Vacation Getaway

AKA "Women's Weekend" was a lot of fun! There was much laughter and conversation and great food and shopping...it's no wonder I'm already looking forward to next year! We could see IKEA from our hotel room so it made sense for us to begin there. Sensory overload and some fabulous purchases!

The weather was delightful and a nice break from the stifling temperatures we left in KC. A trip to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was a lovely way to enjoy it too.

I often found myself thinking there was an "Alice in Wonderland" feel to several of the sculptures/gardens.

We also did some local shopping in St. Paul. I loved the mix of restaurants, apartments, older homes and shops all on one avenue...especially the older houses that are now shops!

And of course, Mall of America.....

And whatever the reason, on this trip, I seemed to have a fascination with lighting fixtures and other ceiling decor, so I'll leave you now with a couple of them.....
 

Marilyn

Doll Quilt Swap 9!

Doll Quilt Swap 9 is getting started--sign ups are complete and partners were revealed Sunday!


I'm very excited about my partner! In this swap, our partners are kept secret until the quilts are sent and received---late August/early September for this round. It's really fun to "stalk" Flickr photostreams and blogs to get ideas for the kind of quilt to make for them ;)

And just in case my partner happens to stop by my blog for a stalk, here's a peek at my Inspiration Mosaic--a few quilted works I've seen on Flickr with colors and patterns I love!


1. patchwork for family room, 2. Plain Spoken, 3. baby quilt for Melissa, 4. doll quilt for DQ7, 5. Daisiez quilt, detail, 6. colcha colores aecc, 7. Windmill pillow , 8. Christmas Trees, 9. Synergy - Heather Ross Mini Quilt, 10. DSCN0097, 11. Or maybe this for the doll quilt swap, 12. doll quilt #2, 13. DQS8, 14. Sew2Speak Wonky Neighborhood, 15. Looking up, 16. 18" sofa pillow

But really, dear partner, whatever you make I know I'll love! I hope you'll have fun with it ;)

This will be my sixth round of Doll Quilt Swap, because it's just that FUN! How about a trip down Memory Lane?

Doll quilts I've sent in previous swaps:


Doll quilts I've received in previous swaps:


F-U-N, right?!

Marilyn

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Last year, I celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by participating in Stephanie's (Rodrigvitz Style) Dia de Bloglandia 2008. This year, Stephanie is again hosting a blog celebration--Dia de Bloglandia 2009.

I didn't sign up to participate again his year because, well, how is it November already?! But I wanted to remember the day in our home and created a Day of the Dead runner for our table.




If you'd like to check out Dia de Bloglandia 2009, you can go here for a list of the participants. I can't wait to visit them!

Marilyn

Home and Doing Great!

Thank you, everyone, for your good thoughts and well wishes--I took them all to heart! Everything went very well, I came home Tuesday afternoon and feel considerably improved with each day!


Family and friends have spoiled me with flowers, cards, gifts and meals.


(I even got my own box of Skittles Crazy Cores, like the ones I sent to my mini quilt swap partner.) And how do you like this pretty bicycle horn?! The card reads "Beep for service"! Hehee!


I've had one moment of inspiration this week...while reading a new quilt magazine, I got an idea for Doll Quilt Swap 7. It's all sketched out and I've ordered the fabric from Hancock's. Can't wait to get started :)

Now.....this is where I must tell you about Rick suggesting that he take a picture of my stitches for the blog to show you my 'stitching' for the week:) LOL, what a goof! (Get your own blog, darlin'!)

Actually, the rest of my week was mostly spent with what I would usually call guilty pleasures--things that just fill up time, nothing more--crossword puzzles, magazines, movies, NAPS. I did manage a little crocheting and stitching, and snipping ephemera, and then more NAPS! But no guilt here, not this week:)

Speaking of ephemera...Lucky Me!!...last weekend, I heard from Mary that the random number generator picked me for her July Give Away! I'm very excited--Mary can come across some really incredible ephemera!!

One last thought...isn't it interesting how different one year can be from the previous year? A year ago Monday we left Kansas City headed for a week in Eagle Nest, NM. Rick and I have had the best time this week remembering that trip. The photo album has been out on the coffee table for us to refer to and things have come to mind that we hadn't thought about since returning home. It really can be a lot of fun!


For example, a year ago today we spent the day in Taos, NM...a perfectly gorgeous day! We ate the most delicious lunch and the sights, the sounds, the smells were the kind that fill my soul! And now, recalling it all, I'm filled again:)

Hope you're having a good weekend...

Marilyn

May Day Smiles

At craft day last week, Shawn and Bethany worked on May Day Baskets for Bethany's teachers. This is where I wish I had taken some pictures--the baskets were adorable, all bright and cheery.


