Here's the block (15") I started and finished in Anchorage. All the detailed elements of the star were paper pieced, then I stripped off all the paper and sewed the pieces together. This is the most intricate block I've ever done. Alyson chose the colors from a Jinny Beyer quilt , and I applied it to this block. I'm going to choose more colors as I go, and am hoping to make good choices.

We brought this cute little bear home with us. Here he is snugged into my suitcase, and below is his original spot in the room. There were no more for sale, but Kathryn let us buy this one off her wall. We just thought he looked like a little boy clutching his favorite toy to himself.

This is the other side of the little extra room, which made a terrific work area for me. You can see the table in the picture with Jay on the love seat... that was in the middle of the room till I finished the block I was working on.

Here's the little room heater, that the owners bought after we arrived, after which we were quite warm. The doors behind it go directly outdoors to the hot tub, which in the summer would be a big benefit. However, cold air was sweeping in here till Jay put painter's tape up around the door (He even fixes OTHER people's houses!!). It made an amazing difference. He did miss a spot, though. On Sunday morning, when it was about 6 degrees out, there was a little strip of frosted ice on the inside of the middle stripping, where there was still cold air creeping in.

GREETINGS from Anchorage, Alaska! 

This is a picture of the room we're staying in, which is actually an upgrade from the one we had requested (Someone was in that room when we arrived). This room has been very nice, because there's a little ante room with a curtain divider, so that Jay can go to bed (and get up at 5 a.m.), and I can continue to work here. The owners added a room heater after we arrived and discovered the heater wasn't working. It looks like an old-fashined stove, complete with face fire and is very comforting. I've put together the first block, a center medallion, to a BOM quilt I'm making for Alyson and Brad, and made some bead scissor fobs/zipper pulls with Kathryn's help. (Owner of the B & B). She has an enviable work corner in their living room and does very wonderful free-form bead work. I'll include some pictures when I get home, and can get some of my pictures uploaded. Well, that's all for now.... Jay is finished with all his assigned sewing machines and has gone to Willow, Alaska, and a festival there. We'd planned on both of us going, but it snowed 12 inches yesterday; there were 75 auto accidents in Anchorage last night. I didn't want to white-knuckle it for 3 hours today and drive Jay crazy, so I'm here in the warmth and comfort of our room... looking out on the beautiful snow. That's my idea of enjoying a snowfall!