Tapas on Sunday

Sunday brunch has replaced the Sunday dinners of yesterday. We are now experimenting with tapas, the delightful Spanish appetizer. We both love anchovies and these are imported from Spain and served atop a fire roasted tomato. We were gifted a loaf of homemade peasant bread which is a perfect base. We also used pesto and crumbled chèvre. This Sunday I shall add another with manchego sliced very thin and bresaola.



We brushed the bread with olive oil and grilled.






Pot Holders were a fun project and a reminder of some of my first crafts.



A class at the Modern Sewist in Sarasota.


Needlepoint and Quilting make the days go faster!

Arrangements

Moving the office downstairs has been an adventure to say the least. I reorganized paper work and refiled and Jack became the keeper of the shredder. I cannot believe the "stuff" I accumulated. I have one more pile and then must force myself to file or shred.

The cubbies in the desk have been cleaned and organized and the desk shelf holds some favorite little things.

There is actually a clear place to work!

This vintage Hermes typewriter makes a lovely vignette on the desk. To my right is a featherweight sewing center. I have pieced a couple of small quilts.

I am working on my studio and hopefully I shall post more regularly now that I have a "sign" for my office. This needlepoint canvas spoke my name when I saw it and reminded me how much I had enjoyed my blog. 

The canvas is designed by Madeleine Elizabeth of Oasis Needlepoint,

Hope to see you all soon.

Now if I can just remember how to edit the side bar!

The Brass Bowl and other ramblings

A few of my favorite things!

I find myself being sentimental these days. Silly me. But that is the way I can be. I called my sister to ask about the brass bowl that mother had. She kept mail in it and Christmas cards. I was positive she kept Halloween candy in it as well. Jean said no but I told her that I needed it to be true because I had planned to write about it.

I will have candy in this bowl next Halloween but it will be of the needlepoint variety. We stay away from the real stuff. I have finished 5 - 4 more to go.

Jack and I have a routine. The morning is for errands and chores and the afternoon we watch reruns of shows that we never saw. I needlepoint. We have watched House of Cards, News Room, The West Wing and  Grey's Anatomy. Blue Bloods and NCIS were favorites. That is a lot of tv and a lot of finished projects. Now we watch British detective shows which I really like!

I miss sitting with my friends at knitting and needlepoint. I have had some vision issues so I no longer drive any distance. And then there is the vertigo. 

One of my "resolutions" for the new year was to resume blogging. I now have my office downstairs and it has become easy again with a desk and a comfy chair.

I am a lover of pottery. My bookcases hold vintage and Italian pieces

I think I have rambled enough. I will close this post with my needlepoint ornaments and the needlepoint box. It is almost time for Midsomer Murders. Jack's chili is simmering on the stove and Olivia's quilt is almost cut out!

This and that......

I have moved my office from the second floor to the downstairs guest room and the guest room to the upstairs. A little vertigo and some balance issues have slowed me down a bit. The sewing room is still upstairs and quilting and machine embroidery still live there. I am apt to spend a longer time there so the constant up and down are not as troublesome. My quilting is more for my granddaughter Olivia and my sons. Over the years I have made at least 80 some quilts. No more room in this house....




The photo colors are not too accurate. It has a pale aqua background and lots of Tula Pink fabrics.

Every office should have a hobby center! So I have a little Featherweight sewing machine next to my desk.

I shall piece Olivia’s quilt here!

I am trying to figure out how to get photos to this blog and shall publish this to see how it looks and then try to work on Photo Issue!!!!

My Happy Place

I hear this phrase used often and tried to think about where mine might be. The last couple of years have been quite stressful but we have managed and are now quite settled. When we decided to move, we wanted the convenience of one floor but I needed a sewing/studio that could house my machines and "stuff". I needed it to be out of sight as the area gets quite disorganized while a project is underway. A loft was the answer and after much procrastination and mild despair, the studio is operating. I cannot do projects when things are not in order. Things are pretty settled now. I try to spend 2-3 hours a day up there and it is paying off.

This Ribbon Star is almost done! I will finish it Thursday - taking a break today and tomorrow.

I shall make this quilt for Olivia and have already started to cut it out.

Afternoons are for needlepoint or knitting. 

The bottom picture is a evening pocketbook.

Below is a metal dollhouse like one I had as a child. I am known for leaving the vacuum in the middle of the floor. Jack does not like that. I have left it in the dollhouse living room. Someone puts it pack in the kitchen. Hmmmmm.

The above pictures are my work areas with machines. So many projects..... But my happy place is here and making "stuff" makes me happy.