Can You Find the Bird?

Games like this are so much fun! 

I saw a bird bouncing around in the wood pile during the last storm.  The cute little thing must have been taking a break from the snow. 

Can you find the bird here?

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bird circled below

How about in this one?

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bird circled below

Ok, this one is a bit tougher.... where's the bird now?

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bird circled below

Can you see the bird-dog in this one?

Ain't she the cutest thing ever? 

...unless of course she is chasing away my cute little birds.  And this funny little bird-dog (from what I understand golden retrievers are mean to be used in bird hunts) thinks she might actually get one if she tries relentlessly enough.

Smooches!  Hope your Thursday is treating you well.  And yes.  We are bracing for yet another snow storm -- goodie!  Snow is starting to mean 'sew' for me. 

Hoping to get a lot of progress!!

Central Park Fabric Therapy

It's been a bit of a loony weather week which I think is throwing me off.

Snow, ice, extra days at home, lots of baking.... loony balloony indeed!  But, the good thing with being cooped in the house is all that access to extra glorious sewing time.

{Sew,} -pun intended- here are the things I have been up to!

Ongoing Projects

X Marks the Spot

Does taking this off my design wall and digging out my yardage count as progress?  The yellow isn't Fandango, but looks nice with it, doesn't it?

I feel like this one is going to pop this week and I even included it in my One Thing, One Week challenge hosted by the lovely Amy at Amy's Creative Side

[total side note here (allowed due to aforementioned looniess!):  have you seen The King's Speech (the movie) yet?  There is a priceless line when the Dutchess says something about royalty not "popping" -- which makes me giggle now when I use the word pop.  Like... I think I will go pop over and see so-and-so... or this design really pops.  Totally throws me into giggles!  

Go see it, then come back here and laugh with me.  I wasn't sure about this movie going in... I was joining my MIL and SIL for a little gals afternoon.  But, let me tell you I haven't felt that touched by a movie in sometime now.  I cried.  I was proud.  I thought of my family and husband. I cried again.  I wanted to give it a standing ovation.  Doesn't happen often!]

Confetti

I have fallen so badly for this one!  I am in finishing mode and pulled out these things which I believe will be the finishing touches!  I love things that practically make themselves... means they are so meant to be!  You can see the full post here.

And, I think several of you may even make one... can't wait to see what you come up with!

Tulip Runner

No progress.  I went to pull out my tulip pattern and it is no where in sight.  No internet bookmark, no email to myself, no notes with measurements.  I have let that stall me. for the moment.  Argg!

New Projects

Working with Central Park (no name yet)

I lifted the label off my Central Park charm pack (5 inch squares) and got busy with pin wheels.  Don't you adore the playfulness and silliness of pin wheels? -- I do!  And I think it is really bringing out the spirit of this fabric!

As it turns out the Java Lotta Steam Cream that I showed you last week (which was meant for another project) was a perfect mix to make up these pin wheels.

I also found myself starring at certain charms that I. could. not. cut. uggg!  Standing defeated I decided that I will accept defeat and instead incorporate these blocks whole.  See, can't outsmart me ;) 

And, here are the pin wheels on the design wall.  Yes, I think I will be re-arranging these a few more times to get it exactly right.

Having gotten through the stack of charms, I pulled a bunch more fabric from my stash-pash-prickly-ash  

(anyone else love rhyming?)

 
All in all, I am totally loving what this quilt is shaping up to be... not sure I will be able to part with it -- and that is why this week can't only be described as much needed happy fabric therapy!  *contented sigh*

Not to be confused with puppy therapy which I have to admit I have also enjoyed to the brim!!

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 3
New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 4 -- added one!

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---

Creative Tuesday: Scarf

Happy Tuesday Loves!  It's time for  Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's.  Still hands down my favorite pencil and paper creative time!

This time around the theme was Scarf.  And there was an extra requirement to make sure we put a scarf in our piece.  Easy enough, right?

It's interesting for me to admit that my original ideas and sketches were leaning toward a cute animal all bundled up against a snowy background.  But, I just could do it.  I had previously done animals in scarves (you can see that here). 

