"Plays Well with Fabric"

Making Calamondin Marmalade

2012-02-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Cooking Calamondin Marmalade

To see more photos of the process see my new page: http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/making-calamondin-marmalade.html

Log Cabin Oil Painting

2012-02-07T14:33:00.000-05:00

New Blog Page added with 8 photos of this original vintage oil painting: http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/vintage-oil-painting-of-rural-cabin.html

Peace and Quiet

Morning Walk Today

2012-02-06T18:07:00.000-05:00

Wild Pig Family-they sure do run fast!!!

Otter Family Swimming Hole & Heron Fishing Spot

Loaded!

Acres and Acres of Oranges

Lucked Out at Goodwill

2012-01-31T17:07:00.001-05:00

What can I say? I'm in love with "Fabric"!

Unfinished Tablecloth in the Foreground

Lots of Home Decor Remnants

Some Sparkly Fabrics!
(all for the grand total of $5.99 + tax, of course!) Some of these pieces I will keep to use for tote bags, or small reupholstery projects, etc. - but many will go into my Listia.com auctions

Tangerine Tango

2012-01-26T16:22:00.000-05:00

The frames for this Cathedral Windows piece were made and assembled last year, and I was waiting for the right fabric for the insets. A bit on the wild side, but here it is!

"Cathedral Windows Tabletopper"

"Hand & Machine Stitched"

"Measures: 41" L. x 14" W."

"Cotton Fabrics, and Cotton Blend Fabrics & Batting"

The person I was last year would not have thought of using this fabric combination...fortunately, we DO change and take some risks!

Jury Duty Summons and Voir Dire

2012-01-24T14:59:00.003-05:00

New page published....jury duty summons - not my schtick.

http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/re-jury-duty-summons.html

It's time for women to (as they say in the courtroom) "Voir Dire", a French term for Speak the Truth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voir_dire

Next time I get a jury duty summons a copy of my page/letter will be included in my mail-in request to be excused. If that doesn't do it then that letter is going with me to the courthouse - several copies, in fact. One for each attorney, one for the judge, and one for the court clerk.

Black and Cream with Polka Dots Pillow

2012-01-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

"Cathedral Windows Pillow"

"Classic Black and Cream w. Polka Dots"

"Cathedral Windows Wall Art - Spring Colors"

Baked Apples Dish Recipe

2012-01-20T11:36:00.003-05:00

Baked Apples

How to Make:
OK! This is about as simple as it gets! Wash the apples. Here I used about 7-8 large apples - using several different varieties of baking apples. Cut the apples in half, and core them. Cut each half into quarters on a cutting board. Throw them into a glass baking pan. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon. Bake until soft at 350 degrees. Cool, and add dried cranberries and walnuts. Since I am currently in "losing weight" mode I'm not going to top a serving with a dollop of real whipped cream or the fake kind, but that would sure look and taste reeeeally good!

P.S. For "thee" absolutely best sweetest and moistest dried Cranberry source look no further than this delightful etsy shoppe called tootsytwo . The cranberries are homegrown on their Bandon, Oregon farm.

Vintage Dining Room Chairs

2012-01-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

Link to a recently added page...

http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/6-dining-room-chairs-extreme-makeover.html

The First Lady

2012-01-20T06:22:00.001-05:00

I don't know whom to credit for this photo, but it sure is a beautiful as well as heart-warming photo!

The Sophisticated "First Lady". True Class

This morning it occurred to me to ask the question of whether we believe our body/mind to be an asset or a liability? Friend or foe? And why? Or, why not? It is what it is, and it's what we've got for the duration.

The First Lady obviously knows something about and for herself that not every woman knows for and about herself.

More Red and the Element of Fire

2012-01-19T17:51:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a book as well as online sites about Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Five Elements. I have come to the conclusion that a bit more red ( the fire element) could be beneficial in my life/surroundings.

"Cathedral Windows Pillow"

"Upcycled Tea Lamp & Fortune Pig"

I'm sure I posted about the Tea Lamp earlier. I did add red ribbons to that too for a bit more "heat or warmth".

The little pig with a penny on it's back is a Fortune Pig that came to me by some (as of now) unremembered route. In Germany they say that if you own a Fortune Pig you will always have good fortune. This one has a Canadian penny. That bothers me a little. I'm working on it.

Sunshine on my Windowsill

2012-01-17T15:40:00.000-05:00

...mostly from TT Team member shoppes on etsy.

Wood and Leather

2012-01-14T07:44:00.002-05:00

Flora Wooden Necklace by designer LoeweStamm

This beautiful necklace was a gift to me from an Ireland woman, and much as I love wood and leather I just simply do not like to wear much of anything around my neck.

For more information about the necklace see the artist webpage here... kvkdesigns

Click here for my Listia auction of this necklace... flora-wooden-necklace-by-designer-brand

I Saw Red

2012-01-13T16:04:00.001-05:00

A Little Color Goes a Long Way on a Wintry Day

Eckhart Tolle Quote

2012-01-13T07:24:00.001-05:00

Wall Photos

‎"I am the hole on the flute that Gods breath flows through." ~ Eckhart Tolle

A Mother's Love is Forever

2012-01-13T06:42:00.003-05:00

Just saw a small thumbnail size treasury on another blog and thought I would see how I like this size. The larger size takes too long to upload - especially if several treasuries are posted consecutively.

Who Likes Coffee [Mugs]? I Do!

2012-01-11T16:24:00.005-05:00

The following three coffee mugs selections came from members of the TT Team shoppes on etsy.com. Be sure to follow the links to see more beautiful handiwork by etsy artisans!

"Ceramic Mug"
Photo and Mug belongs to PrimitivePots

"Dragonfly Coffee Cup"

Photo and Mug belongs to BlueSkyPotteryCo

"Tree Frog Mugs"
Photo and Mugs belong to MiriHardyPottery

First Friday Art Walk on etsy this weekend!

2012-01-06T16:40:00.007-05:00

Really! The month rolls around pret-ty quickly when you mark it with an event like a First Friday Art Walk. To see over 6000 items included in the virtual Art Walk click here ---> First Friday Art Walk . As we are fond of saying....let your fingers do the walking! Here are a few items that caught my eye pretty quickly!

Ship's Wheel Pillow
Photo copyright belongs to crabby chris

Rustic Wooden Door
Photo copyright belongs to Anna Delores

Gold Leaf Earrings
Photo copyright belongs to Leigh Luna

So, for this month's First Friday Art Walk I am offering 10% off on all the items in SarahsQuiltsnCrafts, and the coupon code to use at checkout is FFAWWEEKENDTAKE10 .

And, btw, the FFAW event has been extended from Friday throughout Sunday!

