FOR TODAY … 11 November, 2009.

Outside My Window… bright blue skies.

I am thinking… that I am not looking forward to winter.

I am thankful for… a four-day work week.

From the kitchen… haven’t decided yet. Just finished up a “spinach ravioli lasagna” I found on the Southern Living website.  YumME!

I am wearing… a teal plaid sequiny oversized shirt, blank tank top, black slacks and shoes; necklace I beaded.

I am creating… not a lot this week.  My sewing machine isn’t at work right now (pending some renovations at the office), and I’ve had a lot else going on at home.  But when hubby goes away in a few days?  Look out… LOL!

I am going…  to meet with the office contractor today, discussing last minute logistics.

I am reading… The Zen of Needlework.  I always find it motivating.

I am hoping… that Grandma comes through her surgery Monday with flying colors.

I am hearing… my own keystrokes and nuthin’ else.  It’s SO quiet.

Around the house… need to dust and vacuum.

One of my favorite things… new crafty tools.  My new, handturned crochet hook in cherry is just beautiful.  I love Etsy. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… packing up hubby and sending him on his way, dinner with my family Friday night.

My Picture Thought …  I suspect a similar thought is echoed at our house:

I’m thinking of giving this one to Grandma for when she shops, or just toting things back and forth from home.   She would love these colors.

Fabrics are Regency prints from Judie Rothermel, and the (poorly photographed) button on the pocket is from a set of pewter buttons I found at a recent fair. 

“Baby, it’s cold outside!”  Maybe these will help. 

Apparently the bed is very popular spot.  Could it be the sun??  The feather duvet?  The room to sprawl?  

No wonder I get nap attacks when I’m home in the afternoon.

I was going through some photos from my trip to Scandinavia last year and wanted to share a pretty quilt I’d found.  It was in a room at this castle on the Danish island of Fyn (Funen), called Egeskov Castle:

The applique was really lovely, even close up.  But what I noted about the quilt is that, based on the date, this would’ve been made several years into Denmark’s occupation by the Nazis.  Rationing was in place and extremely stringent, so folks were not buying new fabrics for sewing much; yet the fabrics in this quilt didn’t appear to me to have been previously used.   My point?  Keep your fabric stash at a healthy level so you can always make fresh quilts during difficult times LOL!  

The inscription indicates that the quilt was sewn for “Nonni” by her mother.  It was really a sweet little piece and I was glad to have seen it.  I wish my camera hadn’t muted the colors so much, but you get the idea…

FOR TODAY … 3 November, 2009.

Outside My Window… inconsistent skies, nearly denuded trees.

I am thinking… that I am not looking forward to winter.

I am thankful for… my hubby.  Most of the time.  ;-p

From the kitchen… thinking maybe burgers on the grill.

I am wearing… a silk tie-dyed-looking and sequiny shirt, black slacks and shoes; necklace I beaded.

I am creating… hope to finish soon my quilt top from Thimbleberries 2008.  I’m tired of looking at the darned thing.

I am going…  to meet a buddy for lunch and shopping today!

I am reading… just finished my lastest installment in the Fairacre series by Miss Read, “Village Centennary”.

I am hoping… that I find some good deals today. 

I am hearing… a conversation from several offices away.

Around the house… need to dust and vacuum.

One of my favorite things… climbing into my car and enjoying that new car smell (while it lasts.) 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… nothing remarkable.  It’s quiet, which is nice.

My Picture Thought …  I really love what Kaffe Fassett does with color, especially in this painting.  It makes me happy just looking at it.

So I was watching Rick Steves’ travel program on PBS a few days back, and he was visiting in a museum near the French Riveria, dedicated to the works of Matisse. The camera followed him into a room and behind him I saw artwork on the wall that I think would make a great quilt (and good applique practice LOL!) I think this is one of his paper cut-out pieces done late in life when he could no longer paint…
I’m not sure how to work in the big blue and white column (maybe I wouldn’t), but there’s a lot of potential here, right down to adding striped borders.

FOR TODAY … 19 October, 2009.

Outside My Window… inconsistent skies, increasing wind.  Typical autumn…

I am thinking… that if I don’t stop screwing around on the Internet, I’m not going to be able to leave work on time LOL!

I am thankful for… the current period of calm in my life.  I don’t know how long it will last, but I’m savoring it. 

From the kitchen… meatloaf, a newish recipe with diced Cajun sausage in it, and the last of my garden potatoes (served mashed)

I am wearing… beige cotton tunic, black slacks, black and silver beaded jewelry.

I am creating… I should be working on quilts but have been practicing on my redwork piece from a recent class.

I am going…  to bed early tonight.

I am reading… current issue of Mary Jane’s Farm.

I am hoping… that the pay-off of an abnormally cold summer will be a relatively mild winter? 

I am hearing… traffic.

Around the house… just a load of laundry.  Everything is sparkling for a change.

One of my favorite things… climbing into my car and enjoying that new car smell (while it lasts.) 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… driving with my parents on Friday to visit my great aunt on the other side of the state.  She’s a neat lady and I haven’t seen her in forever!

My Picture Thought … Lake Michigan was in rather a bad mood when I visited a week ago.  But this is one of my favorite spots on the continent since I was a wee girl, taken from the pier in Charlevoix.  For once I didn’t walk the pier; the waves were crashing over it, and while I doubt I’d have been swept away, I’d certainly have wound up very cold and very wet LOL!  Some of my favorite sunsets, on nicer days, have come from this spot though.

All from my trip my northern Michigan last week.  The batik came from Renee’s House of Quilting; the 1930s repros came from the Quilt Cottage in East Jordan.  I had to, um, stock up for winter.  Yeah, that’s it. 

Retta Warehine for Quilting Treasures:

Windham Fabrics Storybook Pattern No. 27296 (flowers identical to the dress on my old Raggedy Ann )

…and for my upcoming project, a twin quilt for my guestroom/workroom.

Retta Warehine for Quilting Treasures and Sulky 12wt Blendable to coordinate.  I’m “redworking” vintage kitties with the Sulky and sashing the blocks with this fabric:

(sorry about the glare; that Sulky is shiny stuff and this thread is a titch bluer than shown)

I love this pattern and am so glad my buddy Michelle floated it onto my radar.           LINK TO PURCHASE PATTERN 

It’s easy, a requirement for me, and I will be making more of these.  This one was made with Moda fabrics,  from the Charisma collection (except for the green panel fabric, purchased eons ago.)

Though it doesn’t look it, it is actually squared at the bottom; measures approximately 13″H x 11″W x 8″D.  This came in so handy when I was on vacation last week and shopping; told all those store owners to keep their nasty, polluting plastics bags LOL!  (Well, not quite in those words.  )