tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54716212112650870182024-02-19T09:59:37.056-06:00Martha MacGyverso many projects, so little timeWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.comBlogger484125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-23645158070629603762010-08-10T17:00:00.003-06:002010-08-10T17:00:01.852-06:00poppy pouch<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Another gift for the generous <a href="http://www.poppisima.blogspot.com/">Poppy</a>.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I spotted this ribbon at the <a href="http://www.portsmouthfabric.com/">Portsmouth Fabric Company</a>. Check them out online or in person. It's one of the best fabric stores I've been in. When I told them this was to be a gift, they offered me the use of their sewing machines since I was on vacation. I passed due to time constraints, and it's a good thing I didn't know I'd have access to a machine ahead of time.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Once I had to have the ribbon I needed to search for some coordinating fabric. These are from the Kaffe Fassett collection.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDi0thj13crQXSky9EiklQjRK21PwsEnc1xra24xUhHMYSGONpd-Zf28Sv5ASCyaobe70XjXVHJYrbFEq5pXiBXA1tsFSJMml4Y9yTzTtGGNEkKlkJvLgSFU5yhkWZfEPhM-cxZyYi9U/s1600/100_9144.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDi0thj13crQXSky9EiklQjRK21PwsEnc1xra24xUhHMYSGONpd-Zf28Sv5ASCyaobe70XjXVHJYrbFEq5pXiBXA1tsFSJMml4Y9yTzTtGGNEkKlkJvLgSFU5yhkWZfEPhM-cxZyYi9U/s400/100_9144.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The pattern was based on one of my Vera Bradley cosmetic bags. To make it a little easier I quilted the exterior fabric on fusible fleece. The zipper pull is made of beads from my stash.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq7HkeshdJhhs04W2tsXQ0A2iCxvp-65MxTRta0IdVFCq1QFZuIptNURY5rzTA5yxBEp7a7XTF2c2PoL9NR39aEv2HEbnIRx2jZsdTRUYMBEDfCzDYcp3y4pZC_it2bfWJ5kX9HSaae0/s1600/100_9150.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq7HkeshdJhhs04W2tsXQ0A2iCxvp-65MxTRta0IdVFCq1QFZuIptNURY5rzTA5yxBEp7a7XTF2c2PoL9NR39aEv2HEbnIRx2jZsdTRUYMBEDfCzDYcp3y4pZC_it2bfWJ5kX9HSaae0/s400/100_9150.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-80445222493719531262010-08-09T17:00:00.004-06:002010-08-09T17:00:01.167-06:00cushion for a cottage<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">A thank you gift for a generous <a href="http://www.poppisima.blogspot.com/">hostess, </a>who loaned us her lovely cottage for our vacation-</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'd intended to sew this up before we left and was going to leave it there for her to find when she arrived. The storms that knocked out our power before we left changed my plan. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The hankie was in my stash of vintage linens. Can you believe something so perfect was right here? I added a solid pink fabric and white piping from the stash as well.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd-fKQrzDT0GtnAXjAi8IhxuYggJ2XHTJ8lyUVN-oniuJx1RXX0dvoZgDWP9eshBPmwbJWlKcNVgAAdv97zKDw4ro8WFug1shiXohYTMp4ZVLCgdASvUehS1aUt_zv16ip13lr6a3T20/s1600/101_1256.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd-fKQrzDT0GtnAXjAi8IhxuYggJ2XHTJ8lyUVN-oniuJx1RXX0dvoZgDWP9eshBPmwbJWlKcNVgAAdv97zKDw4ro8WFug1shiXohYTMp4ZVLCgdASvUehS1aUt_zv16ip13lr6a3T20/s400/101_1256.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">After several attempts at putting the hankie on with monofilament thread and the machine, I gave up. The fabric was too delicate and it kept bunching up. I also wasn't happy with either a zig zag over the scallops or a straight line inside of them. The best solution was a simple whipstitch by hand with the monofilament. It's almost impossible to see how the hankie is attached and I was able to follow the scallops exactly.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCntXTc5-0AqlY2l1hEzMsS9i1WSvcOkMcDPa__eWyO93ZbrbEhTPCa4Yv3ggmiZNswl1LKEz_qXS0LRjGWLCQAOhxP5bSnbTryNAKU6HIjcDsc3AQ0Uu829eNxuBU5k0ACJgZ70kCrFk/s1600/101_1261.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCntXTc5-0AqlY2l1hEzMsS9i1WSvcOkMcDPa__eWyO93ZbrbEhTPCa4Yv3ggmiZNswl1LKEz_qXS0LRjGWLCQAOhxP5bSnbTryNAKU6HIjcDsc3AQ0Uu829eNxuBU5k0ACJgZ70kCrFk/s400/101_1261.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Sadly, our hostess' time at the cottage is done for the summer. I think it might look cute on a screened-in suburban porch though.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-43406663010071137462010-08-08T17:00:00.002-06:002010-08-08T17:00:00.849-06:00vacation day four<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">This is the end, I promise.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We headed back to the beach and spent the entire day there.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The kids met several other children who lived on the coast and knew all about what was living in the plants. We got there at low tide which was perfect for exploring.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpUBlvME0OTZQTkZc47lzBd7VPob7-FfrZfwoubaT2tFdYh9N_B47f8DkwO5beLX9dH77qcAeCdEX-Tzp3GXTslbY-RW902MRezxbypNUoHIoU6bcS79hg63r3coE0VRqAX4gOp53iBQ/s1600/100_9116.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpUBlvME0OTZQTkZc47lzBd7VPob7-FfrZfwoubaT2tFdYh9N_B47f8DkwO5beLX9dH77qcAeCdEX-Tzp3GXTslbY-RW902MRezxbypNUoHIoU6bcS79hg63r3coE0VRqAX4gOp53iBQ/s400/100_9116.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">All manner of critters were found. Crabs, shrimp, clams, mussels, snails.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3mpZw8AqDc8_i01VIvtzB5spiz8_GXhyfSWBBg-XjAfnDF0jQCSdAcqbuRt919RGZ5n2NveKG6e9K3YHxgiOm7Oj2xsEytKKFMF_d1B5fDvMzTAWebPfcAwojRYqlL4t-ZsOJSu3hJg/s1600/100_9111.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3mpZw8AqDc8_i01VIvtzB5spiz8_GXhyfSWBBg-XjAfnDF0jQCSdAcqbuRt919RGZ5n2NveKG6e9K3YHxgiOm7Oj2xsEytKKFMF_d1B5fDvMzTAWebPfcAwojRYqlL4t-ZsOJSu3hJg/s400/100_9111.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And of course, there was much digging to be done.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOitCCV20guEX4vknD90vYIbFRfnpsxEH21sbzPHzEn-qYiyy-nNaEoK8JM_cSb6SivAzUikbIK_Q1Kg8KMo8yR9izY6b9YX3qiiIGX-lBOGWPpGAX4IDLiy9viPggoSBDM-dCm60c5gc/s1600/100_9119.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOitCCV20guEX4vknD90vYIbFRfnpsxEH21sbzPHzEn-qYiyy-nNaEoK8JM_cSb6SivAzUikbIK_Q1Kg8KMo8yR9izY6b9YX3qiiIGX-lBOGWPpGAX4IDLiy9viPggoSBDM-dCm60c5gc/s400/100_9119.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">You have no idea how hard it was to resist a little push after I took this picture.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvU55rgfUaJ5qGIUL_Ltg94XZfQlsEcp9XjdyDplh6aAeS6tHu3hiFeh5RBjxuRJIzIvKYj755vH_CxCStnJ33KMqaewVHf0kXyFJFIieyKromwCN2Kg8BGgMDcxyzmFxOSxmINUB4svc/s1600/100_9123.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvU55rgfUaJ5qGIUL_Ltg94XZfQlsEcp9XjdyDplh6aAeS6tHu3hiFeh5RBjxuRJIzIvKYj755vH_CxCStnJ33KMqaewVHf0kXyFJFIieyKromwCN2Kg8BGgMDcxyzmFxOSxmINUB4svc/s400/100_9123.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">That's it. No pictures of the 17 hour drive home. You're welcome.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-62778069249152293372010-08-08T09:00:00.000-06:002010-08-08T09:00:00.634-06:00vacation day three<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Ha, I'm like the relative with a captive audience and a boatload of slides!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Next up was Portland Head Lighthouse. Ominous sky. It rained just a bit before moving on.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTzWE18HUliiHzoicxzQs6pytVX76IaeGUahdsbq19BYkfL6ksBbb-N7KhVk-AW5cPRXqAgTOpwTwGpsm7FOJLYj9f-djnxhfKjOIE_F5C63hM-X5kmVIqWyEXN1MSmghR8b1SZoanX8/s1600/100_9076.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTzWE18HUliiHzoicxzQs6pytVX76IaeGUahdsbq19BYkfL6ksBbb-N7KhVk-AW5cPRXqAgTOpwTwGpsm7FOJLYj9f-djnxhfKjOIE_F5C63hM-X5kmVIqWyEXN1MSmghR8b1SZoanX8/s400/100_9076.