I Like Thursday #194

Welcome to this week's list of likes.... and looking for things to like keeps us more content.
I liked the purple flowers that bloomed this week on bushes in our yard.
And the little white flowers too

I liked sitting on the front porch after a hot walk...

Milo:  Oh my dog it's hot! I try to find shade but there isn't much of any. This sun is going to fade my black naturally curly hair and just try to find hair dye!! (joke, no poodles are dyed around here)

AS I was saying... I liked sitting on the front porch and hearing a loud bird's song. We looked all around for what must be a flock of birds, and this fellow was it.

We enjoyed the concert.

My friend Sonja in Hawaii sent me a link to this musician who's dog helps her play... even DH sang along with her on this one! I bet I could finally play the ukelele if that dog helped me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHXD7ntVaGY

I missed Survivor so I watched all the "Ponderosa" (where the cast offs go to party while waiting for the end of the show)  videos this week on youtube

I saw Leslie Jordan on Watch What Happens Live and fell in love with his southern giggle and irreverant but always kind patter. I enjoyed an hour watching his twitter videos, didn't have to join twitter just clicked on each video to hear them... so cute
https://twitter.com/thelesliejordan?lang=en

He is so unique.... why do some people try to fit in so much they lose what makes them unique and charming? Read this cool post https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com

I made my own pattern for a kindle cover this week, and used these to color the elastic holding it

I really love all the colors and they have a lot of ink for fabric!

so I remember to love myself too

Speaking of the kindle cover,  I made myself use some favorite fabric altho there is very little left...

I'm reading more E books mostly from amazon prime, but when I feel like putting up with 10 screens, our library. Some are on the ipad kindle app but some are on my older kindle which they no longer make a cover for. I hoped it would be sturdy enough to hold it like a book (used peltex inside) but it's still a bit floppy.

but pretty, no? I used one of those gold stretchy chords that come on chocolates to close it.
More sewing on Saturday's post, and paintings galore on Friday's post too. Y'all come back!

I enjoyed sweet potato "tots" for lunch one day

In honor of my friend Diann at Little Penguins blog  penguins at the art museum video

and this is one reason why I liked Oz... plus it was in color.....
snip
L.Frank Baum was a socialist. And he wrote: “There were no poor people in the land of Oz, because there was no such thing as money, and all property of every sort belonged to the Ruler. Each person was given freely by his neighbours whatever he required for his use, which is as much as anyone may reasonably desire. Every one worked half the time and played half the time, and the people enjoyed the work as much as they did the play, because it is good to be occupied and to have something to do.”
cool

MILO's MOMENTS

 Milo here (finally) I have been taking care of Mama while she was in studio this week. I am very good, and try to be quiet but sometimes I sigh, or huff! when it's just too boring!

Mama: Milo! I told you it's okay to stay downstairs and look out the windows
Milo: And you yell at me when I guard the house and bark! Who wants a yelling Mama? I have sensitive ears Mama... and a sensitive heart. I'm just trying to keep people away after all.
Mama: Oh my darling... I hear you, and appreciate you but the barking makes me jump out of my skin!
Milo: You're welcome!
Now sit! Stay! Visit with these people keeping lists too!


craftscaviescontras 
  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://littlepenguinquilts 
http://homesewnbyus 

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/
  maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com 
http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/
http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com  
  http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/    
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/      
 https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/  

https://100sweets.blogspot.com/

LIKING WITH
viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/
 http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/
rosie and the boys nature pics  

http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ 

http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com

http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

we are the world

I usually try to entertain and uplift but today I'm so sad.... please love others enough to save them... we are all important and worth saving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f31dWK_BS9o

if you still don't believe this is a "big deal" just look at that baby in the video... sick and reaching out to be held in the hospital

if you can wear a mask in public, do it. Everyone can wear a mask in public.
if you can keep your distance from others, including family members who live in other places, do it.
You can TOO do it, yes you can,  as it's passed quickly from person to person and one never knows who a loved one has contacted.

If someone is coming toward you on the sidewalk, veer away don't just keep walking within one foot of them because you don't think you can get this. Or give it.
And stop making nasty comments at me while I veer away in my big game of frogger.

The virus is contagious days before symptoms start, that's so the virus can live and continue, it has a survival instinct too.

