Vegetables and Herbs Get a Start!

On Sunday, I did a different kind of sewing ... I was sowing... as in planting seeds.  With spring now here, I got the gentle nudge I needed to get my tomatoes, hot peppers, and herbs going.  Can't wait to get the big outside veggie garden going this year!!

I am pretty sure I saw this idea somewhere... but not sure where it was anymore, argg!  I used nearly thrown out paper towel and toilet paper tubes cut into small sections to form seed pots!  I'm excited that I can even plant these right into the ground with the baby plant.  Neat, right?  And cheapo!!  And recycling!!  The plastic trays I used are also recycled as they are what our chinese takeout comes in.

Other ideas for recycled/green pots came from MB at EarthHuggy -- she uses reused take out containers, yogurt cups, and even makes origami newspaper pots that can be planted right into the ground!!  My mother in law even said I could use eggs shells -- as in break them in half, (use the egg for a yummy breakfast), and then rinse the shells, fill with dirt and plant!  The shell adds calcium to help the plant grow!! 

I start my tomatoes and herbs early and here is a look at what I planted so far!  The baby tomatoes are new this year and I'm happy to have found jalapeno seeds before they were all sold out!

So, two trays, two paper towel rolls and two toilet paper tubes worth of planters.

Filled to the brim with dirt.  Ran my fingers around the tubes to clean the dirt off them and be able to see all the sections again.

Grabbed a few pairs of wooden chopsticks that we keep laying around.  Split them apart and then broke them in half to use as plant markers.  (so I can hopefully figure out what plant is what)

I just used a small sharpie marker to write the plant names on the sticks.  

Isn't dirt just beautiful?  Seriously!  And the contrast of the white tomato seed is just marvelous!

Here is today's Monday quiz (I totally just made that up randomly!) .... ready? .... what kind of seeds do I have in the palm of my hand?  They really are tiny tiny!!

-*-I may even have a little something to send to a few of you if you get to the correct answer.  Anyone can play!-*-

Check your seed packets for planting depth and then just tuck them all in to their respective spots.  Here are my two trays sown with seeds and watered.  Grow baby, grow!

In true Describe Happy style, we will be checking back often to see the progress they make over the next few weeks.  You can find a few of last years seed posts here and here .  It looks like I am starting my seeds a full month ahead of last year -- which is wonderful, I was a bit late getting things started last year. 

Here is a peak at some of the new additions planned for this years garden.  I haven't yet measured to see exactly how much space I need for everything, but I am certain I will be creative in finding the space I need!  I also want to give carrots and potatoes a try.  I wonder what on earth a carrot seed looks like.  Ok, I'm a nerd... I googled it and there are so many different types.  We will have to take a closer look at the ones I pick up later.

Oh, and did you know you can simply plant a potato eye in a mount and it will make potatoes?  I had no idea.  Shows how much I have to learn.  I think you have to use certain types of potatoes... anyway I am looking forward to the challenge of harvesting my first potatoes this year! 

I am hoping to get in some needle and thread sewing tonight.  In the meantime, get your hands in some dirt soon if you can... it's great happiness therapy!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Happy Moment #21: Dirt Flinger and FNSI

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

I also got a great dose of sewing in last night for Friday Night Sew-In!  Remember I tweeted that I had pinks, green, and blues on the cutting mat?  Well, here is what I was up to.

I had my green apple twists at the ready for noshing.

Here is the stack of fabrics I pulled in the beginning.   I'm surprised that I did end up using most of them.  And yes, that's a mix of batiks, solids, and printed quilting cottons.

Another look before I dove in.

I had a Harry Potter moving on in the background as I measured and cut, counted the number of pieces I need and started to arrange and re-arrange different color combination. 

Figured out what I was working on yet?

If you guessed flowers or tulips... you are right on!

Near the beginning of the year I finished a tulip table runner that I adored and then I couldn't find the pattern I used.  So bone-head of me.  Well, long story short... I wanted to make another tulip runner for my mother in law and lucky I ran across this flower block from Kari at The Fresh Cut Blog.

