Hawaiian Quilts

We saw some beautiful Hawaiian quilts while we were in Honolulu.

I wanted to share two of them with you and a little bit about how they are made.

(sorry for the glare, all of them were behind glass so it was really hard to get good, clear pictures!)

Many Hawaiian quilt designs feature the beautiful flowers and foliage found on the islands.

This is a bird of paradise flower.

Hawaiian quilts are not 'pieced' like many of the quilts we here on the mainland are used to.

Instead, they feature large applique pieces.   To get the geometric designs, the fabric is folded and cut like paper snowflakes!  Clever!

The applique is then surrounded by echo quilting.  Sort of like the ripples that come off a pebble that has been thrown into a pond.  

These are hand appliqued and quilted and the pictures don't do them justice.  They are GORGEOUS up close!  I wish I had taken more pictures (and gotten the names and makers of these two quilts!)- but if you're still curious, there is a lot of information on the web and plenty more pictures.

Blessings,

Daphne

The Word

This Word post was inspired by the sermon this Sunday.  

We referenced many different scriptures, but our pastor had a quote that stuck with me:

"The farmer doesn't grow the seed, but prepares the soil for growth"

Meaning, God makes the changes in our lives, but we need to prepare our hearts (soil) for Him to do those great works.  We prepare by prayer, reading, studying and fellowship.

This also made me think of a parable Jesus taught:

Mark 4: 3-8

"Listen to this!  Behold, the sower went out to sow;

as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road,

and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil;

and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.

And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; 

and because it had no root, it withered away.

Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it,

and it yielded no crop.

Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased,

they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Blessings and wishes for much rich soil in your lives friends,

Daphne

Sketch book

Another page from the sketch book for the ScrapbookLifeJournal.

Up in the left corner is a draft of something I'm working on that I'm super excited about.

More soon about that!

They are still filming.  I'm sort of getting attached to all the people and commotion - I'm afraid I will miss it all when it's gone.  Here are some shots from the "Chinatown of the South" they set up.  Obviously not while they were filming, but you get the idea.

Blessings and wonderful weekend wishes,

Daphne

More Knitting and some Movie Information

I apologize in advance for the quality and (lack of) quantity of pictures today.

Just wanted to share what is on my needles.  And no, it's not the sweater yet.  I started though, and made a gauge swatch that is a bit wrong, so I need to call my friend from church to get some help before I dive in!

I'm making another hat.  

But this one will be a tiny one.

Because we are expecting another little one in the family!  

And we just found out yesterday that she is a girl!!  

Still going with a yellow hat though (I started before we knew).  It's so pretty and goes from white to dark yellow and back again.  I have no idea what it is called or where I got it from.  I've just been pulling from the little stash I have to try to use up as much as I can.

And yes, it is nice enough here to sit outside today.  It was quite chilly this morning, which was lovely! Then it turned warm again.  

And now, for the long anticipated movie information... the movie is called Dog Fight, starring Will Ferrell and it's about two politicians going after each other.  

I don't know how much longer they'll be filming but there were a lot of extras today (3 tour bus loads full!)  Even though they make a lot of noise at night, it's kind of fun to watch all the busyness during the day (they don't film near our house, they just have their 'base camp' here - so all the porta-potties, make up tents, wardrobe tents, trailers and cars are near us).

Well, have a lovely weekend friends!  I'll be back with more crafting next week...

Blessings,

Daphne

Card Making - while traveling

This may seem like a silly topic and most probably it is.  I mean, really, how often do you need to make cards while traveling?

I guess one never really needs to make cards, but they are so much fun!  This year we were gone over Christmas and as much as I would have liked to have had the cards done and mailed well before the holidays, it just didn't happen.  So, I took supplies with me to make them in the hotel.

I wasn't going to haul my whole craft room to Hawaii though.  I just brought the basics and planned out ahead of time what I wanted them to look like so I could bring minimal supplies.  

Here's the list:

The cards were a set from Michaels that they sell in packages of folded blank cards and envelopes to fit.  

One (thin) scrapbook pad in a motif that I liked (in this case Hawaiian - thanks Teresa!)

Scissors

Markers

Pen

Adhesive

That's about it!  

I lucked out and found a stamp at a drug store on the island so I didn't have to write out Mele Kalikimaka on each card.  Instead of an ink pad, I just used one of the markers.  Customizable colors!

I added some doodling to the pre-made scrap book embellishments and papers.

The original plan was to take a picture of us on vacation and upload it to a local Walgreens to have it printed out in the quantity needed.  I ended up just using a picture we already had, but did upload it to a Walgreens within walking distance so I could just go pick them up... and voila!

Christmas cards while traveling!

Blessings,

Daphne

What (was) on my needles

I caught the knitting bug again.  It's been at least a year since I've picked up my needles.   I was crocheting a lot - then decided I didn't want to do either.

And know I'm back to knitting.  This is a hat for the little guy.  It was chilly enough here to need it.  Now it's hot and humid again.  Sigh.

These are the easiest hats ever (but don't take my word for it because they are the only kind of hat I've ever knit...but I have knit 5 of them if that counts for anything).  

