tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93936582024-03-13T06:33:10.560-07:00Going to PiecesFragments of life from Whidbey Island, Washington Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.comBlogger1242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-84833056063663049112019-01-13T10:19:00.001-08:002019-01-13T10:21:11.190-08:00Welcome to JanuaryHappy New Year, friends! Yes, I know it is January 13. But if you have followed me here, it will be no surprise to you that I am welcoming 2019 in my own way, in my own time. I have been thinking lately about how -- at least for me -- there is no bright "one year ends, another begins" marker, except that pesky calendar. It seems more to me these days that I feel the phases of life and time and Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-47107256447570142142018-09-28T07:30:00.000-07:002018-09-28T07:30:03.116-07:00In which an Old Dog Learns a New Trick
So, have you seen how people are using rulers for machine quilting on domestic sewing machines? I guess it's been common in the long-arm world for quite a while, but I think using rulers on domestic machines is a more recent development. I judged a quilt show this past May where the quilting on one quilt just wowed me (as it did others, and the quilt ended up winning several big awards.Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-80461778643769557782018-09-23T12:31:00.000-07:002018-09-23T12:35:58.797-07:00Finished!
Oh my goodness, I finished this quilt! It has been a long time in the making, so this feels like a huge accomplishment.
First, a disclaimer: I don't have a good place to take good photos of a large quilt face on -- so this morning I tried some -- ahem -- alternative angles. So, these are pretty dreadful photos, but I am so excited to have this done that I am Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-39969893507723854932018-09-15T18:43:00.001-07:002018-09-15T18:43:47.161-07:00The Barn Quilt Obsession
Do you ever get an idea in your head, and then you can't rest until you follow through with it? For some inexplicable reason, I started thinking about barn quilts.
Have you ever seen a barn decorated with a quilt block? I'm not sure how the tradition started, years and years ago. But in some areas of the country, people painted quilt blocks on the side of their barns -- with the block Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-75479392140425808172018-09-07T09:49:00.001-07:002018-09-07T09:54:58.184-07:00Random Friday Life
Most mornings, I make my coffee in my favorite keep-warm-for-hours mug and then head out to the patio to sit and read for a bit while I sip. Starlie hops up onto the loveseat next to me to work on her two morning chew treats.
I used to start by reading the NY Times, but nowadays the news is so distressing that I don't really want to read about it in detail. I briefly tried using Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-49442997359681703452018-09-03T12:08:00.000-07:002018-09-03T12:08:43.332-07:00No-Labor Monday
Good morning, friends --
I have been fretting a bit about the lapse of my blogging habit, and then this week my friend Terry Grant posted about blogging again after a lapse, and she jogged me into opening up my page to get going again.
So here I am, taking full advantage of the Labor Day holiday to putter and NOT labor. I've had a bit too much labor in my life lately, actually. I telecommuteDiane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-76203450096008553312018-06-10T10:39:00.000-07:002018-06-10T10:40:14.365-07:00Random Sunday ThoughtsGood morning, friends! I'm having a quiet sunday morning -- reading the paper, cruising through blogs via Feedly (I love that app), and in a bit will head upstairs to do some sewing.
Yesterday I got a whole quilt top together, put it on the design wall to admire it, and then realized that I'd put a block section in upside down. See those pale pink star points at the top? I had them reversed. Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-81680130155534764752018-05-28T17:02:00.000-07:002018-05-28T17:02:13.346-07:00Well, hello there!
Here it is, Memorial Day already! I was working in the garden this morning -- pruning, tidying, cleaning off the patio, and suddenly the thought crossed my mind that it is time to start blogging again.
It's been a long time. Almost 5 months, in fact. And I'll confess, it's been a rather difficult time. In November, my mom fell and broke her hip and shoulder -- ouch, two big breaks that Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-59014935016391609662017-12-30T13:14:00.000-08:002017-12-30T13:18:29.812-08:00A Tree that Tells Our Story
Christmas is over, and we're in that lovely, quiet week between Christmas and New Year's where I like to just relax and take pleasure in that "everything's-been-done-and-there-is-nothing-to-do-but-relax" feeling. Now really, there is plenty to do besides relax. But this week, I ignore it and just enjoy the decorated house and the fridge full of leftovers. I'll worry about life again next week.Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-60641819595497587452017-12-10T21:36:00.003-08:002017-12-10T21:36:41.795-08:00Haul out the Holly...
It's December... have you noticed?! Which means it's time to get out the holiday decorations.
Normally I love this time of year, and I love getting the tree up early and putting bits of Christmas all over the house. This year, though, things have been rather distracting. My mom is in a rehab facility after having broken her shoulder and her hip, and while she's doing great, it's Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-41460916161107734252017-12-03T10:50:00.001-08:002017-12-03T10:50:54.793-08:00Wait, what did I do today?
Every morning when I get up, I make myself a cup of coffee, feed the dog while the coffee brews, and I settle down to read email and make some regular internet stops while I sip my coffee. I may scroll through Facebook for a bit to see what friends are up to, look at the NY Times app to see the latest news, or open the Feedly app to read some of my favorite blogs. I might open Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-59438526555766640162017-11-24T21:50:00.000-08:002017-11-24T21:50:23.495-08:00Need a good fabric sale?
