tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175781168317250772024-02-21T10:14:04.203-05:00Quilted Dimensions & More...<i>These are NOT your grandmother's quilts!</i>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-25557422838885114342018-12-19T11:23:00.000-05:002018-12-19T11:23:24.123-05:00Holiday Greetings from The Andrews Family! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-64505303369750016032016-07-20T19:59:00.002-04:002016-07-20T19:59:33.695-04:00Ruggedy Rugs to Trade, Part TwoMeanwhile, cousin Kris started with a rectangle and some green circles. Which clearly needed a red border.<br />
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And then a golden frame.<br />
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And now the design hat is on me...and I'm pondering what comes next. </div>
Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-6087505112442762682016-07-20T19:57:00.004-04:002016-07-20T20:00:22.143-04:00Ruggedy Rugs to Trade, Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Remember the center of this rug? From my January post...this was the start of the Trade Rug project with my cousin Kris. I gave her flowers, she gave me peas. And a bunny. And a kitty. And some mossy rocks. </div>
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And the mossy rocks inspired some pinecones and needles. And a spider, lady bug, and grasshopper... </div>
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....who lived near a pond where they were friends with a froggy... </div>
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...a cranky crawfish...and some other critters...</div>
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What will happen next?? Stay tuned - Kris is designing away!</div>
<br />Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-82884642066328841252016-01-03T13:12:00.001-05:002016-01-03T13:13:13.640-05:00Here we go again...Basking in the completion of our <a href="http://quilteddimensions.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-nigel-slater-project.html">Nigel Slater Quilt project</a>, Kris and I embarked on our next joint project...this time with rugs.<br />
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Each of us created a design, and then passed our rug to the other one to take the next steps. Parameters: </div>
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Here is my first round, using scraps from my prior veggie and leaves projects: </div>
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And here is what I got back from Kris last week - Bunny! Kitty! Peas!</div>
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And in the "something completely different" department, here is Kris's trade rug...her green dots in the center, with my continuation of the theme in reds: </div>
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Can't wait to see what comes next! </div>
Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-90917582405259829772016-01-03T12:36:00.000-05:002016-01-03T12:36:09.675-05:00Autumn's UnderfootAfter 6 chair pads and a large rug of veggies, I decided that I was ready to design and hook my first original rug. I started with a photo taken by my mom:<br />
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I did a line drawing, and started color planning: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16gt2-fqVzORI04drqSfrOl2D5-IFW0pj47Tt1Bjw7PuOnRSst-Bu2ssCQkB5QEZ3og_rnOLJx0p3-IUgbYa0Mq3LSHznQDDdzSOILukIC7vLU9c4KnP3X9XN33IZ9ex-22qtkqqDbvRy/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16gt2-fqVzORI04drqSfrOl2D5-IFW0pj47Tt1Bjw7PuOnRSst-Bu2ssCQkB5QEZ3og_rnOLJx0p3-IUgbYa0Mq3LSHznQDDdzSOILukIC7vLU9c4KnP3X9XN33IZ9ex-22qtkqqDbvRy/s320/Image.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-58VEOE9HtgVv1dIn8xdjCNrXbhmP-Sfr4wntVRufll0xou4_QE_qRPEXZn9eJ7xHfe7LfsYrz0-_kifAG-0uw8QhfyZ3sKb6YlXvyjAmXVNIq5otQpitmLmQ6tVo7u8Ly9GPEttFNAC/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-58VEOE9HtgVv1dIn8xdjCNrXbhmP-Sfr4wntVRufll0xou4_QE_qRPEXZn9eJ7xHfe7LfsYrz0-_kifAG-0uw8QhfyZ3sKb6YlXvyjAmXVNIq5otQpitmLmQ6tVo7u8Ly9GPEttFNAC/s320/IMG_2945.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then I ordered the yarn. I used two suppliers: <a href="http://www.amyoxford.com/violet-jane-rug-yarn.html">Violet Jane Yarns</a>, and <a href="http://www.sealharborrug.com/">Seal Harbor Yarns</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6XvQZ4FBwMkJ1YhDap-jNh9Ddl8GUdZN53S7exn5vt_ccJnAqloG0bU4xmKAEKRk_IL6rUwQP4CXwzwIL800ARXj1T-unmqvKsA_Mr_AB4PreCsK03nXQJcDu4olN_rpi0TNEUCvznhN/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6XvQZ4FBwMkJ1YhDap-jNh9Ddl8GUdZN53S7exn5vt_ccJnAqloG0bU4xmKAEKRk_IL6rUwQP4CXwzwIL800ARXj1T-unmqvKsA_Mr_AB4PreCsK03nXQJcDu4olN_rpi0TNEUCvznhN/s320/IMG_3241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the full palette:<br />
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Then, I enlarged the line drawing, and transferred it to monk's cloth, using a homemade light table hack: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI086SdNYmPavdCJAImgJQnQUJobd414t-dzxvinWbGLb94uO5zG32KJL5q0jJBxt49WMJCJS59suUa6Fih1WLWFu_DbaRalYLG0u8z_GKdhJfEr55xnljlHHGdvgt8eG_kGr9mdhRxNo/s1600/IMG_2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI086SdNYmPavdCJAImgJQnQUJobd414t-dzxvinWbGLb94uO5zG32KJL5q0jJBxt49WMJCJS59suUa6Fih1WLWFu_DbaRalYLG0u8z_GKdhJfEr55xnljlHHGdvgt8eG_kGr9mdhRxNo/s320/IMG_2951.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once transferred, I started hooking: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BEggpJ9sg1yjL_Zfbk71HOVIZBOmq2IimB4euAUoMAlABFhQsYLE0FKESE5Xq8ZF_wcOCLChpau-p1ZgHxPhDeQHxn-Te59LR2fCEFyUuajfNKdjrMI8v6xf39XM5IGRFvQ_5nmgcqUh/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BEggpJ9sg1yjL_Zfbk71HOVIZBOmq2IimB4euAUoMAlABFhQsYLE0FKESE5Xq8ZF_wcOCLChpau-p1ZgHxPhDeQHxn-Te59LR2fCEFyUuajfNKdjrMI8v6xf39XM5IGRFvQ_5nmgcqUh/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSkWv0N_q0yghA81mzf0jfFzhbGNSy1eCt_q5hKWj4nGsmu6Crob-NT0lwzL4AWoH5H7bRlvi1k-N465PT4B6pazqwx7P-weNI0PbA8j-pIy35qO4khfSyG7gMOUnnYPzJzW745ub-iH7/s1600/IMG_3264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSkWv0N_q0yghA81mzf0jfFzhbGNSy1eCt_q5hKWj4nGsmu6Crob-NT0lwzL4AWoH5H7bRlvi1k-N465PT4B6pazqwx7P-weNI0PbA8j-pIy35qO4khfSyG7gMOUnnYPzJzW745ub-iH7/s320/IMG_3264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's the finished rug, 32" x 55":</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXLcsuuwOvKdZ67zkDD0TeqNNoClbpE1N1DqLAH2Kj-o7mTmyQBwABrW54PaGDB22EUAoy8jwn1twKYeJo2513BgCNnKvqxRjXhaK4ipduUDQ31BEKwJcMSxVx_TQyZ93VL1n0LpsXYZj/s1600/IMG_3602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXLcsuuwOvKdZ67zkDD0TeqNNoClbpE1N1DqLAH2Kj-o7mTmyQBwABrW54PaGDB22EUAoy8jwn1twKYeJo2513BgCNnKvqxRjXhaK4ipduUDQ31BEKwJcMSxVx_TQyZ93VL1n0LpsXYZj/s400/IMG_3602.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-31338749952727141152016-01-03T12:33:00.001-05:002016-01-03T12:33:49.543-05:00The Nigel Slater Project, Blocks 3 & 4Yes, so, back in the quilting arena...cousin Kris and I completed our blocks for our Nigel Slater project. Here are the two spring blocks. The challenge fabrics are the "moo, moo, moo" fabric on the white ground, and a chevron multi-colored fabric that both of us disguised by using in tiny amounts.<br />
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Tobi's spring garden block:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnICQJhPc1ftEyG7BDWA0w5aZ0czRtFgEgcLNPkJObO-ZH5ltKdEUQrcZsYIPDfF0RZtHweIq5IkvCEhj7LCMKyzs1VzJWkIV-sFz2WX6lM9nIkjX5yHLDkUuw-tikcIUihM3vfVd-yXb/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnICQJhPc1ftEyG7BDWA0w5aZ0czRtFgEgcLNPkJObO-ZH5ltKdEUQrcZsYIPDfF0RZtHweIq5IkvCEhj7LCMKyzs1VzJWkIV-sFz2WX6lM9nIkjX5yHLDkUuw-tikcIUihM3vfVd-yXb/s320/IMG_2837.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Kris's spring recipe block:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ix9dZDQnwhWbj4a3wV64PCtIspWiKecSrMAUqx2cxdVZ2O17FIdnMnNahe8H6c5ZUwdwl12QtyeOfOSIzY4jKW9hH2dCbq0ocPwmIDiSs5pw_Ub7ZWRJjWC-kuL6DDTtdeINNxOJ5UIG/s1600/IMG_2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ix9dZDQnwhWbj4a3wV64PCtIspWiKecSrMAUqx2cxdVZ2O17FIdnMnNahe8H6c5ZUwdwl12QtyeOfOSIzY4jKW9hH2dCbq0ocPwmIDiSs5pw_Ub7ZWRJjWC-kuL6DDTtdeINNxOJ5UIG/s320/IMG_2838.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here are the two summer blocks...challenge fabrics are the african batik and the christmas cranberry print.<br />
