ruby crowned kinglette

felt and floss

yesterday while lying back, my eyes closed i wondered... what would be a good project? the kind of project to do while it rained like crazy and could allow me to feel like i was doing something.  it all came to me in about 30 seconds. 

i haven't participated in whiplash for a while, i have a never ending love of all things embroidered and all things felt, i have been wanting to use circles of felt for something, and i am currently wanting to edge everything thing i can get my hands in in a picot stitch.

i present to you - 'embroidered alphabet on felt - a mini quilt'.
it measures 10 3/8" wide by 11 7/8" long and each embroidered circle is 1 3/8" in diameter.

this one went pretty quickly too, but it was a holiday weekend, with not too many plans... 

i first embroidered each letter on a circular piece of felt (i have a die cutter, i did not cut these by hand...) then doubled the thickness and stitched the two circles to it's neighbor with a couple of longer stitches that i then wrapped in a buttonhole stitch. once done i used the same method to attach the alphabet to a border i had finished with a blanket stitch.

it is always nice to get a project completed quickly and have it work like i expected, as you all know, they don't always happen that way.

sweet pea farms

this is sugar, she is the resident sheep of sweet pea farms... she and her friends - glynnis, ralston, harper, dahlia and coco - are what could be the best representatives of any floral farm, anywhere.  and they have invited pippa the piggy to join them in the shop.... 

this kind of animal husbandry is pure pleasure.

you can trot on over just like this little gal....

looks like she is running, doesn't it?  i have a few piggies and other farm animals (shortly) in the shop finally.  i think it will be the only time the 'others' will be available, but the piggies? the piggies are here to stay.

coming soon...

very, very soon.

farm report 2007

i am trying an experiment this year, growing some potatoes in a garbage can.  if i remember correctly i planted these three weeks ago, if i am not remembering correctly it was four weeks, but i think it was three.  i don't recall where i heard that you could do this, but, ciscoe, a local garden guy has instructions here, and here,  and the more i googled the more i found that there are variations of this method out there.  the idea is for every 4 inches of growth you then cover 3 inches with compost, or straw, or peat (my choice). i haven't yet had the opportunity to add the peat, but it looks like today might be the day, at least for the middle plant.  i set 5 seed potatoes, the one in the middle is a 'desiree', two opposite one another are 'butterfinger', also called the swedish peanut, and the other two are 'rose finn apple'.  i don't know what to expect, but it will be fun.

i almost missed my window of opportunity to run around the neighborhood to find apple blossoms to pollinate my little tree. i think i have been at least two weeks behind in the season so i was surprised first to see my blooms blooming, and then to see that most others in the neighborhood almost spent. but, it worked and it now looks like i have thirteen or fourteen future red delicious on the tree.  last year, between the raccoons, rats and my dog i got zero... we shall see how it goes this year.

as you might expect, i shall keep you posted.

when the two worlds come together

on saturday i got to meet some women i already knew.  a few bloggers got together at a shop in the capitol hill neighborhood and spent a couple of hours chatting, swapping and learning about each other in person rather than in front of a computer monitor.  the four other gals and i each brought something to share, and dacia, our lovely host, brought some delicious cupcakes and drinks.  it was a wonderful afternoon. once i got over the idea that it wasn't a blind date i had an excellent time and am looking forward to doing it again.  in fact, i am considering the idea of wine and or beer for the next one.... interested?

this is a glimpse of what i brought for the others. they are little drawstring pouches with an embroidered picot edge along the bottom. i used the chocolate linen from gray line and it worked wonderfully for these little bags.  i also embroidered flowers and strawberries on the handkerchief linen and then covered some buttons and included three for each person.  i am on an embroidered button kick at the moment... i think what i like best is how they feel in my hands, like coins sort of, however without the buying power.

i know, it is impossible to get a good idea of the scale of these things... the buttons are 3/4" in diameter. and, i used that linen embroidery floss that i love so much. i like the feel and coloration best, and it does tend to fray if you use too long a strand, but.... i do like it lots.

my favorite little niece and her friend

sweet isn't it?  i laughed and laughed and then felt like i had to go wash my face.

really? REALLY?

i don't know what the article says, i certainly don't know what it has to say about me.  what i do know is that the second i read this i rolled my eyes and got up to get myself another glass of wine...

i am considering a move.

from the current issue of o magazine, page whatever.

again with more questions for the ages...

am i the only one totally and completely enthralled with dancing with the stars?

and, am i the only one who was just a little smitten with john ratzenberger in all his lovable earnestness?

and, finally, am i the only one who thinks the the reason ian ziering has problems expressing passion while dancing with a women is because he doesn't bend that way?... am i?

oh, and this last one... am i the only one who holds their breath the whole time the competitors are dancing?

 

certainly, it can't be lost on anyone at this stage, that i have far too much time on my hands.

this guy was mad, m. a. d., mad

i heard him as i put some water on to boil... i thought is was the sizzling of the drops on the burner.  it was him, screaming at the window at the injustice of it all.

he has been freed to circle the house and if he comes back inside i promise to release him without tormenting him further with the incessant picture taking.

identification upate: bombus melanopygus or orange-rumped bumble bee