QT With Mom

 I've just returned from a week in Ft. Myers, FL 

enjoying Quality Time with my Mom.

 

Mom's view overlooks the mouth of the

 Caloosahatchee River as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico,

a lovely backdrop for the sock I started on the plane.

 The socks are pretty special for two reasons.

One, they're for a very dear, long-time friend 

for whom I want to send some TLC.

Two, the pattern is Ferry Beach, one of my

dear friend Lara Smoot's newest designs. 

I'm a fan of her easy-to-follow, attractive 

and very comfy sock patterns.

Stay tuned for the finished socks in a future post.

 This tower is in the back ground of the sock photos.

Here, I've gone out to the island in order to show 

more closely the majestic family of Osprey 

nested on the roof.

 The parents were often gone from the nest. 

Watching these three young ones hop around, screech 

and test their wings was very entertaining.

They're a chatty bunch with their wake up call 

(screeching) beginning at 6:30AM.

I understand. I'm a morning person, too.

The week went by fast, as vacations do,

and I already miss it all -

especially time with my Mom.

(I now realize I didn't take any pictures of her.

Next time, I promise!)

Thanks Mom!

A Flock of Fluttering Flamingos

 When my dear friend Vickie asked me to sew her a 
Tulip Purse with fabrics she purchased from Stash Fabrics, 
I wanted to drop everything, run home and get started!

Vickie brought me the entertaining pink flamingos 
and the polka dots. Pure happiness, right?!

Because I feel the Tulip Purse is at its best with 
at least three fabrics, I found the darker pink fabric 
at our local quilt shop, 
A Kaleidoscope of Quilts in Little York, NY.

 No store bought button here. That sweet little face made

a hand-covered button the only choice!

I love how roomy this bag is! As a knitter, I can tell you 

it holds a whole sweater and all of the yarn for the sweater. 

The pattern calls for plenty of pockets - excellent!

The bag is available in three sizes, but I love the 

Jumbo size so much that it's the one I always return to.

 I'm a big fan of the simple-to-sew details 

that make the finished product special.  

I've made quite a few of these now and have enjoyed 

sewing every single one - definitely hand made with Love.

Sending out a great big Thank You to Vickie 

for the opportunity to make this for you.

What goes around, comes around. I love you!

Knit on.

Seeing Beauty

I love the process of gathering inspiration 

as much as feeling moved to create.

Above, evidence of these two loves have come to be 

long-time neighbors on my Studio's inspiration board. 

 I never tire of listening to their conversation.

A few days ago I received this gift from my big brother Eric.

He cut the wasp nest from a tree on his property, 

and as you can see, it even engulfs some of the tree's branches. 

The large hole was made by a bird who dined on the larvae.

How are those grain lines are formed?

 How is this incredible structure even made? 

Skip to 2:56 seconds into this video for the answers.

Mother Nature never fails to teach and delight. 

It's time to hand over the keys. 

My dear friend Tracy winters out of town, 

and this year she entrusted me to keep her 

Kitchen Aid mixer, the "Red Cadillac", 

shall we say, in good working order. 

How did I get to be so lucky?!

While a decent block of time to make 

pasta from scratch wasn't in the cards, 

I did make a variety of cookie doughs, 

brownie & quiche batters. 

Now the time has come to return 

the Red Cadillac to its rightful home, 

and may I say I truly enjoyed the ride. 

Thank you Tracy.