'Tween Times

Well, most UFOs are still at a standstill: BOAF is STILL at the longarmer's, Hawaiian Snowballs, Scrappy Stars, and Chocolates & Cherries STILL await backing fabrics, Broken Dishes STILL longs for a cleared-off basting table (did I use the word "still" enough times in that sentence???) Sooo....alternate pursuits!

Bread Machine....Several years ago I received a very-much-coveted automatic bread machine. I used it furiously for a couple of years. Then the word came down about bad, bad CARBS. So it sat on top of the refrigerator for a lo-o-ong time. Well, recently I decided to live dangerously and resurrect it and dig for some recipes that may (or may not) be more "body friendly". I've started baking bread again and decided to make a fun little booklet out of recycled grocery bag to save the recipes with photos in that I will want to keep. Along with that I made a little lunchsack booklet to keep soup recipes in. Today I will try to find time to embellish them.

Tasha Tudor...About once a year I check this book out of the library. I adore reading about her lifestyle. I was always a fan of her children's book illustrations and find her to be a true inspiration. Looking at her antiques and collectibles, her gorgeous handdyed yarns, dipped candles, Nubian goats, amazing hens, lovely hand constructed clothing, quilts, linens---oh, I could go on and on about this book---is sheer eye candy. I should probably just purchase the thing, huh? Bead Love.... Digging out the beads and bead paraphenalia, I'm making some scissor fobs for the quilt show boutique. I really like to work with beads--guess it's the ole "hippie" leftover in me LOL!!! This post sounds like "What I Did on My Sewing Vacation" doncha think?

WIP and Whipped!

Well, for now, Blogger is playing nice! But I want you to know that I do have fingers, toes, legs, and eyes crossed! Thank you, Patty, Libby and Paula for your input on the photo situation. I haven't been doing anything different than usual but for some bizarre reason could not get photos to upload. I had a couple more but was not going to press my luck LOL! I am wondering if it makes a difference what time of day one tries to post pix. Seems that later in the day works better. I knew I was whipped this morning when, after about eleventy-twenty times, I was getting nowhere! Ah, well, at least the price is right for this service, huh! The Broken Dishes baby quilt and backing are ready to be sandwiched, pinned and machine quilted. I know, I know, Rocky should not be allowed on this quilt, but I will launder it after the quilting. And I am sure the recipient will wash it again. Rocky, being the alpha male and all, pretty much lays wherever he pleases! Now if I can just get DH to move all HIS tax stuff off MY long tables in the basement, I can get this basted. Well, I guess it is my tax stuff, too, come to think of it. The colors in the pieced backing look a little softer in real life. I think the lighting was not as good as it should have been. Maybe some day I'll get this photo/internet/blogging thing all figured out! But just in case, I'm keeping my fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed!!!

Crying Uncle

Anyone else having problems with New Blogger--or is it just my computer? Have been trying all morning to get pix to upload, even tried through Picasa. It just isn't happening. I keep getting the "The page cannot be displayed" message. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

Coloring Inside the Lines

Several of you left great comments on the post about the crayon quilt. I wanted to respond to those but ole' buddy Blogger is making that very challenging. Let's try again! First off, a couple of disclaimers: I am NOT an artist. I am NOT an expert on crayon quilts. Some of you wanted info on the highlighting and shading. I took a class several years ago from a local artist, Ann Dent, who gave us tips on this. She had us put the highlights in first because it is very difficult to later add light color to darker crayon. I usually use white ,yellowor other soft light color and just try to decide where the natural light would be shining. This is a b-i-g challenge for me so I usually just jump in feet first and start coloring!!! As for the shadowing, she had us use violets or umbers or other dark tones--never black--and spread the shading colors where it should naturally occur--again, big challenge for moi! The rest of the coloring would be a blend of crayons. After each coloring, the piece would be ironed with a clean paper towel on top of it. With each buildup of crayon and follow-up ironing, you begin to see the crayon become one with the fabric. Some of her other tips included peeling the paper completely off the crayons and using the long flat side to color, never the point. Pay attention to color value. Use plastic-tak to remove crayon crumbs as you work. After the final ironing, you can add a sketchy outline with pigma pen or embroider an outline with floss or leave it plain. I like some type of outline as it helps to define. Other embellishments can be added also. It is easy to find patterns--coloring books, redwork books, applique patterns--or be brave and draw your own!

The first photo is of Flags and Flowers that I did in Ann's class. Still need to figure out what to do with them LOL! Second photo is a crayon pillow I did before the class. It is just flat coloring, but I like it because it is very reminiscent of the 30s, a heyday for crayon quilts. I will have to load the finished Bo Peep later as Blogger has had enough for now!!! I hope you'll take a stab at crayon quilting. It will soothe your inner child!

Don't miss Tonya's beautiful post about Egyptian weavers and a most lovely quote on creativity. The quote went immediately into my book of favorite quotes. Go be creative!

What the?????

I have tried several times this morning to load pictures and a post. First I could get the pictures on and wrote a lengthy post responding to comments about the crayon quilt. Tried to publish it and whoosh--off to never never land! And, yup, you guessed it, I had not saved it as a draft. Next time I tried, I did save the post as a draft but it too has disappeared. Now Blogger won't let me upload photos. AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! I thought all this was behind us when we switched to New Blogger. Well, just venting. Will try later today to post.