I needed something fresh; something to take me away from the fact that we got more snow and I'm getting a wee bit done with winter already (I know -- I can hear you saying, but it's only January and NY winters are supposed to be cold.  I know.  But my shovelling muscles are already bulging!)

So, my idea centers around where do all the scarves go once it's spring?  I know that my winter ones are rotated out, washed and packed away, but what if scarves were like say.. Santa ... and they went on vacation during the spring?  (yes, the snow may be making me a bit more loopy than usual ...go with me on this... after all this is me, the same one who dreamt up faerie apples!)

Here are the results!  Spring Spa Day for Scarves!  That ladybug must be prepping them for a facial and massage!


Cheers to the creative juices flowing in your favor today!  You can check out the other artists or join us here.

Confetti Quilt is ALIVE!

Confetti began here with cut pieces that were one inch by one inch in a wide range of colors from my scraps.

As I began playing with the squares they begged for a background, so I dug around came up with this square which is about 21 inches square.

I started arranging them into cute color coordinated flowers.

I even pinned the heck out of it. 

The it hit me *bam* that in order to stay true to confetti... that this had to be a celebration of chaos!!

I began to rearrange and re-pin.

I added more and more until I exhausted my tiny square pile.  Yes, I already see more of these in my future!

I went right to layering this with batting and and a backing and safety pinned things in place.

Quick sneak at the picnic yellow backing -- so cheerful!!

And off I went.  Round and round and round I went with the free motion foot on.  I just did the edge around each square with some simple swirls between to draw a connecting line.

I decided I wanted frayed edges.  It's organic, it's chaos, it's true to confetti!

Here you can see the back right corner is sewn down.  Slow and steady progress.  

I finished nearly 1/2 of the squares in one sitting.  It was also fun to come back over the next day or so to sew a few more squares at time.  It's a really easy project to pick up and put down again.

I'm getting to the end of them now.

When I finished I squared the mini quilt and the results are the trims below.  Is it funny that all I see is stuffing for more birds and strips for more tiny squares??!!?!

I have yet to put the binding on as I am still trying to decide it Confetti is finished.  I showed it to Mr. Happy and he said that I should add more color.  More color?  Hmm... but I do see what he means.  I think it is still too uniform, like I am still fighting the chaos.

I am debating adding embellishments like beads or buttons. 
I am debating if I want to do more quilting with all sorts of colors of thread. 
I am debating if I should take this chance to try embroidery.
Yes, I am still debating.  Which is why I am leaving you on a trim pile and not the finished thing. 

Fun to see things develop isn't it?  And I also have to report that I have Central Park fabrics are cut, sewn, ironed, and adorning my fabric wall. 

Hoping to show you more tomorrow and seriously all your thoughts and ideas are welcome!  I can't wait to hear what you think too!

Looking Over My Leg

Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far; I am!

Sewing, warmth of the wood stove, homemade pizza, painting the house, hauling wood in, sunshine, omelets, hardy pirate movies, doggie smooches, laughing with the mister... yes it's the little things...

I can't tell you how often I get this cute little muzzle puff hanging around in my lap while I work. 

....ahhh, it just doesn't get better than this!

Awards for Me?

What a grand week it's been!  I have had a lot of progress on projects, we played a ton in the snow, and I have been given two lovely awards *blush*

First up, the I was tagged by A Wandering Minstrel I for the being a Liebster blog!!

It means 'favorite blog' and is an award to highlight your favorite 'wee' blogs out there--the ones that we love that don't have huge numbers of followers.  I'm very touched to have you enjoy the happy things I have going on in this 'wee' corner of the blog world!

I was also tagged by Jen at From Jen's Pen with the Stylish Blogger Award!  Jen it's really special to get this from you!  To accept I am supposed to share seven things about myself and then pass the award along to 15 other Stylish Bloggers.

 

Seven Things About Me

1. I am a southpaw -- yup left handed for writing, drawing, painting, bowling, and most other things!  I'm sure that explains a lot of my 'unusual' ways!
2. I have a secret cooking show that is only attended and viewed by Katie, the mister, and I guess well, me.  It's called Cooking with Katie, and I always imagine that we have a big cheery audience that can't wait to cook and try everything we are dishing!
3. I have lived in three countries and 13 different houses/apartments in my lifetime so far.  I'm hoping that lucky 13 will be where we stay for a long long long time now!
4. I have a tenancy to watch the same few movies over and over and over again.  My current rotation includes 300, Boondock Saints, and A Knights Tale. 
5. I have a dream and ambition to one day run my own company. 
6. I am most happy with my hands in the dirt and in the company of my pup!
7. I blog as a daily reminder to myself that there are so many great things around me and that I should soak them all in for all the happy they are!

