Thursday Journey #13

Yesterday was beautiful, clear and sunny with the temperature in the low 70's.  Our Thursday Journey destination was to walk along the Coronado Beach in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado.

Summer Salad

This is one of our favorite salads and it's so easy to make.

Just toss:
Grilled shrimp
Salad greens
Fresh pineapple
Fresh strawberries
Crumbled blue cheese
Thin slices of red onion
Chopped macadamia nuts

I used to make my own dressing but now I have discovered Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger salad dressing - it's perfect on this salad and on Chinese Chicken Salad too!

Solid Swap - Part 2

For the Solid Swap Challenge, I selected "Blue Vase" by Vincent van Gogh.

Irene's version is perfect, I love the flowers that she machine quilted with light, airy stitches.

My version of the Blue Vase.  When I looked at the painting, I saw triangles of flowers.

I added hand stitched flowers to my quilt.

When Irene mailed her two quilts to me, she included some beautiful fabric that she had hand dyed.  I also received some colorful thread.  Thank you Irene for being a great swap partner and for the quilts and gifts.

Solid Swap

Bumble Beans . . . 15 Minutes Play hosted a mini quilt swap.  The rules were that the quilt measure 15" square, you could only use solid fabrics and the quilt should be inspired by a work of art.  My swap partner, Irene from Michigan, selected a photograph by Andy Goldsworthy.  We each made a version to exchange.

This photo is one of a series by Andy Goldsworthy that Irene selected for our quilts.

This beautiful little quilt was made by Irene.  I love her color choices and the stitching really flows on the quilt.

Here is my version.  I was really surprised by the similarities Irene and I used in our renditions of the photograph.

When it was time to mail the quilts, I used a clean pizza box to keep everything flat.  I painted a flower on the package and posted it to Irene in Lansing, Michigan.
Tomorrow, I will share the inspirational art that I selected for our swap.

Semi-Surprise

Someone's getting a quilt for their birthday.  She has seen this fabric, but has no idea of the other 14 prints I'm using or what pattern the quilt will be.  I guess she will have to wait until October!

Aloha

This is one of our plumeria plants last March.  When you look at the bare stems, it's hard to imagine the beauty that lies ahead.

This is the same plant in July.  The fragrance floats through the air and I'm reminded of our visits to Hawaii.
ALOHA!!

Home Grown

June, itty bitty tomatoes

July, starting to ripen on the vine

One is ready to pick

Home grown on a tostado - yummo!

Seventh Block(s)

Churn Dash is the name of this Block of the Month challenge.  We ended up making two blocks at the same time by switching fabrics as we sewed.  It was fun to see the patterns emerge for each block.

I also performed major surgery on block #4, Courthouse Steps.  I was not happy with my first attempt, so I did some redesigning and really like the new look.

Sixth Block

Hybrid Tea Rose is the latest pattern in the Block of the Month Challenge.  I really like the way my rose goes from yellow to red.




Party Pennants

I made these these colorful pennants as a birthday gift for my daughter. Using a rotary pinking blade, cut two different fabrics for each triangle 9 1/2" long x 7" across the top. Place wrong sides together and stitch along the 9 1/2" sides only.  Place the open ends in a folded 2" bias tape, pin and sew.  They look so happy hanging in the garden or on the deck.

Celebrations

Our family had a great day yesterday celebrating birthdays and big achievements.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Peohe's Restaurant on Coronado Island.  This was the view from our table on the patio looking across San Diego Bay.

There even was a surprise printed on the menus!

We ended our evening by watching the nightly fireworks at Sea World.  There is a spot on Mission Bay where you can park and watch the fireworks directly over your head.  It is so cool.

Two Birthdays and a Masters Degree

A lot of celebrating at our house today.  Happy Birthday Paige, Happy Birthday Storm and a Masters Degree for Jill.  It's a very special day.

Favorite Things

These little shadow boxes were made by our daughter Paige back in 1996.  She used pre-stretched canvas frames and created her art on the backside of them.  The girl with the kite is only 6" x 8" and the boy in the clouds is 8" x 10".  My husband and I treasure her gifts to us.

Motown

Last night, we attended a San Diego Symphony Summer Pops presentation of Motown's Greatest Hits with our friends Michelle and Tom.

The stage is set up in a park on the Embarcadero right next to San Diego Bay.  It was a beautiful evening with clear skies and a cool breeze. We sat in the "Champagne Section" and had a great view of the stage. 

Everyone had so much fun singing along to hit songs we all remembered from our youth.  After the concert, we watched a fireworks display over the bay.  It was a wonderful evening spent with friends.

Where's Twiggy?

While I couldn't find Waldo on this fabric, I'm sure I can spot Twiggy.  I found this print several years ago and just had to have it.  I needed to use a quilt pattern that used large blocks so I wouldn't have to cut into the faces.

I found the perfect contemporary pattern in a 2007 Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Magazine.

Fifth Block

Cactus Flower is the latest design in the Block of the Month Challenge.  We are half way through our sampler quilts, it will be fun to see everyone's finished creations.

Chelsea's Flower

Last March when we participated in "Finish Chelsea's Run", we received a packet of sunflower seeds to plant.  My sunflowers are now in bloom, bright sunny faces in memory of Chelsea King.

Red, White and Blue

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!

Happy Fourth of July

A Friendship Star quilt in red, white and blue to celebrate the 4th of July.  This quilt is 44" x 44" and I made it in 2005.  I remember searching for the fabrics in different yardage shops and getting very excited when I would find the perfect print.  HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!