Not Afraid of Color

Thursday, October 10, 2019

I Like Thursday #162

Welcome to this week's list of likes! We liked the French Market on Saturday, and I found a wonderful tunic of the softest textured cotton in a wonderful pumpkin color. We wandered and chatted and Milo visited with people and dogs too.

can you see that enormous golden doodle???

We had a wonderful chat with a woman at chick fil a who has a poodle too. We compared notes and then when her daughter came up we had even more conversation. She is going to Med school, and I asked if she'd make her family call her doctor, she said, Definitely! It was good to meet nice people.

we decorated for Halloween, and enjoyed the changing trees in the yard but......
Today the temps dropped from 80 to 20's tonight and we're expecting sleet, ice pellets, snow and have already dealt with high winds. A concrete shingle blew off the roof! I'm writing this Wed night, because we'll no doubt wake to weather.
I liked doing a final harvest before all the cold and snow this week

on a fun placemat

I also cut the largest branches off the tomato that finally fleshed out, and hope they ripen on the vine, in the garage.

I like looking at the mantle and seeing fall colors and cute items with acorn lights!

tricks for treats!

I like my Halloween kitchen towels! I wanted to go through all my Halloween stuff and organize it, get rid of things no longer fun, but wildfire smoke put an end to the outside sorting. Maybe next weekend since after the 3" of snow, it's supposed to warm back up to the 60's next week.

I liked putting my fall flannel quilt back on the bed.
I like the bee bar lotion in citrus scent for really moisturizing my dry skin (from Amazon)

auditioning backgrounds

I liked starting my Halloween quilt of owls, and how the little eyeballs in the beak fabric make it look like the owl has a smirk! More on Sewing Saturday.

I have been drawing or painting every day, and love what I'm painting. I looked up some Autumn quotes and liked one by Jim Bishop.

Here it is in one of my cards, paraphrased of course, I had to change it up but the sentiment is the same.

More on Paint Party Friday!

I liked writing another little story last Sunday.

I love this blog.... made me laugh and laugh, and it was needed this week
https://evilsquirrelsnest.com/

I looked around for Autumn music and heard this realizing I LOve it and never knew the name!

Harvest moon
I fondly remember the movie with Doris Day, and her singing Shine on Harvest moon with Joel McCrea who was my man crush as a little girl. This is a version by Leon Redbone

leon redbone Shine on Harvest moon

Milo's Moments

Don't worry y'all. While Mama and Daddy were running around in the howling wind trying to put things away before the storm, I gathered up both my babies from the back yard! Whew! I know they're safe now! Imagine if one blew away or was buried in snow. I took one to bed tonight (I can only carry one at a time) just in case.
I liked the market and meeting dogs and people. I like when Mama is happy like she was finding her new clothes.
I love a quilt! Don't you? When I went up to snoopervise mama this week, I was happy to see she put a quilt out for me to snuggle into!

there wasn't much to lie on but I managed. I have no idea why Mama seemed unhappy about it, shouldn't she be happy I'm up in the studio with her?

Please sit! Stay! visit these nice peeps keeping a list of likes too! Join us sometime!

http://spiralj2.blogspot.com/
maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/
craftscaviescontras
https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

http://littlepenguinquilts

http://homesewnbyus

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/
http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/

http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com
https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/

LINKING TO:

http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/
Thankful Thursdays pet parade
http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com
http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 6, 2019

sunday stories

I wasn't going to do one of these but the words captured my senses. Does that happen to you? A song, a phrase, a pretty sight captures your senses and makes you want to create?

(THIS WEEK'S WORDS come from "Bell Birds" by Henry Kendall : moss, cedar, light, sing, fear, fairies, woodlands, wayfarer, pebbles, childhood, keep, glimpses)

The childhood wayfarer

she packed her school lunchbox with a thermos of juice, a sandwich and some chips. Then she gathered her book, her crayons and paper, and a little blanket and took off after saying she'd see her mom later.

It was Saturday, and she lived in a time when kids were encouraged to explore and come back before dark. Luckily she enjoyed her own company and imagination so she headed to that magical part of the trees where she felt magical herself.

It was warm today, as usual, and the trees were shady with lots of oak leaves and hanging moss. She looked up to see sunlight dancing with the moss swaying, and wondered if the movement was from fairies flitting from leaf to leaf. Yes she decided, definitely fairies, but good ones who were pretty and liked to laugh.

She liked the idea of woods, the protected shady areas where you could be alone to play. She sang her favorite song, one from a movie, and imagined herself as a grown woman singing on a stage because she was going to be a famous singer and an actress an everyone would love her.

Looking around she found a nice place to put the blanket and lay out her supplies for the day. Her lunch box would keep her snacks cool on the side, while she played with the tiny dolls she had in her pocket. They had names and stories and lived in the rocks and pebbles next to the blanket, so she started up a storyline with them. Her favorite thing to play was making up stories for little objects like these dolls. Her mother hated to hear her talking for them, and told her to be quiet but noone here would say that.

