a giveaway announcement and a new orchid

there's a new orchid in the house~!~ 

 

 

 isn't is beautiful? it's an oncidium "twinkle fragrance fantasy". whenever i get a new orchid i wonder if i will be able to keep it growing, and even better, get it to re bloom. i have failed more times than i have succeeded but my phalaenopsis (moth orchid) is just now beginning to present a stem with a few buds so apparently i continue to succeed with that one.

 

 

 

 i decided to use a crop from the above photo for the Photo Art Friday challenge over at Pixel Dust Photo Art where the optional theme/challenge this week is to share a piece of photo art based on any of these words: connected/connecting/connection.

Bonnie has once again freely offered up one of her beautiful textures for those participating. this one is called "Scratched Lens Texture" and i thought that it was very pretty. 

Scratched Lens Texture

Oncidium Photo Crop

 

Photo Art Friday
connected challenge

i cannot remember exactly what i did with the various blending modes but i am happy with the final image.

it feels good for me to be 'connecting' with the PAF group once again.
:-)
maybe you would like to see some of the other submissions to this weeks' challenge? there are many talented artists submitting to the theme and it's well worth a few minutes of your time if you are interested in photography and/or the image artwork created from it.

february's postcard for the wonderful daughter has been received and so i'm once again sharing those results.


there is a small pocket made of a torn bit of wax paper stitched onto this card. the pocket holds a tiny metal key charm, dried lavender buds, a piece of sheet music with a small red heart shaped bead stitched onto it and a tiny fabric/paper tag. the tag has been embroidered and written on (both sides) and is attached to the postcard by way of that small pink triangular button and some pastel thread.

i've been working on my little 'Abundance' doll quilt and although i don't have any 'master' quilting plan in place it seems that i've been able to come up with a  design for each area as i get to it. i like the look of the playful childishness of this approach and it's all coming together nicely. 
i hope that you were able to see some of the other cute doll quilts made from this most recent quilt-along at Lori's Humble Quilts blog.

Cathy at Big Lake Quilter is hosting a generous give-away of a book by the Country Threads team called "Dear Emma". i love the look of all things Country Threads and if you do as well you might consider hopping over to Cathy's for a chance to win yourself. 

 

 

 

 

recent gifts include:

painting done by Torrie Smiley
 

• restful nights in a bed that i feel comfortable in
• word from Honduras that the wonderful daughter's host parents are doing well
• the joy and appreciation that i feel for my capable hands while i stitch or hold a pencil or pet the dog . . .

a shift in seasons

although the shift is still slight it's been feeling a bit cooler around here. crisp mornings growing into warm sunny days which then fade into cool evenings containing the slowing chirps of crickets. the shorter days reveal flowers fading as they uncover their finished summer's work of creating seeds. i almost mourn to see my favorite season pass into autumn but i must confess to feeling the need to rest more myself. this year i intend to embrace these changes as they happen . . .
please tell me what beauty you are seeing as your world changes around you.

i'm managing to get around to visiting other blogs a bit more often which is fun and always inspirational. i've even entered a giveaway for a sweet felt cushion created by Cathy at Big Lake Quilter. there are actually three to choose from and they are so very cute~!!~ i think that this giveaway ends on friday so if you happen to be interested in winning don't wait too long.

i have been keeping up with my 15 minutes of sewing time for each day as well as the TAST challenge (just barely) but have failed miserably on the sketchbook challenge.

i'm way behind on the showing of lots of creative bits and pieces but for today i've chosen the two most recent postcards that i've made.

this one is for my daughter. i was so busy with so many different things this year that i failed to make her a birthday postcard. i've promised to make her one for each month of the coming year instead and this is her september card.

 

 

this card was made for my mom's birthday. i used a printed felt background and highlighted various areas with stitches, beads and charms. i love the phone calls that i get when the cards arrive in their mail boxes~!

 

 

recent gifts include:

• frequent visits from my daughter
• enjoying a novel in the afternoon sun
• picking tomatoes and preserving them for winter days yet to come
• listening to the birds as they flock noisily in to peck the seeds from the middle of sunflowers planted especially for them
• seeing a cottontail jump across my path on an early morning walk ~ hippity hoppity and into the sagebrush

 

 

the june give-away winner is . . .