The design is a little different from the original I was using, but I think I may prefer the slight changes!  Here is what a finished block looks like from the instructions.

So, I got to work chain piecing the different parts. 

It's sort of adorable.  I told Mr. Happy I would be participating in the Sew-In, and at some point he called over and said it was really quiet in my room.  As in, I wasn't sewing yet.  Cute, right?  I told him... I'm designing.  And sure enough.  Once I had all the pieces in place.... my sewing machine roared into action. 

Enough to make him shut his door.  Ha, poor thing!

Here is the first flower!  And yes, I was a bit lazy with the ironing last night and just skipped that step.  shhh, that will be our little secret!

The second flower.  So pretty!

As the night rolled on, I felt like I could stay up and probably even finish the whole runner.  Delusional of me.  
About 11pm, I had this on my table.  The blue square is supposed to be sewn against the colorful strip.  Sigh, that's when I knew my night was nearly to an end.  Tired eyes and mind were setting in.

I decided I would finish up the block and call it a success.

Here is a look at the five flower blocks I made last night.  I took the shot this morning in the sunlight!  I still have to add the green leaves on the bottom sides of the blocks to call them complete.  Then I am thinking of how to assemble them... adding a border... and what the binding will be.  

I'm happy to make a lot of progress on this one.  It's been on my work in progress list for nearly three months now.  Long over due to get a move on it!!

Hope you enjoyed your sewing time as well.  Today, the sun is shining and I have dreams of raking out a garden bed or two.  Hope you have a wonderful day loves!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

{please help} for Japan with Love

my heart still breaks for Japan.  I'm still finding myself teary and getting that lump in my throat when I face a news article or open a picture of the devastation.

it's my favorite place to have ever lived.  I have fond memories of big hearted people, customs and traditions that have shaped who I am today, and you can still catch me slightly bowing a hello to a person passing by. 

it's cold over there, and too many people are without electricity, water, food, shelter and more.

and on top of that, many have to deal with the loss of loved ones. 
I can't even begin to comprehend all that they are feeling and facing.

I am determined to do everything I can to make a positive impact.
{and you can too!}
I have decided to participate in Bloggers Day of Silence tomorrow March 18th. 
with that my blog will be silent tomorrow,
as in no posts, in honor and respect for what has happened in Japan.

You can read more about the efforts of Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours who have paired up to create and launch

For Japan With Love

Have a beautiful day tomorrow.  Hug and kiss the ones you love.  

I'll be sewing late into Friday evening as a part of Friday Night Sew In and back here with a Happy Moment and my sewing results on Saturday!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Katie Dog Days: Romancing Spring

Katie and I want to welcome you in from Suzy Sitcom (if that is how you are finding us today); it's an honor to be featured there!!  Come in, take your jacket off, get comfortable, and have some sun tea and cupcakes!! 

Today is all about Katie, the almost four year old golden retriever the mister and I share our lives with, and her adventures outside.  With the snow melting there are lots of good smells to take in, she can get up to a full speed run again, and she may have eaten a stick or two.

For Katie Dog Days I try to follow Katie as she romps around and fully experience what she stops to see... it's truly an eye opening thing to see the world from the pups perspective.  She really knows how to enjoy the small things and her excitement for those small things is really contagious!  Let's see what she found today!

She couldn't pass up the moss that is starting to spring back to life.

A sniff. a snort. laid down on it. then off she went.  The moss is soft and was really nice to sit on!

She found a few more bulbs peaking through.  These were randomly in the backyard.  Maybe the doings of a squirrel or chipmunk?  It's really adorable how she appreciates flowers!

Like I shared yesterday, Katie is still savoring the last bits of snow.  She dives straight into the pile, lays down, and eats the snow. 

I must have snapped her mid-chew.  What a funny face!

It looks like she is taking things in and trying to decide which way to go next.  And who doesn't love that little cute tongue sticking out?

Ohhh. I've been spotted.  Yup, I'm definitely getting the mom, stop stalking me with that camera look.