Pin It

What does handmade mean to you?

2012-01-03T09:08:00.001-05:00

"To me, handmade is all about care. When someone crafts, they put a bit of themselves into their work. Handmade doesn’t come from a place of icy factories and anonymous workers, but from a place of warmth and attention. I try to make sure my customers feel taken care of. I’m so grateful to be received by a community that supports handmade."

excerpted from: 2012/featured-seller-etsy blog

2012...taking it One Day at a Time

2012-01-01T14:15:00.000-05:00

Cats are great Zen teachers of being in the moment...

Paying Attention

Resident Zen Master

As You Are...

Here's wishing you many zen moments in the coming days and months!

"The Business of Your Life"

2011-12-31T08:43:00.000-05:00

~ Marsha Sinetar

"The significant business of your life is alive and well, awaiting discovery, within your very soul."

Nonsense, Fantasy and Dr Seuss

2011-12-30T06:24:00.000-05:00

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." ~ Dr. Seuss

Cathedral Windows Pillow

2011-12-29T18:25:00.003-05:00

Cathedral Windows Pillow

Front View
Pin It

Newbie!

2011-12-29T18:22:00.000-05:00

Cathedral Windows Pillow - Side View

Top View - Filled with Buckwheat Hulls

Happiness Key

2011-12-28T10:11:00.005-05:00

Recently I saw a number of posts on facebook about “never placing the key for your own happiness in someone else’s pocket.” It went over well. Many related to that quote. I certainly did.

This morning while quietly being open to thoughts over handwashing yesterday’s dishes it occurred to me that equally important to not placing the key to one’s happiness in someone else’s pocket is not permitting anyone else to place the key for their happiness in our pocket.

Maybe it happened a long time ago, and the pattern is well-established. Maybe some are even now sneakily trying to place that key in your pocket. Or, maybe they are outright asking, insisting, or even demanding that you stretch out your hand and take the damn key. “Right now, I said!”

Undeniably, many things have happened and are continuing to happen all the time that can contribute to the experience of unhappiness for one person, many people, and nations. Babies are not always picked up the minute they want to be picked up. People who have not learned how to process their own emotions want to be cared for in the way they want to, or sulkily internalize it only to resurface later in ways that say, “See what you/they did to me?”

This week someone said to me, “ I feel hurt and disappointed by what you did to me.” I’ll spare you the details “ You should not have done _____ to me.” (attempting to place her happiness key in my pocket) Btw, dear facebook friend...that was MY facebook you wrote on, so please excuse me for monitoring my guest comments! Being disrespectfully opinionated (not to mention ignorantly biased on the subject matter in question) on your own wall is up to you. After a comment and then message exchange one thing lead to the other. Facebook friends come and they go. Not getting what she wanted she then came to the unilateral, unsubstantiated conclusion that "we aren't worshiping the same God". (semantics, semantics is more like) Here she not only hastily pulled back her key but also pulled out the "Big Gun". Whoa! Of course it goes without saying - her God is the real one, better than mine who may in fact look more like a devil, and hers can probably soundly whip my god/devil with one hand and both feet tied behind his back. Not to worry...this happens periodically. It wasn't the first time and it most likely won't be the last time based on my current understanding of human nature. It’s a very good thing she closed the door. That way the door didn't catch her heel as it closed. ;-) It has been my experience that that kind of door doesn't lead anywhere nice, anyway. And, I’m sure she will promptly find another pocket into which to place her happiness key. Most likely she will first pull out the "I've been psychologically and spiritually abused, & I need sympathy" card.

If there is something in my pocket that belongs to someone else it uses up the personal energy that I need to be more creative throughout my own day and life.

Carry too many keys and the pocket will sag and ultimately tear. Yep! Tricky business...this being supportive of someone else's life process while not assuming their responsibilities.

Cookie-less, Gift-less, Card-less Christmas...

2011-12-26T09:57:00.001-05:00

What is a cookie-less, gift-less, card-less Christmas like? ...to be very honest - not bad at all!

This morning I realized that I have not had one (or many :-) ) Christmas cookies this year! I have had a bit of a hankering for Date Pinwheels, though. I may still make a batch or two of them this week - just for old times sake. Instead of dates I want to use Calamondin Marmalade for some and Fig Jam for others - both homemade.

Christmas Day (for me) was a day pretty much like any other day around here. If it wasn't for the internet we would be completely out of touch out here in the boonies! Got some weeding done and cleaning up in the gardens in the morning. Puttered around the house doing little things of little consequence, sat around for an hour and more discussing the various points of the first season of "The United States of Tara" which we saw the night before last. We were aiming for a 4:30 Roast Chicken dinner but for various reasons didn't quite make it. Had dinner on the backporch at 6:30-ish, adjourned to the living room to watch the first season of a Human Target, ate Apple Crisp dessert a few hours later, and off to bed by 12:00 midnight.

True, we didn't have much excitement but we did have Peace, which I personally value much more than a racy adrenaline rush any day!

~o0o~

btw...we did get Christmas cards by mail and email-just did not send any.

Be Not Afraid

2011-12-22T18:24:00.001-05:00

I seldom watch youtube videos due to the limited bandwidth we have, but I just watched this youtube video by Neale Donald Walsch about the changes we're experiencing now and will continue to experience for a number of years more. He says we're undergoing a major overhaul but "Be not afraid." He has a soothing and comforting voice.

Gosh! I feel like I worked hard today, and I have been busy, but not much recount-worthy got done....just one of those days. Well, I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening watching a movie - knowing that tomorrow will be another day!

I Love Vintage Furniture!

2011-12-21T17:27:00.000-05:00

"Bentwood Ice Cream Parlor Chair"

Lovely Original Austrian Import Fabric by Mill Creek on the ice cream parlor chair - one of four chairs. Newly reupholstered by moi.
~*~

"Footstool with Removeable Lid"

Large Botanical Print on the lovely Vintage Footstool. Very sturdily built!
~*~

"Storage Space for Chocolate Candy Stash"

Stash the candy, or embroidery project, or the journal, or the latest library book!
~*~

"Director's Chair"
Sometimes we do have to get up there and talk!
~*~

Upcycled Tea Light Holder

2011-12-20T13:24:00.001-05:00

Day...

...and Night.

A few weeks ago I acquired a number of old pole insulators at a yard sale. I remember these being used to insulate the wires on the poles along the railroad running through my dad's farm. This morning while sitting in my hickory rocking chair I got the image for this tea light holder using an insulator and a rusty old coil spring from a piece of furniture that wasn't salvadgeable because the frame was badly worm-eaten. Fred bought some battery operated tea lights at the local dollar store. The battery can be replaced. Neat thing is the light flickers like a flame does!

