It's The Little Things.....

It's the little things that make me smile like sunflowers!

and stained glass windows.....

and cats - lots of cats!

and more flowers - purple coneflowers!

Goodnight and sweet dreams!

I could sleep in this bed - but it would have to be alone!  I found it here - thanks Stylizimo for sharing this dreamy suite! She found it  at H&M, a home department store.  I'm not familiar with this store, but could very easily learn how to shop there! 

What's on the design wall?

Several of us quilters put together 48 string quilt blocks for a community service project - and I volunteered to bring them home with me to square up and trim to one size.  However, in my exuberance, I trimmed two of them too small and had to make two more!  I was not a happy camper....but my mistake meant that these two string blocks were mine! 

Rejoice.

We had lots of orange "strings" so put two orange in each block, so I just continued with the already predominent orange to 'grow' my spoiled ones, then pulled a black scrap from my bin and added it as an eye stopper.  I'll get it sewn together soon.....but in the meantime, I like the way it adorns my wall!   

Just another multi-directional!

Scarf that is! 

I have been knitting on this multi-directional knit scarf for a month or two (directions are here) - and it's a really easy pattern - could have finished this one in a blink -  but life has been pulling me in different directions and has really slowed my knitting progress.  I'm hoping my body just goes in one direction this week.  Happy Monday! 

Oh, I knitted these two yarns together - both made in Italy.....Did I say, Italy, here I come....46 days and counting down. 

Fish out of water!

Where you lead me, I will follow.....

The above picture first started out as a little community service quilt for a dear child (blogged here), but these little fish lead me on and on.  I was like a fish out of water playing around.  First step is to convert picture to black and white, then second step, is to brush over the object that is to be colorfilled! 

Two ways to B&W (that I know of) - in PSE, you can go to Enhance, then convert to black and white.  Another option is to use the Adjustment Layer - Gradient Map with solid color gradient.    Either way works beautifully.

As I've said before, community service doesn't have to be difficult....as a matter of fact, taken to another level, it's down right fun! 

{Echo} Week 29- Flight

Just a short break:  Chrysti and Susan started {Echo} Week again and Autumn and I will continue our photography partnership.   This month's prompt is flight and here is my interpretation!



Flight (of stairs)


And Autumn has a very different take on flight!  Isn't this the cutest bunch of hot air in flight that you've ever seen?  Smile as you soar...I love her attitude!

Oh, there's more - much more.  Here's where to join the fun. 

Modern, Southern, Style

So, this is how I'm suppose to look!  I'm modern and southern and.......why don't I feel in style?

On the topic of what is what!

The Red Cow was very respectable, she always behaved like a perfect lady and she knew What was What. To her a thing was either black or white ö there was no question of it being grey or perhaps pink. People were good or they were bad ö there was nothing in between. Dandelions were either sweet or sour ö there were never any moderately nice ones.


 -Travers, P(amela) L(yndon)
Mary Poppins, ch.5.

No Space - Leave The Place!

I know you can't read this - but it's saying something very important - so I'll paraphrase.....

You can tell the difference between a mirror and a two-way mirror by placing your finger on the mirror.  If there is a space between your finger tip and the tip in the mirror, then it is a mirror.  BUT, if your finger tip touches your finger tip, then it is a two-way mirror.

Two-way mirrors are a problem when they are viewing someone without their knowledge, i.e., hotel rooms,  public dressing rooms,  toilets or spas.  Just remember the slogan and do the finger test on mirrors - No Space - Leave The Place.  

Just thought you would want to know!

Totem Quilt

Community service quilts don't have to be difficult.  I had yardage of this totem fabric and some brown minkie fabric - quilted in wavy lines - and very simply - a quilt for a disadvantaged youth. 

Designer statement on doors ~

what's on the door

what's on the towel rack

what's on the wall

what's on the shelf

what's on the toilet



what's in the sink!


Funny when a newspaper article can prompt a blog post!  I wasn't thinking of pleasing a designer a few years ago when I decided to silver and bronze leaf both sides of my powder room door. 

That was about the same time the stray cats found there way into our home (and hearts) and about the same time the litter box came into the bath and about the same time the master of the home decided his half of the half bath was too small for him so we could have have his half of the half bath!  Now it's mine and it's miniscule! and it's just around the corner from my sewing studio. 

I recently read that powder rooms are small, so just stop pretending they aren't.  It's okay to use dark colors (designer said) .  The wallpaper was already in place.  Taking the designer's cue, I went to work.....chose the tan color and painted  around the ceiling  molding.  After that dried, I masked a large square in the center of the ceiling and painted that area a burgandy/brown color from the wallpaper.  Hung the 1986 New Orleans Jazz Festival poster  on the wall and a quilt and vintage linens over the towel rack....and am humming a sweet tune about how much fun it is to live large! 

And all that jazz.....



