Happy Moment #42: Katie and Sammy Say HI!

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too.

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

Cross Ridge Hike to Sam's Point

Hiking has always been a thing that the mister and I hold dear.  Our first date was a long hike, we were married at a hiking place, and we life gets tough... we hike.  This past weekend was no exception.  We were due for a long hike (the wet spring and summer cramped our hiking) and when the opportunity came up to cross from Minnewaska State Park Preserve to Sam’s Point we jumped at it. 

{warning picture heavy post!}

We drove to Sam's Point.  Beautiful morning with a slight chill in the air.

Here is the conservatory lodge.  The very same one we were married in.  Awww!

Getting reacquainted with my friend.  I have a picture of me doing the very same thing in my wedding dress.

The bus came to take us to Minnewaska.  Still can't think of how long it had been since I rode on a big yellow bus.  High school?

 We got started on Mossy Glen Path.  Normally a nice stroll over and along a small stream.  Do you see that sign?  Bridge out?  Most of this area had been closed just a few weeks ago due to the hurricane damage and the constant rains.  Let's see what were are in for?

Here is the stream we had to hop across.  Rocks are your friends... and so is keeping three points of contact.

We meandered along the stream after that.  Do you see all those trees down and up rooted?  That's not normal.

We ate lunch at Castle Point.  The views were just breath taking.  And it was fun to point off in the distance to where we were to end our adventure later that day.

Along the trail the ridge terrain changes many times.  Up hills, over big rocks, and down into valleys we went.

Once in awhile you could look back to see where you had been.  This shows Castle Point (our lunch spot).

We went by many lakes.  Most were full to the brim.

One of the rewards at the end was the view of Vanderkill Falls.  It was roaring with all the rain water pouring over.  I've seen this falls a bunch of times and it never fails to amaze me.  It's a tough hike out, but this re-energized me!

This is that second reward I was talking about.  These are blueberry bushes turned bright red for the fall.  It was really something to look as far as possible and see fields of red a glow from the setting sun. 

This re-energized me too!

Near the end of the hike now.  Less than 1/2 a mile to car --whhoooohhooo!  I find myself always taking this picture of the edge of Sam's Point rock from the bottom up. 

And then were back to the lodge.  In one piece.  No worse for the wear; ok, maybe a little sore. 

Hard to really pinpoint what it is about hiking that is so rewarding, but I am so thankful to be able to get out like this and soak in as much of the great outdoors as I can. 

And how far was this hike you might be asking?  We went for about 11-12 miles.  It was a hardy hike, but conquering things like this really reminds me just how much I am capable of.

When and where was your last hike?

Seasonal Sewing Free-for-all!

--FINISHES--

Crewel Spring Flowers - showed you this one last week!!
Confetti: Dog Path in the Woods - started this week off with this finish!

Big Blue - I have been quilting this one like a maniac so that I can have it to reveal this Saturday for the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by the lovely Amy from Amy'sCreativeSide.  I think I am going to just make it!

Oh and of course the mister is going to be thrilled to have his very own quilt to curl up in!

--IN PROGRESS--

Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson

Showed you this project yesterday. 

Can't wait to roll up my sleeves and dig back in!  You can also check out what I learned about using fusible in an art quilt!

 

--NEW--

 

And I have three new projects to introduce!  I know.. three!!!!

 

Winter Birds

This is a mostly top secret project that will result in a birthday/Christmas gift.  Yes, Mom, if you are reading (Hi!!) this is the start of your quilt and.... you are going to have to wait to see more. 

 

But, I couldn't resist a teaser shot!

 

NY-NY

This is also a last minute, mostly top secret venture that I am looking to start and finish in the next 2-3 weeks.  Here is one of the starring fabrics!

 

Timber and Shadow: confetti style

I look forward to telling you more about this new project separately next week.  The main idea is that I am going to translate these two awesome labs into the confetti quilting style that I just did for Dog Path. 

 

It's going to be a cool one!!

 

 

Confession... and I have more fabric on the way for a fourth new project that I will probably be introducing next week (Yes, Beka... it's with you in mind... and you'll laugh... it's more birds!!).  Keeping busy makes me pretty darn happy!!  And who says I can't start/finish another four big quilts this year and probably about 3-4 smaller art quilts.  I love a good challenge!

 

--ON PAUSE--

 

Star Struck
Star quilt-a-long by Melissa at Happy Quilting.  I am still standing at one block.

 

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I'm glad I had no deadline for myself on this one, but I am sure it will be an awesome winter project and just the right thing to pick up after all this crazy holiday sewing!

 

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6
New Projects: 2

Finished Projects: 3 (Crewel Pillow, Dog Path, and Big Blue)
Total WiP's: 6

(and I'm back to six again? this must be some sort of mental capacity for me -- too funny!)

Get YOUR Super On!

Smacking my head on my forehead...

I'm guest blogging today for the HOWL-OWEEN Tricks and Treats Craftathon over at Rhinestone Beagle -- a seriously awesome crafting, cooking, and gardening blog that also as you might have guessed is highly dog infused!! 

Has your pup (or cat) recieved a last minute invitation to a Halloween Ball and have nothing to wear?  Are you interested in joining a Halloween pet contest or parade and have no costume in sight?  Do you just like dressing up your dog maybe for the big game or no reason at all?

Well fear not... Super Sammy is here to the rescue!!  Ta, ta, ta, TA!!! 

So, get on over to Rhinestone Beagle and make your very own dog, cat, or people cape so you too can get your super on!!