Pillows Giveaway Winner

2011-12-19T17:25:00.000-05:00

And the winner of the pair of Cathedral Windows Pillows is Bev from Tallahassee!
http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/c-w-pillows-giveaway-122011.html

My etsy store (SarahsQuiltsnCrafts) is in vacation mode for two weeks. Views had slowed down enormously, and it was obvious to me that this would be an excellent time to take a breather...and time to focus on doing some important things around here. And possibly get into a better routine altogether. That could mean writing things down...making lists! And sticking with them! ;-)

Ho Ho Hum!

2011-12-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

Weather-wise, it was a mostly dreary day today...and a "do-nothing kind of day" for me. Despite a blister in hand, I did work some more on rehabilitating a set of four, wood-frame, ice cream parlor style chairs - up to the point where I need more welt cord than I have on hand. Etsy.com to the rescue! I also need finishing nails that I do not have, but will make a trip to town tomorrow for those, & a few other things on my list.

The first Christmas card of the season arrived yesterday - a lovely handmade card from my youngest niece, Tina. I am going to admit that here at this house we do very little in the way of decorating, or celebrating outwardly, or gift and card giving. I am fully aware that this is no way to support the economy. It is what it is. And that is that.

Over the weekend I am going to take myself by the scruff of my neck and engage in some gardening related activities. Well, I'm planning to do that. I have a package of mixed greens seeds from Pinetree Seeds, & I think it's a good time to begin seeding them every two weeks. They will be ready to eat in 40 days - somewhere in the vicinity of next February. To be continued....

Wicker Chair Makeover!

2011-12-14T18:10:00.001-05:00

This project was started months ago, and finished today. Yes, the "old girl's still got it"!

Before...

Repurposed Wicker

...and After!

you’re already perfect

2011-12-14T07:16:00.001-05:00

you’re already perfect

‘Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.’ ~Lao Tzu

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on twitter .

From: Zen Habits

Tangerine Tango

2011-12-09T12:01:00.004-05:00

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing". ~ Helen Keller

Click here for more about Tangerine Tango! Pantone's Color of the Year 2012

Kiss the Earth

2011-12-09T06:12:00.000-05:00

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet." ~Thich Nhat Hahn

Fur Kids in the Bread Box

2011-12-08T15:49:00.001-05:00

It was just a Matter of Time!

Repurposed Linen Table Napkins

2011-12-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

Lilac Table Napkins - Repurposed Linen

Set of Four - 15" Square

Not Wild...Nor Wooly

2011-12-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Bright Children's Quilt

This was a fun little project! Made using fabric panels and scrap pieces from a dear friend in town. Next project is making a set of four, Lilac-colored print table napkins, using repurposed linen fabric.

Full Size Frontal View

I cleaned and oiled my sewing machine this morning (something that does not get done nearly often enough) in preparation for getting started with sewing 280 Cathedral Windows frames....soon!

Rear View

Yesterday I discovered that Listia.com has now given us the option of voluntarily donating our store credits for the benefit of 5 different charities. I chose to donate for Toys for Tots and the Nature Conservancy. www.listia.com/foundations I have asked whether there will be the possibility of them hooking up with Kiva.org for year-round donations of credits. All Faith's Food Bank would work for me as well!

"I am Part of the Sun...." by D. H. Lawrence

2011-12-01T07:35:00.003-05:00

Vintage Navajo Marbled Turquoise Ring -signed J.T.

via: Summer Rayne (facebook)

"I am part of the sun as my eye is part of me, That I am part of the earth my feet know perfectly, and my blood is part of the sea... There is nothing of me that is alone and absolute, except my mind, and we shall find that the mind has no existence by itself, it is only the glitter of the sun on the surface of the waters." ~D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ring available at: SarahsQuiltsnCrafts.etsy.com

Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote

2011-11-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

via Elsa Bailey on facebook:

"Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God:
But only s/he who Sees takes off his/her shoes."
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

....'nuff said!

Girl's Night Out. (no, this was not me.)

2011-11-26T07:32:00.000-05:00

via Nell Stanley on Facebook:

A woman was invited out for a night with the "girls." She told her husband that she would be home by midnight, "I promise!" Well, the hours passed and the margaritas went down way too easily. Around 3 a.m, a bit loaded, she headed for home.

Just as she got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hallway started up and cuckooed 3 times. Quickly, realizing her husband would probably wake up, she cuckooed another 9 times. She was really proud of herself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution, in order to escape a possible conflict with him. (Even when totally smashed, 3 cuckoos plus 9 cuckoos totals 12 cuckoos = MIDNIGHT !)

The next morning her husband asked her what time she got in, she told him "MIDNIGHT"... he didn't seem pissed off in the least. Then he said "Oh by the way we need a new cuckoo clock." When she asked him why, he said, "Well, last night our clock cuckooed three times, then said "oh shit" Cuckooed 4 more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, and then tripped over the coffee table and farted."

Be Authentic; Be Yourself.

2011-11-24T07:48:00.000-05:00

"Be authentic, be yourself. That’s a beautiful expression. Everyone is divine because there is only one God, one truth, one reality, and it can be expressed in infinite varieties. The Vedic sages recognized that Truth is one but various sages call it by various names. Let us not quarrel with the names and forms, different paths; ultimately we are only manifesting, unfolding, our divinity."

For the entire article: Swami Dayatmananda - Three Expressions of Reality

A Country Road

Etsy, and Quit Your Day Job

2011-11-24T06:56:00.000-05:00

Quit Your Day Job: larimeloom

Read the entire Etsy blog post in LarimeLooms own words. And for a little sojourn into her etsy store. Enjoy!

Recent Saga with a Privately owned Quilt Store

2011-11-23T14:40:00.003-05:00

Some of my energy lately has been consumed with getting 9 of my Cathedral Windows wallhangings back from Alma Sue's Quilt Shop in Sarasota, Fla. I took a number of quilts in to her shop in early July for possible consignment, & she handpicked 9 that she deemed saleable in her store. Some of them she said would sell once the snowbirds got here since they were colors more frequently used for home decor in the northern states.

Recently, I became curious how the quilts were doing and stopped in two weeks ago. I didn't see any of them. The owner, Ella wasn't in and the sales clerk couldn't tell me anything. She made a written note for Ella to call me. Later that day in the afternoon I called. They said, "Oh, Monday is Ella's day off. Call in the morning after 10:30." So, I called the next day around noon and they said, "Oh, Ella was here but became sick & went home". So, I waited 2 weeks for the "Phone Call" & the Quilt Shop never called. So the following weekend on Saturday's shopping trip I stopped in, again. This time I spoke with Ella, and she said "Oh, today's not a good day. You'll have to come back another time." At that point she acknowledged she didn't know where the wallhangings were, and didn't know if they had actually ever been on display during the four months. Said that Michael, a man who used to work there had rearranged her store completely over the summer when she was on vacation, and if he didn't like something he just put it away in the storeroom.

