Recently we went for an after dinner walk with friends. As I always carry my camera I took bunches of pictures and came up with this beautiful one! It had been raining (lately it seems to be always raining!) but had stopped briefly to allow the sun to set - LOL. I've not really liked the area where we live very much but when I looked back on my pictures and found this lovely one I realized that there is beauty everywhere and maybe I should be grateful for small pleasures (Like the big guy sitting across from me with his headphones on singing away). This has to be a short post as we have to get the last of our Christmas shopping done today. The next few days are so busy that we won't have any time!
I guess the message of this post is develop an 'attitude of gratitude' (line stolen directly from 12 step programs) and to look for the beauty in small, fleeting moments.

What does it take to grow tomatoes?

In October I posted this quilt in its UFO state. Today, digging through my fabric, I found the finished product! So here it is. As I mentioned in the Oct. post, this was done in a class with Susan Shie at EBHQ. I loved watercoloring the fabric. I have a full complement of fabric watercolors and PFD fabric now. Used once! Plan to do another painted quilt. It is the prefect medium to both paint and quilt - both crafts I love to do. I even have a quilt designed in my mind. Since I have to do this technique outside I can leave it until next summer!

I have been thinking about a New Years resolution. Didn't make one this year. Last year it was to use only reusable bags for shopping. I have pretty much kept that up and am the proud owner of about sixty bags! Bought a new one every timeI forgot my bags. One of my girlfriends brought me a bag from Australia earlier this year. It is made of a fabric that looks like heavy duty stockings or maybe lightweight fishnet stockings. Anyway, it can be rolled up and carried in my purse, which I do. So I always have a bag now. Want to make some like it but haven't found a good fabric for it yet.

New work! Two fleece blankets.

Christmas is going to be here before I know it and so I have started making gifts. The top blanket is for a wedding The Big Guy, Granny and I will be going to next week. My nephew is tying the knot. Since this blanket is put together by tying the fringe in knots, I think it is appropriate!

I made the Santa one first because I had never done a throw like these before. I'm glad I did because I knotted it too tightly and it is a little gathered, instead of flat. It is for a gift exchange at a group I belong to and they will like it even if I don't think it is perfect!

I picked up the directions at a local fabric store. They are from Lion Brand and were free! I joined the Lion Brand group and can get all kinds of patterns for free. It is a great website, especially if you knit and/or crochet. I have been knitting quite a bit lately.

Last night my daughter invited me to accompany her to the SF Quilt Guild's meeting. The speaker was Michael "Mac" MacNamera. Mac is quite personable and also very funny. We laughed our sox off! I love his quilting, too. It is kind of wonky, just the kind of thing I like to do. If he contacts me I am going to ask permission to post some of his work here to show you what I mean. Was inspired to start a quilt I must do for my pseudo grandson (what do you call the son of a child's partner who one has know most of his life?). I have the fabric but until last night didn't have the inspiration. I am going to make six and a half inch squares, my daughter is going to cut some too, and then put them together with wonky sashing. Will keep you posted (no pun intended!).