Quinn and his quilt

First Merry Christmas everyone!!! 

 Here is Quinn and I working on his quilt. I was working on it and he asked if he could learn and help. How amazing is that? So he is working on his square and is doing an amazing job. I am so impressed with how quickly he picked it up. 

He is a wonder. 

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope that you all have a joyful and wonder-filled one. 

Thank you all for following and reading. 

Happy holidays

Liesl 

Close up Quilt

Here is a fabulous close up of Quinn's quilt. It is looking amazing. Slow going, I just keep plugging away at it. As my friend taught me it is about the process. It looks so cozy. 

Quinn is getting excited as it is half done. 

Thanks for reading.

Liesl

Dishes

For anyone who know, they know my love for vintage kitschy dishes. I have a huge love for all things pyrex. I just wanted to share a couple of my latest finds. They are wonderful and make me smile.  

 The above image is a fabulous vintage Santa spoon rest. Look at it, doesn't it just make you smile. It is on our stove for holiday season. I found it at one of our local Antiques store (Bernat Antiques). I pick it up for only $1!! Can you believe it?

 This is a amazing fridge glass pyrex. It is a fabulous blue color. No chips or marks. The cover is a perfect. 

I am using it a a little sewing "basket". It is the items that I need at hand to be working on Quinn's quilt. It works perfect, it sit on our end table. I have everything that I need at arms length. 

I also picked that great find up at Bernat for only $5!!! 

I love getting a really great deal. 

Thanks for indulging my obsession for dishes. 

Thanks for reading. 

Liesl 

 This is a great sign. My Aunt gave it to me, it belonged to my grandfather. I have the part that hung with name inside the studio. Steve hung a piece of slate from it for me, that way I can write anything I like on it. I rather like the welcome. I think that it is a great addition to studio's exterior, don't you?

 I was working on several projects yesterday. It was so nice to be in the studio this past weekend. Quinn visited and worked with me for a little bit also. I will show what he did latter this week. I worked on a some old projects (still not completed), a couple repairs, and a few new projects. I just can't seem to help myself from starting something new when I get in there. 

My trusty wood stove. It is an old friend at this point. Our friend Dick Sargent made it for me when we lived in New Jersey. We have dragged it everywhere with us. It got a hole in it last year, so sad. But Steve was able to put a patch on it. Thank you so much Steve you are the best. It works great, you would never know that there was a hole. I have an amazing husband. It keeps me nice and warm (well when I remember to add wood) while I am working. 

AS always thank you for reading. 

Liesl 

Fall, apples and pumpkins

I love fall, it means it is time for apple picking and well making everything apple. Oh and it is time for pumpkins too! 

It is Columbus day weekend. Which means it is a three day weekend!! I love three day weekends! So we went apple and pumpkin picking. My two guys below having fun looking for the best apples. 

 Don't these apples look fabulous? Oh my gosh they taste fabulous.

 Here they are looking for the perfect pumpkins to carve. I can wait till we carve them, that means pumpkin seeds to roast. Yummy!!

 We went for a walk at a local place here is Quinn taking it all in. It looks amazing. 

Here is the what is taking in. Beautiful. 

I hope that you all are having a fabulous long weekend and fantastic fun filled fall. As always thanks for reading. 

Liesl

October update

Happy October everyone!! This is a great month here is New England. The colors are changing and man are glorious this year. More one that latter.

The below image is of a shipment of metal I just received!! So exciting. Isn't is beautiful? I love getting new metal, I always have a hard time cutting into it for the first time. But work awaits me. I have many project to get done and to finish now that I have what I need. Keep post ot see what comes out of the it.

 Below is me working on Quinns quilt. I still have a long way to go. Maybe by Christmas I will have it all done. It is taking longer then I thought. And we have had several colds and what nots go through the house making it hard to work on it.  I know that I am no good when I am sick. Oh well. It is coming out wonderful though. Quilting take patience. And I love doing it by hand. 

As always thank you for reading my friends,

Happy fall and be creative.

