The Aftermath

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was full of family and food. We went down to Raft Bayou and stayed for the weekend. Everyone gathered on Wednesday and Thursday for more food than we needed, but that was too delicious to resist.

All was good until Saturday night, when I suddenly began feeling bad and running fever. Came home Sunday and slept all day. Better yesterday, much better today and am trying to catch up on emails, etc.

via Craft Magazine



A neat little video with a big message.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Christine Kane recently had an article in her newsletter titled Who Do You think You are? I wanted to link to it, but couldn't find the article on her blog, so I guess it was just in the newsletter. It was about that snarky little voice in your head that says you are not worthy and keeps you in your place. Kane says you should answer that voice, answer it loudly, and clearly and confidently. Affirm your strengths and your values.

I remembered it because we all have that voice in our heads that tries to prevent us from taking risks, from stepping out there, and then I ran across this video about that voice and creativity and motherhood:




Here is the link to the website and to an article about the documentary. This is a movie I want to see.

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I should always check my links. My link last Friday was supposed to be to Calamity Kim's post about dreaming about quilting, However, as Kim of Skybell Arts noticed, it did not! It does now, though as I've gone back and fixed it. Thanks, Kim for letting me know!

Busy, busy...

The spiral is complete, but I'm adding borders. A doll quilt?

I've seen the results of Typealyzer on several blogs and decided to try it.

ESTP - The Doers

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

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Hmmm. I don't know. Some parts seem relevant, but I can sit still as long as I have something to read or some handwork. I can sit still for hours at a time if I have something to do. Guess it depends on what you categorize as active.

The book blog results were even stranger!

On to preparing for tomorrow's Thanksgiving Gathering. Made a sweet potato casserole last night - topped with a pecan, butter, and brown sugar crunchy delight. It was all I could do to refrain from tasting.

Good preparation to all of you!

Hand in glove

I think I'll make some more of these embroidered buttons. I like the fact that they are square.The button card shoes the tiny vintage buttons I used on the Mojo pillow. You can see the tarnished copper sheet--click on the one below and you can see a bit better--the copper is almost black.

No Outfit Is...

complete without dog hair. Or cat hair, as the case may be.

I used some of my vintage buttons; it was difficult to take them off the card, even though there were two missing when I found the card at a flea market. At least by using them, the poor little buttons get to see the light of day.

I've never seen any buttons mounted like they were -- with copper wire on a thin, thin copper sheet. The copper is all tarnished, but still interesting.The words don't stand out as well as I had hoped, but at least it is better in person than in the photos. The top is hand quilted with simple straight lines in black and white pearl cotton. The back has no batting or quilting.
I put a button hole in the back, but didn't find a button that I liked, so I sewed on a length of ribbon, threaded it through the button hole, and tied a bow.Now I have a nice momento of Mila's artwork for the bed at the cabin.

Almost Finished

This is how I protect my fingers when I need to steam under 1/4 inch (or any hem). Don't usually use this many pins, but it doesn't really take much time to pin it to the ironing board and press. Especially since it saves me from burning my fingers!
A little rickrack...I've made the closure and put on a little label giving Miss Mila credit for the drawing of Mojo. Will post the finished pillow tomorrow.

Another great give-away, especially if you like Denyse Schmidt's fabric. Check it out here at The Little Blue Cottage.

Spiraling

I wanted to make what I thought was a log cabin block with a spiral. The idea is almost the same, but there is a big difference in the order in which you apply the pieces.
Even though I had drawn out and colored the way I wanted it to go, the difference in the order didn't penetrate. Result: I had to unsew several pieces. A slow learner, this process happened more than once.

Using the scraps shown yesterday--left over from Bryce Eleanor's baby quilt last year. They are mostly Anna Maria Horner's line with some Kona Cotton thrown in. Because they are scraps and left overs, some pieces were larger, some smaller, and some scraps were plentiful while others were not. Therefore...liberated wonky style.

Getting bigger~~
I've finished quilting the Mojo pillow and will make the back today. Then I can add him to our cabin pillow collection. And probably begin another pillow.

A Little Background Music, Please

I'm playing with these scraps... and listening to this (via First Born Studio)

Fabulous Friday

Attitude is everything! So I am sure this Friday will, indeed, be fabulous.

Last Friday was. Had lunch with Thomas, and he gave me this terrific tee shirt! Instead of Kung Fu Panda, it's Tai Chi Panda. It came from China and has the 24 postures on the front.
In Wu Style, we learned the thirteen, then the 22, then the 44, then the 108 postures. I'm not sure which style is depicted (probably Yang or Chen), but I love the tee shirt.A little strip piecing. Yesterday was a play day; today means back to business. Lots of chores and errands left over from yesterday's cheerful neglect of all things needful and devotion to all pleasurable things.
I don't think all of the blogs I follow are showing up on Bloglines. Or maybe some of the folks I read are just not posting.

