Vertigo - Jan. 30, 2011

Vertigo - Jan. 30, 2011

      I designed and made this 18" x 18"  quilt for the warm/cool challenge in my local art quilt group.  I chose to do a cool color quilt .  I named it vertigo, because when looking at it,  I couldn't tell if I was looking down into the water or up at the sun in the sky.

Chinatown - Jan. 29, 2011

Chinatown - Jan. 29, 2011

        I took this photo a few years ago when I was in downtown Washington D.C with friends. 

Squirrel_ Afternoon Snack - Jan. 28, 2011

Squirrel_ Afternoon Snack - Jan. 28, 2011

      This squirrel is enjoying a bread crumb on my friend's deck, surrounded by fresh snow. 

Squirrel's Morning Snack - Jan. 27, 2011

Squirrel's Morning Snack - Jan. 27, 2011

        Never to be denied his morning snack at the bird feeder, this squirrel braves the snow and reaches for the seeds.

Evening Snow - Jan. 26, 2011

Evening Snow - Jan. 26, 2011

     It started to snow at about 3:30 pm.  in northern Virginia today.  My trees are covered with snow.  It's beautiful outside.

Uncle Sam - Jan. 25, 2011

Uncle Sam - Jan. 25, 2011

     I cut this Uncle Sam out of pine on my band saw and then painted him about twenty five years ago.  I also cut the mama duck and ducklings out of walnut.  I love working with wood. 

Jamjari - Dragonfly - Jan. 24, 2011

Jamjari - Dragonfly - Jan. 24, 2011

    I designed this 17" x 22" fiber/quilt  for the 2007 Journal Page challenge for the International Quilt Shown in Houston, Tx.  It also traveled to their other shows.  It had many 3-D techniques - - - in red, black, gold and silver.   I included large red and gold chunky beads, screening, gold mesh, angelina fiber, twisted wire, fancy yarns  and black plastic bag netting.

Baby's First Christmas - Jan. 23, 2011

Baby's First Christmas - Jan. 23, 2011

     I designed and made this little fiber quilt by printing an old photo from the Christmas of 1948 on silk organza.  I am two months old in the photo. I frayed the edges of the organza and attached my baby bracelet from the hospital and my two baby rings in the corner.  My haiku that goes with this piece is:


A new birth has come...
We all gather together...
A celebration.

Mermaid in my Window - Jan. 22, 2011

Mermaid in My Window - Jan. 22, 2011

     My kitchen window is full of things that remind me of nature.  Here is a close-up photo of a mermaid that reminds me of warm weather, since it is so cold outside here in northern Virginia.

Peter Rabbit Quilt - Jan. 21, 2011

Peter Rabbit Quilt - Jan. 21, 2011

        I designed and made this fiber quilt as a challenge for my local quilt guild, Cabin Branch Quilters.  It had to be a piece that was a  fairy tale/book.    I used ultra suede, hand painted cheese cloth, cotton fabric,  fancy yarns and many beads to complete this piece.  It is out traveling around to different quilt shows around the country.  It was just shown at the "Road to California"  quilt show in California. recently.

Quiet Time in the Kitchen - Jan. 20, 2011

Quiet Time in the Kitchen - Jan. 20, 2011

     It is so quiet and cozy in my kitchen after dark.  With the little accent lights,  I can walk around in there without putting any bright lights on and I love that.

Clouds in Blue Sky - Jan. 19, 2011

Clouds in Blue Sky - Jan. 19, 2011

Finally, a wonderful blue color in the sky today.. It has been such a cold gray sky all of January, that it makes me smile to just look up at it...

Ice Crystals - Jan. 18, 2011

Ice Crystals - Jan. 18, 2011

    It started to sleet  about 8 pm last evening here in northern Virginia  and I woke up to  ice crystals on everything outside.  This is a close up of the rhododendron bush in my front yard today.

My Kitchen Window - Jan. 17, 2011

My Kitchen Window - Jan. 17, 2011

     This is the window right above my kitchen sink.   I have collected and displayed a lot of things that make me happy and give me a smile.  It's like bringing nature right inside my home.