I've heard people say they are pro life but they are okay with thousands dying a day from this

I also know most people who come here, are doing all they can to help...

starting a new week...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oa7lRDCV2c

I love you....


linking to
https://comedy-plus.com/ Awe Mondays

Sewing Saturday

I made some dark green lozenge blocks this week...first cut scraps and get organized

sew on corner squares, and make tiny HST's with the cut off bits... only 1 1/2" square

now what to do with this month's hst's?? I added in some whole dark green squares to make 6 larger sawtooth star blocks

join them with more little dark green squares.
64 tiny hst's, 48 tiny squares, to make the top which looked very unfinished at 8" X 14"

what if I added a strip section?
Unbalanced...
back to the machine

still needs more...

now we're talking... I can add in some little white blossoms, some grasses, some leaves and with the quilting it should look springy!



















Now I have two pretty pieces on the design wall to quilt!

when I went to pack away the lozenge blocks I pulled some of the other months out to see on the wall

I didn't pull out all the colors as they are all so close in value, light and dark greens, light blue, turquoise, orange! but it's going to be interesting.

I also finished a small art quilt this week, doing a painting lesson in combo with quilting: post here

It was almost a totally improv week. I never measured the hst's so they are a bit wonky, the strips are done in an improv way, let intuition lead the work. I have a poster in the studio that says get out of the way and the art will make itself.
Not exactly but I get it!

Linking with
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  
Midweek makers wednesdays
design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays
oh Scrap Sundays 
 scrap happy Saturdays

paint party plus!

what makes this paint party special is I did a combination project with quilting.

I took a lesson from Thirsty for Art. She said paint a picture without thinking about content or product, just let your intuition guide you.

this happened. Next write words that come to mind when you look at it. I wrote words like eternity, flow, crossing, curves, continuance...
Next she asked us to write how we felt after making the piece... harder...
in a nutshell I said, calmer. Surprised. Satisfied meaning I didn't want to change or add anything.

I was surprised at how nice the process felt. I used a flat brush and watercolor paints on paper.

The activity was so intriguing, I thought I would like to try it in fabric. I work in fiber most of the time although I often paint on it too. Fabric is my paint... I approached the activity by saying I would just take what was in my fusible backed scrap bin, and build something

It was much harder than painting to me for some reason. I usually start with a concept and I was to go with intuition this time. I built it on a silicon sheet, pressed it and then could lift the whole thing in one piece. I decided to put it on black fabric,

then quilt it with metallic threads with peltex instead of batting. The whole piece is 12" square

intuitive stitching too

 I pulled the black fabric over the edge to the back to finish it off,

metallic threads, free motion, programmed stitches on a curve. Gold lame

and then added beads

If I asked the same questions, words that come to mind when seeing it
Greek antiquity, curves, moons and hearts, curves, flow, movement, eternity... some same words!

How do I feel after making this?
well... I don't love it. I liked making it, but it doesn't resonate with me as I like to start with a concept or feeling. I like parts of it a lot. I love the curves, I like the columns and the beads. I like the colors on black.
It has no title and I'd say most of my work gets a title when I think of what I want to covey before I start.

The teacher also had us paint a circle to do a mandala on... I'll show the circle, but it's not finished as I am not comfortable drawing on it yet. I sketched out many icons to use, and now I want to make quilted mandalas too! 

what ever we make informs our next piece doesn't it? Everything we experience and learn takes us to the next discovery

LINKING WITH
http://www.rainfrances.com/p/thursday-art-date-with-rain.html
off the wall Fridays
tgiffriday
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/
http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/  

I Like #193

"you are getting sleepy... sleepy... drop the cake!"

 Want to caption that photo for me???

Welcome to this week's list of likes... always something to like out there... for instance I was grooming the poodle this week, and the scissors fell off the table merely grazing my foot.
Just imagine how that could have been different...

We'll start with how nice it was to have a sweet smelling, tidy soft brushed out trimmed poodle again!

It was so hot here, I just trimmed him right down and look how skinny he is!
Milo: I like it! My collar is almost loose enough to come off on walks, heh heh, bunnies look out!

we wash our fruit and veg with vinegar when we get it home from the store and it looked so pretty on this spring towel. I HATE to waste food, so when our other bananas went too soft this week, I looked for and found my fave banana cake recipe, "sour cream, chocolate chip banana cake" and learned how to deal with baking in high altitudes.

increase liquids, increase temp. decrease baking powder. It was wonderful! Half is already gone!
To our credit, we are eating fruit.

I TOO enjoy eating fruit, in a cake! Please pick out the chips first!

We got all fancy and put a cake plate out on the table too!

I'm a sucker for a pedestal.
I wanted to share our half pan too...

