Links to Enjoy #38

I haven't been online much lately, or quilting, either.  Part of our home has become a hospice with a nurse and aide coming and going to check on my husband.  He has end-stage kidney failure as a result of uncontrolled diabetes.  Most people don't realize all the organs that are affected by diabetes (heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, liver, nerves, skin, and mouth) and the side-effects of uncontrolled diabetes (increasing risks for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage (neuropathy), and fatty liver disease), especially when the diabetic chooses to ignore the disease.  

Most of these links are a few months old but maybe they will be new to you and maybe you will enjoy them as much as I did.  And I just realized that three of them have videos.  Sorry if that's too many, but I thought all the videos were great.


I am always fascinated by the Northern Lights and their colors and undulating movement.  These are still photographs from a Northern LIghts photography contest.  (I will say, though, that I've seen just as beautiful photographs from some of you bloggers.)  I liked the explanation in this post of how the Lights happen.  See more photos and details of the photos here. 


‘Madeleine’ Chronicles a Poignant Road Trip and a Unique Friendship
Raquel Sancinetti developed a friendship with 103-year-old Madeleine who lives in a senior home in Canada.  She tried to persuade Madeleine to go on a trip with her.  When she refused, Sancinetti created an alternate version of the road trip she envisioned.  I was quite taken with the creativity of this sweet 15-minute film.  (I would have included the film here but I couldn't figure out how to share from Vimeo.)


I like bees well enough but I'm fascinated by the architecture and Mr. Somerville's time and effort to create these hives.  (There is a word or two of language during the first minute or so of this video.  Turn the volume down for those first minutes if you don't want to hear it and still want to watch the video.)

You can read an article about the Architect here.


At Casey's Rubber Stamps you can see how he makes them.

For Vincent van Gogh lovers.  (To enlarge for your wall or a calendar, to use as a screensaver, or for any other purpose.)

Read the article here:  1,000+ Artworks by Vincent Van Gogh Digitized & Put Online by Dutch Museums
This is the link to the images:  https://vangoghworldwide.org/


Enjoy!
Nancy.

Early Dark, a Book, and RSC 2025 Nine-Patch & Snowball Progress

As the evening dark begins descending earlier and earlier it signals to me a time to slow down, stop hurrying, reset priorities, especially where daylight is concerned, and enjoy the slowness of the season.  I love these early and long nights.  They're just what I need and, I suppose, just what the earth needs, too.  I couldn't get this song out of my mind and decided to share.   


I think I've mentioned before that our local library has a little shop where they sell used books and give away magazines and some children's paperback books.  A few weeks ago I picked up this book, The Home Builders.  

I love children's book for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes they just make me laugh--a little surprise at the end, or just-perfect illustrations, or a funny story line.  Other times there's a subtle truth presented so simply that a child can understand and an adult can understand more.  And other times, the illustrations wow me.   

The illustrations are what captured my attention in this book.  I fell in love with the colors the illustrator, Simona Mulazzani, used. But it isn't just the colors, it's also their intensity and tone and how she uses the colors together.  I think they are beautiful and sometimes the combinations are surprising.  I couldn't figure out why they were so appealing.  And then it hit me:  these colors are similar to the ones I use most often in quilts (minus the oranges).

As I've been making blocks for my 2025 RSC quilt, I've been frustrated with how few medium value fabrics I have.  They are mostly darks and lights, with very few mediums.  Some of the blocks look like a muddle.  This may turn out to be a boring quilt.  I'm glad each 9-patch is surrounded by white snowball blocks!

Anyway, it was an interesting observation.  I need to buy a few fabrics with lighter tones and values.

I've been feeling a little scattered lately.... 

  ... what with trying to find the best, yet least expensive, retirement health insurance policies (one of my policies more than doubled its rate from last year to this year!); trying to stay motivated on the sewing/quilting front; and trying to lay out my RSC blocks to consider placement and size.  Kitty Bitsy thinks those blocks on the floor are a free ride.  She jumps onto one in a way that lets her slide across part of the floor like it's a skating rink and the blocks go flying.  She makes quick work of my efforts.
 
