Luminaries

Hi Mary and Jeni,

Bunny night lights

I have been making luminaries again.  I kept freezing the balloon ones solid so I have some that are just ice balls.  I could have candles in 4 of them but it was so windy it took 4 tries to get the round one lit so I stopped trying.
It has been great luminary weather for several weeks now.  I went out to peek at them tonight and saw something moving in front of the lower light.  I looked harder and recognized bunny ears.  I went for my camera and when I got back the bunny had come up the stairs and was eating the bird seed that I payed a lot of money for.  (Niger Thistle Seed)  Oh well.  I like bunnies and at least it wasn't a skunk or, more likely, a squirrel.
Hugs,
Nancy

A cold winter day in pictures

Hi Mary and Jeni,

We are having our first real cold snap of the season today.  I went out to refill 

some of the bird feeders and took a few pictures.  

A gift from Loretta, who knows I love to feed the birds.  Common Redpoll.

A garden bunny in the shade of the house.

My 6 arm bird feeder stand and the ground feeder.  The
ground feeder was made by a woodworker named Walter Isaacson who used
to show at the Southtown Mall craft fairs.  It is over 10 years old
and still as sturdy as the first day I used it.

Closeup of the feeders with a Hairy Woodpecker and some Common Redpolls

The edge of the garden and the woods with snow.  There are  three deer lurking
in the undergrowth but they blend in so well I can't see them and I know where
they were.

 And now for something completely different....

For a little contrast, The garden in July 2014

Hugs,
Nancy

Cardinal quilt. Quilting again

Cardinals in Winter

Hi there Mary and Jeni,

I have been collecting fabic for a winter Harmonic Convergence quilt for about 9 months. 

The last piece was the dark snowflake pattern fabric.  I think I will quilt it with tall tree like lines. The way to create the 1/4 inch border was taught to me by Maxine Rosenthal many years ago.  I love making it.  

Detail of the bottom right side showing the tiny red inner border.

Henry with batting

Yes,  I killed the batting.  But that is OK.  She has plenty more.

It was at the bottom of the bag.  I just dug through all that other stuff to get it.
 If you didn't want me to get it why did you leave it out in plain sight?
I'm Sorry.  I will never do it again...today.

Pincushions, I can't stop making them

But what do I do with them all?

My favorite right now is the one in the covered tulip vase that I bought in Missoula while visiting my sister Mary...

The 3 most recent pincushions

                                                               With the lid off.

With the lid on.

Nothing fancy except the pin buddy.

I thought this one was perfect on it's little candlestick base.
And I love the Christmas Tree Pin buddy.

So that is what I did on a rainy Thursday when Jim was in Fargo getting his car fixed. (Not the new one thank dog!)  It's wiring was eaten by an animal.  We should maybe build a garage????

Hugs,

Nancy

Faye's Henhouse retreat, October 2015

Some free motion quilting from the back of the room.

This embroidery machine is doing great work

One of the more popular looks at the Retreat.

Roses for one of the participants!

So pretty.

Storage!

More free motion.  This fabric was painted by the artist and now is being quilted

Close up of the quilting and the painting.

reds and purples, Yum!

Working on an applique wallhanging.

Christmas.

Purple up on the design wall.

A zipper bag 

Purple blocks being made.

Storage bag.

Strips ready for sewing.

Close up of the dog.

Tool caddy 

Some very interesting fabric.

Chickens

Here Kitty.

Bags

strips ready for sewing

A Kenny from the late 50's.  Oil it again, Carol

Just for the colors.

Another colorful bag. 

More color.

YUM!

Scrappy!

Some snacks.  It has been neatened up a bit...

Christmas is coming. 

A shadow quilt for a child.

That's all for now.  Back to work!

Words are unnecessary.

My new ironing board cover...

Now if I can only keep the cats off of it...

They like to give it that special touch of hairball smell.  Wonderful when warmed up! Hopefully the plastic tablecloth I keep on it will stop that now.  Grump.

Looks clean doesn't it?

Ready for quilting.

Here is my first project made on the new cover.  Not a lot of ironing, but it all counts.