Monday, December 30, 2013

In closing


A year's end is always bittersweet.  What starts as a wish list of accomplishments and resolutions, hope and grandeur, frequently doesn't end as such.  But as the months pass and memories are catalogued into our minds, we look back and smile at what gifts the year has brought us.  Thankful I am for all that we have in this great life.  

A few of my favorite holiday images.  












Saturday, December 21, 2013

Iced Wonder and Other Winter Treasures


Our first ice storm arrived overnight.  I listened to a slow, constant trickle of rain slowly fill our pool for most of the evening.  The morning revealed the magical spell cast on the entire city.  Every surface from rooftops to trees to tiny blades of grass, gently encased in a thin layer of glassy ice.  Magical.




















A few other favorite images from this year.

1995 ornament by my uncle.  He used to make them every year for every family member.  

The Flying Pig Vintage Market.  Owasso, OK.

The Flying Pig Vintage Market.  Owasso, OK.  

Monday, December 2, 2013

Pretty in Pink

 




Something about the combination of Jay McCarrol's Habitat and other pink and lime accent fabrics, reminds me of Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink.  



A simple 4 patch of 6 in squares measuring 50 x 57 in makes this the perfect lap quilt for reading or enjoying a toasty beverage during chilly holiday nights.  For one of my oldest, dearest friends who is an avid reader and has always channeled a little 80's Ringwald style.  



Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Break for infinity



Delicious Field Study from Anna Maria Horner and PB&J from Moda Fabrics



Had to make a break for infinity scarves.  All the holiday quilting and crafting came to a head once I finished Pretty in Pink and some Scrappy Seasonal ornaments.  A light trip to Owl and Drum reminded me of this very simple yet sophisticated project, especially when you have leftovers of beautiful fabrics, or find an odd quantity of something delectable, such as these from Anna Maria Horner and Moda Fabrics.  Owl and Drum has a great grab bag stash!  Store owner Bianca showed me some sweet samples of infinity scarves they are making for holiday gifts.  Might just have to give these away too! 
Combine youtube tutorials of infinity scarves to make your own wearable treasure!  That's all it took.   

Sunday, November 24, 2013

What Quilting Has Taught Me

Pretty in Pink

Scrappy Seasonal ornaments
Scrappy Seasonal ornaments


Above all else, to be patient, with my husband, my children, friends, colleagues, and with myself. 

Making a perfect quilt with exactly matching mitered corners, pristine binding, and flawless quilting, is nearly impossible, and this is evident early on in one’s study of quilt construction. 

Quilting allows me to fudge a little, to forgive myself when my blocks don’t match up or my rows don’t nest.  My brow furrows a bit, I push my glasses back up the bridge of my nose and wrestle for a moment, knowing only I will remember where that fussy cut could have been but wasn’t.  And that’s OK. 

Quilting has taught me to appreciate the time at my sewing machine, be it 5 minutes or 5 hours.  With each steady run of my sweet Bernina, that much worry and tangled thought exits painlessly. 

Quilting has taught me to think ahead, if even for a few hours, whilst I select delicious fabrics, do some basic measurements, and dream up a new design, always with someone in mind.  It has taught me to repurpose even the most miniscule scrap of fabric, something that translates into a way of life. 

It has taught me the beauty of creating something for somebody, not just for creating’s sake.  It allows me to love a person and my relationship with them in a very particular way.  For what fun is it to keep such treasured creations when happiness is sure to blossom when it’s given. 

Quilting allows me to think, to reflect, travel to the times and places in my life, to repair feelings and worries about people and events. 

It let’s me listen to music, uninterrupted. 

It never stresses me out.  It fits me to a tea.  It’s part of my life’s work.    

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Funkdafied Scrappy Pumpkin



In the spirit of Scrappy Seasonal (and Michael's and Joann's great Halloween sale prices this weekend!) a $2 cardboard pumpkin mold + quilting scraps can be whipped up into something funky and repurposed (my fave!).  Fabric designs include Jay McCarroll's Habitat in pink and some other fat quarter finds at Owl and Drum.  Add a festive twine of berries and voila, instant crafting satisfaction.  See Scrappy Seasonal for instructions.  
Enjoy this spectacular Midwest weather, or wherever you may be this Halloween season.  

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Junk Hippy Roadshow and a Brown Recluse



FleaQuest has finally staked a place in my heart.  Months ago I came upon Flea Market Style Magazine, and FleaQuest is their go-to guide for vintage/antique/repurposed marketplaces by date and location.  So DFL and I hit the Junk Hippy Roadshow today in Tulsa after we cleaned up a crime scene at home.  
I am a barefoot-at-home type of gal.  It's better on my feet, and keeps dirt from getting tracked into the house. So we have a shoes-in-the-closet policy, and the kids miraculously abide.  Wandering happily down the main hall of our home (barefoot of course), I saw two small insects marching in sync.  No biggie right?  As I approached them, I had to take a second look.  It was a spider and a beetle, about the same 1/2 inch size.  The spider was brown and 6-legged, and was stalking this poor black beetle across the hall.  He eventually reached the beetle, crawled on top of him and began furiously spitting out his webbing to tie the sucker up!  By this time my husband, father-in-law and son are ready to pounce.  Is there a violin shape on the spider's back?  If so, it's the dreaded brown recluse, stalking his prey in our own home!  You be the judge.


