Wednesday is Free Admission Day!

Since Wednesday is the official start of the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days.

I am writing this ahead and setting this to post at the same time as it is Opening.

It's my first time to be a Volunteer and being in charge of a whole area has been difficult.

I'm still trying to get people to come and Help me Monitor during the fair.

Today a Clerk that I had pre-arranged to help came to help with a few of the last minute things. 

She has been out of town and I wasn't sure when she was coming home.

She helped me put the "quilty" words on a poster board sign. 

She took my picture to see what the fair-goers will see as they come by.

 Today, I wrote up and framed the story of my "Double Wedding Ring Quilt and put it there beside me.

I added at the Bottom--- "Every Quilt has a story- Don't forget to write it down."

 This is the other view if the area- Open class Needlework- Department 54

Quilts in back, Bobbin lace and Pillowcases in the case.

This is my collection of Vintage machines. 

(I still need to add the signs with the ages on there.)

I'll post the Winners after the Fair so I don't spoil anyone's surprises.

Grandma Date

I have taken each of my grandchildren to Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner when they turned 8.  In the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints, it is the age of accountability and they are Baptised and Confirmed.  I showed Olivia's Baptism HERE already.  I determined when our oldest grandchild came to the milestone age that I would like to make it extra special and have some "One on One" time with them to do this.  So far I've taken all of them and I hope they will always remember how special they are to me. It helps that they are only an hour from where I live. I'm not sure how I'm be able to do this with the far-away grandchildren. It might be a little different and have to be when I see them sometime around their 8th birthday (maybe when they come visit)  As I have taken them, if they have an older sibling who has gone they are excited and already know where we are going.  This trip wasn't easy to plan.  Grandma's car is being 'fixed' so I had to drive Grandpa's Truck and make sure I knew all the rules to get the booster seat so she could ride up front.  They know there will be PICTURES!  I'm the picture taking Grandma...

 First off, they get to choose where they want to eat!  Olivia chose "SONIC". 

Chicken nuggets, Tots and a Lime Smoothie.

Then we went to the Far West Bookstore and bought her a Journal.  

She was very methodical in the choosing.  I have their name engraved on it and encourage them to write in it on Sundays to think about and remember the things they learned.   The book store was busy so NaDell had to take Olivia to pick it up.  I didn't get a Picture of her with her journal.  Next I take them up the road to the Columbia River Temple for a picture by the sign.  It shows how tall they are. Olivia reminded me she has been here before and had her picture taken. Maybe not by the sign, and it wasn't when she was 8. 

 She is on the path, to prepare to enter the Temple when she turns 12.

It was a Monday and the gates were locked.  

We couldn't walk around the temple like I have with the others. 

There are more flowers, fountains and other pretty places to take pictures.

Olivia is used to 'posing'.

She wanted a picture on the steps, then saw the pretty flowers and sat up there.

In Primary they sing a song about turning 8.

"I Like My Birthday's"

I also took time to go and visit my husband's Mother.  It is from her that I learned the most fun thing a grandma can do is have 'One on One' time with the grandchildren. 

On my way home I was able to meet my newest grand-daughter. Her arrival was early in the morning. I waited until her big brothers had gotten to meet her.  

They are all so happy to have a sister/daughter. 

I say 3rd times the Charm for them.

Design Wall Monday- August 26, 2013

Tonight is the final class for the Pickledish/Gameboard.  I'm have enjoyed taking another class from Eddie.
Amidst all the hustle and WORK of getting ready for FAIR... and a few "Family" EVENTS!  I haven't made much progress on my Blocks so all I can do is show the whole 4 blocks that I finished at last week's class. I'm glad I chose these colors. You can see all of last Wednesday's Progess posting HERE.

 I think I'll be working on this during the time I am at the Fair.  I have several of my Vintage Machines set up with the Quilts.  I can choose to use a different one each day, LOL

While waiting for the Fair Entries to come in I knitted this Dishcloth with a Capital "T".

 Here is the stack of Quilts and other entries we got in.  Sorry the picture is dark. 

 I forgot about the window.