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSWOIcrKA4ChTr6Vo1CBR04yy4JF4mvxw241zmFlLgyRQzXeuTF-x_inM8jeCJya4Sg142LoSfrqYIHjT-2-_AcNOxnf8VlfZTs169z3sT5_4B8QYPIEQYloWiVb2ehVA9BqwIoJMSjk/s1600/100_9093.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSWOIcrKA4ChTr6Vo1CBR04yy4JF4mvxw241zmFlLgyRQzXeuTF-x_inM8jeCJya4Sg142LoSfrqYIHjT-2-_AcNOxnf8VlfZTs169z3sT5_4B8QYPIEQYloWiVb2ehVA9BqwIoJMSjk/s400/100_9093.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfJIilXACMskzQ5PAo6Fv3-rAU0Q6t-fSutaX8miydLHbMlf6b4KoMOLXxi-6ZNS48OkjXoQ3bds9nW3UGVVz3yjcT_ObWOyftqSFwJ1w-upZ6pkykD46ELzyRc-sfAeCaorTBg8kiL4/s1600/100_9101.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfJIilXACMskzQ5PAo6Fv3-rAU0Q6t-fSutaX8miydLHbMlf6b4KoMOLXxi-6ZNS48OkjXoQ3bds9nW3UGVVz3yjcT_ObWOyftqSFwJ1w-upZ6pkykD46ELzyRc-sfAeCaorTBg8kiL4/s400/100_9101.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ne10RIh2QpcYNFefAOGLKgQl1TNBTM3tceDZUlZpQbFCs31_HRFUHA270eCAPtvWzJlUcvwrYwuhVfStK6Z-96smrydQ0iHGqMwKJU3LvsW1ojj61upGEoLfRVRJVTz29WlpKj7Bt-8/s1600/100_9107.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ne10RIh2QpcYNFefAOGLKgQl1TNBTM3tceDZUlZpQbFCs31_HRFUHA270eCAPtvWzJlUcvwrYwuhVfStK6Z-96smrydQ0iHGqMwKJU3LvsW1ojj61upGEoLfRVRJVTz29WlpKj7Bt-8/s400/100_9107.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-19739947111104054132010-08-07T17:00:00.001-06:002010-08-07T17:00:01.700-06:00vacation day two<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Day two was spent in Portsmouth and Kittery, ME.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">If you get a chance to go to Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth it's wonderful. There are homes representing eras in Portsmouth from the 1600's to the 1950's. Actresses representing the women of these households interact with the guests. Upon entering the garden of the governor's home, the girls met his wife. She invited them to join her while she weeded. She showed them how to use her special tools and let them go to work. I wish they'd spend that kind of time in our yard. I get about 5 minutes max. They sat and chatted with her for a good 15 minutes. Later she gave them a tour of her greenhouse and I'm now on the lookout for Venus flytraps and Sensitive plants to add to our own pots here at home.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHEdYvbjd5B1ei0fgsHNM3SK6KbBLDu9crvBrKCBooREBW4JTDCv65srd9iJ0R8imDXcTkUZybeuoX5X-YoLg9_oeUGnoFLQB-dL0ZvllBeR7ptCbuU58TLj1MJMT3UvQg_fO8g-gbLU/s1600/100_9065.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHEdYvbjd5B1ei0fgsHNM3SK6KbBLDu9crvBrKCBooREBW4JTDCv65srd9iJ0R8imDXcTkUZybeuoX5X-YoLg9_oeUGnoFLQB-dL0ZvllBeR7ptCbuU58TLj1MJMT3UvQg_fO8g-gbLU/s400/100_9065.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We then headed to a Submarine museum. Guess who liked that place better?</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_9Ibz8N3VVLQjyQOpCHnVsixaOHviaLvx-W5rVKAwlgNhqHTvG_srtGG1ounea1vkyBmYz2arz83cheCw0aguaxwpsBkbiVIEl9I5tHzzglEvXQOY7r_8vhrYSEB9BZ_TY5jCkbxP40/s1600/100_9067.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_9Ibz8N3VVLQjyQOpCHnVsixaOHviaLvx-W5rVKAwlgNhqHTvG_srtGG1ounea1vkyBmYz2arz83cheCw0aguaxwpsBkbiVIEl9I5tHzzglEvXQOY7r_8vhrYSEB9BZ_TY5jCkbxP40/s400/100_9067.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Chris got claustrophobic within seconds. I had no idea just how cramped subs are. I was busy gasping for air. The smell of hydraulic fluids is overwhelming even after years of being decommissioned.<br /><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaf5gGsKd2WCiwBvVQUVR_oIgBKajnF6l92o03ZKzUoLHYnSxxRxzs73H6yMWCInaQCYtt0dI0tpDk7qCT0id4Ep4jQe8AI9E7LBk_0FE2yaN-0AVzV33siStJ6a59V4onHJUE4KBU98/s1600/100_9073.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaf5gGsKd2WCiwBvVQUVR_oIgBKajnF6l92o03ZKzUoLHYnSxxRxzs73H6yMWCInaQCYtt0dI0tpDk7qCT0id4Ep4jQe8AI9E7LBk_0FE2yaN-0AVzV33siStJ6a59V4onHJUE4KBU98/s400/100_9073.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3uldFfHJ3R3ZOrHdjv9UfDYHuk7yaOuKb6ov2RaQ_0Usx7BXj3CZbYUzGyxF1XYKK6wfWpNh-tG5QVuYaGRrhrl780vxOA-LRr87Pr4ocq5gq6Rqdj_wcUfj5b8A7QTf2xDjKGK3eX8/s1600/100_9074.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3uldFfHJ3R3ZOrHdjv9UfDYHuk7yaOuKb6ov2RaQ_0Usx7BXj3CZbYUzGyxF1XYKK6wfWpNh-tG5QVuYaGRrhrl780vxOA-LRr87Pr4ocq5gq6Rqdj_wcUfj5b8A7QTf2xDjKGK3eX8/s400/100_9074.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">More tomorrow.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-6754712182754789502010-08-07T08:00:00.000-06:002010-08-07T08:00:01.969-06:00family vacation day one<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I promised these to family and friends ages ago. Sorry for the delay guys. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Our first day at the beach in NH.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Look mom, I found you a heart shaped rock!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKYNYxZaWUM_WlNM8q1p2HlU7Priic5YGz58Gv1DHegBntzhAt6Y0nOA0jDHSzgVsJeRTfqPdp7sfJucnXHUHaq9Dpxg-KjLXh3BEnkCJIt1H0hYI_g7_l_Kp7WzDseKf4nnJ3zcC6Pw/s1600/100_9055.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKYNYxZaWUM_WlNM8q1p2HlU7Priic5YGz58Gv1DHegBntzhAt6Y0nOA0jDHSzgVsJeRTfqPdp7sfJucnXHUHaq9Dpxg-KjLXh3BEnkCJIt1H0hYI_g7_l_Kp7WzDseKf4nnJ3zcC6Pw/s400/100_9055.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Look mom, I found you seaweed!</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BOjOQHNr1fn10ktfqugaASVgaQyKpG3TgXEdwaFvGtBA3ipFO7kBAxLfiCcu1oucbOhmmcVL-ucqWDiUH_iraGUNSndrWXdE0ScZZ6wZ7HXn9I3ojxQ_fHLheHJnk0uYnNo8b8CZ3ZM/s1600/100_9058.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BOjOQHNr1fn10ktfqugaASVgaQyKpG3TgXEdwaFvGtBA3ipFO7kBAxLfiCcu1oucbOhmmcVL-ucqWDiUH_iraGUNSndrWXdE0ScZZ6wZ7HXn9I3ojxQ_fHLheHJnk0uYnNo8b8CZ3ZM/s400/100_9058.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Glenn spent most of his time exploring the rocks.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0iEaPLV9R9An6cEMxEX-vxj7Q0VFPA4Udqf_aEU1_kqTqhUgfnd73tyajeemhBVqVq_j2Ee0mOsbeU7p7q6WFRVuhir9jHr8QBU2WFt4xjXoZtIoc33sqOOX_WfbBuDTbNRF19PeIcw/s1600/100_9062.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0iEaPLV9R9An6cEMxEX-vxj7Q0VFPA4Udqf_aEU1_kqTqhUgfnd73tyajeemhBVqVq_j2Ee0mOsbeU7p7q6WFRVuhir9jHr8QBU2WFt4xjXoZtIoc33sqOOX_WfbBuDTbNRF19PeIcw/s400/100_9062.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Who knew there was such a perfect example of the fossil record in NH?</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHB_BA_T8QyGhGE4B9Eu-TzYXgt39G_lglYtSVxlCNQ-940ncg1cgplNL1kc-rR3l7K5Sd2_OkM7vIF4Cy-yEwhc48VPh50zX2ITZ91vVBd_B-lafLrOM-Hcecyj5SELB1eQkCScyikU/s1600/100_9064.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHB_BA_T8QyGhGE4B9Eu-TzYXgt39G_lglYtSVxlCNQ-940ncg1cgplNL1kc-rR3l7K5Sd2_OkM7vIF4Cy-yEwhc48VPh50zX2ITZ91vVBd_B-lafLrOM-Hcecyj5SELB1eQkCScyikU/s400/100_9064.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">More later.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-83743744920818277492010-08-06T11:00:00.004-06:002010-08-06T11:00:02.839-06:00smock it to me<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">This block is headed to <a href="http://smallfox.typepad.com/">Sarah</a> from <a href="http://www.commonthreadsquiltbee.blogspot.com/">Common Threads</a>. She gave us three neutral fabrics and asked for texture and a pop of color from our own stash.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I immediately thought of origami and headed to the library to check out every book they had on folded fabric. As I passed over every project listed, I spotted this pattern for smocking in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Folded-Fabric-Elegance-Rami-Kim/dp/1574329413/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281060203&sr=8-1">Folded Fabric Elegance by Rami Kim</a>. I was in love. She has several more patterns, but I was drawn to the suggestion of basketweave in this one. I knew I wanted it to be the centerpiece of the block with very simple sashing in the other tones. The green (which looks far duller in the photo than in real life) is from my stash.