Better with a View

Greetings friends! I am back in my office today and trying to get a handle on all the work that needs to be done after taking a vacation - the list is long...but I wanted to quickly stop in and share a few photos from our yearly Jeep trip to Colorado and Utah. We met up with good friends in Denver...then made our way to Ouray, CO via Pearl Pass where we spent a couple days enjoying the trails in the Durango, Ouray, Silverton, Telluride area. This is always my favorite part of the trip - I love being high in the mountains, even though the boys raced through all the trails. We stayed in a remote cabin in the quiet wilderness and I welcomed this change of pace. After a quick couple days in Colorado, we made our way to the rock formations of Moab, UT where we spent a week conquering all the advanced trails (we have a heavily modified Jeep, made to handle these obstacles) - including Pritchett Canyon, Behind the Rocks, Kane Creek, Steel Bender and the Trifecta (Poison Spider, Golden Spike and Gold Bar Rim). While this was far from my favorite Jeep trip, I did thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and some time away. Here is a sampling of my favorite photos...

I received a lot of questions about this photo - this is the hydroelectric power plant at Bridal Veil Falls (the tallest free-falling falls in Colorado) just outside of Telluride, CO - I took the photo coming down Black Bear Pass. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggler-Union_Hydroelectric_Power_Plant

Top of Black Bear Pass - Elevation 12,840

View of Telluride, CO from Black Bear Pass.

Jeep hair, don't care. 😀

Another photo with questions - this is our Jeep at full flex over the Golden Crack on the Golden Spike Trail in Moab, UT - our Jeep is not "broken" - this is a sought after photo (a money shot) for Jeeps.

This is the "High Dive" obstacle on the Behind the Rocks Trail in Moab Utah - considered by many to be the most dangerous obstacle in Moab.

I hoped you enjoyed these photos...just a quick glimpse into our yearly Jeep trip. As always, the outdoor beauty has me refreshed and inspired...and ready to get back to work...

As some of you may know, I will be traveling to New Zealand at the end of October for a few weeks and I have a zillion things to accomplish beforehand, so it may be more quiet here than usual. I will do my best to stop in and visit with you a couple times before heading down under...

Today, I will be tackling a few project bags and the next needlework finishing order - I will also do my best to respond to all the correspondence I received while I was gone - all orders are ready to ship and my shop is back in business. I also have some cross stitch and quilting models I will be finishing up over the next week or so - new patterns will be coming soon...

Enjoy your week!

Much Needed Break

I  am headed off to Colorado/Utah for our yearly trip ...a little rest and relaxation and time with friends...well, actually, a little Jeepin', hiking and mountain air...yep, I'll be off the grid for the next week...so this is my short public service/housekeeping announcement....

While I am out of my office/studio, I will have very limited access to correspondence, so please be patient if you send me a message/comment/inquiry that requires a response. All shippable items will be deactivated in my Etsy Shop. Shippable items (paper patterns/charts, project bags, Stitch Starter Rulers, etc.) will return on Monday, September 19th. All digital items will continue to be available. I will respond to all messages, comments and emails in the order received on September 19th. Thank you for your patience!

I'm sure I'll be back to blog soon, when (I'm guessing) I will have TONS of fun and creative things to share with you! Have a wonderful weekend/week/weekend....

Needlework Finishing - Ornament Edition

Hello friends! As promised, I am back today to share some of my recent needlework finishing with you - this is just a sampling (I have way too many photos to share them all). These pieces were all for clients - not my stitching or designs, just my finishing work. I will post designer details with corresponding images for those who are interested (if I have it). Fabrics that are in the images were used for backing...and all the perfectly matched trims and rayon ribbons are from the incredible Lady Dot Creates (the very best finishing supplies!). As you can see, I have been doing quite a few Christmas ornaments lately....with my travel plans for the remainder of the year, I am trying to get all of them done before the end of October. Enjoy the creative eye candy and I will be back to visit with you again soon!

"Flirting" from Plum Street Samplers

"I Believe In Santa" from The Primitive Hare

"Gingerbread House 8" from Country Cottage Needleworks

"Merry Moose Wishes" by Designs by Lisa

"Oh By Gosh" from Heart in Hand

"Merry Musings" from Waxing Moon Designs

"A Mid-Century Modern Christmas" from Misty Hill Studio

Pretty Projects Aplenty

Hello friends! It is Friday evening and I thought I would stop by for a creative post, filled with recent sewing and quilting projects. After a day week  month filled with computer issues and challenge after challenge, I decided to visit with you and share some sewing studio accomplishments. I have been working on all sorts of client projects, as I am doing some extensive traveling over the next few months and I am trying to get the piles under control. I am model stitching and sewing in the late evenings, working on some new charts and patterns, as well...it is a very fine balancing act. It has been awhile since my last project post...because life...and there were way too many images to share, so here is an assortment of Project Bags, Needle & Scissor Keeps, Quilt Retreat Mats and Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeves. I believe almost all of these were custom projects for clients, where the customer supplied the fabrics (there are a few of my own fabric creations tossed in, too) and these were all made with my own pattern designs...enjoy!

Also on the sewing front...a little over a month ago, I took a wonderful Free Motion Quilting on Sewing Machines class from Liz Granberg-Jerome, the owner of Gypsy Dreamer Quilts. I rarely have an opportunity to take a class (I am usually teaching them)…and this class was something special! I didn't have much free motion quilting experience and Liz was such an excellent teacher - seriously, if you have a chance to take one of her classes, make sure you attend! Here is a photo of the sample I worked up in class - my first attempt at free motion quilting. Now, I just need time to practice...because this is definitely a technique that improves greatly with practice....

This evening I will take a break from client projects and clear my head - I plan to do some model stitching on a new cross stitch design that brings me joy and watch a movie. I just need to take a very deep breath and regroup. I will be back again soon with recent needlework finishing...and there is a lot of that to share, as well...

Thanks for visiting...and a special thank you to those who commented and messaged me about my previous post - I tried to reply to everyone that did not comment from a "no reply" account. I truly appreciate the uplifting and kind words...I really do!