In the shop...

Come see!

One more...

This one in a somewhat monochromatic purple theme and it was fun to search through all my scrappy strips for coordinated pieces. I think I'll do a few more like this... just for the fun of it and to change things up a bit.

I just finished lowering some more prices in the FHTQ shop. And, I still accept credit cards too! Only 39 more days to shop there! :)

Take care,

Mug Rug update...

Mondays are always my busiest day since I have to catch up from the weekend and it's the start of the work week. I'll bet it's the same for a lot of you. I did take time yesterday to get photos and listings written for these mug rugs I made over the weekend.

I'm so weary of hearing about the extreme and devastating weather events that seem to occur too often these days. And, it's especially difficult to hear of the loss of life. I'm talking about the F4/F5 tornado in Moore, OK yesterday, where children died in a school where they had very little (none really) protection. It's just so heartbreaking.

Take care,

Try this Google Reader substitute...

I just found another substitute for Google Reader at CommaFeed.com. I've been using it now for a day and I think it just might be my favorite so far! It's not as pretty as reader, but it works like reader and that's all I care about!

Photo, of course, has nothing to do with this post except that it's a pretty photo and I wish I was there enjoying that warm sunshine and beautiful day. It was taken in Carpenteria a few months back.

Take care,

Well, I did it...

I gave notice yesterday for the From Here to Quilternity online shop at Quiltshops.com. As of the end of June, I'll be selling on etsy exclusively and I won't be selling yardage any longer. FQ packs, charm packs, and jelly rolls, yes, but no cut-to-order fabric. I'll miss it, I know. So, in the next month, I hope you'll stop by and see what's left and see if it's anything you need. There are some great fabrics that would work especially well for backings!

Also wondering if any of you need 4" x 6" plastic self-seal (& resealable) bags. I've got some listed on etsy if you do. They are great for mailing fabric postcards. I've only got one set of 100 listed but I have lots (and lots) more.

I've not had time to sew or quilt for quite awhile and I m-i-s-s it!! I get my fix looking at your blogs and all that you accomplish.

Take care,

Puttering... and making quilt bindings.

We're having a quiet day. We decided to stick around the house and just relax so I've been in my sewing room all day. Straightening up, moving things around, re-organizing, and just generally enjoying myself. I haven't had this kind of day for a very long time. It helps that I've got a good "book on tape" to listen to while I'm puttering. Are they still called "books on tape"?

I've also been making some quilt bindings to list on etsy. I love quilt bindings and I especially love it when then go with but aren't one of the fabrics I've used in the quilt. It's so much more challenging to make it work, I think. I love scrappy quilt bindings too and probably make them for my quilts more often than not. It's also a good way to use up scraps.

 Hope you're all enjoying your day too!

Take care,

Normal... whatever that is

Things are slowly getting back to normal here. I'm still amazed at the fire damage in the surrounding hills and just how close it came to my home and my neighbor's homes. We are so lucky.

There's a new farmer's market in our neighborhood, only two blocks from my house at the Paraiso, and today was the first day. It's not huge but it's not tiny either and they had some good vendors, so I'm hoping it lasts. I got some apricots, strawberries, carrots, a leek, and a small bouquet of white dahlias. Which I promptly put into a vase with a couple of hydrangea's from the backyard. I added a couple mint stems and some chive flowers too. Makes the house a bit more cheerful.

Here's just one of the photos I took at Disneyland with the iPhone. I edited it just a tiny bit in PSE, but for the most part this is the way it looked right out of the phone. I'm pretty impressed with the quality, especially when you consider the contrasts in this photo with the light, light sky and the black shadows.

Anyway, I just want to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day. Both of our mothers are gone and we don't have kids so it's just another Sunday for us... which is fine.

There's still some pretty fabrics in the shop and prices will be going lower in the next day or two. Hope you'll stop by.
Take care,

It's overcast/cool, more photos and interesting facts...

With a prediction for possible rain later today and/or tomorrow, I'm sure the firefighters are extremely happy and relieved to see this weather. As I write this, it's beginning to rain. Isn't that wonderful!!

I was going to write a post yesterday with photos of the fire and our surrounding area from the day before, but I was just exhausted from thinking about the fire and our situation, breathing the smoky and ash-filled air, and packing/unpacking (for evacuation) our cars. I just needed a day off.

