Wordless Wednesday - Lilac Time

Lilacs - 2013

Hooray for the Red, White & Blue!

It's Shameless Commerce Tuesday, and today I'm featuring red, white and blue items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations  For those of us in the USA, the 4th of July (Independence Day) is less than six weeks away. Yikes!

A patriotic bunting or garland is an easy way to add a pop of color.  Easy to hang, eco-friendly, easy to store, and washable!

Red or navy chevron oven mitts would be a fun hostess gift if you're invited to a backyard BBQ.

Red Chevron Oven Mitt

Navy Chevron Oven Mitt

And for baby's first 4th of July, why not give a reversible bib to your little Yankee Doodle dandy?

Patriotic Bib

Red Chevron Bib

Do you have any fun plans for the 4th of July?  Our Colorado grandkids will be visiting that week.

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Lovely Rita - Thank You!

There are two “big blogs” that are consistently at the top of my Must Read list.  One is Maureen Cracknell Handmade.  The other is Red Pepper Quilts (Rita Hodges).  These blogs are a constant source of inspiration, with their fresh, modern designs and brilliant use of color.  

Rita’s Etsy shop has wonderful modern quilt patterns, but her finished quilts tend to sell out as soon as they are listed.  As Garrison Keillor would say, “They’re a real hot item.”  You can find Rita on Facebook, too.

Well last Saturday, when I picked up the mail the post office had been holding for us while we went to Colorado for granddaughter Erin’s high school graduation, there was a package for me from Australia!  (Did I mention that Rita lives in Australia?!)

And when I opened up the package, here’s what I found!

And when I untied the fabric packet, I found a veritable rainbow of vibrant fabrics!

A super-sized charm pack!  Charm packs are 5” x 5”  (12.7 cm x 12.7 cm) squares of fabric, usually “precuts” from the same fabric line.   These fabrics were designed by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller Fabrics, and are part of her Edges fabric line.

I had admired a flying geese pillow cover that Rita had made using those fabrics. 

I also love Rita’s quilts, like this giant pieced DresdenPlate quilt:

 Or this kid-friendly I Spy quilt:

I am in awe of Rita’s meticulous precision piecing, her color sense, and her ability to find just the right binding and backing for every project.

As an added bonus, Rita included this adorable bicycle postcard:

I just had to send that to my daughter in Brooklyn!  She was my biking buddy during her teens, and she would fully appreciate the fabric and pincushion as well!  She still brings home mending projects for me whenever she comes to visit.

Once, after our 42-mile round trip bike ride on the MoPacTrail, Allison burst into song.  She sang, “We are the champions of the trail” to the tune of “We are the champions of the world.”  The song We Are the Champions was a ballad written by Freddie Mercury and recorded by the British rock band, Queen, in 1977 – more than a decade before my daughter was born!  Allison knew it because her mother listened to “oldies” music while she was growing up, and often sang along to the songs while driving in the car, much to the dismay of Allison and her brothers.  (Ahem! … Yes, that would be me.) Okay, so I was slightly off key, but I knew all the words and I sang with enthusiasm.

So, lovely Rita, THANK YOU from the bottom of my grateful heart!!   I am going to use some of those beautiful fabrics to embellish linen zip pouches I’ll be making – some with bright little hexies and some with squares, I think.   Stay tuned!

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Treasury Thanks

It's Memorial Day weekend in the USA.   I wish safe travels to those on the road and in the air.  And I encourage you to find some time to remember those who are no longer with us.

Today I wish to thank all the talented curators who featured items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, over the past week.  THANK YOU!!

Trina Prenzi of trinasclaycreations, a BBA teammate, featured my poppies on teal oven mitts in her treasury, Blue Sky.  We saw lots of blue sky driving to Colorado earlier this week.  Trina makes incredible polymer clay creations.  I just love this favorite teacher figurine.  School is out in Nebraska, but my granddaughter in NH will be in 3rd grade until June 28. Lots of snow days to make up!

