NEAH BAY

We (mostly I) decided to take a quick trip.  I really wanted to go to the ocean and the more I thought about it the more I wanted to go to Neah Bay.  It's a long drive there, and there's not a lot to see or do.  But I haven't been there in probably 30 years.  I was curious.

So, we got up early and headed out.  First the ferry to Bainbridge, then the long drive.

 It was mostly overcast and grey all the way there.

 We rented a little cabin at Hobuck Resort, it was very nice (if a little expensive).  It was just a few steps away from the beach.

After we unloaded our stuff into the cabin, we headed north to go for hike to the Tatoosh Island Lighthouse, the Cape Flattery Trail.

We sat and ate our lunch at this look out.  We shared some crumbs with a cute little chipmunk.  I got the impression he's done this before.

  After a nice time spent at the point, we hiked back up the trail.  Then we drove around and found this amazing beach.  We took a walk.  The weather couldn't have been nicer.  The clouds had dissipated as soon as we got to Neah Bay and it stayed nice the whole time we were there.  Not even a breeze, no need for a jacket. 

This is the view from our cabin's porch.  I sat out here and enjoyed it.

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The next morning, we got up and headed home.

  We couldn't help ourselves, we had to pull over and enjoy the sunrise and the beautiful beaches.  Good bye Neah Bay, you are beautiful.

And topped it off with a beautiful ferry ride home.  It was so nice, we stood out on the top deck for the whole trip from Bainbridge to Seattle.

MAY'S SOLIDS OF THE MONTH

I really like this month's group of Kona Solids from Circa 15 Studio.  This is so much fun!

LAST DAY OF WORK

I spent 36 and 3/4 years coming to work here at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.  In August of 1981 I started as a truck driver and the last 12 years as the Lead dispatching the other drivers.

There have been extreme ups and downs, but overall it's been a great job.  It has allowed me to live well, buy my own home, have great health care, and save for the future so I'll not have to worry about money.  King County has been good to me.  Thank you Affirmative Action.

A few of the guys gave me a going away party.  It was great!

Me, Steve K, Don E and Don K, I'll miss these guys.

I left early so I could go to Julie's house for a Mother's Day get together.  They took a picture of me leaving for the last time.

I had made a sign which said, AMF, for the back window - but you can hardly see it.

Good-bye Cedar Hills!

QUILTING BRASSICA

I loaded up Brassica on Eduard and started quilting on it.  I'm planning on using the computer for the whole thing.

MONTHLY SOLIDS

Here is April's group of Kona Solids of the Month from Circa 15 Studio :

SIXTEEN

City Sampler Block 16 ...

FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN

City Sampler Blocks 12 and 13...

TWELVE AND THIRTEEN

City Sampler Blocks 12 and 13...

GOING COMPUTERIZED

At Sew Expo I ordered the computer for my machine.

Kim came out to install it this week.

It entails adding a 'robot' and some belts, along with new software.

The robot is added in the front on the carriage

After several days of adjustments and talking with the manufacturers and other experts, reloading the software, and a little cussing, the dang thing just isn't working right.  Kim will be back in a few weeks with another unit and will swap them out.  Hopefully that will get it up and running.

In the meantime, I need to learn how to operate it.

FMQ BLOCKS

Elongated Swirls

Embellished Clamshells

Long Clamshells

These are the rulers I used for the Elongated Clamshells

DOG FUN

For a while now, I've been trying to get the dogs to go up on this ramp at the dog park.  They wouldn't do it until I coerced them with treats.  Then it was easy.  

Jelly

Jax and Jelly

Jax

Jax

UNCLE DON'S BIRTHDAY

Uncle Don turned 90 this year.  The family got together at his home for a celebration.

Marlys, Don, Gert

The Whitaker Siblings, Melvin, Leon, Gert, Don, Marlys and Glenn.

TEN AND ELEVEN

Here are City Sampler Blocks 10 and 11...

TWO MORE FMQ BLOCKS

OFF THE MACHINE

I finished the customer quilt.  I had to wash it, because that blue pounce chalk wouldn't come out.  

I loaded the Free Motion Quilting Challenge quilt back on and did another block.

AND MORE BLOCKS

More City Blocks:

SOLID OF THE MONTH

Here's the third month of Solids of the Month.  So much fun!

This month was a lot of lighter colors.

WORKING

 I got some more work done:

Before...

After.

Before...

After.

AND MORE

A few more of Tula's City Sampler Blocks:

THREE MORE

I got tired of paper-piecing.

Here are three more of the 100 City Blocks.

And I'm still asking myself, "Am I really doing this?"

AM I REALLY DOING THIS?

GnomeAngel said she was starting up another round of a Quilt-Along doing Tula Pink's City Sampler 100 Blocks in 100 Days soon.  But, it's been postponed until July, but I was all wound up to start now, so I did.

 

Might as well start at the beginning...

MASKED

I'm still making Candy Cats.  I think I'm up to a dozen.

FIRST PAID QUILT JOB

I've been working on a customer's quilt.  

I pieced the back together out of fabric they provided.

I am supplying the batting.

I was surprised at how challenging this would be.  But, I'm doing my best.

I drew this design onto paper, then perforated it with my threadless sewing machine.  I'm using a pounce to mark the block, but rubbing it over my homemade stencil.