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Archive for the ‘Good mail’ Category

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A Little of This, A Little of That

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

It has been one of those days. I managed to get a lot done, but it was a fractured day. I started out by washing out my dyed fabric. I have some mixed results with some of the browns. I used a new dye called mink which has a very reddish tone. I like it, but not exactly what I was looking for. I will try the hot cocoa or chocolate next time. I also did not do the greatest job mixing my dyes so I may have to do some over-dyeing. The Pimatex fabric is really great. I love the quality of the fabric, and it takes the dye very well. Thanks, Lisa, for turning me on to this fabric.

I am in love with the ecru on the left. It is the one perfect piece that I needed.

This is Robin’s Egg Blue. It is not as strong a turquoise and I love it, love it.

I got myself cleaned up and went to geezer day at New Season’s Market and stopped by Trader Joe’s for some necessities. When I arrived home, I found some great mail. I bought 3 items from the SDA auction and they arrived today.

This is a piece by Rayna, I love the colors in this. I love how she uses text as a design element.

I love the enchanting work done by Natalya Aikens. So, I was thrilled to win this little piece. Her pieces are best appreciated in person so that you can see the wonderful stitching and handmade beads. This is layers of tulle cut in different shapes producing this lovely image. It is titled: Сумерки/Sumerki/Dusk. You can see a better photo of it on her blog.

My third purchase is this amazing book on felting. I hope to do some of the projects after I finish my current project.

I frittered away some time, ironing fabric and photographing my goodies and finally I got around to quilting the Sunrise piece. I have to head out tomorrow to get some thread for the water. I don’t have anything that works.

Posted in Dyeing, Good mail, Quilting Friends, This and that | 6 Comments »

A Good Mail Day

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Since yesterday was a holiday for the USPS, I received a pile of birthday cards today. Amongst them was this delicious post card created by my good friend Karoda.This is so beautiful with text, paint, handstitching, yum! Thanks!

And this arrived from Hawaii from my virtual quilt daughter, Kristin. Isn’t this the cutest pin cushion? Thank you!!

It is sitting on a pile of books in my studio. I am going to take these to Powell’s book store to see what I can get for them. I am in the midst of rearranging my studio. I am liking the new arrangement, but it is taking me forever to get it done. I hope to get it in order to start some creating tomorrow afternoon.

Remember this scary site?

Well, look at who showed up on the UPS truck today. She looks like a brand new doll. She had her hair done and got a cleaning plus getting her new arm. She is wearing a hospital gown and wristband and is carrying a get well balloon. How cute is that? Miss Mia is coming after school tomorrow to take her home. Mission accomplished!

Posted in Family, Good mail, M & M, studio | 4 Comments »

The Celebrating is Winding Down.

Monday, October 13th, 2008

Steph made a delicious dinner last night. We had artichokes for dipping before dinner and beef stew with noodles and salad and bread for dinner. I picked out my own birthday cake at Baker and Spice, a bakery owned by the daughter of our friends, Cheryl and Dave. It was an almond cake with mascarpone frosting. It had 7 candles. Isn’t that a cute cake bearer? The cake was delicious.

I need to rewind back to Friday. I had been to critique group with Terry, June and Mary. When I arrived home, I found a pile of packages. Here is my embarrassment of riches.

Judy, one of the co-conspirators of my birthday blog, sent me one of her fabulous Complexitees. I stood in the kitchen, whipped off the top I was wearing and put this on.This is not a great photo, but you can see it on Judy’s blog, where she says it is for a sale at her church. Ha!! Thanks, Judy!!

In the next package, I found this wonderful little house quilt wall hanging from my doppelganger friend on Long Island, Dee. I just love the colors in this — brown, turquoise and lime green. This is going in my bedroom. Thank you, Dee!!

Last, was a box containing a multitude of delights for a fiber artist. It was from another of the co-conspirators, Jeanne, who does not have a blog. She lives up in Washington State. There was a fabulous, embellished felted bowl with beads and yarns and beautiful buttons. I thought about trying this as a hat because it is so cool!

There were gorgeous hand-dyes.

