Posted on by agilejack

Finally, a Gorgeous Day!

Our weather forecast a week ago said we were supposed to have all kinds of nice weather while my friend was here. But it’s been pretty wet and completely cloudy. Until today.

The sun came out today. It was glorious! I played pickleball in the sun this morning. And I did this to my finger…

It’s even bluer now than when I took that photo. It’s no heroic pickleball injury. I got it stuck in the gate as I was trying to walk through! I got my freaking finger stuck in the damned gate!!!

When I got back from pickleball my friend convinced me that I needed to call the local quilt store up in Battle Ground that carries a good selection of KFC fabrics to see if they had the dark border fabric I needed to finish my quilt top. She shared my concern that if we didn’t finish it while she was here it would languish in my sewing room for many months. So I called and she had the fabric in stock. (Sorry, they don’t have a website.)

So we were quickly on our way to get the fabric that would insure a finish. And, of course, I didn’t just buy the fabric I needed. I bought some fabric to feed an idea I’ve been having.

Hmmm… I’m liking where this idea is going. Maybe a reddish version of my recent blue quilt.

Visiting this fabric store put us very close to a nice field that ‘s perfect for a dog run so we stopped by and let Bender and Rico stretch their legs. It was so glorious!

It seems like forever since we’ve seen the sun! Bender approved!

And so did Rico.

When my dogs were completely exhausted it felt like time for tacos and I remembered a great taco place in Vancouver, WA, just down the road from this field. So we made our way to Little Conejo and ate some of the best tacos I’ve had in a long time, accompanied by some chips, salsa and guacamole.

So much porky goodness! I can’t stop thinking about how good these tacos were! And now I’m thinking about it again…so yummy! Tacos are really the perfect food!

Then we started out the long, rush hour drive back home. It was quite a huff. Once we got home we took some time to unwind then headed back into my sewing room to start putting all those blocks together to get that quilt top done.

If you remember the last time I made an on point quilt that had sashed blocks, I made quite a mess for myself to dig my way out of. It was my starburst jumble quilt. Here’s one of the last blog posts about how I had to construct that quilt. The problems were all caused because I just started sewing sashing to blocks without consideration for how the rows of blocks would go together.

As we worked on my new quilt top today I could see so clearly what I had done wrong with my Starburst Jumble quilt. And I saw clearly how to avoid the same issues.

It meant figuring out diagonal row by diagonal row how to apply the sashing to the block, or to the setting triangle… all to make each row go together nicely.

I had to add borders and sashing with cornerstones to some of the setting triangles… but not to all of them!

And then we just added piece by piece to get each row put together…

And now I’m looking at that photo and thinking something’s definitely wrong. I’ll have to fix it tomorrow. Dammit! See that blue polka dot cornerstone sticking out on the left side? Yeah. That’s gonna be a problem.

I did the pinning, pressing and organizing… and maybe not quite enough organizing!

… and Linda did the sewing…

We managed to get all but the last three, small, diagonal rows un-puzzled and sewn together. I was so tired at that point that I told Linda we needed to stop before we made a huge mess! Thank goodness the mess I made was only a small one!

It went really smoothly this evening. It’s so nice to have help! I was able to concentrate on keeping everything straight and verifying that what we were doing was correct. We didn’t make one mistake! If we’re not completely exhausted, we’ll finish this up tomorrow evening.

When we were done for the evening I turned my LED desk lamp onto the quilt top and was amazed at how some of the fabrics glowed under it.

OMG! that crazy plaid!!! It’s so good!

Oh… we are definitely heading to the coast tomorrow! It looks like an absolutely gorgeous day. Low tide could be at a more convenient time, but we’ll make due.

While we’re at the coast we’ll stop at Center Diamond, a great little quilt shop in Cannon Beach. I never make the trip to the coast and skip a visit.

My boys are going to be so excited when the realize where we are tomorrow!

24 Replies to “Finally, a Gorgeous Day!”

  3. LOL on the finger injury. Not that the injury is funny but can’t you make up a pickleball injury and how hard you were fighting for a shot and you were running so fast when you didn’t notice the fence attack you!? hope you’re right handed so it doesn’t effect sewing. it actually looks painful. hopefully a day at the beach and more quilt shops will sooth you a bit. have fun. The pink in that plaid really brings it to life.

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  6. So sorry about your finger, looks painful 😖! Those tacos 🌮 make me hungry 😋! We are used to beef ones but pork tacos do sound so good. So glad you are getting to the beach and I hope y’all have a great time 🤗

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  7. Never in a million years would I have considered a plaid for the sashing BUT I love it. You do such beautiful work and I always look forward to the next ideas you present.

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  8. Such a fun day for the two of you, beautiful fabric, delicious food, lovely place to walk the dogs and then two friends sewing together for each of their benefits.  I hope your finger continues to heal, it always is something we least expect that gets us.  Blessings 

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  9. I love that quilt! Your choice of fabrics is so fun.

    I’d love the name of the shop in Battleground. I live north of Seattle and will be traveling down I-5 in a few months. I had no clue Battleground had a quilt shop!

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    1. It’s called Country Manor. About 10 minutes east of I-5. Definitely worth a stop.

      You might also want to check out Sisters Quilt shop in Chehalis, WA. It’s a nice little shop. Lot’s of Kaffe fabric.

      Anne

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    1. it’s a relatively new fabric so most online stores that carry Kaffe fabric will have it. Do a Google search for Kaffe Checkmate and you’ll get tons of results to choose from.

      Anne

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  12. I read your post today and it’s too late for me! I have been struggling with putting an on-point quilt together, and made the same mistake of sewing on the sashing first- what a mess. By yesterday I had figured it out and started putting rows together. My pattern has half-triangle cornerstones along the edge between the side setting blocks that I kept attaching wrong. But it will be beautiful when it’s done. Your Kaffe is so bright!

    Is the shop in Battleground Country Manor Fabrics? My daughter lives in Vancouver and I’ll have to stop there next time we’re out. And I bookmarked the taco shop too!

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    1. I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with this construction! Makes me feel a little vindicated!

      Yes, the shop is Country Manor. Definitely worth a trip if you’re in the area.

      Anne

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