• 29Jul
    Categories: Everything!, travels here Comments Off on Through Someone Else’s Eyes

    I live in a charming beach town called Long Beach, Washington. Long Beach is on a Peninsula that is 28 miles long and 2 miles wide–just a little finger of land.  But, it’s a beautiful and diverse place.  Of course, I see it everyday.  Actually, lots of times I don’t see it, if you know what I mean.  But last weekend, an acquaintance was here with her husband.  They were celebrating their anniversary.  Virginia sent me photos that she took of the area, and it’s incredible to see “my hometown” through someone else’s eyes!

    This is our photographer, Virginia, inside the trunk of a very large tree!

    The three bodies of water surrounding the Long Beach Peninsula are the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River and Willapa Bay. The southern most end of the Peninsula is attached to the mainland.

    The bar, where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean is very treacherous.  North Head Light House guards the entrance from the north.

    ‘Cause you sure don’t want to run aground on these rocks!

    Cape Disappointment Light House guards the river side.

    Great name, Cape Disappointment.  Named by English Sea Captain John Meares.  He was looking for the Columbia River, decided this wasn’t it (even though it was), named the headlands and sailed off!

    On the hike up to Cape D, you pass Dean Man’s Cove.

    Baker Bay is a sheltered harbor.

    It’s home to the Ilwaco fishing fleet.  This is salmon country.  Notice the fog just burning off.

    Where there’s salmon fishing, there are also canneries.  I can’t believe how charming Virginia’s pictures make it all look!

    This statue is of a California Condor.  It’s based on a description in the Lewis and Clark journals describing the “large buzzard” they saw feeding on a whale carcass.

    Jim and Virginia had dinner at one of the port restaurants and snapped this nighttime picture.

    The only high areas of the Peninsula are in Ilwaco–and they provide some great views.

    This is looking south.

    We have lots of conifer trees.

    And lots of trees covered with lichen.

    The English ivy may be pretty, but it’s a non-native, invasive weed!

    Ah, the beach.

    I really should go down there!

    As you can see, we’re not in a very crowded area!

    Sandpipers.

    Some gulls.  I’ve been seeing these lately, and they’re not the usual California seagulls.

    Some chainsaw art along the dune trail.

    Here’s our common California gull.

    Eeew!  I haven’t seen a jelly fish for a long time!

    Low tide.

    Early sunset.  While the rest of the nation has been sweltering this summer, we’ve pretty much been under a permanent fog bank with temps in the 50′s and 60′s.

    Beach cottages.  We have a lot of grass covered dunes between the houses and the ocean here.

    Weathered cedar shingles are the norm around here.

    It’s such a great beach look.

    It’s peak bloom time right now for the wild roses.

    I love how something so ordinary can be so beautiful.

    Sea captain?

    Daisies are also at their peak right now.

    And don’t you love the saturated color of these hydrangeas?

    The wild foxgloves are almost finished blooming.

    At the north end of the Peninsula is the village of Oysterville, the first settlement here.

    At the local cemetery.

    The historic Oysterville church.

    Oystering is still big business on Willapa Bay.

    Good advice!

    Thanks, Virginia.  It’s so nice to see all the wonderful things in my own backyard through someone else’s lens.

  • 25Jul
    Categories: Everything! Comments Off on Thread Cabinets

    I recently posted about the wonderful Depression Era quilt exhibit at Kolona  Historic Village in Iowa.  Also on display were some amazing thread cabinets.

    These displays fixtures were made like fine furniture.

    This one even had a built in clock!

    There were some familiar names, like J.P. Coats.

    And Star Thread.

    And Clarks.

    Do you know what the ONT stood for?  Our New Thread!

    Not so familiar to me were names like Merrick.  I love the Calumet Baking Powder cabinet here, too.

    I’m not familiar with Wilamantic Linen Company.

    Or Corticelli Silk.

    Crowley’s Needles I’ve heard of.

    And Perfection Dyes.

    Many of them had these flower vases displayed on them.  I wish I had asked about them, too.

    Here’s a beautiful ribbon display.

    Another ribbon display piece.

    And one for floss.

    Enjoy the rest of them!

  • 23Jul
    Categories: Everything!, quilting Comments Off on Amazing Dresden Plate

    I had a super fun day on Wednesday.  Nan stopped by the studio, we visited, we “did” lunch and then we went to the Klipsan Antique Mall!

    Look what I found!

    I had forgotten my glasses, and at first I thought this was machine quilted.

    But no!  Just incredibly tiny hand quilting.

    It was too great a treasure to pass up.

    And the ice cream cone variation on the border just makes it that much more special.

    Added July 25…….

    Thanks to my friend, Melinda.  She recognized this as a Ruby McKim pattern, right down to the border!  Thanks, Melinda.

  • 19Jul

    I’m so far behind on my posting, but I just have to share these wonderful quilt with you.

    I love historical villages, and we were lucky enough to hear about Kolona Historical Village while we were in Iowa.

    And even luckier that in one of their TWO quilt galleries, they were having a display of Depression Era quilts!

    Like this beautifully embroidered and hand quilted basket quilt.

    I thought the border was stunning!

    These blocks really reminded me of the Kate Greenaway children that the original Sunbonnet Sue is based on.

    I loved that she was doing all kinds of chores, including harvest!

    How’s this for a Dresden Plate.  And who says they didn’t use orange in the Thirties!?!

    This sweet little doll quilt was made special with a scalloped border.

    Postage Stamp quilt like this one fascinate me.  Even the white background is pieced 1″ squares.

    This Trip Around the World quilt was probably a kit.

    This is the same star pattern as the first quilt I ever hand quilted!

    I thought the applique and quilting were superb on this quilt.  I don’t think I’ve seen this pattern before.

    The salmon pink in this Grandmother’s Flower Garden is a bit unusual.

    Another Flower Garden.

    This quilt is from a Nancy Page Quilt Club serial design.  Each week instructions for a new flower was printed in the newspaper.

    I love how this maker coordinated her prints in the birds and flowers of each block.

    You can see another Garden Bouquet quilt on the foot of this bed.

    This beautiful design is from Marie Webster, who contributed quilts to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for years.  She also ran her own mail order company selling patterns and kits.

    I thought this bluework quilt was charming, but loved the bed skirt even more!

    The traditional Sun Bonnet Sue.

    What a pretty orange and blue print.  😉

    Dogwoods.  I’m not sure, but I think this might also be a Marie Webster design.

    A beautiful Ohio Rose.  This quilt is on my list of “to make” quilts.

    I’m not sure of the name of this quilt pattern.  Anyone?

    There were even some feed sack dresses and aprons on display.

    Quite stylish, don’t you think?

    I have a crocheted apron like this!

    You might be poor, but you could still look good!

    The staff here was wonderful.  If you’re anywhere close, I suggest you visit!