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKGqyV9wQhFhHPUHzWpL0RIa53N_31XCapUYL3WzDYvhde3pftW8YA8ZH1OeiE9gFf9Bc3Kqci31RH2RQxwviTTaAcpPBFXzmZJDSTDLsNICwP9pjhkdUTWmal6def7FPD3EYWc5EKUg/s1600/101_1264.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKGqyV9wQhFhHPUHzWpL0RIa53N_31XCapUYL3WzDYvhde3pftW8YA8ZH1OeiE9gFf9Bc3Kqci31RH2RQxwviTTaAcpPBFXzmZJDSTDLsNICwP9pjhkdUTWmal6def7FPD3EYWc5EKUg/s400/101_1264.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Here's the smocking before it's pressed:</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4HLkIhKB85fQ7kTEUfwaKNKEhdHLy4mb60wDygPI6jRnCQA3p-FzxbH8DrMsbgpnLBT7Hk-cw91DkWCupC9FtH7EEtyI5WVzRhvG5k99-eAjm2fNTgZHY3MqNOfsX-q8e-h1pVtJOoI/s1600/101_1252.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4HLkIhKB85fQ7kTEUfwaKNKEhdHLy4mb60wDygPI6jRnCQA3p-FzxbH8DrMsbgpnLBT7Hk-cw91DkWCupC9FtH7EEtyI5WVzRhvG5k99-eAjm2fNTgZHY3MqNOfsX-q8e-h1pVtJOoI/s400/101_1252.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And here's the back before pressing. You can see the 1/2" grid of dots I drew. Those are the basis of the technique. From there you follow some simple diagrams bringing the dots together. It's not difficult, just a bit time consuming with a lot of knotting between each stitch. Once I got going, I found a groove and soon didn't need the diagram. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpAHXdG37gEMZoQSaMAJMQ9LBzcHy6ZLr2ldbtEWtyTyjYROseoOhCcgYuot1v9tMlyLqi0TgKk-rmYAGKfItKd9DETVBb4z6GlGC0g7eudz4vwAyzEloNiSGMU0zdtUfj5fvCXkWwVk/s1600/101_1253.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpAHXdG37gEMZoQSaMAJMQ9LBzcHy6ZLr2ldbtEWtyTyjYROseoOhCcgYuot1v9tMlyLqi0TgKk-rmYAGKfItKd9DETVBb4z6GlGC0g7eudz4vwAyzEloNiSGMU0zdtUfj5fvCXkWwVk/s400/101_1253.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I've got to find some other ways to use this technique. I think it'd look wonderful done in linen as a pocket on a dress or tunic.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-1495479800842979282010-08-05T17:09:00.010-06:002010-08-05T19:09:02.092-06:00big plans<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I've avoiding talking about why blogging hasn't been a priority for a couple of months. You see, my mind has been racing as we've discussed some big changes to our home. Below is our kitchen in all its 1926 expansiveness. Which is to say it's about 8' X 8' with enough room for one person to be in it at a time. The plan below doesn't show a pine cabinet that backs to the stairs, giving me a bit more storage. The mudroom had been functional as long as the weather didn't dip below freezing. In the winter, boots, coats and mittens just freeze rather than drying out. It's also gotten a bit "bouncy" on it's posts (which are no longer anywhere near proper building codes). Let's just say we try not to have too many people in there at once and I ask the kids not to slam the door for fear the thing will fall off the house.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh9WqKRknj8iOnQzhUv6c1XiDhyphenhyphen1DvlUUM-Dvqgg2WWe1hwhj1XvPZhXRZszX6RJKCX55hIB7bKetN8bmkR_1dsCuSEODXKKS9xm3dU7LyP9K6rOR_4S1xNhTaM-xR28_6Y_IiDuIV9w/s1600/101_1266.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh9WqKRknj8iOnQzhUv6c1XiDhyphenhyphen1DvlUUM-Dvqgg2WWe1hwhj1XvPZhXRZszX6RJKCX55hIB7bKetN8bmkR_1dsCuSEODXKKS9xm3dU7LyP9K6rOR_4S1xNhTaM-xR28_6Y_IiDuIV9w/s400/101_1266.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">After a lot of thinking - do we add on, do we just fix the mudroom and the seepage we're getting in the basement, do we move (the option I LEAST wanted)? We've decided to add on. Several months ago this was a much smaller project in our minds. I can hear all of you who've started that way in renovations laughing your heads off at me right now. Yes, the project has grown, much of it due to building codes, but the gist of it is below. (The lines in the drawings curve because I set the plans down on the grass to take the pictures. I assure you, our architect wasn't drunk when she rendered these.)</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUcEMHF2xdHspNGqjbPTh5UyTYY4h53UgCIjsc7evjdJZyOCgfE0BWmPZZ6ATd44ND6tx_pS5emjXADkP6LvHsl3yyh6PWFHC0MfPiAVS8FoLr37NWx3y_pbFhp3hJ3ndBX9DoVOTNVw/s1600/101_1267.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUcEMHF2xdHspNGqjbPTh5UyTYY4h53UgCIjsc7evjdJZyOCgfE0BWmPZZ6ATd44ND6tx_pS5emjXADkP6LvHsl3yyh6PWFHC0MfPiAVS8FoLr37NWx3y_pbFhp3hJ3ndBX9DoVOTNVw/s400/101_1267.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The kitchen will get much larger and will accommodate a very loved 8 foot pine table that we bought soon after we were married (it's been in my studio for the last 7 years because that's the only place it fit in this house). I'll also have a computer center where the kids can do homework and I can see what they're doing (it's next to the cabinet pantry in the plan). The mudroom will be warm in the winter AND have a bench with a place under it for boots and hooks above for jackets. I'll even have a dishwasher for the first time in nearly 20 years.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">But wait, there's more! There will have to be a new foundation under this kitchen which gives us another basement room. I'm thinking playroom for the girls. We'll also be able to capture space above the addition for a larger master bedroom closet. Other less glamorous, but important changes include fixing leaks in the basement, putting in a new sewer and sanitation line(the original line failing is simply a disaster waiting to happen), adding a drain in the yard (due to the recent monsoons we currently have a lake back there) and upgrading the heating and cooling system in the house. All the basement work will involve gutting the whole area that's my studio and putting up drywall and new lighting.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'm very excited and very overwhelmed already. I've spent the last several days purging and packing part of my studio. Every item must leave the basement, kitchen and dining room. I'm sure I'll eventually need to remove all the stuff from our closets upstairs as well when construction gets to that point. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">For now, I'm putting the packing of the basement out of my mind because I have to pack my suitcase tonight. I'm headed to NYC early tomorrow morning to meet up with Susie Sunshine, <a href="http://www.poppisima.blogspot.com/">Poppy</a>, and <a href="http://www.blackbird17.blogspot.com/">blackbird</a>. At the end of the weekend we'll head to the Hamptons courtesy of <a href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">Jen</a> with Carol joining the crew. I might get a few posts scheduled tonight. I might not. Doesn't matter, I'm going on vacation with girls.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-54154131474171724112010-07-23T13:00:00.000-06:002010-07-23T13:00:03.491-06:00grandmother's wildflowers<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The baby hexies are finished! I know I said I would post this well over a month ago. Lets just say I severely underestimated the time it would take, and the time I would have available, to finish it. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">"Grandmother's Wildflowers" is a take on the traditional grandmother's flower garden quilt pattern. While the technique and all the handwork I did was traditional, the open spaces aren't. I was inspired by a quilt in "Pretty Little Quilts" that had individual hexagons missing allowing the wall to show through.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I have one of my fellow quilting friends here in town to thank for the arrangement. I played back and forth with several ideas, even several different layouts, when Kathy sat down and began moving them in more of a color order arrangement. Bingo! A few minutes later I had them grouped the way I liked. I debated a bit about whether I should add a few more, but decided I'd stick with what I had. