Wednesday, April 11, 2012

For a Friend


When my daughter was thirteen, one of my dearest friends went into labor after a difficult time getting pregnant, and a bit of a high risk due to her age. My daughter very much wanted to accompany me to the hospital to pray and help however she could, so off we went. After more than 30 hours (!) of labor, and a caesarian to deliver the hip presented breech baby, a beautiful healthy little girl was delivered into her Mom's arms.
That baby turns thirteen later this month! She will be here with us on that day, and we are so happy! My daughter has been known as The Princess all her life (another story) and Ariel has become The Princess in Training. She is a delight. So I thought I would make a little something for her.... and her favorite color is yellow.... Happy Birthday sweetie!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Time Out







For a little bread making, that is. I was craving bread this week, and wanted it fresh and tasty, so I figured the best thing to do was to make it myself. I did start with a bread mix, by Fleishman's, and then added savory and rosemary from last year's paltry pot garden, and extra virgin olive oil with a little salt. Boy did it turn out tasty! But don't take my word for it, try it yourself.... oh, wait, you can't.... well, at least look at how yummy it appears!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Caught in the Act!





That is the name of this amazing quilt by Barbara McKie. It uses a disperse dyed digital print with applique, trapunto and especially thread painting. This is my second favorite quilt overall, and my favorite for techniques.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Nature, Through the Eyes of a Quilter.





Another batch of wonderful quilts from the Midatlantic Quilt Festival....
Although the styles ranged from very traditional to ultramodern, my own tastes in quilts tend to the contemporary landscap[e and fantasy quilts, the artsy stuff. It is what I do (though not in this caliber) and what I love. I did take pics of traditional pieces for my friends who didn't get to go, but these are the ones I found fascinating. The use of color, the composition, the lines and fabric choices, all contribute to the beauty and my joy in these pieces. I hope you enjoy them too. Tomorrow, I will showcase one particular quilt that just blew me away! Stay tuned!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

More

 

 

 

 

Midatlantic Fun

I went to Virginia Beach this past week to the Midatlantic Quilt Festival there. What a great time I had! It is hard to know which pics to put on the blog, since there are so many gorgeous quilts I fell in love with and wanted to bring home. Here are just a few... I will do a special post on my favorite... But for now, just some of the beautiful work I saw there.

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I'm Back!




Well, it has been a busy time for me, and still is. I do have a few things to show for it though, and one that I will show when I get the pics for it from my sis. I am entering a small quilt in a challenge by Alliance for American Quilts. It is inspired by a book I have recently read, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. If you haven't read it yet, I heartily recommend it, along with its two follow on books, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I like the quiltie so much that I am doing a second one, because I have to give this one away. I plan to do one for the other two books too, and then another one each month this year, each inspired by books I have read. If I pull it off, I will have 12 little quilts to remind me of my old friends, books.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The End of the Christmas Display











Today, we took down Christmas. If I could, I would leave this up all year and build new stuff for it and expand it, but living in a townhouse, that just isn't likely! So down it came. Here was the final display after the additions of this year, the bread vendor and weaving woman, plus more sheep and trees. This year I want to make all new tents for the kings and a cave for the Holy Family. And a warp weighted loom, too. Hopefully. Farewell, Christmas.

Almost Summer, Winter is A-coming.

The day began early with a ride north for a little minor surgery.  The sun was up before we left, but not before we rose.  The sky was a won...