Pictures and updates

At last, the wire to the camera has been found and I have some pictures to share. Unfortunately, our pictures from the first four days are only memories as our digital camera was stolen. We left it in a cab going from the beach to the ferry on our trip to Calebra and although we realized it right away the cab had gone back for another fare. We did catch up with the driver on his return but the camera was gone -either taken by another passenger or the driver. Luckily, our video camera takes still pictures as well video so we continued on using that one. We hit 7 beaches in 10 days so there were lots of beach pictures.

This first one was taken in Old San Juan in "Pigeon Park". It is the only place you are allowed to feed the pigeons. They live in a wall with built in pigeonholes.

Pardon my slightly inebriated grin! This was taken at sunset on Joba Beach. It's more of a surfer dude beach where there is several places to purchase a Carona!

This was taken at Hacienda Juanita which is 1600 feet above sea level. To get there you drive on this super narrow winding road which makes the Coastal Highway in California look like a super highway! Scary! This place used to be a coffee plantation and still grows a small crop. It's been here since the 1800's. It's now a parador, or small hotel, the rooms were beautiful with a Mexican influence. Wish we could have stayed there for a few days.

This last one was taken at sunset from our balcony in La Parguera. We loved this southern side of the island. The beaches were absolutely beautiful. We would love to return to Puerto Rico. The beaches are spectacular and the people were very friendly. Once you get out of San Juan, there is so much beautiful country to see and one beach is more beautiful than the next.

I have gotten back into the sewing groove. As Calico Cat told me when I was whining to her last week about being unmotivated, Just do it!! I completed my March postcards, the theme was "Portraits". I have been collecting old photos of children for years and this theme gave me an opportunity to spotlight 6 of my favorites. Here is one of them. This cutie looks like one of my students from years ago. The photo is printed on fabric and the frame is a satin. I stitched around the opening and stamped "Forget me not" on them all. This one was a little off so I kept it for myself. The others are on their way to England and France to my international PC friends.

I also cut out a quilt for my bed for the spring and summer. I got the blocks all put together and hope to have a flimsy sans borders this week to show you.

Lastly, I have started working on a new project through my LQS. It is a pattern by Crab Apple Farm called "Winter Wonderland"

We have all bought the pattern and will get together once a month for "snowman night" to work on our projects together. I am doing my blocks in blue and white. That way I can keep it up all through the winter. I have two of the redwork blocks done already. I love doing them when I am watching tv at night. They work up so fast!! This is a pretty big quilt so I'm not sure I will do all of the pieced blocks. I'm thinking about doing a wall hanging for the entryway.

Whewwww, well that's me all caught up. I am also caught up in "March Madness" with the women's NCAA games. We are rooting for our UConn team to go to the Final Four and win it all!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Will catch up with you in blogland.

MAKE IT WORK!

Well, I am back from my trip to Puerto Rico. It was fabulous! The beaches are beautiful and we had a very relaxing time. I am having technical difficulties with my camera so I will have a few pictures this weekend but I just wanted to post and thank everyone for their thoughts about our anniversary and our vacation.!

As you can see, I have changed my background a bit. I wanted to lighten it up for spring! I have been doing lots of reading since January so I decided to add a bookshelf which I saw on the Yankee Quilter's blog. I read TWO books while lying on the beach! The English Teacher was fabulous and of course, anything by Alice Hoffman is sure to entertain.



I have started sewing again. I am in the process of making a spring/summer quilt for my bedroom. I have had the focus fabric for a couple of years and have been collecting some fabrics but have had a problem deciding what I wanted to do. Since my DH shares the room, I don't want it to be too feminine, frilly or flowery. I have a couple of ideas but I'll be stopping at my LQS this weekend to see if I can find a pattern, some more fabric or other inspiration to "MAKE IT WORK"! And speaking of Project Runway, I watched the Finale last night.


I am sewwwww disappointed that "Mr. Fierce" was the winner. I know this is supposed to be high fashion but I found his collection uninspiring. Wayyyy too much black and haven't we seen enough rufffles with "edginess" from him. I thought that both Rami and Jillian clearly did a better job of getting out of their comfort zones and also designing clothes that real women would wear not just Spice Girls!! I think the judges had ratings more on the mind than fashion and they were super nice~ far less criticism than I expected. Although Rami and Jillian are not as FIERCE as Christian, as far as personality goes, I think they met the challenge far better. I believe Christian is talented but I didn't think his collection was the best (and it appeared he didn't either). We never saw nerves from Mr. Ferocity until right before the show. Anyway, still love this show and can't wait for next season!

I am still catching up on blogs! Boy, you gals are busy!! I have been trying to leave a comment for everyone.

As for March TIF, I am going to skip this month. I love the theme of looking at the details but I don't feel I have enough time to give it the attention it deserves so I will be back with TIF in April.

Be back with pics this weekend!

25 years Ago in Malden, Massachusetts...

Twenty five years ago, on February 20th, my DH and I tied the knot. It has been an exciting roller coaster ride. Like all marriages, there have been the highs and lows. But if I had to do it all again, I would! Bob is a great husband, dad and friend. He is my companion on this road of life and I wouldn't have it any other way. To celebrate the quarter century, we are head to....

Puerto Rico!!

We will be gone for 10 days and hope to see every inch of this beautiful island. After another 3 inches of snow on Friday, I can't wait to get away!! Sewww, I am leaving my needles and fabric behind taking a bathing suit or two and several books and headed for the beach. I'll be back on March 13th ready to jump into Spring! Adios amigas!

Take It Further -February-Blowin' in the Wind

Despite having an extra day, I wasn't able to complete my TIF til today. I orginally had thought I would do something with old board games but while cleaning up my sewing room, I came across a picture of my Nana from the sixties. Here she is dressed for church and what is she standing next to???... a clothesline. This started my wheels turning. I remember well her old wringer washing machine and hanging clothes at her house. As a kid (and being the oldest), I also hung my share of clothes. We didn't get a dryer til I was in junior high. I actually looked at my sketchbook and there were three sketches about laundry and song titles. I may continue with the series later in the spring.

Anyway, I call this "Blowin' in the Wind", a nod to Bob Dylan and laundry and a simpler time.

In addition, in my quest towards being "greener" in my life and my quilting, I have recycled some materials. I made the clouds from a used dryer sheet. (I save them to use as foundations for string blocks.) The sheets and the laundry in the basket are made from a handiwipe (rinsed and dried) and the basket is cut from an old summer purse.

Sharon B's challenge is really helping me to take my quilting further. Now what to do about March??!?