It was also my husband's birthday yesterday so we got in the car and drove up to the Ventura Harbor for fish/shrimp & chips, an ice-cream cone, and some fresh air! We took a short walk around the harbor and then just sat and watched the activity on the water - it was very refreshing.

The following photos were taken on Friday, 5/3/13, as we drove around our community.

This is looking from the community center, where the sheriffs set up their evacuation command post, towards the fire. My home is located towards the center of the photo behind the green trees.

A closer view of that big "plume" of smoke as we drive towards Lynn Road from the community center.

The photo above and the following photos were taken from a street that intersects Potrero Road. This is just as the fire is beginning to burn into the Hidden Valley area. Hidden Valley is home to the Lake Sherwood Country Club and many exclusive and very expensive estates/ranches. A lot of celebrities live in the area.

These flames were estimated to be 150 feet high. Can you imagine being on the other side of that hill and knowing that these flames are burning towards your home?

This is the entrance to the Point Mugu State Park - Sycamore Canyon area on Lynn Road heading north. The hills have been completely burned.

This is back in our neighborhood and about 3 blocks from my house. The fire came right up to the back fence of this home.

This is looking towards Sycamore Canyon - Boney Mountain area from our backyard.

The two photos above and the one below are taken on Borchard Road, which is the main entry into Dos Vientos. It wasn't re-opened until late Friday evening since the center divider, which is/was built of railroad ties along with some landscaping and trees which were all burned, was still burning earlier in the day.

On Borchard Road looking to the other side of the street. That's Boney Mountain in the distance and you can see the sheer size of the fire area. At this point, we couldn't see flames any longer in this area, but they were still visible in Hidden Valley.

In today's paper (5/5/13) there are some pretty interesting facts regarding the fire as of late yesterday (5/4/13) afternoon:

28,000 acres burned

56% contained  - they expect full containment by Monday if the cooler weather persists

5,000 residents evacuated  - all mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted

not one single home destroyed

247 fire engines & 2000 firefighters (firefighters and additional ground personnel deployed from all over the state and from Oregon, Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico)

Total cost $4.5 million and rising
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I cannot say enough about the firefighters who valiantly fought this fire and saved property, livestock, and probably lives. Until you've seen first-hand just what they do, it's impossible to comprehend the extent to which they go to protect property/lives while extinguishing fire(s). They are incredibly brave and exceptionally talented.

And, though it's not often said, the wives, husbands, and families of these men/women deserve our thanks also. It takes a special kind of person to be behind the scenes, worrying about the safety of their loved one and not knowing when he/she will be coming home.

I would also like to say Thank You to all of you who expressed concern for my husband and I and to those of you that sent me a personal email. It meant so much to me.

Take care,

Fire situation update...

eta: I spoke too soon. The fire did burn back our way and is now heading toward Lake Sherwood area on Potrero Road. I got some really good shots of the flames at the top of the hill and will post them a bit later. We are not in any danger and the sheriffs who are in charge of evacuation are positioned just a block from our home. We feel very confident at this point. But, this fire is out-of-control!!

Thanks so much for all the messages of concern... We appreciate them very much.

As of this morning the fire is over the hills to the west of us burning towards the ocean in a more southernly direction. There is concern that it could be shifted by the winds that are predicted to start up and burn back in our direction, but we feel safe since there isn't a lot of fuel in the hills surrounding us left to ignite. Late last night the fire crews (the "hotshots" as they are referred to) decided to start many backfires to burn the last remaining fuel and avoid any further fire possibility up this way. That allowed us to relax quite a bit and I actually got a good nights sleep.

This is just one view from the backyard this morning. You can't really see very well but the hillsides are burned black and are still smoldering.

The photos from yesterday and this one were all taken with the iPhone since my camera is still packed safely in my car. I'm not taking the time to edit/crop any of them either so they aren't very good, but they do give you a pretty good idea of what it looks like around here this morning.

It's already really h-o-t out and we can still smell smoke in the air so it's a good day to stay inside. We will have to bring the computer back inside and get it set up since I can't ship orders until that is done.

Anyway, again - thank you so much for your concern about our welfare. We are feeling very grateful today.

Take care,