|| Season Up ||

I have two finished quilts to show you, but no bright days to photograph them, so I’ll offer you up this quilt as a tidbit of luminosity instead. After the students cleared last Saturday, I did my usual clean up and moved the table out of the way to baste one of my snowballed stars quilt.

I went with a mostly flannel back.

It occurred to me as I was snuggled under a quilt the other night that always pick ones with flannel backs. I had moved away from using flannel in an effort to use up some of my stash, and to make traveling with 100 pounds of quilts for workshops and lectures a tad lighter, but they just don’t have the feel I like to cozy up with.

In an effort to stretch the flannel I do have I’ll stick with adding some panels that either reflect the design on the front, or use the leftovers from it. It’s a great way to play with some improv design. As usual I started with one idea, ditched it and ended up with something completely different.

I’m waiting on my thread, and then I’ll likely set up shop for quilting at the dining room table like last time.

I had a request for a retreat at the studio for three people, the first since Covid. Attendees picked two projects that gave me some teaching time and the capability to complete some gifts as well. I’m actually keeping one zip pouch for myself this time.

This pattern is one of my favorites for teaching zippers and of course gifting.

It’s probably not appropriate to give a gift and ask that the wrapping stay, so these gift bags will just be used here at home with family;) I had a bunch of leftover scraps from my Christmas star quilt that found a home using In Color Order’s drawstring bag pattern. If I get some time I’d love to add some other sizes made with just a single print or two to balance out the scrappy.

We also joined forces and made a few things for an auction/ fundraiser for a group educating about gun violence. Michelle Pattern’s grocery bag pattern and Krista of Spotted Stones zip pouch are easy to make with all the novelty fabrics I had to have.

We got away for a few days, this time in Baja to Todos Santos. It was a little more touristy than I expected, but easy to be outside to eat and play.

We splurged on a really nice home walking distance from the beach.

We ate everything we could.

Of course my family had to find a tv live streaming the Liverpool game, so we made our way into town one morning for huevos rancheros and the best/ first ever breakfast margis.

Considering the days here in Seattle couldn’t be any darker, it was a good little meditation reminder that the sun is always up there shining, even when it’s covered by clouds and you can’t see it. In the meantime we put up our indoor lights which makes the house feel so cozy in the early morning and night.

I love the lights IKEA has put out over the years and have to admit this years holiday selection was a little uninspiring. I’m so glad I bought them when I did.

I went a little crazy with the TJs wool ball garlands this year and I haven’t quite finished combining them with the lights in the front window.

Since I’m the cat lady of plants we don’t have room for a tree, but I do like holiday decor that can mostly be left for the winter.

All the Christmas quilts are out, though admittedly some never got tucked away. I put a Crazy Piecing workshop on the calendar for the 20th after getting out my Arkansas Cross Roads quilt using the technique.

I bought some more flannel in the reindeer print to make its way into some king size pillows.

I also got around to a new cover for my ironing station (tutorial here). Here’s a sneak peek of my new quilt on the wall which I thought kind of matched the print.

Apparently I collect pie pans, and it’s true, pie is my favorite dessert.

So it’s kind of mandatory that pies get made for the holidays. We missed it last year due to COVID, but my pie crust making girlfriends and I got together for our annual Make Ford Proud Assembly Line Pie Crust Production Day. We each walked away with enough crusts to freeze and make our holiday pies. Imagine what we could have done if I’d remembered to bring butter;)

Ironically, I went home and made a blackberry tart since I couldn’t be bothered to get a pan out.

We’ve I’ve gotten back into the groove of cooking around here, especially soups since I’ve got something continually brewing in the slow cooker to enrich store bought stock. Unless you’re the two other members of my immediate family you’ll love the NYTs butternut squash soup. I don’t bother with the browned butter, but the swirl of creme fraiche is mandatory.

“Food eats first” is our family joke when we take photos of our food before we eat it. That really didn’t happen this round, I just ate it, especially the turkey and zucchini burgers from Yotam’s fab book Jerusalem, which I’m making again tonight. So good.

There’s some blooming stuff around. My Christmas cactus was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, as was this happy plant until Boss came trotting by me with its single flower in his mouth. Maybe another time we’ll see what it was suppose to look like in full bloom.

Look at him…it wasn’t me.

Not sure if I’ll make it back here before the holiday, so I wish you all a peaceful season.

Looking forward to time in the studio with new and returning peeps.

xoxo, Katie