After a bit, she noticed a squirrel was crawling near her lunchbox, and he looked like a little old man! How funny! she turned her head and he ran off back up a tree, where she glimpsed some piece of red fluff stuck to the rough trunk. Looking closer she thought it must be a message to her... and she imagined she was an explorer, tracking a lost girl through the woods, and this was a bit of the girl's sweater. She would be the one to find her! She tracked slowly and quietly from tree to tree til she glimpsed a car through the trees. A tiny fear ran down her back... so she turned around to return to her safe little blanket in the middle of the exotic woods that held a castle and a princess and a handsome knight who was in love with the princess.

She sat down and started eating her sandwich, while imagining she was at her grown up own house and sitting with her husband and kids at a table. She sat her dolls up nicely and put a little sandwich in front of them, and talked for all the players in her little imaginary scene. Sipping her juice that was still cold, from the red cup off the thermos, she knew her dishes would be delicate. "Margie! stop fiddling with that fork and eat your dinner! " she said to one doll, and coquettishly she looked at her husband and whispered, "children!"

After her snack she picked up her book, the one she got from the big library, and started to read. The grass was kind of prickly under her blanket and a bug crawled onto it as she read. Circling her forefinger and thumb she flicked it off and turned the page. She felt like she was in the story... yes she was the girl in the story and felt what it must be like. She hummed to herself as she read and imagined and flicked bugs.

OH! what was that sound? she put down her book and stood up, and saw a bike going by. How could that be when she was far far away in the magical woods??? It was Joey from four houses away from hers, but luckily he didn't see her. Whew! what was he doing here? She looked up and saw the light was different and she thought it might be getting darker and one didn't want to stay in the woods after dark right? In all the stories that's when trouble started so she packed up her stuff, put the little dolls in her pockets, closed the red lid on the thermos and closed the lunchbox with the empty waxed paper inside.

Her Mom would ask where she'd been, when she got home to the boring old house. She would say just playing because she knew her mom wouldn't understand all the places she'd gone, and the things she'd seen and felt. Her mom didn't understand magic.

Linking to
http://sundayswhirligig.blogspot.com/

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Sewing Saturday old projects, repairs, & new projects

Welcome to sewing Saturday... the weekly round-up around here. The hexie star above is very Fall like isn't it? I looked back and saw the hexie star project of mine is pretty vintage! So what? Hand work is all about the process.
A few recent blocks...

love cross stripes on this pattern

They were all cut out for our move out West, and I got sidetracked what with all the house looking for the second time, moving twice and settling in.It's been fun to work on them again... all from scrap bins and a mix of patterns in each block. 13 pieces to a block

the back with papers in outside until it's sewn into place

spooky! pattern source (http://nelliesniceties.)

I took time out to mend a silk sweater that had unraveled it's neckline while in the closet

I didn't show you but I mended some OluKai sandals too, as the thong broke. I sewed some grosgrain ribbon to the nub and to the straps and saved an expensive pair of supportive sandals. It was fiddly and required hand work but all good.
I also sewed a button on DH's shirt... yes I do that too. Only now and then.

As to this year's Halloween quilt... it's been difficult to let go of the lattice project but
I researched some ideas for this year's Halloween quilt and I think I'll do some big applique blocks from this

pattern source

using these

I blew the pattern up to large enough to showcase some of my fun prints.
IF I can stop with the lattice quilt.
I'm finding out it takes a long time to sew 400 blocks together. But I'm driven and it's looking pretty.

I sewed all the blocks into 9-patches and some are dangling above the top as my wall is too small for this.
I sewed the far left section of 9-patches together row by row and it was a job but blocks look so pretty when finally sewed
together

That's about it. It's been a very frustrating week for me, having a really difficult time with our washer. First wait for 10 days to get a repairman out, then told Samsung isn't good in CO as our cold water rinse freezes the gel holding the stability balls causing it to go off balance then bend the drum.
We must buy a new machine.
Off to Lowes which is a trial in itself as they had the lg the repairman suggested, but then they couldn't find one of the three their computer said they had, then they found one, then put in the order, get a call back the pedestal box had no hardware, call all the other local lowes as they won't do that for us, none available, have to do the installation in stages which means each stage could then be messed up or something damaged. And the time. I am not enjoying it here. Oh and the too young inexperienced clerk at Lowes said, don't worry this happens all the time. Why?

Linking to
off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays
Midweek makers wednesdays
http://emsscrapbag.
design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays
oh Scrap Sundays
slow stitching Sundays
scrap happy Saturdays

Friday, October 4, 2019

watching paint dry... and Inktober

journal page

Welcome to Paint Party Friday. I was inspired by INKTober (drawing each day) and...
I was inspired this week by the colorful aspen trees in Fall.

In the journal sketch one morning, I liked the effect of putting a line around a drawing, letting the image go outside the box.


the whole page with different experiments

I liked learning to draw banners, so I put a pumpkin in one, and like the delicate barely there paint

trying an effect of writing with brush marker, then white gel over it. Writing morning thoughts, without judgement, just writing. Then drawing a border of sorts. I love my growing journal work.

this week I tried a different aspen on each calendar day, for Inktober

I wanted to try overlapped colors, then went on to do some details inside the center, painted the inside of the card and put my chop on the back.

