Wednesday, March 31, 2010

It's an Interior Thing - How to use a quilt :)

We have a couch that is badly in need of refinishing. At the moment it has a large candlewick bedspread draped over it. On occasion I've had conversations with people about using old quilts but somehow I cannot quite bring myself to do that. The above couch can be found somewhere in Michigan. I love the colors. I think they did an excellent job of matching the quilt design to the style of seating.

Scots Corner - Fife Folk Museum

It's getting to that time of year when many of the seasonal museums are opening. Such is the case with the Fife Folk Museum located in Ceres near St.Andrews. It opens on April 1st. It's an interesting collection of buildings and celebrates the lives and times of the rural working folk of the Kingdom of Fife. There are lots of collections to look at (crafts/needlework, inside the home, clothing, transport, agriculture etc.) which were gathered from all over Fife.  http://www.fifefolkmuseum.org/content/ The photograph is from their site.
Walk round Ceres afterwards or visit nearby St. Andrews for some more history and a blast of good sea air :)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Blog of the Week - Georgianna Lane

I'm having issues with my internet today so while I have a brief moment of activity my blog inspiration for this week is the wonderful photographer Georgianna Lane http://georgiannalane.blogspot.com/  She is currently sharing beautiful photographs of spring inspired flowers. Gorgeous and delicate.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Project update - Spring "quiltie" exchange

This is all you get to see till the recipient receives it some time in April :) After that I will share with you what is going in the pocket.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Local Life - Batman

Not quite but we have a local landmark nicknamed "the batman building" because of the shape of the roofline. Real name the AT&T Building - yep our local phone company. Tis currently the tallest building in Nashville (617ft.), some say also Tennessee, and when you are driving south into the city it's about the first part of the skyline you see. In 2009 "Le Journal de Net" named "the batman" one of the 12 most original office buildings in the world. It definitely adds drama to Nashville's night-time skyline. Daytime it towers over all the downtown historic buildings and changes color from grey-ish blue to bright blue depending upon the weather.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

It's an Interior Thing - Easter decorating

Easter is almost upon us. Yikes where did the time go !!!! I'm not sure when or where the "tradition" of decorating in pastels for Easter began but Torie Jayne is well organized and has some gorgeous ideas going on at her blog. http://toriejayne.blogspot.com/ She picked a specific palette and is running with it. Being a fashion designer she has a good sense for color AND detail so enjoy her projects and maybe try some of them yourself.
Yesterday I found a lot of small rods on deeeeeep discount for 50c each. I bought them all and now can hang my small quilts up round the house. My spring/easter ones are first in line :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Scots Corner - The Smith Art Gallery & Museum

My hometown of Stirling has a small, what I would call intimate, art gallery & museum. It's actually quite good and free to visit. There is an interesting permanent exhibition "The Stirling Story" that is worth taking the time to see along with their rotating special collections.
There are two very rare items in the collection and they are believed to be the oldest of their kind in the world - a curling stone from @1511 which draws many an avid curler, and......... drum roll please, showing in the photograph a leather football from @1540. It's been touring but is currently home for a spell.
The gallery itself was opened in 1874 and at that time was known as the Smith Institute. It has a wee lecture hall that I had the good fortune to attend a meeting at about the history of policemen.
If you get to feeling a wee bit peckish or thirsty then try out the cafe.
I like their shop :) I had to hold on fast to my purse or every penny would have been spent !!!!!! What can I say I looooove postcards and also collect genealogy/local history information.
Don't forget to say "Hi" to Hamish.
http://www.smithartgallery.demon.co.uk/

Monday, March 22, 2010

Blog of the Week - Contemporary Realism

Jacqueline Gnott is a watercolor artist currently residing in South Bend Indiana. She shares her daily activity at http://jacquelinegnott.blogspot.com/. Her work is lovely and I highly recommend taking some time to scroll through her paintings.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Local Life - Land Between the Lakes

Greetings people, Sleeping Beauty has arisen. I thought my migraines had petered out but nooooooo.

Ever since we moved to Tennessee one of the areas thats been on our "places we have to visit" list is Land Between the Lakes. This scenic and historic area is located about 2 hours North-ish of us.
We have friends that have lived near there and friends that have vacationed there and many that have travelled through. All are in agreement that it's an interesting place to visit. So this evening I brightened my brain a bit by looking at pictures and ooohing and aahing :) (copyrighted so don't feel inclined to "borrow")
Oh joy they have a blog http://www.landbetweenthelakes.blogspot.com/ but their main site is http://www.lbl.org/
If you are of the extreme sporting type nature a triathlon is being held on 23rd. May. Mmmmm, I think my kids are on summer break by then. Maybe we will take our camping chairs, blankets and hot chocolate and go watch :)
One of the "local"quilting capitals is not too far away ........ Paducah. Now there's an interesting town to visit. THE quilt show is happening 21-24 April and is being held in 3 or 4 locations.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Postcard Pizzazz - Spring Quiltie Exchange

