Sunday, November 30, 2008

Quilt Swap



I finally have a chance to post the quilt I got from my swap partner! Wow! It is so beautiful. Anastasia (my favorite name) of Fabricpile did such an outstanding job - using vintage linen and the most wonderful ginkgo leaf pattern (I used her photo, as my lighting just didn't do justice to my photos). Check out her blog to learn more about how she came up with this idea! She also sent a bunch of other goodies - like tea, chocolates and a vintage lace table runner! What a fabulous treat!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving Fun!








We had a wonderful time at my parents house on Thanksgiving Day! It's about 1-1/2 hours to their house. Luckily, it wasn't a snowy day - it was gorgeous... first we pass over the mountain, then we go through Virginia City (an old gold mining town in Montana), we're greeted by a few neighbors on the way up to their house and finally we're on top of the world. From their house you can see the entire valley - then after a wonderful dinner with family and friends we walk down the road for a nice leisurely stroll! Great Day! Hope yours was, too!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Me Me - 8 Random Things - long post!



I'm not really good at this sort of thing - I've done some before where I answer specific questions but listing 8 random things about myself is a bit more difficult... But, at the request of Jewelgirl - I will do it! (I don't know why the last few are crammed together...Blogger won't let me fix it!)

1. I do not like to shop. Period. If I had my way I would order things only online and have my groceries delivered... I don't mind going to the quilt shop or the bookstore - but please don't ask me to shop for clothes or to go hang at the mall... sometimes a trip downtown is pleasant - during Christmas Stroll, Sweet Pea Festival, Art Walk or to visit one of the many local coffee shops.

2. I did not want kids - EVER... I used to babysit when I was younger - some of the most bratty kids. I swore when I was a senior in high school (1978) that I was going to be a 'business woman' or an architect - never a mom! I did go to college to be an architect but alas - life stepped in, I met a guy and ended up with FOUR kids. The marriage only lasted long enough to have kids then I was gone. I wouldn't change the kid part for anything! I adore them.

3. I hate spitting. There are very few things I can't handle - especially after raising 4 kids by myself! But I draw the line at spitting. I know it's disgusting to mention this but if I have a pet peeve, this is it. If I have to spit, it makes me gag. If I hear someone else or see someone spitting - especially one of those gut-to-throat-thick-nasty-ones-that-end-up-on-the-ground-where-I-walk-and-then-accidently-see-it-kind, I pretty much always produce a 'baby barf'.... you know what I'm talking about. Enough said.

4. I adore vintage fabric, fiber, lace, buttons, etc. When I see something like this and get to touch it - it makes my hands tingle. I've always had dreams about finding vintage goods. The first was that I came across an old vacant house out in the middle of nowhere. I stepped inside and it was like I just stepped into the 1800's. There were old quilts, old clothes, awesome furniture... the second dream was that I was out in the woods (where I grew up in Northern California) and I came across an old, wrecked stagecoach (I like stagecoaches)... I found a trunk and opened it and there was a whole bunch of old jewelry, dresses, quilts, etc.... ok. I'm really weird. I did, in fact, have my dream come true in a way. When my grandma died (at age 96) I got a trunk she had kept in her room for ever and ever. She kept all kinds of things like old letters, jewelry, dolls, photos, dresses. As the eldest grandchild I got this trunk. It's like a time capsule. It's wonderful!

5. I love history - especially women's history. There are two things I'm particularly interested in - the 1920's (I think I was alive then) and the California Gold Rush (I think I was alive then, too).

