"I Like" Thursdays #14 Roadtrip!

Christmas at The Breakers in Newport

1. I Like road trips!
We recently took an impromptu road trip, Friday to Monday up to Newport, RI. So much to experience!  I have a couple posts to come of some gorgeous photos of decorated mansions. When we went up after Cole passed, we got a year long pass to the mansions. Three of them had Christmas displays this month so we went for a look-see.
The house above is the Breakers, yep one family's home. For 6 weeks a year. 

2. Here's a shocker, I Like Fabric.  I like visiting quilt shops when on a road trip. Good chance to stretch your legs, doncha know...
Of course we went to two quilt shops along the way where I got these lovely items.

Olde City quilts in Burlington NJ  Large and friendly
Don't you love the 50's Christmas girls?!! and the labs skiing??

I always prewash fabric, because of all the chemicals used in processing. Unwashed fabric when ironed outgases some nasty stuff. So I put the pre-cuts  in a mesh bag and washed them.
Well y'all, they shrunk unevenly. And not all shrunk.

 So imagine you did some precise stitching, and the first time you washed the item it got all wonky. They shrunk along the cross grain so they are now 4.75" X 5"

Not good. Losing a quarter inch every 5 inches is significant.
Meanwhile,  the regular fabric did not shrink at all, just sayin'

 LOVE a black lab!
Also bought a gallon bag of scraps for $3 that included this...

and I think my bag held the equivalent of about 3 yards of fabric. I'm pretty jazzed! And it was so much fun to dig through the bin.
There was a lot of one starry fabric in usable pieces and several batiks. Yea!
 Click the image for details (to read it)


I also visited....

CT Quiltworks in Mystic CT small but mighty store with lots to want! What a great shop! Worth the trip!!

3 I Like meeting with friends for Thai food!
Funny how some people are just so connected  that when we see them after a long absence it's as if we saw them yesterday! That's how it is with my friend Nancy ( pugmomquilts)

She and her husband Mike drove a long way to meet us for dinner one night and it was the highlight of the weekend.That was the real gift altho Nancy gave me a bag of flamingo items including a sa-weet flamingo fabric!

It's rare enough to find a good friend but to find a "couple" friend that enjoys each other is like gold.

(earlier that evening we attended a grief ceremony at the local Lutheran church, Coping with loss at the holidays. My eyes were kind of squinty from crying... but that's part of life, dealing with loss)

It was good to end the visit with lots of laughter, good conversation, and connection.
I Love my friend Nancy

4.I Like stuffies and free patterns for stuffies like this cardinal from  apine industriose

http://www.apineindustriose.org/numero/57/eng/Birds.html   

I have made a red stuffie each year from the same red felt and it's fun to see them each Christmas

 5. I like fun clothing! I bought these mittens at the Potter League shelter craft show. Two quilters re-purposed old sweaters by felting them, then made mittens with fleece lining. So cozy and cute, right?? 

I've worn them every day since!

6. I like wool socks and I like Feetures socks for runners, and now I can have both rolled into one!!!

We bought these at the running store in Mystic Village, buy three get fourth free! Whee! We now have two new pairs each for winter.              I had to throw some wool socks away, worn down to holes, so finding wool that's thin is a bonus!

7. I Like Jacquie Lawson's animated advent calendar. ( https://www.jacquielawson.com/advent)

It's so beautiful, an interactive online advent with activities each day. I have decorated Christmas trees, sweaters, wreaths, snowmen, and others. I've seen sweet vignettes of a seaside village at Christmas. I made snowflakes that drift down while I'm looking at the scene. Decorate an item and it shows up in the village. 

I can't tell you how I look forward to it each day!!! My good friend Mary has given it to me for three years now and it's so appreciated. Go check it out, you'll love it. Puzzles! Smashing ornaments game! 

8. Speaking of gifts, I got a surprise gift from my good friend Mari (academicquilter) who is always there with a cheerful word, perspective and friendship. When we met in person the first time I felt as if I had known her for years. She sent this set of wool pieces, out of the blue! I am so excited about them, the colors are perfect for a flamingo stocking! She also sent several patterns one of which we will both do next year. 

The fun continues!

Speaking of flamingos...

9. I Like flamingo items and whimsy so when we found this umbrella in Newport last weekend, well...

it had to "fly" home with me. I told DH it was the "perfect Christmas gift"  It's going to hang around the front door looking all useful and cute at the same time making me smile each time I see it!      Click to see details     look how it stands up on it's own three legs, heh heh

10. We are listening (together both of us) to the "Number One Ladies Detective Agency" latest book on disc  and I highly recommend the series. Rent it on disc as the reader is so good. I can totally do the Botswana accent now. Yep. On the phone you'd think I was from Africa! Seriously it's also on video from the short run show. Read, watch, listen for a good story. 

