"Four Hearts I've Just Made"

From time to time I have someone request a 'special order' for something they have seen that I have made. I have to explain that I prefer to never make two identical objects....it's a quirk that I happen to have. For instance, last year before our AWOL retreat, I was asked to make one of my special hearts for a friend's long-time friend' birthday to be given to her at the retreat. I did. When she received it...another friend requested TWO to give to her friends for their birthdays. When we had our workshop (Quilt Arkansas 2009) in September, I had one of those hearts to show in my class. FOUR students requested a heart each. OK, I said, but there's a lot on my plate, so it may take a good while for them to arrive at your door. (As you can see, they are definitely four hearts, but NOT identical...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

So, here's the four hearts. The first one is a red heart for Vivian. When I finished it, I sent her a photo via email for approval. She approved, sent a check and now has her heart. Word from her is she loves it. I am so glad. I tried to make it rather on the Victorian side.....at least in my own mind.

The second heart I made for my friend, Debbie, in Texas. Her favorite color is purple, but she requested a red one. The whole time I was making this one, I had to remind myself who it was for....as she and purple are a team in my mind. She also received a photo for approval and she did. I still have hers, as we are both attending this year's AWOL retreat, at which time I will deliver it into her hands. I sure hope she likes it when she sees it 'in person.'

The third heart is for Chrickett. She requested the color fuchsia. Sometimes the colors of my blog photos don't look exactly like the real items, so this IS fuchsia. And, it was fun to make.
She approved and her heart was received yesterday. She said she couldn't take her eyes off of it and that makes me feel good. I'm sending her good wishes as she is facing back surgery.

Then, my friend Sharon, who is also a blogger, requested an orange heart. She has recently begun the task of turning her garage into a studio and so her heart will hang there, hopefully cheering her along as she quilts with her new long arm quilting machine. When I was nearly though with the heart, I got the idea of stitching the name of her blog on it, so emailed her to ask if that was ok. It was, so I did....you can visit Sharon's blog - fiberdoodles here. She received a photo and approved the heart. In her words - "It looks so happy!" Well, I like that and hope she will spend countless happy hours in that new studio. She will be receiving hers at AWOL also...gosh, we're going to have fun out there!!!

Crazy quilted, button and bead embellished, hand-embroidered, made with love, I hope these pieces of my handwork bring my friends lots of pleasure....I know I spent many happy hours making them....just one of the things going on in this Nest of mine! Hope you enjoy them too!
Take care out there.....pat

"That Little Glass Case"

In my last post, I mentioned that I would show you the 'little glass case" my 'little bitty pretty things' are kept in. A year or so ago, during one of my flea market escapades, I found a wonderful little glass case which I thought would be a great place to store some of my smaller 'treasures.' I have a low chest of drawers in the entry and I could just see this little glass case there, so immediately set about choosing what should go in it. That was FUN.

I have told my daughter that she could have the chest of drawers if she wanted it. It belonged to my dad, so after my mom passed away and we had to clean out the house...the chest came home with me. I always knew I'd bring it home. Now, I live in a very small house and have way too much stuff in it and my daughter has a big house with not-so-much stuff in it. She's a minimalist. Go figure. But, she expressed an interest in the chest, so when she wants it, she can have it. I'm only telling you this because I figure one day soon I'll be looking for something else to put there because she has taken the chest and I'll post photos of another "new, old thing" that has taken it's place and you'll know that I just couldn't stand to have an empty spot there.

The little glass case is pretty neat, I think. So, I've gathered some of my favorite little things to put into it. On the top shelf are two rose needlebooks, one given to me by friend, Sherry, and I found the other one. There is a little pitcher, a bird pin given to me by Kay in Mountain View. I've shown you photos from her place before. She had that pin for 30 years then gave it to me...I love it! There is a rose pin given to me by friend, Jim...and a tiny frame with a photo of my grandson in it, taken when he was a toddler. He's going to be 25 this year!

On the middle shelf is a ceramic rose necklace...another flea market find...thought I use it somehow in a piece of my work...but as so often happens, I just enjoy looking at it! There are some old buttons, a tiny dish full of buttons and an odd rose off of something, I don't even remember where I got it. There's a pink heart pin there, too, but it isn't facing you in the photo.

On the bottom shelf is a little wooden doll from Germany given to me by my friend, Susan, whose daughter lives in Germany. When you have a friend who visits Germany, you sometimes get something pretty you'd never see here. There is a small vintage button and a 3 inch button which is covered with a vintage hankie monogramed with the letter E, for Eaton, of course! I am particularly fond of it, and 'just had to' purchase it at Quilt Festival in Houston one year. And, then, of course, there's the pretty little basket, crocheted pin cushion, and the little rose dish I talked about in the previous post.

