Island Inspired Recycle Box

The Mister is the kind of guy that is very handy.  He can make most anything he wants.  So, when I asked him to whip up a crate-like box, that I could use to recycle our paper junk mail, he made me the coolest thing!  It's a wooden box made of individual slats, but the part that makes it so cool is the randomness he incorporated for crazy 'ole me.  The slats have varying heights and angles.  He called it the island fence box and when he gave it to me... he instructed me to paint it up using lots of color to get that island feel.  Isn't he wonderful?

It was so relaxing to snuggle up on the floor in front of the TV and spread out my paints in anticipation of going a little paint color crazy.  As I painted and changed colors, I actually didn't rinse or clean my brush in between.  The result was a really dynamic mixing and swirling of colors.  Gives the box a great texture.

While I was up to my elbows in paint, my assistants weren't too far away.  It's amazing how close Katie (left) and Sammy (right) have gotten.  I mean they are laying less than a hand length away from each other, nose to nose.  Ad-or-able!

And, then I was spotted.  Time to get back to painting. 

Here's a shot of my work space.  I used a plastic palette and you can see how the brushes are covered in many colors.  I think the mixing and blending is what made this project so much fun for me.  I painted all the surfaces with the exception of the bottom and am really head-over-heels for the result. 

...and so was Sammy.  She kept trying to put balls, toys, and bones in the box while I had it on the ground to take a few pictures.  It was heart breaking to explain this wasn't for her.

The inside.  I was really getting the hang of the mixing and distressing once I got to this part. 

One of the corners and sides.  I think the red-purple plank may be one of my favorites.

Sure makes getting junk mail a more enjoyable experience.  I mean, any excuse to stare loving at this box!  And once the box is full, then we wrap all that unwanted paper, fliers, and magazines with twine and stick it in the recycle bin on trash day. 

Feels almost as good as sipping a rum drink on the beach in Caribbean, doesn't it?  Do you recycle your junk mail? 

Mom's Quilt {Bird Watching in Winter}

How about a red quilt finish for Valentines Day?  I made this one for my Mom (the one last week was for my MIL). 

My Mom asked for jewel tones and I decided to work in her love of birds.

I did follow a pattern for this one, as I really liked the play of the red boxes that the blocks created.  It also gave me a way to let the fabrics with all those birds and baby deer and fox shine. 

If I think of it I'll come back and add the pattern name later. 

I had finished this quilt in December, but for whatever combination of reasons I am just gifting this to her now.  You know how that goes. 

Funny to see the leaves still intact in the pictures, isn't it?

I did random line quilting to compliment the boxes.  Gives it a really fluffy feel and I can see doing this type of quilting again.

The back is pieced freestyle with some of the fabrics I still had left from the front. 

And here's a look at the brightly striped binding I used to finish the whole thing off.  Really makes the whole thing sing!

Hope you are enjoying a special Valentine's Day -- hug and kiss the ones you love! <3

p.s.  I will be sharing this with some of the linky parties on my side bar and especially at Fabric Tuesday with Quilt Story. 

Origami

Creating something made with your own two hands = happiness!

It's still so incredible to me to see something you are creating materialize from supplies and scraps into something... such a rewarding feeling even if it is an origami box made in a few minutes! Give it a try!