and vacuuming the entire house. And a quick touch up of the guest room. Then I took the boys out for a nice 9 pm two-mile walk.
When we got home I hit my sewing room and pulled the quarter log cabin blocks off my retractible design wall so it will be free for us to use while my friend is here. I carefully stacked and labeled the blocks to I can easily sew the rows and assemble the rest of the top.
We might have enough time to finish up this top tomorrow and Saturday night since we’ll have two people. We can’t start on my friend’s 16 patch until we do a little shopping on Sunday.
My brother and his wife will come up for a visit next weekend while my friend is here. I have some things I need my brother to do for me… he’s very handy. I’m going to have him hang some curtain rods for me. One for my bedroom window, and one above my bed to hang a quilt eventually… maybe my new color wash. Maybe my KFC scrappy trip quilt.
I will also have him hang one in my sewing room to hang my NY beauty wall hanging. You can see it, and my KFC scrappy trip quilt in this blog post.
One other little thing he’s going to do for me is attach a new latch to my Featherweight case to replace the broken one.
This is an actual vintage latch. Not a reproduction. So the store that sells them doesn’t always have them in stock. I’ve been on their waiting list for months. And they got some in jus tin time for my brother’s visit. Once this is done I might give that case some attention. It’s pretty beat up. I might try just cleaning it. If that doesn’t do the trick, I might paint it. There’s always a chance I’ll decoupage it with come KFC fabrics. I wouldn’t do it if the case was in good shape. it’s kind of a mess!
While all my company is here, we’ll go up to the Olympia, Washington, area because I have Rico entered in a sheep herding trial. It’s time to see how he can do in competition. it should be a fun day out for the four of us.
During one of our recent wind storms, a piece of a large sequoia tree across the street from my house fell and hit the house behind it. Yesterday they removed the remainder of the tree. This was a BIG tree. You can see the guy at the top, just below the foliage.
It was fascinating to watch him work.
And I got there just in time to watch him lop off the top of the tree.
I was talking to him later in the day and he said the tree was probably around 100 feet tall. He said he’s been up in trees that are over 150 feet tall!
I can’t imagine doing that for a living. It just gives me the shivers!
It makes me so sad to see that tree gone. It’s been the best part of the view out of the front of house since I moved here almost 13 years ago. I’ve always loved having it’s shadow cast into my back yard by the morning sun. I’m goin to miss it.
The good news is that I am the proud owner of a huge pile of former sequoia tree.
That’s a whole truck load of that tree all chopped up. My yard guys will come this Saturday and move it to my back yard to cover some bare dirt areas under some trees and in the way back portion. It’s a truck load of free mulch!
It’s been colder here the last few days. it was so cold yesterday morning, the little metal birds I have on the top of my fence, were all frosty.
And a few days ago I was convinced spring was here! We’re going to have a couple of cold days next week. They’re predicting a high of 28 degrees for one day next week! That’s really cold for Portland! But it’s going to be sunny, so that’s a good trade off for me.
Vacation baby!!! Two more days of work and it all starts!
Bender’s resting up to get ready for vacation.
agilejack 
The new blocks are so pretty. I hope you have a fabulous vacation with your friend. And to add to it – a shopping trip before you can start on her quilt. What’s better than that!!! I’m looking forward to seeing what the two of you create this week.
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I’m sure we’ll hit more than a couple quilting stores while she’s here. We’re already making plans. I’m thinking four stores in ten days. That seems like a good number.
Anne
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Wow! Do the squirrels get a little break now? I’ll bet once they hit the fabric shop for the 16 patch they will be joyfully running around again. Sounds like you’re planning a productive vacation. Hope you can get the case for the feather lite repaired.. Those machines are so cool! Real workhorses! Have fun at the sheep herding trials! If nothing else, Rico will have a blast! Enjoy your company! Happy shopping! 😊
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Oh, my friend’s project isn’t a squirrel. We;’ve been planning this for a while. But it will Be hard to focus on her project when there are voices calling to me.
Anne
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Shopping in a quilt shop always unleashes my squirrels. Down to the basement to work on some clothes. Then need to make a quilt for a friend. She will be needing the hug.
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It’s funny, by my mom sewed clothes when I was a kid and I HATED going into fabric stores with her. And now I could hang out in a fabric store for hours!
Anne
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If you need some guidance on how to refurbish a Featherweight case, the Featherweight Shop online has a very good tutorial. I have the supplies and hope to do over my case soon (when I’m not quilting). Have fun with your friend during your vacation.!
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thanks. Another reader commented about the tutorial. I’ll check it out and see if it will help my case.
Anne
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Have a great time with your guests , vacations are wonderful, we had to have a Spruce removed last year ( so very sad ) it was an amazing process. Your new blocks are are great can’t wait to see what you and your friend create. I’m in Northern Utah and was able this year to watch dogs bring cattle out of the canyon . The handlers were on horse back it was one of the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Have a great vacation
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did you know that I’m FROM Utah? I was born in Ogden. Grew up out in the Uintah Basin. Went to college at Utah State. Lived in SLC from 1984-2010.
I’ve never seen dogs work cattle in a real life scenario. Just in trials. It must be something to watch.
Anne
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Oh my small world , I’m in Logan I’ve only been here 3 years originally from Santa Cruz Cal . Feel lucky to have been able to retire here, really do luv it ( been really cold though) well have a great vacation
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Logan is a beautiful place. I still have a couple friends who live there. But I don’t miss those cold winters! I do miss the sunsets over the Wellsvilles.