We live about 25 minutes from the store so I insisted on scheduling a time, and she said Tuesday at 1:00. Tues. morning came, I did not know what to think. Fred offered to call and find out if the quilts would be ready for pick-up at 1:00 before we drove a half hour to get there. We thought she might take it more seriously with a male voice calling. He called and asked to speak with Ella, and was told she was in a meeting, and they would call back. Fred said he bets they will call back in 15 minutes, and they never called at all! He begrudgingly admitted to losing the bet on that one! I bet him a dollar they wouldn't, and we shook on it. So Fred made another call when it was time to leave, & they curtly said the quilts were ready. Together we went & picked them up. The quilts were all there, and in good condition. I checked them out thoroughly before signing for them. The clerk asked me what I was looking for..."just checking to make sure everything is OK before I sign for them". The clerks were polite, but not pleasant. So, after four phone calls and 3 store visits in a 2.5 week saga, my quilts are back home with me. And, not once did anyone at Alma Sue's offer an apology. On the contrary, I was left with the feeling that I was out of line.

(Years ago, in Pa. I had a very bad experience with a returned Giant Dahlia quilt that had been consigned at a local quilt and fabric store. When I laid it out on my bed I became aware of a wide band that had become faded from their overhead lighting system. They flatly denied it, and assumed no responsibility. Always check your consigned quilts and crafts for issues prior to signing for their release.)

I haven't been buying much fabric except online or at thrift stores lately. And now I will feel absolutely no guilt at not supporting this particular family-owned fabric store as oppposed to JoAnns or Walmart - for supplies, etc. Respect and trust are earned.

As for the future of privately owned quilt stores and fabric stores - my sense is they will be few and far between as more and more people buy online, or scour thrift stores and yard sales as alternative, inexpensive sources of fabrics.

Sustainably Harvested Hardwood Buttons by ReMaineWicked

2011-11-21T06:52:00.001-05:00

Surprise this morning!...one of my supply items has been included in this DIY Mania Etsy Treasury collated by Rachel of http://www.etsy.com/people/coolclimates

I've been feeling a great affection for all things wood lately...so, pictured below is one treasury item that particularly caught my eye!

Organic Hardwood Buttons from Maine

In the artist's words: "Wooden Buttons, Sustainably Harvested and Organic, set of four. These buttons were made by my 14 year old son, in order to try and raise money for a field trip to France!

They are made from naturally fallen, dried, Maine hardwood (either Beech, Ironwood or Maple). They were then cut, sanded, drilled, sanded and then soaked in food grade Mineral Oil for preservation. They would make a great stocking stuffer for knitters, seamstress's and crafters."

Rain Harbison also says:

"I am passionate about creating new, lovable things from discarded, unloved or out-dated items. My clothes and housewares are made with love and respect for you and the earth. Each is made from repurposed clothing and/or vintage fabrics that otherwise, would end up in a landfill."

Click on the following link for more details about the buttons, and to see other items by Rain at RemaineWicked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This holiday season consider shopping with artists and crafters who specialize in bringing environmentally sustainable merchandise to the marketplace!

Quietly, and with dignity, Listen to Your Heart of Hearts

2011-11-19T08:34:00.002-05:00

French Model

The photo of this French model was floating around on Facebook awhile ago, and I feel as though I've already used it in another blog post. However, it is perfect for a point I feel the need to make.

Living a less active life, and going through menopause is causing my body to look a bit more like her body. Maybe I can do something about it. Maybe that something is just to be more accepting of what is....that, AND do something about it!

Acorns already have all the knowledge (DNA) of the tree they will one day become. Climate and day to day weather are influential as well.

We as humans have more choices than acorns do...mobility for one. And trees don't need to get an education to make a living to provide for their own basic needs, or the needs of their offspring - if they have any. That's another choice people have.

The words I really wish someone had spoken to me when I was a teenager are: "Quietly, and with dignity, consistently listen to and follow the impressions you receive from your own 'heart of hearts'. Do not let even the people you love the most get in the way of you fulfilling your own destiny. And, continue doing that for the rest of your life" So there! I've now said the words for others to hear, and follow if they so choose.

What I wanted as a young girl was to live a beautiful life. I wanted to be able to wear feminine clothing, shoes and hairstyle of my choice, listen to joyful music, read thought-provoking books & have uplifting conversations with people with educated minds...in other words - a refined life. Unfortunately, the hard work of trying to establish my right to assert myself got in the way of many of my primary relationships. We never were able to have an understanding of what was going on. I was never even able to speak the words....it just seemed like they were going to hit a really, really hard wall, get all smashed and slide down onto a quivering little heap.

Mom and Dad...wherever you hang out now, I really hope that you have the ability and or courage to understand. For all I know, you too had many of the same desires of the heart that I did, with even less capability to make choices for yourself.

Mint Green and Charcoal Log Cabin

2011-11-18T12:30:00.003-05:00

Eccentric Log Cabin Wall Hanging

Charcoal and Mint Green Juxtaposition

These vintage Log Cabin quilt blocks were a discovery on a recent thrifting/treasure hunt. The color combination caught my interest, and I decided to honor the artist who made the blocks by completing a wallhanging. I am also somewhat infatuated with the black and white polka dot binding! Well, actually quite a lot.

These colors together make me "feel good"! Don't know why, but they do! So, I made an Etsy Treasury Collection, too! For me, treasury making is "sortof" like making a digital quilt, but I digress.

Steve Jobs quote:
"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it. They just saw something."

I'm familiar with that guilty feeling. And sometimes it's a quilty feeling! ;-) Actually, I like feeling a little guilty when I've been waxing creative...because it means (to me) that it wasn't just "me" there.

~*~

Cathedral Windows Pillows Giveaway 12/18/2011

2011-11-17T08:25:00.002-05:00

Cathedral Windows Pillows 12/2011 Giveaway (covers only)

USA & Canada residents only...For more information, and to enter the Giveaway click on the following blog page link: CW Pillows-Giveaway-12/2011

What are friends for! Especially old ones.

2011-11-17T06:14:00.004-05:00

Q. So, you are quilting printed panels now? (from a longtime friend)

A. The Princess Quilt was made at a friend's request. She was going to get it for a birthday gift for her little daughter & forgot about it -spent all her money elsewhere.

