wordless wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

orchids and postcards

this is a shot that i took of the orchids five or six weeks ago. due to the long term staying power of their flowers, i'm still enjoying them and they look even more beautiful than depicted within this photo as the buds that you can see on the second stem have completely flowered out now. in addition, there is a companion orchid planted in with this one and it also has a stalk of opening blooms; slightly different but equally sensational. i will try to get another shot of them very soon so that i can share these plant's ongoing beauty with you. i'm very pleased with their "performance" this year~!

i realize that "take time to smell the roses" is such a cliché but i do notice that when i really take the time to enjoy a flower i feel so much wonder at not only that particular flower but with the natural world in general. feeling that "awe" puts so many things into perspective for me.
i hope that there has been lots of floral beauty (and wonder) being enjoyed in your lives as well.

besides the flowers from the orchids which i grow in the house, i've been outside doing some summer gardening. i hope to resume with my habit of photography soon so that i can share that with you as well.
ongoing computer issues and fussy computer to camera connections/communications have been discouraging me for a few weeks but i hope that will no longer be a problem. 
anyway, in the off chance that there is anyone out there still interested i thought i'd do a quick update on a little of what has been going on since the last post.
 
i never did get the april fabric postcard that i made for my daughter posted and so i'll start with that.

the background is another remnant of that same hand embroidered dish towel that i used within my MIL's birthday card (shown in my last post). i appliqued some three dimensional flowers and leaves and then added a small metal butterfly . . . then a few more embroidery stitches to bring it all together and voilà~!

and the may postcard . . .

i found another towel that i did some cross stitching onto approximately 25-30 years ago and since this one had never been used as a towel (i felt it was too small) i decided to cut out the stitched bit and then added some hand dyed pink fabric as well as a small piece found in the scrap basket. i embroidered a flowering vine over the seams, a few straight stitched stems of grass under the quilts and then added three tiny gold metal dragonflies.

here it is the backside of june and i have yet to even start on this month's postcard for her . . . 
i better get to it~!!~

there is also a set of prayer flags being created and hand quilting of the small random sampler quilt is coming along.

 

recent gifts include:

• enjoying the flowers as they appear within my garden as well as within the houseplant population
• the taste of really cold sweet red grapes on a hot day
• the cool summer morning air as i sit on my front porch and wake up to the day
• the cool evening/nighttime breezes that blow into the bedroom as i sleep
• being able to meet and chat with my daughter over lunch occasionally 

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 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

15 minute challenge ~ feb. 28

i have been showing photos of my rex type begonia but today's shot is of my tuberous begonia. i put this plant  outdoors in the summer time and indoors in the winter. it doesn't do a lot of anything until about this time of the year when it begins to come out of it's 'slump' and new growth emerges as well as sometimes flowering on older growth. this one is the more common type used as summer bedding plants. there are many different varieties and many different flower types and colors.
i didn't cut this plant back as far as i usually do this year and so on the branches that i left it has begun to throw some buds. i should actually cut them off and trim the plant back so that it will have a more compact and healthy look to it later in the year. it hurts a little to do this so i took a few pictures first.

however, today's shot is less about the flowers and more about the leaves. i was enjoying the way that the light was highlighting the leaf details as well as the curl of the larger leaf up in the right corner.


my weekly report card for the 15 minute challenge:

tuesday, feb. 21st: hexie sewing

wednesday, feb. 22nd: hexie sewing

thursday, feb. 23rd: sampler practice with TAST (chain stitch) ~ chain stitched onto all three stockings ~ 2 fabric covered buttons using the chain stitch

friday, feb. 24th: pineapple project (made 2 blocks)

saturday, feb. 25th: basted 32 background hexies (road trip goodness~!!~)

sunday, feb. 26th: hexie sewing

monday, feb. 27th: pineapple project (cutting strips) ~ hexie sewing

if you would like to see what others are doing with their 15 minutes or you're interested in joining in, you should visit Kate at Life in Pieces. she has been doing some fun give-aways during the month of february for those participating in the 15 minute challenge.
i have found it to be an excellent way to continue making my own sewing/creative time a priority.

what do you think? does the shirting background work?
 i managed to get background hexies sewn all the way around one flower and almost around another. i've laid these particular units out with a plan to sew them together as you see here. 
i could still turn back but i'm liking it.
i have a question in regards to the paper for all of those who have done this before me: at what stage does one begin to pull it out? i'm thinking i could pull out the paper behind the center pink flower (the yellow and the pink round) now but i'm not sure.


recent gifts include:

• one whole day completely to myself
• other bloggers ~ you inspire me
• the realization that i have so many caring people in my life

PINEAPPLE ANYONE?

selected sketches for february

   color me happy

since most of the rest of this post is in black and white i decided to get very colorful with the photography today. this is a macro shot of one of the blossoms from my hibiscus plant. this plant has bloomed frequently throughout the winter making my dining room a tropical paradise (as long as one doesn't look out the window).

i've chosen a few sketches from my own sketchbook for this post. these were all done during the month of february with the theme of "close-up" in mind from The Sketchbook Challenge. 
"Getting close-up is about taking a new perspective, finding a different view and appreciating the little things."

it turns out that i am very attracted to the said which is why i'm enjoying adding quotes to my sketches.

i have recently received this gorgeous leather book cover from an extremely good friend. her and i have been friends for a long time and she knows me well. within the cover was a sketchbook. once i fill up this sketchbook i can insert another one. i'll have a beautiful daily reminder of my friend as well as being able to continually enjoy this cover.

i love this gift on so many levels but even more than that i am so grateful for the love and kindness that this friendship brings me.


recent gifts include:

• a mother/daughter lunch out at a favorite restaurant
• a beekeeping class (one step closer to being able to claim the title of 'beekeeper')
• bananas. i love bananas.

