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

Happy Quilts...

Actually, as I think about it, I've yet to meet a quilt that isn't happy--it's kind of the nature of a quilt. That said, look at this little piece of happiness.


It's made with the 3.5" blocks I received from The Bitty Block Committee swap. The theme was "picnic/bbq". Everyone's blocks turned out so cute that I couldn't wait to get them put together. 3.5 inches...amazing, right?

And how about the fabulous quilty Cindy sent to me for the "Landscapes" swap?!


She titled it "The Hour of Bird Song", that hour right before dawn when you can still see stars in the sky but all the birds have started singing.

Hand quilted. Beads.


Beautiful batiks. Strips of chenille (that Cindy created herself).


And generosity...threads and fabric for my stash and chenille pieces for me to try out.


It was a such a good.....no, great, mail day! And this is the landscape quilt I made and sent to Cindy...


I named it "Lavender Fields", inspired by a friend's vacation photo--one of her sitting on a lovely deck with a glass of wine and mounds of lavender in the background. I would call that a fine vacation moment!

I also want to share with you the name of an incredible textile artist. Kim Eichler-Messmer spoke at the KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting last week. She is fun and innovative and her work is gorgeous! She talked about how she came to work with textiles and how she is inspired. It was fascinating. You can see her work on her website and her blog.

Marilyn

Doll Quilt Swap 8 (sent)

Last week, I finished my little quilt for Doll Quilt Swap 8 and mailed it to my partner............

Jo, (sparkly green knickers) in Melbourne, Australia!

Jo emailed me yesterday to say she received it and she loves it. That is always so nice to hear!

**quilt front (21 x 21 inches)**


**close up of the embroidered tree**


**quilt back**

I usually try to make something for my partner that I think they will like. Jo said she likes nature, green and natural tones.....and I noticed in the inspiration mosaic, that she created for the swap, several quilts that included linen and/or trees. I like to use this information for a jumping off point and then work intuitively, creating as if I'm making it for myself. It's much more fun and I think my work turns out much better this way.

I had several fabric strips leftover when I finished the quilt so I used them to make a matching zip pouch (with this tutorial).


And, of course, I felt compelled to fill it with green goodies!


So, now I'm anxiously checking my mailbox everyday, hoping to see a DQS8 package for me in there ;)

Marilyn

Snow Scene

The season's first snow is always so pretty and, at night, so peaceful, especially from the warm, cozy side of our kitchen window. This is the view last night when the snow was just beginning...


Same view, different photo...I played around with this one to add the blue, kind of fun...


We didn't get near the amount of snow that others received just a few miles north of us...I have to admit I wasn't disappointed. I do hope for those of you that are dealing with this winter storm, that you're staying warm and safe!!

Marilyn

Number Twelve

Rick and I celebrated our wedding anniversary yesterday--our twelfth--and were we ever lucky to have the perfect-weather-day to enjoy it!

We took a day trip to St. Joe (St. Joseph, MO), Rick's growing-up town. I really believe the trees were at their peak just an hour north of us. We saw the most brilliant yellows and oranges! Isn't this one funny? Looks like a hairdo parted down the middle:)


We stopped at a nature park next to the Missouri River where the sun was glistening on the river and the leaves were rustling in the breeze, aahhh:)


There was a nice tree lined path for walking. This bridge crosses a babbling creek.


We ate a really wonderful Cajun meal and drove the beautiful boulevards to ogle lovely historic homes, including Lovers Lane...


How perfect!

Marilyn

Bonus Craft Day

Again yesterday, Shawn and Bethany and I drove out to Karla's for craft day--two weeks in a row! Sadly, Beth and Mary weren't able to be there this time (and were missed).

I worked some more on my gluebook and finished two additional pages. It's really fun to have a project without a deadline attached, one to just play with as the mood hits:)


We started the day with a pitch-in lunch of fresh, tasty dishes...eating outside where the air was pleasant and the surroundings were lovely!


Then after lunch we were treated to a walk in the woods...


or more specifically...


the Fairy Berry Trail!


What a delight!

Also a delight was seeing the journals that Karla made with book covers that Mary brought last week...


Beautiful, aren't they? As was craft day--thank you, Karla!


Marilyn

Playing With Blocks

Two or three months ago, I played around in my craft room and put together this improv'd quilt block. I didn't have a plan for it so the block stayed in one of my many piles of stuff.


Last week I decided to turn it into a decorative pillow. I added a few more strips of fabric to bring it to 20 x 20 inches--the size of a pillow form I had in the closet.


I liked the way it turned out and put it on our bed for some summer color in the bedroom. Coincidently, this week, a woman in one of my Flickr quilting groups asked the group "What's on your bed?" She said she's had a lot of fun asking quilters this question and has discovered that many haven't yet made a quilt for their own bed and sleep under a purchased comforter, etc.


I definitely fall into that category so I posted this photo in the group and said this was as close as I've come to making a quilt for our bed! One of the more prolific quilters in our group laughed and said "Well, it's a start, right?" I hope she's not holding her breath while waiting:)

Edited to add...

I couldn't stop with just a pillow for "What's on your bed?" because Emma is often on our bed too!

In another Flickr group, Stash Busting Bee International, this is the block I made for Shannon. She's making a quilt for her 9 year old nephew and wanted it to have a hunting lodge look. Well, I can tell you that I never felt more challenged! Shannon sent the deer?...elk?...fabric patch (like I said, challenged and totally out of my element) and the rest of the fabric had to come out of my stash--yikes!


Fortunately, I remembered a set of fat quarters I bought on a trip to Seattle that depicted scenes around Puget Sound. One of the pieces had pine trees on it and on another I found an eagle and a duck--challenge met! And, actually, I ended up enjoying this block:)

Marilyn

Roses, Beautiful Roses

"The roses had the look of flowers that are looked at."
~ [T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), American poet.] ~


I saw these roses late last week and just had to photograph them...aren't the colors beautiful!


And more roses from Karla (Karla's Cottage)...


Karla has a giveaway on her blog every month and drew my name from all of the comments made in April. She sent me a lovely charm with a handpainted rose (by Karla) on it. I've been wearing it on a chain and just love the dainty sweetness of it! Thank you, Karla!

Marilyn

Weekend Pleasures

Really, where does the time go? Not the "where does the time go?" and a shake of the head when you see how much someone's child has grown...but the "how-did-I-JUST-post-last-Wednesday-and-now-it's-this-Wednesday-where-does-the-time-go?"!

Answers? Anyone? And don't give me that "the older you get...blah, blah, blah".

Anyway, weekend pleasures (last weekend, not this coming up weekend, yet)...

Actually, I could stop with this picture of Grandpa (Rick) holding Cole--it just doesn't get any better!

Hi, cutie!
The weather in Kansas City last weekend was gorgeous--perfect spring days--so nice to be out and about!

I did manage to do some sewing. These blocks are for Tine in the Sew Connected 2 quilting bee group.

I loved working with her fabrics. The colors were so inspiring.


While I was sewing Tine's blocks, I got to thinking about the blocks I've received so far. I hadn't laid them out altogether yet and was anxious to see what it would look like.


I love it already! Everyone is making such beautiful blocks with my fabric...more to come...yippee!

Marilyn