And vintage Japanese fabrics. These will all be put to good use. Thank you, Jeanne.

On Saturday, Mr C and I drove out to the Erath Vineyards for the Cellar Society tasting and picked up our wines for this quarter. It was a gorgeous drive. We could see Mt. Hood from way out on the Western Side. You can just barely see it, if you click on the photo, it is just left of center.

Here is a closer view. But, it is only half of the Mt. there on the left!! Ha!

OK, now here is a great shot taken on the drive home.

I love taking photos of the elusive mountain.

On Saturday night, Mr C took me out for a nice dinner.

Thank you to everyone for making my birthday special.

Posted in Eating out, Family, Good mail, Out and About in Portland, Quilting Friends | 6 Comments »

Good Things

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

We have had pretty lousy weather for the last few days. When it gets overcast in the summer, I wilt. I need the sun for energy. This afternoon, it came back, and it was lovely.

I have had some good things going on, despite the weather.

Some Good Mail: I found a manila envelope in the mail yesterday from my blogging/complex cloth friend, Kathy Sands. She saved hundreds of dryer sheets and dyed them. Then, she had a contest to guess how many there were. I was way off, but she sent me some anyway!! I am going to find some fun uses for these.

I had forgotten that I ordered Laura Cater-Wood’s new workbook -Idea to Image, Tempting Your Muse. It arrived last week, and I am looking forward to using it to get my creative juices going.

Trying a New Technique: I have been itching to try rust dyeing. I love the look of rust dyeing combined with indigo. I had a scarf that I had done last year in the Indigo Dyeing class which was sort of wimpy. I decided to try rust dyeing with it. When we dismantled our bathroom for the renovation, I hung on to the expansion metal pole with baskets for shampoo etc, because it was rusting. I have wrapped the scarf around it and secured it with steel wire. I soaked it with vinegar water. I will keep it damp for a few days and see what happens.

Shopping for the Bathroom/Closet Renovation: We are getting close to the end of the bathroom/closet work. Yesterday, we ordered some FLOR carpet tiles for my little walk-in closet. I chose the heathered, brushed felt in dusty turquoise. I am in love with this and can’t wait to feel it under my bare feet.

Then, we headed out to the Container Store to order the fixtures for my closet. A very perky and competent designer plugged the closet measurements into the computer and away we went, designing the storage that I need. There will be shelves able to hold 50+ pairs of shoes, 12 feet of hanging storage and four drawers, plus shelves for miscellaneous stuff. So, it will be similar to this, but a different configuration. Mr C is picking up the elements and will install it after they get the new closet floor done this week.

So, lots of good things to be happy about. M & M and their parents are camping until Wednesday and I missed them this week-end. But, I am happy that they are out in the woods having a good time.

Posted in Bathroom Renovation, Dyeing, Good mail, indigo, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Fired Up and Ready to Go

Sunday, March 2nd, 2008

I spent the last two days getting stuff put away and cleaning up my office and studio after my 6 week online workshop frenzy with Liz Berg. I still have to do my final project, but I couldn’t even think in the mess I had created. Mr C came down and swept, vacuumed and washed the floors in my studio.

cleanstudiofloor.jpg

Yesterday, I went bopping out the back door to take Maggie for a walk and tripped over a package on the step. It was from my quilt daughter in Germany, Kristin. It contained a beautiful Polish pottery cross. It is not like any other I have in my collection so I was thrilled to see it. I also loved the card which was designed by Victoria Cole of Two Hand Design.

polishcross.jpg

The family came over for dinner tonight.

sundaydinner.jpg

I made another tagine dish. This was lamb with lots of Moroccan spices, butternut squash, carrots, peppers, onions and apricots. It was sooo good, served over couscous.

lambtagine.jpg

We had strawberries and grapes for dessert, accompanied by Waldmeister gummy gnomes, which were in the package from Kristin, for Mia and Miles. They have the flavor of woodruff, which is used in Germany to flavor May wine.

fruitdessert.jpg

We have had lots of sun over the past week or so. It rained quite hard yesterday, but who cares when you get sun breaks, too.

Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Family, Good mail, studio | 6 Comments »

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