Porch Tomatoes

Dad always had a huge garden and a green thumb. Mom always had flower gardens and enjoyed fresh flowers all summer. The arrangements were varied and many. She had dozens of different types of flowers in her yard. 

Keith and I are not yard or garden folk. This year we decided to have some tomato plants. We bought them late in the season but have been enjoying many delicious tomatoes over the past couple of weeks.

Last night we had a mozzarella and tomato salad. The mozzarella balls are from Costco. They live in a yummy herbed olive oil marinade. One of our favorite salads in New York was this one. The cheese was cold and so good. Yay for porch tomatoes.

The plants had to come and live inside the porch as the birds decided they should sample every tomato that started to turn pink. That is a gallon plastic jug in between for perspective. The plants are starting to wither. They  must know that autumn is here. Next season we will buy more plants and buy them earlier. Boo birds--Yay porch tomatoes

Saturday Art Show

We have been hearing so much about the new alcohol inks that Mom decided to try them. 

Part of Mom's birthday present from us were the inks and various tools, sponges, and some special paper needed for this technique. 

One day soon maybe Mom and Amy will allow me into their "play time" to take some pictures. I have only heard about how the magic happens but would love to see it in detail.

I think we need to make sure that they don't run out of paper or supplies. I have lots of walls to fill!!

These are some of the paintings Mom has finished.

 This was my birthday present this year. Mom captured pure joy in this painting. The colors are my favorites. It  is hung in my studio right over my clock. So when I look at it I can remember now is the time to be joyful. Thanks Mom. I love you.

Here is a closeup. The bright white spot is a reflection from the camera flash, not part of the painting.

 This is another one of Mom's recent paintings. It really looks like you are under the sea. 

If you look closely in the upper left quadrant it almost looks like a fish is emerging from some seaweed. 

This is an oil painting that has traveled with us from home to new home over the years. It is a biggie--27x33. It hangs over our fireplace in the family room and 
we love it.

This is especially for Keith's Man Cave. The colors are just right for his room.
He loves this, what is not to love?

Close up of Keith's painting.

A new Lazy Katy shawl

This is a shawlette that is knit in the shape of a crescent. You only increase on one end so it automatically makes this shape. There will be a lace edging on two sides. 

The yarn is from KnitPicks and it is the Lollipop colorway of Chroma fingering weight.

This is just the happiest yarn. It reminds me of a fabric palette Jennifer and I dyed years ago called Tutti Frutti. It is happy, happy,

Almost time to add the lace edging.

Close up of the color changes. I love this yarn. 

Mom's Birthday Quilt

This is the print in Mom's bedroom that we used for our inspiration of her birthday quilt. Sorry for the grainy pictures, but you can get the idea.

This is a Karen K Stone pattern called Unusual Lone Star. It is featured in her book Karen K. Stone Quilts

Mom and I had great fun deciding which fabrics were appropriate for the star. We also had to decide how many fabrics for each color group. We so enjoyed that process.

There are 128 pieced units in the star. Each unit has 6 pieces. The units are a diamond shape. 

Mom has taken the units home and has laid them out on her bed to decide where  they all should live in the star!! 

Placement of the units is a job that is tedious at best. If you move one unit then it changes the look of all the surrounding units and will likely begin a chain reaction of switching units. She has finally after a number of days decided the design in just right. 

Mom took several days to work on the star. She is a fine artist, a painter and told me that the way she paints is to work on the painting and then go away from it and to come back later and to see how it looks. As wise woman she is. 

Next she is marking each unit with a code for exact placement in the star. I will sew them together and then we will have the fun of auditioning fabrics for the background. 

The star only covers the top of Mom's queen size bed. We need to design the rest of the quilt.

I will keep you posted on our progress. 

In the meantime have a wonderful safe weekend,

Nancy

Closer look at the units in the center of the star

Cloeup of one of the 8 arms of the star

Sunday Art Work Mom and Amy and Alcohol inks

What a fun Sunday. We had a mini art show when Mom and Amy came for dinner. They spent this afternoon exploring their new found favorite medium--alcohol ink. They are working on acetate and are looking forward to using some sort of masking materials. I don't have much of a clue how it all works but they do and that is what counts. Hope you enjoy the pretties.

Amy's painting in progress. She didn't have enough time to finish today, but is excited to work on it soon. 

This is a closeup of part of Amy's painting above. It shows the detail.  Amazing detail isn't it?

This is Mom's work in progress. She used alcohol inks for the background and then will paint the elephant.

This is Mom's first alcohol ink painting. I wish my phone camera could capture all the nuances of color. Maybe my new phone will produce a better picture. It is so pretty in real life.

Here is a closeup of all the detail in Mom's painting. Amazing is all I can say.

This one is Amy's first alcohol ink painting. The detail is easier to see because you guessed it -- a closeup.

Another Little Dress for Africa

Another Little dress for Africa made with love by Mom, with an extra large pocket because mom said she always loved to have a pocket for treasures. She has made many of these dresses and now excited to make many more in the near future. A family from our Quilt Guild will be traveling to Africa and will hand deliver dresses and shorts. Mom is branching out to make shorts too as soon as we get the details. Yay Mom

Another adorable dress 

NYE Mystery -- Suggestions for quilting the 9 patch blocks

Today is a pretty Carolina sunny day. Am waiting for kids and mom for Sunday dinner. Dinner is in 3 crock pots. So just a few last minute chores and we will be ready to enjoy. 

This is the top my daughter pieced from our current New Year's Eve mystery. I am finally getting around to quilting it. The backing is the same blue paisley fabric. I love her fabric choices. Mine is top is not nearly as wonderful. My fabriccs were from my stash and her's was brand new. In fairness Jen didn't have any fabrics that would have worked so she really did need to go and purchase new.

I have quilted the sashing and like it so far. but I cannot decide what to do in those 9 patches. Any suggestions? Any suggestions? I would appreciate your input.

Love the sub patterns especially these cute polka dot squares.
Happy Sunday,