11.  I Like funny fridge magnets. DH spied this one, and it's a great way to tie up this week's list

It's always sit...stay...heel... never think! Innovate! Be yourself !

As usual, I encourage you all to think about the things you liked this week, and play along with me. Let me know if you did a post and I'll include it here with these fine folks:

(give them a moment to do their posts)

1. https://littlepenguinquilts.blogspot.com/

2.http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com/

3.http://paulabquilts.blogspot.com/

Animals of Newport

We recently went for walkabout to Newport Rhode Island. Long weekend actually.
Of course while there we looked for events and found a craft festival at Potter's Animal Shelter.
Of course we looked at all the dogs for adoption.
Of course we took this one for a walk to see if we matched and we were hopeful...

A little mix of poodle and whatnot. They told us he does shed, which is unfortunately a deal breaker, only because of allergies. Still... we hoped he'd love us and we'd suddenly have a pup for the 8 hour drive home!

Alas, he couldn't have cared less about us. They said he was challenging. The other dogs were very interested in us and one broke my heart. An enormous American bulldog... white, sad... her person just died, and she stood in the very center of a nice little shelter cubical, cozy with toys and a soft bed, with a place for us to drop a treat in for her. She didn't look at us.

She was so sad, I felt it, she stood just staring at nothing. Lonely and stunned. I sure hope someone out there wants her, she's maybe 90 lbs and seemed so sweet.

We met this bird, and the staff encouraged us to walk past the barricade to visit. They said he was cranky...

Today was busy with lots of strangers but usually he flies freely around the office. He was full of whistles which we tried to match.

He got excited and danced around, taking a treat from my hand.

This is the nicest shelter I've ever seen.
If only Bobo the white pup had worked out. He didn't want to be with us at all.

On the way out, sort of sad that Bobo didn't mesh, we saw a woman playing ball with a three legged lab. The lab ran to us and kissed us through the fence.
The woman fostered the abused pup who lost a front leg when owners threw it from a car. She fell in love, and now they are together.
While we were talking the lab started digging.
Yep. Digging. Pulled itself up off it's front foot, landed on the one foot and dug a scoop quickly.
Over and over.


I said, that was a lesson to me. It was rejected (as I've been by family) and injured, as I am. Yet it just lives a life the way it is. No looking back, why me? Why did this happen?Woe is me, I can't (do whatever) now!

Nope, just doing what it can, and with joy.
JOY! so happy with it's new woman, with it's new life. Doing what it can. Digging which we all know is TONS of fun!

While in Newport we strolled along the Cliff Walk and noted that someone had come along and left lots of birdseed for these wild birds.
We toured Doris Duke's home, and I took many pictures of mansions to share in other posts. She was an heiress, and loved dogs. The docent told a story that a maid fussed at her dogs for jumping on the sofa (covered in 17th century tapestry) and Doris Duke correcting her, "those dogs LIVE here, you just work here" she said.  You may recognize her name from watching PBS shows that are funded by her charity.

this is a view of her back yard.

Those dogs had the run of the place!
As did the camels... yep... camels were a gift from an admirer.

They lived here, and when Ms Duke passed away, the camels moved to designated home!
She also loved the arts and supported artists.

She loved recipes and I will give a set to one of you.

I got a set for me, and Drew got a set for me to pass on to one of you! Just let me know your favorite holiday dish, especially if it's odd. Speaking of elephants....

Oh how I love an elephant. Three mansions were decorated grandly for Christmas, and we toured them. It was truly like being in an episode of Downton Abbey. This was one nativity scene elephant

the elephant is maybe about 15 inches square? The homes are so large, one needs so much to make a statement.

These stuffies were in the basement Kitchen area. Nearly life sized. "We're watching you..." "More icing"
 On the way home Monday we stopped in Mystic Connecticut and met Oliver.

Clapping hands with glee!! Whee!! so gorgeous and enormous. About 6" taller than Cole and 20 lbs heavier.

The owner of the shop and Oliver's person was shocked at his reaction to me. Oliver immediately ran to me, puppy bowing, putting his hands out to touch me. I was touched when he gave me a poodle hug... they come forward nose straight, bump their heads into your legs and press. Just like Cole. I petted his ears, which is what you are to do when they hug you. He stood so very still while we touched.
I sat and he came forward laying his head into my legs, just like Cole used to...

Of course I fluffed out his ears on top of my legs. Oh, my broken heart! It felt so good to pet a poodle like this again.

He knew I knew him. He was so kind to a grieving couple. We didn't leave with Bobo because the connection is everything. We will find a poodle to love in the new year I hope. Whether it's a rescue or a pup. Poodle people need a poodle.

"I Like" Thursdays #13

Welcome to my list of things I liked this week.
1. I like paintings, and admire trompe l'oeil, paintings that fool the eye. This was under a bridge in the town of Frederick. Believe it or not, it's just a painting.

