The New & Improved Studio/Family Room

My blog buddy at Quiltfever commented recently that with all we’re doing to the house, we’d fall in love with it again. Not exactly, I am so ready to move, but with all the editing and reorganizing, I am remembering why we fell in love with it and bought it in the first place. And I hope that loads of potential buyers come and feel the same way.  ;- 0 Peter looked at the redesigned space and said that the family who buys the house will go out and buy a pool table and a huge T.V.!

I thought you might like a tour of the new/old basement area. It’s one of the big reasons why we bought it. The realtors here call it an “English basement” because of the windows. (I don’t know if that’s Midwestern?) Here is how my sewing table can look – like a side board. It’s a Koala table and I just love it.

However, I don’t plan to close it; I think with a quilt hanging over the edge to disguise what is under it, it’s quite a pretty sight. And I do want to sew. I really miss the design wall, but otherwise it’s very useable.

This area is for games. We had the electric fireplace in the livingroom, but needed a focal point downstairs and this does the trick. The table and chairs, with fresh cushions, used to be in my parents’ kitchen, and was in ours for many years. In this house, it’s always been a game table.

Here is the computer area. I was going to put this all away and then realized that most families want and need such a place, so it’s been compacted. The shelves beside it hold what’s left of my scrapbooking supplies. Turns out that I am not much of a scrapbooker; I use these supplies for cards and gifts.

And here you see some of my fabric stash. Quite amazing, isn’t it? (A few of you have actually seem my studios over the years and I bet you are stunned at how tidy it is.) I have endlessly folded fabric. Some went on these shelves and some went in boxes. Now you see it….

And now you don’t! I am aware of how overwhelming all of my “stuff” looks to a non fiber person. It’s too much! I spent quite a lot of head time after I decided to make a curtain trying to figure out how to attach the fabric to the shelves without drilling holes. Then one day when I was wandering around Joann’s, I came across Home Decor Velcro. One side is sticky to put on the furniture, and the other side is sew-on to attach to the fabric. To make sure that the fabric hangs nicely, I made a pocket in the bottom and put in a piece of wood for the weight.

We are “entertaining” realtors this week. We don’t have one in mind, so have invited several in to give us their idea for a price and their strategy. We’ve never done this before, and it’s been interesting. I must say that our hard work was rewarded!!! The words “pristine” “move-in ready” and “immaculate” rarely pertain to a house that I inhabit. One of the realtors asked if I had the house professionally staged. When I replied that I had done it, she said that I could do it for a living. One of the others said that the livingroom looked like it was out of a magazine. ;-D Still smiling about that one. I’m done bragging now, but it was really great!!!!

Breaking Up With…

…tots! When I was little, we ate many dinners at the local “dairy bar” owned and run by dear family friends. Everyone ordered french fries but me, I liked tater tots. Since those long ago times, I’ve never found a place that doesn’t serve them dripping and soggy with oil…until recently. I really, really like fried foods but I think this is the year to cut down on them.

…my bangs. I have had bangs for many years, but Peter will tell you that lately, they have been driving me crazy. My hair has turned into what I remember as my mother’s fly-away old lady hair and consequently my bangs want to curl and frizz and misbehave. The hot Chicago summer of 2012 as well as travels in warmer and more humid where-to-live-next trips convinced me that I need to grow them…… {I hate to grow bangs}

…my untidy habits. Although I know where everything is, I am messy and I make little “nests” where ever I perch. This is where I sit in front of the T.V. It doesn’t look too bad as I have been simply hooking recently but there is generally some hand piecing stuff as well as magazines and books near my spot. Can’t be messy with the house on the market.

…our house. I have longed to move for several years now and it just hasn’t been the right time, but this is the year! Though I am anxious to be gone, this house has been wonderful. And I am always sad to begin the process of de-personalizing and “sterilizing” our home for realtors to scrutinize and buyers to consider. Now begins the process of saying good bye…

So here you have some of my resolutions, mostly dealing with The Big Move. What’s in or out for you all in 2013?

