The July 4th party was bigger than ever. lots of food-people-beer-fireworks. But the only pictures I took were the game I made out of a banner that previously said “united we stand”.
By the end of the night it said “nude twats sin’d”. Which I somehow missed until the next morning, when I hurriedly took it off before the neighbors saw….
I kinda love the bento box pattern. I don’t know if you can tell from my other quilts here here and here. Oh wait- here too.
I have never made one for myself, but I think that will be coming soon. I am having trouble giving this one away. But I did tell the bride it was coming, so I don’t have much choice. I was trying to keep it a secret, but the wedding is tomorrow so the chances she is checking my wee website today are pretty slim.
I am so relieved to have this quilt done! So many projects to get working on, family arriving soon and our annual huge July 4th party next weekend. July 5th I will be hiding out for a while to prepare for my “Artist of the Week” table at the Lansdowne Farmers Market, July 25th. I am planning to relax in August!
I happen to love Cloth and Bobbin, the (only) quilting store that is within 30 minutes of my house and now I am a sample maker for some of the patterns they sell! I taught a class there with an altered Simplicity baby dress pattern about a year ago. The class felt successful but my habit of always wanting to do new things means I haven’t done it again. The amazing owner asked me if I could make a sample of this adorable pattern;
And I jumped at the chance. When I arrived Saturday morning, Lisel- the pattern designer just happen to be there setting up for her class. I didn’t realize who she was right away but when I did I felt a little starstruck. Sewing fame couldn’t happen to a nicer gal…
The rest of the weekend was filled with friends and food and sangria, and I promised a particular 4 year old a pair of these pants in astronaut fabric. I have 2 quilt tops waiting to be sewn, new couch pillow covers cut out, a big stack of minkee waiting to become security blankets and a pink/green/brown quilt marinating in a stack. But yes, I did volunteer for another job. Biting off more than I can chew? Maybe, but pleasing 4 year olds is one of my great goals in life
First a health update. The verdict on the shoulder is that I pinched a nerve/tendon and a little physical therapy should fix me up good. I made the doctor repeat “no surgery” on my return appointment, he only rolled his eyes a little. The pain is down to minimal, only really preventing me from sleeping on my left side. Which I actually miss more than a little bit.
I am embarrassed to say how long this little crafty project took me but I was able to work on it one handedly last week. I like it although I can pick out a couple changes I would make if I were, say locked in the bathroom with a paintbrush. I am happy to say it is good enough.
I bought the flowers at Ikea as vinyl stickers you are supposed to use as wall art. I stuck them on and painted over them with a tiny can of navy rustoleum, making them a like a stencil. The texture of the bathtub is a little nubbly so there was lots of paint that leaked under the stickers. I touched up with some white rustoleum and added a few extra leaves and dots. Total project cost? $18 !
We are now in day 5 of “I can’t move my left arm because it hurts too damn much”. There have been many helpful opinions, mostly concerning surgery and physical therapy. I say helpful but what I think I mean is depressing. I will know more on Friday when I return to the doctor.
Because I can’t sew a damn thing- I can’t share new stuff. So I wanted to share two gems I found on the equilter website while internet shopping with one hand.
Firstly I will share a purchase I made a few months back and am enjoying greatly- A huge Mona Lisa fleece blanket. It is 2 sided and very affordable. It was all I could do to not buy one for everyone I know- thankfully it matches my couch, because a new couch to match the blanket would have been expensive 
And second is something I came across today and regret I didn’t think of myself- Obama quilting cotton- amazing! I am sure it will find it’s way into many christmas presents this year…
I did something wretched to my shoulder and cannot wait for the day I can use both hands to drive, type, sew etc.
Before my incapacitation I finished this quilt top from pinwheels I sewed this past winter. summer time vibrant- and matches the lilies and zinnias and columbine in the garden…
working on a unique back for this, stay tuned.
Before my fan-tab-o-lus vacation I spent many an hour sewing like a demon to have lots of things for the Lansdowne Arts and Crafts Fair. Which was subsequently rained out, of course. The enrollment $25 seems to have been non-refundable which is kinda lame, but the plus side is my etsy store now has lots of good stuff in it and my new retail outlet; Birthmark is also well stocked for a while. I even managed to make a new quilt to show at the fair, which was so fast and easy it makes me want to whip a couple more out. I had been saving all these little scraps for a mega scrap quilt but the pink and red were just too appealing together…
the birds seem to be popular for baby dresses, hopefully the same holds true for quilts.
