Beads!

Given the length of time it takes me to complete one project, I need another like I need another pet, but when I happened upon a bead store I had not known about up until now I just couldn't resist stopping in.  Big mistake, but I'm so glad I did.
They have monthly projects that if you buy the supplies from them, they'll do one on one instructions with you for free.  Check out these adorable bracelets that they had for the month of October. 

 The pattern is called Shut the Shutters  and they're made with Tila beads, flat beads with two holes and tiny size 15 seed beads.  The clasp is a beaded loop and a fancy button.

 I fell in love with this green one but decided to go with a more sedate look for my first attempt.

 We got in just in time too, Saturday night after I got off work I called to see what time they closed, I had two hours, so Alayssa and I dashed over for a girls night out.

They work up fairly quickly.  Here are our efforts so far, Alayssa's is the natural one.  Sorry about the poor picture quality, night pics are never pretty but if I wait until daylight to post it won't happen. 
I'm hooked and I'm excited for Novembers project as well as some of the classes they offer.  Want to see what November's project will be?

Pretty pretty!!!!  I love necklaces...even if I hardly ever wear them.  I love these gorgeous fall colors, these necklaces are made with seed beads and crystals.

 Another favorite color combination, it makes me think of grape vines (and wine!)

Tin Lizzy 18 Trunk Show

Janie Donaldson Mullen from Quilt Central TV came to visit our shop and brought some beautiful wall hangings with her to show.  They were so amazing, I thought I'd share them with you.  
 

 This rooster wall hanging combines a hand painted background with silk fabrics and thread painting.  I think he was my favorite.

This is what he looks like on the back. 

 Here she hand painted her own fabric again then did the quilting and applied Swarovski crystals.

 She also used up her odds and ends bobbins, so this is what the back looked like.  Amazing huh?

 Another hand painted fabric accented with crystals.

And the back.

 Here is a quilted still life. 

 I loved this one with all the cogs and gears.   I'm totally going to make something like this.

 Handpainted fabric to resemble morning glories.  She described the technique and I'm dying (hee hee hee)  to try it.

 This one used a combination of hand painted fabric and cutout techniques. It made me thing of Georgia O'keef.

 

 

Here's a beautiful Mariners Compass

 This was the only full size quilt she brought (you can fit more wall hangings in luggage)  It's actually going to Grandmother Floyd (the wife/mother of the creators of the Tin Lizzie machines.)  She used a variation on a Ricky Tims technique to make this one.  Oh La, isn't it a beauty!

 

 Here's the back.

 And some closeups of some sections. 

 Beautiful eh?

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed my little quilt show.  It was so amazing to get to see these in person and hold them.  I've got lots of ideas, now to see how far the ideas go!

A Day at the Farm

During the summer months, our area has several farmers markets, they range from just a handful of vendors that set up in an empty parking lot to about a hundred different vendors spread over an entire park as well as everything in between of course.  The big one is on Saturdays which means I usually don't get to go since I work and it's not as fun because it's so crowded that you're elbow to elbow with the crowd and get pushed along in mass so it's difficult to enjoy yourself. 
Rather late in the season we discovered a mid size one that had probably fifty vendors and isn't as well known which made it much more fun.  The best thing was it was held on Sundays and at Wheeler Farm, a functional farm in the middle of the city.  It's a taste (smell) of my childhood home.   The Farmers Market had their last day this Sunday, but the farm is still open.

 There are chickens

 Turkeys (we think they may end up as Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner for the people that work at the farm, but don't tell them that.)

 Billy Goats Gruff.  (This guy likes pickled green beans, but don't ask me how I know.)

 Two little piggies, I didn't dare ask what happened to the third one.

 This sweet little Gurnsey (I think, it may be a Jersey) calf. 

 More chickens...I like chickens!
 

Pretty calico colored sheep in the fields

 And pretty tabby kitties perched on top of the barn roof

There's spots for a bit of cuddling.

 And trees for a bit of climbing.

And the occasional interesting vehicle.  This is, as my daughter put it, the "shag mobile". 

Proof that I finished a quilting project.

It occured to me that while I've shown you pictures of projects in progress, I have yet to show a finished one.  So,  here is proof that I do actually finish a project here and there. 
My Florentine Fancy wall quilt has actually been done for a while, and is currently hanging on the wall of my quilt shop. 

 It's still really busy, but it looks much better from a distance.

Now that I've stepped out of my comfort zone, I'm stepping back into it.  We've got new fabric coming in and I get to choose my next project.  YAY!

Chicken Dinner?

There have been some failed endeavors have ended in me needing to do a pretty massive cleaning job of the oven.  So yesterday I decided to buckle down and get it done.
I had left the kitchen to get something and when I came back this is what I saw. 

Hrmmmm, do you think she's trying to tell me something?


*Please note, this was before the cleaning took place.
*Also note, I don't make it a habit of having my chickens in the house, but the back door was open to let in some fresh air and she apparently saw that as an invitation. 

A Much Needed Break

Between being ill myself, that illness running it's course through the rest of the family then class finals, and working on a 10 page paper I have just been too pooped to pucker.  You know, when you're so worn down that the only things you're capable of are the most basic?  That's been me.  That finally ended last weekend and I've been trying to get my head above water since. 

My wonderful sweetie decided that I needed a break so he took me to the family cabin for a couple of days. We spent most of the day in bed watching Star Trek The Next Generation and eating junk food.  I probably gained 5 pounds, but it was perfect, just what I needed!  Would you like to see?

 

Here is the cabin, nestled amid the trees that are just beginning to change colors.  I'd say it's not more than twenty feet from the river. 

This is the view from the master bedroom balcony isn't it beautiful?

There is a lovely little pond that's been stocked with trout, can you see them?

How about now? 

I love this little Buddha, he marked a way across the streamlet to a spot perfect for a quiet moment.

It's nice to just sit and swing while the river carries your thoughts away. 

We went for a walk and found some pretty things, the top flowers couldn't have been any bigger than a dime.  The little fellow on the bottom was trying to cross the road, so we helped him along. 

Look at all those colors,  Autumn isn't far away.

 Here I am, walking along a lovely wooded way.  I came home relaxed and refreshed, ready to get back in the swing of things. 

And here is the heart of my heart, he's so handsome.  Isn't he wonderful for taking me on such a lovely get away?