We love these little baking pans with silicon liners. Just the right size for two... so much better than the big ones for our needs.

love this thread palette

I've been painting and sewing a lot this week... more on paint party Friday, and Sewing round up Saturday.
I Liked this list of tv shows recommended to binge watch during the isolation
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/the-best-television-shows-to-stream-now?utm_source=pocket-newtab

I'm writing this on Wed evening, and looking so forward to the Survivor finale! I am sad the season is almost over but love that they are able to do the big reveal via zoom for us! I like the new show Council of Dads, and am loving Pillow Talk where real people watch 90 day fiance and make snarky comments like I'm thinking. Planning on checking out some shows from the above list soon too.

Reading an Ebook in the tea house series, on my ipad kindle app. I have come to enjoy it, finding a way to balance the ipad in bed for night reading,  soft light, and now can swipe to the next page with the hand holding the ipad. Look at me, an old dog learning new tricks!

I fell in love with this widdle baby...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aToKTXEM-nA

 Found this free tutorial on a newsletter from Shabby Chic, think I'll make a mama and baby bunny soon.

And look what's coming on the 16th
moon smiles

Milo's Moments

I was lucky to escape that grooming session with my ears on! I'm on some new allergy medicine so, paws crossed, it helps my ears. Anyway, I like mama even if she insists on touching my feet!
I like a full toy box!  Here I am checking out the situation...

Mama: Milo! What a mess you're making!
Milo: Well I'm looking for the right toy. No not the headless chicken, not the reindeer with one antler, Maybe the gnome, it needs chewing... hmmmm no not in the mood to chew up a plastic bottle...

Give me a minute! there are a lot of  toys waiting to be pulled apart!

is it time to walk???

please visit these people keeping a list of likes this week too! And consider joining us


craftscaviescontras 
  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://littlepenguinquilts 
http://homesewnbyus 
https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/
 
  maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com 
http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/
http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com  
  http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/    
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/      
 https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/  
http://daybyday12101.blogspot.com/ 
https://100sweets.blogspot.com/

LINKING WITH
 http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/
Thursday Thirteen
http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com
http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

sewing Saturday it's greening up around here

I've spent time in the studio this week, painting and sewing both equally.

I enjoy following along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge each year because it
1. encourages us to use scraps and I love scraps
2. gives us a focus color to explore for a month
3. provides a ready made menu for the year, once you choose your patterns then it's just sew those blocks each month in the chosen color, then see what everyone else is making in same color

I admit, I'd have liked not to do turquoise, then light blue, then dark green for the last three months but I dutifully pulled out the green scrap bins.

I knew I wanted to make an art piece, something to do with color. I like to be inspired by the seasons, so turning dark greens into a spring piece was the goal.

There were many thin strips in my bin, so I started by sewing them together, and love to see tiny strips of different tones come together like a painting

 I sewed like lengths together to please myself, and I began to see they would go together into 12.5" widths.
NICE!

This would be okay on it's own! Just like this on the design wall it's about 12.5" X 44"
I don't like the idea of sewing the sections together in a straight line though... maybe I'll lay them on the batting and just quilt over the joins to connect them so there won't be a straight seam or a curved seam but an integrated up and down overlap

leftovers with fusible on the back

Next it was get out the fusible scrap box to see what kind of spring flowers I could concoct

I built them on the goddess teflon sheet, color by color, free form shape on top of free form shape. I used about 5 colors for a poppy and then a black marker to make the centers. Once they were made and in one piece I could move them around the green strips til I was content.

I see some light gray green thin strips as stems, added in curvy lines of applique, some whispy leaves.

It's pretty to see when I enter the studio!

I looked at some small strips and didn't want to put them away so I stitched them together and put the section under the others but I don't really love it right now... I think it pulls the eye from the middle section to the bottom, and one might miss the flowers.

I want a long piece I can hang in the stairwell when done.
Imagine it with lots of stitching.... pretty orange threads on poppies, pretty dark blue purple ones on lupines, gold on the white trilliums.

I also am doing a cross over art piece to go with what I learned painting the art therapy lessons on paper. I am pretty jazzed about that, and I'll have to show that to you later.
For now what I learned,
1. it's much easier to paint some projects on paper than to slowly do the color mix with fabric.
2. but what I do with watercolor isn't as easy to change as moving a piece of fabric before fusing

Linking with
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  
http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss
Midweek makers wednesdays
design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays
oh Scrap Sundays 

 scrap happy Saturdays