KUMA

This is my dog. She is super sweet and very beautiful! She is an Atika. I know that everyone says that they have the best dog in the world, that may be true. You see, she is the best thing for me. She sheds continiously which always works its self in to all of the fabric. I love her!

Crochet Christmas

This is the crochet Christmas blanket. I started with the red stripe in the middle, It was supposed to be a scarf for a gift. The scarf came out rather crooked, I am not a very skilled at crocheting. So, I just added the white to see if I could even out my mistake. I rather enjoy the uneven nature of my stitch and can move fairly quickly. I only did a single crochet.
The sides are unfinished. I plan to stitch all the way around the edge in the green. I am concerned about the way I have left the ends so uneven. I have noticed that I am bad at dropping stitches. Oh, did I mention that I am pretty much a self-taught crocheter! I know I should count, but I don't. I will have to research what type of stitch to use to bind the uneven look.
This is the most recent addition to the blanket. Jason has started to watch football in the evenings since it has gotten cooler. I like to sit and watch him get so worked up. I really liked the strips until Jason said they look like the lines on the football field. I know he really likes the blanket overall. I hope to be finished with it very soon!

Quilt Ideas

This is the type of quilting I want to do, I know that this image is of a lap quilt and I would like to create a King size. I still find inspiration from it. I am not crazy about the border or the harshness of the mountains. (These are Rocky Mountains). I would like to create a quilt of the Blue Ridge Mountains like this image, not quite as much green. I think that I need to go get more white fabric to create the distance for the quilt.

i love misty rain

It is so rainy and misty today again. I love the way it makes me feel clean. I want to hibernate and cook warm meals. I made potato soup for the first time the other day. I made it the way my husband suggested (he's an awesome cook), not the way I initially wanted. My cooking ends up like this often: I suggest a meal, he tells me how to make it, I resist, I make it his way, I love it! I started the base that had onions, red pepper, garlic and turkey bacon sauteed at the bottom of the pan. (I burnt this part because our stove in this rented house is terrible.) Then, I added two containers of no salt added chicken stock,sea salt, pepper and slight dash of Cayenne pepper. When it boiled I added potatoes cut up in big cubes. It the end I decided to add a can of green beans. Minus the large burnt bacon floating in the soup it was fabulous! I made too much but, I freezed it.
I have not had time to work on the mountain quilt. I did make Jason go with me to a fabric store on Sunday. I have never been to this chain of fabric/craft stores. They had very good prices, but terrible selection. A customer in the store commented on my funny use of strips I had brought so I could fill in color gaps. I was very annoyed at her up turned nose and northern accent. I was later even more annoyed by her presence as she held a loud conversation in line for the cutting table. I have never been to a fabric store where there is only one person cutting fabric for the whole store. Jason was very patient about her rude comments twards his tattos while in the check out line. I am always suprised and ashamed at the level that I let people like her bother me. I doubt that I will return there for fabric. I miss Mary Jo's , the selection is insane!

Silly Rainbows!

When I was about 6 or 7 my aunt was taking me home and we found the pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow. Ever since then, I have been infactuated with rainbows. This one showed up on my husband's graduation day. They are always much more magnificent in real time/life. I never usually take pictures of them for this reason. This one appeared after a terribly rainy day right over his deck in the mountains. I have many prisms around. The seem to comfort me and make me feel clearer.

My Quilt Project

I am getting ready to make a quilt for our new king size bed. This is only the fourth quilt I have ever made and the first king size. I am using scrap fabrics that I had in a trunk for a few years. Some are silks and vintage. I am concerned on how the fabrics will hold up. I saw Georgia Bonesteel's quilting show recently on PBS and she was talking about using ties to make quilts. She suggested washing them and only keeping the ones that survive. I followed the Master's suggestions and most scraps survived. However, I am concerned about the wear of my husband and tear of the dog's paws. (I know they shouldn't get on the bed but, it is soooo nice when you are sick.) I am also concerned about the actual quilting process and how the materials will work. The quilt has been nice to prepare for but, I am concerned about actually finding the time and skill to complete.
The first quilt I made was very basic pinwheel pattern. I enjoyed the piecing the materials more than binding the quilt and hand quilting. This was made easier by the help of a dear friend and her large screened in porch. The second was a very sturdy corduroy and I simply tied the corners of the patches with yarn. The third mimicked the second except the fabric was blue jean.
I have decided to create an image of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the quilt. This is the most creative and largest undertaking I have ever done with cloth. I enjoy a challenge we will see how progress continues through out this blog. I just wonder how long it will take me!

Ode to fall

I absolutely love the fall. I am forced indoors to create and sew. It is a time of reflection into my imagination. I find that I enjoy creating what ever the craft maybe. I LOVE to be surrounded by fabric whether it be quilted blankets because of the chill in the fall air or it be yards waiting to be cut or tiny scraps  to cherish! My Comfort Circle! So much life in Fabric!  Come see what I create!