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lJKL-HwQ3LZKL4WpOAjLvs3IGY3_tC-TMHdqdK-Dob9GFAWhvkiH71Hgm2_rBcyWn9qHVKSdc3f3FIVi-3CSh9GheNcV3GZI_vYGqmEEKDz9FCelUoDsxQmAFtjxborIIkBij1Er7J0/s1600/100_9158.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lJKL-HwQ3LZKL4WpOAjLvs3IGY3_tC-TMHdqdK-Dob9GFAWhvkiH71Hgm2_rBcyWn9qHVKSdc3f3FIVi-3CSh9GheNcV3GZI_vYGqmEEKDz9FCelUoDsxQmAFtjxborIIkBij1Er7J0/s400/100_9158.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">All of these hexies are vintage fabrics that were precut and strung by an anonymous quilter years ago. Like the rest of us, she seems to have had a few UFO's in her stash. I bought them at the garage sale and can now consider them vintage project number 2 that's been completed from that huge find. (The first was the <a href="http://marthamacgyver.blogspot.com/2009/08/finished-string-quilt.html">string quilt blocks</a>.)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Every stitch in this mini quilt was done by hand - from basting the hexagons over paper, to the stitches joining the backing to the top. The back is a vintage feedsack. I would not use a feedsack again for a project of this type. The weave is too loose and I had to put in twice as many stitches to secure every loose thread in the weave as I finished the project. The quilt is tied in the center of each hexagon with matching embroidery floss.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And here's a quick shot of my next vintage UFO. More handwork, so it'll be a long time before I can post a finished quilt for this one. I have twelve of these dresden plates to applique to blocks. The long drive to New Hampshire a few weeks ago took care of 3 of them.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Step by step...</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6oc1rwfGZnqwcMWCalB6Z23ti7LZnTDhzo5ry-mg9spC8ND5l3VUotqUXJVegd6KH2OLR49n61ouUuSMdRk5KeLmfshEyZBjjKByzVUrA_EZCSV85kgrQSYklDv1pg8VBp8FXlmnw1g/s1600/100_9142.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6oc1rwfGZnqwcMWCalB6Z23ti7LZnTDhzo5ry-mg9spC8ND5l3VUotqUXJVegd6KH2OLR49n61ouUuSMdRk5KeLmfshEyZBjjKByzVUrA_EZCSV85kgrQSYklDv1pg8VBp8FXlmnw1g/s400/100_9142.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-69885329487716111162010-07-22T18:19:00.002-06:002010-07-22T18:25:04.158-06:00thrifty thursday<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Take a deep breath, Carol. One of your favorites:</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">faux bois</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfSXN3_xtyRS3TX6ZhhALc-YdHUfFlLQjf2Sps7yOCs6YaYI4GSxuJevxj1P-lizbTNuNk11B79a7vH1p50OwjaJNyE36uOOw95SxkGE26iv4807_hzRuRh9G2hzGJw2NLoMxUUAdKgA/s1600/100_8866.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfSXN3_xtyRS3TX6ZhhALc-YdHUfFlLQjf2Sps7yOCs6YaYI4GSxuJevxj1P-lizbTNuNk11B79a7vH1p50OwjaJNyE36uOOw95SxkGE26iv4807_hzRuRh9G2hzGJw2NLoMxUUAdKgA/s400/100_8866.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Wish I could say I found the planter super cheap at a thrift store. It came from a great vintage finds store nearby and while it wasn't thrift store priced, it was good enough for me. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">My african violet now has a new home. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeP6RmZkqQPjLIiap4MhZu7qm0NAK_Q8bILkLkEw1YWrkZWN9zfFTs5XNF8T0uMxuk4cp6ZSmLqhl-ET6GKny_fbth3O5XzNnBnLIem324-AijgKIAIrkuZS2NMiDGOF_IBqQqbVsPck/s1600/100_9162.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeP6RmZkqQPjLIiap4MhZu7qm0NAK_Q8bILkLkEw1YWrkZWN9zfFTs5XNF8T0uMxuk4cp6ZSmLqhl-ET6GKny_fbth3O5XzNnBnLIem324-AijgKIAIrkuZS2NMiDGOF_IBqQqbVsPck/s400/100_9162.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I wish it looked a little better, this plant has bloomed nonstop since I put it in this window 7 years ago, but I think it's adjusting to its new home.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-87085745795524676292010-07-20T10:13:00.005-06:002010-07-21T20:33:17.384-06:00big star, little star<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'm officially caught up with the bee again. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://thebossyquilter.blogspot.com/">Jessica </a>asked for maverick stars - the wonkier the better.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW4MBwDJ-lNDtfpxYWo3QafvjGPYFcPCq6ynd9CkH6zkEDh6lQvDoRc_YP8h5Ks_rvL_cBttkv3upa-9H7rZ_r0oZNHenmTRIOi5R7-SJxbEx6tiqb4fx0oURMlXhJTW_ZG3AydGq9tM/s1600/100_9137.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW4MBwDJ-lNDtfpxYWo3QafvjGPYFcPCq6ynd9CkH6zkEDh6lQvDoRc_YP8h5Ks_rvL_cBttkv3upa-9H7rZ_r0oZNHenmTRIOi5R7-SJxbEx6tiqb4fx0oURMlXhJTW_ZG3AydGq9tM/s400/100_9137.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I went with the largest size(12.5) above - and below, the tiniest size she requested (3.5").</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I liked the idea of a miniature version of the first one I made. It might make for a fun I Spy game when the quilt is complete - finding the mini me star.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIbuvBsHii2w3K1PUPYaOiRCPowmvQtAvwRWdxNpfCUFIQaggMlQHC0mKLDuDI5h86HoUCm5EnUzqU5RKw-IT0JzLcssL-fG_WAWtQqRQBbP8qtki3lFgjZifSkvAq03vmvCwUvUomnU/s1600/100_9138.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIbuvBsHii2w3K1PUPYaOiRCPowmvQtAvwRWdxNpfCUFIQaggMlQHC0mKLDuDI5h86HoUCm5EnUzqU5RKw-IT0JzLcssL-fG_WAWtQqRQBbP8qtki3lFgjZifSkvAq03vmvCwUvUomnU/s400/100_9138.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Just to give you an idea of the size difference between them:</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MGB-fstrGNiuQAe9pGsUPdan1gSf6DifRBTUEoAB0MAMfcgPVYgXnULdAtL9bdObVjH0eUeMuxEI40E8iXgUTqDeA1UGp0zd-GkbgYj0zE87JzDdKGMSRe3VoADV7J4t7aACkzjPMcE/s1600/100_9139.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MGB-fstrGNiuQAe9pGsUPdan1gSf6DifRBTUEoAB0MAMfcgPVYgXnULdAtL9bdObVjH0eUeMuxEI40E8iXgUTqDeA1UGp0zd-GkbgYj0zE87JzDdKGMSRe3VoADV7J4t7aACkzjPMcE/s400/100_9139.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">As much as I like tiny projects, making sure I didn't cut off those star points and still had enough fabric showing wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I love how cute it is though.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-15250266212707526032010-07-20T09:42:00.007-06:002010-07-20T10:10:25.357-06:00back with blue<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Long absence, short explanation: summer, busy, storms, power outage, vacation, insomnia, tired.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I do have things to show you though:</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8Ai70O4MJYQKGkB6AK3RqSXhjzTq9QQZHuJrgYJurs0t2F9aBdsPeNCGZP20fPgC55vWIkB06_7_lBfnyx6dQN9KZrrV22IoU8XucQYxWV3fz__AJTqU9Nn5DVC2HNk3l4ov6WPVWVA/s1600/100_9135.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8Ai70O4MJYQKGkB6AK3RqSXhjzTq9QQZHuJrgYJurs0t2F9aBdsPeNCGZP20fPgC55vWIkB06_7_lBfnyx6dQN9KZrrV22IoU8XucQYxWV3fz__AJTqU9Nn5DVC2HNk3l4ov6WPVWVA/s400/100_9135.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Two blocks for <a href="http://www.commonthreadsquiltbee.blogspot.com/">Common Threads</a>- Above is <a href="http://digsandbean.blogspot.com/">Amanda's</a>. Hers was a geometric challenge for me. Took a little sketching first, but I wanted to get those cross blocks to "overlap" in the background. It required more piecing than making two mini blocks and just sewing them together. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Below is <a href="http://blog.urban-patchwork.com/">Jess's</a>. Hers was done in a manner I've finally grown confident in using - improvisational piecing, I think it's called. I took a quick look at her inspiration photo and just started cutting and sewing. No sketching, no measuring until I was close to the size she requested. The inset pieces of solids are the direct influence of my common threads cohorts. Same goes for the "off" angles and general wonkiness of it all. