Nanook of the North

 Hello Everyone,

In between major power outages lasting for 10-12 hours, I've been working on Timeless and attached the green border.

The snow started early on Monday which was ahead of schedule.  Our power went out Sunday night at midnight and didn't come back on until yesterday afternoon around 3pm.  We had the neighbors over for dinner and I fixed a delicious pot of meatball soup. We enjoyed our soup, salad, and a glass of wine or two and they walked back home.....right next door.  They no sooner got home, when the power went off again around 9pm and came back on at 4:30am.

 

Recipe for Sopa de Albondigas

Broth:
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
8 cups beef broth or stock
4 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon crushed oregano
1 teaspoon salt

Meatballs:
1 lb. ground pork
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup uncooked rice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten

Condiments to put on top of your bowl
chopped avocado
chopped fresh cilantro
chopped fresh tomatoes
sour cream
grated Monterey Jack cheese

To make the broth, sauté onion and garlic in the olive oil. Add tomato sauce, beef stock, fresh tomatoes, cumin, oregano and salt. Meanwhile mix together ingredients for meatballs. Shape into little balls and drop into boiling mixture.

Cover and cook for 45 minutes. Serve with the assorted condiments. This soup is actually better the next day. I mash up some of the meatballs prior to serving.

I didn't think to take a picture as we were ready to just dig in!

The ongoing snowblower saga continues.  Our son got sick and he didn't come up to try and fix it.  I just finished shoveling the driveway and now I need a long winters nap!  Here's the cabin from the street.  We are supposed to get another foot of snow today, more tomorrow and Thursday.

I took this picture of the deck off our bedroom yesterday at 4:30pm.

Here it is this morning.

Now it's time to quilt for a couple of hours before I go back on shoveling duty.  

Soon,

Lynn

Update on Timeless

 Hello Everyone,

I finished two of the side, green borders and then put the quilt aside to get ready for company this weekend.

I have a thought about offering this quilt as a kit in a 'pick-your-own-size' to suit your sanity level as follows:

48" includes the row of baskets.

66" includes the green border.

83" includes the red ribbon border

96" includes the entire quilt.

This idea seems to be a big hit on my FB page and Instagram.  What are your thoughts?  Is this something you would be interested in if I offered the kit in several different sizes?

Looks like next week’s forecast is proudly sponsored by “Winter Chaos, Inc.” We’re talking a real barnburner of a snowstorm; the kind that makes you question all your life choices, especially the ones involving where you live.

Time to hunker down, stock up on supplies like you’re prepping for a week-long hibernation, drag the firewood somewhere vaguely reachable, and shovel a little path to the generator. This storm is apparently strong enough to knock down trees, which in turn could knock out the power, which in turn will knock out my will to shovel.

And if we really do get 21 inches of snow in a single day, well… consider this my early “See you in Spring!” message.

Soon - I hope,

Lynn

Tweaking Timeless

 Hello Everyone,

I've been tinkering with the Timeless design again because apparently, I just can’t leave well enough alone. If I didn’t have EQ8 software (and the faint idea of how to use it), this quilt would still be a scribble on a napkin. Mr. Joe has officially stamped the newest layout with his seal of approval and trust me; that’s no small victory. That quilt critic has standards.

I’m especially loving how the second-to-last border now looks like a little ruffly ribbon which is very “soft and floaty” instead of “I came here to contain things.” I ditched the containment borders completely, so now your eye gets to just… wander freely like it’s on vacation. Honestly, I should probably add an asterisk on this version because let’s be real, it could change again at any moment.

Here's the original design.

I’ve officially completed two whole sides of the green border—hooray for progress! 

Unfortunately, construction is coming to a screeching halt today while I switch careers from Quilter-in-Chief to Etsy Fulfillment Department and Cabin Cleanup Crew. We’ve got weekend company arriving: our mechanical son and his brand‑new girlfriend, whom we have yet to meet. I want to make a good first impression and not have the cabin look like its inhabitants are hoarders.

Meanwhile, my sewing room currently looks like a small tornado wandered in, took a tour, and decided to settle down and spawn baby tornadoes.

Soon,

Lynn

Timeless is Growing

 Hello Everyone,

I have really enjoyed making this medallion quilt.  Each row adds so much character to the quilt, and you receive instant gratification seeing it come alive and grow into a real beauty. The little purple blocks are done and now added to the mix. 

I made quick work making all of the components for the block and put them on the block layout sheet which is included in the pattern.

Then I sewed the basket rows onto the quilt.  An added bonus is that the baskets fit perfectly (imagine that) and the quilt now measures 48" x 48".

This is the next row up which will be a piece of cake......if everything behaves and it fits just the way it should and my calculations are correct. Fingers crossed. It can't be that hard....right?

