I'm Finished!!

Well, I finished my baby quilt... well the quilt top.

Once I got the pattern figured out and the instructions written in language I could understand it was a breeze! The blocks went together with little effort.

I love the colors! They are so bright! The nursery is painted a butter yellow and I think this will look great in the baby's room.

Daughter number 3 and I chose the fabric we did because we did not want it to be too much baby. We wanted the quilt to be used as a big girl quilt too, a quilt to grow up with. I added a Sunbonnet Sue applique in one corner to give it a little girl feel.

Now it's off to the quilt shop to have it quilted!!

chris

Depression Glass!

Depression Glass is colored glassware made primarily durnig the Depression years, the 1920's through the 1930's. And in the colors of amber, green, pink, red, blue, yellow, white and crystal. There were other colors made, but the majority of what you might find at garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets are the colors I mentioned above.

Depression glass was inexpensively made glassware. It was machine made in fairly large quantities and sold at five and dime stores or given away as promotional items.

Depression glass was produced by several glass companies; Federal, Hazel-Atlas, Hocking, Indiana, Jeanette, MacBeth-Evans, and U.S. Glass. There were other companies that produced Depression glass but in smaller quantities.

I started collecting Depression glass with my mom when I was in junior high school. We started collecting green Princess, Princess is the name of a pattern, because my nana had a few yellow Princess divided plates. And of course the next time we went to visit nana, we came home with her yellow Princess divided plates, carefully packed in our suitcase. Once my mom and I got going there was no stopping us. My mom LOVED blue Depression glass, of course, one of the hardest colors to find. My mom and I sold glassware at local antique shows for several years in the mid 70's. Some of my favorite memories of spending time with my mom are those selling glassware. She was always up for any adventure!

Stay turned for more about specific Depression glass patterns!!

Enjoy your Sunday!! It's raining here in Santa Clara Valley, and it's a good thing.... we really need the rain!!

chris

Try, Try, Again!

I participated in Valentine ATC swap that was hosted by Kimberly, who blogs at ArtJoyStuff. I love the tag swaps and was excited to join her swap.

I thought long and hard about what I would do and came up with something that I thought was pretty cute! I finished the tags and sent them off. A few days later I had an email from Kimberly. I had sent tags instead of ATC's. It was the size. I had not carefully read the requirements for the swap. Six ATC's not Six Tags!! Kimberly was very nice and reminded me that ATC's, ( Art Trading Cards) are 2.5" x 3.5". So she kept one of my tags and sent me one of hers. She also sent the rest of my tags back.

So, when I saw that Kimberly was hosting a spring ATC swap I sent her an email and asked if she had room for me. I promised that I would create six ATC's for this swap. She said yes!!

Yahoo!! Another chance!!

The theme of this swap was Spring is in the Air.

I mailed my ATC's off today. I know the size is correct, I measured and measured again. This was a one for one swap, so I will get six ATC's in return.

I can't wait for the mail!!

chris

Found A Pattern!!!

Last week during my lunch break one of my co-workers and I went to our local quilt shop to look for a pattern for the baby quilt I'm making. I wanted something that wasn't too difficult, I really am a novice quilter. And I don't have a lot of time to finish it either!

Once we were back at work, we took a look at the pattern instructions. A little confusing to say the least. In one place it called out for a total of 25 finished blocks and in another 20! So.... my co-worker, who is a much better quilter than I am, wrote out the instructions in layman's terms. What a difference!

I was ready to cut my fabric. Another area of quilting that makes me a little nervous...So, Saturday I had one of the Flea Market Friends helped me cut my fabric. I did not want to make a mistake.

And now it's time to start sewing!

I can't wait to show you my finished blocks!!

chris

A Little History of Belleek China.....

Belleek village is the home of Belleek china. The village is located on the bank of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Belleek is the most westerly village in Northern Ireland and is bordered by County Donegal.

Belleek china has a history going back to 1857 and is some of the world's finest parian china. Parian is a type of bisque porcelain.

I have two traditional pattern Belleek cups and saucers. One was my Nana Cote's and one was my mom's.

This one with the basket weave and the tree branch handle was my Nana's.

This picture is of my mom's cup and saucer. The Belleek company calls the handle on this cup, the "harp". The cup itself has a clover shape to it.

This past summer daughter number 5 spent 4 weeks in Ireland. She spent part of the time in Northern Ireland. Knowing my love of china she made a point to go to the Belleek factory. After much talking with her host family, she decided on the newer contemporary line, Belleek Living. She shipped back a teapot and two mugs. Only the teapot and one mug survived the trip back to California.