Barb of Fun With Barb

Barb commented: "I think your photos had to do with being "open" or "opening."

i thought that this was an interesting guess and so i went back and looked at each picture. i was surprised to find that it really could have been "open" or "opening" but the actual theme was 'contrast'. each of my photos for  the month of may had at least one form (but often more) of contrast.

thank you Barb, i think you must be really paying attention to those featured photos~!!~

would you please e-mail me with your snail mail  info and i'll get your package on it's way.

################################

at pintangle week 22 was the knotted cretan stitch.  this was another new stitch for me and i found it awkward. i'm not sure why because my brain kept telling me that it should be an easy one but i just really struggled with it. finally after a lot of attempts and some removal of said attempts i got it. it ended up being placed onto a new area of the same fabric postcard that i was working on during week 21. i used two strands of a six stranded cotton floss in yellow to create my knotted cretan stitch.

initially my attempts went directly onto a stocking but as i said some removal of stitches happened and i decided to stitch on something a little less important until i got the hang of it.

once i had accomplished this i set about adding more stitches around it which happens to be the challenge for this week (week 23). it's actually a catch up week for those who need it but additionally sharon encouraged:

  "A mini challenge for stitchers who cant stop……

Take up to 8 stitches that we have have done in TAST this year and create an interesting piece. In other words create some eye candy for those who are falling behind, either because of busy lives or because they are new to embroidery that will encourage them to “catch up”."

i'm just barely keeping up but decided to keep going with the knotted cretan as my "base/foundation" and see if i could add seven more stitches to it . . . so far i have added:

• a french knot using two strands (of six) of a cotton floss in a varigated blue color.
• three tiny (single) running stitches protruding from each colonial knot using one strand of the same varigated blue floss. my stitches didn't run very far though so i'm not sure if that counts . . .
• a very small bullion knot using a thin single stranded cotton thread in autumn tones (also varigated). this thread is actually a quilting thread that i thought i would try using for embroidery.

so i've managed to use four stitches so far (counting the knotted cretan stitch) which means that i'm halfway there . . .

 ################################

although i'm late with the 'report' the 15 minute challenge hosted by Kate at Life in Pieces was mostly a success for me.
mr. wonderful unexpectedly invited me out for dinner one evening (~!!~). it wasn't until the next morning that i realized i hadn't stitched at all the day before. talk about sweeping a girl off of her feet~! normally if i don't stitch during the day i get some time in during the evening. i've been spending quite a lot more time outside with the spring turning into summer days and have begun to really rely on that time. ooops.

 ################################

recent gifts include:

• finishing up a group of surprise birthday blocks (just in the knick of time). i hope to show those on a future post.
• a cup of hot chocolate on an early rainy sunday morning while i watched the news with mr. wonderful
• a whole flat of pretty flowers given to me by a friend for planting in the garden ~!!~

the june giveaway and a prayer flag

i promised to share where the more intuitive approach/participation in needlework is now taking me . . .

i've been considering making a prayer flag for some time now and recently there was one of those 'perfect storm' of events and it's just what i needed to catapult me forward. i think i've waited for so long because i knew that it could very well turn into a full out project and not just an experiment. i was right.  

i've done various searches for both prayer and prayer flags over the past couple of years. i've read and re-read information, pondered my time and energy restraints, and done a lot of thinking about it . . . recently it was brought up by a friend during a conversation without provocation from me, which felt like yet another little tug. i've seen the subjects pop up as articles in various magazines and briefly discussed within both books and blogs: more tugs.

once again i was back to the 'lots of thinking' stage . . .
do i have enough time and energy for this? exactly what will it involve? will my own spiritual beliefs (which are not the mainstream) 'fit' into the spirit (no pun originally intended) of the project? what is prayer exactly? am i any good at it?
and most importantly, how can i possibly turn all of this confusion into a gentle physical symbol of love? 

this is some of what i discovered while i researched prayer flags:

