February Always Flies By

Sid and Gwyn enjoying some long awaited snow

 It has been quite an eventful month for me.  I have been working away on several quilts for Kerry of Commaworkshop.  I also attended three quilt events/guilds which were all very fun.  I have been working on a quilt for my aunt for 2 years now.  It is all hand applique block-of-the-month and named Empress Ohashi.  It is the type of project that I enjoy doing on cold, snowy days when I don't want to move more than three feet from the wood stove. 

Gwyn helping arrange Empress Ohashi

I just finished all the applique and pieced together as a quilt top the other day.  As you can see in the photo, my master of balance was helping me arrangement.  It is too funny how she sits in chairs like humans or the cats.  Now, I have to quilt it. 
I am, of course, nervous about this last step.  It is such a gorgeous quilt top.  So, yesterday, I had a play day.  I loaded the machine with pretty tie-dyed fabric and just played.  I think I learn more on a play afternoon than I do in months.  It is truly important to take the time to play/practice. 
I also just started taking a Zentangle drawing course.  I think it will really improve my skills as an artist.  I have never been good on paper, just give me fabric or frosting!  So, I thought it was time to learn.  The Zentangles are great and the style really translates into quilting quite nicely.  It is fun, relaxing, and educationally skill-building all at the same time. 

Bogie under pile of blankets

It is dumping snow on us today (finally!).  So nice and pretty looking out.  Starting to wonder if we should move the car to the bottom of the driveway.  It's about time.  We were really overdue and fire season just stinks of fear and anxiety around here in drought years.  Thank you for the snow!
Well, I am going to try to clean my house up today. I've been ignoring it for the sake of work lately, but let's face it, I'd rather be quilting any day of the week versus cleaning.  Glad my hubby keeps on top of things and I just go for the deep clean every few weeks.
Keep Creating and Quilting!

Good Morning Snow

I drove home on clear roads last night at 6 pm with it just starting to snow.  These are not small cars under the snow.  The smallest is a Jeep Cherokee and the other two are a Scout and a Blazer both with lift kits.  This photo was taken at 9 am this morning and we just took a measurement of 26".  It is still snowing like crazy and I expect another 2-3 feet by the end of this storm.  Yeah!!!! We finally got some the moisture we need.  I am of course going to enjoy being snowed in for a few days quilting and making bread and maybe a split pea soup.  I do however feel sorry for our friend who stayed the night last night.  He had lots of things planned for the day and now we are making him breakfast.  There are worse places to get snowed in than Mountainjoy! 

Blizzards & Hydrangeas

Hydrangea Table Runner (for sale at www.mountainjoyquiltndye.Etsy.com)

One doesn't normally think of blizzards and hydrangeas in the same thought. That's exactly what I did this week though. It was a mild fall and now we are paying for it. Last week, it -32 one night and one of our pipes froze. Luckily it thawed and we didn't have to rip up the kitchen floor. That would have been a major problem for me. I've been sticking to my rule of only half the house can be missing floors at any given time.

After the cold snap lessened a little, the snow came. We got 4-5' fresh snow and it just won't stay put. The winds cause it to move and drift like it is a living entity akin to an ocean. Sid has been digging the Scout out from where it got stuck in the middle of the driveway. Better our driveway than any where else though, huh? He might be close to the road with it now. Maybe today is the day we get out. It'd be nice, we are almost out of coffee. No Bueno!

As Sid's been digging and the snows been blowing, I've been trying to stave off cabin fever. I have been quilting and drinking lots of hot cocoa. I decided I needed to get a few new items up again on my Etsy site. I made a few cute little fabric wallets. My battle against cabin fever was led by the mighty hydrangea fabric. It is so bold and beautiful and colorful, that it put me in a better mood. Those reminders of spring are very important and I think we quilters gravitate to florals in the dead of winter. I made 2 table runners and 8 place mats. It's a good thing I have plenty of fabric in my stash to keep me busy for the next month.

Spring must return sometime so just keep quilting and stay warm.