I am a bit overwhelmed to be in charge of the Open Needlework Section. I've had help from my Dear Hubby (DH) and 2 good friends. It's been some very long days and a LOT of walking up and down stairs and ladders the past week. I never knew how much was involved with being a Volunteer at the FAIR.
Then ---there is Paperwork.  I am making a long list of To-Do's for next year.
 A few muscles that haven't been used in a while are yelling at me.  

Entries, Judging is Done!!

There might be some "Sneak Peeks" from the Fair on Wednesday, come back to see then.

For today, you can see more DWM Postings HERE.

Dear Grand-daughter #2 Baptism

 Sunday night was a Special occasion--- Olivia got to wear her 2nd White Dress.

She was baptized by her Father.
She was Confirmed and given a nice blessing too.

I asked for a 3-generation picture.
 The White Dress was first worn by Olivia's Mother. 

There is more about the evening HERE.

Olivia also got her Purple Towel with her name on it.

We will plan the traditional 8 Year old Grandchild/Grandma Date when my Car is fixed. 

Long Story-short-

Thank heavens for an Engineer in the family and a small boy to fit and get my keys out of the locked truck! 

I have mailed the Red towel to the Birthday Boy who has a Birthday this week.

We will have to wait to meet our newest Grand-daughter too. She will be born Soon. 

Pictures of her are going to be limited per family request. This is our 19th Grandchild!

How Many Curves???

I was a bit afraid to go to my class last Monday.  The curves on my Pickledish/Gameboard were daunting.

As usual EDDIE W. showed us a trick and made it easier to do.  

 Eddie cut the 'templates' from an old hard cutting mat.

I had to change my rotary cutter blade so I didn't ruin a second one.  

Amazing how much easier the pieces were cut with a NEW blade.

 I got four of the blocks all the way put together and only had to unsew the last junction on a couple. 

PINS are your friend when doing curves.

That's all the sneak peek I'm posting until after the final class.

So how many more curves do I have to do??? too many to count- really.

Just like counting all the pieces in this quilt will be. HOMEWORK is to get as many done as we can.  She doesn't think we will get them all done, but we surprised her this week so we will see.

Maybe that Double Wedding Ring quilt on my "WHIMM LIST" wouldn't be TOO hard after this quilt...

A bit of binding strip cutting and borders has been happening since my BLADE is new and so much easier to use.  Why do we wait so long to change them?
My Quilt entries for the Fair didn't happen but I have entered 3 quilts (already finished) and 2 Challenges in for the upcoming Quilt Show here in the Walla Walla Valley.  

So, Whatcha working on this Wednesday???

Design Wall/Floor Monday- August 19, 2013

After a LOT of Saturday Stitching I got my Homework done for the Class at Sew n Vac tonight. I had to set up my Janome to sew, that way I didn't have to take the Bernina off the Quilting Table.

Thank heavens I don't have to press all of these parts before I go.  I laid them out on my Living Room floor and sorted them a bit.  This will not be the final layout.
So much fun to see them this far along. Who knew I would ever make this pattern. 

That is a LOT of pieces. They look like butterflies on the floor right now.

  

I also have to show my 5.5" Pam Buda Nabby's Dowry Blocks.

Every Friday there is another one to make. HERE is the Link to see her Blog.

      Each block is different and I like them.

 

             I am stitching them on my 1950's Featherweight.

             I wonder what Block #7 will be???

              She hasn't told us how they will be set.

       Just 6 more to make.

                                                   

Linking up to Blogland with Judy L HERE

It's FRIDAY!

It' s been a busy and frustrating week. Wednesday this cute Puppy came in the mail from Wisconsin to cheer me up. Thanks mmcjt who Blogs at the Highlighted link.

She's the same lady who made my Quilted self that I use for my FB and Blogger Profile Pic.

 How did she know that when I met my DH 37 Years ago the Puppy Dog Eyes

were something that I was attracted to???  Yes, They were. He's not so into remembering the First Date and going back to the Fair in Moses Lake. It just wouldn't be the same without him. We haven't been back since 2011, I blogged it  HERE.  I don't want to drive 2+ hours alone just to eat a Spaceburger by myself... I made him a Chicken Taco Salad.  I had the yen for Taco Salad since my visit to my Cousin's Guild in Utah.  I adapted the dressing recipe a bit since I didn't have the exact measurements.

Friday also means that PAM BUDA is posting the next HST Block in the Nabby's Dowry SAL.

