Garden Faire

The family went to Garden Faire at Winterthur on Saturday. Winterthur is a Museum/Garden near Wilmington, Delaware which was the home of Henry DuPont, an avid collector and gardener. Garden Faire features incredible vendors, lectures and exhibits, and this was the second year we have gone.

Of course, I just wanted to buy everything. But I used incredible restraint and only got a couple of things. I got this flower pot which is hand thrown (they also had demonstrations) and I just love it. I put fabric in it instead of flowers (big surprise!)
I also got this old metal gate- it will look pretty cool in my garden. Isn't it funny the old rusty things that we find beautiful- I once bought a rusty piece of metal for the garden and my dad offered to paint it for me! When I explained that I like it that way, he didn't get it!

Some photos that my husband took....


My 13 year old daughter took these (I didn't crop or adjust them in anyway). I know I brag about her a lot, but gosh she is talented!



I get so inspired when I am surrounded by beauty- it reminds me that God is the ultimate Creator, and it makes me want to create in my own little way. In using our creative gifts, we truly honor and give glory to Him.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You have set Your glory
above the heavens...

When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You have set in place,

What is man that You are mindful of him,
the son of man that You care for him?

You made him ruler over the works of Your hands;
You put everything under his feet:

All flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Quilt Backs and Other Stuff...

This is the back that I put together for a quilt that I recently finished. It took a fair amount of time to put together- not difficult, but obviously more time consuming than using just a solid piece of fabric. I used to just use muslin for the backs of all my quilts, because it's neutral and inexpensive and I could just buy bolts of it at a time. But recently I have decided that that is just boring, and I'd hate to think of myself as a boring kind of girl! And I figure that if I spend lots of time on the top, I might as well make the back just as pretty. So once this is quilted, it will really be a reversible quilt. 2 for 1- so practical!

Taking the photo was not easy, though. I had the thing thumbtacked to the barn wall and the wind was blowing and so I had to keep tacking it back up. And I had to wait between gusts of wind so that the quilt would stop moving around so I could take the photo.

While I was back behind the barn, I noticed this delightful little wild strawberry patch. My daughter had told me that it was back there and I had forgotten. She loves to spend time outside. When she was little, she would play all kinds of games out there, now she spends her time taking photos. Reminds me of when I was kid, we lived in a rural area and it seemed I spent all of my spare moments outside on all kinds of "adventures". And I knew that yard, the woods, every tree, like the back of my hand. Those were the days!

I also managed to grab a shot of a wasp and a bee on some goldenrod growing up along the fence.

My oldest daughter is coming home from college for the weekend. Her only request was that I cook- anything! Apparently she is tired of dining hall food! I am planning on making something that involves some of her favorite foods- eggplant, pasta, goat cheese... Stay tuned!

Finally, make sure you stop over at Martha Stewart's blog, she recently did a show all about blogging and has some great tips!

Rationalization

Sign seen at local quilt shop:

15 Reasons for Buying Fabric

1. It insulates the closet where it is kept.

2. It helps keep the economy going. It is our patriotic duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills, and quilt shops.

3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.

4. Because it's on sale.

5. Because I'm worth it.

6. A sudden increase in the boll weevil population might wipe out the cotton crop for the next ten years.

7. I'm participating in a contest: the one who dies with the most fabric wins.

8. It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, and you never have to feed it, change it, wipe its nose, or walk it.

9. I need extra weight in the trunk of my car for traction on snowy, icy roads. This is important, even in Florida and Southern California- you never know when the weather will change.

10. Like dust, it's good for protecting previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, the laundry hamper, the dining room table....

11. When the Big Earthquake comes, all the quilt shops might be swallowed into the ground and never be seen again.

12. Stress from dealing with the Fabric Control Officer (aka husband) made me do it.

13. It's not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul, and makes me feel good.

14. Buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions.

15. A yard a day is all the quilt shops of America ask.

I think we all can relate.... Enough said.....

Giveaway Winner / First Day of Autumn

Well, my younger daughter picked the winner last night. And the winner is... Valerie from Life's Little Garden, a really lovely blog. Thanks again to everyone who entered! Make sure to check back- I will be doing more in the future, 'cause they're just so darn fun!

First Day of Autumn...

Some photos I took at a local roadside stand, I love the light at this time of year...

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

Thanks! / Free Pattern

CLICK HERE to get the free pattern for this baby quilt, called For Ella's Sister.

Thanks to EVERYONE who entered the Super Stupendous Truly Tremendous Really Remarkable Giveaway! I will post the winner on Monday!!!

Last Chance for Giveaway/ Baby Quilt is Done!

Last chance for the Giveaway, it closes at Midnight EDST tonight- CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

I'm so glad it's done! I tend to work on several projects at a time, but I worked on just this one all week, and I'm ready to move on to something else (I have lots of ideas for new projects, or should I work on the 15 or so that I have already started..... Hmmm....)

As promised, here is the FREE PATTERN/TUTORIAL for this quilt. CLICK HERE to get the pattern and directions.

I also wanted to mention that Sandi has had an absolutely adorable sunflower pattern published in Cotton Spice, a free online quilting magazine. Click Here to go to Sandi's blog to find out more. Congratulations, Sandi!

Create and Decorate Holiday Issue

CLICK HERE to enter the Absolutely Amazing Giveaway....

I have a project in the latest issue of Create and Decorate Magazine! Pick up the 2008 Holiday Issue to get my Fraktur Style Christmas Tray pattern. The issue is available at Barnes and Noble, as well as other stores. Then sit down with a mug of tea, relax, and peruse the beautiful projects inside... Sure to get you in the holiday mood.
Thanks for the dinner suggestions yesterday. I even got a great soup recipe from Joy, which I will try soon. I ended up taking some chicken out of the freezer, and roasted it (doesn't get simpler than that.) I rinsed and dried the chicken, placed it in a baking pan with some potatoes, threw in some sprigs of rosemary from the garden, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and threw it in the oven. Served it with peas and refrigerated crescent rolls. Done! Delicious!


Still working on that baby quilt (For Ella's Sister), almost done...

Almost Done!

There's still a couple of days left to enter the Really Remarkable Giveaway- CLICK HERE TO ENTER. (And I still like alliteration...)


The baby quilt is almost done- it's all pieced and machine quilted, now I've just gotta get the binding done. Here is a little preview, I hope to get the binding done tonight and then I can post the whole thing tomorrow. I gotta say, this is one of my very favorites that I've done, and it came together fairly quickly. I'll try to get the free pattern up here, soon, too.


I thought I'd show off a wool table runner that I made a few years back. Originally, I made it to put out just for fall, but actually it stays out almost all year, because I like it so much. The pattern is from the Cottage Threads Book by Need'l Love, I think it may still be available, click here to go to the Need'l Love website.

It is cool and clear and feeling like fall here, all the windows are open. I'm trying to figure out what to make for dinner- for some reason I just can't think of a thing to make. I feel like making something that says "fall," but I don't know what. Any ideas?