Posted on by agilejack

A Bit of This and That on a Saturday

It was 90 degrees in Portland yesterday so we decided to head for the coast and cooler temperatures. We were in the car and on our way at 8:30 am and were on the beach a little after 10 am. Guess who was really happy about that…

While we were on the beach we saw tons of pelicans. They were flying just off shore and were diving in the water. I’ve never seen so many pelicans on a beach visit. You can see them in this photo… the little black dots just above the horizon line. So many pelicans!

It’s about a mile to the end of this beach from the parking lot. Once we got to the south end and turned around, I looked up and saw a bald eagle flying north and quite low over head! That’s not something you see every time you visit the beach. He flew a little north and landed on this tree and sat there, just surveying his kingdom, as we headed north on the beach.

We spent about an hour and a half on the first beach, then hit the car and headed south to Tillamook, OR, to visit a little fabric store there. Astoundingly, we didn’t buy ONE piece of fabric at that store!

On the way back north to Cannon Beach we stopped and got some ice cream and drove to Manzanita beach to eat our treat with a view of the ocean. And after our dessert in the car we hit the beach one last time to let the dogs have another romp.

Bender and Rico were very appreciative of this opportunity to get their feet wet… and their heads… butts… etc… It’s really nice that my boys don’t feel the need to go very deep in the surf. They’re pretty happy with just getting their bellies wet, but occasionally get a little surprised by some waves.

As you’re driving south on Hwy 101, the Coastal Highway, the first view you get of this beach is from the cliff in the distance in this photo.

It’s a long, gorgeous beach with tons of room for every person and every dog. And it was a perfect day to get to visit TWO beaches!

Before long we were back in the car and headed back north to Cannon Beach. We wanted to visit Center Diamond quilt shop before we hit the road home for Portland. It was already around 4 pm!!!

We made it to the store in time and looked at a lot of fabric and bought a few pieces. The staff there is really friendly and they all read my blog so it was like talking to old friends! Hello to the ladies at Center Diamond!!! Oh, and a couple of them got to meet Bender and Rico!

I was really excited about one piece of fabric I bought. It’s the black version of the fabric we used for the background of my friend’s aboriginal quilt that we finished a couple days ago.

I had the bright idea to use it for the background of MY Libby quilt instead of the white.

When we got home we picked out the brightest Aboriginal fabrics I have in my stash and tossed them up on the design wall on top of this black fabric.

We weren’t convinced that the fabrics popped on the black fabric the way we though they would. So we tossed them up on the white fabric and played around a little.

I was convinced until a few minutes ago that I was going to use the white fabric, but now I’m not so sure! I need to decide because our plan is to start on this quilt top tomorrow!

Today started with Rico’s weekly sheep herding lesson. He was brilliant, as always!

Before we headed home we stopped at a little quilt shop that has a ton of Kaffe Fassett Collective fabric. Country Manor Quilts is in a metal barn out in the country near where Rico has his lessons. They don’t have an online store so you’d have to visit if you’re ever in the area. Here’s the aisle with her substantial KFC collection.

I only bought one piece of fabric… the contrast color way of Roman Glass… one of the new fabrics. It’s pretty amazing!

No idea what I’m going to do with this fabric. But I’m happy knowing it’s in my stash!

Traffic was terrible on the way home so it took a while to get home and get some lunch. After lunch we headed off to Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, OR, to buy some fabric for the backing of my friend’s quilt. We ended up with this vibrant green Australian Aboriginal design.

It looks great with the quilt top. We worked together to get the backing measured, cut sewn and pressed.

Have I mentioned how nice it is to have someone to do all the pressing? And… have I mentioned how much I HATE making backings???

Some time in the last few days I made two self-binding napkins out of some KFC fabric from my stash.

They’re made with two pieces of fabric, one cut larger than the other. Then the larger piece becomes the mitered binding. Here’s the tutorial I followed.

There’s a video that goes along with it.

They were really easy and quick to make. Although the corners on my first one weren’t perfect. I’m planning on making more and selected some fabric combos as we finished up in my sewing room tonight.

I love using cloth napkins. I go through a lot of them so it’s good to have a selection on hand. Plus, these look amazing with my Fiesta Ware.