 2. I like Candy. I try not to eat candy but I'm back on the sugar wagon. These are worth the cost! White chocolate around a mousse of heaven mixed with peppermint.

3. I like cows. And I like shopping!!! Especially specialty stores decorated for the holidays.

Such a cute applique pillow. Reminds me of my un-set cow blocks, right?
We went to the city of Frederick Saturday night for their "first Saturday" Christmas event. There were lots of musicians, the stores were open and full of glee (also wine, cookies & cider) Here is more cow art

4. We got to visit with people and their dogs, (I love dogs and petted nearly all of them)

Drink up pups! A store put out this lovely seasonal water bowl

5. I like listening to Christmas music sung by a choir out in the cool night air under sparkly tree lights, and seeing these horses  (I like horses) although I felt sorry they had to pull a wagon.

6. I like fashion. Unfortunately I lost my waistline somewhere around 50 (let me know if you find it) but I love clothes, trying on clothes, owning unusual or comfy clothes and I really liked this coat (no, didn't buy it)

that bag says, "Happy Everything"

7.  I love a pretty window and this was awesome.

The shop owner said it was just a pressure curtain rod with strings of lights hung (looped) over it.

She gave us hot cider and told us all about living in Frederick.

I really like that city.





8. I like listening to books on cd while I'm in the studio. Just listened to another  by author Susan Wiggs, called The Apple Orchard. Since starting the blog I keep track of a most books I read on my
 Book Reviews page here
I read two books at once: by listening to one in the studio, and reading one in bed at night.

9. I like the tv series "Murdoch Mysteries" filmed in Canada.
The 9th series just became available on disc, and thankfully our library had it! Yea! Like an old friend.
It  is set circa 1899 and has terrific fun who-done-it's we can't figure out til the end. The show foreshadows future inventions, has characters from history, is intelligently written and fun to watch.
The show has strong female leads too.

10. I Like studio tours and enjoyed Anne's bright and happy sewing space, check out this page of posts with pics of her studio
http://www.springleafstudios.com/search/label/studio

11. I liked this Zuni Native American man I interviewed this weekend in New Market MD. He is Zuni but also carries Navajo art.

Santa-Fe-Trading-Company

I was delighted by the small sculptures hand carved from stone, painted or embedded with gems. I feel the bear is my totem, see the bear with a turquoise arrow on his back?

They all have meanings which he will share with you.




 For instance the bear is for strength, introspection and spiritual journey through life. My husband likes the wolf, teacher, sharing knowledge, pathfinder. The little stone is a reminder of what you want to manifest.


There is more to like but I'll stop here.
If you enjoy these posts, there are 12 others under the label "I like" over there ==>

Please consider writing a post of things you liked this week. Let me know and I'll include a link to it!
We need to see good things these days don't we?
Check out these fine folks:
1.http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com/
2.http://littlepenguinquilts.blogspot.com/
3.http://paulabquilts.blogspot.com/

My Christmas tree is flamingo pink!

Well, isn't everyone's???
Actually our big tree in the family room is white this year, more about that later.

Take a look at that pretty entry tree... all pink and beaded.
Beaded?
As I set it up this year, I looked to the right at my flamingo

Who proudly waves her sparkle flag all year while wearing her mardi gras beads. And her lei. Now she is holding a Christmas plant. She gave up her beads for the tree this month because....

Mama like-eee !!!
In previous years I went all out on a railing garland, but this year simplicity won out...

We discovered some years back that all three of us including the poodle got sick when we had a real tree in the house. We went to artificial, or as I like to say, artistic interpretation of a tree. This year I needed some of the pine scent, so we got a wreath of boughs and I draped the end of the lights on it. Voila!

Meanwhile back in the family room we unfurled the tree. It's is in three pre-lit sections, you stack them up, level it, it shakes itself like a dog, and there's your tree. I usually weigh it down with sparkle and ornaments and beads. This year is a lesser year. Instead of winding ribbon around and around I draped it from the top like streamers and I think I like it better! Gold see thru ribbon.

shimmer

I put on about a tenth of my ornaments,  some  flamingos, icicles of crystal, and some of Cole's.

That's when I began crying.

Oh my poor heart.

He never touched the tree, unlike my lab who treated it like a treat dispenser. She would walk over calmly, look around and choose an ornament, carefully take it off the tree and chew it up.

 Cole treated the tree like any other decoration. He would come in, see it had entered the room, give it a once over, maybe a sniff  test, and after inspection, leave it alone.

For a while I made a stuffie each year,  with red felt. They are lining the tv cabinet and under the tree this year.
 I never wanted to tempt Cole with a stuffie... even a grown poodle has his limits.

Cole's scarf and hat are resting on the little poodle Maria gave us when he went to Heaven.

"Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" meeting a scottie under the tree

See the pretty bags?
I put them out as decoration. Now they have a purpose... we both ordered gifties for the other from Amazon prime.... from the same account. We don't know who's stuff is in the boxes!! Our solution was to put the unopened boxes in the bags til Christmas morning, and open them together to figure it out!

Drew said " of course, one of these holds the replacement heads for our toothbrush"
Nothing says Christmas like clean teeth!

Want a pressie?? Okay!

That is a cowl knitted by me, with fuzzy variegated yarn.
A while back a friend gave me a bag of fuzzy yarn. In a fit of tidying up I pulled it out and gave some to two readers (in fact I've been a bit depressed so I am slow to mail them but will this week)

Anyway, I thought handling soft things is comforting, why don't I zen-out and knit. I did that with the pink yarn and it was too short for a scarf so I joined the ends and made a cowl.

Turns out I LOVE it. It's so easy to pull over your head, keeps your neck warm and looks like an accessory.

knitted, before joining ends

So then I pulled out this pretty yarn and knitted. And knitted and knitted til I got to the end, added in some purple yarn and joined the ends.

That was done with a crochet hook and the purple yarn.

It's a Cozy Colorful Cowl.

One size fits all and I mean it.

Nothing but comfort here y'all.
I followed my motto this year, "USE IT" and made something useful and pretty. Now I am keeping the ballet pink one (I'm an old ballerina and still love pink) and giving you this one.




I tried it on for you to see it's loose but cozy.

I think you could also use it for an ear warmer, wearing it like a head band.

Also in the clean sweep I culled out patterns I like but feel I'll never make. It's hard to give things up but I feel the need to create some order right now. I gave away half of them at bee and these need a home.

Re-home them. They are great little patterns, well behaved, most brand spankin' new. Take one, or take 'em all and give them to your bee! Click on the image to see details.

Tell me what you want a chance to win. Answer the question, favorite unusual Christmas movie. Everyone has seen some holiday movie. I'm looking for something less sweet, and more funny.If you don't want  a gift but want to tell me a movie or how you let go of stuff, I love comments.
I'll pick some winners and let you know in a few days.

Get ready, I have a post for almost every day for a while!
Let's get out there and make this holiday happier!

Working on this year's Christmas quilt...

I could use your help... got opinions? Share them with me!
My quilt book study group chose a book of unusual log cabins, the title of which I have blocked as I didn't buy it. I wasn't going to join in until I saw one of the friends making an uneven log cabin with a special ruler...

That one, the 6" curvy log cabin Trim Tool. Another costly ruler to buy?? I'm in!
My plan was to make one of those swirly ones on the pattern to the right but in reds and greens.

Then I made one block. By "making one block" I mean sew, rip, scratch head, call friend for explanation, rinse and repeat. Several times. Nearly bite the ruler in frustration.
Consider throwing it away, except I'm, too cheap. And doggone if I'm gonna let some ole pattern get the best of me!

So, I looked at google images for curvy log cabin ideas and saw the two on the left. Now I can't find them to attribute but they are drunkard path quilts anyway.  (I was just told the  designer is found here springleafstudios)
 If I did the bottom one I needed 16 blocks, the swirly one needed 32. Winner winner chicken dinner!

I eventually kind of understood the ruler.
The whole experience reminded me why I make improv style quilts, and my own patterns.

Still, learning is good. Slowly it built up over two days.

Here it is in progress.  Measure, sew, press, trim, sit and sew, stand and press, trim, sit... you get it.

As Lynn said, Quilting can be aerobic exercise!


So look at the top picture now, it's done with a red and white dot around the outside.
I'm a bit stuck on borders as usual.

This is where a lot of my projects find their way into UFO-ville.
By the way the whole caboodle came right out of little scraps, 2" wide and less. I love the mix of tone you get even in white/cream/tan/gold.

So now I will show you some border possibilities.
Keep in mind this was to be quick and fun for this year not my magnum opus.
Also keep in mind I plan round quilting motifs with hand embroidery in the center with golden thread. Or tiny yo-yo's.

#2  a really fresh poinsettia print on white ground, with a sweet green inside border which makes it dimensional. Like a frame.

#3 green border with hearts, different from the inner border on #1

#4   hearts on green, with the poinsettia fabric

I kind of like the first view, just the dots. Kind of mod.
I am trying to use one of the numerous Christmas fabrics I have on hand.

I am trying not to talk myself into some kind of elaborate pieced/appliqued border that requires sketching out and long hours of work.

I want it to stay graphic, but kind of like the sweetness of the poinsettia fabric.

The thing is, I tried something new. I used it in an unusual way. Uneven log cabin blocks are a lot like drunkard paths. There's just no limit to the fun of quilt making!
Can't wait to get busy with quilting and embroidery.
And beads.

Oh, and funny enough, I can't close the scrap bins after using up ALL That FABRIC!