Vintage Inspiration



I don't know why I didn't notice (until I had already completed four rows) that my bricks didn't align as the bricks did in my inspiration picture.  Oh, well!  The quilt top is completed and as soon as I can find just the perfect backing fabric, it will be off to my favorite long arm quilter!  It's really a beauty, using remnants of fabric on hand, and the perfect lap quilt size at 54" x 70". 

Only scraps remained - I was holding my breath until I got the last brick mortared in!

Repotted ~

Salvia Officinalis - a European perennial mint

Sage (adj) - wise, insightful, discerning

Sage....is one herb I can grow here in the humid south - as long as it's in a pot - that is.  Each spring, I pinch the stems way back and re-pot the little tufts of this softly hued perennial.  I keep this size pot in stock in my outdoor potting shed - the perfect "little something" to warm the heart of a friend or contribute to the club as a door prize!  Or,I just may keep it for myself - take pictures of it - play in photoshop!

Just looking ahead

Trip Planner Weather - Wow!  Orvieto, Umbria, Italy - here I come.  We can now go to the internet to find out any kind of information - even historical weather information.  I'll be in Italy's Umbria and Tuscany regions May 7 through 17 and here's what I can expect.  I think I'll pack light!

Temperature:

The Average High Temperature is 72 F with a historical range of 51 F to 86 F

The Average Low Temperature is 54 F with a historical range of 39 F to 64 F

There is a 0% chance of a Hot Day (temperature over 90°F / 32°C).

(0 days out of 153 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 0

There is a 95% chance of a Warm Day (temperature over 60°F / 16°C).

(146 days out of 153 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 10

There is a 0% chance of a Freezing Day (temperature below 32°F / 0°C).

(0 days out of 153 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 0



Cloud Cover:

Average Cloud Cover is mostly sunny

There is a 8% chance of a Cloudy Day.

(11 days out of 146 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 1



Wind:

The Average Wind is 7 mph with a historical range of 0 mph to 17 mph

There is a 13% chance of a Windy Day (average wind over 10 mph / 15km/h).

(17 days out of 126 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 2



Humidity:

The Average High Dew Point is 58 F with a historical range of 46 F to 66 F

The Average Low Dew Point is 47 F with a historical range of 30 F to 57 F

There is a 35% chance of a Humid Day (dew point over 60°F / 16°C).

(54 days out of 153 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 5

City Lights - A Quilt - Finished!

And I think it will fit beautifully in the raspberry guest bedroom!  After I do some re-arranging in there, I'll let you see.  This is what I get for following along with Cherry House Quilts quilt-along!!!  I'll follow her lead any day! 

Flickr Group

Journal Quilt #10 ~

Did I hear you say......you don't bring me flowers anymore?

Yes, I can! Journal Quilt #10 - and there is more on Three Creative Studios Flickr.  First I painted the duck cloth back a year or two ago, then tore it to the size I needed this morning.....love the frayed edges.  Free-motion quilted my little kitty bringing me a spring flower!  Oh, a flower....just for me.....

Tip - Tip - Tip

Edit your stuff -  A tip from Ty Pennington.  An excerpt from an interview with Studios Editor, Cate Prato: 

"Edit your stuff! If you have seen it done before, get rid of it. I have so many magazines and books that for me it makes sense to go through them and snap a pic of the things I like in them, download those into a file, and then donate the actual mag to a library or send it to be recycled. Stacks and stacks of stuff don’t make you more creative."

I first analyzed the sentence.  Stacks and stacks don't
but should it be stuff doesn't?  Can a prepositional phrase be the subject that the verb tense must follow? 
I've been a long time out of school and really need a subject-verb lesson here.  Would someone in the know educate me here! 

Obviously, my mind is as cluttered as my studio!  No wonder I'm not being very creative these days.  I did work on this picture to make it more inviting.....Go see the BEFORE & AFTER in Reflections Unfurling!




Edit this stuff to get creative!


Hallalulah.....it's Friday! 

I'm a happy camper.....but

Yes, I'm a happy camper, but....my limits can be tested.  Pat went to Africa and brought back the most fun fabric - and I covet both these pieces. 

Not the property of marty mason!

Playing when I should have been working....

I stop almost every day to practice my photoshop skills!  and post the results of my photography habit here at Reflections Unfurling.....as each day begins and ends.  Go here to see the rest of  my morning's reflections.   Now, I'm off to work.  He grins as I say that....the man won't let me tell a lie! 

Did anyone say Estate Sale?

Here's what I'm in search of - no - not a dog! luggage, I want vintage luggage!



One of my favorite blogs - Marley & Lockyer - made one of those old suitcases look totally, wonderfully, full of vintage character!  I want mine to be painted chalk white and re-lined just like her's! 