I apologize I am skipping the steps to pass these on at the moment, but I am short on time and wanted to get thank you's out pronto!  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for thinking of me for these awards!!

Happy Moment #13: There's No Place Like Home

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

Katie Dog Days - numero duex

Little known fact.. when we were still talking about adding Katie to our family I was worrying -- about whether or not she would like me, would I be a good dog mom, what if she doesn't like to hike and spend time outdoors??!?!!

Mr. Happy laughed.  I worried -- more.

And in the end, like most things... it all worked out.  She fits our family like a warm snug glove and I always have a buddy to explore the outdoors with!  It shows very well in these photos!

And I think she looks rather smashing in her snow mustache!

And I don't think I will ever get tired of how cute her paws are!

Or, how she mimics what I am doing.  I was taking macros of this tree and Katie was doing her version of macros... getting her nose right up close to each leaf and then tasting the branches with tiny licks. 

Doesn't it look like she has a leaf mustache here?  Look really closely!

On our adventures we usually make a mess.  This time it was in the form of 'dingle-balls'.  What are dingle-balls you ask?  They are the catches of snow that form in the shape of snowballs around Katie's fur and then have to melt off.

You see she has a very fine, feathery-like fur that likes to pick up anything from leaves and moss, to snow, dirt, and sticks.  Yes, things tend to get messy.  The good part about Katie's coat is that it's meant to have a quick brush which then loosens those feathers and she looks as good as new afterward. 

It's a hunting dog thing!

Ready for a video?  I really like this one for the somber snow falling... the sniffing... and then Katie's serious looks.  She can be such a goofball one minute and then very peaceful and quiet the next. 

Hug your pup/cat/snake/bird/hamster/fish/horse/goat today!  I think it's often easy to take for granted how fantastic our lives are with these amazing creatures around!!

Confetti Quilt and WiP Wednesday

Ongoing Projects

X Marks the Spot

I'm making progress on this one, but I think I will be picking out a second solid to help the Fandango pop.  I am still deciding between white/ivory and maybe a peach color. 

I am happy to see this one developing; more here!

New Projects

I have a nice stack of new fabrics hanging out on my desk right now!!  (also my first order from Burgundy Buttons -- I had a great experience with sale prices, fast shipping, and have already found myself stalking more of their fabrics!!)

The top one is Java Lotta Steam Cream -- love this name and the subtle darker brown swirls in the cream color!

The next ones are from Breakfast at Tiffany's -- I selected Elegance Party Dress, Classic Champagne, Lovely Party Dress, and Lovely Champagne (not sure which is which honestly and too lazy to look it up).

I started to grab a few other colors.  Mostly pinks and the brown with tiny flowers for a background.  By this time next week I am hoping this will be forming into another Tulip piece!

I also lucked out to find my teenie tiny sewing machine shop was having a sale on a few left overs (which I think will incorporate nicely into some of the ideas I have bubbling in my head).  Can you believe these were $1 a yard?  $1. 

Most of the browns will be going toward Gingerbread House aprons -- doesn't that sound cute!!  And I am putting together a yellow and blue wedding quilt as well which, I am thinking the yellow in the stack will make a nice binding.

Confetti 

AND... call me crazy, but I started playing with scraps... these just jumped on to my cutting mat..

...measuring 1 inch by 1 inch.  very tiny!

...starting to play with arrangement

 

...and I am excited and happy with this sort of confetti quilt forming!  Don't the little squares remind you of confetti?


Finished!!

Blooming Tulips 

Yup, that's right, Blooming Tulips is my first official finish of 2011!  You can see more pictures and read the full story here.

 

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WIP Wednesday Total: 2
New Projects: 2

Finished Projects: 1
Total WiP's: 3 -- finished one, added two!

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---