However, I can share with you this picture of some of the flowers. Bethany is quite the little crafter and is very generous with her creations on craft days and I was delighted to receive a bouquet of her sweet flowers! They're such a lovely addition to my craft room and they make me S*M*I*L*E!!!

Do you remember May Day baskets when you were growing up? What a fun tradition. My favorite memories of May Day baskets are from the days when my daughters were little and would hang a basket on our doorknob, ring the doorbell and then quickly hide so I wouldn't know it was from them! Aawwhhh, I'm *s*m*i*l*i*n*g* again :-)

Wishing you a Happy May Day!

A Pretty Little Christmas...Blog Party

Heather (Pretty Petals) is hosting "A Pretty Little Christmas" Blog Party today. She has invited everyone, that wants to participate, to blog about your own Pretty Little Christmas...anything you like...whatever makes your heart sing. Sounds like fun!

So, here goes...WELCOME!

First, I want to show you the Holiday Book that I started making on craft day last week, and have now completed. It was a fun project!


Now, let me show you what makes my heart sing...the Christmas decorations and ornaments that hold extra special meaning...


From my very first Christmas, this angel bell--a gift from Santa Claus. I love her heart shaped lips and chubby little cheeks:)


When Rick was two years old, his father was away at Christmas, in Korea, serving in the army. In the gifts that his father sent back to the family that year, was this Santa and reindeer for Rick. It's great fun...each Christmas, at least once, we sit on the kitchen floor, wind it up and watch Santa travel in a big circle. There is a bell on the back that rings and sounds like an old bicycle bell:)


Giving Santa a little help, perhaps, are these elves...



My mother loved Christmas and always decorated BIG for the holidays! I think it was about 25 years ago that she was running out of room for all of her decorations and asked me to go through some of the older things and keep what I wanted. The elves came home with me and I love them as much today as I did years ago. They kind of remind me of Snow White's seven dwarfs, if only there was one more--maybe it's Dopey that's missing. (hmmm, it suddenly occurred to me how politically incorrect the Snow White story is.)

This angel also came from my mother--she gave it to me because she knew how much I loved it. I photographed her surrounded by the glass ball ornaments because Mom used those a lot in her decorating. She had glass ornaments tucked here...there...everywhere! It was beautiful.


The box that the angel came in is great too. Adler's was one of the big department stores in downtown Kansas City, and downtown was a hopping place when I was growing up. Department store windows were filled with magic--decorated trees, motorized dolls and woodland animals...there were holiday lights everywhere...and huge crowns hung across the streets.


Rick and I have inherited several ornaments, some from his parents and some from mine. I really love them all...


but this little church that came from Rick's family is one of my favorites.


The ballerina ornament was my mother's. I thinks she looks like she could be a dancer in the Nutcracker ballet.


I love the winter ivory clothing this young couple is wearing. Mom loved dolls so it was natural for her to be attracted to, and buy, porcelain doll ornaments.


A tiny bear that was Mom's when she was a little girl. So sweet.


And I just had to share these vintage greeting cards with you!




Lastly, a peace dove that I made two Christmases ago...


May your holidays be filled with peace and joy.

Thank you for taking the time during this busy season to come for a visit!

For more pretty little blog parties, click the button below...Heather has a wonderful list of participants for you to visit.




Marilyn

Paris Flea Markets

After my trip to the holiday market on Saturday, I found myself remembering my visit to France 15 years ago. I was there for two weeks and stayed with friends who lived there. There is a real advantage to visiting anyplace with locals as your guide. They know where to go and how to get there and, as was my case, can be a real help with the language--my French was pretty basic.

After Saturday, I recalled my visit to one of the Paris flea markets in Saint Ouen. I pulled out my box of photos and memorabilia to see what I had from my flea market experience. I found a brochure and a couple of photos that I've scanned here.





It was fun to remember that I had really been there, kind of surreal, actually. Globe-hopping travel is not something I do (although I think Rick and I would have a wonderful time giving it a try) so this trip really was once in a lifetime.

I was thinking that it's unfortunate that I only have two photos, but 15 years ago was pre-digital camera and I wasn't in the habit of taking as many different shots back then. I also think that we went to the flea market a day or two before I was to leave and I had already taken hundreds of pictures during my stay. I don't recall buying anything either, also because it was late in my visit and my luggage was already going to be full with earlier purchases. But I have my memories and I feel lucky to have made the trip.

Thanks for letting me share a small walk down memory lane...and, by the way, there was a woman in my photos that looked a lot like me, except she was 15 years younger and 15 years thinner...time does fly!

Marilyn