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Tobi's summer berry pie:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlvaObViY1wPTUVyIxrpO6my4plsuzgBnHs9lnjY1PIrHYUPh9DXI-V2RYkDMQLc2SOssCMJSb7rHB9facqXoQ6C6s262V8x81ihmyUs807gL8Pq8uJjd9G059h-zKgfycm2JOu94294W/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlvaObViY1wPTUVyIxrpO6my4plsuzgBnHs9lnjY1PIrHYUPh9DXI-V2RYkDMQLc2SOssCMJSb7rHB9facqXoQ6C6s262V8x81ihmyUs807gL8Pq8uJjd9G059h-zKgfycm2JOu94294W/s320/IMG_2839.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Kris's summer berry pie: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapGrVsJPauIDXGIyXZcVD9Mx1wTo62ut1ahsAbi_kj7Svh7QTdtsiOBeE9BZb4f4lJsyjUOQ8Lo6EmOiBPWr7HrVNNa5oz2NPePjn8cICaLXnWsUA3VIR0bGlaTSg-UsUBkIW4k1J0qSi/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapGrVsJPauIDXGIyXZcVD9Mx1wTo62ut1ahsAbi_kj7Svh7QTdtsiOBeE9BZb4f4lJsyjUOQ8Lo6EmOiBPWr7HrVNNa5oz2NPePjn8cICaLXnWsUA3VIR0bGlaTSg-UsUBkIW4k1J0qSi/s320/IMG_2840.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here are the final 8 blocks, 2 per season, laid out on my design wall. One of these days, I'll decide how to finish these and do the final assembly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt9b3Euz-oh45wg0Jw2L4OXuRbe64SOxFahZiRJvZWko-fOv2Z58FYjLHCFzzVc4wdPVPiMVc03jLae4V-huedXmZS1I5rcNAPbdAVgRKFDw5BNhqwgTE-f9rjbGV_fnFHQPo9coxw-jP/s1600/IMG_2836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt9b3Euz-oh45wg0Jw2L4OXuRbe64SOxFahZiRJvZWko-fOv2Z58FYjLHCFzzVc4wdPVPiMVc03jLae4V-huedXmZS1I5rcNAPbdAVgRKFDw5BNhqwgTE-f9rjbGV_fnFHQPo9coxw-jP/s320/IMG_2836.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-10220645096011372552016-01-03T10:05:00.002-05:002016-01-03T10:05:45.680-05:00Cabbage and Artichoke and Watermelons, Oh My!The rug hooking, it calls like a siren of the sea...Here we are, a year later, and there has been much progress made on the rug front.<br />
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The beets from my prior post evolved into 6 chair pads:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAZIoZ1VFDI2V3JXQ0NGyjojDAFpFaa6h-uIFd5D7P9UtGCRJTBGDW5Q8C-v9ZPELa7GsKblOxpFTMEHobbJZpmVLrGyQqE9VOaURBjdmmkN6F5NVOVmBakHUai23F5w4gCHkuBO2KeBI/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAZIoZ1VFDI2V3JXQ0NGyjojDAFpFaa6h-uIFd5D7P9UtGCRJTBGDW5Q8C-v9ZPELa7GsKblOxpFTMEHobbJZpmVLrGyQqE9VOaURBjdmmkN6F5NVOVmBakHUai23F5w4gCHkuBO2KeBI/s320/IMG_2219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which evolved into a large veggie rug:<br />
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This led to my first original design project....see next post.<br />
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<br />Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-36120524115099685752014-02-03T05:45:00.000-05:002014-02-03T05:45:44.464-05:00And Now, Something Completely Different<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Uh oh, this looks like a new project. During our pre-Christmas visit with Chris and Kris, I got to see Kris' latest project: punch needle rug hooking. This is a type of rug hooking where you work from the back of the cloth, punching the yarn to the front using a special needle. Middlebury, VT, where C&K are currently living, is the home to the <a href="http://www.amyoxford.com/">Amy Oxford School of Rug Hooking</a> and between Kris taking classes there, and her affiliation with <a href="http://www.theruggery.com/">The Ruggery </a>on Long Island, she is a wealth of knowledge about this craft. Here is my foray into this new art form: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFKORRc8o1DtQuxZWDDHefjrvzugUG4HvENx601t_6Sk0e6s9tjSdskZU9bN7XXGs1mDX5zvwQvcQ8-5XoaUZznOkbAgpCNgXKUZYcTiENWHJqpXTtOjW59PUgDqtGIQbiHmap1V8Fq1G/s1600/IMG_2047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFKORRc8o1DtQuxZWDDHefjrvzugUG4HvENx601t_6Sk0e6s9tjSdskZU9bN7XXGs1mDX5zvwQvcQ8-5XoaUZznOkbAgpCNgXKUZYcTiENWHJqpXTtOjW59PUgDqtGIQbiHmap1V8Fq1G/s1600/IMG_2047.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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First Kits have arrived.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ3vZVZVqrd_owa4zgMStrZq25FNhOsKPO0NGK8yWU3ZHamOGkVj55I1RNt1tVC8x1BJkA1Dmwu8-abUu-z8Toh2xeC6LRX9uxMHdia2R-dnYwozVwboRaDi5TKEdBOB0iktxT0qZagYz/s1600/IMG_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ3vZVZVqrd_owa4zgMStrZq25FNhOsKPO0NGK8yWU3ZHamOGkVj55I1RNt1tVC8x1BJkA1Dmwu8-abUu-z8Toh2xeC6LRX9uxMHdia2R-dnYwozVwboRaDi5TKEdBOB0iktxT0qZagYz/s1600/IMG_2048.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Getting the pattern stretched onto the hooking frame. I had to build the frame, using stretcher bars and carpet tack strips. Then you pull the monks cloth taught, using the tack strips to hold the fabric in place. I stapled old quilt batting scraps over top of the tack strips to keep from lacerating myself as I work on the hooking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsihHN-TjGwCubyge2n2Rz2uNJMhkqzcgIb7FNgaVjmRJ9dtiywC-SP1WL6AUmlNlqaklVAP4ImQ8lw89kJhXgcDZAm58s3mxC86umOlRCHb4AqQouN-L9RauLBfB9ZZ-3IFLe4qlMMdf/s1600/IMG_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsihHN-TjGwCubyge2n2Rz2uNJMhkqzcgIb7FNgaVjmRJ9dtiywC-SP1WL6AUmlNlqaklVAP4ImQ8lw89kJhXgcDZAm58s3mxC86umOlRCHb4AqQouN-L9RauLBfB9ZZ-3IFLe4qlMMdf/s1600/IMG_2049.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Reading the directions. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSWI8WtA_c9KOXeiyGm0_EZARyP-JDdwgAJAqpl_46Tuarnpz5oDv20Ig5Ymz_2m4gKVa9Htaql0c743aMN_ulf8jTP6Fgq2bks_Wc4GNf7UgVV31_ORVmBlkVupK-4YpjJoSVhJXU4iQ/s1600/IMG_2051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSWI8WtA_c9KOXeiyGm0_EZARyP-JDdwgAJAqpl_46Tuarnpz5oDv20Ig5Ymz_2m4gKVa9Htaql0c743aMN_ulf8jTP6Fgq2bks_Wc4GNf7UgVV31_ORVmBlkVupK-4YpjJoSVhJXU4iQ/s1600/IMG_2051.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ready to start hooking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHwGdH3hMEkllNAA3grNTa3X4FTqjYXE_Z5b8t1HQbuJTwvdCZDfNczxOeeAMVg-IJESyzBopZL-h5TEZVLY5PdkJugV1lNIfQCPM0cx4VZOMRqE70bqSJDdeLqFwrcHuLEe-TZT0p3sD/s1600/IMG_2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHwGdH3hMEkllNAA3grNTa3X4FTqjYXE_Z5b8t1HQbuJTwvdCZDfNczxOeeAMVg-IJESyzBopZL-h5TEZVLY5PdkJugV1lNIfQCPM0cx4VZOMRqE70bqSJDdeLqFwrcHuLEe-TZT0p3sD/s1600/IMG_2052.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Beets!</div>
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Stay tuned…more to come!</div>
Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-2313038279584991952014-02-02T21:55:00.002-05:002014-02-03T05:46:36.131-05:00Adventures in Glass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a few years since Caitlin and I have taken our yearly <a href="http://www.hudsonbeachglass.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=6">lamp working class with Stephanie Maddalena at Hudson Beach Glass</a>. We spent two days in January making glass beads using a propane torch and some low temperature glass rods. Here are the results. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-woyJYc1TG_NyZgMyaYzfiVYUOZgbxGgjoEOsaH95Er7OABGVMAw50xSTujX3AtfeTrHbT19Hg3ig8ABECEqNh6fbhDoR49eMLYCs1qCP8_czzWXEFepGtXfDTeduCfj9mLpyvFhyxtfL/s1600/IMG_2031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-woyJYc1TG_NyZgMyaYzfiVYUOZgbxGgjoEOsaH95Er7OABGVMAw50xSTujX3AtfeTrHbT19Hg3ig8ABECEqNh6fbhDoR49eMLYCs1qCP8_czzWXEFepGtXfDTeduCfj9mLpyvFhyxtfL/s1600/IMG_2031.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Just out of the kiln. From upper left, clockwise:</div>
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Encased silver foil over black and blue; tiny jelly fish aquarium; blue encased swirl; medium jelly fish aquarium with green frit and encased with clear; implosion with green frit</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYRw3OI5_B53g46139k3G5ljGBKWaYgC_pKQ-NOJZQqrePN5k2R-QDoRZdTgnj6SIA5NDttLt6ptaUMJrI53w3c4e4bVS7FGL2LhUtyegT1MUco7_5OAGnSYbAHaJdcDCjVJtsKK0p04p/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYRw3OI5_B53g46139k3G5ljGBKWaYgC_pKQ-NOJZQqrePN5k2R-QDoRZdTgnj6SIA5NDttLt6ptaUMJrI53w3c4e4bVS7FGL2LhUtyegT1MUco7_5OAGnSYbAHaJdcDCjVJtsKK0p04p/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Blurry close up of Jelly Fish aquarium</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnHwx6RMXwHMejdBM6UPmP_GUbYuhUOvLT5KP7VwDyrbGSE17IPB5paZzCuQB-N8kDfUrW0iQYGz6lmYXzz55jElA6NXSMiaqUItm8NZ4yyCVXlXYZypNEJ-dO96WE5p8SZWPJrVKYSHo/s1600/IMG_2042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnHwx6RMXwHMejdBM6UPmP_GUbYuhUOvLT5KP7VwDyrbGSE17IPB5paZzCuQB-N8kDfUrW0iQYGz6lmYXzz55jElA6NXSMiaqUItm8NZ4yyCVXlXYZypNEJ-dO96WE5p8SZWPJrVKYSHo/s1600/IMG_2042.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Necklaces and bracelets. Original lamp worked beads, and commercial beads. Silver beads and findings. Strung on waxed cord. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4Jg6lMlgvY2A3r5G5l4IiteV5ZI6baNtvYT25VgSg7_z8pBCzVNIWH2XQbdawm6fkO6FeQErYmxV2XxG_BZxQyua5H3XV09cXAKye6rI_HHLzaHDLRJ5JJYQ-stxcfW154JU7ND2fvXj/s1600/IMG_2063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4Jg6lMlgvY2A3r5G5l4IiteV5ZI6baNtvYT25VgSg7_z8pBCzVNIWH2XQbdawm6fkO6FeQErYmxV2XxG_BZxQyua5H3XV09cXAKye6rI_HHLzaHDLRJ5JJYQ-stxcfW154JU7ND2fvXj/s1600/IMG_2063.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Close-up. </div>