I am working on a blue and brown quilt for a wedding right now, but who knows if she reads the blog so no pictures until later…
Let me say first, I was expecting a little key west/ bourbon street out of this “party island” but it was not that at all. Everything was clean and comfortable with less of the “touristy” vibe than Barcelona had.
We sacrificed our camera batteries to the remote control helicopter we brought for Paul’s cousin Omar. And boy did he love the helicopter! So we only have a few pictures of Ibiza and the neighboring island Formentera. What I regret the most is not taking pictures of Paul’s god parents and their family who were so incredibly nice and welcoming. They took us to these amazing secret beaches on Ibiza and bought us gelato and lunches and dinners and were all around incredible. So here is a picture of the old town on Ibiza where we attended a very lovely mideval festival and later took this picture on the ferry on the way to Formentera, where we enjoyed some amazing beaches, and cliffs (those pictures below)
Firstly, let me say this NY Times article was very helpful in hitting all the right spots in Barcelona. We only had 3 days there and I think we managed a good mix of museums and awesome food. Some highlights;
Day One- with jet lag and a husband with a serious neck crik we hobbled to Palau de la Música Catalana where we bought tickets for the following day (and were fortunate to get them) and settled into a little cafe for lite dinner. A walk on the Ramblas and a peek into the Cathedral of Barcelona (not the Gaudi one) and we called it a day. 
Day Two started with the Picasso Museum, which was lovely and took about an hour. Then we returned to the Palau de la Musica where we mostly enjoyed a tour with a pretty arrogant tour guide and a weird “no pictures” rule. I understand the rule for oil paintings or fragile parchment but for tile and concrete?? Most of the rude americans tried to break the rule, me included. In a strange moment of law abiding, by husband high tailed it in the other direction so he wouldn’t be caught with me. So here is the rule breaking picture of the fantabulous ceiling…
I might be a little jaded but $30 per person for a tour I was expecting a glossy brochure or a chance to take some pictures. While it was a gorgeous building, I would be hesitant to suggest the tour based on the rude tour guide alone. There is a picture in all the guide books of this balcony–
and they don’t even let you go there anymore. Instead- buy some postcards in the gift shop…
The rest of Day 2 was spent hanging out with cousin Max who is in university in Barcelona (for Physics! what a brain!) and we dragged him to Poble Espanyol which was the worst deal of the trip. We paid an entrance fee to go into a manicured neighborhood where there were some artist shops that were not much different than the ones in the rest of barcelona. There were a handful of restaurants but unless there is a concert or something in the center square- Skip it. We tried to see the Magic Fountain before heading back to the hotel, but we came on the wrong day of the week…sad.
Day 3 was much better- started at Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi cathedral still in construction. It was gorgeous of course, and the inside was a bit surprising, I expected it to be much more ornate, and maybe darker, like the outside but instead;
incredibly tall and airy and light. Really amazing! Next stop on the Gaudi tour was Park Guell, the best deal of the trip (no admission fee for the park, small fee for Gaudi house) where we found millions of other tourists but still managed to enjoy the modernist surroundings. Also, a hint, buy a combination ticket at Sagrada Familia and you will save 4 euros on the house admission.
Day 4 (before we flew to Ibiza) we went to the Casa Batllo which was fantastic aquatic themed dream world. Admission was very pricey but it felt worth it this time- I took millions of pictures, but this one is my favorite;
or maybe I LOVE this one the best- it is a toss up really…
okay one more picture- here was our lunch before going to the airport from one of the stalls in the Boqueria (the covered market right off the Ramblas). Cheap and delish!
next up- 3 days in Ibiza (not raving!)
Because it is more hectic than ever in my life, I am giving you the most random pictures of spain, the ones that have no story but will remind me of a truly great vacation ;
fish in the candy shop
beautiful graffiti
six fingered diver
and honestly, it is probably best that it has taken me this long to discover that Sangria is the best thing in the whole world, I would have accomplished much less in life if I had been sitting around sipping it like I find myself doing these days…
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