A Vacation At Home

This week for Project Quilting, we were to be inspired by the word "Vacation".  I decided to base my quilt on a vacation at home.  I remember years ago they used to call them "Stay Vacations".


We live out in the country up in a hill. We are surrounded with beautiful pine trees.  When we look out our windows, we feel like we are on vacation all the time. I decided to make a thread painted quilt of us looking out the window.

If you look close you can see a raccoon in the yard.

I also took a photo out the window of my quilting studio of the deer in our yard.

I used the raw edge applique' method and thread painted on the pieces.  I stitched together, randomly, creams and white prints for the background.

It needed a border. 

I added a couple more trees and silhouettes of us. 

I selected to use 2 layers of batting.  I use Hobbs brand batting on all my quilts.  The top layer is washable wool and the bottom layer is 80/20 batting.  The top layer gives it the fluff and the bottom layer gives it some firmness.

I quilted the background with a cream and white thread.  First with cream and then with white.  I think it makes it look like a snowy hill.

Next I quilted/thread painted the trees with a green thread and then white thread on the trees to appear like snow on them. I quilted with black thread on the brown trunks and black thread on the borders and the silhouettes.

I am pleased with the results. I really enjoyed the challenge this week.

Here's a few up close photos.

I stitched in my name --- Marcia and 2016 on the side.

I flipped it over so you can see the backside.

I will be linking up for Project Quilting over a Persimon Dreams Blog for this week's challenge.

Hop over and check out all the quilts created in one week.

Enjoy your evening!

Marcia

Minutes for Me - Colors in My Yard

Why should you take some Minutes for You?

I do it, because it makes me smile. Yes, a few minutes of smiling a day can make all the difference in the world to me.

It's like taking time to smell the roses, even if they are dandelions!  Do you know what dandelions look like up close in the early morning?  The petals are tightly twisted in a spiral.

Take time to check it out. (Minutes for Me)

Look at the tiny bee on a dandelion in full bloom in the afternoon.

Our pines are budding out too.  Love the richness of the greens, even though I do not like the color green.

I was taking photos of my containers for my container garden. I wanted a "before photo" and then I noticed the green on the pines.  Tons of pollen is flying through the air and into my windows and up my nose! But they do look pretty.

I can't wait to fill the containers. It is still too early in Wisconsin... waiting til later in May.

We have three apple trees in our yard. They were in full bloom and are starting to loose their petals with the rain and the wind.  The morning sun was hitting them just right this morning for these photos.

Take time for a few minutes for you!

If you are following me on Instagram, you know I take photos of all the colors around me. I share my Instagram photos on Twitter and facebook too.  

Later, this month, I will share the photos of the all the colors in my kitchen, including my pretty plates, quilted placemats, and my colorful food. 

It looks like a quilt to me! This was my lunch on Tuesday!

Enjoying May, one day at a time...

Marcia