Recently a friend challenged me to post a series of ‘nature photos’.
I went through my archived pictures and chose seven that I felt were rather ‘special’, at least they are to me.
Then, I added my all time favorite, the misty morning with the Bible verse.
No matter what the weather or the events of the day, it is important to find something GOOD in the day and rejoice.
I love the Irish Chain pattern and this color combination of purples and greens.
The giveaway for August will be a wall quilt, approximately 35 inches by 35 inches in this star pattern. This one was made last week by my Grandson Brett. It was easy and really looks good. I have enough fabric to make another.
The pattern is featured in The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club book by Wanda Brunstetter. WHich, by the way is a really good story.
It will be made by me, out of 100 % cotton fabrics and machine quilted.
How to enter: Post a comment, tell me WHY you need a wall quilt. Or, if you have read the book, tell me your favorite chaaracter and a bit about why you chose that person.
Leave your e-mail contact address.
Brett will choose a random winner on August 24th.
Simple as that, it really is!
Yes, it’s coming! Here is an easy project that you can use for yourself a gift or a sewing lesson for a beginner. It’s a simple quilted potholder. And who can’t use one of those? 
You will need:
2 – 9 /2 inch squares of fabric
1 – 9 1/2 inch square of Insulbright heat resistant material. It is available at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s and Wal-Mart. ( three layers of cotton batting can be used. That is how Granny made them back in the day.)
A small piece or ribbon or bias tape (approximately 4 inches)
Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
Pins
Sewing machine
Knitting needle or wooden spoon
Step 1. Two pieces of fabric and one of Insulbright 
Step 2. Place fabric pieces right sides together on top of Insulbright.
Step 3. Mark a 3 inch gap along one side, stitch around the piece using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Trim the corners diagonally to cut down bulk on the finished potholder.
Step 4. Gently push and turn the piece, until the batting is in the center and both fabric pieces are turned right side out on the top and bottom. 
Step 5. Using knitting needle or wooden spoon handle, push out the corners of your potholder.
Step 6. Center the ribbon or bias tape hanger in the gap, fold in seam allowance and top stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Step 7. Quilt your potholder. You can use straight lines or any design you can think up. I stitched along the seams of the pieces in the top block.
Step 8. Trim threads.
You now have a potholder to use or give as a gift.
The best part of my day is the time I take my coffee out to the porch, meditate, praise the Lord and pray for family, friends and special needs.
All my senses are awake and aware. Listening to and enjoying the glory of God’s creation and feeling the peace that passeth understanding. The scents carried on the wind, the warmth or coolness that touches my skin, the sight of daylight coming up over Sunrise Ridge. The taste of that first cup of coffee.
Each new day brings its own wonder, its unique moment. its own color and beauty. I take pleasure in this time, casting away cares, making plans for the present, the gift I have been given with the new day.
There are so many concepts of art. Here is one I like, watching a woman make traditional bobbin lace at the Ozark Heritage day was fascinating.
It surely takes weaving and knot tying to a level I would never have imagined.
Here is a link for a video I made of part of the demonstration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5IGQXmbFA&feature=plcp
While there are many wonderful things to view right here on Sunrise Ridge, I was blessed today with a trip ‘out’ with friends.
We visited Big Springs, a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Van Buren Missouri.
Ozark Heritage Day was going on with demonstrations of many crafts and living history vignettes. More about some of those in the next few days.
Today, just relax, enjoy the wonderful colors of the spring and the cool clear flow of water.
The Spring was beautiful to behold, so I choose this as ‘my view today’. I hope you enjoy it too.
Nature provides a nice drink for some of the wonderful creatures
Honey suckle,
millfoil, hedge parsley, elderberry, fleabane, Queen Anne’s Lace, ox-eye daisies. All seem to be blooming in umbels and clusters of white flowers right now. White sparkles all over the fields and forests.
Along some overgrown paths, from a distance, the white flowers almost look like snow.
Madison Woods Friday Fictioneers photo prompt for this week was a bit different from mine. Similar elements make this one a reasonable substitution. You can learn more about Friday Fictioneers, see her original picture and find links to other posts here: http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/moths-at-the-drive-through/
It’s a lot of fun to read the posts and find out where it takes others. If you write, it’s a great challenge to try to get your thoughts from start to finish in about 100 words.
I took this picture of an automeris io moth the other day and was intrigued by its colors and markings.
This one is a male, the female of the species is brown.
So in 100 words, here is a love story
Brighter than the yellow moon
Soft thuds in the nighttime gloom
I beat to reach the glowing light,
To join with you in pure delight
Silent, strident for attention
But you sleep on.
Eyes upon my wings rimmed red
Stung with tears I cannot shed.
Wearing now remaint of gold;
Touched with cryptic symbols old
No one takes heed.
Don’t see I’m freed!
But you sleep on;
Break from that cocoon you’ve spun
Wake and see the setting sun!
Fly with me across the air
There is still so much to share.
I must be gone
But you sleep on.
