Teacups for a summer party

IMG_3833, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

Sometimes it's great fun to get together with the important women in your life to enjoy summer. I was dusting (hard to believe, I know!) my china cupboard and realized that I haven't used any of my special cups lately. This cup was our grandma's-she had a great collection of china cups and saucers. We've shared some of them among the grand-daughters. This is one of my favorites.

I was talking with our little sister this weekend and we think we should start getting together one afternoon a month to talk about crafting and whatever else we think of. I think when we set that date I am going to pull out some of Grandma's china. It will make the gathering just a little more special.

What do you do to make a craft gathering special?

Visits with friends

IMG_3812, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

We got together last night with a friend who lives in WA. She is a brilliant watercolor artist. Our little sister couldn't join us but sent along a couple of her fabric collages for show and tell. her work is delightful! the conversation jumped from topic to topic-fabric, gesso. How much water to use as a base for watercolor. Plus the sharing of updates about kids, grandkids, and live. Thanks Julie!

Pale golden rose

IMG_4473, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

I want to find fabrics that give me the feeling that these flowers do. The pale golden rose has to be central but the coral of the begonias makes it pop. Guess I should print off this picture and take it with me this week when I go fabric shopping. The colors make me feel calm-maybe it's just that I'd like a nap this afternoon?

What colors are inspring you from your garden?

Brights!

Coaster designs 9, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

Still get caught up in these fabrics. I think it is the hot pink and chocolate. I went from buying a charm pack to a jelly roll to the 10" squares. What fun.

What charm packs have been so great they pulled you on to more yardage? Tell all!!

Lighthouse Walk 2011

IMG_4706, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

We spent a lovely weekend in Door County exploring one of the lighthouses there. Taking 2 ferry rides, we spent most of the day wandering around Rock Island. We enjoyed exploring the Potawatomie Lighthouse and the old boathouse that sits waiting for visitors.

In honor of the visit, I used one of our nautical motifs to commemorate the 3rd year of Lighthouse Walking with our friends. Now I need to finish my own pillow!!

LIghthouse design

IMG_4706, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

We've had this little lighthouse design sitting with some other nautical motifs in our book of 7 day of the week designs. It was just perfect to use for a small pillow.

This is the third year in a row that we have joined friends for a weekend in Door County Wisconsin to tour the lighthouses. I couldn't resist making this surprize for them when I found lighthouse fabric at a quilt shop. Easy and simple to assemble-it is the perfect gift to commemorate 3 years of good times!

New beginnings

IMG_4512, a photo by janellcl on Flickr.

The shift from spring to summer means change to me-putting away the heavy quilts. Bringing out the chenille bedspread. Taking down the heavy curtains and replacing them with light, translucent floral sheers. And, at the same time, so much stays the same.

Still working on shifting our patterns over to a new digital e-pattern company. Check out the great site http://www.patternspot.com/. We have 10 patterns available for download there right now. We plan to move over many of our other patterns as soon as we can make the conversion. There are some other great pattern companies represented there too!