Tea Time

 The Pellon website has some terrific project tutorials for free!  This little tea cozy is one of them, and was a snap to put together.  I used Clothworks Hydrangea for the main fabric, and a P and B Fabrics Bear Essentials for the casing and lining. 

The woven mug mat I found here though in slightly different form.  I love the way it got all curvy when I stitched it down the center of the woven bits.  I used the Hydrangea and Bear Essentials again, I really love them together.  Blue and green has always been a favorite combination of mine. 

Inspiration, Plus a Squirrel Thief.

Squirrel first. We have a plethora of furry little bandits who come and visit the house every day, expecting handouts. I don't know why, I suppose it could be that my husband puts out nearly a kiloton of peanuts each morning to make them feel loved. Okay, maybe not a kiloton. But a lot! I had the door open for air while I was cooking last week, and all of a sudden I felt something rub my leg. Well, more scratch or pull, actually. I looked down, expecting to see one of my cats, but no, it was one of the local sciurids, looking up at me. Little beggar. I said "Shoo" and she just stared at me. I walked towards the door, and she followed. I waited for her to go out. Nope. Demanding little thing. So I threw a peanut outside, and she went to get it. There was one of my cats, under the lawn chaise looking confused....

I went back to cooking, tap tap tap. Good Grief! I got my camera and when I came back, she was jumping off the counter with a (stolen) peanut. She was a cool character, gotta give her that.

Now for the INSPIRATION. Click here. Don't argue, don't hesitate, don't think, just do it. You won't ever say "I can't" again. Really. Thanks to Donovan at Castle Argh for the link.

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!

Allelulia

Sad Day

Farewell and Following Seas Lex, I will miss you. Damn.

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!

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.

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!

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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.

 

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.