Our plan for tomorrow is to start working on my version of the quilt we made for my friend this week. On Monday I’ll play pickleball early in the morning, then we’ll head off to my long arm quilter to drop off three of my friend’s quilts and my sunburst log cabin quilt that is for my brother. I washed and dried the wide backing for this tonight. My friend will press it tomorrow morning.

Have I mentioned how nice it is to have a friend who is good at pressing?

61 Replies to “A Bit of This and That on a Saturday”

  1. Good morning from Extremedura where Andrew and I are enjoying a much needed holiday.
    I loved this post, mainly because I’m obsessed with birds so to see your pictures of pelicans and a bald eagle made my day. We had a 3 day birding experience with an amazing guide , Martin Kelsey, of El Recuerdo birding ( highly recommended for anyone visiting Spain) and saw over 75 different species of birds including griffon, black and European vultures and Spanish Imperial, short-toed, booted and Bonelli eagles. It was extraordinary! Check out Monfrague national park for pictures. We met some of your countrymen and women visiting Europe and has some great chats. Birding, like quilting, is a great connection place for conversation.
    Your boys looked like they had a fab time in the sea and your fabrics and quilts as ever, look fantastic.
    Happy quilting , Lindy x

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    1. Isn’t it interesting how shared interested make new friends easily? I love it!!!

      If you love birds, you should visit the Oregon Coast… so many birds! /But you don’t always get to see a bald eagle on the beach! That was a real treat.

      Anne

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  2. You didn’t ask for my opinion, but…I vote for the black fabric!
    And Kaffe Fassett napkins with Fiestaware…Yay!!!! You can never have too much color! I’m going to make some of those napkins to go with mine.
    I love your blog. Thanks!

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  3. Hi, I’m new to your blog and enjoy it very much ! I’m retired now, not sure why exactly. Quilter since 1976, duh! I’ve worked many years designing projects for several fabric companies, sort of never got the ‘I am a brand’ mentality. It’s great for me to hear about your journey/work. Miss hearing your thoughts while you are pickleballing! Continue on!!

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    1. As much as I love working with fabric, I’m happy that my living doesn’t depend on it. it really seems like it would change it… maybe take some of the fun out of it. I like following impulses and ideas too much!!!

      With fall coming, I’m guessing I’ll be back in my sewing room more.

      Anne

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  4. Beautiful fabric! The one thing I stay away from is sewing by machine seems the tensioner always gave me trouble 🙂

    I cannot wait to take our new border collie for a leash less run on a winter beach though here in New England it will be hard to find an empty beach, for now his lessons will continue.

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    1. I had a sewing machine years ago that always gave me problems with teh tension. I’m lucky that my Bernina is very consistent and has a lovely stitch.

      I love that my boys are reliable off leash! Rico can get his nose stuck in something smelly but he doesn’t just run off. Bender has an excellent recall and is VERY connected to me.

      Anne

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  5. Ahhh, beach time, invigorationg and relaxing at the same time. For me, it clears the cobwebs. Looks like Bender and Rico had a good time.

    Fabric shopping, love it. Even if I don’t need anymore, and I don’t, it is so stimulating and inspiring, I have a hard time resisting.

    Great combos for the napkins. I use cloth napkins too. I have bought on clearance and gotten some really nice ones in cotton and linen. I lokve the idea of making these self binding ones and flipping them so you have the same fabics in reverse (I.e. enchanted and damask, then damask and enchanted). I will hunt thru my stash and see what I come up with. Great Christmas gift idea and not complicated. Love it! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. We’ve lost a good number of quilt shops since I moved to Portland in 2010. it’s sad to see so many close… mostly because owners wanted to retire and there were no interested buyers.

      Anne

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  7. Rides to the beautiful ocean , numerous quilt shops , fun times sewing with a good friend ( who does a great job pressing ! ) , your vacation sounds wonderful !! Thank you for sharing, I always look forward to reading your awesome blogs . Niki

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  8. Nice to hear about you musings and meanderings. And how happy you are with someone to iron. Your friends quilt turned out great. Gotta love those aboriginals. I’m with you on using black for your background IF you can get bright enough aboriginals. Try converting a photo to B&W. Then when you convert the white background to B&W it is pretty interesting. Depends on how much contrast you really want. After converting both photos I vote for white.

