bits of what I brought home from Alaska

I really did not think about souvenirs on our travels.  My thoughts were more along the lines of pictures and experiences.  But then we entered a fabric store in Juneau that catered to quilters.  The fabric store was quite exciting because another shopper, who was from South Africa, got woozy and fell over.  I sat and talked with her until she felt better, my parents sat in the lobby, and while I looked at more fabrics, my Beloved walked her down the stairs in the building.  

The thing I liked about the fabric store is that they carried Alaska artist Barbara Lavallee's work as quilting squares.  I had seen the prints as prints, note cards, and post cards but the quilting squares spoke to me.  I walked out with too many but now I am going to make a quilt of them.  I just have to have enough energy again to get started.  The cough is better!

I also came home with this bronze of a momma polar bear and her cubs.  The bronze has a titanium finish to give it colors.  The family joins a pewter bear and a dragnet.  Koda Bear thinks the animals who watch over me when I sew are pretty cool.  They all sit at the end of my sewing machine.

Now, I have to make my souvenir.  But that is pretty normal.  I have some wood block prints to hang near my sewing machine as well.  Sitka was a lovely place for art.

for Mr. J

This quilt got mailed today.  Off to Brooklyn and Mr. J.

Boyos picked out the backing fabric and I am really pleased with how everything turned out.

For the next three weeks, I will be traveling with family.  Funeral and Alaska.  I will try to be in this space a few times but it may not happen.  I have not traveled with my parents since I was a teenager.  It could be very interesting!

I am also very aware I need the break from work.  Going offline would make that much easier.  But, you will probably find me on instagram if you wish @elibjerklie.  I am hoping to capture a few pictures of mountains so I can look at them later when I am too warm in December.

not turkey basting

I was emailing back and forth with a friend this week and he told me that when I talk about basting a quilt it always makes him think of basting a turkey.  I totally understand.  And one night this week, with a bit of sangria, I got this quilt basted.

I have actually been working on it today and I tumbled off my sewing stool as I tried to sit down on it.  I felt like such a klutz.  Now, a couple hours later, I am feeling all the twinges, bruises, and shocks.  I twisted so I would not hit my head or back.  Too many years of figure skating.  I feel like I should be scraped but I found none.  I do know that Monday is going to be interesting moving.  Tomorrow should be okay because it is the forty eight hours out any more that hurts the worse.

But that is me being a klutz.  That is life. 

bits and pieces (mostly a quilt top is pieced!)

This weekend was trying to get caught up a bit after traveling.  Especially since there is about a month before we travel to Sitka.  It is where I wanted to go and I made it happen.  Koda Bear and my parents are going to go with me so it should be interesting. 

I finished mending one of my work sweaters that became a bumming around in sweater.  I had a cashmere cardign that had gone to lace due to holes but I decided to take some of the yarn I made and make the patch.  That was in Montana, in July, over the fourth of July.  I just got it stitched on.  My Dad would now say my elbow is sick again because it cannot be out.  Stupid old jokes and puns.  But I have a mended sweater to bum around in.  Under my waterproof, it will work well in Sitka.

I also got the next quilt top pieced.  I am so pleased.  And I took the easy way out and put the back together.  There was still some stitching involved but not so much piecing.  I am looking forward to the quilting.  Just the rhythm, the meditation.

I have been spinning a bit two, but pictures of my spinning wheel and the yarn are boring.  I will take a picture of the sweater in progress soon.  I am still making the yarn for it!

Just bits of my weekend.  With much tea and books.  A bit of gardening that messed up my hands again.  The gloves I used this time were worn out so I got blisters.  The next pair, a bit too small.  I have not found a pair I like that fits recently.  That is life.

delivered for Miss W

I delivered this quilt last week.  

Friends of our had their fourth babe about four months ago.  I am slow.  Today is their wedding anniversary which in many ways is just amazing too me.  I was thinking about this when i delivered this quilt.  Eighteen years ago they got married.  I was in the wedding.  Seems a long time ago and just yesterday.

Congratulations!