<br />Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-62314815053086080582013-12-24T16:29:00.000-05:002013-12-24T16:29:16.005-05:00The Nigel Slater Project, Winter Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sometimes the muse just strikes. The Winter Block for our cousinly <a href="http://quilteddimensions.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-nigel-slater-project.html">Nigel Slater project</a> isn't due to be traded until the first of March. I'd been playing with design ideas in my head ever since finishing the Autumn Block, but I'd been stymied by the challenge fabrics selected by the Andrews husbands for this next quarter. Scottie Dogs and…glow-in-the-dark Space Bats. Really???</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXrXS06ygWEFoDk0ttxCcZ9her5t9UQ4Xl1qD2GEUSXRtNyruUze4kkFkbp12bI8FwmIZVnBiT68UGe2gEWe4KdLRNDVGpEFL5FvAUToFmR9BuIdnqpJ2rtGR4gFslVDoMkDzH-9p8Wx8/s1600/DSC00884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXrXS06ygWEFoDk0ttxCcZ9her5t9UQ4Xl1qD2GEUSXRtNyruUze4kkFkbp12bI8FwmIZVnBiT68UGe2gEWe4KdLRNDVGpEFL5FvAUToFmR9BuIdnqpJ2rtGR4gFslVDoMkDzH-9p8Wx8/s320/DSC00884.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Suddenly my design ideas needed to make a right turn. And then, last week we woke up to this, a perfect day for French Onion Soup. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheigqrITqbHyKdENX3O8WMzlFanmbyzVMlQ-UrXNicSBiLGa4qNAHXy834N8wXjjxkZqfdIhov6oqCZnPWAdggP0wKIJtNNa-CthI9-87DRKQMY9zBSHANh8c2GNXD0KbN9o7kPmrCmHVZ/s1600/DSC00881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheigqrITqbHyKdENX3O8WMzlFanmbyzVMlQ-UrXNicSBiLGa4qNAHXy834N8wXjjxkZqfdIhov6oqCZnPWAdggP0wKIJtNNa-CthI9-87DRKQMY9zBSHANh8c2GNXD0KbN9o7kPmrCmHVZ/s320/DSC00881.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow, and a big bag of onions, loaf of fresh french bread and red table cloth spawned a new design. These are all improvisational blocks…quirky log cabins, wonky drunkard's paths, and some skewed strip piecings and here it is..<br />
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French Onion Soup and Fresh Bread on a Cold Winter's Night:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCa1O2KD4UF82P6pqipRHn1IyM8FtFidtPEmzN5MwkVhqMiMrgFVQjEtNGjNV6cGrb42ZfBGw05PArfUDKRXt63caTLhjGPJt3M4uHmPFUPGBIfFmwMzTx0PQKgekqgxqD-wPcKfMmvkY4/s1600/DSC00882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCa1O2KD4UF82P6pqipRHn1IyM8FtFidtPEmzN5MwkVhqMiMrgFVQjEtNGjNV6cGrb42ZfBGw05PArfUDKRXt63caTLhjGPJt3M4uHmPFUPGBIfFmwMzTx0PQKgekqgxqD-wPcKfMmvkY4/s320/DSC00882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the other one in the pair:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIr2BMG8wDt10_JpeoRnnfWGj41ZbyvnDGcQnYLEyHg41Z2d0XY9tHkIFMSZE6buEr5TbX-ACQAsNMrRjwQLtb4-1spKk62Onnb4ljzmeR5q3C72GWVrBLjw1l5GVKrqanY82OB03EnmD/s1600/DSC00883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIr2BMG8wDt10_JpeoRnnfWGj41ZbyvnDGcQnYLEyHg41Z2d0XY9tHkIFMSZE6buEr5TbX-ACQAsNMrRjwQLtb4-1spKk62Onnb4ljzmeR5q3C72GWVrBLjw1l5GVKrqanY82OB03EnmD/s320/DSC00883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now…on to spring design ideas!<br />
<br />Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-9194147931700200292013-12-10T19:52:00.000-05:002013-12-12T06:30:08.452-05:00The Nigel Slater Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last summer, I had a chance to spend some time with Kris, who you will remember from the <a href="http://quilteddimensions.blogspot.com/2009/05/great-cousinly-quilt-project.html">Great Cousinly Quilt Project</a> way back in 2009. We discovered that we both had a full set of Nigel Slater's food writing and cookbooks, and both of us were enjoying exploring various culinary adventures. Before we knew it, the creative juices were flowing, and The Nigel Slater Project was born. </div>
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Here's how the project works:</div>
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<li>Using Nigel Slater's cookbooks for inspiration, we each create a 12 X 18 quilt block. </li>
<li>We can only use fabric.</li>
<li>We need to create two copies of the same block.</li>
<li>Our husbands each select one fabric to be used in both of our blocks.</li>
<li>We have three months to create the blocks.</li>
<li>At the end of each quarter, we send one of our copies to each other, along with the husband fabric choice for the next block. </li>
<li>At the end of the year, we'll each have the same set of 8 blocks…which we can then piece into a finished quilt. </li>
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Last weekend, we travelled to Vermont to see Kris, Christopher and delightful little Cole. Amidst the gingerbread houses, legos, hikes in the woods, and studio show and tell sessions, Kris and I exchanged our first blocks! After 3 months of work, it was so much fun to see what each other had created and it was awesome to see how great the blocks look together! </div>
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Nigel Slater's "The Kitchen Diaries"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD-7ZY3gXeehOXLKxPV_ofI12tmfd-SPKI-kG8PmzcEEs6QTCr-WSRmYeR9PJRc7YXlITbCduTe7L-XZ_5M_1pGz4Xf79U3uZ0v1nqL2Lp15GQFewVsjphLyOyiIFGto22nJFqKzTJgvm/s1600/DSC00684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD-7ZY3gXeehOXLKxPV_ofI12tmfd-SPKI-kG8PmzcEEs6QTCr-WSRmYeR9PJRc7YXlITbCduTe7L-XZ_5M_1pGz4Xf79U3uZ0v1nqL2Lp15GQFewVsjphLyOyiIFGto22nJFqKzTJgvm/s320/DSC00684.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pumpkin Tomato Lahksa - it was a yummy recipe for a cold, rainy autumn day!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj5AK_etkmIEMuzEoJqTnfv31bvmPoxh9gdry7nAaod7hyLI8gyGzPt7m9U-zPn09TswBSSB9fHEaSonGa8-stKdFfhQgTwwENEyZE45AmRP7-GutOMDBk6MhVSf2qNuIrfYBLc6l8Gie/s1600/DSC00688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj5AK_etkmIEMuzEoJqTnfv31bvmPoxh9gdry7nAaod7hyLI8gyGzPt7m9U-zPn09TswBSSB9fHEaSonGa8-stKdFfhQgTwwENEyZE45AmRP7-GutOMDBk6MhVSf2qNuIrfYBLc6l8Gie/s320/DSC00688.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pumpkin Laksa!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse9GWirZjQVzkJCeKKhKI25iLEMFKM5YvwT1cRuqJalQk4a0-TiFkD5xDNAKCKJR4-0ZT992qDQQtLGlIXyo3ZsuCdTOaPhXgGH072WNYLestEFlKL6_ZDUcbp_rYplqjE0XiSxc9f7Q2/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse9GWirZjQVzkJCeKKhKI25iLEMFKM5YvwT1cRuqJalQk4a0-TiFkD5xDNAKCKJR4-0ZT992qDQQtLGlIXyo3ZsuCdTOaPhXgGH072WNYLestEFlKL6_ZDUcbp_rYplqjE0XiSxc9f7Q2/s320/IMG_1653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The fabric palette for the first block.</div>
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Piecing in progress:</div>
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Tobi's finished autumn blocks:</div>
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Kris's finished autumn block: Cathedral Windows hand piecing!!!</div>
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Autumn blocks together, with the husband challenge fabrics for this autumn block. </div>
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Christopher's swirly fabric on bottom center.</div>
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Bruce's purple batik on bottom right.</div>
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What will next quarter bring??</div>
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Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-1570285304671199672011-06-12T09:48:00.009-04:002011-06-12T20:43:04.986-04:00Ski Condo GingerbreadFor the past few years, our Christmas vacation has included a 6 person ski vacation which requires nothing short of a 12 month planning effort to pull off. The logistics involved in getting 6 people, 10 skis, 1 snowboard, 12 boots, 12 gloves, 6 pairs of snowpants, an entire case of handwarmers and enough carbohydrate laden groceries to fuel an entire naval battalion packed and transported from Connecticut to Vermont takes about all of the energy I have. One thing that the ski trip precluded, however, was our traditional gingerbread extravaganza. So last year, along with the winter clothes packing melee, I packed up all the gingerbread paraphanalia and took it along, too. <br /><br />One thing we changed, however, is the substitution of graham crackers for real gingerbread. And this small change made a world of difference in my ability to pull this off! I highly recommed it. <br /><br />Here's the set up: <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xrjg0yLkyBakp71B8HXyjiqqoSSOoWGkvELKgUDJ4vYvs1PLj0nCLgOJSMxfkM8mRWAGX4l6ZZxXcZWXrPYYU5Fcu-Dhs9GYOoW_gcjHx8K9QNAYHjuDSKUQgizw7L1l-Hy1-xA3zASM/s1600/DSC01285.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617331273696741602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xrjg0yLkyBakp71B8HXyjiqqoSSOoWGkvELKgUDJ4vYvs1PLj0nCLgOJSMxfkM8mRWAGX4l6ZZxXcZWXrPYYU5Fcu-Dhs9GYOoW_gcjHx8K9QNAYHjuDSKUQgizw7L1l-Hy1-xA3zASM/s320/DSC01285.JPG" /></a><br />Note the number of candies stored in tupperware. Doing this ahead of time made the packing and clean up much quicker. Also, key to clean up was the disposable plastic tablecloth that we just wrapped up and threw away at the end of the night. It conveniently kept the rainbos sprinkles out of the carpeting.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oUXC1W5QlQguL0r-QWjurERwR20zZvy6HbqROSrHY9yL8Wa2hetwQyTkq8jwLQsqCloYd2qhfT0x_DuNEHUTIoPOxxZrfPVdZCH_DUupw6aUbntBNogrULg7B7aEz5Qzk4SGYnBCoN1U/s1600/DSC01283.