Anyway, I enjoyed this post by Calamity Kim who is quilting in her dreams.

Weighing In

Still working on the Mojo pillow. As soon as I finish with all of the seed stitches, it should begin moving much faster.Pleasant daydreams reading these publications.

I really like Ragamuffin Garlands! So simple and such a great way to use small scraps.

Today has been dedicated to playing with a new block and various works in progress, some embroidery, some reading, some blog browsing. Perfect!

Reflecting

Things I love: books, sewing/quilting/embroidery, gardens, fresh flowers. Early morning fog.

"Making progress doesn't always mean continuing forward on the same path...
It may mean retracing your steps, taking an unexpected turn, or even stopping to rest and renew your spirit."

from Simple Truths for Women

UFO

Notice I've switched from WIP to UFO...

Last year, inspired by Lazy Gal Tonya, I started this liberated piecing/wonky letters project. The work stalled pretty quickly because so much was going on; I was going to work on it after Christmas, but never got around to it. The pieces are in a plastic box somewhere, and I may try to finish it this year...

Found this fascinating site via Layers of Meaning. I've recently seen a reference to Robinson's work somewhere else...can't remember where.

Heard about Feufollet on NPR and since I love Cajun music thought I'd share. You can listen to a little music here.

Poetry and UFOs

"We are here on earth to do good for others. What the others are here for I do not know." ~W.H. Auden

Auden is one of my favorite poets, even though his poems are usually about the flaws in humanity, they always offer a possibility of hope and emphasize the importance of love. One of my favorite poems is September 1, 1939, which he wrote in 1939 on the outbreak of WWII.

On to more mundane things...

These cuffs have been in progress for months. I found them in the little plastic box where I stored them with the beads, Dorset buttons, etc. I was using. It took a while to locate the box, but determination led me through the chaos.
I'm trying to identify as many WIPs and UFOs as I can, and then determine a way to order them so that at least they receive occasional work.

More WIPs

"I get up every morning determined both to change the world and to have one hell of a good time doing it. Sometimes this makes the day difficult." ~E.B. White

Love that quote!

I'm not sure where these little moodles are going - buttons, appliques to add to another work, brooches...I guess the point is that they keep my hands busy. These are on a brown linen scrap.WIPs are an example of the shotgun approach; I just pick up one thing today, something else tomorrow, kind of randomly. There is rarely a purpose or a focus other than the pleasure of the activity itself.

Left over thread of any length gets stored at the bottom of the strip.

Morning Musings...

I'm still moodling, but not as frequently. Early morning light not the best, but has its own beauty on this clear, cold morning. (click to enlarge)
I love tea. Fee brought me this lovely box yesterday...which is even prettier on the inside and filled with delicious tea selections!
Time for a cuppa'~~ while I consider all of the WIPs I have in progress, all of the projects I have in mind, and all of the mundane, but necessary, chores I have to take care of.

Monday Pleasures

I just ordered this pattern from Thimble Blossoms Etsy shop. I love it!

I get a newsletter from Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord and visit her blog, Making Books (with children). Her Giving Thanks Accordion Book post has some wonderful links:

- for making accordion books,
-a children's book Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message,
- a Teacher's Guide to the book,
-this terrific interactive site for children, Historian: Investigating the First Thanksgiving,
-Boston's Children's Museum - Children of the First Light exhibit (isn't that a wonderful name?),
- and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe web site.

I had so much fun investigating these sites and found myself wishing that I'd had these resources when my children were young and when I was teaching. Making books would have been a great learning device for any age group on any subject.

Discovery

I forgot that I'd bought these fabrics after Christmas last year on sale. Now, what to do with them?

Last year I made several fabric envelopes (a la Lazy Girl Tonya); there may be a few more in the works. Here are two that I made for gifts I was giving Fee.However, last year I hand quilted them, and this year, if I make them, they will be machine quilted.I'm sure there are plenty of things I can make with the Christmas fabrics besides the gift envelopes, if I ever get in the mood!

I have, after hours and hours over two weeks, finally figured out how to fix my Flickr. I'm so excited because now I can view images on blogs that upload from Flickr and the images on other people's photostreams. It will take a while to catch up, but that's OK!

Makes You Think...

Religious or not, this is a terrific video.

black and white and red all over

A little more work on the Mojo piece...

