After Hawaii

I know I haven't done a post forever but life has been busy. Hawaii for two weeks, came home sick and our local Shop Hop was held this past weekend. I now work Sundays and Monday mornings. Our sew and dine is still on Tuesdays and maybe on Fridays. Life is good! 

Hexie quilt

Getting help from my son on how to place my flower and leaf sections. Planning your quilt edges can be a challenge if you aren't doing a traditional layout.

Quilt edges???

Too much green. I do like the green around the flowers though. I have more flowers done now so I will re-evaluate how to complete the edges. These are so addicting!

Hawaii beach house 2013

My daughter-in-law and me sitting in our usual spots on the porch. She read numerous books and I made flower sections.

Beach house 2013

My work area on the porch with an unbelievable view. Oh so productive!

Sitting on the porch, doing my hexies, watching the waves has got to be the most relaxing vacation ever. Those little dots out there are surfers.

The gang in Hawaii 2013

Having the family all together was great. They were coming and going just like when they were kids but with cars, surfboards and paddle boards. 

Hawaii 2013

Our last day there it rained and we saw a double rainbow. I have never seen one before so that was a bitter sweet departure for me even though I was sick and ready to be home. 

Caddy Pad

My Hawaii friend is here for her annual trip and we have been busy, busy, busy, shopping and sewing! We made iron caddies for those times we have to take our irons to sew-ins and retreats. They open into an ironing surface with a heat resistant fabric inside. It is the perfect solution for taking a warm iron home without iceing it down first!

Shar has to have her bling so you know which one is hers.

 Iron Caddy - October 2012

I have been working very hard on my numerous baby quilts. Thanks to Zany Quilter, she has enabled me to go from quilt tops to binding. She quilted all four that I had finished and did a beautiful job. I was putting off quilting them on my Juki as they are all large and very intimidating to an inexperienced quilter. Thank you again Zany Quilter. Check out her work here.I will post pictures when I get the binding complete. The twin boys in Hawaii just may get them before their first birthdays. Good thing the end of the year is near as I have a total of six baby quilts to make for this year. Two sets of twins. There must be something in the water! None of them grandchildren but that's okay. I still have two that I haven't even started yet. 

Yesterday Shar went with me to our monthly sew-in with the Modern Quilt Guild girls. They made her feel so welcome she thinks she wants to join! Good  company, good food, lots done. A good time was had by all.

Until next time. Happy quilting.

Home Again

This was the first Hawaii trip since 2006 we experienced rain. It didn't prevent or change any plans though. We had one sunny afternoon out at Ko' Olina that I was able to capture with the camera.

Ko'Olina Feb. 2012

Wouldn't you know on the first morning there the fire alarm would go off and we were on the 11th floor and had to take the stairs to the first floor. I was right in there and by the time we got all the way down they said all was clear, no fire was found. That was nothing compared to the 6.7 earthquake we experienced our first year in 2006 on the 17th floor! I was younger then and 17 flights of stairs was much easier.

On with the fun stuff. We made chickens! Chicken pin cushions.

Baby chickens Feb. 2012

My friend Shar from Kailua came to Ko'Olina hauling 2 sewing machines, stuff to make chicken pin cushions and a 5 pound sweet potato haupia pie with a macadamia nut pie crust. We had great fun and ate well too!

I also made Shar one of the boxy bags.

Boxy bag for Shar Feb. 2012

After our week at Ko'Olina we were off to the shores near Haleiwa to stay in the beach house. We stayed in the cottage while Auntie, Uncle and cousins stayed in the main house. Husband was helping replace the shower in the main house and since it was still raining Shar and I set our sewing up in the cottage. 

Baby quilt march 2012

She made a baby quilt for a friend and a Big boxy bag!

Big boxy bag March 2012

Like I said, it was raining and chilly. Poor Shar was cold, so she had on her sweatshirt and socks, in Hawaii I remind you!

Shar and her bag.  March 2012

It was beautiful even though it rained for a week. 

Beach House Cottage  March 2012

Looking left out the bedroom window in the cottage.

Any animals that are around my house for three days get a name. I had a Madagascar Day gecko on the ceiling of the bedroom every night when I went to sleep, so I named her Maddie. I don't know where she went during the day.

Maddie @ the Beach House Cottage  2012

The pink spots on her back make her easy to identify from the other local gecko's. Some nights she had all her little feet tucked up under her.The ceiling fan was on and I think she was cold.

Just one more thing. While sitting on the porch with Jay, our cousin who is a sea captain, he spotted the most amazing thing. A moonbow. It is a rainbow in the sky at night made by the reflection of the moon not the sun. It was there for a long time and went from colorful to white and back again. In all his years on the oceans he has only seen 4 in the past so it was a really special treat for all of us.


BTW if there is anyone out there in blogland that wants to buy a house in Hawaii contact Diane Chavez and you can find her here.