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617331260755613922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oUXC1W5QlQguL0r-QWjurERwR20zZvy6HbqROSrHY9yL8Wa2hetwQyTkq8jwLQsqCloYd2qhfT0x_DuNEHUTIoPOxxZrfPVdZCH_DUupw6aUbntBNogrULg7B7aEz5Qzk4SGYnBCoN1U/s320/DSC01283.JPG" /></a><br />With the artistic freedom of graham crackers (which can be broken and cut on demand, rather than gingerbread which needs to be templated and baked ahead of time), creativity ran rampant. Yes, Bruce constructed a volcano...complete with red hot spewing lava (that was made of, well, red hots...you know,the cinnamon candies?). This may be the only graham cracker volcano ever constructed:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZdO9Yg393GgvWk71BoXIbG8DZgf05uK2wFckQS0c5TvO7rlBgK5XlsQO0123G49z8h-7eRt0gicWASCXgA85M9rh8xwWK5nVHVOYAr_PE6ILS1nSQOJKO6QzNySbyLipzQe2YEqhaH7w/s1600/DSC01293.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617331290600927570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZdO9Yg393GgvWk71BoXIbG8DZgf05uK2wFckQS0c5TvO7rlBgK5XlsQO0123G49z8h-7eRt0gicWASCXgA85M9rh8xwWK5nVHVOYAr_PE6ILS1nSQOJKO6QzNySbyLipzQe2YEqhaH7w/s320/DSC01293.JPG" /></a><br />I also packed up our icing spatulas, not wanting to rely on whatever odd and assorted cutlery we may have found in the condo kitchen. Here you see Mary, hard at work on her one storey saltbox. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXub6m1ZNIqydsHTDn-tfYYH5FVNFC5-leE3a6JbYx6KFDWjvj8thh7NCSeBhlOlpjcJeSBEvzjbgl8rnoItF2dxSLefzwHvLUcT2NWMxajDXBDZgbDKN0AuUuQ2wm5FBpp9OmtG51cuya/s1600/DSC01287.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617331280907652258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXub6m1ZNIqydsHTDn-tfYYH5FVNFC5-leE3a6JbYx6KFDWjvj8thh7NCSeBhlOlpjcJeSBEvzjbgl8rnoItF2dxSLefzwHvLUcT2NWMxajDXBDZgbDKN0AuUuQ2wm5FBpp9OmtG51cuya/s320/DSC01287.JPG" /></a><br />And finally, here is my storybook cottage, complete with christmas lights in the hedges, a pretzel picket fence, and coconut snow in the front yard. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ5P39-DCez6jxGNKBLYMZMHnBqMt5Uk63k12VUtUIX0mePEeQvJwWatQNL839LRZVpLlecIOgb3O0-iPFT0Js9eiiAB2RlCflPm88ewGcI8iAhH-DwIHXZL99tDM3ujpxUbxtmOcU9_Q/s1600/DSC01297.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617331299696247906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ5P39-DCez6jxGNKBLYMZMHnBqMt5Uk63k12VUtUIX0mePEeQvJwWatQNL839LRZVpLlecIOgb3O0-iPFT0Js9eiiAB2RlCflPm88ewGcI8iAhH-DwIHXZL99tDM3ujpxUbxtmOcU9_Q/s320/DSC01297.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-53608078700307238482011-06-12T08:53:00.017-04:002011-06-12T20:27:59.416-04:00Another baby, another quilt...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyvr-hmD3FZ3YjCCAR2No6JCKmRtwgGeroe9bAFAPhUmI0L2ygoCcEJGsEV5KN95gg9P1Od769tERpDXXYdj1H-_h0qKf1R8NVN9BdcpjiNnqyDVpZFgur7jaUWZlpldE0l-S4uJLLko6/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG"></a>Remember the <a href="http://quilteddimensions.blogspot.com/2009/05/great-cousinly-quilt-project.html">Great Cousinly Quilt Project from 2009</a>? Cousin Kris and I collaborated on a quilt for Cousins Steve and Esther, with Kris piecing one side, me piecing the other side, and swapping fabrics back and forth along the way. The quilt turned out great, and baby <a href="http://quilteddimensions.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-kira-helen.html">Kira </a><br />enjoys her quilt today.<br /><br />Fast forward to 2011. Cousins Kris and Christopher, were expecting their first baby! So, Esther and I decided that another collaboration was in order!<br /><br />When Esther suggested that she could do some batik animals, I had no idea what to expect. Lo and behold, on one winter day, this arrived in the mail from Esther:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn7mX0iruxFDE_nbI9eg94rjUluvvGjjbkVnueJAIOUa3Q_euBmiQg5WPAfN3Qnl0Eo5-nKYUJwAGfMxzmbX5wf-8HAUrHAmhcXNF4ZBBnvj2C91oTxxss_zYpy7Z-NZkjx-PskxlkxVa/s1600/DSC01339.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617317879777523714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn7mX0iruxFDE_nbI9eg94rjUluvvGjjbkVnueJAIOUa3Q_euBmiQg5WPAfN3Qnl0Eo5-nKYUJwAGfMxzmbX5wf-8HAUrHAmhcXNF4ZBBnvj2C91oTxxss_zYpy7Z-NZkjx-PskxlkxVa/s320/DSC01339.jpg" /></a> Have you ever seen anything more amazing? Each on adorable and unique! And my stash held an unusual stack of matching fabrics, including some of the remnants from Kira's quilt, made 2 years earlier!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6cAijbyUU86xmlPYiIZnnTDIVEuwTyQ9ouEJclUfUfSx6jJUC2AeGE5GYDVDlY4AMpHo08vA6fY6gudhyphenhyphen6WP1JbJZ8QMLQ5dL5a_2M9S28j3BkjxinkFDCI1XWS0-DUuEA0ZInVQEHXq/s1600/DSC01343.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617317884011998530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6cAijbyUU86xmlPYiIZnnTDIVEuwTyQ9ouEJclUfUfSx6jJUC2AeGE5GYDVDlY4AMpHo08vA6fY6gudhyphenhyphen6WP1JbJZ8QMLQ5dL5a_2M9S28j3BkjxinkFDCI1XWS0-DUuEA0ZInVQEHXq/s320/DSC01343.jpg" /></a> The searsucker batiks were a unique find several years ago. In my normal fashion, i bought only fat squares of each. I wish, in retrospect, that I had purchased at least half yard cuts of these. They are really unusual, and I've not seen them anywhere else. I can't even remember where they came from. </div><br /><br /><div>But here's where they are now. Check out Esther's turtle, surrounded by searsucker batiks!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ocP2Q6V7S189oMiAmeDsMm8kS3CjYLf56mL-pY545D75ezrS64sjj3vZjQqhmQS1qe9AZh0wFpuX9Qbrj3TXLWrFfbvDJeUGTvOPwEYJIOCgY-kKLNyex-ZZkbOQmMFKC3q8026ZypJ/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617317900316467650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ocP2Q6V7S189oMiAmeDsMm8kS3CjYLf56mL-pY545D75ezrS64sjj3vZjQqhmQS1qe9AZh0wFpuX9Qbrj3TXLWrFfbvDJeUGTvOPwEYJIOCgY-kKLNyex-ZZkbOQmMFKC3q8026ZypJ/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" /></a> I apologize in advance for this next picture. This quilt was finished while my good camera and laptop were not in communication. This is the best picture I have, however...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDZEvtK3p-HyB7rpXMBz3LQJ6Ecb96dxadC2BzbpDq-X8hTJVOpucA_AGZv4J6PwTiFPEZLyWlCra9lC3NqRtAGNMycdU5qMqfRPmWWbdrh1byaTw-SCSdPLy5swx5ldnUZ3xxLNfOobg/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617317890296755474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDZEvtK3p-HyB7rpXMBz3LQJ6Ecb96dxadC2BzbpDq-X8hTJVOpucA_AGZv4J6PwTiFPEZLyWlCra9lC3NqRtAGNMycdU5qMqfRPmWWbdrh1byaTw-SCSdPLy5swx5ldnUZ3xxLNfOobg/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" /></a><br />The quilt was finished in time to be sent to baby <a href="http://www.blackslens.com/cole/">Cole Emerson</a>, who surprized us all by arriving 6 weeks early! Hopefully, Cole's photographic biographer will provide some high quality photos of baby Cole on the second installment of the Great Cousinly Quilt Project.<br /></div><br /><div>Rumor has it that another quilt may soon be required...<br /><br /></div></div></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-83493504141630297552009-11-15T07:32:00.000-05:002009-11-15T07:32:42.407-05:00Gingerbread VillagesThis is the time of year when typically, our Christmas shopping is done (yes, really. Don't hate me - I like to get it out of the way so we can enjoy the season) and we turn our attention to holiday fun. One of our favorite holiday traditions is to make gingerbread houses with our godkids. We started this a number of years ago, and discovered that this is an activity that everyone can participate in, regardless of age. We also have amazing conversations as the six of us sit around the table for several hours.<br /><br />We do quite a bit of preparation for this extravaganza, usually starting a week ahead of time, but you can start even earlier if you freeze the dough. Bruce and I make the dough and use templates to create the pieces of the houses. I created templates using 3" x 5" file cards which turns out to be an ideal size. We can get 6 individual houses from a double batch of gingerbread dough, and the finished house size fits on a bread board with enough room to still have a yard to decorate.<br /><br />Here's Bruce cutting dough to templates:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mTabWVBkDWZtG8X1-iGPTI54t-L02yQe3XxfxFrvS-LxG3-KvruVHudzFFz1C6UrEw86zfr8iYV6ZVA8pC-mBzGslCPoJ6X1nM6sCqb3Is8vSYO9A98mGnNaOrmNns9o24-ClI5Bv3Vk/s1600-h/dough5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750038702509074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mTabWVBkDWZtG8X1-iGPTI54t-L02yQe3XxfxFrvS-LxG3-KvruVHudzFFz1C6UrEw86zfr8iYV6ZVA8pC-mBzGslCPoJ6X1nM6sCqb3Is8vSYO9A98mGnNaOrmNns9o24-ClI5Bv3Vk/s320/dough5.JPG" border="0" /></a> Once baked, we store the pieces in zip lock bags for up to a week.