They were arranged as I thought I wanted them but I need to make several more edge blocks and cut some more for around the edges.  Sadly, I didn't count before Bitsy skated through.  I should have taken photos and counted as soon as I put the blocks on the floor.  I need to decide whether to make the quilt larger or the same size as Jolene's, 9 blocks by 11 blocks, which equals about 54" x 66" before quilting and shrinkage from washing and drying.  That seems like it would be a short person's napping quilt.  (I like to tuck the end of a quilt under my feet and pull it up to my neck and across my shoulders for a nap.)  Anyway, this will most likely become a donation quilt so it matters much less what my preferences are.  I'm so close to having the blocks ready to sew into a top that I might just call the blocks I have enough.  However, that leaves me a short stack of unused, one-color, 9-patch blocks in several different colors....  Hmmm.

For anyone who may be wondering:  my headache persists and my energy waxes and wanes.  Have you tried or do you know anyone who has experience with acupuncture?

Okay, that's it for today.  I need to get on with some other things.  I hope you're having a good weekend and are enjoying whatever weather and activities come your way.

--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #37 - Words, Art, Sewing Machines

These are a few links and two videos I've enjoyed over the past few weeks.  I hope you'll enjoy one or two of them, too.  


With simple graphite lines that appear to have been quick strokes, the artist created the most amazing drawings of cats, both at rest and in motion.  If you love cats, you'll probably enjoy these.  If you don't love cats, maybe you'll be converted to their delightsomeness.  (Or not.)


I thought this was a sweet reminiscence of sewing, made by Singer.  I learned to sew on my mom's old black 201 Singer, and it's the machine I still use.



If you've been reading this blog for a while you may have noticed that I love words and their etymology so, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Linguist clearly demonstrates how 'thinking is walking' in English.  He says, "Our minds "race" or "wander," our thoughts "stray," and we "arrive" at conclusions," all words we also use when we physically walk.  Maybe our minds do walk, figuratively speaking.  Fun!


I've always admired hand-painted signs with their near-perfect letting.  Here's a short demonstration of round hand lettering.  Amazing!


Enjoy!
Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #36

Maybe you'll enjoy one or two of these links:  corn sounds, word connections, upcycled animals, or Smokey Bear.

Did you know corn makes a noise when it's growing?  When I first heard this I thought, Really?!!!  Now I wish I'd paid closer attention when I was a child, standing in my uncle's cornfield.  (Be sure to have the volume up for this video.)


From the video description:  

This time lapse photo sequence from a Nebraska corn field allows you to see and hear corn grow.  It's thought that the crackling noise is due to tiny fractures that occur as the plant stretches, breaks, and grows again.

I have also heard that growing corn (in acres and acres) increases the humidity in the air....  

Pathfinder shows a  line of connection between two things in four ways and three steps.

I love these upcycled, recycled, adorable, creative animals made from mostly wood by Kirsty Elson.  A pig, a lion, a cat, a bird, a gorilla, and a few dogs.  Which do you like best?  (I can't decide.)

Did you or your mother or grandmother hang clothes outside and use clothespins to attach the clothes to the line?  I remember helping my mom and grandmother hang the clothes and, for many years, I had a clothesline.  And we all had clothespin bags similar to the one in this tutorial (except all of ours were deeper, and some of my mom's and grandmother's looked like little girls' dresses).  I'm thinking about making one of these.  I have a narrow wooden hanger 6"-8" wide that would make the cutest "peg bag."  Wouldn't one of these be great for other purposes, too -- miscellaneous ribbons, notions near the sewing machine, thread,...?  

My introduction to Smokey (we called him Smokey the Bear instead of his real name, Smokey Bear) was probably in TV commercials in the 1950s.  The Ohio State Fair has a 15" Smokey who greets children by name (with a little help) and who used to invite children to sing with him.  Smokey's Story and  Smokey Through the Years  are fun websites to learn more about this famous bear.  Who knew there was really a Smokey?!  At the website you can also watch some of his commercials.


--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #34

I haven't been getting around the internet much recently so I'm sharing just three links this week.  Enjoy!

I love this high energy Vivaldi on Marimbas.  Wow!  These girls really have it together!




I think it probably takes a steady hand to decorate these cookies to look like ancient art.


I enjoyed these paper quilts made from maps and old currency for their visual interest.