Our mechanical genius son, Kade, is coming up this weekend to attempt resuscitation of the snowblower....assuming it's not already on life support.  His Connecticut trip got pushed back a week, so I'm feeling hopeful that we won't have to wait until Spring for a daring mountain rescue.

Meanwhile, Weather Underground keeps increasing the snow totals like it's trying to win a prize.....or gold medal!

Bob, husband of my dear friend Candace and full-time fountain of questionable wisdom, suggested that Mr. Joe spray the entire snowblower with WD-40. (Isn't WD-40 extremely combustible?????) If that fails, give it a good whack with a hammer.  And if that fails, pour Vodka in the gas tank.  To clarify; the snowblower's gas tank, not Mr. Joe's!

With advice like this and Kade's impending arrival, I'm optimistic the Great Snowblower Saga will finally come to a close this weekend....one way or another.

Soon,

Lynn  

 

Olympic Sewing

 Hello Everyone,

I'm engaged in my very own Olympics here at Wilder's Last Resort by doing some Olympic sewing.  I'm not a Quad God but my pincushion resembles a spiky crown. 

Twenty-four little 6" baskets are now finished, and I've been a focused bundle of determination just like an Olympian focused on their sport.  My sport is creating heirlooms for future civilizations....well family members at the very least.

Next up I'll be tackling the purple blocks.  Once they're done, I'll stitch them to the medallion quilt and move on to the next round. It's not the finals yet, but I can see the finish line off in the distance.....the very distant finish line.

 

I have some commitments this week that will limit my time in my sewing room....sigh.  My forward progress is going to be at a much slower pace.  

Next week there's a lot of snow in our future.  Mr. Joe tried his best yesterday, but he couldn't get the snowblower working even after his best pep talk with a few 'blue' words thrown in as punctuation. He even called our son, the resident family mechanical wizard for some pro tips.  Our son wants to come up here to the mountains and help him out, but he's traveling to Connecticut for work and will be gone during our snowstorm.  If you don't hear from me next week, just know that we will be as snug as two little bugs in our snowy fortress waiting for spring or rescue whichever comes first.

Soon,

Lynn

Little Blue Baskets

 Hello Everyone,

Here's a quick update on my new Timeless quilt.  I finished the eight little blue baskets which will be in the next round of the medallion quilt.

They are just stinkin' adorable!  They are tiny, only 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" which makes them extra special.

Late yesterday afternoon, I started in on the pink blocks. I love the way the pink roses randomly dance around the block.

The blocks play well together.

I'm not sure how many I'll get made today.  You know I'm a football fan and Winter Olympics fan. I do not have a TV in my sewing room, so maybe I should just move my sewing machine out to the great room and sew.  

Here's a rendition from EQ8 of what the baskets will look like around the center medallion.  This round is more labor intensive, the next 'round' will be easier.....I think.

According to the long-range forecast, it looks like we might finally get some actual snow....remember snow in California?  Meanwhile, the snowblower has been sitting in the garage so long it's basically a decorative sculpture at this point. Time to haul it out, give it a pep talk, and hope it decides to cooperate. Those things can be testy little beasts, especially when you need them the most.  Honestly, I should probably dust off my shovel too as something tells me I'm going to be getting way more quality time with it than I'd like. Good quilting weather!

Soon,

Lynn

The Progression of Timeless

 Hello Everyone,

I've been totally focused on my Timeless quilt over the past few days.

The little checkboard border is finished.

Then I made the 44 double flying geese which creates a ribbon-like border.  I changed my mind multiple times about which fabric to use for the little border and finally decided on the green and purple flower.  This little strip is only 1/2" and it makes a big impact on the quilt.

I'm going to start making the basket blocks today, so my production level is going to slow down considerably. The fabric is starched and ready to go to make eight of the blue blocks.

This row of baskets will surround the center of the quilt and could take me several days to make, especially since I have some meetings to go to for my Homeowner's Association and other commitments during the next week. I'm on the Board of Directors for my association and I'm co-chairing the Events Committee. We are planning a major event each month for the Homeowner's and it's been taking a bit of my time away from quilting. 

I really love these little baskets, and I think they are going to be Adorable with a capital A!

I can't stress starching your fabric first!  There are a lot of little pieces in this quilt and it's gone together beautifully, round by round!  I'll be posting pictures of my little baskets as I go.

The results of my completely unscientific poll about a kit or BOM were pretty resounding for me to do a BOM.  I may do both......the verdict is still out.

On another note, the blog was loading sooooo slowly.  I cleaned up some of the old code and now it loads much quicker.  Messing around with the blog layout always makes me nervous as I don't want to screw up the entire thing!