The Little Girls Gardening Quilt was made using two strips of the girls gardening fabric - that was all I had, filled in with latticework, using scrap fabrics. The borders and back were new fabric. The little quilts were just fun little side projects.

There are times when I wonder if quilters have gone completely insane...cutting up yardages of outrageously expensive fabric into small pieces and sewing them back together again. Then getting together in small or not-so-small cliches and oh-ing and ah-ing about the end result over sweets, junk foods & coffee. Sometimes I wonder if it's just busy-work for people, with women in particular - who cannot do much else artistically. Wait, wait...put down the gun! Don't shoot me just yet! I don't believe that for one minute! Because, I have seen absolutely stunning and gorgeous quilts! But I must say, if I were looking in on the planet from another planet I think I might seriously question the whole thing. Making quilts out of scraps leftover from other sewing projects I get. That makes sense. That is how quilts were made historically.

Every once in a while a good friend from town gives me a bag of scrap fabrics. Other people's scrap fabrics are fun! One time, Donna Foxwell (back in Pa.) brought me a large number of big black garbage bags filled with scrap fabric/fat quarters & yardage even - leftover from her fabric store. Said she just threw them downstairs into her basement over the years. "The Dungeon" she called it. I dumped the bags out onto my kitchen floor, and sorted the fabrics out by color. What fun that was! Made a lot of very interesting quilts, too, because many of the fabrics were vintage.

But! ...the Big Project coming up even as I write...making 280, 4" Cathedral Windows frames for a custom request through etsy. She sent her muslin. I've got them all cut & ready to sew assembly line fashion.

Interesting thought:
There is a group of aliens who think our planet is owned by cars. And that humans are slaves to the cars. The humans spend all their time working to make sure they have the money to take care of the cars... Taking them out to dine at gas stations. Taking them to the beauty salon, aka car wash. Taking them to socialize in huge parking lots- long drives in the countryside or highways. Bringing them big bags of surprises from mall stores...you get the picture. Think about it! What owns you?

"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off".~Gloria Steinem

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quilts for the Kidlets

2011-11-16T17:03:00.000-05:00

Little Girls Gardening

Princess Quilt

Flannel Robot Quilt

Interested? See my etsy store widget in the upper right sidebar.

Vintage Four-Patch Blocks to CW Frames

2011-11-16T13:17:00.000-05:00

There's a first time for everything, and this in the first time I tried using four-patch blocks for Cathedral Windows frames - something I've been wanting to do for a long time. These vintage handstitched four-patch blocks were in a large bag of fabrics from Goodwill, along with many other hand-stitched patches. And, I am sooo looking forward to making many tiny quilts this winter!

Vintage Four Patch blocks

Reverse Side of CW frames

Completed CW Frames

Reverse side of CW Frames

So now! Choosing the insets...that will be interesting, I'm sure! Or, letting them choose me...that could be even more interesting!

One of the Greatest Gifts...

2011-11-14T16:07:00.001-05:00

Wow! I won something I really wanted!

2011-11-08T13:28:00.002-05:00

Had an email from Connecting Threads today stating that the comment I left on their blog won the Table Stand Quilt Display...I wanted one to display my little CW quilts, etc.

I also adore the Metal Hanger with Pineapple in their mail order catalog - will have to call about that because I could simply not locate it online at their website.

Wire_Table_Stand_and_Headers

Cathedral Windows Wall Hanging - fits perfectly!

Maxine-ism

2011-11-07T08:10:00.001-05:00

Approaching the Holidays with Honesty

2011-11-07T07:51:00.004-05:00

Darn it!

‎"Our lives improve only when we take chances... and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves."

~ Walter Anderson

Framed!

2011-11-04T06:10:00.000-04:00

Cathedral Windows Frames- ready to go!

These 64 Cathedral Windows frames were fun to make, & the fabric was great to work with. I especially like the tiny, coffee & cream colored flower print. It's demure and elegant. Since I wanted to use up the entire piece of fabric I cut the squares accordingly. Consequently, the frames measure 4 and 5/8" square...a bit of an unusual size, but who said anyway what they should be! Windows are meant to be seen through - not keep you boxed in!

I Spy a Charm Quilt?

2011-10-31T17:21:00.000-04:00

I Spy a Charm Quilt?

Years ago my mother knotted & finished a colorful scrappy quilt top that had been given to us. We used it whenever one of us didn't feel quite right, and it was a really comfy feeling - more than any other quilts I've had. I'm sure it's quite worn by now ( my ex has it - I think) and I still refer to it fondly as the "Magic Quilt". This quilt top reminds me of that quilt.

A thrift store find, this was a NEW QUILT (lap quilt size) with the blocks on both sides, with no batting. Even though I really, really, really do not like ripping that is what I did, and then added borders for a double bed size quilt top. After my remake it's now a combination of "I Spy Quilt" and "Charm Block Quilt" and "Scrappy Quilt" and "Magic Quilt" - all in one quilt!

Measures: 84" x 91" and is ready to knot or quilt by hand or machine.

She's all that and more!

2011-10-26T08:38:00.000-04:00

She's all that and more!

I feel like I know someone who has this "attitude"! We get a charge every time we look at her, and that was before I gave her "good hair".

This is a soap dispenser temporarily turned vase. "She" (the soap dispenser) was in the bottom of a bag of fabrics from a yard sale....discovered while gloating over my "loot" later that day. That is the thing I LOVE about yard sales...you just DO NOT know what you will find. Long live yard sales!

Where Vintage met Contemporary

2011-10-24T18:43:00.003-04:00

"Where Vintage Met Contemporary"

Interesting Zipper Tab!

"Closure"....we all have many openings, and many Closures! Each one a little different. Some of our relationships last longer than others. Some were cut off short. Some have threads hanging loose yet. Some are rusty. Some are definitely vintage - that may be good or not so good. All depends.

The Story:
The cotton fabric for the quilt front and back is repurposed table napkins. The zippers and buttons are vintage and previously used. They look like the buttons my mother snipped off garments that had seen their best days & kept in her button jar until further notice. Zippers she saved from trousers, shirts and dresses and kept in a drawer of her Singer treadle sewing machine. I still remember how the drawers smelled. Often the threads were still hanging from the zippers and buttons. Note the zipper tab on the red zipper in particular! Click on the photos for a close-up view.

Measurements: 17" W. x 17" H.

Cotton fabric & fiberfill.
Vintage buttons and zippers.
Machine quilted using the stippling method.

Help Wanted!

2011-10-23T06:06:00.000-04:00

Wanted: Info about the print on the shirt!

Picked this shirt up at the yardsale of a European couple & I plan to sell it so I'd be grateful for information about the print. Is it based on a particular comic strip or cartoons, or just a combination of various funnies?