I hope you found something to enjoy.
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #31

I have just a few links this week.  Maybe you'll enjoy one or two of them.

I do not read, speak, or understand Japanese but I thought these embroideries of the Japanese alphabet by Tomoko Kubo were whimsical and delightful.  I appreciated that the post begins with a tiny lesson about the Japanese alphabet.

This interview with Ken Burns is a little long at about 20 minutes (and is excellent and well worth the time, in my opinion) but I share it because he is a collector of quilts and during the first few minutes of this video you can see several quilts hanging in his home.

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, he has made a new documentary series about The American Revolution which will be broadcast in November, 2025.  He is a story teller at heart who works to present all perspectives of a story. 
There are several quotes that I especially liked.

• "Sometimes we sort of say, 'Oh, you're bad and you're good,' and what we understand from honesty about ourselves, we've got both of those things in us [as did people in the past]."
• "For everything... the opposite thing might also be true."
• "American history is a mirror that holds up to us an incredibly complicated story of us."

I thought these patchwork pieces were really interesting, especially considering that the creator cut and sewed these thousands of circles together by hand.

And this post, Nine Changes You Need to Make to Your Google Security and Privacy Settings, may not be fun but it is informative, especially for a non-tech person like me. 

I hope you have a good weekend!
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #30

I haven't been getting around the internet much so I have only a few links to share today.   I hope you find one or two to enjoy.

 A late addition:  See beautiful photographs of beautiful antique quilts for sale at Flying Geese.  Thanks for the reminder, Lizzy.

There are some interesting tie-dye fabrics from 425-1100 A.D. here.  So much detail for tie dye.
These slices take the cake!  (Pun intended.)  Though inedible, I think they impressive.

I'm not an avid traveler (I love sleeping in my own bed) nor a world traveler but I found Kevin Kelly's 50 Years of Travel Tips interesting, insightful, helpful, thrifty, fun, or just plain wise.  Maybe I would enjoy travel more if I used some of his tips?  Kelly uses a tiny font on this blog which is hard on my old eyes.  I follow his blog on Feedly and have no problem reading it.

Lizzy sent me a link to Gary Bunt's paintings and poems (where there are links to more of his paintings).  I found their somewhat primitive style enchanting and delightful.  Maybe you will, too.   Look at the paintings at the link and, if you enjoy them, watch the short video below. 



I hope all is well with you in your world!

--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #29

Here are a few links that I thought had some interesting content.  Maybe you will enjoy one or two of them.

How many times is a book's bar code scanned from the time it comes into the library, goes out, and returns again?  (And how many times is a book handled even before it reaches the shelves for a patron to borrow it?)  This video gives a glimpse of the travels of a book from library to patron to library.


These are photographs of junkyards for airplanes, ships, old rail cars, etc.  Many of the objects are artfully arranged, and the aerial views reminded me of maps.  We throw away cans and bottles (or hopefully recycle them) but how do you dispose of these huge objects when they have outlived their use?  More photos here.  From the photographer, Cássio Vasconcellos, "...objects do not cease to exist in the world when we throw them away.  Rather, they inhabit other places."

What do you think of these quilt sculptures by Emily Van Hoff?  I like the bright colors (in the dead of winter).

This article, Embroidering a life, one day at a time reminds me of temperature quilts but a whole lot more interesting.

Can you imagine sending a baby in the mail?!!!  I don't know how common it was but yes, it happened.

There are two auctions in progress that I thought you might like to know about.  For both, the bidding seems low, but it's early days.

• First, Homestead Hearth is going out of business and is auctioning their fabric through an online company, Marquette Auction Services.  The first of three auctions, this one ends on January 24.  You can see what's up for bid here.
• Second, Dana Auctions is hosting an antique and vintage quilt and textile auction here.  There are antique and vintage quilts, antique fabric, feed sacks, magazines, etc.  This auction supports AQSG 2025 Seminar in Maine and ends on January 25.

--Nancy.

Christmas Can't Be Over Yet!

Even though Christmas at our house was small this year—almost nonexistent as far as celebrations—I'm not quite ready for it to be over.  Most years I'm not.  I complain that on December 26, radio stations quit playing Christmas music and by December 27, all hint of Christmas is gone from most stores.  With that in mind, I'm sharing these two short videos to help prolong the holiday a little longer.