The pattern is from a book called Knitting Pretty I picked up at Tuesday Morning several years ago.  It's the only pattern I've ever used and probably will ever use from the book.  So handy, I decided to just rip out the page to carry it with me!

It's really not pink, it's the red color in the first two pictures.  I made a hat for the hubby in the gray with a red stripe long ago and so this one used up most of the rest of the yarn.  

The best thing about this 'roll up' hat?  It fits a 20 month old and a 30 year old!  Just has more 'roll' on the little one - so he'll be able to wear it for a looooooong time, hopefully.

Next, a sweater for me!  I'll keep you posted, this will be a first for me!

Blessings,

Daphne

The Word

Because The Word isn't just for Sunday...right??

This is the very first one I did - several years ago now.  It hangs in our craft room/office and it will probably always be my favorite.

Hope it finds you well this Monday morning.

Blessings Friends,

Daphne

New Shop!!!

I'm so excited - I just had to share!  I've opened a new Etsy shop and it is up and running!  There is a link in the sidebar or you can click here: theimperfectionary.etsy.com, if you're interested.

I'm still working on getting things listed, so if you are interested, keep checking back - I hope to have everything I currently have done listed in the next few days.

Did a little photo shoot yesterday for the pieces I didn't have photos of and I had so much fun staging props and taking the pictures!  It helped that it was an overcast day AND I was able to find a good spot by a window AND that the hubby and Grampie had the little one out on errands. 

Another "Word" post will be coming tomorrow!

Blessings,

Daphne

One of the many reasons why I love him...

There are so many reasons why I love my wonderful husband - and this is one of them...

(sorry for the poor quality, it was late and dark)

He asked to borrow my cutting board, ruler and rotary cutter to cut up his shirts from high school and college to eventually make a quilt.

He mentioned this idea several years ago - so I made a quilt to surprise him for his birthday.  He liked it, but I think he really wanted to do it by himself.  So this time, I'm going to let him!

To all those crafty husbands out there -

Blessings,

Daphne

Sketch book

Just thought I'd share a page from my sketch/doodle/watercolor/etc. book with you today.

Inspired by Junelle over at Yes and Amen, I'm going to try to record some of the little things with sketches, watercolors, doodles and words - not just photographs.  It will be great practice/motivation to practice and I'll be recording things I want to remember.

This little page will go in my Scrapbook Life Journal!

-speaking of motivation, I talked to my mom the other day and she said she read my blog and enjoyed it (and so did my Godmother)!  That is great motivation for me to keep posting regularly!  Thanks Mom and Noreen- love you!

Blessings,

Daphne

It's Show Time!

So, last Thursday, this was the view from our window...

That night they packed everything up and were gone - until last night.  They start in the late evening and work ALL NIGHT.  That's right, trucks and people and honking and equipment banging.  Fortunately they haven't woken the little one.

It's all for this...

Just a few blocks away is a movie 'set'.  It's really our downtown (well, most of it), but they have changed the name, put up fake business fronts on the real ones and even built a whole fake block of storefronts in front of a parking lot next to the court house (see below).

What really surprised me is that they actually changed our city hall name - we do not live in Hammond!  I mean, what if someone got lost? ;)

I don't know what movie they are filming - but we're thinking about walking across the street to get some breakfast from those long catering tables - yum (since they've kept us up at night!) and if we do I might just ask them and be sure to let you know.

Until then -

Blessings friends.

Daphne

An unexpected day

The hubby was able to come home around 10am and spend the day with us

The dog got out of the yard and was lost for an hour
Then was in the yard when we made about the 50th pass to look for him

The fence is fixed (by my wonderful hubby!)

Got some painting done during nap time
I'm enjoying it SO much

Enjoying some time at the park with the family

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Blessings - Daphne

The Word

Just some of the Word that spoke to me.

I've been painting with watercolors lately and I LOVE it.

Hope to share more of the Word and some creations

here

with you

soon.

Blessings,

Daphne

Hello Again!

Sorry it's been so long...it was a very different holiday season for us this year (I guess last year, now...) because we were in HAWAII!!!

My husband was there working over Christmas and New Year's so the little one and I went out to be with him.  It is quite a trip by yourself with an almost 20 month old little boy, just in case you were wondering!
But it is Hawaii and beautiful, so we enjoyed our visit - especially with the hubby!

We are all home now and the little guy and I officially started our "new normal" yesterday.  I was thinking about all the things I will be/be doing now (full time mom, wife, artist/business woman, etc.) and the thought of ALL those things is a little overwhelming, to be honest.  I mean how do I do them all well?

Honestly, I don't think I can - at least not on my own.  In the wonderful book, The Fruit of Her Hands, recommended by my friend Andee, the author suggests that we be Christians first and everything else will fall into place.  So that is my goal - to focus on my prayer, study and relationship and know that everything else will work out.

I am so excited about everything this new normal has in store and part of that includes a feature on the blog hopefully coming tomorrow!!  We are going to be adjusting and finding our rhythm for a little while I think, but I hope to not let that affect the blog postings... all that being said, please be patient friends!

Blessings,

Daphne