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzysi0xPjj8xgVaTEBXm65TZ1x3a7ZMrpEm8ZorvT-cvyJn-qwdlrqRuopmVDvdoIq48PrI0EE0qohK3OWEuYEU3FI7i6HRL7pn_HXdjBQDunq4ph86i471GZsRYbjfHkJ9qRPuvx8zN8/s1600/100_9140.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzysi0xPjj8xgVaTEBXm65TZ1x3a7ZMrpEm8ZorvT-cvyJn-qwdlrqRuopmVDvdoIq48PrI0EE0qohK3OWEuYEU3FI7i6HRL7pn_HXdjBQDunq4ph86i471GZsRYbjfHkJ9qRPuvx8zN8/s400/100_9140.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'm off to pack my bag for quilting group today.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-25351436153284831882010-06-08T10:18:00.004-06:002010-06-08T10:32:57.917-06:00the new 'do<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The girls and I were out at a local coffee shop a few weeks ago. A friend who hadn't seen Ellie in a while commented on her long hair. She asked if Ellie had been growing it to donate to <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">Locks of Love</a>. (The short answer is no. Ellie's been growing her hair proudly after several years of self-inflicted haircuts that nearly drove me out of my mind. Who knew a pair of Hello Kitty craft scissors could do so much damage?) That lead to Ellie asking what Locks of Love was on the drive home. After hearing the explanation she was quiet for a moment. Before we'd pulled in our driveway she announced, "I'm going to do it. You won't change my mind. Make the appointment mom."</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So I did. For the next day.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9d2SQm6tTKHjxiBvbiv73lpJ1hpD4mFLRbAMp4uSXatIHdOrJKuffeAFrswMrIXAPquFeTrQPwmt1FnICgMr-gYqPlUg36e4CgjT5FkgryIdHJfYefCc5WPjbhm9_vtx24E2JX7nqqE/s1600/locks+of+love+1.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9d2SQm6tTKHjxiBvbiv73lpJ1hpD4mFLRbAMp4uSXatIHdOrJKuffeAFrswMrIXAPquFeTrQPwmt1FnICgMr-gYqPlUg36e4CgjT5FkgryIdHJfYefCc5WPjbhm9_vtx24E2JX7nqqE/s400/locks+of+love+1.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">She definitely made the 10 inch requirement.</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X2jxNuL7K7FliAd7BV6fg-Z7PkzBVmHe2PaEY_CiPPYNkq0xqIKIYVBE9XdAk_rRHeyb0ttqpFVaqg-FZld1SStskS778IE5DB6LRjRUQR0qpXF7axDBFRgzvAdn0JYtBaBPJwC1P5s/s1600/locks+of+love+3.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X2jxNuL7K7FliAd7BV6fg-Z7PkzBVmHe2PaEY_CiPPYNkq0xqIKIYVBE9XdAk_rRHeyb0ttqpFVaqg-FZld1SStskS778IE5DB6LRjRUQR0qpXF7axDBFRgzvAdn0JYtBaBPJwC1P5s/s400/locks+of+love+3.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Done.</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrryaCncTKn9rgoJVxgYa1FQo7gFruUoRPKyG78izE1zDjlwW5Jt4XLLIYmuF1o8g-ChrE5JJLcu925VoZqoY1gJuIhdYi-0Dl88Ou8n5BRQX8hr0W2yJC7KSkL0H_eMs4_j8cwe7_9E/s1600/locks+of+love+6.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrryaCncTKn9rgoJVxgYa1FQo7gFruUoRPKyG78izE1zDjlwW5Jt4XLLIYmuF1o8g-ChrE5JJLcu925VoZqoY1gJuIhdYi-0Dl88Ou8n5BRQX8hr0W2yJC7KSkL0H_eMs4_j8cwe7_9E/s400/locks+of+love+6.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Sad as I was to see it go, this is perfect for the summer. She told me last week the bangs are the next thing to go.</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqGxGjZ8Pth4vVc7OWSuZW1pT7IO__U7YGdjqfvkmIsQl7sPAHnnYoXHMVyRQkHnqouwejYWTH6Ajo7pA0KbOjxRihurkG3BXYQUlprwhFPLQoqXiZR9amtYuJXSk3ETRBwEv1MwITeI/s1600/locks+of+love+7.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqGxGjZ8Pth4vVc7OWSuZW1pT7IO__U7YGdjqfvkmIsQl7sPAHnnYoXHMVyRQkHnqouwejYWTH6Ajo7pA0KbOjxRihurkG3BXYQUlprwhFPLQoqXiZR9amtYuJXSk3ETRBwEv1MwITeI/s400/locks+of+love+7.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-3468007157665143272010-06-03T18:00:00.002-06:002010-06-03T18:16:55.678-06:00thrifty thursday<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I have such a backlog of thrifting to post, but I have to skip over it all to show you what I found last week.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Wooden spools - a few hundred of them.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHaiya-jk08FcRp7esAoMAlRI50dgJD8_IhjVFQJQTjqwhgyQ347CFxjfE9UmDCRpjo4tXaSEgDsUNIaCKxL10OSYxuFdKGAC96ACKEVwE0PUbfKVWVbgBNO_LmGZ_Zu1UTtiYugwfA8/s1600/100_8985.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHaiya-jk08FcRp7esAoMAlRI50dgJD8_IhjVFQJQTjqwhgyQ347CFxjfE9UmDCRpjo4tXaSEgDsUNIaCKxL10OSYxuFdKGAC96ACKEVwE0PUbfKVWVbgBNO_LmGZ_Zu1UTtiYugwfA8/s400/100_8985.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I've been picking them up for a few years now finding just a few here and there. I'd collected several dozen before happening on this find. The shop manager and I struck a deal for the whole bin.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">What, you may ask, am I going to do with them?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Up til now, the ones I had just made me happy sitting in a glass jar, but this bounty has to be put to use.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'd love to attach them as pulls on a piece of furniture in the craft room or make pegs like <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/wooden-spool-hook/">these</a>.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I spotted a shelf like <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48040574/vintage-white-spool-shelf">this</a> at the flea market years ago and am still kicking myself for not buying it.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Wouldn't <a href="http://papernstitchblog.com/2010/02/03/unraveling-a-letter-diy/">this</a> be the sweetest valentine or thank you note?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I have some dollhouse furniture ideas as well, though they aren't fully formed in my head yet.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">There were plenty of other toy ideas out there that didn't particularly appeal to me - maybe my kids are too old for many of them.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6dp3zY0_AAq_zP97u0HiAuEXXHm_g92w7r1jNnpT1Rc5tfKV8ht5MVvmIhP4ucKY0bLxCyPlsv0d0fK1XoqIRBB4Vp5MvhacCrLQ2hRjf8VOs9DDZN6rLqL_TfiyvLhw2rbqEY2ucak/s1600/100_8987.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6dp3zY0_AAq_zP97u0HiAuEXXHm_g92w7r1jNnpT1Rc5tfKV8ht5MVvmIhP4ucKY0bLxCyPlsv0d0fK1XoqIRBB4Vp5MvhacCrLQ2hRjf8VOs9DDZN6rLqL_TfiyvLhw2rbqEY2ucak/s400/100_8987.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Some, like the ones below, are quite small. The ones on edge are the diameter of a penny. Perhaps charms on a necklace?</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme352091_WL4vcBsa0EsJgTRm0-yy2EEQ0KEgQo2fFc5uQ2SoZnAfAIw5J1nDZx4Z9wWYCehvWvXgBMjNWjJ84VvJ5BnsA875jPDr4mxPSb0Z-oALnv2kWMQodTqhFof5ioU3g7x5dH0/s1600/100_8991.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme352091_WL4vcBsa0EsJgTRm0-yy2EEQ0KEgQo2fFc5uQ2SoZnAfAIw5J1nDZx4Z9wWYCehvWvXgBMjNWjJ84VvJ5BnsA875jPDr4mxPSb0Z-oALnv2kWMQodTqhFof5ioU3g7x5dH0/s400/100_8991.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I was a little surprised that I didn't find hundreds of ideas for them when I googled wooden spool crafts. Anything come to mind for you?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-39325047406736104122010-06-01T17:13:00.002-06:002010-06-01T17:25:03.143-06:00love of learning<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">June. End of another school year. Hard to believe.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">In the whirlwind that has been the last two weeks, I realized my youngest will no longer be a preschooler. She's had the most wonderful two years at a local Montessori school and I wanted to give them a little something to remember her by.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO4-VSzzt0yPuOyoveRoGgCSoZbxQuAKgZ9V4CZJS6f5500HSXPfs8dPs-tlIzAIg-RT6nK9aWgO5xgbJpJ_cav0uXyQnXVBFeukbqUrteK524141ko08XbPDGHWAFR-wVNG9v1tuMlc/s1600/100_8975.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO4-VSzzt0yPuOyoveRoGgCSoZbxQuAKgZ9V4CZJS6f5500HSXPfs8dPs-tlIzAIg-RT6nK9aWgO5xgbJpJ_cav0uXyQnXVBFeukbqUrteK524141ko08XbPDGHWAFR-wVNG9v1tuMlc/s400/100_8975.