All treasures. I like to stop there once in a while and enjoy looking at all this treasure. By the way, that guy in the middle photo...that's my dad, an old army picture...fitting, I suppose since the photo sits on his old chest of drawers. If he were here, today, to see this, he would be 100 years old. Knowing my dad, he would approve of all the little treasures I've collected here.
I like knowing that. Well, y'all stay warm and safe out there....see you soon. pat

"Little Bitty Pretty Things"

Today I want to show you three little bitty pretty things. Oh, yeah, I know "pretty" is in the eye of the beholder, so you may not find these things pretty at all. That's ok, you can just kindly step aside and let me visit with those who do find these little things pretty. I know you are out there!!

From the first photo, I bet you thought "Is this a little bitty thing?" I started out with a closeup photo of this tiny stitched basket on purpose. Isn't this basket a most wonderful thing! And, it's shown with the other two little bitty pretty things in the next photo...so here's the lowdown:

First the basket. I bought this at a flea market at least five or six years ago. The minute I laid eyes on it, it was mine! It's a locket. I thought I would incorporate it into a crazy quilt, but, to date, have not done it, as you can tell. It's just so pretty as it is. Maybe someday I'll give in. If I do, you will be the first to see what I do with it! (Isn't the detail amazing and it's only a bit over one inch wide!)

Then, there is the little crocheted pincushion. Another flea market find. I haven't washed this, but need to. When I found this dainty little 'pillow' or pincushion, whichever you prefer, I just knew I'd reproduce it, but you know about good intentions. So, it sits in a little glass case I have (along with the locket) waiting for me to do something with it and I just keep enjoying looking at it. Maybe I'll show you the little glass case next time....

Look at this little dish...isn't it sweet and beautiful! This was given to me by the same person that gave me all the blue beads and things I told you about a few posts back. She knows I also love old dishes..specially ones with roses...and this one is so SWEET and delicate. I love it!

Three little bitty pretty things....may be small and uninteresting to someone else....but they count for an awful lot in my book.....everytime I look at them, I go....."awww." How about you? take care out there, pat

"Snow and a Giveaway Winner"

Well, it's Sunday night and time to announce the winner of my 2nd Anniversary/Valentine giveaway. Since I last posted, we had a 'storm' leaving us under a blanket of ice covered with snow, so I have not spent a lot of time out here in the Nest. It's still kind of dicey walking from my house to the Nest, but, gosh, I've got things to do, so took a chance - after all, I have to let you all, out there, know who has won.

The winner is: Linda, from Cypress, Texas! Linda,I will mail these 'goodies' to you asap. Please send your mailing address via my email. I'm just sorry I couldn't send something to each person who commented!

I'm including some photos of the Nest here. We get snow once in a while...usually a half inch or so. Rarely do we have more. In fact, we moved to Arkansas in 1981 and I doubt we've had four or five really difficult episodes with snow. I can remember a really bad ice storm in the nineties...that was very difficult for the whole state. We live in central Arkansas, so we can't complain at all about difficult winter weather. Some do, of course, but really, we have been lucky. Now, THIS time, we had a bit more than what our 'normal' would be...especially with that layer of ice underneath, but I think we are handling it pretty well...

I'm showing you my house in the snow....I like looking at the snow until everyone walks all over it, then it just looks messy...especially by the sides of the streets. I'm also showing you my little studio in the backyard...things look so bleak in the winter. And, I thought I'd show you the cute, white, house of my next door neighbors, Wilma and Jimmy. They are in their seventies and and work circles around us...their house always looks good and especially nice with all the white snow surrounding it.

See my Nest out back...I'm in it now writing this post. I could spend all my time out here, but of course, that's impossible, so I just spend as much as I can.

I appreciate each of you commenting on the giveway post, I hope y'all will visit again. Now to think of what I can giveaway for Easter...hmmmn. Y'all take care out there! pat

Second Anniversary - Valentine Giveaway"

I have something to give away! Valentine's Day will be here soon...did you hear that?
I said SOON....wasn't it just New Year's Day a couple of days ago? It's disturbing to me to see the days just fly by...along with my life...just flying by and I can do nothing about it. I'd love to slow things down a bit, take more time to smell the coffee, the roses, etc. Oh, well, what's a girl to do?

Also coming up soon is the second anniversary of this blog. I can't believe it! Two years have come and gone and I still like having a blog. Can't imagine not having it, to tell the truth. Who knew?

Because a celebration of some kind is in order, I want to give my heart away, so to speak. So, what I'd like you to do is make a comment on this blog post. (Make sure I have a way to contact you should you win!) One of you out there will win the following "goodies" on Sunday, January 31, just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day:

1. The February issue of ROMANTIC HOMES magazine

2. One of my flea market finds salt and pepper shakers filled with Martha Stewart's "Garnet" glitter

3. Two silicone bakeware hearts (oven safe to 450 degrees)

4. Hershey's Bliss Dark Chocolate

5. And, last, but not least, one of my hand-embroidered, hand-beaded pillows (5" x 9") made especially for this occasion.