I'm feeling critical of it, too messy but I like the sentiment

Finally I enjoyed a video of ceeceecreations, mesmerized by her music and process (link here) so I tried it.
I liked that she used a block, but she also went around the edge with tape. This allows you to paint off the edge to continue the line, but when the tape is off, the piece looks sharp and the image is engaged with the border.

this is my image after just swipes of paint. She encouraged us to paint shape, and repeat lines of color

the color is intense unlike this picture

It felt too stark to me, but I persevered. I added more color, mixing it, blending it. I felt it was looking kind of Van Gogh or Gaugin... not comparing my work, just saying in person it's intense and bold.

here it is with black marker, brown and green very very thin markers, and white gen pen

I may not totally love it, but I am proud of making it without fear of messing up. I liked each addition, using my big round brush, filling in repetitive lines with marker.
I am always learning

LINKING TO
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 3, 2019

I Like Thursday #161

Welcome to this week's list of likes...
I liked that DH took Monday off to drive along the scenic highway Peak to Peak so we could see fall color. It's gold here. The aspens turn gold. Pine and Fir remain green,

rocks remain rock colored,

It was a fun day, we three stopped in the small town of Nederland and had lunch, visited the few stores open and met with two interesting couples.
One had a lab puppy who was adorable and Milo wanted to play with. We were all sad so many restaurants do not let you sit on patio with your dog here.

One couple were at the winery tasting room. Very interesting, moved here 25 years ago. The wife used to work for Hospice and was so funny and wise. They were mourning the loss of their dog, and the husband fed milo just about all their crackers.
Wise words from the wife, after I said listening is a gift you give to others, " yes, and listening to your spouse especially after years together. You can get so used to each other's voices, you tend not to listen but it's more important the longer you're together"
very wise.
She was reluctant to say goodbye, and I often feel that way after meeting someone special. I held out my hand and she brushed it aside and hugged me, and DH! Recently we had a lovely conversation with someone and she said, " you meet someone and never see them again!" and I felt I was the only one who felt like that.

We had a snack in the rail car Buffalo Bill used to get to performances! They welcomed all of us in and we ate some tiny cinnamon doughnuts in a pullman car

Milo was very French, laying right next to the table, eating his doughnut.

I made one final harvest and low and behold, the lima beans had grown again, so I cooked them...

They tasted especially sweet and tender with not one bit of butter or salt! We split these three ways!

Loved the flowers I found at the grocery store for $5!

I liked that DH went to a scrapbooking show with me last Saturday. It was fun to have him there, and hear his jokes. He also mentioned that he doesn't know why I like stencils and stamps as I draw better... wowie, a wonderful compliment. I found some gelato paint sticks in metallic colors, a stamp, a few other tools, watched a lot of demos and talked to some really nice people.

I said, I have been to a bead show, a quilt expo, and a scrapbooking show in the last month, and the scrapbookers are by far the most open and friendly group... wonder why? DH said they might spend most of their creative time together with others, so are used to chatting while quilters often stay home with their machines, and beaders often work alone too.
Hmmmm.
Well I like to chat but I'm not into scrapbooking very much, but am happy I went!
The show was in Denver, so I said let's go to the Botanic Gardens after...
OMG it was wonderful! We strolled around in the late afternoon, had a snack


spinach, butternut squash, cauliflower, toasted chickpeas, and lemon dressing, as well as sweet potato fries

by the waterlily pool,

watching people walk by and feeling a cool breeze.

I even liked the disposable plates! We shared the meal and it was delish! Then we looked at many pretty flowers, too many to show here today but...

just one of the gorgeous flowers I got a pic of!

FinallyI like the owl pattern I chose to do this year's halloween quilt... now to do it! I'll share the pattern on Sewing Saturday, and my paintings on Paint Party Friday.

Milo's Moments

see my angel halo??

I liked a lot of stuff this week!

First off, there's a cute girl dog who always barked at me behind her fence when we walked by... well, this week her man came out and guess what? He works with my Daddy so they did people-talky-talk and got out phones and maybe Allie and I can play! She bowed at me, flipped in circles, and did everything but give me a cookie from inside her fence this time! I guess I don't need to be scared of her vicious barking... you never know a dog til you take the time to really listen to them! Or they get nicer...
I went with my peeps to look at leaves... I don't understand people, it's the trunks that carry the scent but anyway it was fun to go for a rideinnacar. I met a white lab puppy-girl at one town and we played best we could on leashes. I says, if you gets a chance to play take it. Always! And take a cookie if it's offered to you too!

hard to get a still photo of a moving pup!

I am into doing the dishes too. I like to keep an eye on my pawrents, and when they finish eating, I offer to do the dishes for them. I'm very helpful that way!

"yep, it's clean, you can put that away now!"
Please visit mama's friends also keeping a list of likes this week!

http://spiralj2.blogspot.com/
maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/
craftscaviescontras
https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

http://littlepenguinquilts