"Ugg, will you just please come play with me?"

"Mmmmmm, this snow is such a delicacy!!  Do you want to try some?"

"I think I will take my next meal right here.  This snow therapy is exactly what I need to sooth my muscles!"

"What do you mean you won't bring my dinner out here to eat al fresco?  It's warm enough.  honest.  Just put on your fur coat like I have."

Her attention was drawn to the sky and she watched the geese fly over head.  She is a meant to be a bird hunting dog.  Guess that sort of thing comes naturally.

Have you noticed that any color looks so darn pretty right now?  It's been a long winter of grays and whites.  Just look at this bright green moss on the side of a large rock.

Even this rusty red popped in the backdrop of grays. 

As our adventure was coming to the end.  She plotted up the stairs, but then stopped mid way.

More sniffing. ears up. tail curled. snorted the smell out and kept on going.  Looks like a squirrel enjoyed a quick snack here on the stair. 

Katie that was fun! 

She always reminds me to slow down.  Take a deep cleansing breath -- release it. slowly.  And enjoy what is right in front of me.  After all, isn't that what life is all about? 

Hug the ones you love today and I look forward to sharing some time together soon!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Central Park Pinwheels is Finished!!

Pretty fun to share two finishes in one week!

Truth is, this quilt has been more or less finished for a few weeks and I just had a bit of binding to finish.  Then I was waiting for a little bit of day light to be able to take pictures.

It was worth the wait!

This quilt all started when I bought a charm pack of the fabric Central Park (Moda) and learned the quick technique for making half square triangles.  The rest is the result of playing with color combinations and fabrics on hand. 

The center of the quilt or 'Central Park,' if you will, was the result of several charms being too amazing to cut into.  I wanted a way to display my favorites --uncut.  With a bit of sashing between the squares it started to look like a garden or zoo with walkways in between to take in the beauty.  What a fun design it was turning in to!

The back became just as wild as the front.  I even followed through with the same 'sidewalk' idea using the big brown strips.

I really like how all that color can live together in harmony in this one quilt.  That makes me a really happy camper! 

Isn't it surprising how at home the quilt looks in a tree?

Here is another look at the front.  Funny now, how that rock looks like a pillow and the quilt makes up the bedding.  I must be really tired this afternoon.

This is a better look at the backing.  This whole design, back and front, was made up from my imagination as I played with the squares and made more and more pinwheels.  Fun to see how organic designing can take shape and become a 'real' design after some time.

And I couldn't resist a rolled up shot to show off that glorious hot pink binding!  I adore how it adds a splash of color and still manages to tie a lot of the design (front and back) together.

Yes, my assistant was close by, as you would expect.  She has been savoring the last of the snow piles and was diving from pile to pile as I walked around the yard looking for places to snap photos.

She provides a constant reminder to live in the now, enjoy what is right in front of you, and don't take even the small things for granted.  I had forgotten how much fun the last bits of snow could provide. 

If I could manage to live through her eyes more often I am sure I would be a better person!

You may have also noticed the new button on my side bar for the Bottled Rainbows Quilt-a-long. 

I am taking the plunge and joining now that I just realized (only just today -- where have I been), that this is a ticker tape quilt ... very much like Confetti Quilt that I made earlier in the year.  Also, this is a leisurely quilt-a-long.. as in no pressure, enjoy the ride, let this be therapy for me style.  Sounds like perfection to me!

I have my solids on the way and will begin playing with and organizing my scraps.  I am hoping to make the my first block this weekend.  Can't wait to share the progress!

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6
New Projects: 1 ~ Bottled Rainbows Quilt-a-long

Finished Projects: 2 ~Tribal and Central Park Pinwheels
Total WiP's: 6 ~ down 1 from last week with two finishes and one new addition.

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

I will also be joining the Friday Night Sew-in fun this Friday 3/18 with the amazing folks signed up at Handmade by Heidi.  The idea is that you carve out some you and sewing time on Friday... and make a whole lot of progress on whatever you have brewing! 