Liesl

Coggeshall Farm Quilt

When we went to Coggeshall Farm there was this amazing quilt in the house. It was beautiful. It is by a lady names Tara Celeste. I love the colors in it!! I also loved how she captured the wonderful place that is Coggeshall Farm.

 I am not sure if you can read all that she wrote about the quilt, but I had to put it. 

 That is my arm point out the stitching that is done like a wave. As the farm in on Narraganset bay, it is only fitting. 

Once again it was a great day with the family and I hope you all are enjoying fall. 

I have been working on nothing but Quinn's quilt in hopes that it will be done before the snow fly's. I have my fingers crossed. I already have my next few quilts planned out. I however refuse to start them till I finish Quinn's. I am hoping to getting in the jewelry studio soon, as I need to get in there for some unfinished projects and repairs need to get done before it gets too cold. Can you believe that we are already thinking of winter? So sad. Oh well it comes every year.  

Thanks for reading. Have a creative day. 

Liesl

Apple Pie Contest

On Saturday we went to the Coggeshall Farm Harvest fair. O my gosh it was great fun! Quinn and I entered the Apple Pie Contest. It was so much fun to make the pie with him. He as so excited. We had a great time there. It was in Bristol RI, so right next to the water and the sunshine it was fabulous. 

 The image above it the filling we made. We used three different kinds of apples. yum!

 Here it is baking!! The house smelling so good. 

 Completed!! Doesn't it look amazing? 

Here they are tasting and judging all of the pies. Quinn was right in there making sure he heard everything. Only good things to say about ours.

Here is what the table looked like after the judging. 

Sadly we did not win, and they only picked a grand prize winner. If you ask Quinn we came in a close second. I'll take it. We won some great maple syrup that was made on the farm. It was a blast. And I will do it again if the opportunity comes up again. 

Hard work

 The above image is a stone that Quinn and I working with. We are creating a necklace together. I have put to hard work. I have created this board with masking tape sticky side up to hold the stone still while we wrap the bezel wire around the stone. I use a spring clamp to hold it onto the bench. That way when it is not in use I can hang it up out of the way. I have been using this for years. I love it. It make life in the studio so much easier.

Here is Quinn and I working on the setting. we are doing some cleaning up on the piece. Quinn loves to work in the studio and use the tools. He is getting the hang of the flexshaft. He is has been a great help in the studio. When the piece is done I will share it with all of you.
As always thanks for reading.
Liesl

August update

Can you believe that it is already August? I am in shock that summer is almost over. It always seem like the nice warm weather is never here long enough and winter just drags on and on. Oh well, I guess that is New England for you. 

 The above image is of the best assistant ever. Quinn is hard at work on the rolling mill. he love to work out in the studio. And I love having him help out.

Here is an image of my bench with all of the different project on it. I also sent in all of my scrap and will be "shopping" for more metal soon. It is sooo exciting. I love buying supplies with "free" money. Or at least it always feel like it is free, I guess it is more like recycled. Well I am excited about cause it means new work will be coming soon. I'll keep you update.
Thanks for reading and as always be creative today.
Liesl

Hiking locally

 Yesterday morning Quinn and I went for hike. We only had to go about 5-10 minutes down the road. A nice easy trail in the woods with the canal off to one side. It is a great t o spend some time with kids and they talk up a storm when  hiking or at least Quinn does. I love hiking I think it is my favorite way to get in some exercise.

On our hike Quinn and I found some lovely rocks/stones. I think that a few of these will make it into a few new pieces. My wheels are already turning, and so are Quinn's. I love that he keeps an eye out for good stones that you can make something out of it. Keep reading to see if if any of these make into the next piece.
Be creative and joyful.
Liesl

July Quilt update

Hello all, here is the quilt update that I was promising. So I have finally got it on the frame and have started the quilting process. I love it so far. Quinn is making sure that I finish by fall.

 The above image is of me working hard on the quilt. It is nice to be able to work on it and still be involved in what is going in the house.

 This image is of the quilt on the frame in the corner of the living room. That is were it lives when I am not working on it. That way I have to see it all time and I am more apt to work on it then. It just keeps reminding me.

Here is another shot of me working away. I am quilting squares and circles into right now. Keeping it simple, there is already so much going on. I love this project. I have put so many bits of memories and bits of all of us in this quilt for Quinn. I am going to write it all down for him, that way he will always know what went into this quilt.
Thanks for reading.
Be creative today and everyday.
Liesl

June Quilt update

My quilt project. I feel as if it has been a very longtime in making. But the top is done!!! The top picture is of me putting the last rows together. I put most of this top together by hand. I have learned so much form making this. Quinn is so excited about it. 

 This is what the top looks like in its full glory. I am standing behind it holding up. That should give you some idea of how large this is. I am 5'7".

 He is Quinn testing it out for me. I think that it will work. This has been a fun and fabulous project. I have put a lot of work and thought into it. The bottom of the quilt will have a baseball print. I am excited to start the quilting process. Hopefully it will not take me as long as the top. Quinn has already told me he would like before it get cold again. I better get started then.

As always thanks for reading.
Go be creative and make something.
Liesl

March update

Yesterday was the first day of spring! although we had snow I am hoping that it will all melt soon. I am in need of some nice warm weather, I would like to start planting the gardens. And Quinn is already asking when we can start hiking again. Even he is tired winter.
Anyways here is an update. I am hoping to get into the studio this week!! Finally it took awhile to be get to it after the crazy amount of snow we have here in Massachusetts.
It had no leaks and looks great in there. I am so excited!!

 The above photo is of me threaded my vibrating bobbin on my wonderful sewing machine. I was so excited it was the first time I did it with out looking at directions!! Wha hoo!!!

 Here is what the quilt is looking like so far.  Quinn laid it all out for me it looks amazing. I am homing to finish up the last few squares and get the top all done this next week. I know that I have been saying that but it will happen. I swear! I think it is going to look amazing when it is all done.

And here is Quinn working on his blanket. He love s to be at the machine also. He is making a scrap blanket for our dog Rocco. He is amazing!

Thank you all for always reading. I am hoping in the next update that there will be pics of the studio and the completed top.
Liesl

November Studio update

November is almost over already. I feel like it has just started. Thanksgiving is over and I hope everyone had as a joyful one as we did. We have lots to be thankful for this year.
We have had our first snow fall of the year. And Christmas is fast approaching.
Here is a quick update on the studio.
Here is Quinn helping me bag and put away inventory. He is such a great assistant and he love to be in the studio making also.

Here is a picture of several project that are in progress. I have finally settled on the design of them and now they just need to be finished. Some are old projects rediscovered and others are new.

There will be four new necklaces and one new pair of earrings. I have loads of new ideas also. I just have to find more time in there. I am hoping to find more time very soon. Again thanks for always reading and I will do another update very soon.
Have a fabulous day.
Liesl

Quilting update

Here is a quick update on Quinn quilt. Well first it is not done, as I knew it would not be done in time for his birthday. And Christmas is fast approaching. I am hoping to at least have the top done by then. Also I have my new machine. It is a Singer 128 with gold sphinx decal on it. I love it. It is a treadle and I love that it is so simple, Quinn is excited to learn how to use it also.

 Here I am Working on it. So fabulous!!

 Here is a good amount of the top done. All the big squares still need to be put together. After that I will lay it all out and put the top together. I am so happy with the way it has been coming together.

I promise that my next post will be about jewelry and what is going on in the studio. Thanks for reading. Have a fabulous day.
Liesl

Quinn's Art project

Last weekend Quinn made this amazing piece art. I think it is just amazing. He worked on it for most of the day. First he blew up a balloon and then added masking tape all over the balloon, so that it could not be seen. Then he took markers and crayons colored it and then wiped it off. The effect was this amazing texture of color. Then he popped the balloon and cut a slit in it and had help from daddy to put the twine tied on it. Then he filled it with cloth from my scrap bag.

I just think that it is amazing that he took it upon himself to make this fabulous piece of art. It warms my heart to see him enjoy making so much.