Morning Glory Studio

hello monday | 16...

hello Monday...Yesterday, my friends Pat (just returned from a two weeks' stay on Aruba), Margaret, (her daughter) and I gathered for our monthly session: brunch, stitching on projects, sharing stories, and most of all, enjoying Margaret's dogs: Watson and Crick, both rescue dogs. Crick's new to Margaret's household and he is so sweet* ...

hello Monday...it's quilting Monday and today, after quilt guild - we meet informally in the summer - I'm off to begin a six-month's club/class on stitching on wool. Remember my Crimson Tweed? The club/class  is going to focus on making different stitches and embellishing... Another Crimson Tweed in the making? Perhaps this one will be my own creation...

hello Monday...Norman was going to get up early and cut the grass, but it's clouding over...uhm, wonder if it's going to rain...

hello Monday... the end of June and  the start of the July 4th  holiday weekend; I can't believe July is tomorrow!

hello Monday...It's been along time since I've greeted you ( 10/29/2012!!!) and a lot has happened in the interim: most important, a new member in our family, bébé Chris who will be three weeks old tomorrow!

 hello Monday ... so glad  for another fresh start! What fresh start are you looking forward to this week?

Cheers~

 

*and a perfect companion for Watson who is an absolute heart throb. be still.

 

serendipity...

As I was wrapping up MSQT this morning, rather late, I noticed the sunlight streaming on my reading table...and especially on my current kntting project. I thought it was especially interesting that the sun motif on the lazy Susan was sortof acting like an arrow, pointing towards the knitting project. Naturally, I  stopped to take a pic...and decided to share it as today's blog post.

Must be serendipity at work.When I first blogged about the poncho, my friend Mary wrote and told me she was also working on the very same pattern, only knitting hers with linen yarn. Well, guess what, today she posted the finished piece! Wow! It's lovely and so much fun to see what mine will look like...someday!

Yes, I am making progress - I have knit about 4 inches (about 46 inches to go)  - and, as Mary sez, you can only get so much done with straight stockinette stitch, even if one is using size 7 needles. I would undoubtedly make more  progress if I knit  4-6  rows at least daily. We'll see; I'll add that as a July goal ;-)).

Knittin' on...and you, have a great weeekend. 

Cheers~

"a summer without books and reading...

...is like a day without sunshine."

Today, books come in many shapes and flavors: paper bound; picture & photo; comics and graphic novels; talking and audio books; mysteries; fiction: contemporary, historical, fantasy, science fiction; biography; memoir; non-fiction covering everything and all things, from A-Z. So many choices...

Summer reading usually takes the shape of leisure reading. Public libraries across the country (I'd venture to say all and certainly most) have summer reading programs, not just or only for children, but for people of all ages, from cradle (including those in the womb ) to our last day in this life. 

My friend Mary invited us (her blog readers) to join her in an informal online summer reading program, Book Bingo, sponsored by Good Reads' Books on the Nightstand -BOTNS-weekly poddcast. (You can learn more about the program here.) I signed on and two days ago, printed out my first Book Bingo card, looked it over and made notes about the clues  - basically, whether or not they appeal to me.

So far, I have identified three books I plan to read* - or am currently reading:

Andromeda Strain ~Michael Chricton ( can either be science fiction or a reread)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ~ Maya Angelou ( a definite reread!). I am also considering one of her poetry collections.

Storycatcher ~ Christina Baldwin (has been on my TBR for longer than two years! And I have started it.)

My idea is to go for a "Baker's Dozen" and  try to read books in three columns: up/down; left/right; and diagonal, going for the free space, of course. 

Summer reading takes me back to my childhood lazy days...I always read, sometimes to the chagrin of my sister and neighborhood friends who wanted to play. I don't remember that we had a formal summer reading program but I do know that we went to the library weekly, if not more often. Which reminds me, I need to get to the library. Maybe tomorrow.

What are you reading these days?

Cheers~

  

* I do.not. plan to read Moby Dick; I read it in high school and absolutely. hated. it.  I'm sure there are many other choices.

wordless wednesday | 17...

looking for...

...the directions I have for making these: New York Beauty blocks.

In the house, in my studio/s, someplace...

This morning, I searched high and low, and in the process, rediscovered way.too.many. quilting projects in various stages. So, I promised myself that come 31 December 2014, I will have made progress on them or they will be relegated to my quilting group's peddlar's table sale in April.

And in the meantime: buy no more fabric. Ha!

Cheers~

just right!

I have almost completed another Flower Garden block and have three others that are in various stages of "bloom."

Selecting fabrics for each block and its various components is truly the best part of the process. I do so enjoy sorting through my stash, auditioning and envisioning how the fabrics compliment and complement the overall block...