Last Year's Bestseller Mandala Zafu is BACK!!!!

2011-10-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

Mandala Zafu Cushion

Last year's best seller is back! For more information, photos and pricing see: Mandala Zafu Cushion Cover

Old Miakka Sunset

2011-10-17T09:15:00.005-04:00

Old Miakka Sunset 10-16-2011

"My birthday gift for this year/month is the promise of screening the front porch & adding a door. That means we'll be able to spend much more time there undisturbed by mosquitoes! I am seeing my self/us sitting out there eating dinners by sunsets like this one. And just generally unwinding at bedtime for a good night's rest. Thinking about adding hanging planters - possibly herbs & lettuce, etc.; and strings of lights for a bit more ambience after it's dark." ~*~

Reversible I Spy and Beatrix Potter ABC Quilt, and Princess Quilt

2011-10-12T12:53:00.002-04:00

Beatrix Potter ABC Quilt

I Spy Quilt

I Spy Quilt - close-up

Beatrix Potter ABC Quilt - close-up

Princess Quilt

Princess Quilt - close-up

Princess Quilt - back view

The Beatrix Potter ABC and I Spy quilt are two sides of one reversible quilt. My intent was to make a quilt where both sides could be used as an educational tool at different stages of learning. I made 2 of this one for twin boys in Hawaii.

And the Princess Quilt is for a little princess, of course!... the sister of the twin boys in Hawaii!

Both quilts are 100% machine made & quilted by me.

Fiber contents are:
all cotton fabrics, thread, and 100% cotton or 80% cotton/ 20% poly batting

Care suggestions are: Machine wash in warm water & mild soap. Machine dry.

FYI about the intent of an I Spy Quilt...it's a educational game to play with children. One person says "I spy... (name something in the quilt such as a monkey)" and the other person/s try to find it. That's the general idea....

~*~

Another day, another ride!

2011-10-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

Lucky being nonchalant about his new "ride".

The two little yellow-greenish dots in the upper right are the eyes of Smoky, the black cat. Cats are so photogenic...always seem to be posing, don't they!

Antique Footstool to Storage Chest Conversion

2011-10-09T08:54:00.001-04:00

From this Goodwill find....

Stripped down to this....

We did remove the spring unit & replaced
it with a wooden lid....you wondered, didn't you?

Converted to this.....

And used for a display at the market!

I like good & sturdy furniture...some day when I have my restored log cabin then I want to fill it with old and useful wood furniture and vintage or antique overstuffed furniture. A woman can dream!

After the Ball...First Friday Art Walk Weekend on etsy

2011-10-07T07:09:00.005-04:00

Art Quilt - Garden in the Night

Forest Floor Ring

To see the rest of this autumn themed treasury see:
After the Ball - First Friday Art Walk Weekend etsy Treasury

For more about FFAW weekend see our team blog ----> First Friday Art Walk

Don't Waste Your Time Living Someone Else's Life

2011-10-06T06:52:00.001-04:00

Gone too soon....

~ Rumi:

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. "

Calamondin Marmalade & PB Sandwich...Mmmm!

2011-10-05T16:05:00.002-04:00

Smuckers PB & my Calamondin Marmalade on Rye Bread

Kinda speaks for itself, doesn't it?

8 oz. Calamondin Marmalade - ready to go!

Calamondin, oranges & dried cranberry goodness! And, sugar (of course!), water, and pectin made from the calamondin seeds themselves.

These are the BEST Dried Cranberries ever!!!

To buy some of the MOST delicious dried cranberries click on the following link: tootsytwo Great for snacking or adding to granola or baking! Read their product description to find out why these are superior to any you can buy in stores. Seriously. You owe it to yourself!

Calamondin Fruit on the Tree - Stock Photo

Calamondin fruit is one of the neat discoveries I've made since moving to Florida. Making Marmalade with them is another neat discovery. The process from beginning to end is quite labor and time intensive...but fun!
~*~

Do you Want to be a Mermaid or a Whale?

2011-10-05T05:32:00.000-04:00

French model Tara Lynn

via Delphine Fieberg on facebook:

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)

“Breathing in I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.”

2011-09-30T07:44:00.001-04:00

“Breathing in I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.” ~Thich Nhat Hahn
There is more power in a smile than you may have ever contemplated.

Thich Nhat Hahn has been a Buddhist monk for more than 60 years. He is also a poet and the author of Being Peace, The Miracle of Mindfulness, Living Buddha, Living Christ, and many other books. He gave birth to the movement of “Engaged Buddhism”— peaceful activism for the purpose of social reform. Because of his stance against the Vietnam War, he was exiled from his own country. It also led Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.

He lives in a monastic community in south-western France called Plum Village , where he teaches, writes, gardens, and works to help refugees world-wide. (No matter what your faith, I encourage you to read more about this amazing man.)
An interview Oprah was conducting (from 2010) with Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn (pronounced tic not han).
================================================================

Oprah: What is happiness?

Nhat Hanh: Happiness is the cessation of suffering. Well-being. For instance, when I practice this exercise of breathing in, I’m aware of my eyes; breathing out, I smile to my eyes and realize that they are still in good condition. There is a paradise of form and colors in the world. And because you have eyes still in good condition, you can get in touch with the paradise. So when I become aware of my eyes, I touch one of the conditions of happiness. And when I touch it, happiness comes.

Oprah: And you could do that with every part of your body.

Nhat Hanh: Yes. Breathing in, I am aware of my heart. Breathing out, I smile to my heart and know that my heart still functions normally. I feel grateful for my heart.

Oprah: So it’s about being aware of and grateful for what we have.

Nhat Hanh: Yes.

Oprah: And not just the material things, but the fact that we have our breath.

Nhat Hanh: Yes. You need the practice of mindfulness to bring your mind back to the body and establish yourself in the moment. If you are fully present, you need only make a step or take a breath in order to enter the kingdom of God. And once you have the kingdom, you don’t need to run after objects of your craving, like power, fame, sensual pleasure, and so on. Peace is possible. Happiness is possible. And this practice is simple enough for everyone to do.

Oprah: Tell me how we do it.

Nhat Hanh: Suppose you are drinking a cup of tea. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, and you become fully present. And when you are truly there, something else is also there—life, represented by the cup of tea. In that moment you are real, and the cup of tea is real. You are not lost in the past, in the future, in your projects, in your worries. You are free from all of these afflictions. And in that state of being free, you enjoy your tea. That is the moment of happiness, and of peace. When you brush your teeth, you may have just two minutes, but according to this practice, it is possible to produce freedom and joy during that time, because you are established in the here and now. If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower, cook your breakfast, sip your tea.