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The design is based on the school's logo - a trinomial square. The quilting is minimal - just 1/4 inch on either side of the seams to start with. I added the heart beacause of how much Trixie loved school. Above the heart, the school's initials are quilted in lowercase script. Though you can't see it in the photo, the numbers 1, 2, 3 are quilted to the right of the heart in the rulers. Some of the fabric is from the American Jane collection, though if you have it, you may notice that in the fabric you have, the little girl is a redhead. A little work with a fabric marker and now she looks much more like Trixie. That particular piece was a charm square. I loved that it had a girl and a little rug in it. (Those of you with Montessori schools in your lives will understand the meaning of the little rug.) The name of the quilt is from the school's motto "Where the Love of Learning Begins". </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8TTh5uMdnFryrmJ3x5_SS12QPGSxUGmQsPj1GbNicSWDWAu3ICH9QEFsUk1jlyBdFWjZBK9dNMYbSGQk6UBhdc83qAc5krmg5uwhat5fR8IxVTuOqOBzqjR9BAb_cIzQB6B_BzHO_mM/s1600/100_8984.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8TTh5uMdnFryrmJ3x5_SS12QPGSxUGmQsPj1GbNicSWDWAu3ICH9QEFsUk1jlyBdFWjZBK9dNMYbSGQk6UBhdc83qAc5krmg5uwhat5fR8IxVTuOqOBzqjR9BAb_cIzQB6B_BzHO_mM/s400/100_8984.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I was able to get a quick picture during the carpool pick up time today - my last one at that school. Trixie's a kindergartener now.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-70305431260719338232010-05-13T11:44:00.001-06:002010-05-13T11:44:01.013-06:00thrifty thursday<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">How does that line from The Godfather go? "Just when I got out, they pulled me back in." Or something like that. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIVzstdOu3vk8xBvfC7Cn1AMiAuVr3dhIHp2DtIeKXzSefhsVV7NSt13eJKbvpmcKMlU5N1b0-FQ81c4pvdkxuZfT4U9LPNVEVDE-6wPOg5YHUsE4WTrQwym984l0Ytkf6Rg0gwLWQj8/s1600/100_8869.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIVzstdOu3vk8xBvfC7Cn1AMiAuVr3dhIHp2DtIeKXzSefhsVV7NSt13eJKbvpmcKMlU5N1b0-FQ81c4pvdkxuZfT4U9LPNVEVDE-6wPOg5YHUsE4WTrQwym984l0Ytkf6Rg0gwLWQj8/s400/100_8869.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Last week I sat at the table in my quilting group and was quietly working on my baby hexagons (maybe a progress update tomorrow) when Bernice walked up to me and asked if I was sick of the hexagons yet. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ey1eZGuPm-u-lj-PZA4HzKh6LlqwKwmlaYECWwZHm9MwpqbwdP7h6Ts7DliWrkxyZAwVHAxkk501ry0azrMSZTOI2pmKHVyMT-i2Dxb96Xb3fBKVBu_XH55IRNTiRFevf0vVbx6ScJQ/s1600/100_8870.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ey1eZGuPm-u-lj-PZA4HzKh6LlqwKwmlaYECWwZHm9MwpqbwdP7h6Ts7DliWrkxyZAwVHAxkk501ry0azrMSZTOI2pmKHVyMT-i2Dxb96Xb3fBKVBu_XH55IRNTiRFevf0vVbx6ScJQ/s400/100_8870.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I said, "Just about". She replied that she had something I might be interested in.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e5aDefeJ6wbh3VfgmJO17ekfX758oybIiJplOrEtwzVo0xBh48QcbxbdcmpVIOugbTswfW5arx9aiAGDCVRZHa4pN-k0XWUH5j-sXpFz5iOpdvUbzMPW0FFDs0aQ2tLm4P4eADlr0Zg/s1600/100_8871.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e5aDefeJ6wbh3VfgmJO17ekfX758oybIiJplOrEtwzVo0xBh48QcbxbdcmpVIOugbTswfW5arx9aiAGDCVRZHa4pN-k0XWUH5j-sXpFz5iOpdvUbzMPW0FFDs0aQ2tLm4P4eADlr0Zg/s400/100_8871.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So yes, I've bought another hexagon project (and this one's huge).</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3S_Eb27hWjaUxYhhYpxkJjzgQ1CeM71kMOOXf9QOU8E8oSST93b241OnvokESi9odkQiSlpRk-FWuxxvHA0cPgtoDwk_Kr6dHqTDufNZdipzGPrNMcfZpZU2In9NinEAFx-vj5JvykM/s1600/100_8872.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3S_Eb27hWjaUxYhhYpxkJjzgQ1CeM71kMOOXf9QOU8E8oSST93b241OnvokESi9odkQiSlpRk-FWuxxvHA0cPgtoDwk_Kr6dHqTDufNZdipzGPrNMcfZpZU2In9NinEAFx-vj5JvykM/s400/100_8872.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I didn't count how many there were total, but these are much larger than the other hexagons I've worked with and I imagine when they are all put together (there are pieces in ziploc baggies for about 30 more) there will be enough for a bed quilt. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'm posting these now, but don't count on this project getting touched anytime this year. I've discovered that yes, I am a bit sick of them for the time being.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-12409520877840314152010-05-12T11:36:00.002-06:002010-05-12T11:43:16.850-06:00one step closer<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The hexagon diamond top is done! In the photo it's hanging at my weekly quilt group meeting for show and tell. The strips of fabric to the right are vintage scraps that will be used to bind it. The backing will be a combination of yellow and blue solids that I have on hand.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGi98CF23AzEOHjxOSU_hsjFobADFUksva9Q6M1iC4lK7BLGc6pM4E2EkizxBLZWgGrYnO2VSreMOfwrLy_WEDXAM19A7y1_WnujiZyaOYKsx3VChuaTQvNWMbrM5EXxAD3EQ0Sy6In0/s1600/100_8909.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGi98CF23AzEOHjxOSU_hsjFobADFUksva9Q6M1iC4lK7BLGc6pM4E2EkizxBLZWgGrYnO2VSreMOfwrLy_WEDXAM19A7y1_WnujiZyaOYKsx3VChuaTQvNWMbrM5EXxAD3EQ0Sy6In0/s400/100_8909.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">For now I'm leaving the piece alone. I need a bit of a break from it. I'm pretty sure that I'm simply going to trim down what you see, binding it with the blue print and use it as a wall hanging (I'm concerned that some of the original stitching in the diamonds that were complete may not hold up well in a quilt that's used on a daily basis). I do have a little bit of nagging doubt though about not putting a border on it. Instead of tearing ahead and regretting it later, I'll let it sit in the back of my mind for a bit. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I hope to have a better sense of what I want it to be before our driving vacation at the end of June. I can get a lot of hand quilting done on the drive from IL to NH.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-91021689846115441892010-05-07T13:00:00.001-06:002010-05-07T13:00:01.866-06:00cleopatra's table linens<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Okay, not really Cleopatra. They were made for my friend, Norma. She's had the fabric for ages. It was given to her by an older aunt that worked for the state department and traveled the world collecting mementos of her adventures. This fabric was brought back from Egypt in the 70's. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-qTqaZ4PSGsc-QkotHw-BOzCjWDSosQiZJrvhotGlQxO4usILSEeY1qGZQDzn0NW0LgFKkhpGpIxSX7kE3iLWKUYSM5l7rMZKtSKzgxk8Id5v0U0E5wwq4DJLQIVTSyOV5w5hFH4XIs/s1600-h/100_8671.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-qTqaZ4PSGsc-QkotHw-BOzCjWDSosQiZJrvhotGlQxO4usILSEeY1qGZQDzn0NW0LgFKkhpGpIxSX7kE3iLWKUYSM5l7rMZKtSKzgxk8Id5v0U0E5wwq4DJLQIVTSyOV5w5hFH4XIs/s400/100_8671.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Not sure what to do with it, she showed it to me on a visit to her home several months ago. We agreed that since Norma and her husband do a lot of entertaining, napkins and a table runner would certainly be put to use. With a runner and 10 napkins, they'd even be great for an outdoor buffet. The colors and print just say summer deck party to me. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Now I need to use this post as a reminder to go through my stash and make up some more cloth napkins to replace the ones we've recently worn out.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-26320492988814294492010-05-06T17:00:00.000-06:002010-05-06T18:09:47.963-06:00choo choo<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">When I find stuff like this, I wish Glenn was still a little guy. This would have been perfect for his train themed 2nd birthday.