• in Buddhism, a flag on which prayers are inscribed.
• tibetan prayer flags in tibet are called lung ta (wind horse)
• Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

this is some of what i discovered while i researched prayer:

• prayer is intended to train a person to focus on the recipient through philosophy and intellectual contemplation
• prayer is a catalyst for change in oneself and/or one's circumstances, or likewise those of third party beneficiaries
• There are many different forms of prayer
• Prayer may be directed towards a deity, spirit, deceased person, or lofty idea, for the purpose of worshipping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins or to express one's thoughts and emotions.

this is some of what i personally discovered as i created my first prayer flag:

• i must be mindful of every single thought, action and personal perception of devine guidance as i move forward (aka: an intuitive approach/participation)
• i am beginning and continuing a dialogue of (mostly) silent prayers which become unexpected blessings within my own life as i create as well as within the life of others as they receive and use what i have created.
• the prayer flag itself is a process not a product. it is very personal, very beautiful, and is entitled to my respect regardless of where or how it may end up.
• my understanding and empathy are greatly deepened as i work/stitch/pray
• my own personal sense of faith is enhanced tremendously throughout the process.
• the prayer of serenity is a perfect addition to any prayer flag  that i may make.

the list goes on but you get the idea: it was a continual series of "aha moments" for me.
there will be more prayer flags as the guiding powers within my life make me aware of the need(s) and i'm willing to bet that every prayer flag i make will add more discoveries.
this process has already become a welcome part of my life that i want to expand upon and yes, i'm now completely committed to my very own prayer flag project.
a journey that i am anticipating with a happy heart.

i'm interested in your thoughts and experiences in regards to prayer flags if you would like to share them with me.
if you would like to investigate more in regards to this subject you might also be interested in the prayer flag project blog as a starting point.

i once again met my own personal goals within a challenge framework. so i'm doing a quick dance of joy as well as celebrating by offering three of my photo note cards (of my choice) as well as a few extra surprise goodies. if you are interested in winning, please leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my theme/challenge for may was. 
i think this last month was a huge challenge for myself as i didn't take a single floral shot and i think it's going to be a tougher challenge for all of you who are participating. it will be interesting to see your guesses but you don't have to get it right, you just have to take a guess within your comment. if you happen to have an idea for a future theme, feel free to share that as well.
i'll draw a name/winner on june 8th.
btw: i don't know whether you all missed those flowers or not but it was absolutely painful for me not to be shooting and sharing them with you. i'm looking forward to getting back to them~!!~


 
the cards were made by a company called snapfish. i'm not being paid by them but i happen to think they're pretty nice cards.

recent gifts include:

• the discovery of a birds nest within my favorite tree (the one that grows tiny crab apples that the robins like to eat during the fall and winter). this tree grows right by my front door and the nest is inhabited by . . . yep, you guessed it. robins~!
• being able to observe the parent birds as they built the nest and continue to faithfully lay and guard the eggs
• the dappling of light near the pond as it falls through the aspen's whispering leaves
• time spent reworking the area around the pond
• seeing the fish become friendlier as the season progresses

TAST week 17 ~ wheatear stitch, 15 minute challenge and a give-away~!!~

i have two clematis plants. one of them is white, stays rather small and blooms fairly early in the summer season and the other one is a deep purple color, grows to great lengths and blooms all summer long. i have no idea what either one of them is called. possibly some research is in order . . .
this is a shot of the white one. the buds and new growth have begun to form on the viney stems of last years old growth.
last year it bloomed profusely for it's short time and i realized that my habit of cutting the plant back every fall (which hadn't gotten done as usual) wasn't a good idea as i was stunting it's growth/bloom possibilities every time that i did it.
so now i know; no more fall pruning of this white clematis.
i would like to add some more clematis to the garden. maybe this summer . . .


this post is a combination TAST, 15 minute challenge and giveaway.


i once again met my own personal goals within a challenge framework. so i'm doing a quick dance of joy as well as celebrating by offering three of my photo note cards (of my choice) as well as a few extra surprise goodies. if you are interested in winning i would like you to leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my theme/challenge for april was. you don't have to get it right, you just have to take a guess within your comment. if you happen to have an idea for a future theme, feel free to share that as well.
i'll  draw a name/winner on May 10th. 
the cards were made by a company called snapfish. i think they're pretty nice cards.


