My new favorite toy

I finally splurged and bought a real darning foot for my sewing machine. I wish I had a long time ago. Can't believe I used to free-motion quilt without it.

After practicing on scraps for just a couple minutes I got brave and decided to do more than just "stippling".

I was given two table runners from a friend who doesn't do the finishing/quilting part of projects. She asked me to do it for her after seeing some of my other free-motion quilting projects.

I got both done in one afternoon because my new pressure foot was so awesome!!

The first one I each print had a flower-theme. So I did five petal flowers all over connected by vines.

I even practiced leaves on the borders...

Here is the back, it shows off the quilting a bit better.

The second one is a black and white. I just did more stippling because I couldn't think of anything else more creative than that.
However, I was able to do a much tighter pattern than ever before now that I can actually see what I'm doing with this new darning foot.

My new darning foot has changed quilting for me. It's faster, easier, eliminates common mistakes, and looks so much better! It has given me confidence to be more creative and explore trying new designs and patterns!! I love it!!

If you are free-motion quilting, hopefully you have a real darning foot. If not, you MUST have one. Nothing compares. I love it!!

Playing with Tile

Last week a friend of mine decided he would play around and experiment with all the tile pieces he has acquired. So he let me and another guy come experiment with his as well.

It's fairly simple. And hopefully someday I might do my own kitchen backsplash with tile or something like that.

Here is what we did. We tiled a work bench in his shop. I thought I'd smash a few tiles and try a mosaic-ish type thing. He provided the "Nike" idea.

another smaller bench we tiled

We all had fun, self-taught ourselves to do Tile and got nice and dirty!

Color Set in Stone

This quilt pattern was displayed on the wall as a sample in my local quilt shop and fell in love with it.
I acquired the patterned and put it away. Once I found the perfect fabric for it I got to work.

I really like this collection of fabric - It's called Stonehedge" by Northcott fabrics.
The prints resemble various types of stone all in various colors. I don't think any 2 pieces are exactly alike, even thought they are cut from the same piece of fabric since the colors change, fade, blend and the print/pattern on the fabric also varies!

Free Motion Quilting

When I found charm packs of these fabrics I knew I wanted to use them for this quilt.
I used a Charcoal grey Minky on the back. I love this Minky for blankets. It's incredibly soft and nice to the touch. It also really shows the quilting design without showing the stitches very well. Therefore hiding any mistakes or tension problems.

Since the fabric has a stone-like look to them and all in lots of different colors the finished product reminded me very much of a brick wall (especially with the white sashing between every piece).
So I titled the quilt Color Set in Stone!

Comfort & Hope

**This is what I am meditating on today**

Romans 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to Go's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your moral bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba Father!" The spirit himself bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation wait the eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And no only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according tot he will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors though Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus or Lord.

12 miles in 1 day

This past weekend we planned an overnight backpacking trip.
Soldier Creek Trail in Ruby Mountains of Nevada is absolutely lovely!

We were excited to get out, get some exercise, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and sleep out under the stars!

We headed out with backpacks packed with all we would need for an overnight trip to the mountains... or so we thought.

Weather reports promised lovely weather, no wind, rain, or storms. Highs in the 90's lows in the 50's. Perfect!

Drive up to the trailhead was beautiful! Look at those blue skies!

Once parked and backpacks on and we're ready to hike the rain starts. We go back to the truck to wait out the rain. Thankfully after about 10 minutes it stops and the sun comes out again!

 We started hiking again. I actually really enjoyed hiking after the rain. It smelled wonderful and was so pretty to see the sun hitting all the wet leaves!

Since we had to cross Soldier Creek at the start of the trail we started out with wet shoes so hiking a wet trail wasn't bad since we were already wet!

The scenery was amazing! Here are some cool looking caves in the rocks at the mountain peaks!

We were able to enjoy a wonder 6 mile hike up to the top of the mountain. The first half of which followed the creek through a canyon! Was so beautiful! Loved how green the mountains were and the sunshine!

Nearing the end of the 6 mile trail the sky started to get grey and cloudy again. A few rain drop sprinkles and thunder.

Based on the map and trail description there were 3 small lakes/ponds at the top and then about a half mile further there was another large lake.

We made it the first one just as the rain started again! About 3 hours from when we started.

Was very calm and peaceful even during a rain / thunder storm!

We waited it out for a little while under a tree....

After no signs of clouds moving or rain stopping. We debated what to do.
Set up camp, with one small tarp and no rain gear?

Or

Hike back down. Since it's only 3pm we could make it down before dark.

We decided to start on the next 6 miles down the mountain in the rain.

Gotta say, was a pretty awesome sight to see a storm brewin' over the mountains!

Eventually the sun came out again.... Then it would rain again... and the sun would shine, then the rain would fall. And a mixture of both at times as well.

Creek

I really had a great time up in the mountains for the 6 hours that it lasted! Was beautiful, refreshing and exhausting as well. We really weren't prepared to carry a 20lb pack for 12 miles in one day.

Spotted a bunch of snails.

I also hiked in Vibram FiveFingers. Which had its definite pros and cons.
Pros

Great for crossing creek 5x or so. Dries quickly.
Comfortable.
Lightweight.
Feet well protected without the heavy, clunky hiking boots.

Cons

Feet get really dirty.
Top of feet got slightly sunburned (not badly though) through the mesh top of shoe.
No padding on soles resulting in very sore feet after a 12 mile hike (not to mention the added 20lbs).

They were great for this hike, especially with how wet it was crossing creeks and hiking through very muddy/swampy areas. I just don't recommend hiking 12 miles in one day with FiveFingers.

Was a great hike! And overall the weather wasn't as bad as it could be. Was still comfortable temperatures and hardly any wind. Even the rain was very light.
Next time we will probably bring the tent, even though last 3 backpacking trips it wasn't needed and the weather forecast didn't indicate we needed it.

We did get to see a beautiful sunset on the way home after stopping for some much needed grub at Wingers!

And I'm still enjoying the wildflower bouquet I picked on the way down!!