The Spicy Spiral Class

Yesterday I taught my first official Spicy Spiral Table Runner  to a guild class of 18 people.   I'm pleased that everyone finished their Spicy top and some even finished layering and turning the piece and is ready for basting and quilting.  The students were so nice.  Each one made a personal thank you to me for teaching the class and how much they enjoyed this very different technique.  It made me feel really good to share this fun project.

It's a great reference for various color choices so here are a dozen Spicy runners...

What a Happy Angel!

Today Caitlin came for a visit after school today.  We knew we'd be working on her Halloween costume.  She really wanted to be an Angel.  When she was shopping with her Mom last week, they found these beautiful wings and halo.  So, all we had to do today was make her an Angel Robe and a pretty Sash.   I bought fabric yesterday, but it turns out, we didn't have enough... so off we went to Fabricville again today to buy more fabric.   Caitlin was very specific and wanted the long pointy sleeves on her robe.  And she wanted the nice diamond shape on her pink Sash.   We got all the cutting out and pinning together done before supper.  After supper, we used the serger to sew up the robe quickly.  Then we worked on the sash and fitting it with and without a big sweater under.  It's hard to plan for the weather.  It might be cold on Halloween evening, but it might be moderate too.  But the sash will fit either way now.   Don't you think she's going to look adorable for her Halloween party and for going out trick or treating.

One Happy Angel

Doesn't Caitlin look like such a cute Angel

Grace the Blackbird

It's that time of year again.  Halloween costumes are the top topic of conversation around our house lately.  Today Grace came for a visit and she wants to be a blackbird.   I wasn't sure how we were going to make her into a mean old blackbird, just like the ones that peck at our garbage can.

So after a trip to Fabricville, here is Grace the Beautiful Blackbird.  She has feathers around her wrists and her neck, and feathers on her head.  She also has feathers on her gorgeous tail.  She's a a beautiful blackbird, not like the bad garbage ones.

Feathers Feathers everywhere.  She will paint her nails black to look like claws on Halloween.

Here is the Blackbird Grace strutting her plumed tail.

Breakfast in Freddy Beach

We're home.   Travelling is wonderful but sleeping in our own bed last night was absolutely the best.  It's hard to believe that this time yesterday we were driving around the Swiss Alps to get to the Zurich airport. 

So, here is my breakfast today.  Toast with peanut butter.   Quite a change from we've been eating while touring Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Switzerland over the past few weeks.

I'm not even getting on the scale until Nov 1.   That will give me a week to adjust and maybe the result won't be so shocking.

Supper in France

Course 1 - Chicken with Guacomale garnish

Course 2 - Duck Broth soup

Course 3 - Salad with vinnegrette and crutons

Course 4 - Pork tenderloin with scalloped potato (square)

Course 5 - Frozen desert with fruit and chcolate flourish

Course 6 - International cheeses

Whew I'm full.   We saw the most beautiful cathedral in France today.  It was just breathtaing.    Tomorow is our captains dinner where we have a special dining night. 

What's for lunch in Baden Baden?

Weiner Snitchell, green salad and Potatoe salad.

Castles on the Rhine

Pastries are served in the lounge as we sail the Rhine gorge and view castles on every turn.

It's only 10:30 in the morning, but that didn't stop us from drinking the wine from the Rhine region

Vatican Museum quilted floors

Just have alook at these floors of the Raphael room in the Vatican Museum.  Aren't they wonderful.   The floors in the Sistine Chapel were wonderful too, from what i could see.  There were many people and most were looking up at the beautiful ceilings.  But no photography was allowed.   

Bruchetta in Rome

We've been in a Rome for a few days now.  We've visited all of the tourist sights on our list.  You wouldn't believe how many people visit this city.  It's amazing.

Everyone eats pasta or pizza for every meal.  That would be including us.  So we're looking at restaurants that serve a bit more in the way of variety.  One thing that I do love is the starter called brushetta.  It's a piece of toasted bread with chopped tomatoes, basil in a vinegrette.  It's so fresh and light to start your meal.

I had my brushetta half eaten last evening before I thought of taking a picture.      This is so different that the salsa style bruchetta sauce that you would get at the Superstore.   I'm going to make it when I get home.

Do you have a Calling Card?

How many times, have I run into people and I need to trade email addresses or blog names etc.  Since I've stopped working, I've missed not having my business cards.  And time and time again, even just today, I've wished I had a card or something to give somebody that had my contact info.    A couple of times, when I knew I needed them for a meeting, I made up a dozen paper business cards using a MS Word template.  But that's good only if I know I'm going to need them.....   

So, last week, prompted by a "Free 250 Business Cards" ad, I was looking again at designs, that were not so much business like, but showed more of my personality.   And I found one that I loved. The vintage sewing machine is just perfect for me.  It wasn't part of the "Free" ones, but just the same,  I entered all my contact info online, with blog name and email address.  I moved around some of the content and played with sizes, and I'm pleased with the final result.  I just got them by mail.  

Do you like them?  

I've blotted out the vertical address along the left side and
the phone and email but they are there in person :).

Thanksgiving Bracelets

Since we will be away on our Thanksgiving, the past two Sundays, we've had two big Thanksgiving dinners with our daughters and their families.    Since I had lots of supplies left over from making stitch markers for the run for the cure, my grandchildren and I made some jewelry crafts on our Thanksgiving Day while taking in the heavenly aroma of roasting turkey.  Here's a photo of Jessica and Emily and I putting the finishing touches on our crystal bracelets.    Aren't they pretty!

More from the Sussex Quilt Show

I was looking through my pictures from the Sussex Quilt show from this past weekend, and I thought that I'd share even more pictures with you.  So, without additional comment, enjoy more quilts from Sussex.