A picture for you today

So, some of you may remember my phone issues - short story is it got wet and died.

My wonderful husband got me a new one.

An even better one.

And it takes pretty darn good photos.

This one being one of my favorites ever.

Blessings friends,

Daphne

-please keep the Coast Guard aviation community in your prayers today.  thank you- 

Some finally's

Finally - some sewing!

A play mat for the little one and his trains/helicopters (the landing pad is the red cross dealy).

It is not finished yet...because hopefully in its finished state it won't crumple so easily.

I'm going to back it with towels or a blanket I think, to give it some weight.

If it isn't obvious, a pattern was not used for this.  I just picked out scraps I thought would work, had a rough sketch and went to town.  It's sort of 'abstract' - which I like and the little one seems to like it too!

(when the dog is not laying on it) 

Another one of those project ideas that has been in my head for at least a year.  

Now that we're getting ready to move, I want to use up scraps and get some things done and out of my head - there is only room for so much in there! 

Also (finally) got most everything together for my needle book class with Susan!

Still need silk ribbon and to pick out floss colors.

So excited to get started stitching!  

The class is AWESOME - I am learning so many tips and tricks and the 'proper' ways of doing things.  Susan has made lots of videos for the class and they are so helpful (and it's been fun to put a voice with a face!).  I've taken several on-line courses, but none with video.  It's really fun!

And for painting....just picked up this book after seeing Lisa's watercolor journal and her mention of the book.  Really excited to dig in and get better about being consistent with my painting and journaling.

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Daphne

The Word

I read this scripture last night and it spoke volumes to me - our house went on the market yesterday!

So so much going on around here.  We've had a great visit with my folks this week, they head back tomorrow.  Then more house stuff/getting ready to move, I suppose.

I was a bit over-ambitious when I promised sewing news the other day - sorry!  I did get something sewn but it's not quite finished yet.  Monday, maybe?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!

Blessings,

Daphne

(I'm linking up with sneak peek friday again!)

blog

Mardi Gras Mambo

Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!

Mom and I went to the end of Rex

Floats from Bacchus

The aftermath that most visitors don't see.

Mardi Gras parades produce A LOT of trash.

Sorry to end on a not so happy note - but to make up for it, I have more sewing news tomorrow!

Blessings and Happy Mardi Gras,

Daphne

The Pillows are Finished!

Hooray! 

Here is the line up.  

It has only taken me about a year to make 4, 14 x 14" pillows.

As my husband pointed out, though, 

it really only took about a week to do the actual making...

I just had to get started.

A huge shout out to Erin at Why Not Sew Quilts for the kick start to 

get me going with the hand-quilt-along!  Thank you!!

The black churn dash squares are hand pieced - everything else was done on the machine.

I have loved traditional blocks and piecing for a long time, but never actually put any together.

It is addictive, I love the finished look!

These are all made with scraps of my grandmother's clothes.

They will be going to her children and grandchildren 

(mine isn't done yet - but isn't that the way it always goes???)

And the two different types of backs.  I had a few t-shirts of hers that was able to use

which was nice because they are so stretchy they were easy to get the pillow forms in!

My folks are visiting this week - and it's Mardi Gras tomorrow!

Busy busy.

Blessings,

Daphne

More watercolors!

No real quilty news yet - hopefully this weekend? (fingers crossed)

Here are some stars inspired by Frances over at The Off-Kilter Quilt, and her podcast!

She was talking about making stars and how much she loves batik fabric.  

And I just happened to be painting as I was listening to the podcast, so out came a "batik" star!

It was so much fun and I really like how it came together.  I tried a new technique and everything!

I plan on making more of these into cards.

The only other news I can share is that some new cards have been/will be

 added to the shop shortly, including:

This happy little cow!

Cake with bunting, and...

A set of quilt block cards.

(can you tell I really want to quilt?!)

Blessings for your weekend friends!

Daphne

Change of plans

What is it they say?  Necessity is the mother of invention?

Well, I ran out of watercolor paper and was really bummed about it yesterday because the stars aligned and I had some time to paint!  And then I remembered a very nice commenter had mentioned painting on book pages - I have been wanting to try that!  So I did.

I sort of went to town and as fast as I could, did as much as I could.

I'm still getting used to what the true colors of the tray paints are - as evidenced by this 'block'.  The scary thing is, I had a hair bow in those exact same colors in the early 90's.  

The standing sunflower was done with watercolors in a tray, the other one with paint from tubes.  There is a big difference in how opaque they are.  I think I prefer the tube colors for watercolor paper because I really like the softness, but on this paper the tray colors seem to show up better.

Any thoughts?

I hope to have some quilty news soon - that is not watercolor related!  

I just love traditional quilting blocks so I plan to make a series of cards featuring them. 