Holly of TheRottenRooster featured my green chevron oven mitt in her tresaury, Chevron Summer.  Holly makes beautiful jewelry -- like this simply elegant Tiffany blue and sterling silver necklace.

Boris of SupplyB also featured my green chevron oven mitt in his treasury, Poison-.  Beaders and jewelry makers will LOVE his shop!    Check out these beautiful round turquoise beads.

Deb of TreazuredDesignz featured my BBQ oven mitt in her treasury, First Picnic of the Year.  It would be a soggy picnic in Nebraska, but as my farmer dad would have said, "We can use the moisture."  Deb's shop is full of vintage sewing patterns and supplies -- right up my alley!  This incredible 1960s women's suit pattern looks like something right out of Mad Men.

Deb Baroff of storybeader, a BBA teammate, featured my toddler sun dress in her treasury, Pink and Black.  I love Deb's paper beads, and the jewelry she makes from them, like these red and pink paper and sterling earrings.

Wanda of saffronfields, a Baby Boomer teammate,  featured my navy chevron oven mitt in her Father's Day-themed treasury, Unique Gifts for Dad.   This wonderful linen yarn wreath would be a unique housewarming gift.

Bondas, a buyer only from Perth, Australia, featured my yellow and gray baby girl bib in her treasury, baby bibs -- girls.  What a fun assortment!

So again, THANK YOU, to all the curators.  And thanks to each of you for stopping by.  Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend!

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

The Graduate

I've been AWOL for a few days --- but for a good reason.  We were in Colorado for granddaughter Erin's high school graduation.  She graduated with highest honors (4.0+ GPA) from Douglas County High School on May 23, 2013.

We are so proud of her -- and excited that she will be attending the University of Nebraska this Fall.

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday - Two Days Late

Wind Farm - Eastern Colorado USA

Tomato Time

You say toMAYto and I say toMAHto.

Those are lyrics from a song that was popular a little before my time, but for some reason it came to mind when I found this fun tomato and herb fabric from the Coleslaw collection designed by Kaye England for Wilmington Prints.

So far, the only tomatoes I've planted this year are cherry tomatoes, which seem to be thriving (so far, so good) in a large pot on my deck.  I will probably plant some "big" tomatoes next weekend, when I finish planting the rest of the garden.

When I was a kid growing up on the farm we always had a HUGE garden, and we canned quarts of tomatoes to be added to "hot dishes" (Midwestern term for casseroles) during our long winters.  There was a beautiful weeping willow tree at the edge of the garden.  I loved to climb that tree and sit up there and read in the shade, with the wind whispering softly through the willow branches.

Looking at my mom's old recipe cards, I am often amused by how little she wrote down.  She just assumed anyone would know the other details.  Perhaps that was another thing that drew me to this fabric when I spotted it in one of my favorite local quilt shops, The Calico House.   I love the recipe card written in red that says "HERE'S HOW" at the top.

Since it is Shameless Commerce Tuesday, I thought I'd share these oven mitts, one of the new listings from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations.

How does your garden grow?  Do you grow enough to can or freeze, or just to enjoy "in season"?

We are heading out on the first leg of the trip to Colorado this afternoon.  Erin's graduation is Thursday morning, and we plan to head back on Friday.  So I will be unplugged for a few days, enjoying some family time. But I will also be praying for the people of Moore, Oklahoma, as they try to piece their lives back together after the tragic tornado hit their community yesterday.  If you'd like to offer your support, here is a link. So sad.

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Erin's Quilt - WIP

Two years ago, our eldest granddaughter, Erin, asked, "Grandma, will you make me a graduation quilt?"  Now who could refuse a request like that!  