Oprah: So from this point of view, there are endless conditions of happiness.

Nhat Hanh: Yes. Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.

Oprah: With you, the tea is real.

Nhat Hanh:I am real, and the tea is real. I am in the present. I don’t think of the past. I don’t think of the future. There is a real encounter between me and the tea, and peace, happiness and joy are possible during the time I drink.

Always go home with your head held high.

2011-09-29T12:15:00.000-04:00

It doesn't matter how your day has gone.
Always go home with your head held high.

Just sayin'........

Purple Gingko Cathedral Windows Raffle Quilt

2011-09-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

Gingko Cathedral Windows Quilt

This CW is being raffled off on Oct. 2nd, 2011 at the Old Miakka Schoolhouse at their annual fundraiser event. All the proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the schoolhouse Restoration Fund. Still a couple days left to buy tickets @ $1.00 each, 6 for $5.00, or 12 for $10.00! Just sayin'....

OOAK Cathedral Windows Wallhanging

2011-09-23T18:49:00.000-04:00

Orange Cathedral Windows Wallhanging - Outdoor View

Made in 2002, I used to say this is the one I loved so much I would never part with it.

Full View Indoors

People DO change their mind. I did. :-)

Back View

In retrospect, the quilt is now for sale in my etsy store.

This is the only CW I made with the insets of one fabric, and the frames of different fabrics. Not that it was a plan. I was working with a limited amount of fabrics, and this is the end result. I do want to make more CW quilts in this manner...soon!
~*~

My Crafty Little Mind Externalized and Materialized

2011-08-04T07:58:00.001-04:00

Starry Night Cathedral Windows

ABC Toddler Quilt (made with scrappy fabrics)

Tote Bag ( from a friends UFO projects)

Denim Pocket Bag (Repurposed Tommy Hilfiger Dress Top)

Autumn Leaf Mug Mat ( one of four)

Happy Leopards Childrens Quilt

What is it? A Tabletopper? A Door Mat? A Super-sized Placemat? A Cat Mat?

2011-08-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

Asymmetrical Thingamagig

Closer Up

This is what can happen when you decide to take some tote bag straps you made earlier with canvas fabric, & make something else with them. "It" measures 30" W. x 15" H.. The rust colored straps have since also been cut up for two placemats. I'll try to get some asymmetry going there on purpose, but we'll have to see about that. ;-)

Listening...

2011-07-21T07:29:00.002-04:00

"Everyone needs a good listening to."

Pillow Ticking Bias Binding Becomes Eco Chic Women's Pouch

2011-07-20T17:44:00.001-04:00

Pillow Ticking Women's Pouch

I dunno...I "kinda really sorta" like the way this pouch turned out. I will have to consider making one for myself one of these days. The exterior is made of rows of pillow ticking bias binding leftover from another sewing project sewn onto the interior fabric, with a layer of cotton batting sandwiched in between. The interior fabric, including the pocket, is what's left from a wallhanging (previous post), the red button came from Goodwill, and the Angel zipper charm was won in a Listia auction.

Cat Naps and Human Cat Mats

2011-07-20T15:50:00.001-04:00

Afternoon Snooze

This looks like a shot from a grainy foreign film. The cat is accustomed to getting into my lap when I'm sitting in my hickory rocker taking a little break, or on the sofa watching a Netflix movie in the evening. This is the first time he wanted to snooze while I was lying down. He was uncomfortable with his first position...but you know cats. They figure it out!

Taupe Cathedral Windows wall art

2011-07-20T08:51:00.001-04:00

This is one of those wallhangings that was not preplanned . It began with using a linen dress for the frames. Then the frames sat in a drawer for probably a year, or maybe even more. I kept loving on em....something about the sagey-grey colors feels restful to me. A few months ago I did buy several fat quarters that I thought might be suitable for insets, borders, etc. And last week I began working on completing the piece. Scrounged around in my bias binding drawer yesterday & latched onto the navy and taupe stripe binding. The second photo of the quilt looks wonky...photography is so not my forte!

Intriguing Tangram Placemat

2011-07-20T08:41:00.000-04:00

Looking straight at it this simple quilt design looks like bowties, but takes on an elongated stars look at an angle! (found the placemat at Goodwill & had to bring it home!)

Taking the New Cat Mat for a "Test Drive"

2011-07-19T08:50:00.001-04:00

Testing, testing....

This is fabric I bought at Yardsellr.com with free photons. The batting was a machine quilted silk blanket from the neighbor's trash. The silk fabric was worn but the cotton batting is very thick & perfectly intact...makes a very nice weight cat mat.

Happiness Unhappiness v.s. Joy

2011-07-19T06:50:00.001-04:00

Yesterday's insight:

*Happiness is a chemical in the brain which I experience by "doing" for others. After awhile the brain auto-corrects & balances out, which explains the cycles of happiness/unhappiness and the need to do something again to feel happy.

*Joy comes by opening the heart & releasing one's Essence. The supply is endless & does not require "doing" for others.

*I got the visual of a window in the heart area. Upon opening it rainbow colored butterflies (representing Joy) flew out & went everywhere.

~Sarah

July 18, 2011

One Definition of Success

2011-07-18T15:05:00.005-04:00

“To live well, to laugh often, to love much, to gain the respect of intelligent people, to win the love of little children. To fill one’s niche and accomplish one’s task, to leave the world better than one finds it whether by an improved flower, a perfect poem or another life ennobled. to never lack appreciation of earth’s beauty or fail to express it, to always look for the best in others, to give the best one has. To make one’s life an inspiration and one’s memory a benediction. This is success.”
(variation of the original)

"A door opens in the center of our being and we seem to fall through it into the immense depths which, although they are infinite, are all accessible to us; all eternity seems to have become ours in this one placid and breathless contact. Where already, supernatural instinct teaches us that the function of this abyss of freedom, which has been open within our midsts, is to draw us utterly out of our own selfhood and into its own immensity of liberation." ~Thomas Merton

facebook wisdom

2011-07-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

‎"At some point you will realize that you have done too much for someone, that the only next possible step to do is to stop. Leave them alone. Walk away. It’s not like you’re giving up, and it’s not like you shouldn’t try. It’s just that you have to draw the line of determination from desperation. What's truly yours will eventually be yours, and what's not, no matter how hard you try, will never be." ~ L. D. D.

via: Kitty Ackerman Armstrong on facebook

Christmas in July Sale

2011-07-16T13:55:00.000-04:00

CIJ10 is the "Christmas in July" Discount Code for the month of July. Enter it upon checkout for a 10% discount on your selections! For more see my etsy store: Christmas in July Sale .

