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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Purple Blocks is now a Flimsy


On to batting and backing and quilting and binding.
Batting: Nature-Fil Bamboo/Organic Cotton (50/50)  from stash.
Backing: cotton small print flowers in medium blue on an ecru background. It's stash and so soft.
Quilting: Don't know yet what I will do. With the blank squares in the center the possibilities are endless...

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation's Needle and Thread Thursday and Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop Whoop.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Elephants in Various Mediums

Elephants fascinate me and I often see one that intrigues me and so I pick it up. Living in a very small house means we must choose our knick-knacks with care or they just get boxed up in a closet (we have only two closets so that's a self-limiting issue). I have seen stunning elephants over the years portrayed in every conceivable medium. Fabric, wood, stone... I used most of the yard of elephant fabric for my current front door cover and with the remaining strip I was able to cover a pillow which the Burpster had just torn.


Good Intentions Thwarted

My most valuable elephant was carved by a young craftsman in Africa (sorry I do not have any further info about where on the continent) and purchased from Spirits in Stone in Sausalito many years ago. Ormond and I wandered about the store, gazing in awe at the amazing work that is done in this incredibly versatile medium. A salesperson approached us and said, "You may touch them." That was it !~! I saw a particularly interestingly shaped one and when I picked it up, it fit perfectly into my hand. I would have made it out of the store without buying until the stone warmed in my hand and seemed to mold to fit me. Only me. A strangely heady feeling.



Linking up with Amanda today on Crazy Mom Quilts and all her fabulous Finish Friends. Check some of the links others leave there is stunning workmanship to be found by clicking a link.

It's CAT-urday Again and CC 2.0 is Ready

Happy Cat-urday

What's happening here, no water, no food, no litter.
It's a strange and wonderful location.
Perhaps we should vacay here next time ?~!



Purple Blocks in Progress...

I started working on this piece one night last week when I was unable to sleep. I have no  idea where it is going or who will be the recipient... I work a lot like that - idea, execution, deciding who to give it to... These colors will definitely make their desires known to me soon enough.

Ideas of which fabrics may come into play are on the left of the photo....

The beginning a week or so ago.




Here's where we are this morning.

I'm linking up with Richard & Tanya - they have the cutest quilts (and kids) and both are supremely talented.
Linking up with Linda at Natural Suburbia. Her blog is exceptionally creative and she does incredible things with yarn !~!
Sarah at My Quilt Infatuation's Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Weight Off's readers share great links to explore at her weekly party. I love the quilt in her blog header and hope to emulate it someday.

The most difficult part of this weekend will be NOT using those 'nanas for bread Again for the third time this week. How, or is the question Why, does a loaf of  banana bread disappear at the speed of a comet dragging its tail thru space !~! Nom, nom, nom... Is it socially acceptable to lick the crumbs ?~!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Animals and Humans

Incredible pictures

Is there a happier baby on her first time aboard ?~!

Is it conceivable that the whale knows it is interacting ?~!

There's no doubt about the feelings in this one, is there ?~!

Or this one. Look at the way that horse hugs with his front leg !~!

First time I saw this I cried. I love firefighters and have since childhood.

Who feels love ?~!

His body posture speaks volumes about where his heart lies.

These two have met before.

These two will know one another forever.



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Creativity Starts...

Wherever I find myself with a few minutes to let myself drift away from the present: Off to a desert, beach/shoreline, forest, staying close by and going inside my head, prowling my heart, wondering about everyone I know...






The ideas flow as visuals stream past to the tune of thousands a day
Where begins your creative journey ?~! 
Do you "pack a bag" or go commando ?~!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy CATerday !~!

It was a quiet week here in LyndaLand. Baby's off "Back East" to meet his grandparents so we only had his pets to look after. Jak, the Dog you met earlier this week and Jak's familiar, Bugs, a solid black kitty with a sweet temperament and a great purr. I wish I had a pic of Bugs to show you but his Royal Blackness doesn't photograph well (or I can't photograph him well) so I will grab a generic black kitty for demo purposes:

This looks just like Bugs. Handsome, sleek, talkative and sweet as my CatCats.
Everyone is home now in their old loved spots on the couch and under the window. It's a fun time when they are here shaking up our routine in the sweetest possible way.

Happy Easter Weekend. Be Safe.

The view out my front door. Luscious, isn't it ?~!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Needle and Thread Thursday-Scrappy Blocks Highlighted


This small lap quilt quickly became a favorite when I finished hand-quilting it.
It hangs over the back of my chair for when I need a bit of extra warmth.
Love it most for the eye candy.

Isn't that orange with beige feathers just the prettiest !~
And Hello Aqua !~!  with small circles...
and honeycomb pattern too.
Ellies in the top left and sailboats under the date;
green batik nudges red mushrooms.
I love these scrappy log cabins.


A gift quilt for my Favorite Teacher in all the Land.

Abby's Nautical Indigo

My original CatCat napped atop each current project.

My dear Neighbor/Friend found this piece of Shibori
in a thrift store in the City (SF).

I love how my window coverings photobomb. 
Scrappy Log Cabins R Us !~! 


The urge to create more scrappy blocks percolates in me. Every day I feel it more and more. There were nearly one hundred blocks in this last cycle and I love every one of them. I see new combinations coming alive in my mind's eye-it's hazel with gold flecks, that eye !~!


Have a lovely weekend. 
Be safe.
Happy Spring, let no more snow fall here nor there...
(I'm looking at you, Smith Falls, Ontario!!)

☼          ☼

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Wordless Wednesday-Naming our Feelings


This wheel opened a world of expression to me. Never did I realize there were so many ways one could feel and that they cold be sorted so cleanly. Lots to learn from this drawing.

Jak Visits and a Phone Call Refreshes

A Dog Visited for the Week

When Jak's family travels, he comes to stay with us. We were lucky earlier this month to have his company while the rest of the gang took a few days to play. He's a Taiwanese Mountain Dog rescued from the island some years back and brought to America by a rescue organization. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the group. An agency who does this kind of good work is AHAN. Another of our friends adopted this same breed of dog thru AHAN and they have been very happy with him, too.

What'cha lookin' at, Jak ?~!

Phone Call from Hailstorm Country

What fresh hell is this, she must have asked as the hail stones pelted the tin roof of the gardening shed. It's mid-April !~! It's daffodils and tulips and seedling time.

The phone call refreshed me even if it was cut short by the phone battery dying.

I love you, my faraway sister.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Happy CATerday !~!

We're a few minutes past midnight and we're happy to be here !~!

I sleep on the softest items I can find.
If they smell like my human, that's even better.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Warm Neck Again

Few places on my body suffer the cold as much as my neck. I love cowls. Mobius cowls are my absolute favorite. So I made another one. Of seafoam and purple silk/bamboo and a smidgen of variegated superwash merino to hold the shape. It's warm enough to help keep me comfortable without being hot or scratchy. A double Win !~!


(edit April 18, 2014) So far, it's holding its shape. I blocked it by pinning to a damp towel and then covering with another damp tea towel and letting air dry for a few days. The warmth and softness are remarkable.






Baby Boy Meets VroomVroom

Power Tools for Everyone !~!

Thursday, April 3, 2014

New Front Door Cover


I change the cover on my front door regularly. 
I have had a plethora of covers over the years. 
This is the most recent one I made yesterday.


Elephants and Australian print share the space.

From the outside...

The Welcome sign from Myra's funeral.
My favorite bumper sticker
One of my early weavings.

Linking up to My Quilt Infatuation Needle and Thread Thursday