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!

Thread.

Patty brought these back for me from her travels.

They're for crafting, more than sewing. 

I'm taking a bookbinding workshop and hoping to use them for that!

More collecting.

I have nothing to say. It's obvious I collect TOO MUCH STUFF!

I'm off to work after a glorious three-day weekend. Hope yours was nice!

Collecting.

The Bonne Maman jars are the best for my little collections. 

And the jam is the best (after homemade)...

Four Fruits Preserve is my favorite!

Up-cycle!

When I'm recycling mens' shirts for quilting I cut off lots of cuffs and collars. Well sometimes the cuffs are quite interesting, like these. They were super long, a great stripe, and the perfect size for going around a bottle. Thanks for the idea Annie!

Hello September!

My favorite month for so many reasons....one being that it's my birthday month and one of these always arrives from Anthropolgie...