Anne
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That’s great to get the sequoia mulch 😻! Just reading about your busy days makes me feel tired. You are going to have so much fun with your company coming and then brother and wife, enjoy! I bet the boys love them too🥰
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I’m really looking forward to a week off! I hope it will be long enough to help me feel ready to go back to work.
Anne
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Of course I *always* like to hear your quilt news—I get inspired, all fired up, and then . . . Squirrel! But I am also fascinated to hear about the weather on your side of the country. While you are anticipating 28* temps imminently, here in southeast PA we are having a very unusual, freaky really, “heat wave.” It is the middle of February, normally the coldest month of the whole winter, with temperatures in the teens to the twenties. It is currently 58* and drizzling. Those mild, spring-like temperatures are predicted to continue through next week with a high of 64*. The songbirds are out in abundance, and I am thinking they are as confused as I am about this weather.
Have a relaxing week with your friend, sewing and visiting; you earned it!
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all your spring stuff will start growing and then get their little butts frozen off!
Our forecast has changed a little Not supposed to be quite as cold as they predicted. But still a cool spell for us. But we are getting sunny days, so I’ll take the cold.
Anne
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I don’t know if you are aware of this but you can use shoe polish to refurbish your featherweight case. Also, you can strip the covering off and reveal the beautiful hard wood with dove tail corners and refinish the wood.
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I wondered about shoe polish. Problem is that chunks of the fabric covering are missing, torn or gouged. I’ve seen the ones that have been stripped. Not sure I want to put that much work into it. I was going to have my brother make me a case. (used to be a cabinet maker Makes mandolins and ukuleles now). But he’s the one who found the vintage latch. So that meant building a case wasn’t necessary.
Anne
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Check out this website: twiceniceshopp.com
I took his class just a couple of weeks ago. Guy knows his stuff!
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Get your Featherweight Info at: thefeatherweightshop.com; click on their site “Schoolhouse” at the top. You will find FW and lots of tutorials, especially the classes on cleaning the carrying case so it looks almost new. Other FW stuff there also. Hope this will help.
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I’ve been The Featherweight Shop many times. The problem with my case isn’t that it’s dirty, it’s that it’s beat up. Pieces of fabric missing. Dents. Scrapes. etc… Not sure cleaning it up will help much. But I’ll take a look at their tutorial to see if it might help.
anne
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So glad you’re getting to have a holiday after all your hard work and with one of your besties visiting with great sewing planned -perfect.
I’ve had my family here to celebrate my brother’s 70th birthday, he’s back to France tomorrow and we’ve no further visitors for the weekend so I can get to my sewing room. Having made my first Frankenbag I’m itching to begin another to use up some bits and pieces I’ve had lying around for an age. Enjoy your break.
Lindy 🙂
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I’m really looking forward to my time off and my visit with a friend.
I have you bag photos. I’ll share them next week.
Anne
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Thanks Anne! My friend literally cried when she opened the bag ( the jacket had already started her off!) Loved making the bag.. really liked the ‘ gusset’ method you use. Have a great time with your pal. Lindy x
Sent from my iPhone
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Anne could you give me the information for the new Featherweight hinge? Mine is broken too and I didn’t know I could get a replacement. I’m so excited about the possibility of a replacement.
You do such beautiful and inspirational work with your quilts. I love reading your blog.
Thanks,
Noreen
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Oh, if you have a Featherweight, you need to be familiar with The Featherweight Shop. Here’s a direct link to the latch: https://singer-featherweight.com/products/case-clasp-round-with-screws-nuts-singer-vintage-original
Take a little time to look around their site. they have a lot of tutorials too.
thanks for reading!
Anne
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I was just cutting for an Aboriginal 16 patch. How fun to see yours in progress next weekk.
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I’m hoping we can get the blocks made this week and send my friend home to do the design wall work. I can’t wait to see the fabrics in a 16 patch.
Anne
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That is indeed a tall tree (was). I’m sorry it is no longer part of your view – I get how you’ll miss it. And I will be eagerly watching your aboriginal 16 patch. I have a stash ready and waiting to be used but keep dithering on how to use them.
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I love the Aboriginal fabrics! Did you ever see this quilt I made from Aboriginals? Really simple but one of my favorites that I’ve made.https://agilejack1.com/2021/11/14/aboriginal-quilt-is-gifted/
Can’t wait to see what you make.
Anne
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Oh My.. You deserve this vacation.. do enjoy every minute…
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Thank you! I feel like I really need this!
Anne
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Love the color block quilt top!
Was that a pattern or did you just “wing” it?
I have so many Kaffe fabric pieces and would love to use them up!
Thanks for your photos!
Love seeing them and the dogs too!
Maria
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I’m following Terry Rowland’s video tutorials. She has a series of three videos that show how to make these blocks and resulting quilt. This blog post has the info and a link to the first video:https://agilejack1.com/2023/02/10/chasing-a-squirrel-on-a-gorgeous-spring-day/
It’s a great and fun way to use up scraps. I’m really enjoying it all!
Anne
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When and where is Rico’s sheep herding trial? I would love to be able to see him work in person sometime! Olympia is pretty close by.
Have a great vacation! You certainly deserve it after all that air time.
Have fun with your friend. Can’t wait to see what you guys put together.
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The herding trial is at a place called Fido’s. You can find it with a google search.
Vacation baby!
Anne
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