Mr. Math and I will have a traditional St. Patty's day dinner tonight, corn beef, cabbage, carrots. and potatoes. I'm making bread pudding for dessert!

Not a bad dinner for a couple of Irish kids!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

chris

All That's Left Is The Pattern!

Daughter number 3 and I went to the fabric store to select the fabric for a special quilt. A quilt for my first grandbaby! Daughter number 1 and her husband are expecting a baby mid July. A little girl!

Daughter number 3 and I decided that we didn't want it to be too girly. And we decided that the back of the quilt would be the baby fabric. We haven't pick that fabric out yet. Once the top is done, we'll look for the backing fabric.

A few more fabrics I plan to work into the quilt.

Tomorrow I need to find a pattern for the quilt. The quilt will be crib size, not too big. Just the right size.

I am crossing my fingers that I can find a pattern that works with the fabric. If I can't find a pattern that works, I will design a pattern. Nothing fancy.

I can't wait to get started!!

Chris

Roses Are Yellow???

Today I took a trip to a local nursery. I was looking for rose bushes to plant along the side of the driveway. There are 5 semi-circles along the edge and it would be a great place to add a little color. The House could use a little zip!!

I am planning on planting the roses on the left side of the driveway... you can't see it in this picture. I have pink roses underneath the front windows.

It was a great day to go to the nursery, the weather wonderful.... warm and sunny.

I wandered around for awhile enjoying the nursery. The first thing that caught my eye was a yellow adirondack chair. I have one in my backyard that was painted purple one year and red the next. After seeing this yellow one, I think the next trip I make is to the paint store!!

Who could resist playing in the water???

Another one of my favorite flowers....Daffodils!! Love the blue and yellow combination.

I found the roses I wanted pretty quickly....I decided on a shrub type rose that grows between 2' - 4' high and in a round shape. They should work well along the side of the driveway.

I love yellow roses, they are my favorite!! And I was able to find what I wanted in yellow!!

All in all a great Saturday. So glad I went today, tomorrow the weather in the Santa Clara Valley turns cooler and next week we will see rain.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

chris

Hello?? Calling All Creative People!

I need help!!

My parish, St. Tomas Of Canterbury is holding it's annual Ladies Tea, April 21st.

What this means to me as a hostess is that I'm responsible for decorating a table that seats 8 and need to provide everything from the centerpiece to the table covering. From the place settings, to small favors. Serving pieces to pitchers.

You are not responsible for the food or drink. That is all provided. They hold a kickoff meeting three months before and decide on the menu. Usually, tea sandwiches, mini quiches and some fruit. The desserts are finger size and served on a platter or perhaps a tierd dish provided by the hostess.

At the initial meeting, a theme is also decided. This year... Americiana.

The tables can be decorated anyway the hostess wants and I had few ideas.

Some things that say Americana to me.... quilts, ice cream, apple pie, baseball, Chevrolet. Chevrolet only because my uncle owned a LARGE Chevy dealorship for 40 years... can't go Ford, the famliy would disown me !!


Anyway.... I saw the chairwoman at Mass this past weekend and she asked it I had decided on my theme. I told her I was leaning toward quilts, and she said oh great, that's how we are decorating the hall.

My dilemma.. I don't want my table to be lost in a large hall filled with quilts, I want my table to stand out.

This is were I'm reaching out to my creative blog friends. If you have any ideas, please email me or leave a comment.

With all of your help I know my table will be a big hit!!

The Blue and White Vase

I stopped at a garage sale in my neighborhood this afternoon and picked up a little blue and white vase. Nothing fancy, just a little blue and white vase, with a rippled edge.

You know what happend next.... I asked how much, the woman said a dollar and I said sold.

I brought it home and realized I didn't have any flowers to put in it. I did not want to spend money on flowers, and I didn't think the yard had anything to offer.

I was wrong....

As I looked around the yard, I noticed my Rosemary bush was blooming.

I cut a few sprigs and put them in the vase.

I put The Blue and White Vase on a Blue and White Plate that I had, and Shazam!!!! A little color in the Xavier Ct. house for....

A Dollar!!! And the Rosemary smells wonderful!!

No need to run out and buy flowers for The Blue and White vase.

Something that I often forget to do... look around your house and yard to see if you don't have something you can use or repurpose.

I'm so glad that I took a look in the yard!

My thoughts and prayers to those in tornado country. I can't imagine.

Chris