Garden Pathways...finished!

A few months ago I blogged about a quilt I was working on for a friend. Well, after putting it off, then coming back to it, putting it off again, and finally just busting tail to complete it in one day, I finished it! I was so excited about the way it turned out - and so was my friend!

Here is the completed quilt:

I finished it using basic stitch in the ditch for the blocks portion of the top. Then I quilted "pebbles" in the left and right side border to resemble a stone pathway. The top and the bottom were quilted to look like blades of grass, mimicking the grass on the borders. The center green border was a continuous leaf pattern. I finished it all up and bound it with lace binding. It was the perfect finishing touch for this ultra-feminine symphony of garden blocks. I really loved working on this quilt and am thinking about doing another one. It was kind of hard to hand it over, but my friend was truly appreciative! Happy quilting!

Garden Pathways Quilt

Thought I'd put up some pictures of a quilt I've been working on for my friend Lori. I'm calling it "Lori's Garden Pathway" because it is a pathways quilt with a center motif and border (eventually) of roses, flanked by other leaf prints and polka dots. It kind of looks like a garden with paths around the greens. I was iffy on the colors at first, but as it has come together I've really fallen in love with it. It's got a romantic feel to it. I'm trying to decide on the quilt pattern for it, as that can make or break a quilt. Thoughts?

Junkin' Up My House

Rose Trellis Fountain

Yes, it's true. My beautiful home is filled with junk. Well, other people's junk, anyway. I love thrift and antique stores and my home is beginning to reflect this obsession. I always wanted a home that didn't look so modern (or falling down) that it would really be a canvas for a shabby chic or country look. I'm attracted to things that I can re-purpose or use in ways not originally intended. And I have a hard time finding extreme usefulness in modern-day furniture designs. They leave out utilitarian needs and instead focus only on style. If it were simple enough in my home to focus on style, then I'd be all for it. But the varied interests, needs, and wants of a 7-member family also demands storage, function, and attractiveness. So with these few rules in place, I decided to fill my home with things that make me happy. I mean, why not? Isn't home supposed to be a place you come to when you want to be happy? And filling it with things that don't mean anything doesn't make me happy. So the pieces I'm choosing will most likely also be an eclectic mix of objects, but that's ok, because that suits me.

Yesterday my husband and I went thrift store shopping without our children for four entire hours! We found a sitter and went on our mini adventure. We found many things that caught our eye, but we didn't buy it all. Instead we chose some things to go in our fairy garden, a desk for the dining room/office area, and a teapot for our collection. Altogether we spent about $60. Yep, $60, desk included. The desk was at a yard sale, just waiting for us. I'm planning to clean it up, decoupage some scenes on the ends, maybe distress it and add a coat of white paint to it, and change out the handles on it to something a little fancier. It is, after all, in my formal dining room!

My $40 desk

My husband has an idea on how to hook up the fountains using pvc pipe underground, a two-way faucet, and some aquarium tubing. I'll try to take pictures of it when he gets it together.

The little fairy holding the petal bowl will eventually have some miniature roses in it. She will help me tend them. :)

We also started scrounging around the yard and found some old privacy fencing and wood from a building that would be perfect for the garden and for shelving inside the house. So as it all comes together I hope you'll join me in my journey. Your

Rose Garden Fountain

ideas and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome.

A fairy for the garden

Fairy Fountain

Planning the Garden

I have never been much on gardening - but have always loved gardens. Mostly I have never had any desire to set up a beautiful garden in a rental home that I didn't expect to be in very long. However, after our recent move to our lovely country home, I have decided that I will attempt a butterfly garden with a fairy theme this year. I have been all over Listia, bidding on seeds and seeking out beautiful flowers to attract butterflies, birds, and of course, fairies. :) I also need a few decorations in my garden, so naturally I turn to handmade artisans that catch my eye on Etsy and Zibbet. Her is a collage with coordinating links of some of my favorites.  http://pinterest.com/tammy_lyons1/fairy-garden/