Happy Halloween!!!

Let me introduce you to my little friend…….

Here is a”little” visitor we found on the driveway the other day.

 Very seasonal don’t you think?

And here is his friend……YiKes!!!

Happy Halloween from blooming poppy land!!!!

summer randomness

Butterflies fascinate me!!!

The girls and I returned from a few days away to find that our caterpillers had been quite busy.

I have been trying for a good three years now to witness the metomorphosis without having to buy one of those butterfly house thingies. I thought for sure we could see this everyday miracle happen in nature, with just a little help from our local nursery.

So we bought the  milkweed and as always, the butterflies came, the caterpillars hatched, and ate, and ate, and ate!!!  I can’t seem to keep enough milkweed in the yard for these voracious little creatures.  But alas, one lonely, very chubby caterpillar remained- I don’t know where they disappear to- and we came home to find him suspended from his chosen leaf, ready to wrap himself up.

Fascinating to watch.  Next time I’ll have to set up my tripod out there.  I’m so intrigued!

The next morning when I checked on this little guy, he was already wrapped up in the most beautiful and mysterious shimmery green coating.  A miraculous yet common occurence!! Yes I’ve seen it dozens of times in my lifetime; at the museum, in a classroom setting,  but this time it was in my own backyard!  And now what?  This caterpillar is doing what it’s born to do, change into what an entirely different being….. who’s really still the same being.  That’s really intriguing isn’t it? Or maybe it’s just me that finds that so fascinating; now that I think about it, it is me, not my young daughters, running out to check the status every morning.  Ha!! whatever…

 Anyway, the wait begins…we check on him daily and observe any changes.  I’ll have my camera ready for his big debut!!  Aaaahhhhh, the simple things……..

In other news, I have made some progress on my yet un-named but rather nautical (not intentional) looking quilt that is currently taking up space on my design wall.

I’m kind of digging it so far. I think the colors make it look sort of flag-like to me; uh not sure about that aspect of it,  but I do like the design.  I think this will have to be my last quilt with this color combo.  It’s this weird obsession I’ve had lately that I feel is nearing it’s end!

These ultra straight lines have been quite challenging for me but I love that I’m practicing a new quilting/sewing skill.

This type of quilt seems to demand a real shift in my creative process that I kind of like.  Just like I use both hands depending on my everyday task, I use both sides of my brain for different creative tasks.

This is a very measured and calculated design, much different from most of my quilts.  But I love how it still feels very intuitive and creative.

I wonder if it’s a bit like that for  caterpillers.  Their process too, is predictable and measured yet intuitive; one that leads them to start with one thing and end with something completely different and beautiful.  I like to think that that is what we quilters and in fact all creative types are doing as well.

some pre-summer sewing….

i’m so excited to have finished another garment!  two more in fact.  although i enjoyed the process, it was a challenge.  as a design as you go sort of quilter,   all that notching, gathering and precise cutting is a bit out of my comfort zone.  however,  i love the way this summery dress and top came together.

knowing that school is almost out for the summer, puts me in the creative zone for some reason.  these cool cotton outfits are just perfect for long, hot days of summer fun.  the girls have been asking for some new, “mommy made” clothes.    unfortunately, my newly 5 year old is a tad too big for these two.  oh well, back to the sewing room….  

these lovelies here are for sale in my etsy shop.

stream of consciousness

This was a color combination I was really into a while back and started having some fun with.

This is a REALLY bad picture of the result of continuing with this idea and color combo. I wasn’t sure where to go with these, but knew they were not going to become a quilt.  They went into the “pondering pile”.  A place where many projects go and are never seen or heard from again…

You know how an idea hits you like lightening and you just “get it”?  Well that recently happened with these pieces.  I just had to get them out again and see what i could do.  I added some more white sashing and started quilting.  The pieces were so random that I decided first on random quilt lines.

I hated it at first and realized the only way to save it was to fill it in with 1/4 inch lines throughout.  Needless to say, that is still a work in progress.  This piece feels so chaotic that the other two felt like they needed some organization.

So this is what came from that……..  I really like it!

Here is the third and final piece.  My favorite I think.

One of them is bound and waiting for the hanging sleeve and the rest are right behind.  I’m not in love with this binding and am in search of a better method; a less visible one.  Anyone know of one?  This is new to me.

I’m excited to see them finished and hung.

baby it’s cold outside…..

baby Braiden arrived a few months back.  i have had this really rich, modern, hip idea in mind for his quilt/very late baby gift.  these fabrics have been clumped together on my shelf for quilte some time, however, I, being the procrastinator that i am, am just now getting inspired on a design.

i love these prints and can’t wait to get started!! i guess i should be sewing right now……..

sick day #3

the girls and i are going on day three of being home and sick.  nothing against curious george, but if i never see another episode it will be too soon!!

although today is cold and cloudy, thankfully yesterday was glorious outside.  they were able to muster up enough energy to go out and play for a bit.  this lovely fairy house is proof that even when sick, children’s imagination and ability play creatively can still be alive.         even after 8 episodes of curious george- ugh!!

unsure…..

Well here i go into this weird, new world of blogging.  this is a phenomenon i just learned existed only last year i think.  now that i have discovered it, i realize i’m into it.  i have gained so much inspiration and pleasure out of browsing other quilting/crafting, art blogs.  it has awakened the very sleepy writer in me and i thought i’d give it a go.

thanks for stopping by, not sure how anyone will actually ever find this blog but i’m guessing that will evolve as time goes on.  okay, enough of this i’m off to sew.  working on wonky stars!!!!