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  9. Love all your beautiful pictures of dogs, ocean, birds and fabric. I took a class in Paducah with Carolyn Forester and a lady brought aboriginal fabrics for a Wagga Wagga quilt, her quilt turned out gorgeous. Mine was okay, but I’d like to make it again with aboriginal fabrics. Please show us your final decision on background.

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  11. I love your posts and miss them when you’re too busy to write.
    I can cook, I can iron and play Pickleball.
    Would love to spend a week with you and learn.

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  13. Do you wash all your fabrics before using them. I just read that you were washing and ironing the backing for your brother’s quilt. I don’t remember ever reading that you wash the piecing fabrics.
    Looked like a fabulous day and exhausting!

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    1. I don’t typically wash my fabrics. I washed this one because it’s one of the wide backings and someone recommended to wash and dry them first because they shrink more than regular quilting cotton. That’s the only reason.

      Anne

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      1. I had never heard that.  I usually use the extra wide backing fabrics for the backs.

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      3. I never used the Kaffe wide backing.  Good to know.

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  16. So good you got to come to Manzanita and Cannon!!! I’m sure Chris and Julie were thrilled to see you and meet the boys!!! It was a great day for it!

    The video I posted last night is Arch Cape beach. Just FYI. You might not have recognized it right off.

    So glad you enjoyed the day!!!
    Sincerely
    Jeannette

    Sent from my iPhone

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    1. I wasn’t sure about your video. I’ll have to go back and look again now that I know it’s MY beach!!!

      It was fun to talk to everyone at Center Diamond. they were so happy to meet my boys!

      Anne

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  17. It is all wonderful eye candy – the fabrics and the beach. Thank you. I grew up on the coast off California and even though I now live in a state that borders the Atlantic, it is hours and hours of congested traffic to get to a beach and it is not like the Pacific coast. So thanks again for the photos.

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    1. If I’m just buying fabric for my stash, I usually buy half yards. If it’s a fabric I really love, or if it’s something I know is hard to find, I’ll buy more. I bought a yard of this new fabric. But I’m sure I’ll buy more in the future.

      Anne

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  19. Sounds like an ideal day, except for the traffic! Two beaches! The water, wildlife, the pup pups, living life. On top of all that, quilt shops! I want to walk down that aisle of fabric and pet it all.
    I’m loving the black fabric. You are having me revisit an aboriginal project I got stumped with a few years ago. It’s a good thing!

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  26. Our senior Lagotto Romagnola, Lola, needs a new sleeping arrangement. I noticed you have pallets for you dog(s). Could you share information with me so I can purchase one for Lola?

    Thank you.

    Judi Johnson-Cohen Fellow Pickleballer and novice quilter

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    1. The smaller dog bed is one I’ve had for years. I can’t even remember where I got it. I feel like someone gave it to me. But here’s one on Amazon that is basically the same thing.

      The gray one was given to me by my neighbor when she moved. It all folds up so it easy to take with you. She got it at Costco. I don’t think they’ve had them this year. I don’t know if this is the same brand or not, but it’s similar:

      Good luck!

      Anne

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  27. I think we are on vacation at the same time! I live in SC near the Atlantic Ocean but we are in Ireland, I go back to work Thursday too, Have thought about you and your dogs because of all the sheep everywhere here. (We flew into Dublin 2 weeks ago and have traveled south along the east coast and then up the west coast and back to Dublin, )Lots and lots of sheep! And dogs just like yours! It’s been sad to see how there are virtually no quilt shops here. I hoped to buy some fabric as a memento of our trip. The few shops that are still open have had weird hours…..like one was open today, Monday from 4-6. Another was open only on Saturday 1-4. We are so lucky in the USA to have more quilt shops although there are fewer today than years ago, That shop’s Kaffe fabric is awesome, can’t say I blame her for not doing online orders. I imagine that would get to be quite a chore.

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    1. they just had the world championship sheep herding competition in Ireland last weekend! Their sheep were very interesting and challenging and the countryside was so green and gorgeous. And the weather was pretty terrible!

      Those are some crazy hours for quilt shops. How do they even stay in business?

      Enjoy the rest of your trip!

      Anne

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