happy thanksgiving!

Whether you celebrate a tradition Thanksgiving Day or just a typical Thursday...may you enjoy an abundance of comfort, love, and laughter this day....

I hurriedly snapped this picture -- exactly one month ago today -- of pheasants out in our front yard. Today? We have snow and ice covered ground and the pheasants are quite likely under cover in the tall grasses that are in the distance in this photo.

God paints a beautiful picture, doesn't He!

as cute as a button

Don't you agree?

Allow me to introduce to you: Little Diesel. He is what I've been doing for the past 10 days. Pup sitting for my son and his girlfriend.

My, am I ever thankful that I finished most of my Christmas machine quilting deadlines early!



He's a handful...but I love him to pieces!

Oh...and please forgive my lack of photog skills. Little D is always on the move...and that movement is nothing less than fast and full speed ahead!



Look at that expression! Doesn't he just warm your heart?

don't water the flowers!

You don't read those directions very often, do you!



Isn't this sampler quilt just sweet! I love the mix of applique with pieced blocks. That always seems to catch my eyes.

And the color scheme. Grand, isn't it!



This quilt was created by Lynda D., a client of mine from the western area of North Dakota. I machine stitched a variety of textures...all freehand...throughout the quilt.

Lynda and I spoke on the phone a few times, regarding this sampler. And what did I find out during our conversations? She thinks of herself as a novice! Lynda has pretty superb skills, if you ask me!



She is definitely a master of this garden!

being framed

I am totally smitten with simple quilts, containing simple lines, created from absolutely delightful fabric! Oh...and let's not forget the most fabulous color scheme -- one of the most fabulous, anyway...in my opinion -- on trend these days: Turquoise and brown.

***Hmmm...note to self: You have turquoise and brown yarn, don't you? Let's get the hooks out and start crocheting, you!

My good friend and machine quilting client, Julee H., pieced this quilt as a gift for a special little youngster. I machine quilted it with my edge-to-edge Swirls...and used a variegated thread. That too, in yummy, hot chocolately shades of cream and brown.



What color scheme are you infatuated with these days?

they all felt just great!

Or at least...that's what I concluded from all of their comments!

I feel that I can safely say that we all had a wonderful morning, needle felting at the Putnam House!

Laughter...creativity...and the gentle sound of needle felting filled our classroom.

Pictured below, left to right are: Corean, Jan, and Val.



And here, in the pink is Pat...and Linda in the gold.



In the following photo are the two ladies that have been hidden by the lamps in the previous photos. From left to right, you find Brenda...and Rosemary...and Corean (pictured in the first photo as well).



There they are...all seven talented ladies!



Each one of them carried home a finished needle felted project! And hopefully a day's worth of inspiration and smiles.

I know that I certainly did!

it's new! it's true!

Big announcement everyone!

Yours truly is truly an Etsy Shop Owner!

Check it out...over in my right sidebar! Please visit my October's Child Etsy Shop!

Oh...can you tell...I'm excited!?!

I will be adding more things, so please stay tuned!

making house calls

What a fun day I experienced this past Saturday, during my Trunk Show and Needle Felting Class at the historic Putnam House!



To be honest...these photos were actually taken on Friday, as I had the House to myself to set up my wares.

Both Friday and Saturday were gorgeous Autumn days though...with beautiful sunlight streaming in through the Putnam House windows. I couldn't have asked for more!



My sincere "thanks" to those who stopped in to browse my trunk show. Your feedback was inspiring!



And to Alison and the Foster County Historical Society: "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"

(Stay tuned for more photos of our Needle Felting Class.)

sweater weather

"Sweater weather." Say that out loud...fast...five times.

Oh come on....

You have to! Please?

See...I knew that you would!



It is definitely sweater weather here in North Dakota...no matter how many times you can say it without getting your tongue tied in a knot. And I love it! Sans the snow!

Oh...but you don't always have to wear a sweater. No no no. How about a sweater handbag?

Now...I have to admit. This may not be your everyday-sort-of run-of-the-mill handbag. Maybe you'll just save your sweater handbag for certain occasions.

Like going shopping...when you only need your wallet...perhaps a cellular phone...maybe some lip balm. Oh...and a little bundle of tissues. It is tissue weather, as well!



I created this sweater handbag from a wool sweater that I purchased from one of my favorite second hand stores.

***Ooh...note to self: Second-hand-store-wool-sweater-shopping weather is in full swing!



So how 'bout it? Do you have any wool sweaters in your closet that you may need to re-purpose into a one-of-a-kind handbag?

the simple things in life

A hot cuppa coffee in the morning. Chats with friends near and far, via this wonderful technical highway. Homemade soup for lunch...simmering in the crock pot.

Simple things. All of these and oh-so many more that will, for now, just go unmentioned. But in this month of Thanksgiving for us Americans...I am in a state of reflection and gratefulness....



This quilt may be noted as being simple. But no quilt is ever easy. There's a difference, don't you agree?

It has simple lines. Mostly solid or at least solid-reading fabrics. Simple quilting. And in my opinion, all of these factor into it being a scrumptious quilt!

Ah...but it is not mine to take credit for. Okay. I will gladly take credit for the machine quilting: Swirls in the body of the quilt...and piano keys in the outer borders.

This quilt was pieced by and belongs to my client, Bonnie N. And if I remember correctly, Bonnie was going to give this quilt to a special someone for a gift. How nice!



What simple gifts are you thankful for?

what light through yonder window breaks

It is the east....

And lo and behold, the sun has not forgotten North Dakota after all! Another day of welcomed sunshine!



Magnificent looking quilt, isn't it! Allow me to introduce to you: "Shakespeare in the Park." The pattern comes from Judy Martin...but the talent behind this particular quilt is my client, Julie W. from California.

Sunny. California.

Look at all of those red fabrics that Julie collected for this quilt! And the creams and beiges and off-whites just make the reds sparkle that much more, don't you agree?

Julie and I both agreed that the Swirls edge-to-edge quilting pattern would be perfect for her "Shakespeare." And together, we found the perfect variegated thread. We had a lot of fun, chatting back and forth about this quilt! Gotta love today's technology!



Do you ever wonder...where Shakespeare's career would have gone with a laptop computer to click away with his thoughts and words? Or a Blackberry? And what about Romeo and Juliet and their feuding families?

We shall never know.

feel...felt...felted?

Needle felted, that is!

Have you tried dry wool needle felting for yourself? No? Then I have the perfect day of hands-on learning planned for you!

Please join me at the Putnam House in Carrington, North Dakota...this Saturday! Alison -- the Putnam House Coordinator -- has scheduled two separate class times for your convenience.

The first class begins at 9 a.m. And the second class begins at 1 p.m. During the lunch hour, you can come visit the Putnam House and browse through my trunk show of wool items. Oh yes...and I have some cotton and a few acrylic items, as well. I am quite smitten with wool though, I must admit!

You will have the opportunity to choose in needle felting and creating a personal Cell Phone Pouch; a Business Card Keeper; or an Eye Glass Case. I will be supplying all of the needed tools and materials for you to create your piece. All that you have to do is have fun!

The following photo shows one red and one grey Eye Glass Case...and one black Business Card Keeper. Depending on the size of your cell phone...the personal Cell Phone Pouch will be constructed much like the Business Card Keeper.



And you remembered that I mentioned the trunk show? The following photos are just a taste of what you will see, displayed in the beautiful, historic Putnam House.

Bangles.... Some plain...some needle felted.



Felted wool bowls....



Re-purposed wool sweater handbags....



Well...I'm off to create some more things with wool. See you Saturday!