<br /><br />On decorating day, we set up work stations at the expanded table. Everybody works on a cookie sheet with a lip (to keep stray decorations from landing on the 1970's shag carpeting in our dining room. Oy vey.) We have a long shopping list of "construction candies" and I open everything and put it out in bowls for easy access. I make a huge batch of royal icing, and fill 6 icing bags which we stand up in heavy coffee mugs for easy access. Everyone also has a flat spreading spatula. Here's the "before" shot of the work table:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRrUdDaM3Hv9L28nnbEihLQe_Dx629xa9GQBMgTjTkYe_XGBcvm2kQSVd7jBgVRxM14-7VyuoqMBNqS5oBPyAH9RYjI4FCzaqvaXq97mKfSJjy0VNsOpoXGTM6x7ogcMIHzP1Rm4I3ArM/s1600-h/PB240016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750032043623394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRrUdDaM3Hv9L28nnbEihLQe_Dx629xa9GQBMgTjTkYe_XGBcvm2kQSVd7jBgVRxM14-7VyuoqMBNqS5oBPyAH9RYjI4FCzaqvaXq97mKfSJjy0VNsOpoXGTM6x7ogcMIHzP1Rm4I3ArM/s320/PB240016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's an action shot of the "during"! Evan and Mary are consulting on Evan's liberal use of sprinkles. Caitlin is deep in thought (this is the day she got icing on her back...we still don't know how) and Bruce is in the throws of creating a groovy jalopy out of pretzles and life savers. Sarah is just off camera to the right. My work station is in the bottom middle of the photo.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8xwgh8WdhSK0PRrUJbCQm8kwSqThLbkAM6wkmSYY8VJlH2FJhsWSObmPp9-nci_foh6JLpQwOV0khnjval71Z887hf0aKgLjAOxPpgBiMEb9ef5x7YJdf-SBKz0l7CJPgnXjmDq-FWFR/s1600-h/2005decorating1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750032750758386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8xwgh8WdhSK0PRrUJbCQm8kwSqThLbkAM6wkmSYY8VJlH2FJhsWSObmPp9-nci_foh6JLpQwOV0khnjval71Z887hf0aKgLjAOxPpgBiMEb9ef5x7YJdf-SBKz0l7CJPgnXjmDq-FWFR/s320/2005decorating1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Graham crackers as interior walls help support heavily decorated exterior walls. We've also used big marshmallows inside to help prop things up. This is Sarah's pretzel log cabin, with assembly in progress. Note her cool fruit roll-up roofing with candy cane beams...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT21MrEz12CX3upjwZD_WBs4z1BJ61Kd6lt2JMl7jXpV8tHr3xPdZv_2MmPl_Xs6Kr8m2rB-5_EMLcKx5l1pk_Ym-fKyFQBNxtAnwR7izHhgFbJCSPvT7un_g8HVjXeJ0tIeGaZJH7Kod/s1600-h/sarahsinternalconstruction.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750031745525554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT21MrEz12CX3upjwZD_WBs4z1BJ61Kd6lt2JMl7jXpV8tHr3xPdZv_2MmPl_Xs6Kr8m2rB-5_EMLcKx5l1pk_Ym-fKyFQBNxtAnwR7izHhgFbJCSPvT7un_g8HVjXeJ0tIeGaZJH7Kod/s320/sarahsinternalconstruction.jpg" border="0" /></a> The finished village...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaF-gpYVKhXLFTlHu-QA6kEInphQJADw2AWrDZwwue6j4Gp1_StnvORgSt8k_MhLPdmkrhqM7znmExD25lUUpdAI64He6VDluAZiD4sF5ZLKYAo3zLsOQZ8oVha4K8V31arNzLw0E752P/s1600-h/PB240071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750008610276098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaF-gpYVKhXLFTlHu-QA6kEInphQJADw2AWrDZwwue6j4Gp1_StnvORgSt8k_MhLPdmkrhqM7znmExD25lUUpdAI64He6VDluAZiD4sF5ZLKYAo3zLsOQZ8oVha4K8V31arNzLw0E752P/s320/PB240071.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750681061477618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyicJfbLWqtkyYOtgiglMQjhY5JxjdpPGLx51O75EGRAcPIObRIpd3XyRP1o6k64x2tM8TaeoEJrnASMGnUbTcbUbTsXueVXnCooz6jn0E44IwFuFkTY9FyYkRw4OB18mu6_sZr1vMI6nt/s320/brucesyardjalopy.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344199321576794258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsBbiwY74MVJbvGEZX1iHhoFOl9o7kTaLLG4oMin6AaFIMKQ6KLu9UKSGmmoEF3B2ZBUN855U0EN1LAKeJKQ4P911r_P_HF-_jF-FN2U3wDObcqqPnKPtOCEp1Egsu6RC3HSG808n2n0I/s320/house11.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344199315756623090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dqFV584v09odT36vqf65Q7b5MmPik_LSrJ9LVbHW2nLugz0lHYlF-5MxoKSGixyXnsiDI8ME9TMRDXn8H8yqiiq4Pj8zXEoRub8lbQMHB08z9NeGWXblZ_IpRThBkpBTj6455iesmct2/s320/house2.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Happy Frosting to all, and to all a good night.</p>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-994218009466693822009-08-29T08:06:00.004-04:002009-08-29T08:10:45.281-04:00Kira and her QuiltKira gets acquainted with her new quilt - dressed to match!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOvw2PNM_3wFX8ULmVkM3974opJUjWUkUM4yvaAzldW9LPDSr3mpLYJ8a93by6kxhWf9MGUpoLnuQdCYsJJIPqxL3B_mJmrcKYQi1gMboAKQONi2gK2usbSp0Dr39FXJ4hPNRwSoC9SZI/s1600-h/Photo+Library+-+2229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375356761437137522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOvw2PNM_3wFX8ULmVkM3974opJUjWUkUM4yvaAzldW9LPDSr3mpLYJ8a93by6kxhWf9MGUpoLnuQdCYsJJIPqxL3B_mJmrcKYQi1gMboAKQONi2gK2usbSp0Dr39FXJ4hPNRwSoC9SZI/s320/Photo+Library+-+2229.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTB6sFZA5kKH3tmlHA7iarekMsJehyphenhyphenmirva60G4cLrxxSoJ1C8opH8ThJi6BMwYNOL1V303xoToGcPtEMzSxE43D4Nh2Z1FsOGYB_HRgnz3hCJge3jlTocm9LEGY8xchMHKMbNiW5H7GAt/s1600-h/Photo+Library+-+2228.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375356756051933634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTB6sFZA5kKH3tmlHA7iarekMsJehyphenhyphenmirva60G4cLrxxSoJ1C8opH8ThJi6BMwYNOL1V303xoToGcPtEMzSxE43D4Nh2Z1FsOGYB_HRgnz3hCJge3jlTocm9LEGY8xchMHKMbNiW5H7GAt/s320/Photo+Library+-+2228.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-34984387574549265432009-07-21T08:20:00.011-04:002009-07-21T22:02:12.679-04:00BalanceI don’t remember the first time I ever heard a cello. I do know that my first musical exposure was listening to Aaron Copland’s “Billy the Kid” on the stereo as a newborn. Because my parents are musicians, I was immersed in music early and often, and by the time I was in 4th grade, my instrument of choice was the violin. The reason for this choice was youthfully simple. My next-door neighbor, 4 years older than me, played the violin. Somehow I missed the significance when in junior high he switched to the double bass. Regardless, the violin was the center of my life for 25 years.<br /><br />And then I changed careers. Forgive me if I don’t recount the whole event here. It makes me tired. I will share a regret from my career change: the selling of my teaching cello when I moved to CT in 1995. It was a good, solid student cello and a pleasure to play. But when I moved to a studio apartment in Greenwich, I didn’t have space for it. In 2009, As Bruce’s birthday approached, I hatched a plan to get him a C-flute as the yang to his Celtic flute’s yin. He was overwhelmed with this gift and immediately wanted me to accompany him on my Celtic harp. I was not so enthusiastic about this idea. The harp is pretty, but hard to play and limited in range.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyexTqmaSNPiXSbNx3Wlom-KkY1LdmU5Pi5j1YXK2DhSoO5LaHIfe7YXmAcTLqyO8HXLAYSClk8Pg51Awt6Pd0ADMr3P6E_ULaJoK17jCYCgfTwOLuNdsT1702hvWVz6WwXNz9Mfz1EFP/s1600-h/DSC_0011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360889310660174690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyexTqmaSNPiXSbNx3Wlom-KkY1LdmU5Pi5j1YXK2DhSoO5LaHIfe7YXmAcTLqyO8HXLAYSClk8Pg51Awt6Pd0ADMr3P6E_ULaJoK17jCYCgfTwOLuNdsT1702hvWVz6WwXNz9Mfz1EFP/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" /></a>Somehow, in the wake of Bruce’s Flute Birthday, the idea of replacing my cello was surfaced. With some advice from Mary, the new cello arrived. I haven’t shared too much about it since, mostly because, well, I’ve been practicing it instead of writing about it.<br /><br />In fact, there is quite a lot of practicing going on at our house. We’ve both found teachers, we’re both working on technique, and we’ve both slipped into a regular practice rhythm that makes our evenings quite pleasant. Jack has made his peace with the flute, and with the cello itself, although he is not too keen about the cello case…<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLemd_JVIG54e8xMIMX-8n-hGd3qTi5Q0XA5VSPhDFVcYC6hYyF4RMH_MtbSHqXQ0HfZYPorKUmaBBdVKodR05XKsFHKUWVRsjq1p7rCnz7wg3D0IE7DpW_zhAmGrtZf4Q4lrGhx9ZQoA/s1600-h/DSC_0039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360888727825425906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLemd_JVIG54e8xMIMX-8n-hGd3qTi5Q0XA5VSPhDFVcYC6hYyF4RMH_MtbSHqXQ0HfZYPorKUmaBBdVKodR05XKsFHKUWVRsjq1p7rCnz7wg3D0IE7DpW_zhAmGrtZf4Q4lrGhx9ZQoA/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>It has been a long, long while since making music was something enjoyable. But now, the cello, along with the quilt projects, my riding lessons, the summer cooking and baking, the lampworking, my godkids, friends and family, are all serving as counterbalance to the stress and strain of work...it feels like achieving balance might, might just be a possibility.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIAH7SYSZxOay4futZibdSgPR4McjDcn2duEYhw43SSU1fm0emlRiWbWc3oOof_-gPgFczL7lrm-oPfDgY8M5qXhyphenhyphenGAQ0MzSQtO4SoKXoVzoXmVx6rUrTXQTdloZER8C0f9VUb_DjOLbM/s1600-h/DSC_0051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360888079510097298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIAH7SYSZxOay4futZibdSgPR4McjDcn2duEYhw43SSU1fm0emlRiWbWc3oOof_-gPgFczL7lrm-oPfDgY8M5qXhyphenhyphenGAQ0MzSQtO4SoKXoVzoXmVx6rUrTXQTdloZER8C0f9VUb_DjOLbM/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-72475877507381138812009-07-21T08:06:00.007-04:002009-07-21T08:40:49.349-04:00Welcome Kira Helen!As I was posting the last entry on July 11, Kira Helen was arriving in the world! Here are a few photos of the quilt, with the binding on, and both sides showing. Hopefully, there will eventually be pictures of Kira *with* her quilt. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4QMQMjrMCfga1uN9X_T_yDOxiMGVh0hohIrzpM19Z2xNg0JBuOs9DScV2dlMsTEmuTsb-LRJTQVfsR3tXNNSW33Xef8o8z2O70P7QcLg5nALgrG7NTyPl0rRtu24VWCWXIspLLxBTuts/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360885098903798674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4QMQMjrMCfga1uN9X_T_yDOxiMGVh0hohIrzpM19Z2xNg0JBuOs9DScV2dlMsTEmuTsb-LRJTQVfsR3tXNNSW33Xef8o8z2O70P7QcLg5nALgrG7NTyPl0rRtu24VWCWXIspLLxBTuts/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR-HuiL60ePd9t65ppQr2PcD02rfyVNNorrjhdjOMthuceIy-PZ6o7PHqRQNSrgOMdDsP2DRljGL33YXt9qzMPL9jepeRNILJVmszx_XPp0NtJBfD_qB0DyFEIHDhfoYgdT0hKrRZ_8Co/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360885094126486658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR-HuiL60ePd9t65ppQr2PcD02rfyVNNorrjhdjOMthuceIy-PZ6o7PHqRQNSrgOMdDsP2DRljGL33YXt9qzMPL9jepeRNILJVmszx_XPp0NtJBfD_qB0DyFEIHDhfoYgdT0hKrRZ_8Co/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-35314928405388233772009-07-11T13:58:00.006-04:002009-07-21T08:40:20.485-04:00The Great Cousinly Quilt AdventureWhen last we left our two intrepid cousinly quilters, they were feverishly piecing quilt blocks in hopes of finishing said quilt in time for the arrival of baby Andrews. Today, we pick up our tale...<br /><br />The blocks are pieced, the sides are assembled, and the quilt is quilted!<br /><br />Here is Kris's side, all blues and greens and perfect triangle points. Please note the high-tech quilt stand (Bruce).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvyo4IRhnwDTXwFiti5N2a_VuxWfaYJfxUq6JpRXBlDDWPaX6Q8V4DJ8gx1AzYGP52ebIZc3YOgpqC5eT5Ezti6FmfMUGAlE9lcSHUkyX7NOxhIyCASJ7HiW2yONF6zP03bRKKKKd9H8/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357265436634262930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvyo4IRhnwDTXwFiti5N2a_VuxWfaYJfxUq6JpRXBlDDWPaX6Q8V4DJ8gx1AzYGP52ebIZc3YOgpqC5eT5Ezti6FmfMUGAlE9lcSHUkyX7NOxhIyCASJ7HiW2yONF6zP03bRKKKKd9H8/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And here is Tobi's side, all yellows and oranges and limes, and not a right angle to be found.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZZBcs5gaPz8slQFdZ0-CGBiicMV07dd-qXt9X8NxLkBEoqnKrrj9k9p2Ls63XZ5MUnUIdc5vllcQlxFFfVS58CnE8pgdZI4985thCWIFAI6xgLoDLXrFbF0E1LfNDBUDln5MUvNFF3tl/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357265432187736946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZZBcs5gaPz8slQFdZ0-CGBiicMV07dd-qXt9X8NxLkBEoqnKrrj9k9p2Ls63XZ5MUnUIdc5vllcQlxFFfVS58CnE8pgdZI4985thCWIFAI6xgLoDLXrFbF0E1LfNDBUDln5MUvNFF3tl/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kris's blocks with quilting: </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357265446074831026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSGiyuqWT5ASsJXUmpYkja0OTv4jzcduaiNYHXVbaOXqddMU_cT4BUIfaOKuQXpZt7v3MjVwmz2fIKuBqdSs48c5JlhIzXcLib1BGchLf3-q-oiThMSw0k-eO3vgV8W8tY_FM6o1ShKPj/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" />Tobi's blocks with quilting: </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357265445304986962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTBhcXcJjV-QTEhnvwb5p7rzc-by4t_NW0j6kRQLQ1yzhcNvO2NUy0ICQaB8a1wOFwL6f8RwSE2mg0Ed87WCgtE5C6p9CzJU5oyeZSne1Un1a8mobqrcwcjoI2qFo64BOEVf0EpMkTUfq/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Next up - the binding, and hand finishing, and we're done!</div></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-10215781367306672302009-06-06T09:08:00.008-04:002010-10-31T09:49:28.638-04:00The Annual Glass Class with CaitlinFor the past 4 or 5 years, Caitlin, my eldest godchild, and I have celebrated her birthday by taking a lampworking class together. We really enjoy <a href="http://www.stephaniemaddalenaglass.com/">Stephanie's</a> classes, and we've followed her to a couple different venues. We like the set up at <a href="http://www.hudsonbeachglass.com/news.html">Hudson Beach Glass </a>best of all the places we've been. The 2-day format gives us 10 hours of torch time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here's my work station. Safety glasses, matches and shaping paddle in upper left. Torch, unlit, in the center. More shaping tools to the right of the torch. Glass rods to the right.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404313860190573202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtLUx8HlzssMy752xgdYwI8NVgsJWF_hWMnmtyJq2g3LqtGgiPKI7SQFB-c_dKlvfn8logHh4FKh6SIadXJe2qGL6LhuN8M1-iR6hvFcAyEO08cDyqQ7NjDt5XCkN4NFaX0RzuGV3gxpe/s320/DSC00881.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Stephanie doing a demonstration during class. Please ignore the "pooh" tshirt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404313865439427442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj7SwOXfz_IHcCOcg2S2Ws9UnWhq4sr_vCix2S041ItxPrclVYYfLkOzZBTGGo0dA4-VLYLtxCZs3cH16kHjj4Sgf8BVz-zYSbkHvbGGCQQUDu34txXUDpX4QYu1Rhk1e02rh7EvJMV3Y/s320/DSC00882.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Caitlin at the torch. She's using the shaping paddle to steady the mandrel while she works the glass in the torch.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404313870764878722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSgax3jhbV5yc8CPTG-VSsNuBQYv67mTKgUsyOPX9PEimdftGyE3OzFjX54o8L4-C5QlljOuTouwrNiDV_2RT6ayDKrkXwKnk0wj49Ig8R1OXDvc3P5HWpuRTwM5nWCRJaGclA4p3t1kT/s320/DSC00884.JPG" border="0" />Caitlin's finished beads at the end of the first day.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404313878027137442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY2SVZ6o2SQfTETiNJpp6oD8NZB-9fCTOq-d6TMamdGHPEWO8oLbu5KcVq2NQ5-HnPtyfH9IYabwRuRIJ7zSz3n9NQAdCGX7I0XpReuaLSYyJg4IePhc60JHgOV5ixhjEh8CZOCOknfO7/s320/DSC00888.JPG" border="0" />A really blurry picture of my beads at the end of the first day. The two beads in the foreground have jellyfish designs encased in clear glass. I really need a better photo of these. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404313881983300530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WZOO3FgWwdSUYfpxJAaC3l4hH8L7fHaRNyIHO68GUxRAtXkcbfAelCVHMilD0IGa1ToRO1ShkwhAGT0bY1YqWyXNcZsSc_tUkpF7bY91S597K587MfIUBr2GrekCG7vmwBmbiwDb3g8c/s320/DSC00890.JPG" border="0" /></p>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-67227593936418594172009-05-10T08:33:00.009-04:002009-05-10T09:27:42.319-04:00Advanced Improvisation with Denyse SchmidtYesterday, I spent the day in the Bridgeport, CT studios of Denyse Schmidt where she and her assistant Richard taught their new course in <a href="http://www.dsquilts.com/workshop_detail.asp?PageID=137">Advanced Improvisation.</a> Part retrospective of Denyse's quilting evolution, part design concepts, this was a low-key, hands-on, personal exploration of design. There were two participants besides myself, so the teacher-student ratio was exceptional, and the high point of the 5 hour session was having both Denyse and Richard pulling fabric and ping-ponging ideas with me at the design wall.<br /><br /><p>Here's where the day started:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334175025531341234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPxTJXdFbBc_T2IDiENgHe72uGbIdBqZGak7WSvq43o1Iqr73JW3nG1dbdvpttAy_nHytfwJiQ_zo_3zcOVBqB5qCtZ_R9pkRjL3FTmpGVv2VARtuNdFVyzoOnPMrCoHlYbny5mHNhDFx/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><br />Sketching potential design ideas: </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334175035334935554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmbjZDuiX-95Wi7I5z0B6qQC_RmrnuMdGx55jvNj3CgwChSGQwO5-xJsytzKI8dsccKmJf9szkj_ZPmfcHRAQoiPSN1NpvFKkcj6k0OlozxNAqrKYWfZWDGvRxu9Jmnu01F_KaorfO1I0/s320/DSC00827.JPG" border="0" /><br />First-pass fabric choices, pulled by Richard, with greens added by Denyse:</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AANSJwQmKGeA0gMMgidfIfGuMKxfSkMeFByUheMWikyZcGTQlxoHJRMZPGZNKYw5mzFyTwWTXvUuuL_qqDrr1H2Je6rrqhB41rg4Uzhnsm0zDAWFeMUFu9SDNZMJQPJ75UEwqkBuBzvY/s1600-h/DSC00830.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334175040180904066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AANSJwQmKGeA0gMMgidfIfGuMKxfSkMeFByUheMWikyZcGTQlxoHJRMZPGZNKYw5mzFyTwWTXvUuuL_qqDrr1H2Je6rrqhB41rg4Uzhnsm0zDAWFeMUFu9SDNZMJQPJ75UEwqkBuBzvY/s320/DSC00830.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Bringing in the berry colors:<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334175040816178594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYykHg87tY4K-2QqrYcOc-Z1akGMJsvmMIMhFAGQLP3rrVWqWfaBgNqcsqdpEHrE3byYT0UWDEPq6vaJMtKz0mgd4VFWALjy3Q9BkcHfrAr6wRNRTI9WyFcqUoQej7XUfnCb92HGf7pLs_/s320/DSC00831.