Even though I had two years' lead time, I was anxious to get started, so I looked at patterns and fabrics, and came up with a pattern by 3 Sisters for Moda that I thought would work.   (I know--a true artist would design an original pattern.  But I consider myself more of a craftsperson than a designer.  I'll experiment with original designs with scraps - or for quilt guild challenges.  But when I'm purchasing this much fabric for a special occasion quilt, I'd rather go with a sure thing.  So please don't judge.)

I loved the mix of applique, and the colorful pieced border.

I consulted with her mom, and she approved, so off I went to purchase fabric.  (My blogging friend, Duni, would approve of my choices, I'm sure!)  There were pretty small-scale floral prints in shades of pink, blue and green, an assortment of cream-colored background fabrics, and a soft blue tone-on-tone floral for the backing.  The florals were from the Aviary collection by 3 Sisters for Moda -- high quality 100% cottons.

And all those pretty fabrics sat in a box for awhile -- for QUITE awhile -- I had two years, right???

Several months later, I cut all the strips for stems and the pieced border.  Using our AccuQuilt GO! Baby, I cut the 358 freezer paper templates for the leaves, then ironed each template onto fabric.  I also created a template plastic guide for placing the leaves around each stem.

And then came a long, hot summer and a busy craft fair season, followed by a holiday Etsy rush, and then another tax season.  All that time passed in a BLUR-r-r-r-r!

So after tax season, I began some serious hand stitching -- needle turn applique. I completed the stems in a weekend, but I grossly underestimated how long it would take to stitch all 358 leaves!  I'm still not done, with graduation only three days away (and I have a custom Etsy order, a tight deadline free lance research project and a L-O-N-G drive to Colorado to complete in the meantime).  

SO-- I will give her a sneak preview -- along with my apology for being late - - and a card with some cash.   And Erin will have her finished quilt when she moves to Lincoln next Fall to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  (One less thing to move from CO to NE.)

I quilt my big quilts by credit card.  I haven't attempted to quilt anything larger than a baby quilt or lap throw on my home machine. I am fortunate to have a talented quilt guild friend, Kris Vierra, who is an award-winning machine quilter.  She's been quilting for me since before she became famous, and she lives only a few blocks from me.  Her quilting can turn an ordinary quilt into something fabulous.  She has a long waiting list, but it will be well worth the wait!  I'll show you all the finished quilt sometime this Fall.

THEN, I'll need to begin working on a graduation quilt for Erin's brother, Daniel!  I have the pattern (much simpler -- no leaves or hand applique!), but I'll need to search for "guy fabrics" -- AFTER Erin's quilt is done!  I'll have less than a year to complete that one.

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Treasury Thanks

It was a great week for Treasuries, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the curators who featured items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, during the past week.

THANK YOU!

Zoubizou  from The Netherlands featured my blue large-sized oven mitts in her treasury, Lemon Cake . . ..

I just love this adorable newborn baby hat from Zoubizou's shop:

 Aid for Abby, a shop which features artwork by an autistic child artist, featured my yellow and white chevron oven mitts in the treasury, Spring Trend - Yellow and White.  This abstract art by Abby is a sample of some of the amazing artwork available at Aid for Abby:

Alice Garrett of Alicecarolynsupply featured my aqua chevron oven mitt in her beautiful treasury, Colour Inspiration: Aqua.  Alice's shop has a wonderful assortment of hard to find Liberty of London cotton lawn fabrics, like this beautiful Tresco print, inspired by the Tresco Abbey gardens:

Natashalh of StalkingTheWildSnark, a BBA teammate, also featured my aqua chevron oven mitts in her treasury, It's Geometric!  This wonderful nautical necklace from Natasha's shop exemplifies another current trend:

Marijn from Woolly Mary (Netherlands) featured my poppies on teal oven mitts in her bright and cheery treasury, Wearable Poppies.   These wonderfully unique and whimsical crochet birds are one of my favorite finds in Marijn's shop:

Cara Harkness of BohoBeachJewelry featured my orange chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Orange and White Delight.  This orange agate bracelet is one of the wonderful Boho jewelry items from Cara's shop:

Nesrin from ArtofAccessory featured my green chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Green White.  The pretty green crochet halter top is something I would have loved in my younger days -- it covers stretch marks, but is still cool and sexy on a hot summer day:  

Thanos from GreekCosmos featured my yellow floral baby bib in the treasury Kid's Stuff -- In Grey - Yellow. This ancient Greek reproduction disc has such unique markings.  What do they mean?  It's Greek to me!  But it would be a beautiful accent piece.