You can still hop over and sign up if you are interested... it really is a fun time if you have been wanting to try one!




日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Tribal Quilt is Finished!

Tribal has been an amazing journey for me and I am quite happy to share this finished quilt with you!  Just look, the snow has almost all melted and I am taking outdoor shots!

It all started with a friend handing me a box of fabrics from the trunk of her car almost a year ago.  I poured through the contents of the box and adored all the new treasures that had come to me.  I first used the fabrics in a wild and crazy chair seat recover. 

 

I knew when I got the fabrics that I would be making a quilt, but this idea marinated for nearly a year in my head before I finally had my ah-ha! moment and knew what design I wanted to use to show off these bold and very textured fabrics.

Enter Melissa from Happy Quilting and her Happy Quilt-a-long!  Once I saw the pattern, I knew it was ...the one!  I have happily followed along from the fabric selection, to cutting, to learning a disappearing 16 patch block, then making the corners.  So much fun!! 

And this was also my first quilt-a-long -- what fun to see all the other fabrics come to life in this design and chat with others making the same thing!  You can see more at the flickr group here.

The fabrics in this quilt range from:

• very light/thin cotton - terracotta colored squares and brown-white-and blue squares
• normal quilting cottons - lightest brown squares, black and white squares
• linen - white squares, and chocolate sashing
• thicker almost interior design weighted fabric - leopard print, dark green squares, white textured squares, and light brown sashing

The textures are what really make the quilt unique.  I was nervous using all the types of fabrics together... would it be too thick to cut or quilt?  Would they lay nicely together?  Would I be able to iron everything and make the seams like I want?  ...so many worries.  In the end, so silly to worry, as it worked out just fine.

This quilt is the kind that you want to explore with your hands... the feelings under your finger tips range from buttery soft, to velvety, to sturdy ridges.
 

I used a higher loft batting to compliment the heavier weight fabrics.  The result is a very warm, heavy blanket that could beat off the coldest day. 
 

I also used that pre-made leopard print binding (one of the treasures from that box of fabrics gifted to me) and I couldn't be happier with how it ties the whole design together.  It's like living on the wild edge!!

Between the fabric weight, batting, and very soft sheet I used for the backing I didn't want to fight making an elaborate quilting design.  So, I went mega-mega simple to "let the fabrics do the talking."  It's a simple stitch in the ditch around each of the larger squares (all the diagonal lines).  

It works nicely and adds a bit of fluff and cushion to the quilt!

The finished size was right on track with what Melissa had in her pattern -- about 51 by 68 inches in her 3x4 block design.  I also have to admit, that this is the first quilt to come out of my sewing room that is actually pretty square.  Another first for me!

All in all, I am head over heels in love with this quilt.  It's so me with the neutrals, but the wild and crazy twist in fabric patterns and edgy push in use of all the fabric weights. 

It's warm and snuggy, and just the right 'cuddle with a book size'.  However, this quilt will probably have a new home in early April.  I originally made it with the intent to gift it to the same friend that gave me the box of fabric.  And if she loves it -- it's hers. 

You can see this quilt progress through various stages through these posts:
First introduction to Tribal quilt fabrics and design
Cutting all the squares for Tribal design
Making 16 patch squares
Cutting and reassembling 16 patch squares
Finishing the sashing and a look at the top for the first time
Assembling the top and the first look at the binding
Katie's (the dog) quality check of Tribal
Hand sewing the binding

The last step will be to wash it.  I can't wait to see it in its crinkly goodness!  And that's it. 

I am already planning to make another quilt using this same design.  The next one will be larger and I am excited to say it will be the first quilt I am making for my own Mr. Happy.  He has asked for manly neutrals in the range of  'Katie color' ... must make it so that dog hair isn't overly obvious on it.  Can't wait!

And, yes, I have another finish for you tomorrow.  Central Park Pinwheels is all ready for her big reveal!!

-- I am joining Fabric Tuesday at Quiltsory --

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan