Thimbleanna

What’s on Your Bed?

17 Comments / February 18, 2011 / Chat

Nicole, at Sister’s Choice Quilts has asked “What’s on Your Bed?” Here’s what’s on my bed:

1Bed

TheEmptyNestChild is always on my bed. I normally have an off-white matelasee coverlet on my bed, but since tubby, hairy ol’ Scruff lounges on my bed, I have the backside of an old tied quilt on the bed to protect the coverlet from all his hair and general dirtiness. Currently, something outside of the window has caught Scruff’s attention, so he couldn’t be bothered to pose for you.

Anyway, I do have a real quilt under the coverlet that is probably more what Nicole had in mind. Many years ago, TheManoftheHouse, MyDadLovesMeBestSister, and Junie and I were all shopping in Shipshewana at Yoder’s. They had a big raffle quilt hanging on the wall and TheManoftheHouse really liked it. Since he actually commented on it and expressed an interest in quilting, I thought I should make one for him. The four of us had a good time carrying bolts of solid fabrics up to that quilt, trying to match the colors. It’s very Amish-looking.

2Bed

Kind of makes you sick, huh? That was the idea — the colors should blend into each other a little and make you think you have blurry vision. It’s not really my kind of quilt, but he likes it and it keeps us warm.
Kim, hello Ki-i-im?! Are you out there? The Pioneer Woman has come to your rescue this week and has a post just for you on her cooking blog! She’s added a secret ingredient that should be the answer to your prayers! ;-)
XOXO,
Anna

November’s Cranes

20 Comments / February 18, 2011 / Travel

I know I don’t have to tell you this, but it’s November. Cosy, comfy November. The month where we migrate toward winter.* I love November. We start to plan our months of get-togethers for family and friends. And an added bonus in blogland, I anticipate there will be lots of sharing of fun holiday ideas. It was around this time of year last year when I found blogs, and all that warm, fuzzy sharing is what sucked me in! I can’t wait to see what unfolds this year.

Cranes

Anyway, back to that migrating thing. The other morning, I looked out of my office window as the sun was coming up to see a big crane swoop over the parking lot and land on top of a light pole. It’s the first time in many years that I’ve seen a crane in our parking lot and it reminded me to tell you about the migration of the Sandhill Cranes. Every year in November, they fly from their summer home in Canada to their winter home in Georgia and Florida. It’s an awesome sight to behold, and if you live in the midwest, a great place to see the migration up close and personal is at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in northwestern Indiana (about an hour southeast of Chicago.)

Cranes

We went to see the cranes for the first time last year. It was a 2 hour drive for us and we arrived about an hour before sundown. You have to go to the wildlife area at either dusk or dawn, as the birds fly in to the fields to spend the night, and then in the morning, they are on their way again. When we first got there, there weren’t very many birds and I thought to myself, “We just spent two hours in the car for this?” Ah, patience! Before long, birds were flying in from all directions. Can you see them as they put their landing gear down? It was so cool to watch them drop their legs as they got closer to the ground.

Cranes

The wildlife area has a great viewing platform which allows you a great view of the birds as they land in the fields. You can’t get real close to the birds, so binoculars are a great idea. (I took these pictures with a 200 mm lens, to give you a little perspective. It’s hard to get good pictures ’cause the light is so low. You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.) I think the migration actually starts in late October and runs through early December, but November is the best viewing month. According to the website, on October 30, 2007 they counted almost 12,000 cranes. It really is amazing that all those birds just suddenly appear. And they seem to come from all directions, not just from the north. You can come from all directions too! I hope, especially if you are in the midwest, that you get the opportunity sometime to view these beautiful birds during their migration.

Cranes

Viewing time: 45 minutes
Driving time: 4 hours
Experience: Priceless!
XOXO,
Anna

*Sorry, for those of you down under, I know this winter stuff doesn’t apply!

Happy Halloween!

23 Comments / February 18, 2011 / Cupcakes, Holidays

Gosh, where is this week going already? I guess I shouldn’t complain — it just means the weekend is getting closer! I had a great quiet weekend last weekend. I managed to get several little sewing projects done. Of course, I can’t show them to you yet, ’cause they’re surprises. Don’t you hate it when someone tells you that? I have something but I can’t show you. How rude! Oh, ok, I can tell you that I worked on my box for the chocolate swap! Not much consolation is it?

PumpkinLights

Tonight, I made Magnolia cupcakes to take to work tomorrow. I made a bunch for my birthday a month ago and everyone seemed very appreciative, so I thought I’d make some for Halloween too. The kitchen looked like a war zone at the North Pole. For some reason I got powdered sugar and sprinkles everywhere. It sure was fun though and now they’re all boxed up and ready to go.

PumpkinLights

I love these cupcakes. (I mean, not these particular ones ’cause they turned out a little goofy with the black sprinkles and all — what I love it the Magnolia cupcake taste.) If you don’t have the Magnolia cookbook you’re in luck — I found the recipe here a few weeks ago. Check it out ’cause their picture is way cooler than mine! Maybe someday I can learn their cool swirly icing technique.
I’m all ready for my little trick-or-treaters tomorrow night. I used to hate to hand out candy when we were younger, but now I just love seeing the little kids come to the door. (Although, what’s up with all the high school kids these days? When we were kids, we quit trick-or-treating when we were around 12 — now, I’ll bet 1/4 – 1/3 of the kids that appear at my door are older than 12!) If you do trick-or-treaty kinds of stuff tomorrow, I hope you have a great time!
XOXO,
Anna

Why I Make Stuff

17 Comments / February 18, 2011 / Chat

I’ve been tagged by the lovely Jade to do the crafty meme. Go check out Jade’s fun answers to this meme, then come back here so I can put you to sleep!

fall trees

1. When did you start to create and make craft?

I learned how to do most of the things I love to do when I was a little girl. Embroidery was probably first at around age 7 or 8. Then, I probably learned how to sew, knit and crochet when I was between 8 and 11 or 12. MeMum gets all the credit for my sewing skills — she has the patience of a saint!

fall treesI remember the first little article of clothing I ever made — it was a little wrap-around dress. Does anybody remember those? It was the perfect project for a beginning sewer — cut out a dress front, dress back, then two side pieces that were really more like 1/3 of a front and 1/3 of a back. Then sew the side-back to the front, the front to the back, then the back to the side-front. It made one long piece with three armholes. Then put bias binding around all the raw edges — that’s it! No set in sleeves, pockets, zippers, or anything complicated. When you put it on, you would put your left arm through the 1st armhole, your right arm through the 2nd armhole, and your left arm through the third armhole. The dress overlapped on the left arm. It’s really hard to explain but it was cute and spelled instant success for an impatient little seamstress. And was I ever impatient! There were many ripped out zippers and seams accompanied by SCA-reaming fits in the early days. Practice makes perfect though, and nowadays, ripping out is a breeze with nary a tear! I dabbled in lots of other crafy things back then too — anyone remember raffia flowers done on the little looms? Or the big tissue paper flowers that Martha has taken to the bank these days?

I also learned several things from my aunt when we would visit her. She taught my cousins and I decopage and gold leafing. And for my 14th birthday, she gave me a cake decorating set that I still use today. She taught me the basics of decorating cakes. Tole painting came when I was in college, smocking was shortly before the birth of TheFirstChild, and quilting while I was on maternity leave with TheSecondChild.

Mantle

2. Why did you start creating?

I have no idea. Maybe because I was bored? Probably because I had a very talented mother and aunt who were so willing to teach me whatever I wanted to learn. We moved a lot when I was growing up, so I was the loner type of kid. My sewing machine was my friend! It’s not as dismal as it sounds — there were friends here and there, but really, I was happier when I was making something. Making new friends every few years was a lot of work — sewing was much easier! And now, the irony of it all is, that all this crafty stuff has made the best friendships possible! I have non-crafty friends, but it’s not quite the same — I think you all know just what I mean.

3. Why do you create?

I'm PrettyI think I’m obsessed. Or maybe that’s possessed (it is that haunting time of year after all.) I really can’t imagine a life without making stuff. Sometimes I wonder what my non-crafty friends who don’t really have any hobbies do all day. And they probably wonder why I can’t stop making “that crap”! But, I really enjoy it and I can’t stop. It drives TheManoftheHouse crazy that I can’t just sit and watch TV without something in my hands. But, after almost 30 years, I think he’s finally giving up.
4. What do you create?

I make mostly clothes and bags and gifts that can be sewn. And I knit here and there and make an occasional quilt or papercraft..

5. Has this changed since you began crafting?

Nope. When I was growing up most of my time was spent sewing. I would knit and crochet and do other things, but not as much. That’s still the way it is today.

Dept56

The pictures are a few Halloween things around here. I took the first picture this afternoon around 4:00. The sky was so dark and brooding, the picture doesn’t really do it justice.

Hope you’re having a good weekend!
XOXO,
Anna

Edited to add:  Oops!  I forgot to tag someone for this meme — how ’bout the first three commenters (not counting Nicollette, who has already been tagged) — so that means Lucy, Connie and Sarah!  I’m really interested to read their answers!

Pumpkin Lanterns

20 Comments / February 18, 2011 / Painting

Do you remember the little flag lanterns that I made in July? This is the Halloween version.

PumpkinLights

I made these a few years ago from little pattern packet I purchased from Rock Creek Emporium (they used to have a website, but it doesn’t appear to be active anymore.) They’re really fun and easy to make and they follow the same premise as the flag lanterns. Paint your baby food jars orange, draw on some faces and embellish.

PumpkinLights

Halloween has always been a favorite holiday — not the creepy spooky side of Halloween so much, but the fun, smiling pumpkins side. I’m loving all the Halloween inspiration popping up all over. In particular:

PumpkinLights

So, those of you out there getting a head start on Christmas — quit it! There’s only a few more days left to revel in the beautiful orange and black of Halloween — THEN we can talk red and green!
XOXO,
Anna