Blessings!

Daphne

The Word

More on hospitality soon, but first, something I have needed to remember lately.  Just been in a little bit of a funk - not exactly sure why, but part of it could be this:

Yes, it was the toilet and no it hasn't shown any signs of recovery yet (we're going on a day and a half now)

Phone or no phone, funk or no funk, this IS the day the Lord has made and that is every reason to rejoice and be glad in it.

(p.s. don't you just love the word "rejoice"?!  As I was writing it I was marveling at what a wonderful word it is...)

Blessings friends - rejoice in His day today -

Daphne

A little heart tree for you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Blessings,

Daphne

The weekend

Not too much to share - but I did finish one of the hand quilt along blocks for my grandmother's pillows!  I've already started another.

I'm signed up and ready to go for the Hari-Kuyo Needlebook e-course with Susan over at Plays With Needles (see the button on the right?  It'll take you right to the class information!).

I can't wait to get started.  Love the fabrics she used and especially the flower on the front of the book, but I decided I'm going to use some special bits of fabric I have around here - like more of grandma's clothes and some other fabrics I remember my mom and grandma sewing with when I was little.

It's been chilly here which makes me so glad I made that hat for the little one.  He's gotten quite a bit of wear out of it already.

I've yet to start on my sweater, but my friend Janet came over and gave me some much needed instruction on how to read the pattern.  She also brought a fun embroidery book for me!  So many neat projects I'd like to make for the little ones!

Here is the link

Haven't painted in AWHILE now (it feels that long) so I'm going to try to carve out some time today.

Hope you had a lovely weekend friends!

Blessings,

Daphne

The Word - Hospitality

Hospitality has been on my mind a lot lately.  I've never had a 'word' that I focus on for the year - but this one might take me through a few months.  

It might be the preggo hormones, but I've had the urge to find anything I can that speaks about hospitality to read/absorb.  There is lots in the Bible - and that's where I started.

This verse from Romans is so practical and simple.

Practice Hospitality.

My goal is to be a great host, to make our home a warm, cozy and welcoming place where people pop-in often and want to stay.

Where a pot of tea and/or coffee (I love both!) are always on and flowers are on the table.

Some fresh cookies wouldn't hurt either...

Here are a few other verses about hospitality - but this does not exhaust the list. 

 I think this word will be around for awhile.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:9

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

Blessings and hospitality this weekend friends,

Daphne

(p.s. I'm linking up with sneak peek friday again!)

 

blog

A few starts and a finish

In this corner we have the "starts"!

A baby quilt that I'm FINALLY getting done (sorry Evie!).  It's that silly math, had me in a twitter for almost a year now.  When I finally sat down and figured it out - it wasn't so bad.  The top is put together and I'll hopefully have more pictures soon.

I'm hand quilting along with Erin over at Why Not Sew (such a fun blog!) and completing another FINALLY project.  This one has also been in my head for at least a year and the supplies (a big bag of pillows!) have been sitting in my craft room for just as long. 

I plan on making a quilt for the quilt along, but first I am making squares that will become pillows from some scraps of my Grandmother's clothes.  These will go to her children and grandchildren.   I think it's taken me so long because I was afraid to mess it up.  

These 6" blocks are the perfect size though and will be quick to put together.  Come join us!

And in this corner - the "finish"!

Finished another baby hat for the little lady (or "home-girl" as my husband affectionately refers to her)!

I made this one a little bigger though since she will be a summer baby and as my dear friend pointed out - she probably won't need a dozen newborn hats.  Hopefully there is enough yarn left to make some baby leg warmers.  Oh my goodness, they are so cute - chubby little legs in chubby little wool!  Have you seen them??  If you haven't, Etsy and Ravelry are full of them!

Tomorrow - another Word post.  I'm really excited about this one!

Blessings,

Daphne

Paper Storage

Hello!  Our craft room/office has been dismantled for some repairs to the vent in the ceiling and to replace the ceiling fan (woo hoo!), and that means all the stuff that was in there has been moved into the spare room...which was my photo shoot room... so this will be a short one from outside today!

Just wanted to share how I store my colored cardstock and seasonal patterned papers for card making.

The cardstock is sorted by color in an accordion folder - both full size sheets and scraps.  This folder will only fit 8 1/2 x 11" paper - my bigger paper is stored in a 12 x 12" box from Michael's.  

I just started this new folder with patterned paper and scraps for holiday card making.  So far, all that is in here is Valentine's Day paper, but I plan to use the other sections for Easter, Halloween, Christmas, etc.  That way everything will be together and at my fingertips when I want to find something.

Do you have any storage tips you'd like to share?  Please leave a comment - I'd love to hear about them!

Blessings,

Daphne