Bold Expressions.

I almost forgot to put together a blog post for the last day of the month...after blogging every day in September! It was a busy day...the highlight being a trip to the Bellevue Arts Museum to see "Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley." I had been meaning to get there since it opened in June and finally made it today, one week before it closes. I'm so glad I did...the show is amazing. Quilts from mostly the 30's and 40's and mostly from the south. A lot like Gee's Bend quilts, which I love. Some of these pics are mine, some are from the internet. A lot of mine on the iPhone were too blurry. If you're in the Seattle area this week, this is definitely worth the trip over to Bellevue!

This one was my favorite!

Heath.

Dreaming of being able to shop here with an unlimited budget!

It's the new Heath Ceramics store in San Francisco. Read about it here in Dwell.

Happy Friday. Happy Fall.

I'm so happy it's Friday!!!

Papercut.

This was a birthday card from my friend Linda. She found an image that she really liked and mounted it on black, then on the card. I love it! Well, a bunch of us met at the Treehouse to celebrate our birthdays and it turns out another friend, celebrating with us, her daughter actually designed and cut each of these (plus a few more) as a logo for Taste of Lynwood. She's a young mom and teacher here on the Island, but I think she should be doing her art full time...she's super-talented in my opinion.  You can find her blog here.

More links.

bookhou at home.

Black Eiffel.

A Day in the Country.

MaeMae Paperie.

Oh Happy Day!

SF Girl by Bay.

There are so many more, but these are few at the top of my list, where I go for inspiration. Enjoy.

Quilting blog links.

A couple of years ago our computer died and I lost the links in my favorites file, among them were my favorite blogs. Well I just found a list of them and I feel like I just found some old friends. A bunch of them are no longer posting, but here are a few that are still going strong I'm happy to report (and share)....

http://amyscreativeside.com/

http://bluenickelstudios.com/

http://www.modabakeshop.com/

http://www.sewjoycreations.com/

http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/  (This one is on my blog list now. I'll add the others after cleaning the list up...it's getting too long.)

I'm looking for inspiration! Christmas is three months from today. I gotta get sewin'.

Still celebrating!

My birthday was a week ago, but I'm still celebrating.

These were on my doorstep when I got home yesterday, in the shell!
I'm having some on my oatmeal this morning,
and of course I had some on ice cream last night.

HAPPY MONDAY!

End of season hydrangeas.

Brought them home from Patty's on my bicycle!

Feeling like fall.

I have to find where I put these great leaf mobiles that I made a couple of years ago. And get ready to make some more for gifts. I saw some last year made from old book pages...another idea for a project!

Happy Friday!

Fall arrives this weekend. I'm not ready!

All grown up.

This little girl left for college today.

Happy and sad.

Patchwork!

This was my favorite dress from NY Fashion Week last week! It's from Jasper Conran and I first saw it over HERE on one of my favorite blogs. Quilting is in!

Birthday hangover.

I had the best birthday! I am so grateful for my friends and family, my health, my job, my community, the roof over my head, the fact that I don't have to live in fear or wonder where my next meal is coming from, and for the many choices and freedom I have!  Thank you Universe!  Another year, another chance to make a difference.  xo

Happy Birthday to me!

And all of these people were born on September 17th too...

Nate Berkus

Anne Bancroft

Phil Jackson

George Blanda

Baz Luhrmann

Elvira

And...

actors John Ritter, Kyle Chandler, Roddy McDowell

sports stars Orlando Cepeda, Maureen Connolly, Rasheed Wallace 

racecar driver Jimmie Johnson

the man who invented Buick, David Buick

Pope Paul V (1500's)

and my friends Sue (same year as me too), Bonnie and Linda on Bainbridge Island.  

I took the day off from work. I'm having a massage and relaxing!

Matching bracelets.

These are the hospital bracelets given to my mother and I 

52 years ago tomorrow, the day I was born. 

Thank you for saving them Mom!

(The hospital did spell her name wrong; she spelled Cecilia C-E-C-I.)

Working/playing.

Working hard in my class, but loving every minute of it!

Pratt class.

I'm off to a three-day clay printmaking workshop in Seattle taught by Deborah Mersky. This is her print below. And here is her website. I'm really looking forward to this escape from my crazy life right now.

Election season.

Must be election season. This is my neighbor's fence. 

Glad I don't watch t.v. I know all the ads would drive me crazy.

Seed collecting.

This is the best way to collect the poppy seeds.

Just chop off all the seed heads and throw them in a bag.

Give the bag a really good shake, remove the seed heads and

you're left with a whole lot of seeds for next year!

I got out there before that little bit of rain arrived.  Now it's gorgeous out again.  

Remembering.

...and will never forget.

Update: It's sunny!

It rained in the wee hours of morning and it's absolutely gorgeous now....making my Monday much more enjoyable!

Rainy days and Mondays...

...always get me down. I'd enjoy it so much more if I could stay home.

This was sunset last night, on day 49 without rain.

We were so close to breaking the 51 day record, but rain is forecast for today. 

I haven't been outside yet...it may have already started.

Embroidery.

The older I get, the more I realize how much I'm like my mom....and that's a good thing!

This is a box she made for me in the seventies. 

Chalkboard paint.

Who knew chalkboard paint came in a bunch of fabulous colors? Images below are from Better Homes and Gardens. Check out Hudson Paint's website for a lot more colors!

Seattle ferry.

I went into Seattle last night for First Thursday. I did a little shopping and saw a lot of art, and best of all, ran into friends. This was my ride home....

As Mary Oliver says, "In summer, we all live in the dreamy place."

My grandmother's table.

I just had this old side table refinished by my friend Carol. She did such a beautiful job. She does custom woodworking and restoration. Check out her website!