a most unusual morning

It started out as any July morning:I enjoyed a cup of coffee in the party garden at 6:00 am while Riley stood guard and patiently waited for her run. While we were running, I saw a hot air balloon. We stepped up the pace, got home, and I grabbed my camera and drove out to track it down. (Riley had a drink and a nap on the sofa.)The balloon had a friend.When I got home, I noticed a pair of Cedar Waxwings nesting in my yard. This is unheard of. I am thrilled to see them once a year, in a group, in winter. I have never seen Cedar Waxwings during nesting season.They are very active, so the pictures aren’t great – but I have high hopes for the future.

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hand sewing

I love my sewing machine, but there will always be a special place in my heart for sewing by hand. I love the organic look of hand embroidery, and ***bonus*** I can carry my sewing with me wherever I go.

Here is a pot holder I decorated by hand.

the joy of technology

I like mixing the newer art of technology with the ancient art of sewing.Here, I printed the “m” and the circle onto a piece of fabric using my computer and printer.

date pillow

My cousin recently got married. To keep with the green gifting theme, and because I knew she’d love it, I made her this pillow that’s appliqued with the date of her wedding.

washi-less tags

I have not yet succumbed to the washi tape craze, but I want to. My homemade Christmas tags were the perfect excuse, but I held to my green Christmas promise and tried to think of alternatives. How about patterns stamped on strips of paper, ribbon, and sheet music?

gift tags

green christmas

My goal this Christmas is to craft a little more and buy a little less. AND before I go out to purchase that perfect thing to finish my crafting, I want to think a little harder about using something that I already have.

grapevine wreath

I had an old grapevine wreath to which I attached fresh evergreen branches and some Christmas ornaments. Snow optional.

cool weather cooking

I avoid my oven in the summertime; I don’t like how it heats up the house.
So by fall, I’m really hungry for all of the things I haven’t been cooking: bread and baked potatoes, pot roast and cinnamon buns.
I’ve made the switch now, and I’m enjoying the winter menu.
I also like how all it takes is a little bit of prep work . . .and the oven does the rest.

Pork Loin with Roasted Carrots and Potatoes

sewing

I’ve been experimenting with simple pillow designs lately. Here is my latest:It’s heavy canvas, which seems like summer to me: good for a boat or a porch or a hammock.