Two new embroidery books that I have been perusing:

Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches

and The Embroiderer's Handbook.
I think I ordered a third one, but will have to check. My continuing birthday celebration - gifts to myself! :)

Finished The Reluctant Widow - good fun!

Moving Along...

Mojo is going to get some embroidery and quilting, while I watch Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy.

Great tutorial lists:

from Whip Up
from Sew, Mama, Sew

I don't know why I can see these images for the link below, then click on photostream and have all of the pictures disappear, but anyway enough of my Flickr problems -- I love Egg Money's Cinderella quilt! Keep clicking to the right to see the individual blocks.

Angel hair pasta, tomato fresca, with basil and garlic sauce.
Angel Hair Pasta in Garlic Sauce (just add fresh tomato and some basil--or not)

Yield: 6

Ingredients:

       1    pkt  capellini (angel hair) pasta - (16 oz)
     1/4    cup  olive or vegetable oil
     1/4    cup  chopped fresh parsley
       4      x  garlic cloves finely chopped
     1/2    cup  freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
                 Freshly-ground black pepper to serve

Method:
Cook pasta as directed on package.

While pasta is cooking, heat oil in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook parsley and garlic in oil, stirring frequently, until garlic is golden.

Drain pasta; mix with garlic mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with pepper.

This recipe yields 6 servings.

I put some tiny red rick rack around Mila's drawing of Mojo, then built the block with scraps. Still don't know what this will be or where it is going, but I love that 3 legged little Mojo.

Tonight was perfect for Tomato Basil soup and a good book. Georgette Heyer's The Reluctant Widow - in the mood for some Regency romance and mystery.

What's Up With That?

What's up with sewing? -- Worked on some embroidery last night, but haven't had much time to sew so far this week. Today I'm getting busy on the block for Mila's drawing of Mojo.
And then? I have some new projects in mind, but also have a number of WIPs that need attention.

What 's up with this? Hmmm... Fee's second message that we are out of coffee; he left this totem the other morning, a wordless plea. I've tended to that problem.What's up with Flickr? I am so frustrated! Something has happened and my photos don't show up, but worse, many of my favorite photostreams don't show the photos, and even worse, blogs that use Flickr now show only text. I've tried every recommendation and still no photos!

Laddie has pneumonia. I've spent a lot of time talking to nurses since finding his cough so much worse. After speaking to the nurse on Monday, she called the doctor, who ordered an x-ray and found the pneumonia. Coughing was worse yesterday, a result of breaking up some of the phlegm, I hope. He is so fragile, but other than the coughing, he doesn't seem to be in pain.

the poppies blow...

I miss the poppies. They used to be so common on Veterans' Day.







In Flanders Fields Museum

The History of Veterans Day

The Poppy Campaign

Let's Say Thanks
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Some of the things we found in Laddie's trunk, his Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Lucky Bastard Certificate.

Thanks to all of our Service Men and Women, Past and Present.

Another Year Older...

Friday night was my 60th birthday -- or as Fee had them put it on the cake...

I didn't get down to the cabin until after dark, and it was just Fee, me, Robin, and Marty. We had dinner and relaxed and visited. My birthday began on Friday, but lasted the entire week end and (as Kim remembered from a post from about 5-6 months ago) I plan on celebrating all year long!

Saturday morning, I took pictures of the pillows on our bed in our cabin. Fee bought me this bed for our anniversary early in our marriage, and we eventually moved it into Erin's room when we got a queen size bed. Now we've moved it to the cabin.

Robin gave me these DELICIOUS nuts with all kinds of delicious stuff mixed in and a measuring cup because a serving size is 1/4 cup. I just kept eating 1/4 cups until I had quite a few servings!
Fee gave me this wonderful carved Buddha which I adore!

Saturday was quiet, but the kids began coming in that afternoon. Amelia, Bryce, and Chris.
Later, Erin, Max, and Mila.
Nieces Megan.
and Katie...Megan made this awesome handmade journal! I love handmade books and am so proud of this one. She chose the design and had it screen printed on the cover. So many treasures.
The necklace is from Amelia and Chris. It has a quote from Emerson: "what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."I had originally planned to give myself a birthday party and crone-ing celebration with just the women and girls, but with all of the things that kept coming up, I never got around to planning it. For some reason, I have been in the most joyful mood for the last week and this lovely, relaxed weekend will always be one of my favorite memories.

Came home Sunday night to enjoy the glorious flowers Erin sent. Today has been hectic, but after tonight's yoga class, I began trying to recount my blessings.

In Progress...

The stuffing needs a little work, eh? But I think it will be fine on the bed in the cabin with the other strange bird pillow. Awfully red, isn't it?