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I have no idea how old it is - 50's? 60's. The colors are so sweet. I think it may have been a cake topper.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELS1iYxDS6_xS9KfqgAcnc5L-bSvSqMoUO7x0CUZwusJToMNBgn3ztOsSKAKpQ8-WBeTr9zq9eYC1Ifc0NejJTDtx-VM6IokHg92zaxRK9EsTj1VDih5ynH_8tEdVcvC4rK8rmKe4IP4/s1600-h/100_8613.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELS1iYxDS6_xS9KfqgAcnc5L-bSvSqMoUO7x0CUZwusJToMNBgn3ztOsSKAKpQ8-WBeTr9zq9eYC1Ifc0NejJTDtx-VM6IokHg92zaxRK9EsTj1VDih5ynH_8tEdVcvC4rK8rmKe4IP4/s400/100_8613.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-39696119162384461872010-05-02T17:33:00.002-06:002010-05-02T17:44:23.599-06:00the kids<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We've had a big weekend around here. After a year of preparation and a lot of hard work, Glenn came of age at our church this morning.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">He read his faith statement before the congregation as did the rest of his class. I'm amazed at what all of them put into these statements and how each one was such a clear reflection of who that child is as a person. From what we can tell, Glenn is a bit of an existentialist.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelGsJIF8Z0AIw6ULHoqeXGOiFArpuLWGfpG1qnaO8_kqt0p6GL7tXnW9riZlk5zOVRLkKMyxukTuLRcI0SyP1t30UYhbPeLeyDYrOQ8X7dkhrlX_fLUArh4fgJAapofp8Xe3TjjiQJpA/s1600/100_8883.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelGsJIF8Z0AIw6ULHoqeXGOiFArpuLWGfpG1qnaO8_kqt0p6GL7tXnW9riZlk5zOVRLkKMyxukTuLRcI0SyP1t30UYhbPeLeyDYrOQ8X7dkhrlX_fLUArh4fgJAapofp8Xe3TjjiQJpA/s400/100_8883.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">His Godfather, hero and style icon, Uncle Monkey, came in from out of state for the occasion. I know he'll check in here at some point this week and I want him to know that his presence meant the world to Glenn. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J1-jFZT_1oGc4i0b3JEuDiPoTpREB9LQCCCAmWMYL5omczdOx7kr7wODwjjnFsQBuSJ2cnBDFPkSX8IgYEvVG-VAawxbyiQqHOSVeUx_zI8cQvKi7hfaDP5QZ1ipP7WIoaOh0eF9IOM/s1600/100_8896.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J1-jFZT_1oGc4i0b3JEuDiPoTpREB9LQCCCAmWMYL5omczdOx7kr7wODwjjnFsQBuSJ2cnBDFPkSX8IgYEvVG-VAawxbyiQqHOSVeUx_zI8cQvKi7hfaDP5QZ1ipP7WIoaOh0eF9IOM/s400/100_8896.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Family and friends headed back to our house for some lunch, cupcakes and good conversation.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoWoc9PZentMGXrb1YlUNDnJECy2v4CJtR7oVMEFy-EWstWDWYcJSvYFmlJ_YiUmA64afcmPiPCJbF9zpOI0tiQsylzo8Xm6wQoe7n8F-HL5eSj6tP555_PF74ujFMA2O-n0WGGcOHVc/s1600/100_8900.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoWoc9PZentMGXrb1YlUNDnJECy2v4CJtR7oVMEFy-EWstWDWYcJSvYFmlJ_YiUmA64afcmPiPCJbF9zpOI0tiQsylzo8Xm6wQoe7n8F-HL5eSj6tP555_PF74ujFMA2O-n0WGGcOHVc/s400/100_8900.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We're incredibly proud of him.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-27848193352398923752010-04-30T13:00:00.001-06:002010-04-30T13:00:01.285-06:00cath kidston purse<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Just before I went handwork crazy with all those hexagons I got this book for my birthday.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wVd3qPqPe9gMb7so6vDf3L2auDmx0YENdgEGHfKDcIhzP518E0MOScJg16L13teg-1FBWzRXafgDTVO7EaFgfOzg9jWoCIx6J3Si-Ckx4L2eWWZXlF1fF6aNppyNp7WlKAnGIeTl47I/s1600-h/100_8676.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wVd3qPqPe9gMb7so6vDf3L2auDmx0YENdgEGHfKDcIhzP518E0MOScJg16L13teg-1FBWzRXafgDTVO7EaFgfOzg9jWoCIx6J3Si-Ckx4L2eWWZXlF1fF6aNppyNp7WlKAnGIeTl47I/s400/100_8676.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Fun projects and great pictures, but the best part - it comes with PRECUT pieces for making the purse on the cover. PRECUT! Ready to sew. How wonderful is that?</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WBVeeSkGzDCdsB2Gg2xAbJYvZNPWr7NCoe6VTbOi6xqA1rfw554PtPAux42h6Vt5ChGkf-nhckF7J3XORHedcNZAENQFPaqY-chQMPdUMbRPZadNcKXE80YTUuoL0pItzfZ3Ob8iF78/s1600-h/100_8698.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WBVeeSkGzDCdsB2Gg2xAbJYvZNPWr7NCoe6VTbOi6xqA1rfw554PtPAux42h6Vt5ChGkf-nhckF7J3XORHedcNZAENQFPaqY-chQMPdUMbRPZadNcKXE80YTUuoL0pItzfZ3Ob8iF78/s400/100_8698.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Talk about a quick way to have a sense of accomplishment. I love to sew - I hate to do the prep work (kind of like painting a room). I did add a lining to the bag to give it more structure and included a zippered pocket, but still, the rest was already cut out!</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhzW9dUGdKp1W59H0VM_WBwl0cqw3xF35JzzRl-Vhqk-gCANYhvyje3ljQNH-plt2LNpc4vVGJvkagfv2QPDMpAJfETes299ZWQyR5hyphenhyphenJFA24YgvzeAh-o8kpTwYtInHaSyoiEEWc9oo/s1600-h/100_8696.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhzW9dUGdKp1W59H0VM_WBwl0cqw3xF35JzzRl-Vhqk-gCANYhvyje3ljQNH-plt2LNpc4vVGJvkagfv2QPDMpAJfETes299ZWQyR5hyphenhyphenJFA24YgvzeAh-o8kpTwYtInHaSyoiEEWc9oo/s400/100_8696.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Now if only all the garment projects I have in the wings would magically prep themselves for sewing. I need some elves to come visit me.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-78031329446609376992010-04-29T13:00:00.001-06:002010-04-29T13:00:00.868-06:00thrifty thursday<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">A few new additions to my vintage apron collection.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I'll never tire of gingham.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRHTAOS8BzgnDhETrJW5BThR8GmwzxVJdhnrIdFtl6SoXqu-2_Pcmfk4X5r6JKovrLci0IsyiExq-dVFNi-KSlK3lZ8sDHWyI2eCpNOTtcyBOCKuT64irb15qNP7M7LRf5bX0A4PzInk/s1600/100_8846.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRHTAOS8BzgnDhETrJW5BThR8GmwzxVJdhnrIdFtl6SoXqu-2_Pcmfk4X5r6JKovrLci0IsyiExq-dVFNi-KSlK3lZ8sDHWyI2eCpNOTtcyBOCKuT64irb15qNP7M7LRf5bX0A4PzInk/s400/100_8846.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And ric rac. I cannot stand how cute it looks sew on that way.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfS8yOWL4aTq67uHSBWe0wWXMgwnY7mg9K9bJYgyrNO3tOOAhZ8_aNdivZmsPe57c7-m_4LMp_rZrMGvro4dOmxrKC0I4aExLBIRoLhLv0_ynWLQXKVoYBTXZG8zWDIK-ng4MqKDUNNQ/s1600/100_8851.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfS8yOWL4aTq67uHSBWe0wWXMgwnY7mg9K9bJYgyrNO3tOOAhZ8_aNdivZmsPe57c7-m_4LMp_rZrMGvro4dOmxrKC0I4aExLBIRoLhLv0_ynWLQXKVoYBTXZG8zWDIK-ng4MqKDUNNQ/s400/100_8851.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">This one's a sheer little number with lilac polka dots.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExQmQksadBX0lupqdX7fwylZ3Oupf1j0l-aWpQUMVUdFgb203sNMipKPoyNYIPCq36mihqqlDGtEQyE5H8PBTXoEOdd50d74suYMH2IBDFkISKigWbIlTv2Cg9DtSsFryK5lorsBfrK4/s1600/100_8855.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExQmQksadBX0lupqdX7fwylZ3Oupf1j0l-aWpQUMVUdFgb203sNMipKPoyNYIPCq36mihqqlDGtEQyE5H8PBTXoEOdd50d74suYMH2IBDFkISKigWbIlTv2Cg9DtSsFryK5lorsBfrK4/s400/100_8855.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Hand finished trim on the pocket.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB7DEfT10_dNPEqFZpB05SPD3KfUwLR6w4zAwS2UplkNI0ZjolJ2J_tes18kaaSml1p3aj_95JyzgrT5XnvqdoJ5fe-wwNQMnbfD6j_KS_qOY3XTRFK-LTtzc6bJNmNMtBhArnatL02c/s1600/100_8856.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB7DEfT10_dNPEqFZpB05SPD3KfUwLR6w4zAwS2UplkNI0ZjolJ2J_tes18kaaSml1p3aj_95JyzgrT5XnvqdoJ5fe-wwNQMnbfD6j_KS_qOY3XTRFK-LTtzc6bJNmNMtBhArnatL02c/s400/100_8856.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I've really got to come up with a way to display these. Right now, even though I use many of them, they primarly live in a drawer. Seems a crime to hide them.