6. Kandinsky (see pictures above) is one of my favorite artists. Yes, it seems odd since I really like vintage style, but his use of color and abstract sends me! Along with vintage I really like mid-century modern - I could totally live in a Neutra house. His style is the type of house I designed when I was in my architecture phase! There is actually a Neutra house in Bozeman, Montana. I drive by and dream I could own it!
7. I have never been to Disneyland or World. It's ok, really. I even grew up in California and never did the Disney thing. But we always did fun things like camping, hiking, swimming, and going to Yellowstone Park. I have really never been anywhere cool - like Mexico, Hawaii, or Europe. Nothing. I did go to Canada a few times. I have been to eight western states - that's it. I want to go to an island, to Paris, Egypt and Ireland.
8. Even though I mentioned above that I hate shopping - especially clothes shopping - I love fashion design and couture clothing... and I dress like a frumpy old lady (one of the goals I have to change about myself...). I always check out Fashion Week during the Spring and Fall Collections - and go through each designer to look at all the clothes. You can check it out here!
You'll have to check the archives for past seasons, because there isn't a show currently.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Thursday, November 20, 2008

My Doll Quilt




Here is the quilty I made for this swap! I've never really made a traditional-type quilt. I tend to make more non-traditional art quilty type pieces. I decided to try this for my swap partner. Hope she likes it! I added a little Christmas angel dolly to the package!

A Christmas Gift



I participated in a Holiday Inchie Swap... I love this wreath I got in return! Thanks Marylin! You are so creative!

More Swaps




I wasn't motivated by my paper supply so I decided to make Debb, my swap partner, a Thanksgiving 'paper' doll out of fabric!

Catching Up




I have joined a few swaps lately. Today I received my Thanksgiving Paper Doll and ATC from Debb - how very lovely and festive!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Quilt(s) Giveaway - Not mine!!!


Here is a great opportunity to win one of three quilts... check it out! Go to http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Pay it Forward









I think it was this past April that I left a comment on Lisa's blog regarding a Pay It Forward she was doing. Little did I know I would be the recipient of this wonderful gift! Included was a beautiful art quilt - fabulous! A wool bird - perfect to hang on my Christmas tree - and a cute little holiday ATC, plus a handmade card! WOW... thank you so much Lisa - I promise to do the same and 'pay it forward' in the very near future!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Thanksgiving Paperdoll/ATC Swap

I have joined this swap - it will be nice to have something to display for Thanksgiving!!!


Tuesday, November 04, 2008

To be fair - here are the boys


The boys are on the right and left - this is a band photo... their drummer is in the middle... Picture Me Perfect in on hiatus for awhile...

Monday, November 03, 2008

Please remember to ~

I made this courtesy of http://www.redkid.net/generator/soup/sign.php

2 Scorpios


Here's the oldest (25) and the youngest (10) ...and I've got 2 boys in between! - both girls have autumn birthdays - a week apart! Happy Birthday sweetie girls~

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Textile and Quilt History


I have loved textiles, colors and design since I was a small child. I remember being about age 5-6 and wanting to wear a pink dress with red tights... my mom had other ideas! I loved designing houses - and did so, starting about age 7. I actually understood 3-dimension and floor plans and I created fantastic home designs. I also loved paperdolls and fashion design, spending hours with paper and pencil creating the most fantastic outfits... Instead of spending my money on candy, etc. I used to beg my parents to take me to this little office supply store where they had a drafting/architecture section. I would buy triangles, scales, protractors, and such!
Ok, I was odd. I knew I wanted to be an architect and went through high school and three years of college with this in mind. However, things change - I did not end up being a designer - though I worked in that field for a few years! Now I get my design/textile fix buying fabrics, perusing interior design stores and creating small quilties and crafts.
I had the opportunity the other night to attend a Quilt/Textile Study Group at the Museum of the Rockies. Wow. Words cannot express the experience! If you are a lover of such things you would have been overjoyed. We got to go down to the storage space of the museum and look at over 20 antique quilts - some that have never been seen by the public (just by the former owners). Some of them dated back to the 1700's! I didn't think to bring a camera, but a few others did, so I might be able to share photos at a later date~ one of the attendees is a very knowledgable women who owns a local reproduction fabric store! What a wealth of information she is. Please check out her online store and website! If you click on the Dargate Book on her site you will find the story behind this little treasure seen above (photo by Margo Kramer of Reproduction Fabrics) ~ the curator at the museum was very interesting as well~ I feel truly fortunate to have been able to participate!