Happy birds, then the man with the saw!  Oh no!  I liked the surprise.  In my opinion, kindness is never out of season. 



And this video....   I'm not a huge fan of Sesame Street or of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," either, but I think Count von Count is the perfect "singer."  The organ adds an almost magical touch with its musical variety.  (Be gone the rote repetition!)  I heard this before I saw it and wondered if they had dancers on the stage.  Seeing the organist, I realized that dancers weren't needed.


I hope you enjoy either or both of these videos!
--Nancy.

Vertigo, Searching for Christmas Cheer, and Other Miscellanea

It's hard to believe it's been such a long time since I last posted  What a time I've had.  Vertigo set in  in early November, a little over two weeks after my second knee replacement surgery.  It's been a bit of a rough go getting around.  I should be done with the walker but am not.  I need it for balance.  I went to an ENT doctor who diagnosed the problem as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and prescribed the Epley Maneuver twice a day two times each.  It hasn't seemed to help yet.  Friday will be a week since I started.

Being physically off balance or feeling like I might fall when I'm standing or walking, or in other various positions, has certainly colored my Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.  Hence, my need to look for Christmas Cheer.  I don't usually have any problem in that area but it's hard to get beyond one's self when feeling so crummy.  But, onward.  (Yes, I know this is a small thing and plenty of people are dealing with much larger and more complicated challenges.  This just happens to be mine right now.)

I am sometimes able to get out to the grocery store and other short jaunts later in the day (mornings are the worst) if I hang onto the walker or sit in a riding cart.  Christmas shopping has been a challenge.

I've done no quilting, or even sewing, other than to repair tiny holes in two pieces of clothing.

Does anyone else remember Dick Van Dyke of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Mary Poppins" fame?  I discovered this endearing video the other day.  Van Dyke is now 99 and he hasn't lost one bit of his sense of humor.



It's time for TubaChristmas.  Some cities had theirs earlier in December but others are in coming weeks.  If you're interested in seeing if there's one local to you, check the interactive map here.  It's one of the highlights of our Christmas season and I highly recommend going at least once.  It's a fairly long walk from the parking lot to the theater where ours is held and I don't know if I'll be able to make it this year.  If you go, please enjoy it for me!

This past Friday my computer ground to a near-halt.  On Saturday and Sunday it was still barely moving.  On Monday, I had the idea to clean the inside of the case.  I was appalled at how dusty it was.  After removing the dust it was a little less slow, but on Tuesday, it was back to it's Friday night speed.  I'm not tech savvy and the idea of having to buy a new computer right now and have my programs and data transferred was completely daunting.  I don't usually worry but I actually worried about the situation, trying to figure out what to do and make a plan.  Today the computer seems to be back to normal.  But who knows for how long.  I'll need to do some research and buy a new computer soon. 

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you're having a merry time!  No matter whether you celebrate or not, I hope you're having merry days.

--Nancy.

P.S.  I'm sorry not to be getting to your blogs to read and comment.  I hope I can do that soon.  I miss it!

Links to Enjoy #27

I found these links pre-surgery and realized I should probably post them so others can enjoy them (if you're interested). 

I enjoyed Anca Duse's photographs of tiny people with large flowers (or maybe they're regular-sized people with giant flowers).  Some excellent photographic editing, I think.

[Updated links:]  Read more about Anca here and about her creative process here.


I can't manage a mouse well enough to actually create a drawing with a painting program, but if you can and you're feeling nostalgic about MS Paint, you can use this older version that works in your browser.


It was news to me that elephants have names for each other.


I was pleased to find Merlin, a free app to help identify birds by sound and image.  In early mornings I hear lots of birds outside but know only a few by their songs.  This app has been helpful.  It seems that we have lots of cardinals and American robins where we live.  If you're interested, you can go to the link or watch this video.




Enjoy!
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #24

Here are just a few links and a video I found interesting and enjoyed over the past week or two.  Maybe one of these  will capture your interest, too.


Maybe you will enjoy Judy Martin's brief post, a language of care, with its gentle thoughts about quilts. 


Althea Crome is a micro knitter who creates sweaters that fit on a fingertip!  Watch a video interview and see her knitting at Tiny Stitches.  Read more here. 