There may be a possibility of finding one this weekend.  I'm on the hunt at an estate sale in Ruston, La.  Get there - 1306 Dubach Drive -  Friday, Saturday or Sunday - March 11, 12, 13.  All items must go - so the ad says, but bring plenty of cash! 

did ja know!

That a snail can sleep for three years.  Well, big deal!  I've known people who have been asleep their entire life! 

And if you are just waking from a long winter's nap, let me tell you, it's beginning to sound like springtime is in the air.

Tag Galaxy

I found it again this morning - The Tag Galaxy.  Now, what to do with this link.....well, just go there, type in a tag that you use all the time on all your photos in Flickr and then you will see a world globe.....click on the globe and all your Flickr pictures will appear.  Did I tell you that I'm easily entertained! 

PS....that's why I always include my name in all my Flickr tags! I just typed in "Marty Mason" and all my pictures were attaching themselves to the globe right before my eyes. And I continue to marvel. And, since I like to include photos in my blog posts, here is one I found from last years online class with DJ Pettitt. Just learning about layers and brushes and textures and all that other good photoshop stuff. 'Nuff said - except have a happy day!

I'm Not Alone.....



"Don't Be Overly Concerned With Your Weight"

This came from a friend in an overnight express e-mail.....I don't feel so alone anymore!  Please re-blog this to all the friends that you love.  Let's make "Together We Can" our mantra....yes, together we can loose the concern over our weight!  Since I'm overweight, then I give you permission to be also! 

Oh, there was more, but this was a good start for my day! 

Serendipity

Just yesterday Autumn posted about things that happen that on first thought are mistakes and must be torn out and redone....but in reflection are best left alone.  I love her little thread knot flower....and love that she saw it and left it alone....and love that she posted it on her blog for me to see.   I call these serendipity moments! 

Here's my serendipity shot of the day.   This morning while unloading my pictures of my latest journal quilt, I noticed that the camera flash left the most delicious little heart in my framed apple girl cross stitch picture! 

.....of the matter

I had actually deleted this one from my photoshop album when my minds eye caught the heart.  I ran immediately to my trash folder and quickly went into retreival mode!  Whew...just in time.

I digress and make progress!

It all started here! Then went here! And this morning while the sleeping beauty wasn't looking, I grabbed her mini palette, cut it up, sewed it together again, added a few Syvorski crystals and out popped my journal quilt #9!  My very own little spring CATcher.  Sorry, cat-that-has-no-palette-now!  I'll make you another one. 

I think they complete the vignette in the raspberry red guest bedroom....with chartreuse window curtains.  Now that's a cat's meow!

Quilt - a work-in-progress

Some folks just won't let well enough alone.   Miss Inquisitive Val inquired as to the progress of my journal quilt #9!  Well, I had to admit to her that I've started another project and the journal quilt has been pushed to the back burner, but only for the moment. 

Here is my inspiration photo - a vintage quilt - taken at a recent antiques' show here in town.  That image kept popping in and out of my head until I finally dug into my fabric for some look-alikes.  I did find two strips of red corduroy and a little piece of soft yellow that I liked.  Unfortunately it wasn't enough to give me the size I wanted.....so I kept digging and found the yellow-ish-mustard color fabric.  The photo doesn't do it justice - it really looks great mixed in with the soft yellow.  I've only finished the top three rows, so don't look at the unruly stuff below!  Only 12 more rows to go!  More later. 

Those little 1" strips are a bug-a-roo to sew in! 

Note to self - stop "trying"

Now why would I want to stop trying?  Because,  trying is an adjective meaning to severely strain the powers of endurance!!!  I really don't want to be a trying-type person. 

So, what has prompted this conversation with self this morning - around this part of the country, we use trying as a verb, for example..... well, I'm trying (to do something).....what I really should be saying is that I tried (to do something) and failed....or was successful....or the outcome is unknown. 

Now, I'll clarify. 

I'm trying to get out of bed.....prompts the question - so....did you or didn't you get out of bed? 
Proper usage of the verb (not an adjective) I tried to get out of bed this morning...but couldn't walk.  Those leg cramps are trying my patience!

I'm trying to sew a straight seam.  Well???  Did I or didn't I???
I tried to sew a straight seam...with some success.  Sewing a straight seam is a very trying task, especially when I'm trying I try to hurry. 

I'm trying to lift a 100 pound box.   Oh, come on, don't make me ask!
I tried to to lift a 100 pound box....but found it was too heavy.  Not having a man around when I need his brawn is trying my strength to the max!

I then emptied the box and tried again....aah, so easy!

Trying (?) to ponder the incorrect usage of trying brings me to the conclusion that I use trying as a verb in an attempt  to make an excuse for my failure to do something! 

Question asked this morning - Did you complete your journal quilt for Three Creative Studios challenge?"

Answer - "Well, No, But....I'm trying."

View of the Day

hmmmmmm!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Now I'm focused!