Beautiful Friday

it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
Yesterday it was so stimulating to get together with the girls.  Linda had made some really gorgeous stitched picture things with cigar silks.  I get so many ideas when we get together.  Also very yummy apple crisp with ice cream and coffee!
I started quilting on my grandmother's flower garden late yesterday afternoon.  I had earlier done a little outlining of the straighter areas to get started. As it happened, I decided to just fill it all in with meandering.  This is my default choice, when I can't think of what else to do.  Rather, I can think of other ways to do it, but then I quickly evaluate whether I would be willing to put in the required time.  So, I would love to have the hexagons all outlined by hand-stitching, but I know right away that it would take me years to do that, and by the end i would be just pulling my hair out (okay, not literally, since I like having hair).  Then, I repeat my mantra, "Finished is better than perfect". 

one thing I took for show and tell to our coffee get-together was the clock I made at the workshop last weekend, made out of cardboard, paint, and embellishments.  I was excited to do this project, because it was similar to another clock I have, which I got in Kalamazoo a few years ago:

There were some amazing clocks made at the workshop, and one of the other participants figured out the accordian pleated shutters, so I hope she doesn't mind my using them as well!  The basic design for the clock is by Charlotte Lyons, and there is a possibility that she might sell kits to make such a clock from her etsy shop, i think,  She has also written a couple of great descriptions of the workshop, which you can find at her blog: house wren studio.

 The bird motif is everywhere, it seems, and these are some cute owls on this flannel:

 But right now, I am loving wool!

Messy Desk

Okay, my desk is chaos.  I was so eager to make more fabric birds when I got home from the workshop in St. Louis, that I started to make them immediately.  Then, I had to finish off my cuckoo clock from another class, so I pulled out more stuff.  Then, today I brought home various sorts of paperwork from the store, and started an order on the laptop, which happens to be on my hand-work desk as well.  That's the explanation for all the clutter.

 I must say that it is fun to make birds.  I don't know why, it just is..  what i'll do with them, I'm not too sure of that either.  Soon I will have birds all over the house. 

 The only drawback to today was that the cold, rainy weather continues.  However, it is better than yesterday morning when it was SNOWing!!! I tried to look for the beauty in the snow, and noticed the different colors of the emerging leaves of the maple and plum trees in the back yard. I'm not sure if you can see that in the photo, I took it through the window, as there was no way I was going out in the snow.    

Oh, I noticed that the community Garage sale for Asquith is to occur this Saturday.  If you are in town, why not drop by and say hello!

See you in St. Louis, Louie

I had been mulling over the idea of going to a workshop in St. Louis for a few weeks now, and yesterday I decided for sure to go!  I do like visiting cities that I've never been to before, and St.Louis certainly fits the bill. The workshop has some crafty sessions, and also some lectures on "business of creativity" sort of things.  It is at the end of April, so I don't have too long to wait. I thought it would give me a few new things to think about in regard to the store, and how to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers!
I love the ability to do things online.  In 2 hours I had registered for the workshop, bought plane tickets, and reserved a hotel room.  So, I'll be sure to take my laptop with me when I go and do a blow-by-blow description of my time there, so that you can vicariously attend too!