I have always been fascinated by bird nests, how they're created, and how remain intact when so many are made of mud and sticks, bits of debris, etc.  But I think woven nests are the most amazing.  How can birds possibly create a nest with only a beak and claws?!  Watch!




And since we're on the topic of birds, can I mention how beautiful I think feathers are?  I enjoy looking at them, often pick them up from the ground, and rarely keep them (except for a few too beautiful not to save.  But there's a lot more to feathers than I ever imagined.  I enjoyed this article, Why Feathers Are One of Evolution's Cleverest Inventions, by Michael B. Habib in Scientific American, in which the author tells of a small bird that made a non-stop flight of 8,425 miles in 250 hours and how his feathers played a part in that flight.  The article is filled with information about the wonder of feathers.  Though a little long, it was well worth my time. 


Enjoy!
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #23

I hope at least one or two of these links bring a smile.

Some of my favorite water animals include otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses.  I think it's their mustaches that capture my fancy.  I was really taken with E.T., the walrus.  Who knew walruses could whistle?!



(Just to say, I'm not a fan of zoos in general but I understand the need for injured animals who can't return to the wild to have care and a safe environment.  I also understand that zoo keepers teach them a few commands so veterinarians can attend them.  And I'm sure learning things makes the animals' lives a little more interesting.)

The photos of the Farm Family Project by Rob MacInnis are amazing!   How did he ever get the members of The Farm Family to pose?  I'd love to nestle my fingers into Angelina's fine fluff, scratch Brad's ears, and give Rosie a hug and a rub on her head.  The cast would certainly get a round of applause from me on Opening Night.  MacInnis must have a special gift to have been able to get the whole cast of characters to look at the camera at the same time in the last photo.  It's hardly possible with a group of people!   Read the Artist's Statement here.

If this article about Trader Joe's from Taste magazine is true, it's sad news.  (So, not exactly a link to enjoy, I guess.)

I loved Jacob's vibrant flowers in Glorious Blooms Erupt in Nidhi Mariam Jacob’s Meticulous Fantasy Garden Paintings.  Maybe you will, too.  

--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #22

I haven't been around the internet much these past few weeks, or the sewing machine either, for that matter, so I have only three links to share.  I hope you enjoy them.  (I'm sorry they're all videos, but they're short, if that helps.)

Oh, roundabouts.  I don't like them.  I still think a red/yellow flashing light or even a stop sign works better than a roundabout.  There is one large one in the country not far from us with fields on all four of what-used-to-be corners.  It seems a silly waste of money because there is so little traffic.  Then there is one in a residential area of the city on a narrow side street.  It's probably not more than about 12 feet across.  Another waste of money (in my opinion) and almost a u-turn when a simple left turn was adequate.  And many Ohio drivers don't know how to use them.  Some drivers will sit at the entrance to the roundabout until there are no cars in sight, wait another minute or two, then slowly move into the circle.  I'm happy to drive but I really don't like to waste time in the car.  Let me just get where I'm going.  All that to introduce this roundabout in Swindon, England.  If I go to England, I will avoid Swindon.


Are you a fan of roundabouts?

I used to think making a wine glass sing was a stunt or a trick. Then we bought a few goblets at the thrift store just to try it and learned that they really do sing, though I don't think we ever managed to "play" a song.  We learned that it requires wet fingertips.  (In the video below you'll see the musician dip his fingers into the glasses of water near the center front and rear of the table.)  Our paltry effort was nothing compared to the expertise of this musician.



And then there's the glass armonica, created by Benjamin Franklin, an instrument in which he put glass rims on a revolving rod which rotates for the musician to play.  Amazing!  Many years ago we saw someone play one of these at Colonial Williamsburg.



I think these have such an ethereal sound.

That's it for this installment of Links to Enjoy.  I hope you enjoyed at least one.

--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #21

I found some interesting posts about books, nature/weather, a quilt, Daylight Saving Time, and some tapestries.  Maybe one or two will be of interest to you.

I've always loved all kinds of paper and books, even when I was a child, so of course, this video about Sophia Bogle, book restorer, appealed to me.  Her work is amazing.  You can read more about her here but I think this video is better.



