Swans

I've always wanted to see swans in the wild. I always figured they just didnt look all that natural in a zoo setting. And recently I went with my Mom and Happy to see some swans that migrate each year to a lake north of us. It was a great day with my Mom and Happy, and we saw so many beautiful swans!
I've got a ton of photo's from our day trip. There are several that I'd like to do a watercolor painting of. One of these days, I'll have time!

I have started on Happy's bed quilt. It's going to be a vestibule pattern (or morning star). I'm still in the cutting stage ... lots of rectangles, squares! I'll show picture progress soon.

My eyes!

None of these fabrics were bought with any rhyme or reason behind them .... it was one of those days where I saw a sale and had to get something bright and pretty. Our local quilt store is suddenly closing due to the owner being ill, and everything in the store was on sale. So I got 3 yards of the yellow print, and then the rest are fat quarters. I dont know what I'll do with them, but one day I'll figure that out. Until then, these may be so bright that it'll hurt your eyes!

This store was also where I could rent time on the long arm quilt machine. I have two quilt tops that I was going to schedule time to quilt them. Now I either have to figure out how to do it at home on my machine (uhhh, yeah.. handquilting is out of the question for me!)... or find somewhere else I can rent a machine.

I guess while I'm pondering how to get these tops quilted, I can just collect fabric. After all I dont even really have a stash to work from!

Happy Face

Well, I pestered my MUCH older brother (hehe) to send me this picture. He and his son (my darling handsome nephew!!) were riding fourwheelers along the banks of the river recently, and my brother managed to create this great smiley face. I just love it!!!

I had ridden back there with my son and my mom recently too ... but all I did was take pictures of the flowers and trees and water. I didnt do one thing creative!

I love this picture and hope that you all do too!

M

Snot and Rain

Last week Happy got a Cold. This week Happy still has the cold, but now it's rainy and cold outside .... so that's double yucky!


I really dont know how one little boy can have so much snot. When his nose starts getting snotty, he'll say "Towel! Towel" and I'll get him a kleenex or a paper towel to wipe his nose with. Now if I can teach him to blow his nose, we'll be going in the right direction!



I've been curious to know what they use to use as quilt batting a long time ago. I noticed that the old quilts of my grandmother's are very thick and heavy, which I happen to like very much. My quilts are fairly thin, which my Mom happens to like very much.


When I washed a quilt of my grandmother's the other day, I could see what was in the middle. :) I didnt ruin the quilt, but there are some very thin spots or spots where the fabric/seams have come apart. It looks like wadded up cotton, like what you'd stuff pillow forms with ... but really soft cotton. I think I need to mend this quit, because I really like it. I'd love to use it in our camper ... but we dont have a camper yet. :)


Here's some artwork I've been working on this week. I'm thinking about trying to sell again on ebay.

Newest quilt top almost finished

I've finished the main part of my new quilt, mostly batik fabrics. The finished quilt will be about 60 in x 60 in. I still have to put on a 6 inch border all around. It will be a solid color, but I've not picked a fabric for that yet. I'm thinking that light shade of green would be cool ... or maybe red!

I'm not afraid of color, that's for sure!

Of course, with that phrase in mind you would assume that my house is full of colorful walls. Nope! I have paint samples all over my guest bathroom (sorry Shawn!!!ha!). All of the walls are still "builders beige."

After we moved here we found out we were pregnant, but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage. Then the next year we found out we were pregnant again, and we were being very careful.... so no painting!

And then we found out that our daughter had a brain tumor, medulloblastoma, and it was an aggressive cancer. After fighting that tumor for 9 months, we lost our sweet 5 year old daughter to Cancer. And we had a 6 month old son by that time too. This summer marked a year since she's been gone, and three since we've been in this house, and our son is now going to be 2 in January. There's been no time for fixing up things around here!

One would think that with all the "retail therapy" I did after we lost Katie, that I would have really jazzed up the house and painted like crazy. Not so. I started to quilt, though. And it's been an excellent source of calm, comfort, and a constructive activity for my mind.

Maybe it's a need to feel like I'm creating some sort of lasting legacy for my son, because I know our own mortality is inevitable. Maybe it's the fulfillment that I can create something useful with my hands and my time. Maybe it's just fun to quilt. But for now, the house will remain builders beige, and my quilts will dance with color.

Enjoy life!