Here is my #2 block and the one posted today #6.  Cute, HUH??

 

One week from yesterday, the exhibits will be brought in for the FAIR here in Walla Walla. 

 Judging will be happening Friday and I'll be busy with setting everything up in the Pavillion. 

Have a good week-end everyone.

Why Not ME????

APQS is giving away a "LUCEY" in December.  I can't resist TRYING to WIN!  While in Utah I got to test a Longarm with my Cousin.  It was fun, but just makes me realize what I have isn't what I really Need!  That Stitch regulation is something I can't quilt without. 

Meanwhile I will just keep making Quilt Tops!  I know my DH can't afford for me to Quilt by CHECK.   I really do prefer saying... "I DID IT ALL MYSELF!!!"

I've added Pictures to some of the Tabs at the top of the BLOG.  Putting pictures there reminds me to find them and work on them. I found that my UFO's are just growing and my START-ITUS is in full swing!

Mid Month Report

 I have finished only #4 of my August Goals.  The rest of the Month will be devoted more to my responsibilities at the Walla Walla Fair. 

There is a Walk- Through Meeting at the Fairgrounds tonight. 

AUGUST 2013 Goals:

1- WW Fair Banner

2- Borders on Somewhere in Time- Blue

3-Make 3 more Blocks and sew together - Midnight Flight, add Border.

4- NON Quilt Related- Make Blessing dress DONE

 

Fair Season has just begun.  Hermiston Fair was Last Week, My Home town Moses Lake, "Grant County Fair" is happening this week, Benton Franklin is this coming week.  DH is working way too many hours to go with me so I'm missing them all.  NO Spaceburgers for me this year. I will always remember the fun times we had 37 years ago going to the Demolition Derby at the Grant County Fair on our First Date. AHHH the memories... Unfortunately I wasn't the Picture taker I am today, I can only think about those pictures we didn't take. 

Tuesday/Wednesday Fun

 If it the 2nd Week of the Month it's time for Quilt Guild.  I usually spend the day making the Lotto Blocks and story board.  Good thing it was a fairly easy block that I chose.

I chose fabrics in colors my Grandma liked. Old fashioned calicos too.

I shared again how to spin the 4-patches.  And passed my sample around.

 

Block Lotto for September is HERE.  "Grandmother's Cross"

Barb Larson won the 6 Blocks Tuesday.  They really do look like SUMMER!

 

I see a secondary pinwheel in there, so cute!!!!

 

I got my 4 Blocks for the Nabby's Dowry SAL sewn together. They are 5.5" unfinshed.

 

I'm working on my Home work for the class I am taking at Sew -n-Vac. 

Eddie Walker makes hard quilts look so easy.

She calls this Gameboard/Pickledish

 Here she is when she showed it at Guild in March.

I'm doing mine in Blue, Cream and Brown. 

 I have 7 pairs sewn and need to sew 29 more pairs by class next week.

Usng the 10 degree ruler makes the cutting easy... long, tedious, but easy.

Eddie used her band saw to make us templates out of an old cutting mat, for cutting the centers and Background fabrics.

Design Wall Monday-August 12, 2013

I succumbed to the Friday Temptation after getting home from the Ward Campout.

 

 I took many of these HST's, clipped the dog ears and finger pressed them, then I put them into sets of 10.

There are a total of 390 HST's, they measure 1.75" each.

I think the Blue, Purple and Black ones will have to be in other quilts. 

 I do have the "Ocean Waves" on my 'Bucket List'.

My Pam Buda Blocks won't be 6" finished, but I'm glad to be able to use these HST's that otherwise 

were just sitting around in the tote and behind my sewing machine, taking up space.

It's amazing how many ways you can arrange 16 HST's to make a block. 

Thanks Pam Buda for the Temptation of your Sew-along.

I was able to lay out all but 1 of the Blocks so I'm almost caught up with the SAL.

I need to cut some solid squares to lay out  Block 2.

I'll Link up HERE for more Design Wall Monday Posts.

Friday Temptation

To Start or not to Start...THAT is the Question???

  Each week Pam Buda adds a new block over at Heartspun Quilts to the Nabby's Dowry Sew-Along.  I have watched for 6 weeks now and I know I have the fabrics just waiting to be made into these blocks.  My 2 Civil War drawers are over-flowing. Kathy in Canada tempts me with her blocks, too. 