I have been sewing long enough to remember when the precut fat quarter was a brand new idea. And it was such an appealing way to sell (or more importantly, BUY) fabric... No waiting in line to have a piece cut from a bolt, no big expense, no decision on how much to buy. You found a little precut fat quarter -- that little bit of fabric that fit so neatly in your hand, to tuck right into a Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-22964382617894572652017-11-19T03:00:00.000-08:002017-11-19T03:00:09.192-08:00Approaching Thanksgiving
Here in Northern California, it's finally feeling like autumn. Quite a few trees on my street have turned gorgeous shades of yellow, orange and red. We've had a few gray, rainy days, which makes a nice change from the all-too-hot weather we've add through September and October. It occurred to me this morning, while I was out walking Starlie in between drizzle-bursts, that usually at this time Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-26856641451040275532017-11-15T03:00:00.000-08:002017-11-15T03:00:42.055-08:00Snowball Stars
I was thinking recently that it'll soon be time to bring out the holiday quilts, and that made me think about this quilt, which I made last year before Christmas. I think I whipped up this quilt top on the day after Thanksgiving, in fact. And, I realized, I never posted it here.
For Christmas quilts in my home, I prefer fabrics that aren't in-your-face Christmasy so I tend Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-75830213139115340222017-11-11T03:00:00.001-08:002017-11-11T03:00:08.975-08:00More fun sewing booksSince I had such a lapse in blogging, there's a bunch of stuff that I've been doing that I've not shown you! It's making me realize that I've accomplished things in my absence from the blogosphere!
I've mentioned before how much I love Mary Ann Moss and her blog, Dispatch from LA. Mary Ann has a distinctive and whimsical approach to art - I love her loose and fun style. She's got a Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-54858210833748412602017-11-08T03:00:00.000-08:002017-11-08T03:00:04.524-08:00Busy Binge-WatchingI have found myself wanting deeply engrossing tv lately, so I have been on a run of watching intense foreign mystery series on tv over recent weeks. It's funny -- often my preferred escapist viewing involves lighter fare, but lately I've loved the feeling of getting lost in serious, intense mysteries. Here are ones I've watched and can recommend highly:
Broadchurch -- David Tennant (you mightDiane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-14732149950832789862017-11-06T10:44:00.002-08:002017-11-06T11:07:17.363-08:00To blog, or not to blog?
I was thinking recently about how I've drifted away from blogging, and whether that meant it was time to just stop. And once that thought entered my mind, I immediately thought, "NO!"
So I have been thinking about what blogging has meant to me since I started way back in November, 2004. Wow, it's almost my 13th Bloggiversary!
Back when I started, there weren't many people Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-74472253210065901682017-11-03T16:58:00.000-07:002017-11-05T15:48:57.730-08:00Sudden Changes
I took this photograph on Wednesday, October 4. I was at my semi-annual quilt retreat at Bishop's Ranch, enjoying a lovely early fall day of blue skies and gentle breezes.
Most of you know by now that on Sunday, October 9, crazy winds pushed wildfires through many areas of Sonoma County where I live. This picture, and others from that retreat, remind me of how quickly and unexpectedly things Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-20682491262268174042017-05-23T10:40:00.000-07:002017-05-23T10:40:19.797-07:00Mermaid Dreams
Look! It's another finished quilt! I know, I can hardly believe it myself. I told you I was back at my machine with a vengeance, right? That's a happy vengeance, in case you wondered. (But I do have to say that sewing my way through the evening political shows is helping me keep my sanity in these dire political times.) At any rate, I've been having fun pulling fabric Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-16561893073369894702017-05-16T10:40:00.002-07:002017-05-16T10:43:07.585-07:00Silly Goose!
Do you find that you go through art phases? I sure do. And since some time in February, I've been in a serious quilting phase. I have no idea what re-ignited the spark, but I have sure appreciated the feeling of eagerness to get back to the sewing machine. And I've managed to start and finish a bunch of quilts! That hasn't happened in a long time.
I made this quilt for a polka Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-73145806733756668852017-03-04T13:03:00.004-08:002017-11-06T11:10:25.276-08:00Camellia Stars
Well, I have surprised myself and finished TWO quilts in the last several weeks. It sure is good to have that "I need to feel fabric between my fingers!" feeling again, and so I've been sewing a bit every day.
I showed you last time the star blocks I'd been sewing -- and by the beginning of the week, I had finished the quilt! I've called it Camellia Stars, because right now the Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-61348270719960821762017-02-21T21:46:00.002-08:002017-11-06T11:11:23.134-08:00Quilt MojoWell, I am happy to report that my quilt mojo is back! It feels like ages since I've been in the mood to sew. It hasn't worried me much, really -- I know that my creative interests can wax and wane at times, and I've learned to just follow what excites me at the moment. So I've been playing with paper (making books and cards) and I've had some knitting projects going. But I wanted to make a quiltDiane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-40898891952460138662017-01-15T11:08:00.000-08:002017-01-15T11:08:31.855-08:00Starting OverYesterday I went out sketching with my wonderful local Urban Sketching group. I'd not sketched in months, for a host of reasons and really, no good reason. Work. New puppy. Holidays. Other creative distractions. So, in some ways, opening up my sketchbook and putting pencil to paper felt like starting all over again. I was a bit nervous. I was silently giving myself permission to make a total messDiane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-28958326687960496932017-01-08T12:27:00.002-08:002017-11-06T11:11:06.193-08:00My Best Books of 2016I should start with a disclaimer. I spent a lot of 2016 reading pure escapist, fluff fiction. I didn't want to think deep thoughts. I didn't want to read about other people's tragedies. I wanted happy endings and light adventures and cozy mysteries. So my list might look a little different from the year end lists you may see elsewhere. At any rate, here are a few of my favorites:
Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9393658.post-24997311606479265292017-01-01T15:06:00.000-08:002017-01-01T15:11:49.180-08:00Happy New Year!Happy 2017, friends! I hope this January 1 finds you healthy and happy and ready for the adventure of a new year. I know that I'm glad to see 2016 end for a variety of reasons, and I'm moving into 2017 with enthusiasm and some new clarity and a bunch of goals for the coming year.
But first, some reflections on the last year:
Highlights from 2016
1. We added a new member to Diane Perinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447372718275554860noreply@blogger.com0