New Christmas Decorations!

It’s hard to return from a cruise in the Caribbean and immediately feel Christmas-y.  However, I have been digging out decorations and here’s what’s new this year. I was happy to hang this new cross stitch piece! I used to do a lot of cross stitch, but that was before I started quilting and rug hooking. I still enjoy doing it, but I am slow to complete projects. This is an old pattern from Birds of a Feather who do not make cross stitch patterns anymore. I did not pay attention to the color of fabric the directions suggested and now I am sorry that I chose a lighter one. Santa’s beard is hard to see and there is supposed to be a snowman between the trees. I started to stitch him and he was invisible. Next time perhaps I should lay the threads on the fabric before I start. Because I was sorry about the snowman, I stitched some beads to look like snow.

Many of you may think it’s stupid to buy Christmas sheets, but then again you may have never gone to all the trouble of piecing a Christmas quilt. ;-D I am quite fond of dots and these flannel sheets from Garnet Hill look wonderful with the quilt.

I have NO business buying any more Santa’s, but I cannot resist. I have only bought one this year…. I like this rocking, plane flying guy. Peter loves to fly radio controlled airplanes, so this is for him. {ha!}

For those of you who may be keeping track of my unfinished projects, I did finish one that I thought I would save. In the Summer, I put a warp on my loom for Christmas rag runners and here are three of them! I was experimenting with the width and I think they may be too wide for a regular runner as we have a narrow table.

However, for the snowman, who like to spend December in the dining room, the width is quite good. There is lots of room for them to cavort and entertain us while we eat.

Here is an unexpected decoration this year – the Christmas Cactus is blooming! I can’t even remember when I bought this plant; it may be 5 years old. Of course it was blooming when I brought it home – it has been growing and I have transplanted it several times. Who knows why it decided to perform this year and at the proper time. One of my favorite Santa sits in front of it.

Outdoor Winter containers are very popular in Chicagoland and I took a class several years ago to learn how to put one together. Here is this year’s effort. I change out the decorations and usually, the greens look good well into March.

Hmmmmmmm…it’s beginning to feel festive around our house. Now if it would snow…..

Caribbean Cruise!

Peter and I have been away the past week, on a Caribbean Cruise. It’s been a crazy busy year because of Peter’s new job which has included lots of travel and my where-to-live-next-trips. It seemed like a cruise was the way to be together and relax for a bit. We chose Holland America’s Westerdam and hoped for great weather and lots of fun things to do.

The first stop was Grand Turk, of the Turk and Caicos Islands. Here is the view from shipboard. There’s not much to see, but the temperature was wonderful and the sea such a lovely color!

Happily, we’d signed up for a little excursion, which we enjoyed very much! We were driven to one end of the island, where we received instructions on how to paddle a kayak, and we set off down a little river. The kayaks had glass bottoms so we could see what was below us but the river was so shallow and clear it really wasn’t necessary! We had a great guide who told us all sorts of interesting facts about the watery wildlife.

One of the first things he showed us were hard to see at first. He kept talking about jelly fish and pointing in the water and I was seeing nothing that looked like the jelly fish I have seen. In this photo, look for the lovely 8 pointed green star-shaped things; there are at least two. They are jelly fish! They have hairy tops so they look like algae or plants and underneath is the part that puffs out like jelly fish do. We did see some swim and they look odd, with their waving branches on top and their bottoms puffing in and out to move.

The river has two kinds of mangroves growing along it. One of them has these roots growing in the river by the shoreline which is how they get their nutrition. I thought the spikes and algae made such a lovely pattern and it’s a safe place for tiny fish to hide from predators.

This little pond was set up to show us what little beasties live in the waters of the river. The sea washes in, so they are all salt water creatures. The guide said that sometimes you can see stingrays or sea turtles, which would have been very fun! The long dark things are sea cucumbers. The guide said that some people ate them, but he never had. We groaned because we ate them when we lived in Asia – and found them absolutely revolting!!! The only thing to do was to chew them quickly (and they are very chewy and plastic -y) into small enough bits to swallow. You can also see  two types of sea urchins as well as the funny jelly fish guys. There were beautiful conch shells everywhere but they were not allowed on the ship.

