Scraps of Red

Weather is starting to cool off quite a bit and we are home more.  This is the time of year that I find difficult - shifting from outdoor play to indoor studio time.  I am finding this time with scraps is productive and inspiring.  I sorted out all the warm colored fabric scraps and will see what happens with them.....

Gnophaela Vermiculata on Timberline Lake Trail

I had difficulty identifying this butterfly we have seen often in the Beartooth Mountains, so I submitted my picture for professional evaluation to www.butterfliesandmoths.org.  I received an answer that this is, in fact, a moth.  Here is the info below:

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Gnophaela-vermiculata

Down to the Timberline Trailhead.

 We paused for a quick photo, then on down the trail we went.

 Nobody got wet during any of the crossings.

Rainy Departure from Timberline Lake

 There was a little break in the drizzle and so we broke camp and packed up.  The clouds were hanging over Silver Run Peak as we crossed out of the Timberline Lake basin.

Morning at Timberline Lake

 We had some light rain (and voracious mosquitoes) that forced us to make an early night of it.  It was still showering in the morning (and the bugs were still out in force) when we got up.  Nevertheless, we tried a bit of pre-breakfast fishing (no success).

 Breakfast at camp.

Fishing at Timberline

 Fishing at Timberline was outstanding!  We caught a lot of nice sized fish right away.   This lake contains a self sustaining population of Brook trout (not a native species).  They were especially colorful because they were spawning.

Timberline Lake Backpacking

 We took our 8 year old grandson on his first backpacking trip this summer.  We went to Timberline Lake because the weather there was expected to be milder than some of our other options.  Above is a picture of Timberline Lake as we arrived.  We had sunshine all the way up the trail (hot), but the clouds had arrived at the same time we reached the lake, so it began to feel a bit cooler (almost too cool, really).  The first order of business was to find our campsite, but the second was to filter water.  The two pictures below show Airus and Joe filtering ice cold water from the lake.

First Backpacking Trip for Eight Year Old Grandson

 There was not a very big window of time for backpacking this summer.  We watch the weather and the bugs to determine when we can maximize the potential for success.  We did have one evening that appeared promising and we wanted to take our eight year old grandson, Airus on his first outing.  We wanted to be able to evaluate his stamina and enthusiasm before planning a much longer trip.  Here are pictures from the Timberline trailhead and another along the trail going up.  We had partly cloudy weather and warmish temperatures for the hike into Timberline Lake.  It is 5 miles to the lake.  The trailhead is along the West Fork Road, about 11 miles in.  The elevation of the trailhead is at about 7,500 feet and this area was burned in a wildfire in 2007 (I think).

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The trail passes through the burn area for about 3 miles.  That means 3 miles without shade.... and it means looking at a lot of blackend tree trunks.  Airus could not resist playing with the charcoal found everywhere.  He drew on rocks and logs with pieces of charcoal, blackened his hands with charcoal dust and left charcoal handprints all around. 

Another Blue Scrap Quilt

 Did I mention that the whole reason got started putting together these randomly pieced scrap quilts was to clean out my scrap bin (a 30 gallon tub, that was overflowing)?  I was happy with the blue baby quilt, but I realize I have many more blue scraps.  This time - I expanded my color choices to include pale blues and blues ranging to turquoise.    This one measures 48" square.  It is also a baby quilt, apparently. 

Blue Baby Scrap Quilt

I showed this work in progress a few weeks back and here it is all sewn together.   I really like the energy, but also the calm deep color.   It measures 36 x 48" - a decent sized baby quilt. 

East Rosebud Wild Raspberries

 We took our two grandsons - Airus age 8 and Breckin age 5 to East Rosebud Lake to fish and hike.  We were fortunate to find a lot of wild berries in bloom and we enjoyed eating what we could pick.

Huckleberries in the Beartooths

 The huckleberry leaves are starting to turn color, but the berries are ripe.  We paused along the trail during a recent hike to enjoy these flavorful wild berries.

Elephant's Head Blooming in the Beartooth Wilderness

Arctic Gentian in the Beartooth Wilderness

Moose on the Trail

 Photos from a recent hike in the Beartooth Wilderness.  We encountered this beautiful bull moose on the Glacier Lake Trail.

Nap Quilt Sized Random Strips

This one ended up being 80 x 50", which I think is a good size for adult napping.  I am really happy with the way this one turned out and I look forward to doing the quilting myself and using it to cover up for Winter TV time. 

Colorful Scraps and Stripes

 While I have the scrap box out, I decide to work with a mix of colors and patterns to see if I can make a dent in my accumulation of scraps.  I decide to mix in several fabrics with stripes and a few with stars to create unity as I randomly pull fabrics. 

I thought this one might also be a crib quilt, but it is ending up larger than I anticipated.

Random Blue Pieced Twelve Inch Squares

OK, so here is what I have now - twelve 12" squares.  I am sort of on the fence about where to go with this project.  Sewn together - I will have a finished quilt about 36 x 48".  Is that a proper size for a baby quilt?  It looks like it to me, but I think a crib quilt would be larger.  Do I want a sashing?  Should I cut the 12" squares into quarters - so I would have 48 6" squares - then add a sashing?

I was really thinking I would try my hand at making a "Modern Quilt" - thinking I would use a white fabric for the sashing and make it a very generous width....  but  ....I am balking at using white, but I know it would be a good exercise for me, but ew - I do not like white in quilts unless I am using paint and print.

I also had a thought to do some block printing on these randomly pieced commercial fabrics. 

Maybe I will think about this a bit before I go further.  But I do so enjoy making the occasional scrap quilt...

Blue Strips and Random Piecing Continues

 Well, here is what I have so far.....several randomly sized portions - that somehow need to come together into a whole.  I have not yet figured out dimensions.....not used to making crib quilts - so not sure what size I need to be going for.  I still have more strips, so will keep sewing....

Blue Strips and Random Piecing

On Saturday, I showed my pile of blue strips and I have been stitching them together randomly.  Here is what I have so far.....I am thinking maybe I will have enough to make a baby quilt.  Nobody I know is having a baby, but eventually somebody will, so no harm in making one and tucking it away for the future.

This is about 18" square, but I am not nearly finished with my pile of blue strips!