Some of us are participating in this fun 10"x10" spring themed exchange. So far I have my basic bird done. The wing is a pocket and is going to hold .............. that's a surprise :) I have some flowers to cut out and applique round the bird. DD #3 took lots of inspiration photographs at Home Depot yesterday!
A while back I promised a tutorial for the wall hanging I am working on for our front living room. The photographs are lousy, due to bad lighting, so I will have to redo them :(

An Interior Design moment of a different kind

AMAZING is all I can say. When you visit the blog you will understand why :)
http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Scots Corner - Going Green

I was going to do an homage to St. Patrick since we Scots are related to the Irish somewhere back in time but this one is FABULOUS. http://abritintn.blogspot.com/2010/03/bit-o-blarney.html

Monday, March 15, 2010

Blog Hop - Happy 101 Award

So many fabulous blogs that I love visiting and get inspired by on a regular basis. So hard to pick out just 10 ! Hope you enjoy visiting them all.
1. Natural Scotland http://natural-scotland.blogspot.com/
2. Into My Own http://beneaththewater.blogspot.com/
3. Farmgirl Fare www.foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/
4. Mias Landliv miaslandliv.blogspot.com/
5. Sunrise Quilt Studios http://sunrisequiltstudio.blogspot.com/
6. Nikki Wheeler http://nikkiwheeler.blogspot.com/
7. Pam de Groot http://pamdegroot.blogspot.com/
8. One of a Kind Fiber Arts http://shirl-oneofakindfiberarts.blogspot.com/
9. Quilt Obsession http://quiltobsession.wordpress.com/
10. Tatyana www.vechernie-posidelki.blogspot.com/

Spring flowers are working their way up through the soil in my little corner of the world. My daffodils will be looking like this soon.  Enjoy :)

Friday, March 12, 2010

Happy 101 Award

The delightfully named January Asia at http://caffeinatedglobe.blogspot.com/2010/03/happy-101-award-bestowed-on-caffeinated.html bestowed this award on some of us because she liked our photography. I'll share more on Monday.
10 things that make me happy/thankful.
1. my family
2. the Nashville Temple
3. interacting with other genealogists/family historians
4. the world of blogging and all the wonderfully talented people out there
5. mentoring
6. peanut butter and banana sandwiches
7. the changing of the seasons
8. visiting Britain
9. sunrises/sunsets
19. emerging flowers and plants

Siggie block update

I'm in the process of putting the first border round the blocks. Some are complete, some are half way done. I need to cut some more strips. I'm using a mottled burgundy that is a lot redder than the picture shows.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Local Life - Cumberland Valley Quilters Association

I unlocked the Family History Center this morning and walked through the gymnasium to the ladies room :) Who should I find setting up but some members of the Cumberland Valley Quilters Association. They are currently making quilts for Haiti. Darn it I don't have my camera with me because the ones already on display are GORGEOUS.
This is a group I have been wanting to visit for a while. They normally meet down the street and round the corner from the Franklin FHC on the1st. Tuesday of every month at The First Presbyterian Church, 101 Legends Club Lane, Franklin at 9.30 a.m.
http://www.cvqa.com/
The ladies participate in Quilts of Valor and have a quilt challenge on the go.

An update - By the time I left the building this afternoon there was a goodly number of large quilt tops hanging on the walls. Looked like a jungle theme in there and the simple designs showcased the fabrics (from Kentucky) very well:)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Mini Quilt Swap- Winter time

This is what I sent out. I deliberately kept the design simple because I wanted to experiment with the binding. Three 21/2'' strips sewn together then hand pleated on both sides.
The pins were spaced 1" apart then folded almost in half to create the pleats. I eyeballed most of it because I did not want the pleats to be exactly the same width.
Doing one side creates a natural curve. I machine basted the folds down 1/8" from the edge then went through the same process on the other side. Two edges sewn together 1/4" then the piece was attached to the right side and sewn in place. Turned and hand sewn in place on the back 1/4" seam.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010

Blog of the week - Mary Lou and Cherries Too

I'm in the mood for something fun and funky so here you go http://marylouweidman.blogspot.com/ She does some really fun theme quilting that is guaranteed to make you smile :) Scroll down the page and check out the camel .... and the chair ...... and the snowmen ....... and the mouse ..... and so on and so forth !!!! Mary Lou's grand daughter is turning into quite the little artist also :) Have fun y'all.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Melkesjokolade - Winter Time mini-quilt swap

I got a package from Norway last night - land of my husband's paternal ancestors:) Inside was a lovely star wall hanging made by Anne http://quiltefia.blogspot.com She also included a make-up bag that she made, a lovely postcard and some Melkesjokolade (milk chocolate).
The front looks like a starry night and is hand stitched. Anne said that the binding represents the sun and the back is the promise of spring to come. Thanks Anne, everything is lovely.
I am waiting for some fabric to dry so I can finish the binding for my wall hanging then it will head off to it's recipient.