Heart and Home....

What did I do with the Quilt?

  It's hung in my breakfast room  on the quilt shelf Don built and quilters along with my kids have filled  it with memories.  Sand from Lake Michigan from my daughter, A starfish from my son's trip to the Gulf and Lake Superior stones Don and I picked together.  There are Gingham forks from  my Mom and a Quilter's Angel holding a thimble made by a friend and fellow quilter.  I love Ransom being on the quilt instead of the cat the pattern called for. It makes for good memories of a pet. I even love my wonky feathers. 

 I'm chasing Winter out of my house.....

Spa Day---

The conversation went something like this:

" I don't want him shaved -- I just want ...him..polished...a little.."

"Do you want him to look like a lab?"

"No, I want him to look like Ripley,,,just a little enhanced..."

" Oh, OK, We'll  give him the 'Spa Treatment...'"

So Here's before:

And Here's after:

Ripley --  8.5 months....

Valentine's Day-- Gifts from Traverse City

We Went to Traverse City a week ago to visit Eric.  Don and Eric took me to the Quilt-n-Bee Quilt Shop.  I gave them the complete quilt shop tour and they were patient and now could probably give tours as well.

I had coupons for free fat quarters.  I show the guys Field Notes, the newest line from Blackbird designs.  They learned about the luxury of having a fat quarter from an entire line of fabric and how fabrics have designers.  They learned about different sewing machines and threads and stay completely focused the entire time.  They insisted once that I get the Field Notes and I wasn't about to talk them out of it....

I got my Mom and I matching spatulas-- just because.....They were cute, no more no less. We marveled at the Meijer store this came from. Eric didn't get it,Even worried a little,  but it was different that stores at home...

We had so much fun there I continue to say that's where I want to retire one day.  But Don reminds me it's because we vacation there.  If you lived there every day-- it would be different.  It is an expensive place to live.

Every day should be a vacation day, right?!?!? Oh well, Off to work-- Happy Monday.

My First Feathers......

While they aren't perfect... they aren't too shabby either.... And I know with practice they will get better.  And they're mine.... I created them myself.  It took about two years of doodling on paper, but I finally committed.  I figure one day I may look back and think how pitiful they are...But right now I'm real proud.  

It's four below zero--- I want an outdoor photo of the finished quilt.... It's got to warm up first.

February...

Life is about living--- and it's busy.  Never quilting as much as I want, never completing that 'to do' list but I write lists of projects down, I read about them, a doodle in the margins during meetings of each block.
There was a time when I grew discouraged, but I realize now there is a time and a place for quilting...even if it is just in the margins loose leaf paper....

February - The Christmas decorations are gone and Hearts are sprinkled around the house...

Last weekend we ventured to Traverse City Michigan to spend the weekend with Eric.  My birthday is about four weeks away - so I receive an early present.  We walked in with a card and picture frame.  The card stated " that even if we were together to look at this print-- it's my present that was too big to mail and know that on the wall in his home he has the same one....''

Here is my framed print---

It's all the quilts I have made him...
Then he open the door and pulled out my painted sign for my sewing room---

Covered Porch Quilts....


Yeah -- He's a keeper....