Old Family Quilts

I'm finally beginning to sort through old family things that have been stored away for far too long. Last week I found two old quilts on the top shelf of a little used closet. They need a home... I also have several old quilt tops that I have to decide to keep, get them quilted, give them away, whatever...

The first quilt is made for a double bed. There is only one bad spot that I can see. Easily repaired.

The back side of the quilt has a blue floral fabric that's been handquilted.

 

 

 

 

This quilt has a neat hand tied stitch in the colored stripe. The backside is very attractive.

Random Tile

Earlier in the spring I had fun creating tulips... on mirrors, on picture frames and one tile. I wrapped the tile in bubble wrap and left it on the display shelf... found it last week. It's an orphan... mine until next spring...

Off to the Roadshow

My friend Barb asked me several months ago to enter the lottery drawing for tickets to the Mytle Beach Antiques Roadshow. Would I win tickets? Probably not, but the drawing was on her birthday in May, so I felt pretty sure she would win. Sure enough, she won the tickets. Since the deal was which ever of us won tickets, the other would get to go, I knew a trip to Myrtle Beach was in my future. The Roadshow was last weekend, and a fine weekend it was to spend at the beach. Barb has friends everywhere. We got to stay with her friend Ann at her parents cottage at Sunset Beach Friday night. A truly lovely location complete with a friendly owl hanging out in a tree beside the house.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early and on the road to Myrtle Beach. Found a good place for breakfast and headed to the coliseum at our appointed time. It was a total blast to watch from the parking lot people emptying out their cars of all manner of things they hoped would be the proverbial treasure... most of them probably not, but it made for some entertaining moments.

Nothing like having those green tickets in hand to be assured of the adventure that is the roadshow. We were admitted with our tickets to the first of many lines. There were many interesting people to chat with standing in those lines. No shortage of people wanting to share what they'd brought just in case someone might have an interest... the button from my great-great grandfather's civil war uniform was a standard issue button, used by both sides.. value $10.00.. at least I know. The gift of a silver tea set from my aunt proved to be more valuable, but nothing that should be sold at this time... guess there will be more silver polish in my future... one of the show's sponsors, Subaru, hauls from show to show this fabulous 1968 sedan that boasted 66 miles per gallon. Even today the style of the car holds up. Wish it were availble with some of the modern safety features. I'd buy it! Every aspect of the roadshow was well done, people were friendly and helpful. Coastal PBS was a great host! Maybe next time I can win tickets and take something else in hopes of finding my treasure in the attic!

Raising the Roof

My studio has been largely maintenance free for over a decade. Small things, but nothing to be concerned about. I"ve been watching the left side of the building subtly change for the last few months. A hole in the wood over the window, the window glass fogged up, and then I looked up at the roof. There wasn't any big "ah ha" moment, just a realization that under the collected leaves, the roof was in bad shape. That point was driven home two weeks ago today...

I was working in the studio early Friday morning enjoying the morning rhythm when I heard the first clap of thunder. Fine, a morning thundershower. That can be good background music... oh was I wrong... shortly after the rain started I realized I was hearing the rain a little too clearly. Glancing over at the window, it was raining in the studio... over the window, down the wall, between the walls, and puddling on the floor.... yikes!

My good friend Arlen always takes care of my repair problems. And he did this time, just a week and a half later... he was on his way out of town. Those horrible storms last weekend? Yep, I mopped and mopped. Ended up ripping out all the old floor tiles and am about halfway finished installing a new floor. In the spirit of an adventure, I cleaned a lot of junk out. Gave away the old ware cart my Dad built and replaced it will a sturdy metal shelf on wheels. Dismantled the old light box table that was from my stained glass days over two decades ago and hauled it to the landfill... very liberating...

Yesterday morning Arlen came to rescue the roof. After consultation, the decision was not to remove the existing roof, but to put a metal roof over top of the old roof. Cheaper, faster, shinier... hey, it glows driving down the street as I approach..

It was neat watching Arlen line up the cut pieces of metal.

Probably need to be thinking about the color I'd like to paint the exterior. Something that looks good against shiny... thinking something in a nice blue or green, something with a good pop of color... better get some color swatches...

Now I have to get the partially cut down tree removed and get my bottle tree up... also need to plan good flowering choices to accent a shiny roof. Might as well add a new door to my want list....

Girls on the Wall

It's been a few years since I've made wall vases... always been a form I like to explore. This time around I decided I was going to work with pattern and keep the colors simple.

I used to joke with customers that my wall vases were more than just a pretty face. Then I'd hold one just like it was a baseball bat and pretend to strike at an imaginary object. I always said in case of an intruder, you are not helpless. It's easy to use, and in one whack, the art is gone, but so is the intruder... ha! Let's hope it never comes to that, but it made a good topic while people were perusing my wall art selection...

This rebirth of my wall art seems okay. I'm about ready to put it out for people to view and comment and maybe even purchase. Hopefully the girls will find their way to good homes. I've been fumbling around in the studio for quite a while. Recently everything has begun to click...                     

Making Crackers...

I knew there was a reason I took a class about making pies. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to bake a pie. Nope, it was because I want to bake excellent crackers! Here's the start. For a first attempt, they were pretty tasty, and will certainly improve with practice.

The ingredients are very simple. Flour, good olive oil, your choice of herbs or seasonings, salt, pepper if you wish, and water, cold water. The thing I learned from the pie class that was so helpful? What "shaggy" dough looks like and what it means. Shaggy is the first stage of true water incorporation into the flour, the beginning of forming a ball. At this point of mixing the tiniest drops of water are all that's needed to have what the mixture requires. It's helpful, but not necessary to know your way around a rolling pin... and the one thing I don't have, a silicon mat for rolling. Okay, I'll spend the money for that before I make them again. Thinner dough will produce a better cracker.

The other part that makes me smile is the cost savings on making crackers. The crackers I buy at Whole Foods cost about six dollars a box.. maybe more, and now I see that box holds about 20% of what my recipe will produce. The cost for my crackers yesterday? About a dollar and I suspect I can honestly say that includes the electricity to bake them too. Can't overlook my time investment either. About an hour... no kidding. Cracker futures are looking really good...

Wandering in the New Year...

Life is a journey down an open trail. If you're lucky, the trail is wide and the scenery is pleasant. I think I am finally back to the place on the trail where I left off a few years ago. Hopefully the path will be familiar and the walk enjoyable. I feel blessed to say that I've carried the load I was handed, perhaps not as gracefully as I could have, nor as willingly as others before me.

It is my time to make what I can of that walk down the path. I am trying to change aspects of my journey and use the gift of patience I have acquired. I can thank the universe for good friends, and for the understanding of how to be a good friend. I have been given secrets to keep, and have kept them all secure. One day I hope to be able to give them back. 

Now I am opening up myself to allow for the changes that will come. It's appropriate that the beginning of a new year should be the start. I am ready. My arms are lifted and my heart is clear. Begin...