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Ending up with a rugby-striped theme and the pieced blocks in stripes: <div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334176103523102866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZfPQGIwDgntMyZqJI7A-gZq1f3W2EdijRXS-UMvOzjZu3FhLxBlbHevS66qPqRme_ZTx3A4H4GxIHPDkPILZOlF9W6sgG-O98LUhkm45-tQZZE207SUC2PLUAVisRmuS29Wp6civwz_X/s320/DSC00832.JPG" border="0" /> Denyse in action with another student's blocks:<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334176107784552114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJfUwTBR97Bu9LmZER9W1PtSsyAm-lz8KVxlWKkSu1VxaMXRnEE0w4FvRfIXMfOduToZaxYb9_3yBy0Rrd8SN4ORYIzOJ-MdBuW1acToyKF35s9hVFxypwqCO3Q40NjLV8P6fb4N417zf/s320/DSC00834.JPG" border="0" /></div><br />Denyse and Richard have a similar asethetic, but different approaches and they play well off each other. It was an interesting and engaging day, and I finished the day in a completely different place from where I started, and landed in an unexpected place, with an unexpected palette, and an unexpected layout. And, pretty much, that was the point.Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-16316486669839107572009-05-10T08:02:00.012-04:002009-05-10T08:31:48.476-04:00The Great Cousinly Quilt Project<div align="left">On Bruce's side of our family, there are 6 cousins. All but one are boys. Bruce was the first of the cousins to tie the knot (to me, obviously), making me the first "Mrs. Andrews" of this generation. The second "Mrs. Andrews" is Kris who is married to Chris. Kris is a professional embroiderer and quilter, and is one of the artists working on the Plimouth Plantation project of recreating a 17th century embroidered jacket. <a href="http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/">It's quite an interesting project</a>. The third "Mrs. Andrews" is Esther who is married to Steven. Steve and Esther are expecting their first child, who will also be the first baby born into the Andrews family in about 30 years.<br /><br />Kris and I have been looking for a project to work on together - and we've decided to do a baby quilt for Steve & Esther. Kris will make one side, I'll make the other, while swapping fabrics so that some of each ends up on both sides of the quilt. Here's how things are progressing so far:<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334168663505675714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqHijCPyqrBBllR1U8TPF2jthqWRCt3_OrA36SVRU-FLzYWhhxsbRFhf88mtxakGSm4PaRAJHuIoVeGC1MNokCW-fL41SJvatZj3Nhx29xEnc_tzUz4LbfNg-W-8B_saJ90GenDRD45NC/s320/AndrewsBabyQuilt003.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Kris's perfect star with my Denyse-Schmidt-esque quasi-log cabin piecing. </p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334168670632486834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgazYN2D-FNXoOVIZmdbVr_fFWxfWnUByskzd-1uOuXPyOkznCAf_wiod0zAMcRqPhF2r5M4sjAvoDQjfeT6oiDdF7w_OI2r__tCxWg0hxegu46arDa84kE6mi5gghp1u0yusfuTtlhIf/s320/AndrewsBabyQuilt002.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Concept blocks with fabric palette.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334168674359608242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHEG_FjFYeA24oFvjoqMIZt4z4wAWYgg03FsLnlC-nW6Xz4Epsr6_vq7Uu80SzyPbmBPHwjjsUOtVwVygxcGhaePE-Hc8Tjw-QkvHgbnlZso_h91GvhUQvUPcR7ZVhBa22uVblknf1-9_/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center">Blocks in progress. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334168678799615042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qip9Te10HvgHLZx3KhdRwXdusOT9Utqb_TJv7WuxT7XQ7jM98740QNhbXLzWbyEi6OdpShw5HPjsw4GqzVl5q0-vrkBfovcmn2Eda3ofA0J3vItfpUKBmssHPoyZTid_U0q1Hv7J4-rz/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Blocks on the wall.</div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br />More to come...the baby is due in July.Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-53210869920610193872009-03-01T07:21:00.000-05:002009-03-01T07:21:39.137-05:00Lampworked LumpsSeveral years ago, when my eldest godchild, Caitlin, was thinking about pursuing an art career, I made the offer of a lampworking class together as a birthday gift. Although she is pursuing other career aspirations, the annual lampworking class tradition continues and we both enjoy these weekend workshops over the torch. This will be our 5th year - and we're both looking forward to it. We take our classes with <a href="http://www.stephaniemaddalenaglass.com/index.html">Stephanie Maddelena</a> who teaches in lots of places, but we really like the set up at <a href="http://www.hudsonbeachglass.com/">Hudson Beach Glass</a>.<br /><br />Lampworking, however, is a lot harder than I ever imagined. Here's Caits, hard at work at one of our early sessions.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305724870336775266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCoa4Jf1ScEUsUs19Zp3v_aTSnBAhu7APNVhnRxjCBC4UH04KHHI19899kpzyPUVP7WNmfnJFchzcWtvmF4VgJkeoO1m333ePZG21NUvKK1SJoJBLOuU2cnX5Ldf7H12My1cJWFYSx8qo/s320/P2180018.JPG" border="0" />The thing about working with glass is that it's hot. And pretty frickin unpredictable. And you can't use your hands to shape it, except with other tools. So getting things round, square, even, flat, symmetrical, etc is really, really hard. Hence, the lumps. The other thing about glass is that when it's hot, it's orange. So you really don't have a good idea of what color you're going to end up with (although the color rod you start with is a pretty good indicator), especially since some colors react with other colors, and some colors change depending on the temperature of your flame. So after all the classes we've taken, I can say with some assurance, that I'm pretty good at creating lumps of various colors. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305724876507497490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0dn2cgPssPXOWxYuBdkuxpMMIk1LRARGpNq5832iugesll2CE6swXW15M8sGiUnCPcc6Hdlcl3AOPGd5MaWtlhyqdGJTvX2WIx6cty6_SAZqn2eKi0kz5cEtMaHRD9pHordRj40j9YVj/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" border="0" />Last year, I spent lots of time encasing beads, which means that you start with colors and then add clear glass on top of the colors to make it look like its underwater, or something. Notice that none of these are perfectly round, flat, square, cylindrical, or symmetrical in any way. But the colors are pretty. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305724875881883714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qTMZJrrQCD37BI4D-1IWN1BgmkFgw483IQOujGFPXR0BVr58eG5EGGUhV8jBq4i04Kx4rLdbbva-fBcdjLbNyMYESHWp_KY32wgO_Sa7j0zpE9OAPBFeLA0Yxl_U9SECI-NFaL3GRJzI/s320/CSC_0016.JPG" border="0" />The next step, which I am very, very far from mastering is to actually use these pretty colored lumps. This is my first unedited and very juvenile attempt at stringing. This necklace is too long, too heavy, and has terrible wirework, but I do like the combination of the silver findings, the various silver beads and bits, and the addition of some purchased small boring beads in the same palette as my lampworked beads.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305724882466413474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv68gcu8IfeDyjb4RxJbLmyDVDAxZ1RBikMGo7ISK0CIYon2N1EvbG2kteqxmJYaF9-L-ieQDy5_VE6RjOAoy-ippyNgShHK5-6Cm4qHXe7JC-klz4qVbOQOhlwQ6yD3G-fwmEa1JBff8/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br />To see some REAL work in this area, visit my sister's Etsy site, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6700691">Nancy's Ear Candy</a>. She actually knows what she's doing, whereas I'm just playing around.Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-49267112673313442512009-02-26T19:20:00.001-05:002009-02-26T19:21:57.914-05:00UFOsIt is unusual for me to start a project and not finish it. In the first place, I live in a little house with no storage space. In the second place, I usually get so excited about whatever the project is that I just have to finish it - even if I have to stay up all night. (That strategy sent me to the emergency room once with a needle through my finger from the sewing machine - but you get the idea - I was excited to get it done...)<br /><br />At the moment, however, I find myself with some UFOs (Unfinished Objects...). Here's the first.<br /><br /><strong>Summer House Wallpaper</strong><br />This palette and these fabrics are a far cry from my usual jubilant explosions of color. But each and every of these fabrics reminds me of the layers of faded flowery wallpaper in the 200 year old house in Maine where my family vacationed during my childhood summers. The blocks are cut, and as you can see, up on the design wall. All that's left is the sewing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoEhkO4fo1czGQ-gJcRvqndL2P8M9tvNi52WK68S_TSHW9T9q5m9i72jMEmSyol2o_3HDI-XjdEcDHRQeF2AUaBxRCfehxYiUe6YGRL0HP6ZnBAa_Tx-tSBub6hFbB7FlqhWZvoyx8gRs/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305741541015532642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoEhkO4fo1czGQ-gJcRvqndL2P8M9tvNi52WK68S_TSHW9T9q5m9i72jMEmSyol2o_3HDI-XjdEcDHRQeF2AUaBxRCfehxYiUe6YGRL0HP6ZnBAa_Tx-tSBub6hFbB7FlqhWZvoyx8gRs/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is my favorite fabric of the bunch - look at the kitchen things on the bottom block.