Soon,

Lynn 

Imagine My Surprise

 Hello Everyone,

Imagine my surprise this afternoon when I took a break from piecing Timeless and opened Facebook, only to see a finished Timeless quilt on Stitchin' Heaven’s page. AI at its finest—there was my quilt, beautifully draped over a bed in a perfectly styled, color‑coordinated room.  AND it appears to be machine quilted! Stitchin' Heaven is going to be offering the quilt as a BOM.  

I'm the only one with the fabric.....well me and the mill in South Korea have the fabric.  I haven't even finished writing the pattern yet!  

I worked on the center of the medallion quilt on and off all weekend.

This pattern is going to contain one of my signature Block Layout Sheets (BLS).  This was invaluable!  I made the components for the block then used a bit of Sewline glue and attached the components to the sheet.  

The components on the BLS are the exact size they need to be which eliminates errors from the git-go. If the piece doesn't fit, you cannot commit to using that piece.  While stitching the block together, I wrote the pressing directions on the sheet.  I would show you the sheet, but it has the measurements on it and I'd be giving away the farm!

Even though I've shaded the components on the BLS so I knew the exact orientation of the component, I still made a couple of errors and my seam ripper and I spent a wee bit of time together this afternoon.  In my defense, I made the errors after we returned from a visit to a new business in town that sells alcoholic cider. I just sampled a little....honest!

I have kicked the idea around in my little pea brain about offering my own BOM for this pattern.  For sure, I'll be making kits which is a one and done.  A BOM is a different story.  What are your thoughts?  Would you be interested in me offering a BOM in addition to kits for this quilt? I'm curious to hear what you think.  My BOM would offer a personalized touch!

Soon,
Lynn

Timeless Stitches Has Arrived

 Hello Everyone,

My sample yardage of Timeless Stitches arrived on Thursday from Marcus Fabrics, and I dug right into it by cutting, starching and quilting.

I have only a limited amount of fabric, so I cut just what I needed for the center of the medallion quilt. I was eager to get started and didn’t want to starch the entire yardage. I have an antique wall‑mounted dryer in the guest bathroom that works perfectly for hanging the starched fabric over the bathtub. With the ceiling heat lamp on, they dry fairly quickly.

While I've been waiting for the fabrics to arrive, I've not been 'bone idle' as my British friend says.  I've been refining the pattern, working on taxes, and working on the four retreats I have planned for the year.  There's is never an idle moment under this roof!

I'm loving how the fabrics are 'playing well' together.  It is also so much fun to work with something new and challenging.

This much fun should be illegal!

As I'm working with the fabrics, I've been making minor changes to the original design of the fabric placement and how I turn the components.

Here's the original center block. I changed some of the piecing directions to make it easier to make the block. I also made a block layout sheet for this block.  Those of you familiar with my patterns know the sheet is invaluable for laying the components of the block.  The sheet is particularly helpful for this 24" block.

Here's the new center block.  There may be more changes as I work my way through the block.  I'm always cutting extra fabric to make the components in different fabrics and then decide which looks best.....or what I like the best.  That's a nice thing about the pattern which acts as a guide, but you can always make changes and make it your own.

I hope to get the center block done over the weekend, so I can move on to the first border around it.

I'll be blogging my progress as I work my way through this pattern.  My feet are held to the fire as this one has to be completely finished and mailed to Marcus Fabrics in New York so they can have it on display at the H & H show the first part of May.  Then it will go to Hobby House in Victor, NY where I will be teaching this pattern.

I'm really anxious to jump ahead and make a few of the baskets.  I LOVE BASKETS, and they are particularly cute!

I've been contacted by some of you saying that the blog is really slow to load.  Just give it time and it will load.  Try clearing out your cache on your computer, which may speed up the process.

Soon,

Lynn  

Laurel Ridge Pattern

 Hello Everyone,

With the turning of the calendar to January 2026, I acquired the rights back to my Laurel Ridge pattern from The Quilt Show now that the Block of the Month has completed. 

The pattern is now posted in my Etsy shop as a digital download only HERE.  This image shows you the entire quilt. The blocks at the top and bottom of the image shows you the blocks which you will be making.  I also posted some of the fabrics I have for this quilt, and I'll be posting more throughout the next week.

This is a BIG pattern in Block of the Month format.  I combined all of the monthly installments into one large pattern which is in full color.  The finished quilt measures 90" x 90" and the blocks measure 5" x 5" except for the applique block.

The digital download contains links to my teaching videos on The Quilt Show.

I'm also posting the video my granddaughter, Harleigh produced and edited.  Month #1 is posted HERE. This video gives you a tour of the cabin and then jumps right in showing you how to make month #1.

 If you missed the chance to make last year’s BOM with The Quilt Show, gather some favorite fabrics from your own stash and start a fresh quilting journey this year and begin a Laurel Ridge quilt.

Soon,

Lynn