Needles of some sort....

I guess you could say if it gets done with a needle (of some sort) and thread, then I like to do it. I enjoy knitting, beading and quilting the most. I used to also embroider, cross stitch, crochet and macrame. But the hobbies were taking over and I could not store all the stuff and keep-up. When you have 15 projects going at one time, it becomes overwhelming and projects get fuzzy. I had to scale down and take control.

A couple of years ago, I took all my cross stitch books and half done projects to the Goodwill and vowed not to buy any more. I got rid of my crochet thread and needles and kept my embroidery thread. You can always use that stuff on quilts.

The embroidery thread has come in handy a couple of times. My daughters used some of it when they were into the friendship bracelets and I have used it on crazy quilts and for decorative stitches and around other things on quilts. It always amazes me to find out how many ways some things can be used. My husband even used my embroidery thread for tying together chicken legs for the rotisserie. I'll bet you haven't heard that one before.

I also came to the conclusion that I could put beads on my knitting and I could add beads to my quilts. So the projects kind of came together and I could add all my favorite things together. The beads can also make jewelry when you need something special to go with that hot new dress you bought (and hid until the next night out with honey).

So I decided the hobby had to somehow be useful. Quilts give you something beautiful for your bed or can be hung on the wall as art. Beads can be used for jewelry, added to quilts and added to knitting. Knitting can make all kinds of things. So now I am guilt free and only take up one room in the house.

Quilts

I am having so much fun with my new camera. I have been taking pictures like a crazy photographer. Here are some of the quilts that I have made in the last couple of years.

This pattern I got out of a book. It's been a while so I don't remember the author/designer. I added my own expression at the top.




This one my daughter batiked the material in her senior art class and embellished it with beads. She had a lot of fun with it.



This one I designed after reading a book on feng shui.
I was inspired by Oriental restaurants and how they have fish tanks in the lobbies and what the water and fish in the tank symbolize. The black fish is to ward off evil and the gold fish are to bring wealth to the house. The water is embellished with blue beads. The fish are stitched around with embroidery thread to secure them.



Below is a close up so that you can see the beads and stitching.

Are You Kidding Me!

I've been working on this bag for my daughter and she just told me that she wants it bigger. It is not wide enough. So I guess I will be starting over. All that work and she is going to make me start over. Aaargh!!!! Once I get to this point in making a bag, I hate to start over. This is the part that is relaxing. Just knit, knit, knit..... So I guess I will take it out and start over.
I'm typing my blog with the help of Licorice. She is laying on the back of my chair with her head on my shoulder. Do you think she can actually read what I'm typing? I swear she can. If she could talk, I bet she would say get over it and tear it out. Okay Okay, I'm pouting but I will take it out. Better get going so I can take it out and start over....

Spring has sprung!

I couldn't help myself, I was out in the yard and had to take some pictures of the flowers. Can you believe it. They are blooming. I thought spring would never come. I love to watch the things I have planted in previous years appear out of the dirt.

The primroses are vibrant and beautiful. Now just how do we keep the slugs away. They will feast on them if we don't do something to stop them.

I even found a couple of the dwarf iris. These are so pretty in their pale shade of yellow.

I took a close-up of the bloom on the rosemary. This is the first one I have gotten to survive the winter. The last couple froze and died.

I couldn't help myself I had to take a picture of our little guy Junior (5 months old last week). Isn't he a charming little fellow next to the tulips and daffodils. I tried to take him for a walk today and he would have nothing to do with being on the leash. If I wanted him to move I had to drag him or carry him. The little guy was scared to be out of his yard.

Here is Licorice (Juniors mom) my sweet baby girl. She is waiting for me to throw her ball. As usual ,She is ready to play and full of bounce. Next time, I will get pictures of Mr Wedgy (her older boy, 1-1/2 years old) and Roofus (their daddy). Well, I've got to go and get my chores done and help hubby with diner.