Splash of Color

There is color popping up around here - could it be spring?

It's there, popping up everywhere, trying to cheer us right out of winter.

 I loved these red-violet pretties.  They was tough to snap at 65 mph.

I had a few free moments yesterday, to knock out a quick card.

 

For the most part, it's all quilt show, all the time.

Did I even set a goal last week?  Which week are we on?  Do I have a goal this week?  Yep:  finish the narratives and get the program to the printer.  Goals are good.  Lots of thinking about quilting, not so much doing...

Giant Gophers?

Several months ago, there was a patch of acreage to the west of us that sprouted dirt piles overnight.

 Last month, more of these piles sprouted even closer.  oh no!  Should we be wary of gophers?

 The first plot was graded, over and over and over again, until it looked like this:

 Two weeks ago, it was explained to me.  They were removing a sand streak, to make better farm land.  See those hills in the middle of the frame?  They are made from the removed sand, which is then sold.  (Does it end up at the beach?  I dunno.)

A few days ago I drove by again.  Click on the photo, and you can see what has happened.  There are more holes, but they are different.  These are for planting.  That entire plot is now covered with a grove/orchard.

Rumor has it that these are walnuts.  We'll definitely be watching their progress.

And that's it from my "learn something new every day" file. 

It Was Time

One of the things that came to me after my mom died was her wallet.  My sisters didn't want it - it was used - but I loved it.  Mother had an eye for beautiful things.  She also had an eye for a bargain.  I don't know the history of her leather wallet, but the exterior still looks pristine.

 It's the interior that has finally given up.

 In fact, I will admit:  it looks shabby.

Last year my Mother-in-Law gave me a gift card to Macy's.  I've been carrying it, thinking that I really need to replace some foundational undergarments.  I never got around to that, because what kind of gift would that be?  I held out, hoping to come up with a better idea. 

This morning it hit me.  Before the wallet fell completely apart, I needed to retire it.  I stopped at Macy's, and looked through their offerings.  Nothing was on sale, but I was there.  I came home with this:

 Apparently Blogger is not a fan, but I am.

 It is leather, it is pristine,

And everything fits.

I wonder.  Do you think this will last 13 years or longer?  They don't make things like they used to, but it was time to move on.

Just a Little

I made a little birthday card this week.

 I saw two little dogs on a half-eaten couch.  "What?!  Who ate the couch?!"

On Monday morning, our backyard looked like this:

 Same view, 5 hours later.  The neighbors' trees had fungus.

I'm just a little overwhelmed, depressed and flabbergasted.

That is all.

Design Board Challenge

Periodically I mention the art group that I belong to, Sew Eclectic.  We meet once a month to share ongoing projects, and to encourage one another in pursuing our "art."  I will admit to being a designer.  I have much more difficulty calling myself an artist. 

I loved putting images together for my design board, covering it with pictures of things that inspire me.  However the challenge this year is to use someone else's inspiration as a jumping off point to make a quilt. 

The first board I received in December was Sara Kelly's.  It is covered with pictures taken by her husband Gary O'Neill, (many of them in black and white), and inspirational thoughts from various creative minds.  hmmm.  It has lived in my Studio for so long, it feels like mine.  :)  And yet I had trouble acting upon the inspiration.

Maybe I'm stuck in a river rut, but it was the photo of the river that immediately caught my eye.

 It was all orange and blue.  Not colors that I usually work with.

I wanted to do something free-flowing, that gave the "feel" of the photo, rather than trying to realistically replicate it in fabric.  I was about 50% successful.  I drew my pattern on Thursday morning, cut the fabric Thursday evening, and sewed it together Thursday night, Sunday night, and Monday morning.  I spent 7 hours working on it yesterday, and still need to quilt the grey rock in the top left corner.

still piecing:

 after quilting:

The bottom picture shows it hanging at last night's reveal.

Now here's what I call inspiration:

The Design Boards (along the table):

 The resulting pieces (minus the iris in the center):

It is exciting to see what my friends are making.  I am hoping that once the quilt show has come and gone I will have more time/inclination to devote to this endeavor.  I think I could get a lot out of it, but like anything else, you only get as much out of it as you're willing to put into it.

And on that, I need to go work on the quilt show.

Happy quilting!

P.S.  I think this project may have been my last week's goal?  I got close to finishing, I definitely got close.  This week's goal?  Gotta get the BOTV program together and off to the printer.  And make name badges, and get the BOTV blog rewritten and up and running and...well, it's going to be all quilt show, all the time.  Hopefully I'll have a minute or two to come up for air.  See you then!

Look Who's Two!

Hmm.  I'm not sure why this flipped right off the bat.  Silly Blogger.  It goes the other way.

At Peet's getting ready for a party.

Waiting for the guests to arrive.

 "Of COURSE I know it's my birthday, Gramma!  Why do you keep asking?"

Presents!

Grandpa bought Penny a tutu!

 Penny dancing for Great Grandpa.

Waiting for lunch.

 With Mommy and Daddy.

 "Do I have to eat it all?"

 Last one standing.

Happy Birthday, Penny!

Still Standing

Last week my goal was to still be standing by the end of today.  Consider it done.  :)  The letters are out and should have begun arriving.  I haven't heard yay or nay, but unless I hear differently, I'll assume the entrants have been notified.

This weekend is Penny's second birthday.  We've been invited to her party on Saturday.  Every little girl needs something special.  I think I have just the ticket.  She loves books, she was born in the year of the rabbit, she was born in March (aquamarine), and one of her favorite things to do is to look at "babies!" 

Of course the "babies" are all Baby Penny in Mama's iPhone.  :)

This is her gift from Gramma:

The turquoise book cover was an unfinished quilt top on my UFO list.  I cut it to size and repurposed it.  I guess that's one way to make the list shorter!

What week are we on?  Week 10?  I believe it's Week #10.

Art Group meets on Monday.  We are to reveal our first challenge piece.  I chose the fabrics a month ago, and cut a piece of paper to make the pattern.  I guess my goal needs to be to have something to show by 6pm Monday 3/11.  Goals are good!

And on that, it's most definitely bedtime!

Count Off, 1,2

One birthday card for a birthday boy.

Two nights of a bad, bad dog

one

two

Three (almost) good dogs.

Three almost sitting dogs.  (Apparently Sheila got tired.)

And four-d bazillion letters in the mail with the jury's decision on entries for Best of the Valley.  You quilters have outdone yourselves.  It is going to be an AMAZING show.  Thank you!!!

True Confessions

Not only did I buy one pair of new shoes, I bought two.

I don't buy shoes very often, as I'm very difficult to fit.  When I DO go into a shoe store, I buy whatever fits.  So far, so good.  :)

Yesterday was exciting both indoors and out.

Indoors, I made these two postcards.

Outdoors, this guy swooped through my backyard (which really, isn't all that big), grabbed a bird (maybe a dove?  Not quite as big as a robin), and landed on the neighbor's roof.  By the time I ran inside, got my camera, and got back outside, the prey was gone.

I think I finally have my answer to the bird parts that have been found in the yard for the past couple of months.  I thought it was Edgar, but Edgar spent the bulk of winter sleeping on my bed.  I didn't know when he found the time to hunt.  Apparently he's no longer the primary hunter back there.

Pixel, beware.