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-t4srQDRnS7zL7HtePvnmxkTNmGeboFOo_-cJxj75HuyetIeOITKafQLti8w8xcUiPemchOuPMguxJD-67pxj0hrLttCVNfI75m0bQ69MWnfUqSFgE2VwD7yZ2Ho-sRyS0erjDuUxAK9/s1600-h/DSC_0011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305741537646430050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-t4srQDRnS7zL7HtePvnmxkTNmGeboFOo_-cJxj75HuyetIeOITKafQLti8w8xcUiPemchOuPMguxJD-67pxj0hrLttCVNfI75m0bQ69MWnfUqSFgE2VwD7yZ2Ho-sRyS0erjDuUxAK9/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" /></a> I'll likely stipple this quilt to give it an older feeling, and right now, I'm seeing it backed and bound with a solid pale sage fabric - but who knows how many times I'll change my mind between now and then.<br /><br /><strong>Orange Jacket</strong><br />My <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=170940&id=1184020018">sister</a> has the original orange jacket. I liked it so much I cut enough blocks for two but I haven't had time to assemble mine yet. </div><p></p><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmMcGYkDVrbzw_p_Ym_JW_Ib_1RpDURQ9nSbRh3aN7_6jjKLiQZJmWHF6w0nHgrYsEDrHmeCyfprPuZrabSjxxwCKNU-vbLSLxO1Qub99DJckatcVzS2-PxxCQG-Mn18STAa3euCP6mty/s1600-h/DSC_0008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305740620409647378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmMcGYkDVrbzw_p_Ym_JW_Ib_1RpDURQ9nSbRh3aN7_6jjKLiQZJmWHF6w0nHgrYsEDrHmeCyfprPuZrabSjxxwCKNU-vbLSLxO1Qub99DJckatcVzS2-PxxCQG-Mn18STAa3euCP6mty/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>The Wool Quilt</strong></div><div><br /><div>This is what happens when you mistakenly felt your favorite sweater without meaning to. The centers of each of these blocks started life as a sweater. A handknit-by-me-with-expensive-yarn sweater. And boy, was I cranky when it came out of the dryer.<br /><br />However, at about the same time, I acquired a box of solid wool fabrics. And my fabric stash had a ton of plaid flannels. So this is what happened when it all came together. Except it isn't done - this is only half of this quilt. When I get this top pieced, I'm going to have to hire someone to quilt it for me because no joke, it will weigh about 8 pounds. It's really, really, really heavy. And once we put it on the bed we will 1. never get out from under it and 2. always know where the cat is.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAxiCA1na3_4hzQstd_itfwBlSd_Et0_Yg7CyMJXWe_jsRvsTQh8LgR9SXrnZmLSgYYR1njHgLRbmHGBGU-hCAQZHMHfb_Bspdy6uvQ5dTFU6DoKPQc6VJYiMKWVJimPaqx0bX217GVsc/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305740112836486226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAxiCA1na3_4hzQstd_itfwBlSd_Et0_Yg7CyMJXWe_jsRvsTQh8LgR9SXrnZmLSgYYR1njHgLRbmHGBGU-hCAQZHMHfb_Bspdy6uvQ5dTFU6DoKPQc6VJYiMKWVJimPaqx0bX217GVsc/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-10258694116836778002009-02-25T20:17:00.018-05:002009-02-25T20:59:23.503-05:00Why I'm not ready for spring, and knitting is a good thingTwo years ago, I made a New Years Resolution to try things I never did before. Skiing was on the list. I really did want to try, but I never expected to actually like it. I don’t like to be cold, and I really don’t like to fall down, and skiing involves both. I knew Bruce wanted to snowboard, and I figured that I could go with him, take a skiing lesson, say I’d tried it and then make excuses to do something else when he wanted to go off and snowboard. A win-win situation – he could snowboard, and I could be warm and unscathed.<br /><br />I’m not going to bore you with any smarmy descriptions about the feeling of freedom, or the wind rushing past, or the crisp clean first run on an untouched freshly groomed slope. But I’ve discovered that it’s fun. And hard. And it takes a lot of concentration. And if I concentrate, I can do it.<br /><br />We're on our third season as pass-holders at a little family-owned ski area 30 minutes from us. It’s small, but big enough to have a good ski school, a decent lodge, plenty of parking, and friendly employees. If we get up at 6, we can be the first ones on the lift in the morning. And we have been – every weekend since the first flakes hit the ground. I usually have the green slopes completely to myself for a lovely, untouched 20 minutes or so, before anyone else rides the chair lift at all. I even beat the ski patrol up the mountain on some mornings. Bruce disappears to the black slopes – the difficult runs – and shows up an hour or so later, sweaty and disheveled and grinning like the Cheshire cat.<br /><br />I’m no ball of fire, but I'm pretty good with my parallel turns and getting better at carving. My instructor commented at how much progress I’ve made like he was surprised. But I know the truth – and that is that I know how to practice. All those years of violin practice prepared me for skiing. A whole new world has opened for us – one that involves watching the weather, checking the ski reports, and a ski rack on the Subaru.<br /><br />This year, my New Year's Resolution was to ski a blue slope. And I have - checked that off the list two weeks ago during a 4 day expedition to Stratton. I enjoy knowing that, 3 years before age 50, I can ski an intermediate slope, grinning ear to ear.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306915857399727330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03QyQxCEWR87OP8mqmOCKy-UBHVRHgbHiKBdpXBOPXkBKY3TVROpd8TjdyIRDZjWPcQ4842NvaYPdGX35vB784NgoonoNllSRtC8FjOoWc41-QVqirXBWDD-7vcwSHVPNKPKCz86rVBuz/s320/Stratton2009.jpg" border="0" /> <p>Here we are on the summit at Stratton, just off from the gondola. Do I have the coolest ski jacket or what?<br /></p><br /><p>For the record, it's not that I don't like spring. Really, I do. Just not yet, ok? I'm not done with the ski season. If you're chilly, put on a nice warm sweater (if you can get it out from under the cat...)</p>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117578116831725077.post-3380214368658581622009-02-25T20:03:00.000-05:002009-02-25T20:03:39.531-05:00Knitting for the Gauge-ChallengedI have a love-hate relationship with knitting. I love yarn. I love the feeling of it, the colors, the texture and all things knitted. What I hate is measuring. And figuring out the rassafrassing gauge for knitting patterns drives me absolutely to distraction.<br /><br />Then I discovered Lopi yarn. Ahhhh. These are the big chunky yarns that icelandic knitters use in greys and browns to make the traditional icelandic knit sweaters. You know, <a href="http://www.handknit.is/en/user/cat/9">these.</a> This yarn is easy to work with, and that pesky gauge - easy peasy when it's 3 stitches to the inch. <div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But those earth tone colors are not for me. I've made this sweater several times. The pink is mine, the blue is Bruce's. And I have a yellow one that I'm thinking of passing on to my sister because the sleeves are too short for me... </div><div><br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCIsAt1MXQ4J2uz-vy1bzRNoPkpf8N6Op3jEgSaC7-WNB8KzA9Hc7tJroVTP9JmAzBL9QEKNQ1MATVx9KjV8BZbHXjT_qliCvgzQPBG8AJIhb11msQGBbwccp3eW1iBx6inUcAHwb9jsI/s1600-h/DSC_0002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305731275839542434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCIsAt1MXQ4J2uz-vy1bzRNoPkpf8N6Op3jEgSaC7-WNB8KzA9Hc7tJroVTP9JmAzBL9QEKNQ1MATVx9KjV8BZbHXjT_qliCvgzQPBG8AJIhb11msQGBbwccp3eW1iBx6inUcAHwb9jsI/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYULB7gB3A3Hv5tlqFSSN7kaja30Q7LJVRpy0XRkkzSnoH1DaJ0BmsCkxMKCpt5ZMB3VdmUkQv_k67Bm47ekXAwq1fZ2MiHd9TTdtKh7rQ6YEtp4lyNMNd8838xp4sKGzJXsZJZjuqLLs/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305731259897253858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYULB7gB3A3Hv5tlqFSSN7kaja30Q7LJVRpy0XRkkzSnoH1DaJ0BmsCkxMKCpt5ZMB3VdmUkQv_k67Bm47ekXAwq1fZ2MiHd9TTdtKh7rQ6YEtp4lyNMNd8838xp4sKGzJXsZJZjuqLLs/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>My current knitting project is to resolve an argument. You see, my mother made this wonderful tweed knit sweater for Bruce last year for Christmas. But it's too heavy to wear in the house, so whenever he takes it off and lays it down somewhere, this is what happens:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306904688764678226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVGjwdFLPaxKe5E0-pKAWjPq2G90WZDR1v9oQx_6TtU821yXHOb3pj9_zCBga_iQIwKd5ziho-W05x2lO3HMKqfz0DjQI2zQ_ef_wpYWMhkzYBBqChQLbtdw5pbrIEdpAQb5Lr-rcaVMu/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306904679275238258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt_53U8i1yPfDeWJVGiORM-LWO15bzXVwwe__JdOp1nSg7CogiF24-XE8Tb22uFAWQd9xq9H13wYUUklG_xljJLjMg4e4iE1A8obP3MiuhKcSq25nspxvIJ80OHtssVb_hbYAAF_2fkWD/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>Clearly, Jack needs his own "sweater" so that Bruce can have his back. So I'm using the leftover yarn from this one, and a few others, and making the cat his own blanket. Problem solved. </p></div>Tobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803150307553548456noreply@blogger.com0