over at sharon b's pintangle the stitch for week 17 with TAST is the wheatear stitch. i don't recall ever working this stitch before so i was interested in giving it a go and seeing what it would do. as i was thinking about how to approach the stitch (in relation to my christmas stockings) i happened to visit this blog. Masha was also new to the stitch but she had very nice examples of her experimental work. she commented that the stitch reminded her of a combination of seaweed and fir branches and as i read this i had a creative aha moment and decided that i would like to explore that idea.

so i sketched a bit . . .

after a while i decided that it was worth getting out a needle and thread to try to see what i could do with that.

i found a piece of scrap muslin and not wanting to 'waste' my time and effort i backed it with a thin postcard sized piece of batting with the intention of finishing whatever might happen as a usable piece of mail art.


the orange running stitch that you see is basting so that the muslin didn't wiggle off of the batting. you can see a bit of batting in the upper left corner because the muslin didn't entirely cover the batting (a space left open for future fabric/embellishment on the piece). 

 in my effort to make the stitches look continuous (like a 'branch') i failed to pay attention to how it should be formed. it's actually considered a detached or stand alone stitch but if one 'stacks' the wheatear stitch it can be made to look like a continuous form.

i was not quite completing the stitch before heading into the next stitch. it wasn't the look i wanted and it wasn't the correct way to do the stitch.

the stitch is formed first by making a fly stitch and then a chain stitch is formed and used as the catch portion of the fly stitch with the stitch being completed by a second catch stitch at the base of the chain stitch.
in the shot at left i have shown a single wheatear stitch but i have elongated my last catch stitch.
this elongated version was great for the look i wanted. it helped create a looser looking series of stitches when one was stitched directly below/behind the next.

it was looking more and more like a fir branch all the time . . .  i learned that i could also lengthen out the arms of the fly part of the stitch and give things an even looser, more organic type of feel. the less i tried to make 'perfect' stitches the more organic it tended to look. i was liking it~! so i kept on stitching.

eventually i added some fabric over that corner of batting that was initially left uncovered.
and stitched some more . . .


so now i have a very well started postcard and absolutely nothing on the christmas stockings (for the second week in a row).



i'm not even sure that it looks like fir branches at this point . . .

maybe a pine cone would help . . .

there are some wonderful examples of what can be done with this stitch. Maureen's work is beautiful and creative.  Claudia did a floral arrangement and a sea themed piece that is gorgeous.  All Kinds of Needlework did some whimsical windsocks with the wheatear. Lisa has created a mandala like work that turned out nicely too.

if you're interested in embroidery there is some real eye candy as well as good instruction within these links.

so now it's on to Kate's at Life in Pieces for the 15 minute challenge . . .

no detailed report card for me as i feel that i'm boring my readers to tears with that. i'll just sum it up by saying that i managed to get my challenge done on 6 out of the 7 days. on tuesday i completely forgot. i stayed up quite late and as i was falling asleep and going through my day in my head i suddenly had an 'oh sh@#' moment and knew that there was nothing to be done about it as it was already past midnight. oh well. no A+ for me this week.

i did accomplish some work on the hexie path basting and actually sewed a flower and path unit onto the growing top. and i spent quite a lot of time on the TAST/wheatear stitch.

all in all a decent enough week.

if you're needing a little encouragement to get your sewing time in on a daily basis this is a great challenge to take on.

recent gifts include:

• hearing from my daughter frequently
• big bunches of bright yellow daffodils
• daily walks with my wonderful husband and the dogs

the give-away winner is . . .

Isabelle (and Pauline too of course~!) of Pierres, Papiers, Ciseaux.

Isabelle commented:  "very close to plants ? for another theme, perhaps "tiny critters""

last month's theme was actually 'very close to plants'.  i chose green as i thought that would be appropriate since saint patrick's day is in march . . . and it enabled me to continue taking floral macros which i love to do. as for 'tiny critters' . . . i think it sounds like it could be fun and this great idea has gone onto my growing list. 

thank you Isabelle. would you please e-mail me with your mailing information and i'll get your goodies on their way.

i'm very happy that you all played along with me last month and i will be doing another drawing for a few of my photo note cards at the end of april. i hope you will join me in celebrating once again.

another celebration give-away~!