More than half the curators featured this week are sellers from abroad.  Etsy truly is an international handmade marketplace!   It's exciting to be a part of that community.

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

BBA May Challenge - Rick Rack Rose

The May Challenge for the Blogging Business Artisans Team is from Sharla of  Beaded Tail.

The challenge was to make something with a flower theme -- May flowers.

I will be visiting two of my grandchildren in New Hampshire in August. While I am there, we will celebrate Madeline’s 9^th birthday.  My three East Coast “big kids” will all be there – a mini-reunion.

Madeline’s favorite color is pink, so I decided to make her a pink rick rack rose hair clip for her curly blonde hair.

  

I found this rick rack flower tutorial on the Oh For Sweetness Sake blog. Thanks to Jesselle’s great step-by-step instructions, I was able to create a cute little hair accessory.  I used Roxanne's Glue-Baste-It instead of a hot glue gun.    I had some difficulty turning back the “petals,” possibly due to having fat old fingers – but if there was polyester in the rick rack, that would also make it more difficult to shape the flower.  On my next attempt, I may look for cotton rick rack, and use tweezers to help the rose bloom.

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday - Blooms

Now You're Cookin'!

It's Shameless Commerce Tuesday, and today I'm featuring some new listings from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, also available at Locabal (Local + Global).

Oven mitts continue to be my best sellers, and I've recently added a few new ones to the mix.

This one reminds me of Lifesavers candies.

Pink and gray are a winning color combination, I think.

And I couldn't resist Riley Blake's new purple chevrons and dots fabrics.

I have more new mitts cut and ready to sew --- but I'm still working on Erin's graduation quilt.
Juggle. Juggle. Juggle.

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Treasury Thanks - Mother's Day 2013

On this Mother's Day I am grateful for my children and grandchildren, and for a sunny day.

I am also grateful for the curators who featured items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, in treasuries over the past week.  A huge THANK YOU to all!

Holly from TheRottenRooster featured my pool party bunting in her fun and colorful treasury, Pool Party!
While it's WAY too chilly for a pool party in Nebraska, we know that warmer days are coming.  This pretty paper bead bracelet from Holly's shop would be a lovely Spring or Summer accessory.

VivaTheLove featured my rainbow chevron oven mitts in her treasury, Mother's Day Gift Ideas.  If I had a Mother's Day Etsy Gift Card to spend, I might be looking at this beautiful blue agate bracelet.

Patty Harrington of FernHollowFInds, a Baby Boomers teammate, featured my tangerine oranges on green oven mitts in her treasury, I Love You MOM!  With all of my kids in different time zones, I'll be doing some traveling to stay in touch.  This beautiful drawstring jewelry pouch would be great for travel - or every day.

Margaret of SplendidLittleStars, a BBA teammate, featured my hearts baby bib in her treasury, True Love.  This cute tie dyed heart t-shirt would delight my youngest granddaughter, I'm sure.

Sharla of BeadedTail, another BBA teammate, featured my magenta schlep bag in her treasury, For Moms of Kids With and Without Fur. My fur baby is the only "kid" who will be with me this Mother's Day.
This Be Curious cat journal reminds me of my curious sewing buddy, Tux.

That's all for now.  I'll be heading to the Old Cheney Farmer's Market after church today, tagging up with my kids by phone or text, working on Erin's graduation quilt  ---- and missing my mom.

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Not So Mellow - YELLOW!

