Seasons Greetings

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I've been making quilted journal covers this week in anticipation of holiday gift-giving. I'm almost ready to wrap them up and send them off!

It's December 1st, and there's a bit of a chill in the air. Time to open the first window on the Advent calendar, and time to kick the Christmas crafting into high gear!

After 2 1/2 years of being too busy to get around to sewing these curtains, I decided that they absolutely positively have to be finished before the end of the year, no exceptions! I have now finished four of the six panels--added some long ties at the top and hemmed the bottom. Only two more panels to go!

Yellowstone National Park

There were quite impressive clouds just before sunset in the area of the Grand Prismatic Spring. If only it stayed light, there would be hours of fun finding shapes and images in the clouds....

Grand Teton National Park

There's probably no "wrong time of year" to visit the Grand Tetons, but fall certainly made a dramatic statement.

Autumn Leaves

It seems to be a good year for fall colors in Wisconsin. The tree that produced these leaves was showing off its ability to be clothed in a multi-colored autumnal display!

Late summer bike ride

This was a morning when it was definitely worth it to stop, get off the bike path, and sit with the squirrels for a few moments. The squirrels were pretty busy this morning straightening up their creekside home, so I think I enjoyed it more than them.

Signaling Summer's End

Chalk filter applied to sunflower photo

My husband and I were struggling to remember the term "heliotropic" (or "tracking the sun") the other day when we looked at a grouping of sunflowers. We decided it is much more important just to remember that sunflowers follow their heart.

Middleton Pope Farms Park

Milwaukee Lakeshore State Park

Art in Everyday Life

There is a new building going up in our neighborhood. Amazing how a construction site can be a work of art!

Swiss Chard Season!

With the rainbow swiss chard, I am never quite sure what I like more--eating it, or photographing it!

Picnic Friday

We've started going to different sites around the area for picnics after work on Fridays.  This photo was taken at Pope Farms Park in the town of Middleton.  I'm used to going to Pope Farms and watching the billowing clouds from the top of the hill, or gazing at the beautiful wildflower meadows.  This photo shows quite a different side of the park (almost Halloween-like!).

Summer Ribbon Scarf

I made this ribbon scarf using the Sulky self-adhesive, wash-away stabilizer.  I must say, it was sooooo much easier to use this new product for a project like this compared to the non-self-adhesive varieties of the past.  I think next time, I will space the ribbons out further to see what effect that creates.

Father's Day Outing

Visited the Beckman Mill in Rock County, Wisconsin today. This photo was altered with the "Nostalgia" setting in the "Camera+" application for the iPhone.  It was a fun day!

Kaleidoscope Peonies



Having great fun with the "Photo Booth" App on the iPad.  It allows you to make beautiful kaleidoscope images.  And I thought the peonies were amazing before!

I haven't made anything from a kit in a long time, but this fun keyring project from the Mollie Makes magazine made me remember how easy it is--because someone else gets to find all of the craft supplies for you!

Memories of Hawaii

I am finally getting the chance to take a closer look at my photos from Kauai (February 2012).  I think the Napali Coast is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen in Hawaii!

Sewing Weekend 2012

This weekend was Sewing Weekend 2012 at Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  It's the 28th year for the event, and this year the hostess, Nancy Zieman, celebrated the 30th anniversary of her television show (Sewing With Nancy on PBS).  It was the first time I attended Sewing Weekend and probably not the last.  I attended a few seminars, learned some great new techniques, and got inspiration for my next sewing projects.  I was especially impressed by Nancy's humor and down-to-earth nature.  She made me laugh when she said she is allowed to buy some of her clothes (as opposed to making them all) because even Rachel Ray goes out to dinner sometimes.

Antoinette Tulips

Tulip season has been longer than usual in Wisconsin with a premature burst of spring followed by cool weather that has suspended all of the flowers in time.  This year, the Antoinette tulips have been most impressive, with petals that look like they have been touched by a watercolor paintbrush.

Dawn at the Arboretum

It was chilly enough at dawn that I needed all of my winter gear.  But the lilac bushes didn't seem to mind the cold--they greeted the new day in their spring attire!

Spring Tulip

It's so fun to see all of the new tulips that are springing up this year.  I love it when you forget what you planted in the fall, and then you get surprised by the new flowers six months later!

Happy Easter!

Hawaiian Quilt Shop

Kapaia Stitchery in Lihue, Kauai has a fantastic array of Hawaiian fabrics and projects.  The possibilities are endless!

Hawaiian Birding

Everything is more colorful in Hawaii, even the birds!

Crafting, Hawaiian-Style

You don't have to leave your passion for crafting behind when you go on vacation in Hawaii.  Our Kauai hotel offered classes in lei making.  By stringing flowers that looked like red clover (but surely were not!) alternating with green leaves, we could make beautiful leis.

February Bouquet

There's nothing like a good bunch of flowers from Trader Joe's to brighten up your house on some of the coldest days of the season!

Remembering Warmer Days

Crystallized Trees

Just happened to be crossing the Wisconsin River in Sauk City, Wisconsin at the perfect time to spot this unbelievable winter scenery.  I haven't seen crystallized trees this beautiful since the 2005 ice storm in Kansas!

January Orchid

Birthday Crafting

This week I hosted a special birthday party craft night, and we did some simple needle-felting.  I went with a cupcake theme (top picture), while my husband had a different type of food on his mind (bottom picture)!