Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Eagles Are Playoff Bound!!

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
~ Anatole France
The day went the way no one really expected and my boys are headed to Minnesota next week. I have faith......regardless of what my man says.....he calls them my Beagles.....
A little peek into what I have been doing. My Brother-In-Law is an artist. He liked the heart quilt on my blog so I offered to trade him his own for one of his paintings. This is the beginning of his. I am definitely getting the better end of this deal....Thanks Gary.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!!

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger.
St. Luke 10-12

"GO EAGLES"

And now for the saddest eyes I have ever seen:

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Winter Solstice 2008

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
Albert Camus
So it begins, as of 7:04 AM EST, the days began to get longer, the nights shorter and the hope of Spring and of sprouts in the garden is revived. Today maybe the beginning of Winter true, but we know that with the beginning, there will also be an end.
The kitchen window...taken months ago, still looks the same except now there is snow past the plants. There are two bay trees (my freedom plants), a Christmas Cactus that I am reviving for a dear friend and an allspice tree.
My little sewing kit, complete with a little pocket for scissors and binding clips and a spool of thread. I would like to learn to wrap wire and make a piece of jewelry from this heart that I found on a walk a few years ago. I carry it in the red felted sewing kit.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Ohhhhhhh...The Weather Outside Is Frightful....

I played as much golf as I could in North Dakota, but summer up there is pretty short. It usually falls on Tuesday. ~Mike Morley
Since South Dakota is much, much farther south than North Dakota...I figure our sumer last a day or two longer. We are in the middle of a devastating blizzard with no travel recommended. Quite beautiful from the inside looking out, or so the cats think. I am very thankful to have a warm place to ride it out with family.
Something you may not know about me....I always seem to run out of time. The plum puddings are all ready to go to their new homes...and here I sit unable to get them out today. Monday it is...my family never expects me to be on time and I love them for it. The basket is sooooo special....a gift from my daughter. I wish I could tell you where she got it. I was very very impressed....and thankful.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunday Moments

It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.
It seems like I am showing you a lot of basket quilts. I am not sure why, I do have others. I love baskets and have more than I would ever use. Of course, I have a lot of stuff stored in each one, after all that is the sole pirpose of a basket, to carry a load.
Another thrift store find. The sterling on these little condiment pots shined up beautifully.
It has been a quiet weekend. I went Christmas shopping with friends yesterday. On Friday night I went to a Christmas party and won a lovely prize, the twelve days of Christmas in chocolates. I think I will have a great deal of fun opening each of the twelve boxes.....

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

And see the peaceful trees extend their myriad leaves in leisured dance—they bear the weight of sky and cloud upon the fountain of their veins.
- Kathleen Raine, Envoi
I just received this beautiful wool brooch in the mail today. You can find a similar one on Etsy at Kaylacoo's shop. They are all unique and completely awe inspiring. Take a peek, it will be worth your time.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Sunday Morning

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."
FDR
May we never forget....God Bless Our Troops!
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Procrastinate. It frees up time to quilt!
-Unknown
After work yesterday, my daughter (who had borrowed my car), came to pick me up and off we went to our favorite thrift shop. The crocheted heart will look lovely adorning a bag or a quilt or a needle book for a friend or...... I think I will start a basket of small treasure like this one and the ribbon on the box of chocolates Bruce gave me and the buttons my sister gave me a few weeks ago and..... If they are all in the same place, do you think they will inspire me? What do you do for inspiration?
I believe this beautiful hand blown glass bowl will be doing duty holding cranberry sauce or maybe ambrosia very shortly. It is not overly large, but just about the right size for a small fruit salad.
As promised, a quilt from a while ago. I went to a quilt show years ago in Brookings, South Dakota. There was a basket quilt that caught my eye. I stood and looked at it long enough I was able to come home and make the block. The block stayed on my design wall for what seemed like an eternity until I was between projects and looking for something fast and easy.
What I really think I needed was something in the hoop. I piece to have something to hand quilt. Happy Sunday!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Beautiful Prim Doll Giveaway

Check out Dawn's doll giveaway over at The Forgotten Barn. Wouldn't she look wonderful somewhere in your home? Or mine?

Baskets & Kitties

"Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want." - Joseph Wood Crutch
Something not quite "old" but definitely not new. I enjoyed the hand quilting on this one. It was a pattern from Thimbleberries Club a few years ago.
Schuster did want to know why the quilt was getting more attention than she was. She definitely is a firm believer that she is cuter than any piece of cloth. If you look closely at the bottom right hand corner, Sebastian wants to know why Schuster is getting all the attention. He is a firm believer that she gets entirely too much attention all of the time and that cameras really do steal your soul. Ahhhhh...life in the household of cats.....