**Disclaimer... wearing the super cape don't guarentee you can fly, leap buildings in a single bound, or see through walls.**

Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson

So, I took my first ever quilting class last week.  Exciting isn't even close to describing how awesome it was.  The class was called Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson.  Her blog is here.

I think part of what made it so incredible was how many firsts it was for me:

* It was my first time playing with hand dyed fabric
* It was my first time working completely with applique -- like which side do I iron?
* It was my first time using decorative rotary cutter blades
* It was my first time spending a whole day quilting with a group of awesome ladies
* It was my first time (in awhile) that I tried to take creative direction and didn't just do my own thing.
* It was my first time quilting in anywhere, but the safety of my sewing room

We had a beautiful cabin on the lake setting...

...which was pretty, even as it poured outside for most of the day.

Frieda hand dyes all her fabrics.  The evening before she described her technique in detail at the guild meeting.  Really makes me appreciate all the effort that goes in to creating fabric like this.

I think the initial cutting of her beautiful fabric was fairly challenging ... since we dove right into the background and did things a bit differently than I normally approach things -- the idea was to let the design develop naturally. 

Each of her yards of fabric had between 7 and 14 colors on them in gradient.  Really cool!!

Here I am arranging my background and the strips between.

At some point I decided the oranges and yellows in the background were too much.  I also started to add other elements in the gray boxes.  Looking at it now, one week later, I have to laugh because I have so many ideas for how to finish this!  The day of the class I think I was getting a little overwhelmed.

All in all, I feel like I accomplished what I set out to do and that was to push myself out of my comfort zone and create something I wouldn't have done on my own.  I also really enjoyed the experience of hanging out with a group of other quilting enthusiasts for the day. 

Here are few other things I learned:
* Clean fusible (or any sticky goo) off your iron with an unused (and unscented) dryer sheet
* The release paper on fusible can be reused and makes a good working surface and you are building up layers and adding elements
* Placement of fusible isn't permanent until you steam it.  That means you can lightly tack your design (as I have above), and go back and remove/move something if you want to try something else. 
* When trying to cut out leaves or any shape for that matter... it doesn't hurt to look at the real thing (or a picture).  Don't always have to work from memory.
* Stand up to cut with decorative blades.  They really require a bit of force to cut.
* Cut with decorative blades on the back of your mat... they do scar cutting mats.
* Putting a hanging sleeve on your work is much easier to do that I previously thought!
* Oh, and last thing I found really cool.. you can fuse to card stock!!  Can you say holiday cards?

I am going to add this unnamed piece to my in progress stack, but I'm already looking forward to pulling it out and finishing it up so I can take it to the November quilt guild meeting for show and tell. 

And since this features a few firsts for me I am joining Melissa at Happy Quilting for TNT (Trying New Things) Thursdays.  If you have tried something new... doesn't have to be quitling related join in!

Have you ever taken a quilting class?

Dog Path in the Woods {completed}

I am going to say welcome back.. to me.  I've been off squeezing every last fun moment out of life.  And that means that blogging took a back seat.  But, I have a camera full of pictures and so much to tell you about.

Let's start the week with a finish, shall we?

{Part I of Confetti Quilting Dog Path}
{Dog Path quick update!}

Here is Dog Path in the Woods bound and ready for hanging!

When I last left off I had a lot of small details to add.  The piece needed to be squared (I decided on an 8.5 x 11 size) and then bound.

Here are the pups up close.  Katie is leading the way with her golden coat and fluffy tail.   Sammy is close on her heels.  I used a bit of batting to create the dogs and teased it to give it more fur-like texture.

Want to pet them?

I added a tiny bit of dark green wool to the trees in the background.  Love how they create a canopy of leaves!

The forest floor wasn't complete without details of hand cut ferns in several greens.  I free motion sewed them on with a multi-green thread.  I also like how they add a bit of dimension to the piece!

And there you have it.  These woods were made for walking, and walking is what they are gonna do!!

As a side note... I went to my quilting guild this past week and brought this piece for show and tell to the Art Quilt Group and as I was describing the technique and how I found it on YouTube..... the ladies dropped a bomb....

They told me that fiber artist Noriko Endo was actually a member of the guild at one point.  My mouth dropped to the floor.

Mor-ti-fied!!  Seriously, my cheeks flushed, my knees felt like they were going to buckle.   I felt unworthy.  Here I was standing in the very same room where Noriko began to really come into her own style and I'm trying to describe her technique.


But, the group was so beautiful about encouraging me and asking me to continue my description.  And get this.... they asked me.  ME?  To give a demo of the technique at the December meeting.  I'm so lucky to have found such an amazing group of artists/ladies to share my love of fabric with!!  I feel like giving each on of them a huge hug!

And with that... I can see a few more of these in my future.  And, the comment I have gotten over and over?  That I should make a bigger one.  So, yes, the next one is going to be much larger!!

And I think this project is a perfect candidate for Stitched in Color's Celebrate Color celebration!!

Fall is an amazing time to get out into the woods for a hike!

In the early fall, the temperatures are starting to get cooler and the leaves look like this scene.  Still mostly green, but a few start to carpet the ground making that awesome crunching sound as you bound along and take in the adventure!  As the fall progresses the trees start to light up in soft yellows, bright orange and reds.

Yes, I think you should go take a hike!!

edit to add :: This project was featured at Rhinestone Beagle!!  Thank you Anita and Kelly!

I'm linking up with these fun parties!!  See you there!

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