I always love Valentine's Day... mostly because I love sewing hearts. And I am especially excited to celebrate this blog's anniversary, so,please, do make a comment on this blog post and on Sunday, one of you will be chosen as a winner....daughter Kelly doing the honors, then I will happily send the goodies along to YOU. OK, comment away and stay warm out there! take care, pat

"A Basket, A Heart, A Quilt"

Do you remember that I said 2010 would be my year of the 'basket?' Well, I said it and so far, this month, I've barely mentioned it. Not a good start. So, let's see if this post might make up for a little unintended neglect.

Here's a good example of what I mean by 'my year of the basket.' An appliqued example.
It seems my quilting has suffered also the last couple of years...oh, how I need to be more productive. This quilt was made around 2003. I very rarely use a pattern designed by someone else, but Robyn Pandolph was coming to Little Rock to teach a class and since I LOVED her fabrics, I took the class...and later made this quilt. The fabrics are wonderful!! And, before I forget, while making this quilt, I couldn't decide which fabric to use for the borders...so, that old navy man chose this fabric for me. I think he chose very well!

Applique is what I am known around here for and I loved making this quilt. Robyn's applique pieces are pretty large and easy to sew..very good for beginner's. And also fun for an experienced, old quilter, such as myself. Other than her fabrics, what attracted me to this quilt was three of the motifs...that very long, skinny heart, the very large basket and the birds. I was hooked the minute I saw the pattern! And, have fun, I did!

For years I had saved a very large, floral fabric, figuring I would eventually make a quilt and probably use it for the back. (I like the backs to look good too!) This quilt just screamed for it, if you ask me...hopefully, you can tell how great it is in this photo with my quilt label. Love it. Oh, and just in case someone wants to know, I like using a Micron Pigma pen, #01 or #5 for making my labels. And, I like ironing the label fabric to freezer paper, then writing - it is so much more like writing on a sheet of paper rather than wiggly fabric.

I always end up putting a heart on my quilts somewhere...if not on the front, then on the back or the label. This quilt is one example of doing that. Gosh, it was fun to make, and yes, it is handquilted. I just love it.

That basket really got to me...it's age has not decreased my enthusiasm for it and hopefully, throughout this year, I can show you more baskets. I'm getting excited just talking about it! Take care out there...pat

"Three Cakes in a Week"

Imagine this....I've baked! Well, ok, I've baked before, but I don't bake as much as I used to because that 'old navy man' can eat those sweets as fast as I can make them, so I don't do as much of it as I used to. Until now.

One of my favorite activities these days is reading the blogs of other people. It's amazing what you can LEARN by doing so. On one of my favorite blogs, my new friend, Tina, has been baking and sharing the recipes. I found her blog by chance...and it has become not only one of my favorite blogs, but I feel I've found a new friend, too. I love seeing what she is doing to decorate her home and craft, but to my amazement, I am excited to see what she is cooking! You can read 'all about it' if you visit Tina at her blog, Cherry Hill Cottage. You will certainly enjoy any time spent there.

A couple of weeks ago, she made, then posted photos of a chocolate cake and gave the recipe for the frosting. It was a beautiful cake and since the navy guy loves chocolate, I thought I'd surprise him with one. (Well, listen, it was really not a surprise because he is retired, has no hobbies and has become very interested in every little thing I do, so he was watching!) Then, too, his little tv/computer room is practically right in my kitchen, making it difficult for me to do anything remotely resembling a surprise.

So I made the cake. He and everyone who had a slice, thought it was divine. As I've mentioned before, I am allergic to chocolate, so all I can tell you for sure is making the cake and frosting was easy and smelled divine! I forgot to take a photo though, so the one you see here is the one I made TODAY to take to my group meeting tomorrow. The first cake turned out prettier because I wasn't taking it anywhere (you know how that goes). Today's cake doesn't look exactly perfect...but he says the frosting is wonderful...he always gets to scrape the bowl and spoon! A side note: I bought that antique cake plate at the Flea Market last week for $6....it's really pretty. (For some weird reason, I think a pretty cake plate makes cakes taste even better!)

Tina also made a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Beautiful and delicious looking. I haven't made one of those for years. She baked hers in an iron skillet. I have one, so thought it would be a good time to bake that cake myself, after all, I can eat that kind of cake and he likes them too. Needless to say...I baked one. It was delicious and disappeared quickly. I remembered to take a photo of that one...looks good, doesn't it.

So, I've set some kind of baking record in this house - except for the holidays...three cakes in a week. I enjoyed baking them too...so thank you, Tina, for sharing your recipes and letting me visit your home via the blog. It's a delightful place and I can't wait to see more. The old navy man says THANK YOU, too. Take care, everyone. pat