Fancy Fox Quilt Complete

I finished my little guy's Fox Quilt yesterday. So glad to have it done and in the mail. It turned out stunning beyond words. Pattern quilts are not my favorite thing, but this one is an exception. After seeing one done is reds, I chose blues since blue is his favorite color. I am wanting to do one in every color now. :) And since the back is pretty enough to stand alone, he can switch it over for a different look, though I imagine he will not.

You can purchase the Fancy Fox Quilt Pattern here.
Pattern is very simple.

I quilted it with vertical straight lines on my machine, so very pleased with the outcome.

 All photos by SPBM

If you like sewing and making quilts, I highly recommend this pattern.

Thanks for stopping by.
XO

January Stuff

It is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that the first month of 2015 is within a few day of being over. Time really does fly by, doesn't it? There was a time in life when a year felt like an eternity, and now, a year feels like a few short months. The way time flies by now, I am quite sure I should be having more fun.

I'm busy still with a lot of doctor visits, still trying to get everything balanced. Between David and myself, we have doctor appointments at least 2-3 times a week. Last week we had one every day. And as hard as I try to stay positive, there is something about going near or inside a hospital that literally sucks the energy out of me.

Lately I have been trying to saturate myself with meditation and listening to healing tapes. They really do help, not sure I could get through all this without it. I should and need to do more meditating. I consistently listen and read Deepak Chopra just about every day. And I am convinced if I could sit down and chat with him, I could get all this worked out in my head. lol I really do love the man.

On another note, I have done some work in my workroom. I finished a quilt for Ada. I was working on it while she was here in November and she loved it. I'll post a couple of pics, they are not great photos and do not do the quilt justice.

 The quilt is reversible, giving her two quilts in one.

And of course I can't make her one without making little Rocky one. I saw a gorgeous fox quilt on Pinterest and purchased the pattern and I am in the process of making him one in all blues, because blue is his favorite color. I have the top done, just need to finish the backing and quilt it. I will attempt to quilt it on my machine, the same way I quilted Ada's.

 This is the quilt top, waiting to be completed. So happy with the way it has turned out so far.

Winter has been mild so far, no big winter weather to speak of. A couple of weeks ago it was very cold, but has warmed up and (almost) feels more like spring instead of winter. Fine with me, I don't care if we do not have any more winter weather than we've had thus far.

Making lots of soups and chili type dishes. I made enchilada's with some leftover white chicken chili that turned out delicious. Honestly, I think I could have eaten these every night for a week. Since there are so many days that I don't feel all that great, it is nice when I can use leftovers and still have a delicious meal.

Basically this is leftover white chicken chili, spinach, enchilada sauce, cheese and toppings of choice.

Perfect.

All photos by spbm.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Some Bohemian Loves and Weekend Pondering

I need to find an old chair to re-purpose into something this awesome....

Source:  visi.co.za

I have a skirt similar to this that I made from vintage curtains and upholstery fabric.

Source: scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net

And I totally covet this table from Sabrina Ward Harrison's Apt...

Source: apartmenttherapy.com

I am considering making a beaded curtain for my kitchen. 

Source: dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com

I'm in the process of making a quilt similar to this for my little Bella. I hope she'll love it.

Source: urbanoutfitters.com

And this is what I am pondering on this weekend:

The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose In Life

Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to give to others.
And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.
The Law of Dharma says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose.
There is something that you can do better than anyone else in the whole world.
If you could start children right from the beginning with this thought, you’d see the effect it has on their lives.
What I really want to focus on is asking yourself how you can serve humanity, and asking yourself what your unique talents are.
There are three components to the Law of Dharma. The first component says that each of us is here to discover our true Self, to find out on our own that our true Self is spiritual, that essentially we are spiritual beings that have taken manifestation in physical form.
The second component of the Law of Dharma is to express our unique talents… This means that there’s one thing you can do, and one way of doing it, that is better than anyone else on this entire planet.
The third component of the Law of Dharma is service to humanity—to serve your fellow human beings and to ask yourself the questions, “How can I help? How can I help all those that I come into contact with?”
The question, “What’s in it for me?” is the internal dialogue of the ego. Asking “How can I help?” is the internal dialogue of the spirit.
If you want to make the maximum use of the Law of Dharma, then you have to make several commitments.
The first commitment is: I am going to seek my higher self, which is beyond my ego, through spiritual practice.
The second commitment is: I am going to discover my unique talents, and finding my unique talents, I am going to enjoy myself, because the process of enjoyment occurs when I go into timeless awareness. That’s when I am in a state of bliss.
The third commitment is: I am going to ask myself how I am best suited to serve humanity. I am going to answer that question and then put it into practice.

happy monday, everyone!

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while since I posted - it was a very rough summer and I've been trying to find solid footing, once again. I hope everyone else had a great summer, and made some wonderful memories to think on during rainy days.