Here's another book highlight, this time about a library of handmade miniature books.  Read a post about Tomas Mayer here. 

How cold the temperature must have been for these geyser spouts to freeze when hitting the air!

Here's an interesting quilt post from a quilt restorer:  A Tale of Two Victorian Crazy Quilts - and a Fabric Mystery

How do you feel about Daylight Saving Time?  I'm one who intensely dislikes it.  Why Daylight Saving Time Messes with Your Brain is an interesting post citing research of its effects.  

The tapestries at this post, Communal Art-Making Is at the Core of Sanaa Gateja’s Monumental Paper Bead Tapestries, look like fiber to me.  Who knew paper beads were still a thing?

Enjoy!
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #20

I've included just four links this time.  I've been busy with Bramble Blooms and having the flu and not spending much time doing other things.

I love this video of Ken Burns, documentarian extraordinaire, sharing his quilt collection at his barn.



You can also watch a video of his quilt exhibit at the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska here.  

Anna Devís and Daniel Rueda take such fun photographs.  Always a twist on people and the environment.  I love the photo of the lady in a red skirt, pulled wide into the shape of a mouth, standing below two arched windows.  Suddenly, the wall is smiling!

Welcome to Monowi, Nebraska: population 1.  The post at the link was written a few years ago.  Elsie Eiler, now 90, is the sole the resident or Monowi and serves as mayor, librarian, tavern owner, and more. 

It's about mindset and movement:  My Mother Got on a Bike.  It Changed Her life.  (If you can't read the article at that link, go here and click the link to read it.)

This chart, right, goes along with the concept of mindset from the above article. 

If you're new to this concept and want to learn more, read Carol S. Dweck's book, Mindset:  The New Psychology of Success.  Or watch one of her youtube presentations or interviews.  I thought this one was good (though it's a little long at 47 minutes), but there are others, too.

Enjoy!
--Nancy.

Links to Enjoy #19

Here are just a few links (with too many words to introduce them).  I hope you'll enjoy one or more of them.

Snowflakes fascinate me and with snow swirling around the Northern Hemisphere, this seemed like the perfect time to post a brief video explaining the history and science of snowflakes.  I found Professor Brian Cox's voice, with it's British accent, delightful. 




I enjoyed 15 Lessons I've Learned in 15 Years of Diary of a Quilter posted by Amy Smart a few weeks ago.  I particularly liked #11.

When you can't take a walk in the woods, Tree might be a good substitute.  There you can (hopefully) hear the sounds of many different forests throughout the world.  I was able to hear the first few forests' sounds but then there was a disconnect on either their end or mine.  (I included the link because of the beautiful forest photographs and because it might work for you.)  I scouted around and discovered the sounds at Tree came from Sounds of the Forest where there is a world map with pinpoints where forest sounds have been recorded.  You can choose a location, click, and listen. Amazing!

Another post about trees....  Do you know about Pando?  It is an enormous forest of genetically identical aspen trees in Utah which are all connected to the same root.  It is one of the world's largest living organisms and may also be one of the oldest.  How am I just now learning about this?!

Some of the beautiful photos of rural America in Brendon Burton Captures Intimate Portraits of North America’s Metamorphosing Rural Landscapes include abandoned homes.  They brought to mind Sophie Blackall's children's book, Farmhouse.  Blackall bought property in New York State on which sat an old, falling down farmhouse.  She salvaged some things from inside, learned about the people who'd lived there, then, in loose rhyme, told and illustrated a story about the house and the family.  What a delightful book!

And back to snow again.  Snowball fights are the subject of this post.which is a collection of paintings from various locations and different centuries. 

Below is an 1885 painting by Gerhard Munthe entitled "Sneballkasting."  It caught my eye because it brought back the childhood memory of making snowmen by trying to roll snow into big balls.  Instead, the snow seemed to roll into a shape more like toilet paper on a tube, exactly what's happening in this painting.

At the link above, scroll down about a third of the way to see the paintings.  Click any one of them and it will enlarge.  Enlarge them more by using the plus and minus signs in the upper right.  Click the arrows on either side of the paintings to see the others. 

Enjoy!
--Nancy.

