Keep on Keeping on!.

Etsy Account
https://www.etsy.com/your/listings

Well, I am trying to start a store on Etsy.  I haven't been doing well, but there are lots of reasons for that.  I have been reviewing what my work is all about.  I love to do so many things, jewelry making, fiber art, quilting, painting, writing and taking care of others that my mind whirls with all the many projects that I have started, that I have put aside, that I am in the active making of it.  Color seems to inspire me the most.  But color also jumps my brain from one side to the other.  Opposites!,  Love the combination, rotation, obliteration.  Does it sound like I am dysfunctional,    Well, I am.  Prozac to the rescue!    I really think most of us "Artsy Types" are dysfunctional in a functional way.  We do get things done in their own time.  We do multi task, maybe not always very well, but we do it anyway.
So the reason for this post is to say, I am here in Holland, Ohio, living on a lake, watching the bass fisherman, eagle fly high and grey heron and mallard ducks wade on my shore.  They grubs are destroying my lawn, my mother still has Alzheimer, my father in law is marrying someone my age and my dear mother in law just passed away a year ago, my son got his 4 DUI, and my dog is still living after two seizures.  But life is good, everything is fleeting and God is in control.  I'll keep on keeping on!  

Quilts for Compassion

Quilts of Compassion Facebook Page

Quilt of Compassion is a non-profit providing quilts to Joplin, MO after the tornado hit two years ago.  Now with the recent outbreak of tornado in MO, IN, IL, KY another states, Quilts of Compassion are looking to work with ministries at hospitals in those torn up cities to bring some little comfort to those that are hurting.  I believe they have already given out 4,200 quilts to those in need in the last 2 years.  I have been trying to make 1 quilt a month this year to support this worthy cause.  This particular quilt, which isn't quilted yet, was made with scraps that I received from my favorite sewing store: "Stitch" in Toledo, OH. https://www.facebook.com/#!/stitchtoledo .  Thank you Alison for your donation.  Quilts of Compassion are now receiving quilts from all over the US and even from Sweden.  It is so cool. 

Wedding & Lake Forest

My DH, new daughter in law and 2 granddaughters

The newly wed couple,  Love is sweet,  Mother to the left and Grandmother

Cake Topper with Aidan, their son.

Cutting the margarita cake with the nieces & son

What have I been doing,  Whew!  First I have had a three week cold-bronchial sinus, whatever, hanging on.  Which has left me with very little energy.  I went to Florida for 10 days and had a wonderful time and came home with only 1 week to plan my daughter's second wedding, son in law's first wedding.  There were planning on having it in Aruba but that fell through so we celebrated with topical flowers-Bird of Paradise, Sea Shells, Margarita cake, music by Jimmy Buffet and some steel drum bands.  Crab legs, Steak, Sea Bass, Shrimp and Crab Cakes were on the menu.  Yum!   Wonderful time was had by all.  

I'm sewing, yes I need my glasses, I'm at that age.

My trusty Bernina 

The pieced "Lake Forest" by McKenna Ryan 

Cutting, Ironing Sewing-so many little pieces. This project has taken me longer that I anticipated,  but I love the results so far.  Now for the fun part, free motion stitching.  I purchased this project about 6 months ago.  It so reminds me of Hidden Harbor Lake which I live on.  We don't have otters or beavers, but we do have muskrats, fish, frogs, turtles goldfinches, owls, ducks, geese, raccoons & cattails. So as you can see, I have been busy.  http://pineneedles.com/ Here is a website where you are able to purchase the pattern with fabric.  She has so many new patterns out there.  I would like to do a beach scene next, but I think now I am able to do my own design.

Fiber Art Class

Stitch Shop

Fiber Arts Facebook page 

Fiber Art Class at "Stitch Shop" is the 2nd Tuesday of each month.  We have had so much fun.  We have dyed" the parfait  way" with great success and blue hands.  Don't forget to wear your gloves.  ;')  We also discover and played with lutrador.  We painted it, stamped, and sewed it.  I made a treasure chest.  We also learned how to make our own ribbons with yarns, pieces of fabric & threads. 

Rainbow's End Quilt Shop

The above link is from Happy Cottage Quilter's blogspot. Here is a blog of a wonderful Florida shop, Rainbow's End,  with fabulous pictures, which is located near Clearwater/Tampa Florida.  I visit it every February and look forward to soaking up the delicious colors.  It is such a nice change from drab grey Toledo, Ohio weather.  Pinks, Rose, Limes, Oranges, Reds, Purples, Blues and Greens.  My favorite colors.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbows-End-Quilt-Shoppe/102134419823310  Here is the shops facebook page.  Stop in to see this eye candy of a shop!  

Soup, Don't like soup-NO soup for you.

I have started to make soup every Sunday.  What joy it has been.  The 1st soup was a black bean and ham soup.  It was gone after 4 days and I didn't even get to take some to my 87 year old mother.  The picture about is here when she was about late 30's, early 40's.  We were camping up North in Michigan with my Aunt Helen and Uncle Charles.  Such great memories were made.  Ok back to the soup-

My father always made the soup in our home.  He was notorious for putting everything and the kitchen sink in the soup.  But I always loved it.  He is pictured here with some of his sisters and brothers.  Grandma Smith (without birth control of course) had over 20 births. She out lived 2 husbands and is pictured on the right with the flower corsage. My father is right behind her.  Only two are left, Aunt Imogine, poised next to grandma and my Uncle Dave, the shortest guy in back.  I think my dad learned to cook and stretched food from living through the depression with so many brothers and sisters in a two bedroom, 1 bath house.  I have inherited this great gift for stretching my food budget.
Soup is the easiest item to make,  and usually you have all the ingredients for it in your stocked cupboard.  It warms the soul, fills you up, and is cheap to make. It also makes your home smell delicious.  Whip up a salad, and some Bisquick biscuits and you have a meal.  So Satisfying! Last week I put together Cream of Cauliflower soup with bacon on top.  Yum!  This week I made Split Pea with Barley and fresh vegetables and herbs in a chicken stock. So Good and belly warm.
Ingredients: split pea, barley, carrots, celery, leeks, onions, 1 box of Chicken Stock with out salt or MSG. 3 cups water, Chicken Bouillon to taste, fresh parsley, sage and tarragon from my kitchen herb garden.  
I cook like I quilt, just throw it all in and see the results,  Be surprised!  

Continuing with the new me.

I am so excited.  Weekly, on Sunday, I am making homemade soup.  Two weeks ago, Black Bean and Ham, This week, Creamy Cauliflower and Leeks with bacon on top and this sunday, Onion Soup with red, white, scallions, onions with rye bread and cheese on top.  MMMM.  I will post pictures this week and the receipt.        My favorite is the Creamy Cauliflower because it tasted like the Potato and sausage soup at Olive Garden.  I am looking at getting a gas stove, now I have a electric which I am still trying to get use to since we moved into the new house. I do like the new to me, convection oven.  and the size of it.  4 racks for cooking cookies.  yeah, don't need a stinking double oven.  I have a warming drawer too. Loved that at Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Helped alot.
I can't decided what to do with my kitchen.  It is not exactly how I want it.  I have been wanting a darker cherry wood and more contempory kitchen to my look but this kitchen has black granite counter tops, which I hate, but will live with.  So I am researching changing out my doors with other ones.  do you have any ideas.