Sweet Geranium Cathedral Windows Wallhanging

2011-07-14T16:20:00.000-04:00

Cathedral Windows

Sweet Geranium by Free Spirit

Finished today! This is the first black background I've tried with the Cathedral Windows. For more than 10 years I refrained from using black because I thought it would be too fatiguing for my eyes, and discovered much to my surprise, that it actually was not!

I Have a Heart Shelf!

2011-07-06T18:33:00.001-04:00

A Goodwill Shelf

Today Fred installed the wall shelf. It was a Goodwill find that fits my needs perfectly. My needs being that of having something attractive to hang my tote bags onto for photo ops. Little things like this actually make me feel quite happy!

Floating Petals and Reclaimed Linen....

2011-07-06T17:37:00.001-04:00

My latest....

For all the little details click....this link!

Fiber of America Etsy Treasury

2011-07-04T14:49:00.003-04:00

One of sixteen photos in a treasury collection featuring fiber art and craft handmade in the U.S.of America.

http://www.etsy.com/people/hatchettdesigns

For the rest of the treasury click ... Fiber of America Etsy Treasury

Rocky Mountain size Floral Pancakes

2011-06-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I finally cut the floral piece of fabric I've been mooning over for months - thought I had enough to make 4 zippered zafu covers. Not so fast! Turns out there was enough for the eight circles, but not enough for the sides, which incidentally I did not notice till this morning. (continued at bottom)

Pair of Round Floral Pillows

Another View

OK...now there will be two zafu covers, and these two (Rocky Mountain size) floral pancakes.

The "Rocky Mountain size" thing...I thought you'd wonder. Years ago my parents went on a cross country trip to Colorado with my Mom's sister and her husband. One thing I remember they said was that the further west they travelled the larger the breakfast pancakes were.

Gingko Cathedral Windows Quilted Wall Art Raffle

2011-06-27T16:05:00.003-04:00

"Gingko Fantasy"

Gingko Cathedral Windows Wall Art

Mostly handstitched and handmade by me in 2005, this quilt is being donated & raffled off this year to benefit the Old Miakka Schoolhouse's ongoing Restoration Fund. The Old Miakka Schoolhouse is the only original one-room schoolhouse left in Sarasota County. The Community Club members are once again hosting the Hootenanny, their one annual fundraiser, this fall on October 2nd. For last year's blog post about the schoolhouse see: http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/2010/02/old-miakka-schoolhouse.html

Same Quilt - Another View

Raffle tickets are available for $1.00 each. If you are interested in purchasing one or more please ask for my mailing address in a comment. You will need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your postal money order, or if you want to pay in postage stamps the club is always needing postage stamps too. Or, we can use Paypal to receive payment, too, with a small fee added to cover Paypal's commission & postage for the tickets. No need to be present to win.

Hirsute Spider

2011-06-20T07:18:00.000-04:00

Hirsute Spider

Not liking it...he's in my bathroom ......it's gotta be a "he" with those hairy legs, right? I want someone to remove him to the exterior of the house unharmed. That would only solve the problem for a while because there are more in the house. OK, Fred has responded to my request for removal. He says its just a little one. That must be the boy in the man speaking....

Buddha Nature - 喜多郎 Kitaro

2011-06-19T06:19:00.000-04:00

Shabby Chic Earring Holder

2011-06-15T13:10:00.000-04:00

From this....

and this...

To this!

I am going to reupholster the chair as soon as I know which fabric to use. And I do have another green picture frame to use for more of my earrings.

It All Began with Linen Table Napkins

2011-06-14T08:15:00.001-04:00

The walnut brown frames fabric was a set of (real) linen table napkins from Goodwill or a thrift store. (It's been awhile since acquiring them) The fabric insets on the front are cut from the same fabric as the backing fabric.

While these photos leave something to be desired it the way of clarity etc., I believe you can get an idea of the possibilities for using fabrics like these to get different effects on Cathedral Windows quilts.

Cinnamon & Hearts

2011-05-27T17:43:00.000-04:00

Rather than swatting at wasps and destroying spider webs and spiders I much prefer to sew.

Womens' Clutch

I do so adore the cinnamon color!

Another Version

And the hearts aren't too shabby either! Well, one is a bit...shabby chic, I guess.

NOTE: the heart graphic came from the etsy store of graphique.

When Sloppy Housekeeping Turns Deadly! Yikes!

2011-05-26T14:40:00.000-04:00

I have been looking at this spider web daily. In fact, every time I do anything at the kitchen sink I see this web! And, every day I notice that I have been looking at this web. I have seen how one part of me thinks this is very sloppy housekeeping. And, another part of me thinks this is a part of the bigger picture of life. How balance happens as things keep each other in check.

Spider Engages Wasp

Personally, I don't like wasps. I was afraid of them when I was very young. It always seemed to me that they were strategizing on how they could sting me. Or, maybe just keep me in suspense that they would. I could see it in the way their eyes followed my every move, and the way they bombed me without any warning. I don't care for spiders much either. But today, as I see how this spider is slowly but surely wrangling this wasp to its death, I feel vindicated. Well, sortof...I mean, for all the times I've been stung by wasps. And maybe I can sortof justify my lack of housekeeping, because we don't like the wasps flying around in the house. Ya' think?

What's a RehabiTote, Anyway?

2011-05-23T17:26:00.000-04:00

Rehabilitated Tote Bag

Too bad I didn't take a "before" photo...this was a rummage sale find that I picked up for pennies. It had navy webbing handles, and the name of a business screenprinted across it. I washed it, cut it apart, and reconstructed it using a black and white trim to hide the name and then used the rest of the piece of trim for handles. A little part of the name still appears along the bottom of the trim. All in all, I feel pretty good about the interesting turnout of this particular tote bag!

Upcycled Shoebox Bookmarks, etc.

2011-05-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

Still very pretty even though it has a little hole in the upper left corner....especially with the new iron-on bird nest transfer! I do want someone to tell me exactly what this was used for...a hand towel?

Vintage Linen with Bird Nest Iron-On Transfer

Anyway, this is going to be listed on my Listia very soon....to hopefully find a good home with a lover of all things vintage. Ditto for the bookmarks. I mean, they're going to be offered on Listia.

Upcycled Shoebox Bookmarks

Payless shoe boxes...you just cannot not do something with them!

I Think I Like This!

2011-05-14T11:49:00.000-04:00

My First Framed Cathedral Windows Wall Hanging

This rustic wood frame with little hearts in each corner had needlework in it when I bought it at Goodwill. I plan to auction the needlework on Listia, soon. I think this frame and Cathedral Windows were made for each other, albeit they came together by some circuitous route!