When a Garage Becomes a Studio

 

 Things have been rather strange around here for the last few weeks and for the life of me, I couldn't think of a thing to post about...but I did take some photos of the garage/studio a few weeks back and decided they would have to do til something better comes along.

Some of you may remember that I moved to a patio home a year ago August, leaving my wonderful backyard studio.  It has been tricky trying to find a place for my various collections of materials to work with, so I decided my fabulous work table, made by the old navy man, just for my studio...would become the center of a work space in the garage.  The table is four feet by eight feet and something I was just never going to get rid of.  So...here you see what I have done.  My son calls it a 'store.'  And, yes, my car does live in the space to the right of the table.   

I can cut out large pieces of fabrics, etc., on the table...but it is also to be used for painting fabric and making collaged canvases, well, anything I decide to do really.  And, of course, STORAGE!

 

When I moved, I also brought along my big chalkboard.  This is the only spot on the property where it made any sense to hang it....and I love to write quotes on it from time to time.  These are the latest ones I felt the need to "showcase." I like driving into the garage and getting a little inspiration:

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."  

Confucius 

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." 

Audrey Hepburn

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive,

it isn't."  

Richard Bach

"The pieces that I chose were based on one thing only - a gasp of delight.  Isn't that the 

only way to curate a life?  To live among things that make you gasp with delight?"

Maira Kalman, My Favorite Things

"There is only one valuable thing in art: the thing you cannot explain."

Georges Braque

 

These aren't the best photos....but, then, what difference does it make?  You get the idea.

 

 I do so love piddling around in all this stuff...but it does make me think....so much to do - so little time.

 

Now, I must tell you...the place where I embroider, sew, and work on my computer is in the house.

I'll show you that sometime....just not today.  It is a place that works for me because I live alone, but you may find it weird....it's my bedroom/office/sewing studio.  And, then, there is also storage everywhere (thank goodness this house has lots of closets!).  One of the hazards of leaving a large backyard studio is that you have to FIND places for things where they have never been before.  Weird for some...but I call it Bird Nest Cottage and my own personal sanctuary.  See you soon.

From Bird Nest Cottage

Until next time,

♥♥♥

A Giveaway Winner!

 

 I am very happy to announce the winner of my 2015 Birthday Giveaway.  The winner is:

EMILY C

Emily, I have just sent you an email requesting your actual address so I can send you these Giveaway items.  I will mail them to you asap and hope you enjoy having them.  And, thank you for visiting my blog.

For you others who took the time to comment, I give you a big Thank You for your interest in not only the Giveaway, but also for visiting often...as many of you do.  Your comments quite often make my day and keep me trying to come up with something worthwhile for you to see when you visit.  I will be having other Giveaways from time to time...so hoping you will stay tuned for those and continue to walk through this crazy little life of mine with me.    See you here soon.

From 

Bird Nest Cottage,

 Until next time,

♥♥♥

My 2015 Birthday Giveaway!

 

Today is my seventy-first birthday.  Born, October 18, 1944.  If you've been here for a length of time, then you know I like to have a Giveaway on my birthday.  So...here it is, my friends.  I hope you will enjoy the photos below...and if you'd like a chance to receive these things, kindly make a comment on this post and on Wednesday evening (October 21st), I will choose a winner.  Also, please make sure you leave info for me to reach you...should you be that winner.  

 

So...for you...a pincushion I just finished.  Made from a little piece of fabric and trimmed with the decorative edge of a vintage pillowcase, no longer useful, but the edge is great.  Not only is the edging used on the pincushion, but I'm including a length of it here, as you see, for your own use on a project, along with some pink pearl pins.  Just for fun.

 

There will also be a string of vintage buttons.  I hope you like them.  I try to find these strings in the flea market from time to time and would enjoy sharing with you.

 

Of course, I also wanted to put a Satin Stitch heart there too.  You know I love doing those....and I like that I decided to say "ALWAYS STITCH WITH HEART."  My philosophy, for sure.

 

And, a simple running stitch.  One of the things I am really admiring of late.

 

This little print fabric is one I have saved for many years.  I love the pink with brown.

 

By the way, the pincushion is 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" large enough to be useful, small enough to be very cute!

 

 Included will also be a vintage hand towel...with Pink details, of course!

 

And, then, there is the current issue of Somerset Life magazine.  A fun magazine 

to spend some time with this Fall.

 

So, there you are.  My birthday Giveaway for this year.  I'd love for you to want it, so again, IF you do, then kindly leave that comment, along with info for me to reach you....just in case.

 

 And, remember....ALWAYS STITCH WITH HEART!

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until Wednesday,

♥♥♥

A Vintage Embroidered Basket Quilt

 

 A couple of weeks ago, my friend Kay, from Mountain View, came for a visit.  She is a really dear, and very talented friend who is also interested in vintage quilts.  She brought this one as a gift to me.

A very kind and generous thing to do, don't you think?  I love it!  These photos were taken on a windy day behind my house....with great joy!

 

This photo was taken under the trees, in dappled sunlight.  Not the best way to picture a quilt, but I love the way there is sunlight and shadow.  There are photos at the end of this post which will show the quilt in a better setting for viewing.

 

I am not going to show the photos of each block...but most.  You will see a great variety of Baskets, embroidered all by hand in a day gone by.  

 

Along with Baskets, I tend to be crazy over embroidered bows.  There are several on this quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 This bird is done in what I think is called "Turkey work."  I'm not all that sure, but it is all done by hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This strawberries on this block are done in Satin Stitch, along with the leaves and are really pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These photos were taken behind my house.  You can see the back of my house in this photo.

I call this spot a park, although it isn't.  It's the front part of the land on which a clinic sits.  I like to sit out there and read from time to time and it seemed a really nice place to photograph this quilt.  

 

 This photo was taken on the fence around my patio.  If you click on these photos, you will see much more detail in the photos and this one will give you a good overview of the quilt layout.  It's a lovely quilt and I am so fortunate to have been gifted it.  THANK YOU so much, Kay!!   I hope you enjoy the quilt photos....I am thinking they would be fun to reduce in size and reproduce....

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

 ♥♥♥

A Quick Viewing of More Pink

 

For today,  I just wanted to give you a quick view of my current 'platter' of pink things, assembled purely for some visual enjoyment.  My friend Sherry says "there are never too many photos."  So, with few words...More Pink!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pink fabric flower made by my friend, Bibi!

 

 My niece, Tessa, visited and placed all these pins in this pink pincushion.  They looked so orderly I have not had the heart to change them!

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the viewing of the Pink today.

I will be posting a beautiful vintage quilt top featuring embroidered baskets in a couple of days.

 You will want to see them!

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

♥♥♥