We were required to have some margaritas and lunch after our strenuous kayak trip and then it was time to get back on the ship!  ;-D

A Raft of Turkeys!

When the realtor and I drove up to a home in Hendersonville, SC this was the sight that greeted us! There were two dozen or more turkeys. I wish this photo were better – the turkeys were so brilliantly colored – but it was pouring rain and they were hurrying into the shelter of the woods. I was delighted and said “What is a group of turkeys called?” and she said a flock. I doubted that and checked when I got back to my room. How could such beautiful turkeys be simply a flock? They are called a raft or a gang! Of course once you get going on this idea, you have to read on. Here is a website for the curious, about group names.

A group of monkeys is – - – a barrel !!! Yes, it is actually their group name. They are also a troop, but I bet that’s only when they are behaving. ;-D

Did you know that cats have a group name? How did I not know this?!?! They are a clowder or a pounce. And kittens are a litter, a kindle or an intrigue. This particular kindle includes Big Boy, Little Boy and Caraway, whom we kept.

The classic book on this topic, which I used to have and seems to be gone, is An Exaltation of Larks. It is beautifully illustrated and would make a great gift. The one I have linked to seems to be an updated version of my book, which includes fascinating group names such as a pocket of quarterbacks and a shrivel of critics

I was just at the grocery store, picking out a turkey for Thanksgiving. I wonder what a group of frozen turkeys is called….

To Steve….

If you are an Apple or Steve Jobs fan, check out the Apple site. 

Thanks so much Steve, you have always made my heart sing!

xox

It’s a Sticky Business!

This week’s to do list has been suffering, because of interruptions. It’s a good thing though. Late Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, with the weather cooler and the farmer’s markets full to overflowing with wonderful produce. It’s time to can! Don’t these peaches look great?

Not so much! We bought them on Saturday, rock hard, and I have been waiting for them to ripen. When they did, I went into action, canning our favorite winter treat – spiced peach halves.

I make a very light sugar syrup and put the peach halves into it as it warms on the stove top. This also keeps the peaches from browning. When the pot is full, I scoop up the halves and fill the jars and then pour the hot syrup into the jar. The little trick, that I learned many moons ago, is to add 3 -4 whole cloves. Seal them up, process in a boiling water bath – easy peasy!

We don’t open the canned goods until after Christmas to celebrate the beginning of winter and it is such a treat. The peaches have sat marinating in the cloves and they have a hint of spice in each bite. Several peach halves with cottage cheese is truly delightful! Peter calls the peaches “Summer in a jar”.

Also on Saturday, I found a stall with very nice looking pickling cucumbers. Obviously most people do not know what to do with a pickling cuke and so the ones I had seen at other markets were spoiled and nasty looking. I eyeball the length of the cuke – I want it to be about the length of a half pint jar. No point in wasting it. I enjoy making these pickles as it’s the easiest recipe I’ve ever found. They are spears, so I cut the ends off and slice them. Into a bowl they go, covered with boiling water for 2 hours.

As they sit, I make a syrup recipe, with vinegar and sugar and spices, and I get that boiling. After 2 hours, I drain the cuke spears and pack them in warm jars. I’ve found it’s easiest to pack with the jar on its side. I keep a knife nearby to trim the ends that may be too long. Then I fill the jar with boiling syrup, wipe the rim and add the lid. After the jars are processed in a boiling water bath, they cool for the night.

This morning I wiped the jars clean of sticky juice and labeled them. I “designed” these on My Own Labels. Now all the peaches and pickles are in a dark closet waiting for January.

And next it’s time to clean the cooker top and mop the floor. There is gooey business everywhere, it seems. It takes several buckets to really get the stickiness off, but it is oh so worth it.