The past couple of weeks, I have been busy making things for the kids. Our little Ada turns four today!!! Wishing I could have experienced her big day, always with her in spirit, though.

The weather is changing, the temperature is dropping and the leaves are changing. Not sure I am ready for winter, but whether I am or not, it will surely come to visit for a time. I'm so not looking forward to not seeing my flowers when I look out my kitchen window. I will miss going out to the pond and watching the fish, they have grown so much. After talking to several people who should know, we're not going to bring the fish in this winter. Oh...so hoping they survive. They are too big to bring in and keep inside now, but have been told they will be fine. Guess we'll see. And hoping Cosmos doesn't come around and go fishing when food becomes a little more scares for him. The pond did great this summer, did something new with the filter, making it much more enjoyable, not having to clean the filter every few days. The fish have a lot of hiding places, so maybe they can stay hidden from Cosmos (the raccoon who visits during the winter on a daily basis).

Trying to stay busy, which is not a hard thing to do in my life, but trying to stay creative and make some things. I've got to get some of my fabric made into something useful. So much of it has been packed since I moved back from Germany, so a bit embarrassed at how much I have. I think anyone who sews has an abundance of fabric just waiting to be made into something pretty and beautiful.

I made Ada a quilt to match her doll quilts I made for her last Christmas. She loves it and has slept with it every night since she got it, (always a good thing when Ada likes what I make her). Also made Ada and her big brother banners for their rooms, and making another doll, which I did not get finished. :( If only I did not need to sleep, I could create day and night.

Ada's and Rocky's Banners

Ada's Quilt

And then, last week I made this awesome delicious soup! Yes, it is soup time, once again. (Isn't it always soup time?) In my house it is. :) Anyways, this will be a favorite this winter, at least it is until I make it too much. I got the recipe here: http://www.ironstef.com/2011/11/apple-cider-chicken-stew.html. I followed this recipe exactly and it was perfect. Seldom do I do that. Give this a try, you'll love it; perfect blend of flavors.

Apple Cider Chicken Stew

Recipe: http://www.ironstef.com/2011/11/apple-cider-chicken-stew.html

Photos by SPBM

when in doubt, [believe!]

  

A magnet on my fridge, that I really need to read and practice for a few days. I am surrounded by sickness and hospitals. I am a caregiver, and all of it leaves me feeling so empty and drained all the time anymore. There is no in-between space, no normal. hospitals, emergency rooms, doctors, meds, and worry is the norm. I find it more and more difficult to believe in miracles. I want to believe, at least some of the time.

(My note from the Universe this morning.)
Never has there been a moment in your life, Sixpence, that wasn't also a moment in mine.
Never have you laughed without me, cried alone, or loved in vain
And never have you dreamed a dream, that destiny had not ordained.
Thanks,
The Universe

One of the favorite lamps in my house. I found this at the thrift store a couple years ago.

 

I love the refelection of the trees in my cup of tea.

Sometimes it is nice to serve yourself from fine china, tea and coffee always taste better from fine china.

I rearranged my bedroom a couple of nights ago. Amazing how disoriented my entire being has been the past couple of nights.

A close up of my quilt I made around 4 years ago, after seeing one from Anthropologie that I wanted. I love this, but need to make a new one. This one is starting to show some wear.

I keep thinking I will buy a new mattress, my KING size mattress is more than I need, and takes up too much room. So I've been waiting on that before making a new quilt. I do have a king size top already made, it's hanging out in the closet, waiting to be finished.

All photos taken by SPBM

Wool Art

Made by me. Made from recycled European wool, all hand stitched. This crazy quilt was made to be a sofa throw. And I can't tell you how well this works, how comfy and cozy this is. Backing is also vintage wool. Recycling is a big thing for me. I love taking a thing that has been discarded and make it into something uses, practical, and artful.

The hours this takes are more than I want to count or like to remember. I have made several, sold five.

Generous size, enough to keep you well covered. A work of art hanging on a wall, or thrown over a chair or sofa.
$385.00 + $12.00 Shipping

Recycled Jeans - Picnic Blanket For Bella

Since I have trouble throwing out anything, I can't bear to throw out old jeans or clothes. It takes some time, but worth the effort to wash up old torn or stained clothing, cut them apart and make them into something beautiful and functional.

I have made several jean quilts. They are not my favorite to make; they are heavy to work on and hard on the fingers, wrist and hands. I just finished this one last night, a picnic blanket for Bella. I sewed the binding on with my machine, this way, it will be durable and with-stand any abuse.

Hopefully, she will dress up with her sun hat and purple sunglasses, gloves, a frilly dress adorned with lots of beads, imperfect applied lipstick and blush of course... and enjoy a breezy Sunday afternoon picnic with her girlfriends... and make some wonderful memories to draw upon later in life.

In my opinion, these are a great!