Island Batik Ambassador November Challenge

by Annie Blog Hop

Island Batik Ambassadors had the opportunity to choose a ByAnnie bag pattern that we would like to make. We had our choice of any with a supporting video, 29 to be exact. I have made a few ByAnnie patterns and love the results I get from her quality step by step instructions and supporting materials. ByAnnie supplied us with the pattern we selected and all the hardware and supplies to make it! Thank you, ByAnnie!!

We have an Airstream travel trailer and aren’t afraid to use it! We enjoy nature, hiking, biking, kayaking, and the out of doors. It’s always fun to meet and become friends with like minded people we meet during our adventures. I found a bag pattern that will be useful when we are glamping, it’s the I’ll Drink to That bag! We are often toting things to happy hours and pot lucks. This bag will be convenient for carrying our drinks.

The Island Batik collection I was given to work with for this project is Citron Breeze. Citron Breeze is shipping to retailers this month. Ask your favorite quilt store for it. It is a beautiful, very calming collection of greens and blues. Thank you, Island Batik for this beautiful fabric with which to work.

First I quilted the main fabric, foam, and lining on my Handi Quilter Forte (Amara 24). I chose SC Winter Swirls and Pearls design found in PS Patterns. I liked the bubbles and swirls and thought it appropriate for a drink carrier. Then I cut out the pieces from the quilted fabric.

SC Winter Swirls and Pearls
Adding binding to one of the pieces
The inner sectioned dividers
Front section with padded handle and zippered pouch

Every project deserves a new needle. I use Schmetz needles, normally an 80/12 Microtex, but for this project, sewing through several layers at a time and through Annie“s Soft and Stable foam, I used a size 90 needle.  I enjoyed this project very much! Annie’s patterns, directions, and supplies give such a professional look to your finished projects!

Please take a minute to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors did for their challenge this month:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Moving Across the Country During a National Pandemic

Our kids were both living their best lives in the west, our parents had passed, and we (okay, I) kept asking ourselves (myself) why we were still in the Midwest. My husband is more the Grow Roots model and I am the odd one who enjoys change. I was ready to move west when my daughter told us she was pregnant, 5 years ago. Finally, after one particularly poignant experience in early August, Hubs decided he was ready to make the big move.

We pulled out a calendar and made a plan. We had lived in our current home for 32 years, so this was not going to be any easy task. We gave ourselves 3 months to purge our worldly belongings, pack a rented 16′ POD, our own 16′ box trailer, both cars, and our Airstream. We thought we would get our house on the market, head west, and live in our Airstream until our house sold, then begin the serious search for our new digs.

Oh, the purging…the decisions…the photos…the memories…the furnishings…last visits with friends…placing ads, Goodwill trips, give aways…all during a national pandemic. I sold my longarm, as well. Since we were moving ourselves, I was not too comfortable moving it such a long distance and we didn’t really have room for it, either. I would buy a new one, once we got settled in our new place. We have several friends who have sold or given away everything to live full time in their RV. I could never quite grasp the giving possessions away, but now I fully understand. I got to the point where I just wanted someone to take all the stuff away, because that’s all most of it is – just stuff. It feels so freeing to only have the important things with us and to know we have not left that for our kids to do.

A little levity among the work of purging.

One thing, then another, and another, and before the end of the three months of purging, we were under contract for our current home and had an offer accepted on a house in the state of Washington sight unseen. I can explain. Not really. It’s totally crazy! We hit the road in our Airstream before the end of the three months headed for a friend’s backyard in Oregon to live until both homes closed.

Leaving our IN home of 32 years to our new home in WA.

We stopped for a few days at our son’s home in Colorado. It was a nice respite after a rapid fire 3 months. We just needed to chill and it was the perfect place to do so.

Boulder driveway parking

But onward to Oregon and the 7 acre backyard to be our home for a month until our new home closed. It was the perfect, peaceful place.

Mooch docking on 7 acres at a friend’s house in OR

Fortunately, our daughter and SIL had been able to attend the home inspection for us and gave us the green light. Hubs flew back to the Midwest (during a notional pandemic, remember) to drive our car and 16′ box trailer, the last of our possessions, westward.

The first week of December we were moving in and making a new house our home. The Pandemic provided us a big block of uninterrupted time to settle in, even though we were anxious to meet our new neighbors. The sum total of furniture we brought with us consisted of 2 chairs, 4 tv trays, 2 lamps, a queen mattress, and a refrigerator. We purchased the master BR suite, a wardrobe, a day bed, and a foosball table from the previous owners. Any additional furnishings were purchased through Costco online delivery or Amazon, because we were not comfortable shopping during the Pandemic. Having said that, we did buy our dining room furniture from individuals online because it was exactly what I wanted.

So now we are living our best lives in the west and it is SO nice to be closer to family and watching our youngest grandson grow up.

Summer Airstream Adventures

If I miss a blog post, we are probably out camping with our friends.  We have met the nicest people camping!  We share the love of the outdoors.  Here are some pics from our summer:

It’s Friday! Time to TWIST!

TWIST – This Week In Studio Time

It was a slow week in my studio.  I was unpacking from one vacation and getting packed for an upcoming weekend trip.  I did have a good time playing with my fabric stash and auditioning fabrics for upcoming projects, though.

fabric stash
fabric stash

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fabric stash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also sewed two of my newest patches on my Airstream sweatshirt.  I collect jacket patches instead of bumper stickers when we visit places while Airstreaming.  Getting ready for a new season of adventures and friendships!

Airstream sweatshirt
Airstream sweatshirt

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Airstream sweatshirt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My happy place!
My happy place!

 

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