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-1933525902156020392010-04-28T13:00:00.002-06:002010-04-28T13:00:03.073-06:00itching to do some stitching<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I wish I could say this great piece was mine. Sheila, a quilting friend in town, shared it with me last week, knowing I'd fall in love with it. She said her sister got it for her at the Kane County Flea Market years ago.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgNXqyKYyYl2T7YHJLLorNbHGPr-4PHWnoe5pBOm-wHH-9px6BFULhgRc1XHtrW18QlxPmTo8tpYqMcfpdw5Ist-XgGcSQgkWIGrhLSERQjTaKXWDP8Fbfh0MgPqQYZdlkyFst-LgDyk/s1600/100_8836.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgNXqyKYyYl2T7YHJLLorNbHGPr-4PHWnoe5pBOm-wHH-9px6BFULhgRc1XHtrW18QlxPmTo8tpYqMcfpdw5Ist-XgGcSQgkWIGrhLSERQjTaKXWDP8Fbfh0MgPqQYZdlkyFst-LgDyk/s400/100_8836.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">While it looks like a dresser scarf I wonder if it was used to drape a sewing machine to keep off the dust. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w7pPPSCqNYEKhgF-wtesWVWOV8JR5GsXx1IsZi2hy4TryR-MfgmXvTbPFKHy3q-k5TU32Wp_si2E2s69IlJu3LKh2zVwtS8a2K-WZZDMKjmcQXM0QaJwFg3IPIhGT6-aKY6hUmWF-2M/s1600/100_8838.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w7pPPSCqNYEKhgF-wtesWVWOV8JR5GsXx1IsZi2hy4TryR-MfgmXvTbPFKHy3q-k5TU32Wp_si2E2s69IlJu3LKh2zVwtS8a2K-WZZDMKjmcQXM0QaJwFg3IPIhGT6-aKY6hUmWF-2M/s400/100_8838.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The motifs are just killing me.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YwZ8IdQcjgYuW3AMgthX_I5JF-v_V5dNkCimAm0WBLEzP_fms4kJL1p3knjO75Qnfl7-trbO5YXjHaGSytfNt-slhMHa4uCX6OiM0v5Rbm0yLSEErxt4fEqfkQhHzJ_PTqtApK3-Qnk/s1600/100_8840.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YwZ8IdQcjgYuW3AMgthX_I5JF-v_V5dNkCimAm0WBLEzP_fms4kJL1p3knjO75Qnfl7-trbO5YXjHaGSytfNt-slhMHa4uCX6OiM0v5Rbm0yLSEErxt4fEqfkQhHzJ_PTqtApK3-Qnk/s400/100_8840.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And all that crocheted lace. Oh my.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNukSqVronGTSjGkt-6caqcA_27fm-6aHPLyuUxgNunLihIVbC7oMwgfqjqp_VRX-eAovPck9NabVlo2u3x3lxb6zq1daRamm2I60btrZkcNUJ5rMg4bUzqw6DI7nGCE1CCHuCX92Nn4/s1600/100_8842.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNukSqVronGTSjGkt-6caqcA_27fm-6aHPLyuUxgNunLihIVbC7oMwgfqjqp_VRX-eAovPck9NabVlo2u3x3lxb6zq1daRamm2I60btrZkcNUJ5rMg4bUzqw6DI7nGCE1CCHuCX92Nn4/s400/100_8842.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-88150910062376557212010-04-27T18:34:00.002-06:002010-04-27T18:51:05.651-06:00rebekah's butterflies<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Posting this is such a good feeling. Ever get stuck on a problem and it only seems to get harder with time? I needed to make pink the predominant color in this block and also wanted to include embroidery in some way. Squares and rectangles were in order, but not as log cabins or square in a square blocks. I hemmed, I hawed, I ignored it. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Finally I refused to let myself start in on any other sewing until this block was done. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And now I'm happy I waited on it because this is one of my favorite blocks I've ever done.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDYWugIWEHF1VdJrjO8VjxiilNBfjyEI1xl7cgAo588E1Vb107zUiEjlS4OuCfL3RbSWc4m4USwSagfVG5Yyos7gAsG_pdyMvUIKvpA9j6_oBtgGKmys5Q-CFXgHmk-oH3pmlANGxMf8/s1600/100_8857.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDYWugIWEHF1VdJrjO8VjxiilNBfjyEI1xl7cgAo588E1Vb107zUiEjlS4OuCfL3RbSWc4m4USwSagfVG5Yyos7gAsG_pdyMvUIKvpA9j6_oBtgGKmys5Q-CFXgHmk-oH3pmlANGxMf8/s400/100_8857.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">It's a little stripey, but it does include squares and rectangles (that section of berry dots on the left will be a square when the seam allowance is used as the quilt is pieced). I was heavily influenced by the tiny strips of fabric used in the blocks I received during my turn last year. Those 1/4" pink stripes thrill me.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishK1-z0kITbx5JdT9exMoKvVaIxGjh0kcNbZ5QjiXeZajTdxhZcRE9wp6HuvZ2cHCH9f7sacPPLnIrHqjgK6CmhksLxmSGPlxgZA2QflhTuK3G3Bqxq9noFxz5O5Q7flSloLbFOEYBfU/s1600/100_8858.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishK1-z0kITbx5JdT9exMoKvVaIxGjh0kcNbZ5QjiXeZajTdxhZcRE9wp6HuvZ2cHCH9f7sacPPLnIrHqjgK6CmhksLxmSGPlxgZA2QflhTuK3G3Bqxq9noFxz5O5Q7flSloLbFOEYBfU/s400/100_8858.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The embroidery was what I was trying to work around at the beginning. I had it in my mind to embroider a chrysalis, but sketch after sketch only looked like poop hanging from a branch. Once I gave that up and focused solely on making the block first, it fell into place. The butterfly above is a white one from the motif fabric. Perfect for outlining in any color I chose. The pink sashiko stitches were done to emphasis the predominant color of the block.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">It should be in your mailbox in a day or so, Rebekah. Think of it as a graduation present!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471621211265087018.post-53019217884966987922010-04-26T07:28:00.004-06:002010-04-26T07:44:45.876-06:00the kids<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So, a quick update on the kids. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Glenn has started his lacrosse season this past week. Luckily it didn't start over spring break when this picture was taken. We were at the arboretum and he would much rather have been chasing his sisters around instead of drawing. Unfortunately, he'd sprained a muscle during the break and was off physical actvity for a week. He's lucky I didn't post the picture of him in the double stroller at the zoo the following day. When we got there, all the wheelchairs had been rented, making a large stroller our only option. He likely spent the entire day praying we didn't run into anyone he knew.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkWbmNpcXL8GNFahJ5fxDRCWNdgAlSxbH9fZBtibaJIC09ClXw5Z-CKCcK74_IyMvVCAhHu8nm5RXjAMhvc4tCNx0LPEGiaya8fjBhAFQ1LjL8jwepSYXoHxdiqG3TqrcqyzvHmd7emk/s1600/100_8723.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkWbmNpcXL8GNFahJ5fxDRCWNdgAlSxbH9fZBtibaJIC09ClXw5Z-CKCcK74_IyMvVCAhHu8nm5RXjAMhvc4tCNx0LPEGiaya8fjBhAFQ1LjL8jwepSYXoHxdiqG3TqrcqyzvHmd7emk/s400/100_8723.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Ellie's begun figure skating lessons. She took to the ice incredibly well during a PTA event at the YMCA a few months ago. I had to drag her off the ice when the event was over. She was in the center of the rink attempting to do spins and jumps. I think we may have found "her thing". She's already asked to continue lessons this summer and wants to join a friend in a class this coming fall called "theater of skating". Oh yeah. Looks like I'm going to learn how to sew spandex and sequins. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjq3oeFwm0YyBZKgjQgZ2hnQn5js_Zz8AC9YIEWREcvY2vUoOWqITYWQwyNhg1Cnb6lzG60v-Q2Xsh6Re_SHVti8-zgohK3CLSe9PDZCIzHU3djEwpimd9eMbfhXgghyLZ1fM0yL328k/s1600/100_8726.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjq3oeFwm0YyBZKgjQgZ2hnQn5js_Zz8AC9YIEWREcvY2vUoOWqITYWQwyNhg1Cnb6lzG60v-Q2Xsh6Re_SHVti8-zgohK3CLSe9PDZCIzHU3djEwpimd9eMbfhXgghyLZ1fM0yL328k/s400/100_8726.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">And little miss Trixie - She had her first piano recital a week ago. Her piece was "The Tooth Fairy". Everytime I reviewed what she needed to do - sit still while you wait for your turn, bring your music to the big piano, etc. - she would finish off the instructions with, "and then I bow!!"</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhhasgZyim18ZY_3pYphapaNXUncK3pefpN6Da_bIeqHuzrkJlBWVcT-o2y7IWAEDn4YX4DopfPsgicwmtylnVLkv36swWbXrd2-axAB6YAPrz54ncOE-qZ28Vj-nn6NWXAu0SGipPb4/s1600/100_8829.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhhasgZyim18ZY_3pYphapaNXUncK3pefpN6Da_bIeqHuzrkJlBWVcT-o2y7IWAEDn4YX4DopfPsgicwmtylnVLkv36swWbXrd2-axAB6YAPrz54ncOE-qZ28Vj-nn6NWXAu0SGipPb4/s400/100_8829.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080238932883576779noreply@blogger.com2