In this block, I have just one little embellishment to add ~ a small circle on the flower. Bcause the fabric is dark, and the circle small, I wanted something that would pop but not conflict, so I looked to the leaves for inspiration. 

 

My first choice was the multi-colored circles on the left...nah, too dark!

Next, I thought I'd use the middle floral piece; brighter, lighter, yes...but too blah!

Then, by chance, I spied and thought I'd try another flower (the fabric on the right - I found from the same fabric as the middle piece) ...and just like Goldilocks on her third try, I said outloud: "That's it! It's just right!"

And so, I shall make and appliqué the  circle and  move on to the next three flowers...

Making progress!

Here's wishing you progress, too, on your Monday.

Cheers~

PS. I do like the circle fabric and won't be surprissed if it shows up in another block; I still have a few to do.

summer memories...

In just a few more hours, if you, as I, live  in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice will  officially arrive at 6:51 AM, EDT.

This morning, as I was on my walk, I heard the trills and laughter of children on a playground; I think the kids are still in school, making up time for all those school days lost this winter season. Hearing the children caused me to think about my childhood summers and  in particular,  summer, 2014.

 We don't have any special  plans save for an occasional day-trip to Ocean City (Norman wants some delicious Thrasher's french fries), approximately a 100 miles from here; a Washington Nationals' ball game or two and  a trip to a delightful  (I hear) quilt shop called Serendipity in Dagsboro DE. One can never visit too many quilt (or knitting ) shops. Or eat too many french fries?

Rather than make memories, I plan to concentrate on getting the memories and stories  of summers - and years - gone by out of my head, off my someday maybe to do list and in formats that others can engage with and, I trust, enjoy. Some of those stories will take shape as a page in a scrapbook or a mini album; others, a blog post. Many  will just be notes scribbled on an index card, or a journal entry. Many are already.

Some stories may emerge as an art journal quilt (for every quilt does tell a story). And yes, I will continue to stich on my Flower Garden quilt blocks: only 9 left to do! 

However the stories take shape, I am excited with the possibilities for telling and sharing my memories, not only of summers  but also the anamneses of my life.

How do you plan to while away your summer?

 

 

Cheers~

 

 

All Things Tea...

About 40 years ago, my friend Adele, bought a teapot for 50 cents at a neighborhood  yard sale. Today, she has the most wonderful and interesting collection of all things tea: old tea tins; teapots of every shape, era, color; books; clocks; miniature dollhouse-sized tea themed items; jewelry; cards and notepapers; linens, prints and clothing; and of course: tea!

Little did she know that one purchase was going to open the door to:

•  a lifetime of learning about the custom of making and drinking tea; and
• giving talks to quilt guilds and women’s organizations throughout eastern Ohio. Since she retired sixteen years ago, she has given over 25 talks on tea to groups throughout eastern Ohio, southern Virginia and West Virginia.

A year -ago June, I was elected president of my quilting asociation and while visiting Adele, surrounded by all things tea, I had the bright idea to invite her to be our guest speaker at our 2014 annual end-of-year June luncheon. She accepted and ...

On Monday, June 9, she came, bringing with her examples from her ever-growing collection - to which, I must share, she added more items during her visit. 

Now, this was a really big event for my friend Margaret and me, because though we've known Adele for over forty years, we've never heard her talk. We have, of course over the years, contributed our share of items to her always growing collection.

At the luncheon, we had delicious food: ranging from wonderful  tea sandwiches, exoctic one-dish items to cookies, mini-cakes - all but clotted creams - and an assortment of delicious teas. Members dressed the tables and themselves for the occasion and we all had a delightful time.

Adele ended her talk with a show of flowering teas: one teapot per table. T'was a beautiful, fun sight and great way to drink up a presentation filled with lots of interesting and fun facts.

Thanks Adele for making the journey and as my dad would say, " Come back anytime."

 

Cheers, Friend~

wordless wednesday | 16...

rencontrer notre bébé Chris*

 

This time last Tuesday, June 10, Dolly's baby Chris was just about 2 hours and some minutes old. He was early - four weeks or so - but a good weight and length. He stayed in the NICU two days and then, was graduated to another unit - less intensive monitoring. Though still in the hospital as we mark his first week, everyday brings positive signs and good news. He may possibly even be discharged this Friday. We hope so. Mom is healing too and dealing with the separation very well. She goes to the hospital everyday to see and feed him - to be with him. I think they've bonded quite well.

And so here he is, at about three days old. Not the best picture (phone ) by far but he's looking quite alert. (In person, he looks more like his dad but I see his aunt Kayla in this photo, I think.)

Cheers~

*meet our baby Chris