TAST week 6 ~ the chevron stitch

a little more romance . . .

and week 6 of Sharon B's TAST ~ chevron stitch

the first row on the sampler above has the chevron stitch worked in a purple single strand cotton thread. simple. no frills.
i liked the idea of the chevron stitch providing a sort of 'platform' on the top for secondary stitches, beads, charms, etc. as well as a place from which to possibly dangle the same from the bottom of the stitch so i played around with that a little bit. first i worked the chevron stitch (quite a bit smaller than the first example) in two strands of a medium green cotton floss. i then used a single strand of heavier cotton  red thread to place a single lazy daisy detached chain stitch with every other one having a slightly longer catch stitch. under each of these i simply centered a small running stitch.
i then went on to play a bit with the top of this same bit of chevron by adding a colonial knot in a single gold colored medium weight thread on that top 'platform' bit. then i used a very tiny single strand orange thread to stitch a fly stitch 'under/around' that colonial knot.
i barely scratched the surface of what could be done with this stitch. i wish i had more time to explore all of the possibilities that it presents.

however, while looking around at what other stitchers were doing i found this beautiful idea and these incredible interpretations.

i have decided to bring all three stockings into the action rather than just working on one at a time. this will allow me many more choices of where i can put whatever happens to be the current TAST challenge stitch. previously i've only worked on wonderful daughter's stocking but the chevron stitch has me pulling out wonderful husband's and using the same single strand purple cotton thread that  i used in the very first sampler row above. however this time i added a silver filament to it. i also decided to use the upper and lower bar part of the chevron as a spot to add some detached buttonhole stitches, same thread sans filament.

recent gifts include:

• the thoughtfulness of friends/neighbors who will willingly/happily do mechanical work for you simply because they can hear that there is a problem and they know how to fix it.
• a daughter who graciously helped me figure out the geometry of a quilting issue.
• the ability to accept help (with a smile and a thank you) when it is offered.

the soft light of a dawning day

early morning pleasures

home sweet home

Thank You for the many birthday wishes left within my comments. i did have a great day with many phone calls, visits and even some gifts~!!!~ i am blessed.
all of that birthday celebrating has left me a little bit behind on my blog visiting and i hope to be out and about in blogland during the week catching up.



this is the second postcard that i have made using some smaller appliqued heart blocks that were generously given to me. i've made this one for someone in particular but was wondering if i should make another one (or two?) for the give-away package of cards that i'm currently creating . . . what do you think? this second card is quite likely to be included within that package and there are several more that i'm working on . . .

just wanted you all to know that i haven't forgotten and i am still creating cards for the promised one year anniversary/200th blog post give-away.

a few years ago, at Christmas, i bought an Amaryllis plant. after it was finished with that bloom cycle it went dormant.

i continued to water it and hope but nothing happened . . . i was about to give up on it when i noticed a bit of green growth a couple of weeks ago. and now it has a long, strong stalk that supports two beautifully opened blossoms as well as a third smaller one that is still in the bud stage.

i love that lime green center as much as the red and white petals~!!~

is this one of those plants that only blooms every second year? and isn't it interesting that it has decided to grace me with color at Easter rather than Christmas, as it did originally? i'm guessing that the plant nurseries and their habit of forcing flowers at all times of the year has something to do with this but i don't really know.

i'm just happy that it has brightened my dining room with a second showing~!!~

my apologies for not being very attentive to my blog and it's readers over the last few days. i've had an out of town doctor visit and since it's a 3 hour drive (one way) it knocks me off of my feet/schedule for a few days after. i'll get back on track very soon i hope. while out of town to see the doctor i also got to go and see the new Alice In Wonderland movie. in 3-D. at an IMAX theatre~!~ and it was TOTALLY ENCHANTING in every possible way~!!~ it's rare that i go to a movie with such high hopes and not only have those expectations met but actually exceeded. i am head over heels in love with this production~!!!!!~!

Tim Burton is one of my very favorite directors and he did not disappoint~!~! the characters and cast were beautiful and the story itself captured my heart completely. Alice returns to the strangeness of the rabbit hole and learns she is more than she imagined herself to be and full of "muchness"; not just in her dreams but in her "real" world as well. this is a beautiful movie and in my opinion a rare gem when it comes to young strong female characters with heart. Alice certainly won mine~!!!~ GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE~!!!~! and tell me what you think.
in the meantime i'm going to be re-visiting the original Alice In Wonderland story . . .

we still have snow outside of our windows but it is quickly melting away. the sun has been brightly out and i see more of the lawn by the hour i think. the indoor plants are convinced that spring is already actually here and they are all spurting out new growth of all kinds. i have a zebra aloe that is sending out blossoms on loooooong stems heading right for the lightest and brightest spots. i sympathize; i too want to seek the full on spring sunshine and find myself moving around the house in search of the sunniest, warmest, and brightest (happiest) places to perch myself.

i've also begun to move things about within the house . . . spring fever, spring cleaning and just plain spring seeking . . .

this season holds so many promises . . .