DECISION

Now don't you all be laughing at me......after my indecision (posted yesterday).....no thunder bolt struck so I totally changed gears.  

I guess the other fabric will have to wait it's turn....at least until I feel more of a creative urge for it.  Instead, my attention will be focused on a dyed piece of wool.  One always thinks you'll remember what method you used to dye/screen print/etc.  Nope....not for this one.  Kinda looks like a pour whatever dyes were handy onto the wool!!

Let's see what happens next.....

FINISHING AND PREPARING

I don't feel like I've hit my normal rhythm since returning from my last teaching trip.  It will come.....so in the meantime....

 I pulled some deconstructed screen printed wool from my stash, along with other hand dyed solids, and of course.....embellishments.  Not sure what if any of these will ultimately show up on the piece.  Making a decision seems so monumental today......Does that ever happen to you?  

However, my hand sewing project is ready for many evenings to come.  This monster 100" x 110" quilt is now in the process of having the binding sewn down by hand.  I know....some of you youngins' prefer that task to be done entirely by machine.....just call me old school......

USA 2 - GHANA - 1

Many Americans, here and across the world, were holding their collective breaths as we watched and waited for the last 5 minutes of the United State's first match to end tonight in Brazil at the World Cup.

In case you aren't a soccer fan......this was a bit of a revenge game as Ghana has beaten the US in their last two attempts to advance in the World Cup, which is held every four years.

 US goalie saving a sure goal....what a ballet!!!

 One of our best went out with a game ending injury.....will he be able to play on Sunday??  Fingers crossed.

 This isn't about guys running around in shorts and long socks....truly this can be a brutal game.......not for sissies. Unlike football, they wear very little protection.

Winning goal.....a beautiful, picture perfect header!!!

SUPPORTING OUR FRIENDS

Our quilt industry has grown tremendously since my start along the quilting highway over 25 years ago.  One thing that hasn't changed is the support quilt instructors give unselfishly to each other.

Some of you may be aware that Mary Lou Weidman's husband recently passed away after a brave battle with brain cancer.  What do quilters do to show support and friendship?  We make a quilt!  I understand she has been posting photos on Facebook, (I'm not on Facebook)......so for more photos...you can search them out there.

Kathy Kansier coordinated the effort and put the blocks together.  The theme was to be whimsical, in keeping with Mary Lou's style and to help lighten her heart.

I hope you will enjoy a closer look at some of the blocks.......

Made by Mary Stori....which I blogged about here.

 Made by Alex Anderson

 Made by Becky Goldsmith

Made by Jan Krentz

OUTDOOR DECOR

Yard art has always attracted me.....and now that we have a big covered porch it's been fun search for unique items to display.

 This baker's rack has been used for so many indoor purposes over the years.  The last few summers it's held crocks filled with shade loving plants....sadly it's wasn't uncommon to forget watering them.  So this year we gathered some antique store treasures to display instead.

 Are you old enough to remember this style of roller skates?  I sure do.....

 Recycled tin 'creatures' seem to be all the rage in the past few years.....even still, we added another to our growing collection.

We aren't sure what this was......but we like it.

Now, if I could only pull myself out of the studio long enough to actually enjoy our porch.....  What about you....are you a porch sitter?

SMOKEY MOUNTAINS!!

We've had some good old fashioned thunder and lightening storms on and off all week.....am I alone in enjoying Mother Nature's display once in awhile?  We don't get these kinds of storms here in the mountains like we did in the Midwest.....kinda miss them...

 So...this is an example of why our area is named 'Smokey Mountains'.....mositure gets trapped in the trees/valleys and along ridges.  It eventually lifts and moves like smoke from a fire......

It's really a fascinating sight!

MORE EMBELLISHED ROCKS

I'm like a caged tiger when I don't have any handwork to do in the evenings.....

and right now, none of the projects I'm working on are ready for that task.

 So late yesterday, I rounded up supplies to create more embellished rocks....thanks to Kate for giving me some more flat rocks!

And...also thanks to Terri (who was truly teacher's pet with all the goodies she shared with me).....these small bags of embellishing treasures.

 I've been slowly trying to fill this metal charger with my creations....

 Detail

Ya I know...this is kinda nuts......

EMBELLISHED SCISSORS SHEATH

Another project workshop at the Alabama Quilt Symposium focused on making a bead embellished scissors sheath. (Which could also be used as an eye glass case.)  Among the various techniques taught, students learned to do the flat peyote stitch to attach the decorative mirrors.

Again, I have to praise the participants.......their skill levels were high and they were very eager to learn.  Lorrie went off the grid and made a needle case!!  Nearly everyone was 100% finished at the end of the class.....though I was snapping pictures early to be sure I got most of them before they headed for home on this last day of the symposium.

This trip was such a pleasure....from beginning to end.....loved the students...each and every one was great to work with.  I may have to reconsider retirement!!!

NEW HOMES

Yippie.....these are a couple of the quilts that now have new homes with these happy quilters. I'm so grateful the pieces will be well loved, instead of being stored in my guest room!

There are always new pieces being added to my shop...do stop by for inspiration or to shop!   

WOOL COLLAGE WORKSHOP RESULTS

I'm still annoyed with myself for not taking more classroom photos, but in my defense....the classes pretty much had elbow to elbow students, all with great enthusiasm to learn, so time flew!

One of my workshops was based on my book, "Embellishing with Felted Wool"....where I guided the participants as they created their own embellished wool collage wall art.

You surely will agree that these pieces are fantastic.....and I'm hanging my head for not getting everyone's project photographed.