According to Etsy trend watchers, YELLOW is the hot new color for Spring and Summer 2013. Now as many of you know, my favorite color is PURPLE -- the opposite of yellow on the color wheel!  Suffice it to say, my stash is a little shy on yellow....but it's growing on me.

I especially love the yellow and gray combination -- sunshine and shadows.  SO--I recently purchased some pretty fabrics:

I especially love the Ikat on the left.  All the fabrics shown above are 100% cotton from the Gray Matters collection designed by Jackie Studios for Camelot Fabrics.

I also purchased some yummy butter yellow 100% linen.  I plan to make at least two large statement clutches with this very pretty and subtle-textured fabric.

It's Shameless Commerce Tuesday, but I don't have a brand new listing to show you today, just these works not yet in progress.

I've been busy trying to finish granddaughter Erin's graduation quilt, while keeping up with custom Mother's Day orders, dealing with the computer repair guy and the cable guy (I'm back online, thank you very much), and meeting deadlines for free lance legal research projects.  Check!

But stay tuned for some yellow and gray goodies sometime in the not too distant future...I hope.  My Colorado grandkids gave me this sign for Christmas a few years ago.  I'm feelin' it this month!

Are you a yellow fan?

TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://www.etsy.com/shop/paqueflowr
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Treasury Thanks

Greetings from the chilly prairie!

I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to the curators who featured items from my little Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, in treasuries over the past week.

Long Tall Sally from LongTallSallys featured my priarie sunbonnet in her Laura Ingalls Wilder treasury, MA - INGALLS.   As many of you know, I grew up not far from DeSmet, South Dakota, the "Little Town on the Prairie," so I have been a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan for over 50 years.  It has been such fun to see my daughter and granddaughters enjoy the books as much as I did.

Long Tall Sally has a delightful vintage shop.  I just love these oh so pretty Staffordshire tea cups.

Kostas of thisandthatgallery (Greece) featured my poppies on teal oven mitts in the treasury, What Time Is It? Red Past Teal.  Every time I hear the name Kostas, I am reminded of the movie, Shirley Valentine.  It was not a blockbuster at the box office, but one of my Top 10 Chick Flicks of all time.  If you can find it on Netflix, you might want to add it to your queue!  

I love these CUTE 24k gold earrings from thisandthatgallery!  Wouldn't they make a a wonderful gift for a stylist?

Natalya Poznyak of NatsDoll featured my green chevron oven mitts in her treasury, Nature..  Nat makes adorable dolls. It was so hard to pick just one to share with you.   But I finally decided on this Coffee Fairy. She made me think of my daughter, who loves her coffee.

Anna Meer, a buyer only from Seattle, Washington, featured my aqua chevron oven mitt in her treasury, In the Kitchen.    Thank you, Anna!

Cynthia from Antiquity Travelers featured my rose oven mitts in her treasury, Coming Up Roses.  The treasury was in celebration of the grand opening of teammate Duni's new shop, Duni Studio Design.  

You'll be coming up roses sporting these pretty rose earrings with jade from Cynthia's shop:

Christina Sawka of CJS Tonbo (tonbo means dragonfly and signifies strength, courage and happiness), featured my poppies on teal oven mitts in her treasury, Poppy Love.    Christina's shop has beautiful vintage Japanese textiles, like this gorgeous poppy red kimono.  

Margaret of Splendid Little Stars featured my aqua chevron oven mitts in her pretty blue treasury, By the Sea.  This beautiful aqua scrunchie would be the perfect accessory to tame your mane at the beach.

And that's a wrap!  Signing off to continue work on granddaughter Erin's graduation quilt (T minus 18 days and counting!) and two custom orders.  My brother drove down from South Dakota to watch Husker baseball -- in his down-filled parka and flannel-lined jeans.  It was a chilly 43 degrees at last night's game.  (Hubby and I stayed home and watched it on the Big Ten Network.)

Wishing you all a warm and sunny week!

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com