I could do these as my L/E (Leader/Enders).

HMMMMMM...

My HST tote has plenty to use also if I wanted to get the blocks made quicker and smaller.  That would be very scrappy. I would need to size them all down to one size,  most would be 1.5"- 2".

I will have a lot of Pressing to do with these hst's that are already sewn. 

I could do that while I catch up on my DVR-ed shows from last week-end, right?

There's a Ward Family Campout planned, but the weatherman warns of thunder and lightning.

It's National Book Lover's Day!  
Moda Fabrics is celebrating with a blog hop.
I want to read, but my sewing machine is calling to me!

Road Trip with Army SON

I arrived Home from an unexpected Vacation Wednesday evening. I'm catching up on my Blogging and Blog Hopping.  Did you Miss me???

Last Saturday Jeff and I left to go to the Blessing of Rebekah in Alpine, Wyoming.  He had to get his U-Haul in Tri- Cities so it was a late start.  With a few stops we got there just before midnight.  I had trouble sewing the snaps on the back of her Blessing dress so there was an extra stop to buy new needles.

 Here she is... Her Highness, Princess, Ballerina Rebekah Jean Crowther  as her brothers call her.  Grandma Teresa bought her the tiara and wand.

 Grandma Teresa and Grandpa Doug Bosen

 4 Generation Picture

 Uncle Jeff

Tina, Grandma Mary and Rebekah

 Brant Crowther Family

 

3 Generations

3 Brothers, 1 Sister!           #18 Granchild onesie returned on the due .date

 Before we left Brant's I had to stitch the label on her quilt. We drove to Clinton and spent the night at Ellen's. The Truck had some LIGHTS flashing coming into Utah so Jeff had to get it all checked out at AAMCO. Thankfully it wasn't an expensive FIX-- 2 Zipties and he was ok to continue his drive back to Missouri.   I enjoyed going out to dinner with her Mom, sister and Aunt Jane.  We went to a couple quilt shops and I didn't even buy a thing! I took this picture in the SE & Stitch. It's the Saturday Block of the Month that is coming up there.

 I forgot to take a picture of her and I while there, but I took a picture of her RED EYE! It was fun to show her how to get a New Belt and Bobbins and find out that it is a Model 66 from 1920's.  I was glad to see that she has this treasure from Scott's Grandmother.

 Tuesday Morning it was on to my cousins in Riverton.  This is where we parted ways.  I stayed with my cousin and Jeff drove on to visit his baby sister in Colorado.  Bye, Bye for a while!

My 30's "Star and Crown" Quilt is on the way home, YEA!  I had to send it to be quilted by Natalia Bonner in Utah.  While in Utah she posted pictures of the quilting on her Blog HERE.  I was so excited to see it quilted. I have a quilt to enter in the Walla Walla Valley September Quilt show now. I finished putting the rest of the quilt together way back in 2011. Those posts are HERE and  HERE where  it was first shown on the Blog.  2009 -2103  is way too long to wait for the finishing. Pat Speth is the Pattern designer.   Her version is shown on her website HERE.  Her method of making Nickel quilts with 5" charm squares are FUN.  Check them out. "5 Inch is a Cinch"
I'll post more about my visit when I get a copy of the picture with my cousin.

Design Wall Monday- August 5, 2013

I have to pre-write this before I leave town to go an meet my newest Grand-daughter.
Since the 2 Baby Girl Quilts are FINISHED and Delivered by the time this post goes 'live'!
 I have laid out my UFO Blocks that were 'gifted' to me at the Leavenworth  Retreat in June. 

 I'll have to find a fabric to sash the blocks and add a couple borders to get this one to Flimsy.  I can use it for one of my grandchildren who have outgrown their Baby Quilts.  This will be my NewFO.

 I finished the #4 item on my Get it Done list for August.  It isn't Quilted, but I will show it anyway.

A Blessing Dress made for Grand Daughter #5, Grandchild #18

My son requested that it not be made of slick fabric...he doesn't want to drop her

or have her slide out of his hands. I even made a petticoat to go underneath.

I made it with Batiste and eyelet. I had to add the buttons and snaps to it enroute. I hope it FITS! 

I'll link up to Judy L's HERE.