The heebie geebies were flowing strong.  What better an escape than some Junk Hippy Roadshow?  So many wonderful repurposed furniture pieces, art, antiques, clothing, vintage quilts, and other notions.  Catch em while you can. 



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Transplant's Pantry




How many women do I know that rave about food co-ops?  My roommate in college, my mother-in-law, and countless others who possess that cooking soul and demand fresh, organic products for their culinary creations.  
Since we're transplants for awhile, and I'm officially weary of the cost necessary to feed my family humanely by means of Whole Foods, I decided to do the homework on food co-ops.
Today my son and I made the trip to Anner's Pantry, a Tulsa, OK based organic, as-local-as-possible food co-op.  What a treasure, in true Glass Collector spirit!  Fruit and veggie bags, juice bags, weekender bags, meat, dry goods, spices, you name it!  
Anner and her family run the co-op out of their home in Maple Ridge, something reminiscent of  Dorothy's Kansas home transplanted to OZ.  I fully expected to find two legs in striped stockings and boots emerging from the slab as we approached the porch.  And as if this delectable discovery weren't enough, Anner maintains an enormous circular herb garden in her front yard.  Members may come to pick herbs at their leisure, day or night.  Just bring a pair of shears if it's after hours!


Monday, August 12, 2013

Last Night of Winter Solstice


            
There you lay so gentle and calm, an ease about your youthful face, not a crease or a furrow to be found.  The day’s excitement has settled, and your body has followed suit.  You lay curled comfortably with that same soft blanket that cuddled you as an infant, a toddler, and now a young boy.  It’s tattered and worn, and there is a small hole on the backing fabric that only I know exists.  You have not found it yet, but once you do, you will be intent on bringing it to my attention.  This I know.  
I kiss your face, feeling the smooth, soft surface that first took life inside me,  softened my soul and sharpened my instincts.  Your legs stretch out beyond the length of the blanket, having outgrown it many months ago.  I move your head back to the pillow, and as your eyes slightly open, they just as quickly close in comfort that mommy is here. 
My son, how quickly the time passes, and how beautiful you have become in that span.  How sensitive is your soul, and tender your loyalty to your father, sister and I.  What a man you will be, soon enough, too soon really.  I ache at the passing of time as you grow into your own person, but am equally anxious to discover him.  To see what will inspire and drive you, what curiosities will bring you to the ends of the earth, even the pains that you will surely live, just as surely as you are to pass as your father and I.  I simply cannot wait to see it all unfold as we end this last night of Winter Solstice. 

August 8, 2013

Photo by Wayne Devon
Courtesy of fineartamerica.com

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

WASTE LAND




Vik Muniz does something spectacular with the garbage pickers in Rio De Janeiro Jardim Gramacho landfill.  The people who sift through the trash of millions, end up enlightened and infamous.  Well worth a viewing.




Monday, July 29, 2013

Twinkle twinkle

Recently I finished up a Bernina mastery class at my local quilt shop.  As I passed the front desk on my way out, this regal beauty hung high on the wall.


They call it Amish With A Twist II.  I stared longingly at the stunning piecing and quilting, in fantastic solid-only color ways, and at 150in square, imagined it hung high on a wall in my home or on a california king.  Maybe one day...  I left the shop with a skip in my step just thinking about it

Over at a friend's house the next day, I caught a glimpse of a photo of AWAT II on her dining room table, and a fabric kit lying close by.  Could it be?  I stopped in my tracks, grabbed my friend and demanded an explanation.  Yes, she joined the block-of-the-month club to make this other-wordly quilt.    And so I joined her on this fantastic journey.

They say this quilt has a twinkle effect.  I couldn't agree more.  Stay tuned!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

WIP Wednesday

Figured I'd jump on board with the rest of the quilting blogsphere and post work(s)-in-progress Wednesday.  With every quilt finish comes an intense feeling of accomplishment, yet other projects begin filling my mind almost immediately.





Wee Woodland modified 9-patch.  
This is the first quilt I pieced.  I began it after my daughter was born as I was just learning to quilt.   This was also before I earned the courage to free-motion quilt, thus credits for quilting go to Teresa.  Still needs a binding and then will be perfect for fall picnics in the park.







5 1/2 in pinwheels
I found this stellar vintage small print fabric collection at The Fox and the Fable.  Perfect 6-in charm squares of the prints and sandstone solid have made piecing these pinwheels a dream.  Stay tuned!