An Enormous Thank You

It’s been a really fun week on the Blogosphere. After I posted my Henry Ford travelogue on Monday, I received an e-mail from the WordPress crew that it was chosen to be on their home page, which is called Freshly Pressed. I was stunned. The post was up there for about 24 hours and it was amazing. Previously, my biggest day had 98 readers and I still have no idea what caused that. WIth the exposure on the Freshly Pressed page, I had almost 1000 readers in two days, from 12 different countries!

Lots of people “liked” the blog and many also commented. One lady was at the museum the same time that we were and many had stories to tell about cars or Michigan or Indian weddings. It was a real hoot sewing in the studio and listening to my computer bing as people left comments and “liked” the post.

I want to thank the WordPress folks for thinking my blog was worth such an honor.

Thanks to those of you who regularly read my blog and particularly those who comment; it’s nice to hear your voices.

And welcome to my new followers!

I am still smiling…..

Visitors Coming & Boy’s Room Completed

Peter’s nephew, his wife and great nephews #3, #4 and #5 are coming to visit today and I have been madly cleaning! I am a terrible housekeeper and since we so rarely have visitors, it doesn’t matter to me what state the bedrooms are in. One thing on the list was to finish the “boy’s room” that I started. You saw it with the new shelves and wool arranged in it. We went to Ikea and got a nice twin bed and here it is!

The fabric draped over the wool shelves is going to be a curtain that will cover the shelves. The people looking at the house next year do not need to see my wool collection and it will look so tidy. The little nine patch quilt over the bed is one that I made awhile ago. I guess we should call this The Ikea Bedroom, as it is framed in a shadow box frame from there!

Each bed

and sleeping bag has at least one quilt draped on it and that pleases me very much.

Although I call myself a fiber artist, I am a craftsman at heart. I have always loved to make beautiful and useable, useful textiles. Peter and I like to wake up under a handmade quilt, walk on a hooked rug in the hall and spill milk on handwoven placemats. Though I understand art quilting, and I make lots of things to hang on the wall, I have never understood their disdain for anything useful! I also hope my niece in law takes a good look at the quilts being used. I have given each of her boys a quilt but she refuses to use them – she says they are heirlooms! Believe me, I do not make heirloom quilts for little boys, I made them to be loved to tatters. We’ll see!

P.S. I just made my annual donation to The National Quilt Museum in Paducah Kentucky. Peter and I went there some years ago and it is a wonderful place. Though all the quilt shows are super, at the museum you can get so close to the quilts, you can really see all the wonderful work involved. I was a docent at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum when we lived in Colorado and I know first hand that keeping a quilt museum going is very difficult. The big art museums are the first to get federal dollars and grants and then there is less and less money as you go down the list. Think about a donation and do visit!

Free Fabric Friday: florals

Though the weeds seem to be thriving in this unpleasant weather, it is too darn hot to work outdoors. The basement/studio area is the coolest place to be and so I have been weeding down here. Periodically I go through my fabric stash, wondering why I bought a particular fabric or thinking that I will never use this print again…

The first group of fabrics I am thinning is the florals. I started collecting them when we lived in Tokyo and the watercolor quilt craze hit. I think I had a watercolor quilt on my design board before we moved back to the US. The next time I bought a bunch of florals was in Evergreen, when my quilting friends wanted to make watercolor quilts. We did a big trade of 2″ squares, and I remember again a quilt taking shape on my design board. I really do like watercolor quilts and I have no idea why I have never gotten one made.

I like florals, but it turns out that I don’t often use them in quilts! Don’t know why. So I thought I’d have a giveaway. Here is a nice wad of florals and perhaps it has your name on it! Included in this group will be some Liberty of London lawn prints. The Japanese quilters love Liberty fabric and I collected many fat quarters there. Leave a comment for me about how you might use these happy fabrics and I will choose a winner on Wednesday.

And – even more exciting news than a fabric giveaway – online registration for Quilt Festival in Houston begins on the 9th!!! Yippee!