Easter's just around the corner...

I started looking for some easy Easter decorating ideas since Easter is almost here. We do very simple decorating for any holidays, but I always love to look for great ideas anyway.

Better Homes & Gardens always has ideas that I love. They're simple and usually quite inexpensive but are really quite clever and always cute/pretty.

Since I collect vintage postcards this idea appeals to me.

Isn't this a clever idea? I wish I had an umbrella in that color. Actually, I have a plaid one (like the plaid in the photo above) that might look good. Of course, my front door is black so it might not look a lot like "Easter" but it would be fun to try.

I might have to do this too. It's simple and I love the idea of working with just one design element. Brussels sprouts not only taste good, they are beautiful to look at. Who doesn't love a topiary?



It's always fun to find a new way to display flowers and vegetables. I love the small carrots in this, aren't they cute?

Here's a cute egg idea using fabric strips. After reading the instructions, I think they seem pretty easy to do,

This cute idea came from Country Living. Easy to do and would work for many occasions. I think I would use pastel paper bags and yellow jelly beans.

Oh...I love this cake idea. Easy and so clever! If you have kids they could help with this. How fun!

Hope these few ideas get you started thinking about Easter, if you haven't already.

Take care,

Pretty fabrics...

I had another order today where I really like the combination of fabrics the buyer chose. They look great together, don't they?

Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Take care,

Mug Rugs...

I spent the afternoon on Sunday making these mug rugs. I've never made them before and when I searched for sizes, I couldn't find anything definitive. I guess they can be whatever size you want them to be. These are 9" x 11".

I used some my "clean-up cuts" to make these since I have millions of them. I do, it's no lie. I'll probably never use them all but I've got a wonderful assortment of fabrics collected.

These mug rugs are gifts for my DH's sister and her husband. We don't normally exchange gifts with them, but sometimes we just feel like we want to send them a surprise! I think it's the very best way to give - with no expectations of something in return. They love handmade items so I know they'll love these.

Take care,

I love these patterns...

We've added some great new patterns to the shop recently and thought you might want to know about them. I love these patterns since they are the perfect vehicle for the large-scale and super color-saturated fabrics in the shop.

Allison Designs state that their patterns are easy enough for Novice Quilters aged 12 & up.

I'm planning on making up several of these patterns for myself. Well, it won't happen anytime soon, but it's on the "to-do" list. It just keeps getting longer and longer. I don't have to worry about not having anything to do for the next several hundred years! :)

Take care,

Adding fabrics to the shop!

I'm in the process of adding 13 (yes, unfortunately only 13 at this time - it's a space issue) new fabrics to the shop. These are new Kaffe's and they are gorgeous! Here's just a sampling.

I should have them listed by the weekend.

Take care,

Oops...

Sometimes, in my eagerness to order new and beautiful fabrics, I probably don't pay attention as well as I should. Like thinking I'm ordering 6 charm packs and instead ordering 6 6-packs of charm packs. Eeeeks! I've got 41 of these charm packs available!

Well, I'm tired of them sitting around and, seriously, I need the space that they are using. That's why I've been having so many sales recently. I still need more space. I can't order all the beautiful new fabrics that I want until I have somewhere to put them. Honestly. Oh, and btw, all those sales that I've been having? They're A-L-L still in effect. Now would be a very good time to purchase some of them if you like them. I won't be re-ordering any of them once they are gone.

But, hey! Back to the charm packs. I've decided that I will include one charm pack FREE with each order over $40. Starting now. However, (isn't there always a "however") if your order is for 7 yards total, then including the charm pack could push your shipping fee to the next level. I won't include the pack in orders where the shipping fee would increase as a result. Unless, you instruct me to do so.

I hope to see a lot of these disappear soon!

Take care,

Thought it might be fun...

to do a color palette from the socks photo. I love the color combination...it's sophisticated, but pretty.

I wonder how the colorists at Blue Moon Fiber Arts decide upon their color combinations?

Take care,

I couldn't resist...

I just could not resist the lure of knitting and of this luscious yarn. I've started a pair of socks and am hopeful that my shoulder will permit me to finish them. The pattern is Tessarae (which I adore) and the yarn is BMFA STR Lightweight in Tide Poolin' colorway.

I love knitting socks and have missed soooo much being able to knit. If I remember correctly, it's been about a year and a half since I stopped.

Take care,

What does your day look like?

Quilt for sale.

I've got a quilt for sale ($39, includes shipping), if you might be interested, along with several other items. Info about it here (scroll down until you find it).

It's overcast and misting here this morning. Heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow. We're hoping the weather forecast is correct since we really need the rain this year.

Take care,

Don't forget....

if you live in my neck of the woods, this weekend is the Glendale Quilt Show. It's usually a pretty good show with lots of wonderful vendors in attendance.

Teachers are great, location is nice and easy to access, and parking is plentiful. Don't miss it!

Judy Niemeyer anyone?

From now until they are gone.... They can be found here and prices have already been marked down.

How about a "spring" color palette?

This color palette very much reminds me of spring with it's lime and yellow hues and that gorgeous coral. This photo was taken on a walk around Rock Creek Lake in the Sierra's above Bishop. One of my favorite areas.

Thanks so much for the very supportive comments yesterday. You guys really brightened my day.

Take care,

String Quilt blocks...

As much as I would like to, I haven't been able to sit at my sewing machine and sew for a couple of weeks. Right now my life is in limbo and until that resolves itself, I think I'm going to be too nervous to just sit. Even though the sewing/quilting would probably help me to relax - if I could just relax enough to sit and sew/quilt. :))

I did manage to make these 6 string quilt blocks before this all began, but as you can see I haven't even trimmed them yet.

Take care,

I love orders like this...

An order this size takes a while for one person to cut, but it's sure worth it! I get to see and touch all the great fabrics and be reminded just how many gorgeous ones are available these days. Aren't we lucky?

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Got any fun plans?

Take care,

I've created a new category....

in the shop for Westminster fabrics that are offered for SALE at 35% off. These fabrics must be purchased (min is 1 yard) from this category as they appear nowhere else in my shop. I rarely mark Westminster fabrics down this low so this is a wonderful opportunity to get some g-r-e-a-t fabrics at a g-r-e-a-t price!!

Take care,

There's been lots of activity...

Yesterday one of the babies did leave the nest for the first time. He/she flew around quite a bit and we finally saw him/her sitting up on one of the higher branches in the tree all by him/her self. Then, he/she flew back to the nest and sat with the other baby - the one who has yet to try that "flying thing". This morning I was watching the second baby flex his/her wings but he/she still didn't leave the nest. Look at that cute little white bottom.

This is the first time I've seen babies leave the nest and then come back. They usually hang around the courtyard (but not in the nest) for a day or two and then leave for good. Such fun!!

My husband thinks the first baby to leave was a female since his theory is that females learn those kinds of things quicker than males. What do you think? Got any good theories?

The babies are getting really big...

This is the biggest we've ever seen the babies get before they leave the nest. The previous two years we had a Hummingbird nest and babies, they left when then were much smaller than this. It's been a strange Hummingbird year this year, beginning with a nest in a leafless tree to babies that almost seem too large for the nest. I do think that they will be flying away any day now and I'll be very sorry to see them go, although I'm always happy to know they've survived the process.

Happy Saturday!

Oh, and don't forget what a great sale we're having in the shop through 3/7/12.

Brandon Mably anyone?

Brandon's fabrics aren't offered at this price very often so if you love his fabrics, you might be interested in visiting here!