Thread Tales From A Scrappy Quilter

Yesterday we visited the  Byodo-In Temple and felt like I was transformed back to Tennessee.  The grounds were so beautiful, very shady, water falls and streams.  Azaleas!  Above the temple, the view is spectacular.  I am so glad we got this trip worked in, we had tried to spend some time here in the past and things did not work out.  Very cool and windy, we did check out Kaneohe Bay beach area, some camping cabins, DROVE across an airplane landing strip (yes they even have a RR type crossing arm!) and took in some bowling.  I did manage to get a little sewing on my current project early yesterday morning but no pics to share yet.   Here is a little of what we saw yesterday.

I completed my 1st little block from the Catalicious quilt  and started March's yesterday.  I really need to shop for floss as I don't have similar shading threads in my small collection that I brought with me but am plodding on with what I have.  No time to look for supplies, none in my town. Also a few pictures to post from the weekend.  Saturday we played in the water at Ka'ena Point Beach and Sunday we played near Kokohead (near the blowhole) looking for fossils.  Our first shark teeth finds in Hawaii! Lava Chair

Tried working yesterday with the howling 20 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph .   I had to shut doors to keep things from blowing everywhere and even windows at times.  Too bad about all those that travel from all over the world to get married here with photo shoots along the beach.  The newspaper this morning included some very interesting wedding photos with clothing almost blown up, out, over and the same for the hair!  The beach across the street from us includes one wedding chapel and if you are on the beach from 9-4, I'm sure you will see wedding parties and photographers somewhere along the beach.   Back to quilting events, I was not happy with the finish for my One Block Wonder, bought some brighter fabric to change up the borders.  After playing with it a little, I decided I could leave all as is and just add another plain border with this brighter fabric and I believe it works.  The size is pushing it for...

I've gotten the vintage linen bug and was able to get a good bargain on Ebay the other day.  Don't you just love this one?  This will be a quilt backing someday. Currently, I'm working on THIS  project.  I think it is so cute and lucky for me I packed some DMC embroidery floss.  I will need more but I have some colors to get me started.  Catalicious!   My  Quilts for Kids  project is finished and on its way back to the mainland.  This really is an easy way to help a child.  The organization supplies the fabric and pattern.  For my quilt, the strips were cut from each fabric and the focus fabric was already cut into the correct number of 6" squares.  Very little cutting, fast sewing and oh so cute!   You supply the batting and return postage.  We picked up a cute fabric and coordinates for Mickey to work on another quilt using this same pattern.  Here is my fin...

Several projects are nearing the finish.... but I do have one complete!  This is my Dresden Plate runner, part of a project with Greenie's Quilting Geese  where we are making dresden plate projects all year.  I needed someone to hold this for me to get a good picture but am so happy to report that this one is DONE with a picture.  This runner is perfect to use for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter as well as for spring.    Quilted free motion on my tiny little travel machine which is not ideal for quilting.  Especially on the dining table.  And given that I have had a set in machine for the past 34 years working with a flush surface....  Ahhhh, but challenges are what really make the project fun sometimes don't you think? Then after visiting the local High School Art exhibit Saturday, we were off to explore a beach at the end of the westshore of the island.  What a great day!  The water was calm and c...