I wasn't crazy afterall!

Now there are some who might doubt the title of this post, but do you remember when I was asking for some information a while back? I asked if anyone had seen a quilt or technique that had a window "pop-out"? I thought I had seen it at the Minnesota Quilt Show in 2008. Well, I was right!

Of course, I searched and searched my hard copy photos and my computer files to no avail. I have no idea why I couldn't find these pictures before, when I really needed them! Isn't that the way it always is?

The first picture on this blog is Sunflower Vista, by Karen Wallach, Blaine Minnesota. It is the piece I have been searching for! I always try to take a picture of the label with the quilt at the show where it is hanging so I can have the maker's name. I have the entire quilt picture with that label, but it's a bit blurry, and it took me a bit to figure out the name. I just love this Fiber Artist's work! I've sent her an inquiry as to whether she teaches so I can find out about this technique!

Here's why I haven't posted much in the last week or so. The garden is more complete now. My son put in the last half of the fence posts for me on Mother's Day, and we finally got the raised beds filled with the 5 cubic yards of composted soil. We finally have all the run-off corralled now, so the garden is done! Well - except for one last tilling on the side closest to the shed. This picture is taken from my deck.

Here's my helper, Kaitlyn. As you can see, I wear fabulous garden clothes: comfy baggy cotton Jam's shorts, a baggy white shirt to repel the sun's hot rays and an SPF 60 Sunhat. The last of the cattle panels have now been installed too, so the other side of the garden is now protected from the critters that love to come dine in our yard.

And this is what your feet look like if you wear reef runner sandals in the garden everyday! They are NOT dirty - that is suntan...yes, that is even with sunblock!

I have a customer coming on Thursday afternoon for me to set some embroidered blocks made by her mother. Another customer is coming on Sunday afternoon to have me set some painted/embroidered/photo transferred blocks from her wedding. Ah, now, maybe I can pay the balance for my September Gwen Marston retreat! Pictures to follow.

It's a Circus and a star!

It was still raining, and raining hard Friday night.

Of course, it was! We had tickets for TEN of us to the Zoppe Italian Circus. Because it's an outdoor tent, and they were in a local park, they had to cancel the last performance (ours) because of the rain soaked arena. We were all so sad!

BUT WAIT! We did get to go to the morning show Saturday. I had all my grandchildren there, along with my daughter and son (and daughter's hubby). Laugh, laugh, laugh! What fun we all had!

This is just a small, old fashioned family circus. I think they seat up to 500 people if even that.

My four grand-girls, daughter and me

Of course, Nino is everyone's favorite....

This is what it's all about! Nino, grand-son and daughter

Nino and Quiltgranny

Center ring for perspective on size of tent

My RR Bloggers group have officially started the second round of our mini round robin. Here's my 4" starting block. It will return home in 15 months - hopefully as a winter/snow theme quiltlet!

Just some little softies

I've been down with another cold, and now I've had some oral surgery so I am feeling rather cranky and old!

Since I haven't been in the stewdio for a while, I decided I could work on some more softies, and here they are. I am going to gather quite a few for our annual week at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN (July) where I think it will be a lot of fun to "plant" them!

Tomorrow is an all day stitch day at my house, so I have to make sure I get rested up for sewing, sewing, sewing! I hope to finish my French Roses for sure!

Such people!

Remember last month I shared The Toy Society with you, and I showed you the little scottie dog I made and dropped off at a local vet's office? Here are the latest two that were taken out for adoption today.

Today, I had two more to drop somewhere, and I decided I would put a puppy in the window at oour tiny little branch Post Office. I thought I should tell the Post Mistress about it, so they don't get alarmed, and she thought it was such a delightful idea, she wanted to participate, too. So the little red, one eared, puppy got left at the Post office this afternoon.

Next stop was the dentist's office. My dentist and his staff are so sweet, and their office is in a larger office building that has a central lobby on the ground floor. There's a little fountain there and some park benches, and I thought this would be a great place to put the Polka Dotty Puppy. When I went over to the receptionist window (not the dentist, but the main building receptionist), and I started explaining about The Toy Society, a fellow came up and rudely said "We don't allow solicitations here. You need to leave!" I started to explain again about the free toys, and that's when I noticed how he was looking at me - really hateful and mean.

I think HE needs a puppy don't you? Maybe no one loves him.....but you know what? He's not going to get one of MINE! No sireee!

Such people in the world that can't appreciate a little joy! Oh well, the puppy got left IN the dentist's office (not so anonymously) at the children's station. So I hope someone finds it soon and gets a little hug from Dotty.

Just little ole me

I needed to do a small self portrait for a group project. So here I am, in all my glory. You can double click the picture to see it closer. I've used letter beads to spell out all the things I am, and I changed my hair in each frame, much as I do in real life. Since I had a birthday this past week, I am feeling pretty old, and I supposed I should have found a place to put "old woman" on it too!

The shadow at the bottom is exactly that as I took it late at night, and it was laying in a blue and white striped box lid. The whole thing finished at 8" X 10". The picture is of me, photoshopped and printed on fabric.