A Little Slow Stitching

I decided against the large upside-down teardrop shapes on these flowers for Bramble Blooms 1, but that broad expanse was too broad and bare.  I'm trying these pointed oval shapes.  At just about an inch and a half in length, they'll be easy enough to remove if they don't do it for the flowers. 

I only discovered this music a year or so ago.  It is called "Spiegel im Spiegel" (which translates to "Mirror in the Mirror") and was written by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.  Not everyone may enjoy the slowness, but for me it's perfect for an occasional Sunday of stitching.  I love it.



I hope you're having a peaceful Sabbath whether you're stitching or not.  And if you're in a cold climate, I hope you're staying warm!

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Thank you for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.

Parsonsfield, Tubas, Tomatoes, etc.

I finished Parsonfield (the top only) a few weeks ago but have had trouble getting a good photo.  Lori's quilt is white leaning to greys.  I knew I'd be happier with whites, creams, and tans.

Who knew low-volume/pastel quilts were so hard to photograph?!  In real life, the colors are somewhere between these two photos.  The above photo was taken with a flash, the photo below with natural light.  My top measures 23" which, I think, is slightly larger than Lori's. 

Parsonsfield was a sewalong offered by Lori of Humble Quilts.  I'm linking this post to Lori's linky party along with others who finished the quilt.  Thank you for recreating this little quilt and giving us the opportunity to recreate it, too, Lori.

Attending Merry Tuba Christmas has become one of our Christmas traditions.  This past Monday we enjoyed hearing the tubas play Christmas carols.  I like to sit in the balcony where the sound flows up from the tubas and descends from the ceiling to envelope me.  I think it must be like sitting in the middle of the stage surrounded by tubas.

It's hard not to appreciate the glitz and glitter (even though it's not my usual style) of the tubas.  In this photo, above, the players were giving a tuba cheer which is causing the blurry appearance.  Since their hands aren't free to clap, they lift and lower their instruments again and again.   It's a fun sight to see in person and almost as fun on video.



You can watch the tuba cheer at 17:20 minutes.  And you can hear one of my favorite tuba Christmas songs, "Santa Wants a Tuba for Christmas," with its history, beginning at 23:54 minutes.

We've had more than a few days with beautiful blue skies.  Of course, the weather has been cold and we've had wind most of those days, but it's been great to see the sun.  We did have two really grey days and one snowy day with snow that stuck to the ground.  I've always loved snow but I'm finding more and more that I love it most when I'm watching it through a window in a warm house.  Snow or not, freezing temperatures or not, I won't get to stay inside this winter with Nona here.  I may have to invest in some warmer winter wear.

The tomatoes are ready for Christmas!  I, on the other hand, am having a hard time, not just getting ready, but even wanting to get ready.  My theme song for this Christmas could be, "Where Are You, Christmas?"  The usual joy of the season has bypassed me.  Not that I haven't done some preparation.  The gifts are bought, but not wrapped.  We put up a small tree and added lights, but no decorations.  There are candles in the windows but only because they're in the windows  year-round.  Our front door has no wreath and I haven't pulled out any other decorations.  I haven't baked cookies or made candy.  I'd rather sleep or read, or maybe stitch or watch a movie, than do anything else.  I push myself to do, but my heart's not in it.  Dear Christmas, where are you this year?!  I realize that some years are just like this and accept it.  Next year's Christmas will probably be a wonderful one!

I hope you're making great memories this holiday season!

--Nancy.

Basting a Stem & a New Song I Love

If I have minutes to slow stitch today, preparing this stem for one of the flowers on my Bramble Blooms center is my priority.   I haven't mastered turned edge applique so will baste the edges.

The flowers are large, almost flamboyant, and I argue with myself whether to make calmer, smaller, more static flowers.  Maybe mine aren't "improv-y" enough....  Myself and I are still having that discussion so we'll see soon how it turns out.

I first heard this song a few weeks ago.  I couldn't hear the words but thought the music haunting and ethereal.  The tune stayed with me.  Just this week I learned the title of the song, listened again, then looked up the lyrics.  For its pure beauty, I'm sharing it here. 



It makes me think of lullabies I've known with its gentle, soothing tune, and comforting words to encourage peaceful sleep.  Lyrics are here if you want to read along.

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.