Creating, Remembering... and Thankful!

Did you ever just have the need to create something.  Like you can't get the thought out of your head and your fingers are just itching to make. to do. to be alive?

The power was out yesterday for a few hours and in the quiet my fingers led me to needle and ribbon.  Which quieted my mind in a way that hasn't happened in sometime and I reflected.  

I feel like serving as a soldier could be a similar type of calling.  Just something inside that screams out that they need to protect, to serve, to stand for freedom. 

I admit, I'm a military brat.  Dad, Mom, Step-Dad, and both Grandfathers served in the military.  Army and Navy represented here.  I still cry and get weak when I hear the national anthem.  I still beam with pride when I see a soldier in uniform or the American flag rippling in the wind. 

And today, this weekend, everyday really... as we are enjoying our sunshine, bbq's, time with family, our simple happiness... let's reflect on the men and women who have secured that freedom for us and the friends and family that support them, and thank them for all they have done! 

Wednesday WIP: A Few Almost Done's

The summer-like weather pulled me outside for the most part and you can see how we spent that time tearing down a wall.  I still somehow managed to put time into The Lake and it's just about ready for binding!!

 

--THANK YOU!!--

I'm feeling like such a lucky duck after winning a $30 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop from Bethany over at Sweet Bee Buzzings!!  Thank you Bethany for letting me indulge on a bunch of fabric!!  It was such a treat to pick out ones I liked without a specific project in mind!  And the fabrics came lightening fast... it's always a pleasure to shop at Fat Quarter!  And as I promised... here is what I picked out:

{from the top down}
1/2 yard of Wood Lawn Batiks in Antique Beige Shibori ... I'm thinking it's the perfect binding for The Lake
1/2 yard of Desert Springs Batiks in Cool Blue Watercolor Texture
.875 of Cocoa Bery Brown Bonehead (skulls!!!)
1 yard of Prince Charming Aqua Dandelion
1 yard of Scandinavian Christmas Cream Tiny Toadstools

--GETTING BINDING--

{At Sunrise}: Confetti Quilt - I still haven't sewn down the back of this binding...

 

 

{The Lake}: Landscape Quilt - I made a ton of progress on this piece and in fact... I think it's nearly ready for binding!! 

--PAUSED--

• Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson
• Spinning Starlets {English Paper Piecing}
• {Your're My Sunshine}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 0

Finished Projects: 0

Total WiP's: 5 (same as last week)

Mail Call!! {Name Swap Quilt}

I got a package all the way from Australia!!

Cute peppery polka dots... what could it be... hurry open it already!

I restrained... and opened the card first.  And then it hit me... duh!  This must be from the Name Game Quilt Swap that I joined over at Samelia's Mum!

Isn't the picture on the card just amazing?  There was a beautiful message inside from my secret partner... who I now know to be Cassie from Cassthecoolest!

Squee... so I couldn't wait a moment later.  I took the hanging from the plastic baggy... and began to unfold it and wow!!  Just wow!! 

The pleating, prairie points, sun shape, and orange are just so me me me!!  I can't wait to hang it on my wall!

Cassie, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to make something handmade for me.  It warms my sewing room and will make me smile often!! 

Thank You {I Was Featured}

What a great first week of the year... who needs to end a year with a bang, when instead it seems you can also start the year with big BANGS!  I've always been told I'm loud.  Ha!

I want to say a great big huge thank you for the features I was surprised with this week.

Have you been to Homework before?  I honest to goodness can't leave that blog without wanting to make about a zillion and five things.  Well, I was so very excited to hear that Carolyn got a sewing machine for Christmas.... bet the results will be amazing!  Oh, and she has featured my Sisters Are A Plus Quilt -- sawweeeet!

And that's not all... I have also been featured over at Fabulous Friday Linky party hosted by Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust.  Well, I guess I should confess that really Sammy stole the show with this one.  Michelle also featured my Sisters Are A Plus Quilt, but chose a shot with Sammy performing her inspection duties. 

Edit to add: Sisters Are A Plus Quilt can now also be seen on  Eat, Grow, Sew where Kelly hosts a really fun month long party for all things Cooking, Growing, and Sewing.  And if you haven't seen Kelly's scrap busting Shrinking Squares tut... it's a must check out!

Thanks so much gals --from the bottom of my heart <3-- for helping me start up the year with a BANG!