Birdhouse in Front Yard Tree - Jan. 16, 2011

Birdhouse in Front Yard Tree - Jan. 16, 2011

    I took this photo of the empty birdhouse in my front yard.  Since it's winter,  it is empty now.  I can't wait until springtime

Flying the Flag - Jan. 15, 2011

Flying the Flag - Jan. 15, 2011

   I took this photo of the flag that flies outside of my garage door.  I love the shadow of the flag on the brick wall. 

Aurora Adventure - Jan. 14, 2011

Aurora Adventure - Jan. 14, 2011

     I designed and made this  little 14 1/2" x 15 1/2"   quilt in Jan. 2005.  It is so very cold outside today in northern Virginia that I thought it would be a great photo for today.  I designed it as if I was looking out at the view from inside of an igloo. 

Frog Stepping Stone - Jan. 13, 2011

Frog Stepping Stone - Jan. 13, 2011

       I made this frog stepping stone for my side garden  and inlaid  the glass stones for his eyes and his back.  I have also made about 14 other stepping stones, of other designs,  to place throughout my back garden.  My neighbor and I set up a little cement mixing area in my garage during warm weather and we each make about three stepping stones at a time for our yards.   I love trying different creative ideas.

Beaded Icicles - Jan. 12, 2011

Beaded Icicles - Jan. 12, 2011

    I have made over 3000 beaded icicles for myself, family and friends over the past few years.   I kept over 500 of them for myself and to put on my Christmas tree.   When I take them off of the tree each year, I drape them over clear vases to enjoy throughout the house.  Each of the icicles is different, so I never get tired of making them. 

Mermaid in Side Winter Garden- Jan. 11, 2011

Mermaid in Side Winter Garden - Jan. 11, 2011

   My mermaid is usually surrounded by beautiful flowers,  but stands alone in the winter cold.  I love seeing her in full bloom in the spring and summer.

Winter Garden - Jan. 10, 2011

Winter Garden - Jan. 10, 2011

      My back garden looks so bare and cold here in northern Virginia at this time of year.  The only things of brightness are the cobalt blue bottles that sit upside down on metal rods in the garden.  There are about 15 blue bottles arranged in clusters.   They shine in the sunlight.

Sunrise in a Very Cold, Northern Virginia - Jan. 9, 2011

Sunrise in a Very Cold, Northern Virginia - Jan. 9, 2011

   I took this photo out my back door this morning -  in northern Virginia.  It was 23 degrees , with an 11 degrees wind chill........Oh where, oh where is summer ?

2010 Christmas Tree - Jan. 8, 2011

2010 Christmas Tree - Jan. 8, 2011

It's time to take the tree down for another year,  I love all the beaded icicles that I put on the tree every year.  They are about  12" long and I hand beaded about 500+ of them for my tree.  They are all different.

Crocheted Covered Christmas Balls - Jan. 7, 2011

Crocheted Covered Christmas Balls -  Jan. 7, 2011

    Over the years,  I have made many different kinds of Christmas ornaments.  One of my favorites that I made are the crocheted covered Christmas balls.  I used white crochet cord & crocheted different designs to cover the balls.  I have them all in this glass bowl in my living room.  It's time to put them away for another year.

Martini Time - Jan. 6, 2011

Martini Time - Jan. 6, 2011

     It was martini time at the Jones before dinner today.  .....Grand Cosmopolitans.

Caboose- Front Royal, Va. Jan. 5, 2011

Caboose- Front Royal, Va. - Jan. 5, 2011

   This photo was taken today in Front Royal, Va.  of the caboose in the town square.  I then had lunch in the Soul Mountain Cafe.  The food and drink were delicious

Union Station - Jan. 4, 2011

Union Station - Jan. 4, 2011

     This is a photo of the ceiling inside of Union Station in Washington D.C.  

Frog on a Swing - Jan. 3, 2011

Frog on a Swing - Jan. 3, 2011

     I bought this little frog on a swing at a yard sale a few years ago.  He hangs from the metal railing on my back deck.  He is weather worn,  but still looks cute, surrounded with my Christmas lights hanging behind him.

Pearls - Jan. 2, 2011

Pearls - Jan.2, 2011


    Pearls are so yummy.  I took this photo of some pearls that I tossed on my sofa.  I love how they glisten and feel when I wear them.

Front Door Wreath - Jan. 1, 2011

Front Door Wreath -  Jan. 1, 2011

    This is the wreath on my front door.  I love the reflection of the house across the street, because it is the same model house as my house.