Mila drew a pictue of Mojo (Boston Terrier), and Erin had it on the refrigerator. I traced it and just embroidered it with a stem stitch. I'm thinking of a log cabin block, but don't know where it will go from there. Mojo's other leg (there were only 3) and his tail are covered with the black & white strip I've pinned on.

Pillow Progresses

Ready to begin quilting on Strange Garden pillow.

After quilting the top of the pillow, I added more grass to the embroidered center. Pinning on the back. Almost there.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty: Yesterday, I answered the door...

to find that Erin had sent me these lovely flowers!
Absolutely beautiful, and for me, a full appreciation of the thought and the happiness I feel when I look at them. The fringed tulips are gorgeous!Beast: A few shots of some of the books that clutter the house. How can I fail to see these on a day to day basis? And review books keep arriving from publishers.



These are just the ones covering some of the available surfaces in the living room. They breed and multiply...

So kimy's post over at Mouse Medicine was one of those synchronicitous pleasures this morning. Love her photographs and the quotes!

:) I worked in the studio yesterday! Yes! Will post pictures later, but it was such a pleasant relaxing day. I was certainly in that contentment zone.

A Perfectly Peculiar Day

Here is the other print from A Fanciful Twist -- A Perfectly Peculiar Day.

Detail.And she included another postcard!

I can't wait to have them framed!

Fanciful Magritte

A while back, I ordered two prints from A Fanciful Twist and was planning to have them framed before posting the pictures, but life kept getting in the way. The nice part is that I've rediscovered them and have almost as much pleasure as when they first arrived in the mail!

Do visit Vanessa's lovely, whimsical website and her Etsy shop. On My Way to See Magritte is a canvas print of an original painting. Vanessa included these charming postcards in the package.
I'll show you the other print I ordered tomorrow.

Thursday Thoughts

Pinks still in the garden:

The trees have turned and are in such glory, but isolated elements in the garden still remember summer.

Great yoga class last night, not strenuous, but lots of twisting and stretching--very relaxing. I was a bit concerned about having problems because of two weeks absence, but the class was a perfect way to get back into practice.

I managed to get a lot done in straightening the studio yesterday; now, debating about what project to work on. Lots of choices from projects that need to be completed, to new ideas.

Strange Gardens and Happiness

I worked on Strange Garden while at Erin's and think it is about finished. I will leave it alone for awhile and see if I want to add anything else, new birds or flowers, or whatever.

The book I wanted to share with you is How We Choose to Be Happy: The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People.
I reviewed it over at A Garden Carried in the Pocket, but wanted to give a shout out about it here, as well. The book turned out to be such a rewarding read that I left my copy for Erin to read and ordered 6 more copies. Another one for me, and the rest as gifts. :) See, I'm happier already!

After this morning's meeting and various errands, I came home and began cleaning/organizing the studio because...

One of the components listed in the book is "identification" - taking the time to identify things that make you happy. Not things that you think would make you happy (like more money, a new house, a better job, etc.), but things available to you right now.

Just identify them and see how what you think might make you happy and what actually does make you happy correlate. I had a long, long list that included a lot of trivial things (like Avocado Delight sandwiches, fresh flowers, green tea-scented anything, rosemary, my favorite chair (+ book or handwork + Mac), etc.

I'm pretty cognizant of the things that make me happy, and they include family, reading, quilting, handwork of all kinds, gardening, yoga, tai chi-- but making the list helped me realize that I was neglecting some things or taking them for granted.

Thus, the impetus to clean up the studio and finish some WIPs and begin some new projects. I need to take the time to appreciate what I enjoy instead of being on automatic pilot. The studio is one of my first steps.

Home...

Aren't these gorgeous? I walked to the florist shop a block or two from Erin's and bought her these flowers one day last week. I couldn't make up my mind and kept saying "and that one, and that one" -- the colors of the roses were so lovely and that blue in the delphiniums, mmmm.

After 9 days in Baton Rouge, I made it home yesterday in time to vote. I would have stayed another day or two to help Erin move into her new condo, but had to get home to vote and check on Laddie. We did get a lot of packing done and took over a bunch of boxes ourselves, but the movers will be there today to complete the job.

Last night, a long soaking bath, election returns, and my little dog Mac beside me. Fee didn't get in until late, but I needed the down time.

How about this funky outfit?

And this cowlick!
Had a great time with the grands.

So many WIPs languishing... I was in the midst of a productive spell in August, but have been unable to get back to that place and now November is here, and I'm still in a rut.

No, I think the rut has ended. When I get home from the meeting this morning, the studio is going to see some organization and some sewing!

Later I'm going to tell you about a great book that I read...actually, read it twice and want to share, but now off to get ready.