Amazing Time at a Mega Event!

Yes, I've been quiet lately.  After finishing the memory quilts, I went to Ohio!  This past weekend was the Midwest Geobash at Wauseon, OH.  My family (Team Free Range Lobsters) camped, cached, ate, biked, shopped, socialized, and, if time was left over, slept at the Fulton County Fairgrounds!

Team Free Range Lobsters
3inaTree, scrapcat, Tristan39, WikidKriket, and PopLob

Corey playing Giant Jenga

Taking the time for wine tasting during the Poker Run.
A Poker Run is like a road rally visiting businesses in the local community.
Other stops included an ice cream shoppe and a bakery.

Nothing going on here.
Move along.

SUPERSTARS!
Robyn and Corey conquered the hill!

Dad at the Adventure Hunt.  Everyone "found" a
commemorative geocoin.

Corey and Robyn hamming it up!
Completing another challenge.

Elisa and Lorna posing with Signal, the Groundspeak mascot.

Theme of the weekend was Halloween in July.
Lorna felt this lil' fellah needed a hug!

Lots of great biking trails.  Out geocaching with Jeremy.

We even got a little caching done!

TOTALLY exhausted!
Team FRL completing another challenge.

One more picture before we head home!

It was a weekend I'll never forget (and I've recorded it all on my journal quilt). We had an amazing time and are already making plans for next year!

Have a great week!
Elisa

A Patchwork Ghost

I'm so excited that I will be attending a geocaching "mega event" soon.  The theme is "Halloween in July".  I'm telling you up front - it's too hot to dress up.  But we are decorating.

Each member of my family is supposed to create a ghost to represent ourselves.  I made one for myself and my Dad.

Patchwork Ghost and her Dad!

I think they're rather cute!

Happy Stitching!

Elisa

Block For July

What do you think? Good block for July for my journal quilt?

This is from Anni Down's Simple Pleasures book. I was able to get my hands on her new The Simple Life book, too!

Happy stitching!

Elisa

Another 23 Days Have Passed

Yes, completed another strip in the journal quilt! I've gotten over my hang ups about my handwriting.

6 completed - 10 more to go! Can you believe how quickly this year is flying!??

Elisa

Memory Project - Finish 3

Sorry I'm running late! Was out with friends and had SUCH a good time!

Here is my most recent finish: a memory quilt for a friend's father.

You have to appreciate that I stared at the piles of clothes for weeks because I had no idea how to put it together and make it work.  The colors were daunting - I still have a bag of black left over. It's made out of polyester tops, polar fleeces, night gowns, sweaters, robes, and blue jeans. All different weights and textures. It's also so puffy - I used Quilter's Dream Poly.  I'm quite proud of the sashing (made out of a fleecy robe) and denim border (it's all flat!).

Thank you to my sister Lorna for holding up the quilts. This is my favorite pic - it's a weird game of hide & seek with her dog!

Hope you enjoyed the reveal!



Elisa

Memory Project - Finish 2

Here's project #2: pillows for my friend and her sisters.

The pillows are made from her late mother's off-white "wedding blouse" and remnants from some of her other blouses used in the main quilt. She wore it to all the weddings. The lacy fabric from the front, the solid off-white from the back, and, of course, the buttons from the blouse.

Tomorrow: the actual quilt!

Take care!

Elisa

 

Memory Project - Finish 1

Not that long ago, a new friend approached me to sharpen my needle and get to work on some memory projects for her and her family. Her mother had passed away recently, and she had a bag full of nightgowns, polar fleeces, sweaters.

 

Here is the first reveal: purses for the granddaughters made from grandma's blouses, nightgowns, and her favorite top worn at weddings.

Each one has a penny inside for luck! The girls can use them as change purses or to hold any mementoes of their grandmother.

Thank you, Lorna, for the use of your brick for the photo.

Check back tomorrow for a slightly larger reveal!

Elisa

 

Annual Trek to Upper Lower!

Every year my family takes day trip to the Tawas/Oscoda area.  It's stunning!  It's on Lake Huron - just north of the thumb on the mitten!

No stops at the quilt shops this year (the one in Tawas City has closed) but plenty of adventures!

Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Team Free Range Lobsters visiting Paul Bunyan

Another shot of Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Jon is doing what boys do

Jon, Lorna, Corey and Robyn

Funny thing to find at the point, eh?

Must stop for putt-putt.  Dad was chilling in the fudge shoppe!

And you must stop at Marion's before heading home!

Tomorrow I should be able to (finally) post some finishes!

Elisa

She Ain't Thinking Again!

Autocorrect keeps changing "think" to "thunk".  It must know I haven't had an original thought it years!

Saw this little fellah on my way home from work today.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

So Much Completed - So Little to Show!

Just a few more days and I can share with you my latest finishes: 1 memory quilt, 3 memory pillows and 3 poof pouches.  They are coming out great!  However, I must give them to the family first before I can share.

In the meantime, my partner, Hanne, in my International Some Kind of Wonderful group recently sent me her June pictures (because we have over 100 participants, some of the newer members were "adopted" by existing ones so we can post their status for them).  Until you see something from me, stop in and see what Hanne just finished!

I'm fascinated by this group.  We are all working on the exact same pattern, yet the blocks are SO different. Hanne is from Denmark, and she loves to change up her blocks!

Made it to the Friday night Tiger's Game -
I've NEVER been so sticky!
Great game - we won!

Heading to Oscoda tomorrow for a day with the family - will post pictures soon!

Happy weekend!

Elisa

Happy Independence Day

Just returned from the Clawson fireworks. I tried out the fireworks setting on my camera. These are great if you click to enlarge.

Happy Independence Day!

Elisa

 

And Who is Watching You?

I'm just a few days shy of showing you a finish.  I have to wait until the recipient sees it, but, I'm SO geeked! It took me awhile to get it started because, given the fabrics (old clothes) to work with, I had absolutely NO idea what to do with it.  As with words, I'm rarely at a loss for ideas... LOL!  I can't wait for you to see it!  I normally would never combine those colors, etc, it it's SO darling!

This is the first time in over 10 years I've had the summer "off" (I still have a full-time job but I'm postponing an additional part-time job until this Fall).  Is this what it's like to have time for myself?  I've been attending picnics & BBQ's, walking through the park, meandering around the zoo, gearing up for the summer Zoo concert series. In a few weeks, my family is heading to Ohio for a geocaching adventure (classes, vendor booths, poker runs, mazes, giveaways, tinfoil hats).  I'll be sure to share the pictures.

One thing I'm surprised about is all the beautiful animals loose around Michigan.  My nephew, Jonathan, laughs.  "They've been here all along, Aunt Elisa!"  I guess I'd been too busy to notice.  So, since I can't show you quilt pictures, would you like to see whose been watching me on my mini-adventures?

Luc - Erie Metro Park

I looked up from a geocache and this is what I saw.... 

... and then turned around to see this beauty!

Just hanging out.

Michigan is SO blue!  So refreshing in this awful heat!

I mis-heard the news.  They meant there was a rabbit
population explosion - NOT exploding rabbits!

Family of swans in the Vernal pond.  Papa ducked this photo!

I could flood this blog with beautiful flowers.
They're EVERYWHERE!

Sitting on a bench at the zoo.  Looked up & over my shoulder
and this is what I saw!

I also have oodles of new zoo pictures, but I'll save them for another day.

Take care!
Elisa