Sunday, January 11, 2009

scrappy recycled shirt quilt



this past summer (as in may (as in about 9 months ago)), i started my first quilt that i intended to see all the way through all by myself. or mostly by myself at least, it's true that my mom (who is a top notch quilter that has been known for such feats as piecing (PIECING!) several species of multi colored birds, wings and all, and has been known to do such outrageous quilting endeavors as quilting the four seasons into a baby quilt which was pieced in the ever creative "squares" pattern by yours truly. yes, i have a lot to live up to) helped me start the cutting while we hung out with the fam at the jersey shore, but everything else i managed to scrape together, slowly but surely, on my own.

the whole thing is made up of 12 of my dad's and my men's dress shirts, buttons and all!, 3 thrift store pillow cases, 1 thrift store sheet, and some unbleached cotton batting. aside from the batting, which I bought new, but on sale at the discount fabric store because it was a closeout special, I think I spent about $5 on fabric. It might have taken a while, but it was dang cheap, and turned out not too shabby, if i do say so myself!

Monday, January 5, 2009

oh vacation, i miss you already.



i've been back from vacation for over a week now, but considering i spent the majority of that week with the blankets pulled up over my snotty, fevery, flu riddled head, i'm just now getting back into the swing of things. and while i'm quite happy to welcome a whole new year, i wouldn't be giving due diligence to the end of this past lovely year without a quick nod to my good friend, vacation. i know i checked in from South Carolina (you remember, the week before xmas that i spent in a t-shirt and shorts at the beach?), and on from there I hopped the train up to Virginia to visit my bro, sis-in-law, and most lovely little potato niece. We hung out a few days, cooked, ate, slept in, watched bad movies, blew bubbles, and danced with the robot frosty-the-snowman. Then we piled in the car and headed up to my folks place in Delaware, for some more rest, cookies, wine, crazy dog, naps on the couch, knitting, more bad movies, good china, and time with friends and family. oh, and what trip wouldn't be complete with a little local seed saving and plant dividing? all the last minute 2008 catch up follows... i got good feelings for this new year and am so happy to share 2009 with you all! yipee!


train sunset



mini tree hug!



suburban homesteading



don't sweat my stellar friendship bracelets (thanks kristy!)



such patience



yay!