And as a special bonus here's a little puppy running and romping to start our week off right! 

Creative Tuesday: Thank You / Thanksgiving (#46)

It's Creative Tuesday and gosh I haven't fit this creative stretching in since September.  Whoa! 

Wondering what a Creative Tuesday is?  Every two weeks we grab our pads and something to color with to create for the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment -- neat, no?

This week's theme is Thanksgiving or Thank You.  I could be really literal for the holiday or just express a gracious feeling in my rendering.  Well, I have to admit that I still have logs and firewood on my brain and that's all that kept coming out in my sketches.  So, I embraced it. 

Here is the pen ink drawing.  That's Katie on the left and Sammy on the right.  Yup, the golden retrievers that rule my existance.  And this looks a whole lot like a certain picture from this post I think, but you be the judge.

And in the spirit of trying new things and the whole creative stretching I decided to color it in both with GIMP (a GNU image manipulation program -- free to download) and also with markers and color pencils. 

First up.  The version I colored on the computer. 

I do like the way I can audition colors for different things with GIMP.  I also like that I can have any 'ole color I can dream up in my coloring box.  What do you think?

And here is the more traditional markers and color pencils version.  I have to admit that the coloring of the pups didn't come out nearly at all.  They were a lot more yellow/golden in my version, but again I'll embrace the way it was scanned.

And because I can't stop mucking with things.. I took the marker and color pencil version back into GIMP and added a canvas texture.  Oh, this stuff is just so much fun!!

And I do apologize if I didn't get the words just right.  I was sketching along and then realized the instructions asked for either Thanksgiving, or Thank you -- geez, can we just chalk it up to getting back into the swing of things?  I'll try harder next time :)

I hope you consider joining in this or the next assignment (really hope you do) and please take a look other artists in the community here.   

All is Well

I wanted to let you know all is well here.  Irene is out/done and aside for wetter ground and a few lost trees we made it through very well.  Katie and Sammy wanted to thank you for your thoughtful comments and prayers!!

We have a bit of clean up to do and some new firewood to cut and split, but I will be back later today with my Creative Tuesday: Ideal Coffee Break posting.  Muah!

Are You Still Having Problems Commenting?

I was seriously still having problems commenting on one of my computers.  I came across this post from Halsey at Spunky Junky today and I'm cured!! 

I wanted to share the cure with anyone else who is not able to post a comment.  Ready, here goes....(picture from Spunky Junky)

Yup.  Totally worked for me!  Totally made my day... and I can't wait to run around to all the blog posts I starred in my blog reader to finally go back and comment to my hearts content.  You can almost bet you will hear from me today... I can comment as me now!!  Spread the word!

Hope you are having a great Monday morning.. I know I am now! 

New Office Adornments!

I have been a lucky happy gal with a few amazing things hitting my mailbox recently!

Mostly, I would like to say a big thank you for the goodies I am enjoying!

Just look at this oh so cute calendar from Sugar the Golden Retriever!  I smile each time I look up from my computer and see your adorable balancing nose there.  Thank you!!

I also was the lucky winner of not one, but two orignial posters from MJ over at Wander Wander Discover

Isn't her husband talented?  I am so inspired when I see them starting my day!  Thank you very much!!

I mean just look at the colors and detail!

This one is still hands down my favorite! 

Says lots about how we are treating our planet on daily basis and it really resonates with the tree-hugger side of me!

How cool is that earth and the brush strokes!!

You can see more Right Brain Terrain work here... fun to check out all the posters!

And there you have it.  Lazy start to the week for me. 

I do have some exciting progress to share with you about Confetti (quilt), the breakfast bar in the house is spackled, primed and ready for real color -- it's bold... and I am ready to post the first materials list for our totally cool Sew-a-thon! 

Plus, I even have a valentines origami tutorial this week -- I know.. thrilling, chilling, shilling and grilling!!

Hope your Monday is rocking your socks!

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!!

I got a SURPRISE box!!

I had a cute little box in the mail.  What an amazing feeling to get a surprise from a friend!

  

This book fell out of the box.

 A notecard was tucked gently in the book.  Isn't the stationary adorable?!!! 

But, more importantly...  Cynthia, thank you so much!!  You really made my day and I can't wait to dig into the book!

XOXOXO!!