Some wish blessings, others pray for them. Some send blessings and they become one.
Joyce C. Lock

thank you readers, for sending me your sweet blessings.

i had such a great response from the last note card giveaway that i have made the decision to have another.

i've been very encouraged by all of you wonderful readers out there and appreciate it. thank you for every single generous response. once again i was able to meet my own personal goals within a challenge framework so if you are interested in winning three of my photo note cards (of my choice) as well as a few extra surprise goodies i would like you to leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my theme for march was. once again, you don't have to get it right, you just have to guess within your comment. if you happen to have an idea for a future theme, feel free to share that as well. 
on april 9th i will draw one of your names and announce a winner.


the cards were made by a company called snapfish. i'm not being paid by them but i do think they deserve to be mentioned.

so leave a comment and invite other bloggers to play along if you think they might be interested.



recent gifts include:

• the kindness of good neighbors
• a mucked out linen closet
• pancakes for breakfast with my family

GiveAway Winner Announced

this is what Gwen from My Own Little Corner had to say in her kind comment: "What beautiful photography!! And I love your covered buttons-- I never would have thought to embellish a button-- such a great idea! I think that your theme for February may have been Macro Floral...? And, for a suggestion for a future theme.... how about water droplet photography-- for April Showers... :-) Thank you for sharing your talent with us! I am impressed---- and inspired! :-)"

it just so happens that 'florals' was my theme for february although being right wasn't the important part. i'm just happy that  she played along. and what about that suggestion for a theme~!? i think it's a very good one~!  i've added it to my growing list of ideas.
so Gwen, if you shoot me an e-mail i will be happy to send you your goodies.
if there is no reply within a few days, i will re-draw another name from the cup.
AND i definitely will be doing this again so you should be paying attention to those photographic moments at the top of each of my posts . . .

A Celebration GiveAway~!

who's ready for a teeny tiny bit of springlike goodness in their life?

in my neighborhood there has been precious little snowfall this winter. i live at a fairly high altitude and this is not, and should not be, the norm. we actually had our first really "big" storm yesterday. all afternoon it fell in great big beautiful flakes (think Christmas card here). by the end of the day we had approximately four to six inches. this morning i woke up to a bit more. so here we are on the first day of march and our world is whiter than it's been all winter long.
so what's a sunloving girl who wants to put winter behind her to do?
she cozies up to her houseplants (indoor jungle) and shoots photos of the new growth.
and she feels a little bit better.
how about you, are you ready for spring and the warmer blessings it brings?

~!!~NOW COME AND CELEBRATE WITH ME~!!~

it's a small celebration but i'm happy with a recent accomplishment so i'm hosting this spontaneous giveaway.
this is due to my setting a small photography goal for myself and then making it happen. in early february you may have noticed that i began starting each post with a 'photographic moment'. i chose a theme and began to explore that theme with my camera for the month. 
i had so much fun doing this and many of you commented on how much you liked seeing my photography work.  thank you~! 
so today i decided that anyone commenting on this post could have a chance to win three note cards (of my choice) featuring my photos. not a big deal just a little something from me to you in an effort to show my gratitude for your encouragement and support of this part of my creative self.

i recently had cards made up using my own images. this shot only shows some of them. i will have more cards made up as i continue to take worthy shots so if you think a particular image would make a good card always feel free to say so. these were made by a company called snapfish. i felt they did a great job but i am not being paid to advertise for them. i may have cards made up by a different company next time (suggestions welcome) or i may use my prints to make cards myself . . .
i love having choices.

so here's what i would like you to do if  you are interested in winning. leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my theme was for february. easy peasy. you don't have to get it right you just have to guess. within the same comment i would also like you to suggest a theme that you think i should consider for another month's worth of posts. (i'm starting a list so go ahead, challenge me~!) still easy peasy. on march 12th i will draw one of your names and announce a winner. i will contact you and get your mailing info and send them off for you to enjoy in whatever way you might like.

i may also include another goodie or two . . .

:-D

so enter if you're a regular reader and tell your blog friends if you think they may like to participate. i love and will include new readers too.

my hope is to continue challenging myself  and very possibly making this a regular giveaway opportunity. my energy levels and time dictate a lot as well as the response (or lack of one) that i get from readers for this giveaway.

recent gifts include:

• a goal met with satisfactory results
• blog friends to share my happiness with
• a deep love for photography and the way it allows me to  immerse myself deeply in the moment whenever i am behind a cameras lens

a fabulous fabric giveaway announcement

go see Linda at: www.straystitches1.blogspot.com

~each piece is a half yard~

~!!~a total of 4 yards~!!~

fall is in the air~!~ and blogland is brimming with give-aways. don't you just love this sweet woolen pin cushion~!?!~ if you would like a chance to win it you should visit Cheryl at So many quilts so little time! (http://fatesdesigns.blogspot.com/) she's there on my sidebar but don't wait too long ; she'll be drawing names for it tomorrow morning~!

we have already had a couple of pretty hard frosts and much of the garden is looking a bit golden.

this a.m. i caught sight of these seedpods on the hollyhocks and liked their illuminated look . . .

then i went to capture some more seedy garden goodness and i discovered the columbine in bloom AGAIN. it looks a bit confused with a dried seed pod AND a blossom coming from the same plant . . . and what is even weirder is that this is the third time this year that this particular plant has sent up blossoms. not sure what's happening but am taking the time to appreciate the tiny bit of yellow goodness that has shown itself once again.

there are at least a half dozen stems and sizable flowers on each one.

i've been busy working on a candle mat for the past few days. it was a kit that i purchased last year from www.pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com . i don't usually do kits but this one was irresistible. however, i could not help myself and did make a few changes. i used small buttons rather than french knots on the front of the snowman and i tacked down a small tatted snowflake in the center. i felt that this made the piece a bit more multi functional as now it could even be hung up as a wall hanging i think.
obviously the buttons and the tatted piece were not included in the kit but it did have plenty of everything called for by the easily understood pattern.

the tatted snowflake was made by a sister guild member. she makes them and sells them at our annual Christmas Bazaar. it's one of my favorite booths and every year i'm able to add a few to my own collection. sometimes i use them as tree ornaments and sometimes i use them within my own work . . . i'm always smitten by the wonderful work that she does on them. maybe someday i'll have her show me how to tat but for now i love buying her lovely work.

one of the things that was included in the kit was a flannel backing fabric. it was stated as optional within the instructions but i was pleased to have it as part of the package as i really like the finished look that it gives this little piece.

it seems early to think about snowflakes falling and the construction of snowmen but you know it will be here before we all know it~!

i have been working on this piece for years. in truth, i work on most of my pieces for years simply because i have the worst case ever of quilter's ADD~! i used to want to be cured but have pretty much given up on that. when i pass on to that great quilting guild in the sky i will leave behind massive amounts of fun fiber "surprises" for my daughter to benefit from in whatever way she chooses.

btw: if you're reading this Miss Tiffanny, i expect lots of gratitude (prior to the passing) whether your feeling it or not. after all there are plenty of people reading this post who would love to be in my will right about now . . . this is where you all get to chime in and leave a comment as proof that my daughter really is getting something of value here. please help me out.



anyway, the middle four-block area of this piece in progress currently measures 20 and 1/2 inches square.

i've hand appliqued and used "old" colors which i love. i can no longer remember what my first germ of inspiration was but almost all of my work is done in a willy-nilly design as i go kind of way. due to the fact that i rarely complete anything quickly this results in many and various bursts of inspiration from all sorts of places. in the end it's a conglomeration of ideas, techniques and happy accidents that make it my own. i'm good with that.

the berries are compared here to the bobbin that comes out of my featherweight (the machine that i use the most). they are pretty small but i loved working on them so much that i have a surplus . . . the quilt's not finished yet so who knows where they might land in the end . . .

this is the back side of one of the berries which i created much like one makes a yo-yo. i wanted them to have a bit of dimension to them and this allowed me to achieve that and gave me a nice smooth circle to applique down. i'm pleased that they have just a bit of pop to them without sticking way out once they're sewn down.

the border pieces are constructed using Sew and Fold on a Roll: Tri-Angles 22.5 in the 3" finished width. it's very accurate and i love the dragon's teeth border but i did feel like there was a bit of waste. pros and cons i guess.

now why have i brought this piece out of "storage" i can hear you asking. just where exactly did my latest burst of inspiration hail from?

let me tell you.

i was doing a bit of blog hopping this a.m. and ran into a fantastic post over at:

www.funwithbarbandmary.blogspot.com

that totally inspired me and reminded me that i had something similar in the works. the post includes luscious photos of several quilts that have been created using a similar style and LOTS of orange (aka cheddar). AND there's a give-away going on that looks pretty spectacular too. it's sort of a catch 22 situation: if i announce and link to it in my blog i get an extra chance at winning but i also give that many more people their chance . . .

so here's the deal; think of me if you go over to this great blog and happen to win due to my heads up.

;-)

otherwise what i will have "won" is a gentle reminder about my very own (and unfinished) project. this project is now in the front of my mind instead of the back of a cupboard and that's not a bad prize either~! and you, well you have "won" the discovery of a really beautiful and inspiring blog. i think we've all come out pretty shiny with this deal regardless of what happens ~ don't you?

p.s. i'll keep my fingers crossed for you if you'll do the same for me.

i've been recently frustrated by an intermittent internet connection. all of last week it was on again ~ off again and by the time friday came i was just grateful that i was able to continue on with my give-away without interruption. then over the weekend it was completely off and i became even more frustrated. i had intended on connecting with everyone personally and getting addresses (for those of you whom i don't already have them) and putting some special surprises in the mail. i believe i've now made all of those contacts and once i've received the necessary information, will have some sweet goodies coming your way within the next few days. if it turns out that i've overlooked you in all of the confusion please let me know~!~



other than the internet irritations i thought that the giveaway was lots of fun and i am very grateful for all of those who dropped by and congratulated and/or participated.



anyway, despite the lack of internet service i did manage to find something fun to do with my computer during the two days of "black out". i got onto my photoshop elements program and created this digital postcard.





what do you think? i used a photo of one of my own mixed media postcards and a photo of the dragonfly that i shot last year (in my garden) and combined the two with a pinch of pixie dust (or whatever that photoshop magic is called) and voila~!~ it actually wasn't quite that easy and there may have even been a few swear words during the process but for the most part it was really FUN~!!~
i even purchased some postcard card stock to print them out onto. the printing process has been a bit frustrating as the card stock doesn't always seem to want to feed through just right . . . but i think both the printer and i are beginning to get the hang of it . . .

i'm currently working on a doll quilt quiltalong that is being sponsored by Lori at www.humblequilts.blogspot.com and so far i'm having a blast putting my little quilt blocks together by hand. Lori is pretty fabulous at giving excellent instructions and i've found no frustrations at all despite the blocks measuring only five inches square (they'll finish up at four and a half). each block consists of thirty individual pieces sewn up together. my finished quilt may take a little bit longer as hand sewing is slower but it's making a great end of the day (carrot quilt) project.

i already have two blocks completely sewn and one nearly finished.

there will be a total of eleven whole blocks and two half blocks within the finished little quilt.

and last but not least i have progress on the Dress Up challenge to report. this is my (romantic) dress for the month of february being modeled by my sweet and oh so charming sage dolly. this dress is made up of cheesecloth and bits of tattered lace.

i joined the challenge quite late and so still have dresses for the months of january and march to catch up with. i'll just fit them in as i have a bit of extra time . . . it's now time to start thinking about a dress for the month of may and my creative brain is already churning with some thoughts on that one . . .

feel free to take a look at what some of the other participants are doing by going to http://www.aliceandcamilla.blogspot.com/ . the variety of artwork in this challenge may surprise (and delight) you.

i have something very cool to show you in my next post . . . think "peeps" . . .