Off and On Topic-Steve in Alaska

Glad to hear you're back safe and sound - and that your quilts were loved. You really didn't need all the hassles involved in the flights, tho' (and we all send our sympathies to you and a LOT of other folks who were trying to get home for Christmas.) Welcome back!

Thanks for the up-date. Glad it all finally worked out, and that you had a good time. Gen

Thanks for the update, Steve. It sounds as though your trip was a cliff-hanger in the making! It's awful to have to start a trip under so much stress, but at least you arrived safe and sound -- and earlier than expected. I'm not at all surprised that the quilts were appreciated

-- they're beautiful. Welcome home!

So glad it all worked out for you - more or less! Must have been pretty stressful, though. I was held up in Chicago airport, too; and I know the distances are long between one plane and the next. Ugh! I vowed I would never change there again >g< (Sorry for those of you who love it - I am not a great and tolerant traveller!). So glad everyone loved their quilts - they were indeed superb. You didn't say what Aunt Gail thought, though. I have been so looking forward to that report - such a brilliant idea and execution. . In message , steve writes

I don't like Chicago either. My previous two expierences were also awful. One was a plane mechanical cancellation that took 9 hours to get out of there and the other was literally from the last gate in Terminal 1 to the next to the last gate in Terminal 3 with a two hour layover and Bert just out of the hospital and having to walk the whole way. I too avoid Chicago if at all possible.

Aunt Gail liked her quilt. I must say that mine paled in comparison to Mom's for her though. Mom made her a poppy quilt that was just beautiful. I'll look for a picture of that. Again, in all the commotion, the emotion was a bit lost, but the next day I got a picture of her and me with it and she commented about it a bit more. Jim, her new second husband, thinks that they should hang it over the bed as a fertility offering, even though she's

1. We all got the meaning and laughed about that. Between the red of Mom's and orange of mine, it should brighten things up a bit.

Steven Alaska

I sympathise with your experiences. I was perfectly OK when I went through Chicago on the train! changing stations at that. (I was on my way to Mexico from Canada - I wouldn't fly then >gOne was a plane mechanical cancellation that took 9 hours to get out of

For those that are like me and can't remember what each quilt that Steve is refering to looks like

Dee in Oz

Dee, you are too kind. Wait until you see the latest retirement quilt I am making. For an English teacher with a Shakespeare/theater/flower theme. I know, that is a lot. We'll all just have to wait and see how it works out.

Steven Alaska

Dee in Oz

Don't forget to keep us posted then Steve. Your work is unique, I only wish that I could applique that well.

Dee in Oz

Your work is beautiful. No doubt your family was humbled by your Xmas gifts. Do you hand or machine appliqué? You've peeked my curiosity - what are your woven baskets? I made a fabric/coil basket this year, but it was such a slow process, I'm not sure I'd do it again - maybe:)

Hi Pauline

I've never tackled machine appliqué. I do all mine by hand. I really enjoy doing it. I always seem to have something to appliqué by hand. My woven baskets were on two of the wall quilts that I made. I basically made differing widths of bias tape and then wove them and turned the ends under to form the baskets. It was rather grueling at times. Not something that I will try again in the near future. I was very pleased with one and somewhat pleased with the results of the other. I think I know what you mean by the fabric/coil baskets. Not sure if I would like to try them but they sure do look interesting.

Steven Alaska

Oh my goodness. I'm in need of some remedial classes on hand appliqué. It's probably like machine quilting - practice, practice, practice. You must be so patient. I signed up for a block a month hand appliqué class this year with a girlfriend. While most everyone else in the class was working on block 9, she & I were (& are) still working on block 1. Pitiful!!! Do you do needle turn or the freezer paper method? Love your quilts!

I've only been through O'Hare a couple times. Last time I was escorting MIL, who got the wheel chair escort service to change planes. The escort was able to take us the back routes, and on special elevators. Way to go! A few days later, I traveled there alone and it took me much longer to travel the same gates. My advice is if one travels with any health problems, ask for either the wheel chair escort or the 'golf cart' service. I wish I'd had been a mouse in the corner to see everyone open those quilts! Pat in Virginia

Thank you, Dee. Steve's quilts are all delightful! He has a wonderful eye for color. Pat in Virginia

Hi Pauline

I guess that I am lucky since I have always seemed to have the knack with hand applique. I simply do needle turn and really have no problems, other than when I get really small pieces, too pointy points or innies. I also try to avoid fabrics with thick threads. There seems to be a middle ground of weave that seems to work just right. Sometimes I find the fabric like that used in Bali prints difficult to work with. It's hard to describe, but just something that I sense over the years with the fabric that I do have. In the past I think that I did a very minor bit of freezer paper method, but it just seemed very cumbersome to me.

I've never really been afraid to try new techniques. I just figure that if I don't try I won't know if I like it or can do it. The only thing that really scares me, and I have not had a whole lot of success with is curves. They just don't work well for me. I suppose that I should take a class and get some real instruction. There is probably some little trick that I am missing.

Glad you like my quilts. Thanks

Steven Alaska

One other tip for those narrow points is to put a stitch in the very end of the point. It makes it look really sharply pointed.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.